Archive for Awards

2023: That’s a Wrap!

The year 2023 has come to a close!

Two of Raymond’s books have dominated the news of the past year.

First, The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way, published in October 2022 from Beaufort Books, has been earning acclaim. It won the IPPY Gold (1st Place) Award in the Mystery Category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, it was a Traditional Fiction finalist in Chicago Writers Association’s Book of the Year Awards, and it was a SHELF UNBOUND 2022 Best Indie Book Finalist and Notable Indie!

Second, Zero Minus Ten, Raymond’s first James Bond novel (originally published in 1997), was reprinted in the UK in October 2023 from Ian Fleming Publications, with a new Introduction by Raymond himself and a new cover.

Third, Raymond is a contributor to Brutal & Strange: Stories Inspired by the Songs of Elvis Costello, an anthology published by Down and Out Books in December 2023. The collection, edited by Jim Fusilli, features a track listing of many outstanding crime writers. Raymond’s tale, “The Beat,” is a meditation on Costello’s tune of the same name from his 1978 album, This Year’s Model.

Brutal and Strange Cover

Fourth, Raymond appears in the anthology, Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2022, an anthology of pulp, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, horror, and plain ol’ awesome short stories by 28 fantastic authors (plus illustrations!). It contains Raymond’s tale, “Sea People.” Edited by Robert Greenberger, the book was published in January 2023 by Crazy 8 Publishing.

Thrilling Adventure Yarns cover

Order “Zero Minus Ten” from the James Bond Books page!

Order “The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way,” “Brutal & Strange,” and “Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2022” from the Fiction/Non-Fiction page (scroll to the bottom of the page for the short story collections)!

Subscribe to Raymond’s YouTube Channel to see and hear his eclectic repertoire of 100+ classic rock, movie music, and original compositions on piano!

Raymond Benson Plays Piano

Raymond Benson plays piano at home.

OF COURSE, many of Raymond’s previous books go on sale as e-books at various times. It’s always best to follow Raymond’s Facebook and Twitter posts to take advantage of these sales. In the meantime, his recent novels like BLUES IN THE DARK, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT, THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, HOTEL DESTINY: A GHOST NOIR, and the five-book serial, THE BLACK STILETTO, are all still available. Find them on the Books pages (James Bond; The Black Stiletto; Fiction & Non-Fiction; Tie-Ins)!

RAYMOND SENDS HUGS TO EVERYONE AND SAYS, “HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!”

“Mad, Mad Murders…” Wins IPPY Gold Award!

THE MAD, MAD MURDERS OF MARIGOLD WAY has won the IPPY Gold (1st Place) Award in the Mystery Category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards!

Publisher’s Weekly gave the book a STARRED review, saying: “This stellar mystery set in May 2020… focuses on TV writer turned novelist Scott Hatcher and Rachel Bergman, Scott’s dutiful housewife neighbor, who live in Lincoln Grove, a quiet Chicago suburb. When their respective spouses turn out to have gone missing on the same day, Lt. Pat Dante, of the Lincoln Grove PD, investigates. The stakes rise with the discovery of the remains of the missing spouses in a house destroyed by arson. Curiously, large amounts of personal protective equipment, apparently stolen, were burned in the fire. Scott and Rachel fall under suspicion, and they grow closer as Dante tries to untangle a spiraling web of crime. Though all the characters are painted with convincing brushstrokes, it’s the narrator, not identified until the end, who steals the show. “I’m the storyteller here, and I can tell the tale any way I choose!” he declares, and he freely editorializes and speculates about others, himself, and the troubled times following the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This wild roller coaster of a novel is an attention-grabber from first page to last.”

See other early reviews on the Fiction Reviews page!

Order now from the Fiction/Non-Fiction Page! Available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook.

Fans of Thornton Wilder’s classic Our Town and films by the sardonic Coen Brothers will be captivated by the warped Americana of The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way.

The book was also a SHELF UNBOUND 2022 Best Indie Book Finalist and Notable Indie!

Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Finalist 2022

Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Notable 2022

 
 
 
 
 
 

In other recent news, Raymond appears in the anthology, THRILLING ADVENTURE YARNS 2022, an anthology of pulp, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, horror, and plain ol’ awesome short stories by 28 fantastic authors (plus illustrations!). It contains Raymond’s tale, “SEA PEOPLE.” Robert Greenberger is the editor and producer/overseer, and the authors include Raymond plus Lester Dent, David Gerrold, Aaron Rosenberg, Bart Sears & Michelle Sears, Geoffrey Thorne, Glenn Hauman, Greg Cox, Hildy Silverman, Jean Rabe. Jenifer Rosenberg, Jody Lynn Nye, Kathleen David, Peter David, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Lucienne Diver, Mark Verheiden, Mary Fan, Michael Jan Friedman, Paul Kupperberg, Caitlin Rozakis, Russ Colchamiro, and Will Murray.

