Awful Announcing: A complete list of ESPN’s shocking on-air layoffs (UPDATING)
Friday, June 30, 2023
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: New Books in July!
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: New Books in July!: Here are some of the titles we're looking forward to in July! Berenson, Laurien Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble Billingham, Mar...
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) by Agatha Christie
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) by Agatha Christie: Over the past two years, I have had the pleasure of returning to Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express (1934), Death in the Cl...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: I, LIBERTINE
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: I, LIBERTINE: I, Libertine by "Frederick R. Ewing" (Theodore Sturgeon) (1956) "Gadzooks!" quoth I, "but there's a saucy b...
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: Publishing Contracts You Shouldn't Sign
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: Publishing Contracts You Shouldn't Sign: When writers finally get that long-awaited offer of publication, their first reaction is jubilation, rapidly followed by "Yes, yes, a t...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky: With people hitting the road for vacations, we thought we would re-run this review of Heads in Beds, which offers insights into the hospital...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday – Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday – Miss Marple: The Complete ...: Recently Cath at Read-Warbler read The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie. This is a book of thirteen short stories featuring Miss Marpl...
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THREE SPILLANE/COLLINS ANTHOLOGIES
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THREE SPILLANE/COLLINS ANT...: This week, I pulled about twenty-five books that I really wanted to read from storage; among them were three original paperback anthologies ...
George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #130: THE REEL STUFF Edited by Brian Thomsen & Martin H. Greenberg
George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #130: THE REEL STUFF Edited by Brian Thomsen & Martin H. Greenberg
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Short Story Wednesday Review: Bad Men by Graham Powell
From the massive archive… you are also
reminded that author Graham Powell will be reading at Noir At The Bar Dallas
this Sunday evening at The Wild
Detectives.
Bad Men by
Graham Powell delivers the goods. The cover mentions the fact this collection
is filled with “crime stories.” They definitely are crime stories. There are
plenty of crimes, some mayhem, and a number of mysteries at work in these seven
short stories. Short stories where people do what they do to survive and deal
with the world as they see it.
“Grace, Period”
opens the book where Tommy Roccaforte is being forced to relocate to an
apartment far from where he used to live in Staten Island. Forced to give up
his heavy oak and Italian leather furniture along with his old life to move to
Tucson, all he has left is his wife Marie. That, a new job in a book store, and
his old habits and urges which were not left behind when the Feds relocated him
to save his life.
The man known to
many as “Duke” for reasons that become clear was tending bar when Steven came
in to talk that Wednesday night. Steven is just a college kid and out of place
in the biker bar. But, he wants a job done and his money is good in “Payday.”
A job is also a
major point in the next story titled “Cold Storage.” Dave Dewberry has a job in
mind and wants Al to be involved. It involves a bank, a guy named Eugene Bosco,
and the city of New York in its winter time glory.
The setting
moves to Kentucky in “The Leap.” Specifically, the Kentucky State Correctional
Center at Paintsville where new inmate Kenneth Pennywell has just arrived as
the story opens. Assigned to the third room in dorm four, Pennywell has a plan
for a certain inmate. The reason why is based on recent events told through
flashbacks.
The truck may
not be real and the narrator may not be stable in “The Ins And Outs.” Then again, they really could be after him.
He takes his medication and waits knowing if they find him they won’t make him
wait long.
Crime Boss Bobby
Gianetti was nabbed with a suitcase of money destined for one Tony Lambrusco.
How the cops found out and what his bodyguards are going to do about it are a
couple of things at work in “Cutting Diamonds.”
“Ken Bruen Is
Dead, Alas” is the closing story of the book. A story that has its own story
according to the preface. It is all best explained by reading it in the book.
This is an incredibly funny read and a real highlight of the book.
Bad Men by
Graham Powell is filled with plenty of crime, mystery, and certainly the
possibility of bad men. Ignoring the
whole nature/nurture argument, these are seven short tales where the guys
involved are doing what comes naturally. Whether or not they are truly bad men
really depends on your moral compass …. assuming you have one.
