Big Names, Short Stories: Child, Deaver, Starr & Jakubowski Launch Invisible Blood Anthology
By Joe Brosnan
July 26, 2019Learn about Invisible Blood, a brand new crime fiction anthology and comment below for a chance to win a copy!
“If I could make a living writing short stories I would”
That was Jeffery Deaver earlier this week at The Mysterious Bookshop at the launch event for Invisible Blood, a brand new anthology series edited by crime fiction legend Maxim Jakubowski.
Cards on the table, I hadn’t heard of Maxim until a copy of Invisible Blood came across my desk, and even then, it was the other names on the cover—Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, etc.—that stood out the most. It was an A-List anthology, and I wondered how Maxim could pull it all together.
And then I went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole. Maxim has worked in book publishing for many years, and he eventually left the industry to open the Murder One bookshop, the U.K.’s first specialist crime and mystery bookstore. He’s edited numerous anthologies across various genres including crime fiction, science fiction, and erotica. (He is strongly rumored to be one of the authors behind the bestselling erotic author Vina Jackson, but this has never been confirmed.) Maxim has also served as the Chair of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and is now chair and judge for the Crime Writers’ Association Debut John Creasey Dagger award. All that is to say, the dude is legit.
Joining Jeffery Deaver at the event was Lee Child and Jason Starr, and the three of them sat with Maxim as he described the genesis of the anthology and made us laugh with his Getting the Gang Together stories and a few false starts. (Mark Billingham declined because he’s writing an opera. Laurence Block—Larry to Maxim—had literally just retired.)
Something unusual about Invisible Blood is that there is no overarching theme throughout the stories, and Child wasted no time in chiding Maxim for this, saying that made coming up with his story difficult. (His story “Smile” stars Reacher and is set in Heathrow.)
Deaver, the professed short story lover, assumed the title was the theme and came up with “Connecting the Dots”—a story about a case with a blood-based invisible ink.
And Starr, just like Deaver, took the literal path and concocted a crime story without any blood in “The Ghost of Williamsburg.”
As Maxim quipped, clearly no one is reading his emails.
But in addition to discussing the anthology, the gang did what everyone in the audience was hoping for—they shot the shit.
For a while, they discussed short, creative fiction. Between the various anthologies they’ve taken part in, the short stories they co-written with other authors (See ITW’s Faceoff anthology), and the continuous novels they’ve authored a single chapter for, handing the baton to someone else to continue the story. And all the while, it was clear just how much these writers loved writing. From Starr’s enthusiastic descriptions of the comics he’s working on (Red Border) to Deaver’s just-released novel (The Never Game) and Child’s romanticized admission that Maxim was the editor who publishes his very first short story, “James Penney’s New Identity” featuring a pre-Killing Floor Jack Reacher.
And perhaps that’s the thread I’ve been trying to grab at here: Maxim. He’s been publishing crime fiction and other work for 60+ years. He’s worked with some of the very best writers out there, and he’s written his own critically acclaimed books. As Lee Child put it, “he’s a living legend.”
And I’ll end things here the same Lee Child ended things at the event. As you may have heard, Reacher is headed for the television courtesy of Amazon Prime, and unlike the films where Child didn’t have much say over casting decisions (cough Tom Cruise cough), he’s retained the final say in casting this time around per his contact and, to quote Child, “we’re gonna cast the biggest motherfucker out there.”
Photo courtesy of Titan Books.
About Invisible Blood:
Open the files on an anthology of seventeen new crime stories to probe the brutal and complex hearts of criminals, and unravel the strangest of mysteries. Watch as a secretive group of intelligence community officers trace Jack Reacher through Heathrow in Lee Child’s “Smile”. In Mary Hoffman’s “Fallen Woman”, a journalist on the trail of a secretive drug lord gets caught up in the violent suicide of a young woman in Siena. And in Jeffery Deaver’s “Connecting the Dots”, detectives follow the trail of clues in the brutal killing of a homeless man, wherever it may lead… Invisible Blood is a gripping collection exploring the compulsions of the criminal mind.
Comment below for a chance to win a copy of Invisible Blood!
To enter, make sure you’re a registered member of the site and simply leave a comment below.
Invisible Blood Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at http://www.criminalelement.com/big-names-short-stories/ beginning at 1:300 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) July 26, 2019. Sweepstakes ends at 1:29 p.m. ET August 9, 2019. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
Comments
Comments are closed.
Awesome, count me in!
I love anthologies because they introduce me to writers that I would not normally read.
Can’t wait!
It looks to be interesting anthology by a great bunch of writers.
All the authors are great suspense writers in my book
This looksikd very good reading. Can’t wait!
Sounds like a great book!
I love anthologies & this one sounds great.
Love the idea of a short story anthology – especially penned by a group of my favorite authors!
I cannot wait for these stories from some of my favorite.
Anything by Lee Child I get excited before I start reading the first line. This one sounds like a thriller!
Sounds cool! Can’t wait to read these!
