River City

Get Lit! Spokane Invited Me!

2012-02-02T22:22:00.000-08:00

I will be taking part in the Get Lit! Festival, sponsored by EWU, April 10-15, 2012. The festival is a very cool collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry authors, all of whom particiapte by invitation only.

I will be doing a reading on 4/14 (Saturday) at 10 AM, as well as being part of a panel discussion later on that same day, at 1:45 - 3:15 PM. This will take place at the Phase 1 building of the Riverpoint campus for EWU right here in Spokane.

Get Lit! is a great expression of local artists as well as a great expression of love for the arts by locals. I hope some of you will make it there, whether to see me or any of the other great artists. (Hint: Jess Walter will be there, so that's worth the gas money alone).

Two Books Make 'Best of 2011' List!

2012-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Independent book critic Kevin Tipple has published his best reads of 2011 list, and two of my titles are on it!

My short story collection Dead Even is there, as well as my fourth River City novel, And Every Man Has to Die.

Kevin has always made a point to review my work, including the time he encountered subject matter that he really didn't want to explore in Heroes Often Fail. But he did so anyway, citing his respect for my other work and a willingness to take a chance. Ultimately, his review of that book was a positive one.

For 2011, he obviously liked Dead Even and And Every Man Has to Die more than a little, since they made his 'best of' list. I'm glad a critic (and one who reads a ton of books) thinks well enough of my work to put it on a list like that.

Both Dead Even and And Every Man Has to Die are available in paperback from Gray Dog Press. The ebook versions are available wherever you get yours...Amazon, B&N, etc.

Thanks for choosing Zafiro titles, Mr. Tipple!

Royalties to Remind.Org

2012-01-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

Now that 2011 is over, I'm making good on my promise to donate all of my ebook royalties for my crime novel The Last Horseman to Remind.Org.

Remind.Org is dedicated to helping our returning soldiers in a variety of ways. Some are physical, others emotional or mental. It is a worthwhile organization that serves a worthy cause.

You can read more about my decision to support them here.

The grand total for 2011 ebook royalties for The Last Horseman was $141.22. I sent Remind.Org the money today, via their website.

I know, it isn't exactly earth-shattering, but it is a start.

Another classy touch that Remind.Org does is allow you to donate in honor of or in memory of a soldier. I decided that my donation this year would be in memory of Staff Sergeant David Biehl. David is the son of a personal friend of mine, his mother. She introduced him to my books and he was an enthusiastic reader. David served two tours in Iraq.Whenever I think of him, I remember how much his mother talked about the patriotic passion he had for serving in the U.S. Army. I am also reminded of how serving one's nation during wartime brings with it a psychological cost for those who have served. Sometimes the effects of combat linger long after the danger to life and limb has passed.

How can you help our returning warriors? Well, you can certainly donate directly to Remind.Org. I plan to once again donate all of 2012's ebook royalties for The Last Horseman, so if you want to read an action-packed novel set in Spokane and see 100% of the royalties go to Remind.Org, you can buy a copy. Or give one as a gift. Or get a friend to buy a copy. Or just spread the word. The book is available through any ebook outlet (Amazon, B&N, etc.).

If you're reading this and you are a fellow writer, then I would ask you to consider doing the same thing I've done here with one of your titles, even if you do it for just one month out of the year. If you accept this challenge, please comment on this blog post.

No matter how we do it, come January 2012, I'd love to move the decimal point one space to the right. But I'd be just as happy to know that people sent money directly to Remind.Org.

Here's what The Last Horseman is about: Sandy Banks is the last of The Four Horsemen, a vigilante group of ex-cops determined to right the injustices of a broken court system. But now the project is disintegrating, putting him in the middle of chaos. Betrayed by his final partner, blackmailed by the project head and pursued by federal agents bent on busting the case wide open, Sandy scrambles to escape this mayhem with his soul intact.

Have a safe and happy 2012, folks. And please take a moment (often) to think about the men and women who serve our nation, endure great danger and carry heavy burdens, all in support of our continued freedom.

Frank

UPDATE on Three Novels (and a texbook)

2011-12-25T09:13:00.000-08:00

Jim Wilsky and I are finishing up the final draft of BLOOD ON BLOOD.

BLOOD ON BLOOD is a gritty, hard boiled crime novel. As Gar Sawyer lays dying in prison, he tells his sons Mick and Jerzy about a jewelry heist he made years ago. This sets the two half-brothers on a frenzied search for the lost loot. Jerzy is the hard core hood, Mick the failed cop and tarnished hero. They have to work together in order to unravel the mystery they face but every step of the way, they are angling against each other at the same time. BLOOD ON BLOOD is a tension-laced action ride.

I expect BLOOD ON BLOOD to be out in the first half of 2012, depending on which route Jim and I go with this novel.

I've finished the second draft of a mystery novel called AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE. It is going to a couple of readers before a third draft.

AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE tells the story of retired Spokane detective Jack McCrae. 'Mac' doesn't feel like he's left much of a mark on this world. No family, no wife, and a mediocre career. Then a young woman from his past appears and asks for his help finding a girl that she believes may be her sister...and Mac's daughter. The two embark on a dangerous journey of discovery, battling small town dynamics and old secrets to get at the truth.

I expect AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE to come out in early 2012 if I go the indie route or later in the year if I go with a publisher.

On another front, I'm currently working on the first draft of the sequel to Waist Deep, which is called LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP.

In LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP, former cop Stefan Kopriva reluctantly accepts a job to find out who assaulted Monique Perrin, who works as an escort. He quickly uncovers the dirty side of politics in River City, exposing a web of corruption that includes sex, bribery and worst of all, murder.

I expect LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP to be out no later than the second half of 2012.

These aren't the only projects I'm working on, but they are either the most complete or in the #1 position as far as what I'm giving the most of my time to.

On a somewhat (but not really) related note, the textbook on police report writing that I wrote along with my colleague and friend, Doug Strosahl, will be available January 2nd. It is called A Street Officer's Guide to Report Writing. It is a conversational, relaxed approach to a critical law enforcement skill. You can read more about it here.

And that's your River City Update, folks. I'm Frank Zafiro, and I...am...outta here. Have a happy holiday season!

New Review of BENEATH A WEEPING SKY

2011-12-11T20:30:00.001-08:00

My 2010 novel, Beneath a Weeping Sky, has been reviewed by Brian Triplett of examiner.com. He writes a very fair article about this book, the third installment in my River City series.

On balance, I'd say this is a positive review. It also gives the potential reader an honest look at the book, which admittedly isn't for everyone. Sexual Assault is a tough subject. And getting into the head of a serial rapist doesn't appeal to everyone. Still, this was a book that really explored those recurring characters -- Katie MacLeod, John Tower, and Tom Chisolm, especially. It is also the first book that really features the genius that is Renee, the crime analyst.

When Beneath a Weeping Sky was published, I felt like it was my best book. I don't know if it still is (I think I'd go with Waist Deep these days, but it's a photo finish) but I still like it a lot. It was a stretch for me as a writer and I felt a great deal of growth from start to finish. So seeing a review pop up almost two years later is kinda cool.

If you want this or any River City novel, you can get them from Gray Dog Press. In fact, right now they are offering the entire River City collection at a 20% discount, just in time for Christmas. Or, if you prefer eBooks, the books are available in all formats.

My favorite line of this novel? Tough call, but I'm going to go with this one:

“What?”Battaglia protested. “Why am I on rat duty?”

"Bastard Mummy" Review

2011-11-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

Here is a review of "The Bastard Mummy."

Gray Dog Press Announces Frank Zafiro Collection!

2011-10-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Gray Dog Press is now offering all five of my novels in a single collection. The bonus is that you get 20% off cover price if you buy all five books. That's like getting one of them for free!

Gray Dog Press is a local publisher here in Spokane, Washington, that focuses on Inland Empire writers or subject matter...for the most part. They are an up and coming independent small press, and I'm proud to be one of their authors!

If you haven't tried out the River City series yet, the order is:

1. Under a Raging Moon
2. Heroes Often Fail
3. Beneath a Weeping Sky
4. And Every Man Has to Die

and

5. Dead Even (a collection of River City short stories)

The books follow the same ensemble cast of police officers and detectives as they encounter robbers, kidnappers, rapists and gangsters, as well as their own fears and shortcomings. Meet cops who are human as you are, or the person next door.

If you're reading this, you probably know I have over 18 years of police experience in a variety of positions. I've brought all of that experience to bear on these books, lending a degree of gritty realism that has been compared to Waumbaugh and McBain.

Here's the LINK! Check it out!

Frank

THE BASTARD MUMMY takes off!

2011-10-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, Amazon will allow an ebook to be priced for FREE as part of a special promotion. Currently, they've selected my River City novella, The Bastard Mummy, for exactly such a promotion.

As you can see from the screen shots, people seem to be responding: The Bastard Mummy is currently #1 in hard-boiled mystery, #2 in police procedurals.

Nice bump for a novella that has been out for a little while.

What's it about? Thought you'd never ask.

The Bastard Mummy: Follow detectives Finch and Elias in this novella (which is an excerpt from the short story collection Dead Even) as they try to solve the mystery of a stolen mummy the River City museum. Part mystery, part procedural, with a little wise-cracking along the way, this story will satisfy River City fans waiting for the next installment of the series and introduce Frank Zafiro to new readers.

For those familiar with the River City novels but not with Finch and Elias, let me say a few things. One, Finch and Elias are basically the Sully and Battaglia of the investigative division. Two, the majority of the Finch and Elias stories tend to be whodunit style mysteries, including The Bastard Mummy. And three, you can read five stories about these two detectives in Dead Even, which is a River City short story collection published by Gray Dog Press.
Anyway, head over to Amazon and give The Bastard Mummy a try -- it's free!

Frank

P.S. Just an unrelated reminder: all ebook sales proceeds from my novel The Last Horseman will go to support REMIND.ORG, an organization dedicated to supporting our returning troops. Read this blog entry for the scoop.

THE LAST HORSEMAN Proceeds to Support REMIND.ORG

2011-10-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I will donate all my author proceeds from the ebook sales of The Last Horseman to REMIND.ORG, which supports our returning warriorsand their families.

Every January, I will be donating 100% of my gross income fromthe previous years' ebook sales of this book. What's more, I'm making this donation retroactive to when the book wasfirst published (January 2011).

Why am I doing this? There are lots of reasons.

Most importantly, I believe in what REMIND.ORG isdoing. I believe we have a duty to take care of those menand women who are brave enough to serve in our armed forces and protect our freedoms.It takes courage to serve, especially during a time when there are armed conflicts going on in the world that we're directly involved in.

