Death by Killing

Aftermath by Jake Hinkson

2012-02-26T19:33:00.001-08:00

I read Jake Hinkson's "Maker's and Coke" in Beat to a Pulp: Round One last year and it blew me away.

I'll say the same thing about "Aftermath," which is up at The Flash Fiction Offensive.

This is a seriously powerful story about a witness to a robbery gone wrong. One of the golden rules of writing is that the main character can't sit around -- he or she must do something, they must affect the outcome in some way. Hinkson violates this rule with great purpose. It's central to the story that his character does not respond to the situation around him.

Hinkson's novel Hell on Church Street is published by New Pulp Press, and I'm going to go buy it.

13 Shots of Noir by Paul D. Brazill

2012-02-25T20:00:00.001-08:00

Paul D. Brazill's got his bartending license and he's serving up 13 Shots of Noir.

So man up and gulp down that poison!

The first story in here is "The Tut" and it's my favorite. This badboy was nominated for a Spinetingler Award. Sometimes awards mean nothing, but certainly not in this case. This is one mean motherfucker. Tight in all the right places, bizarrely funny, and more than a little unbalanced. It's about a man who kills his wife... but that's no escaping her. You'll be hearing that dead woman "tut" well into eternity.

Along with Kieran Shea, Brazill is a leading practitioner of the all-dialog story. "Thump" is a one-sided dialog that somehow works beautifully. Suspenseful and creepy and brilliant.

13 Shots is dose after dose of the top-shelf stuff. Stories about the losers and the weirdos. True Brit Grit.

Only question is, when's PDB's novel coming out?

New Reviews!

2012-02-22T17:58:00.000-08:00

You know it's a good day when you get not one, but two stellar reviews.

Thanks R Thomas Brown and Julie Morrigan for checking out Watch You Drown and telling the world about it.

Show No Mercy by Julie Morrigan

2012-02-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

Julie Morrigan's debut short story collection Gone Bad made waves in the world of short fiction, landing on many a year-end short list. Her latest, Show No Mercy, is an equally compelling read, full of the lewd, dark, and swear-filled stuff we've come to expect from Morrigan.

My favorite in here is "The Birthday Present." I saw this once somewhere else (not sure where...) but it certainly was worth a second read. A pathetic, middle-aged bloke has decided to treat himself on his birthday--he wants to lose his virginity to a gorgeous, elegant escort. Things don't quite go like how he imagined, and, in the end, his delusions get the better of him. A darkly funny and well-told tale.

"Be Anything You Want to Be," one of the flash pieces in the mix, is another stand out. Nothing brings out bitterness like family--especially when those arseholes make a bunch of money and don't share it.

Julia Madeleine has called Morrigan the "Queen of British noir," and I would agree. Every entry in Show No Mercy is pure story. Check it out at Amazon and Amazon UK.

At All Due Respect: Court Merrigan

2012-02-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

Court Merrigan is up at All Due Respect with "Two Brothers," a haunting tale about Thailand and loyalty. I found out about Merrigan's writing last year and since then he's made a splash in the online crime fiction world.

You can find out more about him at his blog.

The Stain Carrier by Sophie Littlefield

2012-02-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

Over at Beat to a Pulp, Sophie Littlefield has a searing story of suburban noir with "The Stain Carrier."

Nancy Jackson's chosen to go off her meds and on a path of restrained destruction--futile attempts to rid her friends of their psychological and physical prisons. The whole piece radiates desperation.

And the writing is simply brilliant. Detailed, lyrical, and stylish, everything rolls off the tongue. Makes me very jealous.

This is the first of Littlefield's stories that I've read. It won't be the last.

You People Suck

2012-02-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

A while ago, a bunch of morons complained about a perfectly good story by Graham Smith over at Thrillers, Killers, 'n Chillers. They were all offended or something and TKnC removed the story because of the complaints.

Now these annoying pricks (or people exactly like them) are back and they're all up in arms over a story by Richard Godwin.

I fail to understand how people can get angry about a story available for free that it is at a site with a warning and is called Thrillers, Killers, 'n fucking Chillers... but that's just me.

This is a brilliant story, but even if it wasn't, TKnC should be able to publish whatever they want. The internet is the home for the kind of boundary-pushing fiction not available in commercial markets.

So if you want to keep deviant fiction alive (and I think most everyone who reads DBK does), go and lend your support to Godwin and TKnC.

AND go buy his new collection of stories from Pulp Metal Fiction about everyone's favorite culinary serial killer, The Mustard Man.

What They're Saying...

2012-02-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

WATCH YOU DROWN

For obvious reasons, no one should believe me when I say I've got a book you should invest your time in. But you should trust these fine folks...

"Watch You Drown is a dark, realistic and funny collection of tarnished gems from a very talented craftsman. Highly recommended." -- Paul Brazill

"It's a really poweful mix you'll find here and I hope that your prepared to jump into its icy waters (for dark and chilled they mainly are) - I guarantee that you'll be woken up with a start and that you'll be diving straight back for more." -- Nigel Bird

"Chris is a master at the art of suspense and his stories are chock full of it like a warm fully loaded semi-automatic." -- Julia Madeleine

"The tortured people he writes about are earning minimum wage at best and their crime are driven by drugs. booze, desperation and the like. They feature people on the edge of the precipice who fall off more than hang on." -- Patti Abbott

"Watch You Drown is more than a collection of short stories, it’s a gateway to a world of pulp fiction that Rhatigan rules." -- Katherine Tomlinson

At The Slaughterhouse...

2012-02-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

You should swing by The Slaughterhouse, where I'm talking with Richard Godwin's small time criminals, short stories, and the future.

Sincerely,
Chris Rhatigan

At All Due Respect

2012-02-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

Allerton Mead's got the first fortnight of February with "All My Dirty Clothes," a vivid story about a few young punks who are in way over their heads.

Letters from the Egg Carton by Rebecca Bohn

2012-01-31T16:51:00.000-08:00

In Letters from the Egg Carton, Rebecca Bohn (better known to the noir community as RS Bohn) has crafted compelling micro fiction that demands multiple readings.

I use the term micro fiction loosely -- this collection leans more toward prose poems. These condensed bursts don't so much tell stories as suggest stories. Every piece invites the reader to create their own interpretation -- to continue the story where she left off, or imagine another route the story could have taken. (Hence the multiple readings thing.)

Bohn also possesses a keen ear for the music of words, which she uses to great effect in both tragedy and comedy. It's this quality that makes Letters from the Egg Carton a joy to read -- she is a true virtuoso with language.

I highly recommend this compact, thoroughly original, and delightfully absurd collection of Bohn's work.

Twofer and ShortStory365

2012-01-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

That splendid chap Nigel Bird is offering a twofer on Pulp Ink and my new collection of noir tales, Watch You Drown.

I'm throwing down too: Buy Watch You Drown and get a free copy of Bird's gut-wrenching work of Brit Grit, Smoke. Just email me at chris_dot_rhatigan at gmail.com.

On an unrelated note, I've been posting at ShortStory365. This is a cool site -- the goal is to read a short story and post about it every day for the whole year. The challenge is open to one and all.

My latest there is on CJ Edwards' "Framed," over at TFFO.

Watch You Drown

2012-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

It's here folks.

My short collection published by Pulp Metal Fiction.

Exclamation point. Exclamation point. Exclamation point.

Stories about desperate people doing desperate things.

Some stuff you've never seen before, some stuff with the stamp of approval of top pubs like Shotgun Honey, Beat to a Pulp, A Twist of Noir, Yellow Mama, and Dirty Noir.

And awesome cover art from the paintbrush of Jason Michel.

Only 99 cents at Amazon, Smashwords and Amazon UK.

The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology

2012-01-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology (ed. by Ron Earl Phillips, Thomas Pluck, and Fiona Johnson) contains 30 stories about children who have been neglected, abused, or otherwise marginalized. The collection itself lives up to its cover--these are powerful, often shocking, stories.

Here are a few that stuck out to me...

"Probably, Right?" by Lynn Beighley is a very fine piece of very short fiction. It's about a witness who reasons away responsibility and avoids an uncomfortable truth. Beighley possesses a strong, confident voice and, in a tight space, creates a memorable narrator.

"One Night" by Roberto C. Garcia is a particularly crushing piece about a neglected child. This is a straight family drama rendered in excruciating detail.

"Keisha" by Susan Gibb is the kind of story that--as someone going into teaching--makes me tremble. Even hard-working, well-meaning teachers can only do so much. This piece exudes a quiet, real sense of desperation.

"On and On" by JF Juzwik. Like AJ Hayes once said, JF Juzwik is like a submarine--even when you don't see her, you can't forget about her. (Apologies to AJ if I messed up his quote!) This is a smart, acidic, wrenching tale about a little girl in a seemingly hopeless situation.

Benoit Lelievre has an excellent entry as well with "Under the Gaze of Saturn," a story that weaves in tough economic times with the lost children theme in a non-linear narrative.

As usual, I can't get around to all the stories I dug in here, but the bottom line is that the money goes to a good cause and you get a great read. Check it out at Amazon and Amazon UK.

Dead Money by Ray Banks

2012-01-17T18:46:00.000-08:00

Dead Money is about Alan Slater, a failing door-to-door salesman whose screwing around behind his wife's back. The novel opens with Slater at a casino with his "friend," hot-headed, high-stakes gambler and all-around asshole Les Beale. Beale is in the habit of convincing Slater to hang around with him as a sort of moral support/check on his explosive temper.

The one night Slater bows out from these festivities he gets a frantic, 2 a.m. call from Beale. Out of some sense of loyalty (or not?), Slater gets out of bed and helps Beale dispose of a dead body. Poorly.

From here, he enters a world of shit.

This book has everything I want. It's fast-paced, sweary, overflowing with black humor, and fatalistic to the core. At the start, Slater appears to be a regular guy, but the more desperate he gets, the more awful he acts.

And as things get more fucked, Slater becomes more like the guy he hates -- he becomes more like Beale. Banks handles this with remarkable care and it feels genuine.

If this is the kind of stuff Blasted Heath is putting out, sign me up.

Over at A Twist of Noir

2012-01-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

I've got one up at ATON today. This story is based on my years working at Springdale Stationery and Food Bag, two convenience stores in Stamford, CT. Some very serious lotto players there.

Thanks to Christopher Grant for publishing "Lucky Convenience" and the folks at CrimeFicWriters for making this a stronger story.

Also, check out Spinetingler today. Nigel Bird is among the nominees for best novella with his brilliant Smoke. Readers pick the winner, so head over there and cast your vote.

Pete Risley at All Due Respect

2012-01-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

All Due Respect's twice-monthly format kicks off today with Pete Risley's "Bad Movie," a sharp story about bullies, geeks, a girl named Donna, and a zombie flick.

And here's the upcoming schedule for ADR.
2/1 Allerton Mead
2/15 Court Merrigan

3/1 Christopher Grant

3/15 Phil Beloin

4/1 R Thomas Brown

4/15 Thomas Pluck

5/1 Chris La Tray

And December will be Matt Funk month with two from the author who is probably still mourning the Saints' tough loss yesterday.

BEAT to a PULP: Hardboiled

2012-01-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

BEAT to a PULP: Hardboiled is one tight collection of fiction. A dozen bruisers in a neat package.

I don't usually mention forewords or intros, but Ron Scheer has a fascinating essay that kicks off Hardboiled. He argues that hardboiled fiction was born during hard times and has had a renaissance during our current hard times. It's an interesting historical perspective of the genre.

Kent Gowran has a phenomenal entry with "A Small Thing at the Devil's Punch Bowl," a story that made a number of top five lists at this very blog. This is the quasi-surreal tale of Ray Perkins, who goes to Las Vegas searching for the long lost Jed Romweber. He finds some weird stuff there.

Patti Abbott's "Ric With No K" is about a court case involving a girl, her older boyfriend, her insane mother, and a scam. It's a poignant, character-driven piece with a raw sense of pain.

I also dug Ron Earl Phillips' "The Janitor." Mike owns a business cleaning up messes that most cleaning services would shy away from. But when his help doesn't show up, a young war vet named Conny Parker, Mike gets suspicious. He's willing to do what it takes to get him back. A tight, tense story about loyalty with some genuinely likable characters.

"The Second Coming of Hashbrown" is vintage Kieran Shea. A guy on the straight-and-narrow is confronted by a seedy character from his past, Hashbrown, whose just been released from prison. I could listen to these two guys talk at a bar all day long.

Every entry in here is very strong, including Benoit Lelievre's sharp boxing story "Second Round Dive," David Cranmer's gross and funny "Vengeance on the 18th," and Thomas Pluck's short, badass "Black-Eyed Susan." And all this for less than a buck at Amazon.

Five You Can't Miss 2011: Alec Cizak

2012-01-13T19:04:00.000-08:00

Alec Cizak is the founding editor of All Due Respect and the proprietor of the print publication Pulp Modern. He's also a damn good writer and has stories upcoming in Beat to a Pulp: Round Two and the novella collection Drive-In Fiction. His story, "Dumb Shit," is featured in the anthology Indiana Crime. And here he is...

Trying to pick five stories when there are at least a dozen new ones published a week on the Internet is pretty damn difficult. Here are five I enjoyed, though there were many, many more that deserve attention.

Two from Beat to a Pulp: Chris Holm’s understated “The Man in the Alligator Shoes,” and Glenn Gray’s disgusting and fascinating “Bigorexia.” (NOTE: BTAP's archives are currently down.)

I’m becoming a big fan of William Dylan Powell. His story “Road Kill” over at the Flash Fiction Offensive will make you a true believer as well.

Sometimes I like a good old fashioned gross out. Pete Risley offers up a doozy at Powder Burn Flash called “A Pizza with Legs.”

Finally, I got a kick out of Eva Dolan’s “The End of the Night,” featured at Shotgun Honey. Last line was nice and nasty. Made me smile.

Coming Soon...

2012-01-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

Later this month, Pulp Metal Fiction will release a collection of my short stories, Watch You Drown.

Fourteen fast-paced tales of criminals committing crimes. Kleptos stealing, dealers dealing, killers killing.

