National Book Critics Circle nominations

NBCC Award Nominees

Fiction
Roberto Bolano, 2666
Marilynne Robinson, Home
Aleksandar Hemon, The Lazarus Project
M. Glenn Taylor, The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart
Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kittredge

Nonfiction
Dexter Filkins, The Forever War
Drew Gilpin Faust, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the Civil War
Jane Mayer, The Dark Side
Allan Lichtman, White Protestant Nation
George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations Since 1776

Biography
Paula J. Giddings, Ida, A Sword Among Lions: Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against LynchingSteve Coll, The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family In An American Century
Patrick French, The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography of V.S. Naipaul
Annette Gordon-Reed, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family
Brenda Wineapple, White Heat: The Friendship of Emily Dickinson & Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Autobiography
Rick Bass, Why I Came West
Helene Cooper, The House On Sugar Beach
Honor Moore, The Bishop's Daughter
Andrew X. Pham, The Eaves Of Heaven
Ariel Sabar, My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq

Criticism
Richard Brody, Everything Is Cinema: The Working Life Of Jean-Luc Godard
Vivian Gornick, The Men in My Life
Joel L. Kraemer, Maimonides: The Life and World of One of Civilization's Greatest Minds
Reginald Shepherd, Orpheus in the Bronx: Essays on Identity, Politics, and the Freedom of Poetry
Seth Lerer, Children's Literature: A Reader's History: Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter

Poetry
August Kleinzahler, Sleeping It Off in Rapid City
Juan Felipe Herrera, Half the World in Light
Devin Johnston, Sources
Pierre Martory (trans. John Ashbery), The Landscapist
Brenda Shaughnessy, Human Dark with Sugar

The Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing went to Ron Charles.

SLEUTHFEST GUEST BLOGGER: Terry Odell

Blogging about SleuthFest

My local crit group encouraged me to go to a writing conference when I was just getting my feet wet in the writing business. When I saw that Robert B. Parker was going to be the keynote speaker at a mystery conference, I decided to bite the bullet and attend. Left hubby at home, drove the 4 hours to Fort Lauderdale (which was a major trip to do solo back then), and was immersed in the world of writers. At the time, I thought I was writing a mystery. Turns out, it was more of a "romantic suspense" according to industry labels, but what did I know? I had a detective, a crime and a victim. So what if they fell in love along the way, right?

I remember applying for a slot in Barbara Parker's workshop for a critique session. I think I got the best of both worlds on that one when she didn't accept my pages among those she would critique, because she certainly pulls no punches when she discusses the writing. "Nothing wrong with this that a pair of scissors wouldn't cure," sticks with me all these years later. But she'd jotted a note on my returned pages and said she'd like to discuss the chapter with me. Over lunch (I paid, of course), she pointed out strengths and weaknesses – 'You've got the writing down, now learn about structure."

I also remember having an agent appointment with Dominic Abel. I was clueless. Totally. I knew he represented some big name favorites of mine, and had no delusions he'd be the least bit interested in my humble attempts at a story, which wasn't even a mystery. He said that didn't matter; if I could get readers to love Sarah, my heroine, that was the important thing. And he asked for a partial, which I thought was a given at a conference, but others said he only requested a few submissions. He wrote a very nice and personal rejection letter, too!

It took 3 tries before I managed to snag a spot in the "hot seat," and I hit the jackpot big time with feedback both from Barbara Parker's and PJ Parrish's workshops on Third Degree Thursdays. And by now, I also felt I had something to contribute during the discussions.

I've met Christopher Whitcomb who gave me an ARC of his book, with an inscription I can't share. And Robert Crais and Michael Connelly showed much patience with my blathering about having grown up in Los Angeles while they signed books for me.

One year, hubby came along. He's a biologist, specializing in marine mammals. Usually dead ones. So he had an absolute blast in the forensics tracks, and has been coming along ever since. I had to nudge him (ok, stronger than a nudge) to get the books he bought autographed. He "didn't want to bother the authors." Duh! He's learning.

And last year, I was on the other side of the table for the first time. I moderated a panel, and participated in another. I signed my books. I met great people. This is one conference that stays on my list. I can't wait to get back.


