Thursday, February 09, 2012
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
I've read two of the seven stories so far, the hardboiled "Cold Storage" and the humorous "Ken Bruen is Dead, Alas." Based on those two alone, I can tell you that this is a big bargain at 99 cents (free to borrow if you're a member of Amazon Prime). So grab it now.Amazon.com: Bad Men eBook: Graham Powell: Kindle Store: Killers. Crooks. Crazies. And Ken Bruen.
Bad Men is seven hardboiled short stories by Graham Powell. Watch as depraved reprobates boost loose cash, execute contracts, go off their meds, and go to jail.
Contents:
Grace, Period - A wiseguy turned informer takes his tricks to a new trade - bookselling!
Payday: A thousand dollars is a lot of money to an ex-con down on his luck.
Cold Storage: Four mooks have the perfect plan for their biggest score.
The Leap: He went to prison to send a killer to Hell.
The Ins And Outs: Had he but known - even paranoid people have real enemies!
Cutting Diamonds: Two mob enforcers play detective. What could go wrong?
Ken Bruen Is Dead, Alas: The Pope of Galway meets his end.
I'll Bet the App Name Was Ed Gorman's Idea
Cedar Rapids sees 1,000 downloads of new city app despite name: The city of Cedar Rapids boasts more than 1,000 downloads of its new custom-designed smartphone application in the first month and the acronym of CR App has turned out to be a rather effective marketing tool.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Free Book for Your Kindle!
I have story in this one. It's "Top of the World," my hardboiled homage to Jim Thompson, among many others. I can safely say it's worth the price of the book.Amazon.com: Favorite Kills (Top Suspense Anthologies) eBook: Harry Shannon, Bill Crider, Vicki Hendricks, Max Allan Collins, Paul Levine, Libby Hellmann, Dave Zeltserman, Lee Goldberg, Joel Goldman, Ed Gorman: Kindle Store: We're back. We hope you're sitting down, and that you've finally caught your breath from Top Suspense, our first bestselling anthology. You're about to take another screaming thrill ride with twelve master storytellers. Each Top Suspense Group author is an award winning, highly acclaimed pro whose compelling and unforgettable tales have been published all over the world--and, in some cases, have even become blockbuster movies and TV shows.
In this book, Favorite Kills, we've collected our very best short stories. All major prize-winning tales and personal favorites, each one a knock-out punch of suspense.
So hold on tight my friend, or better yet, tie yourself down. You're in for another breathtaking wild ride of seething sex and unexpected twists, dark humor, and certain death. And when it's all over, and you're sitting there spent and satisfied, soaked in a flop sweat of terror and exhilaration, we're gonna be right there to bring you even more.
Paperback Rack
Taken at the Kayo Books display at last weekend's San Francisco Antiquarian Book, Print & Paper Fair. Photo by Ray Torrence.Hat tip to Art Scott.
So It's Come To This
Helicopter Parents Hover In The Workplace : NPR: So-called helicopter parents first made headlines on college campuses a few years ago, when they began trying to direct everything from their children's course schedules to which roommate they were assigned.
With millennial children now in their 20s, more helicopter parents are showing up in the workplace, sometimes even phoning human resources managers to advocate on their child's behalf.
With millennial children now in their 20s, more helicopter parents are showing up in the workplace, sometimes even phoning human resources managers to advocate on their child's behalf.
The Bobbs-Merrill Journey: From Oz to America’s Kitchens
AbeBooks: The Bobbs-Merrill Journey: From Oz to America’s Kitchens: Indianapolis is rarely associated with the publishing industry but this Midwestern city gave us Bobbs-Merrill – a pioneering firm that published numerous books of importance. There was time when a Bobbs-Merrill book could be found in the vast majority of American homes.
It all began when Samuel Merrill purchased an Indianapolis bookstore and then decided to begin publishing books in 1850. Samuel died in 1855 and his son Samuel Merrill Jr. took over. He guided the company through the Civil War, and a series of name changes reflecting various business partners, including Merrill, Meigs, and Company and Bowen-Merrill Company. Finally, in 1903, the company settled on the name Bobbs-Merrill in honor of the company’s long-serving director William Conrad Bobbs.
The turn of the century marked Bobbs-Merrill’s transformation from small press to publishing powerhouse. This rapid growth came with the printing of several works by fantasy writer L. Frank Baum whose 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and its many sequels, became ingrained in American culture. In addition to early Baum works, Bobbs-Merrill published James Whitcomb Riley, Ayn Rand, Richard Halliburton, and the 1929 Pulitzer-winning novel Scarlet Sister Mary by Julia Peterkin.
