BEAT to a PULP #178: The Step Away by Kieran Shea

Kieran Shea returns to BTAP with a Charlie Byrne grind.

Thanks, amigo.

BTAP #157: Friction Ridge by David James Keaton

BEAT to a PULP returns for our fourth year. Here's Friction Ridge (or beguiling the bard in three acts) by David James Keaton.

BTAP #101: First Man Falling by Garnett Elliott

We have a double feature at BEAT to a PULP this week. In a boxing blitz, Garnett Elliott follows Kieran Shea, who graced BTAP with its 100th story, with a tale of egos and retaliation in First Man Falling.


The BEAT to a PULP: Round One anthology is now available at Amazon.

BTAP #99: Outback Gothic by Chap O'Keefe

It began with a dog-eared paperback gothic given her by "Ma" Barker. "When I saw your name in the blurb, I knew I had to get it for you," the allegedly psychic Kate Barker told Amelie Symes.

Amelie found the old book did—amazingly—feature a heroine who was her fictional namesake.

"I believe you were meant to have it, Amelie," Ma Barker said. "After all, it's not as if your name is as common as mine. Spooky...."

Mr. O'Keefe returns to BTAP with "Outback Gothic."

Next: Kieran Shea's "The Takedown Heart."

The BEAT to a PULP: Round One anthology is now available at Amazon.

BTAP # 91: The Wanted Man by Matthew Pizzolato -- plus a Western Online/BEAT to a PULP crossover

We have a quick-draw western crossover happening today. Editor Matthew Pizzolato of The Western Online has our Weekly Punch with a sharp mystery of a story titled "The Wanted Man." After you finish, please click over to The Western Online for my tale called "Kid Eddie" which has the return of my character Cash Laramie. (Right: Artwork of Cash Laramie by Michael T. Pizzolato.)

Next week in BTAP: Copper Smith has "The Sweetest Kind of Chaos"

And Soon: Keith Rawson with "Life on the Mesa"

BTAP #89: Gunpoint by Fred Blosser

"At no place in the United States is a lower value placed upon human life than in Fayette County, West Virginia."—Cincinnati Enquirer, May 15, 1904.

This is a story they still tell in the mines and hollows of West Virginia—about two enforcers for hire in the coal camps of the early 1900s, a dealer in spirits from New York named Torrio, two Hatfield boys, two Pinks, and the day they all met at gunpoint....

Read more of Fred Blosser's explosive Gunpoint.

Next: Chris F. Holm's THE DAME, THE DOCTOR, AND THE DEVICE kicks off our thrilling A RIP THROUGH TIME saga

Soon: Chap O'Keefe's "Outback Gothic"

BTAP #88: The Worms of Terpsichore by Garnett Elliott

Garnett Elliott has written about pirates in "The Redemption of Tom Chatham" and Hollywood detectives in "Studio Dick," (in the forethcoming Round One antho). Heck, in a few weeks, he takes up boxing right here in these pages. But where is this talented writer at the moment? Running for his life from "The Worms of Terpsichore."

Next: Gunpoint by Fred Blosser

Then: The Simon Rip adventure begins with Chris F. Holm's A RIP THROUGH TIME: THE DAME, THE DOCTOR, AND THE DEVICE.

BTAP #87: New Boyfriend by William Blick

Vinny had lots of friends. People always calling, dropping off packages. He would take Mom out to these fancy restaurants. You know the ones where you had to call ahead. Only Vinny didn't call, he and Mom just showed up and ate.

Oh yeah, and he kept a pistol under my mom's bed. I would take it, wave it in front of the mirror with a necktie on, trying to be cool like Vinny.

But then things changed

Read more of Mr. Blick's flash piece here.

Soon: BEAT to a PULP: Round One print anthology edited by Elaine Ash and yours truly. This collection of 27 hard-hitting tales will feature the writing talents of Ed Gorman, Robert J. Randisi, Charles Ardai, Nolan Knight, Chap O’Keefe, Stephen D. Rogers, Jedidiah Ayres, Nik Morton and many others.

On the way: The Simon Rip adventure begins with Chris F. Holm's A RIP THROUGH TIME: THE DAME, THE DOCTOR, AND THE DEVICE.

