Third Daniel Rinaldi Mystery from Dennis Palumbo Due May 7

Screenwriter, psychotherapist, and oh yes, novelist Dennis Palumbo joins Larry and Dave once again to talk about his newest novel and share his perspectives about thriller writing.

From Amazon.com:

Night Terrors is the third in the critically-acclaimed mystery series featuring psychologist and trauma expert Daniel Rinaldi. In this compelling new thriller, set against the backdrop of a brutal Pittsburgh winter, Daniel is asked to treat retired FBI profiler Lyle Barnes, whose terrifying nocturnal visions cause him to wake up screaming.

 

After twenty years spent inside the heads of the nation’s worst serial killers, Barnes is not only falling apart psychologically, but also finds himself the target of an unknown assassin, whose mounting list of victims paralyzes the city. Hidden for his own protection by his former colleagues in the Bureau, Barnes secretly escapes, drawing Daniel and a joint FBI-Pittsburgh PD Task Force into a desperate manhunt for the missing agent. Can they find him before the killer does?

 

Great conversation from a fascinating, multi-talented writer.

More on the changing landscape in literature and publishing

Story Merchant Ken Atchity takes time out from working on the movie, "The Kennedy Detail" in Louisiana, to talk with Larry and Dave about the Apple price-fixing case and its potential and real impacts on traditional publishers and booksellers.

Ken's Story Merchant Books imprint is part of a major shift to digital publishing, requiring a different mindset and marketing strategy. Ken talks about his passion for stories and introducing new authors, and how Story Merchant Books offers the author higher payback and more control over the content than sales through traditional publishing channels.

Related:

The Apple Case information at DOJ

High stakes if Apple e-books antitrust case goes to trial

Dennis Palumbo, creator of the Daniel Rinaldi thriller series, joins us to talk about the psychology of creative people, their problems and how he helps them in his psychotherapy practice.

Dennis is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in creative issues. His newest crime novel, Fever Dream, is on sale now from Poisoned Pen Press.

The book features psychologist and trauma expert, Daniel Rinaldi.  The first Rinaldi mystery, Mirror Image, was published in 2010. Palumbo is also the author of Writing From the Inside Out (John Wiley), as well as a collection of mystery short stories, From Crime to Crime (Tallfellow Press).

Formerly a Hollywood screenwriter, Palumbo’s credits include the feature film My Favorite Year, for which he was nominated for a WGA Award for Best Screenplay. He was also a staff writer for the ABC-TV series Welcome Back, Kotter, and has written numerous series episodes and pilots.

His first novel, City Wars (Bantam Books) is currently in development as a feature film, and his short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Strand and elsewhere. He provides articles and reviews forThe New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Lancet, and many others.

His column, “The Writer’s Life,” appeared monthly for six years in Written By, the magazine of the Writers Guild of America. He’s also done commentary for NPR’s “All Things Considered” and blogs regularly for The Huffington Post.

Join us for this fascinating discussion of his life as a writer of novels, screenplays and television shows, and his insights into the psychology of highly creative people.

Dennis' website is at : http://dennispalumbo.com/

Ken Atchity's novel receiving renewed attention in light of changes in the church

Novelist and story merchant Ken Atchity rejoins us for a discussion of how controversies in the Catholic Church, some of them surrounding the departure of Pope Benedict XVI (now Pope Emeritus), are affecting interest in his novel, The Messiah Matrix. As a scholar of history, Ken finds that faith, fiction and history intertwine in fascinating ways, and historical events such as the departure of a living pope have an effect on how the church is perceived, and perhaps, in how it will go forward.

Check out Ken's recent article in the Huffington Post, Good News from the Vatican.

Doug Lyle talks about his role as a forensics consultant for movies and TV

Forensic thriller writer D.P. Lyle joins us for a second session, this time to talk about his work as a forensics consultant for movies and TV, as well as for other authors. In addition to being a novelist, Lyle is a practicing cardiologist.  Over the years, he's received thousands of questions about forensic medicine over the years and many of these are compiled in his Forensics and Fiction books.

M.D./novelist D.P. Lyle is a master of forensic thrillers

Doug (D.P.) Lyle MD, cardiologist and writer of forensic thrillers joins Larry and Dave to talk about his genre and his most recent Dub Walker novel Run to Ground.

Lyle is a Macavity Award winning and Edgar Award nominated author of many fiction and non-fiction books, short stories, and essays. He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Judging Amy, Peacemakers, Cold Case, House, Medium, Women's Murder Club, 1-800-Missing, The Glades, and Pretty Little Liars.

For the past 35 years, he has practiced Cardiology in Orange County, California.

Join us as we discuss Doug's style of writing, his craft, characters and more in this unique interview.

This is only part 1 with Doug Lyle -- he'll be with us next time as well to talk about his work as a forensics consultant for movies and TV, as well as for other authors. He's received thousands of questions about forensic medicine over the years and many of these are compiled in his Forensics and Fiction books.

Larry gives us his recommended thrillers, plus a couple to avoid.

Making thriller recommendations isn't easy, but in this episode, Larry and Dave discuss a couple definite reads:

As the new movie, Jack Reacher (which Larry recommends) is hitting theatres, it might be a good idea to check out the Lee Child novel it's based on, One Shot.  Reacher is a unique character in thriller fiction, fitting the mold of the lone, traveling crime-fighter in the mold of the Lone Ranger.  Never staying in one place very long, living a very spartan life, but making a difference wherever he goes.  Childs has written 17 Jack Reacher novels.

