tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69836459104030411302024-03-05T23:07:15.911-05:00The Overnight BestsellerMichael J. McCann blogs about crime fiction, writing, and other adventuresMichael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.comBlogger344125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-22206252901084378352023-02-27T09:32:00.006-05:002023-02-27T09:38:09.713-05:00Soft Launch of IN THESE DISCONSOLATE WOODS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ia-VUACMI5I" width="320" youtube-src-id="ia-VUACMI5I"></iframe></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We're pleased to announce the soft launch of the sixth March and Walker crime novel, IN THESE DISCONSOLATE WOODS. Paperback copies are available now via Amazon or may be ordered through your local independent bookstore. E-book copies may be purchased online now from Amazon and soon from Kobo as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><u>Synopsis:</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Someone murdered <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">former professional hockey player </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Grant
Burnham on his private woodlot north of Perth, Ontario. In a violent
fit of rage, they beat him to death with a baseball bat made by his own
woodworking company.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Ontario Provincial Police Detective Inspector Ellie March must cope with
an acute shortage of detectives as the Lanark County Crime Unit
investigates, and while the loan of Detective Constable Kevin Walker
from the Leeds County detachment helps, the unit struggles to work the
case effectively. With no shortage of suspects, including a scornful
ex-wife,<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span>a surly former business partner, and a next-door neighbor drawn to the
athletic Burnham like a bee to honey, can the team prevent a vicious
killer from getting away with murder?</span></div><p><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Once again we've released a video teaser to promote the novel. We hope you like it!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Credits:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Design and development: Michael J. McCann</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Video credits: Matthias Groeneveld/Pexels (forest 1); Peter Fowler/Pexels (forest 2);
Ravendra Singh/Pixabay (crows); Kelly Lacy/Pexels (walking; crime scene tape);
Christian Bodhi/Pixabay (forest 3).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sound track: Alena Smirnova/Free Music Archive ("Modern Minimalism").</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thanks to these talented people for sharing their work under Creative Commons By Attribution licenses. Enjoy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana;">And never fear, March and Walker #7, Forgotten Loyalties, is now under construction and will be coming your way soon. </span><br /></span></div><br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-11941701314154697642022-09-08T09:21:00.005-04:002022-09-08T09:21:55.694-04:00TWILIGHT ROAD KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN NOW LIVE!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeEMS017OVlewYzH82WPoI0o4v-Wqb1OsBTv7hPVVl2wYfOHxivM-3D89rhUO2EmYCtp5xr8q4TeMnSlwDXA3RMpO_UOJ9o9sFWYNY4htrsMOTU3f1sGJDpRAMjiWCHjoBv4T1pc0QDL0B_khAiIMLYvgjwnaSIR2ifhj9uFOYVYeHuo5X--sVgY5/s5244/Twilight%20Rd%20front%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5244" data-original-width="3336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeEMS017OVlewYzH82WPoI0o4v-Wqb1OsBTv7hPVVl2wYfOHxivM-3D89rhUO2EmYCtp5xr8q4TeMnSlwDXA3RMpO_UOJ9o9sFWYNY4htrsMOTU3f1sGJDpRAMjiWCHjoBv4T1pc0QDL0B_khAiIMLYvgjwnaSIR2ifhj9uFOYVYeHuo5X--sVgY5/s320/Twilight%20Rd%20front%20cover.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Kickstarter campaign for <i>Twilight Road: A Maddie Hubbard Novel of Supernatural Suspense</i> is now live.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For those of you who may not be familiar with it, Kickstarter is a fundraising platform for artists, musicians, video game developers and authors to help offset rising production costs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Backers of <i>Twilight Road</i> may choose among several levels of pledges, beginning at $1. Kickstarter asks that you create an account with them in order to complete the transaction when the campaign concludes on October 11, 2022.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because Kickstarter campaigns are all-or-nothing, it will be necessary to reach our stated goal of $600 CDN by the end of the campaign. If we fall short, you won't be asked to complete the payment transaction for your pledge.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Interested in how I spent much of the pandemic while sheltering in place? Visit our Kickstarter page for <i>Twilight Road.</i> Watch the video, read the synopsis and character sketches, and check out the rewards for each pledge level. <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twilightroad/twilight-road" target="_blank">You'll find it here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for your interest, and Happy Reading!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /> </p>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-18439986201060090202020-12-24T10:31:00.002-05:002020-12-24T10:43:38.918-05:00USING VIDEO TO MARKET BOOKS ON TWITTER<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sz_bQa0WPZphyphenhyphenJmnVHwskpfQuOkyh-ezgytDnW_r1PUfKLk6PZuLYlQNAmuzze7dj6w7g0sPMox_nfMDSurUIq4ugaCqI3Dyvn4GVstq36cbaJAqULAo3quq5S6X0yr-BkUvSLPf7NA/s1259/Long+Road+Front+Cover+smaller.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="807" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sz_bQa0WPZphyphenhyphenJmnVHwskpfQuOkyh-ezgytDnW_r1PUfKLk6PZuLYlQNAmuzze7dj6w7g0sPMox_nfMDSurUIq4ugaCqI3Dyvn4GVstq36cbaJAqULAo3quq5S6X0yr-BkUvSLPf7NA/w162-h253/Long+Road+Front+Cover+smaller.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Twitter analytics show that tweets including images, graphic image files (GIFs) or video tend to receive more interactions than tweets without. In fact, those with embedded video sequences see 10% more engagement and are six times more likely to be retweeted.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">With that in mind, we've launched a short (32 sec.) video teaser for THE LONG ROAD INTO DARKNESS, the Tom Faust crime novel released last year, for inclusion in our regular Twitter promotional tweets.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Credits for the teaser are as follows, in order of appearance:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">video: Yaroslav Shuraev (Pexels); Ingo Joseph (Pexels);</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">photography: Michael J. McCann (church); Burlingham (Thinkstock; knife);</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">music: Alan Piljak "Empty Days" (FMA).</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">For those of you who like trivia, I photographed the church in Front of Yonge Township while researching SORROW LAKE, and it was the basis for Tom's church in THE LONG ROAD.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the teaser, for anyone who doesn't have a Twitter account or is curious to see it right now. (You can follow me on Twitter at @MichaelJMcCann1.) Hope you find this interesting!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybTYdZZJDjtVegFuhv8vK0oOMGlktt1njPVlKZfVxYqtPHfks6mo-6dFhv1T6O0E5_e8eTm4f-UwHZNnNjbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-3154585640392626172020-11-02T10:29:00.005-05:002020-11-02T10:29:58.623-05:00A DEATH IN WINTER - MARCH & WALKER #5<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRJQYPlL3WZFInBE6hRo2khNs4WBb05c2pcLk2Hmrw_4nhcr6yQHfZ7x7BQMcXsTEhym_66Cawwaxs4dCp_zAgeJSRnJPeVwXpptkA8HaytDlndO8lLBt4u5JkmMVgziBxYNmaJKu5ts/s880/DEATH+IN+WINTER+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRJQYPlL3WZFInBE6hRo2khNs4WBb05c2pcLk2Hmrw_4nhcr6yQHfZ7x7BQMcXsTEhym_66Cawwaxs4dCp_zAgeJSRnJPeVwXpptkA8HaytDlndO8lLBt4u5JkmMVgziBxYNmaJKu5ts/s320/DEATH+IN+WINTER+smaller.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We're excited to announce the launch of A DEATH IN WINTER, the fifth March and Walker Crime Novel.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As the worst storm of the winter settles in, a funeral takes place in the village of Westport for an elderly Toronto crime lord who retired several years ago to the quiet beauty of Rideau Lakes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shortly afterward, a man is found beaten to death behind the local hardware store, and OPP Detective Inspector Ellie March discovers that the victim was an important employee of Dante Tassone, heir to the crime lord's vast empire.