April 2009 Blog Posts (206)

"Ripped from the headlines" plots & people

Sandra Parshall

[Cross-posted from the Poe's Deadly Daughters blog]

I know a woman who could be transferred to the pages of a novel exactly as she is, to become a marvelously twisted character. She would be a plausible killer because of her unmatched talent for holding a grudge and her relentless vindictiveness. She would make an even more believable victim because everyone who knows her longs to be rid of her.

I’ll probably use her in a book sooner or later.… Continue

Added by Sandra Parshall on April 10, 2009 at 1:06am — 6 Comments

On Interviews, Scary, Wary, and Flair-y

In the last month I've done interviews several different ways, and in the course of things also had to be on the other side, interviewing a local celebrity for the newspaper. It got me thinking about the process, and you know by now that whatever I'm thinking, I write about here.

Least threatening are print interviews where an interviewer sends you a list of questions and you answer them at your leisure. You have time to reflect, change a word here and there, and think about what you… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 9, 2009 at 10:43pm — 2 Comments

Travellers can Meet Me Tomorrow

One thing that will make tomorrow a good Friday is that I’ll be greeting Easter weekend travelers at Borders in Washington Dulles International Airport. I’ll enjoy signing books from 2 pm to 6 pm. If you’re flying into or out of that airport, look for me in Terminal B.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on April 9, 2009 at 10:25pm — No Comments

Review: the new Mankell - no mystery

Italian Shoes by Henning Mankell

US: New Press. April 1, 2009. Isbn: 1595584366

In his 26th novel, Sweden’s top crime writer has eschewed the genre that has seen him sell 30 million books. Even so, fans of his Inspector Wallander novels will find much of what they love about the Skåne detective in the narrator of “Italian Shoes”—only given… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on April 9, 2009 at 8:43pm — 1 Comment

'Murder, Mayhem and Mexico' Released in Paperback

Following hot on the heels of 'Dracula Doesn't Live Here Anymore' (which has now received three 5 star reviews in 24 hours), Eternal Press have now released my award nominated short story trilogy 'Murder, Mayhem and Mexico' in paperback. The original e-book edition of the trilogy finshed 9th in the 2007 Preditors & Editors awards (Anthology category) and I'm delighted that it is now available in paperback, priced at a very affordable $3.95… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on April 9, 2009 at 6:50pm — 1 Comment

Fourth book under contract

Have also received a contract for Dragon's Pearl. I'm on a roll. Yeah!! Edits are finished for Amber's Mysterious Death. Work In Progress is Curse of Jade's Bluff also part of the Holmes series.

Added by Carol Exline on April 9, 2009 at 9:26am — 3 Comments

FEATURED AUTHOR

Hey my friends, check out who's featured author over at Diana Kay Publishing!

Added by Tory Richards on April 9, 2009 at 8:56am — No Comments

If you like dark fantasy...

Then I have something for you.

I'm not the type to toot my own horn, but I'm trying to drum up as much support for this project as I can. You see a while back I was recruited for a special project. The idea was to get a large group of authors, give each of them a premise, and a title to start with, and get them to each write a short story telling some facet of a global Lovecraftian Apocalyptic battle for world domination.

Well, the project eventually became the two book… Continue

Added by D.R. MacMaster on April 9, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

THE RETIREMENT PLAN--accepted

My short story THE RETIREMENT PLAN has been accepted by Tears For the Void, the new sci-fi magazine published by our friends at Mythica Publishing. I was happily surprised by the decision to use it since it is a new genre for me.

It is a simple little tale about a couple of guys on the verge of retirement from the military and their plans for world domination.

This news created more excitement in my son than getting my book published. Science Fiction, now I've accomplished… Continue

Added by Tom Cooke on April 9, 2009 at 7:32am — 1 Comment

A Dark Day in Pittsburgh

(Cross posted on Working Stiffs)

It’s been a very dark week in Pittsburgh. On Saturday morning, those of us who thought we were part of a relatively safe city learned there is no such thing.

