S.J. Rozan on Why Genre Matters, Next Week at Madison, N.J. Library

Sometimes genre fiction gets a bad rap for being “less than literary.” Nothing could be further from the truth. But, believe it or not, as popular as crime fiction is, it still retains a certain stigma to many readers. Award-winning author and Mystery Writers of America, New York member S.J. Rozan, will endeavor to correct this misconception at the Madison […]

Mug Shot: Deb Pines

Deb Pines, an award-winning New York Post headline writer and former reporter, is the author of three Chautauqua-based mystery novels, one novelette, and a stand-alone short story. A mother of two, SoulCycle fanatic and lover of Scrabble, cooking, hiking and show tunes, she lives in New York City with her husband, Dave. “If you enjoy an old-fashioned whodunit, it’s perfect,”

Mug Shot: Jen Conley

Jen Conley‘s short stories have appeared in Thuglit, Needle, Crime Factory, Trouble in the Heartland: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Bruce Springsteen, and many others. She has contributed to the Los Angeles Review of Books and is one of editors of Shotgun Honey. Her story collection, Cannibals: Stories from the Edge of the Pine Barrens is available now.

My Favorite Crime Movie: In Cold Blood

As a 14-year-old in 1967, my principal reason for living was marathon listening to Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour. Distraction arrived at the end of the year in the form of a movie that immediately earned lifelong status as my favorite crime flick. From the standard list of film genres, it also rates near the top of my favorite

Mug Shot: Larry Kelter

Lawrence Kelter has now authored several novels, including two internationally best-selling series, the Stephanie Chalice Series and the Chloe Mather Series. Nelson DeMille called him “an exciting new novelist, who reminds me of an early Robert Ludlum.” Kelter’s next book is Back to Brooklyn, the long-awaited literary sequel to the film My Cousin Vinny. It will be the first in a

Five Things Your Dialogue Can and Should Do for You

“You talkin’ to me?” In one of the most memorable examples of dialogue in film history, Robert DeNiro looks in the mirror and tells us who Travis Bickle is in four simple words. Four words and we knew that Travis Bickle was paranoid and insecure. To be pitied and to be feared. Unfortunately for most writers, Robert DeNiro — or

Mug Shot: Peter Blauner

Peter Blauner is the author of seven novels, including Slow Motion Riot, winner of an Edgar award for best first novel, and The Intruder, a New York Times bestseller. He began his career as a journalist for New York magazine in the 1980s and segued into writing fiction in the 1990s. His short fiction has been anthologized in Best American

DOUBLE INDEMNITY — Murder Most Spousal

This is the third in our member-written series: My Favorite Crime Movie. Despite our fondness for (obsession with?) serial killers, conventional wisdom says one is much more likely to be killed by a spouse than by a total stranger. And statistics say husbands do away with wives more than vice versa. But don’t tell that to filmmakers. Much to the consternation