Looking Ahead to 2013

Fatherhood
To encourage my daughter more in the creative department. We do well, but we can always do better. She loves to draw, color, and create structures with her toddler construction set pieces. Secondly, to continue her love of reading. She has now memorized a large number of her books, and as she turns the pages, she ‘reads’ aloud to herself. Priceless as they say. Btw one of her current favorites is The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood with beautiful illustrations by Don Wood.

Writing
I’ll probably stay in the hardboiled western arena but branch out with some new characters. The Lawyer, featured in the anthology Protectors, comes to mind, as well as the vivacious daughter of Cash Laramie, Veranda Jane. I also have a couple of crime fiction stories to complete.

Beer
Considering switching from Corona to Yuengling but I’ll never pass on Sam Adams Summer Ale during the warm months. Any other suggestions?

Publishing
BEAT to a PULP has books from Thomas Pluck, Heath Lowrance, Wayne D. Dundee, and many more lined up. First out of the gate will be Chad Eagleton with a continuation of A RIP THROUGH TIME, followed by Hardboiled 2 which is currently under the careful editing eye of Scott D. Parker.

Connections
Post more Charles Bukowski-style ramblings on Blogger. Give some love to Google+ by posting some short-short stories. Continue on as I am annoying folks on Twitter. Upload more personal photos to Pinterest. And, maybe, add Instagram to the list. Don’t know why, but since all my friends are doing it … “If they jumped off a cliff, would you?” as Mom would have said.

Maine
Somehow find my way back to the beauty and serenity of The Way Life Should Be state. Win, lose, or draw.

Reading
To read more non-fiction: political science and history and art. I have the genre department nailed down.

And, most importantly, lose no more than three pounds. How about you? What are your plans for 2013?

Now Available: The Posthumous Man by Jake Hinkson (New Links Added)

When Elliot Stilling killed himself, he thought his troubles were over. Then the ER doctors revived him. It’s infatuation at first sight when he meets his nurse, Felicia Vogan, a strange young woman with a weakness for sad sacks and losers. After she helps Elliot escape from the hospital, she takes him back to her place. He’s happy to go with her, even when she leads him straight to a gang planning a million dollar heist. Does Felicia just want Elliot to protect her from the outfit’s psychotic leader, Stan the Man? Or is Elliot being set up to take the hard fall? One thing’s for sure: if he’s going to survive this long night of deceit and murder, Elliot will have to finally face himself and his own dark past.

From BEAT to a PULP and available through Createspace and Amazon print, and eBook.

Nerd of Noir review at Spinetingler Magazine.

Praise for Jake Hinkson's latest noir hit:

THE POSTHUMOUS MAN is every bit as crazily entertaining as Hinkson's hard-rocking debut, HELL ON CHURCH STREET, and it reads like a streamliner rocketing across the Bonneville Salt Flats. --Scott Phillips, award winning author of THE ICE HARVEST and THE ADJUSTMENT.

In THE POSTHUMOUS MAN the existential and theological themes buried inside the best noir are pulled to the surface, hungry for air and clutching a last chance at redemption. Jake Hinkson crafts this bullet-fast novella with qualities emblematic of my favorite best crime fiction: empathy, gravity and brevity. Much appreciated and highly recommended. --Eddie Muller, president of the Film Noir Foundation and Shamus-award winning author of THE DISTANCE.

For Those Who Celebrate...

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope 2013 is one of great prosperity and good health for you and your family. And in keeping with the holiday spirit of giving, we are offering three of our ebook titles absolutely free for the day. Follow the links below to get your free copy and then enjoy the rest of your holidays with some hard-hitting, pulpy reading.

BEAT to a PULP: ROUND TWO Seething with left-hooks, uppercuts, kidney shots, and gut-punches aplenty, this powerhouse compilation doles out the genres, from hardboiled crime, western, and noir to sci-fi, fantasy, literary, horror, and more. Round Two covers all-new ground with offerings from a gang of tried-and-true heavyweights and inspired up-and-comers, all savvy purveyors of pulp at the top of their game. Haymakers include a Hemingway pastiche by famed mystery author Bill Pronzini, a stunning Chandler homage by Hard Case Crime kingpin Charles Ardai, a post-war tale with a twist from James Reasoner, a zombie-horror nightmare by Bill Crider, and even more blows to the temple from such hotshots as Glenn Gray, Patricia Abbott, the legendary Vin Packer, and more, more, more!

Heath Lowrance's Hawthorne (THAT DAMNED COYOTE HILL and THE LONG BLACK TRAIN) returns in THE SPIDER TRIBE. The Iktomi are an ancient evil that feed on the fear and hate of generations, and when the Black Hills run red with the blood of the Lakota, they return to sow death. The mysterious gunslinger called Hawthorne is fueled also by hatred -- hatred of evil. But is his hate strong enough to destroy the Iktomi?

If you enjoy Westerns with a supernatural touch, you definitely need to check out the Hawthorne series. -- James Reasoner

Cash Laramie returns in BULLETS FOR A BALLOT!

In the town of Bear Pines, Mrs. Tolliver has announced she is running for the mayoral office. She's the first woman to run as a candidate which divides the residents and sets the town into a tailspin. U.S. Marshal Cash Laramie is sent in to maintain peace and order and to protect Tolliver and her family from powerful allies of the incumbent, Mayor Nolan. In a bid to force her to quit the race, things turn ugly ... and deadly. Surrounded by killers who will stop at nothing to make sure Mrs. Tolliver is not elected, Cash wires Cheyenne for assistance, but will help arrive in time?

Ava's Pix

My 22-month-old daughter enjoys taking photos and I thought I would start including some of her shots here.

Body Count: The Joe Hannibal Case Files, Vol. I

I began reading Wayne D. Dundee’s Joe Hannibal hardboiled detective series back in the 1980’s. These adventures were tough little gems following in the best tradition of Spade, Chandler, and Hammer. Today, I’m happy to say, Hannibal is still with us and I have had the privilege of even publishing a few tales, like “Apache Fog” that is included in this six-story collection. Highlights here: the first Hannibal short story that appeared in 1982, an introduction by Lynn F. Myers, a complete bibliography to date, and author’s note.

The Joe Hannibal Case Files, Vol. I is available for the Kindle and comes highly recommended from this 30-year-fan.

The Circle of Life

It’s been a year to the day since I’ve seen my mom. Been a year since she got on an Amtrak in New York with my sister Sheila Marie and headed to Texas. Prior to that, I had spent the previous four months caring for her. It was a daily struggle to say the least. Now, my sister has dealt with it for a full year. Thank you, Sis. If you have never dealt with an Alzheimer’s patient, thank your lucky stars … it can be frustrating, horrifying, and heartbreaking.

Still, my sister is an upbeat person and has gone back to writing some beautiful poetry.

The Circle of Life by Sheila Marie Grimes

You're as helpful as a child
You are willing to do
My fear is you'll get hurt
I'm afraid for you.
I pull the knobs off the stove
Take plugs out of the walls
Night lights in rooms and halls
Come quickly when you call.
Wear your non-skid shoes
No socks on bare floors please
Your coat and gloves, take along
When temperatures drop the degrees.
Good Grief ... listen to me
I've heard it ... long ago
As a child ... you cared for me
I felt safe ... I remember ... I know.
So, we're in the circle of life
At the end of our beginning
A challenge, to say the least
But Mother ... I believe we're winning!

Copyright/ Sheila Grimes/ November 15, 2012