Few things have been as disappointing as finding out what the person who calls themself Mr. Beast looks like.

Editing services Manuscript edits: Have you finished a book, and you know it needs some work that you can’t quite put your finger on? Are you querying and collecting rejections? I’ll read your novel, pr…

Are you writing a book that needs another set of eyes? Are you running into walls in the query process?

I've got a very limited number of freelance editing spots open, so if you've got a book that needs some help getting ready for prime-time, hit me up. robwhart.com/editing-serv...

The North Carolina Writers’ Network's 40th Anniversary Online Auction is now open!

Prizes include an author marketing package with Catherine Campbell. Whether you’re an emerging or established author, this package may be a good fit for your professional goals.

Learn more: buff.ly/6z3lTmx

TWO FROM ERYK PRUITT: The town of Lake Castor's full of shady people making even shadier choices. Pick up both books by @erykpruitt.bsky.social for that gritty noir lover in your life today: bit.ly/3J1ekYN

Pizza is no good. So while you’re there for the news round up, can we get pints on you instead?

I stole this pic from @russellwjohnson.bsky.social it's from the Backroads Noir Gathering on Friday night. I think it sums everything up perfectly. Love these folks.

Thanks! Had a great time this weekend. Hopefully I'll run into you at Yonder some time.

So much fun at the Backroads Noir at the Bar last night. And we have a whole day of panels today if you're in Greensboro - come say hi. We're at to the Revolution Mill starting at 9:30!

Exciting mystery event in Greensboro!
Meet @browneallover.bsky.social, author of ⭐THEY ALL FALL THE SAME⭐ and Scott Blackburn author of ☠️IT DIES WITH YOU☠️ at the Backroads Noir Gathering!
July 11 & 12 at the Greensboro Library in NC.

https://loom.ly/OyAqLf4

Tomorrow! You can join us from anywhere here (2pm MST):
m.youtube.com/channel/UCTb...

Please, allow me to reintroduce myself.
Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
#BookSky 📚🪓

www.bishopriderbooks.com

AVAILABLE NOW
RHP is proud to present the brand new edition of @erykpruitt.bsky.social’s debut novel, DIRTBAGS, a modern classic of southern gothic and noir.
Get your copy of this foundational work from Southern Noir Superstar Eryk Pruitt here: a.co/d/3ltoKGK

I came away form A Beautiful Noise with very low opinion of Neil Diamond.

#38: Five for Them, One for Me, with Megan Abbott Megan’s newest, EL DORADO DRIVE, is out tomorrow.

Over the sound of cash registers you can hear That Noise at 2 AM, where we’re talking to the legendary @meganabbott.bsky.social about MLMs, Southern writers, and how cool the crime fiction community is.

open.substack.com/pub/jamesdfh...

‘Manifest’ Creator Jeff Rake Sets Debut Novel ‘Detour’ With Eye On Turning It Into Series 'Manifest' Creator Jeff Rake Sets Debut Novel 'Detour' With Eye On Turning It Into Series.

Want to see the cover and learn some new details about the book I co-wrote with Jeff Rake, creator and showrunner of TV's MANIFEST? Well, here you go.

a black and white photo of a man in a batman costume standing on a bridge ALT: a black and white photo of a man in a batman costume standing on a bridge

King of Ashes is out in the world today
I did the best I could...
Hope y'all enjoy it 😌

Join us next, Wednesday, June 4th, at 6 PM at Borough Coffee, 204 N. Mendenhall Street for a special summer edition of Wednesday Reads & Open Mic. Featured readers will be UNCG Creative Writing alums Sarah Lindsay, Jon Obermeyer, and John Thomas York. buff.ly/vHlvaVC

When Zero Saints was first published a decade ago, I was broke, had no agent, got no advance, etc. Oh, and I was telling the world, “I wanna do MY thing, so here’s barrio noir.” My agent and editor helped bring it back, but it’s here because I believed in it—in me—every day of that decade.

You're at the query finishing line: you have an offer! Here are 6 questions to ask on the Call with the offering agent - remember, you are interviewing the agent as much as they are interviewing you... if not more so! 🧵

Receiving critiques of your writing (from critique partners, editors, or even reviewers) is an essential part of being a writer - but they can be tough pills to swallow. As someone who has both given and received a lot of tough feedback, @keslupo.bsky.social offers 4 tips. 🧵

I’m now working with Jayme Boucher at the Hachette Speakers Bureau. Land a few gigs, I get officially added to their roster. So yeah, want me for anything? Let Jayme or me know and we’ll make it happen. Thanks!

Netflix Adapting S.A. Cosby’s ‘All The Sinners Bleed’ For TV, Orders Quinn Shephard Drama ‘The Body’ The streamer also greenlit Quinn Shephard drama series ‘The Body’.

deadline.com/2025/05/netf...

More people are writing - and writing with serious dreams of publication - than EVER before. It's tough to stand out with these kinds of numbers in mind, and agents have to make fast decisions! Here are 4 tips from @keslupo.bsky.social on how to avoid a quick no. 🧵

Next Friday, New York! @paultremblay.bsky.social. @sgj.bsky.social. Yours truly. Cue Thin Lizzy. “The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town!”

At a conference today where writers will be pitching and chatting with agents.

So, just my evergreen advice there, don’t be afraid to just read your query letter.

Anyone who says you need to memorize your pitch isn’t someone you want to work with. You’re not auditioning for your school musical.

In June, I'll be teaching a short story class at the Hoover Public Library. (Hoover, AL)

It's free to attend, and I will hopefully be able to say some smart things re: writing short fiction.

In a lot of mystery subs I see MCs who are “determined to find the truth” but we’re missing the WHY they NEED to do it. What is anchoring them into the plot? Aside from desire. And desire is good, but unless there’s a NEED, the MC can just walk away. Anchoring them into the plot raises the stakes!

Publishing Is Not a Meritocracy On unfairness, option books, and lead titles vs mid-listers

jennasatterthwaite.substack.com/p/publishing...

S.A. Cosby is a Rising Star in the Rural Literary Scene | The Daily Yonder S.A. Cosby's Southern crime novels are best-sellers, loved by legions of fans. Don't be surprised if screen adaptations are in store next.

For Daily Yonder, I wrote about SA Cosby @blacktopkid.bsky.social one of the leading figures in rural noir.

dailyyonder.com/sa-cosby-is-...

Friends, if any of you have Anthony Award ballots, I'd be pleased if NEGATIVE TILT: Stories made your slate for Best Anthology/Collection.