Terry Odell is a Los Angeles native who now makes her home in Florida. Her latest release, When Danger Calls, was released in December, 2008, by Five Star Expressions. You can find her website at http://www.terryodell.com, and her blog, "Terry's Place," at http://terryodell.blogspot.com/

2008 DILYS WINN AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (IMBA) is pleased to announce this year’s nominees for the Dilys Winn award, given annually to the mystery titles of the year which the member booksellers most enjoyed selling. The Dilys Award is named in honor of Dilys Winn, the founder of the first specialty bookstore of mystery books in the United States. The award will be presented at Left Coast Crime in March.

The IMBA is comprised of a network of individually owned retail bookstores across North America and the United Kingdom, devoted to the sale of mystery books. The IMBA has won several awards for THE 100 FAVORITE MYSTERIES OF THE CENTURY and THEY DIED IN VAIN, published by Crum Creek Press/Drood Review Books. For more information on the IMBA and the Dilys awards, including past nominees and winners, visit www.mysterybooksellers.com.

2008 Nominees

TRIGGER CITY, Sean Chercover, William Morrow
THE VICTORIA VANISHES, Christopher Fowler, Bantam
SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY, Deanna Raybourn, Mira
CHILD 44, Tom Rob Smith, Grand Central
DAWN PATROL, Don Winslow, Alfred A. Knopf

SLEUTHFEST GUEST BLOGGER: Peg Herring

Sleuthfest: what’s not to like? For a girl from Michigan, just the possibility of warmth and sunshine is enticement enough. By the time February arrives, I wouldn’t care if attending Sleuthfest meant eating corn dogs, making conversation with Butthead, and listening to non-stop accordion music. That’s not the case, however. The con is a well-run, friendly get-together where an author like me can recharge, improve, network, and promote, so it’s well worth the (very long) trip.

Last year I was a first-timer, but I found the company friendly and the program worthwhile. Although the hotel is a great venue with excellent meals, I rented a condo on the beach and enjoyed a full week on the ocean. Even without being at the con 24/7, I met lots of people: authors, fans, even an agent and an editor. The sessions I attended were of interest, and everyone on the panels seemed willing to share the spotlight. Pitch sessions moved along efficiently, yet I felt I got a fair hearing. The contact I made is still good a year later. The cocktail party was lovely, drinks by the pool on a perfect evening. I was thrilled to get a few words with Lee Child, one of my favorites, and to win some Linda Fairstein books as well.

This year I’ll know my way around. I made some contacts last year at libraries in the area, so I’ll be speaking several times during the week at nearby towns. I’m also on a Sleuthfest panel, “Historical Mysteries” on Friday afternoon. That’s what I’m most looking forward to, even though my historical mystery, HER HIGHNESS’ FIRST MURDER, won’t be out until 2010. I’m also looking forward to meeting some of the authors involved in an anthology I contributed to for Wolfmont Press. DYING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND is a Toys for Tots™ fundraiser, and I’m hoping some of the other authors will attend so we can meet in person.

So I’m counting the days. There are lots of good conferences around, and I usually have fun whenever I get to hang with others in the book business. Sleuthfest has the added appeal of beautiful weather, palm trees, and the mighty Atlantic, so I hope if you see me there with my Michigan winter-white skin, you’ll step up and say hello.

Peg Herring is a former educator whose first book, MACBETH’S NIECE, was released by Five Star in January of 2008. Her website is www.pegherring.com, and she regularly blogs on http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/pegfish.

Bestsellers 2008 at Murder on the Beach

Murder on the Beach Bookstore in Delray Beach, Florida, the only mystery bookstore in the state (!) has announced their bestsellers for year 2008.

Once again, Randy Wayne White tops the list. And Elaine Viets appears three times. Murder on the Beach make a concerted effort to support and sell their local mystery authors, and this list proves that.

