Derringer

BEAT to a PULP has received two Derringer award nominations for "The Hard Sell" by Jay Stringer and "Identity Theft" by Robert Weibezahl. Congratulations to both and thanks for entrusting BTAP with such marvelous stories.

Also, kudos to Dave Zeltserman for being nominated in the novelette category for "Julius Katz." This was one of my favorite new detectives of last year that I mentioned here.

Hanging With Matthew Mayo

Well, what a kick it was to find out that writer Matthew Mayo lives practically around the corner from me. The Charmer and I were invited to stop by, which we did, and we spent a couple of enjoyable hours shooting the breeze about all kinds of stuff like Shane, favorite crime writers and Gunsmoke vs. Bonanza. In Matt's words "we prattled on like a couple of Jane Austen characters." So true. And Matt was incredibly gracious when I became especially exuberant over The Six Million Dollar Man's duel with the Sasquatch.

Matt's latest is COWBOYS, MOUNTAIN MEN & GRIZZLY BEARS: Fifty of the Grittiest Moments in the History of the Wild West. I have to confess, it contains many stories about real-life characters new to me, such as John Colter, George Drouillard and Marie Dorian. But even the well-worn tales—Tom Horn, Wyatt Earp—are fresh thanks to this Spur Award finalist's sharp prose. Whole-heartedly endorsed. Oh, and I have to brag... I got a personally signed copy.


Related links:

Matthew P. Mayo's official website

Meridian Bridge: A Conversation With Matthew Mayo

Review of COWBOYS by Laurie Powers.

LEGEND 5: Half A Pig review by Evan Lewis

7 Questions: Chris Holm

What impact has the state of Maine had on your writing?

The impact Maine's had on my writing would be difficult to overstate. There's the obvious, of course: my first novel, THE ANGELS' SHARE, takes place in a small town on the coast of Maine, and Maine has featured prominently in a couple of my shorts. There's a richness here, of character and of setting, that I've not felt anywhere else I've ever lived. But for me, Maine's impact goes deeper than that. Truth is, writing was just an idle fantasy of mine until I moved to Maine. I was on another path entirely, living in Virginia and working toward a PhD in infectious disease research. It was what I thought I'd always wanted to do with my life, but I was miserable. For some damn-fool reason, I was determined to stick it out, but my wife's a hell of a lot smarter than I am, and she convinced me I should quit and find a new dream. So I did.

Moving to Maine was an easy choice. I think I loved the place before I ever laid eyes on it, having spent my adolescence ensconced in the works of Stephen King. I first started visiting Maine in college with my wife, who grew up in the Western Mountains, and it felt like coming home. When we moved up here in 2001, it was like a switch had flipped. I started writing in earnest for the first time since middle school, and haven't looked back. There's just something in the air up here, I think. It's hard to describe without sounding all crazy and mystical. But I can't imagine living anywhere else, for fear the words would go away.


Where did the spark for writing begin?

When I was six years old, I wrote a picture-book for school titled "The Alien Death From Outer Space." I'm pretty sure I wore out my red crayon illustrating it, so you can imagine how impressed my teacher must have been. As I recall, she liked it so much, she showed it to the principal. He called me to his office and asked a bunch of what I now assume were pretty pointed questions. When he realized I wasn't so much a sociopath as I was obsessed with science fiction, he congratulated me on a job well done and gave me a candy bar. I didn't realize at the time my blood-spattered tale had caused a panic; all I knew was that I wrote something, and people noticed. I consider that candy bar my first-ever literary award, and from then on, I was hooked.


Congratulations on "Action" being published in the current issue of AHMM. Now, you're an old hat at this with "The World Behind" landing in the June '07 issue of EQMM. What's the secret to your success?

Thanks, David! I'm not sure I've any great secret, but if I did it would be blind determination coupled with a knack for writing toward a specific market. The first story I submitted to EQMM got bounced in record time -- twenty-eight days, door to door. And truthfully, it should have been; it was all wrong for EQMM. I hadn't written it with them in mind, and though technically it fell within their guidelines, it lacked the flavor all their stories seem to share. Of course, I couldn't admit that at the time; I was just pissed they'd failed to see my utter, utter genius. It was a vain, wrongheaded, and ultimately useful response, because it forced me to sit down at my keyboard and write "The World Behind", the whole time thinking, "Oh yeah? Let's see you reject *this*!" Only they didn't, and since then, I don't think I've started a single story without a target market in mind. That market may not be where the story ultimately ends up, but I find the guidance helpful nonetheless.

