Ruth & Jon Jordan Interview

Suspect(s): Ruth and Jon Jordan
Known Aliases: #1 Crime Fic Fans, Mr. & Mrs. "Killer" Crimespree (okay, I totally made those up...get over it)
Occupation: Bouchercon Fanatics, Crimespree Magazine owners, Massive Readers
Last known location: Milwaukee, WI

In this week's show, Ruth and Jon spill about their love affair with B'Con (including next year's con in Baltimore), Crimespree Magazine, and their fave reads of 2007. Listen in as they tell all about what will make them abandon a book, what makes Milwaukee a nifty town to live in and their weapons of choice for editing.

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).

Maddy Van Hertbruggen Interview

Suspect: Maddy Van Hertbruggen
Known Aliases: Her Royal Maddness, The Maddinator
Occupation: Mystery addict - avid reader, owner/co-founder of 4MA list serve, book reviewer (plus one of those day job things to feed the addiction)
Location: Somewhere Deep in the Heart of Texas

This week we talk with hard-core mystery addict, Maddy Van Hertbruggen. Listen in as we chat about the readers list serve (4MA or For Mystery Addicts) that she started, some of her fave reads of the year, and her thoughts on how to deal with those pesky Texas Jackalopes.

You can also check out some of her book reviews over at the fab Reviewing the Evidence.




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Seth Harwood Interview

Suspect: Seth Harwood
Age: Yeah, okay, I dunno
Occupation: Writer, Podcaster, Creative Writing college prof.
Last known location: Bezerkley, er, Berkley, CA

In this week's episode, Seth talks about how his Jack Palms series, how he got into podcasting his novels and his upcoming print release of Jack Wakes Up. We find out what's on Seth's TBR list, who he'd like to see star in a Jack Palms movie, and what he would do if he could spend a day with his protagonist.

Visit his website to find out more about how to make every Sunday a Jack Palms Sunday. You can also check out the start of his second book in the newest issue of Thrilling Detective.




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Mark Billingham Interview

Suspect: Mark Billingham
Age: Hmm?
Occupation: Author, stand-up comic, all 'round troublemaker
Last known location: Lurking in London

In this episode, Mark talks about his Tom Thorne police procedurals, his upcoming stand-alone novel, IN THE DARK, and the foreword he wrote for the fab anthology, Expletive Deleted. He also joins in the debate about genre vs. literary novels and how much sex/violence/cussin' is too much. Find out what's on Mark's iPod, the perks of mentioning favorite restaurants in your novels and what celebrities are reading his books.




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Megan Abbott Interview

Suspect: Megan Abbott
Age: Haven't a clue, didn't ask
Occupation: Author, editor, college prof.
Last known location: New York City

Listen in this week as Megan talks about the slippery definition of noir, the women of noir (both those who write/wrote it and the characters in it), and the new anthology A Hell of a Woman: An Anthology of Female Noir. We also discuss Queenpin's Broadway musical potential and the best way to get those pesky bloodstains out of your favorite cocktail dress.



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Duane Swierczynski Interview

Suspect: Duane Swierczynski
Age: Young 'un
Occupation: Writer, Editor-in-Chief of Philadelphia City Paper
Last know location: The mean streets of Philadelphia, PA

In this week's episode, we talk with Duane about Blondes, redheads, comics, historical mysteries, and journalism. Listen in as we explore Duane's shocking revelations about his flute playing nerd years and his recent first-hand (er, nose) experience with feminine hygiene products.

*Warning: you're gonna need running shoes for your ears! This dude talks at warp speed.




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Anne Frasier Interview

Suspect: Anne Frasier
Age: I should really just skip this one, shouldn't I?
Occupation: Author
Last known location: Minneapolis, MN


In this week's episode, we talk with Anne about PALE IMMORTAL and the further Tuonela, WI adventures in her upcoming book, GARDEN OF DARKNESS. Listen in to find out what she would do if faced with a (possible) real-life vampire, what her fav. classic horror movie is, and what decidedly unscary things are found on her desk.




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James Oswald Interview

Suspect: James Oswald
Age: Doesn't really matter, does it?
Occupation: Writer, animal poopologist
Last known location: Somewhere unpronounceable in Wales...

