Friday, July 30, 2004

Thrilled for Ray Banks

Noir and P.I. fiction author Ray Banks sends word he's signed with literary agent Marc Gerald. This news is a double pleasure for me, as the agent discovered Ray through Kevin Burton Smith's Thrilling Detective Web Site, where I edit the section of original fiction.

Look for Ray's first novel, The Big Blind, from PointBLANK Press.

I'm happy to consider original P.I. short stories for publication at Thrilling. If you're interested, please read our submission guidelines.

Three quick points to remember:

  • My taste runs to stories with definite direction. Know what you want to do with a story, and have a good idea how to do it.

  • Proofread your story. Don't let the speed and ease of computers lead you to careless work.

  • Most important, put the story above your writerly ego. You may write to please yourself, but you submit to please new audiences.

Good luck and good writing.

Thursday, July 29, 2004

"Lois Lane, Clark Kent."

Today is Allison Mack's 22nd birthday. Mack plays Chloe Sullivan, girl reporter on "Smallville." Checking IMdb's "Smallville" credits, I saw the name "Lois Lane." KryptonSite reports Lois (played by 26-year-old Erica Durance) will appear in at least thirteen episodes next season.

Call me a softie, but I never get tired of seeing mythic meetings like this one played out. We all know what will happen in the end, but within a brief window, there's a chance to put a twist on things. "Smallville" made Lana the unattainable beauty, giving her a Kryptonite necklace. How will Lois be introduced?

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

What Pre-1985 Video Game Character Am I?


What Video Game Character Are You? I am a Defender-ship.





I am fiercely protective of my friends and loved ones, and unforgiving of any who would hurt them. Speed and foresight are my strengths, at the cost of a little clumsiness. I'm most comfortable with a few friends, but sometimes particularly enjoy spending time in larger groups. What Video Game Character Are You?

Did somebody say "Mutant"?

Monday, July 26, 2004

Nana Visitor's Birthday

Nana Visitor, who played Kira Nerys, the fiery Bajoran first officer on DS9, turns 47 today.


Michael Connelly

Having finished Estleman's Angel Eyes yesterday, I'm now reading The Black Echo, Michael Connelly's first Harry Bosch novel. It's been on my to-be-read stack for three years, but I've never been as ready to read it as I am now. I had a similar experience with Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. A cousin gave me The Cardinal of the Kremlin for Christmas one year, and I finished it four years later, after first reading The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games.

One reason I've held off reading some big name authors in the past is the worry that I would go in with false expectations, that I would feel pressure to like these authors because other readers did. Ideally, I think books, movies, music should be experienced without hype, allowing the individual to form an opinion naturally.

Saturday, July 24, 2004

Masters of the Mic

Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci offers his top five baseball announcers, analysts, baseball calls, and top five people he'd like to see in the booth one day.

Friday, July 23, 2004

Raymond Chandler's Birthday

The creator of private eye Philip Marlowe was born this day in 1888 in Chicago, Illinois.



I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings.

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Jerry Goldsmith Dies

IMdb reports prolific film and TV composer Jerry Goldsmith died today in his sleep after a long battle with cancer. Among his most recognized credits are Rambo, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (later used for TNG), L.A. Confidential, "Barnaby Jones," and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." His signature sound will be missed.

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

"I blew out my flip-flop, stepped on a pop-top..."

Ten years ago, I showed the first version of "For Old Times' Sake" to a teacher at Hofstra, and he recommended Jimmy Buffett's book, Where is Joe Merchant?

At the time, I liked the song "Margaritaville," but didn't know Buffett was the artist behind it. Now I think of Buffett whenever I read a Travis McGee book and whenever I want to take a mental breather.

For the first time in his thirty-year career, Buffett has a No. 1 album on the Billboard pop chart.

"Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese..."

From the AP, I'm full just reading this:
FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Chalk up another meaty milestone for Don Gorske. The Fond du Lac man downed his 20,000th Big Mac sandwich Monday, while surrounded by spectators at a local McDonald's restaurant.

He already had made the "Guinness World Records" book for eating a record number of Big Macs before he hit number 19,000 in March 2003.

He has been eating the fast food sandwiches since 1972 at a rate of at least one a day, and said he has eaten a Big Mac from every state in the union.

Still, the 6-foot Gorske has maintained his weight at about 170 pounds.

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Loren D. Estleman

Sarah Weinman's blog led me to an interview with Loren D. Estleman, and I've decided to catch up with the Amos Walker series, now back in print at iBooks.

