Rauan Klassnik, author of THE MOON'S JAW

I published one of Rauan Klassnik's provocative prose poems at The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly in August 2012. This interview with Rauan is cross-posted from The 5-2 for anyone interested. Rauan's second book of prose poems, The Moon's Jaw, has just been published by Black Ocean. His first, Holy Land, came out in 2008. Rauan lives quietly in the Pacific Northwest.

Q & A with Paul Levine about his SOLOMON VS. LORD Series

Photo by Alan Weissman

I was a Paul Levine fan from his Jake Lassiter series and his work on TV's JAG when I heard he was writing a new series, Solomon vs. Lord, based in part on his real-life marriage. Knowing the characters were supposed to end up together, I was afraid I wouldn't believe it when they did. As guarded as I was, I loved the whole series, four books published six months apart. I'm pleased to see the series re-released as ebooks.

for a taste of Steve and Victoria's chemistry, I'm giving away Paul's short story "Solomon & Lord Sink or Swim" for Kindle thanks to Authors on the Web.

20 Over 30: Mystery Writers

I came to appreciate mystery fiction in college, so I'm glad to see the recently-launched Book Reporter Network site 20SomethingReads is featuring twenty mystery writers over thirty years old recommending their books and others to college students and twentysomethings. Among my favorites featured are Chatterrific guests Charles Ardai and S.J. Rozan.

There's also a Mystery Lover's Bookshelf of twenty titles published in the past two years recommended by reviewer Joe Hartlaub.

Q & A with Steve Brewer, author of PARTY DOLL

I've been a fan of Steve Brewer's books for eight years, since reading Lonely Street, the 1994 debut of New Mexico P.I. Bubba Mabry. A former journalist and syndicated humor columnist, Brewer now works as a writing coach and University of New Mexico lecturer. A frequent speaker at mystery conventions, he was toastmaster at Left Coast Crime in 2011.

Along with a review copy of the new Bubba Mabry ebook novella, Party Doll, Steve sent the following Q & A...

Brian Thornton, Editor of WEST COAST CRIME WAVE

Brian Thornton most recently edited West Coast Crime Wave (BSTSLLR 2011), an anthology of crime fiction, all set on the American West Coast. His fiction has appeared in such venues as Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, the late, lamented Bullet UK and the Akashic Books anthology Seattle Noir. He is the author of several works of non-fiction, including a piece on Ross Macdonald that appeared in the anthology A Hell of a Woman: An Anthology of Female Noir, books such as Honest Abe: 101 Little-Known Truths about Abraham Lincoln (Adams Media 2010), The Book of Bastards: 101 Scoundrels and Scandals from the World of Politics and Power (Adams Media 2010) and his most recent nonfiction work, The Book of Ancient Bastards: 101 of the Worst Miscreants and Misdeeds from Ancient Sumer to the Enlightenment (Adams Media, 2011). A native Washingtonian, he lives in Seattle with his wife, the writer Robyn Thornton.

Colleen Collins

Colleen Collins is an award-winning author who's written 20 novels and anthologies for Harlequin and Dorchester. Additionally, she's written two nonfiction books on private investigations (How to Write a Dick, co-authored with Shaun Kaufman, and How Do Private Eyes Do That?), and the PI novel The Zen Man. After graduating from the University of California Santa Barbara, Colleen worked as a film production assistant, improv comic, telecommunications manager at the RAND Corporation, technical writer/editor, speech writer, and private investigator. All these experiences play into her writing.

New Year, New Look, New Guests

I think I've finally found the comfortable coffeehouse look I want for Chatterrific. Coming soon, interviews with Brian Thornton, editor of West Coast Crime Wave, and Colleen Collins, Colorado private investigator and co-author of How to Write a Dick.

I'm open to talking anything related to fiction, poetry, film, or TV. We can chat by e-mail, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, or Skype.