So a week ago I caught Ocean's Eleven, the Steven Soderbergh version, on TV. I never thought that version or the original were particularly good, but it got me thinking about the whole genre of heist movies. First, I should set out my own definition of what a heist movie is. A heist movie should be about one particular robbery, not a story about a string of robberies. Second, the theft is the work of a team rather than an individual. Third, the item being stolen has to be elaborately…

Continue

When I say greatest hits, I'm not talking Frank Sinatra singing My Way. A new museum opened recently in Las Vegas. The Mob Museum. It cost $42 million, and it opened on the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine's Massacre in 1929.

I didn't want to spoil your Valentine's Day chocolate with anything bloody or gruesome so I waited a day to put up the post. The museum features a thrilling lineup of mobsters, past and present, and their bloody exploits. Take a trip down memory…

Continue

Today’s Spotlight is on Dr. William H. “Bob” Bailey. In his book “Looking Up! Finding My Voice in Las Vegas” the story unfolds of a man who was the vocalist with the famous Count Basie Orchestra in the 1940s, moved to Las Vegas from Cleveland in 1955 to be the MC at the first integrated hotel in Las Vegas (the Moulin Rouge which failed six months later, but set the pattern for things to come). He became a businessman…

Continue

It is challenging to keep coming up with original ideas for writer's group presentations. Today’s Spotlight in the Las Vegas edition of Examiner.com is about Sisters in Crime Southern Nevada met the challenge with the custom Mystery Jeopardy game presented by Sisters (and Misters) in Crime/Southern Nevada this past Sunday. What a hoot. Scott Duncan who has designed games for major accounts delighted everyone with his…

Continue

As most of you know, my columns about writing and the writing community appear twice a week in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas editions of examiner.com.

 …

Continue

 

SPOTLIGHT UPDATES - LAS VEGAS EXAMINER.COM

It always makes me…

Continue

A memoir conference is coming to Las Vegas on March 5. Sounds like a great one for anyone interested in writing their own memoir or that of another person.

 

LINK:  http://exm.nr/LVmemoirconf

Speaking…

Continue

LINK: http://exm.nr/2011conf-lv

 

Once again the time is drawing near for the Las Vegas Writers Conference. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend this year, but that doesn’t stop me from singing its praises and telling everyone about it.

 

I still credit the first one I attended in 2005 as a career changer. Check out today's EXAMINER SPOTLIGHT. I talk about the conference and what I've gained personally from previous ones.…

Continue

LINK: http://exm.nr/Arliss-LA

 

Okay, it had to happen one of these days. I Spotlight authors in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and since I have a foot in both cities, today I decided to interview my alter ego, Arliss Adams, in the Las Vegas Spotlight.

 

There are many pros and cons to writing under a pen name, and…

Continue

Well, this isn't exactly about mystery or crime, but my column in today's Las Vegas edition of Examiner.com, Spotlight: Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown: Learning from Las Vegas, features a really fun vintage Vegas video that I thought you might enjoy.…

Continue

 

While surfing the web I discovered a book called “How to have an affair and not get caught.” What could be more perfect for a Spotlight commentary from Las Vegas on 1-11-11. After all, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” I tried to post it at 11:11pm but wasn’t finished in time.

 …

Continue

Today’s Las Vegas edition Spotlight is on Dennis Arnoldy, a former agent with the FBI during the time Tony “The Ant” Spilotro was the Las Vegas arm of the Chicago Outfit, and Frank Cullotta was his right-hand man. Dennis talks about those days from his side of the fence. Next week’s Spotlight will be an update with Andrew DiDonato, a former Gambino crime family member, whose book “Surviving the Mob” is due to be released. Here is the link:…

Continue

Today I gave a mini version to the Las Vegas Quill Keepers of the workshop I'll be presenting at the Las Vegas Writers Conference in April 2010...in...where else? Las Vegas. The title is "Crafting Twists and Dropping Clues." It was very well received, so I can't wait to present it complete with Power Point and a short interactive workshop.



While preparing the presentation, I realized that one of my all-time favorite Twist and Clue movies was "The Usual Suspects." I revisited it and… Continue

I caught CSI in syndication, having originally missed it in prime time. I'm absolutely hooked on it. A Helgenberger fan since China Beach and a Petersen fan since Manhunter, the show is a breath of fresh air in its intelligent, quirky characters that defy stereotype. Jorja Fox and Robert David Hall have also become faves. Melinda Clarke is interesting as Lady Heather (a writers' play on trendy names? The Heather-ization/Jason-ification Effect?). Grissom witticisms are to die for - I especially… Continue