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Stuck in a snowed-in village with dangerous organized crime figures, Ellie and OPP Detective Constable Kevin Walker search for answers that will connect Tassone and his rebellious son to a violent family struggle threatening the safety of villagers and police as the bodies begin to pile up and a deadly pandemic looms on the horizon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Fans of the series will be pleased to encounter several new characters who are being added to the lineup, including Detective Sergeant Prez Raintree and intelligence analyst Charlotte McKinley. The narrative style is also slightly different this time out, with parts of the story being told from the points of view of Dante Tassone and his son, Rick.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Interested? You can order the paperback (autographed) from The Plaid Raccoon <a href="https://www.theplaidraccoonpress.com/apps/webstore/" target="_blank">webstore </a>or from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Winter-Michael-J-McCann/dp/1927884195/" target="_blank">Amazon </a>(not autographed!). If you're in the UK and you shop at Waterstones, you can order it <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-death-in-winter/michael-j-mccann//9781927884195" target="_blank">here</a>. Or, order it from your <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781927884195" target="_blank">local bookstore</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Prefer an eBook? Purchase it from <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/a-death-in-winter" target="_blank">Kobo </a>or Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Winter-March-Walker-Crime-ebook/dp/B08LNZ1K75/" target="_blank">(US)</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08LNZ1K75" target="_blank">(Canada)</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LNZ1K75" target="_blank">(UK)</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Thank you, all, for your ongoing support of this series. It's greatly appreciated. Stay safe, and stay well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-31106557365175344372020-10-24T10:07:00.001-04:002020-10-24T10:07:42.007-04:00A DEATH IN WINTER - SOFT LAUNCH<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hsJEYK9y9gNgKYwkxt6vQ6DF5clY5foP_h3f1U-Xjxqp6Ug378F-wk68rIyc5VeRCxFmNl-jvrTHZH9QP4KowP5-NxWAn_n6QJVyJ70pgFrRBOoOB4k1woLQXDb7ABpapjx6qM67Kl0/s2139/Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="2139" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hsJEYK9y9gNgKYwkxt6vQ6DF5clY5foP_h3f1U-Xjxqp6Ug378F-wk68rIyc5VeRCxFmNl-jvrTHZH9QP4KowP5-NxWAn_n6QJVyJ70pgFrRBOoOB4k1woLQXDb7ABpapjx6qM67Kl0/w300-h153/Landscape.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">It goes without saying that 2020 has been a weird and upsetting year. My previous blog post was in February, when I talked about writing the next March and Walker Crime Novel during winter, with a winter setting.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, that winter ended, the summer passed, and now we find ourselves moving into autumn with another winter on the horizon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The absence of blog posts can be explained--although not excused--by the fact that I've spent the summer in my newly organized basement office at home, having given up my retreat in Burritt's Rapids in order to limit the number of excursions away from home to, well, almost none.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What have I been doing down there? Writing, of course. A DEATH IN WINTER, the fifth March and Walker Crime Novel, has been completed, edited, and produced.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We (by which I mean The Plaid Raccoon Press) are now ready for a soft launch of this latest title. It will take a few more days to get all the point-of-sale details sorted out but watch this space over the next few days and we'll announce all the exciting details!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay safe, and stay well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-73694764158274586302020-02-23T11:25:00.000-05:002020-02-23T11:25:53.134-05:00FINALLY--WRITING ABOUT A SEASON, IN-SEASON!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5HCxx9yfJCdbTgBj0666z-3_ZrQGoSS1m_Bke6fu3jKhBVcHw8aYfwTFFciOLKaATSdVtgNjVn41SGM5I4i7UQID-BeNAtcaEDjl8Yk8gQZ6mh7xTkrTef23a1xvqvVTWBvFmEbjWTc/s1600/Smaller+Winter+Solstice+on+River+Rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1031" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5HCxx9yfJCdbTgBj0666z-3_ZrQGoSS1m_Bke6fu3jKhBVcHw8aYfwTFFciOLKaATSdVtgNjVn41SGM5I4i7UQID-BeNAtcaEDjl8Yk8gQZ6mh7xTkrTef23a1xvqvVTWBvFmEbjWTc/s320/Smaller+Winter+Solstice+on+River+Rd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Winter Solstice, 2019 (c) Michael J. McCann</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It generally takes about a year for me to produce a new book, from original idea to printed page. As a result, I often find myself working away during the winter months on a manuscript set in the summer, or vice versa. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not a problem for an experienced writer who spends the vast majority of his time exploring the inner landscapes of his own mind, of course. Warm sunshine on a bare forearm or a cold wind that whips away one's breath are never far away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This year, however, I'm fortunate that fiction and fact are working in harmony as I write the first draft of my next manuscript, aptly titled A DEATH IN WINTER. The fifth March and Walker Crime Novel, which will hopefully be released in September, it follows Detective Inspector Ellie March and Detective Constable Kevin Walker as they investigate a murder in the village of Westport while snowbound in the middle of a mid-winter blizzard.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While I was outlining the story last October, I envisioned a three-day snowfall that would hamper driving, make streets and sidewalks almost impossible, and close rural roads at the most inopportune times.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How delightful that while I was working on the story last month, we actually did experience a 30+ cm blizzard that inflicted all those nasty things on us in Leeds-Grenville. All I had to do was step outside for inspiration and a reminder of what winter REALLY feels like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Will this immediate, frost-laden experience translate into better storytelling? We shall see!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-68035560406527172682020-01-06T00:30:00.000-05:002020-01-06T00:30:03.140-05:00Best Books Reviewed in 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBOBM9Honv9AZHFMyvjanLq0uCg4IaHabNBNQDbi3Fnji1Nla3DdTZp1PcOoqY99K3z3DQU7uiEdugeC6naanu90CO6dADn11Z4mzYgOSsjQ7udHVmB8wPi5V5VbBBqauDcx0CoaUFyo/s1600/NYJB+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBOBM9Honv9AZHFMyvjanLq0uCg4IaHabNBNQDbi3Fnji1Nla3DdTZp1PcOoqY99K3z3DQU7uiEdugeC6naanu90CO6dADn11Z4mzYgOSsjQ7udHVmB8wPi5V5VbBBqauDcx0CoaUFyo/s1600/NYJB+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now that 2020 has arrived, a new year and a new decade, we have a chance to look back and contemplate the books we read (and reviewed) in 2019.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As a book critic for the <i>New York Journal of Books</i>, </span><span style="font-size: large;">I reviewed a grand total of 40 titles last year, exactly the same number as in 2018. Consistency is a good thing, apparently.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While books are always selected in the hope that they will be good enough to earn a positive review, they occasionally disappoint. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were several titles that fell into that category in 2019. James Ellroy's <i>This Storm</i> was unreadable, Jon Land's <i>Strong As Steel</i> was ludicrously bad, and John Lescroart's <i>The Rule of Law</i> did nothing to bolster his status as an A-list bestseller. As well, Helene Tursten's <i>Hunting Game</i> proved that Scandinavian noir gets much better distribution than it deserves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, there were other titles that really rang the bell. So what were the five best books I had the pleasure of reviewing in 2019?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>5. <i>Black Sun</i>, by Owen Matthews (July 22; Doubleday)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A debut thriller by a former Moscow bureau chief for <i>Newsweek</i>, this novel takes us back to the intrigue surrounding an attempt in 1961 by the Soviet Union to build a doomsday device that could destroy the world. Well plotted, with engaging characters.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/black-sun-novel" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>4. <i>The Satapur Moonstone</i>, by Sujata Massey (May 13; Soho Crime)</u> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Massey's series featuring Perveen Mistry, Bombay's only female lawyer in the 1920s, continues to entertain, and this one is a gem. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/satapur-moonstone" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>3. <i>Like Lions</i>, by Brian Panowich (April 30; Minotaur Books)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Panowich's sequel to his acclaimed debut <i>Bull Mountain</i> is terrific. Call it rural noir if you must, but his writing is just plain outstanding.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/lions-novel" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">2. <i>The Book of Dreams</i>, by Nina George (April 9; Crown)</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Originally published in Germany in 2012, this novel is a sensitive, insightful exploration of the emotional landscapes of George's characters. Not to be missed. No excuses, now. Read it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/book-dreams-novel" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">1. <i>The Tale Teller</i>, by Anne Hillerman (April 9; Harper)</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hillerman reaches a new level of storytelling in her latest title featuring Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito. Not just an outstanding crime novel set in the Southwest, it's a reading experience not to be missed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/tale-teller" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best wishes to all avid readers out there, and high hopes for a rich crop of books to enjoy in 2020!</span><br />
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Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-58199900515207540242019-10-29T10:51:00.000-04:002019-10-29T10:51:16.306-04:00DOWN THE LONG ROAD AND THROUGH THE GATE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithVT7-BU_j_rXBVV_XWRlzdBx2HECiKbXlUjEekEbukHWUsV7JhEBndp8WEa0WSSjKomrDZt8jYFgcSEAJz87040aWZHpPYSiIfHOAOksvFAJMZq7wx0XWIMy6-l7mFhw7ZZwI6-mHyI/s1600/Long+Road+Front+Cover+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithVT7-BU_j_rXBVV_XWRlzdBx2HECiKbXlUjEekEbukHWUsV7JhEBndp8WEa0WSSjKomrDZt8jYFgcSEAJz87040aWZHpPYSiIfHOAOksvFAJMZq7wx0XWIMy6-l7mFhw7ZZwI6-mHyI/s320/Long+Road+Front+Cover+smaller.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm very pleased to announce that after having traveled its own very long road, THE LONG ROAD INTO DARKNESS has now arrived at publication.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the moment this is a standalone novel, but two other stories have been sketched out and could be written if the demand for them is there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE LONG ROAD tells the story of Tom Faust, who retires after a successful career as an Ontario Provincial Police homicide investigator. He soon finds himself at loose ends. To give himself something to do and to head off an increased reliance on alcohol, he buys a decommissioned country church in Peterborough County, Ontario, to renovate as a home--his final stop, the place where he'll make his last stand. However, when he finds a body hanging from the rafters, he realizes his homicide investigation days are far from over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE LONG ROAD is available in paperback from Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Road-Into-Darkness-Faust/dp/1927884179/" target="_blank">here</a>. Remember, if you participate in Amazon Prime you could get it with free shipping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You may also order it through any independent bookstore. In Canada, they must be willing to order from an American distributor, which some will not. In Ottawa, however, Perfect Books on Elgin St. and Books on Beechwood will cheerfully get a copy into the store for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the USA, find your nearest independent bookstore through IndieBound and order it there. <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781927884171?fbclid=IwAR1xDOqt11P6IduSP9FfLd2qAlhnPFVaYwKNvD02liT4MMuWwz8ThU8HcAc" target="_blank">Here's the link</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the UK, find the paperback at your local <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-long-road-into-darkness/michael-j-mccann/9781927884171" target="_blank">Waterstones</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE LONG ROAD is also available in eBook format from Amazon </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Road-Into-Darkness-Faust-ebook/dp/B07YYLR1QN/" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">. This time out we've decided to go with Kindle Unlimited, which means if you're a subscriber you may download the book for free. It's also included in Kindle Match, which means if you order the paperback (as a Christmas gift, for example) you may also grab the e-Book version (for yourself, say) at a reduced price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I hope you'll take a look at this one, and my fingers are crossed that you'll like it.</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-44703314218964615512019-09-19T20:37:00.000-04:002019-09-20T13:57:54.104-04:00THE LONG ROAD INTO DARKNESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I've got this manuscript, THE LONG ROAD INTO DARKNESS, that I completed in 2015. I sent out to St. Martin's Press, at their request, in the wake of SORROW LAKE's Hammett Prize nomination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It sat for a year without a response. I finally discovered the acquiring editor who requested it had disappeared into the ether, so I began shopping it around to agents and editors. It sat for nine months in someone else's Inbox and then received the usual three-to-six months' wait for a rejection, when they bothered to respond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In 2018 I put it through a vigorous rewrite and editing process and sent it out to Flame Tree Press, who acknowledged it with thanks and promised, as per their website, to reply with a judgment within two months. Seven months later I dared to query, and was told it was still under consideration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Tuesday, Sept. 17, one year to the day after submitting it, I gave up and told them I was obtaining an ISBN for it and publishing it myself. I said a bunch of other stuff in the e-mail, but that's a story for another day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The point of all this, and yes, there is a point, is that I'm putting it through another revision and editing process because, as many of you know, when a manuscript sits for that long, dates and ages and whatnot grow stale and need to be scaled up to the present. Next week it should be ready to put through the usual publication process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thing is, as I go through it once more I realize that this story represents some of the best writing I've ever done. It contains material I've wanted to get out there for a long time. I'm very proud of this thing, and if anyone had ever bothered to actually read it, I'm sure one of them would have made an offer on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You folks, the readers, will now be the judge of it. With mixed feelings, I'm giving up on any further attempt to work with a "traditional" publisher.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I said in my e-mail to Flame Tree, appropriately named, authors are not commodities, like hog jowls or palm oil. We're thoughtful, hard-working people trying to communicate to the world through our work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is how it has to be done, I guess.</span></div>
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-4895048197668253612019-07-29T14:55:00.000-04:002019-07-29T14:55:52.056-04:00THE ROLE OF THE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST IN NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6OfdnAfOcprnvmzvzRNhX6GlgdlOTxUM54DY1NYF5odWHVlSUsIG0rHd3k-yQx4wDt4d2u_5yoAFv-6RjZz5ovZ0p_44_PXSlVbDlF7mw35K7_usDVd3sqhgE4NPN0e6I1kxMisv5zw/s1600/creepy-dark-fear-smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6OfdnAfOcprnvmzvzRNhX6GlgdlOTxUM54DY1NYF5odWHVlSUsIG0rHd3k-yQx4wDt4d2u_5yoAFv-6RjZz5ovZ0p_44_PXSlVbDlF7mw35K7_usDVd3sqhgE4NPN0e6I1kxMisv5zw/s320/creepy-dark-fear-smaller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As you can tell from the back cover blurb of NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL, the fourth March and Walker Crime Novel, a forensic anthropologist is called in by the coroner to assist OPP detectives when human remains are found on a property near Rideau Ferry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While Dr. Ash Latimer is an eccentric personality who ends up becoming friends with Detective Constable Kevin Walker in the novel, real-life forensic anthropologists in Ontario are a very interesting breed in their own right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A recent Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) annual report explains that "Forensic anthropologists make an important contribution to death investigations where the remains are skeletonized, burned, decomposed, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable. [They] act as part of the death investigation team, and as consultants to forensic pathologists."