Clea Simon's Blog, page 8

Albuquerque bound!

Has it been two years since Left Coast Crime, one of the most marvelous crime fiction conferences, was halted on its first day as COVID-19 began its sweep across the country? Amazingly, yes, but this weekend, well, we’re trying again – this time as Southwest Sleuths, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I’ll be at this wonderful con through the weekend, taking part in the Thursday morning “Author Speed Dating” and, on Friday, serving on two panels: “Weaving Political & Social Themes into Mysteries” at 10:15, with moderator Nina Simon and fellow panelists Alistair Kimble and Terry Shames, and, at 2:45, “Writing Characters Who Aren’t Like Me” with John Copenhaver, Craig Robertson, and Matt Witten, moderated by the wonderful critic/blogger Kristopher Zigorski.

I’ll also be volunteering at registration and just generally catching up with everyone. Will you be there? If so, please say hi!

Witch cats of … Somerville?

Celebrating the paperback release of A Cat on the Case, Somerville poet Doug Holder asked me about my “Witch Cats of Cambridge” series and if I’d consider moving the city to my current home in Somerville.

A Cat on the Case by Clea Simon

I lost my beloved cat Ketz this summer. I can attest to the mystery and magic that cats possess. So it came to my attention that Somerville novelist and critic Clea Simon has come out with yet another in her Cambridge Witch Cats Series. It is titled, A Cat on the Case , which concerns a young woman and her band of unique cats, as they try to solve a mystery in the Republic of Cambridge. I am hoping we see a Somerville cat series some time soon!

You have written a lot of cat mysteries–the cats in your latest mystery–are part of your Cambridge Witch Cats Series. Do you anticipate a Somerville cat series? How would a Somerville cat differ from a Cambridge one?

I conceived of the Witch Cats of Cambridge series while I still lived in Cambridge, so I’m afraid I don’t see moving it. (A Cat on the Case is the third Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery.) Though if I do start a new series at some point, I’ll definitely set it in Somerville! Hmmm… a Somerville cat? Maybe younger and hipper – an idiosyncratic tortoiseshell who goes her own way. Kind of like my current feline companion, Thisbe, maybe.

In your book a band of cats are in the employ of an aspiring witch detective. She is investigating the disappearance of a panicked stranger who handed her a violin and then split. The cats use their paranormal and magical powers to solve the mystery. Cats and witches are closely aligned in literature, but is it a unique take for witch detectives and cats? 

I wish I could give you a definitive answer, Doug. I’m not aware of any other amateur sleuths who use their paranormal powers to solve crimes – which is how I’d define “witch detective” in crime fiction parlance, but there may be. I am certainly playing with all the literary and mythological tropes about women, magic, and cats (a topic I got to have great fun with in my nonfiction book, The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats). What I love best about Becca, the human protagonist of A Cat on the Case, is that she thinks she’s the one taking care of the cats, as opposed to the other way around. And that is just based on fact, of course.

The shop where the panicked stranger hands the violin to the protagonist–is that modeled after one shop in particular?

No, I picked details from various shops, including Ritual Arts in Allston. But I added everything I’d want to see in a New Age botanica.

This book also explores the challenges a young woman has trying to cope in an ever-changing New England city. Explain.

A Cat on the Case is light-hearted, fun mystery – what we call a “cozy” in crime fiction – but I believe in making my characters realistic. I can certainly remember what it was like to be young and single and trying to make a living in a changing/gentrifying city, and I think readers will identify with Becca and her struggles – and be grateful that she has three loyal cats to help her!

Boskone is BACK!

Boskone is BACK, baby! This annual celebration by the New England Science Fiction Association of speculative fiction/science fiction, and fantasy in books, music, media, and more kicks off today and – as is appropriate for such a future-facing genre – has reinvented itself as a hybrid event. That means after a year of all-virtual, Boskone is once again happening in person Feb. 18-20 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel – and there’s also a virtual component for those who can’t or don’t want to gather in person just yet, from panels to streams where you can join fan tables, and more. I’ve got several events lined up IN PERSON for Friday evening and Saturday with some of my favorite people. Won’t you join us?

