Saturday, September 08, 2012
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
BEAT to a PULP: Superhero: Keith Rawson,Thomas Pluck,Chad Eagleton,Steve Weddle,James Reasoner,Garnett Elliott,Kevin Burton Smith,Jake Hinkson,Scott D. Parker,David Cranmer: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: What makes a superhero? Someone with special powers ... Ordinary people doing good deeds ... Anyone with sophisticated technological gadgets and incredible agility? Superheroes can spring up from the most unexpected people in the most unusual places, and BEAT to a PULP: Superhero has gathered some of the best hardboiled and noir crime stories with a superhero bend. Billy Mitchell, the six-year-old "Red Avenger" in Kevin Burton Smith's tale, has an innocence and a special something that draws us to want to don a mask and tie a towel around our necks.
Bummer, Indeed
The Consumerist: In yet another example of why it's kind of crappy to be a grownup, the rule of "finders, keepers" doesn't work beyond the playground's boundaries. A federal judge ruled recently that 10 rare gold coins valued at about $80 million that had disappeared from the Philadelphia Mint decades ago belong to the U.S. government, and not a family that found them in a safety deposit box. Bummer.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Golfer shot in Reno after golf ball breaks window of nearby residence | Reno Gazette-Journal | rgj.com: A man is custody, suspected of grazing a Reno golfer with a shotgun pellet fired after the golfer had accidentally hit a golf ball through a window of a residence on Wycliff Road on Thursday afternoon, Reno police confirmed.
Friday, September 07, 2012
Free Today for Kindle
In Loco Parentis: Nigel Bird: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: IN LOCO PARENTIS is the debut novel of the prize-winning author of the critically acclaimed Dirty Old Town (And Other Stories).
Joe Campion is the kind of teacher that any child would want for their class.
He's also the kind of teacher that lots of mothers want to have. And some of them do.
When he becomes aware of the neglect and abuse suffered by a pupil in his care and witnesses an explosion of rage from the music teacher in the school, he decides the systems in place to deal with such instances aren't fit for purpose.
His impulsive nature, dedication to his pupils and his love of women lead him into a chain of events that would cause even the most consummate professional to unravel.
The Decline of Western Civilization Continues Apace
Fox News: Discovery Fit & Health is always pushing the envelope with their programming, but the network is going a step further with their new show, “I Was Impaled,” which features unbelievable stories of people who ingested or pierced their bodies with foreign objects.
Free Today for Kindle
Behold the Child: Harry Shannon: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: This short novel first appeared in the Cemetery Dance anthology "Brimstone Turnpike." Each character was to be given a brief encounter with a wise old man named Johnny Divine, and one object that would affect the outcome of the story. In award-winning author Harry Shannon's entry, Sam Kenzie is an LAPD cop who can't escape his obsession with a serial killer due to demons of his own.
Free Today for Kindle
Hatchet Force Journal Issue #1: Jack Badelaire,Henry Brown,Mack Maloney,John Mayhem,Tom Johnson,Joe Kenney,Brad Mengel,Christopher Mills: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: "Celebrating Stories of Action and Adventure!" This debut periodical was created by Jack Badelaire, owner of Post Modern Pulps, an action-adventure fan blog. Articles in this issue include:
- An extensive interview with author Mack Maloney, creator of the post-apocalyptic aerial adventure series WINGMAN, and the new PIRATE HUNTERS series of novels.
- Reviews of Able Team #1: Tower of Terror and The Penetrator #1: The Target is H.
- An in-depth look at Sam Peckinpah's most personal film, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. - An action-packed excerpt from Hell & Gone by Henry Brown.
And much more!
Why the Best Mysteries Are Written in English
Why the Best Mysteries Are Written in English: It is an inarguable fact that virtually everything of interest and significance in the history of detective fiction has been written in the English language, mainly by American and English authors.
This is not chauvinistic, racist, insular, or opinionated; it is merely reportage.
Otto Penzler has more at the link.
This is not chauvinistic, racist, insular, or opinionated; it is merely reportage.
Otto Penzler has more at the link.
