Category: publishing

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Does a Canadian Setting Hurt Sales of Crime Thrillers?

We are always scanning the horizon for what’s new. Last night, I rediscovered a gem at the bottom of the jewelry box. I found the answer to my question there, too.

A cop once asked me, how can you write crime thrillers without a cop as the central character?

“Easily,” I replied. “A team of crack investigators with all the power and authority of the badge is playing on god mode. I write about underdogs. The police may show up in my fiction, but they’re only batting cleanup after some crazed characters do the interesting things crazed characters do.”

The protagonist of my new release is a former FBI profiler, but he’s got PTSD, a bum hip, and a slippery grip on reality. Dr. Simon Fethullah relies much more on his wits than his gun.

In Where the Night Takes Us, all the action takes place at Dr. Simon Fethullah’s hideaway in Montana. He thought he was safe there. He was mistaken.

PRE-ORDER NOW


The second book in the Fear-Death Series is titled When the Night Finds Us. The novel is in the editorial pipeline. (I’m going over edits and suggestions today.) The story is set in Texas.


How the Night Claims Us is a pile of notes, character descriptions, and plot points at the moment. But what setting will be best for the third in this series?

This is not my first foray into crime fiction.

My backlist includes the four books in the Hit Man Series, The Night Man, Brooklyn in the Mean Time, Vengeance Is Hers, Murders Among Dead Trees, and Sometime Soon, Somewhere Close. (Ahem! See the sales links to the right.) Most are set in the United States.

Initially, When the Night Finds Us was going to be set in Florida. As a proud and thankful Canadian (and a member of the Crime Writers of Canada) I reconsidered. I grew up in Nova Scotia. It’s not an exotic destination to me, but it is unfamiliar or much loved by many. Dad always referred to the Annapolis Valley as “God’s Country” and, though he’d traveled the world, he couldn’t imagine the allure of living anywhere else.

Where the Night Takes Us is set in a fictional, rural area of Montana. When the Night Finds Us is set in Defiant, Texas. (That name sounds redundant, doesn’t it?) Is it time to add an international flavor to my forensic psychiatrist’s investigations? Would a Canadian setting hurt sales with my American readers?

Retrieving the Forgotten: In Praise of the Backlist

To taste that Nova Scotian flavor again, I revisited an anthology I published in 2019. Sometime Soon, Somewhere Close explores the minds and methodologies of some messed-up people. The first story is set in Port George, Nova Scotia. When I was a kid, my parents often drove the few miles up the mountain and to the shore there to take in the sunset over the Bay of Fundy. (Motto: Highest Tides in the World!)

The sunsets were lovely, especially that sumer the dust from Chinese nuclear tests colored the sky. (Not kidding.) We could see the lights of New Brunswick across the waves. It looks closer than it really is, but it would not be an easy swim. It was cooler on the shore, so while descending the South Mountain back down into the Valley’s summer heat, all the car windows would fog up in a flash. The fogged windows hit about the same moment your ears would pop from the change in elevation.

It’s the sort of drive you take with your parents when you’re little, and if you’re good, you might get ice cream in Margaretsville. Later, after you get your driver’s license, you take your girlfriend on those same forays to the Bay of Fundy to see the sunset and wait for the stars to come out.

Revisiting old work can produce a very particular anxiety: Is this how I finally discover a typo previously missed?

However, thankfully, no typos! Rereading that story after all this time was wonderful. And it pulled me into the next short story, and the next, and the next! It wasn’t mere nostalgia. Details I’d forgotten came flooding back. Not to toot my own horn too hard, but damn, that Robert in 2019 turned some good phrases and added clever twists. I’d like to think I’ve only improved, of course, but time and distance from a previously published title added to my appreciation of what I was doing with that book. I’ve had time, and many books since. I was nice to come at it anew.

In short, Somewhere Soon, Somewhere Close holds up.

READ SOMEWHERE SOON, SOMEWHERE CLOSE NOW

So, what’s next?