Material was purchased to read and review using
funds in my Amazon Associate Account.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015, 2023
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Little Big Crimes: Concrete Dog, by Stephen Ross
Little Big Crimes: Concrete Dog, by Stephen Ross: "Concrete Dog," by Stephen Ross, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2023. This is the third appearance in m...
SleuthSayers: Writing an American Novel
SleuthSayers: Writing an American Novel: Dutch author Anne van Doorn has previously written for SleuthSayers. Today, in the wake of the Dutch publication of the novel he's deeme...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 103 Calls for Submissions in July 2023 - Paying markets
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 103 Calls for Submissions in July 2023 - Paying ma...: This July there are more than eight dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Death Against Venus (1946) by Dana Chambers
Beneath the Stains of Time: Death Against Venus (1946) by Dana Chambers: Albert Leffingwell was an American advertising executive who co-founded two ad agencies in the 1920s and embarked on a not unsuccessful, bu...
Review: Dead Man’s Wake: A Novel by Paul Doiron
Dead Man’s Wake: A Novel by Paul Doiron
opens with an engagement party. Stacy Stevens and Mike Bowditch are being
celebrated by Mike’s stepfather, Neil Turner and his new wife, Jubilee, as well
as Stacy’s parents, Charley and Ora Stevens. They are at the stepdad’s lake
house in central Maine. Great Pond was the inspiration for the play and
subsequent movie, On Golden Pond, and is busy this Labor Day weekend
evening. The roar of speedboats as well as the loud noise of occasional jet ski
has been something all day and evening. The fact that it is dark has not slowed
down those racing across the surface of the lake.
All too predictably with so many racing
around after dark, the sounds of a crash are heard. It is clear to everyone in
the group that a speedboat and a jet skier collided out in the waters somewhere
around the nearby Moose Island. Mike sees a speedboat circle back and then the
running lights are turned off. The person or persons on that boat know they hit
somebody and are trying to hide in the dark night.
With limited resources, and as the only
law enforcement around and available, Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike
Bowditch has to go out to the general area of the crash and look for any
injured survivors as well as anyone deceased. After some investigation, a detached
human arm is found. Most likely, the person that lost the arm is dead.
What follows is a complicated read featuring a watery crime scene, a wealthy family and their legacy, and a past full of resentment and hate. As is benefits the long running series, the read is not one that focuses on character development as many here are long running characters that readers well know and love. Instead, the primary focus is on the case. Identifying the victims out in those lake waters, the suspects, and working the case. A complicated and entertaining read, the latest in the long running series, Dead Man’s Wake: A Novel is very much worth your time.
My reading copy was an ARC via NetGalley.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2023
Monday, June 26, 2023
Market Call: I Just Died In Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders
Earlier this month, Jay Hartman posted a market call to the SMFS list and asked list members to publicize his call regarding The Perp Wore Pumpkin: A Humorous Thanksgiving Crime Anthology Benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank. He has done the same for this call today that is posted in its entirety below. All questions should be sent to Jay as, just like the previous call, I do not know anything more than what he has posted. You can also sign up to join the SMFS at http://groups.io/g/shortmystery.
*************
Ahh, the One-Hit Wonder! That one song everybody knows
but was the only hit for the artist who recorded it. Songs such as “Don’t You
(Forget About Me)” from The Breakfast Club was a monster hit for Simple Minds,
but it was their only Billboard Top 10 hit. Throughout the decades, so many
musical artists have had just the one hit, and that’s a crime.
So is murder.
So what better way to celebrate both than by combining
them into an anthology? Here’s your chance to be inspired by your favorite
One-Hit Wonder and give a chance to breathe some new life into the greatest
hits of our lives.
