Dave Zeltserman

, Male

Needham

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Needham, MA
About Me:: I wrote FAST LANE and BAD THOUGHTS and SMALL CRIMES, which was named one of the best crime and mystery novels of 2008 by NPR (National Public Radio) and one of the best books of 2008 by the Washington Post, as well as upcoming books PARIAH, KILLER and BAD KARMA. SMALL CRIMES, PARIAH and KILLER are all being published by Serpent's Tail as a "man out of prison" trilogy, with PARIAH scheduled for 1/09 and KILLER for 1/10. My real job used to be as a software engineer, and anyone who searches my name on AMAZON will also see a bunch of computer books. Ignore those--they're technically out of date anyway . Outside of 5 years in Boulder, Colorado, I've lived in the Boston area, although now, if it wasn't for the Patriots I'd probably move to Hawaii. After years of martial arts study (Tiger-Crane southern-style kung fu), I earned my black belt last year, and am continuing on with my study.
I Am A:: Writer
Website:: http://www.davezeltserman.com
Books And Authors I Like:: Dashiell Hammett, Jim Thompson, Charles Willeford, Dan Marlowe, Rex Stout, James M. Cain, Lawrence Block, Bruce Jay Friedman, Joseph Heller, Robert E. Howard, Ray Bradbury. Favorite crime fiction: The Continental Op series of short stories, Maltese Falcon, Savage Night, Hell of a Woman, The Name of the Game is Death, Cockfighter, The Woman Chaser, Double Indemnity, How Like a God, Solomon's Vineyards. Favorite recent book: Robbie's Wife by Russell Hill. All-time favorite book: Catch-22. Favorite short story collection:
Far From the City of Class by Bruce Jay Friedman.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: Favorite TV shows (past and present): The Shield, Northern Exposure, Homicide, St. Elsewhere, Miami Vice, Twightlight Zone, Seinfeld, Wonder Years, Newhart, Tracy Ulman Show, Larry Sanders Show, Fernwood Tonight, Duckman

Favorite Movies: Touch of Evil, The Third Man, Roaring Twenties, Strawberry Blonde, Shadow of a Doubt, Shop Around the Corner, To Be or Not to Be (Jack Benny version), Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, Lady From Shanghai, Terminator, Pulp Fiction, Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, Ghost World, American Splendor, Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, Raging Bull, Godfather, Godfather II, American Grafitti, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, The Conversation, And Justice for All, and too many more to list

Comment Wall:

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Jason Starr

Dream on......The Yanks will cut the lead to 5 by the All Star Break and then.......................it's all over.
Looking forward to your new book,
Jason

Jun 21, 2007
Rosemary Harris

Good question re websites. I'm about 9 months away from publication of my first book and I'm doing the same kind of homework.

Jun 23, 2007
Point Blank Press

Cheers Dave, great news re your follow ups to FAST LANE. SMALL CRIMES has been a long time coming, but you're in great company at Serpent's Tail.

Jun 26, 2007
Libby Hellmann

Sorry I didnt reply sooner.. have been out of town.. but you're right.. Chicago Blues is coming in October... maybe we should figure out some stuff to do together? (dont know how.. but many on the net someplace? A special page? )

Jun 28, 2007
LJ Roberts

You're welcome. It was a little dark for my normal taste but, as I said, I could appreciate the quality of your wiritng.

Jul 4, 2007
Libby Hellmann

Thanks, Dave... Appreciate the offer for Chicago Blues... I'll be in touch!

Jul 5, 2007
Lee Charles Kelley

Thanks for the add, Dave.

I've gotta ask...English bull terrier pup, about 3-4 wks. old? What does s/he look like now?

LCK

Jul 12, 2007
Lee Charles Kelley

Giving up a cool puppy like that? That's gotta suck! The funny thing is, I'm a dog trainer and I'm allergic to dogs myself (though just a little). And for some strange reason the lead character in my novels is ALSO allergic to dogs! Go figure.

Jul 17, 2007
Elizabeth Zelvin

LOL about the trials and tribulations of being a Z, Dave. I don't even come by mine honestly--it's my first husband's name that I've been dragging around for decades. Can't even use a pseudonym, since my "platform," such as it is, consists of all I've done as Liz Zelvin for the past 40 years.

Jul 20, 2007
carole gill

Thanks! I'll be on the look out. My provincial West Yorks library doesn't have it, but I'll get a hold of them. I really want to read them.

Jul 22, 2007
Harry Shannon

Howdy, Dave! Whazup?

Jul 28, 2007
Harry Shannon

Howdy, Dave!

