Alafair Burke

Ain't No Party Like a Frenchie Party...

2009-01-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

Proof that regular people shouldn't own camcorders, this is a video we made of the Duffer playing with his french bulldog friend, Chacho. I'm off to Phoenix tomorrow. Pictures and updates to follow.

Happy Anniversary!

2009-01-01T15:17:00.001-08:00

Today is our third anniversary. Tradition calls for the exchange of presents made from leather. Insert joke here. Surely a sign that I never quite grew up, I have found myself singing this old gem throughout the day:

16 Random Things

2008-12-29T11:49:00.000-08:00

Over at Facebook, a high school friend (the same one who has posted shockingly embarrassing pictures of me as a young choir geek with adventurous haircuts) "tagged" me with a note asking me to generate a list of 16 random facts about myself. I figured I'd post them here as well:

1. I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was raised primarily in Wichita, Kansas, still miss Portland, Oregon like crazy, but will probably stay in New York forever.

2. I went to law school to be an entertainment lawyer.

3. I've sat in the same room with a serial killer.

4. I met my husband online.

5. I've talked on the phone with Bill Clinton.

6. When I was little my sister Pamala and I transformed the closet beneath the stairs into The Buddy Club.

7. I once had a fat orange tabby called Roscoe P. Cattrane

8. I'm addicted to exercise trends. Have gone from aerobics, step, rowing, kickboxing, pilates, yoga (ashtanga, vinyasa, bikram, all of it), kettlebells. Always end up running again.

9. I am physically incapable of turning off the TV if Working Girl, Trading Places, or Saturday Night Fever is on. I watch repeats of Gilmore Girls, Buffy, and Arrested Development over and over and over again.

10. Golf is the only thing I've ever stuck with despite having no natural abilities for it. (I tend to be a quitter and have a long list of unmastered musical instruments to prove it)

11. I like olive oil gelato.

12. I listen to 80's music...a lot.

13. I wish none of my NY based friends had ever moved.

14. I have two sisters, a brother, and parents I wish I could see more often.

15. I wish my dog could talk, at least to me, and realize this probably means I'm a little crazy.

16. I'm handy.

Finally feeling the holiday season

2008-12-22T11:32:00.001-08:00

Without much immediate family near me, and with a husband who works through the holiday season in the city, and with a general aversion to shopping, I haven't felt much of the Christmas spirit yet this year. But this weekend we finally dragged home a Christmas tree from Tenth Street in the snow and decorated it while sipping egg nog and listening to Christmas music. Turns out that did the trick. My cousin was in town this weekend and we did some Christmas shopping, baked cookies, and watched Gremlins (I know, I'm a great NYC host, right?).

I'm in full holiday mode now, finally mailing the Christmas cards out today. This year's featured photograph is (as usual) Duffer's holiday portrait. As you can see, I never did get around to taking him to an NYC landmark. The background is our living room floor. He looks pretty good in his Christmas boa.

Another review for Angel's Tip

2008-12-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

From the Contra Costa Times:

It seems almost every day I get an e-mail or a phone call asking if I can recommend someone who writes "just like James Lee Burke". That's like asking if someone out delivers presents "just like Santa Claus".

Folks, another writer like James Lee Burke isn't going to happen.

But Burke's daughter, Alafair, is a wonderful author, too.

"Angel's Tip" by Alafair Burke (Harper Collins, $23.95, 339 pages, www.alafairburke.com .) Ms. Burke is the author of four previous books, three Samantha Kincaid novels, plus two Ellie Hatcher novels: "Dead Connection" and "Angel's Tip." All are excellent thrillers with strong female protagonists.

"Angel's Tip" could have been taken from the front page of any major city in the country. The scenarios are all too common a young woman makes the headlines because a tiny mistake leads to her murder. A college student leaves a bar with boys she just met. A young woman stays behind for one more drink. An illegally parked car is towed, and a woman finds herself walking alone in a bad neighborhood. Small mistakes, costly tragedies. "Angel's Tip" is their story.

I thought my name was rough for a kid

2008-12-17T10:10:00.000-08:00

This family is scary.

Video of the Day

2008-12-16T05:34:00.001-08:00

Books make great gifts! This is a terrific video featuring authors such as Maya Angelou, Judy Blume, and Jon Stewart talking about why books make such great gifts. You've got to sit through about five seconds of Elmo, but it's worth it.

Another sad 4 am story

2008-12-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

This week our friend Lesa Holstine (frequent poster here and author of Lesa's Book Critiques) commented about the similarities between Angel's Tip and last week's disappearance of a woman missing since she left Manhattan hotspot Marquee at 4 am with a man she apparently didn't know. The details of this tragic case remind me too much of Natalee Holloway, Jennifer Moore, and Imette St. Guillen, the cases that eventually led me, as I explain in the author's note to Angel's Tip, to the plot of that novel. You can read Lesa's thoughts about the eerie similarities between the book and this case here at USA Today. My thoughts are with the young woman's family.

Video of the Day

2008-12-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

For your holiday viewing (and 80's nostalgia) pleasure.

Separated at Birth?

