Saturday, August 22, 2009

THE STOLEN is nominated for the Shamus award!

I'm thrilled to announced that my third Henry Parker novel, THE STOLEN, has been nominated for the prestigious Shamus award. The Shamus is given out every year by the Private Eye Writers of America, and has a long and storied tradition. This is a tremendous honor, and my sincerest thanks go out to the members of PWA, and, of course to the readers. Here is the rest of the press release, which can also be found at the PWA blog:

From Ted Fitzgerald, Awards Chair:

PRIVATE EYE WRITERS OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES
2009 SHAMUS AWARDS NOMINEES

The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) is proud to announce the nominees for the 28th annual Shamus Awards, given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. The 2009 awards cover works first published in the U.S. in 2008. The awards will be presented at the PWA banquet, to be held Friday evening Oct. 16, 2009, in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. For banquet details, contact Robert J. Randisi at rrandisi@aol.com.

2009 Shamus Awards Nominees

Best Hardcover
Salvation Boulevard by Larry Beinhart (Nation Books), featuring Carl Vanderveer
Empty Ever After by Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House Books), featuring Moe Prager
The Blue Door by David Fulmer (Harcourt), featuring Eddie Cero
The Price of Blood by Declan Hughes (Wm. Morrow), featuring Ed Loy
The Ancient Rain by Domenic Stansberry (St. Martins Minotaur) featuring Dante Mancuso

Best First PI Novel
Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer (Doubleday), featuring Riley Spartz
Swann’s Last Song by Charles Salzberg (Five Star), featuring Henry Swann
The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang (Simon & Schuster), featuring Mei Wang
In the Heat by Ian Vasquez (St. Martins Minotaur), featuring Miles Young
Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson (St Martins Minotaur), featuring Crispin Guest

Best Paperback Original
Snow Blind by Lori Armstrong (Medallion) featuring Julie Collins
Shot Girl by Karen Olson (Obsidian) featuring Annie Seymour
The Stolen by Jason Pinter (MIRA) featuring Henry Parker
The Black Hand by Will Thomas (Touchstone/Simon &Schuster) featuring Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn.
The Evil That Men Do by Dave White (Crown/Three Rivers Press) featuring Jackson Donne

Best Short Story
“Family Values” by Mitch Alderman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2008), featuring Bubba Simms
“Last Island South” by John C. Boland. (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Sep/Oct 2008), featuring Meggie Trevor
“The Blonde Tigress” by Max Allan Collins (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, June 2008), featuring Nate Heller
“Discovery” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Nov 2008), featuring Pita Cárdenas
“Panic on Portage Path” by Dick Stodghill (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2008), featuring Jack Eddy and Bram Geary.

---------

PWA was founded in 1981 by Robert J. Randisi to recognize the private eye genre and its writers. Previous Shamus winners include Lawrence Block, Ken Bruen, Harlan Coben, Max Allan Collins, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, O’Neil deNoux, Brendan DuBois, Loren D. Estleman, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Sue Grafton, James W. Hall, Steve Hamilton, Jeremiah Healy, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, John Lutz, Bill Pronzini, S.J. Rozan, Sandra Scoppettone and Don Winslow. P.I. Guy logo by Terry Beatty.

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Tuesday, August 04, 2009

THE STOLEN is Nominated for a CrimeSpree Award!

I woke up this morning to find out that THE STOLEN had been nominated for a CrimeSpree award! Naturally I'm thrilled about this. And the reason I use the word 'had' instead of 'has' is because it's not too often you learn that you were nominated for an award and lost it on the same day. Guess it saves the anxiety of waiting.

Thanks to the good folks at CrimeSpree and the people who voted, and my heartiest congratulations to all the winners and nominees. There are some great books and great authors on this list, and it's cool just to be a part of it. Check out the full list of winners and nominees over at the CrimeSpree blog.

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Friday, July 03, 2009

Daily Mirror (UK) gives THE STOLEN 4 Stars...

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

THE STOLEN: now available in the UK

My third Henry Parker novel, THE STOLEN, has just hit shelves across the pond. The cover is fantastic, the book is getting great reviews, and I'm currently in London where I'll be helping to spread the word.

