What a line up! @barbarabyar.bsky.social @meproctor.bsky.social @russellthayer10.bsky.social @stephanieaustin.bsky.social @sabrinahicks.bsky.social @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social

(1 of 5) The short version: KANSAS CITY BREAKDOWN, the second book in the Detective Keegan/Gunselle series by @meproctor.bsky.social and @russellthayer10.bsky.social, is a sexy, pulpy noir that pulls even with its predecessor before mashing down the pedal and blowing right by. So freakin’ good.

Collections, cigarettes & a boss who might be dead. And those guys who came calling last night might be back...Tommy’s got one move left & it’s not a good one. A story from Philip Di Giacomo about timing, loyalty, & knowing when it’s already too late. literarygarage.com/in-the-cards

"The propane’s on the house, said Truman. To be honest I haven’t been this excited in I don’t know how long. Are we going to die? I said. And if we do said Truman we’re sure going to have fun doing it." - A truly charming story by @drewgum.bsky.social

Vivian’s back at the Garage & she’s building something new: a quiet service for very loud problems. Because some problems don’t go away. They get handled. Some pests don’t squeak. Some wear suits. Read the latest from @russellthayer10.bsky.social : literarygarage.com/tabula-futura

An order of printshop noir, as Vivian decides to turn her passion into profit and make the leap as "Gunselle." I thank the mechanics down @literarygarage.bsky.social for keeping her running so smoothly. literarygarage.com/tabula-futura

In case you missed it, new noir by @russellthayer10.bsky.social & @meproctor.bsky.social dropped earlier this week from CJ Press. Get on board, we're going to Kansas City: www.cowboyjamboreemagazine.com/kansas-city-...

"Well, said Wilbur, rubbing his palms together. The secret of time travel explained."

“The job requires brains and poise. Icy nerves. Which you have in spades.” He shot her a thin smile. “On top of the rest of the package.” literarygarage.com/kansas-city-...

“Go shake a bookie, raid a gambling den. There’s so much sin for sale in this town, can’t you find a few grand under the carpets?” Check out the sneak peek from @russellthayer10.bsky.social and @meproctor.bsky.social’s killer new noir collaboration 👇👇👇

👇👇👇👇

This is such a cool scene, folks ...

Exclusive - Free chapter to read! Today at @literarygarage.bsky.social , Russell Thayer and I are giving you a chapter of our new 'Kansas City Breakdown' ... it's like that appetizer you're going to wolf down! Pretty exciting scene ... read it here: literarygarage.com/kansas-city-...

Excited to share this excerpt from "Kansas City Breakdown" by @meproctor.bsky.social & @russellthayer10.bsky.social This one’s got it all. Mobsters. Feds. Sleeper cars. And a woman who knows exactly how to play both sides. Read it then hit that preorder link literarygarage.com/kansas-city-...

I (almost) always listen to what she has to say. You should, too.

Dunno what kind of weather April & May will bring but we can tell you right now that CJ's bringin the heat 🔥🔥🔥 4/7: COYOTE GIRL by @sabrinahicks.bsky.social 4/14: KANSAS CITY BREAKDOWN by @meproctor.bsky.social & @russellthayer10.bsky.social 5/5: THE OLD INVISIBLE by Sheldon Lee Compton

Look at those two!

New micro new journal! I love what @sarpsozdinler.bsky.social is doing over at @bulbregion.bsky.social and am thrilled to be included 💥 Read “You and Me and Jim Beam” ⬇️ 🚜 🌾

He spent fifty years perfecting nothing. Now he’s stuck with it. Our flash feature “Just Hanging Out” by Jim Harrington is up—short, quiet, and heavier than it looks. At the Garage: literarygarage.com/just-hanging...

New story drop from @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social A family heirloom. A lifetime of luck. A man determined to prove it was all him. That’s when everything goes sideways. Something about the best laid plans... Read it today at the Garage: literarygarage.com/the-pocket-w... #flash #fiction 🎸📚

At Kevin's Corner today with an article on Kansas City Breakdown - preorders are on - What it means to do a #2 in a series, with @russellthayer10.bsky.social, publisher @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social. @frankvatel312.bsky.social designed a stunning cover : kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2026/03/gues...

A devastating book. Even with the dense structure, I couldn't put it down.

This mild Montana winter has jump-started the comma.

"There are secrets and there are lies and some are worse on a person and some are a necessity." mrbullbull.com/newbull/fict...

