Crime Zine Report

Spinetingler relaunch week

2010-03-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

For the last month or so Spinetingler has been in the middle of a facelift and working in a live beta mode while doing so. This week is our "official" relaunch and we would like to invite everyone to stop by; we have a lot planned. We made a decision to shift away from issue-based publications and towards a continuous publication format. At the same time we wanted to split the mystery and crime fiction content off of the parent site, BSC Review, to give it room to breathe and bring it into greater relief.

Spinetingler will be debuting two brand new original short stories this week. For the next three months we will be featuring two brand new original stories a month and then we will switch to one new story a month.

Here is what you can look forward to for the next week at Spinetingler:

On Monday Spinetingler will post an original story by Hillary Davidson and we will kick off our annual Conversations with the Bookless series which is a continuation of last year's BSC Review series. The Conversations series will run on weekdays for the next couple of weeks.

On Tuesday we will have a review of this weeks episode of Justified and an exclusive interview with P.D. James.

On Wednesday we will be debuting a new weekly column that focuses on crime songs and we will be announcing all of the nominees for the 2010 Spinetingler Awards. The voting polls will open also.

On Thursday we have an article on Asian crime fiction and an exclusive article by Adrian McKinty.

On Friday we will publish the second original short story and we will have an exclusive interview with Robert Crais.

On Saturday we will be running two articles. The first is titled The Greater Bruen Mythos and the second is titled The Wire: The Feminine Equation.

On Sunday, in addition to our weekly wrap-up, our weekly coverage of Breaking Bad will continue.

www.spinetinglermag.com

Review of pilot episode of Justified from FX

2010-03-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

The nerd of Noir reviewed the first episode of the new FX series Justified over at Spinetingler

Images from Ken Bruen’s The Guards pilot TV movie

2010-02-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Check out the images over at Spinetingler here.

Dennis Tafoya video interview at BSC

2010-02-23T08:59:00.001-08:00

Keith Rawson recently conducted a video interview with Dennis Tafoya. You can see the video here.

Shutter Island review at Spinetingler

2010-02-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Keith Rawson reviews Shutter Island at Spinetingler.

The Chill by Jason Starr reviewed at Spinetingler

2010-02-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

The Nerd of Noir reviews The Chill by Jason Starr & Mick Bertilorenzi, Vertigo Crimes third graphic novel offering.

New reviews at Spinetingler

2010-02-20T04:05:00.000-08:00

Spinetingler is going through some changes at the moment. There is plenty more to come so stay tuned for more information about the new and improved Spinetingler.

We are in beta at the moment but as changes are happening we are posting reviews.

Doubleback By Libby Fischer Hellmann

Winter of Secrets By Vicki Delany

The Bone Chamber By Robin Burcell

All the Colors of Darkness By Peter Robinson

New crime zine Crimefactory debuts

2010-01-25T05:42:00.000-08:00

Keith Rawson, Cameron James Ashley and Liam Jose have taken the original Crimefactory zine that was created by David Honeybone and resurrected like a Romero zombie. And make no mistake Barbara, Crimefactory is coming to get you.

Their hard work has paid off and the first issue went live sometime over night and it's packed high and tight with all sorts goodness.

The Table of Contents for the first issue includes:

Gordon Harries on Red Harvest
Scott Phillips on Charles Willeford

An excerpt from the unpublished Ken Bruen novel Killer

The Nerd of Noir writes a double feature movie review of The Silent Partner and Straight Time

Adrian McKinty does a chapter by chapter "commentary track" on Fifty Grand

New short stories include:

"Trespassing Between Heaven & Hell" by Frank Bill
"Nothing Personal" by Steve Weddle
"The Suitcase" by Dave White
"Good Bones" by Hilary Davidson

Book reviews include:

Crime by Alix Lambert reviewed by Cameron Ashley
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon reviewed by Jimmy Callaway
The Good Son by Russel D. McLean reviewed by The Nerd of Noir
The Grove by John Rector reviewed by Keith Rawson
In the Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches reviewed by Jimmy Callaway
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell reviewed by Patti Abbott
This Wicked World by Richard Lange reviewed by Keith Rawson

Comic reviews include:

Trashman Lives! by Spain Rodriguez reviewed by Jimmy Callaway
Daytripper #1 - 2 by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon reviewed by Kieran Shea

Movie reviews include:

Harry Brown reviewed by Liam Jose
Pontypool reviewed by Patti Abbott
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans reviewed by Liam Jose

Albert Camus said that "We all carry within us our places of exile, our crimes, and our ravages" and he was right on but when he said that "our task is not to unleash them on the world" he obviously wasn't talking about the Crimefactory.

Even though there isn't anything by me in it you should check out the first issue here.

Charlie Huston video interview

2010-01-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Over at BSC Review Keith Rawson has posted the first part of his video interview with Charlie Huston.

Check it out!

Reading period for the Spinetingler Award is now open

2010-01-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

At this time I would like to announce that the reading period for the novel categories of the Spinetingler Awards is now open.

Unofficially the reading period for the Spinetingler Awards is always open, because over the course of the year we make note of the books that we read and enjoyed.

It can’t be stated any simpler than this: in order to make sure that a book is considered, it has to be put in front of us. If you are an editor, a publicist, a press owner, or an author and you want a title considered for the Spinetingler Awards, please contact me. After all, if we have read your book already, you don’t need to send us a copy.

My contact information is: blindenmuth AT gmail DOT COM

The Spinetingler Awards are given out annually in the mystery and crime fiction community (including those that flirt with it). Nominees pass through a private selection process before the shortlist is announced. The shortlist is put to a public vote, and a winner is selected.

Spinetingler Closing To Submissions

2009-12-31T08:20:00.000-08:00

As of January 1, 2010, Spinetingler will be closed to new submissions until further notice.

Unforeseen, and inescapable delays with issues have created a backlog, and it would be unfair to writers to submit works now that may not be considered for publication until 2011. Site administrators are on holidays, but the site will be updated with this information as soon as possible.

Happy New Year.

The Best Mystery/Crime Fiction of 2009

2009-12-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

Over at BSC Review The Nerd of Noir, Keith Rawson and Brian Lindenmuth have compiled their top 10 lists for the year.

It's a diverse list that includes some familiar names as well as some new ones.

The full piece can be found here.

Crooked replaced by Eastern Standard Crime

2009-07-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Change is always for the better or else nothing would be changed.

I have a new plan for Eastern Standard Crime, which will now incorporate my sister site Crooked Web Zine. Starting on August 5 (or maybe later that month since this is kind of short notice), Eastern Standard Crime will become a bi-weekly .PDF publication.

And guess what? I'm looking for...

CRIME FICTION SUBMISSIONS

I'm looking for award-winning, unique, pulse-pounding, face-grabbing, ubercool crime fiction. Similar to Crooked, I want something with a hardboiled kick or a crunch. I'm not looking for anything dark, poetic or disgusting. The guidelines are as follows...

• Must be 500 words or more.
• Must include a crime or something criminal.
• Must be new and unpublished.
• Format preference: block paragraphs on a Notepad or Word file. Submit them this way because that is how they will be published.

And since this is a non-profit site, this is a non-paying publication. I'm sorry. I still love you, though.

CRIME FICTION REVIEWS

Whether it be a novel or short story, I am looking for a few new reviewers to add more voices to this publication. A few people have asked me since I started this site if I would be interested in having other people do reviews. That time has finally come! Contact me if you are interested and we will discuss things. If you review for other sites, that's fine but I am not going to put something in the publication that has been posted elsewhere so this has to be original.

OTHER

• THE BULLET AWARDS will still be a monthly happening for flash fiction authors. It looks like the lack of Micro Fiction in the crime fiction genre may force me to only give out a Mini Fiction (Under 500 words) and Flash Fiction (Under 1000 words) award. Check out the guidelines in the right column over there for more info.

• Authors can feel free to plug upcoming novels in the ESC publication. Contact me if you have something coming out that you wanna put out there.

• I'd also like to put some cheesy artwork (similar to the old school Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen issues) with stories. Black and white only.

New stories up at Powder Burn Flash and Darkest Before the Dawn

2009-07-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

It has been a busy past few weeks. I have a few new stories up at Powder Burn Flash and at Darkest Before the Dawn. I have posted the links for you.....

At Powder Burn Flash......

Chocolate Karma by James C. Clar
http://www.powderburnflash.com/?q=node/330

Brian's Brown Paper Bag by Scott Wilson
http://www.powderburnflash.com/?q=node/331

Candy Sangrai by Walt Conley
http://www.powderburnflash.com/?q=node/332

and over on Darkest Before the Dawn.....

The Gravitron Twister by Michael C. Keith
http://www.darkestbeforedawn.net/?q=node/31

and a great twofer....

The Accident by Frank Bill
http://www.darkestbeforedawn.net/?q=node/32

Playing The Part by Frank Bill
http://www.darkestbeforedawn.net/?q=node/33

There are more great stories to follow during the month of July. Take a gander, sign into the sites and leave some feedback for these authors. I know that they will appreciate it.

New Spinetingler

2009-06-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Spinetingler is live and, as Patrick Shawn Bagley so eloquently put it, "locked and loaded". There's a double dose of short stories, plenty of reviews and interviews.

My thanks to Jack Getze, who has remained with us as the editor, and Damon Caporaso and Jay Tomio of BSC Review, who finance the operation and make it possible. I would also like to thank Mark, who looks after all the design work and site maintenance. We have faced a lot of obstacles with this issue, but are thrilled to finally have it available for your reading pleasure.

Submissions Open for The Lineup: Poems on Crime 3

2009-06-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

The third issue of The Lineup: Poems on Crime, due out in April 2010, is open to submissions from June 15 through July 31. Please follow the submission guidelines.