BTAP #86: Dress To Die by Elizabeth Zelvin

The invitation said, “Dress to kill.” When Marnie first joined the mystery writers’ organization, she had been a nervous wannabe, thrilled to brush knuckles with a favorite author over a tray of hors d’oeuvres. Now she considered herself an established writer, with an agent and three paperback originals in print. She would be able to greet the locals among the party-goers, if not all the best-selling guests of honor, without having to peer at their name tags.

Well, how cool is this! Elizabeth Zelvin has our Weekly Punch. For the few who may not be familiar with Ms. Zelvin, she is a two-time Agatha Award finalist for Death Will Clean Your Closet and Death Will Trim Your Tree. Her most recent short story success was "The Green Cross" in the August issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. She blogs regularly on Poe's Deadly Daughters.

We are very proud to present Ms. Zelvin's "Dress To Die," in BEAT to a PULP.

Soon: BEAT to a PULP: Round One print anthology edited by Elaine Ash and yours truly. This collection of 27 hard-hitting tales will feature the writing talents of Ed Gorman, Robert J. Randisi, Charles Ardai, James Reasoner, Sophie Littlefield, Frank Bill, Patricia Abbott, Kieran Shea and many others.

On the way: The Simon Rip adventure begins with Chris F. Holm's A RIP THROUGH TIME: THE DAME, THE DOCTOR, AND THE DEVICE.

BTAP #85: Someone to Watch Over Me by Matthew P. Mayo

So, Matthew Mayo and his lovely wife, Jennifer, (well, Matt's not too shabby himself) invited d and I to their home for dinner a couple of weeks ago. We had a super great time discussing books and publishing among many other things. When the talk turned to gardening, we walked to the backyard and I became alarmed. Why? Let's just say that though Jen has a beautiful, manicured vegetable and flower garden, I kept scanning trees in the yard thinking of the short story Matt had sent to BTAP. What if his idea hadn't stemmed from imagination but actual events. It's a little freaky to think about. Here's Matthew Mayo in BEAT to a PULP with "Someone to Watch Over Me."

Next: Elizabeth Zelvin's "Dress to Die"

Next post: The cover to our BEAT to a PULP print anthology revealed!

BTAP #84: The Little Boy Inside By Glenn Gray

At first, Greg thought he might be choking. After all, he did have acid reflux and maybe his esophagus was inflamed and irritated. He lost his breath for a moment and then it felt as if he would vomit, a little gagging, and then he coughed up the little boy right onto his desk.

A BTAP category was specially created for Glenn Gray when he graced us with the story "Disimpaction" back in 2008. So far, only one other story has fallen into the WTF! category, and now Dr. Gray is back with his second. "The Little Boy Inside" is a fantastically weird story... comedic, captivating, poignant, original. Once you read it, it will be stuck forevermore. Put simply, this is writing at its finest and one of the top short stories of the year.

Next: Matthew Mayo has "Someone To Watch Over Me"

Soon: Fred Blosser's "Gunpoint"

BEAT to a PULP: Round One print anthology edited by Elaine Ash and yours truly is coming in late August. This collection of 27 hard-hitting tales will feature the writing talents of Ed Gorman, Robert J. Randisi, Charles Ardai, James Reasoner, Sophie Littlefield, Frank Bill, Patricia Abbott, Glenn Gray and many others. With cover art by James O'Barr.

BTAP #83: Tool of the Trade by Jack Getze

I picked the Beretta because of the smooth action, the extra magazines the guy offered, and because I’d drilled seven of nine rounds inside a two-inch circle. Much tighter grouping than any Glock or Smith & Wesson. Guess I liked the extra weight. And since my plan involved firing enough bullets at Anthony Cassiotta to cut him in half, the heavier Italian nine millimeter with bonus magazines seemed perfect.

Read more of this gritty hardboiled "Tool of the Trade."

Bio: JACK GETZE edits short fiction for Spinetingler Magazine, and spent nine years as a news and feature writer for the Los Angeles Times. His suspense novels, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, feature screwball stockbroker Austin Carr, and "have that same feel and style of writers such as John D. Macdonald," says Bloodstained Book Reviews.

