In A Lonely Place

In A Lonely Place is one of the few films that nearly equals the novel upon which it was based. The novel of the same name, by Dorothy B. Hughes, is a masterpiece and quite daring for the time, the 1940s. Hughes compares quite favorably with James M. Cain (author of Mildred Pierce, Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice) and in many ways surpasses him as a writer of noir. Her character development exceeds Cain's, in my opinion.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Women Crime Writers - Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s. Not only do you get In A Lonely Place, but also, Laura (another wonderful film), The Horizontal Man, and The Blank Wall. There is another volume, but Suspense Novels of the 1950s. If you want both, I believe a box set is available.

I don't want to give away the novel or the film--though you'd think a novel from the 1940s and a film from 1950 should be fair game. But I've found so many people today haven't paid the classics any mind and that's a real shame. The novel is actually much darker than the film and ultimately heartbreaking and tragic (the film is also heartbreaking, but in a different way).

Criterion (I've gushed over Criterion products before on here and on social media) is releasing In A Lonely Place on 5/10/2016.  Criterion Blu-Rays are more expensive than other Blu-Rays, but if you're a film buff there are no better versions to buy. The films are restored versions and always have plenty of extras.

While the film deviates from the novel (it's a very loose adaptation), it doesn't take away from the novel. They're both equally enjoyable and tragic. So noir.
 

The Streak

The streak isn't a new concept. Streaks are ever-present and are tracked in sports, the stock market, and gambling for starters. We may not think about streaks when it comes to our daily lives with things such as fitness or abstaining from alcohol or whichever vice(s) one may have, but they're there. They may not even be healthy streaks.

But what about writing? The idea of the streak in writing isn't new at all. I didn't see writing as something capable of a streak, like Joe DiMaggio's streak of hitting safely in 56 consecutive baseball games or the stock market rose seven days in a row. The headline would read, and oh it's so exciting, Kimble Hits 30th Consecutive Day Of New Fiction. Writers typically just try to sit down each day and get some new words down. Move forward on a project in some way.

When I began using a word tracker the streak became more obvious to me. There it was in a spreadsheet--my daily word counts. At first it was just enough to say I'd written each day, got at least some words down, say 250 words or more. But then I became a little more bold and began stringing together 1,000 word days--1,000 new words of fiction (not world building, not blogging, not emailing, not outlining, but new fiction) being the minimum.

But, like Joe DiMaggio's, the streak has to end at some point (for the record, Joe's ended in Cleveland--I could crack a joke here, but since I grew up in New Jersey I'll refrain). For me, right now, in the middle of a great streak (if you're interested: 25 consecutive days with at least 1,000 words, and the average daily word count is roughly 1,500 with a total of 38,000 words), I can't imagine the streak ending, but it will. Real life and other responsibilities have the power to destroy a streak, but then, there is no reason why I can't embark on a brand new streak. And by the way: one of the major components of the streak was turning off the critical part of my brain and just allowing the words to flow, but that's an entirely different post on writing.

The 1,000 words a day streak wasn't a conscious thing at first, and at one time that many words would have felt like a lot of pressure to get done every single day while working full time and trying to be a good and engaging husband. No, I simply wanted to write daily and gain momentum on a first draft I wanted to finish by March.

The streak began on the day I had oral surgery--I was numb and on pain meds (I haven't gone back and read that day's work, and for all I know it's some surrealistic nightmare love child of David Lynch, Dali, and Bunuel--mixed with High Plains Drifter and The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly which I watched that day). I even had a nice bacterial infection afterward which was quite painful and required two rounds of antibiotic to eradicate--the point is that I didn't allow any of that to get in my way or slow me down. The streak continued. It would have been easy to sit around watch film after film or binge-watch a series I hadn't gotten around to seeing yet (there's simply too much great programming these days to keep up).

If the idea of a streak interests you, then I say start small and allow it to build. Keep track if that helps you. Maybe keeping track or thinking about a streak stresses you out, then it isn't for you. In the end, every writer has their own method or little thing that helps them, like turning off the internet or shutting a door or writing at the same time every day.

The streak works for me.

Rogues In Saratoga Springs: World Fantasy 2015

I'll be on the road again this week and attending World Fantasy in Saratoga Springs NY, November 5th-8th. The con organizers have graciously put me on a panel the opening day-- Thursday, November 5th at 4pm. Here is a description along with the panel participants from WFC's website:

The Rogue
Assassins, thieves, rogues of all stripes, it seems that no quest party™ is complete without a wisecracking roguish sidekick. But is there more to the Rogue than that? 
Ellen Kushner (mod.), Alistair Kimble, Cinda Williams Chima, James Alan Gardner, Ryk E. Spoor

About World Fantasy:

The World Fantasy convention will always be special to me--I attended my first one in 2010 when it was held in Columbus, Ohio. This particular convention is less fan-oriented and more professional, by which I mean, this is a great place to hang out at the bar and meet writers, editors, and literary agents.  Another aspect of the con that I like is that the membership is capped, so one has to purchase their ticket early enough in the year to be sure of getting a spot, otherwise there is a waiting list.

