Kevin Burton Smith: Expert Witness

Why are you asking me all these questions?

The idea that some people actually think I know what I’m talking about always amuses me. The idea that other people think I don’t know what I’m talking about amuses me even more.

I don’t consider myself — and have never claimed to be — the be-all and end-all of knowledge, but when pushed I guess I can fake it pretty well. I’m not a “self-appointed expert” — I’ve never appointed myself anything of the sort. But I know some stuff, and you’re free to listen to my opinions. Or not. Sorry, Anthony.

As a result, over the years, a few people have invited me to voice my opinions, including the CBC, Sleuth-TV, The Los Angeles Times, Booklist and Musica Jazz, among others, I’ve been asked to speak at various crime fiction events, gatherings and conventions, and I’ve written for January Magazine, The Rap Sheet, Mystery Scene, Deadly Pleasures and a whole bunch of other places. And other folks have quoted me in their own work.

Here are some of the places where I’ve risen up on my hind legs to speak, and refused to take the Fifth.

It is, of course, incomplete.

In chronological order. More listings and details to come…

• Bloody Words | Panelist
  Toronto, Canada
  June 2001
  I was a panelist, alongside Kerry Schooley and others, and Kerry and I hit it off right away. I still miss the big lug… he was just an awesome force, both as a writer and as a friend.
• “Book Beat”
  WPON, 1460 AM “Book Beat” Radio Interview
  2001
  Radio interview on a Detroit literary program, hosted by P.I. writer Lee Meadows.
  
• Bouchercon 2001 | Panel Moderator
  Washington, D.C.
  November 2001
  “Click Me Deadly”
  I moderated a panel on internet crime fiction. Co-panelists included Victoria Shea-Esposito, D.L. Browne and Jane Kelly. I liked Browne so much I later married her. Definitely a game-changer.
• CBC Radio Interview
  March 2, 2002
  Radio interview on a Montréal arts program about The Thrilling Detective Web Site. Support public broadcasting.
  
• Bloody Words | Panel Moderator
  Toronto, Canada
  June 2002
  Moderated a panel which included convention Guest-of-Honour Walter Mosley and Peter Robinson. A free-wheeling, swirling passionate discussion of crime fiction, politics and where they meet. One of my all-time favourite panels. At one point things got so giddily boisterous I asked the panellists if THEY had any questions for the audience. There were no survivors, but a rollicking good time was had by all.
• Left Coast Crime 2003 | Panelist
  February 28-March 2, 2003
  Pasadena, California
  Panelist, alongside Jack Bludis, Eddie Muller, Woody Haut and William F. Nolan, on hard-boiled detective fiction, Chandler’s influence and other goodies. A special panel for me — the Girl Detective and I were on our honeymoon.
• Bouchercon 34
  October 16-19, 2003
  Las Vegas, Nevada
  I was on a panel, but damn if I can remember what it was.
  
• Bouchercon 2004 | Panelist
  Toronto, Canada
  October 2004
  Panelist. Another one I have to track down.
• Bouchercon 2006 | Panel Moderator
  September 28-October 1, 2006
  Madison, Wisconsin
  “I Could Kick Your…”
  I moderated and participated in a panel on “manliness” with authors Brett Battles, Michael A. Black, J.D. Rhoades and John McFettridge. Then we all went out to have pedicures and facials….
• “America’s Top 25 Sleuths” | Commentary
  The Sleuth Network
  Autumn 2006
  My television debut. I was interviewed on several television and film detectives for a 90-minute documentary which aired frequently (and may still be in rotation) on the satellite/cable network that specializes in crime fiction. A truncated version appeared as a back-up feature on one The Rockford File DVD sets.
• The Los Angeles Times | Calendar Section
  February 21, 2007
  “Latest Twist from L.A.’s Crais”
  I was interviewed by journalist Scott Timberg extensively, and quoted in his profile of Robert Crais.
• Noircast Special #2: Alternative Noir Publications | Interview Subject
  May 18, 2007
  This “Noircast Special,” by Shannon Clute and Richard Edwards, hosts of the popular podcast features “Out of the Past” and “Behind the Black Mask,” featured interviews with the creators of three alternative noir publications: Tee Morris, founder of podiobooks (www.podiobooks.com) and author of the fantasy-hardboiled podiobook “Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword;” Seth Harwood, author of the podiobook “Jack Wakes Up” starring movie-star one-hit-wonder and ex-drug-addict Jack Palms, and me. They introduced me as the “creator of the superlative “Thrilling Detective” website and ezine” but I still think I was there mostly to cleanse the palate. I dunno… I don’t think it’s my finest moment (does anyone really like listening to themselves talk?) but it was fun chatting with Shannon and Richard.
• “America’s Top Sleuths” | Commentary
  Back-up features on DVD releases of The Rockford Files (Season Four),Murder, She Wrote (Season Six) and Columbo: The Mystery Movie Collection
  Spring 2006
  My “television debut” from the Sleuth Network, featuring me and several other talking heads, repackaged and boiled down to the top ten sleuths, tacked on as a back-up feature on assorted DVD sets, including The Rockford Files, Murder, She Wrote, and probably a few others. But it’s being included on the Rockford package that I’m most proud of. I’m a stone-cold fan.
  I mean, come on. Jimbo, Angel, Rocky, Beth, Dennis and me? How cool is that? I wish my mom was still alive — she’d get a real kick out of THAT one.
• The Los Angeles Times | Calendar Section
  June 22, 2007
  “Mystery writer prowls the city’s unseen streets” by Josh Getlin
  Interviewed by journalist Josh Getlin extensively, and quoted in his profile of John Shannon.
• Crime Prevention 101 | Guest
  December 2010
  I was a guest on this weekly, hour-long, magazine-format web-based variety show and podcast, hosted by Susan Bartelstone, which offers an optimistic perspective on a very sober subject. We discussed Christmas gifts for mystery readers.
  
• Lancaster Public Library | Panelist/Moderator
  Meet the Local /Authors and Writers
  November 5, 2011
  I was part of a meet-and-greet thing at the library down the road, and moderated a Q&A/panel on self-publishing. Diane also attended, and moderated a panel on fiction.
• Publisher’s Weekly
  November 18, 2011
  “Parker’s Brothers” by Lenny Picker
  I’m quoted in this overview of the P.I. genre, and Robert Parker’s influence on it. As well, Picker kicks off with a great quote from Harlan Coben that I slipped him. The article’s accompanied by another great article, by the way, “A Suitable Job for a Woman” by Jordan Foster.
  
• Musica Jazz
  February 2012
  “Il jazz nei gialli? Un falso storico!” by Franco Bergoglio & Luca Conti
  My first-ever Italian interview, in which I’m grilled about the connection between jazz and hard-boiled crime fiction. Supposedly I’m utterly brilliant, or at least that’s what journalist Franco Bergoglio told me.
  
• Likely Stories: A Booklist Blog
  May 2012
  As part of the festivities for “Mystery Month,” editor Keir Graff from Booklist, the American Library Association publication, grilled me about The Thrilling Detective Web Site. He called me “affable and entertaining.” There goes my reputation…
• The Roll Top Desk
  “A Conversation with Kevin Burton Smith”
  February 2026
  Martine Proctor grills me about the birth of Thrilling Detective, my writing “career” and sundry other topics.

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• Kevin Burton Smith: It’s All About Me!