on life & other inconveniences: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Conventions and Imaginary Friends

First, on my blog, about the reasons why aspiring authors can't afford not to attend a convention, and at Fresh Fiction, on imaginary friends.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

...I’ve never tried to keep it a secret that I’d rather not curl up with an electronic device at night.

Nope. Not me. Call me old-fashioned, but when I slip into bed and put my head on the pillow, I want real pages to turn in my hands.

However, I have a reason to warm up to the Kindle, and you can read about it here.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Time To Add Me To Your Google Reader

One of these days I'll stop with the teaser posts to the new blog url, so if you rely on Crimespot for the latest you might want to add me to your google reader. For now, you can read the new post if you follow the link.

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Not-So-Subtle Art of Innuendo

Because we needed to take a day off from picking on Russel, who, as Bill pointed out, was taken down by a six-year-old girl.

And I have pictures to prove it, but that's for another time. Today.... at the relocated blog... spurt alert on this one.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Making a List, Checking it Twice...

Saturday Sound Off debuts with Crime Fiction's Bastard Child.

Also, why Russel McLean's name is being taken in vain at our house these days.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Take Me Home With You

What do Duane Swierczynski, Harlan Ellison and David Thompson have to do with taking me home with you?

Hmmm. The title of this post might be a wee bit misleading.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Bouchercon & Books: Once More, With Feeling

& Angie has a new In For Questioning podcast up. The victim? Shamus Award-Winning author Sean Chercover!

Plus the funniest Bouchercon thing I've read yet, and a few personal notes...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

More Bouchercon

With a few photos added in the mix and as many possible name drops as I could think of.

But I just remembered a few I missed...

Monday, October 13, 2008

Post-Bouchercon Letdown

Before you get to the post check out that photo. Christa Faust is such a cutie!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Bouchercon: The Blur of the Con

Updates on the Reacher Creature party, places to find photos, at least one photo from me from this year, a blast from Bouchercon past and God knows what else. It's too early...

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Bouchercon

The kid-friendly version. God I'm tired.

Pre-B-Con

God, it's too early to be blogging at 5:30, but I've managed the first official B'con post. Hopefully more substance later.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Baltimore Awaits

It's time for Bouchercon. One last day to enter the contest to win lunch.

What are they saying about THE FRAILTY OF FLESH?

"Sandra Ruttan's sequel to What Burns Within... is better than the first. A four-year-old is beaten to death in a park. The child's brother, hiding in the nearby brush, claims that his older sister killed the boy. Furthermore, the sister is missing.

"Criminous kids are bad enough, but Ruttan, a disciple of the Val McDermid school, takes things a bit further. To say more is to give away a terrific plot."

- Margaret Cannon, THE GLOBE AND MAIL

"The fallout from the last time their cases intersected still haunts the three major protagonists in this stark procedural. Each is haunted by major baggage that can't help but affect current cases. The talented Ruttan turns a spotlight on the gritty reality of law enforcement for these Canadian constables, and the result is truly convoluted and disturbing."

- Romantic Times Book Reviews

"Ruttan's complex web of dialogue and narrative leads us gradually deeper into the lives of those caught up in the crime, including the detectives, creating a distinctive and potent novel...

"In the gap before the relase of further installments in the series it would be interesting to go back and reread the first two novels, to dig deeper into things only partly revealed about the three detectives and even about the cases already investigated. Ruttan's ability to pique the curiosity of the reader even about novels already read once (and even read recently) is a testament to the intricacy of her stories and the depth of her characters."

- Glenn Harper, International Noir Fiction

"Ruttan is Ian Rankin with ovaries."

- Jen Jordan, Crimespree Magazine

"The Frailty of Flesh is not only one of the best procedural thrillers I've read in a long time... but the ending knocked me right out of my seat."

- Crime Scene Scotland

"The Frailty of Flesh raises difficult questions and shuns easy answers. Sandra Ruttan writes with passion and honesty about every parent’s worst nightmare and the result is an emotionally wrenching experience."

- Sean Chercover, Shamus Award-Winning author of Big City, Bad Blood

"The complexity of the relationships among the players as well as the cases, past and present, are riveting. Whatever one might guess as to where the author is taking you, nothing can prepare the reader for the shocking resolution.

"The three protagonists are each skillfully drawn and certain to have Ms. Ruttan's readers anxious to know them better."

-
Mystery Morgue

OUT NOW!

Order from BARNES & NOBLE.

What are they saying about
WHAT BURNS WITHIN?

"Well worth adding to any mystery collection."
-- Library Journal

"Ruttan manages to keep multiple leads and seconds on the same page admirably... the straight proceduralism from Ruttan serves the story well through the rewarding climax."
--Publishers Weekly

"A sizzling story by one of crime fiction's hot new voices."
-- Rick Mofina, internationally best-selling author of A PERFECT GRAVE

"This story features a triple mystery and three main characters, who are interesting not only for their tangled group dynamic but also as individuals. The subject matter obviously is very grim, but the occasional banter between the constables helps to take the edge off. This is a good start to a new series I think will appeal to a variety of mystery lovers."
--Fresh Fiction

"Sandra Ruttan writes with utter ferocity. Twists and turns that stun and dialog that absolutely crackles with wit and authenticity. With each page, Ruttan delivers the goods. WHAT BURNS WITHIN is a nonstop chiller of a mystery that keeps you turning the pages."
-- GREGG OLSEN, New York Times Bestselling Author of A WICKED SNOW

"Promising talent Ruttan sets her gritty new detective series in Vancouver. It has a hard-edged feel and intriguing characters. ...this is a good start to an intriguing series."
--Romantic Times Book Reviews

"Short and snappy chapters, terse dialogue, staccato delivery of minimalist descriptions -- Ruttan's style harks back to the classic hardboiled era....Ruttan is very much a shower rather than a teller: there are very few internal monologues to be heard in WHAT BURNS WITHIN, the subtleties of the characters' complex psychologies being drawn out through their interactions with their colleagues. That's a difficult skill to make invisible, but it's one of Ruttan's most effective weapons."
--Declan Burke, Crime Always Pays

"Ruttan effortlessly brings to life a varied cast of complex characters. She writes with tremendous passion, honesty and skill. This is a story you will care about."
-- Allan Guthrie, Edgar Nominated Author of KISS HER GOODBYE

“Ruttan combines devilishly clever plots with genuinely empathic characters..."
--Russel D. McLean, Crime Scene Scotland

"A totally mesmerizing narrative and a plot that burns off the page."
-- Ken Bruen, Shamus Award-Winning Author of THE GUARDS

“WHAT BURNS WITHIN reads like a favorite television series. A large cast, lots of dialogue to advance the plot, a great setting, and well-drawn characters make for a compelling police procedural.”
-- Anne Frasier, USA Today Bestselling Author of HUSH, SLEEP TIGHT & PLAY DEAD

Available on Amazon.

on life & other inconveniences