Book sculpture by Su Blackwell
It was a pleasure to hear that this year's Nobel Prize in Literature went to short-story author Alice Munro. I've been enjoying her stories for years, and I'm glad to see that oft-maligned short fiction is getting some recognition.
The Mystery Writers of America Norcal chapter is co-hosting an event in honor of Litquake, "An Evening with Anne Perry." The author will be featured in conversation with William C. Gordon on October 18 at 7:30pm at the Glass Door Gallery in San Francisco. Perry has published more than 80 mystery novels, primarily set in Victorian England
International bestselling author Jo Nesbo, creator of Headhunters and the Harry Hole series, has signed with publisher Harvill Secker for two new books written under the pseudonym Tom Johansen. The publisher is releasing few details about the works, other than the first book, Blood on Snow, will be published in autumn 2014, with the second to follow in spring 2015.
A big hat tip to Declan Burke for posting that the Irish Crime Fiction Festival at Trinity College has released its full lineup. It kicks off with "A Short Introduction to Crime Fiction: Why We Write It, How We Write It, and Why We Read It," with panelist Jane Casey, John Connolly, Alan Glynn, Declan Hughes, and Eoin McNamee. Also featured is an evening with author Johny Connolly interviewing Michael Connelly.
Following on the international theme, author/blogger Martin Edwards has a nice photo essay look at Italy and Crime Fiction.
Hard Case Crime editor Charles Ardai announced that they will be publishing a lost novel by MWA Grandmaster Lawrence Block for the first time in 50 years. Titled Borderline, it's a violent, intense story about five lives colliding on the border between El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. Shots eZine had a feature on Hard Case and Ardai this week, talking about the publisher's release of four rare Michael Crichton books written early in the author's career under a pen name.
Akashic books has an ongoing online flash series, and they're adding a new category, "Terrible Twosdays." They're seeking stories up to 750 words that focus on the challenges of parenting children between 0 to 5 years of age, fiction or non-fiction. Although there is no payment, your story will be published on the Akashic website, if chosen. Other themed days include Mondays Are Murder and Thursdaze. (Hat tip to Sandra Seamans.)
As Crime Fiction Lover reminded me, Open Road Media is publishing a line of bibliomysteries, novella-length stories by top crime authors, with each involving a crime that somehow relates to a book. So far, the list of authors has included Jeffrey Deaver, Loren D Estleman, Ken Bruen, CJ Box, Laura Lippman and more, with the latest being The Last Testament by Peter Blauner.
Laura Wilson, winner of the Prix du Polar Europeen and the Crime Writers' Association's Ellis Peters Award, will be leading a new joint writing endeavor by UEA/Guardian. The three-month "How to Write Crime Fiction" course, begins February 10. There are only places for 12 participants who will meet as a group for one three-hour session per week at the Guardian building in London.
This week's Q&A roundup features author Jonathan Santlofer, who serves as editor of the new serial anthology Inherit the Dead; Omnimystery News chats with Lesley A. Diehl about her new cozy series with consignment store owner, and with author Luke Preston who writes a series about ex-cop Tom Bishop; A Knife and a Quill has "5 Quick Questions with Tom Pitts"; and Louise Penny chats with Mysterious People.
Gulp. Google reportedly takes down more than eight "pirate" links every second.
Criminal Element has a little fun with a multiple choice "game" of how to write a Lee Child novel in eight foolproof steps.
Comments