Tru, Eyes

The mediocre time-travel show Tru Calling returns tonight as a mid-season replacement. Eliza Dushku is the only reason I'm watching this show, but that's enough.

Last night I watched the new P.I. show Eyes starring Tim Daly as head of an ultra-modern yet swimming-in-debt P.I. firm. I dislike pilots because they're mostly exposition, and in the case of Eyes, there were a lot of characters to introduce. The show seemed to have the goal of pulling the wool over viewers' eyes. That works only to a point. The jury's still out on this one.

Trying "Stunts" Again

Spent the morning looking into new markets for "Stunts" and came upon Web Mystery Magazine, edited by Rosalie Stafford.

May the Force be with me.

(Why have we never heard Jedi say this to themselves? Ala John McClane's "Come out to the Coast. We'll get together, have a few laughs...")

"Patience!"

exhorted Master Yoda.

My bank robbery short short "Stunts" was rejected from the Spring 2005 Hardluck Stories Zine. My first impulse is to submit it elsewhere right away, but it might pay to wait and look into print markets. I haven't had a story in a print mag, but this one (third-person, flash) is different from any of my past submissions. More when I've decided on a venue.

Recent Reads: Parker and Starr

Blogger access has been spotty the past few days, so I've used the time to finish a couple of reads before month's end.

My favorite prose draws me into a story such that I don't notice the time or the page count; I just want to watch one thing lead to the next. Once upon a time, I roared through the first fifteen Spenser novels like this.

Flash-forward to last Saturday. My copy of the latest Spenser paperback, BAD BUSINESS, arrived and I finished it by Sunday. My displeasure with Parker's now-robotic book production is well documented here and elsewhere. He still writes clearly, but I speed through his work now because I've seen all his tricks before and have little patience for them.

Contrast this with TWISTED CITY, my first time reading Jason Starr. Starr's prose was completely in character with a flawed, trying-to-keep-his-head-above-water narrator. Readers may catch on to where a novel is going, but it's more important that the writer keep a steady hand at the controls. Even in the digression chapters, it seemed Starr was aware of the story he wanted to tell, the characters he wanted to present. This is the kind of confidence every writer strives for.

Bloom, Orlando Bloom?

From IMDb:

Orlando To Bloom As Young 007?

Orlando Bloom's dream of becoming the next James Bond looks set to become reality - but he'll be playing the young 007. The Pirates Of The Caribbean actor has confirmed he has been in negotiations to star in Young 007. He says, "I love the idea, in principle, as he can be far more adventurous and do more stunts. This is as near as I think I will get to playing the grown up James for the next 20 years." The first Young 007 movie will be based on new novel Silverfin and will be set in the 1930s, years before Bond discovered he likes his Martinis shaken, not stirred. The film will follow the young Bond from school at Eton, England, to his uncle's house in the west Highlands.

New DetecToday Logo

Yahoo! Groups got a facelift over the weekend, so I took the opportunity to redo the text of DetecToday's logo (above).

Ye Olde Logo, circa 2003

"Live Long, and Prosper."

Today is Leonard Nimoy's 74th birthday. It's also a birthday for Keira "Try wearing a corset!" Knightley (20), Amy Smart (29), Jennifer "Baby" Grey (45), and James Caan (65).

Mystery Ink Online Reports: Moe Is Saved!

David J. Montgomery's latest Mystery Ink interview is with THE JAMES DEANS author Reed Farrel Coleman. The answer we've all been waiting for:

Q. How is the campaign to “Save Moe” going?

A. Moe is saved! Say Hallelujah. Say Amen. The thing is, I don’t know exactly where he’ll end up. I would love for him to stay where he’s already at home, where I’m already at home. My publisher, Penguin-Plume, and I have worked so hard to get my career going and to get the Moe books on the readers’ radar screens, I think it would be a shame if we didn’t share the success together. But I’ve come to understand the pressures of the business from the publisher’s point of view and I’m at peace with whatever happens. That the character of Moe will live on is the most important thing.

Hear, hear.

Robert J. Randisi DetecToday Transcript

A transcript of last night's chat is now available.

Randisi covered many topics: his forthcoming anthologies, how to break into anthologies, PWA membership, and the versatility of the fictional P.I.

Thanks again to Bob and all who attended or tried to attend.

My Story at Thieves Jargon

Slightly early, I direct you to this week's issue of Thieves Jargon and my story "The Carrier".

Let me know what you think. My thanks to editor Matt DiGangi and advance readers John Ricotta, Dave White, and Jim Winter.

What's My Pirate Name?

My pirate name is:

Red Jack Read

Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. Even through many pirates have a reputation for not being the brightest souls on earth, you defy the sterotypes. You've got taste and education. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Pasta and Reruns

The WB is airing the oh-so-familar midseason rerun double-header featuring Smallville's fourth season premiere. Actually, the premiere is still my favorite episode of the season. I refer you to my recap.

Also looking forward to a dinner of pasta in olive oil with garlic and mushrooms, and maybe a basketball game on the tube.

Affleck and Lehane

From Lee Goldberg's A Writer's Life:

Gone Baby Gone

Variety reports that Ben Affleck will write and direct, but not act in, a feature film adaptation of Dennis Lehane's book GONE BABY GONE. The movie, which will be released by Disney, will shoot in Boston this fall and could be the start of a "franchise." The book is one of a series that Lehane, back before MYSTIC RIVER, wrote about a team of private eyes.

GONE, BABY, GONE was IMO the most harrowing of Lehane's five Kenzie/Gennaro books. It probably would make the best movie, and maybe Affleck will have better luck behind the camera than he's had in front of it. Here's hoping.

