LOPEZ!? TUDDY!

Quick Updates

-Today is my birthday. I am 29. This morning I kicked some kids off my front lawn. I intend to eat dinner before six o'clock for the rest of my life.

-Yesterday I finished the first draft of what I hope will be my next novel. More info to come, but I will say one thing: It is not a Jackson Donne.

-No worries though, to make up for that, stuff blows up.

-If you're not reading Swierczy's Iron Fist, you're missin' out.

-I'm going to see the Decemberists on November 11th.

-I'm going to Boston the 7th-the 9th and intend to read the latest Spenser novel then.

Since HIMYM is a Re-Run Tonight, You Get:

The Decemberists!

Specifically, Colin Meloy singing "Valerie Plame!"



And "The Mariner's Revenge Song!"

Best Sports Memories

My dad, brother and I were talking about our favorite sports moments the other day. Discussing which moments stuck out in our minds as the most exciting, or transcendent.

My brother picked Aaron Boone's home run.

My dad picked Christian Laettner's game winning shot.

I pulled out a list of 3.

Number ONE: Rutgers vs. Lousiville in 2006. I was at this game and every thing just changed that night. It has personal memories (the trip to get the tickets, the tailgate...) and ESPN memories (rushing the field.) It was a huge night.

Number TWO: The Boone Home Run. Gotta agree with my brother there. Just amazing.

Number THREE: Last year's Super Bowl. Probably the best Super Bowl ever.

What are everyone else's moments?

Have you had this moment?

It's Never a Good Sign...

when you have to re-log into blogger in order to make a post.

Life's been weird lately. Good weird, but weird nonetheless. Since school started almost two (TWO?!) months ago, I've been going non-stop.

I get up, go to work, come home, run, and then write. Then it's dinner, some TV, movie or a book, then bed. I don't surf blogs as much anymore, if at all. And I don't feel like I have any time.

But I'm not complaining.

(A sign, also--I think--that I'm growing up. I have reasons to be busy. And I don't mind as much.)

In fact, this is going to be a post about the process. I've never been one of those 1,000 words a day people, despite my best intentions. I've been a streak writer. I'd get going, write 500 words one day, write 1,000 the next and then for the next week hitting up 2 or 3,000 words. Then I'd hit a wall at the end of the week and not write for a week or two.

I don't know what it was, maybe the story was percolating in my head. I was always thinking about it, trying to bang out the plots, the characters and the beats. But I wasn't actively writing.

This time I made a vow. 1,000 words a day or bust. And I've been pretty much keeping that track. In fact, I think since the beginning of August there've been a grand total of 7 days where I didn't write.

And now I'm getting close to the end. I can taste it. I see all the characters barreling toward their destiny, their storylines wrapping up, but I can't see the finish. I don't know what they're destinies are, I just know I'm close to them.

This is a bit disconcerting. I'm worried the book is just going to go off the rails and that I won't be able to salvage it.

I think I hit this point in THE EVIL THAT MEN DO in my first draft around this point too (though TETMD was a shorter book.) So, I have a feeling I'll find it. And then it's a matter of revision. Getting everything to work. Making it all consistent.

And giving it that weight. Finding the emotions and the balance.

But it's a new feeling for me. It's a marathon this time. Not a sprint. And I'm not sure which is better.

But this is working for me this time.

Intervention

Finding a New Author

Is there any better feeling, as a reader?

A few months ago I went all blubbery about Don Winslow's THE DAWN PATROL. After I read that, I tracked down everything I could find by the man. And I just read THE WINTER OF FRANKIE MACHINE.

What a book.

It ties the old mob stories--I could almost see Goodfellas in my head as I read--with a taut on the run thriller. Every twist and turn, I was on the edge of my seat.

I love when you find an author when you're not expecting it. Yeah, I'd heard a lot about Winslow, but reading the summaries of his books, it didn't seem like my thing. And THE DEATH AND LIFE OF BOBBY Z didn't really connect with me. But after THE DAWN PATROL and now FRANKIE MACHINE, I am hooked.

So who are some new authors you've found recently?

"The Guy from Die Hard?"