Darkest Before Dawn Has a new URL

2009-06-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Just a quick note to let you all know that I moved my short story site over to

www.darkestbeforedawn.net

Up this week is TWO LEFT by Eric Beetner

Last week I had Barry Baldwin's THE GOOD WOMAN

When you have a moment, swing by and share some comments.

The Lineup 2 Available Now

2009-05-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to enlarge.

The Lineup: Poems on Crime 2 is now available for $6.00 USD from Lulu.com, and will be in stock soon at Once Upon a Crime in Minneapolis and Murder By the Book in Houston.

You can hear poems from Issues 1 and 2 this week on Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV.

For more information, visit The Lineup's official blog.

Bookspot Central Update

2009-05-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

We are currently holding a contest for Nate Flexer's The Disassembled Man

Brian Lindenmuth reviews:

Very Mercenary by Rayo Casablanca; The Shallow End of the Pool by Adam-Troy Castro & Lowboy by John Wray

Wolverine Noir & Daredevil Noir

The Coldest Mile by Tom Piccirilli & The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay

Saturday’s Child by Ray Banks; Gun by Ray Banks & American Rust by Philipp Meyer

Pyres by Derek Nikitas; The City in These Pages by John Grant & Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

Plots With Gyns Issue 5

Safer by Sean Doolittle

Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock; The Foreigner by Francie Lin; Borderlands by Brian McGilloway & Go With Me by Castle Freeman Jr.

The Nerd of Noir Reviews:

Very Mercenary by Rayo Casablanca

Safer by Sean Doolittle

Beast of Burden by Ray Banks

The Coldest Mile by Tom Piccirilli

Sucker Punch by Ray Banks

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston

Sandra Ruttan reviews:

The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis

The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay

Whisper in the Dark by Robert Gregory Browne

Please stop by and comment on any of these if you like. If you disagree with any of the reviews then let us know because honest discussion of books will only make the genre better.

--Thanks from BSC

Pulp Pusher Updates

2009-04-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

Pulp Pusher updates with a new short story from peerless London crime supremo Nick Barlay. It's worth the visit for this knockout tale alone, but if you need any more convincing, try some new fiction from:

Brian Murphy

Jonathan Woods

Jake Nantz

and Kieran Shea.

Also, try a shot of surrealist fiction from Ulrich Haarburste who provides a Pushed for Answers slot ... here

Thuglit – Issue 30!!!!!!

2009-04-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Ever get that “not-so-fresh-feeling”?

That can mean only one thing – Thuglit #30 is live and stomping through the internet like a Connecticut chimpanzee!

Big Daddy Thug here, bringing you eight new stories that’ll bite your literary faces off like a Connecticut chimpanzee! (Betcha can’t guess what our favorite news story was recently. Don’t worry. We’ve got more.)

As always, we have to give our warmest thanks to one and all who submitted for the ish. Lady Detroit said that picking through the submissions was harder than taking bananas foster from a Connecticut chimp!

And now, without further monkey business, (please note: there will, in fact, be more monkey business), the eight stories you’ll go ape over in Thuglit – Issue 30 ARE:

Running to Zero – by Jason Duke
1998 Was A Bad Year – by Jedidiah Ayres
Decision Day – by Sophie Littlefield
Ditch – by Eric Beetner
Tough Love on Moyamensing Street – by Patrick Cobbs
Stepmonster – by Hilary Davidson
Inmate – by Myra Sherman
Out of the Past – by Robert S.P. Lee

THUGLIT – ISSUE 30

See you in 60, punks!

Spinetingler Awards: Best Short Story on the Web

2009-03-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the forthcoming announcement of the nominees for the 2nd annual Spinetingler Awards, we're giving readers a sneak peek at the nominees in the short story category, with links to the stories so that you can check them out for yourself.

The list of nominees in the short story category is available here.

The nominees in all categories should be announced within the next week. At that time, the online voting system will be available, allowing readers to pick their choice in each of the ten categories. Winners will be announced in early May.

Pulp Pusher Updates

2009-03-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Author of ALREADY DEAD, the hard-working Charlie Huston stops by Pusher Towers for a chat with Sophie Littlefield.

Hear about how his time as a New York barman inspired his search for a more creative outlet.

Also, new fiction from

Eric Beetner

and

Nolan Night

Visit Pulp Pusher ... here

Pulp Pusher Updates

2009-02-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

Pulp Pusher Updates

Craig McDonald has been on quite a ride since the launch of his debut novel, HEAD GAMES. It's hard to believe but in the course of a year, the author has racked up nominations for the Edgar, Gumshoe, Anthony and Crimespree awards. Not to mention scooped a new book deal with a leading publisher. PULP PUSHER tracked him down, with the help of his former editor Alison Janssen, to ask the big questions about writing, Hemingway and just what the hell makes 'one true sentence' ... here

Plus new short fiction from ...

Sophie Littlefield

Frank Bill

Keith Rawson.

The New Lineup

2009-02-11T13:50:00.000-08:00

Issue 2 of The Lineup: Poems on Crime will feature the works of:

Patrick Carrington
Reed Farrel Coleman
Sophie Hannah
John Harvey
Janis Butler Holm
Jennifer L. Knox
Amy MacLennan
Carol Novack
Deshant Paul
Karen Petersen
Manuel Ramos
Stephen D. Rogers
Christopher Watkins

We are currently seeking advertisers for Issue 2. E-mail me at g_so AT yahoo DOT com if interested.

Blazing Adventures magazine Appears at......

2009-02-09T23:37:00.000-08:00

Though the Zine is closed, the award-winning 9th issue is still on sale.

Blazing! and its publisher Dash Couragous and his fateful companion The Granite Man, Dr.Shadows, will be appearing with copies of issue 9 at:

VINTAGE MANIA:
THE SHOW FOR LOVERS OF VINTAGE POP CULTURE
HOLY CROSS SCHOOL
332 W 43RD ST
NEW YORK, NY 10036

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH 10 AM TO 3:30 PM

ADMISSION IS $3.00

TOYS, GAMES MOVIES VIDEOS, TV ON VIDEO, EVERYTHING A VINTAGE COLLECTOR WOULD WANT!

Come out and visit B!AM''s table and hang awhile.

ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Dash C.

Bookspot Central Update

2009-02-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

Lotsa reviews this month.

Reviews

In this edition of The Electric Mayhem I write about:

The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston - "If you’ve read his crime novels then you know what to expect. The slacker hero, the humor that rides shotgun with violence but never approaching bleakness, and, in the new book more so then the others…a modicum of hope. It’s vulgar and violent but there is a certain likability level to the characters that keeps you on their side no matter what."

Leather Maiden by Joe lansdale - "In many ways Leather Maiden is a conventional mystery, especially in the sense that a lot of familiar elements are here (small to mid sized town, scandal, murder, blackmail, psycho side kick, etc.) but at this point Lansdale has been at the game so long that he really knows his shit and you are in safe hands. He has taken the things that you know and used them in a story that’s really good. It’s like the notes may be familiar but the song is still great. He’s written something like 30+ novels at this point so he really knows how to tell a hell of a story and he does."

Last Days by Brian Evenson - "Often times crime fiction is billed and blurbed as being “dark” and too often it fails to live up; flinching first and crying uncle when the story gets tough. In this unique detective novel Brian Evenson is willing to hold the gaze of the abyss and the result is a novel that isn’t likley to be forgotten anytime soon."

Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock - Knockemstiff is filled with stories of low-bottom fringe dwellers with nothing. Not nothing to lose, literally nothing. Bill Hicks once assaulted a heckler with the following line “Your gene pool is so shallow that its like your daddy jerked off and your mama sat in it.” The characters of Knockemstiff are the result of that union.

Werewolf by Night #1 by Duane Swierczynski

In this edition of The Electric Mayhem I write about:

Escape from Hell by Hal Duncan - Escape From Hell! is like a John Carpenter/Walter Hill late 70’s-early 80’s movie in book form. If you understand the references then you get it right off. I mean if the bridge scene doesn’t take you back to Escape from New York then nothing will. The action is ramped up to insane levels, and it just keeps pumping forward at a relentless pace.

Incognito #1 by Ed Brubaker - "Brubaker became the preeminent writer of the American Icon, by pulling off the biggest crime in recent memory, and doing it in brazen and economical fashion - you can’t kill Captain America any other way. He just had him got. Brubaker is a crime writer. He got to his story by murdering somebody. That’s Crime 101."

In this Electric Mayhem I write about:

The Mammoth Book of Crime Comics - "With the rise in popularity of crime comics in recent years it would be easy to think the marriage of crime and comics was a recent one but in fact it’s a relationship that goes back decades as this collection shows."

Small Crimes by Dave Zeltserman - "I liked Small Crimes but it’s not the masterpiece that others have been proclaiming it as. It’s a problematic book with an over-reliance on coincidence to advance the plot and scenes that are supposed to be rife with tension seem to lack it and are just…flat."

Toros and Torsos by Craig McDonald - "After reading two of them I’m fully prepared to say that I love the Hank Lassiter books and with his life spanning much of the century and his adventures bringing him into contact with so many prominent historical figures Hank Lassiter is practically something of a pulp fiction Forrest Gump."

Greasing the Piñata by Tim Maleeny - "I’m still a fan of the series and even if this one wasn’t a favorite Greasing the Piñata has done nothing to dissuade me from reading further in the series."

The Drowned Life by Jeffrey Ford - "If the two best fiction tools that we posses to describe the insanity of the new century is the language of crime fiction and the language of the fantastic then Jeffrey Ford in many ways represents the perfect nexus point of these two languages. It’s from this synthesis that the power of the story is derived. I think that Ford is in a unique position to write some of the more powerful fiction of our times because of how well versed he is in both modes."

Joker by Brian Azzarello - "Given Azzarelo’s writing background (100 Bullets) one way to try and look at the story was an attempt to filter the Joker character through a crime fiction story. As an intellectual exercise it has promise but the practical application just didn’t pan out."