Bestsellers 2008
Hardcovers

Black Widow by Randy Wayne White, Putnam
Hells Bay by James W. Hall, St Martins
Burn Zone by James O. Born, Putnam
Dark of Day by Barbara Parker, Vanguard
Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey, Harper Collins
Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly, Little Brown
Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva, Putnam
Night Stalker by James Swain, Balentine
Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods, Putnam
Unknown Means by Elizabeth Becka, Hyperion
Queens Gambit by Diane Stuckart, Berkley
Dark Tide by Andrew Gross, Harper Collins
Clubbed to Death by Elaine Viets, Obsidian
Legally Dead by Edna Buchanan, Scribner
Law of Second Chances by James Sheehan, St Martins
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben, Putnam
Last Call by James Grippando, Harper Collins
Deadly Silver Sea by Bob Morris, St Martins
Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein, Random House
St Barts Breakdown by Don Bruns, Oceanview


Trade Paper

Key West in Black and White by Tom Corcoran, Ketch & Yawl
The Last Enemy by G Brophy, Soho
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch, St Martins
Sarahs Key by Tatiana Derosnay, St Martins
In the Woods by Tana French, Berkley


Mass Market

Wreckers Key by Christine Kling, Ballantine
Field of Fire by James O Born, Berkley
Knock Off by Rhonda Pollero, Kensington
Murder with All the Trimmings by Elaine Viets, NAL
Magic City by James W Hall, St Martins
South of Hell by PJ Parrish, Pocket
Murder with Reservations by Elaine Viets, NAL
Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson, Berkley
Trace Evidence by Elizabeth Becka, Hyperion
Getting Old is To Die For by Rita Lakin, Ballantine
Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett, Berkley
Bermuda Schwartz by Bob Morris, St Martins
Midnight Rambler by James Swain, Ballantine
Down River by John Hart, St Martins
State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy, Berkley
Blue Zone by Andrew Gross, Harper Collins
Killer Knots by Nancy Cohen, Kensington
Jamaica Blue by Don Bruns, St Martins
Alibi Man by Tami Hoag, Ballantine
Hunters Moon by Randy Wayne White, Berkley

SleuthFest 2009: Hotel and Meals

I have offered up my blog to Sleuthfest participants and Linda G. Hengerer, co-chair with Neil for this year's SleuthFest and author of Football Basics and A Pocket Full of Wine, offered up this info:

Randy Rawls is Chairing SleuthFest this year, and Neil Plakcy and I are co-chairs. I’m in charge of the pre-conference side of things, including the hotel and meals.

We are once again at the Deerfield Beach Hilton, with a special group rate of $179/night. Becky Swets is the roommate coordinator for anyone looking to share a room, and can be reached at bdors52@yahoo.com.

For the SleuthFest newbie, or anyone who wants to see old friends, we are having the SleuthFest 101 dinner on Thursday night. We’re staying at the hotel, so there’s no need to carpool, rent a car or cab it. Convenience is the key this year.

New: having our own designated bartender Friday and Saturday! Each attendee will receive a drink coupon that can be used either at our special bar area or during the Agents & Editors cocktail party on Saturday night. Attendees from previous years know how crowded the bar can get, especially if there is another big function going on. This should help ease the crush around the main bar.

Also new this year: a spot to grab a quick breakfast-on-the-go. We’ll have the Captain’s Room (across from the dining room) set up with: Whole Fruit- $1.00 per piece; Yogurt Fruit/Granola Parfait- $4.00; Sliced Fresh Fruit - $3.00; Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches - $4.00; Assorted Muffins- $2.50; Bagels with Cream Cheese- $3.00; Boxes of Assorted Cereals with Milk- $2.50; Bottled Water & Sodas, Juices- $3.00.

The Agents & Editors Cocktail Party will be poolside, weather permitting; last year it was beautiful. With a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres in different areas around the pool, and a carving station, there is ample opportunity to meet and mingle.

There’s still plenty of time to sign up and escape the freezing weather up north. Get the details at http://www.mwaflorida.org/sleuthfest.htm.

Sleuthfest!

Sleuthfest is a fabulous conference geared towards mystery writers and readers. The Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America has been putting this conference on for years, and it just keeps getting better and better.

This year it is Feb. 26-March 1st at the Deerfield Beach Hilton in lovely south Florida, where the warm balmy breezes will make you forget all about Old Man Winter for sure. And if you register today, you get the early discount too! If you need more enticement, the Guests of Honor are Brad Meltzer and John Hart! (And I'll be there too.)

Neil Plakcy, who's in charge of programming, sent along some info. I'm hoping that some of the other writers who are attending will share their thoughts about the conference as well.