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Ontario, the OFPS has one full-time forensic anthropologist, Dr. Kathy Gruspier. An associate professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, she has performed extensive field work in Italy, Jordan, Kosovo, East Timor, Cambodia, and Poland. Read more about Dr. Gruspier <a href="http://www.forensics.utoronto.ca/people/advisory/gruspier.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to Dr. Gruspier, there are also a number of consulting forensic anthropologists who work on a part-time fee-for-service basis for the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, the OFPS, and police services. Like Ash Latimer, they are generally found on the faculties of Ontario universities where they are key members of departments of Forensic Science.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ash was a fun character to work with, but my research showed that what forensic anthropologists do for a living is serious, highly specialized, and very important to the successful completion of many difficult death investigations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">An important source of information for me was <i>Introduction to Forensic Anthropology: A Textbook</i> by Steven N. Byers (Pearson Education, Inc., 2005). I would encourage you to do your own research on this fascinating line of work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hats off to the real-life specialists who give us a chance as writers of crime fiction to explore new and engaging territory!</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-24467495901377177802019-07-18T14:07:00.000-04:002019-07-18T14:07:45.001-04:00NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL IS NOW AVAILABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CY632YcEk_JtmQtY13edglqssKncoMImYPT8bJ5f6dgYyqH2_tg6y1fNMhd74o2iR2wihbBwabYLk9hOm6XmGbsBLYb2Fjckal1DgbGfZI_NPiYpjdPjEFl9-9ud8yRi5GUDAbtGc3w/s1600/NO+SADNESS+OF+FAREWELL+-+Michael+J.+McCann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CY632YcEk_JtmQtY13edglqssKncoMImYPT8bJ5f6dgYyqH2_tg6y1fNMhd74o2iR2wihbBwabYLk9hOm6XmGbsBLYb2Fjckal1DgbGfZI_NPiYpjdPjEFl9-9ud8yRi5GUDAbtGc3w/s320/NO+SADNESS+OF+FAREWELL+-+Michael+J.+McCann.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the wait is over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL, the fourth installment of the March and Walker Crime Novel series, has been published and is now available for purchase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When human remains are found behind a barn on a property along the historic Rideau Waterway, OPP Detective Constable Kevin Walker finds himself riding herd on a forensic anthropologist brought in by the coroner to supervise the removal of the bones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But as the wildly eccentric Dr. Ash Latimer excavates the unmarked grave, the bodies begin to multiply and Detective Inspector Ellie March is abruptly forced to recuse herself from the case. Her next-door neighbour, Ridge Ballantyne, may have known the victims, and General Headquarters decides that the possibility of a conflict of interest necessitates her removal from the investigation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As Ridge struggles to recover from a stroke, he must deal with the possibility that an old friend from Scotland and his young son may have been murdered five years ago and buried in an unmarked grave thousands of miles from home, while Ellie March fights an uphill battle against internal politics to return to the case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL is available in paperback from your local independent bookstore. In Ottawa (Canada) for example, <a href="http://perfectbooks.ca/wp/" target="_blank">Perfect Books</a> and <a href="https://booksonbeechwood.ca/" target="_blank">Books on Beechwood</a> carry the series and will order the new one for you. It's also available online through <a href="https://www.amazon.com/No-Sadness-Farewell-March-Walker/dp/1927884152/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. More links will follow soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The novel may also be purchased in eBook version from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/No-Sadness-Farewell-March-Walker-ebook/dp/B07VF8RD49/" target="_blank">Amazon for Kindle</a> and from <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/no-sadness-of-farewell" target="_blank">Kobo</a> for those of you who use an epub format.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a really good one, folks. It may also be the last, depending on how things go, so if you enjoy the series, please give it a read and let me know what you think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for your ongoing interest in my work. -- Mike</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-5706359273353214732019-01-07T01:00:00.000-05:002019-01-07T01:00:07.678-05:00TOP 5 BOOKS REVIEWED IN 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBOBM9Honv9AZHFMyvjanLq0uCg4IaHabNBNQDbi3Fnji1Nla3DdTZp1PcOoqY99K3z3DQU7uiEdugeC6naanu90CO6dADn11Z4mzYgOSsjQ7udHVmB8wPi5V5VbBBqauDcx0CoaUFyo/s1600/NYJB+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBOBM9Honv9AZHFMyvjanLq0uCg4IaHabNBNQDbi3Fnji1Nla3DdTZp1PcOoqY99K3z3DQU7uiEdugeC6naanu90CO6dADn11Z4mzYgOSsjQ7udHVmB8wPi5V5VbBBqauDcx0CoaUFyo/s1600/NYJB+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">With a new year upon us and a new crop of books waiting to be enjoyed, it behooves us as readers and critics to pause for a moment to consider the pleasures bestowed upon us by the big dog publishers in 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a book critic for the <i>New York Journal of Books</i>, I reviewed a grand total of 40 titles last year; a nice round number. Some were bestselling duds (<i>Chicago</i>, <i>City of Endless Night</i>, <i>Pandemic</i>) but some were very good. And some were terrific. So ... what were the five best books I had the pleasure of reviewing in 2018?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>5. <i>Cave of Bones</i>, by Anne Hillerman (April 3; Harper Collins)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Navaho Tribal Police officer Bernadette Manuelito discovers a lava cave with human bones while searching for a missing girl in the El Malpais badlands. Anne Hillerman's tight, clean writing style does justice to the characters and setting we know and love so much.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/cave-bones" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>4. <i>In a House of Lies</i>, by Ian Rankin (Dec. 29; Little, Brown)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rankin brings us another high-quality police procedural set in Scotland, as an old missing person case becomes a homicide investigation that threatens to expose possible past wrongdoing by retired detective John Rebus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/house-lies" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>3. <i>The Sandman</i>, by Lars Kepler (March 6; Knopf)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When a young man is found wandering across a train bridge on a cold night, police discover that he and his sister have been missing for 13 years. By far, the best Joona Linna crime novel to date by the Swedish husband-and-wife team writing as Lars Kepler. An absolute page turner.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/sandman-novel" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">2. <i>Dark Sacred Night</i>, by Michael Connelly (Oct. 29; Little, Brown)</u> The heavyweight champion of police procedurals delivers another knockout as Det. Renee Ballard teams up with Harry Bosch on a cold case in which a teenage girl was brutally murdered and left in a dumpster. Well written, as always, and an effective pairing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/dark-sacred-night" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">1. <i>I'll Be Gone in the Dark</i>, by Michelle McNamara (Feb. 26; Harper Collins)</u> Heartfelt, gripping true crime by the late blogger and journalist who devoted so much of her adult life to the pursuit of the notorious Golden State Killer, aka East Area Rapist/Original Night Stalker, who was (allegedly) finally captured this year. An incredible tribute to a remarkable woman who passed away too soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/ill-be-gone" target="_blank">Read the review</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Honorable mentions:</u></b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Boy</i>, by Tami Hoag (Dec. 31; Dutton) (<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/boy-novel" target="_blank">read the review</a>);</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Widows of Malabar Hill</i>, by Sujata Massey (Jan. 8; Soho Crime) (<a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/widows-malabar" target="_blank">read the review</a>).</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best wishes to all avid readers out there, and high hopes for a rich crop of books to enjoy in 2019!</span><br />