There are logistics to consider, and a few minor adjustments. I think I can get Dr. Simon Fethullah, his driver Paloma, and Simon’s enormous dog, Stephano, up into the Great White North. There are rich settings in Nova Scotia, and I know them well, so why not? My impulse for the change started with an Elbows Up attitude, but the place will serve the story well, too.

But a haunting question chewed at the back of my brain. Most of my readers are US citizens. Will they be interested in a setting outside the United States?

After graduating from journalism school, I got my first training in publishing at the Banff Publishing Workshop decades ago. I remember two lessons from that bootcamp experience:

1. Unless it’s a book about golf or gardening, green covers don’t sell.
2. American readers want American settings (not North American settings).

I’m not sure about #1, but #2 has changed. For those who disagree, maybe I’ll change their minds.

Last weekend I visited a very small but very well-curated bookstore. Scanning the Mystery/Thriller/Suspense sections, it was remarkable how many vicars in Yorkshire are sticking their big noses into murder investigations. Book clubs across the UK are embarrassing Scotland Yard with their amateur sleuthing. The lessons I learned at the Banff School of Fine Arts was a wonderful introduction to publishing (and got me jobs in book publishing the moment I moved to Toronto). But some stale advice has become old tattered hat, ready for the bin.

People want a good, well-written story that keeps them up at night turning pages. I can deliver that, no matter where Dr. Simon Fethullah hunts serial killers.

The pre-order for Where the Night Takes Us is up now, only 99 cents for a limited time.

~ I am Robert Chazz Chute. I write suspenseful novels about evildoers now and at the end of the world. Or is “now” and “the end of the world” redundant?









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Spider-Noir, Reviews, and What’s Next?

There is a line from Spider-Noir that I found especially fun. Do I need to add spoiler alert here? Relax. It’s memorable, but minor.

A guy comes to a PI’s office asking him to follow his wife to catch her cheating. He shows a picture of said wife to the PI (played with great glee by Nic Cage). This woman is absolutely gorgeous. The PI looks back and forth from the picture to the man. Sorry, but he’s not gorgeous, and that’s the point.

With perfect, world-weary delivery, Nic asks, “Are you a wealthy man, sir?”

“No.”

“Possessed of a keen wit?”

(Close-up on the not-gorgeous man’s face.) Baffled, he answers, “Huh?”

It’s a small moment, but it is funny. Good acting. Solid writing.

I sometimes wonder about character actors, though. How do those casting calls go? “Hey, uglies, we got a role for ya!”

And what about the very elderly cast as the soon-to-be dead in medical dramas? Do these actors call up their children and grandchildren and say, “The casting director took one look at me and said, ‘No makeup needed! You look half-dead already! I’m on the next season of The Pitt!”

It’s brutal. Or maybe it just acknowledges the vicissitudes of life (and death). What self-confidence they must have! Or self-acceptance. Or devotion to and love for the art? Are they mentally healthy? Is it simply the desperate need for a paycheck?

Given what I do, I should understand the impulse better. After all, I get book reviews. Most of my reviews are happy ones from satisfied readers. I go back and read those occasionally when I feel down. Some days, those keep me going.

The nasty ones, though? I don’t have to return to. I remember them verbatim. Like the reviewer who, several times, wrote, “Fluff you, Chazz!”

That person obviously meant, “Fuck you,” but her intent was undermined by her twee use of the word fluffing. As a euphemism, it’s not the threat she thinks it is.

Then there was the guy who wrote, “I see this author is Canadian. I certainly hope he stays there.” No worries, mate. I wouldn’t dream of coming anywhere near you. Book reviews aren’t a venue for personal attacks. Don’t fight me. Fight with your family at the dinner table like you usually do.

(In case you missed it, I’m not telling anyone what kind of review they should write. I’m merely saying what shouldn’t be controversial: Don’t be an asshole.)

This morning I saw an Instagram post from an author who made an interesting observation. Thoughtful critiques and bad reviews are part of the deal. But what’s with those reviewers who don’t like any book? They review plenty, but the ratings they give never rise above a one or two-star. The Instagram author asked, “Why do you read? It seems like you don’t enjoy it at all.”

