Alex Flinn, on inspiration and writing:

 

Any experience that isn't fun is probably something I will at least use in my writing someday.

- Alex Flinn.

Recommended reading - Murderous Schemes: An Anthology of Classic Detective Stories

Murderous Schemes: An Anthology of Classic Detective Stories

Edited by Donald E Westlake and J. Madison Davis.

Published by Oxford University Press.

Published in 1996.

First Edition.

Hardcover.

 

ISBN-10: 0195103211

ISBN-13: 978-0195103212

 

Description:

 

Since the inception of the detective short story with Edgar Allan Poe, various plotlines and common elements have become prevalent in the genre. Murderous Schemes: An Anthology of Classic Detective Stories categorizes thirty-two suspenseful tales by formula, a unique and exceptional arrangement that illustrates how the detective story has evolved. Just as the “standards” of jazz become reinterpreted by new performers, basic story structures develop new and alluring twists in the hands of some of the best-known writers of detective fiction. From “I Confess!” to “The Armchair Detective” to “Over the Edge,” each variation on the theme will be fascinating reading for every fan of the genre.

There's a lot more to writing a book than most people think ...

There's a lot more to writing a book than most people think ...

Born on this day – Monette Dinay:

Monette Dinay

Actress

September 20, 1906 – November 19, 1986

Born on this day – Frank De Vol:

Frank De Vol

Composer

Actor

September 20, 1911 – October 27, 1999

Born on this day – Anna Karen:

 

Anna Karen

Actress

September 20, 1914 – July 1, 2009

Credits:

Gunsmoke (1966); Hands of Mystery (1951); Hazel (1964); Holiday for Lovers (1959); Iron Horse (1967); Jefferson Drum (1958); Lights Out (1950–1951); Marcus Welby, M.D. (1972–1975); My True Story (1950); Nash Airflyte Theatre (1951); One Step Beyond (1960); Peyton Place (1965–1966); Project U.F.O. (1978); Rocky King, Detective (1951); Shadow of the Cloak (1952); Star Trek / episode entitled: All Our Yesterdays, originally aired March 14 (1969); Steve Randall (1952); The City of Gods (1968); The Doctor (1953); The Farmer’s Daughter (1963); The Price of Fear (1956); The Rebel (1961); The Ski Bum (1971); The Wrong Man (1956); Wagon Train (1962).

Born on this day – Ken Hechler:

 

Ken Hechler

Writer

Politician

September 20, 1914 – December 10, 2016

Credits: 

Books:

The Enemy Side of the Hill (1949); Endless Space Frontier (1982); Working With Truman (1982); Holding the line the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion and the Battle of the Bulge (1988); River-Horse (1991); Hero of the Rhine (2004); Super Marine! (2007); The Bridge at Remagen: The Amazing Story of March 7, 1945 (1957).

 

Movies and television:

60 Minutes / Segment: King Coal (2000); All the Presidents' Movies: The Movie (2009); Frontline (2019); Independent Lens (2003); The Bridge at Remagen (1969); War Stories with Oliver North (2007).

Born on this day – Virginia Belmont:

 

Virginia Belmont

Actress

September 20, 1921 – May 6, 2014

Born on this day – Paul Wendkos:

Paul Wendkos

Director

September 20, 1925 – November 12, 2009

Credits:

A Cry for Love (1980); A Death of Innocence (1971); A Little Game (1971); A Man Called Shenandoah (1965); A Match Made in Heaven (1997); A Tattered Web (1971); A Wing and a Prayer (1998); A Woman Called Moses (1978); Act of Violence (1979); Alcoa Theatre (1958–1960); Angel Baby (1961); Archer (1975); Attack on the Iron Coast (1968); Battle of the Coral Sea (1959); Because They're Young (1960); Behind Closed Doors (1958); Ben Casey (1963–1964); Betrayal (1978); Biography (2004); Bitter Heritage (1958); Blind Faith (1990); Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (1987); Bloodlines: Murder in the Family (1993); Boone (1983); Breaking Point (1963–1964); Burke's Law (1965); Cannon for Cordoba (1970); Celebrity (1984); Cocaine: One Man's Seduction (1983); Cross Fire (1989); Death Among Friends (1975); Different (1999); Dr. Kildare (1962–1964); Face of a Fugitive (1959); Farrell for the People (1982); Fear No Evil (1969); Five Fingers (1959); Footsteps (1972); From the Dead of Night (1989); Gidget (1959); Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961); Gidget Goes to Rome (1963); Golden Gate (1981); Good Against Evil (1977); Good Cops, Bad Cops (1990); Guilty Until Proven Innocent (1991); Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969); Hagen (1980); Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue (1977); Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue (1977); Harry O (1974); Haunts of the Very Rich (1972); Hawaii Five-O (1968); Hawkins (1973–1974); Hell Boats (1970); Honey West (1965); Honor Thy Father (1973); I Spy (1965–1966); Intimate Agony (1983); Johnny Tiger (1966); Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963); Law of the Plainsman (1960); Medical Story (1975); Message from Nam (1993); Mr. Novak (1964–1965); Naked City (1960–1961); Nobody Lives Forever (1998); Picking Up the Pieces (1985); Playhouse 90 (1957–1958); Police Story (1973); Premiere (1968); Rage of Angels: The Story Continues (1986); Right to Die (1987); Route 66 (1961); Saints and Sinners (1962–1963); Scorned and Swindled (1984); Secrets (1977); Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies (1987); Six Against the Rock (1987); Special Delivery (1976); Stalk the Wild Child (1976); Tarawa Beachhead (1958); Terror on the Beach (1973); The Awakening of Candra (1983); The Bad Seed (1985); The Big Valley (1965); The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970); The Burglar (1957); The Case Against Brooklyn (1958); The Chase (1991); The Death of Richie (1977); The Delphi Bureau (1972); The Detectives (1960–1962); The Dick Powell Theatre (1963); The Eleventh Hour (1962); The Execution (1985); The F.B.I. (1966); The Family Rico (1972); The Five of Me (1981); The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988); The Greatest Show on Earth (1963); The Invaders (1967–1968); The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975); The Mephisto Waltz (1971); The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd (1980); The Ordeal of Patty Hearst (1979); The Rifleman (1961–1962); The Strangers in 7A (1972); The Survivors (1969); The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story (1988); The Underground Man (1974); The Untouchables (1961–1963); The Wild Wild West (1965); The Woman I Love (1972); Tightrope (1960); Travis Logan, D.A. (1971); Trial: The Price of Passion (1992); Two Faces West (1960); White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (1991).

Born on this day – Anne Meara Stiller:

Anne Meara Stiller

Actress

Comedian

September 20, 1929 – May 23, 2015

Born on this day – Malachy McCourt:

 

Malachy McCourt

Actor

Writer

September 20, 1931 – March 11, 2024

Credits:

Books:

 A Monk Swimming: A Memoir (1998); Bush Lies in State (2004); Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad (2003); Harold Be Thy Name: Lighthearted Daily Reflections for People in Recovery (2004); History of Ireland (2004); I Am Not Myself At All, an essay included in The Face in the Mirror: Writers Reflect on Their Dreams of Youth and the Reality of Age (2009); Singing My Him Song (2000); The Claddagh Ring: Ireland's Cherished Symbol Of Friendship, Loyalty And Love (2003); Through Irish Eyes: A Visual Companion to Angela McCourt's Ireland (1998); Voices of Ireland: Classic Writings of a Rich and Rare Land (2002).

Movies and television:

13 Stars for Channel 13 (1970); After.Life (2009); All My Children (1992–2009); Angela's Christmas (2017); Another World (1982); Ash Wednesday (2002); Beautiful Kid (2003); Beyond the Pale, A Look Back (2000–2004); Body & Soul (2002); Brewster's Millions (1985); Catalina C-Lab (1982); Coming Up Roses (2011); Danny Boy: The Ballad That Bewitched the World (2013); Freethought Matters (2021); Gods and Generals (2003); Green Card (1990); Guiding Light (1989); H.E.L.P. (1990); Happy Hour (2003); Hardball with Chris Matthews (2006); Home (2006); Humor Me (2017); Ira & Abby (2006); Isn't It Delicious (2013); J.F.K.: Reckless Youth (1993); Joyce to the World (2004); Kettle of Fish (2006); Late Night with Conan O'Brien (2000–2001); Life on Mars (2009); Manny's Orphans (1978); Montana Trap (1976); Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990); Music of Ireland: Welcome Home (2010); Music of Ireland: Welcome to America (2010); My Music: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (2010); Narcan (2016); Nick and Nicky; Odd Mom Out (2016); One Life to Live (1995); Oz (2002–2003); Popcorn Shrimp (2001); Q: The Winged Serpent (1982); Remember WENN (1997); Reversal of Fortune (1990); Reward (1980); Righteous Kill (2008); Ryan's Hope (1975–1989); Saint of 9/11 (2006); Search for Tomorrow (1984–1985); She's the One (1996); Starman (1987); Stillness (2012); Surfside 6 (1962); Tales from the Darkside (1985); Tales of the Unexpected (1984); Ten Hundred Kings (2000); The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990); The Brink's Job (1978); The Dain Curse (1978); The David Frost Show (1970); The Deli (1997); The Devil's Own (1997); The Dick Cavett Show (1968); The Don Rickles Show (1968); The DuPont Show of the Month (1959); The F.B.I. (1968); The Field (1990); The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012); The Ghost of Richard Harris (2022); The Guru (2002); The House of God (1984); The January Man (1989); The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005–2007); The McCourts of Limerick (1998); The McCourts of New York (1999); The Merv Griffin Show (1966–1971); The Mighty Macs (2009); The Mike Douglas Show (1968); The Molly Maguires (1970); The Orphan (1979); The Other Guys (2010); The Sam Levenson Show (1959); The Sweet Science (1999); The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1960–1961); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1972); The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1993); Thin Ice (1981); This Is a Story About Ted and Alice (2008); Threebound (2019); Toss It (2019); Turbulence (1997); Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics / Where the Dead Are (1994); Two for the Seesaw (1962); You Can't Go Home Again (1979).