1. There have been some people specifically invited to
write for this anthology, but not all have confirmed. I Just Died In Your
Arms will contain 12 stories. There will be a sequel volume in 2024
that will also contain 12 stories. Your story may be considered for either one.
2. Estimated publication date for the first volume is
October 24th, 2023. The second volume is scheduled for September 25th, 2024.
3. Untreed Reads was to be the original publisher of
this anthology but has since decided not to pursue it. Jay Hartman, editor of
the anthology, has already found a new home for the anthologies for
publication.
4. Your work must be based on a song that’s a true
One-Hit Wonder.
5. Your work must relate strongly to the song it’s
inspired by, whether that’s by the lyrics or the name.
6. You still must have a STORY and a good
mystery/crime.
7. LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC characters and authors very,
very strongly encouraged. Be authentic!
8. All works must be original to this publication and
cannot have been published or self-published previously.
9. It's perfectly ok to have simultaneous submissions
to other publishers, but please notify Jay
if you’d like your story withdrawn from consideration.
10. Please make sure your song choice is not too
obscure. From past musical mystery anthologies it's been found that readers
have a lot more interest if there are songs they immediately recognize.
TECHNICAL GUIDELINES
1. We’re not looking for flash fiction, but we’re not
against it if it works. Prefer more in the regular short story length
(2000-5000 words).
2. All submissions need to be in DOC, DOCX or Pages
format. Fonts, spacing...not important.
3. All entries should be sent to jhartman@thejayhartmanagency.com
with ONE-HIT in the subject heading. All entries will be acknowledged.
4. All submissions need to be received no later than
11:59PST, August 31st. Decisions will be made by September 15th. Jay will do
his best to notify authors early if their work is not accepted, but they cannot
be resubmitted.
5. Each contributor will receive payment of $25 plus a
free ebook copy and 50% off print versions.
6. Original stories only, no reprints.
7. The anthologies will be published in ebook and
paperback formats and distributed worldwide.
Please direct all questions to Jay Hartman at jhartman@thejayhartmanagency.com
.
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson: Reviewed by Kristin How far would you go to escape a threat to your family? If a nefarious someone knew where you lived, where you went ...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 59 Writing Contests in July 2023 - No entry fees
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 59 Writing Contests in July 2023 - No entry fees: This July there are nearly five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Skelton's Guide to Blazing Corpses by David Stafford
The third book in the
Skelton’s Casebook series by David Stafford is a fine follow-up to the
excellent second title, reviewed earlier on Kevin’s Corner: https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2022/05/aubrey-nye-hamilton-reviews-skeltons.html.
Skelton's Guide to Blazing Corpses (Allison & Busby, 2022) is set in 1930
and follows the career of barrister Arthur Skelton, who has the reputation of
salvaging the most hopeless of defenses.
Here the
hopeless defense is of Tommy Prosser, who stands accused of bashing Harold
Musgrave over the head and then setting him and his automobile on fire on Guy
Fawkes Night. There was no real evidence against Prosser, the local bad guy,
the police simply found charging him a quick way to close the case. Skelton’s
innate sense of fairness was outraged.
Musgrave’s
life did not bear close scrutiny. He was a known bigamist and was facing
multiple paternity suits. At least six other women came forward to claim
relationships with him. Each of them had an entertaining story to tell, as
Musgrave was nothing if not creative. One lady believed that Musgrave was
engaged on secret work for the air ministry, another thought he was a location
scout for the movie star Tom Mix, a third understood Musgrave was tracking down
Russian spies, and a fourth gathered he was working for a Romanian
philanthropist. Skelton considered all of the people who had been taken in by
the deeply dishonest Musgrave, decided the list of potential suspects in his
murder to be legion, and set out to free Prosser.
A second case
deals with the cardiac death of a middle-aged lady induced, the coroner
believed, by an electric shock treatment provided by a “medical electrician”,
who was promptly arrested for manslaughter. His solicitor sent the brief on to
Skelton to handle.