UPDATE - A few more details posted IMDb for March 23, 2005:

Affleck To Make Directorial Debut

Hollywood actor Ben Affleck will move behind the camera, after signing up to make his directorial debut. The Gigli star will helm the adaptation of the novel Gone, Baby, Gone, written by Mystic River author Dennis Lehane. The film will follow two private detectives in a working-class Boston, Massachusetts, neighborhood who are hired to search for a kidnapped four-year-old girl. Affleck, who most recently appeared onscreen in Surviving Christmas, will not appear in the movie, and will start shooting in Boston, where he grew up, in the autumn.

Where No Man Has Gone Before

William Shatner, best known as Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk, turns 74 today. One of this generation's most memorable actors, Shatner is still going strong on ABC's Boston Legal as the impish, amoral, yet fatherly Denny Crane.

More Superman Casting

From IMDb:

Posey Joins 'Superman' Cast

Actress Parker Posey has joined the cast of the much-anticipated new Superman Returns movie. The House of Yes actress, currently co-starring onstage in Hurlyburly in New York with Ethan Hawke, will play Kitty Koslowski, Lex Luthor's villainous sidekick in the as-yet-untitled Bryan Singer film. Already set to appear in the picture are Brandon Routh as Superman, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, Hugh Laurie as Perry White, James Marsden as Richard White, Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor.

New Thrilling Fiction Guidelines

We've implemented new, more specific guidelines for the fiction manuscripts we receive at Thrilling Detective. Here are the highlights:

We like our manuscripts as readable as possible. Please stick to the following matters of form, or we may not read your submission:

• In the upper left corner of the first page, provide:
  
  1) Your Real Name
  2) Street Address
  3) E-mail Address
  4) Approximate Word Count
  5) Your Word Processing Program and Platform (PC or Mac)
  6) Date of Submission

• Skip a few lines and provide:
  
  1) Title of Your Story
  2) by (The name you wish to appear in print)

• Skip a few more lines and begin the body of your story. Set your story in an easy-to-read 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman or Courier New), double-spaced, with normal paragraph indentation.

• You are expected to proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation BEFORE submitting. Ideally we should be doing less copyediting so as to focus on problems of plot, character, structure, narrative flow, etc.

• PAYMENT: We're only paying $10.00 U.S.(via cheque or PayPal) for a first run story, an amount hardly likely to impress your bank manager (or even the kid next door with the lemonade stand). But it does mean your work will have been published on-line and available to the world, and you will have received financial compensation for it.

• Please submit only one story at a time. Don't submit a second story until you have received a response to your first.

Read the full guidelines here.

Getting Carried Away

My speculative fiction story "The Carrier" appears this Friday, March 25 on Thieves Jargon. I'll keep you in suspense 'til then.

Connery Says "Never" Again

From IMDb:

Connery Backs Out of Book Deal

Acting legend Sir Sean Connery has ditched plans for an autobiography for the second time. The book launch was planned to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his glittering film career in 2007 - and was to be written by ghost-writer Hunter Davies, who 74-year-old Connery signed a contract with last summer. The Scottish screen star only backed out of a contract with another writer, fellow Scot Meg Henderson, six months earlier. Henderson says, "He isn't the man I thought he was, nor the man he likes to think he is." It is rumored within the publishing world the Oscar-winning actor feared his public image would suffer because Davies wanted to write a no-holds-barred book about the actor, who has enjoyed a wild sex life and has also endured claims of wife-beating, which he has always denied.

"Near, Far, (Far Away)—Wherever You Are..."

From IMDb:

Star Wars III: "'Titanic' in Space"

The final Star Wars movie will be an emotional "Titanic in space", according to director George Lucas. Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith will hit movie theatres in America in May bringing to an end the most celebrated sci-fi film franchise in screen history. Episodes I and II, released 16 years after the last of the original trilogy Return Of The Jedi, were derided by critics and fans - who felt they lacked the quality of their predecessors. But Lucas is promising Episode III, which will bring the series to a close, will be a different affair. He says, "It's a real tearjerker, and it will be received in a way that none of us can expect. I feel that I've made the movie the best I can and it turned out the way I wanted it to be, so I'm happy." And he insists he isn't concerned about fans' response to Episode III: "I never try to anticipate what the world's going to think or even worry about whether they're going to like it or not. That's not my job, to make people like my movies. They either like them or they don't. That's completely out of my hands." Speaking at the ShoWest conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lucas refused to give away the film's plot - but screened the first six minutes of the film, and told audience members, "Obviously, fans would love to see a movie about Darth Vader running around killing people. I'm not telling that story, and I'm not interested in that. That's not what the movie is. This first trilogy is really about the father, the struggles of a father, or a man, basically, to find himself, and at the same time fall into a trap of wanting certain powers, making a pact with the devil and basically spending the rest of his life regretting it."

Some dissection of the language:

"That's not my job, to make people like my movies...That's completely out of my hands."

It's not beyond an author to create characters and a story people will enjoy. Even the darkest tale has to have a character you can stand behind and root for. That is the author's job, at least partially in his control. Lucas could have made Luke Skywalker an ignoramus or Obi-wan an insufferable taskmaster, but he didn't. He stuck with tried-and-true archetypes that audiences have enjoyed since before stories were written.

"Obviously, fans would love to see a movie about Darth Vader running around killing people."

Is this obvious? It certainly isn't true in my case. I haven't enjoyed this trilogy because it's about an unsympathetic character—arrogant Anakin Skywalker—becoming even more despicable.

