Friday, August 27, 2010

Byrne After Reading

Charlie Byrne is dead. Put away anyhow. For now. I take this retirement announcement a bit more seriously than Ozzy Osbourne's. That's right, Kieran Shea's hapless former life-guard has saved the last wrong person, been bit by his last dog, pissed off his last client and can hopefully find a little peace in the inky blackness of his creator's subconscious. Shea, another contributor to Beat to a Pulp: Round One, (that'll be the fifth time I've been honored to share story space with him), is putting away his go-to character. Takes guts. K's invested a lot into Charlie, but I'm hoping he can find a new muse/kick in the pants to serve up some more righteous crime fictions. Kieran let me share his hotel room at Bouchercon last year and I got to spend several very special hours with him, (that would make him Demi Moore to my Robert Redford and would consequently make Greg Bardsley Woody Harrelson). On top of being a writer I really enjoy, he's a big-hearted, generous dude and I expect great things from his post-Byrne output. Sorry, Charlie.

And how about that Night of the Hunter poster, huh? N@B graduate, Matt Kindt did that one for a Criterion film festival or somethin. Bad Ass. Bad Ass movie. Bad Ass poster. Bad Ass talent, sir. Apparently his choice was between that one and Roman Polanski's Repulsion. I'd love to see his vision of the other, but I think he made the right choice. Jon, Ruth & David, y'all Bouchercon 2011 planners might wanna look into St. Louis talent like Kindt and Tim Lane or Brian Hurtt for that matter if'n ya need graphic work done. I'm just sayin.

And speaking of David Thompson, have you heard the news about Tyrus Books absorbing Busted Flush Press? Holy crap. That means two of the most kick ass small publishers of crime fiction have combined. Speaking of Tyrus, I'm reviewing Lynn Kostoff's Late Rain at Ransom Notes. Go check that out.

9 comments:

Paul D Brazill said...

I'm sure that Mr Byrne will be back one day.

Nigel Bird said...

mr ayres, sorry to post on unrelated matters, but if you check out http://nigelpbird.blogspot.com there's a little interview thing that i'd like to have you involved with. course, it's up to you, man.
nigel

jedidiah ayres said...

thanks, Nigel - I'll think of something

Michael A. Gonzales said...

When I was in college, I cut school one afternoon to go see Night of the Hunter. I was 18 years old, but that movie still scared me to death. Love that poster...

Kieran Shea said...

thanks, jed. needed to be done. should have listened a long time ago...wait, then who's woody harrelson?

Kieran Shea said...

wait, bardsley can't be woody. he doesn't have that psycho range. then again, his alter ego "crazy larry"

jedidiah ayres said...

Gonzalo - I love it when a supposedly dated movie can still genuinely thrill you/freak you out. I didn't see Rosemary's Baby till maybe ten years ago - holy crap


Kieran - was gonna make myself Demi Moore - but it was me taking Greg's place for the night. To fit the metaphor it had to be you

Cameron Ashley said...

damn, that's a sweet poster.

Nigel Bird said...

great to have you in the series is a cracker and now it's just improved a notch