My latest website poll ased the question:

How do you BEST like to experience an author?

The winning response indeed had a majority, but only by a margin of 8 percentage points from all the other answers which skewed around the 6 – 14% range. A majority, yes, but not an overwhelming one. The winner? At 22%:

 

There was a three-way tie for second place:

 

 

And…drumroll…the nasty surprise…..

 

Ha! Take that! Oooooooo that stings just a bit. But, once you think about it, really not that surprising. Most of us, as readers, want nothing more than a good read: to be entertained, to learn, to laugh, cry, whatever. If we want some sort of ‘personality’ to go ga-ga over we’ll…well, look to Lady Gaga…or Barry Manilow or Ricky Gervais or a Kardashian (not the Star Trek kind). 

Only in the rareet circumstances, like when Michael Connelly was a guest of honour at a recent conference–the excitement in the crowd was extraordinary; you’d have thought Madonna was in the building, do authors demand extreme levels of attention and interest. Readers just want us to write them a good book.

That being said, do we, as writers, have some responsibility in this? When we appear at at reading or some other literary event, do we ‘put on a performance’? Do we act and dress and smile like rock stars? Or, is all our oomphf spent on putting words to page?

Stilllllllllll…despite the above-noted 14% nasty surprise…falling not far behind the “I don’t wanna see the authors”, at 12% was the desire for in person contact with authors at writers/readers conferences:

Yes it happened. Wellllllll…I’m sure there was an author somewhere…

Slightly less popular responses were:

 

 

 

Although we had 14% of people who said they didn’t care to have contact with an author…yes, it still stings…86% did want contact. And of that 86%, 66% wanted contact that was ‘in person’ in one way or another. It would be interesting to see what this % would have been 5 years ago (as social media was gaining strength) and would be 5 years from now (when social media and computer-in-every-home environments are as common as oxygen).

From an author’s perspective, it is obviously easier to reach a greater number of people (unless you’re Connelly), via some type of mass communication. On the other hand, in person association and interaction just can’t be beat.

Visit my website poll at http://www.anthonybidulka.com/home.php to have your say in the next poll which asks the question:

As a reader, how best do you like to see an established mystery series revitalized?

The latest poll on my website just closed. It asked the question: In a mystery novel, I prefer the main character to be…?

In a quite surprising landslide, 45% of respondents stated they wanted their main character to be…

?

…male, whereas only 2% wanted a female sleuth.

I’m not quite sure whether I find it more or less surprising that 0% of respondents wanted their detectives to be animals.

??

Additionally, readers did not seem to care much about the main character’s age, or whether or not they perceived the character to be smarter than them.

But, 18% did want their detectives to be likeable.

 

Quite a large %, about 20%, said the only important thing to them, was that a main character be somehow unique.

Cast a vote in the new poll, which asks the question: How do you BEST like to experience an author?

 

In my most recent website poll, I asked the question: What factor most draws you to try a new mystery series?

By a whopping 40% of the vote, the favourite answer was: A favourite author.

 

And, fitting nicely with that, the next most popular response, at 32%, was: The Main Character

 

 

So it would seem that the ‘people’ have it – you choose your new mysteries based on who wrote it or who they wrote about.

In a whole other category, each hovering around  10%  of the votes, you might choose a new series if there is a promise of humour….

And some of you simply said: I’ll try anything once. Which is a very hopeful statistic for new writers out there.

There were a smattering of respondents – at 4% for each – who said they were drawn to a new series by a unique premise…

And the same % were drawn to a new series, simply because it was a series…

Some of the available responses that received very little support were: setting of a series, familiarity of the premise, being a traditional cozy or a thriller.

I decided to follow up this poll with another that asks the question:

In a mystery novel, I prefer the main character to be…?  Check it out at:    http://www.anthonybidulka.com/home.php

A sure sign of summer in our house is when I make the first batch of sangria.

I was never much of one for sangria. Not that I didn’t like it, I just hadn’t really had much experience with it.  The only time I’d drunk it was in a restaurant, where I’d order it because it sounded fun, then I’d get this rather syrupy sweet, red drink with too much fruit and too little character.

And then I visited Barcelona.

It was 2002. I didn’t know it yet, but I was being inspired all over the place. Much of that trip would end up in my third Russell Quant book, Tapas on the Ramblas.

Which is exactly where this photo was taken; on the miles long street that runs through Barcelona, lined with restaurants and bars and shops and mimes and bird sellers and artists…it was something.