Surely You'll Agree
Telegraph: Airplane - which features classic one liners such as 'I am serious and don't call me Shirley' - came out top in research conducted by a panel of members of movie subscription service Lovefilm.
They calculated the precise number of 'laughs a minute' for the top 10 comedies chosen by Lovefilm members.
They calculated the precise number of 'laughs a minute' for the top 10 comedies chosen by Lovefilm members.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Herald Sun: A YOUNG man serving a court-imposed community-based order nearly chopped a mate's fingers off his right hand with a stolen meat cleaver at a birthday party after teasing taunts were made about his new neck tattoo, . . .
Drought deals setback to prairie chicken recovery efforts
Art Modell, R. I. P.
ProFootballTalk: Art Modell, who owned the Cleveland Browns for 35 years and then controversially moved them to Baltimore where they became the Ravens, has died at the age of 87.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Protectors: Stories to Benefit PROTECT: Andrew Vachss,Joe R. Lansdale,Charlie Stella,Michael A. Black,Chet Williamson,Wayne D. Dundee,Charles de Lint,James Reasoner,George Pelecanos,Ken Bruen: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: 41 writers. One cause. We've rallied a platoon of crime, western, thriller, fantasy, noir, horror and transgressive authors to support PROTECT's important work: lobbying for legislation that protects children from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Powerful stories from George Pelecanos, Andrew Vachss, Joe R. Lansdale, Charles de Lint, Ken Bruen, Chet Williamson, James Reasoner, Charlie Stella, Michael A. Black, Wayne Dundee, Roxane Gay, Ray Banks, Tony Black, Les Edgerton and 16 more, with 100% of proceeds going to PROTECT.
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+Let+Me+Kill+You+Sweetheart+Hitman+2+Canyon+Books075.jpg)
Croc Update
Depressed woman 'fed herself to crocodiles' at popular Thai tourist attraction
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
AbeBooks’ Most Expensive Sales in August 2012
AbeBooks’ Most Expensive Sales in August 2012: The Old Man and the Sea is still in demand 60 years after its original publication. Ernest Hemingway’s novel was published in September 1952 and last month AbeBooks.com sold a signed first edition of this famous book for $18,500. The Old Man and the Sea was Hemingway’s final work published during his lifetime. The $18,500 price is a record for a Hemingway sale on AbeBooks and it was August’s third most expensive sale on the site.
The story was originally published in Life Magazine on September 1, 1952 and the book version followed on September 8. It has been reported that Life sold five million copies of that particular issue.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Joe South, R. I. P.
Oldies Music -- News: Songwriter and singer Joe, South-- who wrote Lynn Anderson’s hit, “Rose Garden” and sang “Games People Play”-- died Wednesday (September 5). The Atlanta native was 72. Born Joseph Souter, Joe was still a teenager when he began songwriting, joining Bill Lowery’s Atlanta publishing company and playing guitar for NRC Records’ house band. . . . . It was 1969’s “Games People Play” (#12) that brought him recording success, followed with “Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home” (#41-1969) and “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” (#12-1970).
Uh-Oh
They should be doing a film of Dave Zeltserman's Monster.
Media - Variety: Observers have described Davis' "Frankenstein" as a revisionist, sci-fi take on Mary Shelley's 19th century novel. Fox and Davis have kept details on the project quiet, no doubt in part because of competition from other Frankenstein-based projects at Ghost House Pictures and RT Features. Landis' version is said to focus on themes of friendship and redemption.
Media - Variety: Observers have described Davis' "Frankenstein" as a revisionist, sci-fi take on Mary Shelley's 19th century novel. Fox and Davis have kept details on the project quiet, no doubt in part because of competition from other Frankenstein-based projects at Ghost House Pictures and RT Features. Landis' version is said to focus on themes of friendship and redemption.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
FOX16.com Little Rock, AR: The former girlfriend of state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson was charged Wednesday with third-degree domestic battery after allegedly hitting the Republican with a preserved alligator head during a dispute.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
I can vouch for this one. If you like reading about how writers go about their jobs, check it out.
