Mark Stevens's Blog, page 27
November 19, 2018
Scott Lasser, “Battle Creek”
Scott Lasser’s Battle Creek pulls us deep into the fate of a minor league baseball team in Michigan, but it’s also a study in the struggles of the men whose lives are deeply entangled in the game. Some of the … Continue reading →
November 7, 2018
Vancouver Noir
My review of Vancouver Noir for the New York Journal of Books is here. Advertisements
October 31, 2018
Manuel Ramos, “The Golden Havana Night”
Leave it to Manuel Ramos to drop a wry pun in the subtitle of The Golden Havana Night. It’s “A Sherlock Homie Adventure,” we are told, and it’s such a winking and witty reference you have to wonder how or … Continue reading →
October 27, 2018
Q & A #71 – Tim Weed, “A Field Guide to Murder & Fly Fishing”
At the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference last September, two different friends raved about Tim Weed’s workshop on the Essentials of Voice. So I invited Tim on the RMFW podcast to do an interview about that workshop. To be prepared, … Continue reading →
October 7, 2018
Rick Ankiel, “The Phenomenon”
It might be one of the most troubling, unsettling sports videos you’ll ever see—Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals throwing five wild pitches in the third inning of Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta … Continue reading →
September 24, 2018
Q & A #70 – Lou Berney, “November Road”
Lou Berney’s last book, The Long and Faraway Gone, won the 2016 Edgar Award (Best Paperback Original) and a slew of other awards including the Anthony, Macavity, and the Barry. Now Berney is out (Oct. 9) with November Road and that big … Continue reading →
September 14, 2018
Willy Vlautin, “Don’t Skip Out On Me”
I’m stealing two words from a fellow reviewer who described Willy Vlautin’s works as “harsh realism.” I’ve read the four previous novels—The Motel Life, Northline, Lean on Pete and The Free. They are all my favorite. (Yeah, that’s how much … Continue reading →
August 28, 2018
Q & A #69 – Linda Keir, “The Swing of Things”
The Swing of Things, released today by Lake Union Publishing, was a long time coming. I could make a cheap joke right there, but I’ll resist. The writing duo of Linda Joffe Hull and Keir Graff, writing under the name Linda … Continue reading →
August 16, 2018
Q & A #68 – Abir Mukherjee, “A Necessary Evil”
I had the good fortune of meeting Abir Mukherjee (and his wife, Sonal) last April in New York City at The Edgar Awards. Within a few minutes of chatting with Abir and Sonal, I knew I could talk with them … Continue reading →
August 7, 2018
I Ain’t Asking For Much
A few modest requests over at the RMFW blog here. As Z Z Top said, “I ain’t asking for much.” Or am I? Advertisements
