I’m about to send off the fifth Max book to the editor tomorrow and I find myself slowly starting to think about the next one. Ideas, characters, and scenes have started popping into my head. It’s a good sign that I’m done with the fifth book and ready to move on. It’s also fun, exciting, and scary to start thinking about doing it all over again.

The next book doesn’t care about the last book. It’s a fresh slate and requires a fresh effort. Improvement isn’t guaranteed. Each books is a new fight to get better. Exciting. And Scary.

Ok, let’s get to it.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• It’s not out until August but you can get a  latest sneak peek and read an excerpt of Stephen King’s BILLY SUMMERS at Entertainment Weekly

• Mystery Tribune take a stab at the best 20 mysteries and thrillers coming out in Feb. Personally, looking forward to THE SURVIVORS, GIRL A and the latest IQ.

• CrimeReads makes a case for MISERY as King’s best novel. Not that crazy of an argument but a good reminder that I should re-read the book. Goldman’s adaptation is so good, it colors my memory of the book.

2 QUOTES

Two from one of King’s best villians, Annie Wilkes:

• “I thought you were good, but you are not good. You are just a lying old dirty birdie.”

• “The operation was called hobbling.”

   

1 QUESTION

• What is your favorite King novel from the 1970’s? IHarder than I thought to pick between SALEM’S LOT, THE STAND, and THE SHINING. What about you?

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series