Posts Tagged ‘Antiques Roadkill’

The Finish Line

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

This will be a brief update, because I am approaching two finish lines: the Presidential election and ASK NOT.

Today I began work on the final chapter of ASK NOT, but will interrupt that tomorrow to work all day at the local Obama campaign office with Barb. I am grateful to my friends, fans, readers, or whatever else brings you here, that we haven’t descended into anything overtly political. It’s tough, feeling as deeply as I do about this particular election, keeping it to myself (and I haven’t completely succeeded). It’s bad for business to alienate any of your readers, and I hope I haven’t.

I was more overt about my position over at Facebook, and one fan used my post to attack the President and make what struck me as a strident case for the other candidate. That’s the problem with opening this can of worms: most of us have long since made up our minds, for whatever reason. Obama and Romney supporters arguing is a colossal waste of time. I only used Facebook to try to convince those independents and fence sitters why I feel – and think – as I do.

The first interview about TARGET LANCER has appeared at the Big Thrill.

Those topless girls are reading my stuff again; check this NSFW pic at Comicmix.

And here’s a nice little ANTIQUES ROADKILL review.

Remember what Al Capone said to his people each election day: “Vote early and vote often.”

M.A.C.

Decatur Book Fair Report

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
How I can get away with talking to a good-looking young blonde: sign ANTIQUES ROADKILL to her with Barb snapping the pic.
Who says I’m not an outdoorsman?
What Barb does at a book fair.
Pontificating in public with Persia Walker on noir panel.
Jim Traylor of GA and MAC of IA work on their upcoming collaboration, SPILLANE ON SCREEN (for McFarland).

The Decatur Book Fair was a lot of fun, and felt more like a mini-vacation than a book tour stop. Barb and I met some wonderful readers – new and old – at the event, and the panel with Persia Walker was well-attended, with great audience questions. Persia is as lovely as her writing style, which is plenty lovely, and her subject matter is historical noir, so we were a good fit. Barb was not on the panel, but there were Trash ‘n’ Treasures fans afoot and we signed several copies of the paperback versions. Also, if you go the Atlanta area, try Fox Brothers for barbecue. The only barbecue we’ve had that rivals or possibly tops Pappy’s in my son’s St. Louis haunts.

The Titan relaunch of Hard Case Crime is getting lots of web attention, including Publisher’s Weekly itself.

Online venues are excited about Hard Case’s return. Check out this nice write-up.

Even the Associated Press noticed the Hard Case revival, and went so far as to interview an obscure Iowa author for a quote or two.

And THE CONSUMMATA already has several nice reader reviews at Goodreads.

As I’ve mentioned here, I am one of the writers for the new Fangoria radio series, DREADTIME STORIES. I’ve done three scripts for the series so far, with the first set to air next week (“Reincarnal,” which I’m also going to be adapting into a film script, possibly for my long-awaited…by me, anyway…return to film directing). Check out the first show here (and see the announcement for “Reincarnal”).

M.A.C.

[Nate speaking: Just a quick reminder — Max and Barb are appearing at the Centuries & Sleuths bookstore in Chicago this Thursday (Sept. 8) at 7PM for a signing and Q&A.]

Pleas, Pleas Me

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Before we begin, I have a request – even a plea.

Those of you who recently asked for and received free advance copies of various M.A.C. books, the deal was you’d post a review – some of you have. Others have not. How can I put this gently? Get cracking.

Reviews at Amazon in particular, but also at other sites like rival Barnes & Noble, are very important. I am told that certain Amazon recommendations don’t kick in until a title is at over 20 reviews. So any of you out there enjoying the books, please post a review – it doesn’t have to be worthy of comparison to Jon L. Breen or Anthony Boucher. A simple line – “This is a terrific read!” – will do. Four- and particularly five-star reviews at Amazon are important, because of the average star rating that appears when you search for a title or author. Amazon reviewers have an unfortunate tendency to either post four- or five-star reviews…or one star reviews. And those one-star reviews really pull a title’s rating down. Some of these one-star reviews are frankly imbecilic – like rating a book one-star because it took two weeks for Amazon to ship it.

I am particularly annoyed by people who took advantage of the free Kindle copies we gave out, for several days, or YOU CAN’T STOP ME and ANTIQUES ROADKILL. What kind of a-hole posts a one-star review for a book he or she got free? Why do these people keep reading a book to the end that they don’t like from page one? When they are served a terrible meal, do they wolf it down after that first disgusting bite?

Anyway, your grass-roots support at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders’s and on your own blogs and Facebook pages in general is much, much needed…and appreciated.

ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF continues to get wonderful reviews. We hit the trifecta of the major industry publications, with Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus and now Library Journal reviewing (and liking us). This is from the Library Journal review:

This fifth cozy series entry displays the versatility of husband and wife Max Allan Collins and Barbara Collins. Scenes of Midwestern small-town life, informative tidbits about the antiques business, and clever dialog make this essential for those who like unusual amateur sleuths.

