Art Taylor's Blog, page 12
August 27, 2023
Bouchercon Bound!
This week, we’ll be heading to San Diego—my wife, Tara Laskowski, and our son, Dash—for this year’s Bouchercon, and what a schedule the three of us are finding ourselves navigating!
We’re arriving late Wednesday (even later in our minds, given the time difference), and then I’m up early early the next morning for both author speed dating (be there at 6:30 a.m.!) and then a conversation with Toastmaster Naomi Hirahara before meeting some friends for lunch and then Tara’s darting off to her panel and we’ve been invited for ice cream (eye on Dash there) as soon as her panel’s done—and is that opening ceremonies coming up quickly afterwards? Oh—and another quick gathering I got invited to stop by before the opening festivities. (I need to keep my calendar close.)
My official schedule is below—and I’m thrilled to be celebrating an Anthony Award nomination for the anthology Lawyers, Guns, and Money, which I co-edited with Libby Cudmore. Shout-out to all of the contributors who made the anthology such a success—and to Libby specifically, who also earned a Shamus Award nomination for her story, “Charley’s Medicine.”
Here’s my current schedule for the conference:
See you in San Diego!
August 23, 2023
New Story, New Anthology from Crippen & Landru
Crippen & Landru has just formally announced a new multi-author anthology: The School of Hard Knox, with fourteen British and American writers setting out to break, systematically and ruthlessly, a series of rules recorded nearly 100 years ago by Monsignor Ronald Knox of the Detective Club. You can read these rules, first recorded in an introduction to the 1939 anthology Best Detective Stories, here.
My own story “Ordeals” is a bit of an experiment for me in a couple of directions—one of which is that it’s my first historical story, but I’ll leave another experimental aspect of it for readers to discover. And—of course!—you’ll need to read my story and all of them to find out which rule or rules we all broke!
Additional conspirators contributors include Donna Andrews, Frankie Y. Bailey, Nikki Dolson, Martin Edwards, Greg Herren, Naomi Hirahara, Toni LP Kelner, Richie Narvaez, Gigi Pandian, S.J. Rozan, Daniel Stashower, Marcia Talley, and—with an extraordinarily special contribution—Peter Lovesey. And I want to thank Donna Andrew and Greg Herren, who first originated the idea for this project, and Jeff Marks, publisher of Crippen & Landru, for inviting me onboard as a consultant—and then including my name on the cover too!
Here’s Crippen & Landru’s official description:
Rebels with a Cause!
Nearly 100 years ago, The Reverend Monsignor Ronald Knox of the famed Detection Club developed ten rules—a Decalogue he called them—that he felt were “necessary to the full enjoyment of a detective story.” Fairness with readers seemed an author’s highest calling, and—lo!—“the faculty for writing a good mystery story is rare.”
Writers (those heretics!) regularly bristle at a challenge, and being told that a literary twist is forbidden makes their fingers twitch at the keyboard.
This anthology contains fourteen of today’s finest English and American short story authors, trying their best to break one—or more!—of the good monsignor’s rules. Twins, supernatural events, and sleuths not sharing their clues are all in here—transgressions in all directions.
(Father, forgive us, for we have sinned.)
And—saving the key news for last—you can pre-order your own copy here!
August 21, 2023
The First Two Pages: “Wildfire” by Kathy A. Norris
In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
We’re just over a week from the start of Bouchercon and some more official celebrating for the new anthology Killin’ Time in San Diego, edited by Holly West—and it’s been a great pleasure to host three First Two Essays by anthology contributors so far: Emilya Naymark on her story “Girl of Gold”; Mary Keenan on “The Canadians”; and J.R. Sanders on “Dead Even.” And wrapping up the series this week, we’re welcoming Kathy A. Norris with the opening to her story “Wildfire”—and a clever approach to introducing characters to readers quickly and efficiently. See the essay and excerpt below.
While this series has featured four contributors, let’s give another shout-out to all the other authors featured here: Kathleen L. Asay, Jennifer Berg, C.W. Blackwell, Wesley Browne, Anne-Marie Campbell, L.H. Dillman, John M. Floyd, Kim Keeline, Richie Narvaez, James Thorpe, Tim P. Walker, Victoria Weisfeld, and Désirée Zamorano.
And hope everyone’s packing their bags for San Diego—looking forward to seeing folks next week! (Yikes! I’m not ready myself!)
