RIDE 2: MORE SHORT FICTION ABOUT BICYCLES ed. Keith Snyder

I'd known of Keith Snyder for many years as a fellow Robert B. Parker fan and author of the Jason Keltner mystery series. Two years ago, he attended a reading of crime fiction and poetry at which I performed, and since then we've bonded over poetry, Parker, and ebook production.

When Keith mentioned that this second volume of bicycle-themed fiction also featured two poems, I jumped at his offer of a review copy. The eight contributors to Ride 2 clearly share Keith's passion for cycling, and the book is sure to appeal to readers who do, or to someone like me, who last pedaled the block on training wheels but fondly recalls the feeling of coasting under my own power.

At The 5-2: "The End of Fun and Games" by Kimberlee Smith

Enjoy our poem for New Year's Eve.

Today is the last day to submit to 5-2 guest editor Gail White.

I wish you a prosperous new year and thank you for your interest in The 5-2.

Another Interview

I and others answered some random questions from poet Catfish McDaris. The catch: We had to answer in five words or fewer.

Where do you live, city & country or state? New York, United States.

From your country what is the most unusual food you like, that most foreigners would hate? Street hot dogs.

If you had to live in any country besides yours, what would be your favorite & least favorite, in that order? Canada; Iran.

If you were stranded naked on a deserted island & were allowed one thing, what would it be? (no transportation allowed) Drinkable water.

If you could only choose one book as your favorite, what would it be? Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

If you could have a conversation with anyone, dead & alive, who would it be, in that order? My father; Philip Levine.

If you could have sex with anyone, dead & alive, who would it be, in that order? I would take forever deciding...

What is your favorite movie & television show, in that order? Raiders of the Lost Ark; NCIS.

If you could only have one super power, what would it be? Heat vision.

If you found a magic lamp & got three wishes, what would they be? 1) To hear from old friends, 2) Health, 3) Peace of mind.

Belly Up to the Bar

I bellied up to be interviewed by 5-2 contributor Thomas Pluck.

A Little Christmas

Sorry if my previous post brought you down. Two weeks ago, I mentioned taking joy when I could get it this season, not holding it for a scheduled time. Similarly, the greatest gifts are the ones we don't expect but that enrich our lives.

Yesterday, I got together with some friends, one of whom I hadn't seen in years. Our conversation was easy as always, and I was reminded why we became friends. I feel as if I can never thank friends like these enough, for knowing and accepting me, warts and all, for encouraging me just by their presence.

If I have given others the same gift, I am honored and glad. My best to you and yours.

Another Apocalypse Averted

I'm not a believer in end-of-the-world scenarios like the Rapture and the end of the Mayan calendar, but this latest fateful date did get me thinking about why we fear the end of the world.

I think we fear not having the time to do everything we hope to do. When supposed doomsdays pass without incident, we feel a jolt of life. The world spins on as otherwise scheduled. For me, the reality is more frightening: we will die on an unpredictable day, leaving hundreds of loose ends.

Bleak, but also a reminder to do what we can, while we can.

At The 5-2: "Midnight Mass" by Robert Cooperman

The 5-2 wishes you a Merry Christmas with "Midnight Mass".

There's still a week left to submit to guest editor Gail White.

TNT Cancels LEVERAGE

Last night, TNT announced it was canceling caper series Leverage after five seasons and 77 episodes. The show caught my interest from the description I read in October 2007. Production was delayed by the WGA strike of 2007-'08, but in April '08, I found out my friend Christine Boylan would be on the writing staff when the show premiered in December.

I expected the show to be more serious, but I soon warmed to its sense of fun. It took a few episodes to balance cluing viewers in on how each con was pulled off and effectively fooling the bad guys, but by the end of Season 1, it hit its stride.

With so many straight procedurals now airing, humor is what sets a show apart. I'm glad Leverage was able to keep it up for five seasons. Christine left the show after Season 3 and worked on Castle Season 4. She now writes for Once Upon a Time. Along with Christine's career, I've followed several other writers from the show, including Amy Berg of Eureka and Person of Interest and Albert Kim of Nikita.