They drift through ordinary American places -- gas stations and big-box stores, shabby apartments and urine-soaked alleys -- fucking up everything as they go, leaving behind the nauseating stank of desperation.

Then there's one sci-fi bit about a tracker hunting down an android.

Just to fuck with you. And to blatantly rip-off Bladerunner.

Readers are already raving about the book People Magazine said was "littered with grammar and spelling errors" and Roger Ebert called, "The wost thing since Maid in Manhattan."

So you'll want to get your virtual hands on a copy.

My Top Five

2012-01-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Overall, 2011 was a good year for crime fiction. Sure, a few good pubs shut down (Dark Valentine comes to mind), but several good ones started up (Shotgun Honey, Pulp Modern, Dirty Noir, Near to the Knuckle). I discovered several new writers, and there's been a surge in the production of high-quality ebooks.

Enough of that, here are five stories from 2011 that stick out in my mind...

Dogs at the Door by Court Merrigan at Powder Burn Flash
This story just kicked my ass. A horrifying premise and a conclusion that equals it -- this one's got it all. Plenty of good details to sink your teeth into (er, pun unintended) too. Merrigan's new to the crime scene this year, and I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of him.

Purgatory Sex Twins by Callan at A Twist of Noir
Where the hell did this come from? This is one weird story about a incestuous relationship that explores the depths of human depravity. A surreal, well-written tale that you will not soon forgret. Kudos to Christopher Grant for publishing this, too.

Once a Loser by Holly West in Needle #4
A teenager guy's mobster uncle dies and asks him to perform a mysterious chore. The kid gets his hands on some money and thinks it's his ticket out of snoozeville. Of course, he's wrong. This story is rich in detail and well paced, and I really like the main character.

Mantra by Jodi MacArthur at All Due Respect
Ian Ayris and MacArthur have the market cornered on writing about the crazies. "Mantra" focuses on a very creepy saleswoman and this piece oozes with dread. I can't say enough about Jodi's work -- and this is one of her best. By the end, I was going "One, Two, Three, Nails and Teeth go beneath..."

Hurt by R Thomas Brown at Powder Burn Flash
A twisted tale of a soulless woman gaining a soul through less-than-conventional means. I loved the idea for this story and the execution is perfect. Brown's another writer I discovered this year and I'm always on the lookout for his work.

Off the Record (ed. Luca Veste)

2012-01-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

The idea that editor Luca Veste came up with for this antho was simple but smart: Every writer picked a song as the title of their story. It's got 38 selections, most are fairly short but pack a punch.

And 100% of the proceeds support two children's literacy charities. So if you don't buy it you're one greedy person who I won't be sending an xmas card to.

One of my favorites in here is Les Edgerton's "Small Change." Edgerton is a writer I've been hearing a lot about lately but hadn't yet checked out. Certainly I'll be looking for more of his work after reading this excellent piece. It's about a "writer" who's looking to get info from a criminal. It's a funny and perceptive work -- one of the finest stories about storytelling that I've seen.

As anybody whose been reading those top five lists knows, AJ Hayes is lighting the world on fire. And, appropriately enough, his entry is "Light My Fire." This is an unholy amalgam of friendship and art and murder and insanity and I loved every word of it. One of AJ's best, which is saying a lot.

Julie Morrigan's "Behind Blue Eyes" reminds of her brilliant work in Gone Bad, an extremely tight tale about the limits of loyalty with cracking dialogue.

Simon Logan has perhaps the most original story in the collection with "Smells Like Teen Spirit." In this (not-too-distant) futuristic tale, graffiti artists are part of a corporate marketing scheme. I really enjoyed spending time in the dystopia he's created here.

There are so many more excellent stories in here and you can pick up OTR at Amazon US and UK.

(PS -- I have a story in here, too.)

Five You Can't Miss: Absolutely Kate

2012-01-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

Today's top five is from that stylish gal, Absolutely Kate, and she has five picks from the dynamic force that is her blog, At the Bijou.

A*K: I raise my right hand and do solemnly swear I supremely dig all the authors so juicily aforementioned here, and natch the joie de vivre of workin' with Rat-a-tat Rhatigan (and dubbing him that) in what turned out to be AT THE BIJOU's Noirathon this past year, (still going strong!) But I'm going to go back a bit in the time that was last year. Back to when authors took authors all the higher by bringing their good words'work and great vibes into some quantum kinda sync. It all started with the thrill of PAUL BRAZILL pointing out the kingpin of detective tales ROBERT J RANDISI doing a Barnes & Be'Nobled interview on, of all things ~ what Paul & I dig - the Rat Pack. Nuttin' but nuttin' held me back from goin' knock, knock, knockin' on that Mighty Man's door in the wee small hours of the mornin' (I found we both were up writing 'round 2:00, mebbe 3:00 am). RJR let me call him 'Pally' and the rest is dear history into the futures we'll all be kickin' up ... that said, some of these mighty fine authors joined me in the ~

RATPACKREVUE

AT THE BIJOU

My Five? No jive ~

From THE*RAT*PACK*REVUE, AT THE BIJOU:

JULIE MORRIGAN'S "STAR" ~

This was Jools' debut in an ensemble cast, and shine she did with Dean and Sammy at the bar relating this cool cat character McGraw, an Irish dick that worked downtown. Dean sipped his martini. Sammy went on swell on what McGraw did tell ~ 'bout this sweet broad Celeste. She used to sing at Santini's. Dean remembered her as a cute kid . . . but OH! The story that linked those two for perpetuity past circumstance . . . (Read it. Feel it. I'm so gosh'darn happy to say, that tale's given birth to a novel in the works . . . for Morrigan magic means multitudes.)

KEVIN MICHAELS' "WHO'S GOT THE ACTION" ~

"No matter how often Sinatra performed there, every two show-a-night performance was special. Little details made a difference. How the glasses were arranged. The way each napkin was folded. Which guest at the table got the check. Skinny made sure he paid attention to the inconsequential tasks nobody else bothered with. " Yeah. Skinny D'Amato's joint. Back and forth to what's goin' down at the swanky Hotel Traymore. Atlantic City. Tough place. Tough characters. Tough tendency for Jersey Shore tough guy Kevin Michaels to tell a tale of crime behind the scenes of the main act. Make sure you order a double when you gulp this one down folks. This one's rich. There's a $10,000 hit on the line.

ROBERT J RANDISI'S "HOW DID ALL THESE PEOPLE GET INTO MY ROOM?" ~

Yeah. RJR was our headliner. He said he'd shoot a series of short posts, sorta work the Lounge before hitting the Main Room. Man oh man can that man work a Lounge! Learn who HIS favorite RatPacker turned out to be and step into his show-patter. It resonates I tell ya, and you just want to go readin' on more and more. Good thing -- the guy's penned out about 454, mebbe 500 books. Dig'em. But dig him. Gettin' juiced up with the adrenaline of other authors. And baby -- ain't that what it's all about?

ERIC BEETNER'S "DON'S DILEMMA" ~

What a hit a hit man makes . . . Is he lackey or lucky? You be the judge, 'cause "Who doesn’t want to sit at the cool kids' table?" Think Don Rickles as a wanna-be. Think dancin' girls all gone home and what kinda "favors" get asked to be shoveled ~ "Somewhere in there it turned sour and this Jewish kid from New York ended up in a pickle." Only hardened crimewriter Eric Beetner can really show ya how a spade is called a spade . . . but in a Vegas desert? Dig it. But -- uh ... keep a safe distance, will ya?

And would we forget . . .

PAUL D BRAZILL'S "EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME" ~

Why do you read the thrill o'Brazill? Because like I do ~ you have NO CLUE what's gonna come on in atcha? Yep. Sure thing it'll take your mind for a trip you never packed a slick valise for. Metaphor past fast pace, this tawdry gem shines your mind up right spiffy. Hotels, casinos, the Greek Islands . . . and new ways to play "come blow your horn". But THEN what happened to an act that broke up? Don't let pieces of the ceiling hit ya on the head when you read this one folks. It's Brazill on a spree . . . always the gritty guy, with the wink in his eye that appeals so to me. Na zdrowie, dear one.

~ Absolutely*Kate, so proud past proud to know authors takin' authors all the higher in their soar . . .

PSSST ~ Anthony Venutolo's "DIVORCE YOUR LOVED ONE WITH DIGNITY" ... and Sean Patrick Reardon's "BUNG HO!" sure rocked our RAT*PACK*REVUE too, and brought the house down with Matt Hilton's "YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE". (Hey, those guys know people who know people ~ I'd be more scareder than a dark alley with sharp objects and menacing noises to leave THEM out).

Five You Can't Miss: Ron Earl Phillips

2012-01-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Ron Earl Phillips is a multi-talented dude: He's editor of the flash fiction site Shotgun Honey and co-editor the charity anthology The Lost Children. He's also recently had stories in Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled, A Twist of Noir, and in the charity anthology Off the Record. Here are his five and I would agree with his assessment of 2011...

I may be myopic, short sighted, being an editor and avid reader of short story crime, all the same 2011 seemed to be a really good year with a lot of new and veteran writers stepping up their game, putting their best work out there. So it's hard, but here are five can't miss stories of 2011.

Carrrrleeee by Naomi Johnson (A Twist of Noir)

In 2010, Christopher Grant started an interesting project, the 600-700 story word challenge, where a writer would take a story number and use that as the exact word count. The challenge is still winding it's way to 700, at 670 words Naomi Johnson's Carrrrleeee was one of my favorites from the 2011 stories. So much fear and hopelessness packed into those 670 words, Naomi had the reader running right along side Carlee.

I also recommend following Naomi's blog, The Drowning Machine.

A Small Thing at the Devil's Punchbowl by Kent Gowran (Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled Anthology)

Love is a funny thing, you may not be looking for it, but sometimes it finds you. In A Small thing at the Devil's Punchbowl, Kent takes us on a quirky little tale searching for a lost son, what's found isn't what's expected. This is just one of several good stories in David Cranmer's Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled Anthology, but Kent's story alone is worth the 99 cent price tag times ten. Kent promises more stories in 2012, so I'm looking forward to that.

Oh, and he is the founder and co-editor of Shotgun Honey and has a snazzy new blog atKentGowran.com.

Choppers by Matthew C. Funk (The Flash Fiction Offensive)

I'm not sure when I first discovered Matthew C. Funk's Desire, a small, broken, corrupt Parrish of New Orleans. It was Choppers that solidified my desire to read more about Desire, the community that struggles in a post Katrina New Orleans. And would of course introduce us to Funk's defining protagonist, Det. Jari Jurgis. Choppers is an aside story, a story that builds the structure of Desire and its denizens.

Choppers is a fantastic introduction to Matt's work, but I recommend you dig into his impressive and growing short story bibliography.

Bleed Out by Trey R. Barker (Thrillers, Killers & Chillers)

Trey's been around a while, but absent in recent years. So his re-emergence on short story crime scene this year is my first experience with his work. I'm sold--hook, line and sinker--Trey has the goods. As recommended earlier Trey's 6/8 which appeared on Shotgun Honey is probably my favorite story of his to date. Being an editor of Shotgun Honey, I felt odd tipping the hat to one of our own stories (oops). Bleed Out is easily nearly shoulder to shoulder and was published earlier this year at Col Bury's Thrillers, Killers & Chillers. Trey writes a hellava cop story, but what I love about this story is how the hopelessness bleeds out like a melancholy melody. Much of Trey's work has a poetic, musical cadence.

Give Trey's website a visit: Bullets and Whiskey.

Black-Eyed Susan by Thomas Pluck (Powder Burn Flash)

Tom's the new kid on the list and is making quite an impression this year with stories at just about every online venue. If you haven't read him yet, where the pluck have you been? This New Jersey boy is a burning fire of fiction that I'm not sure anyone can contain. Black-Eyed Susan starts off with a bad joke that finishes with a horrifying punchline. This story also appeared in the Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled Anthology.

Aside from writing like a demon, Tom helps me moderate Flash Fiction Friday from which he spawned the The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology. You can find his full hit list at his blog, Pluck You, Too!

That's my list, but I also recommend all the great offerings from Chris' Five You Can't Miss series. Thanks for having me.

Five You Can't Miss: Fiona Johnson

2012-01-04T20:59:00.000-08:00

Fiona "McDroll" Johnson is the author of the very fine short-story collections Kick It and Kick It Again, and the co-editor of the charity anthology, The Lost Children. She blogs over at I Meant to Read That and she joins us at DBK today...

I've read so many stories this year and it's impossible to say if the ones below are my favourites but for a variety of reasons these are the ones that have stuck in my memory.

1.
Smoke by Nigel Bird
If you want to understand what is happening in contemporary society in Scotland, then Bird is handing it to you here on a plate; kids who have been failed by the education system, poor housing, poor employment and training opportunities, teenage pregnancies, alcohol and drug misuse and a criminal sub culture. Sounds bleak but for many youngsters growing up today, this is their reality and Bird moves into this world with such ease and makes these characters real instead of government statistics.

2. Guns of Palo Alto by Josh Stallings
Like everything I've read from Josh Stalling, Guns of Palo Alto hits hard and leaves you bleeding but also has a huge amount of heart and a truth that can't be faked.

3. Legacy of Brutality by Thomas Pluck
I'd read a few of Tommy's stories before I got to this one but when I read it I was just blown away. Here was a character in Denny that Tommy could finally get his teeth into and show everyone what a fabulous writer he actually is. What a year it's been for Mr. Pluck. He's a writing machine and 2012 is going to be mega for him.

4. FIX by Stephen Blackmoore
I don't think I'm wrong in saying that Stephen Blackmore hadn't written a vampire story before this one and that he was pretty unsure about it. However, thinking back to all of the stories I've read this year, this one sticks in my mind. I loved that the main character is female and I really hope that he's going to build on this vibrant entry
into the dark side.

5. Two-Phones by Dan O'Shea
I just couldn't name my top 5 without putting in something by the fabulous Mr. O'Shea. His writing flows like no one else's and now that I've listened to a few of his audio recordings I always hear his
amazing voice when I read his work. This little story was just beautifully constructed, seemingly simple but showing such a sure hand.

Ninety-nine

2012-01-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

First off, thanks to everyone who has reviewed or mentioned Pulp Ink. Y'all are very generous folk.

