© by Gerald So | 7:00 AM
If all stays on track, Long Island will be eligible for Phase 1 of reopening someday next week. The illness and death toll prevents me from "enjoying" lockdown, but one bright spot is it's compelled me to set up video conferencing, which has actually let me attend more events than I could get to in person before.
Last night my old boss, Thrilling Detective's Kevin Burton Smith, hosted a virtual Noir at the Bar on Zoom. I was most motivated to attend for the chance to see Thrilling's original fiction editor, Victoria Esposito, who mentored me into the job in mid-2001, before she left to focus on HandHeldCrime, the first crime fiction magazine for portable devices.
Victoria and I had IMed and emailed, but had never spoken live before last night. As part of the event, she read my December 2019 Mystery Tribune story "Fred", which debuts PI Lisa Regina. She, Kevin, and I also divvied up the readers' bios to co-host.
UPDATE (May 30): Kevin has posted a two-hour cut of the recorded event:
Here's the video cued up to Victoria's reading of Fred:
Thanks again to everyone who attended.
Showing posts with label Thrilling Detective. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thrilling Detective. Show all posts
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Recovery
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 6:00 A.M.
If the September 11 never happened, I'd have a false sense of security that nothing of their magnitude could ever happen on U.S. soil. I'm sure many Americans felt the same. Maybe they've gone through the same progression of feelings I have: helplessness, fear, anger, acceptance.
Part of me will always wish the attacks hadn't happened, but from them I think the U.S. has slowly developed more awareness of what can happen, which has helped foil subsequent plots.
On the day itself, I was home on Long Island and heard about the plane hits via texts with friends. I was fortunate not to lose any friends or family that day, but I empathize with those who did. The written word has always been my best means of connecting with the world and with my feelings. While the act of writing leads me to the greatest empathy, the act of editing is an empathic leap above that of reading. It prods me to think critically about what's written, and my opinions affect the final product. Editing Dave White's Thrilling Detective story "Closure" was a test of how well I empathize. You be the judge.
A piece of writing is of the moment it's written. In the fourteen years since "Closure" was published, undoubtedly Dave has matured as a writer, but just as we'd all like to do the right thing in the right place at the right time, I'm grateful to have been in a position to help Dave polish "Closure".
If the September 11 never happened, I'd have a false sense of security that nothing of their magnitude could ever happen on U.S. soil. I'm sure many Americans felt the same. Maybe they've gone through the same progression of feelings I have: helplessness, fear, anger, acceptance.
Part of me will always wish the attacks hadn't happened, but from them I think the U.S. has slowly developed more awareness of what can happen, which has helped foil subsequent plots.
On the day itself, I was home on Long Island and heard about the plane hits via texts with friends. I was fortunate not to lose any friends or family that day, but I empathize with those who did. The written word has always been my best means of connecting with the world and with my feelings. While the act of writing leads me to the greatest empathy, the act of editing is an empathic leap above that of reading. It prods me to think critically about what's written, and my opinions affect the final product. Editing Dave White's Thrilling Detective story "Closure" was a test of how well I empathize. You be the judge.
A piece of writing is of the moment it's written. In the fourteen years since "Closure" was published, undoubtedly Dave has matured as a writer, but just as we'd all like to do the right thing in the right place at the right time, I'm grateful to have been in a position to help Dave polish "Closure".
Monday, April 02, 2012
At The 5-2: "Suspect Has a History" by Jack Bates
This week's poem was inspired by police radio chatter. Thanks again to Alison Dasho and Thomas Pluck, who helped record the poem with me.
"Suspect Has a History" marks Day 2 of 30 Days of The 5-2. The tour began yesterday with Kevin Burton Smith discussing "Last Straw" by Susan Kelley. Yesterday also marked the fourteenth anniversary of Kevin's P.I. fiction reference site, Thrilling Detective. Kevin is celebrating with an update of the site, including poll results for the fourteen best P.I. novels of all time.
And submissions opened yesterday for 5-2 guest editor Nancy Scott.
"Suspect Has a History" marks Day 2 of 30 Days of The 5-2. The tour began yesterday with Kevin Burton Smith discussing "Last Straw" by Susan Kelley. Yesterday also marked the fourteenth anniversary of Kevin's P.I. fiction reference site, Thrilling Detective. Kevin is celebrating with an update of the site, including poll results for the fourteen best P.I. novels of all time.
And submissions opened yesterday for 5-2 guest editor Nancy Scott.
