Friday, February 27, 2015

Surprise

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 3:24 P.M.

I got together with my friends John Ricotta and Deshant Paul for a diner run last night, but before our food arrived, they surprised me with a belated birthday/Christmas present. Another surprise, John caught it all on video:

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Crimespree #58

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 2:00 P.M.

The February 2015 issue includes my review of Robert B. Parker's Blind Spot, Reed Farrel Coleman's first of a four-book deal featuring Paradise police chief Jesse Stone. Thanks to Judy Bobalik and Erin Mitchell, I received an advance reading copy and posted an Amazon review when the book was released back in September. The print review, though, goes into greater detail, as Crimespree's savvy readers expect.

Monday, February 23, 2015

At The Five-Two: Aja Beech

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 7:00 A.M.

Pennsylvania poet and activist Aja Beech reflects on the 2007 bombing of Bagram Airbase:



I'm now accepting poems about fooling or being fooled to be published in April.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

I've Finally Seen JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 10:24 A.M.

Last night, my brother linked his Netflix streaming to my PS3 so I could watch the Daredevil series this April. The first thing I watched, though, was Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. I'm a fan of Tom Clancy's books and the previous series of movies, especially The Hunt for Red October. I turned out to be one of the few people interested in seeing Shadow Recruit in theaters. Unable to convince anyone to go with me, I skipped it myself.

I was hooked enough by the pre-title sequence, which zipped Jack through finance school, the Marine Corps, his recovery from a helo crash, and his recruitment by Cmdr. Thomas Harper a.k.a. Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell a.k.a. Kevin Costner. Then, however, the action jumped ten years to Jack's discovery of what looked like a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy. It was as if the movie couldn't commit to being either a high octane thriller or a subtle piece on spycraft. There were parts that moved well and parts that dragged, not enough of a whole to rebuild the franchise, unfortunately.

Monday, February 16, 2015

At The Five-Two: "Still Waters" by Phyllis Wax

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 7:24 A.M.

Our third and final love-themed poem of the month:



I'm currently seeking poems about fooling or being fooled. Deadline: March 1.

So, You Want to Chat?

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 6:27 A.M.

I've rebranded my longtime chat blog, and today I welcome back Jim Winter, talking about P.I. Nick Kepler's final case, Gypsy's Kiss.

Also check out my recent chat with Lee Matthew Goldberg about his debut neo-noir novel, Slow Down.

And coming soon, chats with Chris Irvin, Josh K. Stevens, and Eric Beetner.