You can buy the book at your local independent bookstore, as well as at:

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Friday, May 22, 2009

Where I Am Compared to Jodi Picoult

The Book Bag (UK) has just posted their review of THE STOLEN, and what can I say other than it's these kind of reviews that just brighten your day and make the hours spent hunched over a keyboard hooked into an a coffee IV drip feel worth every second. While writing a book, you're never totally sure that what you're putting into the work is what readers are going to take out of it. So when someone 'gets' what you're trying to accomplish in your book and with your characters, to quote Stephen King, "we've engaged in an act of telepathy."

You'll have to read the review to find out how the reviewer compares me to Jodi Picoult. (For the record, I've read three of Picoult's books and enjoyed each one)

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Wednesday, November 05, 2008

The Strand likes THE STOLEN, and R.I.P. Michael Crichton

I'm thrilled to say that The Strand magazine has selected THE STOLEN as one of the best mysteries of 2008. I'm thrilled and humbled by this considering the talent on the list. THE MARK was on their best of '07 list, and it feels wonderful to know that the Henry Parker series, though young, is still going strong (though I truly feel what's in store for 2009 raises the bar). Special thanks to Andrew Gulli, managing editor of The Strand for his support. Here's the whole list:

1. THE MURDER NOTEBOOK by Jonathan Santlofer
2. CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith
3. THE WHOLE TRUTH by David Baldacci
4. MASTER OF THE DELTA by Thomas H. Cook
5. BETRAYAL by John Lescroart
6. CARELESS IN RED by Elizabeth George
7. THE RESURRECTIONIST by Jack O'Connell
8. THE BROKEN WINDOW by Jeffery Deaver
9. THE COMFORTS OF A MUDDY SATURDAY by Alexander McCall Smith
10. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson
11. THE LIKENESS by Tana French
12. THE STOLEN by Jason Pinter

And I'm so saddened to hear about the passing of Michael Crichton. He was so much much more than a thriller writer, he was a novelist who created some of the most popular books and scenarios in the last half century and inspired an entire genre unto himself. There are few novels that were more influential to a genre than THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and JURASSIC PARK. And many of his other novels, CONGO, SPHERE, DISCLOSURE, were simply terrific stories that pushed the boundaries of what science could do to make a fantastical realty seem that much more possible. He was not afraid to challenge dogma on many issues within his books, including global warming and cloning (which was hardly a blip on the radar until JP was released). He will be missed.

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posted by Jason Pinter at 11:01 PM 1 Comments




Friday, October 24, 2008

Foreign Editions

I just got covers for a few foreign editions, and felt like sharing them since it's easier than writing a full post. I'm often in the dark as to when my foreign editions are being released until they pop up on Google alerts. You can check out more foreign editions for THE MARK and THE GUILTY as well as Killer Year (I haven't seen any for THE STOLEN yet).

Italian edition of THE MARK

UK edition of KILLER YEAR

Australian edition of KILLER YEAR

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Wednesday BSP 

Check out the transcript of my chat at DetectToday. We talk about the Henry Parker novels, how much Henry has in common with traditional PIs, what I'm currently working on, and which New Jersey author I most enjoy spending time with on an airplane (it's not who you think).



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Monday, August 18, 2008

Catching Up

I'm back in town after a week in Israel, and trying to get over some severe jet lag (we were asleep by 9:00 last night). Needless to say Israel was a far different experience than my last time in the country fifteen years ago (this time I didn't have to memorize a Torah portion, and a plate of Chinese food was not dumped on my lap by a family member). The wedding was a wonderful affair, and we spent lots of time on the beach and seeing historic sites in Haifa and Tel Aviv. I even got yelled at by a Rabbi at the Western Wall (for donating money to the synagogue, but not enough money). A sincere thanks for the hospitality of my generous hosts, you know who you are!

Thanks to everyone who came out to my signings recently. This Thursday I'll be signing copies of THE STOLEN at the world famous Murder by the Book, alongside fellow Killer Year mates Marcus Sakey and Dave White. Then on Friday, I'll be in Clinton, NJ for a signing at the Clinton Book Shop with Dave (again) and Duane Swierczynzki.