Dead Women's Shoes by Kaye C. Hill

Please stop by and comment on any of these if you like. If you disagree with any of the reviews then let us know because honest discussion of books will only make the genre better. If you don't like any of the forum topics then come and start another

--Thanks from BSC

THUGLIT – ISSUE 29

2009-02-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

Big Daddy Thug here, ya maroons.

Lock up the kids and slip Grandma an extra shot of whiskey, ‘cuz THUGLIT is back in action. We may have a new look, but the same old bad attitude remains, along with the same old bad intentions, bad people and bad breath.

Ahhh, that beloved stank…how you were missed.

But before we slam this sucka into gear, we’d like to take a sec and thank everyone who sent us their bruising stories for the ish. We couldn’t take ‘em all, but we appreciate each and every word.

And now, the eight bone-shattering stories featured in Thuglit – Issue 29!!!!

The Full Hour By Albert Tucher
Going to Valhalla By James Walton Langolf
Hard Rock By Gerard Brennan
Mosquitoes Won’t Bother Him None By Man Martin
The Minors By Matthew Fries
The Secret Dies With Denny By Tyler Midkiff
We Are All Bullets By S. Craig Renfroe, Jr.
You’re a Moron By C. G. Bauer

So strap in, grit your teeth and clench your nethers. It’s Thuglit time, punks!!!!

THUGLIT – ISSUE 29

Submissions Open for 2009 Derringer Awards

2009-02-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

Submissions are now open for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2009 Derringer Awards, honoring the best crime and mystery short stories published in 2008. Members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society as well as editors/publishers of short mystery fiction may submit according to the Derringer Awards procedure.

Contact Awards Coordinator Nikki Dolson (nikkidolson AT yahoo DOT com) for more information.

CROOKED #2 is here...

2009-01-31T13:31:00.001-08:00

The second issue of CROOKED is now available by clicking here.

Featured in this issue:

Clair Dickson
Eric Beetner
Jake Hinkson
Patricia Abbott
Keith Rawson
Michael S. Chong
Barry Baldwin

and a 13 Questions interview with:

Sean Chercover

I am now seeking submissions for Issue #3 with the same specifications: 2,000 words or more, previously unpublished and wtiha a hardboiled or noir kick to them. Please submit on a Word or text file to: geoffeighinger@yahoo.com.

Pulp Pusher Updates

2009-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Pulp Pusher Updates

Author of The Singer, Cathi Unsworth, speaks to acclaimed British novelist David Peace ... here

Pulp Pusher Updates

2009-01-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

Pulp Pusher's David Lewis asks the questions of Crime Comics editor Paul Gravett in the latest site update.

Read the full exchange ... here

Spinetingler Issues and Awards

2009-01-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

Next month, we'll announce the nominees for the second annual Spinetingler Awards. The eligibility period is publication between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008.

First, staff of ezines that have published a minimum of 9 short stories during the eligibility period may submit three stories they've published for consideration. These stories must have been published for the first time during the eligibility period, and must be available to read online. Please identify yourself, your role with the ezine in question, list the stories you're submitting for consideration and include a link to the stories.

Only one set of submissions per publication will be considered. Please use Submissions: Best Short Story on the Web as your subject line and send the e-mail to sandraruttan . spinetinglermag @ gmail . com

This is an open call for input on some specific categories. Anyone may send an e-mail with a submission for the following categories:

Best Cover: Include a gif or jpeg, or a link to a visual image

Best Editor: include name of the editor, publishing house worked for and samples of titles published within the eligibility period

Best Reviewer: include name of reviewer, publishing venues they write for and samples of reviews published within the eligibility period

Best Publisher: include samples of titles published within the eligibility period

Special Services To The Industry: a small explanation and/or example of why the nominee stands out as one worthy of recognition

E-mails must be received by January 20 to be considered.
Please include Spinetingler Awards Submissions in the subject line.
E-mail sandra @ sandraruttan . com

Please note: submissions are not nominees. Submissions will be considered as the list of nominees is finalized.

Authors may submit their own book covers for consideration, and editors, reviewers, and publishers may submit their names for consideration in appropriate categories.

Works by Sandra Ruttan are not eligible in any category. Sandra Ruttan and Spinetingler Magazine are not eligible in the Special Services category.

Please also note that two new categories have been added. One is best reviewer. The book industry is becoming increasingly dependent on volunteer reviewing from varied internet sources. One of the problems is the potential value and credibility of the reviewers. We need only look as far as amazon to see the range of reviews possible, from personal attacks by those who don't even seem to have read the books to in-depth analysis of the works in questions. We want to recognize credible, talented reviewers in an effort to help readers separate the wheat from the chaff.

The other new category is Best Comic/Graphic Novel. We had some debate over whether or not graphic novels should be included in the novel categories, but felt the novel category criteria made it difficult to assess how graphic novel authors should be categorized, and have therefore added a separate category.

Spinetingler Issues:

The Fall 08 (originally scheduled for October) and Winter 09 (originally scheduled for January) will be combined into a double issue to be published next month. All contributors with stories selected for these issues have been contacted by e-mail. If you did not receive an e-mail and believe your story is scheduled for one of these issues please check your spam folder before e-mailing.

CROOKED #1 is here...

2008-12-31T00:27:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE for Issue #1 of the new crime fiction web zine CROOKED featuring short stories from Sandra Seamans, Albert Tucher, Kaye George, Michael S. Chong, Eric Beetner, Cormac Brown and Sandra Ruttan. Also included is an interview with Charles Ardai.

If you are interested in contributing to Issue 2...

Story Requirements:

• hardboiled, noir or something along those lines
• 2,000 words or more
• never published anywhere else

If interested, contact me: geoffeighinger@yahoo.com.

Bookspot Central update

2008-12-21T15:32:00.000-08:00

Reviews

Every Last Drop by Charlie Huston

"As much as I really enjoyed Every Last Drop, and there is a lot to like, I can’t help but being just a little disappointed."

The Clinch Knot by John Galligan

The Cat Trap by K T McCaffrey

Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler

His last four novels have been crime fiction and it was a huge gamble that took a lot of guts to go in a completely different direction. This is the zig that should be celebrated. Not just celebrated for merely existing, but celebrated for being a success. Gischler kicked down the doors of possibility and stormed the house with this one. I hope he continues to go in whatever direction the voices in his head tell him to and that others take his lead.

The Cutting Crew by Steve Mosby

"Mosby is a hell of a writer, one who is infusing new ideas into the crime fiction genre. As a result his books are fresh, original and among the best out there."

Caine Black Knife by Matthew Stover

Skin Lane by Neil Bartlett

The Jones Men by Verne E. Smith

My mention of The Wire above was deliberate because I believe that The Jones Men, from broad plot points down to character names, stands as the single greatest fiction influence on The Wire, whether it’s acknowledged or not. On a deeper level there are similarities in the way that the plots are structured and the way that the large cast of characters is handled. And on a surface level there are specific plot points that bolster The Jones Men’s claim of influence on The Wire.

Batman: Murder at Wayne Manor by Duane Swierczyynski

CSI NY Four Walls by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Severance Package by Duane Swierczynski

With a comic book feel and a throw the physics out the window off handed approach it takes the dog-eat-dog, crabs-in-a-barrel mentality of co-workers; the it’s hard to kiss ass with a knife in your back feeling of maneuvering the office mine field; the my-nuts-just- shriveled-into-my-stomach feeling that happens when you boss calls an unexpected meeting the tensions and concerns of the modern cube rat errrr I mean office employee are perfectly captured. Cranked up to 11 and distorted like a Ralph Steadman picture sure, but captured perfectly nonetheless.

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane

It’s a different book then Lehane’s previous novels and should be read that way. There are echoes of the plot mechanics of the Kenzie & Gennaro books; there are echoes of the densely compacted intensity of a few decades of history of Mystic River; there are echoes of the Gothic and dramatic setting of Shutter Island. The Given Day incorporates them all (and more) into a book that should be read, thought about and grappled with on its own terms, using the previous books only as a solid foundation.

Stalking the Vampire by Mike Resnick

Misc

Jessa Crispin on Self-Publishing

"Jessa Crispin Hates Self-Published Books, Except Self-Published Comics, Which Are Even Cooler Than Legit Books."

Jay Tomio's Top 10 comics and graphic novels

"Watchmen is not a fucking graphic novel; neither was 300, and Sin City wasn’t either. You film going, non-pull list having, hipster fans will acknowledge that I was buying Hellboy off the racks in the 90’s damn it!"

Interv iew with K.T. McCaffrey

"The plot she hatches with her friends is intended to redress the situation but when it goes wrong, the results are, by any standards, totally unacceptable."

Interview with Matthew Woodring Stover

"I’ve been wanting to write hard-boiled crime fiction my whole life. Caine’s narrative voice is unquestionably a literary descendant of Philip Marlowe, CW Sughrue and the Continental Op. If I ever get caught up on my SFF projects, I have a couple of contemporary thrillers I’d like to try, as well as a historical or two."

Saturday Sound Off*: Where’s The Love? by Sandra Seamans

"Reading is a learned love. Teach your kids how to love books and the words that spill from the pages into their open minds by choosing books that reflect what fascinates them. Don’t cram reading down their throats by giving them books you think they should read. Buy something that will grab their attention and capture their imagination, not what captured yours when you were growing up. You can always share those books later, once you’ve sparked the fire for reading in them."

Interview with Hal Duncan

"It’s a hitman, a hooker, a homo and a hobo in the ultimate prison break… escape from Hell itself. It’s about these four people damned for their sins – murder, fornication, sodomy and suicide – deciding, “fuck this shit,” and trying to blast their way to freedom. Think if you took a Neil Gaiman story but turned it into an early John Carpenter movie. We’re talking fast-paced, balls-out pulp fiction, an action/adventure story with angels, lost souls and a whole lot of gunfire."

Saturday Sound Off*: Good Money After Bad by Sandra Ruttan

Saturday sound Off*: Making A List, Checking It Twice by Sandra Ruttan

Saturday Sound off*: You Worked Hard To Be Lucky by Sandra Ruttan

Saturday Sound Off*: The Names Don't Get a Free Pass by Sandra Ruttan

Saturday Sound Off*: Crime Fictions's Bastard Child

Digging the Scene With a Gangster Lean: Bouchercon 2008

*Saturday’s Sound Off is an open venue for speaking out on issues related to books, book publishing, magazines, etc. The plan is that there will be no regular, sole contributor, but that this column space will serve as an online speakers’ corner, providing a platform for people passionate about books with something to say.

Can you count Suckas! The Bookspot community is now hosting Wordpress blogs. If you would be interested in moving your blog (regardless of platform) over shoot me a message. When it comes to numbers we bring it strong and get bigger everyday.

Please stop by and comment on any of these if you like. If you disagree with any of the reviews then let us know because honest discussion of books will only make the genre better. If you don't like any of the forum topics then come and start another

--Thanks from BSC

Some Kind of Ride: Favorite Reads of 2008

2008-12-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Over at Bookspot Central we just posted our big favorite reads of the year article. In addition to our regular BSC contributors some friends joined us this year; Brian Evenson, Victor Gischler, Steve Mosby, Russel D McLean, Robert Ward, Alan Guthrie, and John McFetridge.

It’s as varied a list that you’ll find anywhere. The article can be found here.

Since Mystery Bookspot became Bookspot Central I haven't done an update -- working on one now.

Pulp Pusher updates

2008-12-04T10:11:00.001-08:00

Pulp Pusher updates with Tony Black's interview with London-based writer Nick Barlay. The Hooky Gear author tells all about being named as one of Granta’s 20 best young British novelists ... before having the honour cruelly swiped away!

Also, new fiction from Jason Hunt.

Visit Pulp Pusher ... here

Crime Always Pays

2008-11-20T04:35:00.000-08:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Gerald Griffin’s THE COLLEGIANS republished; Alex Barclay (right) and Jeremy Duns Q&A’d; a shout-out for comedy movie scripts; Argue & Phibbs, at law; Brian McGilloway’s Devlin series gets commissioned for TV; two non-fiction books on the Sharon Collins case; a big-up for THE BIG O; and rumours of a new Irish crime fiction blog abound. All this and not a lot more! For free!!!

Pulp Pusher updates

2008-11-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

Pulp Pusher updates with Damien Seaman's interview with Dundee-based author Russel McLean -- you've read Russel's short fiction all over the web, now hear what he makes of the reaction to his highly-acclaimed debut novel, The Good Son.

Also, new fiction from Russel McLean and Derek Nikitas.

Visit the site at www.pulppusher.com

Spinetingler Update

2008-11-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

Good news: we hope to have the new issue of Spinetingler up by Christmas. Bookspot Central, the parent site of Spinetingler, has done some extensive remodeling, and hopes to reformat Spinetingler as well. You can expect to see some changes to the site in the next few months.

Good news for us: most of the stories for the first issue of 2009 have already been selected.

The bad news? There are still approximately 60 stories we haven't made final decisions on. I just sent out a number of rejection letters, but a few of the remaining stories were submitted in August. We're now reviewing submissions for the May 2009 issue, and we're only taking 6 stories for that issue.

If you submitted a story in August and haven't heard from us, it may take another 5-7 weeks before there's word about your story, in part because of the upcoming holiday season. We apologize for the delay, and if you would like to withdraw your story at this time, please send an e-mail to spinetinglermag@mysterybookspot.com and clearly indicate the e-mail address you submitted your story from.

Thank you for your patience.

Sandra Ruttan

Please also note the post from August about technical problems with e-mails from earlier in the year. As far as we know, the problem was limited to submissions from early April through mid May, but if you sent a story in and have not heard from us, you may wish to refer to this post: http://crimezine.blogspot.com/2008/08/spinetingler-submissions-update.html

And if anyone knows how to fix the problem and gain access to the stripped information, you know where to find me. We still have a few dozen writers we cannot contact about their submissions. In some cases, the stories weren't reviewed because of the missing information.

CROOKED to debut on January 1

2008-11-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

From the hardboiled/noir review blog Eastern Standard Crime, a new opportunity for short story writers and readers is coming January 1.

A new outlet for short stories (the good kind, the criminally good kind) is on the way. CROOKED will be devoted strictly to crime fiction short stories that would make Hammett, Chandler and Macdonald proud.

This will be web-only .PDF format. It will be non-paying but authors will be able to promote their novels, websites, etc. with relative ease.

The first issue is January 1 and new issues follow monthly after that. Story Requirements:

• hardboiled, noir or something along those lines
• 2,000 words or more
• never published anywhere else

If interested, e-mail: geoffeighinger@yahoo.com

THUGLIT - Issue 28!!!

2008-11-05T01:49:00.001-08:00

What's happenin' punks?

Big Daddy Thug here, setting the needle to the record and blasting your literary amps off the wall with another issue of THUGLIT.

This is a special issue. Why you ask? Has Christmas come early? Hannuka? Kwaanza? Festivus? The answer is no. Besides, we both know you haven't been good enough to get any extra presents this year.

"Then why?" you ask. "Why are you giving us TEN stories this issue instead of eight?"

Because, we're taking an issue off to re-tool the site, and we know you thug-junkies would just be sitting around, crying and scratching at the crook of your collective elbows without the fix of a couple of extra stories to pass the cold winter nights.

That, and we're givers. Mostly of vicious beatings and that weird rash that all of my ex-girlfriends keep bitching about, but givers nonetheless. Johnny Kneecaps is back with a vengeance this issue, ripping through the stories like an editorial Garden Weasel. That's right...I said it. I went there. Garden Weasel...deal with it!

But before we announce the baker's dozen (less three) of bruise-inducing fiction for your stinking eyes to roll over, we have to thank each and every one of you who sent in your stories. There's a reason why THUGLIT is the only webzine singled out by Best American Mystery Stories three years running (by the way, mad congrats to Craig McDonald, Jordan Harper and Hilary Davidson for said singlings). We're tough. So even if your magnum-opus of the short-story set didn't make the ish, keep those stories coming and someday, YOU might get singled out for something other than in a police line-up.

AND NOW, the ten stories gracing THUGLIT - ISSUE 28 ARE:

Last Night, When We Were Young – by Trey R. Barker
Landlocked – by Neil Grimmett
Fuck Up At The Denny’s – by Rey A. Gonzales
My Son – by Robert McClure
Time To Settle Up – by David Price
Big In Japan – by Christopher Bundy
Old Testament Wisdom – by Frank Bill
Cab Ride – by David Moss
Don’t Mess With Paige – by Sophie Littlefield
Razor – by Derek Nikitas

THUGLIT - ISSUE 28

Crime Always Pays

2008-10-31T03:34:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Jason Goodwin’s THE SNAKE STONE reviewed; rumours of unpublished Agatha Christie stories; Stuart Neville’s GHOSTS OF BELFAST gets an outrageous big-up from John Connolly; Ken Lambert hosts a exhibition of noir-inspired art; KT McCaffrey offers another crime fiction song lyric thingy; yet another ‘Dear Genre’ letter; THE BIG O gets a book trailer-type yokeybus; the new Bond movie Quantum of Solace reviewed; Tim Maleeny goes to bat for THE BIG O; and Mack Lundy kicks off a debate on ‘the essential relevance of crime fiction’. All this and not a lot more. For free!!

Blazing! Adventures Magazine The BoucherCon Edition

2008-10-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

Blazing! First and only print issue #9 is now available on www.abebooks.com for purchase.

Link: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1206272234&searchurl=kn%3DBlazing%2BAdventures%2BMagazine%26sts%3Dt

Enjoy!!!

Crime Always Pays

2008-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Paul Nagle peddles cryptic clues in IRONIC; Scott Phillips and Tim Maleeny get Q&A’d; Harry Rigby comes out of (the back of) the closet; Paul Charles and Sam Millar get together for a Dublin gig; yet more big-ups for THE BIG O, a not-entirely-wonky book vid, and Crime Always Pays hits 100,000 not out; CIRCLE OF THE DEAD is the latest offering from Ingrid Black; all this and not a lot more!!!

BLAZING! ADVENTURES PRESENTS: THE BOUCHERCON EDITION.

2008-10-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

THE FIRST PRINT VERSION OF BLAZING! ADVENTURES, ISSUE #9

AVAILABLE SOON AT ABEBOOKS. COM & AT THIS YEARS PAPERBACK EXPO IN MANHATTAN, NY THIS SUNDAY 10/19.

The 20th Annual NYC Collectable Paperback & Pulp Fiction Expo will be held on Sunday October 19, 2008 at the Holiday Inn, 440 West 57th Street, btw 9th & 10th, New York City

9:30 am to 5pm

If A Zine Falls On The Internet...

2008-10-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

A week ago I attended The Dot Gets The Com at Bouchercon. Sean Doolittle, Stephen D. Rogers, Bryon Quertermous, Russel D. McLean and Adam McFarlane talked about the rise of ezines and their value to readers and writers.

Today, Bryon announced that the new issue of Demolition will be the last.

Ever since the panel I've been thinking about some of the discussion points raised, and others that weren't raised. I remember back in 2005, when I joined a mystery writers' group, I was told that nobody took having a short story published online seriously. It wasn't "real" publishing.

Those attitudes contribute to the difficulty ezines have in getting nominal subscription fees or paid advertising. Unfortunately, the financial factor is part of the reason that many ezines ultimately fold. In his post, Bryon stated one of the reasons for ending Demolition was because of a lack of quality submissions.

This is, unfortunately, directly connected to money. Authors will choose to send their stories to venues that pay instead of ones that don't. As a result, paying markets will always attract a higher volume of submissions.

Spinetingler pays. We've worked hard to raise the amount to $25 per story. It isn't much, but it does allow the writers to see a small return for their hard work.

Unfortunately, that contributes to different issues. We have a lot of submissions to wade through, and while some are diamonds many are dross. This is the first step in a time-consuming process.

The second is actually working with writers to refine the story, to make it sparkle. And when Bryon says "the morons are getting more and more prevalent" I don't think it is just him. I think it's a reality that many of us are struggling with.

What is probably working against editors like Bryon and myself is the fact that as writers, we know how we like to be treated, so we try to be fair and considerate. You start off vowing to reply to e-mails, to be timely in processing submissions... but soon reality sets in and you realize keeping up would be the equivalent of a part-time job (and some days, full-time). (And for the most part, the reason it would be so time-consuming is because of writers who pester, or argue over rejections, or don't follow submission guidelines. Few readers e-mail to say "Great job!" but you certainly get a steady stream of complaints over the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into creating every issue.)

The result is that editors have to draw some tough lines. I honestly don't know how Gerald So and Kevin Burton Smith keep at it after all these years. They've managed a system and have a track record that has cemented their place as a respected leader within the ezine market.

Somehow, they've stayed sane and keep it going for over 10 years.

Ezines have a critical role they can play. Potential new readers can sample work and may be enticed to pick up an author's book. Potential agents and editors can click a few buttons from their office and read a writer's material. There's the gratification of seeing your work recognized and published, and all your friends can see it without paying money to buy a magazine.

For writers, the online crime fiction marketplace just got a little bit smaller. I'm not sure if someone will step in to fill the void, because as Bryon can tell you himself, it's a hell of a lot of work. As editors, we must draw our lines in order to stay on top of things and just get the basics done.

I learned this past year that I couldn't do the ezine alone. I have someone who does all the formatting and website work. I have others contributing reviews. Jack Getze has joined the team as a regular editor. I couldn't make the issues happen without them.

And so, while I'm sad to see Demolition take its final bow, I raise a glass to Bryon and Dave for all the hard work they've done to support the crime fiction community, for providing us with quality fiction to indulge in, and for some of us giving us a publishing credit we're proud of.

All the best, guys. You'll be missed.

Pulp Pusher Updates

2008-10-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Pulp Pusher updates with a Seth 'Soul Man' Ferranti interview. Brian Murphy asks the questions of the Street Legends author who is currently serving a twenty-five year sentence on a drug conviction. Hear what he has to say about 'Crime Tourists' in this unforgettable exchange ... here

Plus new fiction from Russel D. McLean ... here

Powder Burn Flash - New and Improved

2008-10-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right, Powder Burn Flash now has its own url.

www.powderburnflash.com

I did for several reasons, one being able to have more control over the site and being to add features. More importantly I'm hoping that when it comes down to awards for short fiction that when I submit stories from this site that it will be taken as a more professional and worthy site.

Hop on over to the new site and let me know what you think. The stories posted here will remain. All 108 stories are also posted on the new site as well as their .pdf versions for your persual.

Enjoy

Crime Always Pays

2008-10-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: John McFetridge (right) launches ‘the Toronto Series’ on-line; Charles Salzberg Q&A’d; a review of Alan Glynn’s THE DARK FIELDS; some decent reviews for THE BIG O; free copies of Paul Charles’ THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND OF SILENCE; Declan Hughes knocks the stuffing out of Banville Man; Peter Murphy expands on ‘the compost theory of culture’; the Mercier Press launch HITLER’S IRISHMEN and DARK CORNERS; and an interview with Declan Burke courtesy of the Philly City Paper. All this and not a lot more! For free!!

Pulp Pusher Updates

2008-09-24T08:22:00.001-07:00

Anthony Neil Smith -- author of Psychosomatic, The Drummer, and Yellow Medicine -- and editor of the online noir e-zine Plots with Guns is the latest to fill a Pushed for Answers slot over at Pulp Pusher.

Also, Tony Black interviews Irvine Welsh ... here

Crime Always Pays

2008-09-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Jude Law gets set to star in the movie of Ken Bruen’s BLITZ; Paul Johnston and Mark Coggins Q&A’d; THE BIG O hits the North American landmass; free copies of Ken Bruen’s AMERICAN SKIN; Eoin Colfer to pen a new HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY; new books from Kevin Power, Gerard Mac Manus and Terence O’Reilly; all this and not a lot more!

Blazing! Adventures Magazine The 8th issue

2008-09-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

BLAZING! ADVENTURES MAGAZINE
PRESENTS:
ISSUE 8-

THE WRITERS
Brian Trent
Mark Boss
T.J. Glenn
Billy Wong
Christianne Huard

AND STORY OF THE MONTH'S WRITER
Jon Wesick

ENJOY!

DASH COURAGEOUS
PUBLISHER
BLAZING! ADVENTURES MAGAZINE
2008

Crime Always Pays

2008-09-10T03:14:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: CAP hits 1,000 posts; a giveaway comp for copies of THE BIG O and EIGHTBALL BOOGIE; Adrian McKinty on Michael Chabon’s THE YIDDISH POLICEMAN’S UNION; Rafe McGregor Q&A’d; THE BIG SLEEP: The Book Wot Changed My Life; John Connolly’s tribulations with socks ‘n’ sex, and an update on THE LOVERS; what the blummery is going on with Ken Bruen’s SANCTUARY?; and new novels from Arlene Hunt and Alex Barclay. All this, and not a lot more! For free!!

Pulp Pusher Updates

2008-09-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

Pulp Pusher updates with MR CLARINET author Nick Stone filling the latest Pushed for Answers slot with an account of his second book, KING OF SWORDS. Set in Miami of the 80s the novel is following its predecessor into the bestsellers chart. Also, new fiction from Andy Henion, William Blick and Chad Eagleton.

Try a sample... here

THUGLIT - Issue 27!!!

2008-09-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hey there, Plug Thuglies,

It’s me, Big Daddy Thug, back with your bi-monthly dose of some the best criminally-minded scribbling on this sweet planet or any other. That’s right, Ceti Alpha 6…I’m calling you OUT, sucka! (Editor’s Note: In the future, don’t write newsletter after being awake for 20-plus hours, working an eight hour bar shift and getting hopped to the gills on Red Bull and Starbucks – all the while waiting in moderate pain for the chiropractic appointment you set waaaaaaay too early in the day. You start to get weird…)

SO, since this isn’t a science-fiction website, I’ll stick to the planet at hand, the stories from Terra Firma. Lady Detroit took a break from her matrimonial tortures of yours truly--- (Editor’s Note: Please don’t tell Lady D that I referenced any of her said matrimonial exercises as ‘torture’. ) ---to bash your brains in with eight pelvis-crushing tales of criminality, hooliganery, and generally anti-social shenanigannery.

(Editor’s Note: Getting harder to type, as left arm is going numb. Maybe another Red Bull is in order. Ahhhhhh… that’s better…. No, wait. Now the right side of my brain is numb.)

But enough about otherworldly literature, pelvic replacement and myocardial infarctions. This is about the stories. And, as always, a round of applause for everyone who sent in their words for the issue. (Editor’s Note: Can’t applaud, as still can’t lift left arm.)
We couldn’t use them all, but keep ‘em coming, or we’ll have to use one of those damned Ceti Alpha 6 stories – and those are all 8-12 pages of Klaatu Barada Nikto, Klaatu Barada Nikto, Klaatu Barada Nikto, whatever the hell THAT means...

AND NOW, the eight stories selected for THUGLIT – ISSUE 27 ARE:

Mercy First, First Mercy – by David Harrison
Steak Big – by Allan C. Kimball
I Want Candy – by Tony Black
Sebastian – by Robert Aquino Dollesin
Overclocked – by Lawrence Clayton
Blood Test – by Steve Newman
Botching Something Big Big Big – by J.A. Taylor
Forget The World – by Matthew Stern

THUGLIT - ISSUE 27

Blazing! Adventures Magazine SPOTLIGHT issue 7 and other news!!

2008-09-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

The Final Part of the serial, The Curse of The Guadalaja Rose by Sarah Black!
Are now ready for reading!
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

BLAZING! ADVENTURES PROUDLY PRESENTS:
THE SPOTLIGHT ISSUE!
FEATURING THE RISING STAR IN THE WORLD OF PULP:
>>MATT CASEY<<

!!SPECIAL NEWS!!
BLAZING! ADVENTURES MAGAZINE IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR ISSUE 8 ONLY. PAY RATE HAS INCREASED TO $20 for this issue.

PULP FICTION
IN THE
21st
Century!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

Dash Courageous

publisher

Crime Always Pays

2008-08-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Andrew Nugent’s latest novel, SOUL MURDER; free copies of David Peace’s ‘Red Riding Quartet’; a sneak preview of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, the movie adapted from John Boyne’s novel; more bumph on the Irish crime writers series at Books 2008; Princess Lilyput gives her verdict as the hardback edition of THE BIG O arrives at Chez Grand Viz; the latest on Sir Kenneth of Bruen; Paul Charles’ latest novel, THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND OF SILENCE; and a little tribute to Patrick Leigh Fermor. All this and not a lot more!

COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON from OmenSpirits Publishings!!

BLAZING! ADVENTURES PRESENTS:

THE BOUCHERCON EDITION.

THE FIRST PRINT VERSION OF

BLAZING! ADVENTURES, ISSUE #9

AVAILABLE SOON AT ABEBOOKS.COM & AT THIS YEARS PAPERBACK

EXPO IN MANHATTAN, NY 10/19.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO PURCHASE SOON!!

-Publisher

Crime Always Pays

2008-08-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Adrian McKinty on why crime fiction kicks every other genre’s ass; Kevin Lewis Q&A’d; free copies of Tana French’s THE LIKENESS; the full line-up for Dublin’s Books 2008 crime writing series; the latest release from Gerard Donovan; why Good Friday was the death knell for Irish Republicanism; why Irish crime fiction runs the risk of ghetto chic; some flummery about ‘the great post-Troubles Northern Ireland novel’; a review of Declan Burke’s EIGHTBALL BOOGIE; THE BIG O gets a star from Kirkus Reviews; and – oh yes! – lots more crime-related baloohaha-ha.

Spinetingler SUBMISSIONS Update

2008-08-13T04:58:00.000-07:00

This is an important message for writers waiting for a response to submissions sent to Spinetingler.

In the spring there were some web issues, and ultimately Spinetingler's hosting was moved to a new service. During the transitional period, e-mails were set to forward to the new e-mail accounts, as they currently do.

However, some of the initial e-mails forwarded were stripped of the original sender information. All attempts to recover those addresses have failed, and we cannot contact those writers.

This is where it gets tricky. There are some submissions dating from April 3-May 6 that we need to send rejection letters to. There are also some submissions from April and May that have not yet been processed, but we also do not have e-mail addresses for those authors.

If you submitted a story in April or May and have not been contacted by us, you are welcome to e-mail us at spinetinglermag@gmail.com and include your name, story title, and the date you submitted your work to us in the body.

Please use the subject line "Status Update: April/May submission".

Writers should note that by May we were reviewing all submissions for 2009 Issues, and only approximately 5% of stories submitted are passing through to second review. Writers currently submitting stories to Spinetingler can expect to wait up to five months for a final decision if their story has passed through to the second review.

Please pass this information on as appropriate, as we're trying to reach the widest number of writers in the hopes of eventually contacting all who submitted work during the time we had technical issues. Thank you.

A lot of new reviews

2008-08-08T07:09:00.001-07:00

A lot of new reviews were added to www.sonsofspade.tk. Come take a look!

Crime Always Pays

2008-08-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: why Shamus-nominated Declan Hughes (right) is the new James Joyce; why the long tail of book blogs kick newsprint reviews into a cocked hat; why we’re delighted about our Kirkus review nonetheless; on putting the ‘gat’ into The Great Gatsby; Tony Black interviewed; George Pelecanos on his latest offering THE TURNAROUND; and Declan Burke and John McFetridge take a most excellent road-trip through New England in the Fall. All this and – oh yes! – not a lot more. Still, it’s free.

Blazing! Serials continued-

2008-08-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The serial issue of Blazing! Adventures Magazine-

The final installment of "The Stieger Sanction", by CJ FERGUSON
with an ending........you'll just have to read to believe!!!!!!

The Curse of The Guadalajara Rose, Part 4 of the the 5 part western serial by Sarah Black
come and continue the ride with the four horsemen into darkness!!!!!!

The Spotlight issue featuring TEEL JAMES GLENN OF "THE EXCEPTIONALS" fame is still fresh off the presses, ready to thrill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-GET READY FOR ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dash Courageous
Publisher
Blazing! Adventures Magazine

General Submissions Open for The Lineup #2

2008-08-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

We are now accepting submissions for Issue 2 of The Lineup. Anyone interested may submit between today and September 30, 2008.

Noir Originals update

2008-07-31T14:02:00.000-07:00

Two new author interviews. Scott Phillips ("The Ice Harvest") is interviewed by Jeremy Trylch, and Tony Black ("Paying For It") is interviewed by Allan Guthrie.

Crime Always Pays

2008-07-31T02:21:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: yet more flummery on defining crime fiction; the Irish crime writers' one-last-heist happens in September; the curious case of Dr Banville and Mr Black; politics and the lack thereof in Irish crime fiction; the morality of blowing up hospitals; free copies of Scott Mariani’s THE MOZART CONSPIRACY; Adrian McKinty on The Dark Knight; the future of publishing in 500 words; and why log-rolling isn’t log-rolling so long as you liked the books before you met their authors. All this and - oh yes! - not a lot more!

Crime Always Pays

2008-07-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: reviews of THE LEMUR, A GONZO NOIR and The Dark Knight; Adrian McKinty on Jim Thompson; some free-association flummery about Lawrence and Gerald Durrell; Patrick Shawn Bagley writes crime fiction poetry; what’s all the fuss about A DEATH IN TUSCANY?; Declan Burke wibbling at length about the writing process; and – oh yes! – lots of other stuff that doesn’t really lend itself to a snappy description.

Blazing! Adventures Magazine SPOTLIGHT issue 6

2008-07-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Blazing! Adventures Magazine
Proudly Presents:

The Spotlight Issue-
featuring:
TJ Glenn

TJ Glenn, through his versitility and talent,
has impressed us at Blazinng! enough to have
us invest in publishing our very first Ebook!
Free!

Come, read the variety of stories written by
this prolific writer.
Blazing! Features Dr. Shadows
Cover art by dynamic Craig Shepard
Blazing Adventures Magazine!
Showcasing the talents of true Pulp writers
www.blazingadventuresmagazine.com
THE ONLY PLACE, WHERE PULP LIVES!
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Dash Courageous

Crime Always Pays

2008-07-16T02:39:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: is crime fiction recession-proof?; the ‘Irish mysteries’ issue of the Mystery Readers Journal; free copies of Tony Black’s PAYING FOR IT; what did Aeschylus (right) ever do for us?; Martin Edwards Q&A’d; Adrian McKinty on Jim Thompson’s Okalahoma; THE IRISH WAR ON DRUGS; Tana French’s THE LIKENESS and John Connolly’s THE REAPERS reviewed; Patrick Shawn Bagley writes crime fiction poetry; and the Grand Vizier on – wait for it! – The Perils of Not Being a Genius.

The Lineup: Poems on Crime

2008-07-10T02:43:00.000-07:00

The inaugural issue of The Lineup: Poems on Crime is now on sale at Lulu.com, featuring poems by:

Patrick Shawn Bagley
Ken Bruen
Sarah Cortez
Graham Everett
Daniel Hatadi
Daniel Thomas Moran
R. Narvaez
Robert Plath
Misti Rainwater-Lites
Stephen D. Rogers
A.E. Roman
Sandra Seamans
Gerald So
KC Trommer

The book is also coming to Murder By the Book (Houston, TX).

New Powder Burn Flash

2008-07-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

are now up at http://powderburnflash.blogspot.com/

Also, there is a new crime podcast in town called CrimeWav

This is the brainchild of Seth Harwood and I'm lucky to be helping him with this project along with web genius Jason Andrews. The first episode is up and its Vicki Hendrick's Must Bite, Part 1. Check it out!

Noir Originals

2008-07-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Recent additions over at Noir Originals:

Cameron Hughes's interview with Steve Alten; Rob McClure Smith's interview with Tom Franklin; an extract from Rob McClure Smith's novel, No Meaner City; Lost City: the Las Vegas of John O'Brien and Hunter S Thompson by Jay Jeff Jones; and an extract from Jones's novel, The Skin Trail.

June Mystery Bookspot update

2008-07-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Reviews

Wanted

"Wanted is a Hong Kong style action movie that has been stripped of character, elegance and grace but becomes an entertaining, kinetic wonder."

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

"The Book of Lost Things" is a not only a brilliant re-invention of some of our most beloved fairy tales, but also a very beautiful and poignant story about a young boy's attempt to come to terms with the loss of his mother."

Once Bitten Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

"Once Bitten can perhaps best be described as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets James Bond, i.e. fast-paced action where the Apocalypse is just around the corner, with a generous sprinkling of a wry, tongue-in-cheek humour"

Stalking the Unicorn by Mike Resnick

"This is a quick read. It's good old-fashioned fun without trying too hard."

Discussions

In the comment trail of the mystery/crime fiction primer Maria defends the cozy:

"I think they reflect problems in the world, albeit in a different matter--just as noir and other crime novels do. For example, cozies often have alcholohics, abusive familes, etc. The books often delve into society "norms" like the tendency of women to be obssessed about their weddings, weight, place in society--job difficulties, shopping, romance, etc. These are real-issues and real norms--they may be prozac issues, rather than life-threatening ones, but that doesn't make them less real, it only makes them less dark. They are still a reflection of our society and the things happening it it--some are very good at laughing at society, some hide lessons inbetween the pages, some out and out mock them. Some reflect politics of today--and there are those that do a good job of it and those that lecture. In that respect, I think they have moved forward just as much as other crime fiction."

What do you think. Is she right?

Your favorite gangster/crime movies - This is an on going discussion. So far we have seen the obvious ones like The Godfather and Scarface mentioned but how about some lesser knowns like Cutter's Way and The Way of the Gun. Plus we discuss wether or not Goodfellas is really a classic or not.

Articles

Post Mortem: Uncovering the Real Ending of The 50/50 Killer by Steve Mosby

"What follows will be an overview of the events that take place at the end of the book. This will lay the proper groundwork for the analysis of Eileen’s dream. Based on available reviews and discussions of the book the general consensus is that Eileen lives.

I intend to prove that Eileen dies."

Steve stopped by and commented on the piece and weighed in on some of the conclusions. Check it out.

Spinetingler

The Summer 2008 issue of Spinetingler kicked the door right off the hinges and can be read here or downloaded here

Misc

Can you count Suckas! The Bookspot community is now hosting Wordpress blogs. If you would be interested in moving your blog (regardless of platform) over shoot me a message. When it comes to numbers we bring it strong and get bigger everyday.

Please stop by and comment on any of these if you like. If you disagree with any of the reviews then let us know because honest discussion of books will only make the genre better. If you don't like any of the forum topics then come and start another.

--Thanks from MBS

THUGLIT - ISSUE 26!!!

2008-07-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

Hey all you out there in Thugsville,

Big Daddy Thug here, getting all up your faces with eight brand-new tales of two-fisted hooliganism and all around aggressive misanthropy. That word-a-day calendar is paying for itself.

Being the fearless man of God that he is, The Pope of St. Louis stepped in whilst I was recovering from various honeymoon injuries and guided this flock of sinners into one Holy Hell of an issue. He undertook the task with a cool “Deo adjuvante non timendum, motherf^@%er”. He ended it weeping novenas. It happens

Before we roll with the new ish, we got a couple of items to fire off…

FIRST OFF: Mad thanks to everyone who posted bail and rolled with the crew on the READ ‘TIL YOU BLEED road trip for HARDCORE HARDBOILED. Special thanks to Glen Gray, Mike Toomey, David Harrison, Jordan Harper, Sam Edwards, Justin Porter and Charlie Stella - all prior contributors and all aces in a world full of bad hands. TRIPLE thanks to Dee Mandolese at the Burlington Barnes & Noble for her gracious help and enthusiasm…and for not calling the cops on us like other stores seemed to be debating (and one actually threatened. Oh well.)

SECOND…uh…OFF: Remember way back to December of last year, when we tossed y’alls one hell of a story from a guy named Scott Wolven (News About Yourself)? Well, that magnificent bastard is a finalist for the MILLION WRITER’S AWARD for Best Online Story of the Year. The judges have spoken, and now he needs your votes. So head on over to: http://www.storysouth.com/millionwriters/2007toptenstories.html and show the world what Thug Nation can do!

Hey all you out there in Thugsville,

Big Daddy Thug here, getting all up your faces with eight brand-new tales of two-fisted hooliganism and all around aggressive misanthropy. That word-a-day calendar is paying for itself.

Being the fearless man of God that he is, The Pope of St. Louis stepped in whilst I was recovering from various honeymoon injuries and guided this flock of sinners into one Holy Hell of an issue. He undertook the task with a cool “Deo adjuvante non timendum, motherf^@%er”. He ended it weeping novenas. It happens

Before we roll with the new ish, we got a couple of items to fire off…

FIRST OFF: Mad thanks to everyone who posted bail and rolled with the crew on the READ ‘TIL YOU BLEED road trip for HARDCORE HARDBOILED. Special thanks to Glen Gray, Mike Toomey, David Harrison, Jordan Harper, Sam Edwards, Justin Porter and Charlie Stella - all prior contributors and all aces in a world full of bad hands. TRIPLE thanks to Dee Mandolese at the Burlington Barnes & Noble for her gracious help and enthusiasm…and for not calling the cops on us like other stores seemed to be debating (and one actually threatened. Oh well.)

SECOND…uh…OFF: Remember way back to December of last year, when we tossed y’alls one hell of a story from a guy named Scott Wolven (News About Yourself)? Well, that magnificent bastard is a finalist for the MILLION WRITER’S AWARD for Best Online Story of the Year. The judges have spoken, and now he needs your votes. So head on over to: http://www.storysouth.com/millionwriters/2007toptenstories.html and show the world what Thug Nation can do!

AND FINALLY, before we fire off ISSUE 26, all love and mad thanks to every writer who submitted for the issue.

AND NOW, pounding into your heads like a secret Muslim hand bump, the eight new shorts that clawed their way into Thuglit - Issue 26:

B&E - by Mark Joseph Kiewlak
Simeon - by Kim Cushman
Pay to Pray - by Keith Gilman
Bloggered - by Hugh Lessig
You’re Gonna Get Yours – by Stephen Allan
Fool In Search of a Country Song - by Andy Turner
Dead Swamp – by Stephen Beckwith
The Baby Smooth Skin of the Bank Manager and His Mistress – by L.V. Rautenbaumgrabner

THUGLIT - ISSUE 26

Blazing! Adventures Magazine Newest Serial issue!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Part 3 of the serial, The Curse of The Guadalaja Rose by Sarah Black!
Part 3 of the SuperNatural Thriller serial, The Stieger Sanction by CJ Ferguson!

Are now ready for reading!
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
Dash CourageousPublisher
www.blazingadventuresmagazine.com

The Last Hardluck

2008-06-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

The last Hardluck, the 30s Pulp Noir issue guest edited by Ed Gorman and yours truly has been published.

Crime Always Pays

2008-06-18T03:10:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Catherine O’Flynn’s WHAT WAS LOST, Declan Burke’s THE BIG O and Tana French’s THE LIKENESS reviewed; free copies of KO Dahl’s THE FOURTH MAN and THE MAN IN THE WINDOW; A GONZO NOIR gets its own blog; Andrew Taylor on the genesis of BLEEDING HEART SQUARE; KT McCaffrey on soundtracks and writing; Ed Lynskey Q&A’d; and – wait for it! – a first look at Will Hoyle’s BELLA MORTE!

Spring Issue of Demolition Now Live

2008-06-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

You think the weather is hot and sticky and nasty, wait until you read the stories we've got for you. After reading new stuff from William Dylan Powell, Justin Porter, Stephen Blackmoore, and John Kenyon you're going to need a cold shower, and maybe a drink.

http://www.demolitionmag.com

Crime Always Pays

2008-06-12T05:52:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Andrew Taylor and Declan Burke report on Bristol’s Crime Fest 2008; free copies of Adrian McKinty’s THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD; Sebastian Faulks’ DEVIL MAY CARE reviewed; Paul Nagle’s new cover art for IRONIC; Adrian McKinty reconsiders the English detective; John Connolly asks the big philosophical question about crime fiction; Ruth Dudley Edwards wins the Last Laugh Award; and the latest instalment – wait for it! – of Declan Burke’s increasingly improbably interweb novel, A GONZO NOIR.

Q & A with Brendan DuBois

2008-06-08T04:33:00.000-07:00

Stop over at www.sonsofspade.tk today for a Q & A with Brendan DuBois, writer of the Lewis Cole series!

Crime Always Pays

2008-06-04T01:46:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: reviews of Adrian McKinty’s THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD and Declan Burke’s THE BIG O; free copies of the Ken Bruen / Jason Starr collaboration THE MAX; a Q&A with Will Hoyle; the first three chapters of Declan Burke’s spanking new interweb novel A GONZO NOIR; a sneaky peek at the new cover for Paul Nagle’s IRONIC; exactly how many shortlists has Tana French made?; and – oh yes! – the ongoing flummery that is the Monday Review!

May Mystery Bookspot update

2008-06-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Reviews

The State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy "This is a terrific beach read that moves along at a good pace."

Scalped: Casino Boogie by Jason Aaron "In this volume we will start to see the broader canvass of characters, their fractured personal histories and the intricately plotted connections that inform their depths."

Articles

The Nominees for the Hammett Prize by Bernd Kochanowski

"There is a very strong competition and every single book would deserve to win. All the books reach a high level of literary quality. But clearly The Outlander, Dahlia's Gone, and The Yiddish Policemen's Union are truly outstanding in this aspect."

A mystery/crime fiction primer

"A longing look is being cast over the shoulders, by an increasing number of writers and readers, at days gone past. We've seen reprint works, anthologies, entire lines of pulp fiction; also new books that feature stressed covers that replicate the beat up nature of the original paperbacks and sexy pin-up, pulp style original cover art. I think it was this trend that George Pelecanos had in mind when he gave the Phineas Poe omnibus the following blurb "Will Baer has located the black heart of noir, rescued it from the dry-hump clutch of homage, and dragged it back to the drunk tank where it belongs."

Interviews

Charlie Huston

Please stop by and comment on any of these if you like. If you disagree with any of the reviews then let us know because honest discussion of books will only make the genre better. If you don't like any of the forum topics then come and start another.

--Thanks from MBS

Blazing! Serials continued-

2008-06-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

Part 2 of the serial, The Curse of The Guadalaja Rose

by Sarah Black!

Part 2 of the SuperNatural Thriller serial,
The Stieger Sanction
by CJ Ferguson!

New flash fiction starring Chimp: Investigator!
Are now ready for reading!
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
-Dash Courageous

-Publisher

Crime Always Pays

2008-05-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: reviews of Ben Affleck’s GONE BABY GONE and Michael Haskins’ CHASIN’ THE WIND; free copies of Andrew Taylor’s BLEEDING HEART SQUARE; the latest on Tana French’s THE LIKENESS; Catherine O’Flynn’s WHAT WAS LOST heads for the silver screen; Peter Clenott Q&A’d; is Joseph O’Neill’s NETHERLAND crime fiction?; and – oh yes! – the effortlessly irrelevant frippery of the Monday Review.

BRUISERS, BOOZERS AND THE BLUES BASH!

2008-05-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

It’s BASH TIME people!!!

And this time, it’s the Thuglit BRUISERS, BOOZERS AND THE BLUES BASH!

Our first collection, HARDCORE HARDBOILED is on the shelves, kickin’ tuchas and takin’ ISBN numbers…and we’re celebrating.

On Thursday, May 29th at 7p.m., inside McNally-Robinson Booksellers in NYC, we’re launching this sucker like a SCUD missile filled with brass knuckles and bad attitude. Come join the Thuglit Crew along with contributors Charlie Stella (The Milfinators), Jordan Harper (Johnny Cash Is Dead) and Sam Edwards (The Long Count). Need more reasons to make that trip to NYC that you’ve always dreamed about?

- Modern-day blues legend BILL SIMS will be there, tearing off some dirty blues.
- The first 20 people at the store get a limited edition Thuglit t-shirt.
- Beer…there will be beer.

BRUISERS, BOOZERS AND THE BLUES BASH
McNally-Robinson Booksellers
52 Prince St (btwn Lafayette and Mulberry)
7p.m. NYC

Then, we’re all moving one block over to 8 Mile Creek, where the beer will continue to flow like wine while Luke Dolahenty rocks the joint acoustic-style

BE THERE, or be someone who probably reads The Nanny Diaries…

Wait…what? You can’t make it, you say? You need more opportunity to buy several copies for friends, family and an enemy or two?

