Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Edgar award

Sins of the Assassin was just nominated for an Edgar by the Mystery Writers of America for Best Novel, 2009. I am really happy. Even though I have to wear formal attire to the ceremony where the winner is announced. (NYC, April 30.) I believe alcohol will be served.

Best of luck and congratulations to the other nominees:

BEST NOVEL
Missing by Karin Alvtegen (Felony & Mayhem Press)
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box (St. Martin's Minotaur)
Sins of the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno (Simon & Schuster - Scribner)
The Price of Blood by Declan Hughes (HarperCollins – William Morrow)
The Night Following by Morag Joss (Random House – Delacorte Press)
Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Secrets of the Oval Office

I did another true-fiction piece for National Review Online that explains the secrets of a sucessful presidency. Hint: comfort food and goosing the one that brung ya.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

JANUARY mag top ten

Just got word that Sins of the Assassin was tagged as one of the top ten mystery/thrillers by JANUARY magazine, along with books by Lawrence Block, Lee Child, and James Lee Burke. Very good company and a fine way to end the year.

The third volume of the trilogy, Heart of the Assassin, comes out Summer, 2009. I'll post the first chapter in a few months.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Where's my Lexus?

A few months ago I got tapped for a interesting writing assignment. Lexus magazine had selected nine writers to create a serial story of a young couple, Julia and Terrence, as they drive cross country in a new Lexus. (literary heavyweights Jane Smiley, Mary Otis, Brian Antoni among others, and yes, I have no idea how I was included.) Guidelines were minimal. They just wanted to make sure there was no car crashes, which seemed reasonable. The idea was that each writer would pick up where the other left off, without any consultation. Just wing it. Like a long drive without a map. A great gig, with lots of randomness.

My selection, called "In the Belly of the Beast," was the seventh chapter. I set it in my favorite town, Las Vegas. All the other writers, focused on the two main characters. I decided to use the point of view of an angry, sweaty man in a gorilla suit, the greeter-mascot at Me Tarzan, You Jane Wedding Chapel. He's cursing his lot in life, snarling at the fat tourists staggering down the strip, when the Lexus pulls up to the chapel. Yes, Terrence and Julia are getting married.

A good time was had.

Friday, October 10, 2008

I'm on NPR tomorrow

Just taped a Weekend America segment for NPR. It will be broadcast nationally tomorrow October 11. Times and stations here.

The half-hour segment was hosted by John Moe. My two co-panelists were Stacy Grenrock Woods, sex advice columnist for Esquire and Tak Toyoshima, cartoonist.

We talked about the second presidential debate, whether the US government should take over banks, and electronic eavesdropping. My favorite part was when we argued over whether, as claimed by the NY Times, calling elderly people "sweetie" and "dear" was patronizing them to death. As in, killing them. Taking seven years off their lifespan. Really. Tak said that's why he's always rude to old people. He's trying to save them. It was fun.