New Pulp Master: Garnett Elliott

Garnett Elliott amazes me with the ease at which he can dance between genres and continue to deliver top-shelf material. Though he makes it look easy, we all know it stems from hard work and meticulous attention to honing his craft. If this was 1935, he would be writing for Black Mask and Weird Tales.

Vox Staccato and the Eight-Bit Mafia, Thuglit, issue #38, July/Aug 2010

Harvest of Horns, Plots With Guns, #11 "New Slashers"

Disability, Inc., All Due Respect, issue #5, November 2010

The Redemption of Tom Chatham, BEAT to a PULP, #64

First Man Falling, BEAT to a PULP, #101

BEAT to a PULP #110: Massacre Canyon by Wayne D. Dundee

Joe Hannibal is back and BTAP has him! Titles in the Hannibal series have been translated into several languages and nominated for an Edgar, an Anthony, and six Shamus Awards. Mr. Dundee is also the founder and original editor of Hardboiled Magazine.

I hope you'll click over and leave a comment on Massacre Canyon by Wayne D. Dundee.

Fred Zackel

I have an interview over at Gutter Books blog with Fred Zackel where he talks about his career, influences, and his friendship with Ross Macdonald. I hope you can stop by and leave a comment.

Beautiful Day

It was a beautiful day. I knocked out 2k words on a new Cash Laramie story I'm calling "The Lawyer" and read some submissions for BEAT to a PULP. And then there was this:


I had been losing when my opponent made an error I capitalized on. Two moves prior to this board, he asked for a draw but I knew I had him and went in for the kill. He resigned. For those who don't play the game, I am white and one move from checkmate.

Beautiful day.

Namor the Sub-Mariner

I needed a new superhero. I've kinda grown tired of the bat and Tony Stark, so I bought Marvel Essential: The Sub-Mariner. Years ago, I had The Invaders #1 featuring Namor and that was the only acquaintance I had with the undersea dweller. His mythology is all new to me, and so far I'm enjoying this character and his rebel attitude. From Wikipedia:

Never fundamentally either a hero or a villain, Namor has protected his kingdom and sought vengeance on the surface world only when he feels his realm is threatened. Although he has served alongside, or even as a member of, superhero teams — most notably the Defenders, a "non-team" in which through mystical means he was forced to ally with Doctor Strange, the Hulk, and the Silver Surfer, the Avengers, and both the World War II and modern-day versions of the Invaders — Namor remains an outsider.

Who is your favorite lesser-known superhero?

No Moral Center: When Comic Books Ruled | My Year In Crime: Goodbye Comics Code.

Julius Katz Mysteries

Dave Zeltserman’s Julius Katz mysteries are some of the most fun you will ever have reading detective short fiction. Elements of Nero Wolfe abound but Mr. Zeltserman adds a unique twist in the form of Katz’s assistant, Archie, who is a marvel of high tech wizardry.

'Julius Katz Mysteries' are now available for $0.99. You can’t beat that, folks.

Simon Rip Links

Chris Holm: Rip's Saga Continues | Death by Killing: Simon Rip's Back.

BEAT to a PULP #109: A Rip through Time: Battles, Broadswords, and Bad Girls by Charles A. Gramlich

A Note on Simon Rip’s Return.

I always have gargantuan plans when it comes to the BEAT to a PULP webzine, the print anthologies, or the Simon Rip eBook I had previously announced. Sometimes I quite literally wake up in the middle of the night and scribble something to find in the morning I’d written, “Get S. King for next week’s BTAP story.” Yeah, right. Eyes bigger than stomach syndrome more often than not. Still I don’t believe in doing anything half way and that is the reason I am holding off on a Simon Rip eBook.

With Rip, I had imagined an illustrated electronic book (visions of Sydney Paget danced before my eyes) but I couldn’t settle on an illustrator who was an ideal fit. Plus I felt three stories were too few to charge readers even at the Kindle-friendly price of ninety-nine cents.

So I will continue to work on bringing those elements together, but, in the meantime, Charles Gramlich brilliantly continues where Chris F. Holm’s impressive Rip debut had left us with Simon Rip on the run and the future of the world at stake. Here is the thrilling return of everyone’s favorite cigar-chomping time cop in “A Rip through Time: Battles, Broadswords, and Bad Girls.”

BTAP in Audio

Steve Weddle's "Missed Flight" opened year two of the BEAT to a PULP webzine in 2010. Now hear Dan O'Shea read this terrific story.

The Bastards of Gallup

Alec Cizak did a remarkable job with his first western. I hope you get a chance to drop by The Western Online and leave a comment on The Bastards of Gallup.

