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We love good books, just like you do
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Dear Readers,
Here we are again with the latest news from Bywater!
This month, we're turning the spotlight on some of the strong sellers from our catalogue. If you don't know Lindsay Gordon yet, let Val McDermid introduce you. And if you've come across her before, why not get reacquainted? We publish the whole series — six books in all.
At the end of the month, we'll be publishing Jill Malone's second novel: A Field Guide to Deception. And we'll be telling you all about it, and more about Jill, in the next newsletter.
P-town is just around the corner now! Next week, in fact. All the arrangements are now in place, and we're going to have fun with Kate Clinton. Most of all, we're looking forward to meeting up with you, and to finding new friends. For more details, see Bywater in P-town below.
Finally, we want to remind the budding writers among you that the deadline for the Bywater Prize for Fiction is fast approaching — October 31. To find out more, see News from Bywater as well as the Quick Link and Bywater Prize for Fiction opposite.
As always, we at Bywater strive to bring you the finest in
lesbian romance, mystery, and literary fiction.
Till next time!
Kelly Smith
Marianne K. Martin
Val McDermid
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The Lindsay Gordon Mysteries
by Val McDermid
Before Lindsay Gordon, there were sleuths who liked whiskey. And sleuths who liked cigarettes. And of course there were sleuths who liked women. The thing is, they were all men.
Lindsay Gordon was the first lesbian. Out from the start, she strode fearlessly across the pages of British crime fiction. Trying to do the best and often getting into the worst.
Her work as a reporter takes Lindsay into different worlds. Report for a Murder finds her investigating a murder in a girls' boarding school. It's a new experience for this working class journalist. Common Murder finds her reporting on a women's peace movement camped close to a Cruise missile base. In Deadline for Murder, her ex-lover has been murdered — but her sense of justice means that Lindsay tries to secure the release of the woman convicted for the crime. Conferences are Murder takes Lindsay into the world of trade unions, after a homophobic union boss is pushed from a window — and she is the prime suspect. It's the publishing industry that comes under her gaze in Booked for Murder, when an author dies in circumstances described in her unpublished novel. And Hostage to Murder forces Lindsay to do what she must to rescue a child who has been kidnapped.
At the time that each book was written, the issues explored were current, and critics praised Val McDermid's shrewd analysis. For fans, though, it's Lindsay herself who's most interesting. At various times, she works freelance, lectures on journalism — and ends up unemployed. And via her personal relationships McDermid charts two decades of lesbian life. Lindsay has always been out, but breaking up is never easy, and forming new relationships can be tricky. Particularly if your new partner is a lot younger, from a lesbian generation that has expectations very different to yours.
Val McDermid was herself a reporter when she wrote the first Lindsay Gordon mystery. She now writes full-time. With the fifth mystery, Booked for Murder, she was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award.
All six titles in the series are priced at $12.95
At fine bookstores everywhere
or order directly from Bywater Books.
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Val McDermid
You've probably heard of Val, if you don't already know her work: She has won numerous awards (31 so far!) and been translated into 37 languages. Many of her books have been televised, notably Wire in the Blood, her series about clinical psychologist Tony Hill and Detective Inspector Carol Jordan. Nominated for awards, it has been shown on BBC America.
A bestselling writer, Val first saw her name in print back in 1987. Report for Murder introduced Lindsay Gordon, a self-confessed "cynical socialist lesbian feminist journalist". (Mmm … you wouldn't necessarily guess that Val reckons she owes her career to Agatha Christie.) Seems quaint to say it now, but back then British crime fiction had never seen a sleuth quite like Lindsay Gordon. Readers, though, embraced this new detective and wanted more. Val obliged: There are six titles in the Lindsay Gordon series — and all are available from Bywater Books.
A full-time writer since 1991, Val used to work
as a journalist. And you can still find her byline in newspapers because she regularly reviews crime fiction. She also broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Scotland — check out the BBC i-Player on the internet!
She divides her time between Manchester and a small village on the coast of Northumberland, sharing her life with her wife and son.
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Every month Bywater holds a prize draw. To enter, just answer a simple question — it will always be about our authors or our books.
All of the correct answers will be thrown into a hat. The first one to be picked out will win!
This month's question is:
Who is Lindsay Gordon's girlfriend in Hostage to Murder, the sixth (and latest) title in the series?
The winner will receive a signed copy of Fever of the Bone, the most recent novel by Val McDermid. It's just been published in the UK.
Send answers to us by e-mail at trivia@bywaterbooks.com or by post to the address in the righthand column above — see To Order Books.
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A reminder: At Bywater we publish the best lesbian fiction, and the best authors — and we're keen to find the best new voices. In the years since we established the Bywater Prize for Fiction, we have discovered Z Egloff, Marcia Finical, Jill Malone, Bett Norris and Mari SanGiovanni.
