March 2009 Blog Posts (177)

Weekly Blog - Monday 9th March

It’s official – the second novel in the Zac Hunter series, Blood Law, will be released in the UK, Eire and South Africa on the 17th July 2009. To give you a brief teaser as to what the book’s about, here’s the blurb that will appear on the back cover:

All hell is breaking loose in the city of Angels...In this breakneck sequel to "Justice for All", ex-LAPD detective Zac Hunter receives a cry for help from an old snitch, gangbanger Angel Cortez. Angel's daughter Gracie has gone… Continue

Added by Steven Hague on March 9, 2009 at 9:16pm — No Comments

Inspector Horton Marine Mystery Novel Free to Download during Read An E Book Week

To mark Read an E-Book week, (March 8-14) my e book publisher (Summersdale) through my official web site is offering a free download of my first Inspector Horton marine mystery crime novel Tide of Death.

Tide of Death also published in paperback, was chosen by Amazon as one of the best crime fiction reads of… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on March 9, 2009 at 7:03pm — 1 Comment

Another 5 -Star Review for 'A Study in Red'

Award winning novel, A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper has received another wonderful review, this time at Amazon.co.uk I'd like to share it with everyone if I may.

A STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS, 7 Mar 2009

By Trevor Wicks "TREVOR J WICKS." (NORFOLK, ENGLAND.)

IF YOU LIKE RIPPER STUFF, THEN THIS BOOK IS NOT TO BE MISSED. IT TAKES YOU ON A… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on March 9, 2009 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

Gaza violence disrupts even the dead

Historic World War I cemeteries badly damaged in recent attacks.

By Matt Beynon Rees - GlobalPost

In Gaza, violence is so prevalent, even death doesn’t put you beyond its reach. Nor does a grave protect you from further insult to your dignity.

The fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas gunmen at the turn of the year damaged several hundred of… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on March 9, 2009 at 4:48pm — 1 Comment

"Green Gables" to be Published

Todd Robinson of ThugLit webzine has selected my short story, "Green Gables," for inclusion in ThugLit's next annual anthology. Many thanks to Big Daddy Thug and Lady Detroit, who provided valuable editing suggestions, and to everyone who saw the story and provided comments and encouragement before its submission.

Added by Dana King on March 9, 2009 at 10:48am — 2 Comments

Buster, my best buddy

Hi. I was devasted when on the evening of February 22nd, my sweet little friend, my Silky terrier Buster, died in bed next to me. He let out a little "woof" then died, lying next to me. It was a heartrending moment, but my friends say that he was where he most liked to be when he died--at my side. He was one of the best buddies I've ever had, including friends. He was always in a good mood and never complained. He was always happy to see me. We even had a lot in common: hayfever, preference for… Continue

Added by Dawn M. Kravagna on March 9, 2009 at 9:35am — No Comments

Women's Month and Book Signing

March is Women’s History Month and one has to wonder why half the race gets its history sorted out separately. To be fair, the history of just men seems equally odd to me.

But for inspiration, there is no better source than some of the ladies who have seen challenging times. Often, when I stand in front of an audience to speak I take a deep breath and recall the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman who understood the secret of overcoming your fears:

“You gain strength,… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 8, 2009 at 10:22pm — No Comments

Otto Penzler to be PulpFest 2009 Guest of Honor

PulpFest 2009 has announced that Edgar Award-winning writer, editor, and publisher Otto Penzler will be its Guest of Honor. Mr. Penzler, whose recent anthology The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps has done more to renew interest in pulp fiction than any mainstream publication in recent history, is a perfect guest for a show like PulpFest. He is a well-known collector of crime fiction, a genre in which Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Cornell Woolrich, Erle Stanley Gardner, John D.… Continue

Added by Mike Chomko on March 8, 2009 at 8:50am — No Comments

Book Review: A Beautiful Place to Die, Malla Nunn (Picador)

There's a lot happening on the international crime fiction scene these days, and so much of it seems to be linked to Southern Africa. Roger Smith's hardboiled Mixed Blood has become a pressure-cooker story on the international front: German publishers have snapped it up and the film's been optioned with Samuel L. Jackson linked to the project. Then there's Michael Stanley and the writing duo's A… Continue

Added by Richard Kunzmann on March 8, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Time and Tide

TIME AND TIDE

1.

DON’T TAKE YOUR GUNS TO TOWN

South Boston, MA:

Guys that look like me don’t do well in prison.

