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February already. This is a month of romance. After all, it has Valentine's Day as its major holiday. But then again there was the Valentine's Day Massacre which was not so great for Al Capone's men. So, you won't find too many romantic mysteries this month, but a diverse collection across the subgenres of mystery.

This month we have an interview with Sarah Graves author of the Home Repair is Homicide series. We've paired the interview with a review of The Book of Old Houses. If you haven't read it yet, you should.

We're always striving to make Gumshoe Review a better magazine and one that you turn to for reviews and information about the field. We're working harder to keep our news column informative, but we could always use your help. If you've signed a contract for a book, want to promote your signing tour, have information about an award ... basically, if it's mystery related news, send us a press release and we'll get it up.

Mystery conventions and workshops are happening throughout the world but alas, I don't have time to cull that information from the internet and other sources. I've got the ones that I can find listed in our Convention listings but if you know of one that I don't have, again, send me the information and the URL of the convention website and I'll get it listed.

Now to our regular announcements and requests.

Reviewers Wanted:
While we're happy to have a core of great reviewers for Gumshoe, we'd like to have more. If you have a great desire to review mysteries for no pay but the glory of a by-line, write to us at editor(at)gumshoereview(dot)com telling us a bit about yourself and send a 500 word (or so) review of a mystery that you have recently read as a sample. We should be able to get back to you within the month.

Publishers Take Note:
Material sent to us will be listed in our books received column and may also be commented on or reviewed. With few exceptions, material not sent will not be listed or reviewed. Please send materials to Gumshoe c/o Gayle Surrette, 16440 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, MD 20613.

Gumshoe covers the entire spectrum of the mystery genre. If it seems that we are heavily leaning towards cozies it could be because we're receiving cozies. If it's mystery, mystery/thriller, noir, police procedural, whatever...send it along and well add it to our books received and maybe even review it.

Many have asked -- we do cover small press. So, if your book is a published by a small press make sure we get a copy to add to our books received column and to list for our reviewers.

Media People Take Note:
We'd really like to have some reviews of newly released DVDs and other media but if we don't get copies we unlikely to review them. So send your copies to Gumshoe c/o Gayle Surrette, 16440 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, MD 20613.

Convention Calendar:
We'd like to add a convention calendar to our magazine. However, we don't have time to scour the internet looking for what's happening in the mystery arena. Please send us your convention listings. Send to: editor(at)gumshoereview(dot)com.

Letters to the Editor(s):
Putting out a monthly ezine is always entertaining and for us a learning experience -- however, without feedback we really don't know how we're doing. Write and let us know what you think of our zine and how we could make it better or what you thought of the books we reviewed. Send to: editor(at)gumshoereview(dot)com.

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