Next: "The Little Boy Inside" by Glenn Gray

Soon: The Simon Rip adventure begins with Chris F. Holm's A RIP THROUGH TIME: THE DAME, THE DOCTOR, AND THE DEVICE.

BTAP #82: KING by Dave Zeltserman

Mary cautiously approached the bench that had been her destination. For a moment her body seemed to shrink inwards, and timidly she glanced left, then right and over both shoulders as she searched past the children for the white-haired man—the Evil Wizard as she thought of him. That she didn’t see him caused a tear of joy to worm its way down her waxen cheek. She carefully lowered herself onto the bench, her lips still pulled into an idiotic half-smile.

It's a real honor to have Mr. Zeltserman in BTAP this week. His style of writing has been compared to James Ellroy, Jim Thompson and Dasheill Hammett to name a few, and his recent novels KILLER and PARIAH have been bestsellers enthusiastically endorsed by The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Locust, etc. From Kirkus Reviews: “Harrowing. Zeltserman colors it black with the best of them." Publisher’s Weekly (in reviewing KILLER) succinctly sums up my own personal take on the lure to Mr. Zeltserman’s work, "Spare prose and assured pacing place this above most other contemporary noirs."

And that brings us to this week’s story. What you are about to read, concerning a bird lady, is equal parts fantasy and horror interwoven with gripping realism. Not a word is wasted as this chilling story builds to a final scene that will linger with you. While many of us pass by these folks everyday without a second thought, Mr. Zeltserman took the time to stop, imagine, and create an unforgettable tale.

Once again, it's a real pleasure to say Dave Zeltserman is in BEAT to a PULP with "King." Please stop over and leave a comment.


Next: Jack Getze's "Tool of the Trade"

Then: "The Little Boy Inside" by Glenn Gray

In August: BEAT to a PULP: Round One print anthology featuring Ed Gorman, Robert J. Randisi, Sophie Litttlefield, James Reasoner, Charles Ardai, Frank Bill and many others. Edited by Elaine Ash and yours truly.

BTAP #81: The Road to Brighton by David Pilling

The letter was now tucked inside the breast pocket of his blue-grey suit. A martyr to obsessive compulsion, Sam had taken the letter out of his pocket and examined it precisely nine times since the train left Victoria.

Needing to reach ten, a nice round number, before he could feel comfortable, he drew it out once again, unfolded the neat white paper and studied the brief message:


To S. Burgess, late of the Royal South Kent Regiment,

From one who was taken in the birdcage with you. I will be under Brighton Pier at 11:45 p.m. on 10th November and will have your reward. Come. — E. Greaves.

Sam's mind wandered from the present back to Flanders. Back to the trenches, the barbed wire, the mud, poison gas and all the rest of it.

Continue reading Mr. Pilling's "The Path to Brighton."

Next Week: Best-selling author Dave Zeltserman will introduce you to "King."

Soon: Anthony Neil Smith with even more royalty, "The King of Mardi Gras."

In August: BEAT to a PULP: Round One print anthology featuring Ed Gorman, Robert J. Randisi, Sophie Litttlefield, James Reasoner, Charles Ardai, Frank Bill and many others. Edited by Elaine Ash and yours truly.

BTAP #80: The Mercy of Jean Lafitte by Evan Lewis

Image from Wikipedia.

Another spurt of flame, and the caravel’s mainmast toppled, dragging with it great sheets of sail. The battle, such as it was, was effectively over, and the hated Spanish were now in possession of Lafitte’s island home.

The captain settled himself on the spar, accepted the telescope and put it to his eye. Andre saw him grip the spyglass all the harder in his impotence to affect the outcome.

"Castrillón." Lafitte spat the name like a curse.

When I sent out a call for pirates a few months back, Evan Lewis sent two terrific stories of equal worth. What to do? Luckily, he allowed me to be greedy and use both. “The Ghost Ship” will be in ROUND ONE but first here’s “The Mercy of Jean Lafitte.”

Next: David Pilling’s WWI yarn, “The Path to Brighton”

Then: “King” by Dave Zeltserman

BTAP #79: At the Café Sabarsky by Patricia Abbott

"Would you two mind sharing a table?" It was the hostess at my elbow. She was speaking to the older man in front of me too. "I can give you a table if you share it," she explained, gesturing with the menus.