On a personal
level Skelton’s wife has given up flying and is now focusing on politics; she
is a fervent Communist. His clerk Edgar has become engrossed with interior
design and the decoration of his new flat. In many ways Skelton simply serves
as a straight man for the eccentric people that surround him.
The
acknowledgements mention Stafford’s illness during the writing of this book,
when his wife Caroline took over, which may account for some small
discrepancies in continuity throughout. While the writing is as witty and
clever as in its predecessor volumes, some of the plot points are not as neatly
wrapped up as they could have been. Still, this is a fine piece of historical
fiction, the setting is wonderfully realized and the resolution of Musgrave’s
murder is neatly handled. For mystery readers who like humor wrapped around
historical settings and sound plots. Recommended.
·
Publisher: Allison & Busby
(July 21, 2022)
·
Language: English
·
ISBN-10: 0749027142
·
ISBN-13: 978-0749027148
Aubrey
Nye Hamilton ©2023
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, June 25, 2023
One Week Out: Noir at the Bar Dallas!
One week until Noir at the Bar Dallas returns to The Wild Detectives at 314 W 8th St in Oak Cliff. We are scheduled to read from 7 to 9 PM. It should be a great night. Hope you come out. You do not get too many chances to fully experience "Tipple After Dark." This is one of those rare occasions.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
KRL This Week Update for 6/24/2023
Up on KRL this morning a review and giveaway of "The Isolated Séance" by Jeri Westerson along with an interesting guest post by Jeri about Spiritualism in the Sherlockian Era https://kingsriverlife.com/06/24/the-isolated-seance-an-irregular-detective-mystery-by-jeri-westerson/
As we near the end of Pride month, up in KRL this morning we have the last of the LGBTQIA mysteries we are featuring this month--we have a review and giveaway of "Charlotte Iles is Not a Detective" by Katie Siegel along with the first chapter of the book https://kingsriverlife.com/06/24/charlotte-illes-is-not-a-detective-by-katie-siegel/
We also have the latest mystery Coming Attractions from Sunny Frazier along with a giveaway of a copy of "Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust" by Mindy Quigley https://kingsriverlife.com/06/24/july-coming-attractions-summertime-edition/
And a review of the latest Aurora Teagarden mystery movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, "Something New." This one features a young Aurora https://kingsriverlife.com/06/24/aurora-teagarden-mysteries-something-new/
And an interview with mystery author (and so much more) Tom Sawyer about his art book, "The Art of the Real Tom Sawyer" where he talks about his earlier career as an artist/illustrator where he even worked with Stan Lee! https://kingsriverlife.com/06/24/the-art-of-the-real-tom-sawyer/
For those who prefer to listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL, you can find the player here for our latest episode which features an excerpt from "Renovated to Death" by Frank Anthony Polito , read by actor Ian Jones https://kingsriverlife.com/06/24/mysteryrats-maze-podcast-featuring-renovated-to-death-by-frank-anthony-polito/
Up during the week we posted another special midweek guest post, this one by mystery author Rebecca McKanna about her new book "Don't Forget the Girl" and about her bi character Chelsea. This is another LGBTQ+ mystery we are featuring for Pride month! https://kingsriverlife.com/06/21/dont-forget-the-girl/
And another special midweek guest post, this one featuring another LGBTQ+ mystery for Pride. Mystery author David S Pederson shares about his new book "Murder at the Oasis" https://kingsriverlife.com/06/21/palm-springs-an-oasis/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Muddled Matrimonial Murder" by Kim Davis https://www.krlnews.com/2023/06/muddled-matrimonial-murder-by-kim-davis.html
And a guest post by trans mystery author Renee James where she talks about releasing her latest book "BeatNikki’s Café" during these difficult times for the trans community https://www.krlnews.com/2023/06/launching-into-storm.html
Happy reading, watching, and listening,
Lorie
SleuthSayers: "So I read your book…" (pause) Why Giving Books Away Can Backfire by Melodie Campbell
SleuthSayers: "So I read your book…" (pause) Why Giving Books Aw...: I gave a dinner party last night for friends of my new husband. Pleasant people. One was a career librarian (recently retired.) I looke...