Maybe some mean reviewers are jealous writers. (Of course, it’s entirely possible they could be right some of the time, too.) Or perhaps, as the popular saying goes, “The cruelty is the point.”

Some reviews feel performative, an attempt to demonstrate vast intellectual superiority. Like this gem: “Well, actually, the black plague was great for the average European peasant.”

Tee-hee. What fun!

If a book has zero negative reviews, it hasn’t reached a wide audience. Plenty of people who were never the target demographic are eager to decree, “This book is the end of literature,” or a similar maximalist claim. Too few people say, “It’s not for me.” Too many say, “I didn’t enjoy this and no one else should, either.”

No matter, though. I persist. Maybe I can relate to those character actors. I keep going because this is not just my job. It’s my purpose. Publishing can be scary, but the day-to-day of the writing life is fun. In daring to try to entertain others, I am entertained. I focus on writing the next book, what happens in the next paragraph, and polishing the next line.

Anybody who tries to do anything will encounter Negative Nellies who don’t know how to express themselves constructively. Or they’re just mean. The failure is not found in falling short of pleasing everyone. The failure is in not continuing to try.

To creators and doers everywhere:

It’s okay.

You’re okay.

Keep going.

Next is a powerful word.

~ I’m Robert Chazz Chute, your friendly neighborhood suspense writer. My next two thrillers come out in September. In the meantime, I’ve got plenty of novels and collections for you to read and (I hope) enjoy. Send your thoughts, feelings, and death threats to expartepress@gmail.com



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Vengeance Is Finally Everywhere

My latest thriller!

A while back, I reevaluated the business side of my publishing experience. For most of my backlist, Amazon was no longer delivering. There are many variables to what makes books hit or miss. I’ve gone into detail about that before, so I won’t belabor that again here.

So I made a move, quite literally.

Most of my books are no longer exclusive to Amazon. You’ll still find them on Amazon, but you’ll also find them on book sales platforms across the planet. Think library services like Overdrive, and publishing platforms such as Kobo, Tolino, Barnes & Noble, and Gardners.

I have also added Vengeance Is Hers to a newish sales platform I’d only discovered recently. Laterpress is one way authors can sell their work directly. Check out Vengeance Is Hers on Laterpress here.

Vengeance Is Hers (and many more can be found on these services.)

Screenshot
The Night Man cover
http://ow.ly/1KcI50BVp04
This was not supposed to be a prediction or a prescriptioon.

Enjoy!

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It’s hard to sell a book, and getting harder

Selling books for a living is hard. At Chapters Indigo, I met Yahaya, who was selling his novel, Struggles of a Dreamer. It’s a sugary mix of Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Richest Man in Babylon.

Yahaya, author of Struggles of a Dreamer

As shoppers passed by, he humbly asked, “May I tell you about my book?” That takes a lot of guts and time, and I respect the effort. Nice guy. I bought a signed copy.

Yesterday, I joined the Crime Writers of Canada. (Huzzah! It was long past time I got around to that!)

This morning, their first missive to me was a newsletter announcing, among others, the best crime novel set in Canada. Salt on Her Tongue looks great! I was immediately intrigued because I grew up in Nova Scotia, seven miles from the Bay of Fundy.

But here’s the rub: Published in June 2025, the novel has but one review on Amazon.ca. (Canucks, stand up!) Alas, no reviews on Amazon.com.

Best Crime Novel Set in Canada

Sponsored by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize

C.S. Porter, Salt on Her Tongue, Vagrant Press

Animated by the intense fog and turbulence of the Bay of Fundy, as well as the personal struggles of the varied characters who take the reader on this gripping journey, Salt on Her Tongue keeps the reader engaged through masterful pacing and startling revelations.

The jurors pointed in particular to how well the author evokes the geography, maritime life and weather that forms the setting, and how well it amplifies the conflicts and mysteries in the plot. Also, the characters, from salty locals disdainful of big-city practices to wealthy and powerful elites, are drawn with a clarity that brings them to life, making the reader see their unique perspectives. Notably, the detective’s self-awareness of her mental fragility helps the reader see inside her head, empathizing as she persists despite barriers, including that the people around her seem to be trying to hinder her investigation. Further, the scope of the plot is engaging, convincingly telescoping from local corruption to an unexpected plot twist sure to leave readers satisfied.

