From the Booking Desk:
Josh Pachter is an excellent short story writer and has edited (or co-edited) a variety of anthologies. As members of the same Sisters in Crime Chapter (shout out to the Chessie Chapter!), we often attend the same events and it is always a pleasure to catch up with him. You may have read my recap of the first-ever Northern Virginia Noir at the Bar which Josh hosted. His devotion to the crime fiction genre – especially in the shorter formats – is wide-spread and unceasing. I am thrilled to have him here on BOLO Books for our weekly questionnaire.
Name: Josh Pachter
Location: Herndon, VA
This person from my personal life is such an inspiration:
Definitely Frederic Dannay, who was one of the two cousins who wrote together as Ellery Queen and the original editor of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. He was a successful author, editor, anthologist, critic, and scholar, and he took time out of his busy career to encourage me — a 15-year-old kid — to try my hand at writing a short crime story. When I did, a year later, he bought it and published it in EQMM and encouraged me to keep writing. It was Mr. Dannay who got me started on a path I continue to travel, more than half a century later.
One of the people I admire most in the crime fiction community is:
One, Kristopher? Seriously? I can’t do it. I have to give shout outs to Janet Hutchings, Linda Landrigan, John Betancourt, Doug Greene, Jeff Marks, Chuck and Kerry Carter, and the unsung Peter Kanter, all of whom do so much to keep the short-form mystery alive despite the challenges of marketing them to a readership that inexplicably — to me, anyway — prefers novels to shorter works. Oh, and also Ed Aymar, who’s not only a terrific writer but also combines self-deprecating humor with an almost fierce commitment to promoting both established and up-and-coming crime writers through his work as the host of the Washington DC and Maryland C3 Noirs at the Bar, as the editor of the International Thriller Writers’ The Thrill Begins, and in other ways too numerous to count.
STALKER ALERT! If this fictional character were real, they would likely need to get a restraining order against me:
Oh, gosh, please don’t tell my wife Laurie, but definitely Jessica Rabbit. She’s not bad. She’s just drawn that way….
People are always surprised that I am a fan of this individual (singer, actor, or artist):
Michael Franks. He takes a lot of flak for being jazz light, but the man can write better lyrics than just about anyone on the planet. I mean, come on: “You’ve got the nicest North America / This sailor ever saw / I’d like to feel your warm Brazil / And touch your Panama / But your Tierra del Fuegos / Are nearly always froze / We got to see-saw until we unthaw those / Popsicle toes.”
My personal catch phrase is (or should be):
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
(John Lennon, “Beautiful Boy”)
Great to see, Josh here!
A truly talented man and one of the nicest people in crime fiction. Where would short crime fiction today be without Josh? Sadder, but not wiser, I think.
Nice to meet you, Josh. What a great story about someone who took the time to mentor you as a kid. It’s a great reminder how those little moments can change lives, when dealing with a kid or adult.
Your early brushes with fame are awesome (Dannay and Jessica). And I’ve sat on a panel with you for my brush with fame! Also awesome. Good to see you here.
Thanks, Sherry, David, Mark, and Kaye!
Wow! Wonderful!