Though it was the correct move — and one that everyone knew was coming — I was still disappointed when ThrillerFest was canceled this year. Not only is it a fun weekend in New York for authors in the mystery/thriller/suspense genres to get together and talk craft, but it’s attended by the biggest names in contemporary crime fiction. For those of us who are not on that level, that can be exciting.

My personal highlight this year was going to be Michael Connelly, who is receiving the International Thriller Writers’ 2020 Silver Bullet Literary Award for outstanding charity work.

It’s hard to separate the New York Times bestselling author from his most popular character, Harry Bosch. And, while Mickey Haller made it to the screen first (The Lincoln Lawyer), the Amazon series Bosch is the best cop drama on television right now.

This is almost surely due in no small part to Connelly’s role as an executive producer on the show, as well as an occasional screenwriter.

For a look at how well-researched Connelly’s novels are, here’s a video that shows him in action with Los Angeles Police detectives.

Season 6 of the show dropped last week, and I stayed up all night bingeing because it’s that good. I won’t write my own review, but rather I’ll let the pros at Screen Rant tell you why these ten episodes are so good.

It’s sad to think that there’s only one more season coming, but I’m sure Season 7 will wrap up the series in a way that only Bosch can deliver.

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But not all authors are so generous

I’ve mentioned Gabino Iglesias before, but both authors and readers can gain perspective from following him on Twitter and reading his columns and book reviews.

More than anything, Iglesias is a fierce advocate for authors, especially those of us whose books are not getting huge, national marketing budgets. On Friday, he invites all authors to join him in using Twitter to promote their books.

His latest column on Mystery Tribune (warning, Iglesias uses adult language and the header photo on this column is a big middle finger … literally) highlights ten types of authors who are not gracious members of the writing community. I view this as a guide to what we all may want to avoid to become better.

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Meanwhile, in Texas

The Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association has released its shortlist for its 30th Annual Reading the West Book Awards. Readers can vote for their favorites in eight categories, and the winners will be announced May 20.

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A new online literary journal has launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TEJASCOVIDO, which invites Texas writers and artists to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Writers can learn more here and should submit individual poems, essays, and images to editor@tejascovido.com.