March 2009 Blog Posts (177)

Quick Tip for Writers

Budding authors would do well to remember to read their prose aloud to try to hear how a stranger might interpret their words. Remember, if a sentence can be read two ways we can count on a reader to see it the OTHER way. One way to help avoid this problem is to be very careful with the placement of subject and object, and be aware of the immediate antecedent of any modifier. For example, how would you read this sentence?

She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 31, 2009 at 11:51pm — 1 Comment

How to write an evil character

My subject today is how to write a really, really evil character. Read post.

Added by Kathryn Lilley on March 31, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Not the Type for Sticky Notes

Actually, I love sticky notes. I think they're fun and cool and I love all the bright colors. But for plotting, they just don't seem to help me.

I promised myself I would try being organized with this book, so I followed the advice of a well-known author and started plotting via sticky notes. I see the advantages: you can move the plot around, try different timelines, and see where POV changes or major events occur.

The problem for me is that it seems to add work rather… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on March 31, 2009 at 10:09pm — 2 Comments

My favorite Palestinian poet gets a biography

Anyone who has heard Taha Muhammad Ali read his poetry will know he's the greatest of Palestinian writers. There are others who've been better known -- Mahmoud Darwish, for example, who died last year and was generally called the Palestinian national poet. But Taha, who sat quietly in his tourist shop in Nazareth until his first publication at the age of 50, is a truly original voice, escaping the politics and nostalgia that mars some of his colleagues' work. Now in his 80s, Taha is still a… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on March 31, 2009 at 7:52pm — No Comments

The News-Star of Monroe, LA, sees a Fresh Take - publishes interview of Darden North

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090326/LIFESTYLE/903260315/1024/NEWS17

Added by Darden North, MD on March 31, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

KILLER INSTINCT

The second Snake Jones zoo mystery, KILLER INSTINCT, has been sold to Five Star Publishing. No publication date set. KILLER INSTINCT takes Snake into the forests of northern Minnesota to investigate the killing of four gray wolves and murder.

Added by Michael Allan Mallory on March 31, 2009 at 1:43pm — No Comments

Published!

(Cross posted to Writing, etc)

Writing as a career can be discouraging. You’d better love to write, because if your goal is to become rich and famous…well, excuse me while I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes.

Most days are solitary and fraught with rejection. Whenever I recognize one of my sase’s in my mailbox, I generally assume it contains a rejection letter. More often than not, I’m right. Of course, there are… Continue

Added by Annette Dashofy on March 31, 2009 at 6:37am — 2 Comments

Flash Fiction on Powder Burn

My flash fiction, "A Twenty-First Century Hero" has been published on the Powder Burn Flash web site. Thanks to everyone who participated in the "flawed hero" discussion here on Crimespace a few weeks ago, as this story is the direct result of that discussion.

Added by Dana King on March 31, 2009 at 12:40am — 2 Comments

Belated Weekend Update

I almost forgot to tell you what's been happening. ;-)

It was a weekend of ups and downs but with good points throughout. The weather was awful Friday night so the St Charles Town Center was empty, which means almost no one wandered into the Borders Express there to pick up one of my books. It happens that way sometimes, but I did make more plans for the big release of Russian Roulette and thanks to my good friend Beth I did have some excellent barbecue at a Waldorf… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 31, 2009 at 12:24am — No Comments

Tremendous Review of 'A Study in Red'

I'm grateful to Australian critic and publisher Lutz Barz who has recently read and reviewed 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper'

What follows is his review:

Brian L Porter’s ‘A Study in Red – The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper’ Reviewed by Lutz Barz,(RS Publishing).

A tragic road accident kills Robert’s father, who coming… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on March 31, 2009 at 12:07am — 1 Comment

Meet Me in MD Tomorrow

Tomorrow night I’ll do another library gig, but it’s not just about me. I’ll be at the Howard County Central Library with several other contributors to “New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers.” Between 7 pm to 8:30 pm we’ll each read a bit of our contribution to the anthology and sign copies of it afterward. And if any of you show up there wanting a signed copy of one of my novels I’ll be able to accommodate you too. The library is at 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway,… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 30, 2009 at 11:22pm — No Comments

Evil Guy Speaks

I'm a really, really evil guy who opposes everything your good guy stands for. I want (the Holy Grail/ world domination/ hidden treasure/ other) so badly that I will do anything, absolutely anything, to get it.