"This first trilogy is really about the father, the struggles of a father, or a man, basically, to find himself, and at the same time fall into a trap of wanting certain powers, making a pact with the devil and basically spending the rest of his life regretting it."

I might accept Lucas's synopsis if I watched the two trilogies back-to-back. But in Episodes I and II, Anakin isn't a father yet. Viewers are forced to make connections between the two trilogies on their own. The fact that Lucas has to explain the arc of Episodes I, II, and III itself shows he's failed to dramatize his vision this time around.

Replay Value

Victor Gischler blogged twenty-five movies he can watch again and again. Tod and Lee Goldberg followed up. Here are twenty-five of mine in the order they occur to me:

TOP GUN
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
BEVERLY HILLS COP
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
THE MALTESE FALCON
THREE AMIGOS!
SPIES LIKE US
ROXANNE
SUPERMAN II
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
GET SHORTY
THE LAST SEDUCTION
ZERO EFFECT
MEN IN BLACK
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
THE INCREDIBLES
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN
A FEW GOOD MEN
HELLBOY
MAJOR LEAGUE
BLUE STREAK
CHINATOWN
CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION

"You built a time machine...out of a DeLorean?"

By JEFFREY GOLD, Associated Press Writer

NEWARK, N.J. - John Z. DeLorean, the innovative automaker who left a promising career in Detroit to develop the stainless steel-skinned, gull-winged sports car bearing his name and was acquitted of charges he planned to sell $24 million worth of cocaine to support the venture, has died at the age of 80...(read full story)

Effortless?

Dave White and I met in 1997 as members of the original Spenser mailing list, Spenser-L, run by Paul Ullucci and Mike Loux. Since then, I've lost much of my enthusiasm for Parker as I feel he's written more of the same instead of anything substantially new.

Perhaps if I hadn't come to moderate my own Spenser and P.I. fiction lists, I could sit back and enjoy Parker. But having stretched my reading well beyond Parker in eight years, I can't give his work a pass. Not for the money I pay to read it (Since '97, the cost of Parker mass market paperbacks has risen from $4.99 to $7.99, not to mention the rip-off trade editions).

On the other hand, Dave still enjoys Parker, today posting praise for the new Spenser, COLD SERVICE:

"Parker's style is so effortless and smooth, laid back. It's fun to read. The way Spenser and Hawk banter, the way Parker knows just when to add a paragraph of description to give the conversation that breezey feel. It's something I want to be able to do. Everytime I read Parker it makes me want to write."

After reading Dave's full entry, which ends with, "Parker is still good at what he does," I commented:

I haven't read COLD SERVICE yet, but the 'effortless' label applied to anyone's writing is problematic for me. I try to make my work easy to read and grasp as you go, and in my case it takes a lot of effort. Rarely do I draft a sentence that remains intact all the way through to the published product.

Meanwhile Parker claims the books we read are little more than his first draft. He does have a way with words, but I find some stretches of his writing uneven: wordy at times, brusque at others, and not always fitting the mood he's trying to set.

If Parker does write effortlessly it's because he's had forty-someodd books to practice. He's lucky his editor allows him to do what he does. At this point, I doubt he can write a book that doesn't fall back on his familiar themes and cadence.

Following up, here's a portion of blogger Eric Berlin's recent interview with Parker (Link from Sarah Weinman):

Eric Berlin: Your stories are nearly effortless to read and some of the easiest fiction to take in and enjoy. Is that intentional? How much effort do you put into the language and the story and as it flows and moves along?

Robert B. Parker: Well, it’s all effortful and yet it’s all intuitive. I both know and don’t know what I’m doing. Well, I know a hell of a lot about what I do. I’ve been doing it for thirty-something years, I’ve written fifty-something books. I know exactly what I’m doing and I don’t have a clue about what I’m doing. It’s both, and I don’t know how to amplify that, but it’s both at the same time.

I want it to sound right. Even though I don’t write music, it seems to me more like writing music than anything else. It’s got to sound right in my head, you know? And if the language sounds right and the story sounds right and the people sound right… You know, you don’t have to be able to write music to know when it’s off-key.

There is almost no effort in the sense that I have no plan. If I had a rule of thumb it would be the most meaning with the fewest words. When in doubt, use a simple declarative sentence, which seems right to me. I’m certainly not the first guy to think of that.

Blogging and Writing

A member of Shortmystery relayed the following contest:

http://www.writingstuff.com/blogfest.html

What's the one thing you've always wanted to write, but never got around to writing?

A novel, a screenplay, a children's picture book, a short story, a memoir, a book of poetry?

Whatever it is, we challenge you to get started writing it this May.

And you can win $2000 just for deciding to do it!

All you have to do is tell us what you want to write, why you want to write it, and what it would mean to you to be given the chance to write it.

If you can convince us that it means the world to you, you could be our $2000 winner. Nine runners-up will also share in $1000 prize money.

. . .

Closing date: April 20, 2005.

Entry fee: $5

The conditions:

There is only one condition to this competition - we want to keep up with how you're going. If you're a winner, we ask that you submit at least a weekly blog letting us know how your project is going.

Blogfest 2005 is all about people pursuing their dreams together. So even if you're not a winner, we still invite you to join in Blogfest 2005, to make your writing dreams come true, and to join our community of writing bloggers this May.

Let's make the month of May one to remember!

This brought up the question of whether blogging can help a writing career. In the year-plus since a started this blog, my fiction and poetry output has increased. I find blogging motivates me to write; one type of writing feeds the others. Some thimk blogging consumes time better spent writing for publication, but how frequently you blog is up to you.

This much said, I don't blog specific details (inciting idea, plot twists, etc.) of what I'm working on until it's done. During much of the writing process, ideas are elusive buggers. Discuss an idea too early and it may vanish into the ether.

