May 2008 Blog Posts (159)

Checking in

I haven't posted a blog in some time in here, figured I might as well get caught up since I am sitting at home waiting on the insurance adjuster to do her thing. We suffered some roof damage thanks to all these spring storms, and now have to deal with the fall out. I dread my next insurance bill.

I have finished my second book in the series, working title, Buried Angel. It has been a very difficult birth, but hoping the revision/edit phase will go smoother.

so.... who's… Continue

Added by Kim Smith on May 8, 2008 at 1:28am — No Comments

When People Say, "I Don't Read"

As a reader, you probably turn your estimation of that person down a notch. We're a bit snobby, we readers, and we think that anyone who doesn't read is a few books short of a bookshelf.

I spoke on the topic yesterday at the request of a local organization. I began unsure of how much the average reader knows about the average non-reader, and I learned that my audience hadn't thought about it much. We tend to think non-readers can't read. As an educator of many years' experience, I've… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 7, 2008 at 10:55pm — 2 Comments

A Great Mystery will get you Sober

I like to point you to a good read now and again, and today I get to make up for a recent oversight.

When I told you that Elizabeth Zelvin had the most creative hat at Malice Domestic I didn't mean to imply that this was the only reason to know her name. Elizabeth is also the author of an exceptional first novel called "Death Will Get You Sober." Writing an… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 7, 2008 at 10:26pm — No Comments

Crime Always Pays

This Week on Crime Always Pays: John Connolly’s THE REAPERS reviewed; a Q&A with BLEEDING HEART SQUARE author Andrew Taylor; Paul Nagle publishes his debut novel; free copies of Garbhan Downey’s YOURS CONFIDENTIALLY; KT McCaffrey on casting real people as fictional characters; John Connolly and Declan Hughes launch THE REAPERS and THE DYING BREED; THE BIG O gets nominated for CrimeFest’s ‘Best… Continue

Added by Declan Burke on May 7, 2008 at 8:46pm — No Comments

Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert (Book Review)

Well, I finally did it. I jumped into yet another series of books that everyone said would have me hooked before I finished book one. Guess what? They were right.

I spent a couple of weeks (keep in mind I get to read a chapter every couple of days) reading THYME OF DEATH, the first in the China Bayles mystery series written by Susan Wittig Albert. China is a really neat character, a little bit of fun wrapped up in a serious…

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Added by Echelon Press on May 7, 2008 at 10:53am — No Comments

THE CHRYSALIDS by John Wyndham [[book review]]

I tracked down this 1955 sci-fi novel after reading Stephen King's Danse Macabre (it was in the Suggested Reading appendix). I was hesitant at first of reading The Chrysalids because while I loved The Day of the Triffids, I was less than thrilled with The Midwich Cuckoos (which became the film Village of the Damned).

Glad I read The Chrysalids. IT WAS AWESOME!!! Wyndham packed in a lot of plot in 200 pages; lesser novelists would have made it… Continue

Added by Johnny Ostentatious on May 7, 2008 at 8:14am — No Comments

David Morrell Interview

Suspect: David Morrell Known Aliases: Rambo's Daddy

Occupation: Writer

Last Known Location: Santa Fe, NM

Listen in as David talks about his most famous creation, John Rambo, the secrets of his career longevity, and his role in the International Thriller Writers (ITW) organization. He also reveals what writer he'd most like to spend an afternoon with, what crime fiction cliche needs to be retired and talks a bit about his first… Continue

Added by Angie on May 7, 2008 at 7:00am — No Comments

Another Free Web site

It's hard to turn down anything that's free, and that includes a free web site, which is one reason you'll find me at AuthorsDen. It is surely the largest and most vibrant free online community of authors and readers. They tell me the site is visited by more than 1.4 million readers every month. I have listed my bio, my books and some writing there. I also post to my AuthorsDen blog frequently. I think readers discover new authors there,… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 6, 2008 at 11:16pm — No Comments

Ghost Reading

I confess, I'm a doubter, a worrier, and a fretter. I've spent my life trying to internalize my father's advice: "If you worry and it doesn't happen, you worried for nothing. If you worry and it happens, you didn't change anything by worrying."

I'm better now, being older and having lived through enough stuff that I realize Dad was right. Still, when my writing isn't in front of me I find myself fretting over its inadequacies. "There isn't enough character development for Ms. A. I… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 6, 2008 at 10:20pm — No Comments

James Lee Burke

Every time I read something by James Lee Burke I tell myself, “You really need to read more James Lee Burke.” This year I’m finally getting around to it, and it’s made my reading time richer and more rewarding. I just finished PEGASUS DESCENDING after reading CADILLAC JUKEBOX in March and JOLIE BLON’S BOUNCE in December. I don’t like him more each time anymore; he’s who I come back to when I want to be reminded why I love to read.