Anywho...a few pieces of press to catch up on:

Jason Boog was kind enough to come to the Borders signing and videotape some of it for The Publishing Spot. I also participated in his feature, "Five Easy Questions." They certainly didn't allow for easy answers. 

I did a podcast interview for eHarlequin, which can be listened to here.

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posted by Jason Pinter at 7:41 AM 3 Comments




Friday, August 08, 2008

Friday, then away...

Today at 4:00 I'll be on a crime fiction panel with Harry Hunsicker and Reed Farrell Coleman at the Backspace Writers Conference. I stopped by the conference today and was very impressed with the attendees. They've come prepared with great questions, so if there are aspiring crime writers hopefully we'll teach them a thing or two. Or at least offer them a chair to fall asleep in.

After that I'll be heading over to the Barnes & Noble on Court Street in Brooklyn to read and sign copies of THE STOLEN at 7:00 pm. I'll be thrilled to meet any Brooklynites who come by. Thanks to everyone who came by Borders the other night. We sold out, and had a great Q&A session.

On Saturday I leave for a Israel, my first time in the country since I was thirteen years old. My wife's cousin is getting married in Haifa, so we'll be spending a few days there before traveling to Tel Aviv. It should be a very interesting trip, and I'm eager to see the country for the first time as an adult. I'm also thinking about what tv shows/movies to download for my iPod for the 12 hour plane ride. Suggestions are welcome...

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Wednesday, August 06, 2008

First NYC Signing...Tonight!!!

If you live in the NYC area, or have a bunch of spare miles, please stop by the first Manhattan signing for THE STOLEN. Deets* are below:
*I've been informed that 'Deets' is the new hip slang for 'Details' that all the kids are using

Wednesday, August 6th
7:00 pm
Borders Books
576 Second Avenue (at 32nd st.)

After the signing we'll be trekking across the street for drinks and Beer Pong at the world famous Whiskey River saloon. And who knows, you just might see Cindy McCain topless!

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Tuesday, August 05, 2008

News and Notes

Library Journal chimes in on THE STOLEN:

"An intriguing mystery plagues reporter Henry Parker, who risks his career to find the truth in Pinter’s third series entry. This thriller proves truly scary as it explores every parent’s worst nightmare. It’s also great to see favorite characters back in action; the next book can’t come fast enough."

I wrote an article for John Scalzi's "The Big Idea." Check it out over here.

Plus I just received word that THE MARK has been nominated for the Salt Lake County Readers Choice Award. The nominees are chosen by the 18 libraries and over 650,000 residents of the Salt Lake area, so this is really a very cool honor. If you live in the Salt Lake area, vote early and often!!!

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Book Pimpin'

First off, today is the last day you can read THE MARK for free online. Get to it! And if you've either emailed friends/family or pasted the widget on your website, remember to email me at jason@jasonpinter.com. Now on to the good stuff...

These three books are all new to the shelves, and if you know what's good for you you'll pick them up:


This is the fourth in the Anthony Award-winning Ceepak/
Boyle mystery series, and a terrific installment at that. It practically ripped from the headlines, and if you're new to the series, Ceepak and his partner Danny Boyle are kind of like what would happen if you teamed up Jack Reacher and Stifler. A good mystery with some laughs thrown in.










The first in a great new series featuring Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong. Yeah, you read that right, Texas Ranger (the badass law enforcement type, not the team formerly owned by George W.).

Sarah is a great new character in the mystery genre, whip smart, caustic, loyal, and better than t
he men at their own game. The Texas setting is as authentic as they come, and Casey's a star in the True Crime genre already, imbuing her debut with the kind of research that give this book an extra oopmh.




Ok, the only mystery here is why after reading this book you might wake up naked in Central Park with a receipt from the San Diego Zoo.

Alex Bash is one of the funniest writers I've ever read, and THE IMBIBLE is not only the end-all-be-all of drinking game guides, it's legitimately one of the funniest books of the year. I mean, just look at this praise:

"A stunning debut by that guy who kept us up 'til 4am with drunken choruses of Wonder Wall..." - The Sorority Next Door

"The Imbible introduces Bash as a major new talent in the genre of 'books most likely to make you run through campus naked…'" – Officer Hernandez

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Friday, August 01, 2008

Just Four Days Left!