But my favorite ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF review – one of my favorite reviews for the entire series – comes from that splendid human being and blogger extra ordinaire, Bill Crider. You gotta check this one out. Barb and I were working hard on ANTIQUES DISPOSAL last week, really worn down by the work, and this came in and boosted our spirits incredibly. It should be noted that Bill is a terrific mystery writer his own damn self, and you can find info at his site about his excellent books, when you’re checking out this review.

Speaking of great guys who happen to also be great writers, Ed Gorman has struck again with a wonderful retrospective of the first Quarry novel, in the context of the new Perfect Crime trade paperback reprints. By the way, Perfect Crime has also published an outstanding Gorman short-story collection called Noir 13.

Steve Lewis has a very interesting and insightful review of the forthcoming KISS HER GOODBYE at Mystery File, and the comments include some lengthy ones by me that describe the process of creating new Spillane novels from old unfinished manuscripts.

And here’s a neat review of A KILLING IN COMICS. How I wish I’d been able to do more than just one Jack and Maggie Starr mystery.

I should mention that THE BIG BANG has been nominated for a Scribe (Best Original Novel) by the International Association of Media and Tie-in Writers. You can see the other nominees listed at Lee Goldberg’s terrific site (always worth checking out – fun, funny and informative). Lee and I co-founded the organization, but I assure you the fix is not in.

Even Wild Dog got some love this week! All because he wore a hockey mask.

And there’s some very insightful stuff about Ms. Tree, with a smart feminist perspective, at Ink-stained Amazon. This is Part Four, but you can find your way to the previous parts as you scroll down. I think the bulk of the Ms. Tree material is right here in Part Four, though.

Today, Barb and I will very likely complete ANTIQUES DISPOSAL. The book is essentially written but we are in Day Two of our final tweaks. After ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF has done so well, we’re a little intimidated. KNOCK-OFF essentially completes the first story arc (took five books to do it). DISPOSAL introduces another story arc, this time designed to span three books. This time we’re dealing with the auction of storage units whose owners are either in arrears or have disappeared. Murder and hilarity ensues…or anyway, they better….

M.A.C.

Little Death up for Big Audie

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

The big piece of news this week is that my radio-style novel for audio, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MIKE HAMMER VOL. 2: THE LITTLE DEATH, has been nominated for an Audie, the Academy Award of the audio book world. We are in the Best Original category, which makes it as much the writer’s award as anybody’s…but I am the first to salute the great cast headed by everybody’s favorite Mike Hammer, Stacy Keach, and my pal Mike Cornelison, and to applaud producer/director Carl Amari, the maestro behind the Twilight Zone radio series.

This would seem as good a time as any to remind you that THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MIKE HAMMER VOL. 3: ENCORE FOR MURDER comes out…today.

As mentioned last time, to celebrate my birthday on March 3, we have arranged with Kensington for free e-books of ANTIQUES ROADKILL and YOU CAN’T STOP ME at any on-line retailers, starting today, March 1, through March 3. Actually, it’s more to celebrate the release of new books in the respective series represented by those two titles, ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF and NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU.

What do I want for my birthday? I want you to take advantage of this free offer and then, out of guilt or shame or generosity or whatever might move you, order the new titles and, this time, cough up the dough. [Nathan: and if you like the books, rate them!]

I have just returned from St. Louis, where Barb, Nate and I (and Nate’s girl friend Abby) celebrated my birthday (not yet a national holiday…we’re working on it). That town is evil where food is concerned – everything from barbecue to cupcakes – but between meals, we managed to see two excellent films, the Iowa-based (but not shot) CEDAR RAPIDS, a sweet dramedy (what an awful word) that was consistently amusing and fitfully insightful; and the utter delight that is THE ILLUSIONIST. The latter is a French animated feature from the great Jacques Tati’s final unfilmed-in-his-lifetime screenplay. Since Tati was a genius who only made a handful of films, suddenly having another one seems like a gift to the world. When THE ILLUSIONIST began, in black-and-white, and Tati’s magician character appeared, I was so stunned by the animator’s ability to restore Tati to life via his every facial expression and characteristic body movement that I damn near cried into my popcorn. Fortunately I am too much of a tough guy to do that, and anyway it was already over-salted.

Another terrific review for KISS HER GOODBYE has turned up. This guy gets it.

And the Library Journal has given ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF a favorable verdict.

Politics Daily talks about Mike Hammer’s favorite gun, and mentions both Mike and me.

Be sure to check out Matt Clemens’s new book piece on Ed Gorman’s blog about the painful birth of NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU.

Finally, a conservative website lists Mike Hammer in the number two slot on an array of right-leaning fictional heroes…and they think I am terrific! Do they know I voted for Obama?

M.A.C.

[Nathan: Also, head over to the Download Page for a wallpaper-ized QUARRY’S EX cover!]