Have you watched reality shows though? I suggest a glass of wine, or Scotch, or creme soda...a hassock, lots of pillows to get comfy on, a suspension of disbelief, and a willingness to laugh at the absurdity of "reality." (the latter of which helps get through any day, anyway)

Jack, I get that sometimes. Something to do with it being a flash driven site. Try www.cnpublishing.co.uk the site has examples from both my books.

Kind regards,

Darren

Jack, I'll take that as a compliment. We have some very good graphic designers and an excellent photogrpaher. The book is equally evil in a good thrilling sense. Best wishes for 2008.

I know you are, bud. I hope this is your banner year. Wishing you all the best in 2008!

Happy New Year, buddy. Hope 2008 is wonderful for you.

No matter what you write, crap or non-crap, if you do it to the best of your ability it improves your writing long term. And as I've often said before, a competent, professional writer should be able to write just about everything, crap AND non-crap.
Russ

Nope, the cover didn't arouse me, although a lot of HARD CASE CRIME'S covers do. It was a Shamus winner. I'm a sucker for those Shamuses, having been nominated a couple of times.

Hey, did you see how close our picks were for the best of 2007? Great minds...

Hi Jack-

Nice catch! You're officially the first person to recognize where those photos were taken. It's funny, I really had those images in the back of my mind when I wrote the opening to The Tunnels.
Happy holidays and best wishes for 2008-
Michelle

Good to see you, Jack, and thanks for asking! I'm much better ... gotta go back for an x-ray to make sure I knocked out The Big Noo (pneumonia over Thanksgiving).

I'm working on my new series, and trying to keep my head above water with all else. It's been quite a year ... and ending it with a Spinetingler Award nom has been as wonderful as it was unexpected.

And I'm looking forward to the Noir City festival in January!

Hope all's well with you, buddy. Take care, and have a good holiday, OK? I'll be thinking of you at Noir City ...

Thanks for the invite Jack, good to know you.

Some call it eclectic, some acuse me of having hodge-podge taste. You say potato ... eh, you get the idea.

Good to hear from you, Jack. I admire your eclectic taste. And I, too, adore old Bogart movies.

Thanks for inviting me as your friend. Loved your "Confessions of a Hack" statement. I'll have to check out your writing because I have a feeling it'll be right up my alley.

Hey, you've been published by NAL. In more than 40 novels, I've never been published by a biggie.

I know how your feel about historical ... it gets me too.

We may even have been on a panel together.

Jack

Hi Jack, we met briefly at some writers' event. I think ... I think it was at Bouchercon in Toronto a few years back. Wow! Thanks for reaching out to me!

Anyway, yes, I do love Maugham. I can't understand why he's forgotten. His psychological portrayals of colonialists, the evil that's mistaken for urbanity and that hides behind "respectability," his short story thrillers -- they all had me, still have me enthralled. Of course, I'm also a big fan of Hammett, Chandler, and company, too. I write about the 20s because I guess I'm basically a nostalgia buff. I've tried writing a couple of contemporary "krimis," but I'm just drawn back to the "old stuff."

Wow! Jack Bludis wrote to me. I can't believe it!

Have a great weekend!

Jack,

I'll check out your stuff, even if you are a self-proclaimed hack!
Glad you like the blog!
Ana

I've just read your 'Confessions of a Hack' with interest - and it does of course beg the question; 'Did the African Gray Parrot say anything else?'

As for Lost and Heroes, quite possibly generational and I'm probably way too old for it - that wont stop me watching the 'Heroes' season finale with a glass of Vino this evening though!! (I would of had a can of lager in my yoof)

Look forward to chatting with you Jack.

Nikki