It's My Birthday! I'm Hundreds of Years Old!
It's My Birthday!
Okay, I'm not hundreds of years old, but I am now solidly and inexcusably mid-forties. And I'm 1000% cool with that. Totally beats the alternative.
And all I want for my birthday is world peace. But that's becoming increasingly unlikely, so it'd be really great to sell a few copies of The Unrepentant today, or receive some Amazon reviews. Unless you can do the world peace thing? But, on the off-chance you can't, here's some links for my book.
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle (UK)
Barnes and Noble Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
Thanks so much to everyone who has purchased the book or left a review so far. It truly means so much to me.
Funny story - some of the teachers at my kid's day care learned about the book, started reading it, and want me to talk to a book club they're in. Which is great! But a little funny since I don't really see The Unrepentant as a "day care" kinda book? But I'll be there.
C3 Noir at the Bar
I'm hosting the second-annual Noir at the Bar at this year's upcoming Creatures, Crimes and Creativity conference! For those that haven't been, C3 is a wonderful conference in Maryland put on by Austin and Denise Camacho of Intrigue Publishing. It's an underrated event with some terrific writers, and I'm honored they invited me back.
Mystery Writers at Loyalty Books
I'll be on a panel with my friends John Copenhaver and Angie Kim at Loyalty Bookstore, a new bookstore in D.C. I'm really excited about this because I've been on panels with both these writers before, and we always have a good time. More information about this to come, but there's a rumor that the bar next door will be serving mystery-themed cocktails. Come watch us get drunk and attempt to panel!
I'm really happy that Marietta Miles (who you might remember as Sarah M. Chen's choice for a "writer you should read") decided to pick Nikki Dolon. Dolson's book has been on my TBR list for a while now, and Marietta's description below bumped it up to the top.
In ALL THINGS VIOLENT we follow Laura Park, but this is not our only meeting with this relatable and complex young woman. Author Nikki Dolson gave us a tiny glimpse in Betty Fedora Issue Two: Kickass Women in Crime Fiction. Please note, Ms. Dolson shines as a short story and flash fiction wielder. It is in her compact tales where we first meet Laura.
Laura Park is a hit woman. Almost. She has weeks, if not months, of brutal training under the equally complex, but still terrifying assassin, Frank to complete. Together, they work for Simon, the callous and single-minded owner of a highly-specialized investigative organization. This trio forms a fragile and difficult team.
Throughout ALL THINGS VIOLENT, Laura faces hurdles like so many young women do in the everyday world. Condescending and disrespectful co-workers. Manipulative and greedy bosses. Ugly, complicated family matters. Making rent. Hiding the body. Laura has stepped too many paces off the beaten path. Her road is much darker than other young women and the consequences are far graver.
Sounds like noir to me. Excellent noir.
Dolson serves backstory throughout the book, never forcing. Parceling. The way in which we get closer to Laura feels natural. A new friend learning how to confide. Her past and how she got to this place in life is just as important and enthralling as her wild, violent present.
Laura is a powerful young woman, full of shiny spots and flaws. You want to root for her and shake her. Make her a cup of cocoa and kick her ass. She does not sit comfortably in any pigeon-hole. She’s perfect.
This book was a great read and a great ride. Quick and brutal. Ms. Dolson snaps her dialogue with perfect realism. I am looking forward to many more stories revolving around Laura.
I'm also a big fan of Nikki Dolson's short stories which can be found in the archives of Shotgun Honey, Thuglit, Red Rock Review, Spinetingler, and many more. Visit her website, www.nikkidolson.com for more excellent stories. She has a short story collection, LOVE AND OTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, arriving through Bronzeville Books in November 2019.
Click on the images above to learn more about each writer and their books.
It's contest time! And the winner of an Amazon gift card is...
Kelly Rodriguez!
Congrats, Kelly! Check your e-mail for a gift card and LIVE THE LIFE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED. If you can do that on $25.
I have two shiny new columns up today! First, in the Washington Independent Review of Books, I listed eight upcoming crime fiction novels in the DC/MD/VA triangle you should check out (part two of this column will be published in October). And I had the debut column for a new series in The Thrill Begins about promoting your book. My essay was all about the best way for a writer to throw a good event.
Last month I also had the opportunity to interview writers Alex Segura and Jamie Mason for the Independent, and the wonderful Steph Post interviewed me for her well-read blog. We talked about William Faulkner and the importance of panties on the stage.
Thank you for reading, and see you next month!
EA