April 2008 Blog Posts (187)

It's a fine line...

I've been following this plagiarism business a while now. Today it was announced that Cassie Edwards and her publisher have parted ways over the allegations. Obviously, they are of a different mind regarding fair use. It's brought up the question for us writers: What constitutes plagiarism? A court in England found Dan Brown not guilty in the case of The Davinci Code; and as far as I can tell, these two cases differ only in the fact that Cassie Edwards didn't include a bibliography… Continue

Added by Cheryl Norman on April 20, 2008 at 8:22am — No Comments

New Interview on Investigation Discovery's WICKED ATTRACTION Series

Hello, friends:

Coming off my recent interview on the Biography Channel's investigative series, Crime Stories, I have now been interviewed by Investigation Discovery's new crime documentary series, Wicked Attraction.

The series focuses on killer couples, including husband and wife sexual serial killers Gerald and Charlene Gallego, the basis for my bestselling true crime mystery thriller, THE SEX SLAVE… Continue

Added by R. Barri Flowers on April 20, 2008 at 7:30am — No Comments

Are you doing blogtalk?

I had my first live radio interview this week where people from all over the country could call in or send an email or blog. It was great! I was on the air for an hour but it didn't seem like it. The questions just kept coming and the host and I got lots of snicker time about the testicle festival in my second book. A few northerners commented on my cute Southern accent. I hope to do more of these kinds of shows. I was also able to post the link on my website after the fact, but I have to… Continue

Added by Susan Whitfield on April 20, 2008 at 5:47am — 1 Comment

A New Cover

I take covers for my books very seriously. It's not just that I think covers sell books, at least in the sense that they will make a browsing customer take a second look, but I've always had strong feelings about art and design and am often seriously turned off by book covers (and any number of other things in my surroundings).

Now the new cover for THE HELL SCREEN in the Penguin edition (release June 24) is up on amazon, and this one is even better than the other designs Julius Ohta… Continue

Added by I. J. Parker on April 20, 2008 at 5:10am — 2 Comments

Pulp Fiction

If you're a fan of the old pulp magazines, check out the excellent Coming Attractions blog written by Bill Thom. Every Friday night he publishes an update with the latest news in the world of classic pulp reprints (Shadow, Spider, Doc Savage, Detective, SciFi, Adventure, G8, etc), modern day works, conventions, pulp creators, action/hero-oriented movies, and small press publications dedicated to pulps.

Added by Richard Krauss on April 19, 2008 at 1:25pm — No Comments

Australian Writers - Become a Crime Writer!

Now this is the sort of news that makes the despairing Australian Crime Fiction fan do happy dances in the kitchen first thing in the morning!

Penguin Australia (bless their little cotton socks) have started a competition to find a new Australian voice in the commercial crime and thriller market.

"I've been a London editor for 13 years now, specialising in the crime-thrillers genre, and it really is saturated with US and UK authors," says Beverley Cousins, editorial… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on April 19, 2008 at 12:19pm — No Comments

In the Land Down Under, Big is Better

Oh, happiness! Speaking of Diet and Exercise (which I usually am), I just learned that Australian men vastly prefer larger women to smaller ones. You can read all about it over at Killer Hobbies on Friday,… Continue

Added by Kathryn Lilley on April 19, 2008 at 10:08am — No Comments

Signing at Metropolis Books

I’ll be signing tomorrow Saturday April 19th at 4pm with Kathryn Lilley and Sue Ann Jaffarian at

Metropolis Books
400 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-612-0174

Added by Christa Faust on April 19, 2008 at 6:05am — 1 Comment

The Hilarious World of Copyediting

You've edited for content, checked your characterization, made sure the timelines work, and read your dialogue to the cat, who nodded agreement. There's one more thing that can shoot a good manscript out of the sky, and that's copyediting. We've all seen instances where that one wasn't done quite well enough, but one must try.

I've heard the arguments. "I can't find my own mistakes." "They pay people to do that." "I'm not a grammar expert/great speller/word Nazi." While these may be… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 18, 2008 at 11:35pm — 1 Comment

Police Historian Monty McCord on The Graveyard Shift

For those of you writing about police officers in days long since passed, The Graveyard Shift is pleased to present police historian, Monty McCord. Lieutentant McCord is a former police officer turned author. Please join us today as we go back to the days of dump pouches, .38 revolvers, and corroded bullets.