MAKING STORY: TWENTY-ONE WRITERS ON HOW THEY PLOT (TWENTY-ONE WRITERS #1) (THE TWENTY-ONE WRITERS PROJECT): Bill Crider,Meredith Cole,Jeremy Duns,Brett Battles,Cara Black,Lisa Brackmann,Rachel Brady,Rebecca Cantrell,Jeffrey Cohen,Timothy Hallinan: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: It's often said that everyone has a book inside him or her -- but how do you plot it? In MAKING STORY, edited by the Edgar- and Macavity-nominated author Timothy Hallinan, twenty-one novelists--who have written more than 100 books among them and sold hundreds of thousands of copies--talk about how they go about turning an idea into a plot, and a plot into a book. MAKING STORY offers practical, experience-based advice from people who have repeatedly sat down to write a good book and succeeded in doing just that. The writers who will help you to create your story are Michael Stanley, Kelli Stanley, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Jeffrey Siger, Zoe Sharp, Stephen Jay Schwartz, Mike Orenduff, Debbi Mack, Wendy Hornsby, Gar Anthony Haywood, Timothy Hallinan, Leighton Gage, Jeremy Duns, Bill Crider, Meredith Cole, Jeffrey Cohen, Rebecca Cantrell, Rachel Brady, Lisa Brackmann, Cara Black, and Brett Battles. This is an indispensable book for aspiring authors and the first in a series, each focusing on a different writing challenge.
In Time
Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) doesn't like the system, and when his mother dies on the same night that he comes into 100 years of time, he decides to take action. The rest of the film is a cat-and-mouse chase after Will kidnaps Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), the daughter of a guy who has millions of years and is apparently in some kind of control of who gets them. Will decides to steal some time and give it away to break the system. The more you think about the plot, the sillier it is, unless maybe you want to read it as a metaphor for the current divide in society based on hard currency. Probably better just to go with the flow and have a little fun. Not a lot, but enough for a lazy afternoon. You have the time to spare, don't you?
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No Comment Department
News from The Associated Press: NY COURT TO DECIDE IF LAP DANCE IS TAX-EXEMPT ART
Popular but Panned - Fanny Hurst
AbeBooks: Popular but Panned - Fanny Hurst: Fannie Hurst (1889 - 1968) was an American novelist who enjoyed her heyday during the post-World War 1 era. Although almost all of her titles are out-of-print and are not well remembered today, Hurst's books were translated into dozens of languages at the time and were considered bestsellers.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . . .
Chaos In Walmart: CBS Denver: BROOMFIELD, Colo. (CBS4) – Police in Broomfield have identified the man they say set a fire inside a Walmart and threatened customers inside with a knife.
Tapes by Ringo Starr's first band found
BBC News - Tapes by Ringo Starr's first band found: Recordings by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Ringo Starr's first band and one of the most popular groups of the early Merseybeat era, have been unearthed after more than 50 years.
The band were at the forefront of the Liverpool scene but never made it big.
The tapes were recorded in March 1960, two years before Starr was poached by Brian Epstein to join The Beatles.
Found in Storm's sister's cellar, the tapes will form the group's first and only album release later this month.
The band were at the forefront of the Liverpool scene but never made it big.
The tapes were recorded in March 1960, two years before Starr was poached by Brian Epstein to join The Beatles.
Found in Storm's sister's cellar, the tapes will form the group's first and only album release later this month.
Have I Mentioned that It's Also Available for Your Kindle?
Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen: A Dan Rhodes Mystery (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries): Bill Crider: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Dan Rhodes, sheriff of Blacklin County, Texas, is called to the Beauty Shack, where the young and pretty Lynn Ashton has been found dead, bashed over the head with a hairdryer. The owner said Lynn had gone to the salon late to meet an unknown client. There was a lot of gossip going on about Lynn before her death, but no one seems to really know much about her, or they’re not telling Rhodes. Lynn was known to flirt, and it’s possible an angry wife or jilted lover had something to do with her death. The salon owner suspects two outsiders who have been staying in an abandoned building across the street. While he investigates the murder, Rhodes must also deal with the theft of copper and car batteries, not to mention a pregnant nanny goat that is terrorizing the town.
Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen is a wonderful entry in this always delightful series by award-winning author Bill Crider.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
UPI.com: This all may be just a bunch of hot air, but a judge in Memphis, Dan Brown, ruled that a 33-year-old man, Michael Bridgewater, can be charged with assault for pointing a leaf blower at a woman.
Overlooked Movies: Bernie
Bernie is Bernie Tiede, an assistant funeral director in Carthage, Texas, and the movie's his story. It's all pretty much true. I read the original article about Bernie in Texas Monthly, and the movie follows it right along. Bernie befriends a wealthy widow, played by Shirley MacLaine, and things go downhill. If you haven't read about it, then that's all you need to know. It's like every noir story you've ever read, except it's not.
A lot of roles in the movie are filled by residents of Carthage, and they're all wonderful at just playing themselves in documentary-style interviews. They'd steal the show if it weren't for Jack Black, who's note perfect all the way through. (Another reason I liked this movie is that I know someone who's just exactly like Bernie. Exactly.) MacLaine is good, too, and so is Matthew McConaughey in a small role.
I recommend this highly, especially if you're from Texas.
Monday, September 03, 2012
Michael Clarke Duncan, R. I. P.
Michael Clarke Duncan dead, 'Green Mile' actor was 54: Michael Clarke Duncan, the hulking, prolific character actor whose dozens of films included an Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in "The Green Mile" and such other box office hits as "Armageddon," ''Planet of the Apes" and "Kung Fu Panda," is dead at age 54.
Sally Fellows, R. I. P.
Mystery Fanfare: Sally Fellows: R.I.P.: Sally Fellows, fan, reader, reviewer, and friend, passed away last night--peacefully in her sleep. She was a great supporter of everyone and everything in the mystery community.
I always tried to work in at least a short visit with Sally at Bouchercon each year. She'll be greatly missed.
I always tried to work in at least a short visit with Sally at Bouchercon each year. She'll be greatly missed.
Texas Association of Magicians Show
The Texas Association of Magicians had its annual convention in Houston this year, and for the first time the magic shows on Saturday and Sunday evenings were open to the public. Judy and I went to the one on Saturday. We had a great time, though it could've been better. The show was in a hotel ballroom, which mean that the seating was in chairs on the floor, and the first two sections of seats were reserved for the magicians. So it was hard to see the close-up magic. Easy enough to see the other illusions, though, and there were screens with video of everything. Since the performers were working in front of their peers, they wanted to be on top of their game, and they all did a great job.
Here's the lineup:
David Hira - Texas
Here's the lineup:
David Hira - Texas
Dallas Fort Worth based magician David Hira is a magician, comedian and motivational speaker. David has performed his magic internationally including such places as Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, on cruise ships in the Mediterranean, and on stage in London and in Sydney and has appeared on a total of 36 television shows in both the U.S. and Japan.
Joe Givan and Carol Massie - Colorado
Dream Masterz Award Winning Magic Team, Joe Givan and Carol Massie specialize in the art of magic, illusion and special effects. They have won 3 World championships in magic competitions. They had their own show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and have starred on Television Worldwide including the “Worlds Greatest Supermagicians” representing the United States, on T.V. in the U.S, Japan and in Canada. They have also performed on cruise ships everywhere.
Tony Clark - California
Tony was nominated for Stage Magician of the Year by the Magic Castle, as well as World’s best Sleight-of-hand Magician at the International Magic Awards. He was named World Class Stage Champion by the Society of American Magicians, and he is a recipient of the Bill Baird Award for Excellence in Manipulation. Tony is the executive producer and stars in his own full evening show, Phantasy, at the Horizon Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. In Addition to being a world-renowned performer, Tony has his own production company under which he manufactures a unique line of magic products, lectures on all areas of magic, consults, and produces shows.
Asi Wind - New York
Asi Wind is globally hailed by magicians as being one of the few performers in the world to constantly innovate, develop, and perform entirely original material. Indeed, when a magician wants to be fooled, he attends Asi’s show. No surprise then that a committee of his peers recently presented him with the International Merlin Award for “Most Innovative Show” – an award previously given to David Copperfield, Criss Angel, and Penn & Teller.
