Mystery Melange

 

Time to gear up for the 2012 reading challenges. One of the first comes from Jen's Book Thoughts, her second annual Criminal Plots Reading Challenge. Categories include a novel with a weapon in the title and a book by an author from the state/provinence/etc. where you live.

Also from Jen comes word of some pre-order book contests from authors Hilary Davidson, Bill Cameron and Mike Lister. Check them out and be sure and read the link to Hilary's post about why pre-ordering an author's books is important and helpful.

Craig Sisterson reported on his Crime Watch log that the programme for the 2012 Waikato Times Hamilton Garden Arts Festival has just been announced, and "the organisers have picked up on the quality and growth of New Zealand crime writing, and have included what should be a terrific crime writing event."

The second issue of Pulp Modern is out, with timely (and twisted) cover art by Jeremy Selzer and stories from Patti abbott, John kenyon and many more.

Janet Rudolph and her Mystery Fanfare blog has lists of all the Crime for the Holiday books for you, with mysteries themed around Christmas starting with author last names A-D. Mystery Readers Journal, which Janet edits, is celebrating its 28th year of publication with a bonus issue for your 2012 subscription, titled "Shrinks and Other Mental Healthcare Professionals."

The interview roundup this week features author John Connolly talking with Tom Atwell for the Portland Press-Herald about his latest thriller, The Burning Soul. He also reveals that his next Charlie Parker, Wrath of Angels, will be coming out next year, and he's working on a collection of essays written by mystery authors about mystery fiction.

John Norris, the force behind the Pretty Sinister Books blog, has a mystery contest for you, titled "So You Think You Know Your Vintage Mysteries?" The quiz is in five sections: pseudonyms, settings, Watsons, detectives, and commonalities between two or more fictional characters. He's handing out prizes based on number of correct answers with first place to the one who gets them all or the most right, second for the second highest, etc. The contest closes December 23.

Ten Gifts for Writers (the Regular Edition)

Last week, I wrote a blog about 10 Gifts for Writers (the Not so Serious Edition), and today I continue with gifts that aren't as quirky and may actually be helpful.

But before I do, I'd like to mention that starting on this blog December 19th and running through January 1st, I'll be featuring 12 Days (Plus Two) of Bookmas. Each day, an author will be stopping by to offer up a little holiday bon-bon, from a recipe to a personal remembrance, to a favorite story or TV show, and they'll also name their favorite charity. Authors lined up include Laurie R. King, Paul Doiron, Craig Johnson, G.M. Maillet, Martin Edwards, Jeri Westerson, Zoe Sharp, Julia Spencer-Fleming and more. So stay tuned.

Now, for the list:

A digital voice recorder. I can tell you from personal experience that working out on a treadmill or elliptical when you get a story idea and attempting to write it down is an exercise in futility (especially when you come home and can't read your scribbling). With a recorder, a writer can immediately preserve their ideas whenever and wherever they occur. These range from cellphone-sized (cheaper) to this nifty little digital recorder pen (expensive).

A lap desk. These are very handy to have for reading a printed manuscript or as a base for a tablet or laptop computer. And LapGear will make a donation for every lap desk they sell to the Kids in Need Foundation that provides gear for underprivileged students.

Novel (and story) writing software. These vary in features provided, but they start as low as free (such as yWriter) to $30 with StoryWeaver, and on up. StoryMind has a great deal right now, offering to throw in a free Writer's Survival Kit with any website purchase. The kit includes an extensive collection of writing software, classes and tools essential to every writer's craft.

Tickets to a writer's conference or retreat. This blog keeps a list of upcoming mystery conferences, but websites like Shaw Guides have databases of other events where writers can get away for awhile and take classes or just have undisturbed writing time.

A gift certificate for professional editing services. Granted, this can get a little pricey, but you can at least help defray the costs. This is particularly helpful for self-published authors and those going the small press or indie route, who will need to purchase a la carte editing. This rate chart from the Editorial Freelancers Association may be helpful.