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
Norris-WildfireAugust 14, 2023
The First Two Pages: “Dead Even” by J.R. Sanders
In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
As we continue to host contributors to the new Bouchercon anthology Killin’ Time in San Diego, this week’s essay by J.R. Sanders calls for an extra layer of celebration. The characters in his story “Dead Even” are drawn from his Nate Ross novels—and the second book in that series, Dead-Bang Fall, is a finalist for this year’s Shamus Award for Best P.I. Paperback. Hooray! And while we’re talking about the series, let me also point out that the first book, Stardust Trail, was also a finalist for both the Spur Award and the Silver Falchion—so a distinguished track record already, and don’t miss the latest book in the series, Bring the Night, which was released back in April. For more information on the books—and the man behind them!—visit his author website here.
Edited by Holly West, Killin’ Time in San Diego features a terrific group of authors: Kathleen L. Asay, Jennifer Berg, C.W. Blackwell, Wesley Browne, Anne-Marie Campbell, L.H. Dillman, John M. Floyd, Kim Keeline, Mary Keenan, Emilya Naymark, Richie Narvaez, Kathy A. Norris, J.R. Sanders, James Thorpe, Tim P. Walker, Victoria Weisfeld, and Désirée Zamorano. And the First Two Pages has already welcomed Emilya Naymark reflecting on her story “Girl of Gold” and Mary Keenan on “The Canadians”—with one more contributor ahead next week.
Hope everyone is enjoying these essays—and look forward to seeing folks at Bouchercon in just a couple of weeks!
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
First-Two-Pages-JR-Sanders-revisedAugust 7, 2023
The First Two Pages: “The Canadians” by Mary Keenan
In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
Bouchercon month continues—and with it, this blog’s celebration of the new Bouchercon anthology, Killin’ Time in San Diego, edited by Holly West and featuring a great range of contributors: Kathleen L. Asay, Jennifer Berg, C.W. Blackwell, Wesley Browne, Anne-Marie Campbell, L.H. Dillman, John M. Floyd, Kim Keeline, Mary Keenan, Emilya Naymark, Richie Narvaez, Kathy A. Norris, J.R. Sanders, James Thorpe, Tim P. Walker, Victoria Weisfeld, and Désirée Zamorano. Last week, The First Two Pages hosted Emilya Naymark reflecting on her story “Girl of Gold,” and this week, Mary Keenan discusses “The Canadians”—part of a year-long challenge she posed herself in 2021 (and good news, the challenge paid off here).
If 2021 was a challenge year, this latest year has been a rewarding one. Keenan’s traditional mystery Snowed was longlisted for the 2023 Debut Dagger Award from The Crime Writers’ Association in the UK and won Crime Writers of Canada’s 2023 award for Best Unpublished Mystery—nice accolades, needless to say! You can check out her short fiction in various spots, not only in the new Bouchercon anthology but in other collections as well: “He’s No Gary Cooper” in the Sisters in Crime Los Angeles anthology Entertainment to Die For, for example, and “Mamma’s Girl” in Blood on the Holly: An Anthology of Christmas Mysteries from the Crime Writers of Canada, among others.
Check out more about Keenan and her work at her website here, and stay tuned for essays by more contributors to Killin’ Time in San Diego in the weeks leading up to Bouchercon itself.
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
Keenan-The-Canadians-August 1, 2023
Summer Newsletter
I just sent out my summer newsletter—looking at Bouchercon plans, previewing a new anthology with one of my stories, School of Hard Knox, and reflecting on some recent reading.
July 31, 2023
The First Two Pages: “Girl of Gold” by Emilya Naymark
In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
It’s Bouchercon month! And in addition to being excited about the conference itself, I’m also looking forward to the new Bouchercon anthology—always a highlight both of the event and of the year overall. I’ve been fortunate to serve as guest editor for two previous Bouchercon anthologies, and it’s always a thrill to work with both veteran writers and writers whose careers are still on the rise—sometimes with writers seeing their work in print for the first time. Holly West edited this year’s anthology, Killin’ Time in San Diego, and the list of contributors includes good friends (John Floyd, Richie Narvaez, and Victoria Weisfeld), folks I’ve worked with before on the anthologies I edited (hi, Jennifer Berg and Kim Keeline!), and then others who are new to me—and whose work I’m looking forward to discovering.
Here’s the full list of authors: Kathleen L. Asay, Jennifer Berg, C.W. Blackwell, Wesley Browne, Anne-Marie Campbell, L.H. Dillman, John M. Floyd, Kim Keeline, Mary Keenan, Emilya Naymark, Richie Narvaez, Kathy A. Norris, J.R. Sanders, James Thorpe, Tim P. Walker, Victoria Weisfeld, and Désirée Zamorano.
