Crooked Prayers has been out for a couple of weeks now. It’s been out of my brain for longer. After a break, I’m starting to get that itch to put words on paper again.

The key to writing a book, or doing anything worthwhile really, is consistency. Motivation will come and go.

Whatever you want to do, make it easy enough and simple enough that you’ll do it even when you don’t feel like it.

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

3 LINKS

• The NYTs latest crime column had me reaching for pen and paper to add books to my must-request-from-the-library or otherwise get my hands on. Really enjoyed THE SUN DOWN MOTEL last year so can’t wait to try Simone St. James’s latest. Weiss’s BEAT THE DEVILS also piqued my interest.
  
• The Observer looks at Joyce Carol Oates latest suspense short story collection NIGHT, NEON, AND OTHER STORIES doesn’t disappoint.
  
  
• I’m sort of surprised when any book hasn’t been optioned at this point, but Book Riot looks at under the radar mysteries and thrillers that might make good streaming series. I’d check out a show based on the Pete Fernandez, Cass Raines, or August Snow series.

2 QUOTES

Quotes from Joyce Carol Oates this week:

• “Loneliness is like starvation: you don’t realize how hungry you are until you begin to eat.”

• “Keep a light, hopeful heart. But ­expect the worst.”

1 QUESTION

• Are you a Joyce Carol Oates fan? Do you prefer her novels or her short stories?

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Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series