Mega Woots to Janet Reid, Trés Shark

In which he awakens from his long blog slumber for a very good reason.

Janet Reid and I sorta zipped past each other for the better part of a year before we finally agreed to work together. I first queried her in March of 2004, but it wasn't until the following winter that she offered representation and I eagerly accepted. But it wasn't one of those query-and-wait situations. She responded to my query within days with a request for a full, and within a few weeks she called to discuss the manuscript and her situation.

The good news was she loved Lost Dog. The bad news is her client list was full and she couldn't promise to give me the attention she felt I deserved. Not the answer I was hoping for, but I appreciated her directness and honesty. We talked that day for almost two hours, a conversation that ranged from talk about tweaks to Lost Dog, to what to look for as I continued to query, to the state of publishing and more. One of the things that first interested me in Janet was her connection to Oregon, so my adopted home came up as well.

The call ended with her encouraging me to keep at it but to stay in touch and let her know how things went. As the year progressed, I had some near misses with a couple of agents, quality folks indeed, but didn't quite make it. In the late fall, I dropped her a line letting her know where things stood. She called again, we talked again. In this call the mentioned that she might have a slot open up around the first of the year—another client and her might be soon parting ways. An important point she made was that just because you have an agent doesn't mean you're going to get a deal, and there was someone for whom she hadn't been able to find a deal. This was a huge point for me. She wasn't trying to pretend like she was a miracle worker. She wasn't overselling herself, and she was willing to admit it doesn't always work out. All good agents will do this, of course. As soon as they promise you the sun and the sky, grab your wallet and duck your head. But that she was so open about it earned a new level of respect for me. She told me to check in at the new year.

At this point I did something stupid. I stopped querying. Yes, I know. I know. But I was feeling strangely confident. I let my query fingers rest and focused on other things. In January, I gave her a call. More chatting and catch up, which ended with: "Give me till the end of the month. I'll make a decision one way or another by then." It didn't actually take that long. A few days later I heard from her and an representation offer was on its way.

And by early summer, she'd found a home for Lost Dog. Midnight Ink, a small imprint of Llewellyn offered to publish it and we were off.

It hasn't been all roses and cupcakes though. Midnight Ink chose not to act on their option for Chasing Smoke, and I went through a very dark period when it felt like my writing career was over before it had a chance to get started. Publishers lined up in droves to say no, thanks. I got crabby, but Janet stayed patient. Even when I muttered about, "What the hell, I'm just going to throw it up on Lulu and go get a job as a Wal-Mart greeter," she stayed patient. And kept at it.

And found me a new home with Ben LeRoy and Alison Jannsen at Bleak House Books. And the great pleasure there is I've gotten to stay with Ben and Alison as they moved on to form their new company, Tyrus Books.

In the meantime, Janet has continued to be not only my agent and representative, but my friend. She talked me off the figurative ledge during the grim collision last winter of my seasonal affective disorder and ruptured lumbar disc (yeah, I got really down then), but she's also been a good drinking buddy during those two rare occasions when we've been in the same city together. (Inside joke: "They are now.")

It's an honor and a pleasure to work with Janet, and to be her friend. I look forward, I hope, to years to come in the gentle, sharp-toothed care of the the Shark. Janet Reid, here's to you!

Janet is an agent with the esteemed Fine Print Literary Management.

Note: Thanks go out to Kody Keplinger for instigating Agent Appreciation Day.

Prologues, or, The Hate That Would Not Die

So out there in the Twitterland, the unending debate — To Prologue or Not To Prologue? — has arisen like a glampire in all its insouciant glory. Turns out I have an opinion on this matter. Like everything else is fiction, there is no final right answer, but you can be sure that there are people out there who not only believe there is a right answer — theirs — but that if you disagree with them, you are an [expletive], [expletive] double-dumbass. In my experience, the debate is always one with much light and smoke, but in the manner of all intertube flame wars, little genuine heat.

My own feeling is a book begins on page one and ends at the end, and if the first word on page one is "Prologue," then that's what it is. Yet many readers proclaim they will not read a prologue. They will either jump right to chapter one, or skip the book altogether. A common argument is the prologue too often serves as a lazy writer's means of setting up the story when what they should be doing is getting into the action and artfully building the set up info into the thread of narrative.

