Past News
May 2006
Interviews
Coming in the next few weeks and months: IJ Parker, Bill Crider, JA Konrath and Julia Spencer-Fleming (together on marketing) and quite possibly a round-table of AHMM authors. For right now, please take a look at the past interviews of this year and last.
Up Next…
I've just finished a hardboiled NYC-set novel, quite the noir thing, and I'm pleased though there are a couple of minor things to iron out. That'll be making the rounds of NYC publishers soon (I hope). I'm writing my story for Bronx Noir edited by SJ Rozan. And I've got a couple of science fiction short stories I'm cooking up. I'm also hard at work on a THRILLER with global implications. Yes, the sequel to The Da Vinci Code. No wait. Something tells me Dan Brown has henchmen to handle people who might dare.
March 2006
Contest! Contest!
You heard me. Another contest.
Deadline: March 31, 2006
Prize: A critique of 50 manuscript pages
How to enter: Click here for the instructions
Good luck!
SHOTS Rang Out!
The lovely and talented and very discerning Sarah Weinman has seen her way to taking one of my stories for SHOTS Magazine. In this story, Sheriff Molina is a young man in a strange place and, being Molina, he gets into a fair amount of trouble. If you're thinking about reading my fourth book, Missing in Precinct Puerto Rico, when it comes out in the fall, you will want to read this story. Molina plays a pretty big part in that book, and this story tells you a little about where he's coming from. The story is called "The Tent of Babel." I think you'll like it.
I've Got a Coffee Cramp…
Story coming out soon. Possibly already. Chick Lang at Coffee Cramp Magazine has agreed to let my story, "Chaos, 2099" see the light of day. It is my first work of "Speculative Fiction," and I've tackled no less a subject than the salvation of the Universe. (Really, it's go big or go home.) Appropriately enough, a coffee machine plays a large role in this story.
Then really, you're missing a wonderful talent. Rebecca graduated from my high school alma mater and has gone on to be one of their star alums. Her fourth novel, The Summer Snow, came out in mid-February providing a much-needed fix for fans of the series. Those fans number not a few (so get on the bandwagon) and they include the Edgar Award committee that gave her a much coveted (by me at least) Edgar for Best First Novel for her 2003 novel Death of a Nationalist. As a series, the novels have all the suspense, intrigue, and…well, mystery that one might expect from a mystery series, but there is so much more. Beautiful prose, a wonderful sense of place and time, and, most importantly for me, finely drawn portraits of the characters Rebecca involves in all kinds of troubles complete with moral growth and all the agonizing required to make that possible. Read her books! But first, the interview.
February 2006
It's a Dream Come True...
What have I wanted more than anything else in the world? What have I hoped for since...well since birth? Publication in Bryon Quertermous's Demolition. Viktor Petrenko, whose first story can be seen if you'd only scroll down, will be appearing at Demolition later this year.
Introducing Steve Hockensmith...
In the past month or so I've read a bagful of Steve Hockensmith stories. It started with "The Macguffin Theft Case" from the November 2005 Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. It continued with "Wolves in Winter" in the February 2006 Ellery Queen. I knew I had to get this man to talk to me. What better excuse to spend more time reading his stories? And I got an ARC of his debut novel coming out this very month, Holmes on the Range. No, I'm not raffling it away. It's signed. No wait... Sorry... No signature... Ah well. I smell a contest.
The man runs three short story series. There are the Christmas stories for EQMM, the Larry Erie stories, and the Amlingmeyer brother series. The last one is continued in the aforementioned novel. His stories have won a Derringer and garnered him a nomination for a Shamus Award. If you think you've seen his stuff in one of those Best American Mystery Stories anthologies, you're right. Assuming you're thinking of the 2001 edition. You will be seeing one of his stories, "Erie's Last Day," in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine Presents Fifty Years of Crime and Suspense coming this June to a bookstore near you. There, young master Hockensmith's story will be collected with stories by the likes of Westlake, Willeford, McBain, and Paretsky. Sweet.
In any event, the novel is getting raves. Kirkus likes it. Hell, the Incredible Hulk loves it. Well deserved. It's funny, it's smart, it's a perfect reflection of the author. Read on.
