I am frantically working to get two Heller chapters done (I’m in the middle of the first of the two) before leaving for Bouchercon on Thursday morning.
Here’s our Bouchercon schedule:
Barb’s panel (she is the moderator) is at 9.m. Friday. It’s about geriatric crime fighters: MYSTERY MATURES.
MAC’s panel (not moderating) (also not moderate) is at 11:30 a.m., also on Friday: MANFICTION (not my fault).
No room numbers, but if you’re attending, it won’t be tough to find us.
There is a new e-book from Top Suspense, WRITING CRIME FICTION, with chapters by all the members on various topics. Mine is on writing Historical Fiction. It just came out today, so snag it:
And here’s a terrific advance review of TARGET LANCER from that fine crime writer, Bill Crider.
Check out the Big Thrill’s TARGET LANCER write-up here.
And this is a really cool, smart review of the new Mike Hammer short story, “Skin.”
Finally, this nice interview with my Hard Case editor, Charles Ardai, discusses the re-discovery of the final James M. Cain novel, the recently pubbed THE COCKTAIL WAITRESS. Charles is kind enough to mention my role in bringing this important dark novel to the light.
Tags: Ask Not, Hard Case Crime, JFK, JFK Assassination, Mike Hammer, Nathan Heller, Reviews, Skin, Spillane, Target Lancer, Top Suspense, Writing Crime Fiction
Two chapters, thats a lot of work. I’m currently re-reading Majic Man
and realizing you’re at your best when you get deeply into setting
the scene and the mood in the Heller books. You’re description of
how Georgetown went from an old slum to what it is today (or 1949)
is excellent. Too many authors skip the details because its just too
damn much work. I could see Heller on those streets and in those
neighborhoods. To get all that detail I’m sure you had to do hours and
hours of research, for what eventually became 4-5 written pages. But
from the readers standpoint, we appreciate your extra effort. It made
me Google Georgetown and look at some of those old mansions.
It’s good to hear you like the color. I am always unsure of how far too go with that kind of thing. I have Heller in 1964 Dallas right now and am wrestling with the issue.
FROM BOUCHERCON, CLEVELAND
James Michener overdid it on color. John MacDonald skimped
on it in Travis McGee. George MacDonald Fraser had a lot of
color in his Flashman books. But being so far back in history,
he had to, who knows what everyday life in India was like
in 1840.
Most of your Heller books are just right. Stolen Away, Flying Blind,
Neon Mirage, they all came alive because you set the scene
so well. Heller is very comfortable there, he’s a part of those times,
not just a spectator. He’s what I want to be like in 1934; confident,
unflappable, always a step ahead of all around me. And very well
dressed.