In one sense, I don't disagree with that. You don't want anything in your finished work to be seen as superfluous or added-on. But that doesn't mean a prologue is inherently bad. It just means the prologue should be as critical to the story as every other chapter.

Structurally, prologues at their best seem to do exactly what some complain of: set up the foundation of the story. It's often presented around a scene, a POV, or a voice that isn't continued in the main body of the story (though not always). In crime fiction, it might show an inciting incident the POV of the victim, the perpetrator, or some omniscient viewpoint. It's likely to provide an essential piece of backstory. And, as with anything else, it can be done well or done poorly.

In my own writing life, I had a semi-interesting prologue experience. Lost Dog has a prologue, but as it happens, it's not really a prologue. It's Chapter One with the word Prologue at the top of the page, all because of the way I wrote the book. Originally, what is now Chapter One was the beginning of the story, the first thing I wrote. Then I wrote the last chapter. From there, I went worked my way forward from chapter one to chapter done.

At some point, I added a denouement called the "Epilogue." And after I did that, I decided to write a scene in a completely different POV which took place well before the action of the novel. I reasoned it would explain an event later in the story. Since it was in a different voice and POV, I called it the "Prologue" and stuck it before Chapter One.

As I worked through revisions, I decided I wanted to to introduce my antagonist before I introduced my protagonist. I also concluded my prologue wasn't necessary — the later event didn't need the help and POV difference didn't fit. So my new antagonist scene became the prologue, even though because of the way the novel is structured with alternating POVs, it probably should have just been chapter one. But (and here you get a little insight into my process!) if I made it chapter one, I would have to go through and increment all the other chapter numbers. If I just made it the prologue, I wouldn't have to mess with chapter numbering. Weird decision when you consider writing a novel takes months or even years, and changing the chapter numbering would have taken, oh, say, ten minutes. But there you are.

When the book was in editorial, I discovered this vehement opposition to the concept of prologues. Considering the mighty power of the internet hissy fit, I decided, hell, who needs the grief? I emailed my editor and said, "Can we just call them all chapters, and get rid of the words prologue and epilogue?" And he made an editorial decision, carefully reasoned as to the effect of this change on how the book would be read: "Eh, let's leave it. I don't want to have to ask the layout person to go through and change all the chapter headings at this point."

Well.

Ultimately, you should make every chapter matter. Whether the first one is called "Prologue" or "Chapter One" is less important than that it be a crucial element to the story.
 
 

Causing trouble around the internets

I have stirred from my lair and gone a visitin'. Come and see me over at the lovely Kaye Barley's home, Meanderings and Musings, wherein I dig down into my dark underbelly and discover, well, I'll leave it to Kaye's fine hostessing to drawing me out. Come and visit!
 
 

Chasing Smoke news

Very exciting news. Chasing Smoke is on the IndieBound Indie Next List Notables for January 2009 under Mystery / Suspense. Thanks to Linda Dewberry of Whodunit? Books in Olympia, Washington for recommending it. As always, be sure to check out your local independent bookstore. You can find those in your area using the IndieBound Store Finder.

Also, I've subjected Chasing Smoke to the Page 69 Test. Check out the results here.
 
 

16 Random Things

I got tagged by Linda for this, after first being tagged by Alafair on Facebook. So here it is in Blog Land!

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.

1. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Savannah, Pawtucket, and Dayton, Ohio, but have now settled in Portland, Oregon. Possibly forever, though if I win PowerBall, who knows?

2. I have worked as a graphic designer for 24 years. I have zero graphic design education. Also, I hate working in graphic design, and hate even more its bastard child, web development.

3. I've been sucked into the air by a tornado, my feet scrambling mid-air like Wile E. Coyote. Somehow I landed safely on my feet and kept running until I found shelter.

4. Many years later, I was lifted into the air by a wind storm on the beach at Rockaway, Oregon, and later determined that I was carried at least 150 feet before being dumped onto the sand, bruised but otherwise unharmed. Clearly, I am an idiot.