Friday, April 01, 2011
So it begins.
My friend and former boss at The Thrilling Detective Web Site, Kevin Burton Smith, asked for the first spot in the Lineup 4 So Dark For April blog tour as a way of celebrating his site's thirteenth anniversary. Here is his commentary, poetic in itself.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Brady Files
That's Jack Brady, ex-Navy SEAL and Texas border patrolman-turned-tough guy P.I. Created by Robert W. Tinsley, Brady made a name for himself online, and now Tinsley has collected all eighteen Brady stories in an eBook available from Amazon.
As a Spenser fan and reader of SEAL history, I enjoyed many of these stories when they first appeared, and edited two of them for Thrilling Detective. Much the same as I feel about Spenser, I wish Bob Tinsley had written steadily all these years, but as he writes in the introduction, his output has been subject to "real life getting in the way, and, quite frankly, sloth."
On the bright side, because the Brady stories appear sporadically, they're not cookie-cutter efforts. Timing and other factors had to align for Bob to write each one, and the many zines that have published Brady stories prove the character's versatility and appeal.
As a Spenser fan and reader of SEAL history, I enjoyed many of these stories when they first appeared, and edited two of them for Thrilling Detective. Much the same as I feel about Spenser, I wish Bob Tinsley had written steadily all these years, but as he writes in the introduction, his output has been subject to "real life getting in the way, and, quite frankly, sloth."
On the bright side, because the Brady stories appear sporadically, they're not cookie-cutter efforts. Timing and other factors had to align for Bob to write each one, and the many zines that have published Brady stories prove the character's versatility and appeal.
Friday, January 28, 2011
A Look Back at Jackson Donne
I read drafts of five of the seven stories when they first appeared. It was a privilege to watch Dave's writing develop and to give it a nudge where I could. His post-9/11 story "Closure" may be his most acclaimed, but I prefer his work after that. Intent not to be pigeonholed by one story, he wanted subsequent stories to be even more challenging and memorable, and I believe he succeeded.
I last edited Dave six years ago, so I can reveal with some detachment my favorite Donne story: "God's Dice".
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Thrilled for Kieran Shea
In late February, I made Thrilling Detective's allotted three nominations to win storySouth's Million Writers Award, honoring the best original online fiction of 2009.
On April 1, Jason Sanford posted the list of 190 notable stories. Among them is Kieran Shea's Thrilling Detective story "Shot Back". The notable stories will be narrowed to ten finalists May 1. The public then gets to vote for the winner.
On April 1, Jason Sanford posted the list of 190 notable stories. Among them is Kieran Shea's Thrilling Detective story "Shot Back". The notable stories will be narrowed to ten finalists May 1. The public then gets to vote for the winner.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
No Mystery
Aside from a couple of book reviews, I haven't read any mysteries lately. I'm still working on The Lineup and Thrilling Detective stories, but no mysteries held my attention for the usual 300-plus pages. I've hesitated to spend money on mysteries, not sure that spark of interest will last. It's still my favorite genre. I'll be back, but I don't know when.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Who Loves Ya, Baby?
Kevin Burton Smith posted the Spring '09 issue of Thrilling Detective last night, featuring the original stories "Love is For Suckers" by Robert Petyo, "Terra Bella" by Robert Stevens, and "Love Don't Mean a Thing" by Jim Winter, and the usual plethora of good stuff. A little late for Valentine's Day, but then love is a timeless motive.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
storySouth's Notable Stories of 2008
Released April 19, the list includes two Thrilling Detective stories: "The Truth About Lang Tri" by Robert Petyo and "Lady Luck" by J. Winter.
The list will be narrowed to ten stories announced May 15, and a popular vote on those will decide the winner of the Million Writers Award.
My thanks to the preliminary judges. Congratulations and good luck to the nominees.
The list will be narrowed to ten stories announced May 15, and a popular vote on those will decide the winner of the Million Writers Award.
My thanks to the preliminary judges. Congratulations and good luck to the nominees.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Prime Time
Today marks eleven years in existence for The Thrilling Detective Web Site. I've had the privilege of editing the site's original fiction for eight years. My thanks to Kevin Burton Smith, former fiction editor Victoria Esposito-Shea, our contributors, and readers.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Winter Thrills
Word's been out a little more than a week, but Kevin Burton Smith made the official announcement of Thrilling Detective's return from hiatus yesterday. A tip of my virtual fedora to this issue's writers: Patrick Shawn Bagley, Stephen D. Rogers, Kieran Shea, and Mark Troy.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO by Dave White
Having lost his P.I. license in the aftermath of When One Man Dies, Jackson Donne is forced back into action when his brother-in-law's restaurant is bombed and his brother-in-law is kidnapped. Part of a multi-viewpoint, multi-generational adventure, Donne must figure out who is targeting his family before it's too late.
