... David Durham on Acacia, the Importance of Fantasy and "The War with the Mein"

Not very long ago I wrote a review (in German) on the book Acacia - War with the Mein, Book one of the Acacia Stories of David Durham. 

The Acacia-book has been fascinating for various reasons. One of them was how David Durham developped his characters. He doesn't really decide as an author whether a character is good or bad, nor does he establish his characters as "really good" or "ultimate bad". The deep understanding of political connections and interactions made this book more than a fantasybook.

... with Otto Penzler on Mystery yesterday and today in the USA and the World (Part 2)

Otto Penzler, (born 1942) is one of the experts not only among the US-mysteryexperts. He is not only mysteryfan but also acted as publisher, editor and trader (he owns “The Mystery Bookshop”, presumably the biggest Mysterybookshop worldwide which he opened June 13^th 1979).

In 1977 he won the “Edgar Award” (the Oscar of Mystery) of the “Mystery Writers of America” for his book “The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection” in the Category “Best Critical/Biographical Work”.

During the Frankfort Bookfair 2007 Bettina Meister discovered his Pulpfiction Anthology (Vol. 1 THE CRIMEFIGHTERS , Vol. 2 THE VILLAINS and Vol. 3 THE DAMES) which we are lucky to call our own now. Thanks to the great help of Emma Ward of Quercus Publishers (looking forward to meet you at the Frankfort Bookfair this year, Emma), we had the chance to have an interview with Otto Penzler. Reinhard Jahn, owner of the website “Lexikon deutscher Krimiautoren ” (“Encyclopedia on German Mysteryauthors) supported us in this. Thanks for that.

In the first part of the interview we've talked to Otto Penzler on Mystery in the USA yesterday and today. In the second part we turn towards Europe (this includes Germany and Jerry Cotton) and ask for some references of the Master himself.

... with Otto Penzler on Mystery yesterday and today in the USA and the World (Part 1)

Otto Penzler , (born 1942) is one of the experts not only among the US-mysteryexperts. He is not only mysteryfan but also acted as publisher, editor and trader (he owns “The Mystery Bookshop”, presumably the biggest Mysterybookshop worldwide which he opened June 13^th 1979).

In 1977 he won the “Edgar Award” (the Oscar of Mystery) of the “Mystery Writers of America” for his book “The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection” in the Category “Best Critical/Biographical Work”.

During the Frankfort Bookfair 2007 Bettina Meister discovered his Pulpfiction Anthology (Vol. 1 THE CRIMEFIGHTERS , Vol. 2 THE VILLAINS and Vol. 3 THE DAMES) which we are lucky to call our own now. Thanks to the great help of Emma Ward of Quercus Publishers (looking forward to meet you at the Frankfort Bookfair this year, Emma), we had the chance to have an interview with Otto Penzler. Reinhard Jahn, owner of the website “Lexikon deutscher Krimiautoren ” (“Encyclopedia on German Mysteryauthors) supported us in this. Thanks for that.

The first part of the interview we talked to Otto Penzler on Mystery in the USA yesterday and today. In the second part we’ll turn towards Europe (this is Germany and Jerry Cotton) and ask for some references of the Master himself.

... Iacopo Bruno on the Art of Illustrating and Ulysses Moore

It's not all that easy to find out anything about Iacopo Bruno. There is hardly more to be found than his birthdate (1964) and the fact that he is working as an illustrator. Yet more often he is being mentioned in connection with all sorts of books.

The Italian is very successfully working as an illustrator for books and his works are of high recognition value. Incredibly fascinating are his works in the books on Ulysses Moore. They catch the eye immediately and accompany and unterline perfectly the charm of these books.

Via the editor Edizpiemme and its employee Maddalena Contini (Maddalena, mille grazie!) we got into contact with Iacopo Bruno bekommen and had the opportunity to have an interview with him by email.

With the little bit of Italien we are able to speak: "Ti sono molto grato, Signore Bruno."