Too much birthday cake.
That's our excuse, and we're sticking to it..
April 1st, 2008, marked the tenth anniversary of this site. Or at least the "official" anniversary. The site existed unofficially for a few months prior to April 1, 1998 as a sort of rudimentary private resource for a selected few P.I. fans who kept urging me to go public. I wasn't convinced there'd be much interest, but I gave in, and on so on April 1 I unleashed the beast. It was April Fools' Day, of course, but that seemed appropriate, since the site had started as a joke and a lark more or less, a harmless way to practice html with something that wouldn't bore me to tears.But I figured it would sure bore the hell out of everyone else. I was wrong,.
Suffice it to say that the last ten years have been a lot of things, but they've rarely been boring. But ten years, man. That's gotta be worth something.
So forgive the self-horn-tooting. Ten years on the "information superhighway." That's gotta be something like thirty or forty years in human years. Long enough to have outlasted (or out-updated) almost almost every other crime fiction-related site and newsgroup on the internet. I've so far outlasted Blue Murder, Judas, 3rd Degree, White Fedora, Shred of Evidence, HandHeldCrime, Futures, Hardluck Stories, and Plots with Guns (well, version 1.0). As far as I can tell, only DorothyL and Rara-Avis have been arond longer, and they're discussion groups.
The site has been a labour of love, and a thorn in my side. Because of the site, I've appeared on televsion and radio, and been cited as a source in major newspapers in articles about crime fiction. I've met plenty of authors, some of whom I'm honoured to now call friends. It's led to a writing career of sorts, speaking engagements and even a certain minor league celebrity. But just as the site giveth, it also taketh away. I haven't actually had a real vacation -- or even much free time -- in close to ten years.
Hey, it's not like anyone's pointing a gun at my head, right?
But if you feel inclined -- if the spirit moves you -- please sign our "Birthday Card." If you want to slip a little something into the card, well, that's okay too.
But mostly it would just be nice if you just gave us a little word of encouragement or something. Lord knows none of us are going to get rich doing this so feedback is always good. There's even a page posted that will let you know what everyone else has said.
And if that's not enough horn-tooting, tune in to the podcast interview I did for the local news alternative, The Antelope Valley New Press. And no, I WAS NOT STONED!
Whaddya Mean, a Hiatus?
But anyhow, that's how our spring went. This summer we're taking a breather. Gerald has a few projects to attend to. He's just began his term as president of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and The Lineup, an anthology of poetry he's edited, has just come out. Me? I've got a book to do, some short stories to wrap up and try to sell, and a big project I can't tell you about yet. So we'll be lying low for a while, but we will be back with a vengeance in the fall...
THIS JUST IN!
I've just been informed that this site has won the 2008 Gumshoe Award for Best Crime Fiction Website. The Gumshoe Awards have been presented annually since 2002, to recognize the best achievements in the world of crime fiction. They are given out by Mystery Ink, an online compedium of reviews and essays run by mystery critic and author David Montgomery.
The citation reads:
"Edited by Kevin Burton Smith, The Thrilling Detective Web Site has been a comprehensive resource on private eye fiction, and the crime genre more generally, for over a decade. A one-stop destination with a wealth of information, The Thrilling Detective includes author and book guides, reviews, news, information on film and TV, original fiction and more. It is an essential guide for fans of PI novels or anyone looking to learn more about detective fiction."
I've already cleared a spot on our awards shelf.
THEY ALSO SERVED
Of course, this site was never -- and was never intended to be -- a one-man show. It's always relied upon the kindness of strangers for so many of its pages. A quick look at the Stafft page, or the list of contributors in our Fiction and Non-Fiction pages, will soon bear that out.
And it's been extremely gratifying to see how many of those "strangers" eventually became friends. So I'd like to take this opportunity to thanks in particular a few of those who have made the mean streets of this site a little bit brighter. And the last ten years a hell of a lot more fun.
