Starry night in Chi-town

The Chicago Public Library Foundation honored Tom Wolfe and Theresa Schwegel at the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards gala Wednesday evening. Schwegel received the 21st Century Award for her significant achievement in writing by an author with ties to Chicago.

More coverage at the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Sun-Times, Northwest Herald and the Chicago Public Library.








































Photos from top left:
(1) The radiant author posing at the entrance
(2) Great minds meeting for lunch (editor extraordinaire Kelley Ragland, Theresa, VP of St. Martin's Minotaur Andy Martin, and DHS)
(3) Theresa with Rhona Frazin, President of the Chicago Public Library Foundation
(4) Accepting the 21st Century Award from Deborah Bricker
(5) Theresa's acceptance speech onstage
(6) A close up during her speech
(7) Author and journalist Tom Wolfe speaking to the audience after being presented the Carl Sandburg Literary Award
(8) Theresa signing a book for Maggie Daley, wife of Mayor Richard M. Daley
(9) Theresa with her parents and DHS, aka her most avid enthusiasts (Photos 1, 4, 6 and 8 by Dan Rest)


Schwegel's most recent book PERSON OF INTEREST continues to receive rave reviews:

RTE Guide, a popular Irish magazine, says PERSON OF INTEREST is "a poignant and gripping tale...This is another super example of Schwegel’s ability and portends even better things to come".

"Theresa Schwegel's first two thrillers showed a writer of great promise, which is impressively fulfilled in Person of Interest. Schwegel's story is complex and cleverly nuanced, and it succeeds mainly because her characters, even the most minor, are so brilliantly realised and wholly believable. She scarcely puts a foot wrong as she drives her narrative through a maze of deception and betrayal to its bittersweet conclusion." - The Telegraph

Razzle dazzle roll call

With Al Roker acting as sous chef on The Today Show, Chef Jon Bonnell demonstrated a succulent, grilled lobster with herb-infused olive oil.


Professor Tim Calkins' book, BREAKTHROUGH MARKETING PLANS, is "drawing raves" by top executives of major companies.

Reed Coleman's SOUL PATCH scored the 2008 Shamus Award at Bouchercon last weekend. That Moe Prager is one award-winning character!




THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, is officially in stores. Readers, young and young at heart, will enjoy F. Scott Fitzgerald - graphic novel style.

"The impending release of a movie version starring Brad Pitt has made this humorous tale, formerly among the least known of Fitzgerald's short stories, a hot property. DeFillippis and Weir's adaptation preserves the original's straight-faced tone describing the career of a man who begins life in his 70s and grows progressively younger…there's much to enjoy in this handsome little hardbound book. Cornell's sepia watercolor panels are especially clever at showing physical and emotional changes as Benjamin moves backward through life while America rolls forward for 70 years. A useful, gracefully written afterword by Donald G. Sheehy, professor of English, completes the volume nicely." - Publishers Weekly


Sci Fi Wire picks up on Gischler's Apocalypse In A Strip Club.


Mucho congrats for Michael Koryta, who has a shiny, new deal with Michael Pietsch at Little, Brown!

"THE LOST RIVER, a thriller with a supernatural twist, in which a filmmaker hired to document a wealthy man's hidden past unleashes the buried secrets of a town that was once America's most luxurious resort, to Michael Pietsch at Little, Brown, in a major deal, for three books, for publication in 2010".


J. D. Rhoades' "BREAKING COVER is a brilliant novel. Vivid, fascinating and action packed, this is a thriller that will no doubt leave one wanting more. Those who like their thrillers to be thought provoking and with bullets flying will love it. Let's hope that we get to see much more of Tony Wolf." (Reviewing the Evidence)



Elizabeth Somer offers The Today Show viewers some helpful tips for a healthy diet through the decades. Somer's new book -- a step-by-step guide to being happy, mentally sharp, and energized, while trimming and permanently managing weight -- will be published by Deb Brody at Harlequin.


The sassy and snappy Magic Trixie is up to her mischievous antics again in MAGIC TRIXIE SLEEPS OVER. This beautifully illustrated second installment by Jill Thompson is in stores on Oct. 21.



Variety reports on the very nice film sale for Boston Teran's GOD IS A BULLET:

Film rights for the thriller have been optioned by screenwriter Ehren Kruger (The Ring, Skeleton Key), who will co-produce with Daniel Bobker (The Brothers Grimm) and Bradley Bell.

Snapshots from Bouchercon

(1) Will Dennis and Brian Azzarello present THE JOKER, a deliciously twisted standalone featuring the "clown prince of crime".

(2) Duane Swierczynski fans get in the game early on, collecting signatures from the stroller.












