ANTHONY NEIL SMITH
crime novelist
NEWS & EVENTS
Nov 2022: Bulletpoint Update
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It looks like I'll be editing a magazine again sometime soon. Currently a secret, but get some dark crime, horror, and transgressive stories ready to submit when I give the go ahead. Just saying, I prefer my horror non-supernatural, or at least with only a touch of it. Monsters and clowns don't do much for me. And here's my two cents on the "transgressive" controversy: I will read each story without prejudice. If the story has merit and astounds, I'll take it. If it's garbage, I won't. I've been bowled over by "shock for shock's sake" stories, but I've also been bored by them. I've been horrified in a good way by subtle stories, and I definitely (obviously) see the merit in dark humor. It's going to come down to "Did Smith love it?" That's all.
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A reminder: Trooper Down! will be published by Bronzeville Books in the late Spring of 2023. If you are a reviewer or blogger or bookstagramer, or (god help us) a Book-Tok-er, you can find it via a simple search at NetGalley.
Sept 2022: Bulletpoint Update
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Lots of new short stories and a couple of essays in the Stories section of the website.
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I just returned from CALIBA's (California Booksellers Association) Fall Fest 2022, where I appeared (magic!) at the booth of my new publisher Bronzeville Books to publicize their current line-up, as well as hype my forthcoming novel, Trooper Down! Great time in San Francisco and Sacramento with my host Allison Davis, my publisher Danny Gardner, and fellow Bronzeville writers Gale Massey and Paul McHugh.
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As you can see from the front page, the second chapter of my Slow Bear trilogy - Slower Bear - is now out from Fahrenheit Press, and it's a corker. I plan on writing Slowest Bear not long from now, but can't tell you exactly when.
APR 2022: NEW STORY in COWBOY JANBOREE MAGAZINE (7.2)
Very excited to tell you about "The Ticks Will Eat You Whole," in the Breece D'J Pancake issue of one of my favorite literary magazines. Lots of fantastic work in every issue, but a hat tip to Sheldon Lee Compton for this one, released alongside his memoir The Orchard is Full of Sound, all about the influence of Pancake on his life and work.
Every issue is a FREE DOWNLOAD. Go check out the magazine and the books they've published. Fine, fine work.
OCT 2021: New Novel, The Butcher's Prayer, AND MORE.
On October 13th, Fahrenheit 13 will release my latest novel, a Mississippi-set "swamp noir" called The Butcher's Prayer. Grab it before the 13th for a special preorder price. There is also a limited edition hardcover of 50 copies, so act fast if you want one of those. Otherwise, get the paperback. All Fahrenheit print sales from the website will also score you the ebook for free.
This story has haunted me for over twenty years, as it was inspired by true events, a gruesome murder by a guy I knew who had attended my church. I wasn't sure how to tell a story inspired by that crime until I realized the detective should be a fallen preacher, and the killer should be his brother-in-law.
Writing this book got me out of a dark place at a time when I wasn't sure if I wanted to write anymore. I'd gone for more than six months without writing fiction, and was thinking I was done. I didn't feel I was reaching any new readers. But once I got started on The Butcher's Prayer, all doubts faded. Even though I went through a few more rough spots on the way to getting this one to you all, I'm glad that Fahrenheit 13 believes in my work enough to share it with you. Huge thanks to Chris Black, the leader of F13, and to Chris McVeigh, the Boss for Fahrenheit Press.
In addition to the stunning hardcover for The Butcher's Prayer, McVeigh has also decided to give us a limited run Slow Bear hardcover. It's a short book, but has proven it has staying power. The hardcover will be beautiful.
Those of you waiting patiently for the next chapter of Slow Bear's exploits need not worry. We've got some editing to do, but I've been told you'll be able to get your hands on SLOWER BEAR early-ish in 2022.
JAN 2021: LAFITTE HEADS BACK TO FRANCE
Thanks to Sonatine Editions in France, Billy Lafitte's first two novels were introduced to the French-Speaking World (with translations from fabrice pointeau), and now they're going to have another run at taking over the place.
10/18 Editions has just released the pocket version (or "poche") of Lune Noire (aka Yellow Medicine) in a beautiful package I can't wait to get my hands on. They plan on releasing Bete Noire (aka Hogdoggin') at some point in the future, but I don't yet know when.
JAN 2020: SLOW BEAR RELEASED TO THE WORLD
My latest novella, Slow Bear, is available as of January 25th from Fahrenheit 13, the lunatic noir imprint of the Transatlantic Love Cult that is Fahrenheit Books. It picks up on the story of Micah "Slow Bear" Cross, who we left in bad shape at the end of Worm. Now he's back, lacking an arm and a reason to live. But sure enough, he's soon in trouble way over his head - a lady bartender who has taken a liking to him, an oil baron who controls his part of the North Dakota oil fields with an iron fist, and any number of bruisers who wish our hero harm. Take a look.
SEPT 2019: THE BILLY LAFITTE SAGA CONTINUES IN FRANCE
On the heels of Billy Lafitte making a splash in French literary waters back in the Spring with LUNE NOIRE, here he comes again in the next volume, BETE NOIRE (BLACK BEAST, or in the US, HOGDOGGIN').
Check it out at: https://www.lisez.com/livre-grand-format/bete-noire/9782355847349
March 2019: The Billy Lafitte Saga begins in France
Very excited to announce that Sonatine Editions will be publishing the French translations of both YELLOW MEDICINE (LUNE NOIRE) and HOGDOGGIN' (BETE NOIRE) this coming year, starting in March. Both have been translated by the fabulous Fabrice Pointeau, who has worked with many authors I admire, and some of whom I count as friends.
Check out their whole catalog at https://www.lisez.com/sonatine/31
In other translation news, check out Len Wanner's German translations of my most recent three novels from Bastei Entertainment: Sub Zero: Die Frau im Eis, Sub Zero: Spielraum, and Ohne Reue. He's a blast to work with, a very sharp editor, and also a friend.