A Look at What's Going On...

In all the traveling craziness lately, I haven't done a look at what fun things are going on around the web. So I thought I'd share what's come across my computer screen today and then you can share other things YOU know about in the comments!

Brilliance Audio has a podcast with Iris Johansen about her upcoming suspense novel, BONNIE.

Things are gearing up for the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego conference. You should really try to come if you can. I mean, look at this awesome lineup!

And speaking of conferences, don't forget that you can register for Bouchercon 2012 now. It's in my neck of the woods next year, and if you register before the end of the year, you can get a $25 discount.

Don't forget to go and nominate your favorite 2011 crime novels in the Independent Literary Awards! I'm part of the committee reading and voting on the short list, so nominate a good bunch of books for me to choose from. Make my job VERY HARD! :-)

Those of you looking forward to Stephen King's 11/22/63, Simon and Schuster are posting audio samples on Mondays and Fridays through October 24th. 

Todd Ritter has his Magical Mystery Tour going on right now. If he's in your area, stop out and say "hi." Buy a book and you could be a big winner!

Tama Ryder is making her debut with a memoir about Len Lesser who passed away in February. You probably know him from Seinfeld as "Uncle Leo" but he has also had character parts in many television crime dramas, including Hardcastle and McCormick (remember that one?), The Rockford Files, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Simon & Simon, Remington Steele, and more.

Mark Harmon's role as Lucas Davenport in a TV movie adaptation of Certain Prey was announced earlier this year and it's set to air on November 6th. I'm wondering if I should watch this. I'm a huge Harmon fan; Davenport, not so much. Wondering if the movie might change my feelings about Sandford's character.

It isn't coming out until December, but I'm reading Craig McDonald's EL GAVILAN right now, and I can't recommend highly enough that you check this book out. It's just...WOW! You'll hear more about it from me later, but in the mean time, check out his website and here's the trailer for the book.



This is a book that will come in under the 2011 wire and make my favorite's list. Few books are able to keep me up past my normal bed time these days, this is one of the exceptions.

O.k., your turn. What do you have to share for the good of the order?

Happy Labor Day

I hope everyone is enjoying a grand weekend and Labor Day. Bouchercon is quickly approaching and I'll be leaving next Saturday for St. Louis, so it's been a constant flow of work lately to make sure as much is taken care of before I leave as possible. And that includes some blog and web updates!

First of all, for those of you attending Bouchercon, here's an update on the signing schedule at the Crimespree booth:

Thursday:

11:30-12/ Sophie Littlefield, Juliet Blackwell & Brad Parks
1-2:00/ William Kent Krueger
2-2:30/ Kelli Stanley, Tracy Kiely & Boyd Morrison
2:30-3/ Tim Hallinan
3-3:30/ Michael Wiley & Martyn Waites
3:30-4/ Hilary Davidson & Sean Chercover


Friday:

10:30-11/ Todd Ritter & Bryan Gruley
11-11:30/ Tim Hallinan & Gary Phillips
11:30-12/ Jonathan Hayes, Alafair Burke, & Joe Finder
12-12:30/ Hank Phillippi Ryan
1:30-2/ Mike Lawson
2-2:30/ Bob Truluck & R.J. Ellory
2:30-3/ Megan Abbott & Daniel Palmer
3:30-4/ Christa Faust & Duane Swierczynski


Saturday:

10-11/ Tom Schreck & Nicole Peeler
11-11:30/ Bill Cameron & J.L. Abramo
11:30-12/ Bill Cameron
12-12:30/ Bill Crider
1-1:30/ Cara Black & Rosemary Harris
1:30-2/ Michelle Gagnon & Lisa Unger
2-2:30/ Anthony Campbell & Michael Moreci

Plan accordingly! We want to keep these wonderful folks busy, busy, busy! I know all the authors will be so happy to talk with you and sign books. Remember to purchase your books from the vendors or bring them with you to the convention - there will NOT be books for sale at the Crimespree booth. There will be other fun things, like back issues of Crimespree, but no books.

Of course online registration has closed, so if you want to attend Bouchercon now, you'll need to buy your passes at the door. There will be day passes, so if you only want to come for one day (who would want to do that???), you can get a day pass for $75 at the door.

The nominations for the Independent Literary Awards are now open! Any and all readers (whose livelihoods are not based on the publication and sale of books) can nominate. Here is the link for the mystery nominations. I hope you'll go over and offer up what you thought were the best mystery books this year. Here's your chance to have a say. So go! Nominate!! And spread the word to your friends, family, neighbors, enemies...everyone!

And all my deepest thanks to those of you who nominated and got me a spot on the Book Blogger Appreciation Week nomination list again this year! It really is a tremendous honor to be recognized like this. The actual BBAW takes place during Bouchercon week...go figure. But I'm going to do my darnedest to participate.

And the last think I'll leave you with is this recording from BBC Radio 4 where you can listen to them talk to David Baldacci, Joseph Finder and C.J. Box. It starts at about 20:00. Enjoy and have a fabulous Labor Day!