His characters walk in off the cane break as… Continue

Added by Dana King on May 6, 2008 at 11:29am — 2 Comments

Video Games and Real Violence

Over the last couple of days there's been an interesting thread on CrimeSceneWriter concerning the connection between kids, video games and real-life violence such as the various school shootings.

It reminded me of an excellent book I read several years ago by Lt. Col Dave Grossman, a retired army ranger, psychologist and instructor at West Point who is the founder of the Killology Research Group. He is an expert in the field of human aggression and killing, particularly in… Continue

Added by Doug M. Cummings on May 6, 2008 at 6:56am — No Comments

April Mystery Bookspot update

Reviews

The Magician and the Fool by Barth Anderson "THE MAGICIAN AND THE FOOL is thoroughly enjoyable, and imbued with a rich sense of wonder. What starts out as a juggernaut thriller subtly and skillfully turns into study of magic in the modern world."

The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson "If Jim Thompson were alive today he'd want to write a novel… Continue

Added by BrianLindenmuth on May 6, 2008 at 4:33am — 1 Comment

Where do characters come from?

All cats are not created equal. While Cyrus was a quiet cat, the dignified, strong and silent type, Musetta is a little loudmouth. In fact, since we were just away for a week, she's been quite chatty. Some would say demanding. And last night, I realized something. More than the barristas at the local 1369 and Peet's coffeehouses, Musetta is the model for my spunky punk rocker Violet. ("Thank God she can't dye her hair purple," says my… Continue

Added by Clea Simon on May 6, 2008 at 1:50am — No Comments

I got a Kirkus review

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is out this week in Canada and comes out in July in the US and last week got a review in Kirkus. And it's starred.

I'm humbled and shocked and thrilled. I don't even have anything to say, so here it is:

It’s refreshingly hard to tell the good from the no-good in this helping of cops and robbers, Canadian style.

Sharon MacDonald, smart, attractive, a loving mother, wears one of those metallic adornments around… Continue

Added by John McFetridge on May 6, 2008 at 12:56am — 6 Comments

Conference Afterthought

At the Maryland Writers Conference I had the chance to speak to a lot of writers who were starting out, and a few who are well established. That is always fun but I must admit that sometimes a very enthusiastic person will approach to tell me their every exciting story and what comes rushing out is less than clear. At one point yesterday I found myself tempted to tell one aspiring author, "It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you’re saying."

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 6, 2008 at 12:38am — No Comments

Review - What Burns Within, Sandra Ruttan

While I'm at it - I've just had the pleasure of posting a review of Sandra Ruttan's terrific new book:

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/node/4529

Added by Karen from AustCrime on May 5, 2008 at 10:58pm — No Comments

Get It Into Your Thick Head!

I'm a member of several chat groups, and I find them helpful. I learn who is doing interesting stuff, who will be where, and who likes what type of reading--sometimes ad infinitum.

How many adages do we have that speak of differing tastes? We know there are wide variances among people, and yet we spend time and energy trying to make them read what we read. Someone says he doesn't like police procedurals. Immediately there are multiple responses detailing why the police… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 5, 2008 at 10:55pm — No Comments

I'm trying to write a novel here....

by Margaret Coel

Six months ago, I had a brilliant idea. Two walls of my study could be knocked out to make a bigger study. To get just how brilliant this was, try to picture my study: desk and computer, a pair of stuffed floor-to-ceiling bookcases, flowered loveseat, lamp and two filing cabinets, all jammed shoulder-to-shoulder against the walls around the closet, window and door. Piles of manuscripts, folders, magazines and other important stuff that I mean to get to someday on the… Continue

Added by Sisters In Crime on May 5, 2008 at 10:40pm — No Comments

Review - Blood Sunset, Jarad Henry

I haven't been posting reviews here recently - as I've been RSS feeding my blog in instead, but every now and again a book comes along that you want to let people know about - and Blood Sunset's definitely it!

The Synopsis of the book starts:

When the sun lowers itself into the bay and leaves the sky over St Kilda a dark crimson, it's beautiful and threatening at the same time. But the tourists don't see it that way. They only see the pretty colours and the calm water, the… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on May 5, 2008 at 7:06pm — No Comments

What's New for May

Hi, everyone.

I don't think I've ever had a month like this one with so much going on. Tons of news. Plus I forgot to mention that the movie SON OF RAMBOW (correct spelling) opened today. It's a touching British coming-of-age film that was received enthusiastically at film festivals last year, particularly at Sundance. A group of boys is captivated by the Rambo movies. They start dressing up like the characters. Rambo film footage is in it. But that's just a footnote to the other… Continue

Added by David Morrell on May 5, 2008 at 6:57am — No Comments