I was particularly thrilled that our little project made best-of-the-year lists from top writers like Heath Lowrance, Luca Veste, and Darren Sant. I mean, these dudes read a lot of books and it's very cool to see PI in such good company.

Also, last month we lowered the price of Pulp Ink from $2.99 to $.99. To me, it's pretty clear that this was a good decision. Here are our sales figures:

First 17 days of December at $2.99: Sold 9 copies. Total royalties: $18.81.

Next 17 days at $.99: Sold 59 copies. Total royalties: $19.47.

So not only did we sell more than five times as many copies, we also made more money. Now this may have had to do with making those fine gentlemen's best book of the year lists, or may have had to do with the holidays--nonetheless, pretty clear that you sell a shitload more at the lower price.

Merciless Pact by R Thomas Brown

2012-01-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

R Thomas Brown's debut novella, Merciless Pact, is a spare, vicious piece of horror writing. I was very impressed with his collection of fiction, Mayhem, and with this entry, Brown proves that he is just as adept at longer work.

Merciless Pact starts right in on the action: Greg is at home minding his own business when his "friend" comes over, holds him down, and vomits all over him. (This was definitely horrifying but, in my opinion, also pretty fucking funny.)

Nothing goes right for Greg after that. He slowly morphs into an animal only concerned with consuming food and sex whenever he can. He's inexplicably drawn to a sinkhole in the woods, where he encounters a character who is kind of like the evil twin of the Space Coyote from The Simpsons. The only way out of this curse is to make a pact with the evil spirit.

Brown doesn't waste words in this tightly plotted tale of psychological agony. He maps out Greg's descent into madness and never veers from the course. It's dark to the core.

Also, I had a lot of questions to muse on after reading Merciless Pact: How much agency does Greg really have? Are Greg's friends really trying to help him? Is Greg an awful person or just a person? Does Greg just invent the entire thing? (Don't get me wrong -- there's no Fight Club kind of ending here. Nonetheless, I thought this might be the case...)

Anyway, this is a great, fast read. Go pick it up at Amazon for $2.99.

ALL DUE RESPECT: Submissions Open

2012-01-02T14:40:00.000-08:00

First off, everyone should boogie over to ADR and check out John Kenyon's latest. One kinda thick-headed mobster gets into some serious trouble in this funny and unpredictable story.

Also, ADR is now open for submissions. As I've said in the past, when I take over in May, I plan on keeping things similar to what Editor Alec Cizak has established. But there are two changes:

1) ADR will begin publishing two stories per month, one on the first and one on the fifteenth.

2) I'm changing the word count to 1000-5000. (Previously it was 2000-5000.)

So give your best crime fiction a polish and sent it on over.

Five You Can't Miss: Julie Morrigan

2012-01-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

Julie Morrigan is putting us all to shame with her production. She released four e-books in 2011 -- her novels, Convictions and Heartbreaker, made it to many best books of 2011 lists. Her two short story collections, Gone Bad and The Writing on the Wall, have also earned many well-deserved accolades. Find out more about her excellent work at her web site. And here she is with five from last year...

It’s that time of year. The time when we have to make a list and check it twice, make tough choices and pick our favourites, and it never gets any easier. My thanks to the writers whose stories I have listed here for providing such rich and varied entertainment. My thanks and my apologies to those whose stories I have thoroughly enjoyed, but didn’t have room to mention.

Heart Shaped Hammer — Sean Patrick Reardon
Of all Sean’s excellent short stories, this is perhaps my favourite. It’s so beautifully written, the present day action and the story of what led to it expertly interwoven, a tale of love and loss and, ultimately, revenge. Superb stuff.

Skinny Latte — Chris Rhatigan (at Shotgun Honey)
One of many by Chris that I could have chosen, Skinny Latte is an absolute cracker. Dark, sharply observed, full of great dialogue and description, and the ultimate cautionary tale for controlling parents. Fantastic!

Padre — AJ Hayes (from Pulp Ink)
AJ Hayes is one of my favourite writers. I could have picked any one of his excellent stories to include in this selection and it would have deserved its place. I chose this one because I found it compelling, chilling, and wholly believable, and it stayed with me long after I had finished reading it. A staggering combination of brutality and compassion, ‘Padre’ shows humanity not in black and white, but in the murky shades of grey that most of us are painted in. Stunning.

The Damp Fedora — Absolutely*Kate
Again, I chose this story of Kate’s because it stayed with me long after I read it. If you’re familiar with Kate’s writing, you’ll know how rich and lyrical it is. If you’re not, this is a cracking introduction both to it and to Detective Nelle Callahan. Stylish and sassy, she’s quite the dame. (And so’s Nelle!)

The Tut — Paul D. Brazill (From ’13 Shots of Noir’)
I’m a big fan of Paul’s stories: the spare prose, the eye for detail, the dark humour. Perhaps especially the dark humour. ‘The Tut’ is classic Brazill, a tale of repressed anger, disappointment, seething resentment, bad choices, and, ultimately, disaster. Perfect!

Full Dark City

2012-01-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

CJ Edwards first popped up on my radar with "The Peeper," a razor sharp short story over at All Due Respect. Edwards has revamped his blog to focus on short fiction and his first post is an interview with Alec Cizak on his new publication, Pulp Modern.

Cizak never bullshits and this interview is well worth checking out.

The Out of Bullets Contest

2011-12-30T17:50:00.001-08:00

Pablo D'Stair issued a challenge. And the writers of crime fiction accepted said challenge...

D'Stair, because he's an arrogant prick,* said he could write a better collection of flash fiction in a mere eight hours than a group of other writers could in an unlimited amount of time.

In fact, he was so certain of this, that he put $225 of his own money on the line.

Myself and thirteen other crime writers took him up on this challenge. Over at his site, you can download the D'Stair collection and the challengers collection for free. (Both collections are anonymous.)

The readers decide which collection is best and then vote on the winner.

If D'Stair loses, then the prize money is split among the challengers. If he wins, he gets to keep being a miserable, holier-than-thou piece of shit.**

Usually I would feel pretty confident, but D'Stair wrote the Trevor English series so we'll probably get our asses kicked.

* I <3 D'Stair.

** I was serious about that emoticon.

Pulp Modern: Issue #2

2011-12-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

"It is a genial, festive season, and we love to muse upon graves, and dead bodies, and murders, and blood." -- Jerome K. Jerome

A fitting quote for the Christmas issue of Pulp Modern. (And don't you just love that cover?)

A lot of fantastic fiction in these pages, including a hilarious ghost story from Mr. Jerome, a British writer who worked in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. As with the first issue, there's a solid blend of crime, fantasy, horror, and western.

William Dylan Powell is writing consistently excellent stories, and he's got a nasty, straight-forward crime tale with "Ball and Chain." Shannon Price is enslaved to her asshole biker boyfriend, a fact she's determined to change. But change always comes at a price, doesn't it?

"Punishment and Crime" by Leland Neville is refreshingly different and (if you didn't already get this from the title...) turns the genre on its head. I'd never heard of Neville before, but I'll definitely be looking for his work in the future. This is a darkly funny story about an unlikely criminal that you won't soon forget.

JC Hemphill has a sharp fantasy/horror story with "The Void." Kirby and his frat boy friends wake up to discover a seemingly bottomless hole in the cement floor of the garage. Of course, the hole likes to eat people, but the real story is about Kirby and his disaster of a life.

I don't really know what to say about David James Keaton's "Three Ways Without Water (Or, The Day Roadkill, Drunk Driving, and the Electric Chair Were Invented)," other than that it's an apocalyptic western and you should read it. A truly strange and dizzying ride.

Many other very strong stories in here. John Kenyon has a trippy ride through the Southwest in "Gusano Gigante." Patti Abbott is masterful as ever with "Tidy," the story of a doctor with a bad habit who gets in way over his head. Overall, a great issue that you can check out at Amazon and CreateSpace.

Five You Can't Miss: Naomi Johnson

2011-12-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

Naomi Johnson runs the delightful blog The Drowning Machine, where she attempts to stay afloat in an ocean of books. She's also a top writer, with work at A Twist of Noir and one in Pulp Ink that's one of the funniest stories I've read. Very pleased to have her here today talking short fiction...

Here are five you can't miss. Mustn't miss. And shame on you if you do.

The Perfect Day by Patricia Abbott (All Due Respect) - A day at the beach for a uniquely dysfunctional family goes just about as well as any of their days can go. At least until they arrive home. This story has a disturbing quality to it, reminiscent of the best of Flannery O'Connor. All of Abbott's short stories are worth the reading, in fact, as she comes at her characters from unexpected angles and never sinks to the predictable.

Massacre Canyon by Wayne D. Dundee (Beat to a Pulp) - This was published last January, so some people may have forgotten it, but they shouldn't. This is a great action tale about a wounded bounty hunter who is stranded outdoors in a blizzard. And the blizzard just might be the least of his worries.

6/8 by Trey R. Barker (Shotgun Honey) - Here's what Sandra Seamans, no mean purveyor of short fiction herself, had to say about this tale of spurned love set to a jazz soundtrack: "Sometimes you read a story and want to throw everything you've ever written in the trash, knowing that you can't make the words dance like the writer you've just read." The voice and flow of 6/8 is like nothing else I've ever read.

Through the Valley of the Shadow of Roosevelt's Nose by Craig McDonald (Crime Factory: The First Shift) - McDonald does a fine rif on Flannery O'Connor's most famous short story, with McDonald's own Hector Lassiter at the center of the action. Toss in references to one of Hitchcock's better films, North by Northwest, and once again, McDonald makes magic for the reader.

Plastic Soldiers by W.D. County (Speedloader) - County may not be the most prolific of writers, but he makes certain each story is a perfect gem. Here he presents a tale of stark courage about a boy who, enduring horrific circumstances, receives inspiration and guidance from the toy soldiers in his pocket. I can't say more except that this is a brilliantly moving story.

Five You Can't Miss: Eva Dolan

2011-12-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

Eva Dolan writes very sharp reviews at her blog, Loitering with Intent. Her story, The End Of The Night, has made several top five lists. I'm pleased to have her today with five stories from 2011.

Gerard Brennan’s new novella Wee Rockets is burning a hole in my Kindle right now, but I first became aware of his work through a piece he did at Pulp Pusher back in July. Nothing But Time is brutal and claustrophobic, exactly what you want from a prison story, and fair drips with menace. Brennan has a very engaging voice, a keen eye for character and his dialogue bangs. Think he’s going to do big things.

Heath Lowrance’s work induces fangirl levels of admiration in me since reading Dig Ten Graves earlier in the year. Gun to my head, just pick one story - Incident on a Rain-Soaked Corner edges it. It’s atmospheric and surreal, has that Kafka-esque thing you see in a lot of Lowrance’s short fiction, and the writing is first class.

I love a good punch-up and Kent Gowran delivers a great one in Sea Legs, over at Pulp Metal Mag. At lot of violence in crime fiction is meaningful, even if the meaning is kind of stupid, but Gowran understands the drive friends have to knock the shit out of each other sometimes, just because. Fight scenes are tough to get right and this one’s skillfully handled, got that pace and snap but with a bit of drag, just like a real brawl. About time he wrote a novel really.

Steve Weddle’s A Day in the Life is a brand new piece, from Luca Veste's charity e-book Off The Record, and it really stood out among the carnage and general bastardry of the collection. It’s a beautifully balanced story about loss, set in that strange, jet-laggish period when you know the death is coming but can’t do anything. Powerful, sparely written genius.

Finishing on a lighter note; Cameron Ashley’s Everything Works Out for Once at Shotgun Honey. Funny and nicely observed; I loved how Ashley skewered the Italian machismo cliché. The characters are strong and one of them apparently looks like Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon. Sold.

Five You Can't Miss: Jane Hammons

2011-12-26T22:07:00.000-08:00

Jane Hammons is a seriously talented writer who pops up at places like A Twist of Noir and Shotgun Honey. She won a Derringer Award last year and she joins DBK today with five stories from this last year...

Sea Shepherds, Matthew Funk
Pulp Metal Magazine, 02-05-11
The opening line--"In her first Gulf shore night’s dream, her womb held an ocean"--held me in its grip and never let go. Sticky wet erotic deadly: what more do you want? If I have to experience death by monster, give me the Deep One.

The Perfect Day, Patricia Abbott
All Due Respect, August 14, 2011
I have a love-hate relationship with stories about children in danger. I always want to rescue them and know I can't. The realism of this story is deadly, the children perfectly drawn. The way I felt when I finished reading lingered with me for a long time.

The World Is Made of Candy, Heath Lowrance
Pulp Metal Magazine, 11-12-11
A psycho blend of Shirley Jackson and Kurt Vonnegut. It is relentless. It reads like an anxiety attack.

There is A Lake in A Wood, Ian Ayris
Powder Burn Flash, 02-07-11
The music of this (and I don't mean the Banana Splits ringtone) is hypnotic. It's a story as much about the atmosphere Ian creates as it is about the crime.

Heat of Passion, Kathleen A. Ryan
A Twist of Noir, 02-14-11
The dialog in this story snaps and sizzles; the plot twists. And there's a "bimbo-basement dilemma" you should be aware of. A great "cop" story.

Five You Can't Miss: Luca Veste

2011-12-22T19:56:00.000-08:00

Luca Veste arrived with a splash on the crime scene this year, editing the anthology Off the Record and releasing two short story collection himself. His blog, Guilty Conscience, is a great resource for the crime writing community. Here are his five from the last year...

5. Gun by Ray Banks - My first experience of Banks was reading this novella. It's an almost perfect novella, an excellent story, that wouldn't work at any length. And now I'm hooked on Banks!

4. Forum of Fury by Col Bury(Manchester 6) - An excellent little tale, from a writer that has so much more to say. The growing tension throughout is superbly paid off with the twist at the end.

3. The End Of The Night by EvaDolan - This story will grab you by balls and squeeze until you're blue. And then you'll go back for more. Outstanding short.

2. Broken Play by Matthew C Funk - I'd actually gone for a different story by Matt, and then this one came along as a latecomer and blew me away. The hairs on my arms and neck were on end throughout whilst reading this one. Absolutely incredible story.