5. I met my wife by finding her cell phone in a coffee shop, then courted her online via email and instant message.

6. During the 80s, I was a truck driver in the Ohio National Guard. I now think that was kinda cool, though at the time I chafed under military discipline. I chafe under discipline in general though. If I was a lawyer, I'd be perpetually in contempt of court.

7. My childhood dog was a dachshund named Gretchen who loved spaghetti more than life itself.

8. Please do not leave an open bag of Sour Patch Kids or Jolly Ranchers near me. I have no willpower.

9. However, I hate watermelon Jolly Ranchers with the fire of a thousand suns.

10. Actually, I dislike melon and squash in all forms, except for pumpkin pie, which is usually mostly sweet potatoes unless made from scratch using an actual pie pumpkin.

11. Heaven for me will feature hash browns, cheese of all kinds, coffee, and beer.

12. I used to be a sports fanatic. Now I only follow football, but no longer have a favorite team. I just like watching it.

13. I no longer know when any show I like is on TV, because I just wait for the DVD release and watch via NetFlix. Currently smitten by Battlestar Galactica and Life.

14. I have two half-brothers that I haven't seen or spoken to since our father died in the early 90s. Not sure why not.

15. I wish my dog could talk, at least to me, and realize this probably means I'm a little crazy. This is technically Alafair's thing, but it's pretty much true for me too.

16. I'm eating Sour Patch Kids as I work on this list.

Wrapping Up '08

I don't post often, but it seems like the day to do a little catch-up. And what better way than to share a few highlights and lowlights, as well as a few hopes for next year. I'm going to start with the lowlights, and then finish with the good stuff. Years ago, in my first writing workshop in college, I learned the rule that if you're going to criticize, end on the positive as it helps temper the negative. But before I get to specific lows and highs, I want to talk about the one thing that is a little of both.

Chasing Smoke
Now, you might think the publication of my second novel is a highlight, and you'd be right. But it's not all rainbows and unicorns. I'm not sure how other writers feel about their work, but my relationship to my writing is probably too emotional, too tied up in existential angst. I am not a fast writer, and as the process drags out, my feelings about my work bounce all over the place. I know I'm not alone in the feeling that work-in-progress is terrible, unreadable, embarrassing. Many (if not all) writers share that feeling at some point in the process. I take it to the next level, where the work-in-progress gets bound up in my sense of who I am. This probably not a good thing, but there it is.

The writing of Chasing Smoke was different from my previous work, too, in that it came after my first book contract. My agent wanted it as quickly as possible, because she very sensibly wants to maintain forward momentum, without too big a delay between books. Of course, the assumption there was that I could write a second book, something I wasn't at all sure of during the writing of Chasing Smoke. As it was, however, I was able to do something I have never done before: keep track of how much time it took to write the book.

And here you go. Chasing Smoke took me twenty months to write from start to final submission draft that Alison and Ben at Bleak House took it on. But I can get more specific than that. Time in front of the keyboard came out somewhere between 1,450-1,500 hours. Of course it was even more than that, since I can't count how much time I spend in ruminations or making notes on scraps of paper and the backs of envelopes.

In one sense, that is too long, arguably way too long. It just happens to be how long it took me. I know plenty of writers work much faster, and produce cleaner, more engaging work. For myself, Chasing Smoke serves as the best work I've ever done. Some people will say that for all the time it took, it should have been better. I wish it was better, but it's done, it's in print, and so be it.

And yet, in a way, I wish I was still working on it. As satisfying as seeing my work in print is, there is something anti-climactic about it as well. While the writing is in progress, its potential outstrips its actuality. In draft, it can still be anything. In draft, I still have a chance to create something truly special. Once it is frozen in print, it is what it is, and all the nits and issues that remain stand out in sharp relief against the fading gleam of lost potential.