(3) Batman keeps watch while Jill Thompson signs at Geppi's.

(4) Brian Azzarello, Gary Phillips, and Will Dennis join forces on the DC Vertigo Crime panel.











(5) Dan Conaway, J. D. Rhoades, Sean Doolittle, and Alafair Burke relax at Mick O'Shea's, this year's bar of choice for the annual DHS "off-campus" party.

(6) Mark Sullivan is the picture of cool composure no matter where he is, be it listening to Lynn Grady at a bar or tracking prey in the woods.











(7) Here's a nice bottle of Beck's, pausing for a photo with Michael Koryta and Kelley Ragland.

(8) Sean Doolittle, Michael Koryta, and Derek Nikitas -- all smiles before climbing onboard the Coast Guard Cutter as research for future books. Allegedly.

updates on our august authors

Declan Burke blogs his high praise for Reed Farrel Coleman's THE JAMES DEANS:

"some writers can make you feel that they have inhabited their characters to a degree associated with demonic possession, but Reed Farrel Coleman’s gift is to graft that sensation onto the reader, so that he or she feels they’re wearing the character like skin...[The James Deans is] "how books are supposed to be."


High fives for J. D. Rhoades! Indiebound has picked BREAKING COVER as a "Notable Book" for August.

"Shamus-finalist Rhoades (The Devil's Right Hand) delivers a gripping stand-alone thriller. The action escalates to a powerfully violent, powerfully satisfying conclusion." - Publishers Weekly


Tom Piccirilli follows up his 2008 Thriller Award win with a World Fantasy Award nomination! FIVE STROKES TO MIDNIGHT, the anthology which features his stories "Loss" and "Bereavement", has also won two Bram Stoker awards.



Gischler's GO-GO GIRLS are charming their way through the blogosphere. (Is that a boing boing we hear?) The book was on the top 10 best sellers list of the Independent Mystery Bookseller's Association in July, and has picked up more rave reviews:

"fast, funny and action-packed...Gischler continues to demonstrate that he's one of the freshest and most talented voices in genre fiction." - Chicago Sun-Times

"the latest, most entertaining and insightful world’s end vision...some of the darkest, grisliest humor you’re likely to experience. Yet lurking beneath the surface of this nightmare comedy is a satiric profundity that pushes it far above most similar stories...read McCarthy’s THE ROAD if you must. But you really must read GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE." - Alan Cranis, Bookgasm

"You ought to add Victor Gischler's work to your to-do list right quick. Reading a Gischler novel is like driving a fast car downhill with your foot over the brake, but loving the speed so much that you’re afraid to press the damn thing. Go-Go Girls pulls the reader into the chaos of the story. If you’re sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, give this book a shot at lightening your load." - Jay Willson, RevolutionSF

Interviews with the mad genius behind it all can be found at In For Questioning and The Rap Sheet.

Steve Ekstrom at Newsarama recommends BATMAN: MURDER AT WAYNE MANOR as a great gift or collectible item. "Set earlier in the Dark Knight’s career as a costumed vigilante, Swierczynski’s Batman is dark and reflective. Surprisingly minimal, the story is gripping; introducing some of Gotham’s elite, both past and present — as well as a new villain for the book, the Black Mask of Fate. Readers assimilate the clues quickly; the paced natured of this story speeds things along quickly. The actual physical clues provide a tactile connection to the nuances of back story...very polished, high quality"

And — drumroll, please — we are absolutely delighted to announce the film option for SEVERANCE PACKAGE:

Film/TV rights were sold to Lionsgate by our terrific film co-agent Angela Cheng Caplan. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel are producing, with Brett Simon ("Assassination of a High School President") attached to direct and co-write the script with Swierczynski (aka our own "multi-sport star, a literary Deion Sanders.")

Envy The Writer

Take some time out for Moments in Crime, St. Martin's Minotaur blog where Edgar Award finalist Michael Koryta is guest blogging this week. His new stand-alone novel, ENVY THE NIGHT, is in bookstores today, and has received high praise from Ridley Pearson (author of more than 20 novels, including the New York Times bestseller "Killer View", the Lou Boldt crime series, and many books for young readers):

"Reading James Crumley and John D. MacDonald set the writing hook in me: I wanted to write mysteries and thrillers. I wanted to be a storyteller.

Now, in Michael Koryta, all these years later, I've read the heir apparent to those masters. There is grit and determination in Michael's writing; there is heart and character; the threat of violence first simmers, then boils over. The pulse quickens. Envy The Night is everything this kind of novel is meant to be. A more fitting title: Envy The Writer.

It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a mystery novel as much as Envy The Night. This book had me from the first page, and much to my surprise, kept me reading hard and fast until the last.