The thing is, it's not about whether or not you believe in a particular political action ornot -- it's about supporting our troops. The soldier doesn't choose the war, but he or she fights in it. Not all the consequences they suffer are right there on the battlefield.

I'm a veteran myself (1986-91), but I didn't see combat during my term of service. As a result, I was lucky enough not to need services like the ones this program provides.

What does this organization do? It would be easier to list what they don't do. I encourage you to take the link and check them out for yourself, but suffice it to say that they find a great number of ways to take care of our returning troops.

I first heard of this organization because of Bruce Springsteen. He played last year in their fundraiser event, "Stand Up for Heroes." As a long time fan of Springsteen and his music, I was curious what the fundraiser was supporting, so I looked it up. That's when the work that Remind.Org does really struck a chord with me.

Quite honestly, I can't think of too many things more patriotic than doing some real in support of our returning troops. I thought about how I could support this organization. Originally, I considered a simple donation, but eventually I decided I would give a continuing donation every year and try to raise some awareness in the process. I selected The Last Horseman as the vehicle for this because the main character, Sandy Banks, is also a veteran.

If you want to support a good cause and also enjoy some action/suspense crime fiction at the same time, this is your opportunity. The Last Horseman is priced at $2.99 in all formats. In January, I'll post the receipt so everyone can see.

If you want to support this organization more directly,here's the Remind.org website.

Bad Reviews

2011-10-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

So I just passed on a mixed review/critique of a colleague's novel. I don't know his reaction, really, because his email reply was polite but brief. The thing is, when someone asks for a critique, I really believe you're doing a disservice if you don't give the book a serious read instead of a cursory one and that you're doing an even greater disservice if you're not 100% honest in your critique.

In other words, the things that aren't good, say so. The things that rock, say so. Delivery is important, but don't couch the criticism too carefully or else the weight of it may be lost upon the author.

In this case, I read the novel at a time that I was also trying to finish up a first draft on a collaboration novel, while I was receiving proofs from the publisher for my textbook with hellacious turnaround times and I was taking two master's courses online...while working full time in a demanding position. Throw family in there, too. So I was busy. But...has anyone ever read one of my books when that person was just as busy as I've described? Or more so?

Yes. So you pay it back and you pay it forward.

Plus, the author is a nice guy, a true gentleman and friends with one of the classiest guys I've ever not met (Internet only friends from halfway across the country).

So you make the time. Which I did. Upon finishing, I did have one major criticism and a few smaller ones to go along with the things I liked. I was blunt and direct, because I don't think any of us have time for euphemisms, but I wasn't mean. The danger of being honest, though, is you run the risk of hurting someone's feelings and the friendship. My philosophy has always been that honesty is always worth that risk. Not just what do I think about your book, but on anything in life. You tell your friends the truth, even if it isn't what they want to hear right this second.

I think this guy's book was a good book, but I did point out the warts. I hope that, upon reflection, he sees where my heart was in this process, whether he agrees with the criticism or not. That is, I cared enough about the guy to tell him the whole truth -- the good and the bad.

Ironically, I received an email recently from another writer who asked me about performing some paid editing. I'd edited a small portion of a work for her at a workshop earlier this year and she wrote in her email, "I appreciate the direct voice that you have."

So I must be doing something right.

In a case of double irony, one of my books got a mixed review this week from a fan. I discovered it about an hour after I had sent my critique to the author I mentioned at the beginning of this entry. Here's the link to the review. Give it a read and come back.

See? Honesty.

Incidentally, for those of you who may agree with this reviewer's take, Beneath a Weeping Sky is an anomaly within the series. Most of the books, including And Every Man Has to Die, are shorter and more briskly paced. And no crazy people. But BaWS is exactly what the reviewer says -- long, and it examines the human condition within the context of a procedural. Some people may like it, some may not. I don't apologize for it -- it is what it is, and it is true to its own (intended) nature.

But isn't nice to read someone's honest review that isn't meant to be harsh? Yeah, not really nice. Just better than a slam. But I like the honesty part. I'd better, or I'd be a hypocrite.

Review of Under a Raging Moon

2011-10-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right...a new review of my 2006 novel, Under a Raging Moon.

Actually, there's an explanation for this. I bundled together all four of the existing River City novels into a single eBook called Trouble in River City. The reviewer, Brian Triplett, bought the collection. He'd previously read and reviewed some of the newer books in the series, but not the older ones.

Here's the review: http://www.examiner.com/books-in-spokane/under-a-raging-moon-by-frank-zafiro-review

He rightly calls me to task for the rough edges, but is gracious enough not to call it lesser craft than I hopefully have today. That's where he's wrong. Like any writer, I have grown in the past five years and nowhere is that as much on display as in the progression of the River City novels. I think any reader who starts with the first and continues through to the fourth will see the growth in my writing and storytelling (although hopefully as an afterthought and not while enjoying the book).

We all get better at something we practice at. Under a Raging Moon was my second novel I'd ever written and the first one published. And while I still like it and think it's a good book, the fact that it's my first does show.

You should still read it, though. ;-)

Waist Deep Review Roundup

2011-08-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few links to some reviews of my first Stefan Kopriva novel, Waist Deep.

http://www.examiner.com/books-in-spokane/waist-deep-review-review
http://www.newmysteryreader.com/june_2011_hardcover_mystery_reviews.htm
http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/2011/07/shuffling-through-clues-to-find.html
In Waist Deep, when disgraced former cop Stefan Kopriva is asked by an old high school classmate to find a runaway sixteen year old girl, he reluctantly accepts. Driven by guilt over a terrible mistake that drove him from the force more than ten years earlier, Kopriva battles old injuries, old demons and long ago memories as he unravels the mystery of the missing Kris Sinderling...and seeks his own redemption.

You can get eBook copies from Kindle, B&N, Smashwords or any eBook outlet. You can order a paperback from CreateSpace or Amazon.

Bundles Available Now!

2011-08-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

I've bundled together all four of my River City novels -- Under a Raging Moon, Heroes Often Fail, Beneath a Weeping Sky, And Every Man Has to Die -- into one eBook volume called Trouble in River City. It is available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.

I've also bundled together my three River City short story collections -- Dead Even, No Good Deed and The Cleaner. I've included fourteen bonus stories in this eBook collection called Tales of River City. It is also available now (or will be in a few hours -- do a quick search) on Amazon, B&N and Smashwords.

So, if you haven't picked up any of these books yet, here they are in two convenient volumes...! Trouble is $8.99 right now for four novels and Tales is $2.99 for three collections, plus the bonus stories!

New Dead Even Review from Brian Triplett!

2011-07-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Spokane Examiner.Com reviewer and columnist Brian Triplett has written a review of my short story collection, Dead Even.

I'll save you the suspense -- he likes it.

It's a nice experience as a writer to see someone else talk about your characters and stories with a degree of understanding that rivals your own. Come on, all you writers out there -- tell me you don't like that! Feels good.

If you'd like to read what Brian thinks of Dead Even, here is his review

New Zafiro Interview; Review of AND EVERY MAN HAS TO DIE!

2011-07-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

New Mystery Reader Magazine has selected me as the featured author for July. The Karen Treanor interview is HERE and her review of And Every Man Has to Die is HERE.

Ms. Treanor calls the book "a compelling read" and suggests it would make a good movie.

She also asks some interesting questions in her interview and I tried to provide answers that were just as interesting.

Review of DEAD EVEN in Mysterical-E

2011-07-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Mysterical-E has a review of one of my River City short story collections, Dead Even. Here's the LINK. You have to scroll to the bottom for their take on my book.

Dead Even, published by Gray Dog Press in October 2010, features fifteen stories grouped by character: Katie MacLeod, Finch and Elias, Paul Hiero and Dominic Bracco. The stories are, in many instances, intertwined. Two were finalists for the Derringer Award (though neither won).

Mysterical-E is a quarterly crime fiction eZine that has been around for a long time (especially when you consider the quick turnover of these types of mags). I've had eight different short stories (some of them long ones) published in M-E over the years, dating back to the Winter 2005 issue. In fact, some of the stories in Dead Even first appeared there. Others that had their first appearance in M-E found their way into No Good Deed, another of the River City short story collections (The Cleaner is the third and likely final collection).

If you like crime fiction, you'll find good examples of it at Mysterical-E, as well as reviews and other features worth your time. Give 'em a try.

WAIST DEEP Now Available in Paperback!

2011-07-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

My first Stefan Kopriva mystery, Waist Deep, is now available in paperback.

This novel is set in River City, so those of you who have read the River City series will be in comfortable surroundings. Kopriva is a central figure in the first two books but drops out of the picture for the most part after the second book. In Waist Deep, it is 2005 and Kopriva is ten years removed from the police department, eking out a living on a small medical pension. He is still wracked with guilt over the events that drove him from the force. Then he is asked by an old high school classmate to find a runaway sixteen year old daughter, and he reluctantly accepts. Kopriva battles old injuries, old demons and long ago memories as he unravels the mystery of the missing Kris Sinderling...and seeks his own redemption.

This book is a first person mystery, as opposed the ensemble cast procedural approach of the River City series.

For those of you who thought Kopriva was a loose end in the series...well, you were right. But he's not a loose end in the grander scheme, as he now has his own series. There will be at least one more Kopriva mystery (Lovely, Dark and Deep).

You can order Waist Deep immediately HERE. It should become available on Amazon very shortly. Or you can order it through any bookstore via the ISBN: 978-1456590093.

Just as a reminder, in addition to the River City series, I've also published the stand alone mystery/action/suspense novel The Last Horseman. It is available HERE or on Amazon or available through any bookstore. It is also available at the Spokane Public Library.

Final reminder: All of these books are available as eBooks -- Kindle, Nook, or whatever you're using.

Thanks for the support, and as always, I would love to hear feedback from any readers about Waist Deep or any other novel. Hit me on Facebook or at frankzafiro@msn.com .

LAST HORSEMAN Review

2011-06-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

Brian Triplett of Examiner.com has reviewed The Last Horseman.

Review of WAIST DEEP!

2011-06-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

Brian Triplett at Examiner.com has posted his review of Waist Deep.

WAIST DEEP Now Available!

2011-05-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

My newest novel, a Stefan Kopriva mystery called Waist Deep, is now available!

Synopsis: When disgraced former cop Stefan Kopriva is asked by an old high school classmate to find a runaway sixteen year old girl, he reluctantly accepts. Driven by guilt over a terrible mistake that drove him from the force more than ten years earlier, Kopriva battles old injuries, old demons and long ago memories as he unravels the mystery of the missing Kris Sinderling...and seeks his own redemption.

