June 2010 Blog Posts (153)

The Write Mind: Simple, but not easy

We at Writing PIs dig Dennis Palumbo. Eons ago, I worked on a flailing TV sitcom that sputtered and died its first year, but it opened the door to a decades-long acquaintance with Dennis Palumbo, who eventually wrote the screenplay for "My Favorite Year" and soon after, became a therapist specializing in creative issues. He also writes mystery short stories and novels, as well as a handy non-fiction book "Writing from the Inside Out: Transforming Your Psychological Blocks to Release the Writer… Continue

Added by Writing PIs on June 7, 2010 at 5:59am — No Comments

What is NoirCon 2010?

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Added by Louis Boxer on June 7, 2010 at 2:13am — 2 Comments

How to avoid writer's block

Writer’s block has nothing to do with writing.

That might seem obvious. When a writer wants to write, but can’t get anything out, he’s blocked. Not writing. Blocked.

But it isn’t the writing that causes the block. Neither is it some psychological problem or an inability to conjure up the Muse of inspiration.

It’s because the writer didn’t put everything on little index cards…

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Added by Matt Rees on June 7, 2010 at 12:12am — 3 Comments

Watch the Video Trailer for "Cleansing Eden"

Made this with 100% gumption. Unfortunately, several animals were killed in the making of this movie. Regardless, the trailer gives a nice overlook of the tone of the novel, and a bit about the plot.

"Cleansing Eden" comes out November 2010 from Shadow Line Press. Send Razzie Award nominations to benjaminsobieck.webs.com.… Continue

Added by Benjamin Sobieck on June 6, 2010 at 6:30am — 5 Comments

New issue of my online magazine just went up

The latest issue of my magazine, Kings River Life, just went up. It
includes the second chapter of my book, DEADLY DISCRIMINATION. Check
it out at: http://kingsriverlife.com/06/05/deadly-discrimination-2/
Lorie Ham

Added by Lorie Ham on June 6, 2010 at 4:49am — No Comments

A week of newspaper humorists -- today me!

I once was the resident humor columnist for the Douglas County News-Press. You’ve heard of it, right? We were a tri-weekly newspaper. We tried to come out three times a week, Monday and Thursday in Castle Rock, Colorado, and Wednesday in our sister city of Parker.

Editor Jeanie Adkins hired me in 1978 to be a news reporter and photographer. After I was there a couple months, I wrote what I thought was… Continue

Added by Jerry Peterson on June 5, 2010 at 7:43am — 2 Comments

Two new short stories up

I've got two short stories up on a couple of sites. One is a Turner Hahn/Frank Morales piece. The other is about my newest character, a hit man by the name of 'Smitty.'

For the Turner/Frank story go to:

http://www.darkestbeforedawn.net

And for the Smitty story, go to:…

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Added by B.R.Stateham on June 5, 2010 at 6:30am — No Comments

It's not too late to win!

Read Drop in to win and leave me a message about www.kdwrites.com

Or stop by http://www.thestilettogang.blogspot.com and drop me a line and you could win a signed ARC of Murder at Timber Bridge.

Added by KD Easley on June 5, 2010 at 3:29am — No Comments

Review - Ravens, George Dawes Green

Book Title: RAVENS

Author: George Dawes Green

Publisher: Little & Brown

Copyright: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-84744-289-5

No of Pages: 325

Book Synopsis:

When grifters Shaw and Romeo pull up at a convenience store in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a faulty tyre and be on their way to Florida.

But this happens to be the store from which a $318 million jackpot ticket has just been sold - and when the pretty clerk accidentally reveals the identity… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on June 4, 2010 at 5:48pm — No Comments

Review - No Weather for a Burial, David Owen

Book Title: NO WEATHER FOR A BURIAL

Author: David Owen

Publisher: Forty Degrees South Publishing

Copyright: 2009

ISBN: 978-0-9806555-2-0

No of Pages: 153

Book Synopsis:

How long should long service leave be?

Pufferfish, aka Detective Inspector Franz Heineken, scourge of Tasmania's villains, is back. And back with a seriously refreshed vengeance. Pufferfish, prickly, curmudgeonly and irony-charged as ever, is attracted to an unusual stench in his… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on June 4, 2010 at 2:23pm — No Comments

Drop in to Win

Hi guys,

To celebrate the upcoming release of the print version of Murder at Timber Bridge I'm giving away a signed ARC. To qualify, just drop by www.kdwrites.com and tell me the thing you like best about the website, or if something really annoys you, tell me the thing you like the least. it's time for website updates and I'm looking for feedback.

