I'm Walking Here: Distended Metaphor?

On Wednesday, I took the LIRR to visit friends in Lindenhurst. From where I live, I have to train to Jamaica, Queens and transfer there to a train back east to Lindenhurst. A circuitous route, yes, but I walk 2.3 miles to my nearest train station.

I've always wished I didn't have to go to Manhattan or way out east for a mystery or poetry venue, and that day I thought I found one. Right on my way to the Carle Place station was a new-looking building with the word "POETS" in large print on the side. I stopped and paid my respects, looked in the window from across the street but had no time to look closer. When I got home, I searched for the building's address online and learned Poets was a skate shop.

Thank you.

Today ends National Poetry Month 2010. Once again, I thank the co-editors of The Lineup, our contributors, and everyone who's blurbed, reviewed, and bought our three issues. As I continually try to build the journal's audience, I'm reminded each day that it takes an open mind and a particular love of language to appreciate The Lineup.

Yes, the aspect of crime is a large part of our identity, but my goal with the journal is, through the lens of crime, to show poetry's power to confront our deeper motives.

THE LINEUP Wins an Edgar®

Not The Lineup: Poems on Crime, but The Lineup: The World’s Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives edited by Otto Penzler. The book of essays last night won the award for Best Critical/Biographical presented by the Mystery Writers of America.

Congratulations, Otto, and thanks to The Mysterious Bookshop for carrying both the poetic and critical Lineups.

Six days 'til Cinco de Junius

In six days, May 5th starting at high noon ET, you can pre-order Seth Harwood's next novel Young Junius. Use the promo code "Poet" to let Seth know I sent you and save some cash.

A Decade of DetecToday

I started DetecToday on April 28, 2000 to discuss the work of P.I. fiction authors debuting 1984 or later. Some time ago, we stretched back to 1980, but we still represent talk about the newest authors and where the genre is headed. It's been quiet onlist of late as I've been busy; you're welcome to join and change that.

If you've been a member from the beginning, I thank you.

THE DEPUTY by Victor Gischler

Assigned to guard the body of Luke Jordan while the chief informs the Jordan family, Coyote Crossing Oklahoma deputy Toby Sawyer gets bored and decides to run off for a quickie with his girlfriend. Returning to find Luke's body missing, Toby stumbles across a scheme to smuggle Mexicans into the U.S.

In the course of one long night, during which, to top it off, his wife abandons him and their toddler son, Toby goes from a well-meaning slacker to a man who faces trouble head on. All the while, Gischler gives Toby a humble, not classically heroic voice, helping readers appreciate each step of Toby's trial by fire.

Thanks to Tyrus Books for publishing The Deputy, a creative mix of crime, mystery, and Western.

Chad Rohrbacher's Gischler Write-Off

Even though my story came too late to enter, today I'll be linking to the entries in Chad Rohrbacher's crime/superhero Victor Gischler contest. The instructions:

Flash fiction crime or superhero piece, this means under 1500 words.

I will post a poll once all the entries are in and the winner will receive:

Victor Gischler’s work on Marvel Comics’ Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth and the new Deadpool Corps and The Deputy. This means prelude 1-5 and Issue #1 of the Deadpool series and the novel for a little emotional sweat in a flash fiction piece.

So if you are a fan of comics, this gives you an opportunity to check out his novel; or if you’re a novel reader and think comics have nothing to offer, this gives you a chance to check them out and see how wrong you are. The best thing is writers don’t get to have all the fun, because everyone who loves crime and comic writing gets to vote for the winning entry.

Rules:

1. Sign up by Monday, April 19th 5 pm in the comments.

2. You have 1 week to write and post your entry to your blog and share your link with us.

3. This entry must be posted and linked by Monday, April 26th at 5 pm EST.

4. Vote – The poll will remain open until Monday, May 3rd at 1 pm EST.

The Entrants:

David Barber, "Did He Fly?"
Steve Weddle, "Crippling Business"
Dana King, "Accounts Receivable"
Paul D. Brazil, "(In the) Cold Light of Day"
Eric Beetner, "The Avenger"
Chad Eagleton, "There, But For the Cape, Go I"
Jarrett Rush, "Eliminating the Competition"
Peggy, "Flying Colors"

Stories Too Late to Enter:

Maggie Carroll, "My Hero"
Ron Earl Phillips, "No Good Deed"
Gerald So, "H-Bomb"

More Flash News

I finished my entry for Patti Abbott's Sweet Dreams flash fiction challenge the other day, which is why "H-Bomb" missed Chad Rohrbacher's entry deadline. Anyway, I'm happy with both stories, and I'll see my fellow Sweet Dreams participants on May 3.

