More Smatterings

Yesterday somehow got away from me, but I’m more than making up for it today (check back later for some literary detective work.)

As of this Sunday, Eddie Muller will be the San Francisco Chronicle’s new monthly crime fiction columnist (David Lazarus previously penned the column.)

Also at the Chronicle, Matthew Kalman chats with Matthew Rees about the impetus for his wonderful debut novel, THE COLLABORATOR OF BETHLEHEM.

Marcus Sakey gets a qualified rave from Janet Maslin, in that she likes the books but has to namecheck all the writers she thinks he consulted though the review really shows her reading limitations more than Sakey’s supposed writing limitations. Speaking of, Paul Guyot heaps mucho praise, and you won’t find me arguing with any of it.

Newsday has a great profile of Reed Farrel Coleman, whose next novel, SOUL PATCH, continues the Moe Prager series (and is out in April, which is very soon, yay!)

Thuglit’s latest issue is now up, featuring new fiction from Dave Zeltserman, Tim Wohlforth, Joseph Taverney, Jonas Knutsson, AT Mango and Steve Messner.

Laura Lippman hosts a great discussion about whether Thomas Harris has hijacked Hannibal, or if a character should belong to a writer and writer alone, no matter what.   

Lots of award news: the Dilys Nominations are out, and Mystery News brings word that the Private Eye Writers of America has created an award in honor of Mickey Spillane – “The Hammer” will recognize a key PI character, i.e. one “who has exhibited quality and endurance
    in a field where many characters have come and gone.” (via the Rap Sheet.)

While I wasn’t looking, the Black Orchid Bookshop revamped and updated its website. Check it out. (via Gerald.)

Goddamn, what is the Philly Inquirer doing? Yeah, lay off 20 percent of the workforce but somehow this is a "good thing." Typical management bullshit, and this sucks. Go spread some love at Frank Wilson’s blog, and read Jerome Weeks’ comments on similar straits at the Dallas Morning News.

And finally, if it looks like a meteor and acts like a meteor…hmmm, maybe it is one?