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Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-70061859032830745782018-12-28T10:40:00.000-05:002018-12-28T10:40:03.579-05:00WHAT'S WAITING FOR US DOWN THE ROAD?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Image (c) Thinkstock. Used under licence.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every year at this time I like to take stock of where I'm at and set a few objectives for the coming 12 months. What did I manage to achieve this year, and what would I like to accomplish next year?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's not much doubt that 2018 has been rough. On a macro-macro level, we've endured an unreasonable amount of social and political turmoil, and my American friends must remember that their chaos is the world's chaos. In Canada, we must hang on for dear life and hope you folks clean house soon (i.e., drain the new swamp) and get back on track.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On a micro, or personal level, 2018 was no improvement on 2017. Enough said about that for now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Readers of this blog are more interested in what I'm doing professionally, since that's the point of the whole thing, so let's talk about that instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year saw the publication of PERSISTENT GUILT, the third March and Walker Crime Novel. I'm very proud of this title. I'm pleased with the design of the book, cover and interior, and I feel that I was able to accomplish a few things in the story, particularly with Kevin and his family situation, that move the series forward in a direction I like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The upcoming year should see the publication of two new titles. The fourth March and Walker crime novel, NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL, is in draft right now and hopefully will appear in the summer of 2019. This novel will focus on a case requiring the services of a forensic anthropologist, and I think you'll find the character of Dr. Ash Latimer to be, well, interesting. It also brings Ellie March's octogenarian neighbour, Ridge Ballantyne, into the foreground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As well, the long-anticipated first novel in my new Tom Faust series, THE LONG ROAD INTO DARKNESS, will appear in print in 2019 come hell or high water. I've been shopping this manuscript around for nearly three years, and after a major rewrite, I'm down to the last submission for it. If/when I hear back in the usual manner, I'll prepare this one for publication through the Plaid Raccoon Press. Watch for a tentative release date of February 19 -- 2/19/19.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone celebrating Christmas this year had a great time, and here's wishing you all Happy Holidays!</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-34394514786719213322018-10-22T00:30:00.000-04:002018-10-22T00:30:03.344-04:00ONE STORY OUT OF A MILLION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other day I was doing research on the Internet when I came across the obituary of a man named William Witherspoon of Dayton, Ohio, who passed away in Holiday, Florida on July 6, 2009 at the age of 61.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A funeral home in Dayton posted condolence messages on their website, and I was particularly struck by one posted by a man who wrote about having worked with "Spoon" for ten years at a warehouse where his co-worker unloaded trucks, stocked shelves, and made deliveries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"You always knew when Spoon was working," he wrote, "you could hear his singing ringing through the rafters."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend I attended the semiannual vinyl record show in Ottawa, and as usual I kept an eye out for records I've never seen before. I took a flyer on <i>Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble</i> by a band called Melting Pot. It had a small scuff on it and I almost put it back in the bin, but at $2.50 I changed my mind and added it to my little pile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part of the fun after bringing them home is to hit the Internet to see what I can find out about these relatively unknown bands. I learned that <i>Fire Burn</i> was recorded in 1971 at Capricorn Studios in Macon Georgia, which was at the time a hotbed of southern rock. It looks like the only one ever cut by this group, who were more along the lines of Blood, Sweat and Tears and Chicago than the Allman Brothers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trying to trace the individual band members was a little difficult. Keyboard player Dick Gentile was one of the primary songwriters for the album, but he didn't come up in any searches. The same results for Howie McGurty (sax & trumpet), Steve Nichols (trombone - later a bandleader?), Mickey Smith (guitar), and Joe Rudd (guitar).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bass player Kenny Tibbetts, however, was a fixture for several years as a studio musician. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 73 in Indianapolis. According to his obituary, he recorded and toured with Greg Allman, Dickie Betts, and Roy Buchanan, among others, drawing on southern rock connections no doubt made through Capricorn. After leaving the music business in the late 1970s, he worked in printing. Whoever wrote his obit proudly pointed out that he was known for being able to chord on his bass while simultaneously playing keyboards, which he apparently did while Melting Pot was recording the track "Feeling Alright."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, there was sax player and vocalist Bill Witherspoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the Reverend Curtis Lynn of Clearwater, FL wrote in his condolence message on William Witherspoon's death notice back in Dayton, "Little did I know that the Sax player at Countryside Church 3 miles from my house here in Clearwater was the same Bill Witherspoon (spoon we called him) ..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life, my friends, is a very strange and wonderful trip. Sing on, Spoon, and may your voice always ring loud and clear in the rafters.</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-41330073038975495112018-10-08T00:30:00.000-04:002018-10-08T00:30:09.327-04:00Q & A: THE GHOST MAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's October and Hallowe'en is approaching, so our attention is inevitably turning to the supernatural. We thought it might be fun to do a short question-and-answer session with our mascot here at the Plaid Raccoon Press regarding <i>The Ghost Man</i>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The Raccoon: <i>The Ghost Man</i> was your first novel. Where did you get the idea for it?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">A: </span>After leaving the public service to write full time, I spent almost a year researching my family history. The McCanns emigrated from Ireland in the early 1840s and settled in North Crosby Township, near Westport, Ontario. After a year I'd accumulated quite a bit of information not only about my family but the township in general, and I wanted to do something with it. I considered writing a local history, but my son, who was into the paranormal at the time, suggested I write a ghost story. So I did.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The Raccoon: Where was it published?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">A: </span>The novel was originally published by a small press in Alberta in May, 2009. I though my dreams of being a published author had come true, and didn't realize that the responsibility for marketing the book lay entirely on my own shoulders. Thankfully it was a short-term contract, and when it expired I re-acquired the rights and published it through our Plaid Raccoon imprint on February 13, 2013 -- 2/13/13. The significance of the date didn't strike me until later. Serendipity!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The Raccoon: Tell us about the main characters, Simon Guthrie and Dr. Doris Fowler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">A: </span>Neither character is based on anyone in particular, which I suppose is a bit of an accomplishment for a first novel. I was an avid foodie at the time, and the idea of working with a protagonist who is a former celebrity chef really appealed. Simon's sudden descent from fame, his long recovery from injury, the near-death experience, and his subsequent encounters with earthbound ghosts of the dead all struck me as a fascinating combination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As for Doris, I wanted a character opposite Simon who is equally accomplished in her own field--Canadian history--but lacks Simon's natural affability and self-confidence. As an academic she's naturally predisposed to look for rational, material answers to the phenomena Simon claims to be experiencing, and when she begins to experience them as well the shift from rationalization to fear and profound sadness brings out a side of her character previously hidden, particularly from herself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The Raccoon: Why the cover change?