Jul 29, 2007
Kelli Stanley

Thanks so much for the kind words, Dave! From someone who is as talented (and has done as much for the noir lit world) as you, it means a lot.
I've got *Bad Thoughts* on order from Amazon, and I can hear the sizzle from here ... I'm already looking forward to the movie! ;)

Jul 29, 2007
Krystal Waters

Hi Dave, I love your picture! lol So cute. Thank you for stopping by my page.

Jul 30, 2007
Simon Wood

You're a good man, Charlie Brown.

I really need to submit to Hard Luck. I never have. What is wrong with me... :-)

Aug 2, 2007
Joseph Finder

Thanks for looking me up, Dave. Come out to the POWER PLAY launch at Borders-Back Bay next Tuesday -- 7:00 p.m., August 21, it'll be a good time. Hope to see you there!

Aug 19, 2007
Lee Lofland

Hi Dave. Sure i've been to Kate's. All the meetings were there last year. Where were you? :)

Aug 20, 2007
Gemma Halliday

Thanks, Dave. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Great to meet you!

~Gemma

Aug 21, 2007
Cyndi Martin

Thanks for adding me! LOVE your picture! Is that your pet?

Aug 26, 2007
Cheryl Norman

Thanks for "friending" me. I enjoyed your blog post about writing. I accepted a long time ago that writing was not about making money. Only a very few (how's that for overuse of adverbs? *LOL*) make a living at writing. We write because we must.
Cheryl

Aug 29, 2007
Pat Mullan

Dave,

Great to cross paths with you here. I love your HARDLUCKSTORIES site - and I'm off to add SMALL CRIMES to my reading list!

Best. Pat.

Sep 9, 2007
Tony Black

Dave thanks for the comment and looking forward to Al's Pulp Pusher piece! Sure he'll do a FINE job...
Best ya
Tone.

Jan 20, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Hi Dave
Congratulations on the black belt. It takes the same kind of persistence and self-discipline that writing does. Which is why you succeed at both!

Mar 6, 2008
L.J. Sellers

I know the feeling. I take long bike rides just to get out of the chair. But I get my best ideas while exercising.

Mar 6, 2008
William Dylan Powell

That sounds like a great school. We study the Hung Fa Yi lineage of Wing Chun, the Houston branch of this school: www.hungfakwoon.com. Like all Wing Chun, it's all about controlling the centerline sort of like you do with firearms--it's easier to hit the big targets. Not very sexy but it works when done well (not by me), which I guess has a sexiness of its own. We had a longfist guy stop by the school last week and do a few sets; man, that's cool stuff. Made me feel old!

I'm going to hit Murder by the Book tomorrow and see if they can order me a copy of Small Crimes.

Mar 9, 2008
Patricia Abbott

Dave-Would you be willing to recommend a forgotten book for my blog project Friday's Forgotten Books next Friday, May 30th? It can be very short if you're busy. And if you're too busy, I understand. If you have no idea what I'm going on about here, check out http://pattinase@blogspot.com

May 21, 2008
Patricia Abbott

Great, Dave. I'll post your link on Friday. Thanks so much. Patti

May 29, 2008
Dana King

Dave,
I see NPR has named SMALL CRIMES one of its Top Five crime books of 2008. Congratualtions.

Nov 20, 2008
Jack Green

Dave,

Just picked up a copy of your novel 'Small Crimes". I see the names Thompson and Ellroy and I think, heady company, I'm going to love this book. Great to see a fellow Bay Stater writing important crime fiction. I'll keep my eye out for 'Pariah'. To bad about the Pats, next year it's on the the big game in February.

Jan 7, 2009
The Poisoned Pen Bookstore

Hi Dave,
Oh yeah, I got it. Thanks, hermano. Hey, did you see that SMALL CRIMES is on my Best of 2008 List? Can you reply in a regular email?
I'm never on this Crimespace thing but someone on staff told me that
you'd written.

All best,
Patrick

Jan 17, 2009
J.R. Lindermuth

Thanks for the add, Dave.

Jan 25, 2009
roger smith

Thanks Dave. Good to hear about the Citizen review: means your book is on sale here. I've heard a lot about it, look forward to reading.

Feb 2, 2009
Don Anderson

Hey, Dave. Just finished PARIAH. Absolutely brilliant. Anyone who doesn't love PARIAH just doesn't love noir. BTW, I left a short comment to that effect at your crimespace blog.

Feb 2, 2009
Don Anderson

Saw your response to my comment on your blog. Are you talking about the story that broke about Bulger's sexual escapades? I know you were working on this long before that, Because we spoke about PARIAH aound the time SMALL CRIMES was released.

Feb 2, 2009
Jeremy Lynch

As soon as you can talk about it, give me the details. No point waiting for the film, I will cover it every step of the way.

