Friday roundup

Another week. Where do they get to so quickly? My latest blog post for Criminal Element is up HERE. I ask the question, Where have all the cool cars gone? in TV cop shows. Check it out. Also over at Criminal Element is my Fesh Meat assessment of Dead Harvest by Chris F. Holm. This book is a crazy genre-bending tale that kept me guessing. Really inventive work that should get Chris some much deserved attention. Also loved Gar Anthony Haywood's Assume Nothing, did I mention that? And I'm deep into Dove Season by Johnny Shaw and loving it. Both writers will be at our next Noir at the Bar event on March 25th along with Hilary Davidson with her new book, The Next One To Fall and Gary Phillips reading whatever he damn well wants. I went ahead and started the new novel not really certain I was fully invested. A week and 15k words later, I think I'm in. This is an idea I've been kicking around for a long time and I think I finally cracked the story. We shall see. So far 2012 has been a shitty year personally and a non-event writing wise. I'm hoping things pick up and I have some news on something at some point. Not much to go on, I know. Writing in a vacuum is hard. Time to go make more opportunities for myself. No one is coming to my rescue, and never will. Time to write my own story, as it were. Damn, that sounded like a cheap self motivational book. Aw, what the hell, that would probably sell a million copies...

Busy times

I just moved so I haven't been around much so allow me to catch up.

The kind editors over at Thrillers, Killers n Chillers have saved a lost story of mine from the cobwebs. Mexican Souvenirs was written for an anthology that never happened, but now it lives again.

I was also kindly interviewed over at Julie Morrigan's website. She had some great questions so check that out.

Holly West also asked a question out there to writer types and I weighed in here.

I really should post more about the Noir at the Bar readings we do. Let me just say the last one was possibly our best yet with readings from Stephen Blackmoore (whose City of the Lost was a wonderful surprise and one of the best reads in a while) Bob Ward who definitely sold me a book that night with his great reading. Aaron Clark who won over some new converts to The Science of Paul, Aj hayes who never disappoints and Travis Richardson who started us off right.

March 25th will feature none other than Hilary Davidson reading from her new one The Next One To Fall, Johnny Shaw reading from Dove Season, Gar Anthony Haywood reading from Assume Nothing which I am almost done with and I friggin love it. Maybe better than Cemetery Road? Gary Phillips will be reading whatever he damn well wants and maybe even one more reader. Hot stuff. I'm impressed with my own organizing skills.

I officially started a new novel. I wasn't sure which of several ideas to write so I just sucked it up and started one. Not sure if my fickle nature will pull me away to another idea before I am done. I need to buckle down and start hitting the keys again though. Speaking of . . . good night.

Nerd approved

Imagine my joy when I saw that the one and only Nerd of Noir had reviewed Dig Two Graves over at Spinetingler. The Nerd has the most unique book reviews out there and also happens to be someone who I can always count on for books I know I will like so to get a positive review like this is really amazing. This review has so many lines that make me so pleased I'm tempted to reprint the whole thing here but better to follow the link and check out some of the other reviews and all the great content on Spinetingler.

Digging it

Sick of talking about myself so I'll let someone else do it for a while.

http://www.elizabethawhite.com/2011/12/30/dig-two-graves-by-eric-beetner/

Another favorite

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We got deals!

Two things you should know about: Pulp Ink is on sale and D*cked is on sale! Even the print version of D*cked is on the cheap (and it looks GREAT!) These deals won't last forever so get on it.


In bigger and better news, Jake Hinkson's Hell on Church Street is out earlier than expected! I have waxed poetic on this amazing novel in several places around the web. Even picked it as a best of the year. Well, it's out now and you NEED to go get it. Thank me later. Better yet, thank Jake for writing such a great book.

Grimm Tales

"What? More?" You say, exhausted. Yes, more. Grimm Tales is here. This collection has been a long time coming and now it is finally live. The brainchild of John Kenyon, he of The Grift online zine, these tales are all inspired by the Brothers Grimm. Each author was told to pick a story and do a riff on it in the crime genre. The results are inspired. 