From Neil...

Sleuthfest Programming

I’m in charge of programming for Sleuthfest, and it has been an interesting challenge. I’m trying to build on what we’ve done before, but also bring to bear my experience having attended dozens of mystery writers’ conferences over the many years since I first began trying to get published.

Last year, Christine Kling ran a workshop in which aspiring authors submitted pages of their works in progress in advance, and she and the rest of the group critiqued them. It was a huge success, so we decided to try that again. Only this time, Elaine Viets, Vicki Hendricks and Lisa Black will be joining Chris in offering critique workshops, as part of our Third Degree Thursday programming.

Keeping our focus on helping writers craft better manuscripts, we’ve got a bunch of great workshops lined up on Friday and Saturday. Vincent O’Neil will examine openings, Martha Powers will look at suspense, S.J. Rozan will discuss characters, and the sister team of P.J. Parrish will help with pacing problems.

All this is in addition to our usual roster of great panel discussions, on topics like legal eagles, female detectives, vampire villains, historical honchos, amateur sleuths, and private eyes. We’ll kibitz about cops, yak about young adult mysteries, and rap about romantic suspense. Hope you can join us!

Neil Plakcy is the author of Mahu, Mahu Surfer, Mahu Fire, and Mahu Vice (August, 2009), mystery novels set in Hawaii. Editor of Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog, and Hard Hats: Gay Erotic Stories.www.mahubooks.com

More people are reading

A new report from the National Endowment for the Arts in the New York Times today shows that for the first time in 25 years, more people are reading fiction. They are attributing this to their program, the national Big Read, and to Oprah's book club, the popularity of the Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) and Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) books. I wonder if it is because more people are looking to escape from reality. Whatever the reason, I am happy to hear it.

Read the article here.

One Dollar Ebooks

From Publishers Lunch--

Orbit has launched a promotional program offering a different book each month, selling for just one dollar each. Vendors include Amazon and Sony, along with Stanza, eReader, Fictionwise, Diesel, and MobiPocket. This month's offering is Brent Weeks' debut THE WAY OF THE SHADOWS. Publisher Tim Holman says: "We believe that this promotion will give readers a great opportunity to discover new writers. Most of our consumer marketing has an online focus, and the digital marketplace offers the perfect platform for price-promotion initiatives such as this.... The range of titles chosen for the promotion includes a mix of frontlist and backlist, from both new and established authors, and we will be monitoring the performance of every title very closely."

ONE DOLLAR ORBIT

The Librarian (1947)

The only thing that's changed is the technology...

It's a New Year...

and I wish you all a very happy, healthy new year, filled with joy, love, and peace.

Janet Evanovich has a new "between-the-numbers" book coming out this week - how's that for a great way to start the new year! Look for Plum Spooky on January 6. Meanwhile, enjoy the Twelve Days of Christmas, courtesy of Stephanie Plum:

Best Books of 2008

The lists are coming out - here are a few to get you started:

The Washington Post 10 Best Books of the Year as chosen by the editors and reviewers

NY Times 10 Best Books of 2008 as selected by the editors of the Book Review

NY Times 100 Notable Books of 2008 as selected by the editors of the Book Review

Amazon.com Best Books of 2008
They have editors pick the top 100, then editors picks by subject - top ten science books, top ten books for teens, etc. Also 100 most popular books picked by readers, and even a top ten list of the best book covers.

Publishers' Weekly Best Books of the Year includes extensive lists = a general fiction list, then lists by genre like mystery, romance, sci-fi & comics, poetry, nonfiction, childrens, etc.

NPR's Best Books of 2008 include eclectic lists like Migration And Memory: Top Five 2008 Books; Best Graphic Novels Of 2008; Alan Cheuse's Top Fiction Picks For 2008; Best Political And Current Affairs Books Of 2008; Best Foreign Fiction Of 2008; The 10 Best Cookbooks Of 2008; Top Five Crime And Mystery Novels Of 2008 and more.

