|
Guide
to Classic Mystery and Detection
A truly amazing site, with reading lists and essays on great
mysteries, designed and written by Michael E. Grost. Topics include
Pulp Fiction (including in-depth looks at such icons as Hammett,
Daly, Chandler, Nebel, Constiner, Davis, Gardner, and John K.
Butler) and Contemporary Mystery Fiction (notably the Contemporary
Private Eyes and Thrillers section). Michael is also responsible
for the equally impressive Classic
Comics Site. Recommended.
Reviewing
the Evidence
Rising from the ashes following the collapse of about.com
is this great volunteer review site I've only recently discovered,
run by Barbara Franchi, covering tons of mysteries and thrillers
in all categories. Barbara intends to post "the full range
of reviews from rave to phooey. For more info, check out the
site and e-mail
us." Volunteers to do some of the maintenance on
the site are needed.
I Love a Mystery
A newsletter and site reviewing mystery fiction in all genres,
including private eye, historical, cozies, legal and medical
thrillers, and police procedurals. Regular reviewers range from
the great Andi Shechter, our own D.L. Browne and Sophie Jensen
to the likes of Harriet Klausner.
The Brothers Judd: Private
Eye Reviews
Who are these guys? This is a small but hoperfully growing collection
of reviews by two real fans, well worth checking out.
Ed's
Internet Book Reviews
Not specifically private eye-, or even mystery-oriented, but
Ed has assembled a fairly
large and truly impreessive database organized by author and
category. Check it out.
Dime Novels and Penny Dreadfuls
Here's an extraordinary site for cultural studies scholars and
just curious fans who just want to see where the pulps sprang
from. It spotlights the Stanford University Library's Dime Novel
and Story Paper Collection, and offers thousands of cataloged
graphic images of illustrated covers from the dime novels and
story papers that were immensely popular in America from the
mid-nineteenth century to its close. The images may be searched
or browsed; search options include an exhaustive listing of "salient
features," and allow examination and serious study of graphic
representations of gender, class, race, work, and manners of
the time. The site also includes complete texts and catalog information
for all of the issues imaged.
The
Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture
An interesting site which runs reviews etc and articles of HB
related matters.
The
Mercantile Library Archives of Detective Fiction
Now a division of the Mercantile Library, The
Archives of Detective Fiction, which boasts "the largest
collection of mystery, detective and crime fiction in the U.S.,"
was established in 1996 to promote the study and appreciation
of mystery, detective, and crime fiction by establishing a comprehensive
digital archive of its history and texts. It also allows "all
20th century titles to circulate to members, who can receive
books by mail." The catch? It's not cheap--it used to be
$150 for the annual fee. And though both its publications and
its collections are supposedly available to members around the
world, the director feels it is too risky to mail books of the
country. But they do have a lot of stuff. You just send them
a list of what you want to read and the person in charge (named
Watson, actually) sends them to you on a schedule you set (2
books a week, etc.). (Thanks, Sharon.)
Mystery
Short Fiction: 1990-2000
Although the stated goal of this invaluable site by William G.
Contento is "to list all mystery short fiction published
in English since 1990," it's a bit of a misnomer, since
it also includes material dating back to 1980. That's because
it started as an index of Alfred Hitchcock, Ellery Queen, Mike
Shayne and other mystery mags published since 1980, continuing
the work begun by Michael L. Cook in his Monthly Murders
(1982). Also indexed are issues of mystery magazines not listed
there or other indexes. The current edition adds a supplement
to Index to Crime and ystery Anthologies (G.K. Hall 1991) and
an index to mystery single-author collections. Can't find out
where that missing Pronzini tale is? It might be here! This index,
combined with Index to Crime and Mystery Anthologies (G.K. Hall
1990) and an index to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, is now available
on CD-ROM as Mystery Short Fiction Miscellany: An Index from
Locus Press, the same folks who brought you the CD-ROM version
of Allan Hubin's equally invaluable Crime
Fiction III.
Hard Boiled Maryland
An excellent site maintained by Thrilling Detective
contributor James
Stephens, corresponding with an exhibit at the University's
McKeldin Library, both focussing on four of Maryland's native
sons, James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, George Pelecanos and William
Lindsay Gresham. And Jim's latest project is a collection of
scans of old pulp and paperback covers he's posted at http://members.tripod.com/~whosiskid/paperbacks
and http://members.tripod.com/~whosiskid/pulps
.
Polar
Web
This is the site for French noir literature and translations. It's managed by Bertrand de Frémont, who offers info and interviews on all things noirish, often in English.
By the way, lovers of the genre owe a big 'Merci bien!"
to the French. Many of the masters of the genre who were continually
in print in France, while their work was long out of print and
only available in North America at secondhand bookstores, fleamarkets
and garage sales.
Pour être au courant de ce qui se passe chez les écrivains noirs français essayez le site de Polar Web qui est géré par Bertrand de Frémont ; il fournit des informations et interviews sur la littérature que vous aimez... souvent en anglais.
.
Writing
All About Murder
NEW! Patricia A. Rasey's
great reference site for writers, with contributions from fellow
authors and editors, as well as police officers, lawyers, forensic
experts, nurses, doctors, publishers, scientists, and more! Also
plenty of reviews.
Fiction
Factor
They bill themselves as "the online magazine for writers,"
and they're not pulling your leg. A great e-zine for tips on
everything you can think of: plotting, dealing with agents and
editors, getting published, finding the right publisher for your
work, promoting your writing and much more. They evern review
other writing web sites and markets.
