I'm putting together a Mystery Cruise. Nov. 14-21, 2010. We're sailing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. Cabins start at $400. You can contact me for panels. You can contact Beverly@cruisingsmart.com for info.

We're going to have a good short story panel.

Oh, absolutely. I don't think I've missed a Swierczynski comic yet. Definitely a worthy successor to Ennis' run.

The Hard Case Crime Quarrys: The Last Quarry and The First Quarry. In November, Quarry In The Middle will be out.

I've been trying to track down the very first (actual first, not the one from HCC) Quarry for forever.

I also have and have read Primary Target, which is an underrated and really forgotten Quarry novel.

And, of course, there are some shorts out there with Quarry as protagonist, one of which is in Robert J. Randisi's collection Greatest Hits (you may still be able to track this down).

I found a real gem of MAC's the other day, even though it has nothing to do with Quarry, in Lawrence Block's anthology Opening Shots.

Titled Public Servant, Collins says that it was a Jim Thompson pastiche and, as I read it, I thought, "This reads like something from ATON". It was really strange and exciting and so was the story.

So those are my suggestions as far as Quarry goes. I really wish someone would reprint all of them.

Hi Mike, thanks for picking up my book and jumping it to the head of your tbr pile. I'm anxious now: hope you find it was worth the effort and really do enjoy it.

Mike,
I knew your name seemed familiar! I really liked your story "McHenry's Gift." Thanks for your note.
Hilary

Instead of "trash," I might have said "hack work." about 300 of my 400 stories were written first draft and barely proofread and most were in the category of erotica ... no so sure it was hard core because I was complimented by editors again and again for the characterization, the structure, etc. Some of what I wrote I am still being paid for on a quarterly basis.

Three novellas that I wrote sold 3 different times each (These were pulp-like mysteries that seem to hit a note with more than one editor.) Currently, it is sitting in the computer awaiting a decision by me whether to just let them die of rust or try to market them again.

They are the kind of pulp that we used to read in the army and mark the "interesting" paragraphs.

Every novel or story the bears the "Jack Bludis" name is a novel or story I am proud to show.

Of the the other 100+ Some are pretty good, some not so good. And a few ... hell, even I don't get the point.

Thanks for asking.

Roger Corman's is Academy Award when related to most of my many pseudonyms.

Thanks for asking. If you don't mind, I'm going to put this note on my own page as well as yours.

Maybe we can get a discussion going on the forum related to what is and is not trash when it comes to mysteries.

Jack

Thanks, Mike. Good to be here. Looks like a good site. Mark

Mike,

Thanks for the props about my stories at ThrillingDetective.com

I consider myself a novelist first. As to why the best doesn't get published? Perhaps we are too blinded for our love of a piece to see it in perspective.

As to stories. I usually only write stories when I have have no novel project ... or when I just get the bug.

Although I have sold 400+ stories, they were generally trash and often for less than a penny a word. Yep, even today stuff goes for a penny a word. But I am proud of my work at: http://www.thrillingdetective.com/ and at http://www.backalleywebzine.com/

But I haven't cracked the biggies like AHMM and EQMM. But I have appeared in a couple of anthologies including Laura Lippman's "Baltimore Noir."

Again, thanks for your positive comments.

Please chat back ... could be fun.