Scott's Take: Poison Ivy Vol. 1: The Virtuous Cycle by G. Willow Wilson
Poison
Ivy Vol. 1: The Virtuous Cycle
by G. Willow Wilson has Poison Ivy reborn in a new body with some new powers.
She is also dying, so she decided to kill humanity by spreading a deadly
fungus. If that was not enough, the person who helped create her is hunting her
to also kill her.
Poison
Ivy is needlessly cruel in this volume. Even though that is a major point of
this story, it is out of character for her. But, she is supposed to be out of
sorts so it kind of works. Personally, I like Poison Ivy the best when she is
targeting the big corporations that are damaging the environment and not your
average person.
There is
incredible art in this volume and plenty of body horror. The new powers really
don’t make sense in this universe since Poison Ivy has power over the green
(plant life, trees, etc.) and fungus has always been depicted has part of the
grey (the power of death, etc.) Somehow, she now can use fungus and she is not
the only one. A minor nitpick, but noticeable.
Overall, I enjoyed this volume despite that fact. I am looking forward to Volume 2 titled Unethical Consumption which is scheduled for late November of this year. So, a long wait.
My reading copy came via the Hoopla App of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2023
Friday, June 23, 2023
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death of a Bookseller by Bernard Farmer
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death of a Bookseller by Bernard Farmer
Beneath the Stains of Time: What Happened at Hazelwood (1946) by Michael Innes
Beneath the Stains of Time: What Happened at Hazelwood (1946) by Michael Innes: " Michael Innes " was the pseudonym of J.I.M. Stewart, Professor of English Literature, who penned nearly fifty erudite, gently hu...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death of a Bookseller by Bernard Farmer
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death of a Bookseller by Bernard Farmer: Reviewed by Jeanne First published in the 1950s, this reissue of a “British Crime Classic” may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Sgt. Ja...
SleuthSayers: Some Favorite Novels by O'Neil De Noux
SleuthSayers: Some Favorite Novels: Since posting a list of some of my favorite short stories back on June 2nd, my mind clicked to some of my favorite novels. Many of these boo...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Optimist's Daughter: Eudora Welty
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Optimist's Daughter: Eudora Welty: I read The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty for a Classics Club Spin and I am a bit late reviewing it. The book is very short, 180 ...
FFB Review: Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction Editors Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller
From the massive
archive…
For many
writers, attending graduate school or a writing conference to work on their
craft is simply not possible. The point of Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in
Writing Popular Fiction is that one can get much of that knowledge from this
book. Editors Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller assembled over sixty
expert contributors, many of them connected to Seton Hill University’s MFA
program in Writing Popular Fiction for this over 350 page textbook. A book full
of wisdom that you can work through at your own pace.
Published in
2011 by Headline Books, Inc., the book is broken into roughly three sections
titled “Craft “and “Genre,” and “The Writer’s Life.” Each section has several
sub-sections related to the main topic of the section. This design allows
readers to move back and forth through each section or the book as a whole to
find the information they need at the time they need it.
The “Craft”
section opens the book with a sub-section on “Style Ad Process.” Information on opening lines, how to handle
point of view and how not to information dump is here among other items of
interest. Each article is of several pages and features a brief author bio at
the end. This same format is used throughout the book.
“Character And
Dialogue” is the next sub-section starting on page 64. This section is all
about making your characters realistic, making them suffer, and in the end,
making them as well as your writing and the story stronger.
“Plot And
Structure” follows next with interesting pieces such as “Demystifying What
Editor’s Want” by Venessa Giunta. Now
that you have strong characters and know what the editors want in them, it is
time to put your characters into a good story. A good story is made up of a lot
of elements such as pacing, characters that can save themselves, find romance
when warranted, as well as the setting they are placed into for the story.
