October 2008 Blog Posts (175)

A Decision Is Made...

After getting some encouragement, I've now begun my non-fiction project trying to explain what works and doesn't work in pop culture. It's going to be a lot of work, and I'll be doing it alongside my crime novel, but I think I'm up to it.

Most of the non-fiction project is editing the posts I did for my blog. Wish me luck on it, I'm going to need it.

Added by D.R. MacMaster on October 21, 2008 at 5:02am — No Comments

An Interview at Blog Critics Magazine

I was recently approached by Mayra Calvani at Blog Critcs Magazine and asked to do an interview on the subject of my novel 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper.

The interview has now been published at both Blog Critics Magazine at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/10/20/031927.php and also at The Dark Phantom website as part of their Halloween Festival at… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on October 20, 2008 at 11:28pm — No Comments

Magna, Here I Come

I was offered a chance over the weekend that may be too good to pass up. Friends are headed to Magna Cum Murder, and they said, "Come with us." Now, I'd said no earlier since I have no book to push at a mystery con, but things seem to be falling into place. Turns out I'll be halfway to Muncie on Thursday. I can hook up with a friend who's driving down, stay with them, and maybe even get on a panel. My short story is now in a mystery anthology, DYING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND, so I have something… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 20, 2008 at 10:08pm — No Comments

AUSTIN S. CAMACHO, MYSTERY MAN & MARKETING GURU AT ACME WEDNESDAY

Austin S. CamachoAustin S. Camacho

Catch Austin S. Camacho over at Acme Authors Link on Wednesday, Oct. 22. If you comment with a question, he'll be back on October 26 with the answers.

Morgan… Continue

Added by Morgan Mandel on October 20, 2008 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Add water, stir, and kill

Camille Minichino, aka Margaret Grace, discusses murder and miniatures at the Kill Zone on Sunday, October 19th. check out her post.

Added by Kathryn Lilley on October 20, 2008 at 9:27am — No Comments

Personal Apperance by Yvonne Mason at Circle Books November 8th

Popular Florida Author Yvonne Mason will be making a personal apperance at Circle Books in Sarasota Florida on November 8,2008 from 11:00am- 1:00pm to sign her lates releases Brilliant Insanity and Silent Scream. She will also have her first release Stan's Story A Touch of Love. A true story of a young man's success at a time when failure was the only option for the challenged. She will take you into Stan's life from beginning to present in such a way you come away with a better understanding… Continue

Added by Yvonne Mason on October 20, 2008 at 3:06am — No Comments

DYING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

For a newbie seeing your name in a book is a kick beyond a number of others. A few years ago I saw a photo on J.A.Konrath's web site of him opening the first box of books he received from his publisher. I thought to myself, I wonder what that is like. When Tony Burton had my copies of Dying sent to me they were miss directed by the people with the big brown trucks for an extra week. Both he and I tracked their progress from Tennessee to Wisconsin and finally to Florida.

My wife and I spent… Continue

Added by Allan E. Ansorge on October 20, 2008 at 12:29am — No Comments

An odd development....

I do a blog where I talk about the business behind pop culture. How movies are made, or not made, how studios are run, and not run, and other business issues.

I've developed a small, but apparently loyal following. Ironically, a couple have started saying that I should write a book about my ideas. And now that I look back, I think I just might give it a crack.

There are too many books about celebrities out there, and insider gossip. My work has been to try to make sense of… Continue

Added by D.R. MacMaster on October 19, 2008 at 12:55pm — 1 Comment

Vero Beach Book Signing - Friendships are priceless

(Michael, Gina & Bob Soos)

My signing at Waldenbooks in Vero Beach, Florida, the first of October went very well. Bob Soos interviewed me on his Morning Magazine radio show Friday, Oct. 3, and we talked about my book, Chasin’ the Wind, and the signing. Bob gave three copies of the book away to people who could answer Key West trivia questions he came up with.

I first met Bob, and his wife Gina, when he was the general manager of… Continue

Added by Michael Haskins on October 19, 2008 at 12:07pm — No Comments

"I Had The Bestest Day"

After a peaceful sleep in what has to be the quietest place on earth, and a yummy breakfast of eggs over easy it was time for the long commute to school. It was all of a minute's walk!

