I've been a member of Crimespace around a week now, and I still haven't figured out how to get directly to the profiles/personal information of those of you who have been kind enough to invite me to your friends' list. Life is not easy for a cyber-Neanderthal.

So, since I'm still learning the ropes, I look on this blog entry somewhat like putting a note in a bottle and tossing it into the cybersea.

And like most notes in a bottle, it's a cry for attention. Like every…

Earlier today, Steve Lewis of Mystery*File reported that author Donald Hamilton died late last year, November 20th to be exact. Hamilton was best known as the creator of secret agent Matt Helm, who dispatched the enemies of America in a series that stretched over thirty years. Charles Ardai, whose Hard Case Crime recently reprinted Hamilton's Night Walker, has now confirmed the news.

I've read at least a couple of Hamilton's books just in the months since his death. His thrillers were…

Sometimes I think I don't really want to be published at all. I read the horror stories about publishing and publicity, reviews and remainders, and I wonder why I'm doing this at all. What is so important to me about seeing my fiction published? Why am I sitting here praying just to be shortlisted for the contest I entered my novel in?

It's not because I think people who look at me as a loser will realize I'm not. A friend wisely pointed out once that people who think you're a loser…

Well, obviously, it's not ACTUALLY the lovely Sunshine himself. For starters, I don't think Mrs Sunshine would approve and besides...would you REALLY want to wake up each morning and find him there with you? You might find yourself preferring the horse's head (I'm tempted to add "rather than the horse's arse", but I shall restrain myself).

No, this is an altogether different offer. Waterstones bookshop in the UK has an unbelievable bargain on at the moment where they are offering…

Natasha Cooper sent me word this morning that Peter Temple will not be able to attend Harrogate this July. We'll be updating that in the online Harrogate article in the new issue of Spinetingler. These things do happen, and I know from my own experience how hard it is for the program chair, who not only has to face their own disappointment but feels bad…

Back from the Quais du Polar festival. Too frazzled yesterday to post anything about it, but now I can officially report to you that it was top notch. A really magnificent festival, well organised and well attended by people in the know. Obviously it helped that the festival was free, which meant you got half the citizens of Lyon coming through for a gander. And what a nice bunch they are. Even the bloke who told me off for changing the traditional…

Laura Childs

Gunpowder Green

Shades of Earl Grey

Sue Grafton

B is for Burglar

C is for Corpse

D is for Deadbeat

E is for Evidence

India Ink

A Blush with Death

Glossed and Found

Christopher Penczak

The Witch’s Shield (NF)

William Lee Rand

The Reiki Touch (NF)

Patricia Telesco

A Little Book of…

I was sent a link by a friend. It was a video showing the cruelty of Iam's to dogs, made by a Peta undercover member who was sent to spy on Iam's and get the inside scoop of their cruelty to animals and the unnecessary testing. The video is disturbing.

They force feed dogs vegetable oil by cramming a tube down their throats, (why???) cut muscle from their thighs (another why???) and throw them on a cold, concrete floor, and stack them in cages for 23 1/2…

DARK ASSASSIN (Historical-Police Procedural-London-1863) – VG

Perry, Anne – 15^th in series

Ballantine Books, 2006-US Hardcover – ISBN:

0345469291



First Sentence: Waterloo Bridge

loomed in the distance as William Monk settles himself more comfortably in the

bow of the police boat.…

I have one last ARC of The Concrete Maze, and I figured I'd make it available here on Crimespace. If you're reading this and would like to take a look, leave a message here that says "Send me the ARC" or some such. No points for creativity. In a couple of days, (Which is two days for those of you in Metric countries) I'll put names in a hat. Many will go in, only one will come out. (Of course, there's the strong possibility no one will want to enter this little…

I've never received an apology for a rejection before. I wonder if the pros out there have any opinions on this being legit or--- something else?

Either way, it makes my rejection Hall of Fame.

db

Dear Dave -

I hate writing this letter.

I deeply regret to inform you that "The Nightwalk" did not make the

final cut for Volume 30/3 of XXXXXXXX. Please understand that we

received nearly 400…

Former Assistant US Attorney Michele Martinez blogs about the passion she had for her crime-busting job, and how she sublimates it in her legal thriller series here: http://thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/the_lipstick_chronicles/2007/04/do_the_right_th.html

Me, my only former job worth talking about is writing over 40 romance novels. (Hey, you can earn a good living at…