Blahs 'n Rahs

Y'know, I realized that I haven't had a single post that wasn't just a re-post of my podcast in...uh...a really long time. Why? The usual. Busy, cranky, not a damned thing of interest to say. And not much has changed.

But there are some cool things happening. Like Daniel Hatadi, super-fab founder and proprietor of Crimespace just won the Spinetingler magazine award for "Special Services to the Industry." How nifty is that?! Pretty damn nifty!

And I got to see the one (yes, the one and only) person I still talk to from high school a few weeks ago. That was cool, except for the sickness part. And I got to meet Hank. Also very cool (and he fixed my shower!!!). So general goodness there.

Not much else new. Still writing at a freakin' snail's pace, but the first draft is so close to being finished I can see the champagne at the finish line (hear that dear hubster? I want bubbly!). So that's all I'm gonna say about that. I hate talking about the writing stuff - well, my writing stuff. I love talking to other peeps about their work! Weirdly enough, it always motivates me to keep at it.

Reading have been pretty good - had a great run at Christmas, then a blah zone, then some more really great reads (2 in a row!). Maybe I'll talk more about that later. In the meantime, I've got sound edits to finish up and writing to do.

Hope ya'll are weathering the winter better 'n me!

Awesome photo by Matthew Law

Brett Battles Interview

Suspect: Brett Battles
Known aliases: The Brett-in-ator (okay, I made that up)
Occupation: Thriller writer, entertainment industry computer graphics something-or-other
Last known location: Los Angeles, CA

Listen in as Brett talks about the crazy ride to publishing his first novel, The Cleaner and his latest projects - the Killer Year anthology and the forthcoming second book in the Jonathan Quinn series, The Deceived. A self-avowed seat-of-the-pantser, Brett explains his writing process and reveals the one item no self-respecting international spy will leave home without.

To listen, click on the player in the side bar, subscribe via RSS reader (button in sidebar), or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).

Zoë Sharp Interview

Suspect: Zoë Sharp
Known Aliases: Ummm...can't think of any
Occupation: Thriller writer, Freelance photographer, world traveler, motorcycle maven
Last Known Location: Lake District, England

Listen in as Zoë talks about her Charlie Fox series, her foray into noir with her short story in the anthologyA Hell of a Woman. She also spills about where the best place to go for a motocycle ride in England is and explains why she has spent shells dug out of a piece of body armor on her desk.

If you want to hear more from Zoë, check out her bi-monthly blog posts over at Murderati.


To listen, click on the player in the side bar, subscribe via RSS reader (button in sidebar), or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).

Ken Bruen Interview

Suspect: Ken Bruen
Known Aliases: Benign Thug, the Pope of Galway
Occupation: Reigning King of Irish noir/hard-boiled crime fiction (that's a writer to you...)
Last Known Location: Galway, Ireland

Listen in as Ken talks about his Jack Taylor series (and how Inspector Brant is threatening to take over), the swans in Galway, and some of his more, uh, colorful book events. He also reveals (and answers) the one question he hasn't been asked that he really wants to answer - namely, what he really thinks of the Irish police.

*Original photo by Mary Regan of NYC Photo (I confess that I cropped it...sorry, Mary and Lawrence Block!)

Next week's suspect: British author, Zoë Sharp.

To hear Ken's interview, click on the player in the side bar, subscribe via RSS reader (button in sidebar), or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).

Kris Neri Interview

Suspect: Kris Neri
Known Aliases: Hmm, can't think of a single one!
Occupation: Author, Writing Instructor, Independent Bookstore Owner
Last Known Location: Sedona, Arizona

Listen in as Kris talks about the juggling act of writing, teaching and running The Well Red Coyote. She also talks about some of her fave reads of the year, the mysteries of where to shelve books, and what fictional character she'd like to take on a hike in the red rocks of Sedona.

Click on the player in the side bar, subscribe via RSS reader (button in sidebar), or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).