Larry gives One Shot 3.5 stars out of 5

Larry's favorite of today (and one of his favorites any day) is Michael Connelly.  Connelly's new Harry Bosch novel is Black Box.  Bosch is a cold case unit detective who finds himself investigating some apparent homocides that took place during the Los Angeles riots in 1992.  It's a fascinating puzzle that leads in many unexpected directions.  A winner from Connelly.

Larry gives Black Box 4.5 stars (at least) out of 5

Less exciting is David Baldacci's John Puller novel, Forgotten.  While Baldacci is a highly talented writer, this particular thriller wasn't up to his usual standards.  Larry feels this book is derivative of the Jack Reacher concept, perhaps a little too close.  Larry also felt the plot, involving modern-day slave trading, was perhaps a bit unrealistic.

Larry gives Forgotten 2.5 stars out of 5

Today's clinker is John Grisham's The Racketeer.  Larry feels that Grisham is highly talented, as reflected in his earlier novels (Pelican Brief, The Client), but more recent works are not up to his real capability.  Larry particularly takes issue with Grisham's stated disdain for research and/or realism.  The book is far-fetched, and definitely not up to Grisham's clear talent and should be avoided.

Larry gives The Racketeer 1 star out of 5

New thrillers by Dave Barry and James Pemberton, plus organized crime, and an online book tour.

After a holiday break, Vicki is back with more book news and some interesting articles from the thrillersphere.

Partners In Crime Tours --  virtual book tours -- Larry Thompson is participating in this virtual book tour group that offers blog exposure for authors and exciting content for book blog readers.

Cobra Breaking by James Pemberton -- A James Bond-esque thriller now available as an e-book.

Dave Barry's Insane City -- The Miami Herald humorist has a new fun read that combines some humor with the thriller genre, which as Vicki says, is something of a trend these days.

Interview with FBI Agent Michael Plichta -- Great backgrounder on the current state of organized crime.

Other Worlds in Everyday Life -- Jeff Carlson -- In this guest blog at Reader's Entertainment, Jeff talks about his novel, Frozen Sky, and where his ideas come from.

Milt Rosenberg's WGN Radio Show, Extension 720, ended on December 20, unbeknownst to us when we mentioned it in the podcast.  The podcast itself is not available via iTunes, but is still showing up at Podcaster.fm.  Here's a direct link to a great conversation about organized crime in Chicago: Extension 720 - Organized Crime Episode

Jon Land talks about  his latest novel, Pandora's Temple.

Jon Land brings back a well loved thriller character, Blaine McCracken, after a years-long hiatus.  Pandora's Temple is a thriller with elements of fantasy and sci-fi, making for a very exciting read.  Land talks with Larry Thompson and Dave Dufour about the idea for the novel and a bit about his writing process.

From the Amazon Blurb for Pandora's Temple:

Rogue special-operations agent McCracken has never been shy about answering the call, and this time it comes in the aftermath of a deepwater oil rig disaster that claims the life of a onetime member of his commando unit. The remnants of the rig and its missing crew lead him to the inescapable conclusion that one of the most mysterious and deadly forces in the universe is to blame: dark matter, both a limitless source of potential energy and an unimaginably destructive weapon.

Joining forces again with his trusty sidekick Johnny Wareagle, McCracken races to stop two deadly enemies who want the dark matter at all costs. A powerful energy magnate and the leader of a Japanese doomsday cult both seek the ultimate prize for their own nefarious reasons, and McCracken and Wareagle’s mission to defeat them takes the duo on a nonstop journey across the world and thousands of years into the past where the truth lies in the ancient Pandora’s Temple, built to safeguard the world’s most powerful weapon.

McCracken’s only hope to save the world is to find the mythical temple. Along the way, he and Wareagle find themselves up against Mexican drug gangs, killer robots, an army of professional assassins, and a legendary sea monster. The hero of nine previous bestselling thrillers, McCracken is used to the odds being stacked against him, but this time the stakes have never been higher.

This book features an illustrated biography of Jon Land including rare images from the author’s personal collection.

Jon also chats about the changing face of book publishing, and the ways authors produce and get paid for their work.  Land's publisher Open Road Integrated Media, is in the vanguard of "new publishing," and the author gives us some insights into that relationship as well.

 

See Jon's website for more information about him and his other books.

Jon Land is the bestselling author over 25 novels. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude and continues his association with Brown as an alumni advisor.

Jon often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts.  He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and frequently volunteers in schools to help young people learn to enjoy the process of writing.

Jon is the Vice-President of marketing of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and is often asked to speak on topics regarding writing and research.

Lost and Found: A thriller novel that's also a dog story.

Animal behaviorist turned novelist Amy Shojai joins Larry and Dave to talk about her new novel that combines her expertise and understanding of dogs and dog psychology with a unique, thrilling mystery.

From the Amazon blurb:

AN AUNT searches for her lost nephew—and dooms her sister. A MOM gambles a miracle will cure—and not kill—her child. A DOG finds his true purpose—when he disobeys. Animal behaviorist September Day has lost everything—husband murdered, career in ruins, confidence shot—and returns home with her trained Maine Coon cat Macy to Texas to recover. She’s forced out of hibernation when her nephew Steven and his autism service dog Shadow disappear in a freak blizzard. When her sister trusts a maverick researcher’s promise to help Steven, September has 24 hours to rescue them from a devastating medical experiment impacting millions of children, a deadly secret others will kill to protect. As September races the clock, the body count swells. Shadow does his good-dog duty but can’t protect his boy. Finally September and Shadow forge a stormy partnership to rescue the missing and stop the nightmare cure. But can they also find the lost parts of themselves?

Join us for some great conversation with a great

Amy Shojai's Website

Amy also guested on Theatre Geeks Podcast, talking about her new musical, Kurves.