But I can't wallow in past work. If I'm going to make a go of this whole writing career thing, I have to keep moving forward, slow as that may be. I'm currently at work on my third novel, tentatively titled Blood Trail, and have reached about 80,000 words of the first draft. The completion date continues to be unknown, but I have to be honest and admit that I haven't come close to any date yet. First it was going to be last June. Then September. Then today. Now it might be next month, next summer, or even 2010. The book is, frankly, a mess right now, and I don't have any sense of when I will sort it all out. But, itis at that point where it is all bright potential, and that's what keeps me moving forward. There are moments which are among the best writing I've ever done. There are other moments which are so awful I can't see how they can be salvaged. But the potential, the fluid, shifting, just-beyond-my-reach potential remains.

Now on to 2008...

Lowlights
The economic world imploded. Every industry got hit, and publishing won't soon forget its own Black Wednesday. In my day job field, graphic design and its bastard child web development, the opportunities shrank as in every other field (except, perhaps, the field of bankruptcy law). Personally, it's hard to know exactly how hard I will be hit, both in the day job and in publishing my work. At least I know that whatever happens, I won't be alone.

Sales of Lost Dog have been very disappointing. The nature of the royalty report being what it is, it's very difficult to tell what's really going on, but when I got the last report and noodled the numbers, it looks like the book has sold under 1,000 copies. Ouch. My hope is I'm misinterpreting something and it's not that bad, but any way you look at it, it ain't great.

Chasing Smoke was released. Yes, this is a lowlight, as intimated above, but also see below, in Highlights.

Chasing Smoke takes it in the 'nads in Publishers Weekly. A bad review is part of the deal when you have a book out in the wild, and Lost Dog got its share. But the Publishers Weekly review really hurt, not the least because when you go to the various online book seller sites, it's the review that gets displayed. No need to rehash the details, but the PW reviewer hated Chasing Smoke with the fire of a thousand suns. And now anyone considering buying it online (go to your favorite local indie bookseller instead) will see, first thing, a review that can be summarized thus: "Chasing Smoke sucks the windy boner and Bill Cameron should be immediately killed for writing it." Oy vey.

Portland Wordstock Festival. Okay, for the record, Wordstock is far more a highlight than a lowlight, and I get into that in detail below. But there was one big disappointment, which was that the book booth didn't carry my books. Now, that happens, but the attitude of those working at the booth was particularly galling, expressing no interest in working with me to get books and offering the perfunctory apology of someone who doesn't feel sorry at all. Because of that I was left with such a bad taste in my mouth about the event that I probably won't do it again.

Highlights
I got to become friends with Alison Jannsen and Ben LeRoy of Bleak House. Win.

Chasing Smoke was released. Natch.

Starred review in Library Journal, and doubleplusgood review in Book List. As much as the PW review hurt, the reviews in Library Journal and Book List filled me with glee. The starred review in LJ was particularly wonderful, and one of the great side effects of that seems to be really nice library sales. Last time I checked Worldcat.org, the library count for Chasing Smoke was up to almost 200, as compared to only 50 or so for Lost Dog. That's moving in the right direction.

Got right with Sandra.

Lost Dog was a finalist for two different awards, the Rocky at Left Coast Crime 2008 and the 2008 Spotted Owl. Sweet.

Chasing Smoke inspired a number of sales of Lost Dog. Double sweet. (Of note was the library count in Worldcat.org for Lost Dog, which was stalled at 50 for about a year, but then started to rise again after the release of Chasing Smoke.)

"Slice of Pie," my contribution to the Killer Year anthology, is described as "an irony-filled gem" in the Chicago Tribune. My first mention in a major newspaper.

My story, "Coffee, Black," is accepted for Portland Noir, one of the Akashic Noir series anthologies. It's a story about Skin Kadash. The anthology will be out in June 2009.

My story, "Counterflow," took second place in the Press 53 2008 short short fiction contest, and was subsequently read by Alan Vogel on Lit 103.3: Fiction For the Ears.

Hanging out at Book Expo America with all kinds of fun people and good friends, not the least of whom are Brett Battles, Rob Browne, agent extraordinaire Janet Reid, the aforementioned Ben and Alison, and so many others.

Traveling the countryside with friends for my book tour, including Eric Stone, marvelous writer and great road companion, and Kelli Stanley and Tana Hall, wonderful hosts. Wonderful friends too, all of them.

Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing. In Portland, Powell's is an institution, and its reach is far beyond the city. The main store downtown is so large you can spend a week inside and not see all the books. It also features nice satellite stores throughout greater Portland. My favorite by far is the store in Beaverton, where I have had the great good fortune to be hosted by Renee James and Ananda Yorty for not only a signing event for Chasing Smoke, but also at two marvelous group events called "Murder With Friends." Powell's is a destination for any book lover, but for my money, mystery and thriller readers need to go to Beaverton.

Wordstock Festival. I told you I'd get back to this one. And my experience in the book booth notwithstanding, this is a great event for readers. I had the marvelous opportunity to sit on a panel with Phillip Margolin and Robert Clark, as well as to do a reading and Q&A alongside Ed Goldberg. The best part was the chance to lead a workshop on character-driven mystery. My hope is the workshop attendees had as much fun as I did, and more importantly, that I was able to offer something of value to them.

My friends at various independent bookstores, both in Portland and around the country. I know I will forget some, but the list certainly must start with the fine folks at Portland's Murder by the Book. Jean, Barb, Carolyn, and Nick are my heroes. But that's not all. Kindness and support has been heaped on me by L.A.'s The Mystery Bookstore, M is for Mystery in San Mateo, Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Once Upon a Crime in Minneapolis, Mystery Mike's, Tea Party Bookshop in Salem, Oregon, Steve Lee at Heirloom Bookshop, and probably many, many more that I am neglecting.

Next Year
If you've gotten this far, thank you. This post does natter on, doesn't it? Almost done!

It's hard to know what to expect for 2009. Blood Trail has a long way to go, and so an uncertain future. We're all wondering which part of the economy will collapse next, and which of us will go with it. I can't decide whether to be hopeful or to quake in terror. Probably a little of both. Either way, I know I will keep chipping away at the novel, keep chatting with my friends on Twitter, keep gabbing in IMs with my pals from around the world, and hopefully, keep a little day job income flowing. Hell, I might even blog every now and then.

Whatever happens, I hope 2009 offers us all more than our fair share of bright spots.
 
 

I got a birthday present from Booklist

Booklist likes Chasing Smoke!

Reviewer David Pitt says, “Cameron tells two stories, the investigation itself and Skin’s coming-to-terms with his possible death, and he tells them beautifully, making us feel what’s going on inside Skin’s mind.” And as it that isn't birthday present enough, he adds, “the novel ... is dirty and visceral and intricate, and it engages the reader on an emotional as well as literary level.”

Makes getting older a mite bit easier! Booklist subscribers can read the full review online here.
 
 

Final Stops on Whirlwind World Tour!

Tea Party Bookshop, November 10, 2008, 6:30pm. Salem, Oregon. Appearing with Eric Stone.

Whodunit? Books, November 11, 2008, noon. 119 5th Ave SE, Olympia, Washington. Drop in visit only; no formal event planned.

Seattle Mystery Bookshop, November 12, 2008, noon. Appearing with Eric Stone.

Murder by the Book, November 12, 2008, 6:30pm. Appearing with Eric Stone.

------

After this, I will be getting myself back in gear finishing the next book. But I do have a few more events coming up in January, including an event at MacWorld in San Francisco with Mariner Software, and an appearance at the Multnomah County Library, Hollywood Branch, on January 26.

Wordstock Weekend

Wordstock arrives this weekend, Portland's annual festival of books. It will take place November 7-9 at the Oregon Convention Center. Wordstock features ten author stages, a book fair with over 150 exhibitors, a special children's area and children's literature stage, a series of workshops for writers and for K-12 teachers, a special broadcast of Live Wire!, the popular public radio variety show, featuring writers from the festival, and more.

One quick way to get to know the writers at this year's event is to check out Portland on Portland, where authors talk about the city in a mere 50 words. (My topic is coffee, surprise, surprise.)

I will be involved in a number of activities. If you're in the area, this is a great event. I'd love to see you.

• Saturday, November 8, 2:00pm: Participating in a panel moderated by Katy King, with Phillip Margolin and Robert Clark: "The Changing Face of Mystery."