I like $2000 as much as the next writer, but I won't pay judges for the privilege of convincing them why I want to write something. I'll just go ahead and write it.

Mystery Ink Interviews Harley Jane Kozak

Mystery Ink Online's David J. Montgomery recently posted an interview with one of my favorite actors, Harley Jane Kozak (pictured). I recently ordered her first book, DATING DEAD MEN, and I hope she becomes one of my favorite writers.

More on Craig Ferguson

The AP explores the various ingredients Craig Ferguson borrows to toss into the mix that is his talk show.

I'm a Foodie, You're a Foodie

Cablevision of Woodbury finally saw the light, unscrambling Food Network in my area since the end of January.

I've always enjoyed cooking shows and been able to imagine eating the food. (Good for weight maintainance.)

My favorite shows are 30-Minute Meals with Rachael Ray and Calorie Commando. In the latter, chef Juan-Carlos Cruz prepares reduced-calorie, full-flavored versions of classically decadent treats like the bacon cheeseburger, pulled pork sandwich, Buffalo wings, and hash browns. Amazing.

"And the Award Goes To..."

Early in award season, there's been some debate on the legitimacy of certain awards and authors' campaigning for them. It amazes me that adults can act so childish when it comes to awards. Sarah Weinman posted her thoughts yesterday, and I commented:

Sarah wrote:

"[B]ut I also like to think that any awards list is representative of what the best of the year really is, not the efforts of single-minded campaigning by anyone."

I agree. Ideally, I wouldn't nominate my own work for awards, but I do so with the rationale that all work deserves at least a look.

I'm not needy enough to impose on others to nominate my work, but I will say (once), "If you enjoy my work, consider nominating it." The decision is left to the individual.

I can understand authors wanting the increased recognition and sales awards can bring. As performance is vital to the professional athlete, recognition and sales are vital to the full-time author. In both cases, the purity of the endeavor is at risk. I plan to avoid the trap by never depending primarily on my earnings as a novelist.

"I'm not here to talk about the past."

Mark McGwire before Congress (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

This entry's title is the answer Mark McGwire used over and over to the question, "Have you ever used steroids?"

It's also a clever answer to the question, "Do you know of any players who have used steroids?"

I'm not making any assumptions about anyone or any sport, but the temptation for any pro athlete or aspiring pro to use performance-enhancing drugs is and will be strong precisely because performance is a professional athlete's primary means of income. The purity of the game can easily take a backseat to the need to pay the bills.

MURDER...AND ALL THAT JAZZ

...is the title of the anthology featured on DetecToday this month. Robert J. Randisi compiled stories of crime and jazz by some higher-profile authors like Michael Connelly, Peter Robinson, and Laura Lippman.

My early favorites are "Chop Suey" by John Lutz, describing a young lounge singer's first heartbreak and the lengths to which she's pushed; and "East Side, West Side" featuring a new, Nick and Nora Charles-ish duo from Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens.

I just read "Drummer Unknown", Graham Powell's favorite, by British author John Harvey. This is a tale of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll set in 1950s London. It follows a backup musician falling into love and addiction, and his ultimate rise to the occasion when his lover is murdered by a crooked cop.

Bob Randisi will be chatting live with DetecToday members on Thursday, March 24, 8:30-9:30 PM CT via AOL Instant Messenger.

Craig Ferguson, Crime, and Comedy

Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson may be quite the crime fiction fan. On Tuesday the 15th he had Lawrence Block on, talking about the new Matt Scudder book, ALL THE FLOWERS ARE DYING. Leading into the interview, Ferguson called Block one of his heroes. He was very knowledgeable about Block's various protags and said Scudder was his favorite.

When Ferguson was tapped as Craig Kilborn's permanent replacement, I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't much like Kilborn's too-cool attitude and hadn't watched much of the show before. But Ferguson—much like Kilborn's Daily Show replacement Jon Stewart—is more reserved, letting the comedy come to him, not feeling the need to put it out there.

It occurs to me that the only comedians I dislike are those who go on the offensive, who are heavy-handed at the controls of their comedy. They push their personalities on us, showing no confidence that we will discover and like them on our own.

St. Patrick's Day Pictorial

Leading off my St. Patrick's Day pictorial salute to the Irish is Brian Dennehy, a graduate of Chaminade H.S. in Mineola, NY and a Wall Street friend of Martha Stewart's, who IMO would be a lock for Spenser if Parker aged the character the way he should have.


Navan man Pierce Brosnan


From Official Dana Delany Site

Dana Delany found fame as Army nurse Collen McMurphy on China Beach, and has since performed on Broadway, in TV movies, and done voice work for WB Animation.


Onetime Playboy Playmate Julie McCullough played Mike Seaver's first serious girlfriend on the '80s sitcom Growing Pains and more recently has worked as a magician's assistant.


From Official Danica McKellar site

Part-Irish Danica McKellar played quintessential girl-next-door Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years, went on to study mathematics at UCLA, and recently directed her first short film.

"I Need Fuel..."

said Back to the Future's Dr. Emmett Brown as he rummaged through trash cans.

Now comes word the first hydrogen-powered cars may be available in seven years' time.

She's Not Gonna Take It

From IMDb:

Insulted Gellar Dumps Agent

Hollywood beauty Sarah Michelle Gellar has ditched the prestigious William Morris Agency after its president dismissed the star as "nothing at all". David Wirtschafter offended the Buffy The Vampire Slayer actress with his comments in US publication the New Yorker surrounding her performance in horror movie The Grudge. Yesterday, Gellar's public relations spokesperson confirmed that she "has left the William Morris Agency effective immediately because of the New Yorker article", reports website Pagesix.Com. However, the sexy star will remain with management company The Firm. Gellar isn't the only star who has been upset by the outspoken talent boss - Charlie's Angels star Lucy Liu has also had problems with William Morris, but not "because of the article" according to a company spokesperson.