This photo is the exact moment when I learned about ‘real’ sangria. As taught to us by one of our fellow sangria drinkers that afternoon  - a rather loud woman from England who demanded the server bring her the real sangria, not the ‘piss’ they serve everyone else! After hearing that, I was with her! A new friend was born. And, most of that exchange actually ended up in the book.

And so, we ordered our own jug and spent a lovely and spirited (there was singing and cheering for a soccer game- which, for any of you who know me, know that is not something I am predispositioned to do) afternoon.

Oh, who am I kidding. It was several afternoons.

By the end of our time in Barcelona, I’d managed to finagle a recipe from ‘someone in the back room’. It belonged to his Aunt Amodea, and I have made it as soon as the first hot day of summer arrives every year since.

And since I’m in a sharing mood (perhaps inspired by the fact that I’ve been sipping on a bit of the latest batch just made today):

 

Aunt Amodeo’s Sangria

Ingredients:

2 Lime

2 Lemon

2 Orange

½ c Sugar or less

1c best cognac or some kind brandy

1c Cointreau or Triple Sec

2 bottles full body dry red wine, no cheap stuff

4 tbsp lemon juice

Now what:

Slice fruit and put in pitcher with the cognac(brandy), Cointreau(Triple Sec) and sugar. You have to let this stand for at least one hour. You have to. Patience is a virtue.

One hour later. Really. Add the wine, lemon juice and stir. Take deep whiff. First time was difficult enough, but you must let the mixture sit for another hour. Yes, please. This is worth the wait. Trust. Another virtue.

Hour later. Drink. Some say add ice and soda water to taste. I say, no soda. Garnish with fruit slices if you like that sort of thing.

Enjoy with sunshine and good people

 

This scene, from our upper deck, was taken just a few minutes ago as I prepared a new batch of sangria for the weekend. Step one is done. It’s the hardest step, because now you have to wait. But there’s something I enjoy about knowing that the fruit and brandy are communing with the hot sun, developing the elemental juices that will make the sangria sing! (or maybe that’s just the blather I tell myself to get through the next hour).

So, I hope you give sangria a try. And if you do, enjoy it!

We so loved Barcelona, we were thrilled to return in 2010.  Not only was I able to return to the scene of my inspiration for Tapas on the Ramblas…

But we also returned to our wicked ways and spent some long, lovely afternoons on the Ramblas…where the drinks had gotten remarkably bigger in the last 8 years…

Postscript: We left the copy of Tapas on the Ramblas just where you see it on the table above. A gift to the cosmos. Perhaps it ended up in the trash. But I prefer to think someone found it and enjoyed it. With a glass or two of sangria.

In the latest poll on my website, given eight choices, I asked readers to best describe the books they’ve recently read.

At the very bottom of the pack were self-published books, borrowed books, and books written by an author unknown to them. I suppose the one about ‘borrowed books’ could be discounted. Perhaps readers who are responding to a poll on an author’s website are, like me, the type of readers who love to own books they love. I think a room with books in it, is a warm, comforting, inviting place to be. And even if I don’t re-read a book, I still enjoy gazing at it from time to time, remembering the enjoyment of it.

But what about this bit about not reading books that are self-published or by authors unknown to them. Surprising? It used to be that self-published books were shunned, for various reasons, including the lack of quality control. My belief, especially with the greater and greater ease and acceptance of self-publishing in an ever expanding digital world, is that more and more authors are self-publishing and respected works are being created. There have even been more than an instance or two of self-published books winning major literary awards.

Most surprising to me was that only a small handful of respondents stated they have recently read books by authors theretofor unknown to them. This really is supported by the oft heard harsh statistic out there than the top 5% of writers make 95% of the profits.

Faring much better in the poll – sitting at about 14-15% of the respondents – were readers who said they recently read books in hardcover and/or read books by a favourite author.

20% of the respondents said they read books in paperback format.

It is interesting to me that the difference between readers of hardback and paperback was only 5%. Especially given the difference in cost.

But winning answer, at a whopping 32%…can you guess?

Yup – 32% of the readers said they’d recently read an e-book.

Times, they are a-changing.

In the latest poll on my website, I asked your opinion on award-nominated and award-winning books.

 

 

 

Two answers rose to the top. Taking 33% of the votes was: I do not buy books based on awards.

