People Are Talking About Me

It is happening here.

Spenser: A Look Back at Robert Parker

Jake Hinkson at the Criminal Element.

Photo-Finish Friday -- Le General Marquis de Lafayette Medallion

My grandfather, Fred Cranmer (1904-1991), had worked a variety of jobs throughout his lifetime. Farmer. Carpenter. Ditch digger. It was his days as a ditch digger during the Great Depression when he found this medallion celebrating the centennial of Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He gave it to me when I was just a kid.

I hadn't seen the medallion in years and thought it was long lost. Fortunately, my mother saves everything, and as I was rummaging through some boxes at her house, lo and behold, I found the medallion where she had placed it with all my Army coins. A nice discovery.

This little treasure is one of the few items I have from my grandfather and that makes it priceless to me. Some day, I’m sure I will send it to the college, maybe for their bicentennial in 2032. In the meantime, I'll just keep a closer eye on it.

Original post: 11/24/08

PFF is the creation of Leah J. Utas.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Say It Ain't So, Clark

Superman to renounce U.S. citizenship!

Memento and Amnesia Noir

Mr. Hinkson with a fine article at Criminal Element.

Reason to Celebrate

New issue of Plots With Guns featuring Cameron Ashley & Jimmy Callaway, Fred Zackel, Graham Powell, and many more.

BEAT to a PULP: May Schedule

5/1 "You Keyed My Car" by Frederick Zackel

5/3 "Security" and "Life Sentence" by Gerald So

5/5 "Ghost" by Keith Snyder

5/8 "Down, Down, Down, Burns, Burns, Burns" by Jedidiah Ayres

5/15 "Nobody's Listening" by Linda Schenck

5/22 "Katie Too" by Alec Cizak

5/29 "LoVINg the Alien" by Paul Brazill (based on characters created by this guy)

Info Buried But Not Deep

Top writer Larry Sweazy has listed his upcoming novels and short stories. Pay close attention to "Shadow of the Crow." There lies an announcement all its own.

Criminal Element

The Criminal Element has arrived.

My Futurist Travels

I have seen the future--May 1st to be precise--and Anthony Neil Smith's YELLOW MEDICINE is released on Kindle.

Being a devious time traveler, I swiped myself a copy and am enjoying it immensely. But then again, I knew I would because I've published Neil Smith at BEAT to a PULP and love his unique style.

In other time-tripping news there is a fab new site that will feature cutting-edge reviews, stories, blogs etc. It is within twenty-four hours of launching and I must say it will be a daily stop for me. Where? These ladies will have all the details mañana.

Last stop using my Wayback-style machine had me in mid-May for the newest Julius Katz and Archie novel by Dave Zeltserman. I'm half way through the latest adventure featuring Boston's finest suave PI and his two-inch rectangular-shaped piece of space-aged computer technology named Archie. Archie's real name is a eighty-four digit serial number but Julius keeps it simple and calls him Archie after Rex Stout's sidekick in the Nero Wolfe novels. If you haven't read Katz or Archie and don't time-trip then I'd recommend starting with these two short stories for $.99 featuring the unusual crime fighting duo.

So, what's in your future?

Bass Reeves

There is a wonderful article on Bass Reeves over at The Art of Manliness. Bass has long been a hero of mine and the inspiration for my Gideon Miles character.

Hat tip: Bill Crider.

Wikipedia

Legends of America

Black Gun, Silver Star

The Sherlock Holmes Collection

I enjoyed The Sherlock Holmes Collection and would recommend it to Holmes aficionados.

The Sherlock Holmes Society of London has an informed write-up of Peter Cushing's history of playing the master detective.

Who is your favorite actor to play Holmes? Mine would be Jeremy Brett.

BEAT to a PULP #121: The Monster and the Mob by James Valvis

A Weekly Punch morality play featuring some irate villagers and a character you are all very familiar with from Mary Shelley's dark masterpiece. Check it out, James Valvis is at BEAT to a PULP with "The Monster and the Mob."

Next week we go all poetic on you with Frederick Zackel, Gerald So, and Keith Snyder's criminal verses.

Then: Jedidiah Ayres is going "Down, Down, Down, Burns, Burns, Burns."

Western Fiction Review of ...

... my latest short story. Hint: Steve likes it and I hope you will too. Not exactly an Easter story but what's wrong with shaking things up a bit, right?

To those who celebrate, Happy Easter.

AC Says...

Cash Laramie Gets Ruthless.

Larry D. Sweazy

My first Josiah Wolfe novel and I'm an instant fan of this Spur award-winning author. Johnny D. Boggs says it best, "...a thundering testament to just how good the Western novel can be." Amen.

Many Thanks, Clare2E

Clare of the mighty Women of Mystery blogs about An Offensive Fistful of Cash with Disclaimers.

Gracias, amiga.

Death By Killing Review

See what Chris Rhatigan says of "The Outlaw Marshal."

CASH LARAMIE RETURNS

My short story, "The Outlaw Marshal," is at the Flash Fiction Offensive. All comments welcomed.

Gracias, David Barber for the opportunity of being the first guest writer at FFO.

Special thanks to Scott, Sandra, Chris, and Nik for taking early looks.

Reviews

Charles Gramlich on BEAT to a PULP: ROUND ONE and Alec Cizak on our recent Weekly Punch.

Thank you, both.

Btw, I see we are in the top thirty for Amazon anthologies. C'mon buy a copy and move us to the top twenty and keep us above THE CAT WHO SAID CHEESE. I know you want to.

One Sentence Review: Dave Zeltserman's Blood Crimes

BLOOD CRIMES is a fast-moving, masterfully written, first-rate vampire tale for the intellectual set.

Well-Read?

