Issue Six — TOC

Coming really damned soon

Going OLD SCHOOL

Dan O’Shea’s OLD SCHOOL  (Snubnose Press, 2012) gets under your skin like a meth itch. From the heart-breaking (“Shackleton’s Hootch,” “Absalom,” and “Sheepshank”) to the ball-breaking (“Hilary’s Scars,” “Thin Mints”) and everything in-between, this outstanding collection brings it. Like the dinner buffet at the Sizzler around 4 p.m., this selection of stories offers a range of choices and leaves you feeling tired, beaten, and well satisfied. In a world of shelves filled with lesser talent, reading O’Shea’s work is both a comfort and a concern – like that quick moment just after you’ve soiled yourself.

– Steve Weddle, NEEDLE editor

PS The cover is by Needle’s own art genius, John Hornor Jacobs. Oh, and he loves the book, too. Click through to find out.

Fall 2011 Needle is LIVE

NEEDLE’s Fall 2011 issue is LIVE — featuring new fiction from Michael Sheedy, Peter Morin, Michael Moreci, , Alan Leverone, Nolan Knight, Gil Brewer, David James Keaton, Andrew Hook, Daniel Davis, Michael Oliveri, Stephen D. Rogers, Keith Rawson, Art Taylor, Holly West, and Ray Banks.

Here’s how Pete Morin’s story starts:

CLUB DUES

Osso buco is a dish never to be interrupted.
When my cell phone buzzed amid the clamor of the late seating at Urano’s Trattoria, I should have ignored it, but the phone identified the caller as Thaddeus Sonnet.
I like Thad. He’s my stockbroker and he’s made me a lot of money. So I left my plate at the table, stepped outside to the parking lot and answered.
“Why are you interrupting my osso buco?”
“Where are you?” His voice had an unusual tension.
“I’m in a parking lot in Hyannis. I was eating at Urano’s. Where are you?”
“I’m at Wesley Cummerford’s home.”
“What’re you doing there?”
“Looking at his dead body, I think.”
—
Order here and use code “FALLBOOKS” to save 20%

Gil Brewer story to debut in NEEDLE

Gil Brewer lived until 1983, but the marketplace for his noir died much earlier. 

In his 1950s heyday, Brewer wrote more than a dozen paperback novels for Gold Medal and others, as well as publishing more than fifty short stories in crime/mystery digests such as Manhunt, Trapped, Guilty, and Pursuit—the Needles of their day. 

But with the increasing popularity of television, the market for noir faded.  Brewer’s last noir paperback, Sin for Me, was published in 1967, and by 1980, the only mystery digests still in business were Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, magazines far more wholesome than those Brewer had written for in the past.

Brewer’s literary world was gone, but he was stubborn.  He kept writing.  He published novels in other genres under other names.  As Elaine Evans, he did romance.  As Luke Morgann, he did porn.  And he kept writing short stories, too.  Sometimes his agent even managed to sell one to Alfred Hitchcock.  But mostly Brewer wrote stories that no one wanted to publish.  Many of them were too extreme for the readers of the remaining mystery digests.  “Sweet Amy” is one of these stories.  When Brewer wrote it in 1981, his agent couldn’t sell it.  He told Brewer that it was “too strong.”  But now it’s 2011, and “too strong” is what Needle readers want, isn’t it?

—David Rachels

Spring issue has sprung

Stories from

Ray Banks
Scott Morse
Steve De Jarnatt
Todd Robinson
Tom Piccirilli
Amy Grech
Cam Ashley
Daniel O’Shea
David Cranmer
Don Lafferty
Jason Duke
Matthew C Funk
Mel Clayton
Patti Abbott

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Holm hits another one outta the park

More huge congrats to Chris F. Holm.

Earlier this year, Holm received word that his story “The Hitter” (Needle, Summer 2010) would be included in the upcoming BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES from Otto Penzler and Harlen Coben.

And today comes news that “The Hitter” has been nominated for an Anthony Award. 

So once again, a hearty “Hot Damn” is aimed at Chris F. Holm, as his fantastic story continues to be recognized.

Here’s Holm earlier in the year writing about ‘The Hitter’ and how it came to be.

By the way, have you read 8 POUNDS from Holm? You should.

Nominated for Spinetingler’s Dave Thompson award

Congratulations to our fellow nominees for Spinetingler’s 2001 Dave Thompson Community Leader Award. We’re damned honored to be among such great company.

Check out the list here.