August 2007 Blog Posts (308)

Time for Reading

Since I started writing, a strange guilt plagues me whenever I read: I feel like I should be writing instead. A really good book overcomes this guilt, because then I consider it research, honing my craft by reading expert writers.

My own study of what I want to write and how I will do it makes me intolerant of what I consider mediocre work, so that I often don't finish a book if it hasn't grabbed me by fifty pages or so.

I've been trying to expand my knowledge of writers'…

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Added by Peg Herring on August 6, 2007 at 10:35pm — 3 Comments

Not crime-related but plenty of vengeance and killing

I just finished Conn Iggulden's newest novel Genghis: Birth of a Nation. http://www.conniggulden.com/

Genghis and the Mongols are a topic of perennial fascination for me, and I'm always interested in novelistic interpretations.

The 50 pages of Iggulden's Genghis was a tad slow for me, but then, when young Genghis is out on his own trying to survive! My gosh! I could not put it down. Which is highly unusual for me. I'm…

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Added by Gigi Vernon on August 6, 2007 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Sneak Preview Movie Ticket Give-away

For anybody around here from Victoria, NSW, QLD, SA, WA and the ACT, thanks to the kind generosity of the people at Palace Films, we've got 10 double passes to sneak previews of the documentary Forbidden Lie$ to give away.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/node/2151

If you're around here and interested in the movie - please stick in a competition entry - you just never know who is judging these things… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on August 6, 2007 at 3:21pm — No Comments

Coming Out Of Hibernation

Every so often I find myself going through a bout of solitude. This has been happening for the last couple of months, possibly brought on by an abnormally cold Sydney winter and probably compounded by the re-entry into my life of copious amounts of caffeine.

Yes, I'm quitting it again.

During my hibernation I… Continue

Added by Daniel Hatadi on August 6, 2007 at 2:05pm — No Comments

Review - Frantic, Katherine Howell

TITLE: FRANTIC

Author: Katherine Howell

Publisher: Pan MacMillan

Edition released: 2007

ISBN: 978-1-4050-3797-6

2822 pages

Review by: Karen Chisholm

Sophie Phillips is a paramedic and her husband Chris is a cop. When Sophie and her paramedic partner are called to a premature labour case, the results of the early labour are tragic, and despite Sophie and Mick being very sure they have done the right thing, the baby's father - Boyd Sawyer is grief stricken and… Continue

Added by Karen from AustCrime on August 6, 2007 at 11:57am — No Comments

Ahh...August

By guest blogger, Kate Flora

I grew up on a working farm on a hilltop in Maine. On nonschool days, Mom would hand each of us a typewritten chore list. The list might involve housekeeping—vacuuming, dusting, washing windows or ironing. In those days, we ironed everything, including my father’s underwear. It might involve working in one of the gardens—hoeing my father’s long, straight rows, wrestling with pigweed as tall as I was, or harvesting whatever crop was…

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Added by Writers Plot on August 6, 2007 at 11:11am — 1 Comment

Day 6 on Cheryl Kaye Tardif's virtual book tour, she shares a bit of Divine Intervention

Drop by Criminal Minds at Work for an excerpt from Cheryl Kaye Tardif's paranormal crime novel Divine Intervention, a novel about a team of psychic government agents who are searching for a deadly serial arsonist.

Sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the prologue and first chapter.

Prologue

It always began with the dead girl in her…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on August 6, 2007 at 6:00am — No Comments

THE ULTIMATE REALITY MAKEOVER SHOW: DEMOCRATIC EYE FOR THE MUSLIM GUY

THE ULTIMATE REALITY MAKEOVER SHOW:

DEMOCRATIC EYE FOR THE MUSLIM…

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Added by Rob Loughran on August 6, 2007 at 4:52am — No Comments

DEAD CONNECTION TOUR - Day 20 - August 4

Well the names have all changed since you hung around,

But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.

Okay, so I was only gone for about three weeks, but it was still a good Welcome Back at the official end of the DEAD CONNECTION book tour. The very last event was an intimate breakfast signing at Mystery Lover Books in Oakmont, PA on August 4.

Thanks again to everyone who showed up to say hello or wished me well through…

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Added by Alafair Burke on August 6, 2007 at 3:40am — No Comments

Agnes and the Hitman

OK, ladies. Forget about Morelli and Ranger. Shane is the hottest hitman out there. No one does sexy and comic suspense as well as Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. Their new book, Agnes and the Hitman is as much fun as their previous collaboration, Don't Look Down.