Amos Walker is a self-professed anachronism. In his debut, he is a hardened thirty-one year-old former MP who boxed in college. While not as high-profile as Parker or Crais, Estleman has spent near twenty-five years hammering out--on a typewriter--solid work in several genres.

Reading the second Walker book, Angel Eyes, I realize that Estleman is not writing to cash in on the latest trends, but to remind readers what a novel can be at its core: no wasted words.

He is one to learn from.

Sunday, July 18, 2004

Sunday Doings

To bring some order to my unpredictable reading schedule, I've added Start Date and Finish Date columns to my book database. So far this has motivated me to finish two and a half books in the space of a week--the latest being this month's DetecToday featured novel, Lonely Street by Steve Brewer.

Now I'm on to Iguana Love by Vicki Hendricks. Hendricks's debut, Miami Purity was featured on DetecToday last year. Iguana is a quick read at 185 pages, but again Hendricks packs those pages with steamy sexual tension and black humor.

Meanwhile, my own writing instincts are being pulled in three directions. I'd like to do another Chris Harvey P.I. story and another C.J. Stone story, but most likely I'll work on "Home" first. It's been hanging, waiting for me to get a handle on the brother-sister tension at its center.

Before any of that, though, it's leftover KFC for dinner.

Friday, July 16, 2004

Indy 4 Stalled

From IMDB:
'Indiana Jones 4' Stalled Over Script Concerns

The eagerly awaited new Indiana Jones movie won't be released for another two years, because producer George Lucas isn't happy with the script. Indiana Jones 4 has been in the works for a number of years but looked likely to hit screens next year after Lucas recruited star Harrison Ford and original director Steven Spielberg for the project, and hired Frank Darabont to write a screenplay. But Lucas has sent the Shawshank Redemption writer back to the drawing board. A studio source reveals, "Indiana Jones 4 was meant to start shooting this summer but won't now be coming out until 2006. Even though Harrison and director Steven Spielberg were happy with the screenplay, Lucas still doesn't like the final act and wants a faster pace and more action."

I've been skeptical about a fourth Indy from the beginning, but if there is to be one, I hope Lucas's heavy hand doesn't smear it:

"Snakes?! I hate them! I hate them so much! I hate them!"

Thursday, July 15, 2004

Kobe Stays, Shaq Goes

Can two NBA stars share a basketball without driving each other crazy?

(Cue "Odd Couple" theme)

In the case of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the answer is no. As expected, the Lakers sent Shaq to Miami for Odom, Grant, Butler, and a first-round draft pick. The Lakers announced about an hour ago that Kobe was re-signing with them.

I am not happy.

Reading is Fundamental

As important as I've learned reading is to writing, there are some months when I find it a chore, some times when opening a book and reading a sentence are onerous tasks. Where one book will take five days, another may take five weeks. And often enough it's not a matter of the writing; it's a matter of the attention I can bring to the task.

I can be easily distracted by TV or the need to look something up on the Net. These and many minutiae can pull me away from reading. Ideally, I need to be in a spot with good lighting, quiet enough so I can hear the rhythm of the characters' speech or, in non-fiction, the author's reasoning. I suppose I could skim, but that to me shortchanges the author. I would like to think authors consider their words carefully, and deserve to be read carefully. The equivalent of skimming in conversation is folding your arms and tapping your foot, waiting for the speaker to come to a point. Or worse, simply waiting for your turn to speak.

This is not to say I remember every word of every book I've read. Some wording really is meant to get from Point A to Point B while readers are caught up in the pacing of the overall language. My point is I can't recognize something as often subtle as pacing unless I'm focused.

Finally, there is something to be said for getting out and participating in life, not trying to get away from, say, the train ride to work by reading. Then again, the ordinary is often what grounds fiction, what makes it seem as that, yes, it could happen. So I like to focus on the ordinary.

When is my best reading time? Early morning, after nature calls, but before it's reasonable to start the day's work.

Brian Haig Follow-up

After thoroughly enjoying The Kingmaker, I wrote to author Brian Haig. As his books reflect, he finds Tom Clancy a bore and dislikes legal thrillers centered on the legal process itself. He believes what interests us most in fiction is good characters and tries to center each of his books on a good character.

Haig's comments are music to a writing prof's ears. I wish him continued success and again recommend his series, one that genuinely improves with each book:

Secret Sanction
Mortal Allies
The Kingmaker
Private Sector

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

2004 All-Star Game: Rocket Shelled

For once on the same team with catcher/nemesis Mike Piazza, "The Rocket" Roger Clemens gave up six runs in the first inning of last night's MLB All-Star Game, including a key three-run shot by game MVP Alfonso Soriano. The American League won 9-4, improving Joe Torre's All-Star record to 5-0-1 and giving the AL homefield advantage in the World Series.

