CONVENTIONAL WISDOM by Steve Steinbock As you read this, I’m probably sitting in the lobby of the Indianapolis Hyatt Regency hanging out with John Floyd, or downstairs in the Exhibit Hall browsing paperbacks with Bill Crider, or better yet, on a lunch date with Criminal Brief veteran Melodie Johnson Howe. As I write this, though, […]

OCTOBER BITES by Steve Steinbock Two weeks ago I wrote to you about the dearth of good Juvenile and YA mysteries, and the utter glut of supernatural novels for kids. At the time I was irritated. I had a deadline to review new kids mysteries for a holiday publication, and I was having serious trouble […]

ANOTHER DARN BOOK-MEME by Steve Steinbock I’ve got one more book-meme I’m going to throw at you. And then I’ll be done with the topic. That is, unless the bug bites me again. This one is called Bookmania, and was sent to me by my cousin Elaine. Rules: Don’t take too long to think about […]

MEME A LITTLE MEME OF ME by Steve Steinbock What is it with teen supernatural romance novels? Continuing on last week’s Meme theme, I want to put the question out there as to what forces are behind current literary trends. I’d like to blame it all on the big publishing houses and their marketing departments, […]

MEME THIS by Steve Steinbock A meme, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is n. A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. The term, coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, is an amalgamation of the word gene […]

AUDIO-BRIEFING by Steve Steinbock Nope. It isn’t Friday. But it’s Agatha Christie Week. And that’s giving me an excuse to plug a few mystery short-story listening opportunities. If you happen to be in the English Riviera, you can take part in a variety of events (plays, films, gallery presentations, tours, lectures, etc.) as part of […]

FAUX-KNOWLEDGY by Steve Steinbock I’m going be wordy this week. If you’re one of those readers who hate my columns about words and language, you may want to step out for a cup of coffee until tomorrow when John Floyd will be back slinging some of his high quality Mississippi Mud. My subject today is […]