Frank Vatel
@frankvatel312.bsky.social
Writer of noir fiction, designer of book covers. Published by Punk Noir, All Due Respect, Bristol Noir, and Reckon Review.
Appeal to the intelligent.
February 11, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Appeal to the intelligent.
The line I wish I'd written. Seriously, what's the point anymore?
*Tosses legal pad, flushes pens down the toilet.*
*Tosses legal pad, flushes pens down the toilet.*
“There is nothing more embarrassing the next morning than reading one of your own suicide notes.”
February 10, 2026 at 12:55 AM
The line I wish I'd written. Seriously, what's the point anymore?
*Tosses legal pad, flushes pens down the toilet.*
*Tosses legal pad, flushes pens down the toilet.*
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Coming April 7th. The final Carter McCoy novel. Hope I did him proud
February 9, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Coming April 7th. The final Carter McCoy novel. Hope I did him proud
For a decade, the nicest man in rock & roll went everywhere dressed, coiffed, and (one assumes) scented like the yuppie villain in a Cinemax feature. Ringo, we love you.
February 10, 2026 at 12:05 AM
For a decade, the nicest man in rock & roll went everywhere dressed, coiffed, and (one assumes) scented like the yuppie villain in a Cinemax feature. Ringo, we love you.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Experimenting by releasing a short story on Kindle & KU. Rider in the Widow Lands is a 25 page sword & sorcery tale. Available now! Mybook.to/widowlands
February 9, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Experimenting by releasing a short story on Kindle & KU. Rider in the Widow Lands is a 25 page sword & sorcery tale. Available now! Mybook.to/widowlands
Reposted by Frank Vatel
By way of explanation, Rabbit Season is a comedy about a man who wakes up a century in the future and finds the only people left are two rival religious groups who have based their faith on a VHS copy of the WB cartoon 'Duck Season'. Just in case you were curious. 😁
February 9, 2026 at 8:45 PM
By way of explanation, Rabbit Season is a comedy about a man who wakes up a century in the future and finds the only people left are two rival religious groups who have based their faith on a VHS copy of the WB cartoon 'Duck Season'. Just in case you were curious. 😁
No, I’m not having nachos for breakfast. These are “chilaquiles.”
And the beer is a chaser to a bloody mary that never arrived.
Judgmental bastards.
And the beer is a chaser to a bloody mary that never arrived.
Judgmental bastards.
February 8, 2026 at 8:11 PM
No, I’m not having nachos for breakfast. These are “chilaquiles.”
And the beer is a chaser to a bloody mary that never arrived.
Judgmental bastards.
And the beer is a chaser to a bloody mary that never arrived.
Judgmental bastards.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
I have a book that I WROTE IN MY OWN FUCKING HANDS!!!
February 7, 2026 at 11:19 PM
I have a book that I WROTE IN MY OWN FUCKING HANDS!!!
You’d think this crop of Nazis would learn from the mistakes of earlier ones. 🤔
February 7, 2026 at 7:54 PM
You’d think this crop of Nazis would learn from the mistakes of earlier ones. 🤔
Artist: Stanley Zuckerberg
February 7, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Artist: Stanley Zuckerberg
Post the cover of a book you love from the 90s. (Any century!)
#BookSky #bookchallenge #readingchallenge #readingcommunity #booktok #bookish #books
#BookSky #bookchallenge #readingchallenge #readingcommunity #booktok #bookish #books
February 6, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Post the cover of a book you love from the 90s. (Any century!)
#BookSky #bookchallenge #readingchallenge #readingcommunity #booktok #bookish #books
#BookSky #bookchallenge #readingchallenge #readingcommunity #booktok #bookish #books
Reposted by Frank Vatel
The prize for the world's first trillionaire....
a picture of a ladder that says mnf on the top
ALT: a picture of a ladder that says mnf on the top
media.tenor.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:11 AM
The prize for the world's first trillionaire....
A prosecutor tries to frame a police chief for murder, but it doesn’t stick. Now they must work the case together. This crackerjack premise is the brainchild of Richard Wormser, a very underrated noir author. THE BODY LOOKS FAMILIAR finds him at his sharpest and most perceptive. Highly recommended.
February 5, 2026 at 11:04 PM
A prosecutor tries to frame a police chief for murder, but it doesn’t stick. Now they must work the case together. This crackerjack premise is the brainchild of Richard Wormser, a very underrated noir author. THE BODY LOOKS FAMILIAR finds him at his sharpest and most perceptive. Highly recommended.
In Italian families, we call this “the suicide option.”
February 4, 2026 at 4:33 PM
In Italian families, we call this “the suicide option.”
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Berlin at the moment.
IMHO Simenon’s best book, which is saying something, given how many he wrote.
IMHO Simenon’s best book, which is saying something, given how many he wrote.
February 4, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Berlin at the moment.
IMHO Simenon’s best book, which is saying something, given how many he wrote.
IMHO Simenon’s best book, which is saying something, given how many he wrote.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests
February 4, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests
Rewatched DELIVERANCE last night. Wow, talk about a film that has retained its power. (I had only seen pan-and-scan versions in the past, so TCM’s letterboxed presentation surely helped.)
A great movie for instructors to screen whenever character arc is discussed in film or lit courses.
A great movie for instructors to screen whenever character arc is discussed in film or lit courses.
February 2, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Rewatched DELIVERANCE last night. Wow, talk about a film that has retained its power. (I had only seen pan-and-scan versions in the past, so TCM’s letterboxed presentation surely helped.)