First off, a call out to Liverpudlian Peter Walker, an e-mail pal (and subsequent contributor) whose off-hand remark inspired me to post this site, originally almost a joke, on-line. He assured me other people would be interested. I thought he was full of shit. I was wrong. Wherever you are, Pete, I owe you.
Also missing in action is Victoria Esposito, ourt first ever fiction editor, who set the very high and uncompromising standards for our featured short stories that Gerald and I have been struggling to maintain ever since. It's a shame she seems to have disappeared from the community -- the shadow she cast is an amazingly long and durable one.
A tip of the fedora also goes out to Toronto's own Bill Denton, the founding father of Rara-Avis, the greatest internet discussion group devoted to crime fiction ever. Other groups may be more popular, or been around longer, but under Wild Bill's guidance, Rara set the bar for excellence and intelligence and passion few other groups have ever achieved. Let the other groups with their trolls, their BSP circle jerks, their flame wars, their bully bosses and their 18-line sig files blow hot air over the internet -- Rara remains the clearest example of the way it's supposed to be done.
Likewise, David Firks, the editor and co-founder of the late lamented Blue Murder, the first "pulpzine" to really deliver the crime fiction goods online, gets both my respect and my heartfelt thanks. My respect for showing it could be done and inspiring me to attempt something similar with this site, and my thanks for his invitation to become Blue Murder's P.I. columnist, starting with the second issue. Wherever you are, David, you're sorely missed.
J. Kingston Pierce and Linda Richards of January Magazine deserve similar kudos for their staunch belief that on-line literary criticism can rise higher than some mealy-mouthed suck-up five star review on Amazon or some dubious online "review" site where negligible writers gather to overpraise each others' POD books. January Magazine and it's crime fiction offshoot, The Rap Sheet, are the real deal; outlets for serious, intelligent literary criticism and who posess a vision as uncompromising -- or possibly simply pig-headed -- as my own..
Kate Stine and Brian Skupin of Mystery Scene, and Jon and Ruth Jordan at Crime Spree, who valued my words at a time when nobody else seemed to.
The guys and gals at DAPA-Em, Rara-Avis, Wicked Company, DetecToday and the PWA.
And of course Gerald So, the best sidekick and fiction editor around. He's been with us for seven years now and though it may occasionally itch, we've yet to scratch -- proof, I guess, that I CAN get along with people. Or just that Gerald's more professional and mature than me, and willing to cut me a lot of slack. But because of Gerald and his tireless devotion to this site, I still occasionally have a life.
And I'd be in deep doo-doo if I didn't thank the Girl Detective herself, for making that life worth living.
THE THRILLING DETECTIVE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
As usual, fiction editor and Santa's Helper No. 1 Gerald So has dug through his goodie bag to come up with a fistful of hard-boiled treats, for all you good little boys and girls.
Spring is in the air, and we've got everything you need to enjoy this season of rebirth: stories about hotdogs, baseball, lost love, porn and Russian gangsters.
Robert Petyo's "The Truth About Lang Tri" is as timely a story and look into the elusive nature of "truth" as we've ever run, as the U.S. comes into the home stretch of a particulalry divisive election, with the shadow of yet another unpopular war looming large.
From TV writer Paul Guyot comes "Ace in the Hole," as unapologetic and mean-spirited a story as we've seen, a fierce ride you won't soon forget. Logan used to be a private dick. Now he's just a dick. But justice of a sort gets him in the end.
And speaking of justice, it's only fitting that this issue also feature a few old friends. J. Winter returns after far too long an absence from these pages with "Lady Luck", a new story featuring his blue collar gumshoe Nick Kepler on an all-night prowl.
Meanwhile, site favourite Stephen D. Rogers returns with another slice-of-life tale, a low key charmer called "A Friendly Game" that'll have you root-root-rooting for the home team.