I don't follow her career as closely as some do, but Gellar's presence and talent are undeniable. She was an Emmy-winner before mega-stardom on Buffy, and IMO she lent the role the gravitas it needed to be taken seriously. Even before seeing her dust vampires, I sensed a very New York "Mess with me and you're on the floor" fire behind her eyes.

Shred of Evidence Readers' Choice Award 2004

1st Place (tie): "Game On" by Iain Rowan

1st Place (tie): "Officer Down" by Stephen D. Rogers

3rd Place (tie): "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place for Murder" by Tim Wohlforth

3rd Place (tie): "A Little Trouble" by Gerald So

3rd Place (tie): "Seductive Barry" by Ray Banks

A thrill to be mentioned with writers I admire. Thanks to all who voted, and to Shred Editor Megan Powell.

Searching for Voices

Raven Electrick rejected the sci-fi themed poem I wrote at the end of February. Lately I've been trying to keep my sense of poetry growing, searching for voices with which I connect. I just ordered a survey of Derek Walcott's work from 1948 to 1984.

Dealing with rejection is like shoveling out after a blizzard. You don't see the light immediately, but eventually it's only one scoop away. I'd rather keep working to put myself in that position than stop and freeze to death.

Blinded

Received a signed copy of THE BIG BLIND from Thrilling Detective author alum Ray Banks. I've wanted to read this book since first hearing the buzz about it. Thanks much, Ray.

So, How's Winter?

Possibly my most egregious pun yet, this entry's title refers to the slice of pizza and conversation I had with Jim Winter today. Jim is in the Metro area this week promoting his book NORTHCOAST SHAKEDOWN and meeting locals like Dave White, Pat Lambe, Charlie Stella, and me.

We checked out Dead End Books in Hicksville, where Jim interested the owner in NORTHCOAST and pointed out the current issue of Mystery News (in which he is interviewed). He bought a copy of PISTOL POETS by Victor Gischler, and I bought BEAT THE DEVIL on DVD for $5.55.

We then walked to Two Guys Pizza where talk turned to the tech boom, New Jersey, baseball, and our favorite Net personalities. Then Jim caught the LIRR back to Manhattan for BruenFest's Black Orchid stop. I, alas, cannot hang with cool writer folk tonight.

Jim's a big, affable guy—a pleasure to meet. Buy his book.

IMDb: Tarantino Snubs Bond After Brosnan Exit

Maverick film-maker Quentin Tarantino abandoned plans to direct the next James Bond film after Pierce Brosnan was fired by studio heads. The Kill Bill director was devastated when he learned Brosnan's stint as 007 had come to a premature end - following a row with movie bosses over money - because he deemed the Irish actor the perfect Bond. And Tarantino reacted to the news by informing producers he would no longer be a part of the Casino Royale remake. He says, "I would have liked to do Casino Royale with Pierce. But once I heard Brosnan isn't going to be doing any more Bond films, that killed it as far as I was concerned. He's really proven himself to me as the James Bond for this generation. He can really pull off that 60s thing that Casino Royale would have. It should be more like the original book."

I don't know that Brosnan is the perfect Bond. My personal favorite is Timothy Dalton. I prefer Pierce to Roger Moore; however—as CASINO ROYALE was the first Bond book chronologically—it makes sense to go with someone younger than Brosnan's 51. I don't see how Tarantino could do as he suggests, give the movie a 60s feel and keep Brosnan.

Raiders of Lost in Translation

From IMDb:

Scarlett Set for 'Indiana Jones 4'?

Harrison Ford is set for a new sidekick when he returns to the big screen as Indiana Jones - in the shape of actress Scarlett Johansson. Tom Cruise has been championing the Oscar nominee for a part in pal Steven Spielberg's fourth Indiana Jones movie as the pair work together on Armageddon drama War of the Worlds. Cruise has been working with Johansson on the third Mission: Impossible movie and he's convinced she'll be perfect for the new Jones film, according to Australia's NW Magazine. An insider says, "Steven was saying there is a shortage of young actresses who can carry off a strong role. He considered Natalie Portman, but she's too connected with Star Wars - Tom suggested Scarlett."

IMDb: Willis Almost Missed Out on HOSTAGE

Hollywood tough guy Bruce Willis almost missed out on securing the film rights to Robert Crais' novel Hostage, because he left his copy of the book on a shelf for a month after he bought it in 2001. The Die Hard actor finally found time to delve into the tense thriller and was so engrossed he immediately enquired about purchasing the film rights - and was amazed nobody else had got there first. The 49-year-old says, "I bought the book and it sat on my shelf for about a month. I picked it up and got caught up in it, read it overnight and called and asked about the rights. Fortunately they were available. That was about four years ago." In the film adaptation, Willis stars as jaded small town cop Jeff Talley who is forced into the firing line when his family are taken prisoner in their own home.

361 by Donald E. Westlake

Thanks to Hard Case Crime, 361 is coming in paperback for the first time in the U.S.



Its title taken from Roget's Thesaurus entry for "Destruction of life, violent death. Killing," the novel is the story of Ray Kelly, a U.S. airman returning home after three years stationed in Germany.