If you're a Kindle or Nook reader, it should be coming on line any moment in those formats. Other eBook formats will pop up as they're processed. The paperback will be available in a couple of weeks via CreateSpace, Amazon or for order through any outlet you like. I'll post the link when it is available. For now, though, eBook readers get the first shot at this new Frank Zafiro novel.

Updated Appearances!

2011-05-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

This is the list of my updated appearance schedule for May and June. New entries are in red.
May 27th - 4-7 PM - Hastings, Couer d'Alene
June 9th - 6:30 PM - Private book club
June 11th - 5-8 PM - Hastings, 2512 E. 29th, Spokane
June 17th - 4-7 PM - Hastings, 1704 W. Wellesley, Spokane
June 24th - 4-7 PM - Hastings, Richland, Washington
June 25th - 12-2 PM - Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry Street, Seattle

As always, if you'd like me to visit your bookstore, book club or writer's group, email me at frankzafiro@msn.com or catch me Facebook!

AND EVERY MAN HAS TO DIE Reviews!

2011-05-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

There have been a number of reviews for my latest River City crime novel, And Every Man Has to Die (the fourth in the series).

The Inlander

"...the crime genre prides itself on pacing, and this is where Zafiro delivers."

Kevin Tipple

"Possibly the most complicated and hard hitting novel in the series..."

Debbi Mack

"The novel has a complex plot...that Zafiro has woven together with seeming ease."

And you can go to the Amazon listing for a couple others...

Amazon

Thanks to all those who took the time to read and review this novel.

Review of "And Every Man Has to Die" on bark

2011-05-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

Asa Bradley has reviewed And Every Man Has to Die. Not to be a spoiler, but she liked it. A lot. Also, see my comments at the end of the review for some sneak preview info.

You can read her review HERE.

Zafiro News!

2011-05-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

* First off, thanks to everyone who came out for the book launch on April 30th at Halletts Chocolates and for the reading at Auntie's (I love that venue - support your local bookstores!).

* Here are my upcoming appearances:

May 20th - 5-8 PM - Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague (near Sullivan), Spokane

May 27th - 4-7 PM - Hastings, Couer d'Alene

June 11th - 5-8 PM - Hastings, 2512 E. 29th, Spokane

June 17th - 4-7 PM - Hastings, 1704 W. Wellesley, Spokane

June 25th 12-2 PM Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry Street, Seattle

* Don't forget about the review contest for And Every Man Has To Die. You can win fabulous prizes, but you have to act fast and let me know you've done so.

* Lastly, if you're looking for a book for your book club, try one of mine...and then invite me to your book club meeting! What could be cooler than having the actual author there to ask questions of? I've done it many times, and it is great fun. Email me at frankzafiro@msn.com or catch me on Facebook.

Okay. Back to the revision of Waist Deep.

And Every Man Has To Die Contest!

2011-04-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

I have seven copies of DreamSpell Revenge and one copy of Vampire DreamSpell left, so I am going to make them into spectacular prizes!

The first eight people to write an Amazon or B&N review on And Every Man Has To Die will win a free copy of either DreamSpell Revenge or Vampire DreamSpell! First come, first serve on the single copy of the vampire anthology.

DreamSpell Revenge features my short story, "Prank Call." DreamSpell Revenge features my short story, "For the Sake of Art."

And Every Man Has to Die is the fourth book in the River City series of crime novels. Here is the summary:

Every city has organized crime. But only River City has a Russian gangster like Valeriy. He is meticulous, cunning, and willing to sacrifice anything -- and anyone -- to see his conquest through.

In Val's way are the men and women of the River City Police Department, including rookie B.J. Carson. She's trying to fill the shoes of a legend while the pressures of patrol and her own past are catching up to her. She and her fellow officers must unite to face down the single greatest organized threat River City has ever seen.

In this complex and engrossing novel of crime, justice and relationships. there are plotters and detectives, usurpers and leaders. Plans within plans. And in the end, the price of victory can be high...and every man has to die.

Get your copy today, or catch me at an appearance!

Release Party and Appearances!

2011-04-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

COMING May 3rd!

My fourth River City novel, And Every Man Has To Die, will be released on May 3, 2011. The release party for the book will be the previous Saturday, April 30th at Halletts Chocolates (1003 E. Trent) from 12-4 PM. You can get your copy a few days early, and have it signed!

If you can't make it to the release party, my first bookstore stop will be Auntie's Bookstore on May 5 from 7-9 PM. That is a great event, because there is a quick reading, a question and answer period and then the signing. Lots of fun!

After that, I'll be making a number of bookstore appearances, and more are coming. Here's the current itinerary:

April 30 12-4 PM RELEASE PARTY at Halletts Chocolates, 1003 E. Trent, Spokane

May 5 7-9 PM Auntie's Bookstore, 402 W. Main, Spokane

May 20th 5-8 PM Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague (near Sullivan), Spokane

June 11th 5-8 PM Hastings, 2512 E. 29th, Spokane

June 25th 12-2 PM Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry Street, Seattle
Hope to see you at one or more of these events!

Coming May 3rd - AND EVERY MAN HAS TO DIE!

2011-03-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

River City Book #4,
released May 3!

My fourth River City novel, AND EVERY MAN HAS TO DIE, will be released on May 3, 2011 from Gray Dog Press.

Russian gangsters are taking over the River City underworld. The men and women of the police department are the last line of defense against the former Soviet bloc criminals. But both groups will soon learn how far the other will go to win this battle. They‘ll learn that the price of victory can be high. They‘ll learn that sometimes blood flows...And Every Man Has to Die.

There will be a book release party at Halletts at Riverwalk (1003 E. Trent) on April 30, from 12-4 PM. Get your (signed!) copy early!

Mystery Writing Workshop

2011-03-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Along with my writer friend, T. Dawn Richard, I am teaching a mystery writing workshop in April. The event is hosted by the Idaho Writer's League (Coeur d'Alene chapter).

We will be exploring how to write a "killer" mystery or add an element of mystery to your story or novel that is in another genre.

Beginning and experienced writers welcome!

See the flyer for contact information. We'll be meeting at a "secret" location that is way cool.

Hope to see you there!

THE LAST HORSEMAN: eBook 99 Cents; Paperback available everywhere

2011-03-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

The title says it all, my friends. My latest novel, The Last Horseman, is available in eBookfrom all of the regular outlets (Amazon, B&N, etc.) now priced at just 99 cents!

The paperback is also available, from all of the same outlets, priced at $12.99 (or less).

Description: Sandy Banks is the last of The Four Horsemen, a vigilante group of ex-cops determined to right the injustices of a broken court system. But now the project is disintegrating, putting him in the middle of chaos. Betrayed by his final partner, blackmailed by the project head and pursued by federal agents bent on busting the case wide open, Sandy scrambles to escape this mayhem with his soul intact.

This is the first book featuring Sandy Banks. The next will be called Some Kind of Hell. Look for that later in 2011 or early 2012, depending on how things go.

THE LAST HORSEMAN available in Paperback!

2011-02-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

My new novel, The Last Horseman, is now available in paperback. You can get your copy here: https://www.createspace.com/3540628. It will also be available through all other book outlets.

(Mystery Book Review) Dead Even by Frank Zafiro

2011-02-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

Dead Even by Frank Zafiro (Mystery Book Review)

Review of THE LAST HORSEMAN

2011-02-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

Author and reviewer Debbi Mack gives The Last Horseman five stars. Here's her take:

Sandy Banks is part of a team -- or was, anyway. He ends up being the last man standing of a vigilante group called The Four Horsemen. Banks has one last assignment to complete should he choose to take it. One assignment that stretches into two, actually. You know the old saw: Quit while you're ahead? Banks should probably have done just that.

The second assignment is the one that plunges Sandy into turmoil and throws his already troubled life into deeper chaos. Because now that Sandy has lost his only remaining partner-in-vigilantism Brian, he's lost his taste for doing the Horsemen's work. He wants out badly.

Meanwhile, a couple of FBI agents are on his tail. And he's not shaking them off anytime soon.

Plus, who's that guy and that woman he's screwing who gave him the second assignment, anyway?

Frank Zafiro has stepped up his game considerably in this thriller/police procedural/crime novel. The plot is packed with startling plot twists, one after the other, that knit together as a whole as seamlessly as any book I've ever read.

Even though he's a vigilante (i.e., a murderer), Sandy is a protagonist the reader can essentially like. Zafiro does an excellent job of explaining where his inner demons originated and how they motivated him to get involved with the outlaw group. In fact, there's all sorts of interesting stuff about Sandy you get to know, but to talk about it would be a spoiler, so I won't.

One more thing. The book explores the gray areas of what constitutes doing the right thing, achieving justice and how difficult it is to determine when one is crossing the line between good and evil.

This book kept me turning the pages late into the night, wondering if Sandy would end up on the hook and twisting in the wind? Or would he end up riding off into the sunset?

Highly recommended. As if I have to spell that out. :)

You can find Debbi's best-selling, hard boiled crime novels Identity Crisis and Least Wanted on Amazon Kindle for 99 cents. They are well worth your time. You can follow her excellent review blog at: http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/

The Last Horseman is Now Available!

2011-01-26T07:27:00.000-08:00

My new crime fiction novel, The Last Horseman, is now available via Kindle on Amazon!

Kindle version available Now
at Amazon.com!

Here's the description: Sandy Banks is the last of The Four Horsemen, a vigilante group of ex-cops determined to right the injustices of a broken court system. But now the project is disintegrating, putting him in the middle of chaos. Betrayed by his final partner, blackmailed by the project head and pursued by federal agents bent on busting the case wide open, Sandy scrambles to escape this mayhem with his soul intact.

This is a stand alone novel, not River City, but set in Spokane.

If you're not Kindle reader, The Last Horseman will be available in paperback within a couple of weeks. I will have an event so that people can get their copy directly from me (it'll be a little cheaper than from Amazon, and no shipping!). It is also available on Barnes and Noble's Nook on the B&N site and other formats on Smashwords.com.

If you'd like to pre-order a print copy of this book, send me an email at frankzafiro@msn.com or via Facebook.

If you're looking for a fast paced read with a some action, some mystery and some justice, then The Last Horseman is for you!

Novels coming out in 2011!

2011-01-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

There will be several Frank Zafiro novels released in 2011.

Gray Dog Press will release And Every Man Has to Die, the fourth installment of the River City crime series. Look for this about April 2011.

I am independently releasing several other novels. The first of these will be The Last Horseman, a short, fast-paced crime fiction novel. Look for it sometime within the next thirty days.

Another independent release is Waist Deep, which tells the story of Stefan Kopriva's search for redemption ten years after the events in Heroes Often Fail. Waist Deep will be out in March, hopefully, but definitely in the first part of the year.

