February 2010 Blog Posts (134)

Pauline Rowson's Ten Rules for Writing

I pinched this idea from recent articles in the Guardian where a number of writers are penning their ten rules for writing. I thought I'd add mine.

1 Always have a pencil and paper with you, in every handbag, shopping bag or pocket.

2. Travel by public transport, you see and meet some great characters for novels.

3. Earwig other people's conversations…

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Added by Pauline Rowson on February 24, 2010 at 2:30am — 13 Comments

Come over and take a 'peek.'

The first three chapters of 'A Taste of Old Revenge' is over on my blogspot at http://www.noirtaketurner-frank.blogspot.com

Shadow Line Press is bringing the book out in August. But come over and read the three chapters. Make a comment. Either way. Doesn't matter, we'll still be friends (well, at least on talking…

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Added by B.R.Stateham on February 24, 2010 at 2:06am — No Comments

(TRUE CRIME) Review - Confessions of a Crooked Cop, Sean Padraic

Book Title: CONFESSIONS OF A CROOKED COP

Author: Sean Padraic

Publisher: ABC Books / Harper Collins

Copyright: 2010

ISBN: 978-0-7333-2817-6

No of Pages: 295

Book Synopsis:

Detective Sergeant Trevor Haken was one of the infamous Golden Mile's most crooked cops. Now he lives in hiding, in a hell of his own creation.

Graduating from small bribes to stealing money and receiving kickbacks from drug dealers, Haken became an informant for the Wood Royal… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on February 23, 2010 at 4:12pm — No Comments

For you

I am happy that my life has moved-on from that unfathomable pain in the past. I am happy that I am with you now. As I see you walking on the corridor always wearing your formal dresses, it feels like hope had touched my heart again. I dedicate this to you, for even though you cannot read this, I know fate will find a way to touch you with my words.

You’ve helped me in times…

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Added by thomas kruger on February 23, 2010 at 2:44pm — No Comments

Moonlight Falls nails another 5 Star Review

From the Cajun Book Lady Blog Review!

Let me start off by saying I'm now a fan of Vincent!

I loved this book for so many reasons but I'll start with the main character Moonlight. He was such a well

built character that no matter what dastardly deed he did in the story,

I found myself still rooting for… Continue

Added by Vincent Zandri on February 23, 2010 at 3:24am — No Comments

Gangs

Gang expert Brian Parry, consultant, FBI's National Gang Intelligence Center, joins us today to share information about gangs moving across national borders. Parry, formerly Assistant Director of the…

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Added by Mark Young on February 22, 2010 at 11:30pm — No Comments

When Characters Take Over

Guest blogger Robin Cain talks about dealing with her independent fictional characters today on my main blog, “Another Writer’s Life” -…

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Added by Austin S. Camacho on February 22, 2010 at 9:44pm — No Comments

Book of A Lifetime: The King Must Die

The Independent has a regular feature in which it asks authors to write about a book which changed their lives somehow. Last week the London newspaper asked me to write the piece. Here it is:

In early 1999, King Hussein fell sick on his return from cancer treatment in the US. I was Middle East correspondent for The…

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Added by Matt Rees on February 22, 2010 at 5:07pm — 2 Comments

Smashwords and Ebooks

As I've mentioned before, the Kindle version of my book, Where the Dreams End is outselling the hard copy version by almost a hundred to one. So, I decided to take the plunge and put my books up at Smashwords. Click on the book title if you'd like to check it out. I'll let you guys know how the sales go. If you decide to drop in at Smashwords and give Dreams a try, use coupon code VS52W and get $1.00 off the price. The coupon's good until… Continue

Added by KD Easley on February 22, 2010 at 9:06am — No Comments

Goodbye, Max.

Wednesday I have to take my dog to the vet and have him put down.