1. The Argument Bunny by Ian Ayris(Laughing at the Death Grin) - An incredible short story. Ayris packs so much into such a short amount of space, it was astounding. A story that has stayed with me since reading.

Five You Can't Miss: Matthew C. Funk

2011-12-20T21:09:00.000-08:00

Matthew C. Funk writes about all of human experience through the prism of New Orleans. He's appeared on many a top five list here and will appear on many more. For those of you who are not hip to him, go check out his web site. 

#5 Junkyard Dog by Thomas Pluck (Plots With Guns)

http://plotswithguns.com/Oct2011/Story-Pluck-Complete.html

Keeping you in the action while transcending time and place, JUNKYARD DOG assembles a complete character from a scattered history of violence. The worse it gets, the more you care. And Thomas Pluck knows how to make it get real damn bad.

#4 In A Lonely Place by Pete Risley (Pulp Metal Magazine)

http://pulpmetalmagazine.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/in-a-lonely-place-by-pete-risley/

Nobody does wretched like Risley. His stories ooze with the septic common vein of pity and pathos that binds us all. They're never pleasant and always so pithy that they can't be missed. In A Lonely Place is among his finest, pushing us into the excruciating condition of the victim of a random crime and letting us steep in one of the most sophisticated broths of fear I've ever had the displeasure of reading.

#3 Films Made Me Do It by Sam Duda (Sex And Murder)

http://sexandmurder.com/films_made_me_do_it.html

It is a brilliant time for connoisseurs of the mad mind. The internet gives voice to dementia shuttered into the dungeons by the ivory tower of publication. As Films Made Me Do It reveals, Sam Duda is one of insanity's finest composers. With a musical cadence and a schizoid lilt, his prose leads us down a murder plot's path, but through the poison garden of a lunatic's outlook. Faulkner could hardly have done it as beautifully, and could not have done it so crazy.

#2 Food Is Other People by Jimmy Callaway (Eaten Alive)

http://eatenalive1.blogspot.com/2011/07/food-is-other-people-by-jimmy-callaway.html

This is zombie fiction by way of Callaway, meaning it cuts cleanly to the bone with some of the sharpest street prose online today. With his usual enthralling voice, Jimmy Callaway uses the flesh-eater motif to disembowel the soul of his hero. Food Is Other People delivers a message worthy of its title, illustrating the social ecology that finds human beings devouring one another - emotionally, professionally, socially - on an everyday basis.

#1 Deguello by William Dylan Powell (Needle Magazine)

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/needle-mag-of-noir-winter-2010-issue/14300477?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/3

William Dylan Powell is the foremost unsung find of 2011 - an author whose work always hits me on the nose, slaps me on the back and shares a wink with me. Deguello, his debut in Needle Magazine, showcases all the ways that Powell is at the top of his game: A solid, salty crime genre plot; robust characters; marvelous detail; impressario emotional notes; and explosive, high-octane prose. He is one to watch, and Deguello was a captivating first look at him.

Five You Can't Miss: Darren Sant

2011-12-19T19:56:00.000-08:00

Darren Sant is a newcomer to the crime scene and an all-around good bloke. He is a sharp writer who has penned the Longcraft Estate series and the flash fiction collection Flashes of Revenge, both from Trestle Press. He reviews fiction at Daz's Short Book Reviews. Here are his five -- nice to see picks from the ebook side of things. 

Drunk On The Moon by Paul D. Brazill

I make much of Paul D Brazill’s humour in my reviews.  This is a tad unfair and I don’t mean to.  Paul is the master of the crafty witticism. He sometimes makes you forgot that his stories are bloody entertaining and not just a laugh a minute. Only Paul could bring us werewolf noir and make it credible. He is master of style within the universes he creates.

The Writing on the wall by Julie Morrigan in The Writing on the Wall

Morrigan brings realism and the deft touch of a master storyteller to anything she writes. I am a huge fan of her writing style and stories she chooses to share with us. In this novelette I could see a feature film. Julie’s writing flows beautifully and she never wastes a single word. 

Sighted by Iain Rowan

Rowan is the master of mood.  His powerfully described settings always thrust me into the thick of the action. After reading an Iain Rowan story I find that I need to shake my head to return to the real world.

Padre by AJ Hayes in Pulp Ink

Hayes brings us poetry within his prose. Characterisation is key with AJ’s writing too as he manages to bring depth to a character with just a sentence or two. For my mind his writing is of such a high standard he should be a household name. Padre gave me characters I ache to see the return of. Dark justice at it’s very finest.

Smoke by Nigel Bird

Nigel is the guvnor of the short story format. However, with Smoke he upped the ante and gave us a hugely entertaining novella.  He kept the same intensity that I enjoy in his short stories. The same darkness and above all what he does best – give hope in dark places.

Five You Can't Miss: Benoit Lelievre

2011-12-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

 First off, the lucky winner of the Ian Ayris give away is Alan Griffiths. I literally picked his name from a hat.

Second, Pulp Ink is only 99 cents US/86 pence UK. You heard right -- for less than a price of a candy bar, you get 24 mean stories from the best writers in crime fiction.

And now you're top five... we've got Benoit Lelievre here today with his top picks for 2011. He's the guy behind the smashing blog Dead End Follies and his stories have recently been published at places like Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled and Shotgun Honey.  

Heath Lowrance - IT WILL ALL BECARRIED AWAY from his collection, Dig Ten Graves

A gripping story that proves you don't need guns or criminals to write dark. It's a love story about two people who missed their chance at each other. Think of it as a darker spin in the films of Wong Kar-Wai. Beautiful and fatalistic.

David Cranmer - CLOUDS IN A BUNKER in the anthology Pulp Ink

Another story about a terrible tragedy that nobody is able to avoid. Everybody grows old and withers away. It's incredibly sad and almost cringe inducing because you know the pain of this family might be your pain one day. The dialog in between father and daughter is nothing short of spectacular

Frank Bill - THE ACCIDENT in Crimes in Southern Indiana

Finally a story that tackles PTSD without carrying the whole war argument. The direct, compact prose of Frank Bill works admirably well here. It's a great story, but it's also the best explanation of PTSD I have ever come across. This kind of story validates literature.

Matthew C. Funk - ALMOST THE DEVIL at A Twist of Noir

I fell in love (figuratively speaking) with Parnell Urquhardt this year. The world of Matthew C. Funk is so full of these dark, twisted characters that reading his stories is almost as dangerous as walking the streets at night in Liberia. A powerful writer, that Funk guy.

Kent Gowran - A SMALL THING AT THE DEVIL'SPUNCHBOWL in Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled

This was an amazing off-beat story. Very trippy, reminding me of those crazy Japanese directors like Takashi Miike. Not the darkest story I've read this year, but who cares? This is by far the most original. The singular, dreamlike imagery gave it a life of its own. I could get addicted to Gowran's stories.

Free Book: Abide With Me by Ian Ayris

2011-12-17T06:18:00.000-08:00

To anybody in the crime fiction world, it's no surprise that Ian Ayris is moving up to bigger and better things. His short fiction was all over the internet in 2010 -- raw, powerful stories told in a voice that you will never mistake for anyone else.

So I was pleased to see that his debut novel, Abide With Me, plays to all of Ayris' many strengths. The story is told from the perspective of John, a kid from London's East End. John is one of the most likable characters you'll ever meet -- thoughtful, funny, and very loyal to his friends and family, even through a lot of painful times. The thread that runs through the whole novel is John's friendship with Kenny, a kid who was just dealt a shit hand in life. At its core, Abide With Me is about people's fucked up relationships and how they try to deal with them.

And it crackles with energy. As Eric Beetner put it, Ayris' voice transports you -- and it is one amazing journey. He takes the time to develop even minor characters and each scene is crafted perfectly. I read the second half in one sitting -- something I almost never do -- it was that enthralling. Part family drama, part coming-of-age tale, part crime story, this is one of the most memorable books I've read in a long time.

And now I have the pleasure of giving one of you lucky shits a copy of this fine book. (The rest of you will have to wait until it's released in the spring.)

So here's how the contest works: name your favorite Ian Ayris short story in the comments section. I'll put all your names in a hat (or whatever) and pick the winner.

Five You Can't Miss: Paul D. Brazill

2011-12-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

Paul D. Brazill is a funny guy, a great writer, and one of the best promoters in the biz. He's responsible for the Drunk on the Moon series from Trestle Press about that werewolf PI Roman Dalton and has a new collection of stories out called 13 Shots of Noir. You can always find out what he's up to over at his blog, You Would Say that, Wouldn't You? Here he is with five from 2011...

I've decided top go with five writers that I read for the first time in 2011.Here we go 2,3, 4...

- Jelly Babies by J J Toner. (Noir Nation : http://noirnation.com/?page_id=2) A mundane fishing trip turns into a work of dark noir in the hands of this up and coming Irish writer.

- Pit Stop by Les Edgerton (Noir Nation: http://noirnation.com/?page_id=2) A recent parolee decides to quit town. Just like that. A slice of real life from a writer described as a cross between Eddie Bunker and Charles Bukowski.

- Freedom Day by Josh Stallings. Stalling's Moses McGuire is a great creation and featured in two classic hardboiled crime novels this year. Freedom Day is a great introduction .And I was dead pleased to have it debut at my blog: http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/2011/04/guest-blog-freedom-day-by-josh.html

- The Peeper by C J Edwards (All Due Respect: http://all-due-respect.blogspot.com/2011/09/issue-15-september-2011.html)

All Due Respect has been constantly excellent since its inception and Edwards' story is a gripping and dark modern slice of noir that personifies the tone of the magazine..

- Black Eyed Susan by Thomas Pluck (Powder Burn Flash:http://powderburnflash.com/?q=node/487) Flash fiction suits online reading more than any other story form and Thomas Pluck- who came out of nowhere to be everywhere- shows us how it's done.Pow!

At Grift Magazine...

2011-12-14T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm up today at Grift Magazine with a shorty called "What Is Your Emergency?"

It's about a stubborn teacher, a red pen, and what might happen if just one little part of reality disappeared.

Big thanks to Editor John Kenyon for offering some helpful advice.

Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles: Volume 2 by Edward A. Grainger

2011-12-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

In some ways, Volume 2 of Grainger's popular Cash and Miles series picks up where Volume 1 left off. Cash investigates crimes and exacts justice in a vivid, Western noir world. The stories are still told in Grainger's confident, no-nonsense style.

But I felt like I got to know Cash Laramie a lot better in Volume 2.

The first story in the collection, "The Origins of White Deer," (co-written with Chuck Tyrell) takes us back to Cash's formative days in the Arapaho tribe. His biological parents died in a battle at Fall Creek, and Cash ends up going to Cheyenne as a letter from his father had requested. It's there that he demonstrates his abilities and realizes his calling as a lawman. This story gives us the full picture of the challenges Cash faces as a biracial man on the frontier. It's a well-researched, patient piece that completes this character's fascinating history.

Every story in here is strong, but I particularly dug "Reflections in a Glass of Maryland Rye." This is a chilling tale that shows Cash living with one wrong decision. I liked seeing this other side of Cash -- reflective, sad, and uncertain.

Overall this is an excellent read and I know that Cash fans are already hungry for Volume 3.

Five You Can't Miss: Thomas Pluck

2011-12-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

Thomas Pluck burst onto the crime scene this year. His stories at Shotgun Honey, Powder Burn Flash, Pulp Modern, and a slew of other places have received a mountain of well-deserved accolades. He blogs at Pluck You, Too! and stopped by to recommend five stories from the past year.

The Girl, by Megan Abbott (L.A. Noire)

This was my intro to Megan, and she dealt me a wallop that still stings. Hollywood's starlet-chewing machine exposed by one hell of a narrator. Megan's made her bones and doesn't need my praise, but I can't help but give it. In a genre that obsessively defines noir, she shows us with effortless grace the best of what noir can do.

Parnell, by Matthew C. Funk (Shotgun Honey)

Choosing just one of Matt's was the hardest part. Bad Spirits, at Burnt Bridge was a close contender. I think this story at Shotgun Honey distills Matt's talents to white hot moonshine. The brutality of a fresh wound but the heart beneath still pumps hot blood, forcing you to watch. He takes us on a hellride through New Orlean's grimmest battles for survival and leaves us feeling exhilarated for reading about it, and ashamed for tolerating it.

Saying Goodbye, by Fiona "McDroll" Johnson (The Flash Fiction Offensive)

I was sorely tempted to choose Fiona's story in our Lost Children anthology, but this one is even better. Fiona knows people, and more so, knows how to flesh them in our minds with few words. This story was a dream where I was nine years old again, tearing me between the familiar terror of the story and the nostalgic coziness of its embrace.

The Perfect Day, by Patti Abbott (All Due Respect)

Patti never disappoints, and this was my first story of hers. I've read many more since, but kept going back to how well she tells this tale by what we don't see, and how well she portrays a messed up family and how strong its bonds are. This is one of the best I've read in many years, and if writing were a meritocracy it would be in The Best Mystery Stories of this year. Her talent is a living thing, a beast that lays quiet and takes a chunk out of you when you least expect it.

You Dirty Rat, by Nigel Bird (Speedloader, Snubnose Press)

Picking one of Nigel's is always a chore as well. This one was a departure from his familiar territory and shined in a collection of great stories. I'm no veteran, but most war stories smack me in the face as fake right away. Not this one. War is neither loathed nor glorified but merely is, a humanly contrived hell. Nigel finds the most basic of human stories from the reptile brain and tells it lean, with his trademark, sly dark humor.

These were tough choices. A lot of people were lucky that Frank Bill's stories were first published earlier and I couldn't tell which were safe to pick. He'll have to settle for being in my top 5 books of the year.

Five You Can't Miss: AJ Hayes

2011-12-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

Aj Hayes is a word ninja. Here are his top five...

Here's the deal. There are at least a hundred or so stories right at the top of my mind that should be included here. Basically what I did was grab the first five that immediately popped up and wrote them down. Too, too many good things out there this year. They are in no particular order. It's just the way they came jamming into my head.

Stones In Me Pocket by Nigel Bird. In Shotgun Honey

http://www.shotgunhoney.net/author/nigel-bird

Nigel at his heartbreaking, violent best. Defining a character so full of hate you can feel it radiating off the page. Then a death, in the black heart of a riot, becomes a soul searing realization. One that takes yet another life. And then you shed tears.

