At The 5-2: "A Typical Night in Western Hill" by Terry Trowbridge

This week's poem, by Toronto poet and Ph.D. candidate Terry Trowbridge:




Terry is guest-editing The 5-2 in October. Submit to him by September 30.

At The 5-2: "Day 7" by Tiffany Washington

The 5-2 begins its third year with Hartford, Connecticut teacher Tiffany Washington:




Submissions are open for guest editor Terry Trowbridge through September 30.

The 5-2 Volume Two ebook of all of the poetry from Year Two will be available in October.

Keeping Genres Fresh and Relevant

I'm a longtime fan of Peter Rozovsky's blog, Detectives Beyond Borders. I met Peter at my first Bouchercon, 2008 in Baltimore, and know him to be a fine moderator. One of his panels at Bouchercon 2013 in Albany will be "Goodnight, My Angel", about readers' love affair with hardboiled and noir fiction.

I commented today on a re-post of Peter's from 2012, in which he asks, "How do your favorite crime writers keep well-established sub-genres fresh, relevant, and contemporary?"

At The 5-2

This week, Robert Cooperman "On Hearing The Supreme Court's Ruling Against the Voting Rights Act":



Submissions for 5-2 guest editor Terry Trowbridge are open through September 30.

The Cumulative Effects of Violent Entertainment

Earlier this week, I joined a discussion on Tyrus Books publisher Ben LeRoy's blog about the repercussions of crime fiction. Ben conscientiously asks:

Even if all of the violent media consumed doesn't cause copycat acts of violence, what does it do to the hardwire of our brain as far as our perception of those around us, most notably the strangers on the “other side” goes?

Also taking the discussion to Twitter, Ben asks to what extent violent entertainment perpetuates real violence and contributes to a cycle whereby writers depict violence, cynicism, and other negativity in their efforts to depict our world accurately.

I replied on Twitter that—though I enjoy some violent fiction, TV shows, and movies—a lot out there doesn't appeal to me. I choose not to immerse myself in violent entertainment even knowing it's not real.

I'm not saying, "It's not a problem for me, so it's not a problem." I just think we should equip future generations to be discerning consumers of entertainment as well.

At The 5-2: "Crime Story" by Alan Catlin

This week's poem is by well-published Alan Catlin:

At The 5-2: "High School Memory" by Casey Zella Moir

New Mexico teacher Casey Moir brings us this week's poem:

At The 5-2: "Stealing Poetry" by Elisa Albo

This week's poem is by Fort Lauderdale teacher Elisa Albo.



Through September 30, I'm accepting submissions for 5-2 guest editor Terry Trowbridge.

At The 5-2: "The Survivor of a Slasher Flick in Middle Age"

This week's poem is by Massachusetts author Peter Swanson.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX

My review of Warner Bros.' latest DC animated movie is at Crimespree Magazine's blog.

At The 5-2: "Long Distance" by Steve Hood

This week's poem reflects on the Boston Marathon bombing.



I'm now accepting submissions for The 5-2's third year.

At The 5-2: "$25 a Day, Plus Expenses" by Peter M. Gordon

This week's poem commemorates the birth of P.I. fiction icon Raymond Chandler on July 23, 1888.

At The 5-2: "Glock Nine" by George Dila

This week's poem is by Michigan poet George Dila.




I'm seeking two more poems to round out The 5-2's second year.

At The 5-2: "On the First Hot Night in May" by Alison Morse

Guest editor Charles Rammelkamp selected this week's poem.



Submissions are open for the final poems of our second year.

At The 5-2: "Mentality" by Max West

This week, Sacramento poet Max West offers a poem about his lemon tree.

You can now look up 5-2 poems or contributors via a Google search bar.

More MAN OF STEEL

Crime author and friend Russel D. McLean weighs in on Man of Steel at Do Some Damage. I offered a spoilery comment.

At The 5-2: "Public Access" by Stephen D. Rogers

Stephen D. Rogers returns to The 5-2 with a concise, powerful poem.

At The 5-2: "Memories of Holden, MO" by David S. Pointer

David Pointer returns to The 5-2 this week with a poem of his time as a chemical plant security guard:

Guest-blogging at Deb Lacy's Mystery Playground

Deb Lacy, who participated in this year's 30 Days of The 5-2, invited me to contribute to the Friday summer reading series on her blog, sharing a book recommendation and a drink recipe.

At The 5-2: "Went Right" by Pete Simonelli

This week a poem of urban renewal by Brooklyn's Pete Simonelli.



Submissions are open for 5-2 guest editor Charles Rammelkamp through Saturday, June 15.