The second half of Richard Prosch's interview with me is up over at Meridian Bridge. T'would appear I'm fairly long winded. But you all knew that.
I just finished reading Crossroad Blues by our own Steve Malley and, let me say, I enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend it. Here's what I had to say on Amazon and Goodreads:
In Crossroad Blues we have wonderful characters full of heart and emotion, one of the nastiest villains I've ever come across in fiction, and a setting that is both exotic and very real. We have joy and despair, and gain and loss. And all of it is written in a highly charged and highly visual prose.
The ending was one of those where you just sit for a few moments after the story is over and let the fullness of your emotions wash over you. It will be an ending that lingers in my mind for a long time, not because it was some special effects extravaganza or some impossible to see twist, but because it touched my emotions at a level far deeper than my eyes.
I highly recommend this book.
Another book I enjoyed recently was Slick Time by O'Neil De Noux. Here's my review of that one from Amazon:
This is a sexy caper novel, and it's a lot of fun. We've got New Orleans, the Caribbean, a sexy movie in the making, and a con. We've got a fake kidnapping, and a real one. We've got beautiful people, great food, and crystal waters cluttered up by modern day pirates. We've got some edge of your seat suspense and some excellent wry humor. And there's some steamy sex thrown in.
De Noux knows his way around New Orleans and around police procedures, and his settings are spot on.
I read this in the Kindle edition but there is also a print edition. I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed the interview Charles, love the insights to your past and influences.
ReplyDeleteOh and thanks for the mentions.
The influence of the place where you grow is very important. To me, by example. In my Sword & Sorcery yarns i use a lot the legends and myths from my birthland.
ReplyDeleteFine interview.
ReplyDeleteDavid J. West, no problem.
ReplyDeleteDeka, I've used a lot of stuff from the Ozark Mountains, which is where I grew up.
David Cranmer, thankee.
Thank you so much for the kind words, man. My internet's a bit spotty at the moment, but I'll be back in force in a few more days... :)
ReplyDeleteOzark Mountains? I know i heard before of the place, but can't recall when!
ReplyDeletegrats charles, steve and o'neil! :)
ReplyDeleteI may have to put these on my wish list.
ReplyDeletesounds like two good books! thanks for the recommendations.
ReplyDeleteCharles, thanks for the reviews-both books sound like winners!
ReplyDeleteSteve Malley, Sounds like you are feeling better at least. That’s good.
ReplyDeleteDeka Black, the Ozark Mountains is a large and very old mountain range that runs through parts of Arkansas, Missouri and some other states. I grew up at the foothills of the Ozarks, which stretch down to the Arkansas River near where I lived.
laughingwolf, yes, good stuff.
Travis Cody, If you haven’t read anything by O’Neil but want to give him a try, I’d suggest more his books Blue Orleans and Crescent City kills.
Cloudia, hola from LA
Greg Schwartz, seems like a lot of the time I’m running a book blog.
jodi, both were good fun.
The way you describe that second book, it sounds like a James Bond novel without Ian Flemming's torturous prose. Looks like one I want. The first one also sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThe second part of the interview involved more personal information, which leads me to think about a few things. I've always thought about the wealth of literature that has come from the US South, and wonder if life below the Mason-Dixon line might be conducive to that type of creativity.
Making a note of more books I need to read. I've got a list like nobody's business now.
ReplyDeleteTerrific all around. Nice ghost shot, too. Kirlian like.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Parts I & II of the Meridian Bridge interview. Interesting stuff. I'm glad not too much was revealed about the Killing Trail stories. As soon as I find the time, it'll be next on my list.
ReplyDeleteX. Dell, Slick Time is a bit more light hearted than some of O'Neil's work. It's got more of a romp or caper flare, but great characters and a fun story. I don't know why we've had a lot of writers from the south. Sometimes I think suffering produces writers and the south has generally been "poorer" than the north, althoug it has no monopoly on that.
ReplyDeleteMary Witzl, I know. My list is so huge I hardly even pay attention to it anymore.
Erik Donald France, it's definitely a weird pic. I just did several of these the other day when I was fulling around with paint.
JR., I hope you will enjoy. I'm reading your collection at about a story a day. Taking it slow and easy.
Not longwinded at all in the MD interview.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure canny Charles wrote out his answers first, then edited them. They just read so well.
Quite an insight into the writer.
A hell of a good read in itself.
Enjoyed the two interviews. The two recommendations sound great. I've already got one and the other porbably will follow shortly.
ReplyDeleteCharles, thank you again for making time for the interview questions. Glad to know the writing has been going well.
ReplyDeleteThat was a very good interview.
ReplyDeleteivan, well, I always edit everything if I can. That's one thing I like about writing over talking. Glad you enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteRandy Johnson, Yes, I know you have Crossroad Blues!
Richard Prosch, I appreciate you asking me. I always enjoy yakking about writing.
BernardL, Thanks, and Rich did a great job.