Only four days left to read THE MARK for free online. Click the "Browse this Book" link below to access it.

And read this post to see how be helping to spread the word, you can be thanked in a 2009 Henry Parker novel.

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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

That One Image

When I sat down to write THE STOLEN, the third Henry Parker novel, at first I was somewhat lost. I had a very specific idea in mind for what kind of book I wanted THE MARK to be, and the idea for THE GUILTY came to me while I was still penning the first book. The ideas for my first two books were in my head early. THE STOLEN was the first book I had to write totally from scratch, without a sense of what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be different from the first two--in some ways more chilling than thrilling--but I needed a story that would accomplish that without deviating too much from the tone and pace I'd set in the first two books.

Then an image came to mind. I can't remember exactly where I saw it, but I read a recent story about Elizabeth Smart, the young girl kidnapped by polygamists and held against her will for nine months while the nation prayed for her safety. I read about her parents, her community, how it affected everyone around her, including us. For some reason, that crime planted the seed for my story. And it grew, and one image popped into my head.

Picture a family at the dinner table. They're eating, talking, passing the food. The kids are acting up, mommy scolding them. It feels like a normal family, but there's an air of sadness about them. Then the doorbell rings.

When the mother goes to answer it, her jaw drops. She begins to cry. Standing outside the front door is her young son who disappeared years ago, vanishing without a trace. She gathers him into her arms, tears falling freely, embracing the child she thought she'd lost.

The boy hugs her back. Only he's not sure why. Because even though he's been gone, he has no memory of where he's been.

That's where my story would begin. This would raise several questions: How was the boy taken? How could he not remember the last few years? And what would it be like to suddenly be five years older, the world having grown while you did not?

Henry Parker is a young man, estranged from his parents. In many ways, Henry has chosen to forget years of his childhood. When he begins looking into the disappearance of this boy, I thought it was a beautiful symmetry: a young man who never really was a child, trying to find out the truth about a boy whose childhood was taken from him.

As much as I want my Parker novels to be page-turners, gripping crime novels, I want the readers to feel engaged with the characters even more so. Anyone can fire a gun. Anyone can investigate a crime. But the reader won't care unless they feel an attachment to the person doing it. I want each book to be somewhat of a personal quest for Henry, and in each book I want the reader to learn a little more about him.

So when the mother sees her young son on that porch, a boy who has literally and figuratively been lost for years, in my mind I saw two people standing there. 

Daniel Linwood, age 11. 

And Henry Parker.

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posted by Jason Pinter at 9:04 AM 3 Comments




Tuesday, July 29, 2008

THE STOLEN: In stores today!

Five years ago the young boy disappeared from his suburban home.
Today he came back...


Today the third Henry Parker novel officially goes on sale in bookstores across the U.S. I think the is the most chilling, and perhaps the best paced Parker novel yet, and I'm very eager to hear what reader think.

As in each of my books, there was one central image that inspired this book. And that was the picture of a mother answering her doorbell, opening it to see her child who'd vanished without a trace five years ago. This was the kind of image that chilled me, and I hope it does the same for readers. Click here to read an excerpt of THE STOLEN.

Check out my list of upcoming appearances.

PLUS: the first Henry Parker novel, THE MARK, is free online for one more week. If you're new to the Parker series and want to see how it all began, click the "Browse this Book" link below:
Want to be thanked in the acknowledgments section of a 2009 Henry Parker novel? By spreading the word about this free book you can do just that. Click here (and scroll down) to find out how.

You can buy THE STOLEN from:
or at your local bookseller

Thanks for supporting my books. I hope you enjoy THE STOLEN, and once you finish, find yourself wondering how far you'd go to protect your loved one...

Jason Pinter

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Monday, July 28, 2008

Monday Tidbits

Last night was the first signing for THE STOLEN, held at the terrific Open Book. The crowd was enthusiastic, and I set a personal record for most books signed at one event. Thanks to Terry Lucas and her wonderful staff for putting on such a great event.

