A pep talk to myself. As a writer, you obviously spend a lot of time alone and a lot of time in your own head. That can often be a scary and insecure place so you often spend a lot of time dealing with self-doubt and feeling like you might have no talent.

There are no easy answers for these afflictions. The best one I’ve found is habit. Make it a priority, and do it regularly, and make it a habit.

 

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

 

3 LINKS

• Publisher’s Weekly talks to Thomas Perry about picking up THE BUTCHER’S BOY series for a fouth installment. Perry is one of those long successful novelists that is often overlooked for no other reason than he’s always on the shelf. Not an easy thing to do.
  

• It’s Tana French and The Searchers (sounds like a 50’s band) week on the internet. The NYTs has a look at the western influences on the new book and a mini-profile of French.
  

• If the avalanche of reviews haven’t helped you decide, CrimeReads has an excerpt of French’s THE SEARCHER you can check out.
  

 

2 QUOTES

Two quotes from Tana French this week:

• “Human beings, as I know better than most, can get used to anything. Over time, even the unthinkable gradually wears a little niche for itself in your mind and becomes just something that happened.”

• “Only teenagers think boring is bad. Adults, grown men and women who’ve been around the block a few times, know that boring is a gift straight from God. Life has more than enough excitement up its sleeve, ready to hit you with as soon as you’re not looking, without you adding to the drama.”

 

1 QUESTION

• What’s your favorite Dublin Murder Squad book? I enjoyed all of them but think I favor Frank Mackey and FAITHFUL PLACE.
  

 

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series