Looks great! But sadly, not visible enough. (Yes, I’ll be getting a copy. I’ll check my local bookstore today.)

Re: Marketing

I’ve been in this position, and it’s uncomfortable.

Vengeance Is Hers has been out a year and has stalled at five reviews in the States and seven internationally. I admit, I didn’t launch it correctly. I simply tossed it out there, sent some emails, and posted a few ads, hoping it would catch readers’ eyes and Amazon’s algorithms. Alas, that was not to be.

I love Vengeance Is Hers, but what does my love for my work matter when it comes to the book marketing side of the publishing business? People who read it tend to enjoy it a lot, but few have read it.



As I prepare for the launch of the new series, Fear-Death Experiences, I’m going at it differently. I’m looking into engaging a publicist, Booksprout, and a launch service with Reedsy. I’ll set up a pre-order as we hunt for more readers interested in getting advance review copies.

Meanwhile, Amazon has changed its review filters, probably in response to receiving false reviews, reviews written by AI, and too many AI books. If a book gets too many reviews all at once, for instance, the AI reviewer might flag the reviews for deletion. Way to go, Amazon. In your quest for more organic reviews, you’ve made it harder for authors to reach readers. The same wave floods all boats.

This is one of the reasons I’ve taken most of my catalogue wide. You’ll find most of my books are no longer exclusive to Amazon. Draft2Digital has my work on library services and book platforms everywhere now. (Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Tolino, you name it).

Whatever the struggles of writing and publishing, I persevere. It requires time, talent, persistence, business smarts, and stupid, blind optimism. It’s no great burden. It can be very frustrating, but I love the writing life.

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I Am Cursed

In my neighborhood, there is a cursed place. Today, that location is a new sushi restaurant. Before that? A Burger Factory. Before that? A forgotten string of failures. A new renter arrives with fresh ideas and colossal hope. After a year or two, another restaurateur takes up the challenge and shoulders the curse. Why anyone invests all their life savings in a restaurant is a mystery to most. To anyone who does not share the dream of making unappreciated food for an oblivious public, it is madness.

I would never invest in a restaurant, but I understand the passion for the risk.

Some clods don’t think writing a book is “real work.” They devalue the effort and call it a hobby. Some even want it all for free. It’s just typing, after all, right? Hell, in weak and depressed moments, I’ve called it an expensive hobby! When a reviewer says, “I don’t understand why this book isn’t a bestseller,” all I can say is, “Me, neither, man.”

And how many people really have the time, energy, and attention span to read anymore? Is this really a job or a fairly pointless compulsion? What kind of fool wasted months or years to compose a novel?

Here, I raise my hand. I’m that kind of fool. I don’t know if my next book will be a smash hit, but I enter into every story with that same hope. It’s madness, really.

Here's the kind of fool I am.

A peek into how my workday began

After only a few hours of sleep, I think I woke up around 3:30 a.m. I lay in bed with wild thoughts about Where The Night Takes Us. The manuscript needed an extra kick to get the grand seduction going. It’s a dance to draw readers in, and the steps were not quite right yet. I deleted a chapter yesterday to speed up the pacing. I added something crucial to the beginning yesterday, too. Satisfaction eluded me. What else would make the recipe sweeter?

Gave up on sleep at 4 a.m.

The nagging sense that I’d lose some sugar made me crawl out of bed and to my laptop. More words, particular and well-chosen, had to get written before I could lose the thread. I had to sew some seams and make the presentation more appetizing. Perfection is always out of reach, but at least I can make it more right.

Officially, Where The Night Takes Us will be my thirtieth novel. I’ve been here before. The energy behind the compulsion to get it published is always the same. Years ago, a novelist’s house caught fire. He braved the flames to reenter the burning building to save his manuscript. I get it, but it’s madness, isn’t it?

Anyway, I caught the words before they could slip away. If this is a curse, I must enjoy it. When the manuscript is fully baked and out of the oven, I hope you’ll enjoy my madness.

