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Frank Vatel

@frankvatel312.bsky.social

1.2K followers 540 following 1.3K posts

Reader, watcher, and scribbler of noir. Also, book-cover illustrator and designer. Published @ Punk Noir Magazine, All Due Respect, Bristol Noir, and Reckon Review.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · Mar 17

Finally got to combine my day job—illustration and design—with my love of crime fiction. That’s right, I’m officially a pulp-cover artist. DM me, writers and publishers. I work for reasonable rates!

And buy BOP CITY SWING by M.E. Proctor & Russell Thayer. It’s an amazing hardboiled novel!

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 23h

blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/08/1...

Hundreds Could Be Freed From ICE Custody After Warrantless Arrest Ruling

Immigration attorneys said they have already identified more than 200 arrests that potentially violate the consent decree. However, they said those 200 arrests are likely "just the tip of the iceberg....

blockclubchicago.org

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 1d

Calling it right now. This should be a series. Wastrel ex-journalist marooned in the Mediterranean, sipping Negronis, taking random detective work to fund his slow dissolution.
Unfortunately (spoiler alert) he’s offered a writing gig at story’s end. Hopefully he botches it and returns to sleuthing.🤞

Nick Kolakowski @nkolakowski.bsky.social · 2d

I deeply appreciated the chance to write a gnarly little mystery set on Capri, complete with a dead fashion mogul, a shipwreck, and an annoying little dog! #amwriting #mystery

DoSomeDamage @dosomedamage.bsky.social · 2d

The Man Who Hated Dogs
New fiction by @nkolakowski.bsky.social
in Cold Caller Magazine

coldcallermag.substack.com/p/the-man-wh...

Reposted by Frank Vatel

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 1d

My god.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

WATCH: Trump’s lawless Ice goons shoot an unarmed priest in the head with a pepper ball. Completely out of control.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 1d

These ICE cucks are on such a power trip. Lots of overcompensating going on.

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Video: ICE agents clash with cemetery workers attempting to help man in Des Plaines River

It is currently unknown whether the cemetery workers involved will face charges in connection with the incident on Tuesday.

www.yahoo.com

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 1d

My god.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

WATCH: Trump’s lawless Ice goons shoot an unarmed priest in the head with a pepper ball. Completely out of control.

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Reposted by Frank Vatel

Dr. Tracy A Pearson, J.D. 💙 🇺🇸 🇺🇦🇪🇺🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @tracyexplains.com · 2d

Now that the Supreme Court denied Ghislaine Maxwell’s request to appeal to SCOTUS,

there are zero procedural reasons not to release the Epstein files.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 1d

When your personal nemesis is a child with Asperger’s, it may be time to reevaluate

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 1d

If you’re going to pay tribute to that bastard Otto Preminger, at least put ANGEL FACE in prime time. DAISY KENYON doesn’t have enough psychotic women or vehicular homicides for my taste. #TCMParty

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

In my neighborhood, ICE officers have been spotted pissing in alleys because store and restaurant owners won't let them dine or use their restrooms.

"Don't help the enemy!" lives on.

IdleTalk12 @idletalk12.bsky.social · 2d

This sign caught my attention the first time I saw the film.
This is London during The Blitz and the sign says "Don't help the enemy."
#filmnoirclub

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

You have physical porn lying around in 2025?

Damn. I salute your commitment to vintage, Gayer.

#TCMParty

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

Ha!!!

Seamus Hindsight @gitrithm.bsky.social · 2d

Laura’s bedroom looks like the Oval Office does now. #TCMParty

Reposted by Frank Vatel

𝖂𝖆𝖍𝖗𝖍𝖆𝖋𝖙𝖎𝖌 @wahrhaftig.bsky.social · 2d

📚✍️

Grahame Greene is one of my favorite #NoirLit writers, not only did he write the novel on which

MINISTRY OF FEAR (1944)

Is based he wrote so many more novels that were adapted into Film Noir, e.g., THIS GUN FOR HIRE & BRIGHTON ROCK!

#FilmNoirClub 🗝️ #FilmNoir 🕵️
#MinistryOfFear 😱 #BookSky 📖

📚✍️

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

#TCMParty #Laura

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

Coy’s anthologies are simply brilliant. And what a title!

Coy Hall @coyhall.bsky.social · 2d

In an age lit by fire, only the most curious and driven souls turned a flame to the unknown. The least fortunate peered beyond the veil.

This World of Vile Wonder: Horror Tales of the Scientific Revolution releases October 20. Ebook preorder up now on Amazon & Kobo ⬇️

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

“Madeleine!” he shouted.
She answered with a shrill cry and a shadow passed across the opening in the wall. Biting his knuckles he counted, as, when a boy, he had counted between the lightning and the thunder. And the thunder came—a horrid thud from below.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

Don’t know what’s wrong with the Dunkins in Joe-ville, but their coffee has a pretty big reputation nationwide.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

Legendary coffee. Above-average donuts. We’re talking mainstream-brand standards here—a low bar.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

Yes!

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

A short, definitive list of mainstream brands that are boring and ubiquitous but still put out a good product:

Coca-Cola, New Balance, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin’ Donuts, Apple, Popeyes, Taylor Swift.

That is all.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 2d

Down & Out, the crime-fiction publisher, is folding. So that's sad thing number one.

The second depressing thing: they have informed their writers that no more payments will be forthcoming.

Don't know much else about the situation.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 3d

Nah. Too bougie.

Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 3d

The Palmer House has the best breakfast buffet in the world, but something tells me the Guard won’t foot the bill for that. The U.S. armed forces don’t have ICE money, after all.

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 3d

😂😂

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Frank Vatel @frankvatel312.bsky.social · 3d

“We will root out domestic terrorism wherever we find it—Portillo’s, Malnati’s, Wiener’s Circle, it doesn’t matter. No fast-food establishment can withstand the coming storm.”

Reposted by Frank Vatel

Curtis Ippolito @curtisippolito.bsky.social · 3d

Agree. They owe me as well and have yet to answer my emails. They said back in April that they would get back to us in June w/ an accounting. Never did. Do they owe much in royalties from Stealing Paradise? Likely not, but it’s the principle that matters. Always pay your authors. Pretty simple.

Beau Johnson 🇨🇦 🪓 @beaujohnson44.bsky.social · 3d

Do not buy my books from Amazon or Down and Out Books directly. I will not get paid. I should get paid, as per my contract, but in an email from D&O I’ve been told ‘no further payments will be issued.’
It absolutely blows it is ending this way, but man, pay your authors what they are owed.

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