April 2009 Blog Posts (202)

Geeks Bearing Grifts

There should be a Congressional investigation into why no one can write a comprehensible manual for using the computer. I'm reasonably intelligent, but whenever I come to a point where my deskbeast won't do what I want/need it to do, the situation rapidly deteriorates into chaos.

First, I visit the HELP section. Here I am given a list of instructions that leads in a very wide, very challenging circle, accomplishing nothing but ending with the question, "Did this solve the problem?"… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 3, 2009 at 9:49pm — 3 Comments

Writers community BookRix offers free print-on-demand program

Hi everybody!

You should check out www.BookRix.com, the new community for writers and readers.

Create your books online using your own design and make your novels, short stories, poems, comics etc available to the public. Meet like-minded people in the BookRix forum, make new friends and reach new readers. Your books can even be embedded on your website, MySpace or Facebook profile via code! Promote your works online! It’s… Continue

Added by Nils on April 3, 2009 at 8:53pm — No Comments

Why are so many people in prison?

Sandra Parshall

Did you know that one out of every 31 adults in the U.S. is either in prison/jail or on supervised release from incarceration?

That startling statistic is in an article by Senator James Webb of Virginia that appeared in last Sunday’s Parade Magazine. I don’t usually regard this newspaper supplement as a source of sociological wisdom, but Webb’s piece is worth every citizen’s attention. Reform of the criminal justice system and our overburdened prisons is… Continue

Added by Sandra Parshall on April 3, 2009 at 1:24am — 31 Comments

Interview with bestselling author James Rollins

Sometimes the mystery is in the writer himself. Those dark scenes of murder and mayhem, clever villains and the heroes we love, all come from the same place. Inside the author's imagination.

We caught up with bestselling author James Rollins and put him to the test! We wanted to know how online-savvy he was and just how much he'd let us get away with asking.

So please join us in meeting James Rollins with this unique interview done by Reader's Entertainment… Continue

Added by Sheila English on April 3, 2009 at 1:06am — No Comments

International Thriller Writers Oganization and Free Promo/Publicity

Recently I became the chair of the ITW Social Networking committee. If you are a member of ITW please contact me! I want to make sure we connect and that I keep you in the loop for opportunities that come up!
I am doing interviews right now.

I will post a few of the interviews so you get an idea of my style.

Thanks!

Sheila

Added by Sheila English on April 3, 2009 at 12:49am — 5 Comments

'Dracula Doesn't Live Here Anymore' Released in Paperback

My novellete 'Dracula Doesn't Live Here Anymore' previously only available in e-book, has now been released in paperback by Eternal Press and is available through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-Doesnt-Live-Here-Anymore/dp/192664025X/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238673335&sr=1-7

Alan Dexter is an investigative reporter sent to far off Romania hoping to discover the truth behind the so called "vampire murders". After meeting his contact,… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on April 2, 2009 at 11:44pm — 1 Comment

Launching an Investigation

I tried watching LIE TO ME last night and found it disappointing on a number of levels. One that sticks in my mind this morning is the protag's lack of any real reason to begin an investigation. I know, TV shows have to get into the action quickly, and we're supposed to believe that this man has an instinct for such things. I will let it go.

In my own work, however, I try for a higher standard. I ask myself, "Are my protags justified?" in each step of the mystery. In the first place,… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 2, 2009 at 9:54pm — 6 Comments

Armchair travel: reviews from Philly Inky, Eurocrime, JC, Books for Free

My new Palestinian crime novel THE SAMARITAN’S SECRET gets great reviews this week on both sides of the Atlantic – and in the blogosphere, wherever that is.

On the “This Book for Free” blog, Shoshana writes that THE SAMARITAN’S SECRET “has taken me into a part of the world I wouldn’t have known at all. I have no idea that there are actual Samaritans left in these world. This book… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on April 2, 2009 at 4:37pm — 2 Comments

Thuglit story

Hello all,

the fine folks at Thuglit have published my story 'Ditch'. This is quite possibly my favorite of my own work despite (or because of?) the potentially hokey construct. I'm very glad that it is out there finally. I'm eager to end my 6 week long run of working two jobs so I can get back to doing a little writing. Ideas are getting backed up. Never good.

The announcements of the Twist of Noir contest should be out by April 15th. If anything comes of that you'll know. No news is… Continue

Added by Eric Beetner on April 2, 2009 at 12:12pm — 2 Comments

Jackie Griffey's Books

Hello mystery readers and writers! It's always nice to meet fellow writers and other readers who like cozies and other kinds of mystery.

