October 2009 Blog Posts (190)

BAN THAT BOOK!

There are weeks devoted to a variety of causes, but Banned Books Week "celebrates" the attempt to curtail Freedom of Speech. The festivities are brought to you by the American Library Association along with other bookish groups and is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

To prepare for the week-long event, order your BBW kits now. This includes three posters, a set of bookmarks, a list of banned books, and a button that announces “I Read Banned… Continue

Added by Sunny Frazier on October 2, 2009 at 5:00am — 2 Comments

Pariah in bookstores today!

The first book in my 'man out of prison' noir trilogy being published by Serpent's Tail, Small Crimes, was named one of the 5 best crime and mystery novels of 2008 by NPR and one of the best novels of 2008 by The Washington Post. The second book in the series, my South Boston mob crime novel, Pariah, is being released today. I hope people enjoy this one, I'm thrilled that's it out, and am grateful for Serpent's Tail taking a chance with… Continue

Added by Dave Zeltserman on October 2, 2009 at 3:51am — No Comments

The Never-ending Edit

I believe that I could edit eternally, and I have to be very stern with myself about it. I edit in layers, so for example, I might start editing for character, checking to be sure I've been consistent and interesting and all that. But then I see a phrase that isn't quite the way I'd like it, and pretty soon I'm editing something else entirely.

Now that's not all bad, because it probably will improve the piece, but WHERE does it STOP? Maybe when I'm so sick of the whole thing that I… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 1, 2009 at 10:22pm — 5 Comments

Most Wanted

As far as I can tell, the only place the FBI puts their most wanted list up is in the Post Office. I think bank robbers are more likely to be spotted in banks, which I guess is where they hang out, so why not post their pictures there?

How did they decide to put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office anyway? Why there of all places? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Or maybe the point is that postmen see almost everyone so they should recognize the bad guys. In that… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on October 1, 2009 at 9:22pm — No Comments

Dead Men's Dust launches today in the UK

Hi all, for those of you waiting for the paperback edition of Dead Men's Dust, the wait is over. It is now available in all good bookshops and superstores.

Added by Matt Hilton on October 1, 2009 at 7:28pm — No Comments

Who's got time to write?

Another week? Gone already? Yet again, no writing or editing this week, but I’ve managed to get some book-related work done.

After some umming and ahhing, I’ve finally chosen the video producer for my book trailer. He’s Aussie-based and has done some recent work for Pan Macmillan Australia, my Aussie publisher. You can see a few of his book trailers at: www.youtube.com/user/PanMacmillanAus

I’ll be… Continue

Added by Phillipa Martin (PD Martin) on October 1, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Often late, and hardly worth the wait.

As usual, I've been negelcting this personal little corner of the internets, and so have forgotten to tell you darlings about the story I recently had up at Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers. It's a little love letter to blaxploitation I wrote a couple summers back. For a while, I began developing it as a comic book series, but as so often happens, that died on the vine. But this little seed is now up for your enjoyment. Take a gander and witness just how… Continue

Added by Jimmy Callaway on October 1, 2009 at 11:59am — No Comments

Did you see the story about Rowling getting denied an award?

Did you see the story about J.K. Rowling being denied a National Freedom Medal because some wag in the Bush administration believed Rowling's Harry Potter books were promoting witchcraft? Isn't it just swell our country is filled with intelligent, college-trained professionals and not by narrow minded religious crackpots! It makes me all giddy inside.

Added by B.R.Stateham on October 1, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments