2007 in Review, Part I
Today I'll mention the writing highlights and lowlights. That is, for me only. Others will have different views, I'm sure...
Highlights:
The Concrete Maze made its debut as a paperback original from Dorchester Publications. So far, everyone who has read it has liked it and many have said they liked it quite a lot. Several have said it made them cry. By itself that would be a dubious distinction, but they all went on to say this was a good thing. I haven't a clue how many copies have been sold. I'm hoping it was many.
My short story Early Fall was published in the Bronx Noir anthology edited by SJ Rozan. The anthology has gotten a fair amount of notice and as far as I can see it has all been laudatory. I'm proud of the story, and it serves as a kind of prequal to The Concrete Maze.
The New York Times published an essay I wrote - Rats, Roaches and the Naked Man with the Gun. It was a nostalgia piece about my father and growing up in the Bronx in NYC. Still available online in case you want to google it. I'm proud of this piece because, let's face it, not every writer gets an article in The Times. And it's about my dad.
I also published a story in Shred and another in Demolition. Worthy stories in worthy company.
And I wrote up a couple of interviews for Crimespree Magazine and a profile of Jonathan Santlofer for Mystery Scene Magazine. The writers I worked with on these all made me look good. For that, I thank them - Guthrie, Lehane, Abbott...did I leave anyone out?
Oh, and I won a Derringer - just like Dave White. Nifty.
Lowlights:
There really has only been one lowlight for the year. I wrote a novel called The Concrete Heart - like The Concrete Maze it was supposed to be NYC hardboiled/noir. In fact, I think it fits that purpose, but I don't like the book nearly as much as the Maze, and I've been trying to rewrite it. I've never done a rewrite of a book before - I was once given a suggestion while still writing a book, and I changed my plans to write accordingly and, of course, minor grammatical changes can take place once the book is written but this rewrite is extensive and it is after the book is done. Frankly, I've been stumped since August. No joke. Can't get past this book. Frankly, I wish I had just started a new one. Can't hardly bring myself to look at the book again. In fact, when I'm done with this post I'm going to ignore it by playing a video game...
Highlights:
The Concrete Maze made its debut as a paperback original from Dorchester Publications. So far, everyone who has read it has liked it and many have said they liked it quite a lot. Several have said it made them cry. By itself that would be a dubious distinction, but they all went on to say this was a good thing. I haven't a clue how many copies have been sold. I'm hoping it was many.
My short story Early Fall was published in the Bronx Noir anthology edited by SJ Rozan. The anthology has gotten a fair amount of notice and as far as I can see it has all been laudatory. I'm proud of the story, and it serves as a kind of prequal to The Concrete Maze.
The New York Times published an essay I wrote - Rats, Roaches and the Naked Man with the Gun. It was a nostalgia piece about my father and growing up in the Bronx in NYC. Still available online in case you want to google it. I'm proud of this piece because, let's face it, not every writer gets an article in The Times. And it's about my dad.
I also published a story in Shred and another in Demolition. Worthy stories in worthy company.
And I wrote up a couple of interviews for Crimespree Magazine and a profile of Jonathan Santlofer for Mystery Scene Magazine. The writers I worked with on these all made me look good. For that, I thank them - Guthrie, Lehane, Abbott...did I leave anyone out?
Oh, and I won a Derringer - just like Dave White. Nifty.
Lowlights:
There really has only been one lowlight for the year. I wrote a novel called The Concrete Heart - like The Concrete Maze it was supposed to be NYC hardboiled/noir. In fact, I think it fits that purpose, but I don't like the book nearly as much as the Maze, and I've been trying to rewrite it. I've never done a rewrite of a book before - I was once given a suggestion while still writing a book, and I changed my plans to write accordingly and, of course, minor grammatical changes can take place once the book is written but this rewrite is extensive and it is after the book is done. Frankly, I've been stumped since August. No joke. Can't get past this book. Frankly, I wish I had just started a new one. Can't hardly bring myself to look at the book again. In fact, when I'm done with this post I'm going to ignore it by playing a video game...
posted by Steven at
12:48 PM
4 Comments:
It sure sounds like the good outweighs the bad by a ton. And I'm sure you'll find a way into the Concrete Heart.
Patti,
Getting in was easy. Getting out is another story...
In The Concrete Maze you allowed me to be in there riding along with Marc and experiencing it all. (I even felt like I was eating the food!) I hope you'll bring me (us) into the Concrete Heart. I'm already curious about what it will be. Great title!
Patricia
patriciajhale@aol.com
Just read the terrific NYT piece and forwarded it to my husband. Enjoyed the pics as well.
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