Find more videos like this on The Spill.com Movie Community

The Something of Boris

Global Warming?

That Shiny Bouchercon Scent

Well, I'm back and ready to do some more name dropping... so here we go!

-The most fun I had was in the bar (surprise!) but less the drinking and more talking sports and other funny moments with Jason Pinter, Bill Lashner, Bryon Quetermous, and whoever else moseyed along.

-Pattie Abbott says she was there. I think she lied. Megan Abbott has to catch up on Lost.

-Pub Trivia was hilarious and lead to a certain someone's perfect delivery of the lines "Awkward..." "LOUD NOISES" and "Yeah, well you're a team of dorks!" lead to me nearly snorting club soda through my nose.

-Baltimore's waiters, waitresses, pick up vans and hostesses are notoriously slow. As in, "Eh, they don't REALLLY want to eat."

-Brad Parks hates Rutgers. As in, he works for the Star Ledger.

-Tom Schreck was mad at me for mentioning 2004. I was mad at me too.

-I love talking to Sarah Weinman and seeing someone I know over her shoulder. The person sees me and waves and keeps moving. I wave back, and Sarah turns to see who it is. The person I waved at sees Sarah immediately steps on the breaks, causing their shoe soles to burn off, turns, and rushes over with a loud, excited, and overly happy "HIIIIIIII SARAH." AKA, The Weinman Wave.

-They then stopped at talked to the Weinman doppleganger.

-Big ups for Bryon Quertermous buying me a drink. Big downs on it being a Shirley Temple.

-I enjoyed riding the B'Con train home.

-When I got back to the city, people asked me where I went. Then repeatedly said "Oh, you were in that part of Baltimore."

So I'm sitting here in my room

And realized that as far as I can tell, I haven't made any huge gaffs or faux pas this B'con.

So, here are the highlights so far:

-Got asked to replace Greg Rucka on a panel on Thursday afternoon. Big thanks to Tim Maleeny for hooking that up. It was a good time, and when we were asked by Jen Jordan to recommend books we all loved, I mentioned I heard The Bible was pretty good. (Oh and Duane and Al.)

-Bryon and I have been sparring a bit, on the one liners. I'm going to fully admit that he's winning. At the same time, check his blog, he's also winning at the faux pas.

-I did see Name Drop in the lobby the other day. Oh my God I can't believe I stood next to Name Drop!

-Lost the Shamus to Sean Chercover. Great for him, great book, great guy. A disappointment for me? Yes. But at least I didn't have to shake hands with the creepy Edgar Allen Poe lookalike.

-Great Private Eye panel. Everyone knew their stuff and Ross MacDonald was considered the Grand Master. I cannot disagree. Everyone referred to me as "Awesome Dave."

-I'm really tired right now and am out of witty zingers.

-Yes, I know, I've never really had zingers.

Aaaaaaaaaannnnndddd, I'm off

So, tomorrow at 7:30 I'll be on the train... choo choo baby. On my way to Baltimore for Bouchercon.

To see me? Just look around.

Oh and I'll be at the Shamus Awards and the Saturday 11:30 am panel on Private Eyes.

What's This? A Sports Post...

So... 2008... sigh... 2008...

What happened 2008?

I'm not the biggest Giants fan in the world. I didn't sell my soul for the Giants to win. So, why am I suffering? Have I won that much?

I mean, yeah I'm a Yankees fan. I love the Yankees and 2008 wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was frustrating. You kept thinking they were going to get on a run, but no. Just kind of fizzled.

And then there was the Rutgers basketball team. Fred Hill in 2008 won TWO Big East games. Out of 18. 2. I have season tickets and I got to see... ONE WIN. And no Big East Tournament. Ouch.

And finally, the worst of all... Rutgers football. I mean come on. They went 0-11 my freshmen year. I should be getting sports karma in the positive way for the rest of my life. And they're just getting pounded this year.

Owwwwwwww.

Pounded.

So, listen Sports God... do you think you could repay me in Rutgers basketball for the next year? Give me some excitement at the RAC? A couple of wins? It'll all be okay if you can do that.

But I guess it could be worse.

I could be a Mets fan.

