tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post4832833996979557319..comments2024-03-19T08:21:49.021-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Oh, CanadaJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3779894443685250232012-11-17T06:51:52.667-05:002012-11-17T06:51:52.667-05:00Thank you, everyone, for your positive feedback an...Thank you, everyone, for your positive feedback and short story affection. Congratulations, Hank, on this latest accolade for The Other Woman. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040571218839633874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79833887036272441612012-11-17T00:42:41.078-05:002012-11-17T00:42:41.078-05:00I think Apt Pupil by Stephen King is my favorite. ...I think Apt Pupil by Stephen King is my favorite. Or I could simply like that he loves the Red Sox and the Green Moster.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83981092375106380752012-11-17T00:39:30.836-05:002012-11-17T00:39:30.836-05:00Oh, Hank – congratulations! xoxoxoOh, Hank – congratulations! xoxoxoMaureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50229943122107587732012-11-16T17:49:04.143-05:002012-11-16T17:49:04.143-05:00Lamb to the Slaughter! We were JUST talking about ...Lamb to the Slaughter! We were JUST talking about that--and trying to remember the title! Thank you!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25265905949690155242012-11-16T16:50:44.191-05:002012-11-16T16:50:44.191-05:00Thanks for mentioning Too Many Cooks, Debs. Re-te...Thanks for mentioning Too Many Cooks, Debs. Re-telling the story of Macbeth from the viewpoint of the three witches was such fun for me! <br /><br />My favorite short story has to be "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl ... also made into an episode of Alfred Hitchcock presents staring Barbara Bel Geddes. No spoilers! <br /><br />And contrats to the Toronto chapter of SinC for their anthology. I've been involved in all off the Chesapeake Chapter anthologies so far -- five going on six! -- and it's always heartening to see all the talent we have within our chapter among both the previously published and the soon-to-be-published authors who make it into the anthologies.Marcia Talleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02844552747312848730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1884709930434873142012-11-16T14:45:54.326-05:002012-11-16T14:45:54.326-05:00I have to say I was tickled pink to have my story ...I have to say I was tickled pink to have my story "A Ring for Jenny" selected to be in The Whole She-Bang. Short stories are tough for me, but when I saw the call out for submissions I couldn't let the chance pass me by. I decided to write a short story featuring my book's protagonist, Dr. Peter Ainsley, a 19th century morgue surgeon solving crimes during the infancy of forensic science. <br /><br />Janet was a very gracious editor. I found her points to be quite valid and deserving. I am glad she was on hand to give my story a thorough critique.<br /><br />I also enjoyed meeting the fellow contributors at the launch party in Toronto. Sisters In Crime sure know how to put on a party!Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02260090050699323992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24728675395802103202012-11-16T14:25:40.363-05:002012-11-16T14:25:40.363-05:00Thanks Hank and Janet!
My favourite story? That&#...Thanks Hank and Janet!<br /><br />My favourite story? That's hard. I wouldn't say it's my favorite, but I remember in about Grade 4 reading a story by Stephen Leacock called "The New Food". Poor Gustavus Adolphus eats some 300 pounds of food that has been condensed to the size of a small pill with disasterous results.<br /><br />I do like some of the others mentioned like The Gift of the Magi and The Secret Lives of Cats (where no cats speak).<br /><br />I was fortunate to have two stories selected for inclusion in The Whole She-Bang, "The Cookie Caper: An End of the Road Adventure" and "Amber Free Annie"<br /><br />In both stories, the main character is a child but these stories are very different. The Cookie Caper is light and I hope will be enjoyable to both children and adults. It is set in Northern Ontario, in a bakery where someone is stealing Cookies...<br /><br />Amber Free Annie is somewjat darker. It featurs a young girl who runs from her mother and mother's boyfriend to the streets of Toronto. For a while her life seems better until...<br /><br />Finally, congratulations Hank!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710279136962657582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11255728788272987662012-11-16T14:10:51.377-05:002012-11-16T14:10:51.377-05:00Wah-hoo Hank!