2008-12-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

I was quick to notice the uncanny resemblance between these two. So will others soon start to note that indicted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich looks like the long-lost third Menendez brother?

Ellie Hatcher's online profile

2008-12-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

My UK editor wants to include a fictional profile for Det. Ellie Hatcher in the UK edition of Angel's Tip, which will be called City of Fear on the other side of the pond. I thought some of you might be able to help me write it. Some of the requested information is pretty straightforward (family, job, etc.), but some categories permit more creativity: music and film preferences, favorite actors, fears, sense of humor, and "character." I made my girl up, so of course I have some thoughts on how these things would be answered. But with only two Ellie books on shelves, I haven't yet told you everything I know about her. So, what known traits of Ellie's should be included in her profile? What traits of your imagination might we include?

I hope you all are up for my reindeer games. This one could be fun (and really helpful given my current homework assignment!).

Best NY Christmas Card Sights

2008-12-02T17:01:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the holiday season is here again. For the past three years, my Christmas card has featured a photograph of Duffer. Year 1 was a photo of Sean, Duffer, and me in front of the Christmas tree, which also doubled as a marriage announcement because Sean and I didn't have a wedding (It read "Duffer is pleased to announce ...). Year 2 was a photoshopped photo of Duffer in an army outfit. Last year was Duff in his pajamas.

So what to do this year? I'd love to photograph Duffer in some iconic NYC locale but am having a hard time identifying a location that would capture both the sight and a 30 pound dog. Suggestions?

An Oldie but a Goodie

2008-11-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

One of the best Q&A's I've done was with Court TV before it became Tru TV. I still do legal and trial commentary for the network, but this was an in-depth online Q&A with viewers. Some of the topics are a bit dated (for example, the Michael Jackson trial), but some of you might be interested in reviewing the transcript.

Who Watches This Stuff?

2008-11-25T07:31:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the enormous impaling-type metal object that I managed to run over yesterday, I'm spending this morning at an Acura dealer in Long Island getting a new tire, plus all the other stuff they said I needed while I was here. Good news: they have wireless internet and a spacious waiting room with a flat-screen TV. Bad news: the TV is currently set to Rachael Ray, with guest Rosie O'Donnell. Remember when the government purportedly tried to torture Noriega by blasting hard rock music? Well, I've got news for the Pentagon....this is far more effective.

This news is heli-good, you guys

2008-11-23T15:54:00.001-08:00

Mystery Writers of America, responsible for the prestigious Edgar Awards, has named my father as the Grand Master this year, along with one of my heroines, Sue Grafton ("And by heroine, I mean lady hero. I don't mean I want to inject you and listen to jazz." - Liz Lemon to Carrie Fisher in 30 Rock).

Congratulations, JLB!

Big fat cat

2008-11-19T11:04:00.001-08:00

I'll confess that big fat cats make me smile, but this article sickened me a little. God knows people have to struggle with weight, but why should pets? It's not as if they have a bad day at work and then eat a bag of potato chips. They eat what they're given and that's it (well, except for when Duffer broke into his walker's bag and ate an entire bagel...). My brother makes fun of me for worrying more about Duffer's diet than my own, but I feel I owe it to him.

People love pets. In fact, I've gotten emails from readers scolding me because Samantha Kincaid is so irresponsible when it comes to poor little Vinnie. So how could anyone allow a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to eat "bread and butter, .. dried pigs' ears, as well as chicken and dog food" so that "If he goes for a walk, he has to sit down half way through to have a rest"? Sad!

It's cold!

2008-11-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

It may not be officially winter, but it is officially freakin cold. The Duffer (aka, Mr. Softy) was acting like a wussy baby in the wind this morning so I dug out the coat my mother got him. Before I had a gourmet dog, I thought people who put coats on dogs were total tools. Now I'm convinced my little freak is freezing if the mercury falls below 50. Duff apparently doesn't mind his coat at all because he climbed into his bed with it and won't get up for me to remove it. (And in the event you can see the black letters near the bottom, yes, it's personalized. And it has a reflective band around his "waist," I guess in case he's out walking by himself and the cars don't see him. Hey, at least I can say my mom bought it, not me.)

Books to Film

2008-11-14T13:45:00.001-08:00

I received an email the other day asking if Ellie Hatcher or Samantha Kincaid would be coming to screens any time soon. Despite having an actual credible Hollywood agent and the usual conversations, I won't hold my breath until film is in the can. The email did have me wondering why this is probably the most common question of authors. The person who asked me is a much appreciated reader of many many books, and in that context the questions is precisely that - a question about the status of my work.

But in other contexts the question carries other connotations. When Michael Connelly and I toured Quantico together ("Bobby DeNiro told me not to name drop," whatever), we encountered a small group of people taking a tour. We were introduced and it was clear no one had heard of either of us. But when mention was made of a movie based on one of Michael's books, suddenly he was a superstar. Of course, he actually is a superstar, but that's not my point. My point is that his superstar status has nothing, or at least shouldn't have anything, to do with his books.

