A Face Full Of Friday News Fritters

AWOOGA, AWOOGA, it’s time, I guess, for another Friday news purge? I don’t usually do newsy stuff on Fridays, but I got news, and the means to share it, so here we are. In November I intend to rock up with a trebuchet blast of writing advice and inspirado, so look out for that during NaNoWriMo.

Meanwhile, let us begin.

Wait, Where Is Friday Flash Fiction?

So you’ll notice that it’s another Friday without a flash fiction challenge.

Here’s why, and the reason is twofold —

First, it’s honestly kinda creatively taxing to think up new challenges week to week. I like it! But it takes just that extra little bit of creative effort in the morning to be like, okay now write a thousand words using “cat spaceship” as your prompt. I felt like I was reiterating a lot of challenges, which leads me to —

Second, the participation dropped off. I’m sure in part because my challenges got less and less creative as time went on. So, for now, we’re putting a hold on Flash Fiction Challenges here, though who knows, one day maybe we’ll get back to them.

Ragnatalk

And we are live with Episode Three of Ragnatalk — “The Appleist.”

We talk, well, apples. And Anthony and I introduce our brand new horror franchise for kids. And we exalt Greg Pak, rightfully so. OH AND FINE WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME, THOR: RAGNAROK. 

Episode 3 covers minutes 20-30 of the beloved Christmas film.

Go check it out, give a listen, share it around, do a dance.

You can even listen to it on Spotify, now.

Says Who

Oh also, you can find me on a whole different podcast, too — the Says Who podcast, run by Maureen “The Notebook” Johnson and Dan “Dan” Sinker. Here I talk about the Marvel situation, and art, and resistance, and dogs, I think, and maybe The Notebook. Maybe. I dunno. Maybe. Come listen!

Speaking Of The Marvel Thing

Obviously, the news of a week ago kinda went winging around the ol’ Internets like a… a laser boomerang. Is that a thing? I’m a writer, I say it’s a thing. And I was surprised at the attention it received — and some of the attention it received, apparently, was from a tide of bots and sock puppets! Ha ha ha hey it’s an info war, everyone, you’re invited, I’m the host, let’s have some fun.

Yeah so that’s a thing, I guess. You can track some of that from here — the whole thread is worth looking at to see some conclusions and to see how Comicsgate factors in.

Welcome to 2018.

Noir at the Bar

This, a release from author Jon McGoran —

‘Noir at the Bar’ Crime Fiction Reading Series Goes International in Support of #TeamEvie

by Jon McGoran

This month, from Oct. 20 – 28, dozens of crime writers around the world will be reading from their work to support one of their own. “Noir at the Bar: Chilled to the Marrow,” is a series of literary events in nine different cities around the globe intended to show support and raise funds for #TeamEvie, as Evie Swierczynski and her family—including her dad, crime writer Duane Swierczynski—rally to beat Evie’s recently diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. When a  Gofundme page was established by a friend to help Evie’s family deal with the expenses and lost income as they focus on Evie’s recovery, members of the crime fiction family got together to setup events in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Baltimore, Asbury Park, Austin and London, featuring some of the biggest names in crime fiction, including Megan Abbott, Lawrence Block, Alison Gaylin, Bill Lashner and 70 of their closest crime-writing friends. (see a full list below).

Each event will be slightly different, but they will all feature some combination of raffles, auctions, donations, percentages of sales and other fundraisers, and they will all feature some of the most kick-ass crime fiction around (maybe with a seasonal twist), read by the some of the best crime writer around.

Originally started in Philadelphia in 2008 by blogger, critic, and editor Peter Rozovsky, Noir at the Bar has become a popular event in cities around the world, where people can hear popular crime writers perform brief readings of their work in a comfortable, appropriate, and noir-rhyming bar setting. The very first Noir at the Bar featured none other than Duane Swierzcynski.

Here is the complete Noir at the Bar: Chilled to the Marrow lineup:

Philadelphia / Sun. 10/28 – 6:30 p.m.
Misconduct Tavern, 1511 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hosted by Jon McGoran, with Merry Jones, Bill Lashner, Robb Cadigan, Greg Frost, Don Lafferty, Ed Pettit, Bernard Shaffer, Erik Arneson, Dennis Tafoya, Bill Myers.

St. Louis / Sat. 10/20 – 7 p.m.
Meshuggah Café, 6269 Delmar Blvd, University City, Missouri
Hosted by Jedidiah Ayres, with Shaw L. Coney, Seth Ferranti, Sarah Jilek, Kenny Kinds, Jessica Leonard, Fred Venturini, Kea Wilson, Josh Woods.

Los Angeles / Sun. 10/28 – 7 p.m.
Mandrake, 2692 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Hosted by Eric Beetner and S. W. Lauden, with Sara Gran, David J Schow, Attica Locke, Christa Faust & Gary Phillips, Anna Snoekestra, Aaron Phillip Clark, Dennis Palumbo, Duane Swierczynski.

New York / Sun. 10/28 – 7 p.m.
Kew and Willow Books, 81-63 Lefferts Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Hosted by Alex Segura & Scott Adlerberg, with Jordan Harper, Jason Starr, Lawrence Block, Alison Gaylin, Rob Hart, Jill Block, Kellye Garrett, and Megan Abbott.

Washington, DC / Sat. 10/27 – 5 p.m.
Wonderland Ballroom, 1101 Kenyon St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Hosted by E. A. Aymar, with Adam Meyer, Deb Shutika, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Jenny Yacovissi, Tara Campbell, Erica Wright, Angie Kim, Aimee Hix, Kathleen Barber.

Baltimore / Sun. 10/21 – 6.30 p.m.
Zella’s Pizza, 1145 Hollins St, Baltimore, MD 21223
Hosted by Nik Korpon, with Damien Angelica Walters, SA Cosby, Jessica McHugh, Kim Alexander, Erik Arneson, Andrew Novak.

Asbury Park / Sun. 10/28 – 6 p.m.
Bond Street Complex Basement, 639 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
Hosted by Jay Butkowski and Jen Conley, with Angel Luis Colón, Lee Matthew Goldberg, Thomas Pluck, Gregory Rossi, S. A. Solomon, Albert Tucher, Dave White.

London / Mon. 10/22 – 7 p.m.
LHT Urban Bar, 176 Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, London E1 1BJ
Hosted by Nicola East, with Susi Holliday, Mark Hill, William Shaw, Derek Farrell, Jay Stringer, J.A.Marley, Alex Caan, Felicia Yap

For more information, visit jonmcgoran.com or email jon@jonmcgoran.com

Duane is great and their family really needs help and support on this, so please, check out these events, check out the Gofundme page, and send some love.

I would be at the one in Philly, but, I’ll be at —

Hal-Con

Hal-Con is next weekend! Join me in Halifax (also with fellow penmonkey, Delilah S. Dawson!) October 26-28th, in Nova Scotia. I’m excited! I’m told there is poutine! And something called a donair, which sounds a lot like doner kepab, but with a special sauce? Whatever! I’m in! Let’s eat! I mean, sure, let’s also go to the con! BUT MOSTLY LET’S EAT.

NaNoWriMo Sale

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

*checks notes*

Wait no that’s Christmas? Whatever.

But it is National Novel Writing Month in November, and as such, I’m throwing up (*hrrrk*) my Mega Super Gigantor Book Bundle for sale! It’s ten books, eight of which are writing-related in focus, two of which are novels if you want ’em. (Hey, maybe November is also novel reading month?)

Normally, it’s $20.

But use coupon code NANO2018, you’ll get it for 50% — aka, $10.

So go check it out now, and please to enjoy.