I turned to the man. "Do you mind?" There was no chance Tibor'd come in here. I felt giddy: faint almost.

The man smiled, nodded.

Our table looked out on Central Park where people were raising umbrellas in the increasingly foul weather. Despite the eye-catching view, both of us turned to our hard-won menus. "Been here before?" he asked, putting his menu down. "At Café Sabarsky?"

That seems an innocent enough meeting, right? Well, don't be fooled because this is Patricia Abbott who yanked the chair out from beneath you in "The Instrument of Their Desire" and introduced you to "Esther Meaney." So sit down, enjoy the meal but keep your eyes peeled "At the Café Sabarsky."

Next week: "The Mercy of Jean Lafitte" by Evan Lewis.

Soon: Chris F. Holm launches our time travel pulp epic--A RIP THROUGH TIME--with "The Dame, the Doctor, and the Device."

BTAP #78: One Good Turn by Ryle Smith

We have something a little different and exciting for you this week at BEAT to a PULP. A short film! BTAP is grateful to Richard Prosch for bringing the work of the talented Ryle Smith to our attention. Here's Mr. Prosch to introduce:

Ryle Smith could be introduced as writer, painter, actor, or cartoonist–but I’d like you to meet him as a filmmaker because that’s where you’ll find his first, best love. It was Phoenix in the 1960s and Ryle’s dad drove a delivery truck. On sweltering summer afternoons he’d drop Ryle off at the movies before completing his rounds. In the cool matinee darkness he met the Universal Monsters, the Marx Brothers, Bogart, Stanwyk, Tracy and Hepburn. Later came the spawn of AIP and Hammer and Ryle was working out his own dreams on paper and canvas. Dreams that have now come full circle, back to film. One Good Turn is a short noir piece, written, produced and directed by Ryle. It may give you pause the next time you plug in your iPod for a nice healthy jog.

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And for the news you've all been waiting for... the winners from last week's stamp giveaway are: Jersey Jack and Charles Gramlich... Congrats to both!

BTAP #76: Miles to Go by Edward A. Grainger

I came up with the character Gideon Miles after reading the unsung adventures of Bass Reeves, one of the first, if not the first, African American U.S. Marshals of the Old West. As a matter of fact, the scene where Miles plays possum is my homage to the true life Reeves who pretended to be dead to get the drop on a wanted man he was tracking.

This story I’m spinning (hero worship, on the trail of a bad man) is not new but I hope I’ve told it well and it's entertaining. Please let me know, by dropping over to BEAT to a PULP and leaving a comment on "Miles to Go."

Special thanks to Matt Mayo and dMix for their invaluable assist on this story.

On another note, the Edward A. Grainger pen name is a tribute to my grandfather who was also a writer. I got the idea from Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin and thought it was a marvelous way to pay my respect.

Coming soon: "The Little Boy Inside" by Glenn Gray

BTAP #75: I Paid The Whore by Michael Hemmingson

A look at Michael Hemmingson's Wikipedia entry shows quite a diverse career spanning twenty eight years: novelist, journalist, short story writer, essayist, cultural anthropologist, qualitative researcher to name a few. Larry McCaffery has called him "Raymond Carver on acid" and American Book Review has noted: "a disciple of a quick and dirty literature."

We are very pleased to have this original talent at BEAT to a PULP with "I Paid The Whore."

Next: Edward A. Grainger has "Miles to Go."

And soon: Elizabeth Zelvin revisits a prom in "Dress to Die."

BTAP #74: Fashionably Late by Rekha Ambardar

"Did you tell her about us? I know what you’re up to with Debra. I’ve been asking around. One word to the old man from me that you’re after their money and you can kiss your sweet little Debra goodbye. Then where will you be? So don’t think you can pat me on the head and make me go away quietly. That won’t happen."

That's Millie talking to Tom. As the well-known quote goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," and Tom better believe it or he will find himself more than just "Fashionably Late."

Next: "I Paid The Whore" by Michael Hemmingson.

And soon: David King is heading for a "Collision."