I got this email from a friend of mine and thought it was so funny, I had to share it with you.
One of the prominent trends in mystery fiction todayis the publication of
what I call "niche mysteries." These are books that, in theory, will appeal
to a small niche of readers due to their unique and charming specialty
content.As a result, we have suffered through the Mommy mysteries,
the scrapbooking mysteries, the needlepoint mysteries. Mysteries set in the
world of bed and breakfasts, travel agencies, and old age homes. Mysteries
with recipes, patterns, or tips on making candy.But now they’ve gone
too far.Today I received in the mail a mystery novel ("first in the
new series," the cover proudly trumpets) that is set in the exciting and
quirky world of…Soapmaking.
That’s right. Soapmaking. It even
includes soapmaking tips.The title? Dead Men Don’t Lye.
I
couldn’t make this shit up.
What’s next, Glass-blowing Mysteries? Nail Polishing Mysteries? Mohel Mysteries?
Mohel mysteries?
Thanks for the tip.
Ha! The tip!
I’ve often thought about writing a mystery about a detective who spends too much time on the internet, but I’m not sure whether that would be believable.
The question is, is Tim Myers new series any good? (Personally, I think one series is stretching it for him, but we’ll see.)
Mark
The question is, is Tim Myers new series any good? (Personally, I think one series is stretching it for him, but we’ll see.)
Mark
The tip!
Oh man… best laugh of the day. Thanks Lee and Joe.
Not to burst his, uh, glass bubble, but Dick Francis wrote a book, Shattered, that was about glass blowing.
I’ve long thought, actually, that the niche thing is getting a little strange. My wife and I thought I should write a mystery novel featuring a black lesbian quadriplegic lawyer who consults to forensic experts. That way we could try to target the African-American market, the lesbian (or is that gay, bisexual or transgender?) community, the quadriplegic (physically challenged, other impaired?) community, the legal community, the forensic market…
Nah.I didn’t want to write about a lawyer.
Best,
Mark Terry
Mommies are a specialty niche? Hey, I’ll take unique and charming, but we females of the parental persuasion kinda outnumber scrapbooking Mohels, here, so I can’t just lye down and let that “small” go unchallenged.
You know if someone does glassblowing, it’ll have to be called “Playing With Fire.”
Confession, I am an avid knitter and picked up KNIT ONE, KILL TWO over the weekend. Started reading it at lunch today.
And….. the heroine/detective DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO KNIT!!! She is not a knitter!!! If you are allegedly marketing a book to knitters, shouldn’t your heroine actually BE a knitter?
“Today I received in the mail a mystery novel (“first in the new series,” the cover proudly trumpets) that is set in the exciting and quirky world of…
Soapmaking. That’s right. Soapmaking. It even includes soapmaking tips.”
Tyler Durden: First rule about Soapmaking Mystery Club, is don’t talk about Soapmaking Mystery Club!
“Today I received in the mail a mystery novel (“first in the new series,” the cover proudly trumpets) that is set in the exciting and quirky world of…
Soapmaking. That’s right. Soapmaking. It even includes soapmaking tips.”
Tyler Durden: First rule about Soapmaking Mystery Club, is don’t talk about Soapmaking Mystery Club!
Dips on Lit-Blogging Mysteries!
Dibs, even. God, never comment after a nap.
Or during.
Ha! Sorry, but, Ha! That’s all. 🙂
I think a nice series about a writer who solves murders committed by frustrated entertainment producers would….hmmm