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| POSTED : 3/15/2007 8:43:51 AM |
| A Contest for Booklovers |
I wanted to thank the booksellers and readers who've helped make my Dead-End Job books a success.
I have a contest to celebrate my new Dead-End Job mystery, "Murder with Reservations," published in hardcover May 1. I'm giving away $500 in bookstore gift certificates, to thank the booksellers and readers who've helped me. Here are the details.
The Great $500 Book Giveaway
In "Murder with Reservations," Helen Hawthorne works as a maid at a Florida tourist hotel. She has a book full of funny stories about that job. But we want to hear your stories.
You can win a $250 gift certificate from your favorite bookstore to celebrate the kickoff of Elaine Viets’ new Dead-End Job Mystery, Murder with Reservations.
That will buy a heap of your favorite books – true luxury for a book lover.
You can also designate your school, library or other favorite institution to win the gift certificate, if your entry is chosen.
The contest has two categories. You can enter either one:
(1) Your Funniest Experience as a Hotel Guest
(2) Your Funniest Experience as a Hotel Employee (Maids, valets, servers, front-desk staff and other hotel and motel employees or former employees are eligible for this category.)
The name of the hotel will NOT be used in either category.
The Great $500 Book Giveaway Rules
(1) E-mail your entry to Elaine Viets at eviets@aol.com. In the Subject line, mark it Funniest Experience as a Hotel Guest or Funniest Experience as a Hotel Employee.
a) Include your name, address, daytime and evening phone numbers and e-mail address.
b) Include the name, address and phone number of your designated bookstore.
c) The name of the hotel will NOT be used in either category.
d) Entries must be received by midnight, June 30, 2007. The winner will be announced July 15, 2007 on Elaine’s Website, www.elaineviets.com
(2) The winner in each category gets a $250 gift certificate to the local bookstore of his or her choice. For instance, if the winner likes Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pa., I’ll send her an MLB gift certificate. If the winner lives in Delray Beach, Florida, and wants Murder on the Beach bookstore, he’ll receive an MOB gift certificate.
Any local bookstore is eligible, including independents and chain stores.
(3) No purchase is necessary. Decision of the judges is final. Void where prohibited by law.
Murder with Reservations: A Dead-End Job Mystery
By Elaine Viets $21.95
NAL Hardcover. ISBN: 978-0-451-22111-7
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| POSTED : 3/4/2007 2:58:56 PM |
| When's the new Helen Hawthorne book? |
I thought you'd never ask. MURDER WITH RESERVATIONS, the sixth Helen Hawthorne book, will be out May 1 -- just in time for those Mother's Day presents.
This time, Helen works as a hotel maid. I promise you will never look at a hotel room the same way.
NAL is putting together a tour for me. Watch this spot and the Events page to find out if I'll be signing at a city near you.
Hope to see you soon.
Elaine
PS: If you'd like an autographed bookplate for your new copy, just send me at email at eviets@aol.com.
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| POSTED : 1/30/2007 4:05:00 PM |
| When is your next Josie book? |
ACCESSORY TO MURDER, the third Josie book, will be out in November, 2007.
Thanks for asking. Some editions of HIGH HEELS ARE MURDER say the book will be coming out in 2008, but you won't have to wait two years for the next Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper.
You really know how to make a writer feel good when you say you can't wait that long.
I've just signed a contract for two more Josie books, so cross your fingers, but it looks like Josie, Jane and Amelia will be in Maplewood for awhile.
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| POSTED : 1/3/2007 1:59:59 PM |
| Do you answer emails from readers? |
You bet.
I love getting emails from readers. I enjoy answering questions about my books and characters. I'll be happy to tell you when the next Josie or Helen Hawthorne mystery will be out.
Just one favor: If you send me an email, please make certain that your spam filter is set to allow my response. I'm happy to correspond with you, but I'm not able to spend time figuring out various spam filter forms.
Thanks,
Elaine
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| POSTED : 12/21/2006 1:43:37 PM |
| Honored Twice Over |
MURDER UNLEASHED has been nominated for a Lefty, the award given at the Left Coast Crime conference for the funniest mystery of 2006.
The announcement was made "in reverse alphabetical order." Do you know what it's like for those of us at the bottom of the alphabet to be listed first?
Thank you. Thank you. The Lefty nomination made my day twice over.
-- Elaine Viets
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| POSTED : 8/13/2006 3:33:33 AM |
| Thank You |
I was thrilled to learn that my short story, “Killer Blonde,” from the Drop-Dead Blond anthology, was nominated for an Anthony Award.
The Anthonys are named for the premier mystery critic Anthony Boucher, and are given out at the world mystery conference, Bouchercon. They’re a fan-based award, which means some of you voted for me.
Better yet, you put me in good company. My fellow nominees include three authors whose work I admire – Marcia Talley, Barbara Seranella and Nancy Pickard.
I’m particularly proud of this story. “Killer Blonde” is about the younger days of Margery Flax, the purple-loving 76-year-old landlady in the Dead-End Job series. Did Margery really see a murder? You’ll have to read the story yourself and decide.
Thanks for the nomination. I know everyone says it’s an honor just to be nominated, but I really mean it. It was also a big surprise.
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| POSTED : 7/14/2006 2:01:54 AM |
| I Miss Your Column . . . |
Now your don't have to.
I do a weekly column for the Lipstick Chronicles, along with four of my favorite mystery writers: Nancy Martin, Sarah Strohmeyer, Michele Martinez and Harley Jane Kozak.