 

Following closely at 27% was: I have read excellent non-awarded books; and crappy awarded books.

 

When you look at the two responses closely, readers seem to be saying basically the same thing: Awards are not a guarantee of a successful reading experience.

 

 

 

Add another 12% who said: I pay no attention to awards, and the 2% who said they prefered to give non-awarded books a chance, and you have a whopping 74% of respondents with a similar view.

 

 

That being said, 18% of people said: Awards entice me to read a book I might not otherwise have tried to read; and 8% said: I pay more attention to awarded titles in a bookstore.

 

 

So what to conclude about this?  I wonder if people who are avid readers – likely the people who would respond to a poll such as this – truly are no longer swayed by book awards. But perhaps for new readers, or sporadic readers, or experimental readers, awards help direct them and buoy them in a massive sea of books. That’s a good thing, right? No matter where you end up, everyone needs a little help when getting started.

 

 

 

I must admit, I’ve had the experience of buying a book because of its award-winning status – and have been disappointed. But, I didn’t blame the award, or even the book or author. I blamed myself. Instead of trusting in the kind of book I know I enjoy, I allowed myself to be swayed. And guess what? I didn’t like what I got.

 

Still, I think in the life of a good reader, some disappointment must come. It should be expected. Any reader who experiments outside their reading comfort zone, just to see whats out there, should be congratulated. Even if you end up not having the most rewarding reading experience, it’s commendable, every now and then, to stray away from what you know and try something knew. Because, when it works, and you stumble upon that special book, that gem that sings to you – what a true joy of life that is.

 

 

 

 

My last word on awards. I still support the process and idea behind awards, if, for no other reason than to bolster and support writers and the writing industry. Anything that brings some attention, shines some light on reading and writing, has got to be a good thing. And so, with a full heart, I have accepted the invitation to be the Master of Ceremonies at next month’s Arthur Ellis Awards, celebrating the best in Crime Writing in Canada. It will be an exciting, sparkling evening, and some of this countries best writers will get their brief moment in the sun. And they deserve it!

 

 

 

There is a new poll on my website that asks you to describe your most recent reading choices. Are you reading hardcover? e-books? Library books? Let me know by visiting my website and voting at:

 

www.anthonybidulka.com

 

Thanks all!

I’ve just pulled the results off the latest poll on my website, which asked the question: When do you visit a bookstore (to buy a book)?

 

Three answers topped the chart, each with slightly over 20% of the votes. They were:

1. Once a month

2. Every few months

3. Every chance I get

 

And, only slightly lower, at 17% of the responses, was:

ONCE A WEEK!

Of course, most of the people taking this poll would be readers, but that does not assume they buy books from a bookstore. There are so many other options today, including purchasing books online, only purchasing e-Reader versions of books, borrowing books from libraries or other sources. So, I am quite surprised that 84% of the respondents still visit a bricks-and-mortar bookstore on a fairly regular basis. With all the continuing bad news about bookstore closures, it makes one wonder, how and where they find these bookstores.

 

The balance of the respondents, about 16% of you, said that you rarely or never used a book store, including 6% who said they no longer use a bookstore. I wonder if I did this poll in a year, or even half a year, if that % will have increased.

 

In the spirit of Awards season, the new poll on my website asks your opinion on the importance to you of award-nominated or winning books. To let us know what you think, please visit:

 

www.anthonybidulka.com

SASKATCHEWAN

 

Hello!

 

Welcome to the 2011 Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan online auction!

 

Proceeds from this auction will go to support this very special lifeskills and leadership retreat for sexual minority and gender variant (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, questioning) and allied youth.

Thank you for your interest and support.

 

If you’d like to learn more about Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan, please visit www.usask.ca/education/fyrefly 

 

Through this auction, we hope to create a unique and fun online opportunity for those of you interested in being a part of this worthwhile cause and showing your support for Camp fYrefly.

 

Only with the generosity of five very special donors, are we able to present this online auction (please see rules below). Winning bidders will be announced and thanked during our March 19, 2011 major celebratory fundraiser, and the dollars raised here will be added to the total fundraised that evening.

 

Without further ado, here are the five truly marvelous, one-of-a-kind items up for bid.

 

ITEM #1

 

Hand made Rainbow Lap Blanket by Bev Jutras

 

CURRENT HIGH BID:  WINNING BIDDER Cf090 – $130.00

Bev has made a bright, happy blanket of many colours, that when laid down, looks as if a patchwork rainbow has landed across your lap.

