Ask the Author: Gary Inbinder
Answered Questions (18)
Gary Inbinder
"The Flower to the Painter" is currently out of print. I posted this notice on my GR Author's blog 8/16/24:
"Indie publisher Fireship/Cortero Press has ceased operations. Fireship published my novels “Confessions of the Creature” (2012) and “The Flower to the Painter” (2011). Tom Grundner, co-founder and co-owner of the press with his wife, Mary Lou Monahan, accepted the novels for publication. After Tom’s death in 2011, Mary Lou took the helm at Fireship. Following Mary Lou’s passing in March of this year, authors were notified of the decision to close the press.
“Confessions of the Creature” and “The Flower to the Painter” are now out of print, and I have no plans to seek a new publisher for these novels. I've been informed that paperback editions of both books will remain for sale on Amazon until the stock runs out."
I recently noticed the book is not currently available on Amazon, and I'm not aware of any other bookseller that has the book in stock. I also checked WorldCat.org to see if it's currently available in a library. The only library I could find that still might have a copy is the Crowell Public Library in San Marino California.
You might also try searching on Google Books. Thanks for your interest, James.
Best,
Gary
"Indie publisher Fireship/Cortero Press has ceased operations. Fireship published my novels “Confessions of the Creature” (2012) and “The Flower to the Painter” (2011). Tom Grundner, co-founder and co-owner of the press with his wife, Mary Lou Monahan, accepted the novels for publication. After Tom’s death in 2011, Mary Lou took the helm at Fireship. Following Mary Lou’s passing in March of this year, authors were notified of the decision to close the press.
“Confessions of the Creature” and “The Flower to the Painter” are now out of print, and I have no plans to seek a new publisher for these novels. I've been informed that paperback editions of both books will remain for sale on Amazon until the stock runs out."
I recently noticed the book is not currently available on Amazon, and I'm not aware of any other bookseller that has the book in stock. I also checked WorldCat.org to see if it's currently available in a library. The only library I could find that still might have a copy is the Crowell Public Library in San Marino California.
You might also try searching on Google Books. Thanks for your interest, James.
Best,
Gary
Gary Inbinder
Dear Barbara,
The following is taken from my August 16, 2024 GR blog post regarding the closing of Fireship Press:
"Indie publisher Fireship/Cortero Press has ceased operations. Fireship published my novels 'Confessions of the Creature' (2012) and 'The Flower to the Painter' (2011)....'Confessions of the Creature' and 'The Flower to the Painter' are now out of print, and I have no plans to seek a new publisher for these novels. I've been informed that paperback editions of both books will remain for sale on Amazon until the stock runs out...."
I just checked Amazon, and it appears they still have some paperbacks listed as for sale.
I hope this information is helpful. Thanks for your inquiry, and good luck with your project!
Gary
The following is taken from my August 16, 2024 GR blog post regarding the closing of Fireship Press:
"Indie publisher Fireship/Cortero Press has ceased operations. Fireship published my novels 'Confessions of the Creature' (2012) and 'The Flower to the Painter' (2011)....'Confessions of the Creature' and 'The Flower to the Painter' are now out of print, and I have no plans to seek a new publisher for these novels. I've been informed that paperback editions of both books will remain for sale on Amazon until the stock runs out...."
I just checked Amazon, and it appears they still have some paperbacks listed as for sale.
I hope this information is helpful. Thanks for your inquiry, and good luck with your project!
Gary
Gary Inbinder
Hi, H.
Early 20th century US. If you're interested, one of my new novels, "Phantom Point" was serialized online. It's currently listed in Bewildering Stories Third Quarterly Review. If you go to the Bewildering Stories website this week you'll see "Phantom Point" listed under "Novels" in my name. You can read any or all of it there gratis.
Gary
Early 20th century US. If you're interested, one of my new novels, "Phantom Point" was serialized online. It's currently listed in Bewildering Stories Third Quarterly Review. If you go to the Bewildering Stories website this week you'll see "Phantom Point" listed under "Novels" in my name. You can read any or all of it there gratis.
