Black Orchid Memories

At Trace Evidence, the Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine blog, they asked winners of the Black Orchid Novella Award to tell what they remember about the event.  I am proud to be included.

Jaffalogue Shows Good Taste

Just spotted a review of "Street of the Dead House" on Jaffalogue's site.

This clever tale re-imagines the Rue Morgue [“Street of the Dead House” in sign language] from the POV of the orangutan. And while in Poe’s original, the ape is a brute. Here, the intelligent creature has been trained like Koko and yet plays dumb...

Some interesting thinking here about my tale.

I move to Great Jones Street

There is a new app that wants to be your "Spotify for stories."  Lots of great stories for your Kindle or Android.  Among them are two of mine: "The Present" and "Crow's Feat."  Free, at least for now.  Try it out at Great Jones Street.

The best comes home.

Got my copy yesterday.  My "Street of the Dead House" shares pages with Stephen King, Elmore Leonard, Kathryn Kristine Rusch, Art Taylor, Evan Lewis and a lot of other cool folks.  First time I have ever been reprinted in a  mystery collection of any kind in English.

Publishers Weekly shows "Street" Smarts

"Short story fans will find much to enjoy in series editor Otto Penzler’s highly readable 20th annual best-of anthology."  So begins Publishers Weekly's review of Best American Mystery Stories 2016.  And just like Kirkus yesterday, they pick my "Street of the Dead House" as one of the highlights.  

Thank you, Edgar Allan Poe, Nancy Kilpatrick, Caro Sole, Elizabeth George, Otto Penzler, and NPR's quiz show Says You, which is where I got the idea.

Kirkus likes my orang-outang

The first notice I have seen of Best American Mystery Stories 2016 is in Kirkus Reviews.  They like it: "There isn’t enough Xanax in anyone’s medicine cabinet to calm the jitters these 20 skillful stories will unleash on a worried world."

And in commenting on their favorites in the book the anonymous reviewer says: "Robert Lopresti’s 'Street of the Dead House' shows that even for the supposedly lower species, the ultimate escape isn’t from imprisonment but from the mystery of one’s own mind."  Yeah, what he/she said.

On The Ramblas in New Orleans

The Anthony Awards are the mystery world's equivalent of science fiction's Hugo Awards.  They are voted on by those attending Bouchercon, the annual international mystery convention.  They were announced tonight in New Orleans and I am delighted to report that the award for Best Anthology/Collection went to Murder Under The Oaks, edited by Art Taylor, published by Down and Out Books.  The last story in that esteemed volume is "On The Ramblas," written by me.  I am proud to have been a part of it.  Congrats to Art and to all!

Me live at Left Coast Crimes 2015

Last year at LCC in Portland, H.S. Clark, author of medical thrillers, was kind enough to interview me.  The video is now up for all to see.  Thank you, H.S.!

The Horror... The Dark Fantasy and Horror...

This book arrived a few days ago.  It features my story "Street of the Dead House," which originally appeared in nEvermore!  It would be a lie to say I wasn't proud and pleased.

On the Ramblas on TV, sort of

Art Taylor edited the Bouchercon 2016 anthology MURDER UNDER THE OAKS,which included my story "On The Ramblas."  Here he is on TV talking about the book and mentioning my tale.

Borges and I

Bill Crider writes a column on short stories in Mystery Scene Magazine.  This issue of "Short and Sweet" begins with a well-deserved paean to Jorge Luis Borges, but eventually gets around to mortals.  Specifically he has some kind words for "Shanks Goes Rogue," which appeared in the May issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.  A wise man, Mr. Crider.

Anthony Nominations

Another first this year.  I have a story in an anthology that has been nominated for an Anthony Award.  In fact, I have two.  Now, how am I supposed to vote?  Do I support JEWISH NOIR, which has my story "Nakhshon?"  Or MURDER UNDER THE OAKS which contains "On The Ramblas?"  Fortunately the ballots are secret...

Best American Mystery Stories for pre-sale

Kobo and Amazon is now pre-selling Best American Mystery Stories 2016, which features "Street of the Dead House," and nineteen other stories.  I look forward to seeing who I am sharing the pages with.

Talking about Shanks and clues at TRACE EVIDENCE

I have a piece up at TRACE EVIDENCE, the Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine blog today, explaining how I found a clue that led to my new story "Shanks Goes Rogue."

Shanks Goes Rogue goes live

"Shanks Goes Rogue" is my 26th story in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.  It is the ninth appearance there for Leopold Longshanks, the grumpy writer I coax into solving crimes.  But anyone who wants the complete file also needs to read the five other stories included in Shanks on Crime.