It all began when Samuel Merrill purchased an Indianapolis bookstore and then decided to begin publishing books in 1850. Samuel died in 1855 and his son Samuel Merrill Jr. took over. He guided the company through the Civil War, and a series of name changes reflecting various business partners, including Merrill, Meigs, and Company and Bowen-Merrill Company. Finally, in 1903, the company settled on the name Bobbs-Merrill in honor of the company’s long-serving director William Conrad Bobbs.
The turn of the century marked Bobbs-Merrill’s transformation from small press to publishing powerhouse. This rapid growth came with the printing of several works by fantasy writer L. Frank Baum whose 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and its many sequels, became ingrained in American culture. In addition to early Baum works, Bobbs-Merrill published James Whitcomb Riley, Ayn Rand, Richard Halliburton, and the 1929 Pulitzer-winning novel Scarlet Sister Mary by Julia Peterkin.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Marvin Potter Allegedly Killed Billy Payne Jr. And Billie Jean Hayworth After Facebook Feud: Sheriff: father who was upset after a Tennessee couple deleted his adult daughter as a friend on Facebook has been charged in the shooting deaths of the couple, authorities said Wednesday.
Hat tip to Doc Quatermass.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Off the Beat with Will Greenlee: A woman who said she "lost her mind" after her boyfriend got a ride to work from someone other than her was arrested following accusations of throwing a jack, a chair and rocks and of trying to run the boyfriend down, a recently released affidavit states.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Free for your Kindle, today and tomorrow. Pure fun to read. Go for it.Amazon.com: McGrave eBook: Lee Goldberg: Kindle Store: Hold on tight for a wild, rollicking, action-adventure novella that captures all of the fun, excitement and pure escapist pleasure of the "Dirty Harry," "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard" movies...with the humor, sharp dialogue and inventiveness that you've come to expect from Lee Goldberg, bestselling author of "The Walk," "Watch Me Die," "The Dead Man," and fifteen hilarious Adrian Monk mysteries.
Free Book for Your Kindle!
I have story in this one. It's "Top of the World," my hardboiled homage to Jim Thompson, among many others. I can safely say it's worth the price of the book.Amazon.com: Favorite Kills (Top Suspense Anthologies) eBook: Harry Shannon, Bill Crider, Vicki Hendricks, Max Allan Collins, Paul Levine, Libby Hellmann, Dave Zeltserman, Lee Goldberg, Joel Goldman, Ed Gorman: Kindle Store: We're back. We hope you're sitting down, and that you've finally caught your breath from Top Suspense, our first bestselling anthology. You're about to take another screaming thrill ride with twelve master storytellers. Each Top Suspense Group author is an award winning, highly acclaimed pro whose compelling and unforgettable tales have been published all over the world--and, in some cases, have even become blockbuster movies and TV shows.
In this book, Favorite Kills, we've collected our very best short stories. All major prize-winning tales and personal favorites, each one a knock-out punch of suspense.
So hold on tight my friend, or better yet, tie yourself down. You're in for another breathtaking wild ride of seething sex and unexpected twists, dark humor, and certain death. And when it's all over, and you're sitting there spent and satisfied, soaked in a flop sweat of terror and exhilaration, we're gonna be right there to bring you even more.
Wild Thing -- Josh Bazell
Pietro Brnwa, or Peter Brown, is going by the name Lionel Azimuth as the book opens. He's serving as a doctor on a cruise ship when he gets an offer from an odd billionaire who wants him to go monster hunting up on Oregon. The hunt is apparently serious business, and there's even going to be a referee. Who the ref is turns out to be pretty funny, and it's probably going to be one of the worst-kept secrets of the year. But I'm not telling.
The combination of outrageous humor, social commentary, sex, footnotes, and violence shouldn't work, but it does. The footnotes are often hilarious (there's even a guest footnote). This time out, Bazell clearly has a message, too, and if you don't get enough of it in the course of the novel, there's an appendix that spells things out in a scary enough fashion. And the "Sources" section is also good fun, so don't skip it. The whole package gets a big thumbs-up from me.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Zany Kidnapping Caper
Stalker accused of bizarre plot to woo doctor — by kidnapping her: Convicted stalker Felix Velazquez hoped the plan to kidnap his former girlfriend would have a happy ending — winning back her affections and bringing about a reconciliation.
So he devised "Operation Stitches," a crazy and meticulous scheme comprising 23 pages of maps, photos, personal details — and a scripted performance for abducting Dr. Teresa Duncan, who had him jailed for stalking her three years earlier.
