PULP NOIR by Melodie Johnson Howe Many years ago I began collecting first editions. My rule for collecting was simple: I had to have read and admired the author’s works. One of the first books I bought was Edmund Crispin’s A Glimpse of the Moon. Crispin, an English author, had delighted me with his erudite […]

THE WRITER’S COOKBOOK (Part 3 of 4) by James Lincoln Warren By tonight I will have returned to Los Angeles from San Antonio, which may be a shock to those of you who thought I was in Minnesota. Well, I was in Minnesota last week, so there. I haven’t decided whether to print Part 4 […]

BAD WORDS by Leigh Lundin Once again I write about forbidden words but in a different context. As usual, however, they may not be what you expect. Writers, I like to believe, see the world in a skewed way, and in articulating an odd-angled view, teach, entertain, wonder, or ponder. I suspect mystery writers, who […]

RULES TO LIVE BY UNLESS YOU IGNORE THEM Jon L. Breen writes review columns for Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Mystery Scene. He might not tell you, but he was won two Edgars, two Anthonys, a Macavity, an American Mystery Award, and an American Crime Writers League Award. His most recent books are the novel […]

LISTENING TO POE by Steven Steinbock I’ve been a devotee of Old Time Radio from way back. I was born too late to catch “The Shadow” in its original run. But over the years I’ve spent a good bunch of hours listening to recordings of the old shows. I was intrigued when Radio Spirits sent […]

KILLING THEM OFF by Deborah Elliott-Upton Mystery writers may never need to consult a therapist. We work out our hostilities through our stories. Is your boss a jerk? Kill him off! Mother-in law on your case? Kill her off! Your rival stole your boyfriend? You know what to do – and never spend a day […]

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED? by Rob Lopresti So, like the title says: Do you remember where you were when it happened? I’m not talking about the day a great leader died, or a plane crashed, or any of the other events that usually spark that question. I’m talking about a much more personal […]