The Evil That Men Do improves in every way on White's aforementioned debut novel. Though there are multiple viewpoints, the chapters flow more readily, building better suspense. The plot relies less on information from the Donne stories, though reading them would add to one's understanding of Donne. The main draw for me was Donne's strained relationship with his family. One would expect anyone to rise to the occasion and protect family, but Donne also has to reconnect with feelings for his family along the way.
The Evil That Men Do improves in every way on White's aforementioned debut novel. Though there are multiple viewpoints, the chapters flow more readily, building better suspense. The plot relies less on information from the Donne stories, though reading them would add to one's understanding of Donne. The main draw for me was Donne's strained relationship with his family. One would expect anyone to rise to the occasion and protect family, but Donne also has to reconnect with feelings for his family along the way.
Friday, May 02, 2008
2008 SMFS Derringer Awards
As voted by the Short Mystery Fiction Society:
BEST STORY, 1,000 WORDS OR LESS:
"My Hero" by Patricia Abbott
Published in DZ Allen's Muzzle Flash
BEST STORY, 1001 to 4000 WORDS:
"In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" by John Weagly
Published in The Back Alley
BEST STORY, 4001 to 8000 WORDS:
"The Gospel According to Gordon Black" by Richard Helms
Published in The Thrilling Detective
BEST STORY, 8001 to 17500 WORDS:
"Paper Walls/Glass Houses" by Eric Shane
Published in The Back Alley
Congratulations to the winners. We at Thrilling Detective are pleased to have published one of them.
BEST STORY, 1,000 WORDS OR LESS:
"My Hero" by Patricia Abbott
Published in DZ Allen's Muzzle Flash
BEST STORY, 1001 to 4000 WORDS:
"In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" by John Weagly
Published in The Back Alley
BEST STORY, 4001 to 8000 WORDS:
"The Gospel According to Gordon Black" by Richard Helms
Published in The Thrilling Detective
BEST STORY, 8001 to 17500 WORDS:
"Paper Walls/Glass Houses" by Eric Shane
Published in The Back Alley
Congratulations to the winners. We at Thrilling Detective are pleased to have published one of them.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
storySouth's Notable Stories of 2007
...are listed here, and among them is Fleur Bradley's Thrilling Detective story "Circling the Drain". Thanks again, Fleur.
The top ten stories will be announced the final week of May, and the top story by public vote will win the Million Writers Award for excellence in online-published fiction.
The top ten stories will be announced the final week of May, and the top story by public vote will win the Million Writers Award for excellence in online-published fiction.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
2008 Gumshoe Awards
...as announced by David J. Montgomery.
This year's winner for Best Crime Fiction Website is none other than Thrilling Detective!
This year's winner for Best Crime Fiction Website is none other than Thrilling Detective!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
2008 SMFS Derringer Finalists
As posted to Shortmystery today:
Best Story 1,000 words or less:
Keri Clark, "Saved" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
BV Lawson, "Dreaming of a Spite Christmas" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Jillian Berg, "A Woman Scorned" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Autumn 2007)
Keri Clark, "Your New Fan" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Patricia Abbott, "My Hero" (D Z Allen's Muzzle Flash, 2007)
Best Story 1,001 to 4,000 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "Brimstone P.I." (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, May 2007)
Hugh Lessig, "We All Come From Splattertown" (Thuglit, Issue 17, July 2007)
Rick Noetzel, "Joyride" (Shred of Evidence, Dec., 2007)
Jack Hardway, "Handful of Stars" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Issue 5, Autumn 2007)
John Weagly, "In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" (The Back Alley, Vol. I, Nov 2007)
Camille LaGuire, "The Promise" (Future's Mysterious Anthology Magazine, March-April 2007)
Best Story 4,001 to 8,000 words:
Twist Phelan, "A Trader's Lot" (Wall Street Noir, Akashic Books, June, 2007)
John Schroeder, "Devil's Lake" (Futures Anthology Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007)
Herschel Cozine, "A Private Hanging" (Mysterical-E, Summer, 2007)
Kate Flora, "Mr. McGregor's Garden" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Rosemary Harris, "Growing Up is For Losers" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Richard Helms, "The Gospel According to Gordon Black" (The Thrilling Detective, Fall 2007)
Best Story 8,001 to 17,500 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "The Bookworm's Demise"(Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Dec. 2007)
Eric Shane, "Paper Walls / Glass Houses" (The Back Alley Vol. 1, June 2007)
John Burdett, "The Enlightenment of Magnus McKay" (Wall Street Noir, June 2007)
Mike Wiecek, "Wasting Assets" (Alfred Hitchcock Sept., 2007)
Clifford Royal Johns, "Forget Me Not" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
The finalists are put before Short Mystery Fiction Society members voting April 1-30 to determine the winner in each category. Congrats and good luck to all.
