Virus alerts come and go, some valid, some hoaxes. Lately some valid ones have achieved national news status because of their destructive potential. Many home computer users came to believe that if they didn’t open attachments to e-mail from people they didn’t know, they were safe, or once the identifying subject line became known, immediately deleted the file without opening it. But viruses became worms as they were programmed to crawl around in recipients’ computer files. The latest new variety of the recent I Love You worm destroys every file on your hard disk that is not in use at the time and digs its way into your address book, chooses a subject line from one of your letters or invents one, then forwards the worm-infested message from your computer to all your correspondents. Deadly, indeed. For tips on how to protect yourself against an attack by this or other digital serial killers, check the Help & How To virus alert information on http:/www.zdnet.com. The files you save may be your own!

The power of small presses once again proves mighty. Thriller writer Norman Kelly’s first book, Black Heart, featuring a black female PI, published by Cool Grove, achieved enough attention and sales that his agent sold world rights to it and a second book to Harper Collins for a high, five-figures. Kelly’s agent and editor liken his first book to the early work of Walter Mosely.

Print publishers are taking advantage of the speed and world-wide coverage of the Internet to help sell subsidiary rights to their authors’ books. Bantam Dell has launched its own web site listing foreign and domestic rights it controls on backlist print books. Interested buyers are steered to the agent of record.

Lady M is delighted to feature a new Author Spotlight this week Suspense novelist C.D. Ledbetter shares the excitement of her first published book Blue Moon, and tells why she chose electronic publishing. Also featured this week are two new reviews. Miss Pym does a special one of MWA Grandmaster Mary Higgins Clark’s newest release, Before I Say Goodby. Anna Ashwood Collins reviews Alaska writer Dana Stabenow’s May release, Midnight Come Again. The reviews are exciting and fun. Don’t miss them. Happy reading.

 

Lady M wold like to thank all her reviewers who do such a marvelous job reading and keeping us up-to-date on the mystery /suspense field. If you would like to write to any of our reviewers, you may do so by sending the letter to LadyM and it will be forwarded.