 

This blanket is 100% handmade by Saskatchewan craftsperson, Bev Jutras.

The Rainbow Lap Blanket measures approximately 158cm x 122cm (62″ x 48″)

The blanket is made of soft, quilter’s flannel, pre-washed and easy to care for.  ”Simply throw it in the washer to clean, and dry it in the dryer.  Easy peasy!” says Bev.

Bev Jutras is a talented Saskatoon crafter who has created many beautiful and unique household crafts over the years, and now, you have a chance to own one of them.

 

 

ITEM #2

 

Private family or couple sitting by Adam LeClaire Photography

 

CURRENT HIGH BID:  WINNING BIDDER Cf093 – $200.00 

 

Adam is offering a private, couple or family, sitting for up to 5 (five) people.

You choose whether sitting is in-studio or on-site at a Saskatoon (and area) location of your choice.

 

Adam will include 2 (two) enlargement sheets of the resulting photograph.

 

Adam LeClaire Photography is a Saskatoon-based company specializing in portraiture and wedding photography. For over a decade, Adam, a professionally accredited photographer, has delivered creative, compelling, unique images tailored to his clientele.  For more information on Adam LeClaire Photography, please visit www.adamleclairephotography.com

 

 

ITEM #3

 

Luscious, large quilt, custom-made specifically for you by Rhonda Sage 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Size:  your choice:  from lap quilt up to queen size blanket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colour: You may choose up to 4 colours which Rhonda will use as a base to fashion the design of your quilt.  Other complimenting fabrics will be used to complete the design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design:  You  may choose the design and style or let Rhonda guide you on these choices.  

Examples: Bold…Serene…Traditional…Contemporary…Rustic…Country…Geometric…Cozy.

 

Stitching:  Professionally machine quilted with a stipple stitch (wandering/loopy style) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Backing:  Coordinated to compliment the quilt top. 

 

Personalization: Rhonda will stitch a name or personal message of your choice on the quilt backing, up to 25 letters in length.

 

Quilters Tag: By your request, a “By Rhonda Sage” tag will be stitched on the quilt backing.

 

Timeline: Your quilt will be completed within 6 months of your final specifications being communicated to Rhonda.

 

“Let me create a lasting keepsake for you.  Bold or serene.  Traditional or contemporary.  Suited to your personality.  Imagination is the only limitation,” says Rhonda.

Rhonda Sage has been creating one-of-a-kind quilts for the last 8 years.   

 

 

ITEM #4

 

A character named after YOU in the newest Joanne Kilbourn mystery novel by author Gail Bowen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reader’s Digest named Gail Bowen ‘Canada’s Best Mystery Novelist’. Now you can forever be a part of the award winning author’s Joanne Kilbourn mystery series.

  

 

Gail is currently working on the 13th book in the series, tentatively titled Kaleidoscope. She is offering to name one of the book’s characters after the winner (or designate) of this auction item.

 

Once the auction is completed, your name (or designate’s name) will immediately be sent to Gail for inclusion in her newest novel as it goes to print.

 

Gail Bowen’s mystery book series features Joanne Kilbourn, a university professor, sometime political columnist, and a wife, mother and grandmother. The Nesting Dolls, the 12th book in the series, was released on August 17, 2010, published by McClelland Stewart.

 

The first six books in the Kilbourn series – Deadly Appearances (1990); Murder at the Mendel (1991); The Wandering Soul Murders (1992); A Colder Kind of Death (1994), winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award; A Killing Spring (1996) and Verdict in Blood (1998) – have appeared as made-for-television movies with world-wide distribution.  

 

To learn more about Gail Bowen, please visit www.gailbowen.com

 

ITEM #5

Twelve (12) dozen homemade perogies AND a one (1) gallon container of homemade borscht by famed Ukrainian cook, Johanna Bidulka (aka Mom)

 (*As of March 9, 2011 – Since, according to her, she was “cooking anyways”, Mom has decided to make this THIRTY (30) dozen of homemade perogies! And she thanks you all for your bids!)

CURRENT HIGH BID:  WINNING BIDDER Cf099 – $250 

    

The lucky winner of this auction item will take home two packages (each containing 6 to 7 dozen) of frozen homemade perogies.

Johanna has been cooking perogies (amongst countless other wonderful Ukrainian dishes using authentic recipes {none actually written down} passed down from generation to generation) for several decades.