Best Story 1,000 words or less:
Keri Clark, "Saved" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
BV Lawson, "Dreaming of a Spite Christmas" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Jillian Berg, "A Woman Scorned" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Autumn 2007)
Keri Clark, "Your New Fan" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Patricia Abbott, "My Hero" (D Z Allen's Muzzle Flash, 2007)
Best Story 1,001 to 4,000 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "Brimstone P.I." (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, May 2007)
Hugh Lessig, "We All Come From Splattertown" (Thuglit, Issue 17, July 2007)
Rick Noetzel, "Joyride" (Shred of Evidence, Dec., 2007)
Jack Hardway, "Handful of Stars" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Issue 5, Autumn 2007)
John Weagly, "In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" (The Back Alley, Vol. I, Nov 2007)
Camille LaGuire, "The Promise" (Future's Mysterious Anthology Magazine, March-April 2007)
Best Story 4,001 to 8,000 words:
Twist Phelan, "A Trader's Lot" (Wall Street Noir, Akashic Books, June, 2007)
John Schroeder, "Devil's Lake" (Futures Anthology Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007)
Herschel Cozine, "A Private Hanging" (Mysterical-E, Summer, 2007)
Kate Flora, "Mr. McGregor's Garden" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Rosemary Harris, "Growing Up is For Losers" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Richard Helms, "The Gospel According to Gordon Black" (The Thrilling Detective, Fall 2007)
Best Story 8,001 to 17,500 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "The Bookworm's Demise"(Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Dec. 2007)
Eric Shane, "Paper Walls / Glass Houses" (The Back Alley Vol. 1, June 2007)
John Burdett, "The Enlightenment of Magnus McKay" (Wall Street Noir, June 2007)
Mike Wiecek, "Wasting Assets" (Alfred Hitchcock Sept., 2007)
Clifford Royal Johns, "Forget Me Not" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
The finalists are put before Short Mystery Fiction Society members voting April 1-30 to determine the winner in each category. Congrats and good luck to all.
Thrilling Decade
Today marks ten years online for Kevin Burton Smith's Thrilling Detective Web Site. I've had the privilege of editing the site's original fiction section since March 2001, and hope to continue as long as Kevin wants.
Raise a glass of your favorite beverage to this indispensable online resource for detective fans.
Raise a glass of your favorite beverage to this indispensable online resource for detective fans.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
2008 Million Writers Award Nominations Open
storySouth's Million Writers Award recognizes excellence in fiction published online. Nominations are open through March 31.
As Thrilling Detective Fiction Editor, I've nominated "A Saving Grace" by Patricia Abbott, "Circling the Drain" by Fleur Bradley, and "Piece by Piece" by Paul Sundeson.
Unfortunately, none of my own fiction from last year meets the award's 1000-word minimum, but good luck to all.
As Thrilling Detective Fiction Editor, I've nominated "A Saving Grace" by Patricia Abbott, "Circling the Drain" by Fleur Bradley, and "Piece by Piece" by Paul Sundeson.
Unfortunately, none of my own fiction from last year meets the award's 1000-word minimum, but good luck to all.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thrilling Detective Holiday Style
The holiday issue of Thrilling Detective went live yesterday, with stories by Dick Stodghill, R. Narvaez, and Paul Sundeson, as well as an excerpt from Max Allan Collins's Deadly Beloved. Also, editor Kevin Burton Smith brings back the P.I. Poll for the 2007 Cheap Thrill Awards. See my responses below:
THE BEST P.I. BOOK AWARD
For Books First Published in 2007
Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover
THE OTHER BEST P.I. BOOK AWARD
For Books You Read in 2007, Regardless of When They Were First Published
First Drop by Zoe Sharp
BY THE BALLS
The P.I. Book That Grabbed You Hardest in 2007
(I wasn't sure what this meant, but... - Gerald)
The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The Best New P.I. in 2007, in Any Medium
Michael Westen, TV's Burn Notice
THE NAUGHTY NINETIES:
The Best P.I.s of the Nineties... and Beyond
If Easy Rawlins counts, my vote goes to him.