Thanks to co-creators John Rogers and Chris Downey and everyone on Leverage. The series finale airs Tuesday night at 10:00.

Two New Poems in Defenestration

It's my pleasure to be back in the online humor magazine Defenestration with two poems—"Love Isn't Blind" and "Balls"—in the December 2012 issue, posted today. My thanks to editors Andrew Kaye and Eileen Lavelle.

Why I Like THE BIG BANG THEORY

Lots of people like CBS's The Big Bang Theory; it's become one of TV's top-rated shows. All the while, though, I've heard from many people calling themselves "true nerds" who don't like the show. I want to respond to one well-thought-out opinion in particular.

The blogger in question believes the show's humor ridicules the very people it claims to represent. That is, it isn't about nerds laughing at the world around them, but about the world still laughing at nerds. This understandably offends the blogger and makes him feel uncomfortable.

I empathize to a point with people who feel they aren't being represented. I don't find all the show's attempts at humor funny, either. But the main reason I like the show is its message that people don't have to accept the labels others give them. People of all types can coexist based not on these types, but on who they are as individuals.

It may be a bit of fantasy that Leonard and Penny became a couple, but if you've watched the show over the years, it's very clear what they see in each other. Leonard doesn't love Penny just for her beauty, and Penny doesn't love Leonard just for his mind.

I came to believe in expanding my horizons more and more as I matured. At one time, my dream was to attend the same high school as my brother, to receive the same education he did, to meet the same people he did along the way. Then I was rejected from my brother's high school... In college, I passed on joining the Asian American Organization in favor of a literary magazine staffed by people of all different backgrounds.

One key to growth is the ability to laugh at oneself, to see the humor in one's own situation. I understand that expanding in this way isn't for everyone. Some people are happy where they are in life. They like and take comfort in its consistency. But only someone who accepted being labeled, who didn't want to empathize with others, and who couldn't laugh at himself, would be hurt that he weren't represented. I'm not sure the entertainment industry represents anyone perfectly. I've never felt, Yes! That's me to a T. Have you?

As a result of the show, many people have come to acknowledge and accept "nerdy" qualities in themselves. That's progress.

Something to Say

Hours after the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, I blogged that I had nothing to say. Already I had seen dozens of reactionary tweets and didn't want to respond so tritely myself.

Since then, some facts have come out about Nancy Lanza, her son Adam, and the gun hobby they shared. No amount of facts will explain for me why Adam killed children, but yesterday I commented when fellow writer, crime fiction fan, and Christian Bryon Quertermous wondered on his blog how a loving, all-seeing God could let such tragedy happen.

At The 5-2: "Salad Night" by Mabel Lee

Enjoy.

Meanwhile, for two more weeks, I am accepting submissions for 5-2 guest editor Gail White. Submit today.

Nothing to Say

I have nothing to say about the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I don't know the facts. Part of me doesn't want to know. I only weep for the lives lost and empathize as a teacher and thank goodness for every breath, every second I get to spend with friends and family. I tell them every day.

Best of 2012 - Movies

I don't get to watch many movies in theaters, and you'll notice a theme in much of what I did watch, but here goes:

SKYFALL is at the top of my list for what it does to revitalize the Bond franchise after 2008's mediocre Quantum of Solace. Skyfall both explores new territory and calls back some classic themes and characters.

WRECK-IT RALPH didn't especially appeal to me in previews, but grew on me as it went on. Halfway through, I was completely invested in characters whose actions and outcomes weren't predetermined.

MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS lived up to years of hype, but watching it on video, its structure is more obvious, a set of action sequences devised to showcase each hero. I'm not sure the sequences are tied together that well. Still a fun ride.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES was better than The Dark Knight, which I'm sure is enough of a controversial opinion. I liked that it gave Bruce Wayne an ending, a way out of being the Batman. I liked Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle. The rest of the movie felt heavy, but it may boil down to the fact I'm not the biggest Batman fan.