Stephen King: 10 Best Books of 2008 (Entertainment Weekly)
"Okay, gang, pay attention: In 2007, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners, the average price of a movie ticket was $6.88. Let's say it goes up to $7.00 in 2008. And say that you and your sweetie buy $10 of snacks (featuring your Uncle Stevie's famous ''heavy'' bag of popcorn). Even leaving out the babysitter and the cost of gas, that's $24 for two hours' entertainment. For that same $24 — less, with a discount — you can buy a new book and be entertained for days. Plus, your sweetie can read it when you're done (or first, if he or she's the grabby type). My point? Books are still the best bang for your entertainment buck, and 2008 was a great year for reading. Below are my personal best for the last 12 months. (And I've indicated the ones in paperback — even cheaper!) My advice is get them all. Immediately."

Grammy Awards for Spoken Word

The nominations for the 51st annual Grammy Awards have been announced!

The five nominees in the Spoken Word category are:

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore; read by Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon and Blair Underwood (Simon & Schuster Audio)

Born Standing Up written and read by Steve Martin (Simon & Schuster Audio)

I Am America (And So Can You!) written and read by Stephen Colbert (Hachette Audio)

Life Beyond Measure written and read by Sidney Poitier (HarperAudio)

When You Are Engulfed In Flames written and read by David Sedaris (Hachette Audio)

National Book Award Winners Announced

The winners of the 2008 National Book Awards were announced November 19 at the National Book Foundation's 59th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner in New York City. T

he night's ceremonies included the presentation of the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to Maxine Hong Kingston and the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community to publisher Barney Rosset.


This year's National Book Award winners are:

Fiction
Peter Matthiessen, Shadow Country (Modern Library)

Nonfiction
Annette Gordon-Reed, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family (Norton)

Poetry
Mark Doty, Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems (HarperCollins)

Young People's Literature
Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied (Scholastic)

GUEST BLOGGER: JERI WESTERSON

I love discovering new authors, and even better is sharing my find with my readers. So I am delighted to introduce my guest blogger, Jeri Westerson, whose first novel has just been released. Jeri was kind enough to share her thoughts...

History vs Fiction: How Many Liberties?

It's the great debate amongst writers of historical fiction and historical mystery. Does taking liberties negate some unwritten contract between author and reader? And just what exactly constitutes a "liberty?"

Now I'm not an historian. I don't even play one on TV. What I am is an interested amateur, someone who has been surrounded by history all her life from the day I could reach the bookshelf and take down something that had pretty pictures of castles and interesting places and people. My parents were Anglophiles and medieval history buffs. I learned to appreciate Chaucer at an early age and to take with a grain of salt old movies with historical themes—basically anything Cecil B. DeMille was attached to. But we'll get back to that in a minute.

My debut "Medieval Noir" VEIL OF LIES hits the streets at the end of October, and I did my best to make sure my facts were correct. Being involved in history for fun doesn't mean I don't take it seriously. It is this unwritten rule that to call something "historical" is to play fair with the reader. You don't start making up historical details to suit the plot. And if you do change a fact or two, you come clean in an author's afterword.

But then, where is the line drawn when using history as your plot element? Since I have no desire to raise the ire of fellow authors, I will use movies and a few television shows to discuss these points. Movies set in a distant time will always be popular. To see these places brought to life on the big screen is always a thrill. Even better when they are accurate. Alas.

I can forgive The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn because…well. It has Errol Flynn in it! The viewing public in the thirties were terribly invested in the Victorian view of the middle ages, which was a golden-hued revisionist's daydream, full of pointy-sleeved damsels stepping out of pre-Raphaelite paintings. So we can excuse, perhaps, the Warner Bros. 1938 retelling of the Robin Hood tale. Instead, let's talk Mel Gibson's Braveheart, assuming that in 1995 we should know better. In movies, it is the nature of the medium to compress timelines. You have more latitude in the pages of a novel to stretch out the time. But to compress them so much as to manipulate plot elements gets greedy. The biggest mess in Braveheart (and don't get me wrong. I still liked the movie. I can watch the battles and enjoy that. I can ignore the rest. Not so much in a book.) was the romance between Queen Isabella and William Wallace. At this late stage in Wallace's life, he was about 30 and Isabella, not yet wife to the heir Edward II, was 10 years old (Isabella and Edward II were married in 1308, three years after William Wallace was executed). Sure, it's a great plot element. Romantic and ironic. It just wasn't possible, that's all. And that's a big leap. We won't even talk about the lack of a bridge in the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