SLIM PICKINGS
THE BEST P.I. FILM/TV SHOW AWARD
For Films/Shows First Released in 2007
Burn Notice
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
The Worst P.I. Film/TV Shows Released in 2007
Pushing Daisies (It has a P.I. in it. I'm not sure it's a P.I. show, but if they're calling it one, it's a bad one.)
WHAT THEY SHOULD BE THINKING
P.I. TV Shows and Movies That SHOULD Be on DVD
Vengeance Unlimited, Marlowe (James Garner), Andy Barker P.I. (Why not?)
SPINNING WHEELS GOT TO GO ROUND
Best PI Movie or TV Show Released on DVD in 2007
Vincent Series 1
BEST MYSTERY MAG, WEB SITE, E-ZINE, LIST-SERV, BLOG or NEWSGROUP
Fiction or Non-Fiction, In Print or On-Line Besides Thrilling, Natch!
Shred of Evidence
SNAPPY PATTER
Best One-Liner in P.I. Fiction (read or seen) of 2007
"Go. Sleep badly. Any questions, hesitate to call." --Gay Perry (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)
THE RISING TO THE OCCASION AWARD
What gives you the most hope for the future of the P.I.?
The fact that the P.I. has lasted seven or eight decades already. I don't think people will ever tire of seeing the detached outsider come in and resolve situations for better or worse.
THE LIMP DICK AWARD
Biggest Disappointment
Higher-priced, less satisfying reads.
BLACK IS BLACK
The Darkest P.I. Novel This Year
Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US
How should we mark our 10th anniversary?
(Coming this April?)
How about a "Where are They Now?" essay covering some of the P.I. writers who've dropped below radar since 1998?
THE BEST P.I. BOOK AWARD
For Books First Published in 2007
Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover
THE OTHER BEST P.I. BOOK AWARD
For Books You Read in 2007, Regardless of When They Were First Published
First Drop by Zoe Sharp
BY THE BALLS
The P.I. Book That Grabbed You Hardest in 2007
(I wasn't sure what this meant, but... - Gerald)
The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The Best New P.I. in 2007, in Any Medium
Michael Westen, TV's Burn Notice
THE NAUGHTY NINETIES:
The Best P.I.s of the Nineties... and Beyond
If Easy Rawlins counts, my vote goes to him.
SLIM PICKINGS
THE BEST P.I. FILM/TV SHOW AWARD
For Films/Shows First Released in 2007
Burn Notice
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
The Worst P.I. Film/TV Shows Released in 2007
Pushing Daisies (It has a P.I. in it. I'm not sure it's a P.I. show, but if they're calling it one, it's a bad one.)
WHAT THEY SHOULD BE THINKING
P.I. TV Shows and Movies That SHOULD Be on DVD
Vengeance Unlimited, Marlowe (James Garner), Andy Barker P.I. (Why not?)
SPINNING WHEELS GOT TO GO ROUND
Best PI Movie or TV Show Released on DVD in 2007
Vincent Series 1
BEST MYSTERY MAG, WEB SITE, E-ZINE, LIST-SERV, BLOG or NEWSGROUP
Fiction or Non-Fiction, In Print or On-Line Besides Thrilling, Natch!
Shred of Evidence
SNAPPY PATTER
Best One-Liner in P.I. Fiction (read or seen) of 2007
"Go. Sleep badly. Any questions, hesitate to call." --Gay Perry (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)
THE RISING TO THE OCCASION AWARD
What gives you the most hope for the future of the P.I.?
The fact that the P.I. has lasted seven or eight decades already. I don't think people will ever tire of seeing the detached outsider come in and resolve situations for better or worse.
THE LIMP DICK AWARD
Biggest Disappointment
Higher-priced, less satisfying reads.
BLACK IS BLACK
The Darkest P.I. Novel This Year
Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US
How should we mark our 10th anniversary?
(Coming this April?)
How about a "Where are They Now?" essay covering some of the P.I. writers who've dropped below radar since 1998?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)