Sounds great count me in for a win
Short stories from great authors, sounds fantastic! I would love to have it.
Excited for this anthology – looks like a good collection of works from respected authors.
Great contest, Lee Child is my favorite author, I just read Past Tense, so captivating I read in 3 days. Would love to find out if Jack ever made it to San Diego. I would love to win. Thanks for the chance.
I wish there were more magazines that carried short stories. Luckily there are still anthologies like this.
I love these types of anthologies and would very much enjoy this one, I think.
Sounds awesome! Thanks
Mark Billingham’s writing an opera? That’s interesting. The contributors’ list is still terrific…
This book sounds intriguing! Thanks for the tip. It’s now on my TBR list, if I don’t win.
Looking forward to reading it. I enjoy these types of books, this one sounds excellent.
This is a very interesting anthrology with great writers. I would love to win a copy!!
I adore Jack Reacher and would love to add this to my collection!
It contains stories from some of my favorite writers. Having it signed is a plus.
Yay!!!! I’d love to win❤️
I would love to read this.
This sounds like an amazing collection of stories! I’m in!!
This looks like an amazing collection of stories. I’m in!
You had me with the picture…lotta talent in one shot. Count me in
I love Jack Reacher books and movies. They are just so fastenating ,. I would love to win this book, thanks for the chance.
I always like to read LeeChild
Looking forward to new and exciting stories!
Sounds like a great book, I’ll buy it if I don’t win a copy. Always hoping that Lawrence Block will come out of retirement but I guess he won’t. As for the Reacher on Amazon Prime, I’m all for it, especially since I saw the Jack Ryan adaptation. I didn’t mind the smaller stature of Tom Cruise, I think he did a good job, but no problem trying with a new actor.
Wow. I will definitely buy this one if I don’t manage to win it. Looks like a great collection of stories.
oh I would love to win this book!!!
This sounds like a wonderful anthology and I would love to win a copy!
I can’t wait to read this!
Great authors and wonderful feature.
Wow, this sounds like a book for me! All these great author, I’m in!
Sounds like a great book and what a amazing legacy Maxim has. I love the roundtable talk and wish I could just sit in and listen to them all talking. Might get to add some reader input as well.
Can never have enough Jack Reacher!
Glad to hear Reacher will appear on Amazon Prime.
All those stories, plus “the biggest motherfucker out there”? I’m in…
Great group of authors, can’t wait to read this!
I have read other Anthologies before and loved them. It is funny/ironic that there is no “theme” this year, yet some of the participating writers chose a theme anyway. Looking forward to reading this new one!
i love the movies and need to get into the books.
I would love to win this great group of stories written by some of my favorite authors!
I would have loved to hear those pros “shot the shit.” Tom Cruise can be a fine actor, but was always 6 inches too short and 50 pounds too light not to be laughable as Jack Reacher. Really looking forward to Invisible Blood.
If I don’t win I will have to buy this book. I really hope I win 😁💗
Blood me! Yes!
Would love to win. Thanks for the chance!
I’d like to win a copy.
I would love to win this for my collection, I Love Jack Reacher!!!! Thank you for the opportunity to win!! 😀
I’m very much looking forward to reading this book, and really enjoy a good anthology.
Lee Child! You bet!
I love Jack Reacher and Lee Child makes his stories come alive and easy to follow. I would love to read stories from these other authors as well.
Cant wait to read it
sounds like a fun one
Sounds like an interesting read!!
Lee Child is one of the best around.
This sounds like an amazing anthology. I’m looking forward to reading all these stories; several of the authors here are on my must-read list . . . .
sounds like a great read
Sounds great! 🤓
I would love a new Jack Reacher story
Sounds fascinating. Terrific cover.
Lee Child is one of my faves!
Love Mysteries and have read most of the Jack Reacher books so I would love to read this one also
I am a huge Jack Reacher fan.
Sounds fantastic. Can’t wait.
Wow! What a wonderful group of authors! I’m a big fan of the Jack Reacher books. I would love to read this anthology. Thank you!
Known favorite authors with some never read…love new discoveries
I am so looking forward to reading this anthology whether I win it or buy it!! Some of my all time favourite authors!
Thank you so much for the opportunity
would love to have another Jack Reacher story in my hands
A book I am anxious to read, some favorite and some authors new to me, a great mix.
not connected but sometimes the twists make the shorts that much better.
I can’t wait until Lee Child’s book into movie, hopefully it will be available easily to all and not just subscribers or some service
What a great looking book. I will bet all the stories are mysterious! LOL This is a favorite genre of mine.
What a great looking book can’t wait to read it this is my favoribe genre.
ME, ME, ME — PLEASE! I would LOVE TO WIN a copy of this book. Child and Deaver are two of my FAVORITES!
I’d love a new Jack Reacher story!
I would absolutely KILL to get this. Would this post give me away if other commenters all died under mysterious conditions?
Looks like a great read. Can’t wait to get it.
I’m excited just thinking about it!
Great writers, and great stories, I’m sure.
