May 2009 Blog Posts (185)

Happy Birthday to Dashiell Hammett (among others)

Today is the birthday of Dashiell Hammett, the father of the noir mystery novel and author of The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon. Read more about him here:

Hammett Bio

Also born today was Vincent Price, actor whose stage and movie performances will be forever linked with Edgar Allen Poe. His bio is here:… Continue

Added by Patrick Balester on May 28, 2009 at 7:30am — 9 Comments

Mitzi TV launches!

Find out what Mitzi TV, eels, and London's East End all have in common in "Prowling for Eels," the debut video from Mitzi TV.

http://mitziszereto.com/tv

Added by Mitzi Szereto on May 28, 2009 at 5:24am — No Comments

I'm Liking the Slashing

You may recall that I was asked to reduce a book from 82,000 words to less than 70,000. I have to say that I've enjoyed that daunting task, and I may have improved the book overall.

When you cut, you have to look at what the least useful parts of a story are. What I found was a subplot that stretched credulity somewhat. It made a satisfying little "ta-da" at the end, but now that I've cut it, I think the book is stronger, more believable.

The bad part is all the little… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 27, 2009 at 10:55pm — 1 Comment

New Review

I have a new review to show off. Allow me to introduce you to Loretta Craig.

I met Loretta at a Writers Workshop in Chesterfield VA. I chatted with her during lunch that day and later signed a copy of The Troubleshooter for her. She wrote to me a couple of days later to tell me she was reading my novel and enjoying it very much. When she wrote again she was even more complimentary about my novel,

particularly praising its positive message.

For all those reasons, I'm… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 27, 2009 at 10:37pm — No Comments

New Video Uploaded-The Inspiration Behind In Cold Daylight

I've uploaded a new video. In it I discuss the inspiration behind my fast-paced crime thriller novel, In Cold Daylight. I'm also reading the prologue from the novel.

Here is a short blurb about In Cold Daylight- there is more about the book on my web site

Was fire fighter, Jack Bartholomew's death an accident or arson? Who is determined to stop him from discovering the truth… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on May 27, 2009 at 7:52pm — No Comments

Darden North interviewed live on "Mystery Matters: Where Murder is an Open Book"

Author Darden North interviewed live by author and Voice of America radio host Fran Stewart on Friday, May 22, 2009, and archived at http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=38606

Darden North, M.D. – a Doctor Whose Writing You Can Read

Darden North is a native of Mississippi and a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist in Jackson, MS. His… Continue

Added by Darden North, MD on May 27, 2009 at 3:32pm — No Comments

YouWriteOn.com is a tough crowd

The British Arts Council has this thing called YouWriteOn.com. It's like Authonomy.com but a bit more formal--and far more stringent in its requirements. So I put up one of my manuscripts I'm shopping around (the Death of a Young Lieutenant script) and finally received two reviews--you need five reviews for it to be considered by agents, publishers, etc.

What's interesting about the reviews is this; both liked the story. But one was either an agent or editor. He gave good ratings on… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on May 27, 2009 at 2:52am — 2 Comments

Who makes money on Kindle books?

Cross-posted from Poe's Deadly Daughters.

The Amazon Kindle has broadened the market for books, and Kindle rights are making the same amount of money for publishers, and in many cases the authors, as the print editions. So why are publishers worried as they watch Amazon conquer the e-book market?

I’ve read a lot on this subject lately, but an article by Rachel Deahl in the May 11 Publishers Weekly did the best job of explaining the conundrum publishers… Continue

Added by Sandra Parshall on May 27, 2009 at 12:41am — 3 Comments

Not Educational, but...

The trailer for Blood and Bone turned up on a web site for African American Scholarships. Maybe someone will use my novel for a fund raising event.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 26, 2009 at 10:59pm — No Comments

On Being the One-Person Show

Authors love to gripe about how hard it is to market and promote, and with good cause. It sometimes feels like nothing I do works, and in this economy, that's very possibly true. So what's a writer to do?