This week, and for the next few weeks leading up to Bouchercon, the First Two Pages will be hosting anthology contributors reflecting on their stories. First up is Emilya Naymark with her story “Girl of Gold.” Naymark is the author of two novels—Hide in Place and Behind the Lie (the latter a finalist for the Sue Grafton Award)—and her short fiction has appeared in other publications, including the MWA anthology A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta. Find out more about her at her website.
And stay tuned next week and ahead for more contributors—and look forward to seeing folks in San Diego!
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
Naymark-GIRL-OF-GOLD-Emilya-NaymarkJuly 16, 2023
Bouchercon Schedule!
Bouchercon has just published its schedule of panels, and I’m thrilled to be part of the program in several ways—including interviewing one of the guests of honor, Naomi Hirahara, and it’s been such a thrill to revisit some of her earlier books and get an advance copy of her forthcoming book, Evergreen, which I just finished this week. Terrific!
Here’s the schedule of events—and you can now find the full schedule at the conference website. Looking forward to seeing folks in San Diego!
Speed Dating—with partner Scott Blackburn • Thursday, August 31, 7 a.m., Pacific Ballroom 15, 16, & 17Interview with Toastmaster Naomi Hirahara • Thursday, August 31, 10:20 a.m., Marriott Grand Ballroom 5Opening Ceremonies • Thursday, August 31, 6 p.m., Marriott Grand BallroomAnthony Award Panel, Best Anthology—with Greg Herren, Josh Pachter, and Mysti Berry, moderated by Holly West • Friday, September 1, 9 a.m. Marriott Grand Ballroom 6Short Stories: The Joys of Mysteries in Bite-Sized Form—with James A. Hearn, R.T. Lawton, Melinda Loomis, and Joseph S. Walker, moderated by Steve Steinboch • Friday, September 1, 1 p.m., Marriott Grand Ballroom 4Anthony Awards Presentation • Saturday, September 2, 9 p.m., Marriott Grand BallroomJuly 10, 2023
The First Two Pages: Lowdown Road by Scott Von Doviak
In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
What could be better than having Stephen King call your debut novel “terrific”? How about having him call your next novel “A great f—— story”? I can’t help wondering if those dashes were King’s own or some bit of discretion by Hard Case Crime, but in any case, that’s some emphatic back-to-back praise for Scott Von Doviak’s two novels: Charlesgate Confidential (2018) and Lowdown Road, officially burning rubber toward a bookstore near you today. (That’s my attempt at being more clever than writing “published today.”) And for readers who don’t trust blurbs, how about critics? In her column last week in the New York Times, Sarah Weinman offered her own enthusiasm about the book; check out that review here.
When Scott reached out to me about penning a First Two Pages essay on the new novel, I was enthusiastic myself—for several personal reasons. First, the book is set in 1974, and it uses Evel Knievel’s attempt to jump Snake River Canyon as part of the backdrop—a year and a cultural milestone central to my own story “The Boy Detective & The Summer of ’74” (which has nearly nothing else in common with Lowdown Road, I should add). Second, as a kid, I loved the kinds of shows and movies that helped inspire and inform Scott’s book: Smokey and the Bandit and The Dukes of Hazzard, for example. And then there’s the fact that we recently watched Smokey and the Bandit with our son—who loved it too. (And did you know it was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock’s too? I’ll let you Google that one yourself.)
Long stories short: I’m thrilled to welcome Scott here to talk about the new novel and to celebrate Lowdown Road on its official pub day—and can’t wait to take a spin with the book myself!
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
The-First-Two-Pages-of-Lowdown-RoadJune 26, 2023
The First Two Pages: “Italian Alzheimer’s” by Kevin Egan
In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
This is the second time I’ve hosted Kevin Egan at the First Two Pages —the first time nearly a year ago with his terrific story “Becoming Ian Fleming” in the September/October 2022 issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. His new story also appears in AHMM, and it has an equally gripping name: “Italian Alzheimer’s” (which Kevin explains in his essay). While I often try to give space to writers who haven’t appeared at the blog before, Kevin’s thoughtfulness in reflecting on his work has made his essays—like his fiction—stand out, and I’m always grateful to host essays that might help other writers as well as offer insight to readers too.
Kevin’s had a terrific track record at AHMM, with 18 stories in the magazine—and more than 20 other stories elsewhere. He’s also the author eight novels, and you can find out more about Kevin and his work at his website: www.kjeganfiction.com.
In the meantime, enjoy this glimpse at his latest story—and at the craft choices behind it too!
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
Egan-Italian-Alzheimers