Name That Hero

The story below was inspired by my recent thinking about superheroes and by Chad Rohrbacher's Gischler Write-Off flash fiction contest, where the prizes are Gischler's work on Deadpool comics and a copy of his new novel, The Deputy.

I already bought a copy of The Deputy, I'm not a Deadpool fan, and I'm too late to enter the contest, so I've decided to post the story here for your enjoyment:


H-Bomb

by Gerald So


Indy71342: Still in for Kick-Ass tomorrow?

HuhWhaDoug: Sorry, dude. My car's in the shop.

Indy71342: No prob. Died again?

HuhWhaDoug: Yup.

Henry Cordoba remembered the night his friend Doug's Oldsmobile five years ago. He felt lucky not to have been in the car this time, but sorry for Doug.

Indy71342: :)

HuhWhaDoug: Speaking of that, I should hit the road in case I need to walk home from the station tonight. I'll talk to you later.

Indy71342: Bye.

Just as Doug signed off, the phone in Henry's room rang. Henry checked the Caller ID: His brother Chris's work number.

"Have you seen my watch?" Chris asked.

"No."

"I took it off last night, but I can't remember where. I hope I didn't leave it on the train."

"I'll look for it."

"Not if you're too busy."

"I'm not."

"Thanks."

Henry checked Chris's room first. It always looked ransacked, the desk piled with fifteen-year-old video game boxes, the table buried in clothes. Henry didn't dare move too many things around. Chris had a system, of course, and who knew what would upset it?

Henry went to the basement, which was also mostly Chris's domain. Chris left a lamp with a 13-watt fluorescent bulb on day and night to find his way around. Reaching Chris's computer room/TV room, Henry flipped the light switch, but the room stayed dark.

Luckily, Henry had excellent night vision. Sidestepping Chris's elliptical walker, hopscotching cables and joysticks, he spotted the glowing hands of Chris's watch.

Returning to his room, Henry IM'd Chris at work:


Indy71342: I found your watch.

LyteMyFire99: Phew. Thanks. :)

Indy71342: By the way, the bulbs in your room downstairs are busted.


Henry closed the IM window and the browser window in which he'd been checking Kick-Ass showtimes.

He dug a memo pad and pen out of his desk drawer and began writing:

Preternatural night vision
Agility
Can't drive

Nightwalker.
H-Bomb.

H-Bomb.


###

I Need a Hero

Keep your "Total Eclipse of the Heart"; I like "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. This is how I introduce my latest rambling on superheroes. I've never had the time or money to follow comics faithfully, but I have read many trade paper full volumes, and so, Patti Abbott yesterday blogged:

In an essay entitled "The Myth of Superman," writer/philosopher Umberto Eco commented on the narrative dilemma of serialized fiction, using Superman comics as an example. Eco was concerned with delineating the features of a 'closed' text - a classic Superman story is 'closed,' in Eco's terminology, because it is designed to elicit a predetermined response - the mythological iteration of the Superman character. Therefore, nothing can happen in a Superman tale which advances the hero along the life-path: he cannot marry, reproduce or grow old.

Has this held true with Superman comics? Is he still catching bank robbers and stopping trains circa the nineteen forties? Or has he been free from his "closed" environment and allowed to do 21st century deeds?Has his character grown?

I commented:

I think Eco's comment holds true for all comic book characters in a general sense. Their core personas have to remain the same so they are recognizable generation after generation. That said, what keeps comic books vital [are] each generation's different interpretations of core personas. The characters also appear in story arcs or graphic novels that take into account current events.

And this morning, Do Some Damage blogger Jay Stringer espouses Daredevil as "the ultimate noir superhero".

