July 2009 Blog Posts (179)

Review: Crime fiction's first PI Pig

The Third Pig Detective Agency by Bob Burke

published by The Friday Project isbn 1906321752

Seeing his brothers' houses blown down by the Big Bad Wolf ("I'll huff and I'll puff...") taught Harry Pigg to build his own house out of bricks, thus avoiding the grisly fate of the first and second pigs. The nursery rhyme carries a lesson for all little… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on July 10, 2009 at 1:43am — No Comments

The Short Story

First, I finally remembered to look at my interview, posted Tuesday, and it isn't too bad. Thanks to Sandra at Novel Journey (http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com) for her attention.

Today and tomorrow I'd like to look at the short story as a device for novleists. Today I'll focus on what it does for the writer; tomorrow on what it can do for her career.

Short stories are of necessity short. That means that every word has to serve a purpose: no clever asides, no… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on July 9, 2009 at 10:37pm — 1 Comment

Chuck Norris VS Mr. T

Has anyone else read this book by Ian Spector? I admit I'm juvenille to begin with, just ask my wife and kids. I bought this slim tome in the San Antonio airport bookstore. I was laughing so hard on the flight I had people wondering what the dude in the last seat was up to. Here's a few observations from the book:

"Chuck Norris will eat your soul for a Klondike bar."

"Mr. T sleeps with a pillow under his gun."

"After hearing that Jesus had fed multitudes with… Continue

Added by Dennis Webster on July 9, 2009 at 8:11pm — No Comments

Authors: How Dare You?

I started RHETT BUTLER'S PEOPLE this morning, and it brought to mind a comment made by a reviewer of my book. She said she was at first appalled that someone had the nerve to put Macbeth into a novel. I think "chutzpah" was the word she used. She decided that I'd done all right with him, thank goodness.

The author's audacity thing interests me. Yes, it takes some nerve to say you'll become the storyteller for Rhett Butler or Jane Austen or Cleopatra. But it's a story, people. It's… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on July 9, 2009 at 1:28am — 3 Comments

Another Great Review for Russian Roulette

I have a nice new review on my site written by Fred Apelquist.

Among other things, Fred writes one of my favorite blogs called YETMO (for You’re Entitled To My Opinion) where he comments on our times, social issues and political matters with a keen and objective eye. I was flattered that he took time out to read and comment on my latest novel, Russian Roulette.

Read Fred's… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on July 8, 2009 at 11:45pm — No Comments

Great new International Crime Fiction blog

My good pal Christopher G. Moore -- who shares with me a birthday today -- came up with a great idea for a new blog on international crime fiction. Chris, who writes a gritty, stylishly literate series of crime novels set in Bangkok, wanted to set up a blog where several authors of international crime would come together to write about their work and share ideas. The result is online as of today: International Crime Authors Reality Check.… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on July 8, 2009 at 10:08pm — No Comments

A Long Line of Zen Men

Cameron Hughes interviewed me for the Rap Sheet last March in Kona, Hawaii. I was attending the Left Coast Crime Conference. Film maker Tito Haggardt produced and edited the video.

“In his novels, Moore writes about Bangkok as if it were one of the most famous cities of noir fiction. The nightlife there comes off as mysterious, dangerous, and exciting and the people in power are cast as no… Continue

Added by ChristopherGMoore on July 8, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Elements of Noir Seminar

I'll be teaching a seminar on Hard-Boiled and Noir Mystery Fiction in a couple weeks at Bistro on the Lake.

Here are the Details:

Are you interested in the dark side?

Explore the elements of hard-boiled and noir fiction and discuss the differences and similarities of these mystery sub-genres. Perfect for both new and seasoned writers, as well as readers of mystery fiction and fans of film noir.

When: Thursday July 23, 2009; 1:00pm to… Continue

Added by John Weagly on July 8, 2009 at 9:17am — No Comments

Amazon takes one more step toward in-book advertisements for the Kindle

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/07/06/amazon-takes-one-more-step-toward-in-book-advertisements-for-the-kindle/

Added by John Dishon on July 8, 2009 at 1:47am — 14 Comments

Henry David Thoreau: Smart Guy

Yeah, he was weird, too. Kind of a mooch, kind of odd, kind of fanatic. But as I mature, I keep remembering ideas from Henry that remind me to slow down, to breathe, to observe. Remember the big walking eyeball?