There are several other projects in the works, but I won't say anything about those until they are closer to release. But if you're in the mood for some Frank Zafiro books, then 2011 will be a good year for you. Fire up the Kindle or pick your favorite spot on the sofa to crack open the paperback, because they are on the way!

DEAD EVEN Released; Another Review

2010-11-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Now Available!

Dead Even, a collection of River City short stories, is now available from Gray Dog Press. You can order it here or at any bookstore.

It is also available on Amazon as a Kindle ebook.

Also, Asa Bradley has done a great review of Dead Even on bark. You can read it here.

Her insight into this short story collection is compelling and she's quite complimentary. My favorite line of her review is "The range of different character voices that Zafiro masters is amazing." When you're the writer someone is talking about and they say something like that...well, it is a nice thing to hear, I gotta say.

Give Asa a read -- and bookmark bark. It's an eclectic group effort, well worth your time.

Advance Blurb for DEAD EVEN

2010-10-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

DEAD EVEN will be released
on November 20, 2010

Here is what Joe DeMarco, editor of Mysterical-E and author of Murder on Camac, said about the forthcoming River City collection of short stories, DEAD EVEN:

Frank Zafiro’s work is the kind readers won’t soon forget.

Frank Zafiro’s work strikes deep into a reader’s mind and heart creating people and situations so real, they stick with you long after you’ve read the work. From the details of a crime in progress to police banter on and off the job to the gritty particulars of life in River City, Zafiro is a winner. He becomes his characters and you see life and crime and police work through their eyes. It’s impossible to choose a favorite in this collection, they are intertwined and work together in a way that creates a resonance in those who read these tales. Frank Zafiro’s work is powerful and memorable, two things every writer strives for in their work.

Joseph R.G. DeMarco, , www.josephdemarco.com

DEAD EVEN will be released on November 20, 2010 from Gray Dog Press (http://graydogpress.com/). There will be a release party that day at Hallett's Chocolates in Spokane from 11 AM to 2 PM. No invitiation necessary, so see you there!

NO GOOD DEED and THE CLEANER available in paperback!

2010-10-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Two of my three short story collections are now available in paperback through Amazon. NO GOOD DEED and THE CLEANER are for sale at both Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/No-Good-Deed-River-Anthology/dp/1453855297/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286460279&sr=8-14

http://www.amazon.com/Cleaner-River-City-Anthology/dp/1453855637/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286460479&sr=8-15

Both are also available directly through CreateSpace (which pays a much higher royalty):

https://www.createspace.com/3488261

https://www.createspace.com/3488302

Both of these books were originally only available as an ebook. However, enough people have asked when the hard copy of the books were coming out that I decided to push them out sooner rather than later.

In NO GOOD DEED, you'll meet an ex-cop looking for redemption...an American man and an Irish lass interwined in love and violence...a cop with a conscience that he doesn't always listen to...a retired cop looking to repair a broken relationship with his drug-addicted son...a Yankee cop in the West Texas...

In THE CLEANER, you'll meet a frustrated crime scene cleaner...an off duty cop in a jam...a patrol officer who believes in a strange fate...a holier-than-thou Internal Affairs whose world gets turned upside down...plus those that are crazy, surrounded in sadness or just trying to get by - these are the many and varied characters of River City, brought to life in 17 short stories by the author of the River City crime novels.

Much like DEAD EVEN, the third and final collection, due out from Gray Dog Press in November 2010, these stories explore an array of different River City characters on both sides of the badge. Give 'em a try!

Frank

"The Bastard Mummy" Available as a(n almost) free eBook!

2010-10-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hey, folks! As a special treat/preview, I've put the short novella (or, if you prefer, the long short story) "The Bastard Mummy" on Amazon and Smashwords as an eBook only.

"The Bastard Mummy" stars Finch and Elias as they try to solve the theft of a mummy from the River City museum. It is one of five Finch and Elias stories (and one of fifteen stories overall) featured in my forthcoming collection, DEAD EVEN.

DEAD EVEN will be out in November 2010. Meanwhile, whet your appetite with "The Bastard Mummy." It is on Amazon right now for 99 cents (sorry, Amazon won't let me price it lower) for the Kindle. It is available for all other formats at Smashwords.

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.smashwords.com/

Enjoy!

Dead Even Preview

2010-09-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

The release of DEAD EVEN has been pushed back to early November by the publisher, so those of you waiting patiently are going to have expend a little more patience...but it'll be worth it! To whet your appetite, here's a mock-up of the cover, along with some more preview information.

Debbi Mack wrote a positive review of DEAD EVEN on her blog. Here is the link:

http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/2010/09/dead-even-tales-of-small-towns-finest.html

She goes into considerable detail about the book and offers her take on the collection, so if you'd like a preview of what's coming, this would be a good place to go. While you're there, jump over to her main site and check out her book, Identity Crisis.

Here's one quote from her article: "Zafiro's ability to capture the small details of a cop's life are part of what makes these stories feel so real and give you a truer picture of police work than anything you'll see on CSI."

Additionally, here's what others are saying:

"Hyper-realistic fiction at its best."
-O'Neil De Noux, SHAMUS and DERRINGER Award Winning author of the LaStanza New Orleans Police novels and NEW ORLEANS NOCTURNAL

"You ctually see, hear, taste, and smell what it’s like to be a cop—but get to live to tell about it."
-B.J. Bourg, crime fiction writer and Chief Investigator, Lafourche Parish DA’s Office

"Compelling characters, engrossing plots, and overall, a fantastic collection of shorts."
- Clair Dickson, author of Bo Fexler mysteries

"Dead Even is an exceptional—and deliciously entertaining—collection of stories."
-John Floyd, award-winning author of Rainbow’s End, Midnight, and Clockwork

River City Interview!

2010-08-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

Asa Bradley has completed an interview with me to follow up on her review last week on BARK.

Here's the link: http://thebarking.com/2010/08/frankzafirointerview/

Thanks for asking great questions, Asa!

River City Review

2010-08-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Asa Bradley wrote a wonderful review of the entire River City series here:

http://thebarking.com/2010/08/review-frank-zafiro%e2%80%99s-river-city-crime-series/

The nice thing, from the author perspective, is that she highlights many of the things I really wanted to come through to the reader. It's nice to see that happen.

Thanks, Asa!

Frank

P.S. If you are looking for a distinctive writing voice, you should check out Asa's work!

Book Giveaway Contest!

2010-08-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a contest for one and all:

Review a Frank Zafiro (or Frank Scalise) book on Amazon in the month of August and I'll enter you in a drawing. Top prize is the full River City novel collection, including a voucher for book four, AND EVERY MAN HAS TO DIE, coming March 2011.

Three other winners will each receive their choice of one River City novel.

AND three wildcard winners will get a copy of the vampire anthology, "Vampire Dreamspell," which contains my short story, "For the Sake of Art."

Winners may select the hockey novel ALL THAT COUNTS if they already have all the River City novels.

Do the Amazon review and email me to get your name in the drawing. Haven't read a River City crime novel yet? Plenty of time -- the contest runs through August (my birth month). Don't feel like being part of the contest? Be a pal and do a review anyway.

Amazon seems to be a major key to wider readership. Which, you know, sounds pretty cool.

Thanks,

Frank

Tri-City Appearance

2010-07-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

I will be at the Hastings in Richland, WA on Saturday, July 31, from 4 PM to 7 PM. If you're a Tri-City mystery lover, please come by and say hello!

Zafiro Titles on Amazon!

2010-07-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

After weeks of different issues popping up, I have finally uploaded Frank Zafiro titles up on Amazon directly. Currently, you should be able to download Kindle versions of:

UNDER A RAGING MOON
HEROES OFTEN FAIL
BENEATH A WEEPING SKY
THE CLEANER
NO GOOD DEED

Furthermore, the River City anthology, DEAD EVEN, will be available in Fall 2010. Also, the Frank Scalise novel, ALL THAT COUNTS, should be available on Kindle on Amazon within the week.

If you're an eReader, I hope these titles are soon downloaded onto your Kindle/Nook/Sony Reader/etc.

Frank

Short Story Published

2010-07-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

My short story, "Core Issue," will appear in the Summer 2010 issue of SpokeWrite, a journal of fiction, poetry, essay and art.

"Core Issue" is a Finch and Elias story (minus Elias) and is one of the River City stories that will be featured in this Fall's River City anthology, Dead Even (Gray Dog Press).

Fall Anthology to be titled "Dead Even"

2010-07-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

The forthcoming print anthology from Gray Dog Press will be titled Dead Even, after one of the many stories included in the collection. There will be a total of fifteen short stories, grouped by the lead River City character involved in that story. The characters I explored in this book are: Katie MacLeod (three stories), Finch and Elias (five), Paul Hiero (two) and Dominic Bracco (five).

Readers should know Katie MacLeod pretty well, especially after Beneath a Weeping Sky. Finch and Elias, on the other hand, have only ever had extraordinarily minor roles in the the novels. For those that don't recall, they are homicide detectives and work as partners. Paul Hiero is also a very minor character in the novels, though he'll get a more prominent support role in a future novel. And if you've never heard of Dominic Bracco in the novels...well, I don't think he's ever been mentioned, actually. But he's been featured in a number of River City short stories and I believe he'll have a support role in an upcoming novel, too.

Dom is an interesting character -- a transplanted New Jerseyian trying to set up shop here in River City. Imagine someone Tony Soprano might have kicked out of Jersey, and you're getting close. "Dead Even," the title story, was a finalist for the Derringer Award in 2008. Another included story, "The Worst Door," (Finch and Elias, was a finalist in 2006.

Dead Even is slated for a late September release from Gray Dog Press. I will post the exact date soon.

In the meantime, if it's River City short fiction you want, the eBook version of The Cleaner and No Good Deed are available (at Smashwords, B&N, Sony...in any format you need).

The Cleaner: A frustrated crime scene cleaner...an off duty cop in a jam...a patrol officer who believes in a strange fate...a holier-than-thou Internal Affairs whose world gets turned upside down...plus those that are crazy, surrounded in sadness or just trying to get by - these are the many and varied characters of River City, brought to life in 17 short stories by the author of the River City crime novels.

No Good Deed: An ex-cop looking for redemption...an American man and an Irish lass interwined in love and violence...a cop with a conscience that he doesn't always listen to...a retired cop looking to repair a broken relationship with his drug-addicted son...a Yankee cop in the West Texas...these are the characters you'll meet and explore in No Good Deed.

I put these collections out in order to make more River City fiction available, all in one place. Ninety-five percent of the included stories were published in magazines or anthologies, but I've gathered them together for this anthology. I even included a couple of stories that I thought were pretty good but had a hard time finding a home for one reason or another (usually just not a good fit in one particular genre -- "Gently Used" is a good example of that).

