Not Just a Stogie by Alan Orloff

Alan Orloff's upcoming release, KILLER ROUTINE, is the first book in the Last Laff Mystery series (April 2011, Midnight Ink). He's also the author of DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, which came out last April, also from Midnight Ink. 

DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

For more info, visit his website: www.alanorloff.com

Not Just A Stogie

by Alan Orloff

Somewhere between all the math, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, chemistry, vibration analysis, and physics classes I took in college, I managed to squeeze in a Psych 100 class. I’m pretty sure that single survey class provided me with more motivation/ideas/useful info than the other classes combined, at least when it comes to writing fiction. (Not too much material science finds its way into mystery novels, thank goodness!)

I remember being fascinated by all the experiments we learned about: salivating dogs (Pavlov), blind authority-followers (Milgram), changing conditions (Hawthorne effect), and deviant behavior (Pee Wee Herman). It wasn’t so much the conclusions I liked. The best part for me, I think, was the deception involved in the studies. The researchers told the subjects one thing, and measured something entirely different. Deception in the name of science—how sneaky! And how cool!

I’ve always been a fan of “good-natured” deception (I know, the people in the Milgram experiment probably weren’t having much fun). That’s one reason I loved Candid Camera so much. Where else could you see people being deceived and then watch them laugh about it?

On more than one occasion, I have considered the fact that I am a little warped in this regard (For the record, let me reiterate, I’m a fan of good-natured deception, not deception with malicious intent). But that never stopped me from engineering my own practical jokes. I haven’t perpetrated many, but I have pulled off a few whoppers. Like the time I fake-proposed to my then-girlfriend (now wife) right in front of two good friends and she turned me down, much to their jaw-dropping amazement. (A classic, but maybe you had to be there.)

It’s likely that my love of deception was a prime reason I found myself writing mysteries. I mean, where else is deceiving people one of the goals? Red herrings, buried secrets, double-crosses, evil twins—it’s not just fair game, it’s expected!

In mysteries, a cigar is rarely just a cigar.



Thanks for inviting me to your wonderful blog today, Kaye. I hope you are enjoying your retirement!

I don’t really have a pet, so here’s a picture of me with my favorite cat

What's Wrong With Being Twisted? by Alan Orloff

Alan Orloff's debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD (Midnight Ink), will be released in April 2010.  The first book in his new Last Laff series, KILLER ROUTINE (March 2011, also from Midnight Ink), features Channing Hayes, a stand-up comic with a tragic past. 

A former engineer, marketing manager, and newsletter editor, Alan lives in Northern Virginia

with his wife and two children.

For more info, visit www.alanorloff.com

 

What's Wrong With Being Twisted?

by Alan Orloff

Thanks, Kaye, for inviting me to guest blog today--it's a pleasure, even if I have a tough, tough act to follow in Pat Conroy.

Five years ago, I didn't know a soul in the mystery writing community. Sure, I'd been an avid reader of crime fiction most of my adult life, but I never had the opportunity to interact with any real-life writers. I didn't participate in any of the numerous on-line social sites or listservs or virtual water coolers (heck, I didn't even know they existed!). And I'd never been to a mystery convention. No Bouchercon, no Edgars Week, no Thrillerfest. I had no one to discuss crime fiction with except the poor lady at the bookstore, who I'm sure tired of me yapping on and on about wise-cracking PIs with soft hearts and great aim.

But during the past five years, I became more immersed in the craft and business of writing crime fiction. And without a doubt, one of the most satisfying by-products has been my introduction to the wonderful crime fiction community.

I've met scores of people with the same interests as me: in person at conferences, conventions, and in workshops, as well as on-line via blogs, listservs, and discussion groups.

After years of wandering alone, I'd found my peeps! (no, not these peeps).

Now I follow the discussions on DorothyL (mostly as a lurker). Every day, I make the rounds of fifty (or more) blogs to see what's new (aside: one of the best "community-fostering" blogs is this very one--Kudos, Kaye!).  I Facebook and Twitter and blog, connecting with people who share the same love of crime fiction that I do, and I've come to one important realization:

The crime fiction community is a generous bunch of twisted psychos! (Of course, I mean that in only the nicest sense.)

Everyone I've met has been more than willing to help and offer their support. To wit:

I've gotten writing advice from published authors and feedback from agents. I've hammered out plot points and discussed characterizaton with fellow workshop participants and critique partners. I've received promotion pointers and bookselling tips from other writers, publicists, and booksellers. I've gotten a blurb from a NY Times best selling author. I've gotten warm words of encouragement from book reviewers and great recommendations from book lovers.

Most importantly, I've gotten thanks from readers.

So now it's my turn to thank all those who helped me along the way.

THANKS! And I'm sure the poor lady at the bookstore thanks you too.