Bruce Robert Coffin here, manning the helm of the Maine Crime Writer’s Blog, albeit a bit behind my time.
Several weeks ago, before taking a much needed tropical vacation to Florida, I stopped by my town library and obtained a card. You’re probably thinking, what’s the big deal? Everyone has a library card, right? Well, I don’t know if everyone does or not, but this is the first card I’ve had since I was a youngster living in the Southern Maine town of Scarborough (Yes, John Rogers Clark IV, I am ashamed). My old card was from the historic Black Point Library. I got the idea after being told by several librarians, that my novel, Among the Shadows, is always checked out, and has a list of folks waiting to read it.
You might think that I don’t need any more books to read. After all, my to be read pile is already huge and, like most writers, ever-expanding. But like most writers, my love of reading equals my love of writing. Can’t have one without the other, right? It occurred to me that I might make more efficient use of my travel time by listening to audiobooks. Driving to appearances and conferences is time consuming. And since I would rather conserve the bulk of my time for writing, driving is the perfect time to digest books that I’ve been wanting to get me hands on. Assuming that you’re not already on the Cloud Library, you might be surprised how many books are available in this format.
As my intake of new books increases so has my list of favorite authors. As of late I have been enjoying the wonderful sardonic wit of Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter Morgan and the descriptive and insightful prose of James Lee Burke’s private sleuth from the Big Easy, Dave Robicheaux, as read by Will Patton. For the record, if HarperCollins ever gets around to producing my novels in audio, I hope to land a reader half as entertaining as the great Will Patton.
Well, I could go on and on about my new found love of audiobooks all day if you’d let me, but I’m afraid my writing must come first. Hey, I have deadlines to meet! And there are a few chores that need doing. Chores which will require me to hop in the truck and drive… I wonder what Dexter’s dark passenger is up to now?
Write on!
Kait Carson
Charlene D’Avanzo 
I read somewhere that authors do not get royalties from audiobooks. Is that true???
Not true.
Whew!
Glad you included the cover of Tin Roof Blowdown. It’s the best book out there in terms of fiction capturing the feeling folks had when going through Katrina and its aftermath.
I particularly loved that book and it’s descriptions.
Ah! One of my favorite moment of Dash’s life (our five-year-old now) was when he got his own library card. He was super proud and he uses it regularly!
Start ’em young!
Audiobooks sure are an appealing way to reward yourself for long hours of travel. I have heard some amazing narrators. I have both read and listened to the same book and audio gives it a different depth of understanding. Hope your’s do get to audiobooks format.
Thanks, Beth! Fingers crossed.