For those attending BoucherCon in San Francisco next month, I'll be moderating "A Collection of Eagles," an all-star panel of best-selling thriller writers Sat. Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. (room to be determined). Joining me will be (clockwise from top left) Martin Cruz Smith, Joseph Finder and Andrew Klavan. It'll be a rare chance for readers and fans to interact with three of the most seasoned pros in the business.
Some pictures from the Battle of Britain airshow at Duxford airfield in the U.K. Sept. 5, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Photos by me, video by someone else (click on photos for larger images).
The flightline: 16 Spitfires, wingtip to wingtip. All flew.
The Spits up close.
Four of the last six airworthy Hurricanes in the world. A fifth, from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, did a flyby.
A Hurricane up close.
Hurricane pilot and staff member.
Sally-B, Europe's only airworthy B-17, seen in the film "Memphis Belle."
Sally-B in the air.
"Ferocious Frankie," one of two flying P-51 Mustangs at the show.
Spanish-built Buchons,German Messerschmitt BF-109s, with modifications.
Rare two-seater Spitfire trainers.
Spitfire taxiing.
Spitfires in formation. The 16 took off in groups of four, then joined up to circle the airfield.
And speaking of "Darkness on the Edge of Town" outtakes. Here's one, just previewed today, that's not only unreleased and unheard, but never even rumored about up until now. It's one of 21 outtakes on the new Darkness box set out in Nov., which will also include the original recordings of "Fire" and "Because the Night."
This Saturday, Aug. 28, Dennis Tafoya and I will be appearing at the Moonstone Mystery Bookstore in historic Flemington, N.J., from 2 to 4 pm. Dennis is a terrific writer and his WOLVES OF FAIRMOUNT PARK, though only his second book, is one of the best-reviewed crime novels of the year. His first, DOPE THIEF, was called "an impressive debut" by the hard-to-please Kirkus Reviews,and Publishers Weekly deemed him "a writer to watch." We'll be signing books and dispensing CDs, baked goods and bad advice. Stop by and say hello.
Two songs that would have revitalized Elvis Presley's career - and probably saved his life - if he had recorded them.
Springsteen reportedly did try to get a demo of "Fire" to Elvis's people, but nothing came of it (it was originally written for his "Darkness on the Edge of Town" sessions, but left off that album, as was "Because the Night," later covered by Patti Smith.) Neo-rockabilly singer Robert Gordon recorded "Fire" in 1978 for his album "Fresh Fish Special" (another Elvis reference) and the Pointer Sisters had a huge hit single with it later that same year.
Not sure why, but as of this morning - though I'm guessing for a limited time - Amazon and Barnes and Noble are both offering GONE 'TIL NOVEMBER for a special price of $13.74. That's 45% off the original cover price. It looks like one dropped the price, and the other did the same to match it. Doubt it will last though. Amazon's prices tend to fluctuate quite a bit.
Another vintage interview, tweaked, corrected and illustrated: Lawrence Block and Francis M. Nevins discuss the 1987 completion of suspense writer Cornell Woolrich's novel INTO THE NIGHT. The piece can be found here.
I've been updating and sprucing up some of the existing features on my web site, and this weekend I've made corrections and added artwork to the three "Writers on Writing" features, namely interviews with Stephen King, Clive Barker and James Lee Burke. These extensive, in-depth Q&As – focusing on the mechanics of writing and story telling – were originally conducted for Writer's Digest and the Asbury Park Press back in the early '90s, but appear here in a more complete form. King would later expand on some of his comments in his invaluable ON WRITING book a few years later, but this interview - the cover story in the March 1992 WD - was the first time he spoke at length about his writing methods.
Coming soon (I promise), the second part of the James Lee Burke interview. All I need to do now is locate the transcript.
... in the 2010 Edgar nominee Paperback Original auction, with all proceeds benefiting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Auction ends at 8 p.m. ET Wed. 6/23. Thanks to everyone who's bid already.
Beginning tonight, I'm auctioning off all five of this year's Paperback Original Edgar Award nominees, in one lot, as part of an eBay Giving Works auction, with all proceeds benefitting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. All books are in like-new condition, with original cover prices ranging from $11 to $15 each. The books are BODY BLOWS by Marc Strange (the winner); BURY ME DEEP by Megan Abbott; THE LORD GOD BIRD by Russell Hill; THE HERRING-SELLER'S APPRENTICE by L.C. Tyler and HAVANA LUNAR by Robert Arellano. The auction, which ends June 23 at 8 p.m., can be found here.
This week, I take a look back at veteran director Phil Karlson's violent 1975 redneck noirFRAMED, over at Steve-O's great Noir of the Week blog.
The ad above is from the Wed. Oct. 1, 1975 issue of the N.Y. Daily News (Page 1 headline: ALI TKOs FRAZIER & KEEPS TITLE). It's a little time capsule from the golden era of 42nd St. double-features. Never did get around to seeing BUG though.
(If you're a fan of "How did they do that?" stunts, check out this ridiculously dangerous car/train collision from FRAMED, co-coordinated by legendary Hollywood stuntman Carey Loftin).
For those attending BoucherCon in San Francisco next month, I'll be moderating "A Collection of Eagles," an all-star panel of best-selling thriller writers Sat. Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. (room to be determined). Joining me will be (clockwise from top left) Martin Cruz Smith, Joseph Finder and Andrew Klavan. It'll be a rare chance for readers and fans to interact with three of the most seasoned pros in the business.
