Author Snapshot

Mysteries for Your Listening Pleasure

Blogs still retain some popularity and websites are always useful, but another option has become increasingly popular for authors and others in the mystery genre – podcasts. Search around and you’ll find a variety of podcasts not just in the mystery genre, but catering to a variety of other topics, as well.

Why podcasts, you ask? It’s the accessibility and variety for one, according to Lorie Lewis Ham of Kings River Life Magazine and producer of the Mystery Rat’s Maze podcast. (http://KingsRiverLife.com/ – https://mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com/)

“Radio has kind of died, but the desire to have something you can listen to when you can’t really watch something still exists and podcasts fill that need,” says Ham, who began the podcast in June 2018. “You can find podcasts on pretty much any subject that might interest you. They are not only for entertainment, but for information as well. You can listen to a podcast anywhere, including your car which used to be a popular place to listen to the radio. You can take them on walks, listen while you do housework, anywhere, anytime.”

The Mystery Rat’s Maze features mystery short stories and first chapters of mystery novels read by local actors. Listeners can listen on their phone, iPad, or computer on Podbean or Stitcher, along with iTunes, Google Play and several other sites

Two podcast episodes are scheduled each month, usually on the first and third Tuesdays. Listeners can subscribe to the MRM’s podcast newsletter for schedules, plus have access to extra content and giveaways. (https://tinyletter.com/kingsriverlife)

Featured authors so far have included Cleo Coyle, Jeri Westerson, Dennis Palumbo, Nancy Cole Silverman, Elaine Viets, and others. Authors who have stories or chapters coming up this year include Julia Buckley, Michael Robertson, Kathi Daley, Donna Andrews, and many more.

“For myself, I love hearing a story come to life in a new way,” Ham says. “I grew up listening to old radio shows on cassettes, and I’ve always been a fan of stories in every medium so it’s exciting to hear it all come together. I love hearing the stories come to life!”

 

 

Westerson, whose book, The Deepest Grave: A Crispin Guest Noir Mystery was excerpted on Mystery Rat’s Maze and who did a podcast interview with Publishers Weekly, called the format a perfect way to reach readers.

“I think podcasts are great ways to connect with new readers and if the interviewer has done their homework, you can impart a lot of great information,” says Westerson, who has two books coming out in May. Shadows of the Mist is the third book in the Booke of the Hidden series. (http://bookeofthehidden.com/novels-2/ ) Traitor’s Codex, the third book in the Crispin Guest series, also comes out in May. (http://www.jeriwesterson.com/)

(Listen to the first chapter of her book on Mystery Rat’s Maze, https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3s9nu-96c7a1. Hear the PW podcast interview, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=7&podcast=897)

Another advantage to podcasts is that while everything is produced from their home base of Fresno, CA, actors and contributors can be anywhere, says Ham: “We record in several different locations. That’s the beauty of the Internet. Some I record personally, some the actors and our announcer record on their own and send to us.”

Elaine Viets, author of the Dead End Jobs, Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper, and the Angela Richman, Death Investigator series, says she loved experiencing her work in a different way. Ice Blonde is the third book in the Angela Richman, Death Investigator series. (http://elaineviets.com/)

“I was thrilled,” she says. “They had an actor read the first chapter. She really brought my work to life. It was fun to hear my work given shape and expression on the podcast, and it sold the book.”

(Hear the first chapter of Ice Blonde: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-yw9mt-a3e726.)

More Sources:

If you’re curious about other mystery-related podcasts, here are more listening suggestions:

* For a different twist on true crime, the first chapter of my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, is read on the Horror Addicts.Net Podcast. (Listen at the 43:38 mark.) https://horroraddicts.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/horroraddicts-net-156-christine-c-a-verstraete/

* Authors’ Corner, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Podcast – https://www.alfredhitchcockmysterymagazine.com/the-crime-scene/podcasts/

* Behind the Black Mask: Mystery Writers Revealed, interviews and more podcasts – http://btbm.libsyn.com/

* Crime Time Podcast, mystery, sci-fi, horror and more – https://crimetimepod.com/

* Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Podcast – https://www.elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/the-crime-scene/podcasts/

* It’s a Mystery, archived list of podcasts by author Alexandra Amor – https://alexandraamor.com/podcast-its-a-mystery/

* Mystery Books Podcast – https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mystery-books-podcast

* Publisher’s Weekly Podcast; https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html

* Read or Dead – Bi-weekly mystery fiction podcast – https://bookriot.com/listen/shows/readordead/

* Speaking of Mysteries – http://www.speakingofmysteries.com/

* Twenty-four mystery, thriller, true crime podcasts – list at Bustle – https://www.bustle.com/p/24-podcasts-for-readers-who-love-mysteries-thrillers-true-crime-13161663

Happy Listening!