Entertainment Weekly
Picked up the new EW and saw they gave BLOOD OF ANGELS an A-. Nice, since they usually don't like what I do for whatever reason. I wore them down, apparently. It was interesting because they hammered two books with major hype behind them: The Traveler, by "John Twelve Hawks", the guy who won't reveal his real name, and The Historian, the vampire book that Little, Brown paid 2 million for. None of which mattered, because the freaking Da Vinci Code is once again #1, for the one hundred and fourteenth week. Which reminds me: I saw an absolutely shameless book at the grocery store today, called - wait for it - MICHELANGELO'S NOTEBOOK. Apparently, it's about "a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican." Wow. What a concept.
14 Comments:
Don't forget...the "#1 best seller" books are written for the average reader...which is 5th grade level. I could name several authors who have the formula down pat but I don't want to be sued for libel! FWIW, I'm not speaking of Dan Brown...his are up a few grade levels. However, you and Michael Connelly, another undersung author, know how to use the English language and construct fleshed out, believable characters, settings and plots. Keep writing like you do...you have an appreciative audience regardless of the 5th grade critics.
lol! you make me laugh. i still like your 'language' in whatever form. hope your life is well and full of small, valuable jewels. i will be in your neck of the woods tomorrow for some writing sessions. i need new blood to sing about. i gag myself with the old stuff :) i have so many irons on the fire at the moment that i might actually have to get organized. so, how can i go about getting a signed copy of your newest book? oh, lol, in case you don't remember me...sorry for the assumption, though i do qualify for the first part of the word somedays :)
Dear Reed,
You bet, absolutely SHAMELESS. As Balzac ionce said, "Anyone who writes for a reason other than money is an idiot" Serves you right for going nuts and becoming a novelist.
Have to disagree with you, Paul - and Balzac, if the quote is correctly attributed. If the only reason to write is money, 95% of books would never be written, since only about 5% of writers make anything like a living at it. We could forget about poetry. A good book illuminates the human condition, and some of the best have been written by chaps who were barely paid a farthing. Thank goodness they pressed on.
Dear Reed,
You're quite right of course, but that's no comfort when the guy comes around to cut off your power, take back your car and forclose on the house. Balzac, to go back to him, was a commercial writer, like Dickens, and he was paid by the word. Not to mention the fact that most writers have little control when it comes to titles as you should know by now. Michelangelo's Notebook was originally titled The Last Judgement...that was the author's choice. But since the book is #5 on the Barnes and Noble mass market list, this author isn't going to be too..ahem, Noble about the title change.
Paul makes a good point - publisher's DO rename books on occasion. It happened to me, with The Last Goodybe.
Dear Reed,
Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but the Last Goodbye could be misinterpreted as being a SHAMELESS play on Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye. In the end the real point is whether or not it's a good story. Or, to qoute another, even more famous writer than Balzac...A rose by any other name...
Dear Reed,
Which brings me to the REAL question....why are you blogging when you should be writing!(joke)
Paul Christopher, as long as you are on this page, I have to ask this question: where did you come up the "facts" in your Author's Note in Michelangelo’s Notebook? You didn't list any sources. I can't say that I am surprised by that, after all, you do write fiction. Nonetheless, I did want to extend the opportunity for you to validate your rumors.
Dear Justin,
As you point out, it's a work of fiction. Most of the research is pretty firmly grounded in fact. The artwork mentioned was stolen and/or plundered durinng the war,Pacelli did have an illicit relationship with his daughter...the material isn't all that difficult to research. Try a book called Hitler's Pope for instance. Anyway, i'd say it's about 75 percent fact,20 perecent supposition, five percent filling in the historic holes. Supposed to make you think a little while you're being entertained on the flight from Kansas City...
whoops, for daughter read neice.
Dear Mr. Christopher,
We, Pustaka Zahra, are a book publisher based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
We are very interested with your fabulous book titled: MICHELANGELO'S NOTEBOOK.
We might like to translate, print, and publish it in book form in bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language).
Please contact me by email.
Best regards,
Prayudi Newoto
Senior Editor
Pustaka Zahra (Zahra Publishing House)
Jl. Batu Ampar III No. 14 Condet
Jakarta Timur 13520 Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 8092269
Fax: +62 21 80871671
Email: yudi@pustakazahra.com
Website: www.pustakazahra.com
Dear Mr. Christopher,
I am an 11th grader at ahigh school in California and i would just like to say that your book is amazing. I love the suspense and thrill you incorporated into it. I will continue to look for your books on the shelf.
Eric H.
Mission Hills High School
San Marcos CA
Is Paul Christopher really Christopher Hyde? Just finished Michelangelo's Notebook. The plot line was gripping, but would have been strengthened by including date and location headers at the transition points. However, I throughly enjoyed the characters and the action. Look forward to your next work!
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