On the Road with Absaroka County's Finest

This narrative comes from Craig Johnson's very entertaining monthly e-mail newsletter (March 1 edition). The only mystery writer in Ucross is preparing to launch his annual spring book tour with the mytical yet compelling Walt Longmire, sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Here's what's happening in Craig's world:

I'm calling this one the Kindness Goes Unpunished-High Noon or 7 PM Tour. It's that time of year when I take my dog-and-pony show on the road. Unfortunately, neither the dogs nor the ponies will be accompanying me, but my wife Judy will be...

The tour for Kindness Goes Unpunished starts a little early with an event at the Johnson County Library, which seems appropriate since Johnson County is home and was the model for Walt's Absaroka County. This is an event I've been looking forward to for quite a while, since not only are the attendees going to know all the street names, half of them are going to have been in the books. The Friends of the Library will have The Cold Dish and Death Without Company for sale and the promise of signed copies of Kindness Goes Unpunished, which can be picked up on the on-sale date of March 15.

Speaking of on-sale dates, look for the paperback of Death Without Company on February 28. My name's in red. As Vic would say, "What's up with that?" I'll be at the Johnson County Library Banquet, Buffalo, Wyo., Saturday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Casper got the nod for the actual kickoff, because Lisa Craft is such a sweetheart. I'm on Brian Scott's radio show in the morning, which is always a gas. He's funnier than I am. I'll be at Blue Heron Books in downtown Casper on Thursday, March 15, 6-7:30 p.m.

Labels: booksellers, mystery, writers

- posted by Michael Shay @ 2:47 PM 0 comments

 
Courtroom Helped McKinzie Refine Story Skills

Clinton McKinzie, University of Wyoming Law school grad and Denver-based district attorney, was profiled by writer Karen Cotton in the Jan. 12 "What’s Up" section of the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. He’s the author of the Antonio Burns mystery series set in Wyoming. He was on the mystery writing panel with C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, and Michael and Kathleen Gear at last fall’s Equality State Book Festival in Casper. We nicknamed that panel "Four Guys (and One Gal) in Hats," because they were wearing their trademark headgear. Little-known fact: if you write mysteries set in Wyoming, you have to wear a cowboy hat (or something similar). This doesn't apply to writers in other genres, although I know at least one poet who wears a black beret (beatnik flashback) and a writer of historical western novels who wears an historical top hat made of beaver.

In the WTE article, McKinzie gave his law background credit for his story-telling abilities. "When you’re speaking to a jury, you learn how to tell them in a way that has an impact on them, so they feel what the victim felt. Speaking to a jury is like plotting a book. You have to keep their attention and you keep them involved. You have to think about pacing and climax."

It makes sense. And also explains why we have so many attorneys writing mysteries and thrillers. John Grisham and Scott Turow, for example.

Labels: Colorado, mystery, University of Wyoming, Wyoming

- posted by Michael Shay @ 10:17 AM 0 comments

 
NATURE WRITERS GATHER AT MAMMOTH: The Yellowstone Nature Writers Field Conference will be held Jan. 28-Feb. 3 at the Mammoth Hotel in Yellowstone National Park. This five-day workshop "seeks literary inspiration through park exploration and expert guidance from accomplished writers and publishers." Conference director is Digger Jerry George, author of several books and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. The conference faculty features best-selling Wyoming mystery writer C.J. Box; award winning author and publisher of Hayday Books, Malcolm Margolin; literary agent Judy Klein; and on-line magazine editor Courtney Lowery.

Labels: literary agents, mystery, writers, writing conferences

- posted by Michael Shay @ 9:37 AM 0 comments

 
BOX IN NEBRASKA: Cheyenne mystery writer C.J. Box will talk about his books on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m., at the Chadron Public Library in Chadron, Nebraska. His most recent "Joe Pickett" novel is In Plain Sight. The event is free and open to the public. Box's novels have won numerous awards and nationwide praise. A reviewer in the Madision (Wisc.) Capitol Times said this: "What mystery writer Tony Hillerman is to New Mexico, C.J. Box is to Wyoming... crackling good reads...."

Labels: mystery, writers

- posted by Michael Shay @ 1:45 PM 0 comments