Mountain Falling by Christopher Grant. In Shotgun Honey

http://www.shotgunhoney.net/author/christopher-grant

We all know of Mister Grant and his stunning marques: A Twist Of Noir. His creepy, gruesome and, at times, fall down funny zombie 'zine, Eaten Alive. Plus his groundbreaking new project, Alternate Endings. Besides all that, Christopher is also a kick ass writer of all things dark and noir-y delicious. This nut-busting tale of a rescue gone as wrong as it can get, is in-your-face proof of that talent.

Supper Time by Col Bury. In Eaten Alive.

http://eatenalive1.blogspot.com/search/label/Col%20Bury

Col Bury will have you at the very first sentence. In fact that very first sentence I mentioned is probably the very best first sentence I have ever read. (Eat your heart out, Call Me Ishmael). The rest of the story matches that statement. You only thought you knew the rules of the Zombie genre. Wait 'til Col gets through with your ass. You'll think different, mister.

Icing Shylock by Richard Godwin. In A Twist Of Noir

http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/search/label/Richard%20Godwin

I, like most of you, had thought Richard Godwin was English. You know, the pip-pip, tallyho the fox, kind of British gent we think all Englishmen were and are. We were and are, wrong. Richard reveals -- in this rousing tale of a mob guy doin' what he has'ta, ya know -- that he is very closely related to Damon Runyon, Rex Stout and all the rest of those Black Mask Bad Boys of the American Pulp markets. I mean, if he can say: "But they call me Tony Two Times and I stand by my name." You just know he's blood kin closer to Damon Runyon than to Rudyard Kipling. Now dat's a clear fact, ain't it?

Dishes Dishes Dishes by Cindy Rosmus. In A Twist Of Noir

http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/07/twist-of-noir-673-cindy-rosmus.html

Yeah, yeah, we all know Cindy is the editor of Yellow Mama -- a magazine that consistently figures in every top ten list on the WWW. We all know she's a major poet who can move you in a lot of different ways. But we should never forget she is also one hellishly good writer. This story proves that in spades . . . and knives and guys named Shemp and booze and guys named Fatty Pants and dishwater blondes who are just plain tired of every-friggin'- thing and . . . oh yeah . . . knives.

I must add two caveats to this list:

Because all of Matthew C. Funk's New Orleans stories must be read to completely see the searing portrait of the Queen City he paints. You just can't pick a favorite. You have to read them all. Or, better yet, make him write them into a novel. (note to the author: Just write that son of a bitch, Matt. Just damn WRITE it. Please.) If you want to read a sample here's the latest:

A Little Miracle by Matthew C. Funk. In Shotgun Honey

The only word you will be able to utter after you read the last line will be unprintable in "proper" magazines.

http://www.shotgunhoney.net/author/matthew-c-funk.

The second caveat is:

EVERY SINGLE STORY in Luca Vesta's, Off The Record, is one of the best stories you ever read. Don't miss this book. Go. Now. Buy. Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Off-Record-Charity-Anthology-ebook/dp/B006EU1E7S/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322717147&sr=1-2

Five You Can't Miss: Sandra Seamans

2011-12-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

Sandra Seamans is a short story writer whose excellent work has appeared in almost every crime publication out there. She also runs the blog My Little Corner, an invaluable resource for writers, and is here today with five picks from 2011.

Now these are only five of the finest out there – Happy Holidays to all.

1. "Melanie" by Edward A Grainger

This was one of those stories that just pulled at the heartstrings and had you cheering for the hero at the end.

http://tainted-archive.blogspot.com/2011/01/wild-west-emonday-melanie.html

2. "6/8" by Trey R. Barker

With this story, it was the writing that stuck with me, the pure beauty and poetry of Mr. Barker's words.

http://www.shotgunhoney.net/2011/06/68-by-trey-r-barker.html

3. "Veronica" by Doree Weller

From beginning to end this story did nothing that I expected it to.

http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2011/09/26/fiction-veronica-by-doree-weller/

4. "Why are Mommy and Daddy Fighting?" by Eric Beetner

With this story, Eric puts you into the mind of a young boy and you feel yourself sitting beside him in the dark, holding your breath.

http://theflashfictionoffensive.blogspot.com/2011/10/why-are-mommy-daddy-fighting-by-eric.html

5. "The Uncleared" by Thomas Pluck

You don't expect a happy ending when you start reading this story, but the ending still slaps you in the face and leaves you reeling.

http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/09/interlude-stories-thomas-pluck.html

Five You Can't Miss: Nigel Bird

2011-12-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

Nigel Bird is one of my good friends and one of the best writers in crime fiction today. I had the pleasure of working with him editing Pulp Ink. He blogs at Sea Minor and he's here today with his top five picks.

First off, I’m not going to mention any stories from Pulp Ink; that would seem too biased.

Secondly, I’ve been enjoying stories this year in ways that have surprised me – I’ve read the short form with more flexibility and have really enjoyed spreading my wings.

My five to note all stand out for me and have done since the beginning of the year.

‘Less Than Living’ was posted at Spinetingler earlier this year. I loved it then and still do. Jason Duke does something special and I can even quote myself from the comments box – ‘The voice is extra-ordinary, carries loneliness and the edge of reason with it. The repetitions are stunning and the weaving in of the song lines really works.’

Next is my favourite of all, no offence to anyone. I can’t remember reading a story of such extraordinary power. It’s Plastic Soldiers from Snubnose’s debut collection Speedloader and it’s by WD County. I reckon I’ll be one of the many choosing this one and I’m not going to say anything other than to tell you to read it.

Heath Lowrance put out a rich collection called ‘Dig Ten Graves’. For me, the opening story is immense. It tells of a man affected by the news of the death of a former girlfriend of his and the way his mind struggles to open the can of worms that’s been in his head since. Thing is, when he opens it, he finds snakes and they’re poisonous, every last one of them. I love it as it speaks of life’s impact on an individual, of the way chance plays its part and the way our middle-aged selves have to come to terms with the rough and the smooth.

Another collection I loved was ‘The Adventures Of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles’ by Edward A Grainger. Though I’m loathe to single one out, I’m going for ‘Melaine’ where the lines of good and bad are rubbed out forever and revenge is king.

Finally, and most recently, Thomas Pluck’s ‘Candle’ over at the excellent ‘Grift’. It’s a wonderful tale as TP keeps his foot off the gas. The events are almost incidental, but the story packed in there is huge. I really loved it.

Finally, as an aside, a word for Shotgun Honey. Though I didn’t pick a story from their stable, I’d put them forward as my favourite fiction place just now. It would be top-dollar if it weren’t free. Keep up the good work, Hon.

Five You Can't Miss: Michael Solender

2011-12-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

Michael Solender crafts intense microfiction at his site, not from here, are you?. He stops by today to talk about his top five...

I know I’ve been underground of late, it doesn’t mean I’m not reading fine NOIR, I just haven’t had the time to write much of it myself.

There were plenty of contenders for my top five list this year and once again it is the women who top my list. Four of my top five faves are from the gals. What does that tell you? Dunno either except that I do fancy the lassies on and OFF the page. Here are my picks for the best of lot this year:

1. Mapping the Territory by Jane Hammons http://www.fictionaut.com/stories/jane-hammons/mapping-the-territory Jane tops my list again this year and for good reason. Her work is poetic and intricate in its telling and unveiling. This one is darkly spiritual and filled with Indian folklore. It is the campfire tale that makes the sky just a bit blacker and keeps you up all night long. A stunner.

2. Killing Hope by Ron Earl Phillips http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/07/twist-of-noir-672-ron-earl-phillips.html the only hombre on my list, REP tells on nasty tale in a very crafted and finely honed way. Who says you can’t kill Hope?

3. Sorry Bastard by Hilary Davidson http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/07/twist-of-noir-678-hilary-davidson.html Hilary Davidson just plain and simple is a story teller extraordinaire. Plot, dialogue, setting and payoff. All there. Every time. This is a fine example of a tome with all the goods.

4. God’s Gift by Lily Childs http://theflashfictionoffensive.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-writer-spot-lily-childs.html How can it get better than plunging syringes into peep’s necks in paragraph three? It does. Way better.

5. Bloody Truce by Erin Cole http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/2011/11/bloody-truce-by-erin-cole.html?zx=22e5e38e400919d5 EC always delivers the goods and with Bloody Truce she shows how mastery of dialogue elevates a story right through its sordid conclusion.

Five You Can't Miss Cindy Rosmus

2011-12-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Cindy Rosmus is editor of Yellow Mama and an excellent writer who pops up at joints like A Twist of Noir and MediaVirus Magazine. She's here today with her top five...

“The Perfect Day” by Patti Abbott (ALL DUE RESPECT, Issue # 14, August 2011):

http://all-due-respect.blogspot.com/2011/07/issue-14-august-2011.html

I love this story ‘cos it takes place in’77, on the day Elvis died. That summer I worked as a waitress in pre-casino Atlantic City, and fell apart in every possible way. Patty brought the old, seedy Jersey shore back to life with this one.

“Discarded” by Dina Greenberg (GEMINI Magazine, September 2011)

http://gemini-magazine.com/greenbergdiscarded.html

All through this story, you’ll bet you know how it’s gonna turn out. In the end, the opposite happens, and you’ll be so glad! Dina is a fellow "Jersey" girl" and a topnotch writer.

“The Plumber” by Richard Godwin (YELLOW MAMA, Issue # 28, October 2011)

http://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/id728.html

Richard is a great pal of mine, and this is one of his best! Two Cockney plumbers talking about life, and chicks, while doing the dirtiest job ever. And getting a nice surprise at the end.

“Small Separations” by AJ Hayes (SHOTGUN HONEY, June 10, 2011)

http://www.shotgunhoney.net/author/a-j-hayes/page/2

AJ is another great pal, but this story almost made me scared of him. I said . . . almost.

“The Day Willy Found the Alien” by Kenneth James Crist (YELLOW MAMA, Issue # 26, June 2011)

http://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmamaarchives/id10.html

Nobody writes sci fi like YELLOW MAMA/BLACK PETALS publisher Kenny Crist. This one’s even more kickass, ‘cos the alien ‘s found by greasy hicks looking for a good time.

Five You Can't Miss: R Thomas Brown

2011-12-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

R Thomas Brown arrived on the crime scene earlier this year and since then he's been a busy fella. He reviews e-books at his blog, Criminal Thoughts, and writes Spinetingler Magazine's Short Thoughts on Short Fiction column. He's also a very fine writer, with two collections of e-books of short fiction available (Mayhem and Warnings) and a horror novella, Merciless Pact. Here are five he doesn't want you to miss...

Silas' Good Run by Matthew C. Funk - http://www.beattoapulp.com/stor/2011/0911_mcf_SilasGoodRun.cfm - There is action, humor and wonderful descriptions of unsavory places, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for Silas. Not because of the life of crime and violence he had chosen, but because I doubt he'll find the peace he seeks in anything other than fleeting moments.

The Forest For The Trees by Thomas Pluck - http://theflashfictionoffensive.blogspot.com/2011/08/guest-writer-spot-thomas-pluck.html - I felt for the young couple struggling to find their place, and particularly for Paulie as he fought against bigotry of many forms and handled himself with the kind of confidence and class you'd hope to see in someone. His affection feels genuine, which makes the ending hurt even more.

You Dirty Rat by Nigel Bird - found in the Speedloader collection from Snubnose Press -http://www.amazon.com/Speedloader-ebook/dp/B0056UBJ22 - I don’t know that I’ve read many WWI tales, or those inspired them. War stories just aren’t my normal cup of tea. But this one, with its personal take on war and its punchy description of fear, bravado and genuine bravery kept me in.

Melanie by Edward A. Grainger (David Cranmer) - found in The Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles - http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Laramie-Gideon-Miles-ebook/dp/B00558VIBC - In this touching story we see a different side of Cash. We see his sense of justice being at conflict with his duty, and how there are some things that push him out of the confines of his badge. This was, for me, the best of the stories, both because of the well drawn character of Melanie, but also for being the most rounded treatment of Cash due to his actions, but also his interactions with Melanie and Lenora.

Devlin, Me and Cherry B by Julie Morrigan - found in Gone Bad -http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Bad-ebook/dp/B004RIUUI8 - Wow, so much in here. Great characters. Really well-rounded, sympathetic and but despicable at the same time. A layered plot as well, giving emotion, action, confusion and resolution (sometimes false) as needed. And, within all that, is a tale that makes you think. Think about choices people make. Who they choose to be with, how they treat other people and why people do things they know are the bad choice.

AND THE STREET SCREAMED BLUE MURDER!

2011-12-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Being an American who has never been to Europe, I have a vague, completely uneducated view of what Paris is actually like. When someone says Paris, I think of, oh I don't know... the Eiffel Tower and croissants, soft accordian music (or is that Italy?), people who hate Americans. And that dude from the World Cup who head-butted someone.

You know, meaningless bullshit.

Anyway, Jason Michel's Paris is far from conventional. And And the Street Screamed Blue Murder!, as you may have guessed from the title, is no conventional book.

Michel drops us into the middle of the mythical yet all too real Rue De La Mort--where "drunken Sicilian fighters spill out into the streets brandishing daggers in bloody hands as they elegantly defend their mother's honor," where "Black dogs roam the streets in feral gangs shitting where and when they like," and "Screams are greetings."

Then in walks Alfie Lime. An average chap and muckraking journalist for the Gutter Press. This is the kind of newspaper that anyone whose ever worked for a newspaper would murder their dog to work for. It's an old-school, brass knuckles kind of joint where the editor chain smokes and berates his reporters into excellence.

But to back track here a second, Lime doesn't really walk into the picture so much as wake up next to a dead hooker. After freaking out, Lime launches into investigative reporter mode. It's just that his investigation is a biazzro, surreal quest through the underbelly of the city, which eventually leads him to that pan-dimensional hitman and unofficial mayor of Nowhere Town, Vincent Blake.

This a rip-roaring, thoroughly original novella that smashes genres, conventions, and anything else in its way. Go get it now at Amazon US or UK.