• Saturday, November 8, 3:00pm: Reading and Q&A.


• Sunday, November 9, 12:45pm: Leading a workshop, "How Character Collides with Premise to Create Plot."

On the Road

I'll be on the road this weekend, and if you happen to be within range of where I'll be, I'd love to see you.

M is for Mystery, October 30, 2008, 7pm, San Mateo, CA. Appearing with Eric Stone, author of the acclaimed Ray Sharp series to discuss Chasing Smoke and Eric's latest, Flight of the Hornbill. We'll be doing a multi-media presentation in addition to reading and discussion.

The Mystery Bookstore, October 31, 2008, 7pm, Los Angeles. Group signing.

Men of Mystery, November 1, 2008. A day-long celebration of men who write mysteries. Irvine Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California.
 
 

Guest Blogging Today

I'm visiting Laura Benedict's blog Notes from the Handbasket today as one of Laura's Octoberguests. Stop by and say hello! All visitors get a chance to win a giftbasket at the end of the month, which will include a copy of Chasing Smoke, as well as books by other Octoberguests and other treats!

Laura is the author of the marvelous supernatural thriller Isabella Moon, as well as the forthcoming Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts.
 
 

I got to shake his hand

And my hand was already shaking before he clasped it.

What didn't get included from my moment was the way Larry Block shows what voice can do. Between his major series characters of recent years and even going back to the Tanner days, his work offers a primer in the power of voice in fiction. One of the all-time greats.

For those who notice such things, there is even a little homage to Lawrence Block in Lost Dog.

Chasing Smoke Receives ★ Starred ★ Review from Library Journal

★ Yeah, I'm giddy!

Check out the review here!
 
 

I'm being roasted, which is probably better than getting baked.

Catch me at BookRoast on September 17, 2008.

Chris Eldin will be my roastmaster, and I have no doubt the heat will rise. Also roasting in September are my agent Janet Reid on September 12, and friend and fellow Killer Year member Jason Pinter on September 18, among many others. A hot time should be had by all.

Visitors will have a chance to win one of two free copies of Chasing Smoke.

BookRoast: Serving up authors and books lightly grilled and seasoned with humor.

Ken Lewis and I Chat for NetDrag

At the recent Willamette Writers Conference, I met fellow writer and NetDrag host Ken Lewis. We got a chance to sit down and chat, and Ken has graciously posted our conversation for all to hear. I do natter on a bit, as Janet has mentioned, but we had a fun time. Thanks, Ken!

Listen here!
 
 

Paper Fort

Literary Arts of Oregon recently started a news blog about Oregon Writers called Paper Fort. Edited by Susan Denning, Director of Programs & Events for Oregon Literary Arts, the blog so far has featured some marvelous author profiles, as well as news about Oregon writers and writing events.

Oregon has a rich writing community, and this looks to be a great resources to get to know some marvelous writers.
 
 

Chasing Smoke Trailer

Vimeo rocks.


Chasing Smoke Trailer from Duplo's Dad on Vimeo.

Or, alternately, on YouTube:


 
 

Forgotten Friday: The Mystery of the Witches Bridge

If it wasn't for standardized testing, I might have missed The Mystery of the Witches Bridge by Barbee Oliver Carleton. It was November 1972 and us fourth graders at Nathanael Greene Elementary, Pawtucket, found ourselves subjected to a week of endless Scantron sheets and NO TALKING. There was one small bit of good news, however. We were told that once we completed each test segment, we would be allowed to read quietly at our desks until time for the next test. We should plan on six to eight segments a day for most of the week.

Up to that point, my reading had been almost exclusively what was required for school. I wasn't opposed to reading — it just hadn't made it onto my radar screen yet. So I dutifully went to the library and poked around to look for something not too boring. I chose The Mystery of the Witches Bridge pretty much at random. Mystery of Something sounded maybe cool. I guess. A witch might be neat, and the cover was creepy.

