Crime Fiction in the news and on the 'Net: Weekly Round-up

There have been some more great crime fiction stories on the Web this past week - from newspapers, magazines, and fellow bloggers. Hopefully you will all find an interesting article or two linked here, that you enjoy reading.

Of course the finalists for the second annual edition of the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award were announced this week too. It was great to see Ireland begin to recognise and celebrate its crime fiction in this way in 2009, and long may it continue. Of course here in New Zealand we are also looking to start appreciating our own crime and thriller fiction more as well, via our own new award. I hope to have confirmed details about the (earthquake-delayed) event to announce the inaugural winner for you in the next day or so. It's probable the event will be in mid/late November.

Onto the round-up.

Crime Watch Weekly Round-Up: In the News and on the 'Net

• Anna Maria Basquez of the Daily Camera talks to Colorado author Blake Crouch about his latest crime novel SNOWBOUND, which deals with the issue of human trafficking.
• In a very interesting article Alan Rinzler of The Book Deal (an inside look at publishing) talks about how "mystery fiction and crime fiction is bloody booming", and outlines some of the reasons for the success of the genre, including cross-gender popularity.
• Brian Tallerico of HollywoodChicago.com takes a closer look at the latest crime novel from legendary octogenarian Elmore Leonard, DJIBOUTI, which shows plenty of the trademark Leonard themes despite being set halfway around the world from his usual haunts.
• Adrian Jawort of Indian Country Today reports on Arapaho historian and mystery author Margaret Coel being inspired by Tony Hillerman, and now being honoured for her own Wind River mystery series that weaves in "Plains Indians" culture.
• The Irish Times takes a look at the opening of National Anthem, the debut play from acclaimed comic crime writer Colin Bateman.
• In the first of TV show The Hour's new new Hour Book segments, viewer Jessica Bazinet gave her opinion of "the world's best selling mystery novel" (100 million copies sold), Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (originally entitled TEN LITTLE NIGGERS, it has also been published under the name TEN LITTLE INDIANS).
• Crime and thriller fiction is featured amongst the shortlists for the Galaxy National Book Awards, which "showcase the best of British publishing, celebrating books with wide popular appeal, critical acclaim and commercial success", with Lee Child's WORTH DYING FOR and Peter James's DEAD LIKE YOU in the running for the popular fiction award.
• Matthew Reisz of The Times Higher Education takes a look at how creative writing courses are now increasingly looking to teach "more varied and potentially lucrative kinds of writing" (ie popular or genre fiction as well as literary or 'highbrow' fiction and poetry).

Is mystery and crime fiction booming, or has it always been strong? Do you like the sound of an Elmore Leonard tale set in Africa? Have you read the Native American-influenced mysteries of Tony Hillerman or Margaret Coel? Have you ever read the world's most popular mystery novel ever (under whichever of the three titles)? Should creative writing courses be more open to those wanting to write popular fiction?