Mystery Lovers! discussion

Do you ever visit the websites or blogs of mystery authors? If so, which ones do you really like? Some of my favorites are Margaret Coel's ( http://www.margaretcoel.com/ ) and Ann Parker's ( http://www.annparker.net/ ).

Many mystery authors band together in groups to operate blogs. Some of my favorite group blogs are:
Femmes Fatales ( http://femmesfatales.typepad.com/ )
Ink Spot ( http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/ )
Poe's Deadly Daughters ( http://www.poesdeadlydaughters.blogspot.... )
The Lady Killers ( http://theladykillers.typepad.com/ )

I'm curious to hear if any other Cozy Mysteries members have favorite mystery websites/blogs. Of course, I have my own and I invite you to visit and let me know what you think:
http://bethgroundwater.com/
http://bethgroundwater.blogspot.com/
(My blog includes a recent article with photos about my research into competitive fly fishing, and an announcement of the new book contract the research is for.).
- Beth

I rarely do...I don't really get into the whole blog thing for a couple of reasons. First, it seems to me that most of the (admittedly few) I've visited, it's been mostly just self-promotion...the author or reviewer or whomever looking for some attention for whatever reason. I have a blog myself, but I use it just as a place to put my book journal (reviews) online in case my computer goes kaplooey--which has happened, and which is why I started doing my book blog a couple of years ago. I don't care if anyone ever goes there, it's mostly just for me.

Secondly, and most importantly, my "play" time is somewhat limited--so if I have a choice between reading a book or traipsing blog to blog, I'll choose a book any day! I work at a computer all day and my employer blocks all blog sites, photo storage places, social networking sites (including Goodreads) etc. so even during down time I can't get to those kind of places...and once I get home from work, I seldom want to spend my evening sitting in front of a computer screen. I rarely even come here to check out the groups anymore for that reason.

But, that's just me...I know they're quite popular with a lot of people. I'm kind of a curmudgeon when it comes to the whole online 'culture' thing. :)

Cheryl

I really don't go to websites much and blogs not at all. Occasionally I'll go to an author's website to see when their new book will be coming out - that's about it.

Beth wrote: "Do you ever visit the websites or blogs of mystery authors? If so, which ones do you really like? Some of my favorites are Margaret Coel's ( http://www.margaretcoel.com/ ) and Ann Parker's ( http:/..."

Because I really love Margaret Coel but had never been to her website, I followed your link, Beth, and checked it out. Then I read the interview that Tony Hillerman did with her on Bookreporter. Thanks, Beth.

I did go to your website, and I have to say that it looks like you don't write my kind of book. Sorry.

I rarely read author's blogs for the same reason that Spuddie gave. I'd rather read books than blogs. GR sends me a periodic e-mail with blog entries for the authors I follow. I only read the entries with titles that interest me. If I didn't get them in e-mail and didn't have links to those blog entries, I wouldn't bother to read those either. It's just too time consuming to read blogs on a regular basis. I have a job and I'm in library school.

Shomeret

I really love Lee Lofland's blog "The Graveyard Shift," since he tends to get insight from law enforcement professionals on everything from arson to forensics to profiling. I find the real peek behind the curtain fascinating.
I do blog, with a group (on The Kill Zone), and we tend to focus on craft-specific posts, so many of our followers are writers.

I agree about Lee's "The Graveyard Shift." He also has a great book out titled "Police Procedure & Investigation."

Regarding mystery blogs, I have one of my own called Mystery Mania, plus I also post on these group blogs:

Murderous Musings
Make Mine Mystery

Many of the blogs are just great but I don't have time to check them on a regular basis. If I was totally retired I'd probably check them out daily. I read three newsgroups (or try to) and that is about all I can keep up with.

Oh---Kay..interesting post. Years ago I had a blog, as an author, and found it too much trouble to keep up....a ball and chain for sure. I have guested on some blogs and that has been fun. But, as an author I find it better to have a professional stand-alone web site...one where the public can find me without signing in or registering... and I can be reached via direct e-mail from it.

In this respect and because I do a lot of appearances in radio, I find having a web site far more useful..it has become a one-stop for anyone interested in my books or appearances and acts as easy reference to media hosts looking to book me. My website is my Online business card...and for that reason I prefer it to having a blog.

If I'm going to get chatty, I'd rather take the time to do it here at Goodrreads and address a topic that has been posted because there is an active interest in it.

Tho...I do detest these letterbox forms ;-)

www.ElizabethEaganCox.net

I love author websites. If the site is well designed it doesn't matter to me if I don't normally read their certain type of book. Visually appealing and well structured navigation goes a long way to draw me into being interested in the author's work. Usually I dip my toes in with a library copy though, so I don't chance wasting my money. But a good website may introduce me to an author that I may not have otherwise thought to read.

As for the blog sites....I don't really read blogs. I care more about the author's stories than I do about their daily goings-on's. I suppose an author whose blog writings were really funny would be interesting to read, should anyone have any suggestions. But otherwise I could spend my time reading good books, rather than blogs.

I enjoy the blogs from one of my favorite authors. They are entertaining and interesting. He reponds when I comment, so I feel that he is interested in my input.

I do not read author's websites. I feel that they are self promotion and they are not going to sell me on their book in that manner. I prefer recommendations, book reviews, or past experience with authors to choose my reading material.

An Author's Web site (and blog site) serves the purpose of advertising, but both sites can be much more than that.

I like to offer options on my web site such as my Appearance Schedule on free public Internt radio. In fact, seldom am I a guest on the radio to promote my books.

I'm there to speak about topics I am passionate about and that have a broad appeal to the radio program audience. Mostly within the paranormal community... The topics I'm talking about this month (in March) are as much interest to ghost hunting fans as they are to persons interestd in genealogy. And I have wonderful free Online sources that I give out during the radio program for anyone to use.

www.ElizabethEaganCox.net

Well, Jessica and Barbara's answers just confirm to me why I need to maintain both my website (http://bethgroundwater.com/) and my blog (http://bethgroundwater.blogspot.com/). I try to have more than just writing-related stuff on both, such as useful articles like tips for making gift baskets and basket drink recipes on the website and photos from my travels on the blog.

Beth said > "basket drink recipes"


Beth, that sounds very interesting and a great idea ;-)

Mysteries or not .....this is a beautiful web site:
http://www.smnewton.com