So for those of you who have entered the eBook age...here ya go!

Borders Tomorrow (Saturday)!

2010-06-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

I will be at Borders in North Spokane tomorrow from 12-5 PM, along with a slew of other local authors. Come by if you can!

Ebooks Available!

2010-06-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

All three River City novels (Under a Raging Moon, Heroes Often Fail, Beneath a Weeping Sky) are now available as eBooks via Smashwords...and as the next few weeks pass, they will be available wherever eBooks are sold -- B&N, Amazon, you name it.

I've also put together a pair of River City anthologies for eBook distribution. The Cleaner and No Good Deed both contain more than a dozen short stories, all set in River City. Many of the characters are those you'll recognize from the novels, albeit in smaller roles. Some are new. Give them a chance. I think you'll dig it.

I'm not sure if or when these two anthologies will show up in print. I'm exploring a couple of options. Meanwhile, another anthology, tentatively titled Once Upon a Time in River City, will be released in print from Gray Dog Press this Fall. It will contain stories featuring Katie MacLeod, Paul Hiero, Finch and Elias and Dominic Bracco.

More to come!

Vampire Anthology Out!

2010-05-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Although it is a stretch to call it crime fiction (though there is a crime element to the tale), my short story, "For the Sake of Art" appears in the newly released anthology Vampire Dreamspell from LL Dreamspell, a Houston-based publisher.

The book is up on Amazon as a Kindle edition and the hard copy should be there soon. Meanwhile, you can order a copy directly from the publisher here: http://www.lldreamspell.com/Anthologies.htm

Or...I picked up a few extra copies that I can hand sell to anyone who is interested. Get a hold of me on Facebook or email frankzafiro@msn.com and we'll work it out. I can let them go for $10 apiece, but I only have about five copies available, so hurry.

I have another story, "Prank Call," that will be featured in next year's anthology Dreamspell Revenge, from the same publisher.

KPND Interview

2010-05-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Jonny Knight, a DJ from KPND. This is a progressive radio station up in Sandpoint Idaho at 95.3 on your FM dial.

Here are the two parts of the interview that aired!

Part One

and

Part Two

Thanks to KPND for having me on the air!

Appearances This Week

2010-05-03T10:22:00.001-07:00

I will be at the LEIRA Conference at the Red Lion this week on Wednesday and Thursday (May 5 and 6) from 12-6 PM. This is the Law Enforcement Records handlers conference, which is obviously a closed conference. I'll be in the vendor's area. Not sure if that'll be open to the public or not, but if you're in the area, swing by and see me.

On Saturday the 8th of May, I'll be at the Hastings in Coeur d'Alene from 4-7 PM in support of my third River City novel, Beneath a Weeping Sky. Come on by, say hello and get your signed copy!

Draft of THE LAST HORSEMAN Finished

2010-05-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well, dear reader, good news. I've finished my latest revision of The Last Horseman. This novel is a crime fiction thriller, the first I've finished writing that is not a River City crime novel.

Since I was brazen enough [read: foolish] to mention that I was working on it in a previous post (here), I figured I'd better at least report that the most recent draft was finished. Of course, 'finished' is a long ways from 'published', but at least I'm doing what I said I was going to do.

I probably won't mention this book again until I can announce publication...but until then, you heard it here first.

Hastings on Sullivan Today!

2010-04-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Anyone looking to pick up an autographed, personalized copy of Beneath a Weeping Sky (or Under a Raging Moon...or Heroes Often Fail) can find me at the Hastings on Sullivan in Spokane Valley today. Look forward to chatting with readers!

"Walter's Night" Published in YELLOW MAMA!

2010-04-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

My short story, "Walter's Night," has been published in the current (April) issue of YELLOW MAMA. Here' the link: http://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/id473.html

Before you go there, a couple of caveats. One, this is not a River City story. Two, it is a little on the graphic side. "Walter's Night" is sort of a tribute to "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," but in a much darker vein. If you're easily offended by profanity, some sexuality and a bit of violence, I don't recommend readinig this story. It's not Tarantino, but it isn't exactly Mr. Rogers, either.

Walter is a sad, lonely little man...but interesting to write about.

Enjoy!

Upcoming Appearances!

2010-04-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

I'll be making the following appearances:

Saturday, April 17th at Hasting’s on 29th from 1:00-3:00pm

Saturday, April 24th at Hasting’s on Sullivan and Sprague from4:00 to 7:00pm

Hope to see you there!

Library Bound!

2010-03-28T19:52:00.001-07:00

BENEATH A WEEPING SKY is now available at the City of Spokane Public Library. If you like using this system for your reading, please check it out and give it a read!

BENEATH A WEEPING SKY Reviews

2010-03-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of reviews that have come in so far for Beneath a Weeping Sky:

http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/ from Kevin Tipple

and

http://thriller-fiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/review_of_beneath_a_weeping_sky from Debbi Mack.

Newspaper Article

2010-03-27T07:45:00.001-07:00

The local paper has a column about me this morning...

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/27/writer-puts-human-experience-on-pages/

Author Appearances

2010-02-19T15:34:00.000-08:00

I will be making the following appearances in support of my third River City crime novel, Beneath a Weeping Sky:

Saturday, March 27, 12-4 PM Release Party! Halletts at Riverwalk (1003 E. Trent)

Wednesday March 31, Auntie's Bookstore, 7 PM

Saturday April 3rd Shadle Hastings 3-6 PM

Saturday April 10th Seattle Mystery Bookshop 12-2 PM

Saturday April 17th 29th Hastings 1-3 PM

April 21st Private Book Club

Saturday April 24th Sullivan Hastings 4-7 PM

Wednesday/Thursday, May 5 and 6, LEIRA Conference (Red Lion) 12-6 PM

Saturday May 8th Coeur d'Alene Hastings 4-7 PM

May 13th Private Book Club

Saturday May 22nd Republic Library noon-5ish

Saturday June 19th Borders

Hope to see you at one or more than one!

A Non-Fiction Event

2010-02-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

I don't often post things here that are not River City fiction-related. But most of you who follow this blog or read my books are probably aware that I still work in law enforcement. Last night, I took part in something pretty special.

Check it out:

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/13/officers-deputies-take-ice-cause/

Other than to point out that I played for the police side, no more need be said.

UNDER A RAGING MOON and HEROES OFTEN FAIL officially released at GDP!

2010-01-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

Gray Dog Press has officially announced the release of Under a Raging Moon and Heroes Often Fail. The announcement is on the website here: http://graydogpress.com/wordpress/.

The books are available for order right now directly from GDP's website. Within a week, they'll be on local bookstore shelves and available for order from anywhere that sells books.

These are the first two books in the River City Series and are being re-issued by GDP. The third book, Beneath a Weeping Sky, will be released on March 27th.

I will be appearing with a larger group of local authors at Borders in north Spokane (9980 N. Newport Hwy) on Saturday. I'll be there from 12-2 PM but the event runs until 5 PM. Come get your brand new copies of the first two River City crime novels -- signed, if you like!

Book Review of BENEATH A WEEPING SKY

2010-01-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

Debbi Mack at Suite101.com has reviewed my forthcoming River City novel (#3 in the series), Beneath a Weeping Sky.

She liked it a lot. And what's more, she liked it for the reasons that I hoped a reader would like it.

Here's the link: http://thriller-fiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/review_of_beneath_a_weeping_sky

Author Appearance

2010-01-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

I will be at Borders (9980 N. Newport Hwy) on Jan 23, 2010 from 12-2 PM for a local author event. Come say hello!

Book Covers Revealed! (and etc.)

2010-01-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

Gray Dog Press has unveiled the book covers for the forthcoming River City books.

Beneath a Weeping Sky is the third book in the series and will be released March 27th. In it, River City is plagued by a serial rapist. Detective John Tower tries to catch him, while Officers Tom Chisolm and Katie MacLeod deal with their own ghosts in the process of helping him.

Under a Raging Moon and Heroes Often Fail are the first and second books of the River City Series, respectively. In Under a Raging Moon, a serial robber is at work in River City and getting progressively more violent. This novel focuses on the patrol officers as they try to stop the robber before he kills someone. Heroes Often Fail features both patrol officers, detectives and bosses as everyone scrambles to find a six year old girl who is kidnapped in broad daylight.

These two books will be re-issued by Gray Dog Press on January 20th.

Once released, you can pick up your copy at any local bookstore or order it directly from the publisher at http://graydogpress.com/. The books should be listed in the publisher bookstore any day now.

It takes a couple of weeks, but the books will be available on Amazon, too.

Also, good news -- my publisher has tentatively okay'd a series of short story collections featuring River City characters and settings. The first will be released in the Fall of 2010. At this point, we are looking at doing this every Fall for about four years.

More good news -- my publisher and I also reached a verbal agreement for the publication of the fourth River City crime novel, And Every Man Has to Die. Look for that in March of 2011!

Lastly, don't forget to check out the current issue of SpokeWrite. As I mentioned before, my short stories "Vancouver Dreams" (as Frank Scalise) and "The Worst Door" are featured, as well as an interview with me.

"The Worst Door" and an Interview!

2010-01-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

My short story, "The Worst Door," has been published in the January 2010 issue of SpokeWrite, a local journal of the arts.

As I mentioned in my previous post, "The Worst Door" is a Finch and Elias story. This one is told in the first person, from Finch's point of view.

In addition to the short story, my alter ego Frank Scalise has a short story called "Vancouver Dreams" in the issue.

And finally, there is an author interview featuring me.

The journal features other regional writers, poets and artists. You can get it at local bookstores (Hastings or Auntie's especially) or from Gray Dog Press directly: http://graydogpress.com/ .

One final note: "The Worst Door" was a finalist for the Derringer Award in 2006.

Short Story "The Bastard Mummy" Published at Mysterical-E

2009-12-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

My short story "The Bastard Mummy" is now up at Mysterical-E magazine.

"The Bastard Mummy" features River City homicide detectives Finch and Elias as they investigate a stolen mummy. Finch and Elias are partners, so that back and forth banter you would expect is present in this tale.

The link is here: http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=file&file=bastard.htm

Other Finch and Elias short stories include:

1) "Finch and Elias" - In which our duo of detectives investigate a double murder (note: the backstory of the murder takes place in the story "Be My Santa Baby" which is available in the Mysterical-E archives in the December 2005 issue). This story is still available at Amazon Shorts for just 49 cents: http://www.amazon.com/Finch-Elias-Frank-Zafiro/dp/B000J3EHGQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262061969&sr=1-2

2) "Core Issue" - In which just Elias interrogates a murderer with the help of Detective John Tower. This book appeared in the anthology The Ex Factor, which is still available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/EX-Factor-Anthology-Justified-Endings/dp/097854479X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262062300&sr=1-4

The Ex Factor contains two other River City stories -- "Take a Hand" and "Helping Out."