My schedule: Very Far Future SF Format: Panel
18 Feb 2022, Friday 18:00 – 18:50, Marina I (Westin)It’s hard enough predicting what next week will be like. How can we write SF taking place thousands or even millions of years in the future? How do we make the remote descendants of humanity relatable to readers? How do you convey a culture which has no continuity with our own? With Tamsyn Muir, Rich Larson, and James Cambias (M)Science Fiction Meets Detective Fiction Format: Panel
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 10:00 – 10:50, Marina II (Westin)Even SF/F/H authors enjoy solving a good mystery. Writers from Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick to J.D. Robb, Tanya Huff, Caitlin R. Kiernan, and Aliette de Bodard have all deployed detective characters. The panel may consider these and other fantastic fictional detectives, detective story structures within SF plots, whether a great detective needs a good murder, and other bloody intriguing themes. With Colin Alexander, Brendan DuBois (M), Chris Panatier, and Leigh PerryAnatomy of a Relationship: Writing Characters Who Display Healthy Human Connections Format: Panel
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 15:00 – 15:50, Harbor II (Westin)Move over emotionally constipated lone wolves! We’re looking for characters who connect with each other in strong and compelling relationships. How can we build romances that are both healthy and riveting? How does a character’s gender impact the cliches and problematic patterns we see, and how do we get past those in creating a character’s ties to others? How do friendship and other non-romantic social connections get represented in positive and impactful ways? Let’s also discuss the strong bonds that can form in subculture communities, rather than only having the token gay kid or the token immigrant. With Tabitha Lord (Association of RI Authors) (M), Leigh Perry, and  Cat Scully.

(I’ll also be signing books on Saturday, 16:00 – 16:50, Galleria – Autographing (Westin)

Here’s how to join me at Boskone this February 18-20, 2022 in Boston, MA for an unforgettable science fiction and fantasy experience! It’s going to be an incredible weekend of books, science, art, games, music, and more.

A Cat on the Case in paperback

Maybe you missed the ebook sale. Maybe you (like me) prefer reading on paper. Either way, you’re in luck! A CAT ON THE CASE, the third Witch Cat of Cambridge cozy mystery comes out in trade paperback today.

“Entertaining… Fans of talking cat cozies will have fun.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Cat-lovers, even if not fans of the paranormal, will be enchanted by the feline trio.” ―Booklist

“Simon expertly casts suspicion on one member of her tiny human cast after another…for readers who want all cats, all the time.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“An otherworldly fun trip…I couldn’t figure out which group provided the most fun: the clueless humans or the ever-so-sly cats.” ―Mystery Scene

“A sweet fantasy of magical cats helping to find out whodunnit that’s perfect for a few hours of cozy escapism.” ―Criminal Element

Praise for A Spell of Murder, the first Witch Cats of Cambridge Mystery

“(A) delightful series launch…You don’t have to be a cat lover to appreciate this paranormal cozy’s witty observations, entertaining dialogue, and astute characterizations.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Cats and magic–two of my favorite things! A Spell of Murder is a charming series debut.” ―Diane A.S. Stuckart, author of the Tarot Cats Mysteries

“A delightful modern-day mystery―Simon has conjured up a magical tale for our reading pleasure.” ―Marty Wingate, USA Today bestselling author

“Mystery, mayhem and magic, plus a triple dose of feline intuition, make an exciting start to this new series. These engaging felines will captivate and enchant you.” ―Mary Kennedy, author of The Talk Radio Mysteries

“In this endearing first Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, Clea Simon reveals what we’ve always suspected: cats really do have supernatural powers! While felines Clara, Harriet, and Laurel are focused on pillows and extra treats, it’s the readers who are treated to an absorbing plot as the cats use their secret abilities to help their human Becca find romance, a new career―and a murderer!” ―Leigh Perry, author of the Family Skeleton Mysteries

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The future of crime fiction

Joanna Schaffhausen, Connie Hambley, Dale Phillips, and I had a blast on Bonnie D. Graham’s streaming radio show on Wednesday, discussing the future of crime fiction – and how it’s all going to play out in movies and TV. Did we get our predictions right? Do you agree with us on the trends? Tune in and let me know!

Check it out here.

Or listen: https://cdn.voiceamerica.com/business...

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Getting ready…

Has it been a week? So many things are in the works that I’ve not kept up. In the next few days, I’ll be posting about an online appearance, an actual in-the-flesh conference (Boskone!), and more. But while I prep for all that — and for the February 8 release of A Cat on the Case in paperback — I want to let you know that BN.com is offering a fantastic preorder sale. Use code PREORDER25 and get 25% off. But you’ve got to act fast. This sale ENDS TOMORROW (Jan. 28)!

On sale THROUGH JAN. 28 ONLY at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ca...