Five You Can't Miss -- Richard Godwin

2011-12-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

Many of you know already Richard Godwin from his searing short stories and his smashing debut novel, Apostle Rising. Godwin also runs Chin Wag at the Slaughterhouse, where he conducts in-depth interviews with writers.

Here are five stories you can't miss from Richard Godwin...

"Cold" by Ian Ayris at Pulp Metal Magazine

"In The Hard Nowhere" by Chris Rhatigan at Beat to a Pulp

"Drunk On The Moon," by Paul D. Brazill from Trestle Press

"Mountain Falling" by Christopher Grant at Shotgun Honey

"House Of Bones" by AJ Hayes at A Twist of Noir

Five You Can't Miss - Katherine Tomlinson

2011-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

Katherine Tomlinson is the former editor of the beloved Dark Valentine Magazine and author of the splendid short fiction collection Toxic Reality. Here she is with five from 2011.

Five stories everyone should read plus two bonus stories. (I know, that’s cheating.)

“The End of Our Zombie Days” by AJ Hayes published on Christopher Grant’s Eaten Alive site. http://eatenalive1.blogspot.com/2011/08/end-of-our-zombie-days-by-aj-hayes.html This was an incredibly emotional, extremely potent story that was over in a flash but lingered. The ending is gut-wrenching.

“The Dead Roads” by D.W. Wilson doesn’t need to be hyped by me—it won a BBC award for the author, who’s a 26-year-old Canadian—but it was a fantastic story about sexual jealousy emerging on a road trip. I originally read it on the Guardian site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/sep/27/the-dead-roads-dw-wilson) but it’s since been removed and included in Wilson’s debut fiction collection, Once You Break a Knuckle. Unfortunately, that book won’t be out until next April.

Brian Trent’s “Theseus Woman” appeared in the final issue of Dark Valentine Magazine, which is archived here. I had published a story by him called “Down Memory Line” last year that just blew me away. (Well worth checking out in the Winter 2010 issue of Dark Valentine Magazine, which also has a fantastic story by Dale Phillips called “Kamikaze Hipsters.”)

Col Bury’s “Suppertime,” also from the Eaten Alive site. http://eatenalive1.blogspot.com/2011/07/supper-time-by-col-bury.html\ This is an absolutely hilarious zombie story that is definitely not PC. The first line is priceless. I can’t wait to dive into his Manchester 6 collection. http://www.amazon.com/Manchester-6-ebook/dp/B00600S2AY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322528696&sr=1-1

“The End of the Night” by Eva Dolan on Shotgun Honey (http://www.shotgunhoney.net/2011/10/the-end-of-the-night-by-eva-dolan.html) kicked ass. She just swept me up and brought me along for the (cab) ride. The story sent me in search of her other fiction and I really enjoyed “The Final Shot” on her own site: http://loiteringwithintent.wordpress.com/fiction/the-final-shot/

I guess that’s actually eight stories….

Reading short fiction is like eating potato chips. You can’t eat just five.

Five You Can't Miss

2011-11-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

Today kicks off Five You Can't Miss -- where writers and editors pick five excellent stories from 2011. First up is Christopher Grant, editor extraordinaire of A Twist of Noir and Eaten Alive (and a new project -- you'll have to read on to find out about that one). Grant is also a tremendous writer who I'm sure will be popping up on several people's lists.

1) It's All In The Paperwork by Richard Godwin (http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/07/interlude-stories-richard-godwin.html)

Richard is always worth your time. In addition to be a hell of a friend,  he's a hell of a writer, too. And who can't love a story that stars (numerous  times) The Most Interesting Man In The World?

2) Road Show by AJ Hayes (http://flashjab.blogspot.com/2011/11/flash-jab-7.html)

Just as with Richard, AJ's a hell of a friend and a hell of a writer. And  this story, just fucking hilarious. Butch and Sundance in drag? Classic!

3) Dirty Beaches by Christopher Black (http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/10/interlude-stories-christopher-black.html)

I pride myself on publishing some of the best noir/crime stories on the  web. This one simply seared my eyebrows off. From top to bottom, and for my  money, one of the best of the year. If Christopher Black continues to write like  this, he's going to be a legend in no time.

4) Water Sports by Katherine Tomlinson (http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2011/09/interlude-stories-katherine-tomlinson.html)

If Christopher Black seared my eyebrows off, Katherine Tomlinson bashed my  brains in with this one. I have no words for this other than Go Read Now!

5) And now for something completely different...

Deviant Star by Richard Godwin (http://alternatendings.blogspot.com/2011/11/deviant-star-by-richard-godwin_23.html)

There are two versions of this story at Alternate Endings, my new site  where nothing happens the same way twice. While I love the first version, I love  the wordplay of the second even more. A nuclear holocaust and the  last two sentences being: As Max left hospital he heard a  screaming overhead. To him the burning buildings looked like Baked  Alaskas.

Plus there's lots and lots of cake and who doesn't like cake?

JULIA MADELEINE

2011-11-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

Julia Madeleine has two excellent stories out now. "The Devil's Music" is the first story in her Raised in Hell series from Trestle Press.

Here we meet Sadie, the shape-shifting daughter of the Devil, who's hanging out at a Mississippi Delta blues club in the 1930s. Many fine musicians have sold their souls to her in exchange for their talents. Eventually they have to pay up to Sadie -- whether they like it or not.

But Madeleine takes this idea in a fresh direction -- maybe hell isn't so bad... In fact, maybe it's pretty cool and better than the alternative. This is an imaginative story with a very rich setting. Highly recommended.

Also, Madeleine has a scorcher over at Powder Burn Flash with "Crazy Town." It's a classic turn-the-tables-on-the-bullies story, but done with style, originality, and a sharp eye for detail.

OFF THE RECORD

2011-11-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a project I'm very excited to be a part of: 38 writers, 38 stories all based on songs of our choice. The proceeds go to two children's literacy charities. All this thanks to the hard work of Luca Veste, who made all this possible.

Go forth and check out Off the Record today at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

AND the ever=resourceful Court Merrigan has assembled a playlist of all the songs on YouTube.

Here's the lineup:

1.Neil White - Stairway To Heaven
2.Col Bury – Respect
3.Steve Mosby – God Moving Over The Face Of Waters
4.Les Edgerton - Small Change
5.Heath Lowrance - I Wanna Be Your Dog
6.AJ Hayes - Light My Fire
7.Sean Patrick Reardon - Redemption Song
8.Ian Ayris - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
9.Nick Triplow - A New England
10.Charlie Wade - Sheila Take A Bow
11.Iain Rowan - Purple Haze
12.Thomas Pluck - Free Bird
13.Matthew C. Funk - Venus In Furs
14.R Thomas Brown - Dock Of The Bay
15.Chris Rhatigan – Shadowboxer
16.Patti Abbott - Roll Me Away
17.Chad Rhorbacher - I Wanna Be Sedated
18.Court Merrigan - Back In Black
19.Paul D. Brazill - Life On Mars?
20.Nick Boldock – Superstition
21.Vic Watson - Bye Bye Baby
22.Benoit Lelievre - Blood On The Dancefloor
23.Ron Earl Phillips - American Pie
24.Chris La Tray – Detroit Rock City
25.Nigel Bird - Super Trouper
26.Pete Sortwell – So Low, So High
27.Julie Morrigan - Behind Blue Eyes
28.David Barber – Paranoid
29.McDroll - Nights In White Satin
30.Cath Bore - Be My Baby
31.Eric Beetner - California Dreamin'
32.Steve Weddle - A Day In The Life
33.Darren Sant - Karma Police
34.Simon Logan - Smells Like Teen Spirit
35.Luca Veste - Comfortably Numb
36.Nick Quantrill - Death Or Glory
37.Helen FitzGerald - Two Little Boys
38.Ray Banks - God Only Knows

MONKEY JUSTICE by Patti Abbott

2011-11-25T14:22:00.000-08:00

If you have even a passing interest in crime fiction, short stories or both, you need to go out and get Patti Abbott's Monkey Justice. It's only 99 cents this weekend. Crazy.

There's a tendency in modern crime writing to pare down character and setting to their essentials, and instead to focus on plot. Preferably plot with a lot of action.

Now I'll take this tendency any day of the week over bloated literary "stories" where nothing happens. But it's a double-edged sword -- strip away too much of that other stuff, and the writing loses some of its humanity.

This is just one of the ways Patti Abbott sets herself apart from the rest of the pack. Every story in here feels complete. At the end, you don't just know the protagonist, but you know at least one other character very well. The worlds they live in are believable and textured -- she simply knows what she's doing.

And every crime in each of these stories feels completely natural. She never introduces crime to move the story along -- it's just part of what these characters do. It's just one aspect of the story.

My favorite Abbott story is "Raising the Dead," which originally appeared in the now-defunct Back Alley. It's about how art (and success in art) can become an obsession. It's a suspenseful, gripping tale that depicts a character's evolution.

Several stories in Monkey Justice deal with abuse, and one of the most powerful stories she's written is "The Instruments of Their Desire," about old wounds that never healed. "Georgie" is also excellent, a heartbreaking piece told from the perspective of a child.

Before I got this collection I considered myself a big fan of Abbott's work. She has appeared in essentially every crime anthology worth reading in the last couple of years and in all the publications I read (Spinetingler, A Twist of Noir, Needle, Beat to a Pulp, All Due Respect, etc.).

And yet I'd only read three or four out of the 21 stories in here. Abbott is an amazingly productive and gifted writer, and this collection is testament to that fact.

D*CKED: Dark Fiction Inspired by Dick Cheney

2011-11-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

Is there any figure in politics more mysterious than Dick Cheney? Seemed like from day one he was holed up in an "undisclosed location." From wherever that was, he ran the show for eight years and through god knows how many quadruple bypass surgeries. The man is definitely an enigma.

So I was interested to see what the writers for D*CKED (ed. Kieran Shea, Greg Bardsley and Jedidiah Ayres) would come up with, how they would represent America's own Murderous Cyborg.

No problem with imagination here -- Dick morphs from a superhero to an S&M junkie to a troll to a statue to a sex toy... all while sporting that trademark snarl.

This is a cracking collection of stories by reliable crime fiction authors all with a unique take on The Veep. I particularly liked Rachel Canon's "Neighborhood Watch." A down-on-his-luck Cheney makes a voyage to a dystopian suburb, meeting up with some badass soccer moms. I hadn't read any of Canon's work before but I will definitely be on the lookout in the future.

In Cameron Ashley's hilarious "Codename: Balladeer," a catchy pop song sweeps the nation... and then finds its real calling as a device to torture prisoners into divulging information. And you thought waterboarding was bad.

Kieran Shea's "Anne Gets a Ride" is yet another example of why he's one of the best writers in crime fiction today. He takes the bus device from Speed, adds in Cheney as a super hero, and tells the story from the perspective of a vapid California girl. Brilliant.

Plenty of other good ones in here from Ken Bruen, Steve Weddle, Jimmy Callaway, Patti Abbott, Hilary Davidson and many more.

DIG TEN GRAVES by Heath Lowrance

2011-11-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

This here is a seriously impressive collection.

Lowrance writes the kind of stories that set up shop in your brain and rattle around in your chest. They're weird and crushing and true. They demand your attention.

He belongs in the same class as James Everington -- a first-rate writer of psychological horror.

Every story in here is a gem, but the first one, "It Will All Be Carried Away," slayed me. A suburban father's past shows up to haunt him. A girl he used to hook up with is dead and he becomes a bit obsessed with the details of her case. He starts remembering what he did to her -- and it's far more devastating than any harm you could cause with just a weapon. Lowrance expertly handles this non-linear narrative. A highly original and absorbing tale.

"Emancipation, With Teeth" is another favorite of mine. A work-a-day fellow is brushing his teeth when he notices something strange... something living inside him that will not be ignored. This is modern-alienation-turned-horror, a psychological problem with a physical manifestation.

It's actually difficult to talk about any single one of these stories. Lowrance has forged such a coherent collection that almost feels more like a novel. Similar themes keep popping up -- isolation, regret, human fragility, the illusion of security. Easily one of the top collections I've read in a long time. Check it out at Amazon.

At Beat to a Pulp...

2011-11-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to have the Weekly Punch over at Beat to a Pulp with "In the Hard Nowhere," a story about an average dude who tries to become a criminal. For some reason I really liked writing about this guy and I'm playing around with a sequel.

Huge thanks to editors David Cranmer and Scott Parker and all the folks at CrimeFicWriters for making this one ready for prime time.

New issue of Pulp Metal Magazine is out. Heath Lowrance has a cracker of weird fiction with "The World is Made of Candy." And be sure to check out Paul Brazill's interview with Julia Madeleine.

Pulp Modern: Issue #1

2011-11-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

From the first issue of Pulp Modern, it's clear that this publication is doing something that no one else is -- providing high-quality, developed stories in multiple genres (crime, fantasy and Western) and in print. Add in slick art work and this is simply the complete package.

Things get off to a rip-roaring start in Issue 1 with Lawrence Block's "Murder is My Business." For me, this story goes in the all-time greats category. A stripped down, mean slab of hardboiled goodness about a hitman who does no fucking around. It doesn't get any better than this.

Thomas Pluck's "Legacy of Brutality" is as devastating as the title would make it out to be. Denny is a character you can't help but admire -- through experience he's learned that you have to defend those you love. Others may dismiss him as just a mound of muscle, but it doesn't long for the reader to figure out he's much more than that.

Chris LaTray has an Indiana Jones-style adventure with "Romo Samson and the Grandmother Spider" that I thoroughly enjoyed. When an ancient artifact with mystical properties is swiped from a cave, Romo Samson has no choice but to chase it down. A tale of old-school, heart-pounding suspense.

Plenty of other smashing tales in here too from Edward Grainger, Sandra Seamans, David James Keaton, CJ Edwards, Jimmy Callaway and many more. I'm already looking forward to Issue 2.

Changes at Death by Killing

2011-11-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

So we've got some changes here.

I finally added some pages to this here blog. At top, you'll find links to my stories and a little bio.

Also, I'm closing requests for reviews. I have simply not been able to keep up and, at this point, I probably have enough books to read well into next year.