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">A: </span>The cover of the original 2009 edition used a photograph taken by my son. Unfortunately he hated it, so after repatriating the novel I designed a new one. It's now five years old, and I've never been completely satisfied with it, so I thought it was time for a fresh look.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The Raccoon: How do you feel about the novel now, nine years later?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">A: </span>I'm a writer, so of course there's stuff I'd like to go back and change. But I won't, because on the whole I really like the story and the characters. The best part is that people still come up to me and talk about how much they enjoyed reading it. If they liked it <i>that </i>much, then that's good enough for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Ghost Man</i> is available from Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Ghost-Man-ebook/dp/B00BFKOHIK/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_5" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It's also available from </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-ghost-man" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ghostman-michael-j-mccann/1129666772" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">for Nook, and </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-ghost-man/id772132781" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">iTunes</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-6537784023675729362018-10-02T14:22:00.000-04:002018-10-02T14:23:07.387-04:00IT'S OCTOBER -- TIME FOR A GHOST MAN MAKEOVER!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's October, which means that Hallowe'en is right around the corner. Time for tricks, treats and scary stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With that in mind, we've given <i>The Ghost Man</i>, my first novel, a little face lift in the spirit of the season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, we've changed the cover to a new image, courtesy of LoweStock/Thinkstock. The revamped design brings the look and feel of the novel somewhat more in line with my other publications.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The story itself remains entirely unchanged, with only front and back matter adjusted to reflect the new image credit and an updated list of my other novels. (The paperback edition will migrate to the new cover in the near future.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's still scary, still thrilling, and still a real good Hallowe'en read!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Ghost Man</i> is available for Amazon Kindle <a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Ghost-Man-ebook/dp/B00BFKOHIK/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_5" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also available from <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-ghost-man" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ghostman-michael-j-mccann/1129666772" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> for Nook, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-ghost-man/id772132781" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.</span><br />
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Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-29198300153353963732018-08-21T11:02:00.000-04:002018-08-21T11:02:06.167-04:00GOODREADS GIVEAWAY FOR PERSISTENT GUILT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7lgGpoGEpFL-YyCc6MkKav76gjQWVymU4yfkAoYIWHqIBwmAPScboJqLb25s0YziNuwJVBD36YkorJPWK-E0sC2Ncz6Ocg0Vfo28qtHv-_RScV6MV3L1EvONU7GqQVvKD0vv_7v32lI/s1600/Persistent+Guilt+Kindle+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7lgGpoGEpFL-YyCc6MkKav76gjQWVymU4yfkAoYIWHqIBwmAPScboJqLb25s0YziNuwJVBD36YkorJPWK-E0sC2Ncz6Ocg0Vfo28qtHv-_RScV6MV3L1EvONU7GqQVvKD0vv_7v32lI/s400/Persistent+Guilt+Kindle+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the next month, PERSISTENT GUILT, the third March and Walker Crime Novel, is being featured as a special giveaway through Goodreads, the world's largest online site for readers and book recommendations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">An unbelievable 100 Kindle copies of the novel are available to residents of the USA who follow the link below to enter the giveaway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't miss your chance to read outstanding Canadian crime fiction for free! And remember, if you're one of the lucky recipients and you enjoy reading PERSISTENT GUILT, please leave a review to encourage others to try the March and Walker series as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best of luck to everyone who enters!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41188078" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Persistent Guilt by Michael J. McCann" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1534463757l/41188078.jpg" title="Persistent Guilt by Michael J. McCann" width="100" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41188078" rel="nofollow">Persistent Guilt</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4724806.Michael_J_McCann" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Michael J. McCann</a>
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Giveaway ends September 19, 2018.
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/283595" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
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<script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/283595" type="text/javascript"></script>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-22275966578777786962018-08-12T10:38:00.000-04:002018-08-12T10:38:25.221-04:00LAUNCH DAY FOR PERSISTENT GUILT!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaDNzXHw37H6fWsmqllDTbfDJTOxEI0TGc_H-QWRZ-iZytulRWcrorunc5l5tRI8572J_XDuLD3twer58KDrnlK4nnASd0M7WSpKNGsMfytC6LM5Os_A4MT_VTW_cVuRyzXMZALlW8iw/s1600/Persistent+Guilt+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="383" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaDNzXHw37H6fWsmqllDTbfDJTOxEI0TGc_H-QWRZ-iZytulRWcrorunc5l5tRI8572J_XDuLD3twer58KDrnlK4nnASd0M7WSpKNGsMfytC6LM5Os_A4MT_VTW_cVuRyzXMZALlW8iw/s320/Persistent+Guilt+front+cover.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On behalf of the Plaid Raccoon Press I'm very pleased to announce that PERSISTENT GUILT, the third March and Walker Crime Novel, is now available for purchase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As Detective Constable Kevin Walker and the Leeds County Crime Unit investigate the murder of a young woman whose body was found on the picturesque Thousand Islands Parkway, Detective Inspector Ellie March takes up the investigation of the mayor of a nearby city who's accused of criminal wrongdoing. When the cases threaten to intersect, March and Walker must decide which path will ultimately lead them to the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">PERSISTENT GUILT follows the Ontario Provincial Police homicide investigators first featured in SORROW LAKE, a finalist for the 2015 Hammett Prize for best crime novel in North America, and BURN COUNTRY, the second novel in the series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">PERSISTENT GUILT may be ordered in paperback through your local independent bookstore from the worldwide Ingram Book catalog. We encourage you to support your local bookstore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It may also be ordered in paperback online from Amazon:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">US: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Persistent-Guilt-March-Walker-Crime/dp/1927884136/">https://www.amazon.com/Persistent-Guilt-March-Walker-Crime/dp/1927884136/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UK: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Persistent-Guilt-March-Walker-Crime/dp/1927884136/">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Persistent-Guilt-March-Walker-Crime/dp/1927884136/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Canada: <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Persistent-Guilt-March-Walker-Crime/dp/1927884136/">https://www.amazon.ca/Persistent-Guilt-March-Walker-Crime/dp/1927884136/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In eBook format, it's available from:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amazon for Kindle: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G8L623Z/">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G8L623Z/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">or from Kobo for ePub devices*: <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/persistent-guilt">https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/persistent-guilt</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please remember, if you enjoy PERSISTENT GUILT, leave a review where you bought the novel so that other readers may be encouraged to give it a try as well. Thanks for your support!</span><br />