My (virtual) trip to Maine

Thanks to fellow author Kate Flora, I got to visit the Maine Crime Writers blog yesterday. Kate and I basically continued a conversation we began at the New England Crime Bake this fall. Only this time the blog is sponsoring a giveaway. I’m reprinting our conversation here, but if you want to enter for a free copy of Hold Me Down, you need to go over to their blog and enter.

Introducing Crime Writer Clea Simon

Posted on January 12, 2022 by mainecrimewriters

From time to time, we introduce you to other crime writers whose work might interest you. Usually Maine writers. Sometimes writers whose work we’ve read and enjoy. Today’s interview is with Clea Simon, whose latest book is Hold Me Down.Some lucky reader who leaves a comment will win a copy of the book.

Give us a little background, please.

I have written stories for as long as I can remember, since I learned how to write. (My mother saved one of my favorites, concerning a frog prince, in which I still didn’t quite have the correct alignment of letters down.) In high school and college, I found an outlet in school newspapers and literary journals. I ended up in journalism because it was an actual job that involved writing, and because as an arts journalist I could write about music, my other big interest.

You started out as a journalist, so how did you become a mystery writer?

I credit the late Kate Mattes of Kate’s Mystery Books. You remember, I’m sure, that she would have these great holiday parties. By 2002 or so, she and I knew each other fairly well – I was a regular customer, and we’d often talk books. That winter, my third nonfiction book, The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats (St. Martin’s) had just come out, and she asked if I wanted to sign at the holiday party. I pointed out that Feline wasn’t a mystery, and she responded, “You do realize there’s a huge overlap between women who love cats and mystery readers, right?” Well, of course I did – and she stocked my book and I signed copies and we all drank a fair amount of wine. And at the end of the night, when we were cleaning up, she said, “Clea, you should write a mystery.”  I started what would become Mew Is for Murder (Poisoned Pen) the next day.

In retrospect, I realized that when writing nonfiction, I felt like my writing was a useful vehicle for conveying information. Ultimately, it was the information that was important. To write fiction I had to accept that my writing alone had value. Kate gave me permission to believe that.

It seems like you’ve written in many corners of the big genre tent. Why is that?To some extent, I’d say my various books spring from various moods; sometimes I’m feeling cozy. Sometimes not. Beyond that, different stories want to be told in different ways, and I am always grateful when a new story comes to mind.

Looking at your body of work, it appears that you write books both dark and light. Is that a challenge for you? Do you alternate between dark and light or just write the stories that come to you?

I’d love to alternate between dark and light, but it’s really just as things come to me. I’ve done some odd hybrids too – like my Blackie and Care series (three books) came to mind as a Holmes pastiche, but it turned into a dark futuristic feline fantasy. Go figure!

Readers are always curious about a writer’s process. So what’s yours? Pantser? Plotter? Do you write every day (or almost every day) or do you wait for the muse to appear and inspire you? Do you have a picture of your office/workspace you could share?

I start with a basic concept that may be as simple as a conflict I want to explore, or I may have an idea about the ending, but then I just go from there – so basically I’m a pantser. The pandemic has thrown me, and I always take some time off to do promotion, but now I’m back to my daily word count. For me, at this point in the process, that means going for 1,000 words a day, Monday through Friday.

Where are your books set?

It depends on the book! Hold Me Down is set in Boston, in the rock clubs of the ‘80s and ‘90s and today, A Cat on the Case is set in Cambridge. So, yeah, most are local to Massachusetts, though the Blackie and Cares are set in a futuristic ruined coastal city that may have been Boston but is never named.

Along with dark psychological mysteries, you write cozies with cats. So tell us a little about writing with cats? Do you have cats? Do your cats help with inspiration? Do you also write dark books with cats?

My husband Jon and I have one cat at a time. Currently, we cohabit with Thisbe, a tortoiseshell rescue from West Virginia. She has a mind of her own and keeps us on our toes. I find cats both calming and inspiring. They’re so intense! What is going on in those little heads? And, yes, my Blackie and Care series – The Ninth Life, As Black as My Fur, and Cross My Path (Severn House) – are all rather dark. These are narrated by a feral black cat who watches over a homeless teen, Care.

Over the years, we’ve talked a bit about the book we love that we can’t get published.

Thisbe the Cat

Mine is called Teach Her a Lesson. Is Hold Me Down that book for you? How does it feel to finally have it in print?