I commented:

Daredevil has always been my favorite for all the reasons you mention, and because his blindness means he's aware of others' and his own fallibility and frailty; few superheroes are.

I also think, because he's a lawyer, he's aware of how blurred moral lines can become. Readers are always conscious of the law and where he stands in relation as they read his stories.

Daredevil stories are sometimes too dark for me; he's screwed up a lot; done things I didn't think he ever would. All superhero stories are about right prevailing in the end, but only when we've been to the darkest parts of ourselves can we truly appreciate forgiveness, redemption, restoration of order. Daredevil can tell these fully-arced stories like no other.

And Patti Abbott today brings me back to Superman, following up, "What essential characteristics cannot be changed before [Superman] disappears[?] ...I'd suggest his weakness in the presence of Kryptonite has to be inviolable. What others are essential?"

I commented:

There was a time Superman couldn't fly. That's where the phrase, "Leap tall buildings in a single bound" comes from. And I don't think he was always vulnerable to kryptonite. Kryptonite came along as Superman grew more and more invulnerable to other things like bullets.

I'll move away from powers and concentrate on Superman's character. I think what has survived the longest is his sense of justice. For me, Superman wouldn't be Superman if one day he decided to end the "neverending battle" because he can't possibly stop all villains.

Almost as important to me, Superman has to care about regular people. This is often shown in the extent to which he immerses himself in the identity of Clark Kent. My favorite tellings are the ones where the Kents have a big influence on the man Clark/Superman becomes. He may be a strange visitor from another planet with powers far beyond those of men, but what he most wants to be is a man. He wants to have the American Dream because that's what his parents had, though they were of modest means.

He falls in love with Lois Lane and wants the chance to marry her and have a family, but his duty to the world as Superman constantly pulls against that.

Finally, I think Superman is an even better embodiment than Spider-man of the axiom "With great power comes great responsibility." Superman has to use his great power to help, not to hurt. Even in his weakest incarnation, Superman could have killed Luthor ages ago. This could have been justified the way police are justified in shooting killers. But Superman at his best doesn't yield to the temptation to harm others. At his best, he can't conceive of putting himself before others, while a man like Luthor can't help thinking of ways to manipulate others to his advantage.

UPDATE (04/21/10): Drawn by Eco's "closed story" concept, Detectives Beyond Borders blogger Peter Rozovsky asks:

Are your favorite crime series "closed"? Do their protagonists grow? Does the "growth" hurt the series or help it? Bonus points if you give examples of each.

I commented:

I think almost all long-running crime series are somewhat closed. This is mainly because, to keep the series going, the author can't have his protagonist age too rapidly or suffer an injury too serious to bear.

My first favorite series was Robert B. Parker's Spenser. The first ten or so Spenser books were open. Spenser started his relationship with Susan in the second book. He aged fairly realistically, broke up with Susan (and coincidentally took a life-threatening gunshot in the following book).

There were no further significant changes to Spenser's equilibrium, however, once he reunited with Susan. For example, in the 1997 book SMALL VICES, Spenser takes an assassin's bullet at close range, and takes a year to recover from it--all depicted in the same book, as if shown in time-lapse photography.

Similarly, I know Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder went from not knowing he had a drinking problem, to attending AA meetings, to finally quitting drinking, but I don't know that he's done anything as significant since then.

I prefer each book to be meaningful. Not to say the protag goes through life changes in every book, but each case should weigh on him, and the cumulative effect should change him. He should learn from each case, perhaps handle things a little differently each time, showing experience. If a series becomes too rote, I stop reading.

Release The CrimeWAV!

Episode 55 is live!

Seth Harwood and I introduce The Lineup's second CrimeWAV podcast. Lineup 3 contributors Carrie McGath, James M. McGowan, and Jackie Sheeler read with Richie Narvaez and me. Listen with the player above or download the MP3 file.

Carrie reads her poem, "The Crimes of Cat-Calling".

Jackie reads her poems, "Anthony Baez" and "Another Hallway Altar in the Projects".

James reads his poem, "Running For Home".

Richie reads "Ride-along" and "Tuesday A.M." by Sarah Cortez, "Community Service" by David Hernandez, and "Other Conclusions" by James Sallis.

Finally, I read "Takeout (as we roll)" by Henry Chang, "Certain Methods" by David S. Pointer, and "Independence Day, 1976" by Wallace Stroby.

Huge thanks again to Seth and the Lineup contributors and readers on this great episode.

Lineup CrimeWAV Update

Seth Harwood will post The Lineup's return to CrimeWAV, Episode 55, sometime tonight Eastern. It's not a live show, so there's no need to tune in at a certain time, and CrimeWAV.com keeps a full archive of episodes.

I'll post a playable link to the episode as soon as I can. In the meantime, our episode number reminds me of this song:

Need to Know?

In a soon-to-be-released autobiography, Olympic beach volleyball champion Misty May-Treanor reveals a youth marred by her two alcoholic parents and her own struggles with alcoholism. I'm sure many will praise her for "opening up," as many praised Andre Agassi's admission of meth use.

I don't begrudge anyone the personally therapeutic effects of "coming clean", but one person's therapy may come at the cost of relationships. I don't know that this will be true in Misty's case; I just wonder—if one has found the courage to lay painful secrets bare—why not use that same courage to move on without telling them?

Despite being a writer with a blog and a Twitter account, there are some things I will never say. I know that anything I say will not be fully understood as dating services advertise. I wrote a few weeks ago that there's a limit to how deeply any two people can understand each other. It's true everyone needs help, but more people ought to take responsibility for themselves. That's what any professional eventually tells you.

Another Lulu.com Coupon - Try The Lineup

Did you miss my personal 10% discount on The Lineup 3 yesterday? Today through May 1, you can enter the coupon code FREEMAIL305 at Lulu.com checkout and take $3.99 off your order total. This is the perfect chance to try The Lineup through the rest of April, National Poetry Month. Coupon may be used once per account.

Tax Break: 10% Off The Lineup 3 at Lulu.com Today Only

I am so not getting a refund this year but, today only, I've slashed the cover price of The Lineup 3 at Lulu.com from $7.00 to $6.30.

This is my personal offer, ending 11:59 PM Eastern tonight. Go get it. Then blog, tweet, and e-mail this offer to your friends. And don't forget to file.

Today's Lineup Update

Tiger, Tiger

I'm not a golf fan or a Tiger Woods fan, so I had no reaction to the discoveries of infidelity that derailed his marriage and career. On the other hand, the Nike ad using the disembodied voice of Earl Woods to announce his son's professional and supposed personal comeback does not sit well with me.

My objection is that Earl Woods is dead; his words were taken out of context and may even have been wholly constructed to deliver the ad's intended message. There's no way to know how he would have reacted to Tiger's actions.

Let me add that I didn't like the use of Marlon Brando's voice and image in Superman Returns or the use of Gene Kelly dancing with Paula Abdul, or John Wayne drinking Coke. Tiger's goal is to appear genuine, but the Nike ad is staged from beginning to end.

I am what I am.

In my previous post, I wrote that I seldom discuss religion. By this I meant I don't evangelize; I try to be a good person by action. As Robert B. Parker's Spenser said in Mortal Stakes (1975), "[A]ll I have is how I act. It's the only system I fit into. Whatever the hell I am is based in part on not doing things I don't think I should do. Or don't want to do."

I happened upon a couple of blog posts today attacking the Catholic Church over the sex abuses that are coming to light. One of them suggests Pope Benedict XVI is a monster, and Catholics who continue to attend Mass while he remains in office are monsters in turn.

I only answer that I'm not Catholic because of who the pope is, who my pastor is, or because of any religious I've ever met. I'm Catholic because my parents were great models of the faith. They showed me, I've shown myself, it is a path to my best self. No argument or experience has convinced me otherwise. I respect all belief systems, including the most skeptical, because of my own.

Granted, I have never been abused, but I have been disappointed with religious teachers, priests, and church officials. I remain bitterly angry with the religious brother principal who rejected me unseen from the high school I hoped to attend. None of this is enough to sour me on Catholicism because my faith has never been in people.