On his first night back, Ray convinces his father, Will, to spend a night in New York City before they drive back to Binghamton. Will's obliging his son costs him his life, and costs Ray an eye. He becomes the victim of a drive-by shooting that sets off a forced reunion between Ray and his brother Bill, who together look to unravel the mystery of their father's death and avenge him while they're at it.

Ray Kelly becomes single-minded of purpose, believably blind to the novel's plot twists. The narrative drives forward in similar fashion, seldom letting up. The novel features the tight writing, taut tension, and hard outlook Westlake would become known for under the pseudonym "Richard Stark" (author of the Parker professional thief novels).

This is another fine release from Hard Case, quickly becoming my favorite publishing imprint. Originally published in 1962, 361 will be re-released in May 2005 for the affordable price of $6.99.

HOSTAGE Reviews

From IMDb:

Critics are savaging the Bruce Willis starrer Hostage with some of the most virulent reviews of the year. The first paragraph of Stephen Holden's review in the New York Times reads: "More than sad, it's slightly sickening to consider the technology, talent and know-how squandered on Hostage, a pile of blood-soaked toxic waste dumped onto the screen in an attempt to salvage Bruce Willis's fading career as an action hero." Lou Lumenick in the New York Post asks, "Is the overbearing thriller Hostage a warm-up for Bruce Willis' fourth Die Hard movie -- or an attempt to hype his flagging career by revisiting past glories?" Carrie Rickey of the Philadelphia Inquirer comments: "In a singularly sadistic and degrading way it has something to offend everyone." Bob Longino in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls it "moviemaking by sledgehammer." Glenn Whipp in the Los Angeles Daily News describes it as "an overstuffed exercise in gore and stupidity that will leave your ears ringing and your eyes rubbed raw from disbelief." On the other hand, Willis has the reliably contrarian Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times on his side. He writes: "Made with energetic flair and no small dose of violence, mercifully handled with discretion, Hostage exemplifies taut, confident filmmaking. Bruce Willis draws upon the full measure of his strong physical presence, his intelligence and his considerable emotional resources held in reserve."

I've never been much of a Willis fan. The DIE HARD role of John McClane fit him well, but many of his other movies have missed for me: ARMAGEDDON, BLIND DATE, HUDSON HAWK, THE FIFTH ELEMENT...I have the novel HOSTAGE on the shelf. What's readers' consensus on it?

Still the Same Old Story: Literary vs. Genre

Ray Banks blogged his latest thoughts on the matter, including:

While I'm racking up the Hail Marys, I might as well confess this too: I didn't read a hell of a lot of crime fiction when I embarked on The Big Blind. Jim Thompson was an obvious influence, but then so was Chuck Palahniuk. So was Charles Bukowski. So were Ken Kesey, John Fante, Raymond Carver and Hunter S. Thompson. While arguments could be made for Palahniuk as a genre writer in literary clothing (what's more noir than transgressive fiction?), in the Ira Levin mode, I never set out to be a crime writer.

I commented:

I got hooked on reading crime fiction because the plots moved fairly quickly in a direction I could follow easily: a crime has been committed; it's up to the protag to piece things together, and I get to play along.

All writing, I think, can benefit from setting clarity as a goal. What writer wants to go over the heads of his audience? The only answer that comes to mind is a writer who's too clever for his own good.

Like you, I set out to write what I enjoy. What I enjoy isn't limited to crime fiction, so I hesitate to label myself a crime writer—except in the sense that I'm a writer whose stories sometimes involve crime.

Still Watching Cartoons

Spent much of the afternoon enjoying my just-arrived two-DVD set, Superman Animated Series Vol. 1. This is the WB series from 1996, starring the voices of Tim Daly and Dana Delany.

My favorite episode of the set is "My Girl", wherein Lana Lang (voiced by Joely Fisher) shows up in Metropolis as Lex Luthor's latest lady. Still smitten with Clark, she tries to help him dig up dirt on a rumored Luthor arms deal and lands herself in trouble.



I've always preferred Lana to Lois, maybe because Lana liked Clark for who he was before the whole Superman legend swirled around him.

In a later episode of the series, "The Late Mr. Kent," Clark is the victim of a bombing and must fake his death while Superman investigates the assassination attempt. Once the culprit is brought to justice, Clark reappears with the cover story that he suffered amnesia in the bombing, and the first thing he remembered was Lana's phone number.

Parker Publication Change

Since debuting his Jesse Stone series in 1997, Robert B. Parker has published new Spenser books every spring and alternated Stone and Sunny Randall books each fall.

Bullets & Beer proprietor Bob Ames posted the following to Spenser's Sneakers last night from Parker's publicist:

There has been a major shakeup in the publishing schedule for [Parker's] books: there is another Spenser novel due on 27 September. The Spenser books will now be published in the fall, with the Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall volumes alternating in March.

I've asked if any reason was given for the change.

The Short of It Reviews Thrilling Detective

Click below to read Bob Tinsley's reviews of the three new stories in Thrilling Detective Spring 2005 issue:

"Re: Your Murder" by Christopher Gooch

"Validation" by Stephen D. Rogers

"The Safest Place on Earth" by Mark Best

Bob also praised Ryan Krewer's performance of Dave White's 2004 story, "Get Miles Away".

Thanks, Bob.

The Nomination Game

I've put my stories "A Little Trouble" and "Home" in the running for 2005 Derringer Awards, presented by the Short Mystery Fiction Society. As Thrilling Detective Fiction Editor, I nominated "God's Dice" by David White, "No Heroics" by David Cox, and "Roofies" by James R. Winter to represent the magazine. Another Thrilling story to watch for is Ray Banks's "Take Down the Union Jack", which would have been one of my three editorial picks if Dave White hadn't already sent it in.