Feb 9, 2009
Jack Green

Dave, I finished small crimes and was enthralled. I got a real POP. 1280 It came as close to anybody outdide of Thompson at capturing the existential compression of the small characters that effect out lives. You may be the new 'dime store Dostoyevsky '. Nick Corey really comes into a wondeful composite life. I've already ordered Fast Lane and Pariah from overseas where the release date is much sooner. I can't wait to start Pariah, That's was my neck of the woods before everyone started turning rat. I'll raise a glass to Pat Nee. Slainte. Good luck with everything.

Feb 18, 2009
Jack Green

Dave,
Somehow my message to you came out somewhat incoherent. Sorry. Started Pariah and I'm loving it. My family came over from Galway and ran the city of Charlestown for about 80 years. This goes way back. Whitey knew my family, and I knew his. I hope your book soars. Only criminals like Kevin Weeks, Eddie Mackenzie, and Red Shea have seemed to profit from mayhem they created. Good luck.

Feb 19, 2009
Nate Flexer

Can't wait to read Pariah. Ever going to make it back out to Boulder way?

May 24, 2009
Nate Flexer

I grew up in Boulder. I now live in Longmont which is just outside of Boulder. Thanks for the advice about the Poisened Press Bookstore. I haven't been spending much time trying to get it into brick and mortar bookstores, instead focusing on sales through Amazon. Fortunately, Allan Guthrie has been a big supporter of the book and has been helping me get some positive reviews. Anyway, if you're ever going to be in Boulder, let me know. I owe you a beer or ten.

May 25, 2009
Nate Flexer

Sorry, Poisoned Pen bookstore. I never was much of a speller.

May 25, 2009
Nate Flexer

Beautiful. I'll do that.

May 25, 2009
JackBludis

A great selection of books and movies.

Jun 9, 2009
Adam Bourgoin

Hi Dave. Just finished SMALL CRIMES. Gotta say, the ending was completely unexpected! I really enjoyed it.

Jun 21, 2009
Mike MacLean

Hey Dave,

Truth be told, I'm thinking about ditching facebook. It's too big a time suck. I'm testing the waters here to see if CrimeSpace is more my speed. I miss Hardluck.

Aug 11, 2009
Mike MacLean

I'm writing B-movies for Roger Corman's company. It's a blast, and I'm learning a ton. I still have the day job (teaching), but writing is now helping to pay the bills. (which is very cool)

Great news about your option; hope it goes into development.

How's the Kung-Fu going? Unfortuately, I'm a weekend warrior right now.

Aug 11, 2009
Mike MacLean

I wrote a post-apocalyptic action flick that was shot in the Philippines. It might be released in the States on DVD, not sure when. I helped out on the script for Dinocroc vs. Supergator which is in postproduction (Possibly David Caradine’s last movie). Hopefully, it will end up on the Sci-Fi channel.

I have talked to Roger Corman many times over the phone but haven’t met him in person. A great guy to work for.

As to your comment about web-zines being detrimental to writers, I’ll just say this… I would’ve never landed in the Best American Mystery Stories if it weren’t for Thug Lit. And I would’ve never been contacted by New Horizon’s if it wasn’t for the story in Best American.

Aug 11, 2009
Preetham Grandhi

Hi Dave , I want to introduce you to my debut novel "A Circle of souls" which is a murder, mystery, psychological thriller and a tale of justice and hope. Do visit www.acircleofsouls.com to read more about the book. Make sure you sign up to win an autographed copy of the book. You can also read more reviews by clicking on the More Reviews button at the website. Thanks for your time in advance.

Best regards

Preetham Grandhi

Early Endorsements for “A Circle of Souls”

Linda Fairstein, NYT Bestselling Author: "A fascinating debut - this novel takes the reader to the darkest places in the human soul, from a writer with the authenticity to lead us there. A stunning thriller and an important read."

Judge Judy Sheindlin, star of the Judge Judy Show: "The seminal work of this fine author kept me glued to my chair until the adventure was over and the mystery solved. A great read!"

Book Synopsis:

The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.

The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.
In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.

Aug 25, 2009
Jason Hunt

Hi Dave. Hopedale is next to Milford, down in the Franklin/Bellingham area. It's not 10 minutes from Woonsocket. Everyday I take the Franklin/Forge Park commuter and Red Line into Cambridge, to knock out technical documentation for a biotech.

We should grab a beer someday. We can invite Henry Louis Gates and that Cambridge cop.... :-)

Aug 28, 2009
Beth Groundwater

Hi Dave,
Thanks for befriending me here, too!

Aug 30, 2009
Copper Smith

Thanks for the friendship!
Great to have you aboard -- if only to remind me that I'm not the only fan of the movie Ghost World.

Oct 22, 2010