What This Folder is For > Likes and Comments

This folder is for member authors to tell us about their works. It won't be considered spam if you tell us in this folder. A lot of moderators do not care much for authors talking about their works in their discussion group. That's not me. I love, respect, and admire that you are an author and I'm interested in what you're working on. I even try to read many authors' works once informed about it if it sounds interesting to me. So please know you're very welcome at this discussion group. All I ask is that you make the posts about your work in this folder only, so that those members who may want to avoid reading about it, and there are always a few, can.

I debated creating this folder at all, incidentally. My conception of our group is that we are going to be concentrating on works written between 1920 and 1960, or so. I didn't think people posting here were too likely to have published during this era. But I have come to realize that even if this may be the heyday of our genre, hardboiled detective/crime fiction continues. Maybe members of the group will become interested in more recent works too. I'm not going to dictate where we can go or what we can read. So, I realize we do need this folder after all.

Again, authors please feel free to tell us what you're working on. I am confident there will be members interested in your work, and it's really nice to have one access point to ask you about it directly if we need to.

Old School American Anthology Crime Fiction

Neighborhood Watch

Spanning from 1936 to 2020, the interconnected stories crisscross back and forth across America and weave through the lives of average Americans with direct, and sometimes indirect, connections to crime. A college student interviews female killers as research for his thesis. A thief specializes in a certain macabre brand of merchandise that he sells exclusively on the Darknet. A husband and wife swinger team get in over their heads during an out-of-town weekend tryst. With stories written in narrative and editorial styles, Raistlin Skelley presents an unflinching look at the lives of average Americans and their dark past-times with a sharp morbid wit, furious unflinching hard-boiled detail, and a flagrant disregard for moral and social norms.

Available at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WCb5Pa

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3zwEbxt

Kindle: https://amzn.to/38shQVX

Kobo: https://bit.ly/38uDNDK

Hi,

Just added my latest, presume I was meant to create a new folder rather than add it here?

Yes. Creating a new topic in the self-promotion folder is best. It helps your work stand out since the title you create for your topic can be seen before clicking the link.

But we're flexible. I didn't make this topic one that could not be posted to. And Raistlin decided to tell us about his book here. So that's cool. As long as it hits the Self Promotion folder, I'm happy.

This folder is only a fairly recent creation. I had not recognized the need for it since I thought we'd be mostly reading works written in the middle of the twentieth century. Would be self-promoters should be long dead. But apparently this style of writing lives on, making this folder necessary after all.

Raistlin, I'm sorry I haven't commented yet. Your "anthology" looks interesting, like it's in our genre in some respects, but not quite there in others. We don't really do speculative fiction here, meaning no supernatural or fantasy element for the most part. Does you work contain that? Also, may I offer some terminology advice? An anthology, by definition, is a collection of stories written by different authors. I think what you're telling us about is a short story collection, a grouping of stories written by one author or one author team.

My wife, by the way, is from your neck of the woods, born and raised in Butler. It seems like a rich area for setting stories in. Are most of yours set there?

LOL! Thanks Dan, I am already in the pulp group, so lets see how this one works out :)

Especially since I am already part way through the second part of this series.

Dan wrote: "My wife, by the way, is from your neck of the woods, born and raised in Butler..."

Oh, cool! Yeah, Butler isn't too far north of me. Not all of the stories take place around here, though. The opener and the closer do, but stories stretch down to Florida, up to New York and as far west as Wyoming. And there aren't any speculative fiction type stories in collection. The Blue Witch of Hell's Kitchen is not what you may think based on its title. Every story is very much grounded in reality.

And while the book overall may not fall directly into the mold of traditional hardboiled fiction, it is most certainly a descendant of it. Neighborhood Watch is Raymond Chandler and Jim Thompson what The White Stripes are to Link Wray and The Trashmen.

Raistlin, I pulled up your short story collection because I was considering purchasing it to read. I like to look at the See Inside feature on Amazon before I commit to reading self-published work these days. I get the use of profanity in a story. You want a character using the language he would naturally use so as not to break the verisimilitude. But dropping f-bombs in a loving dedication to your mother? Really?

Wow, Judgemental anyone? :)

Dan wrote: "I like to look at the See Inside feature on Amazon before I commit to reading self-published work ..."

If that is a stumbling block the rest of the book may be a bit hard to swallow. I thank you for taking the time to check it out, though.

Raistlin wrote: "Dan wrote: "I like to look at the See Inside feature on Amazon before I commit to reading self-published work ..."

If that is a stumbling block the rest of the book may be a bit hard to swallow. I..."

Sounds interesting, marked them to read, although in my defence I am hundreds behind and currently writing as well.

Why not suggest it as a book to read for the month?

Hi guys,

I'm looking for reviews for my book of short crime stories, Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories.

A collection of 15 short crime stories from dark detective noir to domestic murder, crossing time periods as far back as the Victorian era and into the near future. Some with a twist of horror, science fiction or the supernatural. Each story revolves around intriguing characters with twists and turns and on occasion a sting in the tail.

Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories



Tom :)

Tom wrote: "Hi guys,

I'm looking for reviews for my book of short crime stories, Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories.

A collection of 15 short crime stories from dark detective noir to dom..."

Hi Tom,

Its better to set up your own section as I did under .. Self Promotion.

Also..

The Nomination area is

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

& Finally, the Authors section is

Under Hardboiled Authors

Regards

CRIMSON SUNRISE: 1970s HARDBOILED CRIME THRILLER

Hi Dan and all the group.
Are you looking for a short crime thriller that packs a punch?

This is a review that one of my readers posted:

It's gritty, fast-paced and pulls off an intense and suspenseful plot with style. It was so easy to binge-read! Despite it being a shorter read, it has everything you could want; characters you love and love to hate, a complex romance, gun fights, car chases, gore, death, you name it. The author’s writing style had me gripped, with descriptions that effortlessly transport you into any scene. A thrilling, intense and engrossing read. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

It's only $1,00 at the moment - so enjoy!

All the best,
C.K.

I wanted to introduce myself and talk a little about my work before I create posts about my books in a separate folder.
My name is James Schroeder. I write 1930s Mysteries set in Chicago during a time of distrust, when gangsters and crime ruled the streets. At the moment, I have two published books: “the Devil You Know” and “Midnight’s Murder” and am a little more than halfway done writing my 3rd book, “The World’s Unfair.”

I’ve been told that my novels read like old black-and-white mystery films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. They are fast paced with well rounded characters, and thrills that will have you wanting to know what happens next. My books are just as much Historical Fiction as they are mysteries.

I’m very excited to be able to share these books (and my future novels) with you all here, so thank you for this opportunity.

Beginning today (June 15, 2026) and for the next 30 days, you can score a free eBook copy of my newest release, Goodbye is Forever, from Goodreads and my publisher, Level Best Books. If you decide to take us up on the offer, if you would, please post a short review or "star" rating on Goodreads and Amazon. Here's the link for the freebie: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... Hope you enjoy the book!