JackBludis

Male

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Baltimore
About Me:
I am the author of more than 70 published novels and novellas, and almost 900 published stories in various genres and sub-genres. My best works are private-eye mysteries under my own name mysteries set in various historical periods. New issues and reprints will be out shortly from Pageturneditions.com

As all writers, I am also a reader.

This updated on 9-8-2011
I Am A:
Reader, Writer
Website:
http://Jackbludis.com But crimespace tells you what you need.
Books And Authors I Like:
Chandler, Hammett, Ed McBain, Hemingway, Faulkner, Joyce, James Lee Burke, Cormac McCarthy; the Moe Prager series and the latest two Robert B. Parker's by Reed Farrel Coleman, and Richard Helms (the novelist not the spy), Laura Lippman, Vicki Hendricks, Megan Abbot--and indispensable for a writer, "Strunk and White's, The Elements of Style." And how did I forget Will Shakespeare the first time around? Him too. And may I also add Steig Larsson of "The Girl who ..." Series, may he rest in peace.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Murder My Sweet, the Godfather I, Chinatown, LA Confidential. I never tire of seeing and dissecting Casablanca.

Saturday Night Live--although I don't get all the humor anymore, it's an age thing. This show for 40 years has kept up with what 20-somethings are laughing at. It has also turned out some damn good actors as well as comedians. The constant reruns are a drag because topical material out of date is stale.

Favorite Networks AMC, TCM, TNT, and USA.

Letterman, yes. Leno, no. The Daily Show, and some things on the History Channels (The first time I see them.)

Comment Wall:

  • Charles Kelly

    Jack, thanks for signing up as a friend of mine on crimespace. And good luck with your latest book. It would be great if it is the Big One. Keep us all posted.

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Eliza Tucker

    Thank you so much for the add!

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Gina Micale

    Thanks for the welcome Jack. When are you coming back to California to share more wine with Vito and me? We miss you. I can't wait for the new one Jack. Keep writing you old hack.

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Eliza Tucker

    I suppose we've got to write as much as possible and publish as much of it as possible -- even if it is "just" a blog. So yes. Blog more.

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Jeff Markowitz

    Thanks for the invite. I'm just learning my way around crimespace, but I'll stop back when I have more time to read.

    Apr 12, 2007

  • Janet McClellan

    Hi Jack,
    Thank you for the invitation and let me return the favor by inviting you to crime investigation - research in NING where I hang out most of the time.
    Best of luck,
    Janet

    Apr 12, 2007

  • Jeff Sherratt

    Hello Jack,

    I saw your book, "Shadow of the Dahlia" listed on Amazon. In 1947, at the time that the Black Dahlia murder took place, I was five years old and lived a couple of blocks from where the woman's body was discovered. To this day, I remember vividly the details of the crime. I remember my parent's anxiety when they wondered how such horrible murder could've happened so close to our home. And I can still see in my mind the bold headline, and graphic photos of the crime scene, that was plastered all over the front page of Los Angeles Mirror newspaper, which was delivered to our house that evening. People have asked me why that particular murder--committed sixty years ago--still troubles me so much. I can't answer. Perhaps it was because I was so young and it the first time I came face to face with mortality.

    Thanks for inviting me to your page. I'll be ordering your book this week.

    Apr 12, 2007

  • JackBludis

    Jeff, I've already posted a reply on your page. Things haunt me too, which is, perhaps, why I write about a period that I can barely remember--except for the shock of it all.

    Apr 12, 2007

  • Jeff Sherratt

    I read your post on my page, thanks, Jack. I guess you're right. I also remember when the May Company opened a store in 1947 on Crenshaw, a few blocks away, and Hopalong Cassidy made an appearance, but nobody is writing books about that….lol.

    Apr 12, 2007

  • Thomas O'Callaghan

    Got your message on my chat wall, Jack. Thanks for the kudos on the blurbs. If truth be known, (here's where every body gets to see just how much of a newbie I am) if truth be known, when my editor asked me to start collecting blurbs, I didn't reveal it at the time, but I was of the belief that the blurbs were created by the publisher, ran by the blurbing author for an OK, and voila, they appeared. My first eyeopening lesson! I visited your website as well. Haunting cover on Elizabeth Short's demise in the shadow of other unfortunates. You've got a big fan in Harriet Klausner, I see. She recently reviewed my second, THE SCREAMING ROOM, on BN.com. I owe her a HUGE hug. I too was a big fan of McBain's work. Meyer Meyer?? I'll bet his copy editor was thrown by that name. James Lee Burke's work I enjoy as well. In fact, his daughter, Alafair was gracious enough to give me a pretty good blurb. If no one is yet to say it, "you" strike a startling resemblance to Hemingway in photo number two! Glad, we're friends!

    Apr 12, 2007

  • Eliza Tucker

    Yep, you called it! I saw the film version of Jamaica Inn first, and it was just a wreck. Of course, the sound was so terrible that the story was nearly impossible to follow. But the book was so entirely different, and made sense, and was just great gothic fun.

    I have friends who have almost the whole Hitchcock collection, and every year we celebrate his death with films and a few episodes of Presents. To Catch A Thief is on this year's list. I'm really looking forward to it.

    Apr 14, 2007

  • I. J. Parker

    Hi, Jack. Of course, I want to be friends with you. Especially after that long bus ride to the Texas Barbecue party. Hang in there!

    Apr 16, 2007

  • JackBludis

    Kathy, Thanks for the compliment about "Blondes, Blondes, Blondes." I had to project most of the atmosphere backwards from the time I remember it in the 50s, but I'm told it works. Glad you enjoyed it.