This week we talk with author James Oswald, who lives in Wales, but is a Scotsman and don't even think about calling him Welsh or he'll get a wee bit upset with you. Listen in as James talks about his supernatural/police procedural Debut Dagger nominated novel, NATURAL CAUSES, his tragic lack of Halloween experience, and the potential pitfalls of mixing a shepherdess costume with a beard.




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). For those of you who had subscribed via the old feed...well, you're gonna have to subscribe again to this feed instead. Happy listening!

Kat Richardson Interview

Suspect: Kat Richardson
Age: Dammit, that's personal!
Occupation: Author of GREYWALKER series
Last known location: Seattle, WA

In this week's episode, Kat talks about her gritty paranormal P.I. books, who she'd pick to play the lead in GREYWALKER: THE MUSICAL, and what sends her Creep-O-Meter into the red zone.

For more info on Kat and her books, visit her website at www.katrichardson.com

IfQ's New Hosting Home

I've had it and have kicked Podomatic to the curb. So...I've switched to a new hosting service. Just hope I can get the embedded player to do its thing without a huge hassle. Until I get that figured out, though, those of you who haven't heard Charlie Huston's interview yet can go here to listen to/download the show.

The new Libsyn page is lookin' a little ugly now, but at least the show is, y'know, available to be heard! I'll work on making it pretty after I get next week's show edited and posted this weekend. Dammit, dammit, dammit!

Podomatic Ate My Shows...

and I'm not quite sure what to do. They had 2 hard drives crash and are working to retrieve the data, but it's not a fer sure deal that they'll be able to do it. On the plus side, I've got my shows backed up. So my plan is to upload Charlie's show again (when Podomatic will let me...bastards) and keep my fingers crossed that the other shows will be retrieved. My biggest worry is annoying iTunes subscribers who have already downloaded the shows and will now get an extra.

Dammit. Wish I was a super techie chickie and could do this shindig sans external help. But I'm not, so I'll just try to find another way to deal.

FYI

Podomatic continues to suffer from technological gremlins. I'd have a huge fit if I thought it would help. Since it won't do a damn thing, all I can say is that they're working on their server issues and will hopefully have the problem resolved soon. *sigh*

Charlie Huston Interview

Suspect: Charlie Huston
Age: Dunno
Occupation: Writerly dude
Last known location: Another lost soul in La-La Land, CA

In this week's episode, I talk with Charlie about his Joe Pitt books, the benefits of having an undead protagonist, and his status on the Most Wanted lists of PETA and Cozy Mystery Fans.

For more about Charlie and his work, visit his website

Check out his Moon Knight work here


Oh, and it WAS Kabuki. Here's the linky to the writer's website.

Stephen Blackmoore Interview

Suspect: Stephen Blackmoore
Age: Unknown - hey, not all the undead remember their death-days!
Occupation: Avid reader, writer, and some weird computer-related thing called "a day job."
Last known location: Lost somewhere in La-La Land, CA

In this week's episode, I grill Stephen about the perils of mixing horror and crime, the general squickiness of undead sex, and the tastiness (or lack thereof) of candy corn and wax lips.

Visit Stephen's R-rated blog (it's got fab linkage to his short stories, too) here

New Podcast - Allan Guthrie!

Suspect: Allan Guthrie
Age: Um...what was the question?
Occupation: Writer, editor, lit. agent extraordinaire
Last known location: The corner of Trouble and Pearce, Edinburgh, Scotland
*photo by Mary Reagan, NY Photo

In this week's episode, we pitch hard questions at HARD MAN author, Allan Guthrie. We cover the whole shebang, from the fab Two-Way Split, to his Edgar nominated Kiss Her Goodbye, and on to Hard Man. Listen in to find out his thoughts on men in kilts, his baseball bat of choice, and more than you ever wanted to know about meat carrots and vegetarian haggis.

Oh, and if you live in the U.S. Oh, and would like a copy of Guthrie's latest, KILL CLOCK, a novella for adult emergent readers, check out The Book Depository
These fab peeps will ship your fav U.K. books to the States...fer free!