In case you somehow managed to miss the news, three Pittsburgh Police officers were gunned down in the quiet neighborhood of Stanton Heights while responding to a domestic dispute call. The gunman,… Continue

Added by Annette Dashofy on April 8, 2009 at 11:57pm — 5 Comments

A 5-Star Review for 'Dracula Doesn't Live Here Anymore'

My latest paperback release, the short novelette 'Dracula Doesn't Live Here Anymore' from Eternal Press, has received its first review on the Amazon.com website and I'm delighted to say it received a whopping five stars, from reviewer Barbara Watkins. I'd like to share her thoughts on the book here, so here goes:

5.0 out of 5 stars A short tale packed full of thrills and twists!!, April 7, 2009

By Barbara Watkins "Barbara Watkins"… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on April 8, 2009 at 11:01pm — 2 Comments

Holy Thoughts

This week we see the crossover of two powerful religions as Passover starts the day before Good Friday, and I can’t help but think about the commonalities rather than the differences.

For one thing, we can all enjoy watching Charlton Heston in The 10 Commandments this weekend. Heston is known more recently for his support of the National Rifle Association and one might think that if the ancient Israelites had owned guns, all the plagues and sea parting might not have been necessary… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on April 8, 2009 at 10:35pm — No Comments

In Defense of Novels

I spoke to a college professor recently in regard to a matter unrelated to writing. In the course of the discussion, however, it came out that I am a writer, and he asked, "What sort of things do you write?"

When I answered, there was a pause, as he searched for something to say. "Oh. That's interesting," was all he could come up with. Then he asked how the weather was in Michigan. No segue.

It's hard to get used to the idea that many people consider fiction writing to be… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 8, 2009 at 9:49pm — 5 Comments

This is the life, Part 2: Norway

It’s a glamorous life being an international author. For example, I got to go to Norway in the dead of winter when there was two feet of snow in the streets.

And I loved it.

You see, when your home is in the Middle East, experiencing some Arctic conditions are rather welcome. The Norwegians are a lovely people for whom books are a… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on April 8, 2009 at 7:57pm — No Comments

What Do Your Characters Want?

The most compelling characters are those who want something desperately and who will do anything to get it, which is why Scarlett O’Hara is such a perennially popular character. Frankly, I find her a bit over the top -- selfish and greedy and way too egocentric. I can’t write such characters, at least not at the beginning of a novel. I prefer quiet, unassuming characters who are forced into action by circumstances. (To me, life is the real villain. It does things to us that no make-believe… Continue

Added by Pat Bertram on April 8, 2009 at 3:42pm — No Comments

Held Hostage By British Public Transport

New blog post at: http://mitziszereto.com/blog

Added by Mitzi Szereto on April 8, 2009 at 10:09am — No Comments

Book signing and radio interview

On Saturday 20 June 2009, as part of the celebrations for Independent Booksellers Week, I will be signing copies of my latest Inspector Horton Marine Mystery crime novels, Deadly Waters and Dead Man's Wharf at my local independent bookshop, The Hayling Island Bookshop at 11am - all… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on April 8, 2009 at 12:09am — No Comments

Another Great Review

The mysterious Readermouse in Louisiana posted a nice review on Amazon.com about the seminal Hannibal Jones novel, The Troubleshooter.

Readermouse (any relation to Danger Mouse?) read the book via Kindle and gave it five stars. In addition to some kind words about my novel Readermouse put my mind at ease about one thing by assuring me that there were no format problems with the Kindle version. So if… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on April 7, 2009 at 10:39pm — No Comments

Creating a World

I recall, a long time ago, picking up a book called EATERS OF THE DEAD. It hooked me immediately, and I was so convinced by the initial claim that it was an ancient manuscript, blah, blah, blah, that I had to stop and say to myself, "This is a novel. He's making it up." But how cool that Crichton could do that to me.

The authors we love build us a world. Sometimes we have to help them, suspending disbelief and letting them show us things that cannot be, but if they're good at it, we… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 7, 2009 at 9:24pm — 2 Comments

Measuring Up: Inside Netanyahu's Head

Here's my post this week on Global Post:

JERUSALEM — In Hebrew the word for “to visit” – levaker – is the same as the word for “to criticize.” He visited me; he criticized me. Exactly the same.

So why would you invite 30 of the most critical people in the country to visit you every Sunday, to sit around your table and run their mouths?

You… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on April 7, 2009 at 7:28pm — No Comments