Bookbitch has just posted their review of THE STOLEN:
"Pinter is a force to be reckoned with in the thriller world. His plots are smart, his writing is crisp, and Henry Parker is everything a hero should be."
Read the full review here (scroll down a little bit)

THE STOLEN technically goes on sale tomorrow, but it has been popping up in stores. If you read it let me know what you think at jason@jasonpinter.com. Click here to see upcoming signings and events.



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posted by Jason Pinter at 8:57 AM 1 Comments




Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Read THE MARK--for free!!!

Through August 5th, you can read THE MARK online--for free! Click the "Browse this Book" link below to read the novel that's been nominated for the Barry award, the Strand Critics award and the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award--absolutely free. BONUS: scroll down to see how you can personally be thanked in a future Henry Parker novel!

Right as I’m about to die, I realize all the myths are fake. There’s no white light at the end of the tunnel. My life isn’t flashing before my eyes. All I can think about is how much I want to live.

I moved to New York City a month ago to become the best journalist the world had ever seen. To find the greatest stories never told. And now here I am–Henry Parker, twenty four years old and weary beyond rational thought, a bullet one trigger pull from ending my life.

I can’t run. Running is all Amanda and I have done for the past seventy two hours. And I’m tired. Tired of knowing the truth and not being able to tell it.

Five minutes ago I thought I had the story all figured out. I knew that both of these men–one an FBI agent, the other an assassin–wanted me dead, but for very different reasons.

If I die tonight–more people will die tomorrow.

And if you like what you read, check out the other books in the critically acclaimed Henry Parker series:

"Parker is a captivating and complex protagonist." --Publishers Weekly











"A brilliantly conceived, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride." --Chicago Tribune











Spread the word and be thanked for your efforts!

I want as many people as possible to read THE MARK for free. And I want readers to know how much I appreciate their efforts.

If you link to the free offer or embed the widget on your website/blog, or email five friends alerting them to this free read (and cc or bcc me at jason@jasonpinter.com on the email), you'll be personally thanked in the acknowledgments section of a Henry Parker novel to be released in 2009. So to reiterate, there are two ways to be thanked:

1) Email five friends about this free read (with a link to www.jasonpinter.com or jasonpinter.blogspot.com). Make sure to cc/bcc me at jason@jasonpinter.com on the email (this is only so I can keep track, the emails will not be used for anything nefarious).

2) Link to www.jasonpinter.com or embed the "Browse the Book" widget on your blog or website. Click the 'Add to your site' link on the widget for the html code.

Then see your name in the acknowledgments page of a 2009 Henry Parker novel.

Please pass this along to friends, family, and anyone you know who's looking for a good summer read. And I sincerely hope you enjoy the first Henry Parker novel.
Jason Pinter

P.S.  A very sincere thanks to my publisher for making this happen.

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posted by Jason Pinter at 12:38 AM 9 Comments




Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Hiatus...Over?

That remains to be seen, but with the publication of my third Henry Parker novel, THE STOLEN, just (gack!) 13 days away, I will be posting on a more regular basis. My month+ long hiatus (during which I still wrote three posts, sigh) was motivated by several factors, not the least of which was that my next novel was due and I needed to devote every extra word to the manuscript. Now that the book is in production, I have a little breathing room. I'm already at work on the next, next Henry Parker novel (which has an opening scene that literally gave me the shivers writing). And I've had an idea for a YA series rattling around for a while that I'm hoping to start fleshing out.

I will have two books coming out again in 2009, and I'm VERY excited for these, for reasons that it's probably too early to discuss. Suffice it to say readers will learn much more about Henry's past, as he'll be forced to confront some demons that never really died.

But back to the present. I'm very eager to hear the reaction to THE STOLEN. Whereas my first two books likely fell into the "thrillers with elements of mystery" camp, THE STOLEN is more "mystery with elements of thriller." You might say Potato, Potatoe, but it did feel like the book had a different tone while I was writing it. I think it's the most tightly-paced of my books, and there is definitely a real life theme that runs parallel to the story that I hope readers pick up on.

And, last but CERTAINLY not least, my publisher and I will be offering something very cool beginning July 22nd. So keep your eyes tuned to this page, because just like the Double Indy Whopper at BK, it'll only be available for a very limited time...

