September 2009 Blog Posts (169)

MORAL DILEMMA chapter 2

CH. 2 FAST JACK

He was moving along smoothly as the wheels clicked over the separations in the sidewalk- tic-tic-tic. The two gang members had been watching Jack for a few minutes, they noticed he was dressed nicely and looked as if he might have a bit of cash. They were eager to rip him off and get a few bucks; they were both older gangers and had been gangers since they were younger. This was going to be easy as they walked up to Jack.

“Hey man, you get around in dat wheelchair… Continue

Added by RONALD FEASEL on September 20, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Agent

Hey all...I just signed with Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Agency...fingers crossed for the book

Added by Matthew Quinn Martin on September 20, 2009 at 8:08am — 2 Comments

amazon reviews

Reviews for BLEEDER are showing up at amazon. Here's the latest:

Smart, Suspenseful and Soulful, September 16, 2009

By Lisa M. Hendey "Lisa, CatholicMom.com Webmaster" (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews

(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

I just finished reading John Desjarlais' fascinating work of fiction, Bleeder. From the initial pages of the book through it's great conclusion, this novel was action packed and quite thought provoking. The main character, Reed… Continue

Added by John Desjarlais on September 20, 2009 at 7:02am — No Comments

What's in a Line? Best First Sentances

Best First Sentences

The American Book Review has a list of the 100 best opening sentences of all time. I think they did pretty well, although I think they missed the boat by not including some of the great suspense/mystery openers, but by nature a list like this has to be incomplete. Only 100? With all the books that have been written that’s just a drop in the bucket. I have found this list to be endlessly inspiring, however, and so I present it to you (along with a few of my other… Continue

Added by M.C. Peery on September 20, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments

Oct Newsletter

Hi friends,

I just want to take this time to let you know that I'm in the process of getting my October newsletter ready. If you haven't joined my monthly newsletter yet I hope you'll give it some thought. It's filled with never before posted excerpts of my books, birthday announcements (if you added yours), monthly blog winner, guest authors that have posted during the month, upcoming events, and much more.

Christmas is right around the corner and some lucky reader (1)… Continue

Added by Tory Richards on September 19, 2009 at 11:50am — No Comments

My writing style

I found that as as a writer that to be excited and moved at the creation of the next chapter and development of a plot is for me essential to create any semblence of story that is worth telling. If my excitement is lacking then it's time to lay the pen down and to use my imagination. To simply write down ideas that stimulate me to write. Even to the extent of rewriting plots and charactors. Follow your instincts!

Added by RONALD FEASEL on September 19, 2009 at 9:28am — No Comments

To Entertain

As crime fiction writers it is our main goal to entertain. To surprise, hook, and draw the reader into our tale. The way that we use our skills determine our success as a author. There are many tools to draw upon in our quest. As has been said the art of touching on the senses of the reader is the key to entertainment. In essence get a response of some kind. The writing that puts the reader to sleep will fail.

Added by RONALD FEASEL on September 19, 2009 at 9:19am — No Comments

Are You Going to Believe Me, or Your Private Eyes?

(Also posted in One Bite at a Time.)

I’ve been lucky over the past few weeks to have read three books that reminded me why I got interested in crime fiction and writing in the first place: first person private investigator stories.

Libby Fischer Hellmann’s Easy Innocence takes the attitudes of an affluent suburb and shows consequences not often considered. Her… Continue

Added by Dana King on September 19, 2009 at 2:38am — 4 Comments

Good Men

I read two books recently from authors I admire, and it's mostly because of the protagonists, who are good guys. Not perfect, but good. Solid. Understandable.