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1

"From the first, second, third and fourth editions all sound and sane expressions of opinion must be left out," Twain instructed them in 1906. "There may be a market for that kind of wares a century from now. There is no hurry. Wait and see." -- The New York Times review.

Folks, one of the finest autobiographies you will ever read.

BEAT to a PULP #108: Serenity by Brad Parks

From Steve Weddle:

The first time I met Brad Parks was at a pizza place near the airport. But that's not important. The thing you want to know about Parks is that his debut, FACES OF THE GONE, is the only book ever to win both the Nero Award (Best American Mystery) and the Shamus Award (Best First Mystery). As a journalist, Parks served time at The Washington Post and The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger, before taking a buy-out and devoting himself full-time to writing. His fiction pulls from his hands-on experience dealing day-to-day with criminals, politicians, and athletes, sometimes in the same character. His protagonist, Carter Ross, is the sort of quick-witted reporter you'd expect Parks to write. His new book, EYES OF THE INNOCENT, comes out February 2011.

But first, here is Mr. Parks at BEAT to a PULP with "Serenity."

Vote Holm!

Chris F. Holm: "A Rip Through Time" on P&E's Reader Poll!

A Study In Sherlock

The game is afoot.

Agatha Christie – 35 Facts

Link here for thirty-five facts regarding the famous author.

Preditors & Editors

In light of these comments, I decided to add a few names to the Preditors & Editors polling that's currently taking place. Here's the list of my inclusions with pithy explanation:

Todd Robinson, Editor, Thuglit. Mr. Robinson was hands down the best editor of last year, still delivering the goods with the final issue of Thuglit.

Vote for Todd Robinson here.

Bill Crider created the most disturbing tale of the year with “The Quick ... and The Dead.”

Vote for Bill Crider here.

I included our BEAT to a PULP: Round One in two categories: Best Anthology of the Year and James O’Barr for Best Artwork.

Vote for Best Anthology here.

Vote for James O'Barr's outstanding artwork here.

I see where other kind souls added Keith Rawson's "Life on the Mesa," Chris Holm's "A Rip Through Time," Dave Zeltserman's "King," and "The Killing on Sutter Street" by Paul S. Powers.

Wilde's 'Earnest' still shines, 116 years later

Brian Bedford in 'The Importance of Being Earnest.'

Neo-Noir Thriller Gemini Rue Coming

Independent Game Festival winner transports players to a corrupt future for an intense, old-school adventure.

BEAT to a PULP's Jan/Feb Schedule

1/16 "Serenity" Brad Parks

1/23 "Battles, Broadswords, and Bad Girls" Charles Gramlich

1/30 "Massacre Canyon" Wayne D. Dundee

2/6 "Mercy Street" Richard Godwin

2/13 "Line Rider" Charles T. Whipple

2/20 "The Death Fantastique" John Hornor Jacobs

2/27 "A Different Kind of Blue" Michael A. Gonzales

DELIRIOUS Winner!

Look who won a signed ARC of Daniel Palmer's debut thriller, DELIRIOUS.

Mel Odom on Cash Laramie Story

These are very kind words from a writer I admire.

Thanks, Mel.

Pulp

J.J. Abrams Brings 'Pulp' To TV.

PastPosts * Frankencycle

My good friend, Boh Cyprain, recently traveled to the northwestern section of Cameroon where he snapped this picture of a rather interesting motorcycle. He writes:

Hi Dave, that motorcycle you see is the invention of one guy from Bamenda, my region; it actually works they way you think it does. Look critically and you will also notice that the gear selector is intact and works very well too.

I'm trying to picture Steve McQueen in The Great Escape outrunning the Nazis on this one.

*Original post 12/8/08

Bond is Back

007 returns! Daniel Craig set for Nov. 9, 2012 release date.

The Affair of the Wooden Boy by Ian Doyle

I had a lot of fun reading this Mina and James Stark Investigation, THE AFFAIR OF THE WOODEN BOY, that is now available on Kindle.

Peckinpah

Sabotage Times: When Stars Collide, Part Two: Fellini and Peckinpah.

Seattle Post Intelligencer: What's the Big Deal?: The Wild Bunch.

Two Sentence Tuesday

I've had a pretty darn good writing month (so far) in January. I’m happily stuck in the 1880s with my anti-hero Cash Laramie and his partner, Gideon Miles. The following two lines are from my just finished short story titled "Cash Laramie and the Painted Ladies."

Cash snaked back, kicked in the remnants of the door with both feet, and fired off a flurry of lead from his Colt. One slug opened a dark hole in Dice's forehead, slamming the would-be assassin back against the bed where he remained draped over the edge.