Also, my original intention for Death by Killing was for it to be more of a reading journal than a review site (you know, despite what it says at the top...) and I'm trying to get back to that original vision.

Pulp Ink and Absolutely Kate

2011-11-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

First off, I'm super thrilled to report that David Cranmer's gorgeous, twisted tale "Clouds in a Bunker" has been nominated for Best Short Story by Dead End Follies. He's in good company with Daniel Woodrell, Heath Lowrance and Frank Bill. Congrats, David!

Over At The Bijou, I'm up today with a very short story. I'm into this 100-word form lately and this is my latest effort. Also, fans of game theory might recognize this scenario...

Absolutely Kate is doing a splendid job with this "November Goes Noir," and when you pop over there, you should do yourself a favor and check stories by Graham Smith, Julie Morrigan, and Kevin Michaels, with many more to come.

Links: Julie Morrigan and Erin Cole

2011-11-06T18:53:00.000-08:00

Julie Morrigan has two splendid pieces of classic noir over at Absolutely Kate's hangout. These snapshots of a PI go down smoother than a stiff drink and a smoke. All part of AK's November Noir series.

Erin Cole has two chilling and excellent stories out in the last week. Over at Thrillers, Killers, 'n Chillers, she's up with "Blood Truce." A couple's petty bickering takes a sudden, drastic and satisfying turn for the worst.

And she's got a vivid and haunting piece of psychological terror with "Ghosts Never Lie" at Microhorror.

KICK IT by McDroll

2011-11-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

When asked about what made him like a story or author, Paul D. Brazill once said that he needed to like the cut of their jib. As always, PDB boiled things down to their essence -- personality and style (for me at least) are trump cards.

That said, I challenge you to read Fiona Johnson (McDroll) and not like her. It's impossible! And it helps a great deal that she's put together a short, sharp collection of very readable crime stories oozing with personality.

In "Drowning," McDroll crafts a convincing story about a Support for Learning teacher who's under some serious stress. It's so convincing you'll completely understand why the teacher does something awful. That's crime writing at its finest -- showing exactly why a character would do something that no one in their right mind would do.

Cop Gemma Dixon figures into several of the pieces in here as well. She's at the bottom but willing to fight her way up the ladder. I particularly liked "The Red Glove," a nasty tale where Dixon gets to prove her mettle.

Go straight away and buy this delightful collection for only 99 cents! Amazon US and UK.

Pulp Ink at 200

2011-11-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to report that Pulp Ink has now sold 200 copies.

I had no idea what to expect in terms of sales, so seems to me this is pretty good. We've been in and out of the top 100 for crime collections, bumping up against some big names.

(So I figure Nigel and I will be replacing Harlan Coben and Lee Child at the supermarket bookstand soon...)

Interestingly, e-book sales appear to work differently than print. Though we sold best in the first couple of weeks, sales have remained steady since then. We tend to sell a copy or two every day.

Thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to review/promote Pulp Ink in any way. And, by the by, still just $2.99 for 24 stories of deviance and debauchery. US here and UK over here.

LIVERPOOL 5 by Luca Veste

2011-11-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

Luca Veste's a new name around the crime fiction community and he has an entertaining collection of very short stories out now with Liverpool 5.

As you might guess from the title, his work is firmly rooted in Britain. One thing I've noticed about the British writers is that they're generally funnier than us Americans, and I dig Veste's sense of humor. My favorite piece in here is "Heavy Sleeper," a darkly funny tale about a guy who will sleep through just about everything. I can relate! "Peeling Spuds" is another strong entry about a woman who's tired of responding to her husband's demands.

Veste has a strong voice, what I'd call a storyteller's voice. Rather than working in scene -- in the moment -- his characters tend to be reflecting on what's happened to them. It feels like you've just sat down with these characters to have a conversation. Everything feels very natural.

Check out this new title from Trestle Press at Amazon US (99 cents) and UK (86 pence).

JANUSLOWSKI by Mark Joseph Kiewlak

2011-10-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

There's a rip-roaring take on the classic PI story at A Twist of Noir.

This detective, well, he's just all wrong. He doesn't know what being a detective means. He doesn't have the attitude, or the grittiness, or the drive. But he's going to learn. The hard way, of course.

What makes this piece for me is its superior writing. Kiewlak turns common phrases on their head and weaves in perfect, haunting details. Rush over right now and check it out.

I'm up at The Killing Pandemic

2011-10-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

So a couple of weeks ago, AJ Hayes tagged me as next in line to write for The Killing Pandemic. (He had written this excellent prose poem.)

My story is "This Has Been Done Before." It's about a serial killer and I think it's funny.

But that's just me.

I've tagged Darren Sant as the next killer, so expect something from his pen soon.

SMOKE by Nigel Bird

2011-10-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

It's about time that Nigel Bird released a full-length work.

His new novella, Smoke from Trestle Press, has everything I like about Bird's short stories -- cracking writing, well-crafted characters, and an emotional punch. He's very at home writing about Scotland and has created a rich atmosphere for his characters to fuck up in.

One thing that's a bit different about Smoke from his short stories is the pacing. This is fast and violent from start to finish.

But more than that, this is a story with a lot of heart that focuses on the connections between people in dire circumstances. I found myself in particular rooting for Jimmy, whose fighting for his sister's life and for his own sanity. Highly recommended.

GRIFT MAGAZINE

2011-10-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, John Kenyon's firing up a new venture, Grift Magazine, a print publication with fiction, reviews, essays, and interviews. It's due to come out next year and Grift's online presence is already alive and well.

I recently met up with John (we both live in Iowa City) to talk about Grift and crime fiction in general. I took some god awful notes about our meeting, as I'm apparently incapable of writing more legibly than a third grader.

Anyways, John said he's particularly searching for well-developed non-fiction. He wants more in-depth material so that Grift has a longer shelf life than that quart of milk in the fridge. So, instead of a two-paragraph bit about so-and-so's new book, he's looking for, say, a comprehensive piece on how so-and-so's writing has developed over his/her career.

In other words, more like the New York Times Review of Books and less like Death by Killing!

For fiction, he's looking for longer material that's not excessively violent, but also not too cozy. (The title, Grift, perhaps gives you something to aim for.) There will also be flash fiction up at the web site.

John said he's looking to create a magazine that's a bit different than what's already out there -- a print/online venture with a focus on non-fiction and short stories. He seems to have a solid vision, and I suspect Grift will be around for a long time to come.

INTERVENTION by William Dylan Powell

2011-10-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

William Dylan Powell's got a screamer of a story over at Beat to a Pulp. A TV writer ditches LA after racking up one too many gambling debts. But just when he's at his lowest, a chance encounter on the road offers him salvation.

Vivid, stylish writing, rich atmosphere and a great twist. This is Texas Noir at its finest.

100-word Stories

2011-10-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Anyone on Facebook should check out Status Stories -- short fiction in 100 words or less.

Regular contributors include cool kids AJ Hayes, David Barber, Paul Brazill, Charlie Wade, and Julie Lewthwaite. And it's a chance to do some fun, low-stakes writing exercises.

Best Cover I've Seen in a Long Time

2011-10-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

For Chuck Wendig's upcoming Blackbirds. I mean, there are a lot of rockin covers out there... but this?!*

Laughing at the Death Grin -- BWU HA HA HA HA!

2011-10-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

So I've got a story in here but that ain't going to stop me from reviewing it!

Laughing at the Death Grin from those zany folks over at Pulp Metal Magazine is everything that a PMM collection should be -- stories of the strange that randomly hop around from crime to horror to fantasy to the absurd.

Anyone who hasn't read Ian Ayris's "The Argument Bunny" is an idiot, a dolt and a fool to boot. It kicks off this collection by kicking it right in the ass -- a finely tuned descent-into-madness story by one of the best short writers around.

"Greener" by Heath Lowrance is a hilarious tale of revenge set in the sameness of the American cul-de-sac. This is the dark side of the landscaping business where you have to fight for your territory.

And Paul D. Brazill's "The Big Hurt," well, here's the first line: "I usually consider myself a long distance drinker, perhaps more suited to a cross country run than a one hundred yard dash." Pure gold!

So many other good ones in here by Jodi MacArthur, BR Stateham, Melanie Browne and many more. Go check it out now -- only 99 cents.

DRUNK ON THE MOON

2011-10-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

Paul D. Brazill's Drunk on the Moon series featuring Werewolf PI Roman Dalton started with his original story (review here) over the summer. Now the cross-genre smash is into its fifth edition with Richard Godwin's "Getting High on Daisy," a surreal tale of carnage in Godwin's inimitable style.

Each writer has taken the series in a different direction while staying true to Brazill's original vision. From battling zombies in Julia Madeleine's "Fear the Night," to eluding federal agents in Allan Leverone's "The Darke Affair," to encountering other werewolves in "Insatiable," the series is packed with action, humor and a lot of booze served up at Duffy's.

The Drunk on the Moon series is a noir/horror roller coaster that shouldn't be missed. Each writer has a creative interpretation of the life of the Werewolf PI -- and there are many more to come!

New Yellow Mama!

2011-10-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Halloween issue of Yellow Mama is here.

AJ Hayes has one of his finest with "The Gift." It's the origin story of Padre, whose also featured in the Pulp Ink story "Padre." This quiet, intense piece is just gorgeous. But what else would you expect from Mr. Hayes?

Richard Godwin has a funny, quirky story with "The Plumber." Love the interactions between this comic duo. Entertaining stuff.

Cindy Rosmus is up with "Bruja," a menacing little infidelity story that sneaks up and bites you right in the ass. This one rattles with tension.

Bargain of the Year

2011-10-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

I like that description for Pulp Ink from top writer Heath Lowrance.

I'm going to be incommunicado for a few days, but reviews a plenty when I return.

Darren Sant...

2011-10-09T11:01:00.001-07:00

... has a wonderful review of Pulp Ink over at his joint on ranting. Thanks, buddy!

TOXIC REALITY - KATHERINE TOMLINSON

2011-10-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

With Toxic Reality, Katherine Tomlinson mixes up, mashes up, and messes up genres, blending crime, sci-fi, fantasy and horror into a wonderfully varied collection.

From the quick and quirky AI story "The Singularity of Orlando T. Baker" to the funny and bizarre stripper tale "Gun Control," I really had no idea of what to expect when I pressed the page flip button. In an era where publishers are always striving for "consistency," this was refreshing. (Although I will say that few writers can pull of what she does here -- her ability to genre jump seems as natural as breathing... for many writers, myself included, it would be about as natural as hopscotching across five states.)

What is consistent is Tomlinson's unhinged imagination. Mermaids, trips to Mars, remixes of Shakespeare tales, prophetic killers -- they're all here. The other consistent aspect is her voices -- she writes with authority and originality. If she wrote a diner menu, I would read it.

But more than any of this shit, Toxic Reality is fun and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.

NEW AT PULP METAL

2011-10-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

I've got a weird, absurd story up at Pulp Metal about a guy who walks into a coffee shop bathroom and finds a head under the floor. Yep. The kind of story I thought fit right in with the delicious weirdness that is Pulp Metal. It's called "Squishy Tendrils" and I hope you enjoy it. Also stories by the likes of Jason Michel, Melanie Browne, BR Stateham and a bunch of other folks.

And while you're at it, you should check out Laughing at the Death Grin, the new Pulp Metal anthology. Just read the first few stories in there last night -- "The Argument Bunny" by Ian Ayris (one of my favorites of his), Melanie Browne's freaking hilarious werewolf story, and this kickass pulp gore fest by Danny Hogan. Complete review coming in a couple of days.

Interview with R. Thomas Brown

2011-10-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Be on the lookout for R. Thomas Brown.

He sneaks around at his blog, Criminal Thoughts, pops up at classy zines across the web, and has a novel coming out from Snubnose Press.

His collection of short fiction, Mayhem, features stories of modern crime. Brown demonstrates remarkable range in these stories. “Skinner’s Child” takes place in dystopian future, where prisoners are reprogrammed to play by the rules. “A Cheap Babysitter” is a story of quiet desperation, and “A Serendipitous Stumble” is a sharp and funny PI story.

His stories tend to be slow burns, sometimes embracing and other times shedding the conventions of noir.

I sat down to talk writing and crime fiction with Mr. Brown at a smoky little dive bar in a forgotten city… or we emailed back and forth…

DBK: One of your stories, "Hurt," tells the story of a woman numbed by banal, modern life who is pursued by a "teacher," a man who, through violence, reconnects her with basic human feelings. "The Lesson" tells a very similar story but from the perspective of the teacher instead of the student. Why did you choose to write this story from two perspectives? How did changing the perspective alter how you told this story?

RTB: I wrote The Lesson a decade ago. That's true, by the way for most of the stories in Mayhem. I wanted to write a story about a villain who saw himself as a hero. Not the first story ever to have that premise, but I felt I found something that could connect with readers if I did it well. Many people find themselves unfulfilled by the things they fill their time with. So, I took that notion to an extreme and imagined someone who felt a calling to break people out of the trance like existence.

As I was going through the old material, having decided to give writing a go again after the long layoff, I found myself drawn not just to villains who felt heroic, but to the impact of crime and violence in general on people. This got me thinking about the other side of the story. What happened inside that other person to make them act out? How did she really feel? So, I started into it, wrote way too much, and pared it down to a story I thought worked. Reading over it, I am surprised that I find “Hurt” a more impactful story.

“The Lesson” focuses on the disturbed person, the one we may understand a bit, but don't know. We know Cami. We could be Cami. We can place ourselves in her shoes and wonder how would we react. Shrink away? Lash out? I think the story needs both sides, which I didn't consider at all when I first wrote it.

DBK: You mentioned that you were writing about a decade ago and recently took it up again. What motivated you to start writing again?

RTB: A few months ago I found the crime zines through a very serpentine path that started with following the Castle cast on twitter. Reading them, I found homes for what I used to write. Back then the markets were few, but with a seeming surge in places for pieces to be seen, I figured I'd try my hand at it again.

I wrote a violent little story and it was accepted at The Flash Fiction Offensive. When David accepted it, and I got some nice comments, I felt that urge come back to put the ideas in my head onto a page.

