It’s challenging to write a great police procedural; that’s why I decided to mix crime noir and thriller with a bit of humor and see where I’ll end up. My novel – Eyebrow Killer – is about a serial killer with a dark personality or, simply, a dangerous, clever, manipulative sociopath… I’m not sure if I have so much darkness...
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Bullet’s Adventure: Chasing Sobekneferu
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for the most mind-bending, hilariously chaotic absurdist comedy you’ve ever laid eyes on! Introducing “Bullet’s Adventure: Chasing Sobekneferu!” Picture this: a small-town guy named Bullet, whose middle-class life takes a wild turn as he constantly finds himself knee-deep in trouble and dangerous situations. Oh, but that’s not all! Bullet has his sights set on...
Continue reading...The Satirical World of Evelyn Waugh
If there’s one thing writers and readers love, it’s satire. Since the dawn of time, people have been laughing at each other, at society, at their leaders, and at their values. So it’s no surprise that this was going on in, arguably, the most chaotic and fast-paced century in recorded human history. Into this context enters Evelyn Waugh: the horny,...
Continue reading...Forgotten Comic Actresses
Technology is complicated. Sure, we sent people to the moon, which is impressive, but we also have Instagram influencers who’ve probably been sent here to torture each other and us. I can tell you are excited… your hands are stretching to check the latest Stories updates. Similarly, many people were thrilled when films started featuring people’s voices, but this meant...
Continue reading...This moment is as it should be – Malta
Six weeks in Malta… I’m usually starting my day at 8am with a 10 min walk around Piazza Tigne with my dogs; then I prepare breakfast and re-watching some old-fashioned crime tv shows (right now, it is Midsomer Murders with the Chief Inspector Barnaby). After that, I always go out for a coffee – I need a break, lol – with...
Continue reading...A life of literary excess: Georges Simenon
I’m introducing the guest post of Clara Godwin-Suttie about Georges Simenon. I’m familiar with his work; I read the first book about Maigret when I was 12-13. Currently, I’m reading his biography, The Mystery of Georges Simenon, written by Fenton Bresler (a second-hand book – the last one – I got via bokborsen), and I’d advise you to grab a...
Continue reading...The Camusean absurdism vs. Sartrean existentialism
Why am I here? What is the meaning of my life? What should give my life purpose or value? These are tough questions – ones you’ve likely confronted at one point or the other in the past. But don’t be mistaken; you’re not alone. Nearly every thinking person in history has faced the same philosophical quagmire. Questions about the meaning...
Continue reading...Tristan Tzara, the “cool dad” of Dadaism
Tristan Tzara, born in Romania in 1896, did not live a happy life. He survived two World Wars and life as a Jew in Europe during the Holocaust. He was also an incredible man, a founder of Dadaism, who wrote plays, poetry, essays, manifestos, directed films, painted and composed music. While it might not be surprising to struggle to come...
Continue reading...The Ultimate Guide to Absurdist Comedy
Absurdism is, in a philosophical sense, the idea that there are no gods, higher purpose, or order to things. At least, that’s what Wikipedia told me. With that in mind, it’s pretty easy to find humor in the mundane. For example, consider a rubber duck. Humans tend to be highly sociable but frequently feel self-conscious; hence the substitution of human...
Continue reading...Welcome to the truth: Dostoevsky
We used to believe that Dostoevsky had always been the beacon of Russian literature. How else could it be? He’s always belonged to the pantheon of great Russian writers: Tolstoy, Gogol, and Chekhov. Well, not everything is as it seems. Great recognition only came to Dostoyevsky and his books after a delay of a hundred years. However, the beginning of...
Continue reading...Writing Advice From Famous (Beautiful) Authors
I just finished reading the book, Beautiful Writers by Linda Sivertsen. She runs the Book Mama website and the Beautiful Writers Podcast. In the book, she shares her writing journey and sparks each page with remarkable and honest advice from famous authors we admire. As a young writer in Los Angeles, Linda Sivertsen was hungry to be more like her literary...
Continue reading...Forgotten Comedy Actors That Need to Make a Comeback
written by Laolu Ogundele What makes you laugh? Seriously, this is not a trick question… Okay, let’s narrow the question down. What kinds of films make you snicker, giggle, and guffaw? Whatever your answer is, do you know that it would likely be different if you lived 100 years ago? What if I told you that you’d probably be a...
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