The first test had a thirty-minute time limit, and I finished in about half the time. After turning in my Scantron, I pulled out the book and started reading. Not long after, when the second test started, I found myself rushing to get done so I could get back to the story. Later that first day I realized the best way to maximize my reading time was to simply ignore the questions and fill in the Scantron ovals at random. I could complete a forty-five minute test in under five and get back to reading.

My teachers were amazed. Them: "You're so fast! How do you do it?"

Me: (ignoring them, reading)

I can't say as I was a shining example of the dutiful student, but I discovered something truly wonderful: not just the first chapter book I read for pleasure, but a book that would stick with me throughout my life and which remains one of my all time favorites. It's a book that ultimately contributed to my desire to be a writer myself, and certainly influenced that kind of fiction that I seek to this day.

The Mystery of the Witches Bridge is the dark, yet stirring story of a young man caught up in a mystery stretching across three hundred years of his family's history. Set in coastal New England, the plot centers around the boy Dan Pride who has come to live with his reclusive uncle at the ancient family home, Pride's Point, after the death of his parents. The old house sits on an island in the midst of a fertile salt marsh and can be reached only by a long causeway, or over an old road that leads across the eponymous Witches Bridge.

Dan struggles with his grief and feelings of isolation, but he hopes he will find a new home with his uncle, Julian Pride. His hopes are quickly dashed. The old house is grim and forbidding, and his Uncle Julian aloof, haunted by bitter memories. He warns Dan to keep his place, to do as he's told, and specifically to avoid the Bishops, a rival family Uncle Julian blames for the mysterious death of his own father—Dan's grandfather—years before. Furthermore, the Prides are ostracized by the locals, who believe the ghost of Samuel Pride, founder of Pride's Point, haunts the salt marsh and lures the unwary to their deaths whenever a fog rises. Old Samuel was falsely accused of witchcraft back in the early years of the Massachusetts colony, but his example retains power even in the present, as he kept Pride's Point for his descendants only by standing mute in the face of prosecution and ultimately execution.

As Dan attempts to settle in to his new life, he discovers a few bright moments in the drear, including a friendship with a pair of siblings who live across the marsh. But he's unable to get out from beneath the shadow of his family's haunted past. The feud with the Bishops hovers like a spectre over him and his new friends. The Bishops were source of the original accusation against old Samuel Pride, and were subsequently connected, at least circumstantially, to the events surrounding the death of Dan's grandfather. Ultimately, Dan must solve not only the mystery of his grandfather's death but come to understand the choices of his long dead ancestor, the old witch himself, in order to save himself from the false accusations he faces, like his forebear, and make a place for himself at Pride's Point.

It's been over 35 years since I first read this marvelous book. I consider it to be brilliant, young adult noir—great characters, taut plot, sleep-interrupting suspense, and unexpected redemption yet with an enticing note of ambivalence and ambiguity. Today, I re-read my tattered, disintegrating copy every year or so. Several times I've had to order fresh copies, always used. The book is out-of-print, I'm sad to say, but fortunately enough copies are extant that I've always managed to land a copy that's more or less intact. Recently, the best source has been Amazon Marketplace, where the average price is 89¢, or nine dollars with shipping and handling. More than worth it.
 
 

Thank you, ITW Debut Authors

Very fun and very thoughtful, the folks at the ITW Debut Authors Group presented me with a delightful gift, myself immortalized in caricature form. I love it. The Official Lost Dog Bomber Cap is represented, as well as my propensity for Speedos. Be assured, however, that I would never cause fear and alarm by wearing actual Speedos in public.

The gift is ostensibly for my service as adviser to the group, and while I endeavored to offer what aid I could, the real stars are the authors themselves. I am humbled and thrilled by this generous gift.

Hear "Counterflow"

Hear my story Counterflow read by Alan Vogel on Lit 103.3: Fiction for the Ears, starting Tuesday, July 8 through July 15. The broadcast will be streamed July 8 at 1pm EDT, or available as a podcast throughout the week. Fiction for the Ears is broadcast on Valley Free Radio, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Alan will also be reading Adam Novitt's "The True and Real History of Elspeth and the Indian Wars."

"Counterflow" was a finalist in the 2008 Press 53 Open Awards Short Short Story category.

Get the podcast here.