INSPECT YOUR GADGETS by John M. Floyd Here’s a piece of advice we’re often given, as writers: to succeed in fiction, what you write must be different. If you want a readership—or even if you just want to get one story published—you’d better come up with something more than the same-old same-old. On the other […]

I WRITE LIKE. . . by Steven Steinbock A few weeks back – I forget how or where – I learned about a website that incorporates an analytic algorithm to compare a sample of writing to a database of writing styles by famous authors. The website, called I Write Like, was developed by Dmitry Chestnykh, […]

TICK, TICK, TICK by Deborah Elliott-Upton 1 Time keeps ticking along whether we have enough of it or not. If I could have one wish, it would probably be for more time. (I know, you thought I would ask for something involving Captain Jack’s portrayer, but I like to shake things up a bit every […]

CHAT ROOM by Rob Lopresti 1 “Hi, Velma.” “Well, lookee who’s here. Hello, Bobby.” “Bobby?” “Short for Robert. That’s your name, isn’t it?” “Yeah, but I don’t go by Bobby. I prefer Rob or Robert.” “What’s wrong with Bobby?” “Nothing, I suppose. It’s just not—” “Bobby Sherman did okay. Bobby Goldsboro. Bobbie Gentry.” “I’m pretty […]

The 400 YEAR-OLD SOLUTION by James Lincoln Warren My primary computer is temporarily occupied and I can’t use it to access the internet to provide a guest column today. When things return to normal, I will provide the Gentle Reader with new material worth reading. Until then, may I suggest checking out the following Medici […]

I live in Los Angeles, but my father lives in San Antonio. The other day, I got a phone call from him—he’d been cleaning out a closet in his home and come across a box full of comic books. I had bought them back in the 1970s, and he wanted to know if I wanted […]

EROTIC MYSTERY THRILLERS by Leigh Lundin I found myself in a conversation with friends about erotic mystery thrillers. As we chatted, I realized we had the makings for another John Floyd Movie List™, including several nominated for Edgar Allan Poe awards, the Edgar. Not a lot of introduction is necessary. Perhaps because of our American […]