March 2008 Blog Posts (176)

His name is Johnny M.

Derrick Sweat Returns; this time he comfronts the mobster Johnny Macaroni, who also moonlights as mild-mannered Harold Rinehart. The mobster masterminded five in-air helicopter robberies in broad daylight. Suddenly there is a freak snowstorm in the middle of June catching everyone off guard. Soon the mobster's daughter is killed by a hurricane in the Caribbean and now he holds the National Weather Service Hostage. Also, the Nation is under harsh budget cuts across the board. Johnny takes his… Continue

Added by George Wilder Jr. on March 13, 2008 at 6:35am — No Comments

Fictional Blog

I love that people read my blog, but did you know that my fictional detective Hannibal Jones also blogs? At least he did for a couple of years. He isn't posting now, but the archives are still in full view on line. Aside from offering his opinion on various subjects, I posted several vignettes displaying how Hannibal mentored Monte, his pre-teen neighbor. I also posted a number of short stories (under 1200 words) in the process of learning how to write flash fiction mysteries. Hungry for… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 12, 2008 at 9:29pm — No Comments

Creating Tension

Tension may be something you don't need in your life, but it is necessary to a good story. At the con I attended recently, an agent on one of the panels said, "Nobody wants to read about nice people." It may be a sad commentary on life, but it's true. Tension in a story pulls us forward. We must want to know how that tension will resolve. And it's certain that characters who spend time together will experience and react to their differences.

I've been working on that with my WIP. I… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on March 12, 2008 at 9:03pm — No Comments

Crimes and Punishment

It’s difficult to feel sorry for Eliot Spitzer, the soon to be former governor of New York. The man who once crusaded against prostitution has, himself, spent thousands on high-class call girls. The irony is inescapable. Spitzer joins the rapidly growing Larry Craig list of hypocritical politicians and Bible thumpers.

Spitzer’s wife and family have been deeply wounded by his behavior. Those wounds will leave emotional scars that may never heal. Spitzer has lost the trust of the… Continue

Added by Christopher Valen on March 12, 2008 at 10:56am — 3 Comments

Australian Crime Fiction Snapshots - this round finishes - stand by for more

Well, we've run through the list - you can see the full list of interviewees now at:

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/

AustCrime finished off by asking the 6 people who post reviews on the site the (sort of) same questions as we asked of the authors. Please wander over to see those interviews as it's really fascinating to see what readers think / particularly about the hoary chestnut of promotion.

There's also a… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on March 12, 2008 at 10:24am — No Comments

Neil Smith owes me a Pabst.

So I had a story accepted today for Plots with Guns (http://www.plotswithguns.com/index.htm) in a record four minutes. It's also a record because it'll be my first published story. I had a bunch of other writing planned for today, but I'm nearly too excited to focus. But focus I shall, because this goddamn comic script has been a year in the making, and it's really not good enough to have taken that long. So back to the limestone.

Man, I don't wanna jinx anything, but shit's… Continue

Added by Jimmy Callaway on March 12, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

New Blog: Womenincrimeink

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Announcing a unique crime blog March 10, 2008:

WOMEN IN CRIME INK

Set to launch on Monday, March 10, 2008, at http://www.womencrimeink.blogspot.com

Contact: womenincrimeink@yahoo.com or 713/444-8700

Profiling the nation’s most intriguing criminals . . . interviewing killers, survivors, witnesses, and… Continue

Added by Andrea Campbell on March 12, 2008 at 7:13am — No Comments

What makes a writer a writer?

Crossposted from my other blog...

I tend not to say an awful lot while I'm online. Mostly, I 'listen' to the conversations going on on message boards and lists, learning and picking up interesting tips and tidbits as I go along. I'm still too new at this, and a bit too unknown as a published author to have much of importance to add.

I have to admit that there are times when some of my fellow authors do and say things that leave me scratching my head. There are writers who… Continue

Added by Pepper Smith on March 12, 2008 at 7:00am — 7 Comments

Remember that day, summer past?

Last night, the incomparable crime drama "The Wire came to an end. Some people got lost in the flood, some people got out all right. But one in particular breaks my heart. If you saw it, you know what I mean. Thoughts? (The… Continue

Added by Clea Simon on March 12, 2008 at 6:23am — No Comments

Attorneys' silence keeps innocent man in prison for 26 years—in real life.

Every once in a while, there’s a news story that grabs me. And when it touches upon the very issue that’s at center of SILENT COUNSEL—attorney/client confidentiality—it’s of particular interest.

This past Sunday, 60 Minutes aired a segment about a 26-year secret that kept an innocent man in prison—because two lawyers who knew that his claim of innocence was true considered themselves legally bound to remain silent. They knew that the convicted man, Alton Logan, was innocent because… Continue

Added by Ken Isaacson on March 12, 2008 at 4:00am — No Comments

114-Year-Old Does Good!