If You Don't Know Russel McLean...
It can only be because you're not in the know. I'm not in the know, and I know him, so really, you're just hopelessly lost. Luckily, there is a remedy in the interview provided here. There's another interview with Russel in Crimespree Magazine issue #8 (winnable if only you'd enter my contest; see above).
Russel is one of the editors of Crime Scene Scotland, a nifty but Noir ezine that has been staring at the dark side of human nature for three years with nary a blink. There are interviews, articles and new fiction... feel free to take a look... after reading the rest of the interview here of course. Besides editing, Russel is also a very talented writer. His credits include four stories published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Each of the stories fleshes out a cast of characters that is not just interesting -- you'll find yourself caring about them all, the police, the criminals, the victims, the PI. No cardboard characters here. Just people.
All of this from a young man with degrees in Philosophy (MLitt. newly minted), so we can expect some of the smartest answers ever given on this site. Read on.
January 2006
At Long Last...
A paperback deal! The first book, Precinct Puerto Rico, comes out from Dorchester Publications this July. There is a sample chapter of the book elsewhere on this site. If you haven't started the series, this will be a great way to get into it. What are you waiting for? Oh, it's not out yet. When it is, this spot will let you know. Artwork to follow. I wonder if they'll let me change the ending...
AHMM, AHMM Again
Linda Landrigan at Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine has informed me that they've decided to take another of my Precinct Puerto Rico short stories. This one isn't so short -- over 12,500 words. It's called "The Valley of Angustias," and it's set in 1964. The story concerns the case Luis Gonzalo worked on unofficially which led to his being hired as the first sheriff of Angustias. I'm quite proud of it and will happily let everyone know when a date is set for its appearance.
CRIMESPREE Redux
Jennifer Jordan let me know that I've got a story coming out at Crimespree this year. It's called "Elena Speaks of the City, Under Siege." This one stands at fewer than 2,000 words, but I think it is quite powerful. It was inspired by a Woody Harrelson movie I saw years ago called Sarajevo. I guess that should let you know it's a bit dark. When I have a date for that, I will, of course, announce it.
Speaking of Contests...
I like the idea of contests so watch this space for others throughout the year. Here are the prizes: a critique of up to fifty (50) pages of manuscript, a copy of the Book One paperback, and a Gift Bag created by Damaris. This last one will be for a contest just in time for Christmas. If you've ever seen any of Damaris's handiwork, you know this gift bag will be a keeper so keep coming back for details, deadlines, instructions, etc.
Interviews
This year, I've got a solid list of interviewees (as I did last year of course). I'll be talking to Rebecca Pawel, IJ Parker, Steve Hockensmith, Russel McLean, Jim Doherty, Bill Crider, and Con Lehane. These are just the people who are confirmed. There's a whole other list of people who have so far eluded my ability to get contact info. I'm working on it. As the interviews become ready to go live, this will be the place to go to. Scroll down a bit to see the first interview subject. There are last year's interviews for your reading pleasure here.
If You Like Viktor Petrenko (or Luis Gonzalo or Stupendous Jones)…
You'll be happy to know there are more stories available. In fact, my blog, The Crime Time Café, announced an entire menu of stories a couple of days ago. The menu is reproduced here.
Introducing Will Thomas…
I first met Will Thomas and his lovely wife Julia in New York City during an Edgar's Week celebration. His book, Some Danger Involved, had not yet come out, but having met him, I watched for its arrival. It was one of my favorite books of 2004. Since the book has been nominated for a Barry Award and a Shamus, I know I am not alone. Frankly, I think his book is better than the Sherlock Holmes story they are often compared to. Read his interview here.
Introducing Michele Martinez…
I've had the pleasure of knowing Michele Martinez since the last Bouchercon. I have now had the pleasure of reading her debut thriller Most Wanted. The novel is filled with action, adventure, romance (as any good book should be) but it also has characters that I found myself caring about. This, I believe, is the sign of a very good book indeed. In any event, Michele has been kind enough to answer a few of my questions and the results are here.
By the Way…
As you may have gathered from my note above, I have a new blog about my reading and writing. Stop by.
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