Shark gives evidence!

"The arm belonged to one Jim Smith, a small-time crook who, funnily enough, hadn't been seen recently"


Some time ago Fabulous Gary Corby mentioned a crime that was solved by a shark. Naturally I perked up my fins and asked for details.  This morning Gary posted the story here on his blog.

Of course it cracked me up completely, as I hope it does you.

And if, like me, it reminds you of how much fun it is to read Gary Corby's work, well, we're all in luck there. SACRED GAMES, the third book in the Nico series, is being published tomorrow 5/21 and you're in for a treat. Publishers  Weekly thinks so too and in addition to the starred review (even calling it "the best thus far"--and both his other books were starred reviews as well!), ran an interview with Gary.

Juliet Grames, Fabulous editor (L) and Bronwen Hruska, Fabulous publisher (R)

Available whereever you buy your Fabulous books!

WDGS?

You've seen all the kids with WWJD wristbands right?

WWJD stands for What Would Jesus Do. It's intended to keep you on the straight and narrow path.

Of course, some people have had some fun with the concept.

Well, I now have one that says "WDGS?"


After this post by Gary Corby, and the other one he did about the Higgs particle, it's clear that after I read the news my only question now is What Does Gary Say?


45 of the great things about my job are the clients -- smart, articulate, hilarious!  Man oh man, I love my job!

"Scandal in sandals" sounds soooo naughty!

That's the Australian edition of IONIA SANCTION by Gary Corby. In case you're not Down Under, there's an American edition too:

Ionia Sanction review

Corby, Gary. The Ionia Sanction. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Nov. 2011. c.304p. maps. ISBN 9780312599010. $24.99. M
Mix one part ancient history, one part clever and contemporary banter, and one part action, and you have a top-notch crime caper. Corby brings back his dynamic crime-­detecting couple, Nicolaos and Diotima, for their second outing (after The Pericles Commission). Pericles dispatches Nicolaos abroad to Ephesus to return a slave girl who’s really a government official’s daughter and to retrieve a stolen document that should explain why an Athenian diplomat was hanged. The arrogance of Athenian native Nicolaos is quickly dashed when he’s confronted with new customs in this region controlled by Persia. Luckily, the charming Diotima paves the way. Layers of intrigue pile up, and our duo can see that time may run out before they can smuggle critical information—and get themselves—back to Athens.VERDICT The mix of real history with a crime romp makes Corby’s sequel go down easily. The author deftly concocts a Mel Brooks type of history. Highly recommended for those looking for humor with their crime detecting.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/genrefiction/891460-280/mystery_reviews_september_1_2011.html.csp

Awesome Aussies!

They've nominated THE PERICLES COMMISSION for the Ned Kelly Award!




I've always wanted to visit Australia. Now I have a legitimate business reason to do so! I wonder if they'll let a shark swim through the Panama Canal?

Researching what no longer exists!

Interesting blog post here today about how to do research for novels set in ancient Athens!

When wrong is just right!

Cover design is a big deal in book publishing. Get the wrong one, and buyers pass you up in the store faster than you can hiss "don't judge a book by its cover!"

We have been very fortunate to have brilliant covers for Gary Corby's two books from Minotaur.  His debut, THE PERICLES COMMISSION is one of my all time favorites:

The Australia editon went in a very different direction but I love it as well:

Now, what you and I probably wouldn't catch right away, but Gary (meticulous researcher that he is!) did was there is something very wrong about this coin!  Here's his blog post about finding out what was wrong.

"Gary Corby, you have my apologies"

I loved this from a recent review of THE PERICLES COMMISSION:

I have to admit, having studied Greek and Latin at college, I grabbed this book off the shelf the second I saw it.  But I also have to admit, my hopes were not high.  I was convinced that I would spend the whole time complaining and finding fault.  

Well, Gary Corby, you have my apologies.  The book is well-researched, and the author seamlessly weaves in facts about Athens—the history, culture, and politics—without becoming tedious.  

Moreover, he manages to strike an excellent balance between creating this authentic setting and making the narrator and plot entertaining enough to satisfy and fascinate his modern audience.  

Some readers may dislike the modern voice the author has given to his narrator, but I believe this is one of the book’s greatest strengths.  Athens was the essence of modernity in its time, continually pushing forward, so to give Nicolaos a voice that is modern in both language and tone is appropriate.

And what’s more—it’s funny.

A fascinating look at the mechanics of writing a novel

Gary Corby writes delightful and fun mysteries set "in the mean streets of Classical Athens."  When you read his work you are transported back in time by prose that looks effortless.