You'll find us at http://www.thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/ My blog day is Wednesday.
If you prefer a St. Louis sound, listen to my commentaries on National Public Radio. That's KWMU, 90.7 in St. Louis.
Or, you can hear me anywhere in the world by web streaming KWMU at http://www.kwmu.org/
You don't have to miss my column. You can catch me on the radio and in my blogs. You'll also meet some terrific new mystery writers.
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| POSTED : 6/8/2006 2:41:37 PM |
| Thanks for a terrific tour |
I don't think I've ever been slurped so much on any book tour -- but that's what happens when you write about dogs.
For the ten-city MURDER UNLEASHED tour, I was slurped by big old Labs and little spaniels. I met mutts and purebreds. I signed a lot of books for well-read dogs.
Some of the highlights:
The kickoff party at the Bone Appetit Bakery in Fort Lauderdale. Mark and Keith, the store owners, went all out for this event, and so did the dog lovers. I met Angel, a rescue dog who gets around on wheels. Max, the pug owned by mystery writer Barbara Parker, came to the event handsomely decorated in ribbons, balloons and candies.
The winner was Kristy Montee's dog, Bailey, in full disco regalia, including a flashing leash with mirrored balls. Kris is one half of PJ Parrish.
In St. Louis, at the Best Dressed Dog contest at the Three Dog Bakery, I met a long-haired chihuahua in a cowgirl suit, a lovely whippet, a Westie dressed as Scarlett O'Hara, and a Lab in a hula skirt.
The hardworking volunteer dogs of Caring Critters stopped by Murder by the Book in Houston. What a treat that was.
At Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pa., a fan drove 200 miles to hear my talk. In Houston and at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, I saw old friends from St. Louis I hadn't seen in a decade.
Thank you all for bringing your dogs and buying my books. We've raised some money for PAWS and other animal charities, and as soon as I know the amount, I'll post it.
MURDER UNLEASHED was No. 18 on the Barnes & Noble national hardcover list. And look where you put me on the Independent Mystery Booksellers Bestsellers list.
IMBA May Bestsellers
Hardcover
1. THE BOOKWOMAN'S LAST FLING, John Dunning
2. IN PLAIN SIGHT, C.J. Box
3. MURDER UNLEASHED, Elaine Viets, tied with PROMISE ME, Harlan Coben
5. HEART OF THE WORLD, Linda Barnes
6. THE HARD WAY, Lee Child
7. THE TOMB OF THE GOLDEN BIRD, Elizabeth Peters
8. DEFINITELY DEAD, Charlaine Harris
9. DARK TORT, Diane Mott Davidson, tied with BLEEDING HEARTS, Susan Wittig Albert
Thanks for the best tour yet.
Elaine
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| POSTED : 3/13/2006 11:48:33 AM |
| Help Me Go the Dogs |
MURDER UNLEASHED is my first hardcover mystery, and I'd like to celebrate in a big way.
To research this book, I was at the Bone Appetit dog boutique in Fort Lauderdale. My colleague was a beagle-dashshund named Lulu. Lulu is the store's supermodel. She helps sell the canine clothes.
Lulu is also a PAWS rescue dog. PAWS stands for Pets Are Worth Saving. One look at Lulu in the photo on this page will tell you that's true.
In honor of Lulu, I'd like to donate $1 for every copy of MURDER UNLEASHED sold through bn.com or by participating Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (IMBA) stores between now and May 20. The money will go to PAWS or the local animal charity of the store's choice. I'll donate the money on receipt of my first royalty check. The book is just out now.
All sales on bn.com go directly to PAWS.
The other participating stores include:
Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA.
Creatures 'n Crooks in Richmond, VA.
Murder by the Book in Houston, TX.
Raven Bookstore in Lawrence, KS.
Murder on the Beach in Delray Beach, FL.
Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles, CA.
Aunt Agatha's in Ann Arbor, MI.
Clues Unlimited in Tuscon, AZ.
Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, CA.
Aliens and Alibis in Columbia, SC.
The Mystery Company in Carmel, IN.
Circle Books in Sarasota, FL.
Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks, CA.
The Poisoned Pen in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ.
Thanks to all these stores and to bn.com for their participation, and for helping me help the animals.
Elaine
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| POSTED : 2/8/2006 2:35:52 PM |
| Thanks for taking the Dead-End Job series hardcover |
My fifth Dead-End Job book, MURDER UNLEASHED, will be out in hardcover this May.
Thank you all -- I couldn't have done it without the bookstores who sell my mysteries and the readers who buy them. You can check out the new cover and first chapter on this Website. I hope you'll like them.
Once again, this Dead-End Job mystery is a seriously funny look at the minimum-wage world. In MURDER UNLEASHED, Helen works at a high-end dog boutique. That's where I did my research, too. These are the canine high rollers, who spend hundreds of dollars on the perfect party for their pets. These dogs have bigger wardrobes than I do, and get more hair appointments and manicures. I think you'll enjoy Helen's latest Florida adventure.
The good news is this is an affordable hardcover -- $19.95, only $4 or so more than a trade paperback.
Can't afford a hardcover? Make your family buy it for you for Mother's Day or your birthday. I'll even send you a free autographed bookplate.
If you want to order early at the your local bookstore or library, here's the information:
MURDER UNLEASHED
Pub date: May 2
Price: $19.95
ISBN: 0-451-21840-X
-- Elaine Viets
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