Cornelia Read Interview

The In for Questioning podcast is off to a great start. Cornelia Read is in the hot seat for this week's show. Check it out to hear all the gory details...









Suspect: Cornelia Read
Age: Where are your manners?!
Occupation: Author, raconteur
Last know location: San Francisco Bay area

In this week's episode, we drag Edgar-nominated author Cornelia Read in for questioning. We discuss Cornelia's books, A FIELD OF DARKNESS (nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel by an American Author), and her up-coming book, THE CRAZY SCHOOL. You won't want to miss Cornelia describing how to turn an innocent laundry basket into a murder weapon, her version of a ferret Rapture, or her verdict on the sexiness of patchouli.

Join us next week when we haul Scottish author, editor and literary agent, Allan Guthrie, in for questioning...

In For Questioning - The Podcast!

Today marks the official launch of "In for Questioning," a weekly podcast geared toward Crime Fiction - writers, readers, and various other criminally-minded types. I drag 'em in, ask the (sorta) tough questions and toss 'em back out again. So check out this week's show and see whatcha think! Questions or comments? Well, that's what the comments section is for, right? Or drop me an email at inforquestioning@gmail.com.





Our first victim:

Suspect: Daniel Hatadi
Age: Old enough to know better
Occupation: Crime fiction writer, reader, founder of Crimespace, erstwhile musician and all 'round trouble-maker
Last known location: Sydney, Australia

In this week's episode, we haul Daniel Hatadi in for questioning. Listen in as I ask him about Crimespace, his "left under the bed" first novel, and his unnatural attraction to a dead rubber chicken. We also find out how Daniel would bump off Prof. Plum, and what goes next to the shrimp on his barbie.




Join us next week when we haul Edgar-nominated author, Cornelia Read, in for questioning...

Spinetingler Awards

After much debate, we've decided to implement an annual award through Spinetingler Magazine. Two things were paramount in my mind when considering this:

1. I didn't want us to just duplicate what others were doing.
2. I wanted the awards to invite the participation of readers and authors.

As a result, October 1, 2007 we'll open up the nominating process. I will have information about this on our site and post more (assuming that's okay with the moderators) when the time comes.

Our categories have been selected to try to make sure newer talent isn't overshadowed by the greats. In order to be nominated, the author must have had a new title out between Oct. 1, 2006 and Sept. 30, 2007, available in Canada. (Don't you worry about that - we'll worry about it. If we can't get the book here, we may not be able to consider it - depends on how long it takes us to get it in.)

The categories:

Legend
- Best book of the year by an author with 9+ titles published OR an author who has secured a six-figure advance. (Readers don't need to worry about figuring this out - we will.)

Rising Star
- Best book of the year by an author with 4-8 books published

New Voice
- Best book of the year by an author with 1-3 books published

Best Cover Art
- Lots of whining about repetitive cover art lately. We're not going to whine. We're going to applaud the good stuff there is.

Best Publisher
- If you're a reader who just loves a certain publisher, or an author who's had great experiences or a bookseller who believes there's one publisher out there that's outshining the rest, tell us who and why.

Best Editor
- Pretty much the same as the above. Even if you don't know who edited a book you can nominate it with the title, author's name and publisher's name. Plenty of people have commented on poor editing. When you see a book you think is rock solid, really impressive, we want to know. It's about time someone told editors they were doing a great job.

Best Short Story on the Web


There has been a lot to complain about in the publishing world, and much of it is valid. But we've decided to spend our time and energy focusing on celebrating the positive. We'll open nominating and see what readers tell us is worth looking at. Then we'll narrow down a shortlist of nominees in each category, and announce the winners in our January 2008 issue. (I’m hoping we’ll have a shortlist available early December.)

And the reason for three categories up top and not just two (debut vs best) is because we want to encourage publishers to grow their authors. We're moving authors with big deals into the toughest category to level out the playing field for good authors without as much publisher support, who would otherwise be overshadowed because of the amount of publicity the authors with major deals get.

I hope some of you will start thinking about it. Every person will be able to nominate up to five selections in each category. Every little bit of PR helps, right? And we could tell you our opinion... But I kind of figure we do that in our reviews already. There are a lot of people who can't attend conventions and vote for the other fan choice awards. You can nominate for this one for free, from the comfort of your own home, and have your say. We're still working out some logistics, but we'll be ready to roll October 1.