I am working on a few other Cash & Miles adventures with other writers and once they're done I will have twelve of these in the can. Now I am dedicated to finishing the novel tentatively titled SHOWDOWN AT LARK’S PASS.

#

In 2011 I have decided to read some classics that until now have escaped me. I'm halfway through THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde. Two lines:

"The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself. The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."

For more Two Sentence fun click over to my good friends at Women of Mystery.

Orson's Daughter

Review: In My Father's Shadow by Chris Welles Feder.

Black Mask Stories

I ordered THE BLACK LIZARD BIG BOOK OF BLACK MASK STORIES for myself for Christmas, and it was a bit late because it was delivered to another address. But it arrived today, and, thusly, I now celebrate Christmas on January 10th.

Good lord, what a collection. Chandler, Hammett, MacDonald, Woolrich, Halliday, Daly, Dent, Coxe, and, as the cover says, "much much more."

Mr. Penzler outdid himself on this one.

Zackel: Mark Twain, the N Word and Compassion

I’m halfway through ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN and so far I can say Frederick Zackel nailed all the controversy this week regarding a novel that Lionel Trilling said, was "America's most eloquent argument against racism.."

Read Mr. Zackel's piece here. Your continuing (and perhaps differing) comments on this discussion are welcomed.

Guardian: The Big Sleep – review

Humphrey Bogart's Philip Marlowe is tough without a gun and lethal with a wisecrack in this irresistible rerelease. Full review here.

Miscellaneous

My DC.com as I call it had been looking fairly ragged of late. It is still under construction but I think Denise has done a pretty good job thus far. Take a look here and let me know what you think.

#

My good friend Chuck Tyrell has a book trailer for his latest novel called THE SNAKE DEN.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

"The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself. The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."

-- from THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde that first appeared in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890. Another classic I've never read and that I just downloaded from Project Gutenberg.

Photo-Finish Friday -- Cranmer Family Chronicles

My grandfather, Fred Cranmer, was born in 1904 and passed away shortly before his birthday in 1993 at the ripe old age of eighty-nine. He loved a good joke, fishing, Murder, She Wrote, dandelion wine, and the music of Loretta Lynn.

In the photo (from left to right) is Grandpa, the young geeky pulp writer, and my dad.

He would have been 107 today. Happy birthday, Grandpa.

PFF is the creation of Leah J. Utas.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

More on Huck Finn

Michiko Kakutani has a good piece in The New York Times appropriately titled Light Out, Huck, They Still Want to Sivilize You.

It Began Life as a Short Story

Read The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

My Year in Crime

Dan Fleming has a top blog spotlighting most things crime related. This morning his thoughts turn to westerns and he has a question for you aficionados of the oater.

Crimespree Magazine

The latest issue of Crimespree Magazine featuring David Thompson on the cover.

Veronica

As a young man, I liked the song but the emotional impact for Veronica wasn't there. Fast forward twenty-two years, and now it is. For Sheila Kathleen.

The Complete Cash Laramie

Evan Lewis has a nice write-up and gathering of my Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles stories at Davy Crockett's Almanack.

A new edition of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The New York Times article: Publisher Tinkers With Twain

Thoughts?

Barnes & Noble Review of ROUND ONE

Ransom Notes: The BN Mystery Blog on Short Story Collections & Anthologies of 2010.

Thanks, Jedidiah.

Another Top Review for Melanie

Ray Foster had this to say about my latest:

But the highlight for me had to be Edward A. Grainger's short story 'Melanie'. This was a tight taut story about child abuse and featured Cash Laramie (who made his debut in the Express Westerns anthology 'A Fistful Of Legends'). It is a story that could be told today and underlines just how much nothing has changed over the centuries. I very much hope that this story will appear in the proposed Cash Laramie anthology.

Mr. Foster writes westerns under the name of Jack Giles that are published by Robert Hale's Black Horse Western brand.

Thanks, Ray.

Two More for Marshal Laramie

More generous posts from Cullen Gallagher at Pulp Serenade and Sandra Seamans at My Little Corner.

Two Links on the Latest Cash Laramie Western

Bish's Beat and Scott D.Parker. Much appreciated, sirs.

Melanie

"Melanie" is at The Tainted Archive. I'd welcome your comments.

An Early Review for Melanie

My short story, "Melanie," featuring Cash Laramie will be posted at The Tainted Archive tomorrow for Wild West eMonday. Here is a review from Steve at the top Western Fiction Review site.

All Due Respect #7

The Ballad of Jimmie Jazz by Tony Deans.

Happy New Year

Wishing you the best of New Years,

and let's kick it twice as hard in 2011.