I'll draw a name from everyone who comments and one lucky winner…

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Added by KD Easley on June 4, 2010 at 9:49am — 3 Comments

'Requiem for The Ripper' Released by Double Dragon Publishing

I'm delighted to be able to announce the release of the final part of my Jack the Ripper trilogy from Double Dragon Publishing. Requiem for the Ripper has just been released in its e-book format and paperback release will follow in 3 or 4 weeks. I hope everyone who enjoyed both A Study in Red and the first sequel, Legacy of the Ripper will enjoy the final episode… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on June 4, 2010 at 9:16am — No Comments

Meet Me in VA tomorrow

Friday evening I'll make my first visit to the Borders Books in Warrenton, the heart of Virginia horse country. Aside from having the best selection of equestrian books in the state, their "All Things Local" section has lots of books that are rich with history. It's the place to stop on your way to the Gold Cup Races or the Luray Caverns, or to pick up an autographed copy of one…

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Added by Austin S. Camacho on June 4, 2010 at 4:23am — No Comments

SUZANNE ARRUDA, AUTHOR OF THE JADE DEL CAMERON MYSTERIES, AT SCENE OF THE CRIME

Mysteries in 1920s Africa–The Novels of Suzanne Arruda

June 3, 2010 by Scene of the Crime

Suzanne Arruda is the author of six novels in the Jade del Cameron series of mysteries set in 1920s…

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Added by J. Sydney Jones on June 4, 2010 at 3:25am — No Comments

A week of newspaper humorists -- today Bill Stokes

Bill Stokes launched this week’s series of posts. Marge and I were over visiting with friends, and there on their coffee table laid Stokes’ book, “Hi-Ho Silver, Anyway”.

Well, I picked it up and paged into it while we talked.

Jackie, taking note of my interest, said, “You can take that home and read it if you want. I just finished it.”

Said I, “Anyone who starts his book with a load of manure, that’s a I book I have to… Continue

Added by Jerry Peterson on June 4, 2010 at 12:16am — No Comments

Who Says It's Hilarious?

One gets used to Overspeak in book blurbs. One must. Still, it bothers me, despite lowered expectations, that the term "hilarious" is used to describe the book I'm reading right now. It says on the cover: "This book is hilarious. I laughed till I wet myself." (Okay, I invented that last bit, but you know the sort of over-the-top comment I refer to.)

The book is not hilarious. It isn't even particularly funny. As a matter of fact, I don't think the author MEANT it to be funny. What it…

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Added by Peg Herring on June 3, 2010 at 9:18pm — 3 Comments

Review - In the Dark, Mark Billingham

Book Title: IN THE DARK

Author: Mark Billingham

Publisher: Little & Brown

Copyright: 2008

ISBN: 978-1-4087-0070-9

No of Pages: 370

Book Synopsis:

A rainy night in London. Shots are fired into a car which swerves on to the pavement and ploughs into a bus stop. It seems that an act of casual gang violence has cost an innocent victim their life. But the reality is even more chilling...

Book Review:

If somebody could explain to me what… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on June 3, 2010 at 6:41pm — 4 Comments

Hunting Down Terrorist Bombers

Retired FBI agent returns after eighteen months in Iraq as an embedded Law Enforcement Professional. He and his team hunted down terrorist bombers after searching through IED blast sites for clues. Join us as Special Agent Greg Snider tells us about his fight to protect our troops in this first of three articles. http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/

Added by Mark Young on June 3, 2010 at 11:55am — No Comments

Looking for San Joaquin Valley booksignings

My new magazine, Kings River Life, would like to list upcoming

booksignings in the San Joaquin Valley so if you have something coming

up please let me know.

You can check us out at http://KingsRiverLife.com

Lorie Ham

New Alexandra Walters mystery, THE FINAL NOTE, available at Amazon

DEADLY DISCRIMINATION is being serialized at http://KingsRiverLife.com

Check out reviews &… Continue

Added by Lorie Ham on June 3, 2010 at 4:02am — No Comments

A week of newspaper humorists -- today Sam Venable

Sam Venable, a funny guy and as nice as they come, was the Knoxville (Tennessee) News Sentinel’s outdoors editor for 15 years before the front office bumped him over to humor columnist in 1985. That’s two years after the Miami Herald hired Dave Barry as its humor columnist.

Twenty-four years later, Sam is still at it. Not Barry. He shuttered his humor column six years ago.

As you may recall from yesterday’s post, Barry has a second… Continue

Added by Jerry Peterson on June 3, 2010 at 2:29am — No Comments