First is Jim Benn's Billy Boyle. Billy is an Irish cop who learns, with the help of World War II, that he isn't as lazy as he thought. One gets a sense that if Billy had stayed in the States, missed the war, he might have become a cynical, take-what-you-can-get type of cop, but war makes him look at the world differently. I… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on September 18, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Meet Me Tomorrow in Washington DC

Saturday the Washington D.C. Branch of the National League of American Pen Women sponsors its third annual September Sale, and I’ll be signing my novels there. This free event features a wide array of arts. So aside from my books you’ll find silk, glass, and juried artists, jewelers, other authors, musicians and more. A percentage of all sales will go to the Pen Arts Building Fund to help restore the historical headquarters of the League as well as the D.C. Branch itself. So come join the… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on September 18, 2009 at 9:45pm — No Comments

THE LONG COATS--- start of book

CH. 1

The eleven riders where perched on a rise staring intently at the billowing puffs of smoke. The smoke was in rhythm with the chug-chug-chug of the Iron Buffalo named by the Cherokee Indians (ta-lu-gis-gi yo-ni-si). Bill Doolin with his Wild Bunch sat motionless on their steeds in the hot afternoon sun, sweat staining the band of their cowboy hats. Their guns hanging secure in the leather holsters. Dolan is squinting under the brim of his hat at the oncoming iron buffalo, no one moved… Continue

Added by RONALD FEASEL on September 18, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

MORAL DILEMMA chapter 1

MORAL DILEMMA

By

REID JACKSON

PROLOGUE

Jack had taken a job as an associate detective with a reputable detective agency in San Francisco. After his injuries while on a secret mission for the Navy he quit and took his disability pension. He wouldn’t be content with a desk job.

During one of his assignments he became involved in a… Continue

Added by RONALD FEASEL on September 18, 2009 at 3:00pm — 2 Comments

Growing Up

Remember when you were a kid and didn't realize that every day made you less of one? Me neither.

Writers experience a similar phenomenon, I think. While there are undoubtedly a few Mozarts out there who write instinctively and perfectly from the cradle, most of us grow over time, often without fully realizing it.

I've heard really successful authors hint that they recognize weaknesses in their early works, but there's no sense worrying about it. They're out there for everyone to… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on September 17, 2009 at 11:00pm — 3 Comments

Another Cool Review and Tonight's interview

I like to share reviews of my work, especially from my newer fans. Today I’d like to introduce you to Marcus McMahon.

I met Marcus at the Borders in Springfield Mall. He was shopping with his wife and two kids but stopped long enough to pick up a copy of Russian Roulette. He recently sent me an e-mail filled with compliments for the book and promises to read the rest of the series. I know people with families only have a limited amount of free time so I am always flattered when… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on September 17, 2009 at 9:29pm — No Comments

Review - Death and the Running Patterer, Robin Adair

Book Title: DEATH AND THE RUNNING PATTERER

Author: Robin Adair

Publisher: Penguin

Copyright: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-921518-25-6

No of Pages: 311

Book Synopsis:

One of the convict colony's soldiers has been murdered and Governor Ralph Darling is not pleased.

Reluctantly, he turns to Nicodemus Dunne for help.

Book Review:

DEATH AND THE RUNNING PATTERER is the book that won Penguin's last Most Wanted Crime Writing… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on September 17, 2009 at 8:21pm — No Comments

Where in the Blogsphere is Anthony S. Policastro?

My blog tour for both of my novels, Dark End of the Spectrum and Absence of Faith has… Continue

Added by Anthony S. Policastro on September 17, 2009 at 2:47pm — No Comments

Check It: The YA Mystery Checklist

Now that I got my Edgar rant off my chest, and my soapbox has been reinstated as a coffee table, I thought I should think about criteria for my list of YA mysteries. Since everyone else seems to be so liberal with their interpretation of the genre.

So here are my four must-haves:

1. Must have a mystery as the central plot. This means the solving of the mystery has to be at the front of the story, and at the top of lead character’s list. Navel-gazing and peer… Continue

Added by F.T. Bradley on September 17, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Make the Selling Fun

Writers – Want some tips for selling your work at the Bouchercon mystery convention? Check my blog - http://ascamacho.blogspot.com

Added by Austin S. Camacho on September 17, 2009 at 6:04am — No Comments

The 2009 YA Edgar Nominees

I’ve now read all the 2009 YA Edgar nominees, in case you’ve been hanging around the blog long enough to remember when I started this exercise. The point, for me anyway, was to see what’s happening in YA mystery today—what does it take to make the YA Edgar shortlist in 2009? I wanted to know.

And I was kind of… well, disappointed, if you want to know the truth. Don’t get me wrong: all of these books are worth… Continue

Added by F.T. Bradley on September 17, 2009 at 1:30am — No Comments