Reacher…IT IS GOING TO BIG BIG!!!!!!
Please enter me in the giveaway.
It sounds like a very interesting book. Thank you for the chance!
I doing this for mom who is a lee child fan
Thrilling story and characters that drive me to the edges before I can see a finish to the story. Fantastic author and great books that I quite often re-read again and again!
An excellent list of noted writers that I look forward to reading again.
I love anthologies & this book features some of my favorite authors! I can’t wait to read it!
Sounds good to me, I want one.
I love nothing more that getting hooked on an anthology… I hope I win!
Anxiously awaiting the Movie with someone other than Tom Cruise, and this anthology is a tremendous idea>
I’m eager to read this anthology, I love shirt stories, and buy every collection I see
This sounds like a powerful anthology! I can’t wait to discover the ability of these writers that are new to me! This helps me to find more works for writers I typically wouldn’t have looked for. And, who can resist a Jack Reacher adventure! Whether I win or lose (fingers and toes are crossed) I simply cannot wait to get lost in this book….my only complaint would be that it will be over too soon! I hope it contains many stories!!
Count me in, too. Short stories are what I write at this time. Grampa said if you want to write well, read, read, read. More please.
I’d love to read it – sounds awesome!
thanks for the chance to win….
I love Lee Child’s stories about Jack Reacher, looking for a new author to read, this would be great
If I could make a living reading full-length fiction novels and short stories, I would get on that road faster than anything you can think of that is really, really fast.
I cannot wait for this to come out! Thanks for the chance to win a copy 😊
Can’t wait to read!
My favorite authors!!! Please enter me for a chance to win a copy.
Am curious as to what constitues “biggest motherfucker out there” for casting. Who is on your individual lists?
Sounds like a good read
Count me in, please!
Really enjoy anthologies! These authors are awesome👍🏼
To have Lee Child, Jeffrey Deaver as headliners for this book, makes it a must read. I cannot wait to be able to read it.
I can hardly wait for a new jack reacher story and I love anthologies too!
Lee Child has my vote for his Jack Reacher charater. Count me in.
Wow! Can’t wait to read this.
Top of my summer reading list!!
I would love to read this, and my mom will be so excited!
Top suspense writer, with new stories in a collection. Way to Go!
Sounds wonderful, would make a nice fall read.
This looks so good
Would love to win an anthology of some of my favorite writers along with new writers to read.
Love a good short story
I started reading mystery fiction via Ellery Queen collections almost 60 years ago. I am looking forward to this collection.
Love it!
Looking forward to this! Thank you all for sharing your talents with us!
Looks like a great anthology + you had me at Jack Reacher.
What I great picture – Thanks for the chance to win
Please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks!
I would very much like to read this. Thank you!
Sounds like a lot of fun
Would love to be able to review on my blog
This looks like an interesting read!
i love these kind of books!
Stories from my favorite authors! What could be better! So glad to hear about a believable Reacher!
I am excited to read this anthology of short stories!
I totally want to win!
That would be a lovely way to discover a new to me author! Thanks for the chance
Oh Lordy!! I want this!!!!!
I would LOVE to win Jack Reacher’s new book!
PLEASE PICK ME!
Of course, I mean, Lee Child’s new book. His characters are so real to life that I actually think of them as real people; thus, Jack Reacher…..
I enjoy Anthologies as a means to discover different authors, (although I’m familiar with several of these) and it gives those authors an opportunity to expand their general style and fan expectations! Love ’em!
I would love to win!
The anthology supplies me with a taste of each author’s writing style, introducing me to new writers. Nice!
Lee Child And Deaver how can you go wrong. They alone are worth the book.
Sounds interesting, thank you for the chance!
I am so excited to read this!
Honestly, some of my FAVE authors, all together and short stories, to boot!! YEAH!
Looks like an exciting and fun read. Looking forward to it. And the new Jack Reacher on Amazon Prime.
Wow! What a terrific group of writers. I love Jeffrey Deaver’s short stories, would love to read this book.
Love these kinds of collections!
I’d love to be introduced to these writers! Mysteries are my favorite.
Looking forward to it!
I’m looking forward to reading this
I love all these authors.
Wow, love short stories and especially those by some of my favorite authors. Would love to win! Thanks so much!
Sounds, like a hot one. Can’t wait to read.
sounds great-I love to read crime stories
Great author lineup!
Short stories has always been one of my favorite genres.
I enjoy a good anthology. It lets me discover writers I may not know. This one sounds fun.
Thanks for the giveaway
I love Jack Reacher! Totally agree with Lee Child’s casting desires. I hope the anthology will be available as an audio book. Looking forward to finding more authors to read.
I LOVE anthologies!!
Sounds great.
Huge fan of Lee Child. Anything Jack Reacher
What a great group of story tellers!! And to Lee Child…..thank you for selecting a more suitable Jack Reacher!!
I love these “anthologies”.
I am looking forward to reading new stories by old favorites and finding new favorites.