October 2007 Blog Posts (215)

Graphic novel of HEAD GAMES coming

From Publisher's Marketplace: "Graphic novel script rights for Craig McDonald's highly praise Head Games, historical thriller and 1950s-era road novel based on the factual theft of Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa's head (available from Bleak House Books, Sept. 2007), to Mark Siegel of First Second Books (Eisner Award-winning imprint of Henry Holt & Co), by Svetlana Pironko at Author Rights Agency."

Head Games has also been selected by Poisoned Pen's…

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Added by Craig McDonald on October 6, 2007 at 9:58pm — No Comments

Kalskag

Before the Brief Interlude I left you, dear reader, as I was gettting off my

duct taped plane in Kalskag. I was staying with two teachers - Karen

and Dave - who had kindly invited this stranger into their home. It was

a lovely home and full of things from the local area, plus the Far East

where one of… Continue

Added by Donna Moore on October 6, 2007 at 11:06am — 1 Comment

MOON OVER MURDER on Amazon Shorts

My short story, MOON OVER MURDER, is live on Amazon Shorts. It is downloadable for only 49 cents at

http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Over-Murder/dp/B000WH7DNI/ref=dp_shrt_new_0/105-6270387-5936403

Such a deal!

A teenage boy in the 1950s gets a dream summer job working in a restaurant beside a lake, owned by his aunt and uncle. It doesn't hurt that three pretty female…

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Added by Alan Cook on October 6, 2007 at 11:00am — No Comments

Wisdom from a Middle-Grade Book Writer

Poor children's book author Lisa Yee. Her computer broke down, taking with it her latest manuscript. She bruised her face after sustaining a fall. And at a book festival this weekend, the bookseller made a mistake and ordered piles of books by Lisa See, the bestselling novelist for grownups.

Instead of being defeated, she directs her blog readers to a Wall Street Journal online piece about these "last lecture" series in which invited professors deliver a lecture as if it is their…

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Added by Naomi Hirahara on October 6, 2007 at 2:30am — No Comments

Interview on AdviceRadio.com

On Wednesday, I visited AdviceRadio.com with host Megan Willingham. Megan is a truly wonderful interviewer. She has a warm, intime interviewing style, and asked many thought-provoking questions. I really enjoyed the hour. You can listen to the podcast this week (they keep them posted for one week) at: http://www.adrenalineradio.com/podcast/

(Click Writers).

Also, I'm blogging today at Killer Hobbies. Stop by for a…

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Added by Kathryn Lilley on October 6, 2007 at 12:57am — No Comments

Half of Luck is Just Showing Up

posted by Leann Sweeney

I'm talking about my critique group today. They are a wise and wonderful bunch. I've heard stories about other writers having very bad experiences with critiquers. I've also heard this topic presented as a panel discussion at conferences, have listened to agents and editors warn new writers to be very careful about what others say about a work in progress. I guess this can be a problem, but I said "guess" because that has not been my…

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Added by Writers Plot on October 5, 2007 at 10:40pm — No Comments

The Occasional Short Story

As a novelist you can benefit from writing a short story every once in a while, even if you don't intend to publish it. A short story hones your ability to say what must be said efficiently. Characters must be sketched in a few words. The plot must move along, with everything focused on a main event. Description, while minimal, must bring the story to life. It isn't easy, so it makes you a better writer.

Another nice thing about short stories is that they're useful both before and…

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Added by Peg Herring on October 5, 2007 at 9:25pm — No Comments

The Muse and Other Stories of History, Mystery and Myth

Lillian Stewart Carl's latest anthology is a magical escape into the past, the past of history and literature.

If you have a familiarity with the basic bones of Carl's stories, they are even more enchanting. She covers literature, from Charles Dickens to Shakespeare to Johnson and Boswell. There's wonderful historical elements, from Ann… Continue

Added by Lesa Holstine on October 5, 2007 at 12:51pm — No Comments

Face Time

It's not often that a mystery brings tears to your eyes, but Hank Phillippi Ryan's second book, Face Time, does just that. It takes a special character to make a reader care about their life.

Charlotte "Charlie" McNally is back, eight months after Prime Time, still working for Channel 3 in Boston as an investigative… Continue

Added by Lesa Holstine on October 5, 2007 at 12:49pm — No Comments

West Hollywood Book Fair

The 6th annual West Hollywood Book Fair last

weekend was hit --especially the track of mystery panels organized by

local author John Morgan Wilson. There were a number of mystery fans

--and writers-- in attendance.