On this day in movie history - Thieves’ Highway (1949)

Thieves’ Highway

directed by Jules Dassin,

written by A. I. Bezzerides,

based on the novel Thieves’ Market by A. I. Bezzerides,

was released in the United States on September 20, 1949.

Music by Alfred Newman and Cyril J. Mockridge.

Cast:

Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese, Lee J. Cobb, Barbara Lawrence, Jack Oakie, Millard Mitchell, Joseph Pevney, Morris Carnovsky, Tamara Shayne, Kasia Orzazewski, Norbert Schiller, Hope Emerson, Walter Baldwin, Robert Bice, Howland Chamberlain, David Clarke, Roy Damron, Jules Dassin, Al Eben, Robert Foulk, Joe Haworth, Percy Helton, Ted Jordan, Frank Kreig, Saul Martell, Edwin Max, John Merton, Ann Morrison, James Nolan, David Opatoshu, Frank Richards, Maurice Samuels, Mario Siletti, Irene Tedrow, George Tyne, Dick Wessel, Harry Wilson.

On this day in movie history - The Sleeping City (1950)

The Sleeping City

directed and written by George Sherman,

was released in the United States on September 20, 1950.

Music by Frank Skinner.

Cast:

Richard Conte, Coleen Gray, Richard Taber, John Alexander, Peggy Dow, Alex Nicol, Carroll Ashburn, Frank Baxter, Dort Clark, Mickey Cochran, Russell Collins, James Daly, Henry Hart, Ralph Hertz, Tom Hoirer, Richard Kendrick, Jack Lescoulie, Jimmy Little, William Martel, Rod McLennan, Florence Morrison, James O'Neill, Herbert Ratner, Hugh Reilly, Ernest Sarracino, Robert Strauss, Michael Strong, Mimi Strongin, Victor Sutherland, Frank M. Thomas, Frank Tweddell, James J. Van Dyk.

On this day in movie history - The Indian Runner (1991)

The Indian Runner

directed and written by Sean Penn,

was released in the United States on September 20, 1991.

Music by Jack Nitzsche and David Lindley.

Cast:

David Morse, Viggo Mortensen, Valeria Golino, Patricia Arquette, Charles Bronson, Sandy Dennis, Dennis Hopper, Jordan Rhodes, Enzo Rossi, Harry Crews, Eileen Ryan, Trevor Endicott, Brandon Fleck, Kathy Jensen, James Devney, Leland J. Olson, Annie Pearson, Thomas Blair Levin, V. Stacy Klein, Benicio Del Toro, James J. Luxa, Adam Nelson, Eddie Katz, Kenny Stabler, Don Shanks, Neal Stark, Elaine Schoonover, Larry Hoefling, Phil Gould, Chuck Ulmer, Joe Martin, Helen Halmes, James Intveld, Jill Anderson, John Blyth Barrymore, Pete Boughn, Kaylene Carlson, Kevin Costello, Shane Kerwin.

On this day in movie history - Last Man Standing (1996)

Last Man Standing

written and directed by Walter Hill,

based on Yojimbo (1961) by Akira Kurosawa,

was released in the United States on September 20, 1996.

Music by Ry Cooder.

Cast:

Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, William Sanderson, Christopher Walken, David Patrick Kelly, Karina Lombard, Ned Eisenberg, Michael Imperioli, R. D. Call, Alexandra Powers, Ken Jenkins, Ted Markland, Leslie Mann, Patrick Kilpatrick.

On this day in movie history - Eye See You (2002)

Eye See You

a.k.a. D-Tox and The Outpost

directed by Jim Gillespie,

written by Howard Swindle,

based on a story by Ron L. Brinkerhoff,

and the novel Jitter Joint written by Howard Swindle,

was released in the United States on September 20, 2002.

Music by John Powell.

