- - -  Michael Z. Lewin  - - -

January 1, 1970

Michael Z. Lewin Newsletter – June 2008

Summer greetings… And, unless you’re one of the newcomers to my newsletter list, you’ll already know that I don’t send newsletters out very often. I try to have at least a few bits of news to include.

OH JOE

This time it’s the imminent publication of a new Indianapolis novel, OH JOE. It will be out in July - (237 p. Five Star, hardcover, $25.95, ISBN-13: 9781594146671.)

Modesty forbids me to describe it myself, so here is the book’s first review, which appeared in “Booklist” on May 1st:

“Joe Prince drives a truck, loves his girlfriend, Kelly, and their infant son, Little Joe. But that isn’t enough to keep him from straying, and when Kelly catches him in the act, she leaves him. As a form of self-imposed house arrest, he agrees to house-sit shady old pal George Wayne’s permanently anchored houseboat in the middle of a large Indianapolis reservoir. But the loneliness wears on Joe. He jumps ship and swims for shore. A day or so later Joe finds himself under arrest for Wayne’s murder. Steph Steponski, the lead detective assigned to the case, is sure of Joe’s guilt—until she learns that Joe was played for a patsy and may now be at risk himself. Lewin, nominated for three Edgars, may be best known as the creator of quirky Indianapolis private eye Albert Samson. He is as gently humorous and ironic as ever, and readers will find a kindred soul in Joe, as likeably flawed as any recent protagonist in mystery fiction. A very enjoyable experience. — Wes Lukowsky”

Does that give you enough of a taste to encourage you to look for it? I hope so.

Autumn 2008 Appearances

Although I will be making a longer trip to Indianapolis and the US in 2009 – to coincide with the Bouchercon in Indianapolis – I am doing a short tour this year. On October 21st I’ll be at The Mystery Company in Indianapolis at 7pm. The 24th-26th I’ll be at the Magna cum Murder convention in Muncie. Then at 3pm on the 26th I’ll be at the Kennedy Library in Muncie. The following evening it’s Zionsville Public Library with an audience participation program. I may add one or two more but, in any case, please check confirmation of times on the website if you’re interested in coming to an event.

I’ll be happy to talk about the book and autograph copies at any of these events. But if you can’t attend but still want autographed or inscribed copies, I can make arrangements to send you books from here in England – let me know on books@MichaelZLewin.com. However if you’re in the US it’ll be cheaper for you if I send them when I’m there in October. Order them from me ahead of time and tell me how you want them inscribed and I’ll mail them to you when I’m in Connecticut. Any good? And don’t forget those holiday gifts…

Indianapolis Bouchercon 2009

“Bouchercon” is the largest and most important mystery conference in the US each year and in 2009 it will be in Indianapolis. Any search engine should provide details, but the main dates are October 15 – 18. However I expect to be in Indianapolis before the 15th doing extra events both for the conference and, probably, the Indianapolis public library.

Interestingly, the early Bouchercon 2009 advertising included reference to me beyond just being someone who sets books in the city. It seems that I am one of the first PI writers to set a series in a regional location. I knew I was a couple of years before Spenser in Boston but…

Before my Albert Samson opened his investigative doors in Indy in 1971, it was all but unknown to find a detective at work outside of New York, Southern California or, perhaps, Chicago. I’d never thought of myself as a historical figure, but last year people began to call my attention to this and say as much in some books. Don’t you have to be dead to be historical, do you?

New Short Stories

In my newsletter last August I mentioned that the first ever Albert Samson short story would be coming out at some point in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. It’s still coming, and I still don’t know exactly when. When I do know I’ll post the information on the site.

But because it’s Samson, I will also try to get a number of extra copies to make available for you to buy direct from me, if you’re so inclined. The postage for a magazine from England will be more manageable than for a book. And if you’re interested I can try to do this for some of the other stories too. Would you be interested in a copy? Let me know. That said, EQMM magazines and subscriptions can be ordered via www.themysteryplace.com/eqmm/

I do also have two other short stories coming in EQMM. “Who Killed Frankie Almond?” is a whodunit – well, a writer has to try new things. And “Password” introduces new detectives, in Bristol in England, not far from where I live.

Otherwise…

Although publication – at least of my work – seems to be slower than it used to be, I continue to work every day. And I now have a new agent who seems to be the real deal, so we will see.

And so my days pass, divided between adding a few words to the latest epic, wandering in my patio garden, and trying to keep in touch with my children and grandchildren. It’s a tough ol’ life, eh. I hope yours is every bit as tough.