From the publisher: Grimm Tales is a collection of stories by some of the top names in online crime fiction, all based on classic fairy tales. As novelist Ken Bruen writes in his introduction, "Ever imagined what would have come down the dark pike if The Brothers Grimm were more Brothers Coen and wrote mystery?" The collection is edited by John Kenyon, editor of Grift magazine, and contains 17 stories by Patricia Abbott, Absolutely*Kate, Jack Bates, Eric Beetner, Nigel Bird, Loren Eaton, Kaye George, Blu Gilliand, Seana Graham, Eirik Gumeny, R.L. Kelstrom, John Kenyon, BV Lawson, Evan Lewis, B. Nagel, Sean Patrick Reardon and Sandra Seamans. 


And hey, look at the cover. Who's that there? Yep. Me. Now, while it is obvious this is an alphabetical list that only had space for three names I will take it as a badge of honor and delude myself into thinking that someone, somewhere thought my name could sell a few books.


You should know this - the publisher, Untreed reads is also the publisher behind Discount Noir. Several of the authors are featured in both collections and they have offered up a special: if you order both books from the Untreed reads website, you'll get 50% of Discount Noir! It's a great collection so get it now and get it cheap. 

And my story? It is inspired by a very familiar story, especially if you have young daughters like I do. My take on it is decidedly un-Disney however. What story did I choose? You'll have to read and find out.

Split Decision

And Split Decision is out! Don't know what it is about this December that has so many books of mine coming out but I'm not complaining. Well, I'm sure I'll think of something to complain about.


Split Decision is book #3 in the Fight Card series and I am so proud to be involved in this series. Each book is written by a different author and unified under the pseudonym of Jack Tunney. Books #1 and #2 are great reads, but there is no need to read them in order. Each is a throwback to the pulp fight novels of the 1930s and 40s. I know Felony Fists and The Cutman got it right and I only hope I did too. So far the response has been great.


Good news too is that in addition to the ebook there will be print versions with alternate covers featuring each author's own name, which is cool.

Dig Two Graves continues on with three 5-star reviews now on Amazon and an appearance on a best of 2011 list! British author Nick Quantrill (Broken Dreams and the upcoming The Late Greats) had some very nice things to say abut the book. Nick's work is one you should seek out. Get in on the start of his series because I'm sure it will be a long running one.


I was also thrilled to see One Too Many Blows To The Head still lives on and made Nigel Bird's Best of 2011 list. Sure the book is older but all that matters is that it is new to you and I'm glad Nigel enjoyed it so much.


I noticed that on the Dig Two Graves amazon page under the 'customer's also bought' (which I always love to see) that Borrowed Trouble and One Too Many were both in the mix. Hey, this is working the way it's supposed to. Someone reads a book, they like it, they seek out your other work. I'm thrilled to see the older books get a chance. I'm still so fond of them. And I know I'm speaking of them like they're in a retirement home but sometimes in the book world two years might as well be retirement age for a book.


Anyway, I'll be trying to blog around in guest spots and I'm enjoying my end of December not writing a thing (other than publicity stuff). I definitely like writing books better than sales pitches. Back to it soon.

Dig Two Graves trailer

So I made a little trailer for Dig Two Graves. I know book trailers don't do squat for sales, but I had fun and it keeps my filmmaking muscles flexed, even when I only have a half hour to make something like with this. It makes me laugh anyway. Pass it around if you like it, put it on your own site, send it to your grandma. The point is, get it out there.

Start digging

Today my novella Dig Two Graves hit the digital world courtesy of Snubnose Press. I'm proud and honored to have them on my side as this book makes its way in the world. We didn't do a special thanks page but if I had it would have thanked:

 Jennifer Busskohl for early reading and not being shocked.
Brian Lindenmuth for taking it on and giving great notes. Yes, I even changed the ending for him.
To Sean Doolittle and Scott Phillips for giving great blurbs that humble me.
And to Sean Doolittle again for giving some 11th hour notes that made the book that much better. Thanks for not holding your tongue.

Thanks also to everyone who helped spread the word today. I'll try not to be too obnoxious with the self-promo but if anyone is going to know about this book I need to start the ball rolling. Hopefully others keep it moving downhill from there.

And Off The Record continues out there with every sale providing money to children's reading charities. Don't be a tightwad. What, you don't want kids to read? If they don't start now, who is going to buy my books about prison blowjobs when they grow up? Come on! (the new 5-star Amazon review singles out my story, California Dreamin' as "fabulous")

As a bonus, Keith Rawson has foolishly offered to give away a copy of him amazing short story collection, The Chaos We Know (also from Snubnose) with proof of purchase for Dig Two Graves. Take the fool for all he's worth! And damn, that collection is worth it.