Recent News
Rap Sheet Giveaway
May 22, 2013
https://www.facebook.com/#!/jkingston.pierce/posts/461569410592584?notif_t=mention
Blogger J. Kingston Pierce, of the long-running Rap Sheet, is giving away copies of Miss Montreal to mark his seventh anniversary with the site. Check it out!
Miss Montreal launch at the Dora Keogh
May 15, 2013
The official launch of my new Jonah Geller novel, Miss Montreal, takes place Tuesday, May 28, 6-8 p.m. at the Dora Keogh Pub on Danforth just east of Broadview. Come hear a reading, get a book signed, have a drink and a meal, meet new or old friends or all of the above.
Hope to see you there.
The Next Big Thing: Miss Montreal
Dec 06, 2012
THE NEXT BIG THING: MISS MONTREAL
What is the working title of your next book?
Miss Montreal.
Where did the idea come from?
I was born and raised in Montreal and wanted to set a book there that reflected some of the political and linguistic tensions for which the city (and province of Quebec ) are known.
What genre best defines your book?
First-person P.I. thriller.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Besides me?(Hey, I trained in theatre back in the last century.) I’ve always liked Zach Braff for his humour and openness, though I’m not sure he has the physical presence to play a martial artist like Jonah Geller. Same for David Krumholz of Numb3rs fame. Has the look and feel of Jonah but if kind of small (not that that discouraged the makers of Jack Reacher from hiring a certain height-challenged actor).
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Toronto PI Jonah Geller and former hit man Dante Ryan investigate the murder of a Montreal journalist who got caught up in religious fanaticism, gunrunning and politics.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It is represented by the Helen Heller Agency and will be published by Random House Canada May 28, 2013.
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
About six months, once the bulk of the research was done. That’s about average for my books so far.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I’ve been favourably compared to Robert B. Parker and Robert Crais—I’ll take those two any day.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I live in Toronto and have written about Buffalo, Chicago and Boston—but never Montreal. I thought it was time to set a story in my home town, and have just begun work on another book that takes place there in 1950, when it was Canada’s version of Havana or Vegas.
What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
Jonah finally gets the girl in this book, which he had previously failed to do. The colour of Montreal, the grit and glamour, make for a great setting. There’s more of Dante Ryan in this one, which will please readers who love that character. And it has the same blend of action, humour and heart fans of Jonah Geller expect.
Now for the tags: Look for their posts next week and consider trying…their Next Big Thing!
Ellery Queen Rave
Oct 12, 2012
In his year-end column, Steve Steinbock of Ellery Queen magazine, America’s best-selling mystery monthly, says this about Boston Cream and Jonah Geller:
“Shrier is my top find of the year. The Toronto-based author is not well known below the Canadian border, but his excellent P.I. series deserves much wider attention. Hired by an Orthodox Jewish couple to travel to Boston to locate their medical-student son, P.I. Jonah Geller and his partner Jenn cross paths with an evil but altogether believable criminal consortium. Geller is an exceptionally well-drawn character, a true man of peace who is forced to harness his own inner violence.”
You can read the full Jury Box column here.
My Spring U of T Classes
Jun 07, 2012
I design and teach mystery and suspense workshops at University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. Here’s what’s happening this spring:
Online: April 8 - :June 14, 2013 (SCS 2698-003). This ten week course covers every aspect of writing a crime novel: the hero, his or her journey, obstacles, antagonists, time, setting, character and dialogue, the writing process and more. Whether you are writing a traditional mystery, hard-boiled noir, a thriller, or other genre, this course will help you bring your work closer to the standard that agents and publishers look for. Weekly topics will be posted on a forum where students can discuss and share ideas. Submissions will be critiqued by students and me, giving you the feedback you need to revise and develop your manuscript. You’d also be expected to read a crime novel each week and report in. Details here.
Tuesdays, 12:30-3:00 p.m, April 9-May 28, 2013 (SCS 1714-013). The in-class version of the online course runs eight weeks, and covers the same ground as the on-line version. Details here.