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Tag Archives: current-events
Killing Your Protagonist – Or At Least Trying To / Author Vic DiGenti (aka Parker Francis)
What makes us keep turning the pages? The same thing that makes us watch a train wreck. Award-winning author Vic DiGenti shares with us how he beats up his protagonists and how, if they didn’t have to appear in the … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Blogger Series
Tagged Author, Award Winning, characters, Clay Stafford, Criminal Minds, CSI, current-events, drama, guest bloggers, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville writers conference, Killing Your Protagonist, Matanzas Bay, Monty Python Show, mystery, mystery series, Parker Francis, protagonist, Readers, suspense, Themes, Vic DiGenti, Writing
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How Technology Helps & Hinders The Modern-Day Sleuth
Back in the good old days, a private detective or amateur sleuth could justify entering the villain’s secluded hideout alone because they were miles from a telephone. Now, when everyone has a cell phone (and probably an internet connection) in … Continue reading
Posted in About Killer Nashville, Writing
Tagged 2013, 2013 conference, 2013 conference sessions, 2013 Killer Nashville, amateur sleuth, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, Cozy, cozy mystery, current-events, detective, great sessions, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville sessions, modern-day sleuth, mystery, mystery and thriller, mystery series, nashville writers, private detective, Readers, Serial Killer sub-genre, Series, sleuth, smartphones, smartphones the the sleuth, suspense, Technology, Themes, thriller authors, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Featured Book of the Day / “The Mothers” by Jennifer Gilmore / Friday, May 10, 2013 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is The Mothers by Jennifer Gilmore It is amazing how, when one can’t have children, that one sees children and pregnant women everywhere, hears women getting pregnant who didn’t want to be, hears innocent remarks made by family members … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged adopt, adoption, Author, Book of the day, Books, characters, children, Clay Stafford, current-events, drama, emotional, Featured Book, Featured Book of The Day, Jennifer Gilmore, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville Featured Book, literary mystery, literature, Mother's Day, pregnant women, Readers, suspense, The Mothers, Themes, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Featured Book of the Day / “Don’t Go” by Lisa Scottoline / Thursday, May 9, 2013 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Don’t Go by Lisa Scottoline Most of the books I read from Lisa Scottoline are series related. Here’s a standalone you won’t want to miss. Scottoline is one of the best writers I’ve ever read. This one goes … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged 2013, Afghanistan, army doctor, Author, Award Winning, Bestselling, bestselling author, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, Don't Go, Dr. Mike Scanlon, drama, Edgar Award, Featured Book, Featured Book of The Day, heros, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville Featured Book, Lisa Scottoline, man's point-of-view, military, New York Times, Readers, Series, serve his country, standalone, suspense, Themes, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Featured Book of the Day / “Submergence” by J.M. Ledgard / Monday, April 29, 2013 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Submergence by J.M. Ledgard J. M. Ledgard’s “Submergence” has figuratively grabbed me by the…neck. Every few months I read a book like this and it just blows me away. This novel hit me in the gut. The story … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged al-Qaeda, Author, biomathematician, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, Danielle Flinders, drama, dramatic, educational, Featured Book, Featured Book of The Day, human-rights, Islam, J.M. Ledgard, James More, Jihad, Jihad Muslims, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville Featured Book, libya, literary mystery, literature, Muslim, Muslim Islamic terrorists, on-the-edge of your seat, Readers, religion, Somalia, stream-of-consiousness, Submergence, terrorists, Themes, Thriller, tragic, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Featured Book of the Day / “Bonded Labor: Tackling the System of Slavery in South Asia” by Siddharth Kara / Friday, March 1, 2013 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Bonded Labor: Tackling the System of Slavery in South Asia by Siddharth Kara “Brings new meaning to owing your soul to the company store. A study of debt bondage and violent enslavement of men, women, and children in … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Bonded Labor, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, commerce, commerce chain, Company Store, current-events, debt bondage, enslavement, Featured Book, Featured Book of The Day, human cost, india pakistan bangladesh, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville Featured Book, literature, Nofiction, politics, Readers, Siddharth Kara, Slavery, slavery in south, Slavery in South Asia, South Asia, Writing
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How to Tell a Judge He (or She) Screwed Up / Bill Hopkins, Author and Retired Judge
I’m going to tell you how to diplomatically tell a judge that he (that’s used as an inclusive pronoun) has screwed up. You can use this information in your writing when you want your character–whether it’s a judge, lawyer, or … Continue reading
Killer Nashville’s Featured Book of the Day / “And When She Was Good” by Laura Lippman / Monday, February 25, 2013 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman. “A mom’s sacrifices for her only child. A mom’s secret Heidi Fleiss life behind a gated community. A suicide that might be murder. Washington D.C. politicians and power managers. Betrayal. … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged And When She Was Good, Author, Bestselling, bestselling author, betrayal, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, drama, Featured Book, Featured Book of The Day, Heidi Fleiss, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Killer Nashville Featured Book, Laura Lippman, literature, New York Times, New York Times Bestselling Author, politicians, politics, power managers, Readers, Suicide, suspense, Themes, Thriller, Writing