In other All-Star festivities, Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada won the Home Run Derby, thanks in large part to a record-setting fifteen-run second round.

Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Indy and Captain Picard


Harrison Ford (pictured above with Karen Allen) turns 62 today.


Patrick Stewart (pictured above as Picard playing P.I. Dixon Hill) turns 64 today.

Monday, July 12, 2004

Superman News

IMdb confirms McG is out as director of the proposed Superman movie update:
McG (née Joseph McGinty Nicol) has bowed out as director of Warner Bros.' upcoming Superman sequel, citing disagreement with the studio over budgetary roll-backs. Initially, plans called for the film to be shot in New York City, but when Warner Bros. accountants determined that filming in Australia could cut tens of millions of dollars from the costs, production was moved to Sydney. In a statement on Saturday, McG said, "As a filmmaker, I felt it was inappropriate to try to capture the heart of America on another continent."


Ruler of Australia? Supermate?

Spider-Man deserved blockbuster treatment after the cheesy 70s Nicholas Hammond TV movies. The Superman movies were blockbusters. The need for sequels died with Superman III. "Lois & Clark" and "Smallville" have put all the new spin on the legend that I need to see, leaving one question...

Why?

Goin' Back in Time

The range of DetecToday's featured novel discussions is now authors or P.I. characters debuting 1980 to the present (formerly 1984 to the present). This will allow us to cover more authors while remaining somewhat current.

Isabel Sanford Dies

AP reports Isabel Sanford of "The Jeffersons" has died. To me, the Jeffersons had one of the most realistic marriages on TV. They fought as often as they cuddled, and while George liked to be listened to, Louise could always put him in his place and remind him of the right thing to do.

Sherman Hemsley and Sanford clearly shared a similar affection in real life, and I'll miss her along with Roxie Roker, Carroll O'Connor, John Ritter, and Tony Randall.

Sunday, July 11, 2004

Lakers Rebuilding

Mike Krzyzewski having turned down the job, the Lakers yesterday announced Rudy Tomjanovich their new head coach. In winning back-to-back championships coaching the Houston Rockets, Tomjanovich proved his ability to construct solid teams. This is the kind of basketball I want the Lakers to play.

Overshadowing this hiring is news of a trade that would send Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and Caron Butler. Meanwhile, Kobe's situation is still in flux. The Lakers could be on the verge of watchability again.

Saturday, July 10, 2004

DetecToday Chat

As a reminder to group members, the next DetecToday group chat will take place tomorrow from 3:00 to 5:00pm ET using the Conference feature on Yahoo! Messenger.

To learn more about DetecToday or any of my Yahoo! Groups, scroll down to "Moderator" on the right of your screen.

What I'm Reading: THE KINGMAKER by Brian Haig

As a fan of TV's "JAG," I was excited to discover an equivalent in print, Brian Haig's Sean Drummond series. Haig, son of Alexander, is a West Point graduate and career military strategist. Army major Drummond took up law after serious injuries forced him out of a covert unit called the Outfit. As narrator of four military legal thrillers so far, Drummond has shown red-blooded machismo and self-deprecation rivaling Spenser. Haig's writing has steadily improved, making the 400-plus-page books run like great rides.

Thursday, July 08, 2004

Thrilling Detective Summer Issue

The Summer 2004 issue of Thrilling Detective is now live, featuring stories from Ray Banks, Ron Miller, Dave White, Jim Winter, and Tim Wohlforth. I edit these stories one at a time, so I always enjoy seeing them as a whole in the finished issue.

Let us know what you think.

Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Publicly Legal? Legally Public?

The James Spader/William Shatner spinoff of "The Practice" has changed names after its working title, "The Practice: Fleet Street" didn't test well. The new title, "Boston Legal," is now free to be confused with another David E. Kelley show, "Boston Public."

I wonder how show titles are tested. I suppose I should be grateful this show won't be following the "Star Trek"/"Law & Order" trend.

Labels aside, I'm looking forward to this show. Gotta watch anything with Shatner at least once, and underexposed "Keen Eddie" star Mark Valley has been added to the cast.

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

"Not Talkin' 'Bout Shaft."

Who's the cat who won't cop out
when there's danger all about?


Kojak!