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posted by Jason Pinter at 9:55 AM 3 Comments




Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Coming July 29th
Five years ago the boy vanished without a trace. 
Today he came back.

Five years after he disappeared, young Daniel Linwood returned to his suburban home for dinner as though he'd never left. It's a blessing for both his family and their community. And I've snagged the exclusive interview.

But it turns out Daniel is just one of a string of abducted children who have mysteriously returned to their families with no memory of their lost years. Some people want me to leave it be. Some want me to simply let the healing process begin. But these wounds are deeper than anyone realizes.

To get the story on these bizarre kidnappings, I need the help of the one woman who owes me nothing. I've got to find answers before another life is snatched away from sight and time and memory. But doing so means we could be the next ones to go....

* * *

"Pinter's ambitious third Henry Parker novel opens as Daniel Linwood, 11, suddenly reappears on his family's front porch five years after being kidnapped. Parker, a young but seasoned New York Gazette reporter, snags an exclusive interview with Daniel and his overjoyed mother. But Daniel appears to have no recollection of his missing years, and something he absentmindedly says in the interview deeply rattles Parker—convincing him there's a sinister undercurrent to this feel-good story. Working with his ex-girlfriend, Legal Aid Society lawyer Amanda, Parker meets resistance from law enforcement officials, a popular politician and even his own editor. What he gradually uncovers involves seemingly disparate individuals with unexpected motives, desperate to keep their activities a secret. Parker's first-person voice dominates: it lists between Parker as gritty, desensitized journalist and young romantic who wants little more than to spend the rest of his life with one woman. The emotional dichotomy makes Parker a captivating and complex protagonist, one whose pithy observations about New York are dead on. Pinter's chunky plot, rapid pacing and credible dialogue do the rest."
--Publishers Weekly

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posted by Jason Pinter at 8:58 AM 2 Comments




Tuesday, May 13, 2008

THE STOLEN: the first review is in

"Pinter's ambitious third Henry Parker novel opens as Daniel Linwood, 11, suddenly reappears on his family's front porch five years after being kidnapped. Parker, a young but seasoned New York Gazette reporter, snags an exclusive interview with Daniel and his overjoyed mother. But Daniel appears to have no recollection of his missing years, and something he absentmindedly says in the interview deeply rattles Parker—convincing him there's a sinister undercurrent to this feel-good story. Working with his ex-girlfriend, Legal Aid Society lawyer Amanda, Parker meets resistance from law enforcement officials, a popular politician and even his own editor. What he gradually uncovers involves seemingly disparate individuals with unexpected motives, desperate to keep their activities a secret. Parker's first-person voice dominates: it lists between Parker as gritty, desensitized journalist and young romantic who wants little more than to spend the rest of his life with one woman. The emotional dichotomy makes Parker a captivating and complex protagonist, one whose pithy observations about New York are dead on. Pinter's chunky plot, rapid pacing and credible dialogue do the rest."
--Publishers Weekly

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posted by Jason Pinter at 10:15 AM 3 Comments




Friday, April 04, 2008

New Vlog!

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posted by Jason Pinter at 9:22 AM 2 Comments




Wednesday, March 19, 2008

THE STOLEN: cover art exclusive!!!

I'm offering a sneak peek at the cover art for my next Henry Parker novel, THE STOLEN. This quickie will only be available to subscribers to my newsletter however. So if you haven't signed up, go to www.jasonpinter.com and enter for this exclusive viewing.

Not only will you get a sneak peek at THE STOLEN cover art, but you'll have access to lots more exclusive content, including contests, giveaways, and news before anyone else gets it.

So head on over to www.jasonpinter.com, sign up, and find out why THE STOLEN will be Henry Parker's most chilling story yet.

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Wednesday, January 09, 2008

One Step Closer
(and a movie recommendation)

This morning, I sent in the final manuscript for my third novel, THE STOLEN. This book has been consuming pretty much every free moment over the last few months, both because I had some catching up to do during my job transition, but because as I've said before, this was the first novel I've written in which I didn't already have the plot in mind well ahead of time. 
In the end I think this mighty actually be my tightest plotted book yet. I would describe THE MARK and THE GUILTY as thriller with mystery elements, while I would describe THE STOLEN as a mystery with thriller elements. Perhaps a small distinction, but I think when you read it you'll see what I mean. I hope this will keep the books and characters fresh.