Booked for Bouchercon 2013

In 2013, Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention, will be held at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY, September 19-22. I've been two previous Bouchercons, and, as Albany is only a three-hour drive from home, I knew this would be my third.

I registered for the con as a Black Friday present to myself, and, following @Bouchercon2013 on Twitter, I saw that the hotel information posted to the site today. I booked a room at the Hampton Inn, five blocks from the convention center, but $35 cheaper than the nearer hotels.

I'll be spreading the word about The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly, of course, and I hope the Short Mystery Fiction Society will have a Derringer Award presentation (Anyone can join the SMFS by December 31 to be part of the 2013 Derringer submission, judging, and voting process that begins on January 1). I'd love to be on another panel about crime and poetry or short stories, but I'll also enjoy the con as a fan. I'm particularly looking forward to lunch with my investigator friend, John DuMond.

If you're also attending, feel free to ambush-greet me.

Don't tell me when to be jolly.

I agree that commercial societies celebrate the holidays too soon, and by "celebrate", I mean "exploit", but as I did my own shopping this season, it felt good to forgo some things I wanted in order to buy some things for friends. I admit to many Christmases being disappointed not getting exactly what I wanted from the people who supposedly know me best, being embarrassed not having enough money to buy splashy presents.

This year, it's more-than-ever clear to me that what I give or receive on one big day is not the point. I can take joy in the modest gifts I've gotten friends, and I don't need to wait until the 25th or later to give them. Christmas cards and gifts seem tokens, don't they, if giver and receiver forget each other the rest of the year?

Of course there are times and places to express feelings, but there is no wrong time to feel them, reflect on them, and from that reflection, better understand oneself.

At The 5-2: "What Happened" by Monty Jones

This week, Texan Monty Jones' poetic commentary on criminal justice.

Submit to 5-2 guest editor Gail White through December 31.

Sunday Sales

The ebook version of The Lineup #2 is now available for Amazon Kindle and B&N Nook. The shortest of our four issues, it's a fine introduction to poetry at $1.99.

I was unable to obtain electronic reprint rights for four poems from the original print issue, but you can get 20% off any Lineup print issues ordered from Lulu.com today through December 14 with coupon code FELICITAS.

Finally, through tomorrow, December 10, you can get 15% off orders of $50 or more from The 5-2's CafePress shop with coupon code SHOPUP.

Thanks for your support.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

I love printed books. They will always have certain advantages over ebooks. For one, you can read them without electricity or batteries. For another, when you buy a physical book, it's yours. You walk out of the store and go home with it and keep it for as long as you want.

To the surprise of some, that's not the case with ebooks. Major vendors control whether and how long you can read ebooks you've "bought". (They now say "rented" is a better description of downloaded books.)

Still reading more paper books than ebooks, I hadn't come to think of purchased ebooks as permanently mine. As a poetry editor, I have to be up on how ebooks are read and created because I want the e-reading public to read poetry. That said, my ebook pricing reflects that ebooks aren't solid like books, in the same way MP3s aren't solid like CDs. If I can't hold them in my hand, I expect to pay less for them.

The ebooks I publish will always cost less than print would, reflecting that no money was spent on paper, ink, and binding. My ebooks will never be free because I believe creative and clerical work have value; but, if and when Amazon or BN decides to pull back your purchases, you're only out the cost of a movie rental.

At The 5-2: "The Death of Lizzie Borden" by J. Rodney Karr

This week, the second of two Lizzie Borden poems.

I've chosen The 5-2's Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve poems, respectively "Midnight Mass" by Robert Cooperman and "The End of Fun and Games" by Kimberlee Smith.

Submissions are now open for the February 4, 2013 slot, which will be chosen by guest editor Gail White.

And finally, through December 10, get 15% off orders of $50 or more in the 5-2 fan shop.

In Keeping with Tradition

I've decorated my blog for year's end. Come in, grab a drink, and prepare for karaoke. Happy holidays to all.