So he devised "Operation Stitches," a crazy and meticulous scheme comprising 23 pages of maps, photos, personal details — and a scripted performance for abducting Dr. Teresa Duncan, who had him jailed for stalking her three years earlier.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
KTVI: A beat down at a local Red Lobster was caught on tape. Four women attack a female server after their order is wrong.
Hat tip to Art Scott.
James Bond Leads the Way
AbeBooks: AbeBooks' Most Expensive Sales in January 2012: In the opening month of 2012 our most expensive sales picked up where they left off in 2011 with another landmark rare book sale. This time an inscribed first edition of Ian Fleming’s debut James Bond novel, Casino Royale, has sold for $46,453, easily taking the top spot on the list.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Gator Update (Diaper Edition)
FOX16.com Little Rock, AR: Authorities say three men have been arrested on suspicion of illegally selling wildlife after an Arkansas State Police trooper pulled over a car and discovered a baby alligator inside of a box of diapers.
Hat tip to John Duke.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
CBS Dallas / Fort Worth: A golfer was critically injured after a broken club was stuck into his leg.
It ended a fight on the 13th green at the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake January 27th.
It ended a fight on the 13th green at the Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake January 27th.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Free for one week only! Amazon.com: The Alabaster-Skinned Mule (A Noah Milano Novelette) eBook: Jochem Vandersteen: Books: A pretty young girl is used as a mule, smuggling drugs for Mexican druglords. She gets rid of the drugs, but the druglords want it back, prepared to kill for it.
She hires Noah Milano, security specialist and ex-mob fixer to protect her. He ends up putting his dearest friendship and his very life on the line for her.
Florence Green, R. I. P.
Telegraph: Florence Green, the world's last surviving First World War veteran has died, marking the end of an era in British history.
Free Book for Your Kindle!
I have story in this one. It's "Top of the World," my hardboiled homage to Jim Thompson, among many others. I can safely say it's worth the price of the book.Amazon.com: Favorite Kills (Top Suspense Anthologies) eBook: Harry Shannon, Bill Crider, Vicki Hendricks, Max Allan Collins, Paul Levine, Libby Hellmann, Dave Zeltserman, Lee Goldberg, Joel Goldman, Ed Gorman: Kindle Store: We're back. We hope you're sitting down, and that you've finally caught your breath from Top Suspense, our first bestselling anthology. You're about to take another screaming thrill ride with twelve master storytellers. Each Top Suspense Group author is an award winning, highly acclaimed pro whose compelling and unforgettable tales have been published all over the world--and, in some cases, have even become blockbuster movies and TV shows.
In this book, Favorite Kills, we've collected our very best short stories. All major prize-winning tales and personal favorites, each one a knock-out punch of suspense.
So hold on tight my friend, or better yet, tie yourself down. You're in for another breathtaking wild ride of seething sex and unexpected twists, dark humor, and certain death. And when it's all over, and you're sitting there spent and satisfied, soaked in a flop sweat of terror and exhilaration, we're gonna be right there to bring you even more.
Peru Update (Of Particular Interest to Zombies)
The world's largest museum collection of brains is on display in Peru: There's only one place in the world where you can view row after row of brains afflicted by mad cow disease, Alzheimer's, and alcoholism. It's Lima's Museo de Cerebros, home to the largest collection of gray matter that can be viewed by the public.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
KOB.com: According to the criminal complaint, Sanders pistol-whipped the burrito owner.
Valentine's Day is on the Way
And the perfect gift is available right her: Name a Roach, Give a Cocoa-Roach
Overlooked Movies -- Helen of Troy
I'm talking about the 1956 version here, not anything more recent that you might have seen. The thing that impressed me most all those years ago was the wooden horse. I'd heard the story, of course, since back in those days, just about everybody had. I'm not so sure about now. But that's not important. The big horse was what I wanted to see, and it's there and it's great. There's also the "cast of thousands" that movie epics like this used to have before the F/X folks learned how to CGI the crowds. This is one of those movies that went all out for spectacle, and it's worth watching for that alone.Probably only a few of the cast are remembered now. Maybe Stanley Baker and Sir Cedric Hardwicke being the two best known. Or Torin Thatcher. I, however, liked Rosanna Podesta a lot, and I didn't care that her dialogue was dubbed.
The plot pretty much sticks to Homer, and while I haven't seen this one in a while, I'd bet that it's more fun than 2004's Troy, which skimped on the spectacle.
Certainly Helen of Troy isn't a great movie, but it's entertainment in the grand style.