Vroman's, the independent bookstore in my hometown in Pasadena, has been awarded Publishers Weekly's bookseller of the year award. It's 114 years old and I believe that the store owns its real estate (thus able to survive in this cutthroat economy). We've heard so much about the demise of the independents--it's nice to celebrate the success of one for a change.

May Vroman's outlast us all! I'll be raising my glass at BEA in L.A., where the recognition will be awarded at the end of… Continue

Added by Naomi Hirahara on March 12, 2008 at 2:48am — No Comments

Changing Small Pieces of the World

By Donna Andrews

As I'm writing this, it's late Sunday night at the Left Coast Crime convention hotel, and I just found an email reminding me that I'm at bat tomorrow for the Sisters in Crime blog. I suspect my fellow board members are probably hoping I'll post something profound about some of the contentious topics facing the organization, but I'm juggling post-convention exhaustion, the dregs of a cold, and a touch of altitude sickness, and I'm not sure I can do justice to any… Continue

Added by Sisters In Crime on March 12, 2008 at 2:40am — 1 Comment

But It Still Resonates....

Anyone been following the Margaret Seltzer story? The woman who grew up in in Sherman Oaks CA, graduated from a private high school, and managed to pass herself off an LA gang member? Her publisher is shocked, shocked to discover she made it all up. Apparently all they know about gang life in Los Angeles is what they've read in the New York Times and seen in HBO documentaries.

Of course, authors of memoirs have always been allowed to play fast and loose with the truth. Mostly… Continue

Added by Judy Nichols on March 12, 2008 at 1:35am — No Comments

More choices, please!

One major party has made its choice and before long one candidate will emerge as the selection for the other. After scanning the field, I'd kind of like to have more options. How come we have to choose from just two people to run for president? We get 50 options for Miss America, and that's a lot more fun.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 11, 2008 at 10:16pm — No Comments

Some Practical Practices

Okay, it should have been obvious, but it wasn't, and I'm passing it along so others won't suffer. I recently signed at an outdoor event in Florida. I took along a box containing a dozen books and a bunch of items I would need to set up a table and decorate it attractively. Here's what I found out.

One book got ink along the outside edges from rolling up against a pen.

One book got tape residue on the cover from being stuffed hurriedly into the box when it started to… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on March 11, 2008 at 8:23pm — 2 Comments

Peek Inside My Book CONTEST

3-Ways to Win Contest

HarperCollins has graciously offered a wonderful incentive to promote the debut of my suspense novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM, upcoming release March 25th. By clicking on the links below, you get an exclusive sneak peek inside my book—up to 20% of it. Being my debut, this book is very special to me and I hope you like what you read.

And to celebrate my first release as a new author, my publisher is giving you three different ways to WIN… Continue

Added by Jordan Dane on March 11, 2008 at 4:40pm — No Comments

Memoir Fraud Revealed Yet Again!

When you buy a book, you generally know if it is fact or fiction. In fact, lying about factual book content is a crime. So why do some authors insist on trying to skirt the law with fictitious claims? Over the past 60 years, thousands of authors have claimed to have led fascinating lives and have bared all in gritty, nonfiction memoirs. Yet, some have outright lied.

Who can forget the James Frey scandal that resulted in a public admonishment from Oprah Winfrey?

Or more… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on March 11, 2008 at 1:06pm — No Comments

Romance Suspense and Time Travel on the Virtual Blog Trail

This is the second week of Patricia Guthrie’s virtual book tour to promote In the Arms of the Enemy. The book is great for readers who enjoy romantic suspense and stories about horses. The stops of the tour for this week are listed below with a link directly to Patricia’s information.

Mon March 10 – http://marjo-mumswritings.blogspot.com – Dee Owen

Tue March 11 – Interview With Maggie (heroine) - http://shareyourheroine.blogspot.com/

Wed March 12 -… Continue

Added by Nikki Leigh on March 11, 2008 at 12:51pm — No Comments

Fresh From LCC and a publication date!

So I'm back in the real world again. All the little details of LEft Coast Crime can be read on my blog Getting Medieval. And when I got back, not only did I get my ISBNs but a on-sale and a pub date! On sale is October 28, 2008 for Veil of Lies, which will be, officially, a November release! Yay!

Added by Jeri Westerson on March 11, 2008 at 8:20am — No Comments

Sweat

Corruption fighting Special Agent Derrick Sweat returns in his second action packed thriller, Derrick Sweat Midwest Deep Freeze. This time the African-American blue eyed blues musician confronts Chicago mobster, Johnny Macaroni, who is living a double life as mild mannered family man, Harold Rinehart. When Harold Rinehart’s teenage daughter is killed in a freak Caribbean storm. Johnny Macaroni blames the National Weather Center for inaccurate reporting for her death. The gangster seeks revenge.… Continue

Added by George Wilder Jr. on March 11, 2008 at 6:07am — No Comments