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Here's a helpful post on buying ePub books for your Apple device, including the iPad, iPhone, etc.: <a href="https://www.kobo.com/help/en-US/article/1962/buying-kobo-ebooks-and-magazines-on-your-apple-device?products=apple">https://www.kobo.com/help/en-US/article/1962/buying-kobo-ebooks-and-magazines-on-your-apple-device?products=apple</a>. Note that ePub book files may also be read on the Nook, the Sony reader, and Android devices.<br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-41159712146729233762018-07-31T17:09:00.000-04:002018-07-31T17:09:52.624-04:00PERSISTENT GUILT NOW IN PRODUCTION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kaSXOTPz8mHNVnkla3-bCKCoqXkhhh6GGt2OFf6jaTwU-GgYFpJejBs6iHYu9T1-1yVfZjCXZdZGvlGx0Z8CZRuCpIrJjrS5YV5hTV9qHeibfIOlZrDToUq1pIDXNXaF5c6xFAWzbeQ/s1600/Persistent+Guilt+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="383" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kaSXOTPz8mHNVnkla3-bCKCoqXkhhh6GGt2OFf6jaTwU-GgYFpJejBs6iHYu9T1-1yVfZjCXZdZGvlGx0Z8CZRuCpIrJjrS5YV5hTV9qHeibfIOlZrDToUq1pIDXNXaF5c6xFAWzbeQ/s400/Persistent+Guilt+front+cover.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm very pleased to be able to announce that PERSISTENT GUILT, the third installment in the March and Walker Crime Novel series, is now in production. The scheduled release date is August 3, 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">PERSISTENT GUILT is a police procedural featuring homicide investigators of the Ontario Provincial Police. The series is set in Leeds County, Ontario, which is located on the St. Lawrence Seaway corridor between Toronto and Montreal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>On a cold morning in late April, a man and his dog discover the nude body of a young woman in the ditch alongside the picturesque Thousand Islands Parkway in Leeds County. The woman was stabbed repeatedly before being dumped.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Detective Constable Kevin Walker of the Ontario Provincial Police discovers that the victim worked for a high school acquaintance of his. Kyle Baldwin now runs a charity that raises funds for mobile medical clinics in Kenya, but he had a brief affair with the victim several years ago that ended badly.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>At the same time, Detective Inspector Ellie March is investigating the mayor of the nearby city of Brockville for alleged criminal wrongdoing. With two cases to manage, she and Kevin Walker must determine if the mayor is somehow connected to a wider circle of crime or if Kevin's acquaintance murdered his ex-lover in a fit of jealous rage.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Write it down in your notebook, folks. Ellie March and Kevin Walker are back!</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-39784156987276061202018-07-27T14:32:00.000-04:002018-07-27T14:32:47.178-04:00THE DONAGHUE AND STAINER BOX SET<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sKQW_G-IkiJjw5PuKVCntbcXwnLh3udD_CYFv1ftw3XvCrFjT_bTgzbVVG-8qRwiNqIPB605hmR3s5B-WK6qoXO4Bw4b_9evR5z5LtfZX9n4SpkIgO6lIR2g9PcAgJvha2_QQuiKM1E/s1600/Donaghue+%2526+Stainer+Box+Set+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sKQW_G-IkiJjw5PuKVCntbcXwnLh3udD_CYFv1ftw3XvCrFjT_bTgzbVVG-8qRwiNqIPB605hmR3s5B-WK6qoXO4Bw4b_9evR5z5LtfZX9n4SpkIgO6lIR2g9PcAgJvha2_QQuiKM1E/s320/Donaghue+%2526+Stainer+Box+Set+cover.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many readers know my work through the March and Walker Crime Novel series, thanks in part to SORROW LAKE and its nomination for the 2015 Hammett Prize, and the second novel in the series, BURN COUNTRY.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some of you may not have had a chance to read the police procedural series that preceded March and Walker. With that in mind, I'm offering THE DONAGHUE AND STAINER BOX SET this weekend at a ridiculously special price of only 99 cents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Donaghue and Stainer series, set in Maryland and Virginia, includes four novels to date: BLOOD PASSAGE, MARCIE'S MURDER, THE FREGOLI DELUSION, and THE RAINY DAY KILLER. The fourth in the series, RDK, was a semi-finalist for the 2014 Arthur Ellis Award for best crime novel in Canada.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Want to see where it all began? You can find the box set in eBook format for your Amazon Kindle here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Donaghue-Stainer-Four-Novel-Crime-Novel-ebook/dp/B00V0WCPGO/">https://www.amazon.com/Donaghue-Stainer-Four-Novel-Crime-Novel-ebook/dp/B00V0WCPGO/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If your e-reader uses ePub files (iPad, iPhone, Kobo, Sony, Nook etc.) you can purchase the box set from Kobo: <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/donaghue-and-stainer">https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/donaghue-and-stainer</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer are special characters I know you'll enjoy. At this price, you can't go wrong if you love crime fiction!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-19711301966869120222018-04-24T09:02:00.000-04:002018-04-24T09:02:13.916-04:00DOING THE DELTA MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWBoUku0CGiut5MPyUV2xTsEay6Yl6sgJKsJD5FgRV7zH95WOj4ixu-5LmxUcIvJazKyQ7_em-FXmRU0u9Ua02MmrSvrfGLEN5cVmZS7HZx3pq8IjzScrbuyFlFFs4PVTzmGQ-18SqZE/s1600/maple+syrup+jug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWBoUku0CGiut5MPyUV2xTsEay6Yl6sgJKsJD5FgRV7zH95WOj4ixu-5LmxUcIvJazKyQ7_em-FXmRU0u9Ua02MmrSvrfGLEN5cVmZS7HZx3pq8IjzScrbuyFlFFs4PVTzmGQ-18SqZE/s200/maple+syrup+jug.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This weekend Lynn and I signed books at the Delta Maple Syrup Festival, an event we've never appeared at before. It was a fun two-day celebration of a delicious Canadian product, and I can still smell the aroma of pancakes and sausages on the griddle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Delta is a small village on County Road 42 in Leeds County, part of the municipality of Rideau Lakes, Ontario. It's close to Lyndhurst, where I've signed books at the annual Turkey Fair for the past several Septembers. Once you've done a few events in an area, people become more familiar with your face and your wares. They nod as they pass the table, but don't stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday, one very nice woman did stop, and when I asked if she liked mysteries, she told me she'd read all of mine. When would the next one be coming out?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is always a welcome question, because it's reassuring to know that people like your stuff and look forward to more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But she went on to astonish me by saying that she and a friend had gone on a "Sorrow Lake" day trip last fall. Using the novel (and <i>Burn Country</i> as well, I think) as a travelogue guide map, they drove around Front of Yonge Township and the surrounding area finding all the places I'd mentioned. Ballycanoe Road, Athens, the Wiltsetown Road, Delta. Only the lake baffled them. They'd ruled out Charleston Lake, and when I told her that location-wise it was based on Graham Lake, she nodded knowingly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"We thought it might be," she said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear reader, you might not realize how important this kind of thing is to an author's self-confidence, but let me assure you, this was much-needed encouragement for me. That this person and her friend thought enough of my stories to jump in the car and head off to find the places where the action took place, really meant a lot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much, ma'am. And get ready for a tour along the Thousand Islands Parkway sometime this fall!</span><br />