Coffee! Many an author takes their laptop to the local coffee shop that has a spare table and plug-in to work on their manuscript away from home distractions, if not store-related ones. A gift certificate from the store will also help a writer stay caffeinated and alert through all those mind-numbing edits.

Literacy. Make a donation in the writer's name to a local or national literacy organization (the America's Literacy Directory is a good place to start). After all, writing can be cathartic and enjoyable on its own, but to be a read author, you need a steady supply of readers. The gift of literacy helps everyone.

Gloves? Yes, gloves. Typing away at the keyboard all day can leave your digits a bit frosty. Light-weight fingerless gloves to the rescue, helping to keep fingers flying fast and furious. You can opt for more conservative styles or for hard-boiled types, this might be more appropriate.

Creativity-booster. If your writer likes to listen to music for inspiration while writing, create a mixtape of their favorite tunes and burn it to a CD or DVD. Or give them a gift certificate for Spotify, and they can put together their own song list.

And, last, but certainly not least, a gift certificate to their favorite local indie bookstore is a wonderful idea.

Media Murder for Monday

 

MOVIES

The musical-chairs directorship game has hit the film adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. After Steven Soderburg departed the project, Guy Ritchie stepped in (along with his partner Lionel Wigram), and it appears the movie is back on again. For now.

Lionsgate is planning a remake of the 2000 film American Psycho, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. The project will update the setting to contemporary New York where unhinged yuppie Patrick Bateman (originally played by Christian Bale) will wreak his havoc.

Mandalay PIctures and horror director Alexandre Aja (of the recent Piranha film) is taking on an adaptation of Joe Hill's supernatural mystery novel Horns. The plot centers on a 26-year-old man who wakes up with a massive hangover to discover horns sprouting from his head, and becomes convinced it's tied to the unsolved murder of his girlfriend.

The upcoming biopic Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, based on the book by Stephen Rebello, has already cast Anthony Hopkins as the famous director, and now it appears Helen Mirren is in talks to take on the role of Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville.

Marisa Tomei and Joshua Jackson (Fringe) are joining Alexander Siddig in the thriller Inescapable, based on the story of a Syrian expatriate whose journalist daughter goes missing in Damascus.

In more casting news, Benjamin Bratt has signed on to play Dwayne Johnson's nemesis in Snitch, a drug thriller shooting in Louisiana.

TV

The Producers Guild of America, Writers Guild of America and American Film Institute released their award nominees this week. WGA noms include Showtime's new drama Homeland, with three nods for best drama series, best new series and best episodic drama. Other big honorees incude AMC's The Killing and HBO's Boardwalk Empire. PGA nominees include Boardwalk Empire and Showtime's Dexter. The AFI honored shows including Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife, Homeland and Justified.

Lifetime has ordered a two-hour original movie/backdoor pilot based on Linda Castillo's novel Sworn to Silence set in the Amish farming community of Painter’s Mill, Ohio. It will star Neve Campbell as a young girl who survived a series of brutal murders in the community 15 years ago and returns as the town's Chief of Police.

Dana "Queen Latifah" Owens, through her Flavor Untt Entertainment production company, sold CBS a female-lead police procedural centering on "a street savvy Philadelphia woman who realizes her calling as a homicide detective after a defining moment." Charles Murray (V, Castle, Criminal Minds) will serve as writer/producer.

In what may be destined for the Guinness Book of World Records, Ed Asner will have a recurring guest role on Hawaii Five-0—the same role he played in the original series 36 years ago in 1975.

USA Network is moving the debut of Common Law to summer 2012. The show stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as a pair of detectives forced to attend couples counseling.

ABC ordered an extra episode of Castle starring Nathan Fillion, bringing the total this season to 23 episodes.

Not so great news for AMC's freshman cop/family drama Against the Wall. Although it drew favorable reviews, the audience numbers just weren't there, and it's been canceled. AMC did purchase the off-network rights to CSI: Miami, which helps increase the chances the show will continue on CBS beyond the current 10th season.

Titus Wellive will be joining Daniel Roebuck as a former Lost cast member making a guest appearance on NBC's Grimm. He'll be playing a creature with the ability to morph into a "steinadler" (golden eagle), which one assumes is a far different role from the one he'll play in an upcoming episode of CSI.