It is now 5:15 a.m., and my brain is buzzing. I may as well stay up and keep cooking. Somewhere out there, I have to believe hungry readers are waiting for my next concoction.

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Do you want to know how I got these scars?

Breaking news! Endemic has gone wide!

Everybody relax. This announcement is not about measles. I’m talking about my multiple award-winning novel Endemic, Within Each of Us, A Power and a Curse. Despite Amazon sabotaging the release of Endemic, it went on to win first place in the genre category of the North Street Book Prize.

Now, I’m doing something different.

This dystopian novel has been exclusive to Amazon since its publication. No more! I recently published it widely (hat tip to Draft2Digital for facilitating that release). After getting such a nice review from Publishers Weekly, I decided that I needed to expand my readership and also get into more libraries.

The list is interesting.

There are so many book sales platforms out there, and a bunch I’d never heard of! Aside from the familiar ones like Barnes & Noble, Overdrive, Kobo, Apple Books, Smashwords, and Baker & Taylor, Endemic is also available on Everand, Odilo, Borrow Box, Vivlio, Tolino, Cloud Library, Gardners, Palace, and Fable.

ENDEMIC’s UNIVERSAL LINK

Selling entertainment sounds like it shouldn’t be hard, but book marketing is hard. Having a book on sale everywhere in some ways adds to that difficulty. On the other hand, Amazon already betrayed me with this book from the start, so I want to give it another chance with new readers.

I’ve experimented with going wide in the past and always came back to Amazon because they knew how to sell books. My faith in their system has since faded, and it’s time to expand my reach to new venues and tactics. I’ve written a lot of apocalyptic epics and killer crime thrillers. To reach new readers around the world, I’m committed to keeping Endemic widely available beyond Amazon and will publish more of my novels widely in the near future.

If you’re curious about Endemic, it’s about an introverted neurodivergent book editor turned urban survivalist gardener caught in the midst of a disaster. Hounded by marauders, bullied by her father, and haunted by her dead therapist, Ovid Fairweather has to make her way in a fallen New York City. She was a nail. She will become a hammer.

That’s Endemic by me, Robert Chazz Chute, and now it’s available on Amazon, but now, it’s also available just about everywhere else!

You can get the ebook, paperback, or hardcover. If you dig it, please leave a review. I’m new to all these platforms, so naturally I’ve got no reviews on them yet.

To clarify: Endemic is still available on Amazon, but here’s the universal link to everywhere else: https://books2read.com/u/bQvkGP.

Thanks! Have a great day, or make it one!

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Energize Your Writing Life with Attack Mode

Years ago, I went to a one-man show put on by director Kevin Smith. Between the jokes, he talked about taking advantage of opportunities and making good things happen. One key takeaway was the Wayne Gretzky quote: “Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” That advice proved timely. It coincided with meeting a harbinger of the future at a writing conference in 2010. The experience set me on the path to founding Ex Parte Press.

That harbinger? She was the first person I’d met who read ebooks exclusively. It was a glimpse of the imminent future. A new market had opened and was rapidly expanding. Growing pains and a gold rush lay dead ahead. I’d written a lot, and now I had a place to put it. Mostly, that meant Amazon.

That writing conference took place in Victoria, BC. The outlier was one of the conference organizers. She introduced me as “Roger” as I was about to perform a reading of a short story. I made a joke of it, beginning with, “You got my name wrong, but by the end of this story, you’ll know who I am and remember it!” Sure, I flirted with being obnoxious, but I was confident in my material. I didn’t just read that story about a fight with my dad over money. I attacked it. The reading was very well-received.

It was fun to meet other writers, pick up some tips, and even make a few allies. The thing I enjoy most about writing conferences is how energizing they are. In April, I’m headed to Toronto for a Writing Day Workshop. There will be lectures and discussions and wonky stuff about the book business. I will meet with four agents that day, and I am so excited.

ATTACK MODE: ACTIVATED

If you are curious about attending a conference, here’s the link.

If you need more motivation, here’s a link to their success stories.