Mr. Good Guy stands in my way, so I have decided to kill him. I've thought about this a lot, and I have a plan to (blow him up, run him off the road/slice off body parts until he's history/other) because I am really, really evil. Once I rid myself of him, I can (live like a… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on March 30, 2009 at 10:21pm — 7 Comments

Competition Win

Allow me to, for a moment, toot my horn. I have finally won a competition. It's not a writing competition, though. It's a competition hosted by an author. Does that still count?

Accomplished author and Crime Space member Shirley Wells recently asked people for their best tidbits of advice. The best would win a copy of her new novel, "Where Petals Fall." My entry, along with two other bits, won. Yee… Continue

Added by Benjamin Sobieck on March 30, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

THE TRUTH OF FICTION

When I worked for the Sheriff's Department in Fresno, I created a saying and put it on a rolling banner as a screen saver: “A Writer Reinvents the Truth.”

This was never more accurate than when I wrote my first book, FOOLS RUSH IN. I took the first case I worked as a secretary for an undercover narcotics team and fictionalized it to include a kidnapping, two murders and a budding romance.

On August 13, I was invited to speak to a book club three hours away on the Pacific… Continue

Added by Sunny Frazier on March 30, 2009 at 1:23pm — No Comments

Your an idiot if you're not reading,watching, listening, etc....

I always want to know who's flying below the radar & what I'm missing out on. I don't want that to happen to you. With that it mind, here's my list of authors, books, movies & music that I would'nt want you to miss. A couple of great debut novels, Josh Brazell's "Beat The Reaper", Tom Schreck's "On The Ropes", Daniel Suarez's " Daemon", and Daniel Depp's ( Johnny's brother ) "Losers Town". If you haven't read David Moody's, "Hater" the 1st in a trilogy, you must track it down. If you… Continue

Added by Rodney Wiethop on March 30, 2009 at 8:27am — No Comments

Want to hear something funny?

Just got off Rankforest.com, a web site that tracks books using Amazon and Barnes&Noble numbers, and I had to laugh my head off. I've got two books I'm tracking, and frankly, they're not doing too well. But out of a sales rank where your book is ranked bascially from 9,999,999 down to 1, my books are at the 600,000 range. At least they have rankings.

But get this, a book with the title something like I Hope There's Beer In Heaven, is raked at 127. 127!!?… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 30, 2009 at 12:00am — 2 Comments

ROGUE MALES: SUBJECT #1, TOM RUSSELL

This year finds me briefly veering back over to the nonfiction side of the publishing world with Rogue Males: Conversations & Confrontations About the Writing Life, a second collection of interviews with authors including James Ellroy, Pete Dexter, Daniel Woodrell, Elmore Leonard and the late, great James Crumley. Rogue Males also features an account of a trip to the desert to interview crime fiction greats Ken Bruen and James Sallis… Continue

Added by Craig McDonald on March 29, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

2nd Annual Spinetingler Awards

The full list of nominees for the 2nd Annual Spinetingler Awards has been announced. Anyone can vote online through a simple polling system until April 25. Winners will be announced April 30.

The list of nominees can be read here. The master list has a link to the polls for voting.

Congratulations to all the nominees... and especially those on Crimespace!

Added by Sandra Ruttan on March 29, 2009 at 5:30am — No Comments

Tell me if you dare...

What would you give up? If the doctor told you it meant giving up something you love to stay alive, what would it be? Just curious:)

Added by Tory Richards on March 29, 2009 at 4:29am — No Comments

Mythica to launch free monthly Newsletter. Submissions and Subscribers Invited

Mythica Publishing are about to launch their free monthly newsletter. I'm delighted that an article of mine will appear in the first issue. This is a really exciting new project from Graeme Houston and his innovative new company and submissions are invitred from prospective contributors. Anyone who'd like to receive Mythica's Newsletter simply has to visit the website at… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on March 29, 2009 at 3:25am — No Comments