I can't pick just one short sto...Wah-hoo Hank!<br /><br />I can't pick just one short story. The Lottery would be on my short list, along with The Nine Billion Names of Good and just about any short story by Kurt Vonnegut.<br /><br />I'm impressed by how many of you seem to know our national anthem, but how many of you can sing the bilingual version?Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77124230224894745222012-11-16T13:37:09.117-05:002012-11-16T13:37:09.117-05:00Janet Costello is a fabulous editor, and she put a...Janet Costello is a fabulous editor, and she put a lot of time into The Whole She-Bang. I'm thrilled to have my story, Crossing Over, in the collection.Rosemary McCrackenhttp://rosemarymccracken.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39315965499574016832012-11-16T13:24:14.642-05:002012-11-16T13:24:14.642-05:00From outside of mysteries I love A Sound of Thunde...From outside of mysteries I love A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, where a visitor to the past crushes a butterfly, and the future is changed in that instant. But there have to be more standout short mystery faves. Edgar Allan Poe anyone?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040571218839633874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72522940389685895492012-11-16T13:18:26.205-05:002012-11-16T13:18:26.205-05:00Congratulation, Hank, on another well-deserved mil...Congratulation, Hank, on another well-deserved milestone for The Other Woman.Judy Daileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397867066734218934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40574565644226981942012-11-16T12:46:32.309-05:002012-11-16T12:46:32.309-05:00Congratulations AGAIN to Hank! (This reminds me th...Congratulations AGAIN to Hank! (This reminds me that I loved your short story On the House...did I get that right? I am so bad at remembering titles.)<br /><br />Among my favorites are Gift of the Magi by O Henry,and a story by Joanne Greenberg that was in one of her collections of short stories. I do not remember the name of the short story but I think the collection it is from is High Crimes and Misdemeanors...and I hope I got THAT name right. (My copy seems to have disappeared. I think it fell apart!) Anyway,the story is about a Jewish woman who begins to doubt the existence of God. Her life begins to deteriorate, and soon the law of gravity no longer applies to her. I think her rabbi told her,sure,it's one of God's laws, so it can't apply to you anymore. (She was floating up near the ceiling, hitting her head...) Because it has been so many years since I read it, I probably am wrong on some details. But it was quite amusing, and I recommended it to a lot of people.<br /><br />A few years ago I picked up a used Sisters in Crime anthology at a library sale, and that is one of the ways in which I discovered some of my now favorite writers and went on to buy their brand-new books!<br />Am not loving captcha today.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90673990201957269412012-11-16T12:44:44.877-05:002012-11-16T12:44:44.877-05:00Congratulations to Hank for YET another honor!
Th...Congratulations to Hank for YET another honor!<br /><br />This was a terrific interview, Janet. Good editing is hard work and vastly important. I always think of the editor as the person who keeps me from going out in public with egg on my face.<br /><br />"The Lottery" may well be my favorite short story. Stephen King's "Apt Pupil" is absolutely chilling (as is "The Lottery") and remains in my memory, but it's long enough to be a novella. <br /><br />Kevin Prufer wrote a quiet, stunning story called "Cat in a Box" for KANSAS CITY NOIR that just came out.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38872133377600390812012-11-16T11:43:49.215-05:002012-11-16T11:43:49.215-05:00Annie Proulx's collection of short stories, &q...Annie Proulx's collection of short stories, "Close Range", is excellent, too. In fact, "Brokeback Mountain" came from that collection. It's more of a novella than a true short story, but still an amazing piece of work. <br /><br />Short mystery stories, though, seem much more difficult to write. I've tried, without success. My hat is off to anyone who can craft a good story in such tight confines and parameters. Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5675890056721636492012-11-16T11:34:09.551-05:002012-11-16T11:34:09.551-05:00Yay to Hank!!! The accolades for The Other Woman ...Yay to Hank!!! The accolades for The Other Woman just go on and on!!! You are our star!<br /><br />Short stories, oh, they are so hard. I do not have the short story knack, but need to write one, so was very interested in your comments, Janet. Good editors, for novels or short stories, are priceless beyond pearls...<br /><br />Favorite short story? "Too Many Cooks," which won the Agatha and the Anthony and was nominated for the Macavity, by my friend Marcia Talley!Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519514786198185277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6419253806469015762012-11-16T11:24:07.280-05:002012-11-16T11:24:07.280-05:00Congratulations, Hank.