Only two of the Sleetmute students were in this morning. A… Continue

Added by Donna Moore on October 19, 2008 at 6:21am — 2 Comments

Murder at the Pelican Club - A Brand New Murder Mystery Play

In August I was commissioned to write a murder mystery play. More used to penning crime novels this is my first serious play and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it. It began with an e mail in August asking writers for submissions for a new murder mystery play to be performed by professional actors and actresses in the autumn. Deadlines were extremely tight. I needed to know more.

What kind of play were they looking for? Was it to be a serious play… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on October 19, 2008 at 2:17am — No Comments

My Experience With Democracy...

While I was working the poll, so to speak, during the recent Canadian federal election I learned a few things about people.

About 5% of people go around town, and even drive, without their wallet and I.D., driver's licences included.

1 person in 171 will actually get offended by getting asked to see their driver's license at the poll, and then storm out, muttering curses at the universe in general.

1 person in 170 will actually take the time to go to their… Continue

Added by D.R. MacMaster on October 18, 2008 at 1:21pm — No Comments

Little Old Bag Lady, Me

Okay, I'm not very little, and I'm not that old. But I've got the bag thing covered.

My presentations have become more varied as time passes. Libraries and groups that liked the Mystery Talk want me to return, but I can't keep doing the same speech over and over. I expand my topics periodically, but new libraries and groups may still want the original speech. In order to deal with the "which speech am I getting ready for" problem, I have developed the Bag System. For each new topic I… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 17, 2008 at 10:15pm — No Comments

Find me this weekend

I told you that tonight I'll sign books at the Borders Books at 8518 Fenton Street in Silver Spring, MD.

Tomorrow's book signing is at the equally reliable Borders Express in Dulles Town Center Mall. Folks who've seen me there before can pick up the books they're missing from my collection from noon to 4 pm. That Mall is at 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Dulles VA

Added by Austin S. Camacho on October 17, 2008 at 9:20pm — No Comments

'The Voice of Anton Bouchard' at #3

My short story e-book collection 'The Voice of Anton Bouchard' is currently riding high at number 3 in the Stonehedge Publishing Fictionwise best seller list. The rise in the chart seems to have coincided with the release of the short video trailer for the book, which perhaps illustrates the use of video in the marketing of our work. I have to say I'm thirlled to see the book suddenly take off like this.

The book contains a range of stories… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on October 17, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Serene In Sleetmute

This is the beautiful Kuskokwim River from the air. It's wide and winding and has loads of narrow tributaries running off it. But I am running ahead of myself. I got up this morning and packed for my afternoon trip to Sleetmute. Ronnie's little boy came over for a few minutes in the morning before he went to his grandma's (Oma). He's 2 and a half and very bright. He has a… Continue

Added by Donna Moore on October 17, 2008 at 4:54pm — No Comments

Bouchercon 2008

(Cross posted at One Bite at a Time)

I'm back from Bouchercon and finally getting caught up on the rest of my life. I got some books to review, two interviews set up with authors, and a TBR pile exponentially larger than before the conference. A rousing success for someone who doesn't meet people easily and had only spoken to one person there before last week.

Much of the credit for that has to go to the crime fiction writing and… Continue

Added by Dana King on October 17, 2008 at 10:41am — No Comments

Goofing Off At The Library

My son and I just love almost literally slumming at the library. That is very true.

What other place can you goof off at and gain so much pertinent knowledge of just about

anything you need and want to know. My son and I are very enthusiastic readers and daily

patrons of one of the world's greatest institutions. There isn't a day go by that he doesn't

ask to visit our neighborhood library. It's almost has become our second home.… Continue

Added by George Wilder Jr. on October 17, 2008 at 6:00am — No Comments

“Why I Write Mysteries” (part 2)

Yesterday I admitted to liking the chase better than the puzzle. Sure thing, ask anyone who knows me. My monkey mind doesn’t have the patience it takes to solve puzzles, play chess or tinker with things. So that’s why I chose suspense over traditional mysteries. But why this genre to begin with?

I like the relative freedom and flexibility of it. Within the very broad constraints that come with the mystery/suspense genre, I can pretty much do whatever I want. I can keep the plot… Continue

Added by NL Gassert on October 17, 2008 at 5:01am — No Comments

A Lovely Bit Of Fish, That

A brief interlude as I am not sure how much (or even whether) I will be able to post over the next few days. Straight after school today (High School this morning, Junior High this afternoon) I am getting on a tiny plane for Sleetmute and I am not sure if I will have internet access. So I thought I would post a wee update on yesterday evening before I head off, just in… Continue

Added by Donna Moore on October 17, 2008 at 3:00am — No Comments