What separates this book from others? One word: characters. Stories are stories. We all read (and write) a ton of them. But we come to novels to meet fresh faces, and Michael Koryta delivers.

This diabolical mystery novel, laid out in simple but eloquent prose and pitch-perfect dialogue, heralds a changing of the guard. I have seen the future of "The Best Mystery Writer in America" and its name is Michael Koryta."

new month news

Can't wait to find out what Batman is up to next? "Duane Swierczynski’s BATMAN: MURDER AT WAYNE MANOR (Quirk) offers an absorbing glimpse into the Caped Crusader’s psyche." - School Library Journal


Sarah Weinman is calling GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE an "incredibly funny, violent, panoramic and pulpy apocalyptic novel" and one of her Picks of the Week!



Some intrepid globetrotters over at The Independent are going "around the world in 80 sleuths". Their last stop? The South Pole with a copy of Greg Rucka's WHITEOUT.



Gary Phillips will be on Crimewav.com this week reading his short story "Swift Boats for Jesus" from the anthology he edited, POLITICS NOIR: Dark Tales from the Corridors of Power from Verso.



If the summer heat has got you craving some ice cream or a fizzy drink, be sure to check out Elizabeth Somer's list of 15 Foods that Fool for healthy and tasty tips, tricks, and alternatives.


To find out more about "the glamorous life of Jo Barrett", head over to HTexas Magazine for Jo's monthly column and her thoughts on owning a ranch.

The 2008 Shamus nominations are in...

Congratulations to our Best Hardcover noms - Reed F. Coleman (SOUL PATCH) and Michael Koryta (A WELCOME GRAVE)! The 27th annual Shamus Awards will be presented in October at Bouchercon.

hot weather, cool books

"Smart and entertaining", GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE is winning Victor Gischler praise from the SF Chronicle: "Gischler tips his hat to various end-of-the-world books and movies, but he doesn't indulge in the kind of adolescent nihilism that often swamps this kind of setup. While there's plenty of mayhem and depravity on display, the novel neither makes too light of it nor loses its sense of humor...a satisfying warm-weather read at a time when there's comfort in the observation that 'hey, things could be worse.'"


The Chicago Tribune is hooked on Swierczynski's "literary methamphetamine", calling SEVERANCE PACKAGE "a guilty pleasure of unparalleled magnitude. With pedal-to-the-metal pacing, characters who appear to be meek cubicle dwellers à la "Office Space" but are really cold-blooded, black-ops killers, and enough gut-churning violence to make a Quentin Tarantino movie look like a Disney musical replete with singing candlesticks and teapots, the dark, twisted energy in this novel is palpable."

In other Swierczynski news, THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST will be released on July 23. The first in a four-part installment in THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST series, it guarantees to take the series to the next explosive level!



For the kids, MAGIC TRIXIE twirls into stores tomorrow. Readers, young and not-so-young, will enjoy Trixie's enchanting and mischievous adventures.

Debuts, reviews, and other news

Tom Piccirilli's THE MIDNIGHT ROAD wins the 2008 Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original!
Tom's editor, Caitlin Alexander, accepted the award on his behalf and read a brief note from him. (Even though Tom had lobbied for Caitlin to "entertain [the audience] with guerilla performance art, interpretive dance, the use of sock monkeys, or a karaoke routine of Michael Jackson's Thriller")


Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, in conjunction with Seven Seas Entertainment, have a new project debuting on July 23 in Metromix! The new manga, the NINJA DIARIES, will be the July 23rd cover story for the LA nightlife/social scene paper and will run weekly in print and on the Metromix website.


Greg Pak has a new series - SKAAR, the savage Son of Hulk.
"I could rave on and on about how satisfying and enjoyable this issue was as a die-hard Pak/Hulk fan, and wouldn't even come close to the joy Hulk fans and new readers alike are going to get from this book. It's a blast and I couldn't recommend it more highly! Seriously: check it out!" - Jim Gibbons, WizardUniverse.com


JD Rhoades has a new novel coming out on July 22, 2008. BREAKING COVER is being called "one of those rare thrillers that combine smart, tense prose with a momentum that never quits" by NY Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen and boasts a "Sam Peckinpah–like bloody, bravura finale that will leave even icy-veined thriller fans panting for breath." (Bill Ott, Booklist)


The recently released GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE is the latest book by Victor Gischler. Steve Ekstrom says "you’ll shudder at the starkness and chortle with laughter at the same time--this is one hellishly good read" while Bill Crider declares that "[GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE is] bound to be the best title of 2008.. .Gischler's going to be a writer you can't pin down."