> Also, I think the key word in the description of
Lehane, Pelecanos and
> Ellroy is attention. With the possible exception of
Ellroy, has that
> attention translated to sales? Are any of these
bestsellers?
> Definitely not in the Grisham range.
Who needs to be a millionaire? The greatest writers usually
aren't. I wasn't pining for them to sell sell sell.
> Finally, is this bestselling fiction really trying
to sell itself as
> hardboiled
Not the Grishams and those so much as the most recent James
Lee Burke, James W. Hall, Sue Grafton, Sara
Paretsky....
> Now it may just be my punk background, but I for one
kind of like the
> fact that my fave reading material is a bit off to
the side, is not in
> the mainstream, is even a little frowned
upon.
I agree with you so much here. Perhaps I was unclear, then:
Would much rather read the niche than follow the sheep. As
for frowned upon, that's what makes it worth it, right?
Of course, as far as the money and sales thing goes, it's
always nice when I sell a short story that I consider
hardboiled/noir. Might just make 40 bucks, sure. Not gonna
buy a new house, but it will buy a few rounds at the bar with
my friends.
Neil Smith
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