June 2008 Blog Posts (161)

The Last Hardluck

The last Hardluck is now online. The theme for this issue is 30s Pulp noir, and Ed Gorman and I co-edited it, and Jean-Pierre Jacquet provided fantastic artwork (including a cover drawing based on an old The Shadow pulp magazine, although in this version Ed, Jean-Pierre and I are all trying to kill each other). All 12 stories in this issue are strong ones, in fact, I had to turn down a number of very good stories due to the amount of work the… Continue

Added by Dave Zeltserman on June 27, 2008 at 3:40am — 2 Comments

Meet Me Tomorrow in MD

I have an unusually busy weekend coming up, but busy in a very good way with lots of chances to meet and greet readers in Maryland and Virginia.

It all starts tomorrow when go to meet travelers at the Baltimore Washington International Airport. The busy time is from 3 pm to 7 pm, and that’s when I’ll be there signing my novels. If you happen to be flying into or out of the area, look for me at the airport Borders store.

Saturday I’ll meet new friends at one of the… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on June 26, 2008 at 10:33pm — No Comments

How Literary Are You?

As a reader, I love many types of "literary fiction," which is hard to define (but you know it when you see it). While the genius of some modern writers eludes me, I appreciate the casual brilliance of a Kurt Vonnegut and the simple elegance of a Margaret Atwood. But what about mysteries? How literary can they get, and is it even desireable in a genre-type work?

There are three levels of what I'll call literary-ness in genre fiction, at least according to my personal categorization.… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on June 26, 2008 at 10:14pm — No Comments

Jeffery Deaver on his The Broken Window Tour

Jeffery Deaver was in the Valley today, to appear at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, promoting his latest Lincoln Rhyme book, The Broken Window. Since he was in town, he appeared this afternoon at Sunrise Mountain Library in Peoria, and The Poisoned Pen sold the books at the library.

He was introduced as the winner of the Ian Fleming Dagger Award. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages. He's an Edgar nominee, who has… Continue

Added by Lesa Holstine on June 26, 2008 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Selling Snake Oil To Readers

Something I.J. said on the forum here yesterday got me thinking: Is it possible that market manipulation is contributing to the decline in reading? After mulling over some remarks made recently on the internet by different authors, that's the question I'm wrestling with today at my relocated blog.

Added by Sandra Ruttan on June 25, 2008 at 11:17pm — No Comments

Environmental Awareness

At the most recent writer’s conference I had lots of chances to chat with what one writer called “my fellow lunatics” about why we choose to use our precious time committing fiction. One author said that writing mysteries was the only way he knew to escape.

“Escape what?” I asked.

“My padded cell.”

“You’re not really in a cell.”

“Sure I am,” he said. “At work. Nine to five. You know a cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.”

Added by Austin S. Camacho on June 25, 2008 at 10:46pm — No Comments

Have You Got That Thing in Your Head?

My worst one is songs. If there's even a vague reference in conversation or on TV to something that is (or reminds me of) a song lyric, the words play in my head for hours afterward, even if I hate, hate, HATE the song itself. Please don't mention low places or Garth Brooks (my least favorite) starts singing to me. And please don't say anything about roller skates, spirits, or flowers in your hair, because certain sixties songs just dominate when you do. I don't even have to hear it aloud. I'm… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on June 25, 2008 at 10:09pm — No Comments

Shots Fired

Today's my day to post over at Working Stiffs and I cover a range of topics from George Carlin, to local graffiti, to how we and our characters respond to the sound of gun shots. Hopefully I offer some food for thought. Come on over and check it out.

Added by Annette Dashofy on June 25, 2008 at 9:42pm — No Comments

currently reading

CR A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley
Set in Botswana and focussed on Detective Kubu .

Audio book
Cold in the Earth by Aline Templeton

Added by teabag on June 25, 2008 at 8:59pm — No Comments

How is it almost July?

I am looking down at my hands and they are looking old. When did that happen? And how can it almost be July? Work has been quiet so I am happily writing several hours a day. Which leads me to the next question - Why the hell am I not finished this first draft yet? Yes it is more polished and there are fewer glaring cliches and missed words than the last rough draft I wrote, and yes I have been working hard - but it is still unfinished. I should be happy that I am at that lovely point where I… Continue

Added by Tina on June 25, 2008 at 2:22pm — No Comments

Recent reads...