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When Investigators Can Lie / Sheila Stephens, Law Enforcement and Forensic Psychology Expert
Movies and T.V. have changed public perception of the way investigations are conducted. Many cop and P.I. programs, regularly, show the protagonist using a pretext, more often than not an outrageous one, to obtain information. Ever wonder how legal that … Continue reading
Posted in Forensics, Guest Blogger Series, Law Enforcement, Writing
Tagged authors, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, Forensic Psychology, Forensics, guest bloggers, illegally, investigators, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, legally, mystery, Pretexting, Readers, Series, Sheila Stephens, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Tuesday, December 11, 2012 / “The Facility” by Simon Lelic / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is The Facility by Simon Lelic. A novel that will leave you questioning everything. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: About the first page of the first chapter, I thought, “What the…” Yet, I was riveted. The story takes … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, big machine, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, drama, English Police state, high concept, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, mystery, Orwellian, Police state, politics, Readers, Simon Lelic, suspense, terrorism, The Facility, Themes, Thriller, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Friday, December 7, 2012 / “Last to Die” by Tess Gerritsen / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen. Save the kids. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: Let’s hope there is no “three’s the charm” in this book. Twice in a row, Teddy Clock has survived a massacre of his … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day, Writing
Tagged Author, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, drama, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Last to Die, literature, mystery, New York Times, Readers, Rizzoli & Isles, Serial Killer sub-genre, Series, suspense, Tess Gerritsen, Themes, Thriller, TNT, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Thursday, December 6, 2012 / “Far North” by Michael Ridpath / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Far North by Michael Ridpath. What if greedy investors wiped out your life’s savings and walked away unscathed? Why Clay Stafford chose this book: What if greedy investors wiped out your life’s savings and walked away unscathed? Well, … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, Far North, Iceland, investment banking, investors, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Michael Ridpath, mystery, Readers, Serial Killer sub-genre, suspense, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Tuesday, December 4, 2012 / “L’Assassin: A Thriller” by Peter Steiner / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is L’Assassin: A Thriller by Peter Steiner. Anti-terrorist fanaticism can be as dangerous as the real thing Why Clay Stafford chose this book: Today’s Book of the Day comes from fellow University of Miami alum (had to plug it) … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, Cartoonist, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, Ex-CIA, France, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, L'Assassin, Louis Morgon, Louis Morgon international thriller series, mystery, Osama bin Laden, Peter Stiener, politics, Readers, Series, suspense, terrorism, The New Yorker, Thriller, Thriller Series, University of Miami, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Monday, December 3, 2012 / “Valley of Ashes” by Cornelia Read / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Valley of Ashes by Cornelia Read. Nosey joking gets you burned. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: For those who have followed the writer/sleuth character Madeline Dare, she’s moved again. From Syracuse, NY (“A Field of Darkness”) to … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Berkshire, Berkshire Mountains, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, Boulder, character breadth, characters, Clay Stafford, Colorado, Cornelia Read, Cozy, cozy mystery, current-events, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, Madeline Dare, Massachusetts, mystery, New York City, off-beat quirky characters, Oprah Winfrey, Readers, serial arsonist, Series, suspense, Themes, Valley of Ashes, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Friday, November 30, 2012 / “12.21” by Dustin Thomason / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is 12.21 by Dustin Thomason. Read this novel before 12/21/12. After that, it may not be available. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: Conspiracy theories and doomsday predictions do nothing for me in real life, but they are great … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged 12.21, Author, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, December 21 2012, Dustin Thomason, Historical, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, Maya calendar, mayan calendar, mystery, Readers, science, suspense, Themes, Thriller, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Wednesday, November 28, 2012 / “Run to Ground” by D.P. Lyle / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Run To Ground by D.P. Lyle. What would you do if someone brutally murdered your child? Why Clay Stafford chose this book: The thriller “Run to Ground” is D.P. Lyle’s best work of fiction. I served for four … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Alabama, Author, Award Winning, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, D.P. Lyle, Forensic