The
Lester Dent Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot
Rara-Avis' head
bird Bill Denton can't even remember where he found this, but
I'm grateful he shared it with us. It's a guide on how to write
a pulp short story that sells, by one of the greatest pulpsters
of all time!
Wicked Company
The perfect forum for discussing crime and mystery writing. Share tips, info, experiences with your partners in crime--or just discuss your favorite crime or mystery books. Like the dame says "You don't even have to be a published author to join. ALL mystery/crime authors welcome (POD, short story, electronic, self-published) as well as readers, reviewers, editors, and people who turned left after Greenland."
The Shortmystery Discission Group
The Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) is a web
site and an electronic mail list group of writers, readers,
fans, editors and publishers of mystery and crime fiction from
all around the globe. They seek to actively recognize writers
and readers who promote and support the creative artform of short
mysteries in the press, in other mystery organizations, and through
the Derringer Awards which honor excellence in the field of short
mystery fiction.
The
Screenplayers
A group of screenwriters who utilitze the web to market their
scripts. Sable Jaks, creator of web radio eye Phil
Byrnes, is a member, and points out that several of the
scripts are in the mystery vein.
The
Mysterious Pen
The Mysterious Pen is a series of videotape documentary interviews
that showcase mystery writers. Each video volume is an hour long
interview with producer, Bill Creed, on such topics as craft
of writing; how they started writing, where they get their ideas,
and how much time it takes to write. They also discuss their
characters: where they come from and how much the characters
reflect their creators. Interviews with Lawrence Block, Parnell
Hall and Jeremiah Healy are already available, and interviews
with Joan Hess, William Tapply, Stephen Dobyns, George Chesbro
and others are in the works. "Nicely photographed, recorded
and edited," according to Ed Gorman, Mystery Scene. "Intelligent
interviews that get to the heart of the writing process."
The Whitestone List of Mystery Author Home Pages
The authoritative reference for the home pages
of mystery writers, with over 700 listed, and more being added
everyday.
The
Mystery Writers Forum
The web site for the magazine which is just what it says. A forum
for mystery writers, a discussion/critique group on all aspects
of mystery writing. Lauri Hart, the Forum Administrator, set
the site up out of frustration of not being able to find anything
like it on the web. They have about 400 users and a very active
group of 'regulars' who log in every day.
You can have pieces of your work critiqued or you can participate
in a weekly 'workshop' that is organized and critiqued by the
users. MWF is also a great resource for researching death details
and police procedure. They're also a great resource
Mystery Writers of America
Information on members and book signing schedules. These are
the guys that dish out the Edgars, too.
The
American Crime Writers League
The Internet Writing Journal
The Internet Writing Journal is a free, online magazine published
monthly by Writers Write, Inc., which includes reviews, interviews
and advice for writers.
More Mystery Resources
An invaluable site for writers, researchers and mystery buffs,
from the Northern California chapter of the MWA.for books on
writing. In association with Amazon.com, we highlight a number
of great resource books for mystery writers.
Crimewriting Network
Lots of information for serious crime writers, particularly those
interested in writing for television and film. It's part of the
giant Hollywood Net Inner Circle site. Much of it is for members
only, but if you're serious about turning pro, the Writers/Crimewriters
Inner Circle might be worth it.
Inscriptions
A weekly e-zine for professional writers. Each "jam-packed
issue features writing and publishing-related articles, job opportunities,
writing contests, paying markets, book reviews and links."
Free subscriptions are also available.
Writing Services
The
Writer's Source: Frank M. Ahearn
For over twenty years considered "one of
the leading skip tracers in the world," Frank offers screenwriters
and novelists help with their manuscripts and information on
how to disappear. Or even real people, apparently. The blurb
continues: "be it the rich businessman who wants to leave
it all behind or the woman being stalked. Mr. Ahearn has helped
dozens achieve their goals. His business takes him from Belize
to Bombay. Hearing him tell stories is like sitting with a master
of espionage reminiscing of days gone bye. His business is serious,
peoples lives depend on his results and efficiency."
proofreadservices.com/
The site for Sharon Potthoff's proofreading business, which specializes
in proofing web site content, checking for spelling, typos, grammar,
capitalization and consistent format. They will generate a report
of what needs to be fixed. As Sharon says, "Proofreading
is part of what I do in my job, but man, the potential out there
for helping people fix grammar and punctuation and typos on their
sites is huge...I see it everywhere. It's like a curse or something
that I can't shake that I spot the stuff and I'd like to turn
the curse into income." (Sheesh! I hope she isn't talking
about me!). They also offer other proofreading services,
fotr such media as manuscripts, short stories, articles, ad copy,
resumes and term papers.
The
Scribe
NEW! Jodi-Renée Kaplan offers transcription, proofreading, and editing services for mystery, general fiction, non-fiction, medical, scientific, technical, business – you name it, The Scribe can do it. Source material for transcription can be in the form of hard copies, dictation via audio file download, phone-in dictation, or dictation on standard or microcassette tapes. It can't get any easier than that. For proofreading and editing, documents can be sent via e-mail, facsimile, or the U.S. Postal Service.
"Jodi is a godsend. She not only understands the technical aspects of fiction writing, but the creative side as well. She offered editorial insights that really helped my book. I credit her with my publication." (Mike Lester – author of "An Occasional Dream."
Writing
English
Do you have an important business letter, report,
term paper, curriculum vitae, cover letter, or other written
presentation to prepare? Writing English provides a glossary
of grammatical terms and tips for cover letters, business letters,
resume writing and other writing, in addition to offering a proofreading
and copyediting services.
See also
|
