Crime Fiction Dossier

Nothing to see here

That absurd Patricia Cornwell post that I made last week has attracted more traffic, and almost as many comments, as anything I've posted in months.

So I deleted it.

Now I know why people attack bestselling writers: it gets attention. Since I don't want that kind of attention, I removed it. I will, however, leave all the boring posts active. Read those instead.

A new blog

Elaine Flinn has started a new blog called Evil E, featuring her twisted take on crime fiction happenings. It will also be the new home of her On the Bubble interviews, which used to run weekly at Murderati.

Welcome back, Oh Evil One!

Blog study

I'm doing a study on crime fiction/writing blogs and was hoping I could get your feedback on a couple of points.

What do you like best about the blogs you read? What don't you like about them?

What's the one thing you'd like to see on a blog that you don't see right now?

Any feedback you'd like to share would be greatly appreciated. You can either post a comment with your thoughts or email me.

Thanks!

Guyot on TV writing, Pt. 2

The second installment of Paul Guyot's series on TV writing, this one focused on the Network Pitch, is now up at Murderati.

As always when I read stuff like this, I'm amazed that anyone wants to be a writer.

Paul Guyot on How Television Shows Are Created

I've been meaning to link to this for a while, but kept forgetting. Paul Guyot, reluctant blogger and reformed television writer, has written the first part in a series on How Television Shows Are Created over at Murderati.

Guyot's blog essays are always worth reading and this one is particularly good. If you're interested in screenwriting, you'll definitely want to check this out. But even if you're not, it's still fascinating to read about the absurd world that is Hollywood.

Oline Cogdill is blogging

The inestimable Oline Cogdill, one of my favorite crime critics and a woman possessed of excellent taste, is now blogging at the Sun-Sentinel's website. (Sharing the space with her will be Books Editor Chauncey Mabe, who once threw some work my way, so we know he's a good guy.)

Aside from the fact that it will be interesting to see what Oline has to say, the newspaper will be using the blog as a tool to help gauge how much reader interest there is in books coverage. So I invite everyone to stop over there and read some postings and maybe make some comments as well.

Welcome back, Dick!

Dick Adler has returned to reviewing (and blogging) with The Knowledgeable Blogger, a site for his reviews of crime novels. Dick is one of the best critics in the business, so it's wonderful to have him back in the trenches.

Eight Top Mystery Blogs

Library Journal has published their list of Eight Top Mystery Blogs, of which this site was one.

1. Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind
   www.sarahweinman.com/confessions The must-read for industry folks, authors, and mystery fans. Insightful commentary from the Baltimore Sun's crime fiction columnist on the latest book deals, awards, people, and trends.
2. Crime Fiction Dossier
   crimefictionblog.com Critic David Montgomery on publishing, authors, and reviews. He also edits Murderink, which has mystery and thriller reviews, as well as author interviews, and sponsors the Gumshoe Awards.
3. Euro Crime
   eurocrime.blogspot.com Keep up with the latest UK and European mysteries on this blog run by a British librarian. Also check out Detectives Beyond Borders and International Noir Fiction.
4. Hey, There's a Dead Guy in My Living Room
   heydeadguy.typepad.com/heydeadguy “Mystery publishing from idea to bookshelf,” with comments from authors, editors, publishers, and publicists.
5. KillerYear
   www.killeryear.com Look for the up-and-coming thriller writers here.
6. The Man in Black
   jasonpinter.blogspot.com As a St. Martin's editor and soon-to-be-published author, Jason Pinter knows both sides of the mystery fence.
7. Poe's Deadly Daughters
   poesdeadlydaughters.blogspot.com Writers Julia Buckley, Lonnie Cruse, Sandra Parshall, Sharon Wildwind, and Elizabeth Zelvin give their take on the mystery scene. For a cozy perspective, look at The Cozy Chicks or the Cozy Library.
8. Reviewing the Evidence
   www.reviewingtheevidence.com/default.html Created in 2001, this mystery review site archives thousands of online reviews, searchable by author, title, reviewer, or keyword. Nice links to authors' web sites.

Thanks, LJ!

Blog Short Story Project 3

Bryon Quertermous and Dave White put together the third Blog Short Story Project and several writers chose to play along. The requirements this time were that the story had to be under 1000 words and it had to involve blogs.

The stories (to be updated):

Patricia Abbott - "RE: University Protocol on Incidents of Student Plagiarism"

Stephen Allan - "Take That, You Prick"

Bill Crider - The Sunshine of My Wife

John DuMond - "The Truth Hurts"

JT Ellison - "Bits and Pieces"

Paul Guyot - "As I Lay Dying"

Daniel Hatadi - "Dumped"

Mike MacLean - "How Does It Feel?"

Christa M. Miller - Blogging a Fantasy

David J. Montgomery - "AmberSki77"

Karen E. Olson - "Smoking Gun"

Bryon Quertermous - "I Am Not Paul Avery"

Anthony Rainone - "Burning Down The House"

Stephen D. Rogers - "Comments Enabled"

JD Rhoades - "Flame War"

John Rickards - "Your Friends"

Gerald So - Confession of a Spenser Fan

Pari Noskin Taichert - "The Cat's Meow"

Dave White - "The Best Blog Story...Ever"

Food Blog

If you like food -- and who doesn't? -- check out my brother's blog:

Good Food

Maybe if more people visit he'll stop being lazy and actually keep up with it.