 

The perogies will come to you uncooked and frozen, making them much tastier when freshly cooked by you.  “All you do is add a dash of oil to boiling water, allow the frozen perogies to boil until they float to the top. Boil about 2-3 minutes more and they are ready to enjoy,” says Johanna.

The perogies will be potato-filled. When cooked, serve with your choice of condiments…sour cream, mushroom sauce, sauteed onion and bacon. The perogies are also delicious if boiled, then browned in a skillet with butter.

 

 

 Mom was so thrilled that people immediately began bidding on this package, that she wanted to throw in a gallon (in an ice cream pail) of her homemade borscht. (It truly is delectable).  Mom has been saying the last couple of years that she was sad that she didn’t really have much money to give to support Camp fYrefly – but voila! She has found a way. This is her way of showing the love! Go mom!

 

AUCTION RULES

 

Who can bid?

 

Anyone is eligible to be an auction bidder subject to the below noted rules. Please read carefully.

 

How to Make a Bid:

 

1. Send an email to tonybidulka@hotmail.com including your name, phone number, address, the item number you wish to bid on, and the amount of your bid

 

2. Bids must be made in Canadian currency. Bids must also be made in round dollar amounts (i.e. no cents), and in increments of $5.  (For example, if the current high bid on an item is at $110.00, a new bid of $112.75 will not be accepted; but a bid of $115.00, $120.00, $125.00 etc. would be accepted.)

 

3. You will receive a return email confirming the receipt of your email bid, and a code name by which your bid will be identified on the auction site should you be the current top bidder.

 

4. Email bids will be accepted until 5:00 pm (Central Standard Time) on Sunday, March 13th.

 

5. Current high bids – identified only by Code Name and amount – will be updated on this site at frequent intervals until 5:00 pm (Central Standard Time), Sunday, March 13th. You may check on the status of bids on the item you are interested in by returning to this site at any time.

 

6. You may bid as many times as you wish until the end of the auction. (i.e. if you visit this site and see that your most recent bid is not listed as the current high bidder, you may bid again as often as you wish.)

 

7. Bids for identical amounts on the same item will be accepted on a first come first served basis. (i.e. if two or more identical $ bids for the same item are received, the first received will be accepted and shown as high bidder)

  

8. The winner of each auction item will be notified by email as soon as possible after the auction is ended.

 

Specific Item Rules:

 

1. If the winners of Item #1 (Blanket) and Item #3 (Quilt) are unable to physically pick up their item, shipping and cost of shipping of the item will be the responsibility of the item winner.

 

2. Winner of Item #3 (Portrait Sitting) will need to be available for  the sitting in Saskatoon (or within immediately surrounding area).

 

3. Due to the perishable nature, the winner of Item #5 (Frozen Perogies) will need to be in Saskatoon or immediate area for delivery (or available to pick up the perogies in Saskatoon).

 

Payment:

 

1. Before delivery of item or service won in this auction, payment must be confirmed as received.

 

2. Payment is by cash and cheque (credit card payments can be accepted via Paypal only)

 

To return to the Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan 2011 Auction Site:

 

Go to:

 

www.anthonybidulka.com/blog/?s=auction

 

Or go to:

 

www.anthonybidulka.com/blog

 

and type the word “auction” into the search box and hit enter

 

 

For any questions about the auction and the auction items, please do not hesitate to contact Anthony Bidulka at tonybidulka@hotmail.com.

 

According to the results of my recently ended website poll, the most desirable protagonist for a mystery novel is one who is relateable.

 

 

This response was the clear winner, taking 25% of the votes.

However, perhaps more interestingly, not far behind at 19% and 17% respectively, were the traits of being smart and being flawed.

 

Does this mean that most readers of mystery novels consider themselves to be smart, yet flawed? Isn’t that what relateable means? To be fair, this is a ‘choose the best answer’ type of poll. So, more likely, a segment of mystery readers liking flawed characters has no bearing whatsoever on their own personal characteristics.  (Even though this makes for less compelling poll results.)

Quirky, funny, and confident, also ranked high.

 

 

The least desriable characteristics were bravery (surprising), experience (which explains the success of the novice detective genre), physical strength. The least desired characteristic of all? 

 

 

 

Being friendly. Huh. Curious, that.

Check out the new poll at http://www.anthonybidulka.com/home.php 

where I ask the question to determine how often, and if , you use bookstores.