Then it’s your lucky day, you degenerate. Cuz’ we’re hitting the road.

Thuglit.com’s READ ‘TIL YOU BLEED tour

Weds, June 11th
Baker Books
69 State Rd North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Featuring Big Daddy Thug, Jordan Harper and Sam Edwards

Thurs June 12th
Barnes & Noble
Burlington Mall
98 Middlesex Pkwy. Burlington, MA 01803
Featuring Big Daddy Thug, Mike Toomey, Jordan Harper and Sam Edwards

That’s all we got for now, peeps. More details as they emerge.

Todd Robinson (Big Daddy Thug)
www.thuglit.com

Blazing! Adventures Magazine issue 5

2008-05-24T12:27:00.001-07:00

Blazing! Adventures Magazine presents:

The 5th Issue!

Teel James Glenn
Brian Haycock
Billy Wong
Charles Schaeffer
Amhed A. Khan
Robert Collins
Mick Dawson
CJ Ferguson

and the writer of the Month-
Sara Black

Join the adventure!!!!!!!

-Dash Courageous
Publisher
Blazing! Adventures Magazine

Blazing! Adventures Magazine issue 5

2008-05-22T23:20:00.001-07:00

Closed for submissions.

Look for issue 5 to premeire this weekend.

www.blazingadventuresmagazine.com

Enjoy!

ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dash Courageous
Publisher
Blazing! Adventures Magazine

Crime Always Pays

2008-05-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Q&As with Steve Martini and Jim Michael Hansen; John Boyne’s MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY and Russell Banks’ THE RESERVE reviewed; free copies of Sandra Ruttan’s WHAT BURNS WITHIN; the latest on Tana French’s THE LIKENESS; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull reviewed; what the hell is ‘Gonzo noir’?; Jack Higgins’ latest blockbuster; is Joseph O’Neill’s NETHERLANDS a crime novel?; and – oh yes! – the ongoing irrelevant frippery that is the Monday Review!

New at Powder Burn Flash

2008-05-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a good start to the year for flash fiction.

Over at PBF I have two wonderful stories so far this month. First up, Ed Lynskey offers up a wonderful Frank Johnson treat called The Last Stakeout. Frank Johnson is one of the best PI characters around and Ed will have a new book out in June.

Robert Aquino Dollesin in Personal Business offers us a way to solve a problem. You will have to read it to find out.

Coming soon a new flash fiction challenge: Shifting Gears will be the title of the next challenge being organized by Patti Abbott, Gerald So and myself. All stories will have a common line in it. Patti and Gerald will annouce the format shortly.

I'm getting ready to looking into podcasting some of these stories in the near future.

Crime Always Pays

2008-05-14T03:11:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Adrian McKinty (right) on Chester Himes; Alan Glynn Q&A’d; Zane Radcliffe’s LONDON IRISH; Peter Clenott’s HUNTING THE KING; Princess Lilyput gets her own blog; ANTON goes to Cannes; Horace McCoy’s KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE; John Burnside’s GLISTER reviewed; the jury remains out for Bernard MacLaverty’s CAL; Poolbeg join the crime fiction revolution; and – oh yes – the usual Monday Review flummery!

Noir Originals

2008-05-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

Recent additions over at Noir Originals include:
Gash's Lovejoy Series As A Re-Evaluation of Noir by Dr Harry Lerner.
Jim Thompson's Psychopathic Narrators by Jon Bassoff, plus an extract from his novel, The Disassembled Man.
And Sandra Ruttan interviewed by Damien Seaman.

Crime Always Pays

2008-05-07T02:40:00.000-07:00

This Week on Crime Always Pays: John Connolly’s THE REAPERS reviewed; a Q&A with BLEEDING HEART SQUARE author Andrew Taylor; Paul Nagle publishes his debut novel; free copies of Garbhan Downey’s YOURS CONFIDENTIALLY; KT McCaffrey on casting real people as fictional characters; John Connolly and Declan Hughes launch THE REAPERS and THE DYING BREED; THE BIG O gets nominated for CrimeFest’s ‘Best Humorous Crime Novel’; plenty of pics of Princess Lilyput; and – oh yes! – the ongoing frippery that is The Monday Review.

April Mystery Bookspot update

2008-05-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

Reviews

The Magician and the Fool by Barth Anderson "THE MAGICIAN AND THE FOOL is thoroughly enjoyable, and imbued with a rich sense of wonder. What starts out as a juggernaut thriller subtly and skillfully turns into study of magic in the modern world."

The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson "If Jim Thompson were alive today he'd want to write a novel like this.

Arkansas by John Brandon "Arkansas is a strong debut novel by John Brandon coming from the never dull and always interesting McSweeney's with complex characters whose multiple facets contain conflicting sides of their personalities that come together to in the telling of a wonderful book. The use of language in Arkansas is precise, intricate, heady and approaches brilliance at times. Brandon is a talent to watch."

Kockroach by Tyler Knox "Kockroach is a problematic book."

Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow "Sharp Teeth. Wow!"

The Cold Spot by Tom Piccirilli "An engaging, action-packed tale that manages to both give you hope and break your heart. Piccirilli is a master storyteller, able to effortlessly entertain while probing deeper questions about whether people can ever truly change, and Chase is an engaging character I look forward to spending more time with."

Discussions

Here we discuss Richard Morgan's article

What authors did you discover in 2008

Tell us about what short stories you have read

At Central Booking

Lie Detector: Tom Piccirilli, Craig McDonald

Solitary Confinement: Seth Harwood, John Rickards, Allan Guthrie & Declan Burke

Death Row: Declan Burke; Jack Getze prepares for the end, Seth Harwood compares notes with his protagonist, Jack Palms; Tom Piccirilli gives the scoop on how he and his THE COLD SPOT protagonist, Chase, would end it all; Allan Guthrie's PEARCE shares how he'd spend his final moments and we get to hear how Anne Frasier would spend her final hours.

Video Surveillance: Savage Night, White Riot & Head Games

Please stop by and comment on any of these if you like. If you disagree with any of the reviews then let us know because honest discussion of books will only make the genre better. If you don't like any of the forum topics then come and start another.

--Thanks from MBS

Thuglit - Issue 25 !!!!!!!!!

2008-05-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

Psssst….

Over here…

D Rock City here.

Big Daddy Thug and Lady Detroit are off on their honeymoon…if you can you call an alcohol-fueled, blood-soaked, whiskey-stinkin’ multi-state celebratory beatdown spree a honeymoon. Apparently, they can.

So, being the intrepid businessman that I am, I’ve taken it upon myself to climb up their fire escape and commandeer their e-mail list (along with their television, DVD player, computer and sandwich meats). But before I unplug this sucker, I promised BDT that I’d drop you all a line and inform you jamokes that Thuglit – Issue 25 is up and burning the eyeballs of those who dare to rest their peepers on the eight toxic tales of destruction residing within.

First though, he wanted to make sure that I thanked everyone who submitted for the issue. Why I have to thank y’alls, I have no idea. But thanks. I can see from the blood pooled under the desk that it’s not an easy feat to go through the level of quality stories that get sent in every month.

That said, here are the eight blister-inducing short stories, primed and ready for your disturbing pleasures.

Snow Angels - by Leslie Budewitz
Reenactment – by Michael Colangelo
Lousy Cons – by Nolan Knight
The Grind – by Randy Chandler
Faith-Based Initiative – by Kieran Shea
Who Do I Have To Kill To Get A Little Respect Up In Here? – by Brian Murphy
Mahogany & Monogamy – by Jedidiah Ayres
Hot Dog Money – by Ben Nadler

Thuglit – Issue 25

'Kay kids. Gotta boogie before the neighbors notice my intrepid business practices.

Updates on Sons of Spade

2008-05-02T03:21:00.000-07:00

On www.sonsofspade.tk we give you an interview with Marty Waites and a review of Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellman.

Crime Always Pays

2008-05-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: Ian Sansom Q&A’d; free copies of Aifric Campbell’s THE SEMANTICS OF MURDER; Bernd Kochanowski (right) previews the Edgars; Adrian McKinty interviewed; The Jury Remains Out on Brian Moore’s THE COLOUR OF BLOOD; the usual overkill on Lilyput pics; the Mystery Readers Journal wants Irish crime writers; Edward Anderson’s THIEVES LIKE US; the interweb cornucopia that is Funky Friday’s Freaky-Deak; and – oh yes! – the pointless frippery of The Monday Review.

Blazing Adventures Magazine serial issue

2008-04-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

BLAZING! ADVENTURES MAGAZINE PRESENTS:

Grit & Lust:

Deceived Victory

-The Serial ISSUE -

Townsend Twainhart brings you the finale.

Rusty's Adventure comes to an end,

will it be his!

The adventure concludes!

Enjoy!

Dash Courageous

Publisher

www. blazingadventuresmagazine. com

Michael Haskins on Sons of Spade

2008-04-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Michael Haskins and his debut novel get the full spotlight on www.sonsofspade.tk as we interview him about the PI genre and his character Mad Mick Murphy and review Chasin' the Wind.

Crime Always Pays

2008-04-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

This week on Crime Always Pays: The Artist Formerly Known As Colin Bateman on Belfast as Giggle City; Adrian McKinty on Naguib Mahfouz’s THE THIEF AND THE DOGS; Aifric Campbell, author of THE SEMANTICS OF MURDER, Q&A’d; free copies of Michael Haskins’ CHASIN’ THE WIND; Declan Hughes on the fourth Ed Loy novel, CITY OF THE DEAD; reviews of Sandra Ruttan’s WHAT BURNS WITHIN and Salman Rushdie’s THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE; the one-year anniversary of Crime Always Pays; yet more pictures of Lilyput; and – oh yes! – the ever-irrelevant Monday Review.