Maybe this year we'll discover you!
The deadline is fast approaching to enter your manuscript for this year's contest. For further details, see Quick Link opposite.
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Cynn Chadwick
will be teaching a Master Fiction Workshop during Women's Week in Provincetown, MA, on Friday, October 16.
For more information: www.cynnchadwick.wordpress.com
Or contact: cynnchad@aol.com
Elana Dykewomon
will appear at
· The Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show on Saturday, October 10 at 11:30 a.m., and will be signing at the Karel/Dutton (Consortium) table.
This is a trade show, and therefore limited to booksellers, authors, and other members of the publishing industry.
The event takes place at the Marriott Convention Center,
1001 Broadway, 10th and Broadway, Oakland.
For more information: www.nciba.com
· Montclair Women's Cultural Arts on Thursday, October 15.
This is an all-women event and all women are welcome.
1650 Mountain Blvd, Oakland (Montclair).
For more information: 510-654-4088
· Modern Times Bookstore at the launch of The Fat Studies Reader on Saturday, November 21 at 3 p.m.
Jill Malone
· will read from her latest novel, A Field Guide to Deception, at Auntie's Bookstore on November 4 at 7 p.m.
· will host the GLBT Film Festival in Spokane on November 6-7.
Events kick off on November 6 at 7 p.m. at
Riverpoint EWU Auditorium,
Phase I Classroom Building,
668 North Riverpoint Blvd, Spokane, WA 99202.
She will also read from A Field Guide to Deception and sign books.
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Cynn Chadwick, Z Egloff, Marcia Finical, Marianne K. Martin, Bett Norris, and Mari SanGiovanni will be signing books at Womencrafts on:
· Thursday, October 15: 2 – 4 p.m.
· Friday, October 16: 2 – 4 p.m.
· Saturday, October 17: 1:30 – 3 p.m.
They will also be hosting A Night of Wine and Cheese, again at Womencrafts, on Thursday, October 15, 6 – 8 p.m.
And they will be teaming up with Kate Clinton on the Herstory=(Y)Ourstory panel at the Paramount Showroom of The Crown & Anchor, on Saturday, October 17, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Listen to a lively authors' chat about writing — from the nuts 'n bolts of pens and PCs to the challenges of penis and P.C. — all in the context of today's book biz. Bring those questions you've always wanted to ask!
And be sure to come in good time: the first 10 people through the door will receive a goody bag from Bywater Books!
Bywater Books would like to thank The Crown & Anchor for their hospitality. Please enjoy a meal at the Central House at The Crown & Anchor.
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Val McDermid's latest novel, Fever of the Bone, has just been published in the UK. DCI Carol Jordan and clinical psychologist Tony Hill are back — and the critics have been quick to welcome them.
The Observer insists that "McDermid remains unrivalled at yoking chilling scenarios to a pulsing narrative …", describing the book as "Horrible and brilliant." About the fate of the various characters, the Independent says "… it's impossible not to care …" And EuroCrime celebrates McDermid's "style and apparent effortlessness" in a book that "leaves plenty of issues to ponder after the last page is turned."
The murderer stalks his victims via the social networking site RigMarole. To tie in with publication, publishers Little, Brown have now re-created the site. Sign up to make contact with Val, with other readers — and with some of the characters! Be warned: EuroCrime's reviewer went to the site after reading the book. Knowing whose days are numbered makes for an "unsettling" experience, apparently. (Me, I figured that was part of the fun …)
If you can't wait for the official US publication, buy it from the Poisoned Pen Bookstore: visit www.poisonedpen.com.
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| Win! Win! Win!
With every newsletter, you have a chance
to win.
This month we're giving away an i-Tunes gift certficate — to the
value of $20.
Everyone who orders books from us during October — whether online, by mail order, or by phone — will be entered into a
prize drawer.
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| To Order Books
Order online:
www.bywaterbooks.com
Order by phone:
1-734-662-8815
Order by mail:
Bywater Books
PO Box 3671
Ann Arbor MI 48106
click here to print
order form
Shipping Costs:
Book Post — $2.00*
for as many books as you order
Priority Mail — $7 for first book, plus $2 for each additional book
Overnight — $22 for first book, plus $3 for each additional book
* free shipping with coupon below
Booksellers:
Bywater Books are distributed to
the trade by Consortium Books Sales and Distribution and are available
through major wholesalers.
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| Bywater Prize for Fiction
At Bywater Books, we celebrate books written for lesbians, about lesbians, and we're here to publish the best authors.
If you're a writer with something to say, please enter the Bywater Prize for Fiction.
The winner will receive $1000 and publication by Bywater Books.
For those in second and third place, there is a prize of $200 and $100 respectively.
The deadline for this year's competition is October 31, 2009. So stop polishing — and send it in!
So, what are you waiting for? We want to hear from you.
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