The Hackman Blues by Ken Bruen-Bruen rocks! This early novel just hints at the great things to come from Ken Bruen. Not afraid of any subject matter. His dialogue rings in my heads long after I've put the book down. I need more!

Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas. A Hard Case Crime novel. This new York P.I. has a week that goes from bad to dead. Don't look for a sequel.

Added by Paul Greenberg on June 25, 2008 at 8:53am — No Comments

The Murderers' Club released in UK & Ireland

Hi,

The Murderers' Club is now available in the UK and Ireland. Check out the cover on my website:
http://www.pdmartin.com.au/news.asp?id=62

And if you're in that part of the world or know someone in the UK or Ireland, please let them know about the new book!

Thanks,
Phillipa

Added by Phillipa Martin (PD Martin) on June 24, 2008 at 11:04pm — 1 Comment

Deadly Aftermath

There is no better time than surrounding yourself with mystery authors in a warm, friendly setting. The Deadly Ink conference offered all of that in a hotel that could have been mistake for a medieval castle. It was also a chance for me to learn from my fellow crime writers. The most important things I learned in those three days were:

Even if you don't think your protagonist is autobiographical, if you look closely enough you see yourself in him or her.

A panel of six… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on June 24, 2008 at 10:48pm — No Comments

Taking Your Deads

When I was a kid we created all sorts of imaginary violence: cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, heroes and villains. The #1 rule was Take Your Deads. If somebody killed you, you had to lie down. It wasn't fair to holler, "You missed me" or "It's just a flesh wound." (That was the BMP Era: Before Monty Python) But it seems to me that many people these days don't take their deads when it comes to education. When caught without the necessary skills, they say, "They missed me" or "They didn't… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on June 24, 2008 at 10:46pm — 4 Comments

North On The Yellowhead -- Short Story by Donna Carrick

Hi, Folks! I've been reminiscing lately about the little town where I grew up, somewhere in Saskatchewan. The following short story is just that: a story. The people are figments of my imagination, and like "Dog River" in Corner Gas, the town in my tale is quite fictional. However, like most stories, this one springs quite naturally from my memories of this very special time and place. Hope you enjoy this story as…

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Added by Donna Carrick on June 24, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments

Paying it forward

So many writers have mentored me along my path to publication. I still have much room for improvement and a long way to go, but this past week I discovered something. I also have something to offer! Now it's my turn to guide and inspire beginning writers.

I had the privilege of working with 21 brave souls who'd submitted manuscripts for intense critiquing at the Southeastern Writers Conference (an event I strongly recommend to all… Continue

Added by Cheryl Norman on June 24, 2008 at 7:00am — 3 Comments

Crime mystery, Silenced Cry receives honorable mention

As the old saying goes, I was sitting in front of my computer last night, typing, minding my own business when I received the exciting news that my debut novel, Silenced Cry, received honorable mention at the 2008 New York Book Fair.

You'll find the complete list of winners here. Please follow the link that reads: "Read Complete List of Winners."

SILENCED CRY (2007) is available online at familiar shops… Continue

Added by Marta Stephens on June 24, 2008 at 4:36am — No Comments

Doing my LEVEL BEST

Just heard that my short story, "Dumb Beasts," has been accepted for Deadfall: A Crime Anthology, to be published in November by Level Best Books, a multiple-award-winning small publisher up here in New England. I'm tremendously excited for multiple reasons.

"Dumb Beasts" features a pet psychic who "hears" animals' thoughts – and this helps her realize a murder has been committed. The animals don't talk to her like we talk to each… Continue

Added by Clea Simon on June 24, 2008 at 4:30am — No Comments

Ray Banks Interview

The Bloody Scots - Part 4

Name: Ray Banks

Known Aliases: Knucklebuster, DangerBalls

Occupation: Writer, Day Job Drone

Last Known Location: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England (but he was born in… Continue

Added by Angie on June 24, 2008 at 12:30am — No Comments

About a Writer's Confidence (R)

Exposing one's writing to the world is more terrifying than all the chainsaw massacre movies put together. Emily Dickinson said it: "How can you print a piece of your soul?" And yet, there is a compulsion in those of us who write to share that writing with others. We are tentative at first, but we can't resist handing that "piece of soul" to another person, hoping that he or she will say, "This is good." Often we're even okay with "This isn't too bad."

My first time story: I shared… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on June 23, 2008 at 9:48pm — No Comments