I saw this article thanks to Bill Crider. It's called Does anyone want to be "well-read?" and is written by Roger Ebert. I think many of you would appreciate Mr. Ebert's thoughts.

BEAT to a PULP #120: For Keepsies by Terrie Farley Moran

Over two years ago, I read Terrie Farley Moran's story in the final Hardluck Stories and immediately asked her for a tale for BTAP. Ms. Moran has been busy: her noir short, "When A Bright Star Fades," was named a Distinguished Mystery Story of 2008; her paranormal mystery, "The Awareness," can be found in the 2010 MWA anthology, Crimes By Moonlight, edited by Charlaine Harris; and "Fontaine House" will appear in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in the second half of 2011.

Well good things are worth waiting for, because I'm happy to say Ms. Moran is at BEAT to a PULP this week with "For Keepsies."

Coming Soon: The Outlaw Marshal

The few folks who have read my next story find it to be the darkest of the crime westerns in my Cash and Miles series. "The Outlaw Marshal" sees Mason Doig, newly released from Territorial Prison, claiming he endured beatings while in prison paid for by Cash Laramie. He suspects the outlaw marshal has followed him to Dodge City with revenge on his mind for the death of a friend. Top editor David Barber will have it published some time next week at the Flash Fiction Offensive and I hope you can take the time to check it out.

I had the pleasure the other day to hold several vintage weapons including this Colt that Cash very well could have used. It had been in a museum display case where it hadn't been moved in fifty plus years. What a thrill! Many thanks to my charmer for setting this up and the kind caretakers at the museum for the private tour.

Submissions Opening

Submissions will be opening up again at BEAT to a PULP beginning May 1st and will remain open for one month. Stories accepted during this time will fill our August and September 2011 schedule.

Tales that will grab my attention in a jiffy will be a female protagonist searching for buried treasure, a General Tom Thumb style character who is an amateur sleuth, western noir or 21st century cowboy, giants, a condemned wizard and sexy witches, science fiction, a Biblical related detective story, a boat trapped in the Bermuda Triangle, massive human-eating ticks, literary, a necromancer, a caveman cozy mystery.

And, of course, just well-written stories.

Needle Spring Cover

Mr. John Hornor Jacobs has outdone himself with this sharp cover for the Spring issue. I'm fortunate to have a story titled "Bon Temps" included. Other contributors are:

Ray Banks
Tom Piccirilli
Amy Grech
Cam Ashley
Daniel O’Shea
Don Lafferty
Jason Duke
Matthew C. Funk
Mel Clayton
Patti Abbott
Scott Morse
Steve De Jarnatt
Todd Robinson

Needle: A Magazine of Noir

Green Tea

A little Sunday afternoon jazz...

A Matter of Tea and a Worthy Cause

My friend Charlie Whipple has a blog post I would like to turn your attention to. Charlie's a terrific writer and I know you will enjoy these tales that have the added benefit of proceeds going to a worthy cause.

Note from Charlie: I've got the Smashwords page inserted, but Rebecca tells me we're something like No.1226 in line, so it will take a bit more time for the book to respond to the link. Right now it tells you the book is no longer available. A little more patience, please. Thanks for your support.

While you're waiting here is Charlie Whipple writing as Chuck Tyrell at BEAT to a PULP with "Line Rider."

BEAT to a PULP #119: Fatal Flaw by Cathi Stoler

I’m a fan of those fabulous Women of Mystery and am happy to say over the next two weeks at BTAP we will feature two of the gifted ladies. First up is Cathi Stoler with a tale of intrigue that finds her gambling protagonist Nick Donahue caught up in seductive Marina’s plight. A sample:

A few fates are worse than death. I should know. I'm living one right now. In a secluded villa high in the hills somewhere in the Czech Republic. A place where no one will ever find me should anyone care to look.

So far my captors have gone easy—a black eye, split lip, sore ribs—no hanging from the ceiling or electrodes below the belt. But that could change at any moment. The leader is too calm, too patient. And that scares me. I know it's just a matter of time then the real work will begin. He'll expect me to fold. And why shouldn't I?

To read the rest, here is Ms. Stoler at BEAT to a PULP with “Fatal Flaw.”

Photo-Finish Friday -- Ava's Hand and Feet

A professional photographer snapped these photos while we were still at the hospital. In the first Denise is holding her hands and in the second I have little Ava's feet.



PFF is the creation of Leah J. Utas.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Cash & Miles Update

I've had a productive week finishing "The Outlaw-Marshal" and "Gideon's Challenge." Outlaw has been accepted by Flash Fiction Offensive and there will be more details on that soon. Challenge still needs to be polished and I may just add that to Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles that will be realesed as an eBook in June. That collection also contains the never before released "The Bone Orchard Mystery" and "Under the Sun."

Also on tap is "Cash Laramie and the Painted Ladies" at the legendary Crimefactory, this May, in issue #7.

What is everybody else working on?

Watching Archer

I'm enjoying this season of Archer. Funny scenes abound like a parody of the classic Magnum, P.I. episode "Did You See the Sunrise" or Sterling Archer dressing like Burt Reynolds from White Lightning and blowing out the engine of a stolen airboat. Anybody else watching? Like it? Hate it?

Mr. Brazill's Announcement

Paul Brazill has all the details of a top project that I'm very proud to be involved with.

BEAT to a PULP #118: Oedipus Shrugged by Copper Smith

Copper Smith made his debut at BTAP last year with "The Sweetest Kind of Chaos." Mr. Smith writes and produces audio noir. He lives in Minneapolis where he plays the mandolin and comes up with sharp stories like "Oedipus Shrugged" at BEAT to a PULP this week.

Next week: "Fatal Flaw" by Cathi Stoler.

Soon: Paul D. Brazill's "LoVINg the Alien."