A great movie for instructors to screen whenever character arc is discussed in film or lit courses.
A great movie for instructors to screen whenever character arc is discussed in film or lit courses.
Congrats on the stellar year, sir! 🍻
MAN, what an honor to have stories in two Derringer Award-nominated collections this year— ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER and MIDNIGHT SCHEMERS AND DAYDREAM BELIEVERS!!
shortmystery.blogspot.com/2026/02/derr...
shortmystery.blogspot.com/2026/02/derr...
Derringer Award Announcement: 2026 Best Anthology Finalists
Derringer Awards,awards,Derringer Awards 2026,Best Anthology,Join SMFS,SMFS,Short Mystery Fiction Society,Derringer Awards Finalists
shortmystery.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Congrats on the stellar year, sir! 🍻
Reposted by Frank Vatel
On finding a publisher.
My latest substack. On being a writer and not being a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
My latest substack. On being a writer and not being a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
On finding a publisher
I wrote this note…
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:05 PM
On finding a publisher.
My latest substack. On being a writer and not being a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
My latest substack. On being a writer and not being a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
Congrats, Alan (and contributors)!
HOLLYWOOD KILLS is a Finalist for the Best Anthology Derringer Award! Congrats to the other finalists! And, of course, congrats to all of our contributors for writing such FANTASTIC stories! Thanks to all the SMFS voters for your support! From Level Best Books.
Derringer Award Announcement: 2026 Best Anthology Finalists
Derringer Awards,awards,Derringer Awards 2026,Best Anthology,Join SMFS,SMFS,Short Mystery Fiction Society,Derringer Awards Finalists
shortmystery.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Congrats, Alan (and contributors)!
Reposted by Frank Vatel
13 Days Until Mercy! Fact 1!
I wrote the book, why not use the R. J. Calder name?
Calder has his own brand of R-rated action. A couple of sex scenes, but mostly action.
In this, the sex scenes are more hardcore. I don't want readers expecting a Calder story to be surprised, hence Dick was born.
I wrote the book, why not use the R. J. Calder name?
Calder has his own brand of R-rated action. A couple of sex scenes, but mostly action.
In this, the sex scenes are more hardcore. I don't want readers expecting a Calder story to be surprised, hence Dick was born.
February 1, 2026 at 8:36 PM
13 Days Until Mercy! Fact 1!
I wrote the book, why not use the R. J. Calder name?
Calder has his own brand of R-rated action. A couple of sex scenes, but mostly action.
In this, the sex scenes are more hardcore. I don't want readers expecting a Calder story to be surprised, hence Dick was born.
I wrote the book, why not use the R. J. Calder name?
Calder has his own brand of R-rated action. A couple of sex scenes, but mostly action.
In this, the sex scenes are more hardcore. I don't want readers expecting a Calder story to be surprised, hence Dick was born.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
✨ 𝑭𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚'𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 #𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒃 ✨
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 🕵️♂️ 📽️
𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝟖𝒑𝒎 𝑬𝑺𝑻
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎:
ok.ru/video/250690...
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 🕵️♂️ 📽️
𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝟖𝒑𝒎 𝑬𝑺𝑻
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎:
ok.ru/video/250690...
February 1, 2026 at 6:11 PM
✨ 𝑭𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚'𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 #𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒃 ✨
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 🕵️♂️ 📽️
𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝟖𝒑𝒎 𝑬𝑺𝑻
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎:
ok.ru/video/250690...
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 🕵️♂️ 📽️
𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝟖𝒑𝒎 𝑬𝑺𝑻
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎:
ok.ru/video/250690...
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Hey, I know that guy!
I'm thrilled to join the ranks of the amazing writers who have contributed to Stone's Throw.
Many thanks and much love to the RHP crew for thinking this story fit the February bill!
I'm thrilled to join the ranks of the amazing writers who have contributed to Stone's Throw.
Many thanks and much love to the RHP crew for thinking this story fit the February bill!
THIS MONTH ON STONE'S THROW: Photographers say the camera helps distance them from their subjects. But sometimes it brings them even closer. Read @fugitivecourier.bsky.social's great story today: bit.ly/45EN7mS
February 1, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Hey, I know that guy!
I'm thrilled to join the ranks of the amazing writers who have contributed to Stone's Throw.
Many thanks and much love to the RHP crew for thinking this story fit the February bill!
I'm thrilled to join the ranks of the amazing writers who have contributed to Stone's Throw.
Many thanks and much love to the RHP crew for thinking this story fit the February bill!
An unlikely tour through the detritus of pop culture that gets funnier with each revelation. Great work, Ron Clyburn and @literarygarage.bsky.social.
A Cleveland warehouse.
A billionaire buyer.
And the most valuable artifact ever stolen.
Things go sideways in this fun story from Ron Clyburn
Stolen legends, bad taste, and a reveal you won’t see coming at the Garage:
literarygarage.com/the-fence
🎸📚
A billionaire buyer.
And the most valuable artifact ever stolen.
Things go sideways in this fun story from Ron Clyburn
Stolen legends, bad taste, and a reveal you won’t see coming at the Garage:
literarygarage.com/the-fence
🎸📚
The Fence | Literary Garage
literarygarage.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:12 AM
An unlikely tour through the detritus of pop culture that gets funnier with each revelation. Great work, Ron Clyburn and @literarygarage.bsky.social.