3) "The Worst Door" - In which Finch goes through the only door he never wanted to go through, and faces what is on the other side -- his brother. This story was originally published in an online magazine called Dispatch Literary Review, but it is no longer available in the archives. It is one of two stories I submitted to SpokeWrite for the January issue, so it may see the light of day there.

"The Worst Door" is probably one of my favorites of my own short stories.

All of those connections I just mentioned are to "The Bastard Mummy," but the story is a stand alone mystery -- a whodunit procedural where you walk through the investigation right along with the detectives. It's a longer story -- right around 14,000 words -- but I hope a satisfying one. Give it a read, then stay around and check out some of the other offerings for the Winter issue of Mysterical-E.

You might start with Joy Seymour's piece, "From a Distance." I had the pleasure of first reading it when she was still polishing it several years ago and its a good story about revenge.

Looking at "At This Point..."

2009-11-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

A while back, I was working on a non-River City novel that is tentatively titled At This Point in My Life. By "a while back," I mean late last year. I worked on it up until I left for business to Louisville, Kentucky. On the way to Louisville, I dictated the story while driving the 2000 mile trek. I got to the 50K word mark, which is about 75% complete or so.

While I am editing the galleys for Beneath a Weeping Sky, I've started walking through the first draft of At This Point... When I've finished touching up the dictated text, I'm going to forge ahead and finish the first draft of this book. That oughta be done just in time to head back to The Last Horseman for a second draft/revision of that.

That oughta be finished just in time for a revision on book four of the River City series, And Every Man Has to Die.

Somewhere in the middle of that, I will start work on the fifth River City novel, Place of Wrath and Tears. This one will feature a co-author -- to be named later. Stay tuned!

Some writers would not write about these types of plans. I understand and agree with their reasons, actually. But the flip side is this -- now that I've written this in a public forum, how much more motivated will I be to follow through in a timely fashion?

Yeah, like I ever needed motivation to write.

Still, thought I'd share the short term Grand Writing Plan in the Frank Zafiro world. None of the books I mentioned have been sold yet, though there is a verbal agreement in place with Gray Dog Press to continue publishing the River City series after Beneath a Weeping Sky. The other two, At This Point... and The Last Horseman, will go out for consideration after they're finished.

Flashback Interview

2009-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to an interview I did when Heroes Often Fail came out. Reading back over it, I found that everything is still true. There were some great follow-up questions, too. If you're interested, here's the link:

http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com/2008/11/interview-with-frank-zafiro.html

This blog is a good review blog, so if you're a big time reader and want to get a take on books before reading them, this is a good place.

First Draft of RC4 Complete!

2009-11-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Not that it has a lot of impact on the readers, but for a writer, finishing that first draft is a big milestone.

Last night, I typed the final, two-word sentence of And Every Man Has to Die, the fourth novel in the River City series. This novel is tentatively scheduled for a March 2011 release.

The third novel, Beneath a Weeping Sky, will be published in March 2010 by Gray Dog Press.

Finished "The Last Horseman," Working on RC4

2009-10-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

I finished the first draft of a non-River City novel called The Last Horseman. No, despite the title, it is not a Western. It is more of a crime/suspense novel -- not a mystery, and not a procedural.

More on that if it finds a publishing home in the future (after all the revisions).

I'm currently at work on the fourth River City novel, tentatively titled And Every Man Has to Die. It was about 70% finished before I veered off into other work and other things in life (personal and primary job responsibilities), so I may finish in short order...perhaps in November! That's my goal, anyway, since November is officially Novel Writing Month.

The third River City novel, Beneath a Weeping Sky, is scheduled for a March release from Gray Dog Press.

Another Short Story Sold!

2009-10-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

My short story "What Comes Around" has been sold to Crime and Suspense magazine. It will appear in their November issue.

"What Comes Around" explores karma a little bit and how you never quite know what part of your life might be the axis upon which your destiny turns.

Crime and Suspense is an old standby when it comes to online mystery magazines. I have had a couple of stories there, back in early 2006. The original editor also ran Wolfmont publishing, which published my first novel. The eZine is getting a makeover and has a new owner/editor. It has become a paying market, as well as a place for book reviews and information on doings in the mystery field. If you like mysteries of all types, set your browser to http://crimeandsuspense.com/.

Check it out in November, and after!

Short Story "Prank Call" Sold!

2009-10-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

My short story, "Prank Call," will appear in the LL Dreamspell anthology DreamSpell Revenge. The book will be released in 2010.

"Prank Call" is, as you might guess, a story of revenge. It is based on an old idea that I had years and years ago. I even started the draft, though nothing of that draft (or much of the original story idea other than the most basic elements of the premise) made it into the final story.

In "Prank Call," I wanted to explore the idea of revenge, both from a mystery/suspense practical standpoint and also from a more philosophical view. Is revenge viable? Only sometimes? Never?

Thanks to Editor Lisa Smith at LL Dreamspell for picking up the story! More on the anthology and the publisher is here: http://www.lldreamspell.com/DreamspellRevenge.htm

Beneath a Weeping Sky PREVIEW

2009-09-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to read the opening chapter of my forthcoming novel, Beneath a Weeping Sky, you can do so on my website.

If you have any trouble finding it, the link is here: http://frankzafiro.com/res/BAWS.pdf

Beneath a Weeping Sky will be published in March 2010.

Lots to Be Thankful For

2009-09-23T04:43:00.000-07:00

Last night, I wrote the acknowledgements for Heroes Often Fail, as well as brushing up the ones for Under a Raging Moon and Beneath a Weeping Sky. I also finalized my dedication for Beneath a Weeping Sky.

In the process, I realized that I had a lot of people to thank. I won't belabor the point here -- you can read about it when the books are published. But it did make me realize that I had a lot to be thankful for.

One of the things that came to mind (after my wife, kids, family, friends, health and a job -- all pretty large considerations) is the opportunity I've had as a writer to share my stories with an audience. Yeah, it's a lot smaller group than say, Stephen King or J.K Rowling. But the magic is still the same. And that's something very much worth being thankful about.

So...I'd like to say a few thanks right here and now.

Thanks to all of the magazine editors who have featured my stories in their pages. Same for those who have put together anthologies that have included my work. I am grateful to be part of that. And thanks to Wolfmont Press and Aisling Press for first publishing Under a Raging Moon and Heroes Often Fail, respectively...as well as letting go when the arrangement no longer worked.

I'm grateful to Russ Davis and Gray Dog Press for picking up the River City Series and running with it. I intend to do you proud.

And I'm exceedingly grateful to you, the Reader. These stories and novels are alive in my mind when I write them, but the greatest thrill is transferring those images, characters and events to another mind. Making that connection. It is, as Master King points out in his seminal book about writing, a form of telepathy. It's wonderful, it's addictive and to quote one of my favorite movies as a teenager...it's a kind of magic.

So Sir and/or Madam Reader...thanks for traveling to River City with me, and hanging for a while.

New Publisher for River City Series!

2009-09-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say, "Thanks!" to all the readers who have kept asking me, "When is your next book coming out?" I now have an answer: March 2010.

As of today, I have signed with Gray Dog Press to publish my River City novels. They will be publishing the third book, Beneath a Weeping Sky, in March 2010. Prior to that, in January 2010, Gray Dog Press will be re-issuing both Under a Raging Moon and Heroes Often Fail under their imprint.

Under a Raging Moon was originally published by Wolfmont Press in 2006. That edition is now out of print, though there a copies available and floating around Amazon, etc. The Gray Dog Press version of Under a Raging Moon will be a revised one. I've polished and pruned the book, as well as adding in small pieces here and there and a couple of new scenes that I wish I hadn't cut in the first edition.

Heroes Often Fail was originally published by Aisling Press in 2007. That edition is also now out of print, but much like UaRM, there are copies available in places like Amazon. The Gray Dog Press version of Heroes Often Fail will not be markedly different than the previous edition.

This will be the first publication for Beneath a Weeping Sky, the third novel in the River City series. In it, River City is plagued by a serial rapist. Although an ensemble novel, the clear front-runner character in this story is Officer Katie MacLeod. Katie is a five year veteran who has worked hard to establish herself as a good cop in a field still dominated by men. She has done the near-impossible; she's earned the respect of the rough and tumble officers that work graveyard shift. But like all of us, Katie has her weaknesses, too. And deep in her past is an event that she has to face now that she is fully involved in the task force put together to catch the serial rapist. Especially after that rapist turns his sights on her.

This book is a cross between suspense and a procedural. If you're looking for a CSI fix, you want to get to know the River City characters better or you're looking for a roller coaster ride, Beneath a Weeping Sky will fit the bill.

I'm very excited about this development. Gray Dog Press is planning to continue to publish the River City Series beyond this third book (the fourth book, And Every Man Has to Die, is currently in the first draft phase), so I'm looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

Frank

P.S. Gray Dog Press has also accepted my Frank Scalise novel, All That Counts. All That Counts is a novel about life and a man's discovery about what is truly important in it. Graham Wilson is a thirty-something recreational hockey player who decides to follow a long-held desire to become a goaltender. His transition is both comedic and inspiring as he seeks to challenge himself in the midst of a mundane life. Also on display is the curious paradox of the recreational game in American culture (i.e., it means everything, but it is only a game, but it is more than a game, but...). When his team's regular goalie leaves, Graham steps unsteadily into the crease, causing conflict on a team that is used to winning.

Graham's journey is a microcosm of life. Humor, inspiration, camaraderie, love and spite all make their appearances both on and off the ice as Graham struggles to learn what truly is "all that counts."

Look for more news on this book at http://frankscalise.com/ and follow the blog at http://frankscalise.blogspot.com/ .

News Alert...

2009-09-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

Watch this space carefully in the coming days...I may (if things go aright!) have some excellent news to report.

Much like a goalie with a shutout up on the board going into the last five minutes of a game, though, I don't want to say too much until the buzzer sounds.

Keep an eye here, though.

Short Story "Walter's Night" Accepted!

2009-09-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

My short story called "Walter's Night" was accepted for publication.

It will be published in Issue # 19 (Apr. 15, 2010) of YELLOW MAMA, an online 'zine.

"Walter's Night" is sort of a dark crime fiction homage to "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." That's all I'll say for now.

The link for YELLOW MAMA is: http://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/

I'll post again once "Walter's Night" is published.

"The Bastard Mummy"

2009-08-31T20:44:00.001-07:00

My long short story (or short novella, if you prefer -- it runs about 14,000 words) has been accepted by Mysterical-E magazine. It will be published in the Winter issue, which will be posted in December.

