More Texas Mystery Authors at the Book Festival
We were then standing in line so Jim could get a book signed by Carl Bernstein who had just spoken. As we were talking and standing in line, a woman in front of us turned around. She said we were making a good choice in going to "Scene of the Crime". It turned out that she was Mrs. Hunsicker, wife of Harry Husicker, a Dallas, Texas mystery author that we were about to hear talk. She said that it was their first Texas Book Festival and they had thoroughly enjoyed walking around on Saturday. She was impressed when I pulled a copy of her husband's second book out of my bag. I asked her if she knew what the print runs were on her husbands books. She said the publisher had not told them. I went on to the capitol building to get seats. Many of the extension room talks had been packed I noticed on Saturday.
In addition to Harry Hunsicker (on the right), there was Dianne Fanning, an Austin, Texas mystery author. Rick Riordan, who has a San Antonio character in his mystery books, was the moderator. Mr. Hunsicker was nominated for a Shamus award for Still River, his first book. His character has the memorable name of Lee Henry Oswald ... an unfortunate name to have in Dallas, Texas. He has just had his third book published, Crosshairs which was available at the Festival. Mr. Hunsicker wrote his first story - wasn't happy with it and threw it away. He wrote Still River in six months. He sent the manuscript out to 10 agents thinking one would instantly like it and the book would be published in a few months. He got 10 rejections back. In fact, he got 120 rejection letters over the next 18 months. Finally an agent accepted it and sold it in a few weeks. Mr. Hunsicker said that what helps him write is having an outline and a firm deadline to meet. Dianne Fanning writes true crime stories and mysteries. She has been nominated for an Edgar award. Her latest book is Bite the Moon. Molly Mullet is the main character. She is a chemistry teacher that becomes a police officer and detective after her husbands death. She reads lots of mysteries including those of Janet Evanovich and Jan Burke. She says she tries to write every day ... using pencil and legal pad. Rick Riordan has been at many Texas Book Festivals. He has Edgar, Anthony and Shamus awards for his first books. His character, Tres Navarres, was written while he was in California. He was homesick for San Antonio where he grew up. He was a teacher but now is back in San Antonio and writing full time. When he started writing, he admits that he had no plot and no plan. He now uses a computer and an outline. Mr. Riordan was fortunate to have another mystery author help him get started. He was 29 when he wrote his first book. He said he was told that ... only 1 in 10,000 manuscripts are accepted for publication ... and only 1 in 10 books make money. His latest Texas mystery book is Rebel Island. He also has a young adult series. He got the idea from his second grade son who like Greek mythology. The first book in the Percy Jackson series is The Lightning Thief - my son read it and liked it. The fourth book in the series will be out next spring.
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