Doug M. Cummings

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Chicago Suburbs Illinois
About Me:: I'm an ex-cop, security consultant and former broadcast journalist who left crime reporting to write full time. My latest book, EASY EVIL, is available now. Order online from http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Evil-Doug-Cummings-ebook/dp/B00EHME5TE/r....
I Am A:: Reader, Writer
Website:: http://www.everysecretcrime.com
Books And Authors I Like:: Anything by James Lee Burke (favorites: In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead, Pegasus Descending and Tin Roof Blowdown), most of Lee Child's work, John Sandford, Robert Crais, Thomas Perry (favorite: Nightlife), John Connelly, Linda Mickey, Thomas Keevers (Chainsaw Ballet), Sam Reaves (Homicide 69).
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: Law and Order (all of them), CSI, many programs on the Discovery Channel, NYPD Blue, old TV like Gunsmoke, any of John Wayne's later stuff.

Comment Wall:

L.J. Sellers

Hi Doug
Congratulations on your new release with Five Star. How you do like working with them?

Apr 4, 2008
Tina

Congrats on your upcoming release. I have quite a few good friends out East, so Boucheron is doable one day. Until I find a publisher I think doing these conference pitches is a big leg up for new writers. Whidbey was really small and cozy, though I have to say I was still pretty nervous doing pitches.

Apr 4, 2008
Morgan Mandel

Maybe you can make it next time. It's the greatest. I've been to every Love is Murder conference. Of course, I have an edge since it's one of the few conferences so close to home.
Good luck on your new release.
Morgan

Apr 4, 2008
Karyn J. Powers

I look forward to your tour in the "neighborhood."

Apr 5, 2008
Carol Haggas

You read my mind.

Apr 7, 2008
Anne Frasier

thanks so much, Doug!

Apr 16, 2008
Anne Frasier

and very nice trailer yourself! :)

Apr 16, 2008
Daniel Hatadi

Hey Doug, howdy yourself. Jordan should stop trying to make me blush.

Apr 16, 2008
Debbi Mack

Hi Doug,

How interesting to "meet" an ex-copy who likes cop shows. I used to practice law and tend to avoid lawyer shows (except "Eli Stone"--for every rule, there's an exception).

You said you enjoy John Wayne's later work. Would that include "The Searchers"? (One of my personal favorites.)

Debbi

Apr 17, 2008
Beth Groundwater

Both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference (Colorado Gold), held in the fall in Denver, and the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, held in the spring in Colorado Springs, are excellent. I'm a member of both orgs. and VP of programs for PPW, so I know quite a few folks in both groups. Jimmie no longer participates in either conference. I'll be missing my first PPWC in 10 years to attend Malice this year, but a nominee's gotta do what a nominee's gotta do! ;-) Now that we're friends here and at Goodreads, are you on Facebook, too?

Apr 17, 2008
Dave Zeltserman

Doug,

Thanks for the invite. Happy to meet a fellow Five star author.

--Dave

Apr 19, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Hey there, Doug! OMG! I REMEMBER your book back in the day when I was still exploring POD. So glad to see iUniverse gave you a leg up, too. My book was out for five months and I took copies of it to our big conference here in Oregon (Willamette Writers) and walked away with an agent. It's on submission right now and we've come very close with several of the N.Y. biggies, but most have already filled their lists two years down the line, and all have commented that the market is "woefully glutted" with suspense - thrillers at the moment. So, how did you make the jump from iUniverse to Five Star? Thanks for the friend invite.

Apr 30, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Wow, Doug, you must be one hell of a hack writer to be able to threaten a big name mystery author like that! The reality of POD is there are a lot of terrible writers doing it, but there are plenty of good ones, too, and just like cream as long as they keep churning away they will eventually rise to the top, no matter how they initially got their foot in the publishing world's door. Starting out as a POD author is kind of like Lana Turner playing hooky from school one day and being "discovered" in a malt shop down the street from Hollywood High by William Wilkerson, publisher of the Hollywood Reporter. Except you don't have to look as good as she did in sweaters, hehe.

May 1, 2008
Michael W. Sherer

Hey, Doug, long time. Saw Alan Salter (Sam Reaves) and Mark Zubro at Left Coast Crime, and exchange emails with Barb D'Amato every so often, but miss the old Chicago gang. Best, Mike

May 1, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

Thanks for reminding me. I need to call Alan and arrange lunch. You ever get back this way? I have a nephew in Seattle but unlikely I'll be making the trek to see him until his son graduates from college in a couple of years.

