In Tom Russell's song about Lightnin' Hopkins, 'Scars on His Ankles,” he writes of Lightnin's scars on his ankles where the chain from the chain gang cut his skin. In Colin O'Sullivan's jewel of a first novel, Killarney Blues, winner of the “Prix Mystere de la critique,” in France, the main characters also have scars, … Continue reading “Colin O’Sullivan writes gloriously”
More praise for Sam Hawken’s LA FRONTERA five years after its release
If, like us, you value long-sellers over best-sellers and content over marketing, this book might be for you: Book Noir review, published on March 30, 2018 Every time I read one of Hawken’s novels I enjoy it immensely; he is a consummate storyteller with a real knack for getting to the heart of the matter. … Continue reading More praise for Sam Hawken’s LA FRONTERA five years after its release
Colin O’Sullivan wins the “Prix Mystère de la critique” in France for “Killarney Blues”
Congratulations to Colin O'Sullivan, Winner of a prestigious crime fiction award in France: the Prix Mystère de la critique! Previous winners include: Don Winslow, Daniel Woodrell, Dennis Lehane, Boris Akunin, Donald E. Westlake, Henning Mankell, James Ellroy, Michael Connelly, Thomas Harris, and many other fabulous writers from around the world.
Richard Kalich acknowledged as a notable postmodernist author
Do you know the difference between Modernism and Postmodernism in literature? This Pediaa.com article gives a clear definition of each movement and, importantly, mentions Richard Kalich, author of The Nihilesthete, Charlie P., and Penthouse F, published as Central Park West Trilogy by Betimes Books, as one of the notable postmodernist writers, along with "household" names … Continue reading Richard Kalich acknowledged as a notable postmodernist author
“A gem for real noir fans” – a new review of BORDERLAND NOIR
Original review published on February 25, 2018 here: http://nudge-book.com/blog/2018/02/borderland-noir-edited-by-craig-mcdonald/ I came across this anthology when I was looking into a feature on Mexican crime fiction, also published this month on BookNoir. I’m glad I did because there is some fine writing here; there is a genuine connection between the stories based at La Frontera, the … Continue reading “A gem for real noir fans” – a new review of BORDERLAND NOIR
Colin O’Sullivan’s “KILLARNEY BLUES” is on RTL!
Colin O'Sullivan's novel KILLARNEY BLUES (French translation, Éditions Rivages, Sept. 2017) is on the RTL radio (C'est à lire - To be read)! "This first Noir novel from Colin O'Sullivan is magnificent, very finely written, and profoundly sad. To be savoured while drinking a Guinness and listening to some old blues, by Muddy Waters or … Continue reading Colin O’Sullivan’s “KILLARNEY BLUES” is on RTL!
Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 3)
Hadley Colt, author of Permanent Fatal Error and The Red-Handed League Forget Nancy Drew: Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise was my Christmas-gift light-bulb moment of finding a thriller series with a strong female lead, and inspiring my own heroine-driven novels for Betimes Books. Colin O’Sullivan, author of Killarney Blues and The Starved Lover Sings This is … Continue reading Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 3)
Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 2)
Patricia Ketola, author of Dirty Pictures One Christmas, when I was about ten years old, I received a copy of R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island. The book was an unusual choice for a little girl, but I was so thrilled by the marvellous tale of adventure that I could not put it down. Jim Hawkins and … Continue reading Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 2)
Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 1)
Jackie Mallon, author of Silk for the Feed Dogs It was a copy of The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy. A certain someone knew I'd appreciate the paperback's many idiosyncrasies: the title, so goofy and slapstick-sounding, in direct contrast to the elegant Hitchcockian blond stretched out nude on the cover in an image by Erwin Blumenfeld, a fashion photographer … Continue reading Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 1)
The Success of the French Edition of “Killarney Blues”
"Carried by a genuine writing talent, Killarney Blues is a Noir novel full of melancholy and unfulfilled dreams with a surprising glimmer of hope at the end. Without the slightest naivety. A revelation." —Le Soir “A cathartic novel that ultimately creates positive emotions, like the blues can do. Poignant.” —booknode.com “A luminous novel that … Continue reading The Success of the French Edition of “Killarney Blues”
