David Cranmer's Blog, page 96

Submissions

BEAT to a PULP submissions are open ...

... the editor is in.

BEAT to a PULP: Superhero (Updated Links)

Contributors:

James Reasoner
Jake Hinkson
Kevin Burton Smith
Garnett Elliott
Liam José
Sandra Seamans
Jerry Bloomfield
Thomas Pluck
Keith Rawson
Court Merrigan
Benoȋt Lelièvre
Chad Eagleton
Steve Weddle

Check out Scott D. Parker's introduction.

Sandra on the origin of her "Moon Mad" story.

James Reasoner on "Drums."

BEAT to a PULP: Superhero is available through Amazon.

BEAT to a PULP: Superhero

Superhero contributors:

James Reasoner
Jake Hinkson
Kevin Burton Smith
Garnett Elliott
Liam José
Sandra Seamans
Jerry Bloomfield
Thomas Pluck
Keith Rawson
Court Merrigan
Benoȋt Lelièvre
Chad Eagleton
Steve Weddle

Check out Scott D. Parker's introduction.

BEAT to a PULP: Superhero is available through Amazon.

Protectors: Stories to Benefit PROTECT

41 stories.

One cause: PROTECT

100% of proceeds go to PROTECT and the National Association to Protect Children - the army fighting what Andrew Vachss calls "the only holy war worthy of the name," the protection of children.

We've rallied a platoon of crime, western, thriller, fantasy, noir, horror and transgressive authors to support PROTECT's important work: lobbying for legislation that protects children from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

Powerful stories from George Pelecanos, Andrew Vachss, Joe R. Lansdale, Charles de Lint, Ken Bruen, Chet Williamson, James Reasoner, Charlie Stella, Michael A. Black, Wayne Dundee, Roxane Gay, Ray Banks, Tony Black, Les Edgerton and 16 more, with 100% of proceeds going to PROTECT

PROTECTORS includes a foreword by rock critic Dave Marsh, and fiction by Patti Abbott, Ian Ayris, Ray Banks, Nigel Bird, Michael A. Black, Tony Black, R. Thomas Brown, Ken Bruen, Bill Cameron, Jen Conley, Charles de Lint, Wayne D. Dundee, Chad Eagleton, Les Edgerton, Andrew Fader, Matthew C. Funk, Roxane Gay, Edward A. Grainger, Glenn G. Gray, Jane Hammons, Amber Keller, Joe R. Lansdale, Frank Larnerd, Gary Lovisi, Mike Miner, Zak Mucha, Dan O'Shea, George Pelecanos, Thomas Pluck, Richard Prosch, Keith Rawson, James Reasoner, Todd Robinson, Johnny Shaw, Gerald So, Josh Stallings, Charlie Stella, Andrew Vachss, Steve Weddle, Dave White, and Chet Williamson.

All the details here.

Buying Reviews

After BEAT to a PULP's first book came out and garnered super reviews but did poor box office, I decided to get smart on the publishing game. Or as smart as I could because sometimes I feel like Sylvester Stallone at the end of Copland with the bloody ear and playing catch up. So I bought John Locke's book in addition to two others, all of which helped my book sales in different ways. In the case of the first Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles collection, it was the reviews, which had been emphasized by Mr. Locke as being crucial, that pushed the book farther up the charts, leading to respectable sales. Same goes for HARDBOILED and MANHUNTER'S MOUNTAIN. (Sidebar: other aspects also helped push these books like phenomenal word-of-mouth via Blogger and Twitter.)

Now comes word that Mr. Locke paid for some reviews. Please read the article because he is quoted and it is only fair to hear both sides. The question in my mind is why didn't he mention buying reviews in his How I Sold One Million E-Books in Five Months bestseller? Well, if the NY Times article is true, then the answer is obvious. Maybe some writers don't have an issue with this practice, but I don't subscribe to that line of thought. (And I'm not talking Kirkus Reviews.)

I appreciate the help Mr. Locke's book has given me but to leave out the fact that he had bought reviews, something that can be very influential in number of sales, is disappointing. Sad actually. Kinda like if I heard Joltin' Joe had played with a corked bat. Ok, maybe not that serious.

That's it, my two cents. And as a good friend of mine is fond of saying, "Onward."

Through Daddy's Eyes

This picture is of Ava's first drawing on her new Crayola crayon dry erase board. As Ava was creating her masterpiece, I said to my wife, "Doesn't that look like a cat?" She agreed and we took a picture. Does anybody else see it or is this a matter of parent goggles, which is okay with us!

Meatballs, Baby!

A co-worker made these meatballs which were fantastico. Never had them before and I'm hooked. My charmer says she's heard of a similar recipe. I thought I'd share.

2 tbs Grape Jelly
2 tbs Brown Sugar
1 cup Ketchup
1/2 tsp Chili Powder (to taste)
Costco pre-cooked meatballs

Mix first four ingredients together to make sauce. Place meatballs in sauce until thawed. Place meatballs in slow cooker to let flavors combine.

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

Kieran Shea returns to BTAP with a Charlie Byrne grind.

Thanks, amigo.

BEAT to a PULP: Superhero

BEAT to a PULP: SUPERHERO should be out in a couple of weeks. Twelve extraordinary short stories by these top wordslingers. I like the way this cover came out. The image was purchased from iStock where I noticed it had been downloaded three other times -- hopefully not being used for an anthology of this sort. But, rest assured, the originality of these tales will be unmatched. More about Superhero in the week to come.

Devil Wings Over France

Dave "Dead-Stick" Malloy grinned as he saw the flare from the exhaust stacks of the Fokker's engine through the ring of the Aldis sight. He had already fired a couple of bursts through his twin Vickers to warm the barrels of the deadly machine guns. Now his fingers punched the trips and sent leaden death flickering through the darkness.

This is just the opening to DEVIL WINGS OVER FRANCE and if you're like me, you'll have to keep reading this exciting novella.