Hell On Church Street

I'm proud to announce that my novel HELL ON CHURCH STREET will be published by New Pulp Press on January 5, 2012.

Above is a sneak peek at the cover.

The Tragedy of Peggie Castle

Check out my new essay over at Criminal Element on one of noir's most beautiful and talented hard luck ladies, Peggie Castle.

You can also read my full reviews of her films 99 River Street and I, the Jury.

Liz Scott on the Femme Fatale

"What I would say about the femme fatale is that she was always the person, in most of the films that I did, who had the greatest understanding. She knew life better than most females of the era. She knew that life could be good and life could be bad, she knew what was right and what was wrong, but...there were certain things she had to do."

Liz Scott in conversation with Robert Porfirio, Film Noir Reader 3

Robert Ryan Month!

It's going to be a big month for Robert Ryan fans. First up, the upcoming issue of Noir City declares him The King of Noir. That's a bold statement of course--Mitchum partisans will likely quibble--but no one can argue that Ryan is deserving of all the attention he gets. From villainous turns in CROSSFIRE and CAUGHT to tormented turns in masterpieces like ACT OF VIOLENCE and THE SET-UP, Ryan did it all--and did it all well. The Noir City issue will feature a slew of articles on Ryan's life and career.

This tribute coincides nicely with an amazing retrospective at the Film Forum on Ryan's entire career, covering his work in noir, westerns, and even the odd 3-D epic.

For a little primer on Robert Ryan's greatness, check out my Mug Shot on him.

Beat To A Pulp: Round One on Kindle

Well, my baby grew up to be an ebook. BEAT TO A PULP: ROUND ONE (which features my story "Makers and Coke") is available on the Kindle for the criminally low price of $5.99. With crackling stories by folks like Ed Gorman, Hilary Davidson, Patricia Abbott, Frank Bill, Charles Ardai, James Reasoner, and more, this book is perfect for an e-reader.

Check it out here.