Gary
Gary Inbinder
Hi H,
I'm afraid I don't read much contemporary fiction. I do get inspired from my own experience and observations of contemporary life, but I often relate that personal perspective to a rich abundance of world literature from the past. Interestingly, one of the few contemporary novels I've read recently and reviewed on GR, is Michael Wiley's "Black Hammock", which, like Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra" is a re-telling of the Greek tragedy, although Wiley re-imagined the ancient story in the form of a modern Southern Gothic crime novel.
I'm afraid I don't read much contemporary fiction. I do get inspired from my own experience and observations of contemporary life, but I often relate that personal perspective to a rich abundance of world literature from the past. Interestingly, one of the few contemporary novels I've read recently and reviewed on GR, is Michael Wiley's "Black Hammock", which, like Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra" is a re-telling of the Greek tragedy, although Wiley re-imagined the ancient story in the form of a modern Southern Gothic crime novel.
Gary Inbinder
Hi WillowRaven,
In the French pronunciation Gilles starts with a soft g sounding ZH followed by a long "e" sound as in "eel". The "s" at the end is silent. So the name is pronounced, "ZHEEL"
Here's something I copied from Wikipedia that includes a phonemic spelling:
Gilles
Pronunciation French: [ʒij]
Gender masculine
Origin
Word/name French form of Aegidius
Region of origin France and Francophone areas
Other names
Related names Giles
By the way, in French Achille rhymes with Gilles: The "ch" is soft: Ash-eel with the accent on "eel."
Thanks for the question! I hope you enjoy the books. :)
Best,
Gary
In the French pronunciation Gilles starts with a soft g sounding ZH followed by a long "e" sound as in "eel". The "s" at the end is silent. So the name is pronounced, "ZHEEL"
Here's something I copied from Wikipedia that includes a phonemic spelling:
Gilles
Pronunciation French: [ʒij]
Gender masculine
Origin
Word/name French form of Aegidius
Region of origin France and Francophone areas
Other names
Related names Giles
By the way, in French Achille rhymes with Gilles: The "ch" is soft: Ash-eel with the accent on "eel."
Thanks for the question! I hope you enjoy the books. :)
Best,
Gary
Gary Inbinder
Thanks for the question, H. I read several books to get an impression of Paris police work in that period, including "The Truth About the Case: The Experiences of M.F. Goron, Ex Chief of the Paris Detective Police" (1907) and Ashton Wolfe's "The Forgotten Clue," (1930). Ashton Wolfe was a British detective and fiction writer who worked with the Paris detectives in the early twenties. With the exception of some advancements in communications, transportation and forensics, routine procedure in the early 1920s probably hadn't changed much from what it was in the 1890s.
I also drew upon Simenon's "Maigret." Simenon's experience with the Paris police dates from the time he was a young reporter in the twenties. Further, Simenon may have based Maigret on Marcel Guillaume, a detective who began his career around the turn of the century.
Finally, I considered my own experience with the law, since I believe much daily routine work is timeless and universal.
Best,
Gary
I also drew upon Simenon's "Maigret." Simenon's experience with the Paris police dates from the time he was a young reporter in the twenties. Further, Simenon may have based Maigret on Marcel Guillaume, a detective who began his career around the turn of the century.
Finally, I considered my own experience with the law, since I believe much daily routine work is timeless and universal.
Best,
Gary
Gary Inbinder
Thanks, H! Without giving away too much, I'd recommend Alex Butterworth's "The World That Never Was" for historical background.
Gary
Gary
Gary Inbinder
see my answer to part 2 of your question. (Yes: the limitations of Ask the Author ;)
Gary Inbinder
You're right on target, H! Marcia, Betsy, Arthur and Lady Aggie appeared in an earlier novel, The Flower to the Painter, which indeed was about the creative process and artists' sacrifices to their work. I liked the characters so much I decided to bring them back in a murder mystery set in Paris during the 1889 Exposition.