You can read Mysterical-E right here: http://www.mystericale.com/

I'll post a direct link to the story once it is published.

"The Bastard Mummy" is a Finch and Elias mystery, set in River City. When a mummy goes missing from the Egyptian tour while it is on display at the River City museum, Detectives Finch and Elias are dispatched to try to solve the case. They are in a race against time to figure out whodunit (and howdunit) before the FBI or Insurance investigators arrive on scene...and before the theft causes an international incident. For suspects, they encounter an elitist academic, a scheming director, a wanna-be cop security head, a shady janitor and a sleepy college student...

And that, my faithful friends, is all you get out of me until December...

An Update

2009-08-30T07:58:00.000-07:00

A number of people have been asking me how things are going with the River City series, so I thought I'd post an update.

Really, on the publishing front, there is no update. Nothing new has been published since my story in Deadlines.

The only definite thing coming down the pike is a vampire story called "For the Sake of Art" that I have in an anthology called Vampire Dreamspell. This should be out in a few months.

"For the Sake of Art" is a story that I originally wrote back in about 1989 or 90, though when I came across it again a few years ago, it got a substantial revision. Still, I love the premise of that little story. It is about Upir, a 500-year-old Czech vampire who is living in the United States now. He has confronted the loneliness of immortality through collecting art. But what happens when the IRS catches up to him? Sure, he can slip away from the authorities, but what about his precious art collection?

Anyway, give it a try if you like vampire stories. There are a number of other vampire stories to round out the collection. I'll post again when the antho is released.

As far as River City goes, the third book, Beneath a Weeping Sky, is complete. I've finished about 3/4 of the fourth book, And Every Man Has to Die. Truthfully, I'd have finished that one by now if the third one had been picked up by a publisher, but there's no exigency right now and other projects are calling.

What other projects?

Well, now, most of those are going to have to stay secret until I finish them and find a home. I will say that I am working on a couple of stand alone mysteries (not River City), as well as having a mainstream novel making the rounds. I also just finished the draft of a Young Adult novel, so we'll see where that goes.

As soon as River City finds a home, that series is in good shape. In addition to the #3 being finished and #4 mostly done, I have the premise of #5 set in my head. I've also finished two others in the series that happen later on in the timeline and started a third one that is later down the road, too. When I find the right publisher, this series has legs.

So there's the update. I'm busy writing and submitting work to find the right home for it. Come by here occasionally -- I have a feeling that I'll have news to post more frequently over the next few months.

Thanks for your continued support.

Hastings Appearance

2009-08-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

I should have mentioned this before it happened, but I've been busy and simply forgot. Nonetheless, here it is -- I appeared at a local author event at Hastings bookstore yesterday (Shadle store). There were about 15 other local authors and I got to meet most of them. Great folks, and I was impressed with the range of subject matter there. Everything from cookbooks to sci-fi to memoirs to...me.

Thanks to Trish for hosting the whole thing!

Next time, I'll post in advance so that some of you can make it by if you're able. Thanks to Rhiannon and friend and to Kari Kane and family for making the scene with little notice!

Derringer Winners

2009-05-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

I apologize for posting this late. For one, I thought the announcements were due out on May 15, but they were actually announced on May 1st. And for two, the first week of May happened to be an extraordinarily busy week for me in my other world (not writing -- I was taking finals in a grad school course, graduating and driving 2000 miles with my wife) so I completely missed the announcement.

My story "Dead Even" didn't win.

But some great stories did, and they came from some great crime fiction sources. If you dig crime fiction, you should consider using this list as a jumping off point for authors you haven't tried yet and/or magazines or anthologies you haven't checked out before.

The winners were:

BEST FLASH STORY (Up to 1,000 Words)*:
"No Place Like Home" by Dee Stuart
Published in: MYSTERICAL-E
"No Flowers for Stacey" by Ruth McCartyPublished in DEADFALL: CRIME STORIES BY NEW ENGLAND WRITERS
*An oversight was discovered after the group vote, and "No Flowers for Stacey" was declared a second winner for Best Flash Story.

BEST SHORT STORY (1,001 to 4,000 Words): "The Cost of Doing Business" by Michael Penncavage
Published in: THUGLIT

BEST LONG STORY (4,001 to 8,000 Words): "The Quick Brown Fox" by Robert S. Levinson
Published in: ALFRED HITCHCOCK MYSTERY MAGAZINE

BEST NOVELETTE (8,001 to 17,500 Words): "Too Wise" by O'Neil De Noux
Published in: ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE

2009 Recipient of the EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Clark Howard

Many congratulations to the winners, all of whom came to the table with excellent tales!

"Dead Even" a Derringer Finalist

2009-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that my short story "Dead Even" is a finalist for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Award.

The Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) is exactly what it sounds like: a conglomeration of readers, writers, editors and others centered around crime/mystery short fiction. At last count, there were well over a thousand members. The main forum is a Yahoo group and it is a very active group.

The Derringer is the award that the SMFS presents to the best short story of the year. There are actually four categories, divided by length. This is a good thing, because especially with shorter fiction, story length can really be a matter of apples and oranges. Is an 800 word piece that captures all the mystery, tension and character of a story better than an 8000 word piece that packs all the elements of a novel into that tight package? No, they're different. Thus, the four different categories.

"Dead Even" is a finalist in the 4001-8000 word category. It is up against four other great stories. These five were selected from about 33 nominations in blind readings by judges. The next step is for the SMFS members to read the five finalist stories and vote for their favorite in each category. This takes place throughout April, with the winners announced on May 15th.

"Dead Even" was eligible because it was published during 2008. The story appeared in the Red Coyote Press anthology, Medium of Murder. This anthology is still available from the publisher or any book outlet (Amazon or bookstores).

This is the third time one of my stories has been a finalist for this award. In 2007, my story "The Worst Door" was a finalist and in 2006, it was my longer piece, "Good Shepherd." Neither won, but it was still a personal thrill for me to have been nominated and selected as a finalist.

I will keep you posted once the results are in.

By the way, if you like short mystery fiction, anyone can join SMFS. You don't have to be a writer or an editor, just a reader who is interested in the topic. They frequently mention new markets where good mysteries appear and although there isn't discussion about novels, the writers are allowed to mention when theirs come out.

I'm not telling you this so you can go join and vote for me. For one thing, you can't. Only members who were members during 2008 are allowed to vote. This keeps people from stuffing the ballot boxes, which I wouldn't want to do anyway. The SMFS rules for eligibility and voting make it a much truer measure of which story is (subjectively, at least) the best of the finalists. I say this with full sincerity, even though my stories came out on the short end of the process the last two times. It's a good system and a fair system and that, I believe, makes the finalist achievement and the ultimate award far more meaningful.

If you do join, though, you can still read all the finalists and get a good taste of some great crime fiction. Be prepared for diversity if you do. SMFS is all over the map, from cozies to procedurals to whodunits to hardboiled and more.

Give it a try...and check out Red Coyote Press, too. In addition to Medium of Murder, they have Map of Murder (my story "In the Shadow of El Paso" is in this one) and Medley of Murder.

River City Update

2009-01-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

Over the past six months, a number of people have asked me, "Where can I get the newest River City novel? When is Beneath a Weeping Sky coming out?"

I have to say, I really appreciate the fact that there are people eager to read the next installment of the River City series. And it is very much finished. In fact, I've finished about half of the fourth book, And Every Man Has To Die.

The problem? Well, it is on the business side.

For whatever reason, my publisher has simply not moved forward with this project. I think it would be unprofessional of me to air out the details, but the end result is that I've severed my connection with them. Which means that I am now looking for a new publisher and/or an agent.

What does that mean for River City? Well, it means that I can't say exactly when the next novel will be published, but trust me -- it will. I am very confident in this next book and in the series as a whole. It is merely a matter of finding the right home.

If you're a writer, you know very well what I'm experiencing now. If you're a reader, I'd ask for your patience. Check here every once in a while for updates. Give some of my short stories and anthologies a try (many contain River City characters and settings). Keep an eye out and soon enough I'll be announcing when my next book will be published.

I want to say thanks to all the readers and other writers who have been supportive during this difficult time. Your interest in River City stories and characters has been a thrill to me since the very first of you took the time to read something I'd wrote. I couldn't be luckier when it comes to having good writer friends and smart, enthusiastic readers.

I don't normally include personal items in this blog, but I'm making an exception today. This summer, I'm going to marry the woman I've been in love with for thirty years. There's quite a story there, but the only mystery is why I waited so long to tell her how I felt...only to discover she'd felt the same way the entire time. All of this was going on during these business difficulties with my publisher, so go figure, huh? Once again, I've been pretty lucky in many ways.

Watch this space for more River City news!

Shae & Laddie "Quadrilogy" Complete

2009-01-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

"Egyptian Eyes and Irish Lies", the final installment of the four-story arc involving Shae and Laddie is now available in the Winter issue of MYSTERICAL-E. Here's the link:

http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=file&file=egyptian.htm

As with the previous three, I narrated this story. That narration is available as a podcast. Don't expect too much -- I'm a writer, not an actor -- but it was fun to do.

While you're there, check out the other great crime fiction shorts. M-E always has an eclectic line-up with new and established writers. In addition to that, the art work is excellent.

Book Talk!

2008-11-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to announce that I'm the featured author on Book Talk with Jen, a fiction blog. The blog focuses a lot on romance, but not exclusively. Jen did an interview with me that will be running all this week.

Here is the link:

http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com/2008/11/interview-with-frank-zafiro.html

She asked some good questions and there is a contest for some free books, so check it out!

Deadlines is OUT!

2008-11-17T08:37:00.000-08:00

Deadlines, the dark fiction anthology containing my short story "In Your Warm and Darkened Grave," is now available from Comet Press!

You can find it on Amazon or at any other bookseller.

Cheryl Mullenix, the editor, has put together a great collection of spooky stories. If you like dark fiction (horror-esque), this is worth a try.

More News

2008-09-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

A few things to report.

First up, some sad news. Mouthfull of Bullets has discontinued publication. The magazine had a good run, even breaking into a print version for a while. I have no doubt that it would have continued to rise in prominence, but the editor simply didn't have enough time to dedicate to publishing the magazine. These things are often labors of love, paying little or nothing and gobbling up huge chunks of time. I saw this briefly when I served as an associate editor for Colin Conway's online mag A Cruel World. Real life responsibilities such as work and family can't be neglected and so projects like a small crime fiction magazine sometimes fall by the wayside.

On a personal note, the demise of MFoB means that the remaining three installments of "The Bastard Mummy" won't appear there. It looks like I'll need to find another home for that story.