A&E bought a half-hour police drama from Homicide executive producer Tom Fontana, set primarily in an interrogation room. Titled The Box, the show will feature a small cast of detectives as they question a key suspect or witness, with the details of the crime revealed through the interrogation.

PODCASTS/RADIO

Patricia Cornwell appeared on NPR's On Point program to discuss her latest novel, Red Mist.

Laura Lippman joined Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson, talking about her latest book, The Most Dangerous Thing.

Mystery Melange

 

The Nero Award is presented by The Wolfe Pack organization each year to an author for the best American mystery novel written in the tradition of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe stories. The 2011 winner, announced this past weekend, is Louise Penny for Bury Your Dead. Also announced at the annual banquet was The Black Orchid Novella Award, presented jointly by The Wolfe Pack and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine to celebrate the format popularized by Rex Stout. This year's award went to James Lincoln Warren for "Inner Fire."

Last year, we lost author and TV producer/screenwriter Stephen J. Cannell, who died at the age of 69 of complications from melanoma. But his final book, Vigilante, is being published by St. Martin's Press this week and is the 19th installment in Cannell's series featuring LAPD detective Shane Scully.

Suspense Magazine's December issue is out, featuring their Best of 2011 list, interviews with John Lescroart and Sue Grafton, book reviews, short stories and novel excerpts.

How many short stories can you read in a year? Brian Lindenmuth, the non-fiction editor of Spinetingler magazine and one of the fiction editors of Snubnose Press, has issued a challenge to you and other readers. If you think you can read one short story a day during 2012, head on over to Brian's blog Short Story365 and sign up. There will be prizes, too, for those who read 50 stories up to 365. He also needs volunteers and author book donations, so check out the site and give it a shot. (Hat tip to Sandra Seamans.)

Speaking of Spinetingler, the magazine announced that the editor for the new weekly online flash fiction feature is R. Thomas Brown. He may announce themes or issue challenges from time to time but for now he just wants "compelling stories that capture the reader with intriguing characters and quality writing."

Ten Gifts for Writers (the Not-So-Serious Edition)

 

Some of us can actually remember the days of typewriters. If you have an author on your gift list who is of a certain vintage, why not give her a 14K-gold typewriter charm! It's only $275, and it will help her remember to be thankful for her laptop.

No self-respecting mystery writer should be without a muse. With this Sherlock Holmes action figure keeping an eye on you next to your computer, you'll either be more inspired to write or find yourself starting to speak with a British accent and drinking a lot more tea.

With this coffee mug, which proudly proclaims "I'm a Famous Writer," your giftee can fool all of his friends at work. And spend the rest of the time making up excuses as to why, if he's famous, he has to keep working at his day job.

Has your writer-friend ever had an inspiration at dinner and had to dash off to write it down in her notebook before she forgot? Not any more, with these handy memo pad dinner plates.

Unless your gift recipient has a lot of whips around to flagellate himself in order to avoid distractions, he might appreciate this handy wall clock to keep him cranking out words. Unfortunately, it isn't able to pull the plug on his router, modem or DSL line.

If the writer on your list is the shy type who can never think up an appropriate comeback, Shakespeare Insult Gum may be just the trick. It comes packaged as a case of seven small books, and inside each are two gum balls and one random insult.

From personal experience, I can verify that sitting in front of your computer all day in the cold winter months leads to seriously frozen feet. What better way to keep your writer's toes warm and make a writerly fashion statement at the same time than a pair of pencil socks.

Does your giftee suffer from frequent writer's block? No more! With Writer in a Can 12-oz aerosol spray, he can create writing on contact. Note that this can contains no liquid, but is always under pressure.
 

Mystery writers need to eat an antioxidant diet that inspires creativity, and they also want look cool, so why not combine the two with Chocolate Ammo and Chocolate Guns. Choose from chocolate-peanut butter 12-gauge shotgun shells, solid chocolate grenades and more. A great way to liven up that dull cocktail party, too!