While Marcia and the other characters from "Flower" don't appear in the Inspector Lefebvre series sequels, The Hanged Man (2016) and The Man Upon the Stair (expected publication February 2018), the inspector does retain his interest in contemporary art and artists.
Thanks for spotting and focusing on this significant paragraph!
Gary
While Marcia and the other characters from "Flower" don't appear in the Inspector Lefebvre series sequels, The Hanged Man (2016) and The Man Upon the Stair (expected publication February 2018), the inspector does retain his interest in contemporary art and artists.
Thanks for spotting and focusing on this significant paragraph!
Gary
Gary Inbinder
I'll answer in two parts. First, as a writer I'll admit to a prejudice in favor of my own characters, Achille and Adele Lefebvre (The Inspector Lefebvre Series). In most ways, they're an average middle-class couple, married with children and a mother/mother-in-law, of that time (ca. 1890) and place (Paris, France). They're in love, but of course they have their problems and conflicts, like everyone else, which they try to work through together. In that regard, they're the opposite of literary marriages from hell, e.g. Emma and Charles Bovary.
Second, I'm fond of Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, for pretty much the same reasons I gave for liking my own Achille and Adele Lefebvre. The 19th century Realists criticized Austen for her "All's well that ends well" endings, and I understand their criticism from a technical standpoint. However, while I admire great 19th century realistic novels like "Madame Bovary" and Zola's "L'Assomoir," I feel much better about life after reading "Pride and Prejudice," and that should count for something.
Second, I'm fond of Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, for pretty much the same reasons I gave for liking my own Achille and Adele Lefebvre. The 19th century Realists criticized Austen for her "All's well that ends well" endings, and I understand their criticism from a technical standpoint. However, while I admire great 19th century realistic novels like "Madame Bovary" and Zola's "L'Assomoir," I feel much better about life after reading "Pride and Prejudice," and that should count for something.
Gary Inbinder
Hi Jane,
The only thing I've seen about it so far is The Strand's 10/11/16 Twitter announcement forwarded to me by my publisher and The Rap Sheet blog's posting of the list.
Gary
The only thing I've seen about it so far is The Strand's 10/11/16 Twitter announcement forwarded to me by my publisher and The Rap Sheet blog's posting of the list.
Gary
Gary Inbinder
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for your interest in my writing! Regarding your question about writing tips, I'm going to recommend a book that helped me polish and develop my prose style: Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan. While the book is aimed at prose writers, I think her emphasis on using your powers of observation and imagination to "paint pictures" for your readers might appeal to you as a poet.
Thanks for the question and good luck with your writing!
Gary
Thanks for your interest in my writing! Regarding your question about writing tips, I'm going to recommend a book that helped me polish and develop my prose style: Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan. While the book is aimed at prose writers, I think her emphasis on using your powers of observation and imagination to "paint pictures" for your readers might appeal to you as a poet.
Thanks for the question and good luck with your writing!
Gary
Gary Inbinder
I've never been totally blocked, but I've been stymied, at times. This is particularly tough when you're almost finished with a novel and don't know how to end it. As I recall, Hemingway had something to say about his fear of a blank page. I can understand that fear. The only way I know of to overcome it is to keep writing, even if you think what you're writing is no good. You can always come back later and fix it. Just keep on writing.
Gary Inbinder
Believing you've written something good and getting recognition and credit for your work.
Gary Inbinder
Don't quit your day job.
Gary Inbinder
Sequels to The Devil In Montmartre.
Gary Inbinder
I begin with characters, setting, and theme, all of which I find intriguing. Hopefully, these elements come together and form a plot that develops into something interesting.
Gary Inbinder
Several of the characters in the Devil In Montmartre appear in an earlier novel, The Flower to the Painter. I liked the characters and thought they'd work well in a murder mystery set in Fin de Siecle Paris.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more