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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Reading and Networking

by Marsha Ward

Writers need to do many things to be competent and successful. Among those things is reading and networking with other writers, editors, and agents.

Don't forget that American Night Writers Association (aka ANWA) is holding a writers conference on March 1. This is a wonderful conference with terrific speakers at a bare-bones price. Do consider attending.

Another conference--at which I'll be presenting--is LDStorymakers' two-day event on March 21 and 22.

Writers need to be readers, not only to check out the competition, but to develop a sense of what readers are buying.

Here's the list of books I read in 2007. I seem to be favoring mysteries lately. That's okay. The next project I'll be working on, although set in the Old West, has elements of the mystery genre.

1. The Wailing Wind - Tony Hillerman
2. The Witness - Dee Henderson
3. The Tailor of Panama - John le Carre
4. Agatha Christie Mysteries - anthology
5. River's End - Nora Roberts
6. Nocturne - Ed McBain
7. A Time to Kill - John Grisham
8. Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
9. O Pioneers! - Willa Cather
10. Atlantis Found - Clive Cussler
11. Sharpe's Escape - Bernard Cornwell
12. Sense & Sensibility - Jane Austen
13. Wife for a Day - Patti Berg
14. Skeleton Canyon - J. A. Jance
15. Our Game - John le Carre
16. Blindsight - Robin Cook
17. Exit Wounds - J. A. Jance
18. Buzz Cut - James W. Hall
19. Chromosome 6 - Robin Cook
20. Hard Aground - James W. Hall
21. The Dark Wind - Tony Hillerman
22. Birds of Prey - J. A. Jance
23. Sharpe's Fortress - Bernard Cornwell
24. Mischief - Ed McBain
25. Lightning - Ed McBain
26. Dave Barry is not making this up - Dave Barry
27. The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais
28. Wild Horses - Dick Francis
29. The Christmas Tragedy - Agatha Christie
30. The Four Suspects - Agatha Christie
31. Sticks & Scones - Diane Mott Davidson
32. Free Fall - Robert Crais
33. LA Requiem - Robert Crais
34. Sunset Express - Robert Crais
35. Lullaby Town - Robert Crais
36. The Last Detective - Robert Crais
37. Poison Blonde - Loren D. Estleman
38. Indigo Slam - Robert Crais
39. Demolition Angel - Robert Crais
40. The Midnight Man - Loren D. Estleman
41. The Two Minute Rule - Robert Crais
42. Along Came a Spider - James Patterson
43. A Woman's Eye - Mystery Short Stories Anthology - edited by Sara Paretsky
44. Mary Mary - James Patterson
45. Jack & Jill - James Patterson
46. Smokescreen - Dick Francis
47. There Was a Little Girl - Ed McBain
48. Basket Case - Carl Hiaasen
49. Hell is Always Today - Jack Higgins
50. The Gift - Kirk Douglas
51. StripTease - Carl Hiaasen
52. The Fallen Man - Tony Hillerman
53. Wrath of the Lion - Jack Higgins
54. Deep Waters - Jayne Ann Krentz
55. A Session in Hell - Jack Higgins
56. Finding Moon - Tony Hillerman
57. The Street Lawyer - John Grisham
58. Tunnel Vision - Sara Paretsky
59. Cry No More - Linda Howard
60. The Hostage - Robert Crais
61. On Dangerous Ground - Jack Higgins
62. The Partner - John Grisham
63. The Brethren - John Grisham
64. Hey Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky? - Baxter Black
65. Dave Barry Talks Back - Dave Barry
66. Cowboy Mentality - Baxter Black
67. The Big One That Got Away Blues - Baxter Black
68. Speaking in Tongues - Jeffery Deaver
69. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
70. Out of Sight - Elmore Leonard
71. Split Second - David Baldacci
72. Love is Murder - Linda Palmer
73. 3rd Degree - James Patterson & Andrew Gross
74. Dead Irish - John T. Lescroat
75. Absolute Power - David Baldacci
76. The Simple Truth - David Baldacci
77. The Forgotten Man - Robert Crais
78. Acceptable Risk - Robin Cook
79. Saving Faith - David Baldacci

4 comments:

Barrie said...

I'm leaning towards mysteries a lot these days. I'll have to dip into your list because you read AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT of books last year!

Janette Rallison said...

Whoa! That's a lot of books! I think I read like 10.

Marcia Mickelson said...

Wow! I'm so impressed with that list.

Marsha Ward said...

Thanks, everyone. It's my all-time high record, I believe.