Mark Rubinstein's Blog, page 25
July 16, 2014
A Talk with Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly’s books have been translated into 36 languages and have won many awards. His best known crime fiction series features LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. His other hugely popular series features criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. Michael has been a crime reporter, has written the Jack McEvoy series, stand-alone novels, many short stories, as well as non-fiction.
There’s a fascinating story how at age 16 your interest in crime peaked. Tell us about that.
One night, I was driving...
July 14, 2014
A Talk with Peter James and Ian Rankin
Peter James and Ian Rankin are among the foremost writers in the UK. Internationally acclaimed, their books have been translated into dozens of languages, and are regularly on best-seller lists.
Peter James has written 25 best-sellers. His most famous character is Brighton-based Detective, Roy Grace.
Ian Rankin has written 19 best-selling Inspector John Rebus novels.
Both authors are also involved in other artistic endeavors.
Peter and Ian are being interviewed together since they collaborated on...
July 8, 2014
To Review or Not
As a writer and reader, I have more than a passing interest in book reviews. While some writers say th
ey don’t pay attention to reviews, that level of insouciance escapes me. I think it’s a natural human tendency to be more than curious about what readers think of your work—good, bad, or in-between. I can barely imagine a writer who doesn’t read reviews.
I’m not talking about reviews from trade publications such as Library Journal, Booklist Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus. They could be the subj...
July 1, 2014
“Identity” A Talk with Ingrid Thoft
Ingrid Thoft’s acclaimed debut novel, Loyalty, introduced mystery lovers to her protagonist, Fina Ludlow. Fina is a top-notch investigator for her family’s law firm whose senior partner is Fina’s father, Carl Ludlow.
Ingrid’s just-released novel, Identity, involves thorny legal and psychological issues raised by a single mother, Renata Sanchez, who was impregnated by artificial insemination. Though she signed an agreement to keep the donor’s identity secret, she is convinced that making her ch...
June 25, 2014
“THE FOOT SOLDIER” Wins Silver at the Benjamin Franklin Awards
Just received the official certificate from IBPA informing me that “The Foot Soldier” won the Silver Award in the category of Popular Fiction. It’s an honor.
June 23, 2014
“Stay with Me”: A Talk with Alison Gaylin
International best-selling author Alison Gaylin received an Edgar nomination for her first book, Hide Your Eyes. Her Shamus Award-winning novel, And She Was, received a nomination for the Thriller and Anthony awards.
In the Brenna Spector series, Stay with Me is the third novel, preceded by And She Was and Into the Dark.
Stay with Me involves Brenna Spector, a private investigator who has “Hyperthymestic Syndrome,” a condition in which she recalls each moment of every day since an event of 30 y...
Need I Really Say Much More than This?
I think this pretty much sums up plenty of things.
June 22, 2014
Break an Ankle: Become Schizophrenic
Testifying in court can be a trying experience for an expert witness, whether you’re a forensic pathologist, engineer or psychiatrist.
Early in my career, I was asked by a defense attorney to evaluate a plaintiff in a lawsuit. He was a 30 year old man, who, while walking across the lobby of an office building, slipped on a freshly waxed floor and fractured an ankle. The physical injury was indisputable and was caused by the accident. I was certain the plaintiff would be cla
iming a consequentia...
June 17, 2014
‘Terminal City’: A Talk with Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein needs no introduction. For more than two decades, this former prosecutor was Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. She tried many “ripped from the headlines” cases and is considered America’s foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence.
Her 15 previous Alexandra Cooper novels are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Her 16th is Terminal City, a suspense potboiler, once again fe...
June 10, 2014
“A Bookclub? You Must Be Kidding.”
“Don’t waste your time,” a fellow writer said to me when he learned I was planning to meet with a book club. “There are so few people there, there’s nothing in it for you?”
I respectfully disagree.
As an author of psychological suspense thrillers, I’ve been invited to several book clubs to talk about my novels. It’s a very engaging kind of contact with readers, and is unlike speaking at libraries, being on a panel of authors, or talking to members of an organization.
Invariably, the meeting is h...