Review of “Killarney Blues” in Le Soir
Voilà à quoi ressemble Killarney à l’aube de ce siècle nouveau. Il y a des bagels. Et c’est le genre d’endroit dans lequel elles viennent prendre un café : un bistrot élégant, bien éclairé, minimaliste, avec des tableaux de bon goût sur les murs, des décorations végétales spectrales en forme de bâtons sur les tables et … Continue reading Review of “Killarney Blues” in Le Soir
Union Club launch for The Insider’s Guide to Betrayal
Donald Finnaeus Mayo new novel is available HERE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIxGOezFHFE
Video extract from “The Starved Lover Sings”
This novel is O’Sullivan’s second, after Killarney Blues, published by Betimes Books in 2013. It takes place in a world transformed by disaster: earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, nationalist and corporate mergers, roaming wolves. The Starved Lover Sings is a fever dream of a world at the end of its rope. Our protagonist, and in many chapters … Continue reading Video extract from “The Starved Lover Sings”
New release: “The Insider’s Guide to Betrayal”
The second novel from Donald Finnaeus Mayo, author of Francesca, is an unlikely love story between an undercover intelligence officer and an IRA activist. While the novel is set in the 1980s, its theme has been placed into sharp focus by recent investigations and court cases concerning the controversial practice of undercover policing. … Continue reading New release: “The Insider’s Guide to Betrayal”
New release: A wildly original cautionary tale from Colin O’Sullivan
The Starved Lover Sings Fall under the spell of Colin O'Sullivan's distinctive narrative voice. O'Sullivan's writing is striking. Admire the at once precise and experimental nature of his prose, its energy and daring. Enjoy it despite its darkness – and be impressed with it. For bloggers and reviewers: please contact us to receive a … Continue reading New release: A wildly original cautionary tale from Colin O’Sullivan
“Silk for the Feed Dogs” at the Franco-Irish Literary Festival
This Friday, March 31st, the 2017 Franco-Irish Literary Festival begins and will continue right through the weekend. Organised by Alliance Française and the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Ireland, this annual festival celebrates the unique relationship between Ireland, France and other francophone nations through highlighting the work of their writers. With fashion as … Continue reading “Silk for the Feed Dogs” at the Franco-Irish Literary Festival
“The Death of Tarpons”: A journey into darkness
On the occasion of the new release of Les Edgerton’s debut novel, The Death of Tarpons, in paperback format by Betimes Books and in electronic format by Endeavour Press, we are taking a look back at what makes Edgerton’s first work of fiction so special. For something which, at first glance, seems so different from … Continue reading “The Death of Tarpons”: A journey into darkness
Love and Death: What else is worth writing about?
Dearest Followers and Readers, If you haven't discovered Patricia Ketola yet, you are missing out on a truly original new voice. If you are weary of pre-formatted fiction, you simply MUST read Dirty Pictures! Patricia KETOLA’s flamboyant characters play a delightfully witty game where death and desire are intertwined. Rebellious, stylish and eccentric, like its … Continue reading Love and Death: What else is worth writing about?
Free climbing: excerpt from DIRTY PICTURES
Patricia Ketola's novel Dirty Pictures is about artistic daredevilry. It is a cultural romp, peopled by musicians, painters and performance artists, and it conceptualizes a world in which the older artistic traditions manage to embrace the younger, more conceptual definitions of art. From stolen Rembrandts, to gypsy jazz, to free-climbing, Dirty Pictures celebrates all forms of self-expression and … Continue reading Free climbing: excerpt from DIRTY PICTURES
An Excerpt from Charlie P, Book 3 in Central Park West Trilogy by Richard Kalich
Central Park West Trilogy includes three novels, The Nihilesthete, Penthouse F and Charlie P, originally published separately and collected for the first time in a single volume. Post-modern fables, dark, shocking, perversely funny, wickedly astute, and compulsively readable, they share Kalich’s ferocious energy and unique vision. Together, they break down standard notions of plot, character … Continue reading An Excerpt from Charlie P, Book 3 in Central Park West Trilogy by Richard Kalich
Betimes Books 
You must be logged in to post a comment.