WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A PHILOSOPHY DEGREE? ASK BEN.

In a few months a new batch of college grads join the job search, and a new batch of news articles with job hunting advice hits the newsstands. Lists are hot, including lists of which college degrees are

hot...and which are not. In the latter category, time and again, a degree in Philosophy gets low marks (this is ironic, as we're still recovering from the greed driven housing crisis and TRILLION dollar banking scandals of 2008). Even politicians have chimed in with the advice that we need "less philosophers."

Oh really? Philosophy and the study of great ethical questions, so the advice goes, is a dead end, job-wise. But is that true? And should it be? What can you do with a Philosophy degree, anyway (other than seize the moral high ground)?

Well, you could write a novel. Not a surprise. But maybe you decide a career as a novelist isn't for you, a lover of books.

You could...start a publishing house. Hire a young editor who also loves books and has a keen eye for story. You could publish some good books, and some great books. Go to the annual MWA awards dinner with, not one, but three of your authors, because they've been nominated for the Edgar Award that year. Earn the respect and admiration of publishers, readers and writers. Then you could sell your publishing business. Then you could start another one, and publish more great books with more great stories. Yeah, you could do all that...with a philosophy degree.

And someone did.

 

That someone was Benjamin LeRoy, founder and current publisher of Tyrus Books, and the founder of Bleak House Books. In 2007, I first discovered Ben while looking at small independent publishers to whom I might peddle my un-agented manuscript. He was doing these podcasts, discussing the publishing world, interviewing writers and readers, and having some entertaining discussions. To my knowledge, no other small publisher was doing this, and it was pretty exciting. I learned a lot about submitting my work from those podcasts. And when I started reading some of his books I was very impressed.

I wasn't the only one. At the 2008 Edgar Awards, Bleak House Books had three authors up for nominations; one each in the category of Best Novel (Reed Coleman’s Soul Patch), Best First Novel (Craig McDonald’s Head Games), and Best Short Story (Stuart Kaminsky in Chicago Blues). For a small publisher, I doubt if this had ever been done before, or since.

If you like great stories and are looking for something new to read, check out the selection from this eclectic publishing house. He has an incredibly deep bullpen of talented writers. You'll find something here you like, whether you're a fan of cozies, noir, or just want something different. Some of my favorites are Victoria Houston, Michael Lister and Mary Logue. If you're undecided, pick up Between The Dark and the Daylight. This excellent collection has some of the biggest names in crime fiction.

Ben Leroy isn't resting on his accomplishments. He's started a charity to make the world a better place called Be Local Everywhere. Check out the video below to hear Ben talk about this project.

So, what are your plans for the rest of your life? 

P.S. By the way, it's 'fewer philosophers' not 'less', Mr. Rubio.

Mystery Weekend Roundup for May 11, 2014

Mother's Day Crime Fiction

Janet Rudolph, who created several crime fiction blogs including Mystery Readers International and Mystery Fanfare, has come out with a Mother's Day list of crime fiction. Janet assembles these lists around each holiday, and they're a treat to browse or use to find a new book to read. My favorite from this list? How To Murder Your Mother-In-Law by Dorothy Cannell. The fun starts when the main character's mother-in-law moves in and it isn't long before the bodies begin to pile up in this cozy mystery.

If you like your fiction shorter, pick up Mom, Apple Pie & Murder, edited by Nancy Pickard, former President of Sisters In Crime. The collection includes a story by Nancy  as well as 10 apple recipes. It's a tasty entree in this crime fiction sub-genre.


Crimespree Magazine Interview With Ben Leroy and Alison Dasho

Jon Jordan, founder of Crimespree Magazine, has an interview cover story in this month's issue with Benjamin Leroy, who founded Bleak House Books & Tyrus Books,  and Alison Dasho, who edited many of the award nominated crime novels they published. Don't miss this great look at the origins of one of the best independent publishers to emerge in the world of crime fiction.

The discussion looks at the origins of the press, how publishing has changed with the emergence of ebooks, and hear from some of the writers whose careers have been changed for the better by this dynamic duo. Bookmark the interview...you'll want to savor it. Start here.


The Shirley Jackson Award Nominees

The Shirley Jackson Award has released the list of nominees for 2013. The award is presented for those writers who demonstrate "outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic." A lot of impressive writers are on this year's list, including Joyce Carol Oates for The Accursed, and Megan Abbott for My Heart Is Either Broken, from the anthology, Dangerous Women.


The Writer's Game


There aren't many better ways to restore those creative juices after a day spent pounding on the keyboard than to play a game. And if you've wondered what it takes to become a successful writer, this just might be the game for you. It involves a bit of luck, but then so does getting published. And it's a lot more fun than watching Wheel of Fortune. You can even share your score on Facebook and Twitter.

So pick up the dice and roll away! From the Los Angeles Times, How To Be A Writer.

Mystery Weekend Roundup for July 26, 2013

Upcoming Writer's Conferences

Gulf Coast Writer's Conference is Saturday, September 21st, and this year, it's FREE. You heard right. This year the conference is being offered at no cost. Guests include award winning authors Lynne Barrett and Michael Lister, as well as Benjamin LeRoy, publisher of Tyrus Books. Some programs, such as a manuscript critique and the Speaker Luncheon, will have a small fee. Check the Gulf Coast Conference website for details.

Bouchercon 2013 begins September 19th in Albany, New York. One of the biggest mystery conferences attracts legions of fans and writers. Big names appearing this year include best selling authors Tess Gerritsen, Sue Grafton and Anne Perry. The Anthony Award winners will be announced that weekend. Here are the nominees.

Bouchercon is named in honor of Anthony Boucher, (real name William Anthony Parker White), a mystery writer and book reviewer for the NY Times and San Francisco Chronicle. He helped found the Mystery Writers of America, which awards the most prestigious mystery award in the genre, the Edgar Award. MWA also presents the Raven Award, which is given to individuals who support the mystery genre. Anthony Boucher won one of the first Ravens in 1946 for Outstanding Mystery Criticism for his reviews in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Weekend Flash Fiction Writing Contest

Janet Reid, literary agent and query shark, is holding a flash fiction contest over at her blog this weekend. Contest begins Saturday morning 9 AM EST and lasts for 24 hours. Winner gets a copy of Long Gone by Alafair Burke. Nice!

Sharpen your pencils, but be sure to read the rules, or risk becoming shark bait!  

47 Rejections And Then...Paydirt!

If you've gotten a rejection letter for your manuscript this week, it proves two things...1)You're sending out queries and 2) You haven't given up. Both of these facts are good.

So don't get discouraged. If you need a little inspiration, check out this article on Irish novelist Donal Ryan's journey to publication. His debut novel,The Spinning Heart, was rejected almost 50 times before he was published, and now his work is a finalist for the Man Booker Prize!

According to the LA Times article, his story is set in a rural village in southwestern Ireland, and is told from the point of view of 21 different people who struggle with the Great Recession.


How NOT To Promote Your Book

Finally, a little humor for every author who's published a book and then wondered, "How Do I Promote This Thing? Watch this guy in this video by Dennis Cass. Then DON'T do this! But DO laugh. I did.