And now that THE STOLEN is in, I have a little time to think about THE GUILTY, which hits stores in just seven weeks. I'm very eager to hear what people think about my second book. While I am proud of THE MARK, I'm also aware there was significant room to grow. THE GUILTY has a more complicated story, required far more research, and I think could even be a little polarizing (in a good way, I think).

I do plan to write longer posts in the near future, right now I need to recharge the batteries a little bit. Especially because work on book 4 is looming. And we all know there's no rest for the e wicked.

Speaking of which, that line made me think of Peter Jackson's vastly underrated ghost flick "The Frighteners." Made in between his low budget gorefests "Dead Alive" and "Bad Ta
ste" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Frighteners" stars Michael J. Fox as a ghost hunter who, due to the traumatic suffered after the death of his wife, can communicate with the dead. Now when you say the words "Michael J. Fox" and "paranormal comedy" you might not run out to the video store, but trust me, this is a ghost story with scares, heart, humor and brains that actually holds up pretty well. I saw this in the theaters, and was shocked at how much I liked it. Not to mention it's the crowning moment of Jake Busey's career, playing homicidal lunatic Johnny Charles Bartlett.

Bartlett on being the most prolific serial killer in history: "That Russian cannibal creep is telling everybody he did fifty plus. That reflects badly on both of us, Patty. This record should be held by an American!"

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posted by Jason Pinter at 1:08 PM 2 Comments




Monday, December 10, 2007

THE STOLEN

I haven't discussed this book, my third, much because frankly it always seemed so far off. I'd spent so much time on THE GUILTY--writing the book, going over proofs, preparing for publication--that until recently it seemed strange that I was in the midst of writing book #3. This book was a challenge to write, mainly because I was working a full time job while being contracted for two books per year. I'd figured out the plots for my first two books--THE MARK and THE GUILTY--before I'd even sold one. So in a way this was the first totally fresh book I've written under contract. In order to meet my August publication date for this book, I've been pulling some major late nights and writing 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and even 5,000 words a day. And these words had to fit into a tight story structure, since I wanted the pacing and feel for this book to be a little different. Fast paced, yet taking a little longer to develop, so the end, I felt, had more of an emotional impact.

Well, as of this morning THE STOLEN is with my editor and my agent. It's an odd feeling, since in a few weeks the whole process will start anew. Going over edits, page proofs, galleys, the whole deal. And much of that will likely take place before THE GUILTY even hits stores. I'll be working on promoting THE GUILTY while my mind is on the nuts and bolts of THE STOLEN, not to mention working on the manuscript for my fourth book. 

I'm extremely pleased with how THE GUILTY turned out. I honestly feel it's a better book than THE MARK. While I wrote THE GUILTY, there was one phrase I literally on just about every page: KSM. Or: Keep Sh*t Moving.

While I love THE MARK, I'm aware that it takes a little while to warm up the engine. Mainly because I wanted the reader to care about Henry. If he was thrust into the action on page one, the reader would be rooting for a cartoon character. I didn't want that. I felt the build up was worth it come pay off. In THE GUILTY, I was able to build upon what we know of Henry and the other characters in his world, embellishing their stories while wrapping them in a much bigger and more intricate story. And I was able to put things in motion right off the bat. 

I've always been intrigued by the "what if" storyline. Where the plot is set in motion by two seemingly unrelated events thrust into conflict. What if this happened here...THE GUILTY has one of those "What if" storylines, and I think it's excited as hell.

Now my first two books I consider to be thrillers with mystery aspects. THE STOLEN I consider to be more of a mystery with thriller aspects. That may sound like splitting hairs, but I could feel the difference while I was writing it. I think fans of the first two will enjoy it, but it feels fresh too. There's more actual 'mystery' than in the first two books, yet I also feel it might be the best-paced story of the three. 

In the meantime, just 78 days remain until THE GUILTY hits stores everywhere. I can't wait. And then things began anew. There's always work to be done.

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posted by Jason Pinter at 12:53 PM 2 Comments