The caveat to that approach is that you (and by "you", I mean "I", but just roll with it) can't be mercenary about it; if you don't really, truly *feel* the story you're writing, it'll come off bloodless on the page. I can set my sights on The Paris Review all I like, but lit-fic ain't my bag, so it's just never gonna happen. The trick is finding that sweet spot between what the market is looking for and what you like to write, and if there isn't one, don't bother submitting. For me, the approach isn't restrictive; I find it actually pushes me to be more ambitious, to take more risks, and (whether it's a coming of-age story like "The World Behind", a comic caper like "Action", or an adventure-pulp/horror crossover like "A Native Problem") expand my own definition of the kinds of stories I write until it more closely resembles those I like to read.

In a recent blog post you mentioned you are a recovering Star Wars geek. What crashed your Millennium Falcon?

Oh, I wouldn't say it crashed. Maybe just picked up a couple mynocks on the hull, who're draining it of juice. But in a pinch, it'd still make the Kessel run in twelve parsecs. (See? Huge geek.)

Truth is, I'm still a huge fan of the original trilogy. (Yes, even Jedi.) But they're no longer the sacred cows to me they once were. I was exposed to Star Wars so young, it's a part of my cultural DNA. It was the first fictional universe that really grabbed me, and it no doubt shaped the way I view the world. That sort of relationship almost precludes criticism. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to extend to the new trilogy. I've seen them all a bunch of times, and even defended them a time or two, but the fact is, they're pretty terrible. They lack the verve, the spark, the first three had. And the more you watch them, the more they call attention to the shortcomings of the original trilogy. Hokey dialogue. Spotty acting. Cloying cuteness.

Also, for God's sake, Lucas, HAN SHOT FIRST!

Sorry. Don't know what came over me there.

That said, I don't subscribe to the idea that Lucas somehow retroactively ruined my childhood by making I-III. Lucas botching the new trilogy led Whedon to create Firefly. Hell, Lucas botching the new Indy led Ardai to create Gabriel Hunt. That's enough to make me wish he had another franchise or two to screw up.


Cliché question here: When working on a story, do you draft an outline or wing it?

I never know quite how to answer this question, 'cause the fact is, I've done both. I think these days, I fall more into the wing-it camp; it keeps the story fresh for me, and hopefully by extension for the reader as well. Usually when I begin a story, I know where it starts, how it ends, and I've got an idea about a few key beats in the middle. But the less written down ahead of time, the better. More room for surprises that way.


Coffee or beer when you're writing?

I write mornings, so coffee. Maybe a beer or a glass of wine when I'm revising. Whiskey when a project's done.


How's the novel coming?

Very well, thanks! I'm in the home stretch on the second book in a series that recasts the battle between heaven and hell as a Golden Era crime pulp. The first in the series, DEAD HARVEST, is being shopped around right now.


*Chris explains the story behind the fun picture of his wife, Katrina, and himself on his blog.

The Fisherman

My charmer took some of the sting out of my turning forty by gifting me with this painting that I've dubbed The Fisherman. I saw it last summer at an antique store and resisted the impulse buy. But I couldn't shake the image of this expressive old man. She remembered it also and now two seasons later, it's on my wall. Thanks d!
Artist Hazel W. Carter, 1974, oil on canvas.

BTAP #67: The Pickle by Chris La Tray

I guess you never think about how you got to where someone's got a shotgun pointed at you. At least not until after it's over, if you're lucky enough to survive it. It's just you and that big, fat barrel, and some jerkoff pointing it at you. Everything else just kinda goes away.

I'm pleased to publish Chris La Tray's debut crime ficion piece. It's called "The Pickle" and you can finish this gritty tale here.

Coming soon: Hilary Davidson's "Fetish" and Richard Prosch is in charge of "Dog Day Care."

And a first for BTAP, a graphic short story!

Spinetingler Nominations

Well, heck, this is pretty cool. I was on my second cup of java this morning when I received an e-mail from Sandra Seamans informing me BEAT to a PULP has snagged three nominations for the 2010 Spinetingler Awards for Best Short Story on the Web. They are A Wild and Crazy Night by John Kenyon, Insatiable by Hilary Davidson and Paul Brazill’s The Tut. Congrats to all and thanks for submitting such brilliant, evocative stories.

And Kudos to Sandra herself (Big Snoopy dance for you!), Sophie Littlefield, Anonymous-9, Alan Griffiths, Mark Joseph Kiewlak, Frank Bill, and Michael Moreci who round out the nominations. That’s some hard decision making come voting day. All winners, all deserving.

New Camera Time

We need a new camera. Our latest has been a faithful servant but after six years and many thousand photos it's time to upgrade. Do any shutterbugs out there have suggestions?

Here are some of the best from the slew of photos that Little d took over the weekend.