Why do people (particular non-readers) use the book-to-film project as a proxy for success? Is it because they actually believe that any real book gets made into a movie? Is it because they want to know if you're rich, and they believe (somewhat correctly) that authors only get mad cash through film deals? Or is it a secret way to change the conversation from something they don't care about (books) to something we all love to dish about (celebs)? I know I shouldn't think about this too hard, because people are just trying to make friendly conversation. But, seriously, why do friendly conversations always lead to this place?

Video of the Day

2008-11-11T05:42:00.001-08:00

If this were my cat, I would never get any work done because I would watch it do this all day long. He eventually makes it through about 00:38:

Prof. Burke in DC

2008-11-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

Today and Saturday I'm in DC for the annual national law school faculty hiring conference, otherwise known as the "meat market." Current and future law-profs descend upon the Marriot, hooking up for 30 minute interviews in which the first question is always, "So tell us about your current project," and the last question is always, "What can we tell you about us?" (OK, literally, the last question is then from the interviewee, who asks something like, "What support is there for junior faculty research?") Fortunately, we picked terrific people to interview so I learned a bunch of interesting stuff I didn't previously know, the mark of a pretty good day.

But the entire process had me flashing back to that weekend eight years ago when I sprinted from hotel tower to hotel tower, repeating the short version of my job talk, answering questions both predictable and whack, and concluding with all the right questions. Many of the memories are positive, like when the folks at Arkansas told me what the Clintons were like, or when the guy from Michigan told me my research was fascinating (didn't get a callback, but, still, he was nice to say it), or when someone noticed the topic of my undergraduate thesis. Unfortunately, it also brings back the bad memory of catching two profs at a top 5 school share a joint eye roll at my expense six minutes into a 30-minute interview. Ouch!

When people ask me about the pain of getting a first novel published, I always wonder if perhaps the process of starting my other professional life may have been worse. In either case, I'm feeling extremely fortunate right now to be on the other side of the table.

New online review for Angel's Tip

2008-11-06T04:54:00.000-08:00

At Blogcritics Magazine, this reviewer says that "it’s Ellie’s chase, her constant battle to figure out the clues and to deal with her boyfriend’s betrayal, that really drive this story. You never forget that Ellie is a woman, a real person, in addition to being a homicide detective. Burke lavishes detail without overwhelming the reader, provides machine gun fire dialogue riddled with fun pop culture references, and challenges the reader to a blistering mystery rife with danger."

History!

2008-11-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

And in case you weren't thinking about books yesterday, another noteworthy event of November 4? Dead Connection was published in paperback. If you haven't yet discovered NYPD Det. Ellie Hatcher, Dead Connection is the first in the series and a great place to start.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love Halloween. For the last couple of years, my Halloween tradition has been to dress Duffer up and walk around the village so revelers can play with him and tell him how cute he is (he likes that).

Alas, no trick or treating with the Duffer tonight for me. I'm leaving for the Delaware Book Festival. The panel tomorrow with Tess Gerritsen and Mary Jane Clark will more than make up for it, but what about the Duff? The husband refuses to dress him up in my absence. It's a shame, because isn't he a cutey pie in his Batman outfit?

Video of the Day

2008-10-30T05:54:00.001-07:00

I'll resist the temptation to tell you how to vote, but, please, on Tuesday, VOTE, because otherwise, these people will do it for you:

Book Titles

2008-10-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

At Bouchercon I sat on a panel with the always-hilarious Chris Grabenstein, who said he thought of his title Tilt-a-Whirl before he'd written a page of the book. I'm the opposite. With the exception of Missing Justice (about a missing judge: get it?), all of my book titles have come only after I've finished the manuscript, and then only after I've hemmed and hawed and polled all of my friends about the many possibilities.

Well, I'm at the same place again. I'm off and running on the next Ellie Hatcher book, with no titles in sight. It had me wondering about the significance of titles. From a commercial perspective, the most successful series titles are undoubtedly Sue Grafton's "A is for..." etc. and Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money..." etc. Early on, these titles helped readers recognize the books without remembering the author. Now they help readers keep track of where they are in the series.

But with those exceptions, what's the value of a title? How closely does it need to relate to the subject matter of the book? I fret because I want the title to be perfect, evoking a certain feeling and also relating directly to something important about the book. Angel's Tip, for example, is the name of the last drink Chelsea Hart orders before she's killed, but it also refers to a father's tip to the police after a dream about his murdered daughter has him wondering if his daughter's cold case might be related to Chelsea ("He did not know anything at all about Chelsea Hart or her trip from Indiana, but he could not help but wonder if her murder had something to do with the dream that had pulled him from his bed so early that same morning, brushing his cheek like the tip of an angel's wing.").

In the end, though, is all my hand wringing for naught? My hunch is that the tone just needs to be right. Lee Child's books, for example, all strike the same Reacheresque tone, but are for the large part interchangable. Bad Luck and Trouble and Nothing to Lose are both kick-butt titles and could probably be the titles for any books in the series.

So what kind of tone should an Ellie Hatcher novel strike? Angel's Tip sits just right with me. Dead Connection, on the other hand? I can see why Entertainment Weekly praised the book but dissed the "dopey title."

Any suggestions for #3 in the series? (Yes, I'm serious. Please name my next book without even reading it. Praise and gratitude await you.)