Frank Vatel
@frankvatel312.bsky.social
Reader, watcher, and scribbler of noir. Also, book-cover illustrator and designer. Published @ Punk Noir Magazine, All Due Respect, Bristol Noir, and Reckon Review.
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.
Some terrible losses in crime fiction this past year. Ken Bruen, Daniel Woodrell, and now James Sallis.
Rest in peace.
Rest in peace.
January 30, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Some terrible losses in crime fiction this past year. Ken Bruen, Daniel Woodrell, and now James Sallis.
Rest in peace.
Rest in peace.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Was delighted to get to work with Jim Sallis (1944-2026), publishing two collections of his unique, genre-bending work. He was a great writer, a fine musician, and one of those genuinely wonderful people. He is missed. #BookSky #JamesSallis
January 29, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Was delighted to get to work with Jim Sallis (1944-2026), publishing two collections of his unique, genre-bending work. He was a great writer, a fine musician, and one of those genuinely wonderful people. He is missed. #BookSky #JamesSallis
Even those of us who prefer reading to audiobooks must admit that some book/voice actor pairings are too irresistible to pass up. Two bangers for your immediate consideration:
Samuel L. Jackson reads A RAGE IN HARLEM.
Mia Farrow reads ROSEMARY’S BABY.
Samuel L. Jackson reads A RAGE IN HARLEM.
Mia Farrow reads ROSEMARY’S BABY.
January 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Even those of us who prefer reading to audiobooks must admit that some book/voice actor pairings are too irresistible to pass up. Two bangers for your immediate consideration:
Samuel L. Jackson reads A RAGE IN HARLEM.
Mia Farrow reads ROSEMARY’S BABY.
Samuel L. Jackson reads A RAGE IN HARLEM.
Mia Farrow reads ROSEMARY’S BABY.
Bart Simpson striking his Betty Grable pose always makes me smile.
January 29, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Bart Simpson striking his Betty Grable pose always makes me smile.
Went on a George Harmon Coxe binge recently. The violence and brusque poetry that immortalized the work of Hammett, a pulp contemporary, are absent from his straightforward mysteries. But he always made a point of stirring a well-drawn femme fatale into the mix, which I love.
January 29, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Went on a George Harmon Coxe binge recently. The violence and brusque poetry that immortalized the work of Hammett, a pulp contemporary, are absent from his straightforward mysteries. But he always made a point of stirring a well-drawn femme fatale into the mix, which I love.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
I had to write up a short description of my next book, SEVEN ANGELS, so I figured I might as well put it out there.
It's coming this summer from our Constellate Publishing.
It's coming this summer from our Constellate Publishing.
January 28, 2026 at 6:29 PM
I had to write up a short description of my next book, SEVEN ANGELS, so I figured I might as well put it out there.
It's coming this summer from our Constellate Publishing.
It's coming this summer from our Constellate Publishing.
Often a humble innovation in media format transforms both marketplace and artistic content. Many of us think small, cheap, mass-market paperbacks changed things for the better. Their imminent death, as reported by PW, was long foreshadowed. But it’s still depressing.
January 28, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Often a humble innovation in media format transforms both marketplace and artistic content. Many of us think small, cheap, mass-market paperbacks changed things for the better. Their imminent death, as reported by PW, was long foreshadowed. But it’s still depressing.
YouTube must be the oldest and whitest thing on the internet. Every other vid is like:
“Watch what happens when a black millennial rapper hears Zeppelin IV—his mind is blown!”
“Watch what happens when a black millennial rapper hears Zeppelin IV—his mind is blown!”
January 28, 2026 at 1:04 AM
YouTube must be the oldest and whitest thing on the internet. Every other vid is like:
“Watch what happens when a black millennial rapper hears Zeppelin IV—his mind is blown!”
“Watch what happens when a black millennial rapper hears Zeppelin IV—his mind is blown!”
Yeah, Greg, we see what you’re doing there. Clever.
Quick question, though. Do you recall what happens to him at the end of the movie?
Quick question, though. Do you recall what happens to him at the end of the movie?
January 26, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Yeah, Greg, we see what you’re doing there. Clever.
Quick question, though. Do you recall what happens to him at the end of the movie?
Quick question, though. Do you recall what happens to him at the end of the movie?
Hollywood considered Edmond O’Brien strictly B-list, but he enjoys a singular place in the hearts of noir aficionados. The dirty cop in SHIELD FOR MURDER (1954)—a programmer O’Brien co-directed—was his best role, and he plays it to snarling, sweaty perfection. Airs tonight on Noir Alley. #TCMParty
January 24, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Hollywood considered Edmond O’Brien strictly B-list, but he enjoys a singular place in the hearts of noir aficionados. The dirty cop in SHIELD FOR MURDER (1954)—a programmer O’Brien co-directed—was his best role, and he plays it to snarling, sweaty perfection. Airs tonight on Noir Alley. #TCMParty
SCARLET STREET (1945). Arguably the darkest noir ending for three decades—until CHINATOWN.
January 24, 2026 at 1:44 AM
SCARLET STREET (1945). Arguably the darkest noir ending for three decades—until CHINATOWN.
A film company logo that tells you you're about to see highly entertaining greatness
January 24, 2026 at 1:29 AM
A film company logo that tells you you're about to see highly entertaining greatness