There are things that are simply not worth the time and energy it takes to do them. Those things should be dumped before they mess up your head. "Simplify, simplify, simplify," Henry says, so I toss in the garbage that $20 gift certificate that I can't figure out how to… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on July 7, 2009 at 11:01pm — 1 Comment

Me and My Blogging Buddies

I was featured along with my fellow Acme Authors bloggers on the “Emma Lai Writes” blog. She invited each of us to post a bio and tell her what makes us feel sexy. This solicited some amusing answers.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on July 7, 2009 at 10:46pm — No Comments

Review: New Liss mystery for lovers of Dumas and Perez Reverte

The Devil’s Company

By David Liss

Published: July 7, 2009 Random House isbn: 1400064198

Fans of swashbuckling classics by Alexandre Dumas and more recently Spaniard Arturo Perez-Reverte will love David Liss’s new novel The Devil’s Company. But they’ll also get something those authors don’t provide: a gritty… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on July 7, 2009 at 7:25pm — No Comments

Russian Roulette gets another great Review

Russian Roulette just received the highest honors in a review on “You Gotta Read Reviews!” Check it out!

Added by Austin S. Camacho on July 7, 2009 at 11:10am — No Comments

One of our authors was kind to send this to me...

Author Dolores-Gordon Smith talks about her new book, As If By Magic; the third Jack Haldean mystery

As If By Magic; the third Jack Haldean mystery by Dolores Gordon Smith

“Where do you get your ideas from?” is a question that’s often asked at book festivals and – be warned! – infuriates some writers. I don’t know why; I think it’s a perfectly reasonable thing to ask.

I know exactly where the ideas for As If By Magic came from. Every Christmas the… Continue

Added by The Poisoned Pen Bookstore on July 7, 2009 at 7:15am — No Comments

NEW INTERVIEW AT THINGS I'D RATHER BE DOING

John Kenyon interviews me for a record-setting third time at his excellent Things I'd Rather Be Doing site... We talk about interviewing, blending/balancing fiction and nonfiction and some up-coming projects.

Added by Craig McDonald on July 7, 2009 at 5:19am — No Comments

Royally Flushed with Excitement

Celebrate with me: my third Royal spyness mystery, featuring Lady Georgiana, 34th in line to the throne but penniless, will be in stores tomrorow, July 7th. I'm setting out on a crazy tour schedule. Please check my website, www.rhysbowen.com and click on Rhys on the Road. I love seeing friendly faces when I'm on the road!

Added by Rhys Bowen on July 7, 2009 at 2:22am — 2 Comments

The Mystery Scene Blog

Pssst! Get the inside scoop at the Mystery Scene Blog & Website!

www.mysteryscenemag.com

Added by Mystery Scene Magazine on July 7, 2009 at 12:56am — 2 Comments

Thrice Screwed (AKA The joys of moving)

I am recovering from moving to a new house, and I hate moving. I doubt many people actually enjoy it, but I've done enough moving in the past 18 months to make me truly loathe the process. I like knowing where my things are, being able to find them when I'm looking for them, feeling a sense of comfort where I'm working and not having a long list of things to do that extends beyond the normal things I already have to do. And then there are the other things about moving - the expenses, the… Continue

Added by Sandra Ruttan on July 7, 2009 at 12:06am — 7 Comments

On Interviews

I've received notification that I'm the interview subject on Novel Journey tomorrow, July 7th. It's a cool site, so I'm excited to be there, and you can see what I said at www.noveljourney.blogspot.com.

I've done radio, Internet, video, and print interviews and have been lucky so far to have professional hosts who lead me along and don't throw in anything nasty. Still, book/author interviews are a bit static, and there are so many out there that I wonder if anyone really reads any of… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on July 6, 2009 at 10:53pm — 3 Comments

Author Activity Update

Baltimore Washington International Airport was packed on the day before Independence Day, and that helped me sign a better than average number of books. Besides, manager Dave keeps me supplied with coffee and pound cake.

Westfield Mall was a good deal less busy on Saturday. Still I had a good time and signed more than enough books to make it worth the drive. Sadly the Starbucks there is actually outside the Mall, but we make do.

Also this week,… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on July 6, 2009 at 8:57pm — No Comments