From IMdb:
USA Network is hoping to revive the Kojak franchise with a new series starring Ving Rhames in the title role, replacing the late Telly Savalas, who died in 1994, the New York Post reported today (Tuesday). It is the first time in recent memory that a black actor has taken over a long-running role that was established by a white actor. The original series aired on CBS from 1973 to 1978 and was followed by numerous Kojak movies that aired on ABC. The new series is scheduled to begin production in Canada later this month.

I first posted news of this remake last year on CrimeSeen. As a fan of Rhames, I think the show has a shot. It will depend on the writing.

Monday, July 05, 2004

"Nobody Knows Who You Are..."

Okay, I might be giving something away here about Spidey 2, but I do so out of pure admiration. As a result of a battle with Doc Ock aboard a speeding train, Spidey's mask is badly burned, and he rips it off before losing consciousness. Peter wakes up with a carful of commuters staring at him. He realizes they can see his face and...

They still don't recognize him.

Lots of people might recognize millionare Bruce Wayne, industrialist Tony Stark, or lawyer Matt Murdock, but how many strangers know Peter Parker, college kid, part-time shutterbug for the Daily Bugle?

Brilliant.

Spidey 2 Raises the Bar

My brother and I just got back from Spider-Man 2. The bar for superhero movies has just been raised. Not to give too much away, I'll say this movie blends almost seamlessly with the first. British actor Alfred Molina makes Dr. Otto Octavius human and likeable. (I've been a fan of Molina since he played Angel in the Mel Gibson Maverick movie, and have since learned he played Satipo in Raiders of the Lost Ark: "Throw me the idol, I throw you the whip.")

At the heart of the story is Peter's choice between fighting crime as Spider-Man and having a "normal life" with M.J. as Peter. This movie--better than any before--shows it's not the suit but the person in the suit that makes a hero.

"Whatever Kobe Wants..."

Basketball news over the long weekend centered on the Lakers' offer to make Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski the highest-paid coach of any U.S. sport. Kobe Bryant apparently said he'd like to play for Coach K, and the team looks to be bending anywhichway for No. 8.

What I want to happen:
  • Coach K turns down the Lakers job and stays at Duke. He is one of the last reasons today's high school phenoms consider college before the NBA.

  • The Lakers say goodbye to Kobe and Shaq and honestly rebuild. As it stands, they are projected to put exactly the same team on the floor next season, only without the Zen Master to keep everything in balance.

Federer Wins Gentlemen's Title

No. 1-ranked Swiss player Roger Federer, who dethroned Wimbledon king Pete Sampras in 2001, yesterday won his second straight Wimbledon, coming back from a set down to beat American young gun Andy Roddick. Federer's story is quite an interesting one.

Sunday, July 04, 2004

July 4th

It's been a while since I've gotten to celebrate Independence Day in traditional American fashion. TV's Magnum liked to spend the day alone, as it was the day his father was shot down. Watching the fireworks on TV has bored me. The past few years I've taken a jog at dusk, sniffing the other barbecues in the neighborhood, watching kids playing basketball in their driveways or coming back from the beach. Pretty good, actually.

Two years ago on the 4th, I decided to begin work on the third C.J. Stone story, available in final form in the current Shred of Evidence. We'll see what happens today.

Saturday, July 03, 2004

Maria Sharapova

17-year-old Russian Maria Sharapova defeated back-to-back Wimbledon champion Serena Williams to win her first major tournament. Already known for icewater in her veins, Sharapova sliced clean through the first set 6-1. Williams was first to break serve in the second set, but Sharapova broke right back, then broke Serena again to go up 5-4 and serve out the match.

By all accounts, Sharapova has more drive and more poise than former hopeful Anna Kournikova. Her second Wimbledon appearance confirmed she has more game.

Until the Ladies' final, this year's rain-soaked Wimbledon had held little interest for me. Most of the names I know have retired or are considered past their prime. Catching this match in its entirety, I got to see Sharapova play with the grace and focus lacking in much of today's tennis.

Friday, July 02, 2004

Marlon Brando Dies

AP reports Marlon Brando has died.

I came to know Brando through later performances. Nevertheless, a single character can permanently imprint an actor in one's mind. To me, Brando will always be the just scientist Jor-El, father of the would-be Superman.

Guy's Amazing

Derek Jeter continues to offer proof he's no pretty boy, spilling into the stands making a running catch of a long pop-fly to save a game for the Yankees against rival Boston. If you want to know how to play in New York, watch this guy:



The Yankees won the game in the 13th inning on a two-out hit from last-man-on-the-bench John Flaherty, scoring Miguel Cairo, and sweeping the Sox.