    Apr 16, 2007

  • JackBludis

    Kathy--
    I think everyplace has a flavor, and yes, I do try to portray that. To get another flavor, and a damn good one, Read Laura Lippman. Although I suppose you have. I've tried to do it with Hollywood too, but mine is an old black and white and grainy color flavor.

    Apr 17, 2007

  • JackBludis

    I just deleted some of the older posts ... Hope its all right.

    Apr 17, 2007

  • Simon Spurrier

    Hey Jack - it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

    I was just reading your "confession" up above. It's wonderfully self-deprecating.

    This isn't a popular view, I know, but frankly I kind of like it when I'm described as a "successful hack". It implies two things: consistency and tenacity. But then I've a great fondness for fiction as a disposable resource (books are meant to be read, not kept, not agonised-over), so I've always got a lot of time for pulpish "hackwork". People use the word disparagingly. I just smile and nod.

    So three cheers for you - and all the best with your "big" project. If you can think of yourself as a successful hack AND a "proper" author, you've got a lot further than most.

    Cheers,

    -s

    Apr 18, 2007

  • JackBludis

    Simon--

    Your post impressed me (The one about what you do and all that.) I got some very early rejections that said, "You don't write very well." Ironically, these were those that I respected almost as much as the one (actually the same one twice on different projects) that I received from the Atlantic Montly.

    Tenacity is the key. I have books and stories that I have never sent out because they're just not good enough as they are. I often revisit them, consider, then decide to work on them again or to let them lie fallow for another year of two.

    Tenacity is the key, but you have to be tenacious and improve as well.

    Thanks for your post. I'm going to repost his on your crimespace.

    Jack

    Apr 18, 2007

  • Maryann Miller

    Almost wrote "Hi Jack" but decided that would be too funny. Enjoyed your short piece about being a hack. Brought to mind a writer;s group I used to belong to in the Dallas area. We called ourselves "The Hacks" and we met at this great bar near Love Field. Had some terrific writers in the group, including Sandra Brown.

    I'm pleased to be in this group of terrific writers.

    Apr 19, 2007

  • Simon Wood

    jack are you going to lcc denver?

    Apr 19, 2007

  • Terri

    Howdy Jack (Texas roots, here)
    Thanks for the note and checking out my website. I like your blog about being a hack...I feel like that all the time!
    Enjoy your weekend!

    Apr 20, 2007

  • JackBludis

    I've decided not to eliminate further comments for fear of insulting anyone. 4-19-07

    Besides, I keep checking back to see who said what.

    Apr 20, 2007

  • Robert K. Foster

    Maybe this is obvious or maybe this opens a can of worms but what exactly is a "hack" anyway? Of course I know the term and I've heard it before but what is the source of its bad vibe?

    Apr 20, 2007

  • JackBludis

    M-W.com doesn't have a satisfactory definition. But it generally means a writer who grinds out work day after day, year after year, of little quality. I, of course, think I'm a notch above that, but who can honestly judge his or her own work?

    Apr 20, 2007

  • JackBludis

    I stopped in at Malice just to say hello. Saw Monica Myers, Mary Saums, Debbi Mack and others. Looked like a good time. Damn shame I didn't register.

    May 6, 2007

  • Pepper Smith

    Thank you for the invitation, Jack!

    May 6, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Hey, Jack - good to see you at Malice. Yeah, you would've enjoyed the programming. All the panels I attended were excellent, not the same old thing.

    May 8, 2007

  • Amanda Stevens

    Hi Jack. I've written so many books I've literally lost count, so from one hack to another, thanks for the invite!

    May 9, 2007

  • Debbie Behrens

    Hi, Jack, thanks for the invite!

    May 11, 2007

  • JackBludis

    Yep, I remember you.

    May 23, 2007

  • Mark Best

    Hi Jack,

    Pilikia is My Business is Mark Troy. Easy mistake to make. It's a good book and I'll gladly take credit for it.

    Mark Best

    May 24, 2007

  • Tom Cain

    There is NOTHING wrong with being a hack - and I know, because I've been one for the past 25-odd years, as well!

    May 24, 2007

  • Brett Battles

    Love your post on DorothyL on Cormac McCarthy. Just read THE ROAD myself a couple of weeks ago and was blown away. I have never read McCarthy before. You're right, his style is simple but it so draws you in. I'm still thinking about that book weeks later.

    May 24, 2007

  • Jon McGoran as D. H. Dublin

    Hey Jack,
    Thanks for the invite.
    Hacks of the world, unite!

    May 24, 2007

  • JackBludis

    Jon, we're already united ... Welcome to the bunch

    May 24, 2007

  • Rosemary Harris

    Hi Jack,
    Happy to befriend you. Just stumbled upon crimespace yesterday (when i should have been writing) Seems like some interesting chat here..
    Ro

    May 25, 2007

  • Novel Gobbler

    Thanks for the invite, Jack!

    May 25, 2007

  • Lois Reibach

    Thanks for the invite. See you on DorothyL.

    May 25, 2007

  • Jordan Dane

    What have you been up to, Jack? I've got a houseful of guests and will be traveling to see family this next week, but not before I get done with my copy edits. And the week after that is the MWA SW region conference in Dallas. Whew!! I better strap on my skates.

    May 28, 2007

  • Matthew Ogborn

    Great to see the hard-boiled noir living on in your pen, Jack. Look forward to striking up some interesting discussions about the genre in the near future. Get a big kick out of Ross MacDonald books alongside my usual staple of James Lee Burke, Carl Hiaasen and Jefferson T Parker. Matt

    May 30, 2007