Usually, we avoid straightforward plugs for selling books here on Criminal Brief, but as all proceeds from the sale of Carolyn Haines’ new anthology—featuring some of the most important writers of crime fiction in America—are going to a worthy charity, and as it also is exactly the sort of book CB was founded to encourage people to read, we’re making an exception. That, and the fact that I don’t think anybody can ever say “no” to Carolyn, ever.

DELTA BLUES—CRIME AND MUSIC

by Carolyn Haines

Ever since Ben LeRoy, publisher for Tyrus Books, asked me to edit an anthology of short fiction centered around the Mississippi Delta Blues and a crime/noir element, I’ve been trying to pinpoint why crime fiction is such a perfect companion to the blues.

I’ve come up with a long list of reasons, but I’ll give you the highlights. The blues are born of desperation, and so, often, is crime. The blues began in the cotton fields of a prison (Parchman) and the surrounding land, which for the very poor people who worked the soil, was also a type of prison. The blues tell about people who sometimes grasp a moment and turn it—even if it slices their hands while they hold it. The blues include that pulse pounding, fierce sexual love that can inspire deeds of daring do or criminal genius. And the blues also include joy and exhilaration at life.

Every writer can think up six dozen more reasons. And many of those are exemplified in Delta Blues, a collection of 19 stories from some of the finest writers working today. Most of the names are well known in the crime and mystery world. Others are unknowns. But each story is a gem.

To celebrate the release of Delta Blues, set officially for May 1, we are hosting a big party March 27 at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The club, owned by Morgan Freeman (who wrote the foreword to the book) and Bill Luckett, is “ground zero for the blues.” Clarksdale is in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.

The party is open to everyone, and the Blues Muse band, composed of the authors and one guest musician, Michael Utley, is on at 6 p.m. Mike, a keyboard player for Jimmy Buffet, Aretha Franklin and many others, has generously agreed to sit in with us as we sing our heart out in an early Saturday evening set before Blind Mississippi Morris performs at 9 p.m.

This book has been an extraordinary adventure for me. I got to work with John Grisham and James Lee Burke, as well as an old friend, Charlaine Harris, who is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse books, which are the basis for the hit HBO show True Blood. (Charlaine is singing backup with me!) I found that David Sheffield, who went off to Hollywood to become one of the most sought after screenwriters, has not lost his love for short fiction or his home state of Mississippi. And that lowlanders (that’s Florida, for those who don’t know) Les Standiford, Lynne Barrett, and Michael Lister, can love Mississippi just as much as the native born.

I know every editor must feel this way about a book she edits, but this is a rare collection. And the Blues Muse band, under the direction of Nathan Singer (a true bluesman and fine writer) is going to give it our all.

While the stories are superb, there is more to this tale. During the weekend of the launch, 40 percent of every book sold will be donated by Tyrus Books to the Rock River Foundation, a local Mississippi charity, to promote literacy. And $1 of every book sold thereafter will be donated. Ben and his partner, Alison Janssen, are huge supporters of the Mississippi community and the desperate need to involve young people in a love of reading.

To that end, Tyrus Books also joined with the Mississippi Writers Guild to sponsor a high school writing contest. The winner of the contest will be announced that Saturday, March 27, prior to the band’s debut. The winner will be given a college scholarship by the MWG and a monetary prize from Rock River Foundation. (See what I mean about a special book—so many people have gotten involved in all aspects of this adventure.)

Be sure and sign up for my newsletter so I can send you the latest information, or go to the Delta Blues website, and also check out my facebook page. We have some fine interviews with some of the authors written by Emily Bingham and Priya Bhakta. Great reading!