Scandinavian Crime Wave Nordic Noir New School of Noir

June 5, 2013 by 1 Comment

I websearch myself every few days, so I can snag new reviews, get the URLS for interviews, stuff like that, and look for articles I think might be of interest to crime fans. Since I live in Finland, little is written about the new fancy terms for our homegrown Nordic crime writing. When I was first published internationally–it happened very quickly–a few countries/languages in a few weeks, the press wrote about me being the newest addition to the Scandinavian Crime Wave. They dedicated a lot of ink comparing me to Stieg Larsson. I had never read anything by him. It was interesting to be part of a literary movement I had never heard of. I have never wanted to categorize myself in any way. To define a thing is to limit it. Why would I want to do that to myself? But if reviewers wanted to categorize me, I didn’t care. I just want people to read my books.

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Burning Down Stockholm

May 27, 2013 by 2 Comments

Racial tensions and the warehousing of poor and jobless immigrants and poor Swedes in segregated neighborhoods finally caused a social explosion in Sweden. The title of this is an exaggeration. The city isn’t in flames. A lot of fires have been started. A lot of cars torched. I won’t bother to tell the story, just read the links I’ve collected in reverse order (if you want to read them chronoligically) and you’ll learn all you need to know. It’s worth signing up for the free trial, and it’s a great news source anyway. My favorite.

http://world.einnews.com/article/151471893 

http://world.einnews.com/article/151464627

http://world.einnews.com/article/151463530

http://world.einnews.com/article/151407935

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Disappearing, a book in the garbage, and nice critics.

May 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Quote: You want dark with your literature? I have some dark for you. The book is HELSINKI BLOOD, and the author is James Thompson. It should come wrapped in a shroud instead of a cover.

Check out my revamped web site. Plus reviews and interviews and scribblings.My website has undergone a major overhaul. I’m still adding content, but have a look. www.jamesthompsonauthor.com. I’ve added a lot more AV material, expanded the international books sections, am adding a lot of new images, review, interviews, all that good stuff. If you have the inclination, sign up for the mailing list while you’re there.

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Thank You, Finland!

April 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Thank You, Finland!                                              

Today, I’ve received generous grants from two prestigious Finnish cultural foundations: WSOY:n kirjallisuussäätiö, and Kirjailijoiden ja kääntäjien kirjastoapurahalautakunta. I’m more than honored. When I began my career as a novelist here in Finland, I never dreamed that those who decide what is of cultural value to this nation would deem my work of sufficient merit to reward me for it. I’m humbled and you have my gratitude.

Others who decide what is of literary merit have also been kind to me over the past couple days. Helsinki Blood has been out in the States For about five weeks now. The recent reviews below are characteristic of the perhaps fifty reviews the book has received from major reviewers. I’m pleased and grateful that they’ve found the book praiseworthy. Thanks to all.                   

Mystery People
http://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/mp-review-helsinki-blood-by-james-thompson/

Nordic Bookblog
http://bookblog.scandinavianbooks.com/helsinki-blood-by-james-thompson/

London Free Press
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/04/18/book-review-finnish-detective-haunted-by-past

Writerspace: Review of James Thompson’s Helsinki Blood
http://writerspace.com/blog/content/advantage-not-being-native
https://www.facebook.com/Writerspace
https://twitter.com/Writerspace

Best Regards,
James Thompson
Helsinki, Finland
April 26, 2013

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Living on Top of History

April 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Leaving English suburbia as a teenager, Quentin Bates found himself living in Iceland for more than a decade, working mostly as a seaman before returning to Britain and eventually turning to writing for a living, first as a journalist and later turning his hand to crime fiction. The series of novels featuring police officer Gunnhildur Gísladóttir draw heavily on his intimate knowledge of and his deep affection for Iceland.
The third book in the series, Chilled to the Bone, is published in April 2013.

 Living on Top of History

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Fox News and the Umpa Lumpa Song

April 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

For some years now, I’ve watched the Fox News Channel exclusively. It seemed the only news organization with the courage to tell the truth. But I found these words of wisdom, and they seemed to sum up everything Fox has taught me over the years. You read it too. Take it to heart, and none of us need watch Fox News, or any other news for that matter, ever again. All the truth of the world is contained here within.

The Umpa Lumpa Song

Umpa lumpa ompady doo
I’ve got another question for you

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Thank You. Helsinki Bleeds Profusely

March 22, 2013 by 5 Comments

I just want to thank everyone. The Helsinki Blood book launch exceeded my wildest dreams. Not only did HB start off like a rocket, but because of it, interest in the Inspector Vaara series made the sales of the other books in the series rise (a LOT) as well. I’m grateful to all of you.

Best, Jim

Photo courtesy of Markus Schulte

 

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GONE VIRAL

January 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Hello!

Not just viral, but viralest of the viralest viral. An interview delivered to tens of millions of readers. For a few days, I was the most widely read about writer on the planet. What a thing to be able to say! Not so long ago, if you were viral, it could be a scary thing. Aids! Anthrax! Ebola! In our time, a lot of people would give their right arms to go viral. I went viral, and guess what? It didn’t hurt a bit. And I will tell you the story after a smidgeon of self-promotion.

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Christmas Came Early!

December 22, 2012 by 6 Comments

Sulo wishes you Merry Christmas

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Looks like Christmas came early! I couldn’t ask for a better present. This feature went yesterday, and has appeared in hundreds or thousands of publications. The AP delivers to thousands of media outlets, and reaches over a billion people a day; a million or so will likely read this article. The idea staggers me. A huge thank you to journalist David Mac Dougall. I’ve only provided to a link Salon, under the assumption that you don’t want to read it in a thousand places, but I’ll include some other notable publications you can read it in if you wish. I confess, listing them is an act of vanity. But this is one of those once in a lifetime events, so please forgive me.

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Santa, the Creature Behind the Beard

December 22, 2012 by 1 Comment

He knows when you’re sleeping

He knows when you’re awake.

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake

Santa Claus. Portrayed as, and instilled in us in childhood, as a benign figure. The above though, speaks volumes. It reads more as a statement that would describe a CIA or KGB director than a man who has dedicated his life to pleasing children. What sort of creature resides behind that cottony white beard?

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