Fiction, forensic thriller, Forensics, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, MWA, mystery, Mystery Writers of America, New York Times, Readers, Run to Ground, suspense, Themes, Thriller, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Thursday, October 25, 2012 / “The Accomplice” by Charles Robbins / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is The Accomplice by Charles Robbins. If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: In the race for a new president, this is a political thriller in the truest sense, a … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Book of the day, Books, characters, Charles Robbins, Clay Stafford, current-events, former senate majority leader, judiciary chairman, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, leader tom daschle, mystery, political, politics, Readers, senate majority leader, suspense, teflon man, The Accomplice, Thriller, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Wednesday, October 17, 2012 / “They Eat Puppies, Don’t They?” by Christopher Buckley / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is They Eat Puppies, Don’t They? by Christopher Buckley. Washington, D.C. has gone upside-down. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: This book cracked me up. In honor of the political season, today’s Killer Nashville Book of the Day is … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Christopher Buckley, Clay Stafford, current-events, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, mystery, New York Times, political, political appointees, political foundations, politics, Readers, suspense, Themes, They Eat Puppies Don't They?, war mongers, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Tuesday, October 16, 2012 / “Only One Life” by Sara Blædel / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is Only One Life by Sara Blædel. A dead teen and an ethnic community wishing autonomy. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: Today’s Killer Nashville Book of the Day is an introduction to author Sara Blædel, Denmark’s designated “Queen … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, Copenhagen, current-events, Denmark, Denmark's Queen of Crime, immigrant neighborhoods, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, mystery, Only One Life, Police Procedural, politics, Readers, Sara Blaedel, Themes, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Friday, October 12, 2012 / “The Story of My Assassins” by Tarun J. Tejpal / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is The Story of My Assassins by Tarun J. Tejpal. Whores, waifs, politicians, venture capitalists, and a journalist who must investigate himself. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: Today’s book of the day takes us on a thrilling and … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Book of the day, Books, caste system of india, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, India, journalist, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, politics, Readers, society, suspense, Tarun J Tejpal, The Story of My Assassins, Themes, Thriller
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Monday, October 8, 2012 / “A Sunless Sea: A William Monk Novel” by Anne Perry / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is A Sunless Sea: A William Monk Novel by Anne Perry. For the brutal murder of of one woman, an innocent woman may hang. Why Clay Stafford chose this book: Real. That’s the word I would use to describe … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged A Sunless Sea, A William Monk Novel, Anne Perry, Author, Award Winning, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Classic Literature, Clay Stafford, current-events, Historical, Historical Mystery, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, mystery, Opium Wars, Readers, River Police, Series, Themes, Thriller, Victorian historical genre, Victorian London, william monk, Writing
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Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Thursday, September 27, 2012 / “No Sale” by Patrick Conrad / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is No Sale by Patrick Conrad. A serial killer is loose in 1998 and taking his cues from old movies. Why I chose this book: Wow. Having just read this, I’m dumbfounded. Incredible. From the first page two things … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Award Winning, Bestselling, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, current-events, Diamond Bullet Award, Edgar Award for Belgium, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, literature, mystery, No Sale, Patrick Conrad, Readers, Themes, Writing
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Censoring Myself / Author Patrick Kendrick
A strange thing began happening to me recently. Every time I am watching the news and there is a story about a murder of any kind: multiple, serial, or convenience store robbery gone bad- locally or nationally- and my youngest … Continue reading
Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / “The Yellow Birds” by Kevin Powers / Reviewed by Clay Stafford
Today’s featured book is The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers. Why I chose this book: THE YELLOW BIRDS This is a book that will change the way you look at war and what an appropriate book to release on 9/11. It … Continue reading
Killer Nashville’s Book of the Day / Monday, September 10, 2012 / “What You Wish For” by Janet Dawson
Today’s featured book is “What You Wish For” by Janet Dawson. Why I chose this book: WHAT YOU WISH FOR Lindsey Page’s world is about to change: her estranged daughter comes home, her friends are not what she thought they were, and … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Books of the Day
Tagged Author, Book of the day, Books, characters, Clay Stafford, conservative newspapers, current-events, Historical, Historical Mystery, Janet Dawson, Killer conversation, Killer Nashville, mystery, Plot driven novel, politics, Readers, San Francisco, San Francisco History, What You Wish For, Writing
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