First of all: thanks to the wonderful reviewer and blogger Oline Cogdill for her post about "It's Just a Mystery" and A NIGHT AT THE OPERATION. If you haven't, please check it out. And you should read Oline's blogs whenever she posts. She's smart (not just because she likes my books) and can actually write.
An update: Looks like NBC has renewed "Chuck." Bravo, NBC.
Moving on: Our good friend PJ Nunn has often blogged in this space about the difficulty in getting her (author) clients booked onto the media outlets they (the clients) are most fervent about. I, for example, have often teased her about getting me an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Now, I don't ever in a million years expect that to happen, but it's a good way to get PJ started on a Monday morning.
But aside from Stewart (who interviews no fiction authors at all, and only non-fiction authors whose books are tied to a national issue--and who does a fabulous job with it, by the way) and some of the morning shows (forget Oprah, who doesn't so much book authors as anoint them), the only national TV show that features authors is The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
And here's the thing--Ferguson, a Scottish comedian who is truly brilliant in the post-Letterman spot (his recent opening featuring a bouncy song and puppets was nothing short of perfect), has actually interviewed mystery authors on his CBS show. Just this past week, he hosted the lovely and extremely talented Laura Lippman, and Laura did remarkably well, charming and funny. Ferguson has also recently had Lawrence Block on his show, and has done so before. He even has a very good mystery author (Tom Straw, of The Trigger Episode) on his writing staff. Bravo, Craig!
Okay: Those are two of the top crime fiction authors in the country (if not on the planet) right at the moment. And they should certainly be exposed to a huge audience on television, because they deserve it. I even understand the rationale for only booking big-name authors--the rest of us aren't going to increase the show's ratings by more than maybe 15 people.
But until such time as ABC gives up that silly Jimmy Kimmel experiment and books Obscure Mystery Authors Live!, there will be no logical outlet for we midlist-aspirants to find a network-sized group of people to tell about our books for the first time.
Unless we all get together and do something about it.
Here's what I propose: One regular segment of Ferguson's show involves him reading emails that come in from viewers, and he answers the funnier ones on the air. This is a great bit, as Ferguson has a quick mind and a sardonic edge that works perfectly for this type of interaction.
It also provides us with a working email address for the show, if not the host himself: craigferguson@cbs.com. And I'll bet you can see where I'm going with this.
Let's all email the show, and applaud Craig for including mystery authors among his guests. Then, just if we feel like it, we could suggest a mystery author who might be an affable, humorous, entertaining guest for the show. Let's see... someone like...
Okay, me.
Now, I don't expect this to work. Frankly, I'll be amazed (and grateful) if two of you actually send emails. But I do think it's worthwhile to let someone at The Late Late Show know we appreciate the interviews with authors. And what the hell, it's worth a try. Please feel free to do so, and mention that the book is very funny (if you think it is) and I would make a good guest.
That's craigferguson@cbs.com and you could mention that A NIGHT AT THE OPERATION is brand spankin' new.
I'm just saying.
P.S. A special shout-out to our very own Denise Dietz, whose latest terrific mystery Strangle A Loaf of Italian Bread is extremely newly published! Another very funny Ellie Bernstein/Peter Miller mystery, Deni! Best of luck!
It's a little hard to get Craig Ferguson's show in the UK, but I have seen him with Mark Harmon and the other NCIS actors, when NCIS fans post clips from the show elsewhere. Craig Ferguson seems just as you describe him, and I think your idea is very good.
Letter or email campaigns tend to work quite well for lots of things, in my experience. Now, I haven't read your book. Sorry! It sounds fun, but with the TBR pile already a case for 'health and safety', I have not added you to it. But I do like your weekly blog posts here, even if you are misguided re NCIS.
It'd be great to have lots of writers on the show. Lets' write!
Posted by: bookwitch | May 18, 2009 at 04:01 AM
I'm sorry I missed the interviews that he has already done and I thank you for the head's up. I'll add his show to my DVR list and I will certainly email him. Oh, and I love the title Obscure Mystery Authors Live! LOL. I watch it.
Posted by: Mare Fairchild | May 18, 2009 at 10:17 AM
I'm willing to give it a try! I'd love to see more of my favorite mystery writers on TV...it would give me a reason to start watching again! :)
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawlVZBaD9CC7wXaJH73XiWynHDg19tdVXsc | May 18, 2009 at 10:44 AM