So many of the friends I have in the writing community became friends of mine in Columbus back in 2010. That first convention was interesting, since I went by myself and decided to wing it. Given my day job and the fact that I get paid to talk to people made meeting others not that difficult--but even so, I sat at the bar and the other writers and professionals were friendly and didn't mind talking to a stranger. At that convention I realized the old saying about writers was true--they like to drink. But no one got out of control and I found all my interactions with others to be quite engaging and informative.  I've learned so much about the industry over the years simply by attending conventions--but especially World Fantasy.

Anyway, World Fantasy will always have a special place in my heart, and I'm really looking forward to attending this one and having a chance to hang out with friends.

Lone Wolves & Loose Cannons

I attended Bouchercon, the world mystery convention, earlier in October. This year it was held in Raleigh, NC, a city I'd never visited before.  A friend of mine, and a very generous one at that, Mark Van Name (be sure to check out his Jon & Lobo series, published by Baen Books), allowed me to stay at his home while I was in town.

The trip to North Carolina was really two trips in one: the convention/writing and friends/food/entertainment.

Bouchercon:  This was my first time attending Bouchercon, and I have to say, I really enjoyed myself. I met so many wonderful writers and fans of crime fiction. I was on an early morning panel (8:30am), but unlike other conventions I've attended, people were up and about and filled the room!  The panel was Lone Wolves & Loose Cannons in Crime Fiction. The other panelists were gracious and friendly and well-read.

While my name tag is blocked, at least my fellow panelists name tags can be seen: Bruce deSilva, Andrew Grant, Mick Herron, and Ben McPherson.

An aspect of Bouchercon that I think other conventions might try is the schedule and signing after each panel. My panel was at 8:30am and ran until around 9:20am. Just outside the room there was a table setup for the authors on the panel to sign books and chat with fans until the next panel began (which wasn't until 10:00am). This was a lot of fun. I signed a copy of an anthology I have a story in, an iPad cover, and a bunch of Bouchercon programs which had my photo and bio inside.  I enjoyed chatting with people after the panel, and even though we were signing and chatting, we had plenty of time to make it to the next panel at 10:00am.

There was a great bar at one of the convention hotels (which were next door to each other and easily accessible) and I spent a fair amount of time there (and even chatted and had a few beers with Tim Akers (a great guy and wonderful fantasy writer, and oh yes, pre-order his book that is coming out in January 2016 -- The Pagan Night) who was attending with his father who writes mysteries). The attendees were friendly, and more than one author and agent strolled up, introduced themselves, and joined us for drinks.

I'm looking forward to attending future Bourchercons, since this one was run so well and everyone I met was friendly.

Friends & Food

I already mentioned Tim Akers, but another friend, Mark Van Name graciously put me up at his house. I got to meet his family and circle of friends, and went out to a few nice dinners and a couple of great lunches.

If you're ever in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, I highly recommend the following restaurants:

[one] -- this restaurant was amazing. The executive chefs have worked in some of the best restaurants in the world--The French Laundry and Alinea to name just two. The tasting menu (which they created just for our group on short notice) was delicious and varied. The presentation was creative and the choreography of the wait staff delighted. If you go to just one restaurant in that area, make it [one].

Panciutto -- this restaurant featured locally harvested food and generous portions. The restaurant itself had a rustic vibe, which suited the menu. The crafted cocktails and food I ordered were delicious. The food, combined with the atmosphere, and the company (about 8 of us) made the evening a delight.

lucettegrace -- this was a wonderful surprise, and so close to the convention in Raleigh.  The lunch items were simple, but so delicious (try the Traditional French Ham Sandwich--a house made baguette, soft butter, naturally cured ham, and Parrano Cheese), and we ordered a bunch of pastries (all rich and delicious) and later, we shared a selection of macarons. If I had closed my eyes, I would have sworn I was in Paris, relaxing at a left bank patisserie.

One more thing...

Two weeks after I returned to Colorado I was browsing the mystery section of a bookstore and was approached by an older gentleman, who asked, "this may be a stupid question, but, are you the law enforcement guy who writes mysteries."  I had no idea how this man knew me or recognized me, and I must have had a puzzled look on my face, so he added, "I recognized you by the hat and the way you wear the hat, tilted like you're wearing it now."  He then told me he had attended the Lone Wolves panel at Bouchercon and had enjoyed the panel.  Looks as if I'm doomed to wearing hats and attiring myself a certain way. Oh, darn.

Murder Under The Oaks - Bouchercon 2015

I'll be leaving for Raleigh, North Carolina around midnight tonight to attend Bouchercon 2015, the world mystery convention. Even though this is my first Bouchercon, the organizers were kind enough to invite me to participate in the program!

I'll be a panelist on Lone Wolves & Loose Cannons in Thrillers with some wonderful writers. My fellow panelists will be: Andrew Grant, Ben McPherson, Bruce DeSilva, and Mick Herron.  It's an early panel--8:30am on October 9th.

I'm looking forward to Bouchercon for many reasons (like being able to hang out with friends such as Mark Van Name), but given my law enforcement background and some of the straight-up crime fiction I've been writing lately, I'm excited to attend a mystery con.