In the novels by
James Lee Burke, the setting is as important as the characters. The sub-section
on “Setting” comes next starting on page 111. While Susan Crandall does not
reference Burke in her piece “Setting as a Character: It’s More than a Backdrop” she uses plenty of
other references to make the same point while also explaining how to do it. She
isn’t the only author to discuss setting as there is a lot more information
here on this key part of your tale.
Starting on page
129 with “Genre” it is on to specifies. After a general sub section on “Genre
and Originality” which makes the point there are certain expectations for each
genre, their limitations, and how to deal with those while pursuing
originality, it is on to the various genres with each section getting their own
detailed sub section.
“Romance And
Women’s Fiction” begins on page 150.
While some are arguing for a clear distinction between the two, in this
book they are grouped together. In a poignant and inspirational essay by
Crystal B. Bright titled “Write from the Heart” she explains how she pursued
her dream and the novel she wanted to write despite the “no’s.” Her
inspirational story does not apply just to romance novelists, but to all
writers in all genres. That fact ties into a key point noted in the
introduction of the book and constantly reinforced though many examples
throughout Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction.
Regardless of the genre you write in, you can learn from those in other genres
because there are universal principals that link all types of writing together.
Following the
essays on many types of romance is the subsection titled “Science Fiction And
Fantasy.” Pieces on world building,
cyberpunk, using myths, realism and more are here and provide a lot of
interesting reading.
Then it is on to
those of us who want to kill people for fun and profit, have no underworld
connections, and don‘t want to be arrested.
“Horror, Mystery and Suspense Thrillers” begin on page 196 with essays
on plotting, getting the dialogue correct, surprising readers and lots of other
good information. Along with an excellent piece on plotting by Victoria
Thompson there is an excellent advice piece by David Morrell about thrillers.
“Children’s And
Young Adult Fiction” are their own deal and have a section starting on page
227. Getting those readers into your work and how not to lose them is the point
of this section. It is not just about those teen readers either. How to properly do picture book illustrations
based on the text and other information is present here.
While the book
is primarily about novels it also explores other approaches in the sub-section
“Alternative Approaches.” Prolific
author Michael Bracken leads off this section with his essay, “I Write Short
Stories” that begins on page 264. He makes the point that short stories can be
more lucrative than novels while also making you a stronger writer. He also
helpfully explains how to find those short story markets, how to write for
them, and how to be productive. As he points out on page 249 – “Writing short
fiction requires the same skills as writing novels: the ability to create
coherent plots, to develop believable characters, to write realistic dialogue,
and to mesmerize readers into suspending disbelief for the length of a story.”
Also included in
this section are essays on topics such as magical realism, how magna is gaining
in popularity and how to write for that market, and movie tie in books.
Having moved
through the genres and then some it is back to advice that will definitely help
all with “The Writer’s Life.” Starting on page 269 this nearly 90 page section
is devoted to sub sections on. “Learning” and “Working” and “Promoting.”
“Learning” as a
writer never ends and can come in many forms. This can be from graduate school,
brutal critique, workshops, or just about anything. Even TV shows that are
hated in the beginning as Catherine Mulvany explains in “Lessons from the
Vampire Slayer.”
“Working”
starting on page 289 is all about productivity. Writing more, pleasing readers
in multiple genres, and time management among other topics are covered here. As
Lee McClain points out in her essay “Time Management: Creative Paths to
Productivity.” . . . unlike literary fiction, genre fiction requires you to be
prolific. Stephanie Meyer wouldn’t have had the same success if she’d waited
two years before bringing the second Twilight novel to completion.” (Page 297)
As a genre writer, you simply have to be productive and get a lot of work out
because readers expect and demand it. Her informative essay is about how to be
productive in terms of novels, but this piece also ties in nicely to Michael
Bracken’s essay referenced above about why he chose to pursue short stories
over novels and editing anthologies.