Good news. My short story, "A New Life" is now up at Mysterical-E. This is the third story in the four-story arc involving Shae and Laddie. The audio version is also available. You can listen to it (or read it or both) here:

http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=file&file=a_new_life.htm

This issue also contains positive reviews of my novel, Heroes Often Fail and the anthology Medium of Murder, which I contributed to. Those are here: http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=file&file=book_reviews.htm

On another note, November 2008 has been announced as the release date for the Comet Press anthology Deadlines. My short story "In Your Warm and Darkened Grave" will appear in this book. I've seen the galleys and the editors have done a great job. Cover art is forthcoming, but you can read more about Comet Press here: http://cometpress.us/

I'll pass it on when this anthology is available for purchase.

All of the anthologies that I've had stories in are listed on my website, here: http://frankzafiro.com/index.php?page=anthology

I still have a few copies of most of them, so feel free to email me if you would like to buy one.

I have started work on a new book, tentatively titled At This Point in My Life. While it is a mystery, it isn't a River City novel. It's still in the very early stages, but shaping up to be an interesting ride.

Speaking of River City...well, things are still delayed. More to come.

A Bevy of News...

2008-08-25T11:33:00.001-07:00

...some happy, some sad.

First up, we'll start with something happy. My short novella/long short story "The Bastard Mummy" has found a home. And it is a perfect home, presented in a perfect fashion. The story is appearing in four parts over the course of a year in MOUTHFULL OF BULLETS. Part One is up now in the current issue (Summer 2008). Here is the link:

http://www.mouthfullofbullets.com/Current%20Issue.htm

This story features Detectives Finch and Elias, who are mostly bit players in the River City novels, but pop up here and there in the short story arena. The sort-of prequel to "The Bastard Mummy" is called simply "Finch and Elias" and it is available for 49 cents on Amazon Shorts right here:

http://www.amazon.com/Finch-and-Elias/dp/B000J3EHGQ/ref=pd_rhf_p_1/104-1305203-6365556

Other stories featuring the duo include Elias in "Core Issue" and both of them in the short-short "The Worst Door," which was a finalist for the Derringer that year.

I have to say that the editor, B.J. Bourg, picked a great spot to end the first part. I'm pleased to be in this great crime mag and looking forward to "The Bastard Mummy" being part of the next three issues, too.

How about some more happy? My short story, "In Your Warm and Darkened Grave," will appear in the forthcoming anthology from Crimson Highway magazine. More details are on the way, but I'm looking forward to seeing this one come out. Crimson Highway features "dark romantic fiction." I was fortunate enough to be featured in their first publication, a preview issue in October 2006.

Okay, on to some sad. It looks like there will be a delay in the publication of Beneath a Weeping Sky (the third and latest River City novel), as well as the re-issue of Under a Raging Moon (the first River City novel). It pains me to say so, but that's the case. I'll lay out the details here at a later date, but I only make the announcement now because as September draws very near, a lot of people have been asking me when that new book is coming out.

At this stage, the best I can say is that there will be a delay.

I know that some folks are going to be curious about the what's and why's of this situation, but please understand that for business reasons, I won't be able to answer those questions at this time. I am only putting this information about the delay here today because I feel that I owe it to those readers who have shown interest and loyalty to me and the River City novels.

Hopefully, everything will work out and I'll be able to announce a new release date soon. In any event, I'll have some news for those of you who are interested soon.

Thanks for the continued support. Please check out MOUTHFULL OF BULLETS. In addition to "The Bastard Mummy," there are some fantastic crime fiction stories...as always.

Some News and Notes

2008-07-01T23:37:00.000-07:00

I finished the editing on the the revised version of my first novel, Under a Raging Moon. It will be re-released by Aisling Press at the same time as my third book, Beneath a Weeping Sky (mid-September).

Revising an already published (and now technically out of print) book is tricky. I found a lot of small things to change here and there, added a completely new scene and tried to primp and preen and polish. The story is essentially the same, but I hope I added a little bit more depth and smoothness.

In other news, the Summer issue of Mysterical-E is out.

http://www.mystericale.com/

My story "Laddie" is featured, both in print and audio. I narrated the audio version. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.

I finished a new story this weekend, a dark and ironic Christmas tale called "My Christmas Fate." I'll let you know where it ends up.

I'll be diving back into the fourth River City novel, And Every Man Has to Die, now that the bulk of my editing is done. I'm about 35,000 words into the first draft and things are coming along nicely.

Don't forget about the anthology Hardcore Hardboiled from Thuglit, available wherever books are sold. In addition to well-known authors such as Ken Bruen and Charlie Stella, the anthology includes my short story "Rescuing Isaac."

If you like "Rescuing Isaac," you can read a sequel of sorts called "Dead Even" in the anthology Medium of Murder, from Red Coyote Press.

Lastly, I wish you all a happy Independence Day. Take a moment and reflect upon the freedoms we enjoy and our good fortune to live in this nation.

Done!

2008-06-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

As of yesterday, I've finished my last round of editing on Beneath a Weeping Sky.

This book, the third in the River City series, is scheduled for a Fall release from Aisling Press.

Another HOF Sighting

2008-06-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Heroes Often Fail is featured in the current issue of Eastern: The Magazine. It is an alumni magazine for Eastern Washington University...where, coincidentally, I got my BA in 1998.

Not really a review, but more of a summary, the unnamed staffer at ETM does a nice job of summarizing the book, building some tension without giving anything away. There is mention of the forthcoming Beneath a Weeping Sky, too.

You can check it out here: http://www.ewu.edu/easternmagazine/, under the SIGHTS and SOUNDS section.

HEROES OFTEN FAIL review

2008-05-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a belated review of Heroes Often Fail from Crime Scene Scotland. Definitely not a fluff review, but with some positives and criticisms. Give it a look.

http://crimescenescotlandreviews.blogspot.com/

Hardcore Hardboiled hits the streets!

2008-05-28T11:44:00.001-07:00

The Thuglit anthology, Hardcore Hardboiled (ISBN 0-7582-2266-1 ) has hit the streets. It features the best stories from the first year of Thuglit, as well as original stories from such well known noir writers as:

KEN BRUEN (author of American Skin and Priest)

SEAN CHERCOVER (author of BigCity, Bad Blood)

VICTOR GISCHLER (author of Shotgun Opera and Gun Monkeys)

CHARLIE STELLA (author of Mafiya, Shakedown)

DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI (author of The Blonde, The Wheelman)

It is my hope that this anthology gets some high profile exposure, as Todd Robinson (AKA, Big Daddy Thuglit) deserves the success. His eZine is an excellent place to find hard-hitting, neo-noir short stories.

I was lucky enough to see my story "Rescuing Isaac" published there. I got even luckier when it was selected to be part of this anthology.

So do me a favor. Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and order this one...it'll kick your ass. I promise.

Mouthfull of Bullets, Year One

2008-05-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

My short story "Short Till" is now available in the anthology, "Mouthfull of Bullets, Year One."

This book has limited availability right now, but I have a few copies. So here's what I'm going to do...

The first THREE people to email me the phrase "Atlas is a smart guy" (it's from the story) at my address of frankzafiro@msn.com will get a FREE signed copy of this anthology.

On top of that, anyone who pre-orders a copy of my Fall release, Beneath a Weeping Sky, will go on a list for a drawing for the remaining THREE copies of this anthology that I have on hand. To pre-order, just email me and tell me you want to reserve a copy.

This anthology contains a calvacade of great shorts that have appeared in the online/print magazine Mouthfull of Bullets. You'll enjoy them all.

Why are you still reading this? You've got some winning to do!

What I'm Doing Now

2008-05-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd tip my hand...I'm currently working on the fourth novel in the River City series, And Every Man Has To Die. It will be published about this time next year. I'm only about 20,000 words into it, but it is flowing nicely and I'm enjoying the story quite a bit.

Meanwhile, the third book, Beneath a Weeping Sky, is still on track for a Fall 2008 release.

I also received news of a story that will possibly be included in another anthology, but I won't say any more until it's official.

MEDIUM OF MURDER Available!

2008-04-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

The short story anthology Medium of Murder will be officially released at the end of April from Red Coyote Press. My story, "Dead Even," (a River City tale starring Dominic Bracco) is featured in this anthology.

I, however, have copies now. And you can have them early! They're available for $12 apiece. Sign them for you? Of course -- that's my favorite part! I can ship 'em, too. Just email me at frankzafiro@msn.com and we'll work out the shipping details.

This is the second anthology from Red Coyote Press that I've been fortunate enough to appear in. The first was last years Map of Murder, which included my story, "In the Shadow of El Paso." I don't have any more copies of Map of Murder, but there are some available directly from the publisher at http://www.redcoyotepress.com/ .

My thanks to Red Coyote Press for publishing "Dead Even."

"Shae" at Mysterical-E

2008-03-31T13:29:00.001-07:00

My short story, "Shae," is up at MYSTERICAL-E's current issue.

"Shae" is the first story in a quartet of stories about the characters of Shae and Laddie. The story arc is told in reverse chronological, with the events in "Shae" being the last to occur in the timeline.

It first appeared in slightly different form two years ago in CRIME AND SUSPENSE.

In addition to the printed version, there's my attempt at narrating an audio version. It's a low-end production for sure (me in my study using a simple recording program), along with a low-end attempt on my part to narrate (complete with some Irish brogue that maybe works and maybe doesn't...you be the judge).

Here's the link:

http://www.mystericale.com/index.php?issue=current_issue&body=file&file=Shae.htm

I'd appreciate any feedback. Shoot me an email at frankzafiro@msn.com .

Beneath a Weeping Sky update

2008-03-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

I've finished the first draft of Beneath a Weeping Sky.

There will be plenty of editing (with some help from a few readers and editors), but finishing the first draft felt good.

In Beneath a Weeping Sky, it is Spring of 1996. River City is plagued by a serial rapist who is getting progressively more violent. The officers and detectives must find out who he is and stop him before it is too late, all the while haunted by their own demons from the past.

Katie MacLeod would probably be considered the main character in this book, with Thomas Chisolm and Detective Tower taking second billing.

This book is still slated for a Fall release from Aisling.

"Heroes Often Fail" Review

2008-03-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a recent review of my second River City novel, Heroes Often Fail:

http://www.wandakeesey.com/reviews86.html

Review of HEROES OFTEN FAIL

2008-03-01T07:55:00.001-08:00

Here's a link to a new review of Heroes Often Fail in the online magazine of Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine (FMAM).

http://www.fmam.biz/reviews/mar08.shtml

FMAM is a great mystery mag. One of my Stefan Kopriva stories ("Five for Fighting and a Murder Misconduct") appeared in it a couple of years ago. I'd encourage you to bookmark the site and enjoy some good fiction from a wide sampling of short mystery fiction authors.