As a teacher, I learned to multi-task, and it serves well in this business, too. I think writers have to work more in multiple universes than others do: I'm promoting MACBETH'S NIECE but getting ready for HER HIGHNESS' FIRST MURDER to come out in January while editing SHAKESPEARE'S… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 26, 2009 at 10:46pm — No Comments

Latest Five Star Review of 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper'

My award winning novel 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper' today received its 22nd Five Star review at Amazon (10 in the UK, 12 in the USA). I'm delighted that the book continues to entertain and enthrall its readers and here's what the latest reviewer at Amazon.co.uk had to say:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for everyone!!!, 25 May 2009

By G. Brandom "Gina" (Scottish Borders) - See all my reviews

(REAL… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on May 26, 2009 at 9:53pm — 1 Comment

Summer

I'm new to Crimespace, so I'll start with an introduction. Currently I am a virtual elementary teacher and writer. I have nothing published, but the novel that I am working on has won an award at the Heartland Writers Guild conference. Now I just have to finish it! The novel is a mystery/thriller, but I love to write young adult, paranormal, fantasy, and urban fantasy. If I'm in the mood, I'll write a little horror; it's pretty formulaic, but I have to get it out of my system.

Summer us… Continue

Added by Rosylinn on May 26, 2009 at 11:23am — 1 Comment

"The Devil Can Wait" is a IPPY Bronze Medal Finalist!

Here's an update on my previous blog. "The Devil Can Wait" was selected as a 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards IPPY) bronze medal finalist in the mystery/suspense/thriller category!

Added by Marta Stephens on May 26, 2009 at 1:08am — 2 Comments

I'm international!

I found out that you can order copies of The Troubleshooter in India. I had to look up what Rs 1143 is in American money. Here’s where my Indian fans can get my books. Really!

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 25, 2009 at 10:46pm — 1 Comment

On Familiar Characters

Some hate it, but the general public likes the trend of putting famous characters, whether real or imaginary, into new stories. I just finished Laurie King's THE BEEKEEPER'S APPRENTICE, in which she does a nice job of extending the Sherlock Holmes story by introducing a young woman who meets him in his later years and becomes his partner. No Watson she; she's as sharp as Holmes and just as unique.

I used Macbeth, of course, walking a line between the real one and Shakespeare's greedy… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 25, 2009 at 10:32pm — 1 Comment

The Unseen in bookstores now!

Wow, it seems like I’ve been waiting a long time for this. At the same time, I desperately need another month.

Come to think of it, maybe everyone always needs another month.

But here we are, magically....... The Unseen hits bookstores this week, officially on Tuesday, but… Continue

Added by Alexandra Sokoloff on May 25, 2009 at 9:56pm — 2 Comments

The Trojan Project

5 stars awarded to The Trojan Project

Terrifyingly Real - An Edge of the Seat Thriller from Start to Finish!

The Trojan Project is, without a doubt, one of the finest thrillers by a debut novelist I have read in a very long time. This book had me hooked from page one and the storyline was so terrifyingly plausible that it sent shivers down my spine. Eileen Thornton weaves an ingenious plot and the characters are all too recognisable as normal, everyday… Continue

Added by Eileen Thornton on May 25, 2009 at 1:27am — No Comments

The Trojan Project

The Trojan Project.

Available on www.amazon.co.uk & www.amazon.com

A strange light appears in the night sky above the Cheviots.

A mist descends, shrouding the hills and valleys.

Is it a natural phenomenon or something more sinister?

In a remote farmhouse, Sarah worries about Pete, her missing husband.

When she and her two young children go in search of him, she makes a terrifying… Continue

Added by Eileen Thornton on May 25, 2009 at 1:13am — No Comments

New Writers Journal

A blog post on The Stiletto Gang highlighted the new journal called "The Writer's Journey." This new manual for authors is a collection of writers' essays on the craft and business of writing fiction. It's also obviously a journal with pages left for authors to write about their own journey. Thirteen writers contributed to this manual, including yours truly. Aspiring authors can reply to this e-mail to learn how to… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on May 25, 2009 at 12:07am — No Comments

Acid attacks, crucifixions and a new Patricia Cornwell: Caro Ramsay's Writing Life interview

Caro Ramsay’s debut “Absolution” is one of the most disturbing thrillers you’ll ever read. It features a beautiful woman who’s the victim of an acid attack and a series of disembowelments in the “Crucifixion killings” of young women. Caro’s also from one of the roughest neighborhoods of Glasgow, where she sets her… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on May 24, 2009 at 10:02pm — No Comments