Sunday, December 14, 2008

In other news ...

John McFetridge (the author, not the fictional character) posts notice that his novel Dirty Sweet is now available as an e-book. So, no more excuses. Order the book now, and be reading it before I log off.

The day's other news concerns one of the more creative ideas for a crime-fiction anthology that I've heard of. Co-editor Gerard Brennan explains:

"Morrigan Books aims to put out the very best in dark genre fiction, and who does dark crime fiction better than the Irish? Nobody, in my opinion. And luckily, Mark was willing to accept this opinion. It left one small problem, though. How to set this collection apart from Ken Bruen’s excellent Dublin Noir and Colin Bateman’s forthcoming Belfast Nights? Well, it’s Morrigan Books, right? Morrigan is the Celtic goddess of war. Why not ask for stories with an Irish mythology theme? Why not, indeed?"
Gerard says he has stories in hand from Ken Bruen, Adrian McKinty, Garbhan Downey, Sam Millar and Tony Bailie and in the works from even more of the talented cohort of Irish crime writers. About the only thing the book lacks is a title. But you can change that. Click here for details.

© Peter Rozovsky 2008

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8 Comments:

Blogger Gerard Brennan said...

Next time you're over, I'm buying the pints.

gb

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I shall try to work up a good thirst, in that case. But no need, really. It's no easy task to come up with an original concept for an anthology these days, but you've done it. It will be interesting to see what that gang of authors does with the theme.

Your post has had me flipping through my book of Celtic mythology. Certainly the mythic invasions of Ireland could well spur the creaticity of an imaginative contemporary crime writer.

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Gerard Brennan said...

Ah cheers, man. Must have been one of my sharper moments.

Yeah, the stories we have so far are a testament to that Celtic myth inspiration. And still more to come! I'm looking forward to reading them and dying to share them.

Can't wait to get the book out there.

gb

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

McKinty already touched on the dark side of Irish myth, you might say, with the Sons of Cúchulainn in The Dead Yard. Maybe we can expect some more myth-puncturing from him. Whatever Bruen chooses to explore, he'll probably explode it out of the water. And I expect Garbhan Downey might show the more fallible side of heroes and gods.

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Gerard Brennan said...

Bang on, on all counts. I could reveal their myths, but I'd rather not spoil the surprise.

gb

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Hmm, and I wonder what Tony Bailie might come up with -- a hapless rock and roll band that adopts mythological personas for its music and gets up to hair-raising adventures, perhaps?

OK, don't ruin the surprise, but when will this project see the light of day?

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Gerard Brennan said...

We're hoping for early 2010. The publisher wants about a year from when we hand him the final manuscript until publication so he can get the publicity machine well oiled. Should have a more solid date in a couple of months.

Tony went with an obscure myth that evoked a very powerful central image. Definitely hair-raising.

That's all I'll say.

gb

December 15, 2008  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

It will be a nuisance to have to wait that long, but one plus is that when the collection is released, I may know a lot more about Irish mythology than I do now. I suppose I have a small head start, since I visited the Brug na Bóinne this fall. Soon I shall walk the valley again with gangsters for company.

Be sure to keep me posted about dates.

December 15, 2008  

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