Never let it be said we're not open to criticism - especially of our brilliant ability to not proofread our own editor's esteemed prose. Yeah, we made a boo-boo last issue and at least three eagle eyed readers picked up on it, but the honour of being revealed to the public as nitpicker extraordinaire goes to the lovely Karin. Take it away...

I've just been reading a review of Fags & Lager along with Charlie Williams's article, then moved on to the letters to the editor--usually my favourite part of any publication.

I wondered if you might not want to revise your recommendation to Earl, since I'm sure you meant that neither book would disappoint him. Or am I missing the joke?

"Earl, trust me, with either book you won't fail to be dissapointed: Stella's the best dialogue man going and Al's an immensely gifted noir writer..."

Karin

Emmmm... Yes, it was a joke... You see the joke was... Okay, no, I have to be honest - Russel made a cock up. I was trying to go for the big ol' double negative, work-out-what-I'm-talking-about joke and really messed it up. Both books are just amazing and, Earl, I really hope you got what I was trying to say... (Damn, we really do have eagle-eyed readers....

I’ve just returned from Bouchercon where I attended a panel that Russel was on. He did an excellent job and I thoroughly enjoyed it even beyond the fact that I am a late middle-aged woman with a predilection for men with a Scottish accent.

Mary

You see, this is the kind of letter we like... Mary, thankyou very much for your comments and glad you enjoyed the panel. B'Con was an amazing experience and there were so many wonderful people there... some of them even understood the accent! I intend to return next year and they may even let me do a panel again... Perhaps with subtitles, this time...

Is it just me or was there something suspect about that letter from Chiklis' lawyers last issue? I mean, colour me paranoid, but I think someone might be yanking your chains...

Shaun

You know, we were beginning to think that as well. But you'd think if they were yanking our chains they mighta used a joke name or something...

I'm afraid its only a small postbag this month, folks. Russel's been gallavanting round the world too much to have the energy to answer any more... but keep em coming in and maybe if enough of you find mistakes we can have some kind of award for best idiotic typo made by Russel... Yeah, the one who spots the best error made by the esteemed editor gets... gets... well, a kind thought in our busy day. Yeah, that's gotta make it worthwhile, huh?