Crime Beat

Stray doppies
Joanne Hichens is helping Phakama Mbonambi put together a special issue of WORDS ETC - which will encompass all things crime and krimi. She’s looking for ‘a couple of great crime-thriller fiction short stories’. So if you’ve got something for her to consider, send it to: joannehichens@telkomsa.net. Deadline is Friday 13 November.
BV Lawson on her informative blog In Reference to Murder has some bloodcurdling observations to make about the state of publishing: ‘…author Lynda La Plante made pointed remarks at the recent Crime Thriller Awards, taking publishers to task for pouring buckets of money into books “written” by celebrity authors, a speech that came on the heels of several authors -including P.D. James quoted in the Daily Mail - expressing their anger and feelings of how it was “deeply dispiriting” that the publishing industry was ignoring real writers “in favor of rubbish.”’ BV Lawson goes on to ask: ‘Will good writing continue to matter? Will books become so devalued, artistically and financially, that only celebrity books get published in the future the traditional way? Does anyone have a crystal ball? People who write for the sheer love it will continue to do so forever, published or no, but it will be interesting to see what the future holds for writing as a profession.’

Crime Beat Diary November 9 - 12:
Monday: In a two-part special, Joanne Hichens talks to Michael Robotham about his novel, Bombproof.
Tuesday: Part two of Joanne Hichens’ discussion with Michael Robotham.
Wednesday: Profound thoughts on SA crime fiction
Thursday: Rob Marsh writes about his Top Ten krimis.