They just don’t, it’s proven fact. If you’re not one of the blacks or the Mexicans or the skinheads or the chinks, you’re in no man’s land and you might as well kill yourself on the first night because you’d only last two days, maybe a week tops and that’s if you get yourself thrown in solitary. If you’re just an average guy who’s not… Continue

Added by Liam on March 8, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

writing episodic TV is like writing Haiku

Two weeks into my new job as a story editor on the TV show The Bridge (premiering July 9th on CBS at 10:00 pm), one of the more experienced writers said, "Writing TV is like writing Haiku, you have to fit everything into the structure," and I thought, yeah, that's right, people don't complain that Haiku is too formulaic.

Then he said you could also use dirty limericks as the example, but that's not as classy.

The writers' room is a very funny place and a fun place… Continue

Added by John McFetridge on March 8, 2009 at 2:40am — 8 Comments

My Blogs

Please visit my blogs...
Author Blog:
www.katherineangelayeboah.blogspot.com
Dream Blog:
www.lastnightindreamland.blogspot.com

Added by Katherine Angela Yeboah on March 7, 2009 at 11:30pm — No Comments

I'm very disappointed right now. Why can't people do the right thing? Especially when you follow the rules and do what they request of you? I don't like bashing people or businesses but if this situa…

I'm very disappointed right now. Why can't people do the right thing? Especially when you follow the rules and do what they request of you? I don't like bashing people or businesses but if this situation continues much longer I will be forced to take legal action.

I'm talking about getting the book rights back to two of my novels where the contracts have expired. In my mind they're my books and I can do what I want with them. But until the publisher acknowledges in writing and in a… Continue

Added by Tory Richards on March 7, 2009 at 9:36am — 4 Comments

Gag me with a spoon!

I get up this morning, fix breakfast, sit down with it and open the newspaper up to read. And I immediately throw the paper away and dump the breakfast in the trash in disgust.

The first story I read is a about a college student, about to graduate as an elementary teacher, getting a publishing contract from a major publisher. Her first time trying to write something and she gets a contract!

What really pissed me off was she wasn't trying to get published! Her professor… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 7, 2009 at 8:21am — 12 Comments

Who do you see playing Inspector Horton?

I’m often asked this question. Who would play Inspector Andy Horton if there was a film or television series made of my Marine Mysteries. It’s quite a tricky question to answer in a way because my view of the actor to play Andy Horton might not fit with yours.

Andy Horton has had a tough upbringing. Illegitimate and brought up on the streets of Portsmouth, his mother abandoned him as a child. He has no idea where she is or even if she is alive.… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on March 6, 2009 at 11:41pm — No Comments

Meet Me in VA or MD

Tonight I present a talk to the Northern Virginia Writers after their 6 pm dinner at the Lightfoot Restaurant, 11 North King St., Leesburg, VA. It’s not too late to join us.

I’ll spend tomorrow at Carroll Community College at the annual Random House Book Fair. I’ll be joined by a slew of local and national authors who will give talks and signings all… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 6, 2009 at 10:52pm — No Comments

The Point of It All

I've been reporting on what was discussed/presented at Sleuthfest, and I think the comments I've gotten bring us to the point of writing, which is "WRITE." We all have different methods, motivations, and machinations that bring us to keyboard or paper, pull us through plotting or pantsing, and assist us in fixing and finalizing.

I like hearing what others do, and I appreciate those who comment here with their own input. It's helpful to listen and compare, because we can all pick up… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on March 6, 2009 at 10:03pm — No Comments

Bookslut: THE SAMARITAN'S SECRET "Cool Read" for Teens

In popular blog Bookslut, Colleen Mondor has a terrific review of a series of books set overseas, giving it a particular slant toward young readers. She designates my new Palestinian crime novel, THE SAMARITAN'S SECRET, her "cool read" of the week. You can see other reviews by Colleen here, but meanwhile this is what she writes about my novel:…

Continue

Added by Matt Rees on March 6, 2009 at 4:27pm — No Comments

Separated at birth?

Since I posted my Shades of Grey cover (left), my buddy Brett pointed out its similarity to this REM… Continue

Added by Clea Simon on March 6, 2009 at 2:40am — 2 Comments

Meet Me in VA Tomorrow

Friday night I present a talk to the Northern Virginia Writers. On the first Friday of each month they hold a dinner event for local authors. This month I get to be their featured speaker. I have prepared a talk called “Hooks and Books” that explores how writers can get readers hooked on their stories and then how to get readers to buy our books. Dinner starts at 6 pm at the Lightfoot Restaurant, 11 North King St., Leesburg, VA.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 5, 2009 at 10:54pm — No Comments