How about 2005's The Kingdom of Heaven? This was a short-lived movie on the last days of the crusades. This is Ridley Scott's revisionist view and attempt to placate the Muslims that they were good sorts way back when before the evil west started rattling broadswords and everybody started calling everybody infidels. According to Jonathan Riley-Smith, professor of ecclesiastical history at Cambridge University, the film is "Osama bin Laden's version of history." He said that "the fanaticism of most of the Christians in the film and their hatred of Islam is what the Islamists want to believe. At a time of inter-faith tension, nonsense like this will only reinforce existing myths." Agreeing with Professor Riley-Smith, I contend that it would be different if, say, you wrote your book in the point of view of one side or the other. A crusader protagonist might look upon the Muslim as an evil usurper. A Muslim protagonist would look upon a western crusader as an evil barbarian. But looking at the facts with a broader view, certainly finds a different history from Scott's.

The storyteller does have the right to create his own spin on a story. But when you are dealing with specific aspects of history it would seem in the best interests of all to depict it properly. For good or ill, people get their history from novels, movies, and—God help us—the History Channel. Taking this into account, does that mean there is a moral obligation to get the history right?

I was on a panel at Left Coast Crime in Denver in 2008 with author Stephanie Barron, who writes a mystery series with Jane Austen as the detective. She disagreed that authors need to get all the history right. She was more interested in the "what if" of a character: what if they really did this or that. "I am at peace with the fact that I wasn't writing a monograph," she said. Here, here.

On the other hand, the new BBC series Robin Hood plays fast and loose with, of all things—costumes! The sheriff of Nottingham seems to get his fashion sense from Huggy Bear, wearing pimped out Matrix-like long black leather jackets and Doc Martins, and at other times silk jammies. Merry Men sport dew rags, t-shirts, and net tank tops. With Robin Hood being a semi-mythical character, one can play a bit with his history and activities, but please put him in the correct clothing! (In fact, Nottingham castle is throwing their lot in with the BBC to make a buck…er…pound by displaying the costumes used in the show and purporting that they are deeply researched and accurate! For a SoHo nightclub, maybe…)

HBO's The Tudors suffers from extreme time compression as well as character compression (several characters reduced to one) in order to tell the story the writers want to tell, rather than the already extremely interesting real story of Henry VIII's pursuit of immortality with a son and heir.

So it comes down to this: to what lengths may an author play fast and loose with history? The answer is: It just depends on how obsessive you want to get. I know authors who get anal about the weather; was it really raining that day in 1236? We must make sure that Easter morning reflects the actual sunshine or fog. Feh.

Do we need to get that obsessive? Only if you want to. I don't think anyone will lose sleep over a rainstorm that didn't happen that November. However, if the region was experiencing a drought—a pretty infamous one that caused starvation and disease due to lack of rainfall—that's important and can inform the story.

I almost boo-booed big time in my own novel when I chose to begin my story in 1383. Some of the action of my "medieval noir" VEIL OF LIES takes place in King Richard II's court with his courtiers. In the middle of writing, I thought I should take a look at just where Richard's court was in the fall of 1383, and it was a good thing I did. I discovered that he wasn't even in London in 1383 at all! Solution? Move the action to 1384. It worked. I just had to make sure I fixed all the other timeframes. Would the average person—including my editor—have known the difference? Probably not. Would students of history and scholars have known? Most assuredly. Do I feel better about changing it? You betcha!

For the most part, I like to keep it real. It's more challenging, to be sure, to make certain that the facts are correct and change plot to fit the actual events. Readers appreciate the extra mile. But I'm also with Stephanie Barron who doesn't think that every little thing needs to be etched in stone. Just remember, if you are writing your thesis, use textbooks by reputable scholars. Don't pull down an historical novel from the shelf for your notes.

Unless, of course, you are reading the brand new medieval noir by a certain debut author to take a quick break.

L.A. native Jeri Westerson has been a journalist, a theology teacher, and a noted blogger on things mysterious and medieval. Her debut novel VEIL OF LIES; A Medieval Noir, blends her love of medieval history with her other love of dark plots and angst-ridden heroes. In bookstores. Read an excerpt at www.JeriWesterson.com or read her blog "Getting Medieval".