That kind of work doesn't just flow off the pen.  Well, actually it does.  Then he has to go back and revise and polish to make it look effortless.   Here's one of the tools he uses to SHOW rather than tell (ha!)

These kinds of graphs are amazingly useful.  I've created more than a few myself when novels I've been reading seemed out of whack.  When you can see an imbalance in character's page time it makes it easier to know who gets chopped, or beefed up. It can also show you if the climax to the novel is in the wrong place, or (heaven forfend) missing altogether.

If you're revising your novel, this kind of graph might give you some very interesting insights.

Holy MOLY! Gary Corby #16 on google ebooks bestseller list!

The LA Times noticed!

Don't mind me, I've just fainted dead away.

Woohooooo!

Win a copy of PERICLES COMMISSION (in time for Christmas!)

 Anthony Pacheco targets his book reviews to novelist.  He gives Gary Corby's PERICLES COMMISSION a look today:

If you are a writer, don’t let the fabulous research blind you, or the mesmerizing voicing nor the purity of how the setting comes alive. Never has a historical book been so much fun to read. It was intelligent escapism at its highest form, and that, dear writers, was simply awesome. The Pericles Commission is not so much a novel as it is crack for mystery lovers.

There's a  lovely give away as well! It's easy to enter, just a comment on the blog. Don't miss it!

Yes, Virginia IS for (book) lovers!

The Richmond Times-Dispatch takes a look at historical mysteries this month and they pick five.  How pleased was I to see the list?

Pericles Commission
(hmmm...where have I heard about this book before??)

Gary Corby "tells a crackerjack story in his debut mystery"

In The Demon's Parchment  by Jeri Westerson

The Wolves of Andover  (a prequel to her debut novel, "The Heretic's Daughter,") by Kathleen Kent

Devoured by D.E. Meredith

Peril at Somner House by Joanna Challis



















It's interesting that two of the authors are Aussies (Joanna Challis and Gary Corby) and four of the five are from our friends at Minotaur.


Virginia is indeed for (book) lovers!

Pericles Commission reviews

*The Pericles Commission
Gary Corby, Minotaur, $24.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-312-59902-7

Those who like their historicals with a touch of humor will welcome Australian author Corby's promising debut, set in fifth-century B.C.E. Greece. When the arrow-pierced body of Ephialtes, the main force behind democratic reform in Athens, literally falls at the feet of Nicolaos, a sculptor's son expected to follow in his father's footsteps, fate hands Nicolaos another career. Ephialtes's politician friend, Pericles, who appears on the scene moments after the murder, is impressed enough by Nicolaos's preliminary conclusions to hire him to solve the crime. Members of the Areopagus, the city's ruling council, had the most to lose from Ephialtes's policies, but the neophyte detective finds that not even his exalted employer is above suspicion. The bodies pile up as the investigation continues, leading to a dramatic climax in which Nicolaos's survival hinges on his cracking the mystery. Corby displays a real gift for pacing and plotting. (Oct.)

Thrilling indeed!

Holy moly, it's real!

Gary Corby on THE PERICLES COMMISSION in the International Thriller Writers newsletter here.

The new rallying cry of writers everywhere: NO! No! NO!

I'll bet you thought this was about e-book royalties and pricing didn't you?

Not a chance.

It's the next installment of Gary Corby's hilarious tips on making your word processing program work magic for you.

I was looking...at Gary Corby's blog

I was thinking this info about search/replace will be pretty valuable if you, like Gary, have a fondness for present participles.

Gary Corby's evil plan for world domination

started out with trying to poison the interns.

Now he's moved on to the clients.

Holy Vegemite Batman!

One of our most far flung authors was in town last week.
And tried to poison our interns!

Hot TEA!--updated

Gary Corby gets a spin in the spotlight at Julia Buckley's Mysterious Musings!

And in case you missed seeing this, Gary has a guest post about leaving things OUT of the book over at Pixie Central!

"the mean streets of Classical Athens!"

If you're not reading Gary Corby's blog, you're really missing out.

I was prowling around over there tonight, and noticed he'd changed his "subtitle." Here's the new one--it's the description of his new mystery series (coming next year from Minotaur):


Nicolaos, the ambitious son of a minor sculptor, walks the mean streets of Classical Athens as an agent for the promising young politician Pericles. Murder and mayhem don't bother Nico; what's really on his mind is how to get closer (much closer) to Diotima, the intelligent and annoyingly virgin priestess of Artemis, and how to shake off his irritating 12 year old brother Socrates.


Now, I have to tell you, I've READ that book already. After reading that description though I just want dive in all over again. Thank goodness he just sent me book two!