May 1, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Yeah, this is my second year as a member of ITW...but as an "Associate Member" member only. My advice? Save your $90 until your Five Star book is out, then join. Thinking back on it now, I'm not even sure why I joined at this early stage of the game. Maybe to get a chance to network with other hack writers? Kidding. It does seem like a pretty good organization but I'm really not sure what value it holds for a "back of the bus" writer until he gets a mainstream publishing contract, and the Publishing Pope sprinkles holy water over his book's cover, or something. Writing is very much a "dues paying" profession, and I'm not talking about money. It's almsot the same as being a rookie cop in police work. You're going to take a lot of kidding and derision and experience a lot of mistrust and downright discrimination by your peers until that magic day arrives when your probationary period has finally ended...and you still have your job and your badge.

May 1, 2008
Maryann Mercer

Thanks for the invite. I'll keep an eye out for the book!

May 1, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Years and years ago, when I was still in patrol, I once went three consecutive night shifts with an empty gun. This was shortly after transitioning from the revolver to the semi-auto pistol, and you know how young, still new to the job cops are about always fiddling around with their weapons...especially excessive cleaning of them. And that's exactly what I did. I'd gone out and done some shooting...maybe a whole 100 rounds or so...and I just HAD to clean my gun, of course when I got back. Only problem was when I put everything back together on the new fangled, high-tec piece of armanent, I somehow managed to load the two spare magazines and left the one in the gun itself empty. And of course it never dawned on me to "chamber a round" after cleaning it and putting it back in my holster because I was still in "revolver mode" and as you know revolvers don't need that little chambering a round exercise. And how did I eventually discover I was carrying an empty weapon? Well, it was the next time I decided to fiddle around with it again, of course...three days later.

PS: Now I only clean my Glock semi-auto twice a year...whether it needs it or not, hehe.

May 5, 2008
K.R. Lewis

We carry the Glock models 22, and 23, in .40 S&W. LOVE, the Glock. It is a lean, mean, shootin machine!

May 6, 2008
Dana King

Thanks for the invite. I see we like several of the same authors. Always good to have a friend with such impeccable taste.

May 6, 2008
Julia Buckley

HI, Doug--Nothing shameless about it. I don't do too many guest blogs--I lean toward the interview format. Why not e-mail me at julishka@sbcglobal.net and we can chat about it?

May 10, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

Thanks Doug! And wow, you're a better person than I- if I ever won anything (I haven't, sadly) I'd imagine it would be tough for me to give up!

May 17, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

LOL! I'm with you, free prizes to giveaway is definitely a plus...

May 17, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

I have the Sony Reader (got it before the Kindle came out) and despite the fact that it's probably going to lose the Beta war with the Kindle, I love it. It would be nice to be able to download wirelessly and there's no backlight, but other than that I've been impressed with it. I just love having so many books in such a small package, and it took less getting used to than I imagined.

May 18, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

I'm just not sure about these new-fangled devices. Why, I remember the old days. Books were written on papyrus. Now there was a real book! Besides, what are we going to put on our bookshelves if everything goes electronic? Then again, I guess I'd have more room for my Pez dispenser collection...

May 18, 2008
Julia Buckley

I shall be there---possibly a hair late. Will you be there as well?

May 18, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

Always a boon to have more room for pez dispensers...I have to say, environmentally speaking at least electronic books are the way to go (although I do love the feel of a real book in my hands).

May 19, 2008
Julia Buckley

Nice to meet you, too! I'll get back to you this week with some deep and profound questions. :)

Yes, my children seem to take turns getting sick so that there's always one either on the verge, in the midst, or in recovery. :)

May 19, 2008
Julia Buckley

PS Did you volunteer for five committees?

May 19, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

Heh, heh. No, but you did!
I'm doing something. I think inviting speakers.

May 19, 2008
D K Gaston

Hi Doug, thanks for becoming a friend. Yes, I did load the mp3 in the music section. It was quick, easy and painless.

May 22, 2008
Jean Henry Mead

Sure, Doug. I'd be happy to have you join my blog space on a Friday (my day). Send me something to Seniorsleuth@aol.com.

Jun 19, 2008
Jean Henry Mead

Doug,
Chester wants to know if you're available to do the weekend blog (Murderous Musings) starting this Saturday. Please get in touch asap. Thanks!

Jun 26, 2008
Jean Henry Mead

That's fine if you can't make it this week but Chester needs to know if you can do the Saturday blog every week. If not, he needs to find another writer.

Thanks!

Jun 27, 2008
Jean Henry Mead

Actually, my blog has already been turned in for next week and will appear on July 4, when no one will be looking at it. I'll ask Chester when he can work yours in, Doug. O.K.?

Jun 30, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

Jun 30, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

Join me on "Earth Frenzy" on BlogTalk Radio this week!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Show Time: 10am CST

Jun 30, 2008
Jean Henry Mead

Sorry to be so late getting back to you, Doug. Pleas send your blog article to Chester at Campbellcd@mindspring.com.

Jul 5, 2008