Weddings can be murder. And, if things don't go right, Agnes Crandall… Continue

Added by Lesa Holstine on August 6, 2007 at 1:17am — No Comments

My New York Times Article

Thought you might like to take a look at the article I
wrote for the NY Times. This link should get you
there:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/nyregion/thecity/05exte.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Sadly, it's in the CITY section which we don't get
here in CT.

The online article is attached to both an audio
interview and a slideshow. Not the greatest slideshow in history, but the audio has a funny bit at the end from my dad.

Enjoy

Added by Steven Torres on August 6, 2007 at 12:15am — 5 Comments

Two more sales!!!

Freya's Bower bought my novel, Between the Gutter and the Sky, essentially a romance between an Australian doctor trying to make her ER run efficiently and a social worker challenging her budgets, patience and heart to provide better care for the local street kids that flood her department.

And Cup Of Comfort picked up my short story, "Scratch That!", for their cat lovers anthology.

Color me happy!

Added by Babe King on August 5, 2007 at 5:38pm — 1 Comment

Crossing Genres

My big thing is to think out of the box, especially when it comes to this business of writing.

Case in point:

I just returned from an invigorating day at the national conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Los Angeles. These are some of the things I learned:

+ While mystery book conventions and conferences are often hilarious and entertaining, children's book events can be heart-warming, emotional, and transformative. I can't…

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Added by Naomi Hirahara on August 5, 2007 at 5:20pm — 5 Comments

Day 5: Read about some of Cheryl's past KillerHobbies

Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song, on Day 5 of her 'Touring the World' virtual book tour, as she chats with the ladies at KillerHobbies.blogspot.com.

What strange, interesting or unique hobbies shaped her life as a child?

And don't forget, there could be prizes at this stop!…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on August 5, 2007 at 11:30am — No Comments

Interview with Mary Cunningham by Margot Justes

Recently, I have had the pleasure of doing an internet interview with Mary Cunningham, an Echelon author.

Mary, please tell me a bit about yourself.…

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Added by Margot Justes on August 5, 2007 at 9:44am — No Comments

When We Were Orphaned

A guest post I wrote for Poe's Deadly Daughters appeared today. It's all about how to find less embarrassing ways to tell well-meaning friends who ask when the next book is coming out, "I was dumped." Turns out the best line I could come up with is "I have a book coming out with another publisher next year." But sheesh, it took me a while to come up with it. I must lack imagination.

Anyway, if you want the entire twisted tale,… Continue

Added by Barbara Fister on August 5, 2007 at 9:09am — 2 Comments

Short story: THREE LITTLE PIGS

THREE LITTLE PIGS…

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Added by Rob Loughran on August 5, 2007 at 4:55am — No Comments

G'day

Just wanted to introduce myself and say G'day. Originally from Kansas, I'm an American married to an Aussie and living in Adelaide, South Australia. I discovered Crimespace through a writing colleague - Jordan Dane - who is one of the coolest people I know. My son is a sergeant in the US Marines who has been to Iraq twice, winning a medal there for heroism under fire. Looking forward to meeting lots of you. Cheers from Down Under.

James Houston Turner

Added by James Houston Turner on August 4, 2007 at 12:32pm — No Comments

Shelfari

Hey Everybody,

I am absolutely amazed by the power of the internet. I just joined Shelfari to connect with other book lovers. Come see the books I love and see if we have any in common. It's a great way to connect with reades.

Please join Shelfari and add me as a friend! Just click on the link below.

http://www.shelfari.com/invite/-pzgzLqriJ4IFDvfQIhwqg

Added by Pamela Samuels-Young on August 4, 2007 at 12:01pm — No Comments

Day 4: A Sneak Peek at Whale Song, a novel that will change the way you view life...and death.

August 4th: Today's special treat is an excerpt from Cheryl Kaye Tardif's new bestseller Whale Song, a novel that will change the way you view life...and death.

So drop by her host site, sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the prologue and first chapter.

I ONCE FEARED death.

It is said that death begins with the absence of life. And life begins when death is no longer feared. I have stared death in the face and survived. A survivor who has…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on August 4, 2007 at 11:30am — No Comments