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Dana King
- 53, Male
- Laurel MD
- United States
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Dana King's Discussions
last days of the empire
Replied 1 day ago
last days of the empire
Replied Nov 24
Stop that Story!
Replied Nov 22
Dana King's Page
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BR, I think Jon pretty much nailed it. Modern heroes almost have to have something wrong with them, like it's not enough to be a "normal" person and see how events wear at him, unless he's an amateur. A cop or PI has to be a drunk, addict, have PT...
Don't forget the flaws. The 21st Century protagonist must have flaws. Damage. Demons are always nice. No one too normal. ;-)
This can take me out of a story quicker than anything except incompetent writing.
I read a well-received thriller last year by an author I'd read before, and liked. Each decision by the protagonist couple was exactly what they should do to make t...
Wow.. You know me--I'd have to edit a lot before I could post anything!
A brilliant innovation! Thanks, Dana.
Hmmm!
Ha, I was going to put that in my Do Some Damage post this wek.
Very funny stuff.
The voices of doom make it too easy to overlook the positive things that are happening in writing and publishing today that can help all authors, as this article shows.
Profile Information
- Hometown:
- Laurel MD
- About Me:
- 53 years old, recovering musician, currently working for a consulting firm. (No, not music consulting; neither am I reading your email or listening to your phone calls. Unless you email me, or call me.)
I've had several short works published, and I'm a regular contributor to the New Mystery Reader web site. (www.newmysteryreader.com) I have an agent who is currently looking for a publisher for my novel.
- I Am A:
- Reader, Writer, Critic
- Website:
- http://danaking.blogspot.com
- Books And Authors I Like:
- Raymond Chandler, Ed McBain, Elmore Leonard are the first tier. I also stay current with John Connolly, Robert Crais, Dennis Lehane, and Carl Hiaasen. Lee Child, Declan Hughes, Michael Koryta, Simon Kernick, SJ Rozan, and Robert Wilson are among those who also keep me up at nights.
Favorite books that require occasional re-reading: The Big Sleep; Farewell, My Lovely; Money, Money, Money; The Frumious Bandersnatch; Basket Case; Get Shorty; Glitz; The Hot Kid; The Maltese Falcon.
- Movies And TV Shows I Like:
- The Wire; Deadwood; The Sopranos; The Departed; Pulp Fiction; Godfathers I and II; Goodfellas; Casino; Sunset Boulevard; Double Indemnity; Body Heat; Monty Python and the Holy Grail; Animal House; Blazing Saddles. (Not everything is a mystery..
Dana King's Photos
Dana King's Blog
Good News in Publishing
The voices of doom make it too easy to overlook the positive things that are happening in writing and publishing today that can help all authors, as this article shows.
Posted on November 24, 2009 at 4:28am — 4 Comments
And They Don't Even Offer a Reach-Around
(Also posted at One Bite at a Time.)
There’s been a lot of outrage over Harlequin’s recent announcement to launch their own self-publishing branch, Harlequin Horizons. (Here, here, and… Continue
There’s been a lot of outrage over Harlequin’s recent announcement to launch their own self-publishing branch, Harlequin Horizons. (Here, here, and… Continue
Posted on November 21, 2009 at 6:25am — 3 Comments
Book Trailers
(Also posted at One Bite at a Time.)
This may be a sore subject, as I know a lot of folks who have produced trailers for their books, but this article in Slate got me to wondering about the key question regarding trailers:
Does anyone know if they work?
For me, personally, no. I can't imagine buying a book based on a video trailer. Part of this is because I can't imagine w… Continue
This may be a sore subject, as I know a lot of folks who have produced trailers for their books, but this article in Slate got me to wondering about the key question regarding trailers:
Does anyone know if they work?
For me, personally, no. I can't imagine buying a book based on a video trailer. Part of this is because I can't imagine w… Continue
Posted on November 20, 2009 at 7:08am — 9 Comments
Why I Don't Watch TV Cop Shows
(Also posted at One Bite at a Time.)
I haven’t watched a TV cop show since The Wire went off the air, except for a random viewing of Numb3rs when The Sole Heir is visiting. This excerpt from James Lee Burke’s In the Moon of Red Ponies explains why better than I could.