Monday, February 06, 2012
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
I've read this one, and it's a good 'un. Check it out.Amazon.com: Racing the Devil (9781579622718): Jaden Terrell: Books: Nashville private investigator Jared McKean has a son with Down's Syndrome, a best friend with AIDS, an ex-wife he can't seem to fall out of love with, and a weakness for women in jeopardy - until one frames him for muder.
His DNA and fingerprints are found at the murder scene. His voice is on the victim's answering machine, and the victim was killed with a bullet from his gun. To make matters worse, his teen-aged nephew comes out of the closet and runs away to join a dangerous fringe of the Goth subculture.
Now Jared must find a way to clear his name, hold his family together, and solve a case that could cost him his life.
Get a Rope!
‘Billie Jean’ dance move a show stopper: A 9-year-old boy at St. Stanislaus was immediately and indefinitely suspended Thursday night at a school lip-sync fundraiser after mimicking Michael Jackson’s famous groin grab during a rendition of “Billie Jean.”
Bill Hinzman, R. I. P.
msnbc.com Entertainment: He wasn't the first-ever movie zombie, but he was the first to appear in George A. Romero's 1968 classic, "Night of the Living Dead."
Actor Bill Hinzman has died of cancer at 75, horror site Dread Central is reporting.
His character, dubbed the Graveyard Zombie, makes an appearance early in the film, staggering towards brother and sister Barbara and Johnny in a cemetery, and killing Johnny. The line, "They're coming to get you, Barbara" is famously delivered by Johnny just before Hinzman comes after the siblings.
Actor Bill Hinzman has died of cancer at 75, horror site Dread Central is reporting.
His character, dubbed the Graveyard Zombie, makes an appearance early in the film, staggering towards brother and sister Barbara and Johnny in a cemetery, and killing Johnny. The line, "They're coming to get you, Barbara" is famously delivered by Johnny just before Hinzman comes after the siblings.
The Comedy Is Finished -- Donald E. Westlake
Before you read anything I have to say about this book, you should go read Max Allan Collins' comments about how the book came to be published and what his part in that was. You can find the comments here.Okay, now that you've finished your assignment, you're probably as amazed as I am that Westlake's publisher wanted him to make the book funnier. Thinking about it, I can almost see why the editor (or someone) thought it was supposed to be funny, however, because the opening chapter does have some amusing stuff, as it's told by comedian Koo Davis in what's pretty much the voice of Bob Hope. If Westlake had wanted to change careers, he'd have been a cinch to get on as one of Hope's gag writers. But after that first chapter, things take a much darker turn.
The book is set in 1977, post-Viet Nam, but a time when radical groups still did radical things, like kidnapping a famous comedian and holding him hostage until their demands are met. The group that grabs Davis seems well-organized at first, but pretty quickly they begin to unravel, as you might expect in a novel like this. The chapters about the group and about the FBI and the cops alternate with chapters told from Davis' point of view (Davis' are in present tense, if that matters), and Westlake is a master of ratcheting up the tension. He's also a master at making every character in the book an individual and in presenting a picture of the times that's hard to beat.
As happens often, it seems, we owe Hard Case Crime thanks for bringing back a fine "lost" work, and we also owe Max Allan Collins. Not only is he working with the Spillane estate, but it turns out that he has treasure in his basement. Here's a tip of the Crider chapeau to all concerned, and the book is highly recommended.
P. S. It was fun to see the mention of A Sound of Distant Drums.
No Comment Department
Houston Chronicle: With its world-class faculty, serene campus shaded by oak trees and shielded by a hedge of wax leaf ligustrum, and reputation as the "Ivy League of the South," Rice University draws an elite cohort of students, with most ranked in the top 5 percent of their high school classes.
Yet many of the nation's best and brightest have trouble writing at a college level.
Yet many of the nation's best and brightest have trouble writing at a college level.
Geri (the Baby) 1994-2012
Scott Cupp was working in Houstn and came over for a visit one night back in 1994. I went out to his car with him when he left, and we heard a cat crying somewhere down the block. After Scott pulled out, I walked down the street and found a tiny kitten sitting beside a cat that had been run over. I took the baby home, and she took up residence in our house and in our hearts. Last night she was perky as ever, and around 10:15 she came into the bedroom to remind me it was time to feed her. Then she went out to wait for me in the kitchen. I heard her meow and went to feed her. She started toward the utility room, and her legs splayed out. I picked her up and took her to the bedroom and put her on the towel on the floor at the foot of our bed where she usually slept (if she wasn't on the bed itself). Fifteen minutes later, she was gone. Things won't be the same around here. We'll miss her every day.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
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