Omnimystery News has posted their monthly feature Firsts on the First, "introducing readers to new series characters who will make their mysterious American debut during May." For a list of all new mysteries in May, they've got that covered, too.
The mystery conference Killer Nashville is starting an e-magazine and is seeking submissions for book reviews, how-to articles, interesting mystery/suspense-related facts and activities, and more. There is no payment for free web or newsletter displays, but there is a payment for compilations or articles that are sold.
Some festival news includes one report and one preview. The report is from the recent Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and a look at the panel "Mystery: Organized Crime" with April Smith, T. Jefferson Parker, Stuart Neville and Attica Locke. The preview looks ahead to the upcoming Bristol Crime Fest with featured authors Peter Guttridge, Janet Laurence, Peter James, Belinda Bauer, Lindsey Davis and more. The Gala Dinner will be hosted by Don Winslow and the winners of the eDunnit Award, the Last Laugh Award and the Audible Sounds of Crime Awards will be announced.
Sometimes I think Jeff Pierce over at the Rap Sheet and I are on the same cosmic wave length, because we sometimes seem to come up with some of the same ideas at the same time. I was going to post a list of all the crime fiction awards to date for the year, but since he beat me to it (and saved me some time), check out his Eyes on the Prizes wrap-up on the Kirkus Reviews site. Another good list (and lots of other crime fiction news) was posted by Ayo Onatade at the always excllent Shotsmag Confidential blog.
Most of the big publishing houses have established some sort of crime fiction web presence, and now Penguin Group has created a multi-genre site for authors called Book Country, where "aspiring genre novelists can post chapters and manuscripts and receive critiques from other writers." There are also articles about publishing and promotion for writers. One of the more controversial moves might come down the road, if Book Country starts offer self-publishing services for a fee.
Speaking of self-publishing, the Wall Street Journal made note of a reporter who self-published a book filled with product placements and ads for companies that helped finance and market the popular book, Harry Hits the Road: Adventures in Love, Labor and Modern Manhood. Wave of the future? Isn't it bad enough writers have to spend so much time already as publicists, marketers and everything else that now they have to get into product placement?
The Thriller Writers of America site has continuing book giveaways. As a matter of fact, they even call it the Neverending Book Giveaway. Just post a reply on the page for each contest, and you're entered. While you're there, you can also sign up for the International Thriller Writers' free monthly email with news about upcoming thrillers and more giveaways, including the chance to win an entire box full of new releases.
And don't forget (if you didn't already know) that the Mystery Writers of America has a monthly drawing for one lucky winner to receive approximately two dozen books, often signed by the authors.
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