Thirteen years ago, I traded my maiden name for the opportunity to bring this dog into our lives. It was June 1996, and Patrick and I were to be married in July.…

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Added by Karyn J. Powers on February 22, 2010 at 8:51am — No Comments

'Purple Death' has Received Another Great Review

Reviewer and author Martha Cheves has given my new release 'Purple Death' a wonderful review at the site of Amazon.com I'm so pleased that people appear to be enjoying this latest mystery/thriller.

Here's the review:

5.0 out…

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Added by Brian L Porter on February 21, 2010 at 10:45pm — No Comments

Palestinian sex-for-favors scandal

Was Israeli intelligence really behind the video showing an Abbas aide soliciting sex? (I posted this on Global Post.)

Fans of the Jamaican reggae singer Shaggy will already be familiar with the strategy of a Palestinian official caught with his pants down — actually, with his pants entirely off — in a sex scandal this week.

On his…

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Added by Matt Rees on February 21, 2010 at 5:28pm — No Comments

Rob Walker Busy Publicly Writing a Novel in a Year at Dirty Deeds

Julia & Julia Type Journal for Cooking up a Gritty Suspense or Mystery Novel

by Robert W. Walker

It is…

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Added by robert walker on February 21, 2010 at 11:39am — No Comments

What it takes to write your way to the top

Yesterday I saw Fame the musical performed by STP Musicals at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall, Hampshire. I’m a great fan of musicals and being a former dancer I also adore the dance scenes. But the reason for me going to see Fame this time round had more to do with my niece appearing in the production than a desire to see the musical for itself. What struck me though, while watching this highly professional performance, was that although I’d seen the film of…

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Added by Pauline Rowson on February 21, 2010 at 1:57am — 6 Comments

guest blogger at AuthorsDay

http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com/2010/02/authorsday-john-desjarlais.html is where I'm guest blogging this month on how BLEEDER began as an historical novel and became a contemporary mystery.

Added by John Desjarlais on February 20, 2010 at 8:44am — No Comments

Agatha nomination for "Death Will Trim Your Tree"--and the full list of nominees

I'm thrilled to announce that my short story "Death Will Trim Your Tree" is one of this year's Agatha award nominees. You can read it at http://www.elizabethzelvin.com/PDF/Zelvin, Death Will TrimYour Tree PDF.pdf .

In a way, I owe it all to CrimeSpace. I'd never written a short story (well, not since college 100 years ago) when Daniel Hatadi announced a short story contest here with… Continue

Added by Elizabeth Zelvin on February 20, 2010 at 4:58am — 1 Comment

Re-Defining Plagiarism

This is wrong in so many ways I don't know where to start.

Added by Dana King on February 20, 2010 at 3:21am — 1 Comment

Do book reviews really work?

A year ago Mysterious Reviews was kind enough to read and review Murderous Passions. I got a three-star out of a five-star review. Good enough for the first effort on a beginning series. But somehow I didn't convey to them it was a first of a series. Secondly, you could tell in the review it was a fast read because of a couple of minor errors made. So . . . a year later I re-read the review and I begin to wonder just how effective reviews are to the reading…

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Added by B.R.Stateham on February 20, 2010 at 3:05am — 2 Comments

The Eye of the Beholder (24)

“Where the hell have you been,” Hugh asked angrily as Cary walked into their living room. “Do you know what time it is?”

“I’ve been with a client. I told you that when I called.”

“No, you said you were working late.” Stalking towards Cary Hugh thrust him back against the door, saying with a sneer, “Did you have fun with this ‘client’?”

“God Hugh, get a grip. It was work. Do you think I like doing that when I could be home with you?” He tried to squirm loose from… Continue

Added by Edith Glass on February 20, 2010 at 3:03am — No Comments

Espionage is a dirty business

You’d think there was something very wrong with spying.

People pay good money to watch Daniel Craig dispose of villains in the bloodiest fashion. They nod in approval when M pushes 007’s perfect false passport across the desk. Yet everyone’s peeved about what in all likelihood is a Mossad hit against a Hamas operative in his Dubai hotel room on January…

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Added by Matt Rees on February 19, 2010 at 4:48pm — 3 Comments