Selecting for awards as an editor is difficult; I truly appreciate every story I choose for Thrilling. Speaking for myself and probably a lot of writers, the best awards you can give a writer are your time and feedback as a reader.

If you were a member of SMFS's Shortmystery Yahoo! Group as of noon February 6, 2005, you are eligible to submit up to two stories for Derringer consideration and participate in the voting that begins March 15.

ABC's "Blind Justice"

One week after the end of NYPD Blue, a series I never watched, Steven Bochco is back with Blind Justice: the story of hero New York cop Jim Dunbar (Ron Eldard) blinded when his partner freezes up during a shootout.

Rather than retire early with a full pension, Dunbar taints his hero status by suing the Department to get his old job back. Having the tremendous will to remain competent in his now-sightless world, Jim has neglected friends and relationships along the way.

Like the adventures of Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Blind Justice promises to deal with the everyday life of the disabled as well as the benefits heightened senses can bring to crimefighting. Also like Murdock, actor Eldard is a New York guy and former boxer, lending the show authenticity.

Lots for me to watch on Tuesday nights:

8PM CBS NCIS
9PM FOX House
10PM ABC Blind Justice

How It All Began

Last week Sarah Weinman blogged about rummaging through her old files, feeling nostalgic about early writings. Unlike some on my blogroll, I can't reproduce my earliest stuff here for all to see.

I first seriously wanted to be a writer in eighth grade. A classmate of mine wrote a book that was published in our school library, and I thought If he can do it, I can. Two years before this competitive fire sparked, though, I wrote the beginning of a P.I. story, with said P.I. punching a door in. (Ouch.). Likewise, I don't think of myself as a screenwriter, but in eighth grade I wrote scripts for three home movies made with my brother and younger cousins. The first was a secret agent tale, the second a P.I. story, and the third bore blatant resemblance to SilverHawks.

The past is an ugly animal.

Who are You Again?

About a year since I went into the home stretch with my first Chris Harvey P.I. story, Chris has begun knockin' on my noggin again. And in the words of Donna Summer, "This Time I Know It's For Real." At least it's more real than previous attempts at a follow-up.

Wall Street Journal Online: High-Tech Bathrooms Know How Hot You Like Your Shower

by Vauhini Vara

Jevto Dedijer believes the toilet is the last thing that should pop into your mind when you think about bathrooms.

Mr. Dedijer is marketing director for Québec-based BainUltra Inc., one of several companies that are selling high-tech products meant to enliven this unsophisticated household space. The market is ripe, they say, for programmable showers, television screens that appear to float in mirrors and toothbrush holders that zap germs with ultraviolet light...(read full story)

IMDb: Swank Was Third Choice for "Baby"

Actress Hilary Swank has Sandra Bullock and Ashley Judd to thank for her Best Actress Oscar for Million Dollar Baby - because the role was refused by both actresses. The movie's producer Albert S. Ruddy's first choice for the part of a tragic female boxer was Bullock, who turned down the part when she was told she could not pick the director - Ruddy next approached Judd, whose salary demands would have busted the budget. After Ruddy finally settled on Swank, Bullock's agent called him and said she would do the picture after all, but, "Al just said, 'Too late,'" a source told website Pagesix.Com.

This Month on DetecToday

This month on DetecToday, we're discussing the novel NORTHCOAST SHAKEDOWN by James R. Winter. I just read the book and enjoyed it. As I said onlist:

[Winter's P.I.] Kepler had some of Spade's slickness to him, working the system to his advantage, trying to stay one step ahead, but occasionally having a loose end sneak up from behind and clock him...I especially enjoyed the last ten or so pages, when I thought everything had been wrapped up and Jim threw in a confession scene that tied everything together in a new way.

Well done.

You can join DetecToday to see more of the discussion. On Sunday, March 20, Jim will be stopping by for a live chat with members. I'll shortly post some links on the sidebar to books I recommend, this one included.

On Thursday, March 24, DetecToday welcomes Robert J. Randisi, founder of the Private Eye Writers of America, who will chat about his recent anthology MURDER...AND ALL THAT JAZZ.

Take Two

The final version of my Thrilling Detective support button, featuring Thrilling's distinctive parchment background. Click this image on the sidebar to donate to Thrilling via Amazon Honor System. Again, our thanks.

BBC News: The name's Bond - Junior Bond

By Neil Smith
BBC News entertainment reporter

Last year, comic and author Charlie Higson was given a licence to write about the schoolboy adventures of the nation's most famous fictional spy. The first of his Young James Bond novels is published on Thursday. (Read full story)

IMDb: Hatcher Lands Massive Pay Rise

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher has signed up to appear in a second season of the hit show, and she will pocket a staggering $285,000 per episode. The 40-year-old beauty's pay raise represents almost a tenfold increase on her first series pay - and co-stars Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and Nicolette Sheridan have also been rewarded for the program's success. A show insider says of the Golden Globe-winner, "She has undoubtedly turned out to be the star of the show. Men find her sexy and women want to be like her." Hatcher was paid $38,000 per episode for the first season, while her lesser female co-stars earned only $1,800 per episode. They have all been rewarded with a Mini car.

AP: Fossett Breaks Nonstop Solo Flight Record

By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press Writer

SALINA, Kan. - Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett on Thursday became the first person to fly around the world solo without stopping or refueling — 67 hours and 23,000 miles after taking off in his spindly-looking, experimental jet...(read full story)

"In Your Satin Tights, Fighting For Your Rights..."

You may recognize these painful lyrics as belonging the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series.