And anyone who ever had a heart will enjoy Sandra Seaman's "Starlight," a poignant and deceptively simple story that will, however, linger long after you've read it, like a haunting melody once heard beyond a distant hill but never quite forgotten.
And wrapping up our short stories this issue, "One More Shot" by Tapani Bagge features the return of one of the most intriguing detectives we've had the fortune to introduce. Onni Syrjäne is Finland's answer to Perry Mason, if solid, stolid Perry was a sad sack drunk. And a loser.
We've also got a couple of very special excerpts for long-time fans of the genre.
First up is a short vignette that perfectly captures the essense of Eric Lerner's Pinkerton's Secret, a rollicking historical drama that re-imagines the story of Allen J. Pinkerton, the infamous founder of the world famous detective agency that bears his name (and whose corporate logo inspired the term "private eye.") There's plenty to love in this rousing adventure yarn, including possibly America's first female private eye and plenty of Civil War-era shenanigans. I can't think of a better excerpt to mark our 10th, than this look back at the start of the whole she-bang.
Not that we're in full retro mode. Any genre not being born is busy dying, and our second exceprt proves there's plenty of stories yet to be told. John Shannon's Jack Liffey is one of a true original; a blast of fresh air that blows away most of the competition. The Devils of Bakersfield is yet another excellent novel, the tenth book in the long-running series, and as good an introduction to the series as you can get. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: nobody "gets" L.A. like John does.
There's another group of people who have regularly contributed to this site,, and it's a shame so many of you don't even know they exist. I'm talking about the guys who contribute the web comics we've been running on this site for years. If you've never checked out our web comics section, do yourself a favour and head over there now.
In fact, we've got a new addition to our roster, starting with this issue. Chris Wisnia's Dick Hammer may seem like yet another P.I. parody, but it's not -- it's a gritty, two-fisted slab of hard-boiled storytelling that makes a fine complement to our other two currently active strips, Odd Jobs , Tim Broderick's bittersweet noir saga and the decidely goofy Detective Fork featuring Kevin J. Guhl's silverware sleuth.
Not that that's all. Time being a mother and all that, there are still plenty of stories and artilces to come, as well as several long-overdue updates to key entries, making this anniversary issue truly an on-going celebration. In the days and weeks ahead, keep your eyes peeled for new non-fiction pieces from J. Kingston Pierce, Mark Coggins and Duffy Schoenfeld.
OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN DEPARTMENT
We may not toot our horns as loud as some, but it's getting increasingly difficult. A few issues back saw the publication of Patricia Abbott's A Saving Grace, and we're very pleased to announce that the story has just been chosen for a "Best in Crime" anthology by Ed Gorman.
And that's not all. I've just heard from two of our other contributors, Tim Broderick and Chris Mills, both of whom do web comics which appear (or have appeared) on our site.
Tim's ODD JOB's has been optioned to Warner Bros. TV and Chris' FEMME NOIR is hitting the comic book stands in Spring 2008. Oh, and a coupla guys that used to hang around here, Ray and Dave, seem to be doing okay, as well.
HELP US OUT
Send Chris Baldemor, our new Film Editor, any news you can on upcoming theatrical P.I. films and DVD releases. We're also hoping to expand our non-fiction and review sections, so don't be shy. And, of course, we're always keeping an eye peeled for new fiction.
If you want to help contribute to the site, be it as a writer or an editor or even simply as a sponsor or an advertiser, please drop us a line. We'd be glad to hear from you..
I GOTTA GET OUTTA THIS PLACE
This is our last issue before I take a little hiatius. I'd be lying, of course, if I said I won't be updating the site on a semi-regular basis (Like, what? I'm gonna stop now?) ,but I'm not going to knock myself out about it. I have a book about hard-boiled women writers of the pulp era that I'm working on with a deadline to meet, I'm planning a trip home in June to attend my daughter's grad and there are a ton of other projects I'm working on. There will be another issue, but don't even look for it until late summer at the very earliest. We will, however, be open (very open) to submissions...