After the LA Times Festival of Books each

April, the WHBF has grown in a relatively short time to become the

second largest literary event in Southern California. It is no where as

crowded, however. Yes, people do read in Southern… Continue

Added by Mark Haile on October 5, 2007 at 10:27am — No Comments

Stranger Than Fiction

Is history repeating itself?

A few weeks before the US publication of The Double Eagle in 2005, the US Government made a sensational announcement. Ten 1933 Double Eagles, the same incredibly rare $20 coins that feature at the heart of my novel, had been seized from the family of one of the dealers implicated in the original 1940s enquiry. Given the plot of my novel (the recovery of five Double Eagle coins stolen from Fort Knox), it was an incredible coincidence that did not go… Continue

Added by James Twining on October 5, 2007 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

Thursday Thirteen #5

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Thirteen Things From My Life That Begin with "C"

in no particular order

1. Curly hair. It's the bane of my existence. My hair is very thick and curly, and while I know some people…

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Added by Sammi Carter on October 5, 2007 at 6:30am — No Comments

LIMCON 2008 Call for Panelists Now Open

We're ready! If you wish to be considered for a position as a panelist
or moderator at our 10th annual Love is Murder Conference/Convention,
please answer our 2008 Call for panelists ASAP--deadline is 1 November 2007!

Added by Love Is Murder Conference on October 5, 2007 at 6:06am — No Comments

Two New Mystery Stories in Amazon Shorts

Hello, friends and readers:

I would like to announce the availability of two new and original mystery short stories now live in the Amazon Shorts Program, featuring wonderful stories by great authors for 49 cents .

"The Jury Has Spoken" is a taut legal thriller inspired by my legal mysteries, STATE'S EVIDENCE, PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE, and JUSTICE SERVED.…

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Added by R. Barri Flowers on October 5, 2007 at 5:29am — No Comments

Another Small Press Distributor Bites the Dust

BookWorld, headquartered in Florida, has shuttered its doors, reports Publishers Weekly. I'm not sure what publishers used BookWorld, but it's getting clearer that small presses either need to handle direct distribution themselves or get large enough so that Ingrams or Baker and Taylor will be willing to work with them.

Added by Naomi Hirahara on October 5, 2007 at 3:53am — No Comments

If Anyone Wonders Why I am Here...

This is just an interlude - longer posts will follow on my days in

Kalskag yesterday and Sleetmute today but two things happened today

which were so wonderful I had to share them.

First of all, I met a very bright and funny High Schooler called Vernon who is a real

character (he came out to meet me from the Bush plane, told me he was

my bodyguard, and that he could speak in a Scottish accent but he

wasn't going to because he would never be able to get his own… Continue

Added by Donna Moore on October 5, 2007 at 3:38am — 1 Comment

Reading Alaska

posted by jet-lagged Jeanne, home about six hours

Our three-week trip to Alaska, culminating in the wonderful Bouchercon event in Anchorage, has come to an end. A lot of feelings and thoughts are burbling in my mind and I'm not ready to write my final words on the Last Frontier.

Last week's hand-wringing post lamented my inability to capture the grandure, the characters, and the experience that is Alaska. In lieu of my deathless prose, I offer a selection of other…

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Added by Writers Plot on October 4, 2007 at 10:29pm — No Comments

Which Part of Writing Is Work?

I have a glib answer: "None of it. It's all fun." But there's a more serious answer as well. It's all work: the writing, the editing, the shopping, the marketing. None of it is easy. There are times when it's smooth sailing. A story is going well and almost writes itself while I sit and watch. I get 100 pages edited at a sitting, and it feels like it has come together. An editor says nice things about my writing. People call to ask me to talk about my…

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Added by Peg Herring on October 4, 2007 at 10:23pm — No Comments

Connie Willis & Me

I went to a book presentation last weekend by Connie Willis. Who?

Mystery writers and crime writers may not know her. I didn't know

her until the owners of the Denver Book Mall -- Nina and Ron Else --

told me I had to be there. I know a good recommendation when I

hear one. Nina and Ron know their stuff. Anything about books,

they know it. Connie Willis is a science fiction writer. And romance

(gasp) writer and "anything" writer. She stood there pleasantly… Continue

Added by Mark Stevens on October 4, 2007 at 2:00pm — No Comments

A couple of Boston area author events for "Bad Thoughts"

October 4, 2007, 7:30-9:00 pm, Needham Public Library, 1139 Highland Ave., Needham, MA. I'll be talking about my books Fast Lane and Bad Thoughts, as well as my three upcoming Serpent's Tail books, and signing copies.

November 6, 2007, 7:00-8:30 pm, Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Boston University, 660…

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Added by Dave Zeltserman on October 4, 2007 at 1:27pm — No Comments