B.V. Lawson's Blog, page 214
May 9, 2014
FFB: Miss Pink at the Edge of the World
Gwen Moffat, born in Brighton, Sussex in 1924, became the first professional female mountain guide in the UK. Her travels in the field provided settings for her crime novels set in the Alps, the Rockies and deserts of the U.S., and the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides. She has thrown that same pioneering gusto into her research in the past, working cattle on a Montana ranch for her novel Grizzly Trail or living in a house in the Mojave Desert for Last Chance Country.
In addition to her thirt...
May 8, 2014
A-1 Anthologies
Severn House published the latest anthology of the Crime Writers' Association, Guilty Parties. Edited by Martin Edwards, the book contains a short foreword by Alison Joseph (chair of the CWA), author bios, and stories by Peter and Phil Lovesey, Christopher Fowler, and many more. It's currently for sale in the UK, but a U.S. edition will be forthcoming in August. Martin talked it up , with some interesting behind-the-scenes info.
Empower: Fight Like A Girl, a special collection of...
May 7, 2014
Mystery Melange
Chapter 21 book sculpture by carrotskanfli
The Edgar Awards were announced last week, with Best Novel nods going to Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger and Best First Novel to Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews. For all the various book and media categories, check out the Mystery Writers of America website.
Congratuations also to this year's winners of the Agatha Awards, handed out at the annual Malice Domestic Convention. Best First Novel went to Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz; Best His...
May 6, 2014
Crime in the Keys
If you're still deciding on your vacation plans for the summer, why not combine some fun in the sun with a criminally good time? This June 13-15, the inaugural Mystery Writers Key West Fest heads to the land of Hemingway and Tennessee Williams with a dozen leading authors from the crime and adventure fiction genres.
The festival is the brainchild of co-founders Shirrel Rhoades, a publisher who has worked with Reader's Digest, Scholastic, Harper's, Marvel Entertainment, andAbsolutely Amazing...
May 5, 2014
Media Murder for Monday
MOVIES
Chockstone Pictures bought film rights to All The Old Knives, the forthcoming spy thriller by Olen Steinhauer to be published next year. The book takes place in an seaside town where two ex-lovers and CIA spies, Celia and Henry, meet for dinner and to relive their memories of a plane hijacking that ended in the death of everyone onboard. The question becomes whether Henry wants to rekindle their romance or get to the bottom of a conspiracy, and "it also becomes clear that one of the...
May 3, 2014
May 2, 2014
FFB: Miss Madelyn Mack, Detective
Hugh Cosgro Weir (1994-1934) was born in Illinois but moved to Ohio where he worked as a journalist at the young age of 16 in Springfield. He also began writing screenplays early on, but eventually set up his own combo advertising agency and magazine publishing house. He was a prolific writer of pulp short stories but is mainly known today for his anthology published in 1914, Miss Madelyn Mack, Detective.
Weir dedicated the book to Mary Holland, a Chicago-area detective who was a pioneering...
May 1, 2014
Author R&R with Mike Monson
Mike Monson is co-editor of the crime e-zine All Due Respect, along withChris Rhatigan, and also the author of his own short fiction. His latest literary creation is the noir novella The Scent of New Death, about successful, unassuming bank robber Phil Gaines who marries a young, wild, and very kinky local bar maid. When the new bride runs off with Phil's business partner and his life's savings, he pursues them across the countryside as they lose themselves in a psycho-sexual killing spree.
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April 30, 2014
Mystery Melange
Recycled book sculpture by Long Bin Chen
The Crime Writers of Canada announced the shortlists for the 2014 Arthur Ellis Award, which honor excellence in Canadian crime writing. The winners will be handed out at the Arthur Ellis Gala in Toronto on June 5.
Finalists have been named for this year's CrimeFest Awards in three categories: best crime audiobook, best crime fiction e-book published in both physical and digital format, and best humorous crime novel. Winners will be announced at a g...
April 28, 2014
Media Murder for Monday
MOVIES
Warner Bros has acquired the Joel Dicker novel The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair as a vehicle for Ron Howard to direct. The story follows a young superstar novelist who becomes involved in a sensationalized murder mystery when a missing 15-year-old girl turns up dead in the backyard of the novelist's mentor.
Actor Jackie Earle Haley will take on directing duties for the indie crime drama Criminal Activities. The project stars John Travolta, Michael Pitt, Dan Stevens and Rebec...
