In Toronto Politics, Truth really is Stranger than Fiction!

 

Toronto Crime Writer Rob Brunet

Toronto crime writer Rob Brunet had a piece called "Murder Most Mayoral" published in today's Toronto Standard.  In the article, Rob discusses how local politics and mayoral campaigns/candidates have inspired fictional foul play.  

As he mentions, in the last few years, Toronto politicos have been featured in or have inspired three mystery novels (including THE LIES HAVE IT - my 3rd Sasha Jackson Pi novel), a play, and a video series.  I had no idea that I live in such a deadly city!!!  Must be something in the water...  

The article states:  "Sometimes, the mayor’s a victim, and sometimes he’s a suspect, but whatever the story, the character’s never quite mayoral."

I agree the characters are not exactly filled with sober civic pride and gravitas, but they are nothing like our real mayor, in fact...

If the characters really did act like our current mayor, the books/plays/videos would never be published/produced, and readers/audiences would roll their eyes, the suspension of disbelief stretched beyond limits.

For those who have not been following the Ford Follies, well, these two stories give you the start, and Google will take you the rest of the way.

1.  The Mayor, the Crackpipe and the Video
2.  The Mayor's Brother and the Hash Trade

If you aren't laughing too hard (or crying too hard) to read more, check out:

Crowd Funding for Gawker
Jon Stewart - Daily Show


Follow Rob Brunet on Twitter @RRBrunet
and check out his website HERE

Recent Reads: MAGS!

I've done many posts about books I've read recently, but it occurs to me that I never mention magazines that I regularly pick-up.   I sometimes spend more time with magazines than with books, so I thought it would be worthwhile to mention a few of my faves. I regularly read (or subscribe to)  the ones listed below, but there are other mags that I pick up from time to time as well (Rolling Stone, New Yorker, etc.)

I just love the six magazines listed below.  Each of them has articles that make me think.  All have terrific fodder for great conversations.  Needless to say, I am always pleased when I find the latest issues in my mailbox.

UTNE is always full of treats!!!  They seem to have a number of science related articles that have to do with the environment, with ecology - always interesting. 

The reviews are looong here, but that's a positive not a negative.  The book selections are always thought-provoking.

A delightful lefty mag!  Lots of neat stuff on social justice.  American point of view, American issues.

Lots of great stuff here on politics (Canada) plus arts, culture and ideas.

MoJo always makes me think!  Great investigative and/or in-depth journalism.

Another great conversation starter.  Lots of stuff on arts and culture.  Canadian.

Ohhhh, Toronto...

This one goes out to fellow Torontonians!  

In my latest novel, called  THE LIES HAVE IT (published Nov. 2011), P.I. Sasha Jackson is investigating a murder set against the backdrop of a Toronto Mayoral election. Remember, it's a novel... it's fiction!!!!!  But if you know the city at all, and follow local news, you'll have no trouble identifying the inspirations for some of the characters.

Page 116:

I’m neutral on, or in agreement with, most of Rocco’s political platforms, with the exception of his idea of building a tunnel to downtown, which was exponentially stupid. But I have to say, his Tony Soprano styled ad campaign is a bit creepy, and more than a little ill-advised. His Godfather ads seemed to offend many Italians and to alienate other voters, pretty much guaranteeing that Rocco should just fuhgeddaboudit and drop out of the race.


Page 118:

I got off at Lawrence station, and walked two blocks to the residence of Robin Stanhope. This mostly white and affluent part of the city had fewer election signs on the lawns than in Lisa’s ’hood. Of those who used their front yards to expose their political leanings, very few were in favour of the Italian Stallion. The signs around here seemed evenly split between Cooperman, the political gadfly whose only consistency was his tendency to flip-flop – depending on which direction the wind was blowing – and Shane’s fave, Nealson, the guy whose run for City Hall seemed preordained, if not quite a slam dunk. Fortunately, there were almost no signs for the three-hundred-pound, donut-snarfing, sub-literate, right-wing troglodyte – the only candidate whose victory would make me want to self-immolate in front of a library.


Pages 177-178:

The tables in Pastiche had been rearranged for tonight’s political photo-op and cash grab. We were seated in groups of eight. Lindsey and I were knocking elbows with three campaign volunteers, plus one of Nealson’s paid sycophants and the toady’s wife. The only empty seat at our table was the one that was meant for Dad. I kind of wished that I’d come up with a migraine excuse before him. The evening promised to be long and painful, and I’d likely have a real migraine by the end of it.

The dinner conversation thus far felt like something between a live-action infomercial or the beatification ceremony for Tim Nealson. He actually seemed like an okay guy, and was rather handsome. Nealson had a firm jaw, sandy-brown hair with a slight wave to it, and was average height and build. It wasn’t so much his looks one noticed, as the way in which he carried himself. He came across as confident and open, and his smile seemed genuine. His campaign slogan should have been He Even Looks Like A Mayor. At least the folks at central casting would think so. Nealson had come around to all the tables and thanked people for their support. We had just finished our appetizers, and had four more courses and probably as many mind-numbing speeches to get through. Unfortunately, I was still stone cold sober.

“If it were anybody but Shane, and if it weren’t for my current case, there’s no way in hell I’d stick around. This is so not my cup of tea.”

“Would you rather be letting some leather-clad stud whip you?”

“Touché.”

“How does your current case connect with this event anyway?” Lindsey asked discreetly.

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

“Whatever. At least you’re dressed the part of the femme fatale. You look fantastic.”

I’d been hurried getting ready. My hair was loose and tousled. It was too damp outside to even try styling it. I was in a plain violet sleeveless dress. It was simple, but fit me perfectly, and looked great with the amethyst pendant and matching earrings I was wearing. I wished Derek could have seen me. On most of our dates, other than the first one, we’d done something casual, so he hasn’t yet really seen me all gussied up. Of course, I think he’s perfectly happy to see me naked, which is how our dates usually end up.

Lindsey looked pretty hot herself. She has sunset skin and long, black hair, which were both set off nicely by the harvest yellow D&G suit she was wearing.

“I wish Derek were here. Mind you, if he had come, I wouldn’t be wearing panties.”




Check it out on AMAZON.  

Recent Reads: Knee Bar Us Nights

This is gut-wrenching and depressing as Hell, but it needed to be said.  People should read this.  I like books that provoke a reaction, and this one certainly did.

Lovely idea, but the author just didn't pull it off.  Too academic and too many arcane details for it to be as much fun as it should have been.

Very good, very timely, although once you've read this, you'll no longer need to read Friedman's columns in the NYT.

I wanted to like this, really... The main character just didn't work for me.  I had to force myself to finish it.  I kept hoping it would get better and that I'd grow to like the protagonist, but...