Cast:

Sylvester Stallone, Charles S. Dutton, Polly Walker, Kris Kristofferson, Mif, Christopher Fulford, Jeffrey Wright, Tom Berenger, Stephen Lang, A.C. Peterson, Hrothgar Mathews, Angela Alvarado, Robert Prosky, Robert Patrick, Courtney B. Vance, Sean Patrick Flanery, Tim Henry, Dina Meyer, Rance Howard, Frank Pellegrino, James Kidnie, Yves Cameron, Harrison Coe, Peter Flemming, Chris Nelson Norris, Bill Mackenzie, Ian Gschwind, David Lewis, John Timothy Botka, James Ralph, Ruth Zalduondo.

On this day in movie history - The Fall of the House of Usher (2011)

 

Fall of the House of Usher

directed by James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber,

based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe,

was released at the Athens Film Festival in Greece on September 20, 2011.

The movie was originally released in the United States in 1928.

Exact release date is unknown.

Music by Alec Wilder and Léon Barzin.

 
Cast:
Herbert Stern, Hildegarde Watson, Melville Webber, Friedrich Haak, Dorthea House.

On this day in movie history - The Old Man & the Gun (2018)

The Old Man & the Gun

directed and written by David Lowery,

was released in the United States on September 20, 2018.

Based on the true case of Forrest Tucker (June 23, 1920 – May 29, 2004),

and the article The Old Man and the Gun, published in The New Yorker (2003).

Music by Daniel Hart.

Cast:

Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover, Tom Waits, Tika Sumpter, Ari Elizabeth Johnson, Teagan Johnson, Gene Jones, John David Washington, Barlow Jacobs, Augustine Frizzell, Jennifer Joplin, Lisa DeRoberts, Carter Bratton, Mike Dennis, Tomas Deckaj, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Patrick Newall, Daniel Britt, Leah Roberts, Elisabeth Moss, Alphaeus Green Jr., Keith Carradine, Kevin McClatchy, Todd Covert, Kenneisha Thompson, Robert Longstreet, John Wayne Hunt, Clara Harris, Jordan Trovillion, Derek Snow, Barry Mulholland, Annie Fitzpatrick, J. Todd Anderson, Torie Wiggins, Annell Brodeur, Toby Halbrooks, Christine Dye, Tom Lepera, Warren Bryson, Kelly Mengelkoch, Asher Parran, Kyndra Jefferies, Kay Geiger, Nathan Neorr, Dennis J. Barket, Cody Gilbert, Jack Michael Doke, Alexander M. Partridge, Larry Jack Dotson, Pam Dougherty, Atheena Frizzell, Marissa Woolf, Todd Terry, Sydney Benter, Krzysztof Abbas, Joseph L. Allen, Felicia Andes, Mark Angel, Michael Lee Bailey, Denise Barone, Judy McQueen Bauer, Anita Farmer Bergman, Laurie Bird, Rick Blodgett, John E. Brownlee, Michael W. Bunch, Alejandro Castillo, Austin Caudill, William Cross, Timothy Noah Curtis, Laura Dejean, Bobby Easley, Shawn P. Farrell, Alessandro Ferraris, Reese Foster, Tristan A. Garcia, Sammy Geroulis, Jason Gerrard, Jason Marcus Griffith, Chris Hahn, John W. Harden, Al Harland, Jennifer Henson, Ray Nicholas Hosack, Noah Jonson, Zach Kaltenbach, Susan Kile, Kenneth King, Traci Kochendorfer, Bryan Kruse, Paul Kulis, Daniel Lamont, Daniel J. Le Saint, Art Leung, Anita S Martin, Bryan Massey, Gleedis Mayfield, Joe Merritt, Brianna Moreau, Misty O'Bradovich, Barbara O'Connor, Warren Oates, Tammy Payne, Richard Phillis, David Pittinger, Derek Polen, Charles Poole, Michelle Poole, Aaron Pullins IV, Alec Reeves, Lare Roberts, Steven Schraub, James Siderits, Vince Hobart Smith, Carly Tamborski, Hickory Taylor, Robert P. Thitoff, Skyler Chase Thomas, Tom Vallis, Anthony W. Vickers, Steven Terry Walker, Allen Warchol, Victoria Watkins, Jan Duncan Weir, Dominick Wilkins, Amber Shana Williams.

On this day in television history - M Squad (1957)

M Squad

Season 1. Episode 1.

Episode entitled: The Golden Look.

Released September 20, 1957.

Directed by Bernard Girard.

Written by Joel Murcott.

Music by Stanley Wilson.

Cast:

Lee Marvin, Bruce Gordon, Henry Brandon, Morris Ankrum, Tyler McVey, Peter Brocco, Anne Barton, Paul Hahn, Ken Lynch, David Hoffman, John Mitchum, Frank Richards.