<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-47223229410037360552018-04-16T10:56:00.000-04:002018-04-16T10:56:36.157-04:00FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON INSTAGRAM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlDyP7PJYbYqCMUnSFxrztJMVexZzNkFks3uEYqwv1liQEzt7DYy8dLxmGXYel3uBRKPKe1uMvfC6Qgfg5IaelY80tcuWZPN3Zw-mqC-vK9ps4-Pk2XG9xDRvFrIK6JvJRb5S5TM5NfQ/s1600/Bouchercon+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlDyP7PJYbYqCMUnSFxrztJMVexZzNkFks3uEYqwv1liQEzt7DYy8dLxmGXYel3uBRKPKe1uMvfC6Qgfg5IaelY80tcuWZPN3Zw-mqC-vK9ps4-Pk2XG9xDRvFrIK6JvJRb5S5TM5NfQ/s320/Bouchercon+pic.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some time ago I created an Instagram account to explore its possibilities but never actually got around to using it. A few days ago, I decided it was time to flip the switch on this powerful social medium and see what I could do with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instagram currently has more than 800 million users, with more than 500 million using it every day.* While Facebook still has over a billion daily users, despite its troubles, Instagram is obviously a medium on the rise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How do Instagram's users profile out, compared to the guy pictured above? Last year, 59% were 18 to 29 years old. (Snapchat's key demographic, on the other hand, falls into the 12- to 17-year-old range.)** As well, a majority of Instagram users are female.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Admittedly, my primary interest in using Instagram is to promote my books. Given these numbers, it seems like it might not be a perfect fit. Females under the age of 29 tend not to be avid readers of crime fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, we must remember that Instagram's growing like a weed, particularly among older users (ahem), and that females in general are consistently the largest audience for crime fiction. So, the numbers need not daunt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the thing, though. Instagram is an image- and video-driven medium. No long posts (like this one), for example. How to draw attention to my work, then, in a visually creative way?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instagram strikes me as an effective medium to promote the <i>author</i>, above and beyond the books. As I add to my posts, expect to see photos and short videos related to the office in which I write, the little island on the Rideau Canal where it's situated, shots of me reading the latest book slated for review in the <i>New York Journal of Books</i>, and pics that relate to what I'm currently writing about in the March and Walker Crime Novel series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stuff that will give you a daily glimpse of the author at work, his highs and lows, and the world in which he diligently travails, perfecting his craft (!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If this sounds even vaguely interesting, follow me on Instagram at michaelj.mccann2149 and let me know what you think!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Source: Instagram</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">** Source: Smart Insights</span><br />
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<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-29180329798974960892018-03-17T10:53:00.000-04:002018-03-17T10:53:50.495-04:00MARCH PROMISES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PG_5mC-94wixYw7-OQtc3SaORgoJvySByMx6LxYHmGONxo0Ay9j3CyS-oG3VuD8iHKuM4FMUsQdWPmyt4LjznrGICk2nABOlGbV44fHLflfs0RrZQiK3RMsmWcQEGW8Ui-bRBPCS4HA/s1600/March+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PG_5mC-94wixYw7-OQtc3SaORgoJvySByMx6LxYHmGONxo0Ay9j3CyS-oG3VuD8iHKuM4FMUsQdWPmyt4LjznrGICk2nABOlGbV44fHLflfs0RrZQiK3RMsmWcQEGW8Ui-bRBPCS4HA/s320/March+flag.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">While February is the shortest month, I often find it's the longest. I'm tired of winter; I'm desperate for green things and warm sunshine, and I can't wait any longer for spring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">March, when it arrives, is filled with promises of things to come. There are warm spells; the snow recedes or even disappears; and spring seems definitely to be just around the corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my neck of the woods, though, the snow disappeared only to return over the past week with a vengeance. This morning the wind seems to be blowing directly from the Arctic Circle onto my poor, shivering self. Winter reasserts its will with grim determination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The forecast for next week calls for more of the same, but I look at the calendar and remind myself that it is, after all, March. April is coming. It can't stay winter forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can it?</span><br />
<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-69519800715280640512018-03-06T10:34:00.000-05:002018-03-06T10:34:02.273-05:00I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksMrgjuAJH1JvzHOd8K0-m9WSyc7LohNOL8CuG1YPzY3TKydyONYQ-VEMZzzPTlV9B0VR5YGWrNP6ZO6rs-qhNoAXVNroMXLS_G1K94aJpzh1dOyBeZGuOb-XbXmbJ0lO3nKujiUn_4E/s1600/ILL+BE+GONE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksMrgjuAJH1JvzHOd8K0-m9WSyc7LohNOL8CuG1YPzY3TKydyONYQ-VEMZzzPTlV9B0VR5YGWrNP6ZO6rs-qhNoAXVNroMXLS_G1K94aJpzh1dOyBeZGuOb-XbXmbJ0lO3nKujiUn_4E/s320/ILL+BE+GONE.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't usually read books about true crime. I prefer crime fiction, since I'm in the fiction business, but I made an exception recently to review I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK by Michelle McNamara, and I'm very glad I did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">McNamara was a true crime blogger and journalist who spent every free hour of her time sifting through information about a serial rapist and murderer who committed numerous offences in California during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He had been connected not only to the crimes of the East Area Rapist but also the Original Night Stalker and perhaps the Ransacker as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The author used her blog to communicate with fellow amateur investigators, she kept in touch with detectives investigating the various series of crimes, and worked with other journalists. The search for this sexual predator was, as the subtitle suggests, an obsession.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When she passed away in her sleep unexpectedly in 2016 at the age of 46, she was in the process of writing this book. The manuscript was completed and prepared for publication by two friends who were also involved in her research. It's a remarkable book by a remarkable woman who passed away too soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Read my full review in the <i>New York Journal of Books</i> <a href="https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/ill-be-gone" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-62531717922036308872018-02-23T11:02:00.000-05:002018-02-23T11:03:26.922-05:00BIG CHANGES IN LITTLE BURRITTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRhwqW7mnfH7hv6MluOwecuWEI3hzSIr2duC859bvS2j9huqN681yqlBB0i_Q86bVzLb0He1Q-R1IqISWfcWup03AeOu2cU5bj_Z2N9sS73mkFSvecGO_QgaUiXL-fUEwGjsKNDnOMeI/s1600/Burritts+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRhwqW7mnfH7hv6MluOwecuWEI3hzSIr2duC859bvS2j9huqN681yqlBB0i_Q86bVzLb0He1Q-R1IqISWfcWup03AeOu2cU5bj_Z2N9sS73mkFSvecGO_QgaUiXL-fUEwGjsKNDnOMeI/s320/Burritts+bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you who follow this blog on a regular basis (and I'm very grateful to both of you!) you'll remember that I do all of my writing these days in a rented basement office in the Burritt's Rapids Community Hall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This little village is located on an island in the Rideau Canal system a kilometre upstream from Lock 17, south of Ottawa, our nation's capital. It's a remarkably quiet, friendly place, just perfect for me to spend the day focusing on what I love to do--write crime fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Parks Canada is now in the process of repairing and restoring the swing bridge connecting the island to the south shore. The bridge has been there since 1897 and is still operated by hand. During the summer I often walk down from the community hall to the bridge on my lunch break to watch the boats pass by. It's remarkable in the 21st century to watch a Parks Canada employee (usually a summer student) cranking like crazy to swing the bridge out of the way of oncoming water traffic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took the above photo a couple of days ago as the work crew was preparing to remove the bridge and take it away to the place where it will be restored. As you can see on the far right, a temporary walkway has been built across the water. I took the photo from a parking area that will be maintained for the use of those who need to access the island from the south (e.g., residents!) and choose to park and walk. School buses also pick up and drop off kids here while the bridge is out of commission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For more information about this fascinating project, check out <a href="https://www.northgrenville.ca/ngdocs/temp/BurrittsRapidsBridge.pdf" target="_blank">this link.</a></span><br />
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Michael J. McCannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291540010883523862noreply@blogger.com0