DBK: Your work is difficult to classify in a sub-genre. I want to call it noir -- certainly it's dark crime fiction -- yet the endings of many of your stories deviate from that tradition. Not that everything is Disney Happy at the end, but you might catch a character when they're looking up, when they're hopeful. Things don't usually completely fall apart for them. Why do you think those kinds of endings work for you? Or does it depend on the individual piece? Lastly, do you write with an ending in mind, or do you discover it as you go?

RTB: "Your work is difficult to classify." Just what every writer wants to hear, right? I usually just refer to it as crime fiction. Yes, it's usually dark, but that stems from the basic idea of dealing with crime. Coming out the other side, even if you’re not damaged, is a tough road. I guess that's why sometimes the ending is hopeful. Sometimes a person gets hit. Knocked down and around, but comes out the other side okay. Not great. Not without scars. But okay. Other times, not so much. If I tend toward the hopeful side more often, it’s because that's an emotion that hits home for me. Resilient characters strike a chord with me as a reader, and when I write, I find that characters find a way to salvage something.

I don't plan endings for the most part. Usually a short story idea starts with the climactic act in my head. I can see the act of revenge, or loss, or rage. I then think about what happened to get there, and then about what that journey means to me and how to convey that as best I can. What happens after, the actual ending, is left until the end and I have the complete picture. That's when the character is real enough to me to know if he or she collapses, goes for a pyrrhic victory, or finds a way to get through the other side. When I have tried to drive toward an ending, either because of reader comments or a desire to be more noir-ish, it always falls flat.

DBK: Who do you consider to be your literary influences?

RTB: Like anyone who writes crime fiction, I'm influenced by Chandler, Hammett, Thompson, Cain, etc. Even if you don't read their work, they have influenced the entire genre. If you're influenced by Bret Easton Ellis, then you are influences by Jim Thompson. Of those great writers, I think Cain has the biggest impact for me. His work dwells on the twisted logic behind criminal acts, the seduction of the possible benefits of crime and the impact it has on the victims and the perpetrators. Mildred Pierce is similar, though crimes are not committed.

I would say though that I am inspired by much of the work of Stephen King. The ease and power of his story telling always comes through. He finds a way to give all the details and emotions that matter, while leaving a great deal to the imagination of the reader to fill in the blanks. That is a powerful combination and I will continue to strive to work that into my writing.

DBK: What drew you to crime fiction?

RTB: I'm really drawn to stories that force people to deal with unexpected events. I love the mix of internal and external tension. Trying to make sense out of what's happening, while also in a rush to escape or uncover something. In my writing, this tends to involve a crime or violent act. That's not always the case, though. A good horror story does the same, as do works like Mildred Pierce. I guess crime fiction is a natural place for the kinds of stories I write. I dabble in other areas, but seem to always find my way back there.

DBK: What inspired you to start your blog, Criminal Thoughts? As anyone who reads your blog knows, you read a hell of lot of short crime fiction. Who are some of your favorite short story writers right now? Whose work do you make it a point to never miss?

RTB: I love short stories. They tend to get right to a character, hit a conflict and move along. Sure, it’s usually just a scene, and not a whole story arc, but it's amazing how much emotional punch you can get in so few words. Also, the short form allows a writer to experiment with some things that may not be fully developed in the mind. A character to try out. A setting to play in. A time period to explore. You need just enough to get by, because the length limits it.

When I found so many short fiction zines around, it was great. I wasn't sure how many readers the places had, or if anyone would care about reviews, but I felt something from so many of the stories, that I wanted to put that out there. Both to highlight some great stuff for other people who might be looking for a story, but also as a comment to the writer that they got something across at least to one reader.

There's so many writers right now that put out great material. It's tough to pick favorites because so much of it is good (and I hate leaving people out. After answering this I'll agonize about the people I don't mention.)

My single favorite short I've read this year is from Chris F. Holm. His collection, 8 Pounds, is fantastic, and I think everyone should read The World Behind. That's a story I've read several times and adore.

Of the British writers going now, I'm a huge fan of Nigel Bird. He manages to be both brutal and hopeful at once in many of his stories.

Keith Rawson's The Chaos We Know is a wonderful collection of noir. Less hope there than I tend to go for, but the pain feels real in those stories.

A never miss for me is Matthew C. Funk. His stories always have a layer of meaning that jumps out of the story for me. They make me think not just about the people in the story, but about how the ideas extend into anyone's life. Combine that with great characters and dialog, and I'm all over anything he puts out there.

DBK: Are there any up-and-coming writers you've noticed? Writers who the rest of the crime fiction community might not know much about yet, but they soon will?

RTB: I think everyone's aware of Thomas Pluck by now. He's jumped out with an incredible amount of material, much of it great, and much of it brutal. I've got my eye on Court Merrigan. He seems to be getting some traction, and his most recent couple have been impressive.

DBK: So you have a novel coming out next year through Snubnose Press. Tell us (or, um, me) about that.

RTB: It's a story of a man who stumbles home to find a mutilated corpse on his porch. A man who had beaten him earlier. After puking, he finds a makeshift animal sacrifice behind his house. The next day, his life gets complicated.

His home is broken into. He’s beaten by a stranger. Seduced by another. Told his disowned brother is dead. And threatened unless he can find the valuables his dead brother supposedly sent to him.

Ignoring advice to run, Gabe searches for answers. He finds evidence of a brother unlike the drug addicted young man he forgot. He finds stolen goods and the dirty money that acquired them. He finds new threats, new enemies, more dead bodies, a courage he didn’t think existed, a love that he didn’t expect and a truth that he feared.

DBK: What's your writing process like? Do you punch the clock for a certain amount of time every day or do you get it in whenever you can? Do you have a specific process you follow, or do you let the particular project direct how you approach it?

RTB: I write when I can. Between work and time with the family, it's a struggle sometimes. I have a goal of a thousand words a day, and work hard to keep that up. When code's running, or at lunch I'll squeeze it in. After I hit that mark, if I can get time to concentrate I'll do some more, but that's hit and miss.

For longer material, I tend to outline a few milestones in the story. Big scenes, climactic moments, pieces of dialog that popped in my head and inspired the story. Then I'll rough outline the full story arc. Once I start writing, I tend to write and circle back and edit as the process goes along. I want a thousand words I at least like okay, and I want to be happy with how the story is progressing. As needed, I make notes about how the story is changing. By the time the first draft is done, I have a good handle on the story and start the clean up. For shorter material, I just write and see where it goes. With less complexity of plot, I can keep the whole thing in my head.

DBK: Have any stories in the pipeline?

RTB: I have some short stories set to come out soon. One at Yellow Mama around Valentine's day, and one at All Due Respect in May. I'll also have a story in Luca Veste's compilation, Off the Record, with a story inspired by Otis Redding's, “Dock of the Bay.” I'm working on some other shorts, as well as a new novel also set in South Texas.

Find Mayhem here and check out R. Thomas Brown on Twitter, @rthomasbrown.

PULP METAL

2011-10-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

The best of Pulp Metal Magazine, Laughing at the Death Grin, is due out soon, which will include my bizarro little tale, "It Wasn't Slim Ricky."

With this ridiculously cool cover from Editor Jason Michel and that list of contributors... it's going to be hot!

Tonight

2011-09-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

I'm going to see the Joey DeFrancesco Trio play. And I'm seeing them at a shitty dive bar. Where jazz shows are meant to be played.

Anybody who likes jazz should check Mr. DeFrancesco out. I saw him once before with Pat Martino at a club in Philadelphia called Chris's and it was pretty super fantastic awesome. That was a place I used to go a lot, saw Chris Potter, Dave Douglas, a bunch of other great shows. I was 18 and for some reason they always kept bringing the pitchers of Yuengling to our table.

The guy editing this video has a little too much fun with it. For some reason there are double mirror images of Joey D. at the end...

Flashes of Revenge by Darren Sant

2011-09-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

One cool thing about the rise of ebooks are collections of flash fiction. Was anybody doing this before? (I'm sure there were a few small presses, but they never made it to my field of vision.)

Darren Sant's got payback on his mind in Flashes of Revenge (Trestle Press) and comes up with creative ways to approach that subject in this entertaining collection. Violent, fast, and surprisingly funny, this is a collection from a writer who's quickly become a regular contributor to crime fiction zines.

I particularly dug "The Ungrateful Dead," about a music critic who trashes a grunge band. When the band becomes famous, he's got to eat crow and go interview them. But they have other things in mind... Sant captures the bitter, cynical critic very well, and anyone whose been the recipient of a bad review will sympathize with the band.

"Unforgiven" tells the story of an old rivalry that hasn't died. The protagonist's deep resentment stretches through the whole piece, one of the more quiet and grim selections in Flashes.

Check it out at Amazon or Amazon UK, only 99 cents.

OUT NOW: PULP MODERN

2011-09-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

The long wait is over: Pulp Modern is here. Looks like a first-class production with work from Sandra Seamans, Edward A. Grainger, John Kenyon, Jimmy Callaway, Lawrence Block and many more.

Get the full story over at editor Alec Cizak's blog.

CRIME FACTORY: THE FIRST SHIFT

2011-09-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

Anybody keeping up with this zine knew long before it came out that this would be one kick ass collection.

Edited by Keith Rawson, Jimmy Callaway and Cameron Ashley, Crime Factory: The First Shift scorches the earth from start to finish.

I enjoyed every story, but here are a few that stood out...

"Stinger" by Dennis Tafoya. Holy fuck, talk about starting out right. A classic noir tale of a woman who gets dragged down deeper and deeper. And the last paragraph is simply excruciating. Like a third-degree burn, you won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.

"Of Course You Realize, This Means War," by Jimmy Callaway. Any story with a Bugs Bunny reference is good in my book. Callaway is consistently hysterical and he doesn't fail us here. He has a brisk, unique, very readable style that I can't get enough of.

"Ravine" by Steve Weddle. Dealing with how a character changes or fails to change is very difficult. I often find that characters who change too much aren't believable -- in my opinion, people don't tend to change much, so in fiction it comes off as forced. But in this story, Weddle makes a smart move -- he tests a change his character has already gone through. The result is a tight and engrossing piece with a phenomenal last line.

"Budget Cuts" by Dave White. I have particular affinity for this story as I will soon join the ranks of public school teachers. (White is a middle school English teacher in New Jersey.) Paul Brown is a teacher who speaks his mind. This is dangerous when there are Tea Party psychos around who like to do more than just bitch about property taxes. A tense and exciting read.

"Green By" by Chris F. Holm. For some reason, I like reading about stoners. Especially when they have really dumb ideas like breaking into a drug dealer's greenhouse cause they're fresh out of bud. Of course, it's not easy as they think.

And I didn't even get around to excellent contributions from writers like Hilary Davidson, Patti Abbott, Kieran Shea, Ken Bruen, Roger Smith and so many others.

50 to 1

2011-09-24T20:36:00.001-07:00

I have a 50-word story over at 50 to 1.

It's called "Guy with a Barbed Wire Tattoo" and is a little glimpse into the life of an asshole.

IAN AYRIS

2011-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

It's no secret to readers of this blog that Ian Ayris writes memorable and unsettling crime.

Up today at TKnC is his "Surf Rider," which also appears in Pulp Ink. Here is Ayris in his element -- the original voice, the unusual and layered characters, and, yes, the madness. Although I've read it at least six times now, the last paragraph's sheer poetry gives me shivers.

And a special shout out to editor extraordinaire and all around good egg Col Bury for helping us out with Pulp Ink promotion.

Short Fiction Matters Group

2011-09-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

Gerald So is starting a message group that I think could be very helpful for writers searching for markets.

Here's what he has to say about it:

I attended a couple of panels at Bouchercon that mentioned the scarcity/difficulty finding quality markets for short fiction. After a chat with multi-genre author R.T. Lawton, I decided to create a discussion list to help writers, editors, and publishers spread market information, including anecdotes of specific markets' editorial taste.

This list will tap into members' experience sustaining and submitting to markets. Announcements of published stories will be allowed not for self-promotion, but to show what types of stories a market accepts.

I want to emphasize that this new list is *not* for fans. It's for writers, editors, and publishers looking to share market insight. It also covers all types of short fiction, not just crime/mystery.

If this no-nonsense approach sounds good to you, join Short Fiction Matters athttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/shortficmatters/

JODI'S RAD CONTEST

2011-09-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Check out this Pulp Ink contest from Jodi MacArthur. Cash prizes plus all the bubblegum featured in her wildly imaginative story "The $5 Mil Hak." This is a whole bucket of awesome!

R. THOMAS BROWN and COURT MERRIGAN

2011-09-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

R. Thomas Brown has a piece up at Powder Flash called "Hurt" that pushes all the right buttons. I really like how Brown creates a world almost identical to our own, but where violence is acceptable, or even healthy. With precision, he paints a character who we all know, and then shows how she changes. Very well done.

And Court Merrigan has a nice, slow burn over at PANK Magazine with "The Cloud Factory." A hardboiled tale about crank dealing, a car crash, and a whole lot of money. The story's set in Wyoming and Merrigan does a great job using vivid details to make it come to life.

OFF THE RECORD

2011-09-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

Top writer and all around good bloke Luca Veste has put together a ridiculous lineup for his collection called OFF THE RECORD. Julie Morrigan, Steve Weddle, Paul Brazill, Ian Ayris, Ray Banks. Damn. Check out the details at his blog.

I'm thrilled to be part of this collection. Each writer is naming their piece after a song and I've picked "Shadowboxer" by Fiona Apple. We'll see how that turns out!

Two by Matt Funk

2011-09-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

There aren't many writers of crime short stories more prolific and consistently excellent than Matthew C. Funk.

He has two out right now that you shouldn't miss. "Real Fucking People" at Dirty Noir is a different breed of crime story. Stagger has found Hunter Moseley at the world's most depressing strip club in Tennessee. Now he has to convince Hunter not to use that gun sitting in his lap. The dialog in this one is sizzling -- on the surface, you might think these two guys are talking past each other, but they're actually fumbling toward a real connection.

Funk is back in New Orleans with "Silas' Good Run" at Beat to a Pulp. Silas is a dude with an AK-47, a bunch of drugs, and no fear. As Pamila Payne puts it, "No one does feel-good hardcore like you, Mr. Funk."