Absolutely wonderful! In retrospect, the years that I spent wit Hold Me Down before Polis published it this last October really allowed me to polish it. I’m extremely proud of it and, perhaps for the first time, I can say that this is exactly the book I wanted it to be.

You began as a reporter writing about the rock music scene. Your latest, Hold Me Down, is a return to that world. Tell us a little about the book and then what it was like to be back in that world while you were writing. It must have been a fascinating journey.

It was! I came of age in the Boston post-punk club scene, as a fan, a musician, and ultimately as a music critic, a role that gave me some standing and purpose in what was essentially a self-contained subculture. I loved that time, and there is still something that music evokes in me that I can’t necessarily articulate. That’s always the challenge of writing about music, isn’t it? But that’s what I love wrestling with – that and the various personalities who all came together in that scene.

Hold Me Down is, in some ways, a return to the world (and the style) of my 2017 psychological suspense World Enough (Severn) in that it also deals with a woman whose youth was spent in the Boston rock scene, which shaped her in unusual ways. World Enough is centered on the fallibility of memory and the seduction of nostalgia. Hold Me Down expands on those themes to explore how events can alter our life’s course. In Hold Me Down, I also got to explore the complexity of relationships (with partners, bandmates, and families of choice) and how everything from love to trauma to decisions about family and parenting play out.

What is one interview question you’ve always wanted to be asked but never are?

Hmm…. How about what writers would I love to have dinner with? That would allow me to bring up some favorites, like J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. LeGuin (both of whom would magically come back to life) and Hilary Mantel (who was about to come to the US for a book tour – which she never does! – before COVID hit!! Damn!!), rounded out by Donna Leon, whose general erudition – especially about opera – would really add something. I’m a bit of a foodie, so you know I’d go all out for this dinner! No idea what I’d make, except that it would involve multiple courses, and I suspect I’d keep fussing with the dishes because I’d be a bit intimidated and just want to listen to them all talk.

What would you like to add?

Just that I’d like to encourage people to try something new. Try a book that seems slow at first and let it grab you. Those are the best! That and thanks for having me, Kate.

A former journalist, Clea Simon is the Boston Globe-bestselling author of three nonfiction books and 29 mysteries. including the new psychological suspenseHOLD ME DOWN.  While most of these (like A Cat on the Case) are cat “cozies” or amateur sleuth, she also writes darker crime fiction, like the rock and roll mystery World Enough, named a “must read” by the Massachusetts Book Awards. Her new psychological suspense Hold Me Down(Polis Books) returns to the music world, with themes of PTSD and recovery, as well as love in all its forms. Clea lives in Somerville with her husband Jon and their cat Thisbe. She can be reached at www.cleasimon.com, on Twitter @Clea_Simon and on Instagram @cleasimon_author

Oops, not yet!

Yes, Amazon and the other online sites say that the paperback of A CAT ON THE CASE is out today – and out of stock. In reality, it’s been bumped back to Feb. 8 (thank you, pandemic supply chain issues)! You can pre-order it though – and, yes, those pre-orders really help us authors out. This magical cat cozy adventure will ship to you as soon as it is available!

While we wait, you can still get A SPELL OF MURDER (the first Witch Cat of Cambridge cozy) on ebook for $1.99! I was sure this sale would be over by now, but it isn’t – so if you’re interested, grab it now!

For your consideration…

It’s Agatha, Edgar, and Lefty award time! As folks fill out their various ballots, I’d like to offer for your consideration:

HOLD ME DOWN, Polis Books (mystery)

A CAT ON THE CASE, Polis Books (cozy mystery)

“The Basement,” Punk Noir Magazine (short story)

“No Cities to Love” (short story) in BLOODROOT: Best New England Crime Stories, Crime Spell Books

BLOODROOT: Best New England Crime Stories, Crime Spell Books (anthology)

Fellow authors, please feel free to share your Edgar, Lefty, or Agatha eligible titles in the comments!

Highlights of 2021…

This was a tough year! Yes, we had some laughs and some good times: 2021 saw the publication of two of my books: the Witch Cats of Cambridge cozy A CAT ON THE CASE in January (psst… the kindle is still on sale for $1.99) and, in October, the darker psychological suspense HOLD ME DOWN. These were high points for me, as were your notes, emails, and comments, dear readers. But, hands down, the best moment of the year had to be when that poor lawyer couldn’t turn off the cat filter his daughter had installed on Zoom…

So as we say goodbye to 2021, I give you, once again: “I am not a cat.”