A frighteningly accurate prediction

Oh, Bimbos

"You eat apples, right? I produce Entourage."

You Gotta Be Kidding Me. The Curse of the Rings?

I hated those stinkin' movies.

From New York Newsday:

Curse of the rings

When the Yankees won the 2000 World Series, they declined to distribute championship rings to the entire organization, as they did after their 1996, 1998 and 1999 triumphs. The group of dissed employees, numbering between 20 and 25, privately placed a curse on the team, proclaiming there would be no more parades until they received their jewelry.

They called it The Curse of the Rings.

The Curse is now 8 years old. It attended a sleepover party last night and is going to see "High School Musical 3" today.

Brian Cashman tried putting this issue to rest when he gained full power as Yankees GM three years ago. These people aren't getting their rings, Cashman told Newsday in 2006. So consider this our annual plea for Cashman to change his mind. His job is hard enough without having to worry about bad karma.

My Reactions to the VP Debate

Not really a live blog, just a reaction, because I plan on flipping back and forth between baseball playoffs too.

Yeah, that's right.

-Joe Biden looks flushed in HD. Sarah Palin looks freckled.

-Oh, let's bring up the US's work ethic.

-WAIT... A TEAM OF MAVERICKS??? Doesn't that go against the term Maverick?

-"Darn right." Middle America just went "oooh isn't she just adorable?"

-"Joe Six Pack" "Hockey Moms?" Come on... Americans don't play hockey. Alaskans maybe. But Americans?

-I keep waiting for her to pump her fist and say "We can do it!" like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

-When Biden smiled, I expected to see the sun glint off his teeth. My God, did he pain them?

-Ooohhhh, well I'm just gonna talk straight to the American People and not ever answer a question.

-I'm sure running a small Alaskan city is like running the most powerful country in the world.

-I keep expecting her to "Tee hee" and break out an old high school cheer. I mean seriously, I may be breaking out a stereotype her... but I would have hated her ... and loved her... in high school. Oh my tortured psyche.

-Biden karate chopping the podium. Oh wait, he's just talking with his hands.

-She talks like a kindergarten teacher scolding a child for peeing his pants. "Bless their hearts." Oh man, what's next? She's just going to cook all of the US of A a nice li'l turkey dinner?

-"Quote, 'I'm paraphrasing'" Whoa, Mr. Biden... English teachers everywhere just winced.

-Sarah Palin's face "WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I? THE LIGHTS! THE LIGHTS!"

-Sarah Palin: "I can't answer that question. I'm going to focus on the one question I can answer. We should go back to that. That's where I feel comfy."

-NO ONE CARES ABOUT ALASKA! There are three citizens there. And two of them are Hilary Swank and a crazed Robin Williams. (anyone get that joke?)

-She just called him "Senator O'Biden." Top o' the morning to you. And then broke out the word RAPE!!!

-Her head is shaking like it's about to explode. "Straight up now tell me are you gonna love me forever."

-"What should that be (regarding the exit strategy)?" "I am very grateful we do have a good plan." Ummmm...? What plan?

-I really wish I had thought ahead, but I should have started taking down all of Palin's quotes and turning them into sexual comments.

-I see Palin is from the George W. Bush School of Pronunciation.

-Wait, is she saying we'll never use a nuke? I'm not sure how I feel about that. "Yeah, we got 'em. You scared?" She didn't answer the question. AGAIN!

-Joe, it's okay to refer to yourself as "I" and "me."

-Where is Robert Redford when you need him? Afghanistan, Bananistan.

-Americans are cravin' that straight talk. Okay, so Palin is a walking bunch of catch phrases. Hockey moms, straight talk, Alaska.

-"John McCain, who knows how to win a war." What war did he win? Didn't we lose 'Nam? I mean, yeah he had it tough and survived and that's to be honored and respected... but...

-"Say it ain't so, Joe." Oohhh she's just so adorable...

-I just checked the baseball score and apparently missed the best part. Damn it.

-"Blah blah blah" Alaska. "Blah blah blah" Main Street. "Blah Blah Blah" Governor mayor energy.

According to my school colleagues

This is what an author looks like: