Over at the Mystery Fanfare blog, Janet Rudolph has compiled her annual - and growing- list of Christmas-themed or Christmas-set crime fiction. The list has grown so long, she's had to split it into several lists. You can find all the various links (by alphabet) to the novels, as well as Christmas mystery short stories and novellas, right here.
Several authors, including crime writer Laura Lippman, are auctioning the chance to name a character in an upcoming book. Proceeds benefit Immigrant Families Together. But you'd better hurry since the auction ends tonight at 11 eastern time.
Many of us in the crime community are still mourning the death of Bill Crider, author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series and many short stories, as well as being a longtime supporter and promoter of the genre. Next year, the 50th Boucheron conference, to be held in Dallas, will be celebrating that anniversary with a commemoration of Crider via the Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction. They're looking for short mystery/crime stories of 3500 to 5000 words using the theme Deep in the Heart (relating to Texas with an element of mystery or crime), with a deadline of March 1. (Hat tip to Sandra Seamans.)
As part of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program, James Patterson is once again partnering with the American Booksellers Association to distribute grants of $750 to 333 booksellers. The winners were nominated by customers, booksellers, publishing industry colleagues and others, who were invited to answer the grant application's one question: "Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?" To see if your local bookstore was a lucky recipient, you can check out the list from ABA.
In a Christmas present of sorts for crime fiction readers, Sourcebooks announced it has acquired most of the assets of award-winning crime and mystery publisher Poisoned Pen Press that will become Sourcebooks' mystery imprint. Sourcebooks senior editor Anna Michels will oversee the new Poisoned Press imprint and acquire some of its titles, while Poisoned Pen editor-in-chief Barbara Peters will continue in that role and acquire front list titles for the new Poisoned Pen Press imprint.
The latest issue of Black Mama is out with lots of "holiday noir" stories to act as an antidote to all those sugary treats you're having and the syrupy Christmas muzak in the stores. In a reprint of Mark David Kevlock’s Spinetingler award-nominated “The Present,” suspected incest drives a teen crazy on the year’s holiest night. In Morgan Boyd’s “Red Christmas,” crooks learn that the mob never takes a day off. Luke Walters’ “Christmas Eve Blow and Doll Houses” features a thief who is forced to play Santa. Mandi Rose’s “Holly, Jolly” gives us a pedophile Kris Kringle. BAM’s “Samurai Santa” carries a big sword. And in Kenneth James Crist’s futuristic “Badass Ted’s Christmas Adventure,” a notorious serial killer gets whacked before he reaches his prime.
King's River Life magazine has a couple of holiday-themed short stories online for your holiday reading pleasure, including "The Engagement Ring Miracle" by Elaine Faber and "Snowdog" by Maryetta Ackenbom.
Classic Mysteries offered up The Twelve Reading Days of Christmas, with "a list of twelve mysteries that may help instill a bit of the Christmas spirit into the stoutest Grinch."
It's hard to imagine Christmases past and present without Charles Dickens' beloved and iconic Christmas Carol, but the author was apparently never quite happy with it, revising it over and over through the years.
Mystery Lovers Kitchen had several holiday offerings of both books and recipes, including Christmas Cinnamon Wreath Bread from Daryl Wood Gerber; Pecan Praline Sauce from Peg Cochran; and festive Layered Holiday Drinks from Cleo Coyle to make your "spirits" even brighter. Daryl Wood Gerber even has a Raspberry Coffee Cake for folks who have to eat gluten-free.
The end of the year lists continue with The Boston Globe out with its "Best Books of 2018" choices, including the paper’s 16 crime fiction favorites.
If you're looking for more good gift books ideas, Bustle rounded up eleven mystery and thriller authors to recommend their best reads of 2018.
Wondering how to get your family to read this holiday season? Here are some tips.
Kittling: Books has some favorite "Cozy Holiday Cover Love."
Former police officer turned author, conference organizer, and writing consultant Lee Lofland, offered up his humorous holiday tradition of "The Twelve Knights of Graveyard."
Writer's Digest took advantage of the holiday to propose "4 Writing Techniques to Borrow from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol."
The Write Practice has regular writing prompts for authors to hone their skills. This week's is "Build Your Own Alien Holiday."
Sue Coletta posted her "Crime Writer’s Version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.'"
The latest poem at the 5-2 crime poetry weekly is "Ice Cream Uber Alles" by Jeff Bagato.
In the Q&A roundup, Deborah Kalb spoke with author J. Lee about his new novel The Hubley Case; and the American Booksellers Association spoke with Lisa Jewell, author the murder mystery Watching You, January’s ABA #1 Indie Next List Pick.
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