October 2008 Blog Posts (169)

So How Did I Do?

Remember my pledge to spend this week on my WIP? Here's the progress report.

I did work on it, and it is coming along. The plot is coming together, moving from the original, vague idea of two parallel stories into a concrete blend. The characters are speaking to me, telling me what I've made them say that isn't right, adding depth to themselves through familiarity.

However, I never seem to get done as much as I expect, and it never seems to go as smoothly as I imagine.… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 31, 2008 at 9:34pm — No Comments

Meet Me in Virginia this weekend

This weekend’s book signing is at the Manassas Mall. Saturday, I’ll be at the Waldenbooks there from 1 pm to 4 pm. If you’re nearby I hope you’ll visit me at the Mall, at 8300 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on October 31, 2008 at 9:07pm — No Comments

The Perils of Podcasting (or, "Don't Try This at Home")

The podcast of my short story Bad Debt went live this week on Seth Harwood’s excellent crime fiction podcasting site, Crimewav.com. Very interesting experience.

This is my second short-story-podcasting experience; my story Grounders was podcast on… Continue

Added by Jon McGoran as D. H. Dublin on October 31, 2008 at 2:36pm — No Comments

Demons, Curses, and Other Weird Things That Go Bump In the Night

© Marta Stephens 2008 all rights reserved

One fact few people know about me is that my paternal grandfather, Marcelo Ruggero, was a stage and film actor in Buenos Aires during the 1930s to the mid 1950s. He was a local sensation in his days. By the time I was born, he had long retired, but his stories lived on through my father. I was always particularly drawn to the tales about the strange things that often plagued the crew and actors… Continue

Added by Marta Stephens on October 31, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

History of Halloween

Any of you into Halloween? Thought some of you might find the history interesting.

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a… Continue

Added by Tory Richards on October 31, 2008 at 12:18pm — No Comments

Cover Art for To Hell in a Handbasket

Yesterday I received the cover art for my May, 2009 release, TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET. It's gorgeous and just what I envisioned when I sent directions to the art department. In the first scene of the book, there's an accident on a Breckenridge, CO ski slope, and Claire has to position her skis in an X on the slope to show the ski patrol where the victim is. The colors are breathtaking and give you a chill. I love how the artist "tied" it in with the gift bow theme of the first book, A REAL… Continue

Added by Beth Groundwater on October 31, 2008 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

21 reasons to indulge in some Small Crimes

There are so many great crime novels out there that I think newer authors need to make a case why readers should give their books a try. I was fooling around yesterday (or more accurately, goofing off from writing), and came up with my case for Small Crimes, so here's my 21 reasons why you might want to indulge in some Small Crimes:

1) From Publisher’s Weekly’s starred review: "Zeltserman's breakthrough third crime novel deserves comparison with the best of James… Continue

Added by Dave Zeltserman on October 31, 2008 at 2:37am — No Comments

Imaginary Friends

In conjunction with the release of THE FRAILTY OF FLESH I'm guest-blogging at Fresh Fiction.

Added by Sandra Ruttan on October 31, 2008 at 12:15am — No Comments

Very Punny - Part II

I seem to have started something with these bad puns. I was recently reminded that a person who is a voyeur is a peeping Tom. However s a BOOK about voyeurism is a peeping TOME.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on October 30, 2008 at 9:19pm — No Comments

Loud Reading

It's not easy to explain, but the best way to write well is to read, and the best way to read is aloud. I don't know why it works, but reading your work aloud allows you to step away from being the writer and be a listener. As such, you'll hear repetitive phrases, awkward constructions, and even plot hitches that silent reading as the author doesn't give you, I suppose because you know the work too well.

One tendency I have is to use my characters' names too often. When I read aloud,… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 30, 2008 at 9:03pm — No Comments

Review: PLAYING DEAD, by Allison Brennan

PLAYING DEAD

by Allison Brennan

Ballalntine Books, New York

September, 2008

Paperback, 462 pages

Fifteen years ago, police sergeant Tom O’Brien was sentenced to death for the murders of his wife and her lover, an assistant district attorney. The state’s key witness against him was his daughter, Claire, then fourteen, who found him at the scene, bloody and holding the murder weapon.

The thing is, Tom O’Brien was framed. With his execution date four… Continue

Added by Larry W. Chavis on October 30, 2008 at 8:22am — No Comments

INSTANT REPLAY : VICTIMS RIGHTS

Andy Kahan is tha man you hear talking....he works for the Houston Mayor’s Crime Victims Office Andy has been on the top shows, including CNN, CBS’s 48 Hours, Court TV, America’s Most Wanted, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The John Walsh Show, The Nancy Grace Show, the A&E Network, ABC’s 20/20 Prime Time, The Today Show, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, but the real thrill of his media resume is that NOW he can add TRUE CRIMES with Burl Barer and Don Woldman to his list. Listen LIVE Saturday… Continue

Added by Burl Barer on October 30, 2008 at 8:00am — No Comments

Desperation

Go on over to http://www.microhorror.com and visit my buddy Nathan's cool site. My micro horror story is now up. It is called DESPERATION.

Added by Kim Smith on October 30, 2008 at 7:33am — No Comments

Author Update - Didja miss me?

Last weekend was one of the most fun times I’ve had in a while. What made Magna Cum Murder such a terrific event was the warm and welcoming attitudes of the Midwestern mystery fans. The conference has a few unique activities like round robin discussions for the authors and voting on resolutions. I got to be part of a great panel with debut author Wilfred Bereswill and leading mystery author Barb D’Amato during which we guided the audience through writing a mystery short story. Everyone present… Continue

Added by Austin S. Camacho on October 30, 2008 at 5:17am — No Comments

Approved Cover Art for Second Book..and first book signings....

The series continues to move forward. The first novel is selling well on Amazon and wil be in stores next month, and the second should follow soon after. Working on the sixth installment, The Burning Day, and a trilogy of novellas about a Southern sheriff that I plan to put between a single cover. Dashing madly from computer to computer, and loving it. Signed my first copies ever yesterday. It was a strange and wonderful experience.

Added by Timothy C. Phillips on October 30, 2008 at 4:22am — No Comments

Don't Quote Me on This

(Cross posted on One Bite at a Time.)

As Lionel Shriver notes in the Wall Street Journal, "Literature is not very popular these days. Anyone who writes literary fiction is happy to tell you it's a bitch to get literary fiction published. The reason it's a bitch is because much of it doesn't sell, and, in fairness to publishers, there's only so altruistic even the… Continue

Added by Dana King on October 29, 2008 at 12:08pm — 5 Comments

Oprah blesses the Kindle

The word sent a jolt through the author community: “Oprah endorses Kindle.” Read rest of post here.

Added by Kathryn Lilley on October 29, 2008 at 7:50am — No Comments

Another Interview thanks to 'A Study in Red'

I'm delighted that I was recently approached to take part in yet another interview as a result of the continuing growth in interest in my novel 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper'. This latest interview is now available to read online at http://missmaesite.blogspot.com/ and I'm grateful to 'Miss Mae' herself for approaching me and giving me the opportunity to publicise my book on her pages. I hope anyone who reads it will… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on October 29, 2008 at 3:30am — 1 Comment

Does Anyone Know I have a FREE READ Available?

That's right...FREE...as in, ya know, it costs ya nuthin'!!!

It's a shortie, only 12 pages long, and it takes ya about five minutes to read. Want something different for a change? Shoot over to http://www.thewildrosepress.com , make an account for yourself, go to the left hand side of the site to where it says FREE READS (clever, huh?) and click on "Dove Island" from Miss Mae.

I'd be right proud if you did!

Thank ye kindly, folks!

Added by Miss Mae on October 29, 2008 at 12:17am — No Comments

Fellow Author Featured at My Blog!

Our own award winning author, Brian L. Porter, of "A Study in Red -- The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper" is spotlighted at my blog today. I hope everyone will come over and discover how this talented writer 'got inside' the mind of Jack the Ripper and created his secret journal. This book is simply sailing off the charts and if you haven't read it yet...what are you waiting on???

http://missmaesite.blogspot.com

See you there!

Added by Miss Mae on October 29, 2008 at 12:09am — No Comments