Bring together a talented graphic artist @frankvatel312.bsky.social, a cool publisher, @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social, a writer with more ideas than you can sling a typewriter at, @russellthayer10.bsky.social and you get a ring toss game and ice cream. Out April 14. Have we got a surprise for you !

Got news, friends. Just submitted the final illustration/design files for KANSAS CITY BREAKDOWN, the upcoming Proctor+Thayer mystery. Here’s the cover! Thanks again to @russellthayer10.bsky.social and @meproctor.bsky.social, who’ve written another banger. If anyone needs a book cover, DM me...

Good Heavens, what a cover. Thank you @frankvatel312.bsky.social. This latest collaboration between me and @meproctor.bsky.social bursts out of the stables @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social on April 17th. It's a sometimes brutal road trip for our two heroes.

Frank Vatel will treat you right. What a cover he gave us. @frankvatel312.bsky.social

WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN: Derringer Award-winning author @cwblackwell.bsky.social mourns an America lost to the shadows, exploring a broken economic system that has given rise to rampant inequality, violence, and darkness. Take it from @curtisippolito.bsky.social: bit.ly/4runwWU

To fully appreciate the lyrical brilliance of Lorenz Hart, one must listen to this lyrical brilliance.

Ethan Hawke and Robert Kaplow (original screenplay) should both win.

btw, this is on kindle daily deal for $1.99 today, it’d be cool if you reposted this to spread the word. i think most people consider this one the best of my three books and i uh kinda think they’re right a.co/d/0dSehwyt

"No good doors. Only different exits."

I'm sorry she's such a cynic, but she's not sorry. Not at all. pistoljimpress.substack.com/p/money-hone...

I damn sure won't forget this collection any time soon.

WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN: Derringer Award-winning author @cwblackwell.bsky.social mourns an America lost to the shadows, exploring a broken economic system that has given rise to rampant inequality, violence, and darkness. Take it from @hlessig.bsky.social: bit.ly/4runwWU

It still boggles the mind.

After "Black Flies" by Shannon Burke, a chilling novel about paramedics in 1990s Harlem, I need to switch things up with a lighter New York saga, thanks to @msemilyedwards.bsky.social.

One day at the Missoula airport, I came around a corner and managed to dance out of the way of Andie MacDowell as she charged toward me. We just barely did not interact.

i see so much love for inclusive detective stories, nick & nora spouses, and solid whodunnits and yet i can get no traction for my series that is all that and more. can you PLEASE help people know about Viviana Valentine? www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/GFM/a...

Crime fiction is the gift that keeps giving. Why not send an issue or two of RHP to that person in your life who can't get enough stories of people on the edge, people making bad decisions? Buy an issue today: bit.ly/3MbYXOk

Only three short stories made it to screens in 2025, but this thing happened, mostly thanks to my writing pardner @meproctor.bsky.social. We plan to keep at it with a new one in 2026, with wrinkles removed, and another stunning cover by the great @frankvatel312.bsky.social.

Ta-dah!!!! Cat's out of the bag ... It's OK when it's your publisher who makes the announcement 😂 .... Yep, @russellthayer10.bsky.social and I are back at it, and @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social rebooked us!

April brought a first for CJ: a double-authored piece of detective noir brilliance. @meproctor.bsky.social & @russellthayer10.bsky.social brought the goods with BOP CITY SWING. (Psst! BCS's Tom and Vivian will be back in 2026 in KANSAS CITY BREAKDOWN.) www.cowboyjamboreemagazine.com/bop-city-swi...

This got here in a hurry. I suspect it's going to be my kind of mystery. From @msemilyedwards.bsky.social.

If you’re looking for a quick fix this holiday weekend, head over to the ‘zon and grab “Irish,” a short story by @russellthayer10.bsky.social. Such a clever bit of noir about a girl wise beyond her years…and not someone you’d ever want to cross. Link below. Best buck you’ll spend today.

This humid little story by @msemilyedwards.bsky.social was right up the center of my alley. Always good stuff @bristolnoir.bsky.social. www.bristolnoir.co.uk/to-avoid-the...

For the Friday night crowd- Roll into the weekend with this great story from @meproctor.bsky.social - retro noir in an stylish voice that blends Chandler, John D. MacDonald, & Ross Macdonald. The pacing in this one is superb with sharp dialogue, sensory richness, and emotional subtlety

Like a Coen Brothers video game. Wildly fun.

Just finished this enthralling book about the progressive reforms in women's prisons of the 1920's and 30's, leading to the cutting-edge institution at Tehachapi. I'm doing some research for a story. (The backgrounds of some of the female prisoners mentioned in here would make a dozen good stories.)