Also in this
section are excellent essays by Shelly Bates titled “The Seven Habits That Got
Me Published” and “How to Get an Agent” by Ginger Clark among other very
informative pieces. Professionalism in how you act and your work is a key part
of both pieces and the others. That includes adjusting to the rise of e-books
as well as being dumped by your publishing house. A very informative section
and one that will help you no matter where you are as a writer.
Marketing your own
work is a job many of us dread and hate. After all, the book should sell
itself, right? These days, if it ever
did, things don’t work that way which is why a section titled “Promoting” is
necessary. With essays on the basics of author bios, contact information, press
releases, book reviews and more, this section gives you the framework to tell
the world about your book. Getting information on your book out there so
readers/buyers know about it is key here with lots of basic yet very good
information.
The book closes
with a detailed “Resources And References” section that covers where to go for
more information imprint and online.
An extensive and
inspirational book filled with lots of practical advice for any writer at any
stage in his or her career, Many Genres, One Craft: Lesson in Writing
Popular Fiction is one of those books that writers just have to have on
their shelves. Unlike many of the courses and books bandied about online, this
book features practical and realistic advice and tips from writers who have
managed to build prolific and solid careers stretching back decades. No matter
your particular writing interest, the information in this book will not only be
specific to that interest, but to the craft of writing as a whole. Simply put
--this is an excellent book that you must have and use.
Material
supplied by the publisher quite some time ago in exchange for my objective
review.
Kevin R. Tipple
©2012, 2023
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Today's Example of How Not To Behave
I got the below in my spam folder this afternoon. I
have withheld the name of the sender to protect the identity of this miserable
person.
"You reviewed a book a couple of months ago. It
was so interesting and I contacted you to find out more about it. You never
answered my question. So I guess your reviews are only for your interest only.
You expect no one to really read the book, so I will stop reading your reviews.
You’re such a selfish person."
Having never gotten any such message, I have no idea
what book it was nor the question. As this person only lashed out with the
above and never followed up on the original question, I can provide zero help
now.
I recognize that to be this angry, this person is
going through some things and lashing out. The issue is not me, or the reviews,
or the question. The issue is this person is going through something. As I told
the person, I hope things get better.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
MAKE MINE MYSTERY: The Joys of Talking Writer to Writer
MAKE MINE MYSTERY: The Joys of Talking Writer to Writer: by Janis Patterson Last week I got a kind of vacation - The Husband and I drove up to a secluded Arkansas hideaway where we had been invited...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Our Missing Hearts, Summer I Turned Pretty, Micro, More!
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Our Missing Hearts, Summer I Turned Pr...: Reported by Rita Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a dystopian coming of age novel about a 12 year old boy named Bird trying to unr...
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE MAN IN THE ROOM
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE MAN IN THE ROOM: "The Man in the Room" by Edwin Balmer & William MacHarg (first published in Hampton's Magazine , May 1909; first book ap...
Short Story Wednesday Review: Fedora III Editor Michael Bracken
From the massive
archive…
By now, pretty
much everyone is very familiar with the classic detective cliché. The Hardnosed
P. I. alone in his office when the beautiful dame (great legs, of course) walks
in. Smoke wreathes the ceiling as she folds her long legs under the chair and
tells our hero her problem. He can help her he decides and beyond that, there
is something she makes him feel that he hasn't felt for a very long time. In
this anthology, the cliché is stood on its head and spun around for interesting
results.
This anthology,
the third of the Fedora series, features seventeen hard-hitting
stories of men being hardnosed men, dealing with the evil that walks the mean
streets. While it is impossible to cover each story in detail, the selections
below reflect a small sampling of the range of stories.
"Ordained
Sin" by Carol Kilgore features Nolan Douglas who just ticked off his
girlfriend-again. But, a case that falls into his lap just might help him ease
back into her good graces as well as allowing him to clean up some human scum.