Most television cop shows make use of the following story line: A likeable individual is raped or assaulted, or a hardworking family loses one of… Continue
I haven’t watched a TV cop show since The Wire went off the air, except for a random viewing of Numb3rs when The Sole Heir is visiting. This excerpt from James Lee Burke’s In the Moon of Red Ponies explains why better than I could.
Most television cop shows make use of the following story line: A likeable individual is raped or assaulted, or a hardworking family loses one of… Continue
Posted on November 12, 2009 at 2:44am — 5 Comments
October Reads
(Also posted on One Bite at a Time.)
Recommended Reads from October, in the order I read them:
The Friends of Eddie Coyle, George V. Higgins – A seminal book. Few crime fiction writers since have been unaffected by Higgins’s work, and this is the book that got him noticed. Should be on a shelf with Chandler, Hammett, et al for crime fiction writers, and anyone else interested in how the gerne has evolved.
Chasing Darkness… Continue
Recommended Reads from October, in the order I read them:
The Friends of Eddie Coyle, George V. Higgins – A seminal book. Few crime fiction writers since have been unaffected by Higgins’s work, and this is the book that got him noticed. Should be on a shelf with Chandler, Hammett, et al for crime fiction writers, and anyone else interested in how the gerne has evolved.
Chasing Darkness… Continue
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 6:43am — 3 Comments
Comment Wall (52 comments)
- At 12:48pm on August 14, 2009,
Michael Wiley said… - Thanks for the friendship, Dana. We share an admiration of Chandler, Crais, Rozan, and others. Hope you have a chance to check out my website www.michaelwileyonline.com.
Best,
Michael
- At 10:05am on August 12, 2009,
Preetham Grandhi said… - Hi Dana, I want to introduce you to my debut novel "A Circle of souls" which is a murder, mystery, psychological thriller and a tale of justice and hope. Do visit www.acircleofsouls.com to read more about the book. Make sure you sign up to win an autographed copy of the book. You can also read more reviews by clicking on the More Reviews button at the website. Thanks for your time in advance.
Best regards
Preetham Grandhi
Early Endorsements for “A Circle of Souls”
Linda Fairstein, NYT Bestselling Author: "A fascinating debut - this novel takes the reader to the darkest places in the human soul, from a writer with the authenticity to lead us there. A stunning thriller and an important read."
Judge Judy Sheindlin, star of the Judge Judy Show: "The seminal work of this fine author kept me glued to my chair until the adventure was over and the mystery solved. A great read!"
Book Synopsis:
The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.
Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.
The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.
In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.
- At 11:15pm on June 14, 2009,
carole gill said… - sweet of you to comment on my blog, Dana.
It's appreciated, believe me!
don't get on here often--but will to see how my friends are and you're one of the very best who always helped me with stuff I asked!
best wishes and all kinds of good things!
- At 2:44am on April 23, 2009,
Reece Hirsch said… - Hi Dana -- "Double Whammy" is also my favorite Hiassen. I think you're absolutely right that his plots are driven by the comedy. That's fine, as long as it's funny (and Hiassen certainly is).
Reece
- At 7:09am on February 21, 2009,
Charlotte Williamson said…
- I love to start arguments...ah...excuse me...Discussions.
Don't you just love Sematics.
Charlotte
- At 7:05am on February 21, 2009,
- Dana,
The article I mentioned talked about Revolutionary Road.
Charlotte
- At 5:22am on February 21, 2009,
- Dana,
In regard to your blog, Reviewing the Reviewers, there is a website you and the other members need to check out. It is MidwestBookReview.com Authors can get reviews on their work. The website tells them what they need to do in order to be considered for review.
Charlotte
- At 5:13am on February 21, 2009,
- Dana,
And we think Rhett Butler had a hard time getting "Frankly, my dear. I don't give a Damn " on film. Clark Gable had to threaten a lot of people to get that past the censors. Look at the filth that gets on film today.
I feel vindicated in my discussion opinion. This morning when I booted up my computer, guess what popped up on MSN? An ariticle entitled, "How Hollywood takes good books and makes them into bad movies." Is someone out there penning their articles from internet discussions? Creepy!
Charlotte
- At 3:20am on February 19, 2009,
B.R.Stateham said… - Dana, when you come back thru Salian, give me a call and I'll take you out for some BBQ ribs that'll knock your socks off!
- At 10:43pm on December 2, 2008,
Sandra Ruttan said…
- Thanks Dana - wish you could be there. It should be a lot of fun!
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