Greenfellas on iBooks and All Romance Books

The ownderful folks at Oak Tree Press have made GREENFELLAS available on iBooks and All Romance Books.  Just in case you don't have your own copy yet.

Letters to the Journal of Experimental History available

Boy, I thought this story had disappeared years ago.  "Letters to the Journal of Experimental History" appeared at a website called The Town Drunk back in 2006.  My second published fantasy story.  And you can read it here.

"Shooting at Firemen" shoots for a Derringer

The Short Mystery Fiction Society has announced the finalists for the 2016 Derringer Awards and I am delighted to report that one of my stories is on the list.  "Shooting at Firemen" appeared in the July/August issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.  If you are interested, I wrote about the story here.  Thanks to the Society and all the judges!

Anthony Voters: For Your Consideration

Since one friend already asked about this, I decided to put all the information in one place.

If you attended the Bouchercon last year or you are signed up for this year, you should have received a ballot for the Anthony Awards by email.  Here is a list of publications I am involved in that are eligible for your votes.

Best Paperback Novel:

Robert Lopresti

Greenfellas

Best Short Story:

Robert Lopresti

Shooting at Firemen

Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine  July/August 2015.

Robert Lopresti

Street of the Dead House

nEvermore!

Robert Lopresti

Nakhshon

Jewish Noir

Robert Lopresti

On The Ramblas

Murder Under The Oaks

Best Anthology or Collection:

Nancy Kilpatrick and Caro Sole

nEvermore!

Kenneth Wishnia

Jewish Noir

Art Taylor

Murder Under The Oaks

If you don't know how to get your hands on these, let me know.  And thanks for considering them....

nEvermore! on the Best list

nEvermore! is a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for best horror anthology.  My story "Street of the Dead House" is part of the book.

Greenfellas: the video (talk)

Back in November I spoke at Western Washington University about my novel GREENFELLAS.  My talk, "Crime Against Nature: Writing An Environmental Crime Novel," is now available as a video on the web. 

The Roseville Way in Darkhouse Collection

This is not a new publication nor a reprint, but a useful repackaging.  Darkhouse Publishing has made their first three anthologies available as one reasonably-priced ebook.  That includes THE ANTHOLOGY OF COZY NOIR which means, I assume, that my story "The Roseville Way" is the leadoff for the whole collection.  It tells the story of a semi-retired mobster and the effect he has on a small-town pizza parlor.

True Review likes "Street of the Dead House."

I just noticed that True Review gave a glowing review of nEvermore! and guess whose story was listed first?

Street of the Dead House is Best again!

Just heard today that "Street of the Dead House," which appeared in the nEvermore! anthology, has been chosen for the Best American Mystery Stories 2016, edited by Elizabeth George, series editor Otto Penzler.  This is the same story that will be appearing in Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2016.

It would be grossly inaccurate to say I am displeased.

Recalling Mike Shayne and The Long Treason

Last year The Digest Enthusiast published a long interview with me.  Today they just reprinted on the web a section about my first publication.  "The Long Treason" appeared in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine in 1979.  I admit, I have published worse since then.

Isolated Incident on Youtube

I think this is the first time I put a song up on Youtube since I started this blog.  It's called "Isolated Incident."

Cover for Year's Best Dark Fiction and Horror 2016

Here is the cover for the Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2016, featuring my "Street of the Dead House" from nEvermore!  Purty cool.

Greenfellas in the Nook

The wonderful folks at Oak Tree Press have just made a Nook edition of Greenfellas available. Wise readers will want to add this to their paper and Amazon copies.

"Street of the Dead House" is among the best

I just signed a contract for "Street of the Dead House" to be included in YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY & HORROR: 2016, edited by Paula Guran.  "Street" is a retelling of a classic Poe story, and first appeared in nEvermore!, edited by Nancy Kilpatrick and Caro Soles.  That's the first time I have ever been reprinted in English, much less in a Best Of collection.  So color me happy.

GREENFELLAS in SPAWNews

The good folks at Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network invited me to discuss how to fill a novel with facts without boring people  The result is "Farewell My Coastline: or How to Write an Environmental Crime Novel Without Sending Your Reader into the Big Sleep."

Updating the Lopresti Collection

I have donated copies of all my stories and books to Western Washington University, where I work, and they just updated the Guide to my collection.

KRL: GREENFELLAS is one of the Best Mysteries of 2015

Kings River Life Magazine just put out their list of the Best Mysteries of 2015, and GREENFELLAS is on it.  I am, as the British would say, right chuffed.  Thank you, Sandra Murphy, for your excellent taste!