Monday, June 6, 2011

Noir at the Beach House


Summer's here.
I'm for that.
Got my leather sandals
Got my straw hat.
Got my cold beer.
I'm just glad that it's here.
-- JTaylor


By Steve Weddle

If you're north of the equator, welcome to summer. If you're south of the equator, then have a nice day.

So with summer comes vacations of beaches, family get-togethers, weeks in foreign lands, etc.

Lee Smith -- and/or other folks -- said that there are two kinds of stories.
1. A stranger comes to town.
2. Somebody takes a trip.

With that in mind, how about we do us up a little writing challenge here. Anywhere from 500 words to 5,000. Post links here. Deadline two weeks from today.

Your spin on:
Summer vacation given the crime fiction treatment.
Noir at the beach house.
Beatings at the beach.

And let's have a prize.
One lucky entrant -- probably chosen at random -- will receive a copy of FUN AND GAMES from Duane Swierczynski.

Along with fellow writers Charlie Huston and Victor Gischler, Duane Swierczynski leads an insurgency of new crime writers specializing in fast-paced crime rife with sharp dialogue, caustic humor and over-the-top violence. Together, they ensure that the grittiest and most compulsively-readable crime fiction in the world is still produced right here in the USA. SPINETINGLER REVIEW

So post here if you feel like joining in on the fun. I'd suggest keeping the stories to around flash length of 1,000 words or fewer, but I ain't in the mood to set limits on your awesomenesses.

Once you write up your story and post it on your site, drop back by and leave the link in the comments. I'll collect them all for two weeks from today -- June 20 -- and post them in that day's blog post. And then I'll draw/pick a winner of Duane's super-cool new book.

AND ALSO THIS AS WELL IN ADDITION:

If you don't want to flash your fiction, then let us know about your favorite vacation story in the crime fiction tradition. I can't think of any Christa Faust, George Pelecanos, Dennis Lehane stories that have to do with summer vacation.

Honestly, the most stressful times ever in anyone's life ever in the world is when that person is trying to relax. Get away from the stress. Ain't nothing better for conflict than that. So if you'd rather share someone else's story than write your own, then hellfire, post up whatever title you want. I just can't think of any summer vacation crime fiction. Maybe DELIVERANCE. Maybe ICE HARVEST. Any ideas?

Either way I'll pull a FUN AND GAMES winner from the comments.

Thanks

40 comments:

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

Steve- This is a great idea and an awesome theme. I'm in. Thanks for doing this, it will be a lot of fun!

Stephen D. Rogers said...

I'm on it.

Eric Beetner said...

I'm down for this one.
As for "vacation" reads I'd go with Scott Smith's The Ruins. By all accounts that book should not work. It's a goofy 50s B-movie at heart. But I was riveted. Worst. Vacation. Ever.

Keith said...

I'm in. Should be fun. Been a while since I flashed anyone.

...er...

Seb Duper said...

Let's do this. Should be plenty o' fun! I love the fact you're giving us up to 5K words, too.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I'll give it a shot.

David Cranmer said...

I've learned my lesson after bowing out of the WGI. But this is a terrific idea I will be following.

Chris said...

I'll do it.

Steve Weddle said...

So far we seem to have ->

Sean Patrick Reardon
Stephen D. Rogers
Eric Beetner
Keith
Seb Duper
Patti Abbott
David Cranmer
Chris LaTray
Peter Rozovsky
Benoit Lelievre

What a crew. Looking forward to these. If you need a place to house the writing, let me know and we'll host here at DSD or I'll carve out a page on my own site if needed.
Thanks to all for joining in.

Peter Rozovsky said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peter Rozovsky said...

Mine is up at http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-enter-do-some-damage-noir-at-beach.html. Thanks!
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

david james keaton said...

i'll do one, but i don't really have a blog to post at..

Don Lafferty said...

Can't help myself. Gotta do it.

Unknown said...

Hi Steve,

Great! I'm in.

Unknown said...

Sure, why not...

Kathleen A. Ryan said...

Sounds great to me! Count me in. Thanks for hosting the challenge and for offering the chance to win FUN AND GAMES. Cool!

Katherine Tomlinson said...

I'm there. It's all fun and games until somebody's beach ball blows up.

Steve Weddle said...

All great. I'll update the list probably this weekend.

Check out http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-enter-do-some-damage-noir-at-beach.html already up.

The formal listing and linking and drawing will be on whatever Monday is two weeks from the Monday that was this week. I dunno. I'm on vacation and don't have a calendar.

Ben said...

http://www.deadendfollies.com/2011/06/night-i-almost-got-married.html

Vulnerability and angst are flowing in my veins right now. Scared as hell, like every time I publish a story.

Charlie Wade said...

I've done one, but it's only come out at 407 words.

http://spiesliesandpies.blogspot.com/2011/06/are-we-nearly-there-yet.html

Peter Rozovsky said...

Charlie, here's a real shock: Blogger won't let me post a reply on your site. So I'll say it here. Good stuff: tight, in control, just the way a short ought to be.
======================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Evil Ray said...

Here's mine:

http://www.malafide.com/blog/?p=1374

david james keaton said...

I found a place to squat! i'll post mine on our Flywheel blog and link back here. we were looking for a new blog entry. it should be posted tonight. today tho i wanna take a beach-type picture to go with it. or the closest thing to a beach i can find in Kentucky. awesome summer idea, man..

Fiona Johnson said...

I'm going to try....

Al Tucher said...

I'll have mine in this week.

david james keaton said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
david james keaton said...

hi, Steve. here's my contribution to your Bloody Beach Challenge. thanks for setting this up. very fun way to start the summer:

http://www.flywheelmag.com/627/yes-thats-my-sandwich/

Al Tucher said...

Diana hits the beach:

http://alberttucher.writersresidence.com/samples/sharks

Eric Beetner said...

Here's mine. I swear I wasn't trying to make it so long but things happen.
http://ericbeetner.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-is-here-challenge-time.html

Thomas Pluck said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thomas Pluck said...

I also do not know how to post a link properly...
Here's my entry, "White People Problems"
White People Problems, by Thomas Pluck

pattinase (abbott) said...

It's just not happening at Casa Abbott. Head bowed meekly.

Gerald So said...

My entry is "Playa Los Muertos".

Keith said...

Here's my tale:

"Debt Takes a Holiday" http://keithkarabin.com/2011/06/16/in-which-i-do-some-damage/

I'd love some insight into when/if I should remove the story from my site if I'm looking to submit it to folk, which I might be...

Thanks, and I'm glad to be a part of such a smart crew.

Keith

Katherine Tomlinson said...

Here's my story: http://kattomic-energy.blogspot.com/2011/06/fourth-of-july.html

Thanks for the challenge. I loved it and am enjoying everyone's stories.

Stephen D. Rogers said...

Hey Steve,

CAPE NOIR is up.
http://stephendrogers.blogspot.com/2011/06/cape-noir.html

Stephen

Jeff Macfee said...

Here's my story--called Sundown:

http://macfee.net/sundown/

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Janet said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Steve Weddle said...

I'd forgotten who was drawn up as the winner.
Looks like it was Thomas Pluck.
Delivery estimate: June 23, 2011 - June 24, 2011
1 "Fun and Games"