Thrilling Adventure Yarns cover

You can order the book in the Short Stories section at the bottom of the Fiction/Non-Fiction Page!

Subscribe to Raymond’s YouTube Channel to see and hear his eclectic repertoire of 100+ classic rock, movie music, and original compositions on piano!

Raymond Benson Plays Piano

Raymond Benson plays piano at home.

OF COURSE, many of Raymond’s previous books go on sale as e-books at various times. It’s always best to follow Raymond’s Facebook and Twitter posts to take advantage of these sales. In the meantime, his recent novels like BLUES IN THE DARK, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT, THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, HOTEL DESTINY: A GHOST NOIR, and the five-book serial, THE BLACK STILETTO, are all still available. Find them on the Books pages (James Bond; The Black Stiletto; Fiction & Non-Fiction; Tie-Ins)!

RAYMOND SENDS HUGS TO EVERYONE AND SAYS, “BE SAFE AND BE HEALTHY!”

2019 and The Decade–That’s a Wrap!

As the entire decade of the 2010s comes to a close, Raymond humbly shares with you what an amazing and busy ten years it has been.

Blues in the Dark Cover

In 2010, HUNT THROUGH NAPOLEON’S WEB was published, along with CHOICE OF WEAPONS, an anthology containing three of Raymond’s earlier James Bond novels.

2011 saw the publication of the first entry in a five-book serial that Raymond calls his “magnum opus”–THE BLACK STILETTO (from Oceanview Publishing). Additionally, two other novels were published as e-books (and subsequently became available in print and audiobook)–ARTIFACT OF EVIL and TORMENT–A LOVE STORY. Finally, Raymond’s tie-in, co-authored with filmmaker John Milius, HOMEFRONT–THE VOICE OF FREEDOM, was published. Crossroad Press also began publishing Raymond’s BACK LIST of original novels as e-books and audiobooks.

In 2012, THE BLACK STILETTO–BLACK & WHITE and HITMAN: DAMNATION were published. Additionally, all six of Raymond’s JAMES BOND NOVELS (originally published between 1997 and 2002) were made available as e-books.

James Bond Ebooks

In 2013, THE BLACK STILETTO–STARS & STRIPES made its debut from Oceanview Publishing.

The year 2014 was a busy one. THE BLACK STILETTO–SECRETS & LIES premiered, followed by Raymond’s collaboration with fellow 007 author Jeffery Deaver as co-editors of the annual Mystery Writers of America anthology, entitled ICE COLD–TALES OF INTRIGUE FROM THE COLD WAR. The collection contained short stories by both Raymond and Jeff, along with many other terrific authors and members of MWA. The year closed with the publication of the final book in the serial, THE BLACK STILETTO–ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS.

In 2015, Crossroad Press published an anthology of Raymond’s unpublished and previously published short stories, along with a stage play, entitled 12+1–TWELVE SHORT THRILLERS AND A PLAY. Raymond’s tie-in to the popular videogame, DYING LIGHT–NIGHTMARE ROW, was published in Poland. Finally, Oceanview published as an e-book anthology, THE BLACK STILETTO–THE COMPLETE SAGA.

12 + 1 by Raymond Benson

2016: DYING LIGHT–NIGHTMARE ROW was published in English.

In 2017, Raymond began a relationship with Skyhorse Publishing with the appearance of THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE. His short story, THE MacGUFFIN, was published as an e-book after appearing as “The Purple Bag” in the online magazine, HOP Media, in 2016.

2018 saw the publication of IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT.

In 2019, Raymond’s latest suspense novel, BLUES IN THE DARK, was published by Skyhorse’s new imprint, Arcade CrimeWise, and his musical score for the short film, GHOSTS IN THE INK, won the award for Best Score at the Vegas Movie Awards.

All of these works, as well as Raymond’s back list from the 80s, 90s, and 00s, are available for purchase on the various Books pages:
Fiction and Non-Fiction
The Black Stiletto Serial
James Bond Novels
Media Tie-Ins

RAYMOND WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ONWARD TO THE 2020s!

Lovey Award Winner

THE BLACK STILETTO: SECRETS & LIES won the Lovey Award for Best Suspense Novel of 2014 at the Love is Murder Writers Conference!

THE BLACK STILETTO named Best Book Serial of 2014

THE BLACK STILETTO: ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS won the award for “Best Book Serial of 2014” from Authors On The Air Global Radio Network!

A HARD DAY’S DEATH, now an Audiobook

THE BLACK STILETTO: STARS & STRIPES won the “Lovey” Award* for Best Suspense Novel of 2013!
*Love is Murder Conference Readers Choice Award

Raymond’s 2008 “rock ‘n’ roll thriller,” A HARD DAY’S DEATH, is now an Audiobook from Audible.com and Crossroad Press! Get it from Audible!