My romance suspense STRANGER IN PARADISE came out 03/09 from Five Star. The first of the Merrivale series, THE DEVIL IN MERRIVALE will be out from Zumaya Publications in November, 2009 and DEAD ON ARRIVAL, the first of the Maggie and Joe series is scheduled by Five Star for 01/2010. * THERE WILL BE MORE! Zumaya is now the home of the…

Continue

Added by Jackie Griffey on April 2, 2009 at 11:32am — No Comments

"Relics" re-released

Good news -- my medieval crime novel, Relics, will be re-released by Thomas Nelson Publishers this summer!

This title first came out in 1993 and a few years later was declared 'out of stock' but not 'out of print,' with the result that Nelson retained the rights. So I sent another request to them last month asking that they either revert the rights to me or consider re-issuing the book.

They replied today, thusly:

Mr. Desjarlais,

I apologize… Continue

Added by John Desjarlais on April 2, 2009 at 8:36am — 2 Comments

Serial Cheaters

(Cross Posted on One BIte at a Time.)

Ancient Greek playwrights had a simple way to get themselves out of any corner they’d written themselves into: some god, even more bored than usual with immortality, would kill a few minutes by intervening in the mortal drama below. (I have an impression of the gods acting like twelve-year-old buys with a magnifying glass, watching an anthill, wondering what catastrophe they can think up next.)… Continue

Added by Dana King on April 2, 2009 at 7:01am — 7 Comments

My Young Writer

Just needed a place to brag...My daughter (10 yrs old-4th grader) Won the "Young Southern Writers" award last night. So cheers to my newly published 10 yr old!!!!!!!!

Added by Pam on April 2, 2009 at 6:39am — No Comments

Mommy, I Don't Want to be a Writer Today

Writers are masochinistic. It’s a fact. We have picked, hopefully through love and passion, a lonely job that means long hours banging our heads against keyboards and computers in order to finish a scene, get an idea, come up with an ending. We miss important events, parties, even bathroom breaks if necessary. We might work for years and never get the recognition we crave. Let alone get published. Still, if the love is there, you plug on ahead and hope fervently that this will all pay… Continue

Added by Karyne on April 2, 2009 at 6:35am — No Comments

Two Nominations - One Story

My short story, “Wishing on Whores,” has been nominated for the Spinetingler Award for Best Short Story on the Web!

The Spinetingler Award is given annually by Spinetingler Magazine. Their objective is to generate awareness of quality fiction, and to take note of the contributions made at all levels of the mystery publishing industry. Awards are given in several categories, including Best Novel by a New Voice, Best Novel by a Rising Star and Best Novel by a Legend. Other nominees… Continue

Added by John Weagly on April 2, 2009 at 2:18am — No Comments

ROGUE MALES: SUBJECT #2, JAMES CRUMLEY

(Author’s note: Rogue Males: Conversations & Confrontations About the Writing Life, is my second collection of author interviews. This one includes 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 about the craft of writing. During the next few weeks, I’ll be… Continue

Added by Craig McDonald on April 2, 2009 at 1:41am — No Comments

Those Who Ask Too Much

It occurs to me that really intriguing secondary characters are often those who want more from the protag than he/she wants to give. Sometimes it's "for his own good," sometimes he'd be better off without them. The situation creates opportunities for all sorts of things: depth of character for the protag, humor, pathos, and even tragedy. We all know the pressure such relationships create. The device is used so often it can be stereotypical, but when done well, it strikes a chord in the… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 1, 2009 at 11:12pm — 2 Comments

Authors have lost the plot in Kindle battle

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/mar/31/cory-doctorow-kindle

Added by John Dishon on April 1, 2009 at 10:52pm — 6 Comments

Another Great Thriller

In this blog I like to share books I think should be in your library. Today I want to tell you about a tasty treat from Jeffrey Deaver entitled “The Bodies Left Behind.”

For me Deaver is a local author and I’ve followed his quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme for a long time. I love an intricate story (as you know if you read my stuff) and despite my own mammoth ego I have to say that IMHO, Deaver is the… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on April 1, 2009 at 10:43pm — No Comments

Me Tweet Now

Because "brevity is the soul of wit," I've decided to start "tweeting" on Twitter, where there's a limit of 150 or so characters to each "tweet." Go to my Twitter profile to read my "tweets" about my books, the writing process, book tours, mad Middle East news, and other info!

Added by Matt Rees on April 1, 2009 at 7:29pm — No Comments