Of course, avoid taking your chocolate ammo on a commercial flight. And even though a Western-themed purse with a fake gun on the front is another cool idea, you might want to remind your writer to check it in her luggage.

Media Murder for Monday

 

MOVIES

The murder mystery London Fields by Martin Amis is heading for the big screen under the direction of Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth). The movie adaptation of the book, about a woman who apparently foresees her death and sets out to arrange it, has been in limbo for a decade.

Tom Hanks is circling around a movie adaptation of In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson. Universal Studios has acquired the movie rights and Hanks may produce and star in the true story of William Dodd, the U.S. ambassador to Berlin in 1933, and his daughter Martha, who had romantic affairs with a Gestapo official and a Soviet spy.

Director Steven Soderbergh may have dropped his plans to helm The Man From U.N.C.L.E., but he's going to take on a different project instead, written by Scott Z. Burns (The Informant!, Contagion). Titled The Bitter Pill, it's described as "a thriller set in the world of psychopharmacology."

Michael Chiklis is using his production company Extravaganza Films to team up with former Shield co-star Forest Whitaker in Pawn, an independent crime film based on a script by Jay Anthony White. Also starring in the film about a hostage drama gone awry will be Common (Hell On Wheels) and Ray Liotta.

If you happen to be in San Francisco on December 14, check out the historic Castro Theatre for the second annual Noir City Xmas. The Film Noir Foundation is offering a pair of rare noir-stained yuletide classics, Lady on a Train and Christmas Holiday, to darken your spirits this holiday season. As a bonus, the full schedule for the tenth annual Noir City film festival (January 20–29) will be unveiled.

Sony Pictures has released three new TV spots for David Fincher's film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo that premieres December 21. As Collider reports, there's also an eight-minute trailer, and you can already download the film score.

TV

Liev Schreiber is taking on his first series regular role for Showtime's drama pilot Ray Donovan, created and executive produced by Southland creator Ann Biderman. Schreiber will play the title character, a Hollywood "fixer" who, according to Cinema Blend, "gets called in to solve embarrassing problems, like dead hookers or action heroes getting busted while coked out of their mind and attempting to couple with inanimate objects."

ReelzChannel picked up the drama series True Justice, which stars Steven Seagal as Elijah Kane, the head of a team of undercover Seattle cops.

TNT is extending its brand-new Mystery Movie Night franchise into spring of 2012 by giving the greenlight to an original movie version of Hornet's Nest. Adapted from Patricia Cornwell's novel, it will star Sherry Stringfield and Virginia Madsen.

The Sherlock Holmes News blog reminds us that the BBC-TV and Robert Downey, Jr. movie versions of the Holmes stories aren't the only projects based on Arthur Conan Doyle's famous creation. The Russian company Central Partnership is producing a new 16-episode Sherlock Holmes series due for release in 2012-2013. 

CSI: Miami is bringing in some sex symbols from the 70s. Raquel Welch and Bo Derek are scheduled for guest appearances on the TV series next year.

The new series The Firm, based on John Grisham's novel, premieres January 8th with a two-hour special. NBC released three teaser trailers for the show, which is more of a sequel than an adaptation and picks up years after central character Mitch McDeere broke free from a mob-owned law firm.

PODCASTS/RADIO

Michael Connelly appeared on CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to talk about his latest novel, The Drop.

Suspense Radio's December lineup includes MJ Rose and Lisa Black on December 10th at 10 a.m. pacific time, and Christopher Sandford and Lis Wiehl, December 17th.

Take Your Child to a Bookstore, Now!

Today is the second annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day. As organizer Jenny Milchman told Shelf Awareness during the inaugural celebration, "We all know how much children love books. We've all heard them beg for a story, and seen their faces light up as they listen to one. But we think less about how a child would love the place so many books come from. A bookstore can lead a child to a book, with guidance and interest from booksellers, in a way that no website or digital device can. It's a place to read, dream, and play. A world of stimulation, and a refuge in a stimulating world. In order for bookstores to thrive and flourish in the future, children have to experience the unique pleasures they offer today."