July 2017 – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

Hiking Mount Mitake, Part 1 – Adventures on the Cable Car

Susan Spann Blog July 31, 2017November 8, 2017hiking, Japan, Mitake, Mount Mitake, mountains, Tokyo, travel

Mount Mitake lies about an hour by train from downtown Tokyo, in Chichibu Tama Kai National Park.

The Symbolism of Japanese Hydrangea

Susan Spann Blog July 26, 2017November 8, 2017ajisai, flowers, hydrangea, ikebana, Japan

In my first Hiro Hattori / Shinobi Mystery, Claws of the Cat, I mention an arrangement of hydrangea blossoms in the room where the murder occurred. Flowers have great importance in Japanese culture. The art of ikebana, or traditional flower arranging, developed hundreds of years ago and was considered an appropriate art for both men and women–many samurai studied ikebana as well as swordsmanship. In Japan, flowers have long been displayed in seasonal contexts. Certain flowers are considered “appropriate” for, symbolic of, and associated with, specific times of year. Additionally, flowers carry traditional meanings that are understood by students of ikebana and Japanese culture. Hydrangea

Comic Con

Susan Spann Appearances July 24, 2017November 8, 2017betrayal at Iga, Comic Con, Genese Davis, villains

Last weekend I attended San Diego Comic Con, where I spoke on a panel about “Creating Effective Villains” along with Brian Pinkerton, Genese Davis, and Eric Kieron Davis. (Side note: If you haven’t read Genese Davis’s fabulous fantasy thriller THE HOLDER’S DOMINION, about a female gamer who goes head to head with a hacker, get thee to a bookstore immediately. I’ll wait.) But one doesn’t merely go to comic con for the length of a panel – especially if you’re a gamer and comic/sci-fi/fantasy geek like me. I spent some time on the convention floor, making friends: And checking out all the

What Did Ninjas Eat?

Susan Spann Blog July 19, 2017November 8, 2017betrayal at Iga, food, Japan, ninja, ninjas

While researching my newest Hiro Hattori mystery, BETRAYAL AT IGA, I needed to learn a little more about 16th century Japanese cuisine. So … what did ninjas eat? Click through to my guest post on the No More Grumpy Bookseller blog to find out how I answered that all-important question. As a bonus, the blog is hosting a giveaway for a free copy of the novel – as long as you enter before July 30, 2017! (And I promise, unlike some clickbait headlines, I really do answer the question – without ads.)

Jisei – the Poetry of Death

Susan Spann Blog July 18, 2017November 8, 2017death poems, Japan, jisei, Poetry, samurai

During the medieval period, samurai often wrote special poems, known as jisei, in the hours before their deaths. The tradition originated in Zen Buddhism, and fused three important principles from Zen tradition: – The material world is transient and impermanent – Understanding reality requires an absence of self-nature and acceptance (or pursuit) of emptiness – Attachment to the world causes suffering The earliest recorded jisei was written by Prince Ōtsu, a younger son of Emperor Temmu, just before the prince’s execution in 686. Customarily, composition of jisei was done only by members of Japan’s nobility, samurai, poets, or Buddhist priests. The poem was supposed to

A Visit With Suzy Approved – and Ninjas!

Susan Spann Appearances, Blog July 13, 2017November 8, 2017betrayal at Iga, Mystery, ninja, ninjas, novels, shuriken

Since it’s release week for BETRAYAL AT IGA, I’ve had the honor to talk with a number of bloggers, radio, and TV interviewers. I’ll try to share them all, for people who want to learn more about the Hiro Hattori novels, my writing process, and the books I read when I’m not writing! First up, this great interview with Suzy Approved Book Reviews, in which I get to talk a little more about my TBR pile and my favorite cities in Japan! I took today’s ninja-related photo at the Iga Ninja Museum in Iga-Ueno, Japan, while researching Betrayal at Iga. This is only part of the large collection of shuriken

Happy Ninja Day!

Susan Spann Blog July 11, 2017November 8, 2017betrayal at Iga, Face in a Book, Hiro Hattori, Japan, Mystery, ninjas

OK, it’s actually the release day for my newest Hiro Hattori novel, BETRAYAL AT IGA – but since Hiro is a ninja (who solves mysteries along with his partner-in-crime-solving, Father Mateo) I think it’s fair to declare today Official Ninja Day too!

Beyond the Trope: Ninjas and Japan!

Susan Spann Appearances, Blog July 4, 2017November 8, 2017betrayal at Iga, beyond the trope, Hiro Hattori, Japan, ninja, ninjas, podcasts

Curious about ninjas–either the real, historical ones or the fictional ones that appear in my Hiro Hattori mystery novels? I recently had the opportunity to talk about ninjas, fiction, and my upcoming mystery, BETRAYAL AT IGA, with one of my favorite podcasts: Beyond the Trope. Check out the podcast here, and when you finish take a look at the archives for more fantastic podcast content!

Month: July 2017