Easter and I

For the past few years, I've tried to make the most of Lent. I don't mean to give up [insert here] only to take it up again after forty days. For me, Lent is about searching my soul for what passing fancies I can leave behind from now on in favor of more genuine fulfillment. What can I improve in myself given the focus of Lent, in order to move on the rest of my life?

I seldom discuss religion. Mine shapes my life, but only my life. I don't need to show off. That's one reason I post now, having done the work of Lent, and not anytime earlier.

Steve Weddle talks Needle at Chatterrific

I previously posted that I'd like to revive my discussion list/chat transcript blog, Chatterrific. Last week Chatterrific hosted a post by Stephen D. Rogers about his short story collection, Shot to Death. Yesterday, Steve Weddle was my guest to talk about his upcoming ink-on-paper noir fiction journal, Needle.

If you have a new project or news you'd like to share in the realm of poetry, fiction, television, or film, consider Chatterrific.

He's Back...

The original Easter Gerald

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.

Getaway Poetry Blog Tour

If you're a blogger who would like to celebrate April, National Poetry Month, and promote The Lineup: Poems on Crime, here's my idea:

1. Pick your favorite crime-themed poem ("Crime" can be anything you see as a crime, and the poem can, but doesn't have to come from The Lineup 1, 2, or 3).

2. Blog about said poem, putting some words of support for The Lineup (your choice of words) and a Lineup-related link at the beginning or end of your post. There are many links to chose from:

- The Lineup blog: http://poemsoncrime.blogspot.com/
- The Lineup Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71827743013
- Poetic Justice Press on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PJPress
- The Lineup 1 page on Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-lineup-poems-on-crime/2132580
- The Lineup 2 page on Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-lineup-poems-on-crime-2/6895929
- The Lineup 3 page on Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-lineup-poems-on-crime-3/8387989
- Murder By The Book website, sellers of The Lineup: http://www.murderbooks.com
- Once Upon a Crime website, sellers of The Lineup: http://www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
- The Mysterious Bookshop website, sellers of the Lineup: http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com

3. Posts can go up anytime during April. More than one post is allowed per day. Leave a comment on this post with your blog address and date you'd like to participate. You may also e-mail me this information at g_so AT yahoo DOT com.

4. I'll link to your posts here, rounding them up throughout April.

Thanks in advance for supporting this effort.

"Sweet Dreams" Flash Fiction Challenge

I'm teaming with Patti Abbott for another flash fiction challenge. Here it is in Patti's words:

Maybe I'm an April Fool and there have been too many of these challenges going around lately, but I feel like writing this story-or having you write it better than I can. It's been rolling around in my head for days.

It begins in a food/drink establishment of some sort. The radio/juke box/band is playing "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics. A red-headed woman in an electric blue dress comes through the door. And then what?

The story doesn't have to center on these elements. I'm just giving you the initial setting.

You can take it from there.

Stories under 1000 wrds. End date: May 1. If you don't have a blog, Mystery Dawg will post it on Powder Burn Flash. Please advise if you're in. It's only fun if we have at least ten writers. Let's see how much interest there is before we fire the gun.

Please notify me or Gerald So if you can make the time to play.

Spring 2010 Mysterical-E

The new issue of Mysterical-E was posted the other day, including my column on TV and film remakes and updates and why I don't hate them. Thanks to editor Joe De Marco.

I kid you not, 10% off at Lulu.com.

Today Only: Enter coupon code APRILFOOLS when checking out at Lulu.com, and get 10 percent off the subtotal of your order. This means you can take 70 cents off the price of The Lineup 3, 60 cents off the price of The Lineup 2, and 65 cents off The Lineup 1. Maximum discount: $25.

Really. I tested the coupon code myself.

The Lineup 3 Now on Sale

April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.

From "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot

It's been our goal since last year to bring The Lineup 3 out on April 1, to coincide with National Poetry Month. Thanks to my co-editors Sarah Cortez, Richie Narvaez, and Anthony Rainone for helping make it a reality.

Our next goal is to move every copy of Issues 1, 2, and 3 off the shelves at Murder By the Book, Once Upon a Crime, and The Mysterious Bookshop into readers' hands. Go out. Buy a copy of The Lineup. Photograph yourself reading it. E-mail me the photo, and you could appear on The Lineup blog.