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B-Movie Legends Troma Entertainment Releases 150 Films On YouTube
B-Movie Legends Troma Entertainment Releases 150 Films On YouTube | Techdirt: Troma Entertainment is a giant in the B-movie world, creating and releasing tons of movies, including its most famous film, The Toxic Avenger. Company founder and film director Lloyd Kaufman (who has written a guest post for us in the past), recently alerted us to the fact that Troma has recently released 150 of its movies for free on YouTube, including some older films which they just distribute.
So, if you want to watch the 1952 classic, Abbot and Costello: Jack and the Beanstalk, or Bela Lugosi in The Corpse Vanishes or The Invisible Ghost you can. Or you can go for more modern fare like Zombie Werewolves Attack! and Blood, Boobs & Beast... starring JJ Abrams (in case you're wondering, that's actually a documentary about Don Dohler, another B-movie creator).
So, if you want to watch the 1952 classic, Abbot and Costello: Jack and the Beanstalk, or Bela Lugosi in The Corpse Vanishes or The Invisible Ghost you can. Or you can go for more modern fare like Zombie Werewolves Attack! and Blood, Boobs & Beast... starring JJ Abrams (in case you're wondering, that's actually a documentary about Don Dohler, another B-movie creator).
Sunday, September 02, 2012
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Bluff City Brawler (Fight Card): Heath Lowrance,Jack Tunney,Mel Odom,Paul Bishop: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: "Tom Riley makes a meager living in the ring in Detroit, but it’s good enough for him. He ain’t ambitious. A few bucks and a rather high opinion of himself are all he needs. But when he accidentally kills a connected mobster, he’s forced on the lam and winds up in Memphis—the Bluff City. He struggles to make a new life for himself there. But his past mistakes are about to catch up to him, in spades. The Detroit Mob is closing in, and Tom’s future is about to be decided in blood—and in the ring."
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
THUGLIT Issue One: Johnny Shaw,Mike Wilkerson,Jason Duke,Jordan Harper,Matthew Funk,Terrence McCauley,Hilary Davidson,Court Merrigan,Todd Robinson: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: The worlds greatest multi-award winning crime fiction magazine is BACK after a two-year hiatus with eight hardcore short stories to rock your literary world.
IN THIS ISSUE OF THUGLIT:
LUCY IN THE PIT by Jordan Harper
BASTARDS OF APATHYby Jason Duke
THE GLEANER'S UNION by Court Merrigan
MAGPIE by Hilary Davidson
LADY MADELINE'S DIVE by Terrence P. McCauley
SPILL SITE by Matthew C. Funk
A CLEAN WHITE SUN by Mike Wilkerson
LUCK by Johnny Shaw
PLUS: an exclusive first look at Tyrus Books upcoming novel from Todd Robinson, THE HARD BOUNCE
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Wolf Creek: Bloody Trail: Clay More,James J. Griffin,Troy D. Smith,James Reasoner,L.J. Martin,Cheryl Pierson,Ford Fargo: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Welcome to Wolf Creek. Here you will find many of your favorite authors, working together as Ford Fargo to weave a complex and textured series of Old West adventures like no one has ever seen. Each author writes from the perspective of his or her own unique character, blended together into a single novel. In our first adventure, the town of Wolf Creek is assaulted by a small army of former Confederate guerrillas, who rob the bank and leave dead innocents in their wake. Sheriff G.W. Satterlee and his posse must overtake the outlaws before they reach Indian Territory—but the chase is complicated by the secret pasts of several posse members…
Appearing as Ford Fargo in this volume: Clay More James J. Griffin Troy D. Smith James Reasoner L. J. Martin Cheryl Pierson
About the author: Beneath the mask, Ford Fargo is not one but a posse of America's leading western authors who have pooled their talents to create a series of rip-snortin', old fashioned sagebrush sagas. Saddle up. Read ‘em Cowboy! These are the legends of Wolf Creek.
Makes Sense to Me
Shropshire Star: Imagine: The economy’s in a slump. Youth unemployment is soaring. You’ve no idea where your next job will come from. In times like these, there can only be one solution – buy a crocodile.
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