Volume One Magazine Archives

V1 Dashboard: Sign Up | Sign In

Current Issue

cover

Read Issue #147

Opinions

Entertainment

Culture

Special Sections

Magazine Archives

 

Page 2

June 25, 2009 Issue

Crime Season

Jon Loomis releases next installment of crime fiction

words by Ken Szymanski
photography by Andrea Paulseth

    Part of his success is his ability to appeal to different crowds at the same time – like a songwriter who knows how to work intelligent lyrics into a catchy pop single. Loomis’ literary chops help him write with fast-reading clarity, punchy dialogue, and a plot with plenty of curveballs to keep the reader turning pages into the night. Add cool descriptions and characters with real depth, and the book ends up being something both his colleagues and beach readers can enjoy.

    The main character, aging detective Frank Coffin, is strung out from seeing one too many dead bodies on the job in Baltimore and returns home to Provincetown in hopes of leaving the violent crimes behind. There, Coffin ends up in the middle of a body count, reluctantly trying to solve murders in this formerly peaceful town. With Provincetown’s many drag queens and free-spirited eccentrics, trying to sort through murder leads is like wandering through Twin Peaks with the Cohen Brothers. 

    Both books actually read very cinematically; it’s easy to imagine these events on the big screen, tagged with strong R rating. A movie adaptation is the ultimate monetary payoff for an author – something his agent is currently shopping around. When asked about a dream cast, Loomis laughs and admits resistance at naming actors. “You end up embarrassing yourself,” he says. “It ends up saying more about you than it does the book.” But after minor prodding, he throws out a few names. Interestingly, for the part of Frank Coffin, he offers the same actor I imagined playing the role:  George Clooney (with 40 extra pounds and a bald spot). Clooney has shown he can be both comical and serious, much like the characters in Mating Season, and the author who created them. 

    Having already surpassed his publisher’s expectations – not to mention his own – Loomis knows Frank Coffin has quite a few miles left in him. His publishers say that if they continue the series they’d want a new book every 18 months.

    This all leads to a question. With all of this momentum, how have Loomis and his books stayed largely under the radar in the Chippewa Valley? That, book fans, is a mystery.

    Mating Season is available at Crossroad Books, 301 S Barstow St., Eau Claire.

Page 1   Page 2  

 

I Like This

Share/Save/Bookmark

Fiction,

Comments (0)

Post a Comment

 

Create an account or login to skip entering your name and email.

Allowed HTML tags: b,i,a[href],strong

Notify me of new comments via e-mail

 

Prove you are human. Type the numbers. Click the image for a new one if you cannot read it. Create an account or login and you will not have to do this.

 
You / Reader Comments

You can download all the past episodes of Underdog radio FREE @ http://www....

Brian Bethke
03/11/10

from article: Bethke Runs Deep

Brian's songs are wrote with heartfelt rhythms that follow through his guit...

Brooke Pederson
03/10/10

from article: Bethke Runs Deep

smart-bomb-iathalon?

MikePaulus
03/03/10

from article: City Ponders Terrain Park

While biathlon is a sport based on military activity, it was typically exer...

pookums
03/03/10

from article: City Ponders Terrain Park

Hey, watching the Olympics biathalon made me think-what a great american sp...

Knute
03/03/10

from article: City Ponders Terrain Park

You know what's even better!? Go to google and type in "Why won't". (j/k,...

Bryant
03/02/10

from article: Delayed Culture Shock

I've lived in Wisconsin since I was six (I'm 29 currently), but I really do...

Trae Dorn
03/02/10

from article: Delayed Culture Shock

Saw Grey Gardens over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. Grey Gardens ...

Steve Hanson
03/01/10

from article: Grey Gardens

 
V1 Insiders

Insider Giveaway:
Unwire yourself @Wireless Outlet

Win a $50 Gift Certificate from Wireless Outlet

Insider Giveaway:
Listen up @LongPlay Replay

Win a $50 Gift Certificate from LongPlay Replay

Insider Giveaway:
Treasure hunting at Eclectica

Win a $50 Gift Certificate from Eclectica on Grand