Pulp Fiction discussion

Hi – as a crime fiction fan can I ask you:

Q1 – how do you find new crime writers to read?

Q2 – what leads you to try a crime writer for the first time?

My ‘agenda’ here is straightforward. I’m a crime writer and I’m looking to see how I could go about reaching more crime fiction readers with my work – without too much BSP - so many thanks in advance for all your comments and feedback.

I’m genuinely interested in your views as readers, so please either post here or leave a comment at
http://bad-press.co.uk/your-views-wan...

Regards Iain

Goodreads friends have been invaluable in finding new crime fiction to read, either through group reads, recommendations or just by looking at their book lists.

I've also learned about new writers by reading other writers. George Pelecanos and Ken Bruen frequently feature characters who read crime fiction.

I'm more likely to try a new author if friends who have similar tastes have read and reviewed his/her work.

Thanks & interesting.

No surprise that personal recommendations are up there/critical, but group reads is interesting - although I suspect that's potentially a chicken/egg problem in getting chosen as a group read in the first place as a relatively unknown writer!

I get a lot of books given to me to read & review. Then I'm the one making the recommendation, but otherwise I pay a lot of attention to my GR friend recommendations & reviews. New authors have it tough. Just trying to keep up with authors I've enjoyed in the past seems to keep my TBR pile pretty full.

Iain wrote: "what leads you to try a crime writer for the first time? My ‘agenda’ here is straightforward. I’m ..."

I stick with the small presses that specialize in crime, hard-boiled and noir titles: Gutter Books, Blasted Heath, Snubnose Press, One-Eye Books, All Due Respect, Down & Out Books, Zelmer Pulp, Double Life Press, Angry Robot, New Pulp Press, etc. They publish novels and novellas by my favorite new writers -- Chris Rhatigan, Mike Monson, A-9, Patty Abbott, Rob Brunet, Rob Pierce, Tom Pitts -- and terrific anthos and magazines, too. I figure if these presses are putting out the book, the writer is worth checking out. I also get a lot of review copies of new stuff, some of which is not so new by the time I actually read it. Of course, it doesn't hurt that a lot of those writers are friends of mine, too, which means I get the buzz on their WIP before it is launched in many cases. . . I'd recommend that if you know somebody who does reviews, email them directly and offer to send them your book.

Hi - had hit and miss experiences with people wanting review copies.

I have had some fantastic reviews (eg https://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/20... ) but also a fair number of people who just seem to want a freebie and then don't post anything so I guess I've become a bit jaundiced about them.

The ones that seem to me to work from my experience so far are people running 'proper' book reviewing sites who take it seriously and are worth investing in sending copies to.

Individuals touting for free copies on the promise of an Amazon review, and I've had a few of these, not so much.