2007 Dagger Award Winners

The list is in, naming the winners of the Dagger Awards, handed out by the Crime Writers Association.

Duncan Lawrie Dagger Peter Temple - The Broken Shore (Quercus)

Duncan Lawrie International Dagger Fred Vargas - Wash this Blood Clean from my Hand (Harvill Secker), translated by Siân Reynolds

The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Gillian Flynn - Sharp Objects (Orion)

The CWA New Blood Dagger Gillian Flynn - Sharp Objects (Orion)

The CWA Dagger in the Library

Stuart MacBride
“His books tell of life in all its grim reality, but this only adds to the appeal of this truly impressive new author...the grimmest of subjects, but leavened (thankfully) with dashes of humour. He’s bad news for the Aberdeen tourist industry, but great news for crime readers.”

C.J. Sansom was very highly commended in this category.

The Debut Dagger

Alan Bradley – from British Columbia in Canada – is this year's winner with The Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie.

David Jackson, from the Wirral on Merseyside was Highly Commended with Pariah.

Summer 2007 Spinetingler

The Summer 2007 Spinetingler went up earlier this week. It’s got a fair bit of stuff in it.

Short stories:
A Tragic Affair - George M. Burden,
Veronica’s Sweetest Gift - Steven G. Childress,
Laura and the Cowboy - Nikki Dolson
Ragamuffin Girl - Grant McKenzie
The Living Dead - Amra Pajalic
Rattenkreig - Stephen D. Rogers
The Inheritance - Pam Skochinski
The Rocks - Robert Wangard
Profiled - James R. Winter

This is a great batch of stories. I don’t want to get into dissecting them, because I could be here for ages. Check them out for yourself!

We also have an excerpt of Jack Wakes Up by Seth Harwood. For those who missed it the other day, Seth does weekly podcasts of his novel, and you can listen online for free. I did the intro of the ‘story so far’ last week, something that came about because my husband did a podcasting feature on Seth and Shannon Clute in this issue, and Shannon Clute also wrote a profile on Out of the Past and Behind The Black Mask.

There are interviews. A teaser of the forthcoming interview with Rick Mofina, which will run in the fall issue. Others interviewed include:

Steve Mosby
Sheila Quigley
Julia Buckely
Jon Papernick
Toni McGee Causey

And Marshall Karp is interviewed by Cornelia Read.

Two other ezines – Heliotrope and Pulp Pusher – are profiled. And there are plenty of reviews, including:

Broken Skin by Stuart MacBride (this is actually an opinion piece covering all three of his books that I wrote up)

The 50/50 Killer by Steve Mosby
A Perfect Grave by Rick Mofina
A Thousand Bones by PJ Parrish
Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas
The Big Blind by Ray Banks
Baby Shark’s Beaumont Blues by Robert Fate
Street Raised by Pearce Hansen
The Concrete Maze by Steven Torres
Cruel Poetry by Vicki Hendricks
Lottery by Patricia Wood
Sinners and Saints by Eileen Dreyer
French Creek by Peter Rennebohm
The Sleeping Doll by Jeffrey Deaver
Scavenger by David Morrell
Double Delight by Rosamond Smith

I’m fully capable of saying we’re already getting a deluge of new submissions, and I hadn’t quite finished clearing my backlog. Sigh. I’m afraid that with the new job, and with a few of our readers unavailable, I may have to turn around and close again right away. I’m currently slotting stories for the Winter Issue scheduled for January…

You can also subscribe to get an email notice when there’s a new Spinetingler. Just email subscriptions@spinetinglermag.com with the word ‘subscribe’ in the subject line. Email addresses will be kept confidential.

And, join with me in wishing James Oswald all the best tonight. His story, Natural Causes, ran in the fall 2006 issue of Spinetingler. He wrote a full-length manuscript based on the story and it shortlisted for the Debut Dagger prize. He’s off to London tonight for the awards. No matter what happens, he’s a fantastic writer, and I hope this helps him land a publishing deal.