Jessica Biel, who turns 23 today, is reportedly in the running to play the Amazing Amazon in a Joel Silver production, to be written and possibly directed by Joss Whedon. Biel fits the look, Silver fits the scope, and Whedon fits the material, which probably means something along the way will go awry.

"Stunts"

...is the title of my 650-word bank robbery story, conceived on Tuesday, revised and submitted to Hardluck Stories Zine Wednesday. A rush of inspiration? Yes. But the job seemed done in record time because I avoided taking too long a break from it and losing immediacy that seemed to fit a daring daylight daylight caper.

Thrilling Diction: David White's "Get Miles Away"

Last month, Dave White asked if we at Thrilling Detective would be interested in an MP3 of his Jackson Donne story, "Get Miles Away", the text of which we published in 2003. Editor Kevin Burton Smith said, "YES."

And so, Thrilling Detective proudly presents a Quicktime file of "Get Miles Away", performed by Ryan Krewer. Great job, Ryan and Dave.

Holding Back the Years

A Timeline of Ten Things I've Done That You Probably Haven't

• 1986: Did not watch TV for five months to win a bet with my father for a Nintendo Entertainment System


• 1988: Jumped over a railroad barrier to dodge an oncoming train (admittedly the train at Hershey Park, but still)


• Studied under and later shared an office with essayist Phillip Lopate at Hofstra University


• Did not get drunk at any time in college, but...


• 1995: Once showed up early for class to sing "Dulcinea" from MAN OF LA MANCHA for a girl, but couldn't because she was late


• 1996: Scored a 730 out of a possible 800 on the GRE General Test Verbal


• 1998: Watched the 20th Anniversary re-release of the movie GREASE with aforementioned girl in an otherwise empty theater. (Nothing happened)


• 1999: Sat aboard a grounded plane for five hours flying Priceline from New York to Denver. Spent a night in St. Louis because of the delay, where I heard the following conversation:
  
  "How you doing?"
  "I'm alive."
  "Better than being dead."
  "Sometimes."


• Was reprimanded by the bus driver on a trip from Denver to Boulder for singing Toby Keith's "Should've Been a Cowboy" too loudly. Was sober at the time.


• 2003: Due to the August blackout, was forced to rehearse love-themed readings for a college friend's wedding in front of same aforementioned girl. (Nothing happened)

Support Thrilling Detective

As mentioned last week, Thrilling Detective has raised its pay to $10 US for original, unpublished private eye stories.

If you enjoy the site and would like to support its maintenance, click on this image in the sidebar to make a donation via Amazon Honor System. The amount is up to you. Kevin Burton Smith and I thank you.

The Fonz is Her Godfather

Bryce Dallas Howard (pictured) turns 24 today, a day after her father Ron turned 51.

"I Am a Professional."

I followed a link from Jen Jordan's blog to the Commonly Confused Words Test. My results:

Advanced

You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 72% Expert!

You have an extremely good understanding of beginner, intermediate, and advanced level commonly confused English words, getting at least 75% of each of these three levels' questions correct. This is an exceptional score. Remember, these are commonly confused English words, which means most people don't use them properly. You got an extremely respectable score.

Test statistics:

* Compared to users who took the test and are and in your age group:

o 100% had lower Beginner scores.
o 100% had lower Intermediate scores.
o 100% had lower Advanced scores.
o 100% had lower Expert scores.

* With respect to Beginner, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.
* With respect to Intermediate, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.
* With respect to Advanced, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.
* With respect to Expert, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.

I also scored 730 on the GRE verbal and taught English comp for six years. In the grammatically-incorrect words of Ralph Malph, it's nice to know "I still got it."

Write Like the Wind

Between 5:30 and 8:00pm, I somehow switched off my internal censor and brainstormed and drafted a bank robbery story for the next issue of Hardluck Stories Zine. It's rough, but it lives.

storySouth Top Ten Online Stories of 2004

As chosen by fiction editor and publisher Jason Sanford:

• Terry Bisson "Super 8" (Scifiction.com)
  
• Jai Clare "Bone on Bone" (Agni)
  
• Xujun Eberlein "Second Encounter" (Paumanok Review)
  
• Alicia Gifford "Toggling the Switch" (Narrative Magazine)
  
• Richard Grayson "Branch Libraries of Southeastern Brooklyn" (Fiction Warehouse)
  
• Trebor Healey "The Mercy Seat" (Blithe House Quarterly)
  
• Dave Housley "Ryan Seacrest Is Famous" (Barrelhouse)
  
• Joan Shaddox Isom "Remade Tobacco" (Eclectica Magazine)
  
• Corey Mesler "Madame Sabat's Grave" (Pindeldyboz)
  
• Chika Unigwe "Dreams" (Eclectica Magazine)
  

The general public now votes to determine the winner from these ten through March 31.

I'm disappointed that Sarah Weinman, Duane Swierczynski, and Mr. White didn't advance, but someone named "Dave" did, and hey, so did the Boy Wonder.

All cheer-up sarcasm aside, congrats to the finalists. I applaud Mr. Sanford's efforts to promote reading online fiction.

"Overwhelmed by the applesauce..."

Reuters: San Francisco Honors 'Maltese Falcon' Author Hammett

Stocking Up

I've had my eye on a few items for the last month or so, but their cost didn't square with my budget. This morning—seeing that Overstock.com has $1 shipping on all orders, any size, every day of March—I jumped at the chance to snag the following:

CONS, SCAMS, AND GRIFTS by Joe Gores

SUMMER OF THE BIG BACHI by Naomi Hirahara

BLACK MAPS by Peter Spiegelman

STORY: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

Superman - The Animated Series - Volume One DVD