R.I.P. David Thompson of Murder by the Book

David Thompson: A Celebration of Life

McKenna Jordan and the Murder by the Book family are planning  a celebration of the life of David Thompson, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, September 13, 2010.

Many have asked about tributes to David’s memory. Alafair Burke has set up a fund for those who would like to make a donation in David’s name. The charity will be determined later. For those wishing to contribute, here are the details:

Checks to the order of "In Memory of David Thompson" (NOT simply David Thompson)

Mail for deposit to:

7 E. 14th St. #1206

New York, NY 10003

For those who would like to make a direct payment please contact alafair@alafairburke.com for account information

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Unbelievably sad news for the mystery community.

David Thompson died unexpectedly yesterday.

We join everyone in sending his wife McKenna, and the rest of his family, our most heartfelt sympathy.

More here - http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-14-10-murder-by-the-book-david-thompson-dies-suddenly-mystery-community-mourns/


Murder by the Book posted the following at Facebook - "It is with deep sadness that we must share the news that David Thompson passed away suddenly on September 13, 2010. David worked at MBTB for 21 years, & he made an indelible impression on the store & everyone who met him. There will be a memorial service, and we will share the details as soon as they are available. In the meantime, David's wife, McKenna Jordan, asks that no tributes be sent to the bookstore for now. We appreciate the loving support that customers have always given the store, and in the difficult days to come we will need it more than ever."

A storybook marriage - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6864334.html

Fun Things You Can Discover While Browsing the Blogs (like Reed Farrel Coleman)

One of the things I love best about the blogging world is the wealth of talent I've discovered in the art of storytelling.

We expect great stories from our writers who also blog - that is, after all, what they do so beautifully. But I've discovered great story telling from others as well - some of them are shown right here at my Meanderings and Muses blog roll to your left. I browse these sites almost every day, and it never fails that a couple of them lead me to still more sites. One that always leads me to interesting spots is David McMahon's authorblog. Mr. McMahon is "totally committed to encouraging excellence in others." You'll find interesting, fun items, and be treated to some quite stunning photography.

Today's meanderings through my blog roll found a terrific story told by Reed Farrel Coleman. Ironically, I have just recently discovered Mr. Coleman's Moe Prager series, and am presently reading the third in that series - "The James Deans," which was the winner of the Barry, Shamus and Anthony awards. I'm totally wowed by Mr. Coleman's writing, and have a huge crush of Moe Prager.






My reading has gone through a sea change over the past couple of years, thankfully. Otherwise, I would not know names I'm just now beginning to recognize, read and thoroughly enjoy.

While I've always read a wide range of different types of things, and have never been one to say no to trying a new writer, I have, in the past, given wide berth to what is referred to as "hard boiled crime fiction." I have favorite writers in a wide spectrum of writing - romance, chick lit, horror, and so it goes. I'm a fool for biographies, and short story anthologies. Mysteries, however, have long been my favorite, and I was mostly reading the more traditional mysteries - bending more in favor, perhaps, to the "cozy" rather than the "hard boiled."

I'm finding that to be changing a bit. I'm still firmly in the traditional category, but overly cozy no longer has the appeal it once did. And lo and behold, hard boiled is finding its way into my everyday reading more and more. And so —voilà!— a whole new group of writers to start piling onto my already sagging bookshelves. One of the authors I've discovered during this journey is Ken Bruen. I'm over the moon for Ken Bruen's work. I've read somewhere recently that reviewers are discouraged from using over-worked words such as "lyrical" when writing their review. Good thing I'm not a reviewer, 'cause I can't come up with a word more fitting for Mr. Bruen's work. Heartbreakingly lyrical. That's the best I can do.

Two of my newest discoveries, and favorite writers - Reed Farrel Coleman and Ken Bruen - have collaborated on a book which will be released in September by David Thompson's Busted Flush Press.

Am I excited to hear this?! Well, Boy Howdy - YES, I am!

The name of the book is Tower. And Mr. Coleman tells the fascinating story about how it came to be at the Busted Flush Press Blogspot. You'll love the story. It's a fun tale, and who knows - after reading it, if you're not already familiar with Mr. Coleman's work, you may find you want to gobble up everything else he's written. Just like me.