The Graveyard Shift, a guide to all things cops and robbers
- a blog for writers
http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/

Added by Lee Lofland on April 18, 2008 at 11:05pm — 1 Comment

Leonard's 10 Rules for Writers

I've been a big fan of Elmore Leonard ever since I read his novel Mr. Paradise. I read his 10 Rules for Writers. Here's my review:

If you read customer's reviews of this hardcover book on Amazon.com you will quickly see that some people feel they were hoodwinked. In truth this "book" is really an article reprinted from The New York Times on the thickest paper I've ever seen between two covers. However, the…

Continue

Added by Richard Krauss on April 18, 2008 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

A Few Musings on Self-Promotion

I spent a long couple of years as the part-time Public Affairs director of a Chicago radio station.

Among other things, I hosted a weekly public-affairs show which spotlighted various civic activities, community issues and, yes, authors with new books. The latter subject was entirely self-serving. I didn't have a book out but I figured I might learn something from those who did. I produced the show. Directed the show. Recorded the show. And...opened mail for the show.

A… Continue

Added by Doug M. Cummings on April 18, 2008 at 5:00am — 8 Comments

Savage Flu

Just when I think I’ve got the best of this Black Death/Captain Tripps/Ebola/whatever the fuck has been wrong with me since Left Coast Crime…

Over the past two days I’ve been dealing with yet another unwanted encore of high fever and coughing, this time with the added bonus of severe sinus congestion and an inexplicable stabbing pain in the right side of my mid-back. Sheesh! This damn flu is like a bad rock band that will not get off the stage.

But on the bright side, I… Continue

Added by Christa Faust on April 18, 2008 at 4:54am — 1 Comment

Two Novel Contracts Signed Today

I'm absolutely delighted to announce that I've signed contracts for two of my novels to be produced in paperback today. After the intended publisher of 'Glastonbury' sadly closed its doors, Still Waves Publishing have offered an incredible contract for the right to publish the work. They have also contracted to publish my latest novel, 'Pestilence' and both contracts have been signed today. Still Waves will now be publishing five of my novels over the coming year, and I'm… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on April 18, 2008 at 4:00am — No Comments

Intentional Outtakes

(Cross posted to Writing, etc.)

I spent several hours yesterday writing stuff that no one will ever read.

Considering that I have two manuscripts collecting rejection slips in New York it could be argued that I spend ALL my time writing stuff that no one will ever read, but I don’t want to go there.

Let me put it differently. Even my critique groups and first readers won’t read the pages I wrote yesterday. They’re… Continue

Added by Annette Dashofy on April 18, 2008 at 12:48am — No Comments

Private Investigator Peter Gessner On The Graveyard Shift

He's here! San Francisco Private Eye, Peter Gessner, is available to answer your questions today on The Graveyard Shift. Please stop by.

The Graveyard Shift, a guide to all things cops and robbers
- a blog for writers
http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/

Added by Lee Lofland on April 17, 2008 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Revealing Character

When editing for character, think about how you get to know real people. What traits do they reveal that repeat and serve as "tells" for mood or thought? I once had a boss who closed his eyes when he was about to lie or when he was patronizing me. "Now Peggy," he would say, and his eyes would droop closed. "You know we can't afford to do something like you're proposing." At first I didn't get it (I'm slow). But after while it was a clear signal, one he couldn't seem to control. What a great… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 17, 2008 at 10:47pm — No Comments

A Wonderful Experience for Writers!

The New England Chapter Romance Writer’s Association – Let Your Imagination Take Flight: Come to the Edge - Writer’s Conference was FANTASTIC! I don’t even know where to begin..

Here are just some of the authors that were there:

Jessica Andersen, Suzanne Brockman, Linda Cardillo, Loretta Chase, Eileen Cook, Kristan Higgins, Geri Krotow, Caroline Linden, Eileen Rendahl, Kathryn Smith, Susan Wiggs, Lauren Willig, Virginia Kantra, Terri Brisbin, Hannah Howell

I got there… Continue

Added by Viansa Blake on April 17, 2008 at 2:13pm — 1 Comment

My character is alive!

Imagine my surprise the other day when I had an email from Pepper Ellis, a ficitional character in Genesis Beach. Well, it turns out that there really is a Pepper Ellis. Not sure if she's a chef, or brunette, etc., but I thought it was really cool. I let her know that Pepper is also in Just North of Luck, attending a Testicle Festival.

Added by Susan Whitfield on April 17, 2008 at 4:30am — No Comments

Crimes and Religion

Given his appalling historical record regarding sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, I find it nothing short of ironic that Pope Benedict XVI arrived in the United States just days after 400 children were taken into legal custody amid charges of sexual abuse after a raid on a cult compound in Eldorado, Texas.

By the U.S. bishops' count, more than 5,000 priests have been credibly accused of abusing about 12,000 children in the United States since 1950. The church has spent $2 billion… Continue

Added by Christopher Valen on April 17, 2008 at 12:01am — No Comments