Mystery Melange

David Gann is making a splash with his book, The Devil and Sherlock Holmes. Gann is a reporter and staff writer at The New Yorker who has collected stories of true crime and mystery, ranging from the suspicious death of an Arthur Conan Doylescholar to the story of an international impostor who convinced an American family he was their missing son. NPR's Talk of the Nation interviewed the author about the book.

The Arts Council England is sponsoring the fifth year of its Apprenticeships In Fiction, which includes one for crime fiction. Previous apprenticeships have resulted in three publications, with another eight writers referred to literary agents. The apprenticeships are open to non-UK residents, the sole criterion for application that you must have completed or almost completed a first draft of a novel. However, writers should keep in mind that the apprenticeships are aimed at those who will ultimately be seeking publication within the UK and European markets. (Hat tip to It's a Crime.)

Mike Ripley's latest Getting Away with Murder column has arrived with news and reviews. Ripley is also the editor of Ostara Publishing’s new Top Notch Thrillers imprint, which has just released its latest batch of titles, including those by Brian Callison and Trevor Dudley Smith. Ripley also reports that Mark Mills, author of the Shots Thriller of 2009 (The Information Officer), is scheduled to appear at the Reading Crime Festival taking place September 16-19. Other guests will include Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre, Malcolm Pryce, Lindsey Davis and Paul Doherty. 

Heading back across the Atlantic, the registration deadline for Malice Domestic 22 is March 15th, and reservations for the banquet are close to being sold out. To register, visit the Malice web site, which is also where the final programming schedule will be posted soon.

The annual  Left Coast Crime conference is coming up this weekend in Los Angeles. This is the 20th anniversary of the event and will feature Jan Burke and Lee Child as Guests of Honor,  Bill Fitzhugh as Toastmaster and Janet Rudolph as Fan Guest of Honor. The Forensic Science Day is sold out, but day passes to the other events are available. 

The next Literary Salon in Berkeley, California, hosted by Janet Rudolph, is coming up March 19th. The guest is Jo Nesbø, author of eight acclaimed crime novels featuring Detective Harry Hole, and winner of numerous awards in Norway including the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize by the Danish Crime Academy for the year's Best Crime Novel (for The Leopard). Upcoming literary salons in April will host Peter May (April 7th) and Erin Hart (April 23rd).