I was in a US crowd that w...Congratulations, Hank.<br /><br />I was in a US crowd that was singing both the US and Canadian anthems. They knew the words to the US anthem, but couldn't really carry the tune.<br /><br />They started lustily on the first line of the Canadian anthem -- and then petered out, not knowing the words, but willing to hum along with the singer.<br /><br />Best short story? Too tough, because it depends on mood, genre, memory of the moment. However, Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" sticks with me.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84430974960718333162012-11-16T11:22:13.183-05:002012-11-16T11:22:13.183-05:00And aww... Kristopher. Thank you. So much. Smooch...And aww... Kristopher. Thank you. So much. Smooches.<br /><br />ANd sorry, Leslie...I'm still singing, too. Especially difficlt because I only know the first two words.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35842787245782674242012-11-16T11:20:41.623-05:002012-11-16T11:20:41.623-05:00OH, yes, Hallie, that's a great one! And anyon...OH, yes, Hallie, that's a great one! And anyone who's been to MWA-U knows how terrific it is..<br /><br />And I agree about O.Henry. And of course--The Lottery. Which I dont even want to think about.<br /><br />Janet, get some of the Toronto sisters to come tell us a bit about their stories!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45330666109678151982012-11-16T11:07:47.367-05:002012-11-16T11:07:47.367-05:00Congrat to Hank! As I told her at Bouchercon, I s...Congrat to Hank! As I told her at Bouchercon, I suspect that The Other Women will end up on many "best of 2012" lists, including mine. <br /><br />As for my favorite short story. While not a mystery, I would rank Everyday Use by Alice Walker at the top of the list. A story about sisters fighting over their mother's (grandmother's?) quilts. Just wonderful.Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77108114866281873332012-11-16T11:02:28.079-05:002012-11-16T11:02:28.079-05:00Thanks, Hank -- now I've got our northern neig...Thanks, Hank -- now I've got our northern neighbors' national anthem firmly stuck in my head. I may have to go outside and sing!Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62482430165975932922012-11-16T10:47:48.754-05:002012-11-16T10:47:48.754-05:00I do have at least one all-time favorite short sto...I do have at least one all-time favorite short story. "Bullet in the Brain" by Tobias Wolff. It appears in his collection "Our Story Begins." It is so dark and wickedly funny, a little gem, and a great lesson in writing an unreliable narrator.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40990072820688237872012-11-16T10:03:41.467-05:002012-11-16T10:03:41.467-05:00Woohoo, Hank! What a ride you're on this year,...Woohoo, Hank! What a ride you're on this year, and so well-deserved. <br /><br />Is it me, or are there a lot more anthologies being published in the last couple of years? It's a great form, though. I love discovering new-to-me authors via their short stories, especially mystery ones, so I'll definitely look for The Whole She-Bang. (Hank, short stories could be our go-to stopgap for the first, electronics-free 15 minutes of the flight!)<br /><br />Favorite short stories: The Ransom of Red Chief, and The Gift of the Magi. O Henry was the master, wasn't he? Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30884830599127742382012-11-16T09:57:59.393-05:002012-11-16T09:57:59.393-05:00Wow! I've put The Whole She-Bang on my holiday...Wow! I've put The Whole She-Bang on my holiday list. I love short stories and love Canada, where I studied for a semester a few years (okay, decades) ago.<br /><br />And thanks for getting Oh Canada! going in my head this morning. I love that anthem, especially the line "with glowing hears we see thee rise, the true North strong & free." <br /><br />No bombs bursting in air, just a heart bursting with pride. So very Candadian.<br /><br />Finally, Hank, big congratulations on more acclaim for The Other Woman!<br /><br />Brenda B. in MaineBrenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59443687521731030512012-11-16T09:34:25.428-05:002012-11-16T09:34:25.428-05:00Yeah, a short story is daunting. Why is that? The ...Yeah, a short story is daunting. Why is that? The amazing Nancy Pickard says they always must have an epiphany..so that's interesting.<br /><br />And funny, too, that when you get an idea for a good short story, you instantly know it. It appears as a story, not a novel. Hmm.<br /><br />My favorite short story? Yeah, my own question is too difficult.<br /><br />Janet, did the cat talk?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90089648791612436832012-11-16T09:18:28.979-05:002012-11-16T09:18:28.979-05:00Hi Lucy/Roberta,
My Sisters all took my suggestio...Hi Lucy/Roberta,<br /><br />My Sisters all took my suggestions very open-mindedly, and I've received warm thanks me for my efforts. We even bonded over some, for eg. I was editing one story as the author was emailing me to point out she'd switched a character's name mid-story in error, (which I had noticed). <br /><br />On another note, I've got an answer (for today anyway...it's one of those questions, where you'll have a different answer later) about my favourite mystery story. The Secret Lives of Cats by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (from EQMM...2 yrs ago?). This cat has a camcorder on its collar, and the investigation is from the first-animal/first-person viewpoint.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040571218839633874noreply@blogger.com