Almost
7 years I put up my first post. I am proud to have reached 1,000 posts with
tonight’s post.
I
think most bloggers are conscious of stats. We put up lists of favourite books
and authors. Our sites record the number of page views and how many visitors we
have had and their origins. While few bloggers are mathematicians we enjoy numbers. I am no exception. I like knowing stats about my blog.
My
primary goal with this blog was to highlight the mysteries set in the province
of Saskatchewan. I have been able to put up reviews of 41 Saskatchewan
mysteries. The Saskatchewan “B’s” (Gail Bowen, Anthony Bidulka and Nelson
Brunanski) have provided most of those mysteries.
I
have had the good fortune to visit with Gail and Anthony and exchange emails
about their fine mysteries.
An
unexpected writing opportunity with regard to Saskatchewan mysteries has come
from writing the blog. David Carpenter, on the recommendation of Gail Bowen,
contacted me a couple of years ago about writing an essay on Saskatchewan
mysteries for the third volume in the Literary History of Saskatchewan series.
It was an interesting experience to write an academic, though not scholarly as
there were no footnotes and detailed bibliography, study of Saskatchewan mysteries. I look forward to
putting up a post on a publication date when that information is available.
I
expect there are other bloggers who list legal mysteries but I have not
encountered any to date. I continue to enjoy reading about lawyers in fiction. On
my page concerning legal mysteries and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction I
have reviews of 74 legal mysteries.
I
have written several reviews of non-fiction books involving real life lawyers.
My favourites are Tough Crimes and More Tough Crimes. Each featured stories
by Canadian lawyers about memorable criminal cases in which they participated.
I have a bias in favour of these books as I know some of the lawyers who
contributed to the books.
My
most interesting blogging experiences were the Crime Fiction Alphabet memes
hosted by Kerrie Smith at her excellent blog, Mysteries in Paradise. For half a
year each week I would put up a post based on that week’s letter of the
alphabet. One year I wrote about 26 different authors spanning the alphabet. “X”
for that year introduced me to the wonderful author, Qiu Xiaolong, and his
sleuth, Inspector Chen, of the Shanghai Police.
As
with most activities the people you meet are a highlight. For me that has meant
virtually meeting bloggers from around the world. Margot at Confessions of a
Mystery Novelist, Jose Ignacio at The Game’s Afoot, Moira at Clothes in Books,
Tracy K. at Bitter Tea & Mystery, Kerrie, Bernadette at Reactions to
Reading, Prashant at Chess, Comics, Crosswords, Books, Music, Cinema, Norman at
Crime Scraps Review and John at Pretty Sinister Books have all enlivened my
days with their comments.
I
have appreciated Kathy D. who is an indefatigable and lively commentator.
Sadness
is inevitable in the world and I regret Maxine Clarke of the Petrona blog has
now been gone 5 years next month. I have been glad to help keep her memory
alive by contributing to the Petrona Remembered blog.
One
of the unexpected changes in my blogging live has been to put up my posts on
two different Facebook pages – my personal page and Petrona’s Crime and Mystery
Friends. When I started blogging Facebook was not a part of my life. Now I
spend time on Facebook every day.
At
65 I continue to enjoy reading and writing about mysteries and am ready to
start on my next 1,000 posts.
Thanks
to everyone who has read one or more of the 454,874 page views Blogger advises
have taken place at Mysteries and More From Saskatchewan.
Congratulations, Bill! Your blog adds so much to the online community, and I am privileged to share that community with you. Thanks for the kind words, and I wish you many, many more posts. I learn from each one.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I have appreciated crime fiction bloggers love to share their thoughts and appreciate the insights of other bloggers. We may disagree with opinions but never cruelly. The world could benefit from the respect crime fiction bloggers show one another.
DeleteCongrats Dad! Looking forward to reading your next 1,000 posts. Will you be retiring your current keyboard to honour this achievement?
ReplyDeleteJonathan: Thanks for the kind and witty words. Actually, when I got the new desktop computer in the spring the connection for my old curved keyboard would not fit on the tower so it is retired on the edge of my desk. How did you know?
DeleteCongratulations on your 1,000-post blog-o-versary. And thanks for your shout-out to me.
ReplyDeleteI certainly appreciate your blog, especially the reviews and discussion about legal mysteries and books set in Canada.
I must race over to your page on legal mysteries as I have not met my quota of these for the year.
On to the next 1,000 posts.
Kathy D.: Thanks for the kind words. I am glad to have provided you reviews and information that broadened your reading horizons. Please let me know which legal mysteries you have chosen to read.
DeleteCongratulations Bill, it's always a pleasure to hear the Canadian perspective. You often review books I am less familiar with.
ReplyDeleteMarina Sofia: Thanks for the generous words. I try to include every year reviews of Canadian books probably not well known outside Canada.
Delete1000 posts, what a milestone! That is a lot of work, Bill, and I have learned so much from your posts. I was just checking out the "Rest of Canada" page and looking at which authors I haven't tried yet. My most recent discovery (Canadian author) from your blog was Brenda Chapman (Cold Mourning) which I really enjoyed and have the 2nd book in my TBR pile. Thanks for the mention, you know I have enjoyed meeting you via blogging also.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the comment. I would estimate the 1,000 posts total 750,000 words.
DeleteI enjoyed Cold Mourning and must look for the next in the series.
Bill, many congratulations on reaching the 1,000 posts milestone! I admire — and envy — your dedication to reading and reviewing legal mysteries with discipline and insight. While I haven't been around these past few months (blogging having taken a backseat), it has been a pleasure and an education to read your reviews of both fiction and nonfiction books, including those by Saskatchewan authors Gail Bowen and Anthony Bidulka, who I have yet to read. Thank you for the mention — I appreciate it. I wish you many more years of blogging.
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the comment and kind words. It has been fun to delve into legal mysteries and help spread the word around the world about Saskatchewan crime fiction.
DeleteCongratulations Bill, quite the milestone! It has been a pleasure getting to know you in our online world, and I have enjoyed hearing about your choices and preferences, and particularly your comments on the legal world. I also am always delighted to welcome you to my blog, where your comments are always welcome! I like to think we have each extended the other's horizon a little...
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the kind words. You have a unique blog. I appreciate your breadth of knowledge and curious spirit. I would agree you have expanded my horizon. Clothes are definitely a greater part of my reading world.
Delete