Sometimes the innocents truly do suffer and nothing and no one can save them.
"One Hit
Wonder" By J. L. Abramo is an intriguing story of a misdialed phone call.
When placing your phone order for a hit, make sure you call the right number
and not Jake Diamond of Diamond Investigations.
No anthology
would be complete without at least one story about bail bonds and bond jumpers.
In this case, read "Kane's Mutiny" by Bev Vincent. Not only is Jimmy
Weber on the run with Kane looking for him, Weber's wife wants to help Kane any
way she can.
Featuring
stories from other excellent writers such as Tom Sweeney, Lee Goldberg, George
Wilhite, David Terrenoire, David Bart, James S. Dorr, Chelle Martin, Dorothy
Rellas, Ann Aptaker, Nick Andreychuk, Michael Hemmingson, Graham Powell, Kevin
Egan and Editor Michael Bracken, interested readers won't find a bad story in
the bunch. The tough guys care, whether they show it or not, the women are
almost uniformly devious, and the streets and other locations are mean. It's a
good thing.
Material provided by Editor Michael Bracken in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple
© 2004, 2010, 2023
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Little Big Crimes: Wrong Road to Nashville, by Joseph S. Walker
Little Big Crimes: Wrong Road to Nashville, by Joseph S. Walker: "Wrong Road to Nashville," by Joseph S. Walker, in Weren't Another Other Way to Be: Outlaw Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Wa...
Monday, June 19, 2023
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks & Their Least Impressed Visitors by Amber Share
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary Nationa...: Reviewed by Kristin The title expresses it well. Unbelievably, some tourists are not impressed by the Grand Canyon. One star review here: ...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Sons and Brothers by Kim Hays
Sons and
Brothers
(Seventh Street Books,
2023) is
the second Linder and Donatelli mystery by Kim Hays, who uses her Swiss
residency to good effect in this series set in Bern, Switzerland. Pesticide
(Seventh Street Books, 2022) is her first book about Inspector Giuliana Linder
and her younger colleague Investigator Renzo Donatelli of the Bern police. Now
they are back, investigating a crime with tendrils that extend well into
Switzerland’s and the victim’s past.
On a cold
rainy night in November Emergency Services receives a call about a man drowning
in the Äare River. Help arrived too late to save Johann Karl Gurtner, a
72-year-old cardiac surgeon who had been walking his dog. Indications of a struggle
ruled out accidental drowning. Linder and Donatelli find a number of potential
suspects in Gurtner’s background: Professional colleagues who resented his
arrogance including a doctor who had been hired to fill Gurtner’s position upon
his retirement, only Gurtner refused to retire. A wife and two sons Gurtner
walked away from to marry a much younger woman. Members of a trade guild to
which he belonged in accordance with long-standing family tradition.
Flashbacks
explain Gurtner’s younger days and a long-standing Swiss practice that farmed
out neglected or abandoned children to work in rural areas, something like the
orphan trains in the United States. Sometimes they were treated well and often
they were not. This depressing practice endured in Switzerland into the 1970s.
A complicated
story that goes back for generations and reveals multiple crimes. The realistic
detailed police investigation is front and center at all times, with the focus
first on Linder’s research and interviews, then on Donatelli’s. A secondary
thread deals with Linder’s harassment by an obnoxious prosecutor. As always
Linder’s patient husband Ueli juggles his job and child care responsibilities
while she works long hours. Hays thoughtfully included a guide to Swiss names
but I still found some of the nickname and given name variations confusing. For
fans of contemporary police procedurals and international crime fiction.
·
Publisher: Seventh Street Books
(April 18, 2023)
·
Language: English
·
Paperback: 362 pages
·
ISBN-10: 1645060586
·
ISBN-13: 978-1645060581
Aubrey
Nye Hamilton ©2023
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.