Thomas Pluck's Blog, page 39

Christian’s Steak and Grill

I visited Christian’s Steak and Grill with two fellow carnivores- my cousin Pete the triathlete and firefighter, and my personal trainer and MMA fight buddy, Peter V. Dell’Orto. Me and the Petes demolished pounds of delicious steak and sides for a ridiculous low price. This is the DP’s Pub of steakhouses, minus the pub: BYOB.

Check it out at THE BIG EAT!

The Churrasco Chileno:

Tagged: Devil Gourmet, Steak

RIP, Elmore Leonard

A punch to the heart this morning. Elmore Leonard, author of 3:10 to Yuma, Get Shorty, Raylan and so many more, has died. We’ve lost a gent.

My first introduction to his work was through film adaptations, Charles Bronson in Mr. Majestyk. My mother loved his books- Bandits especially- and I read Get Shorty and Rum Punch early on. My story “White People Problems,” a crime caper set in the Caribbean, was my homage to his unique form of chaotic, realistic thriller, with colorful but truly human characters figuring their way through bizarre situations.

Those iconic covers sure helped!

He wrote tight stories but his dialogue and characters were what always held me. An American anthropologist of sorts, he collected familiar frenetic grotesques we could gladly cheer. Whether it was Jackie Brown, Chili Palmer, Mr. Majestyk, or Raylan Givens of “Justified,” he had a talent for creating unforgettable characters driven to get what they wanted, and we were happy to follow.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Leonard. Tonight I’ll raise a Rum Punch in your honor.

“The saying is: 1 part sour, 2 parts sweet, 3 parts strong and 4 parts weak.”

a recipe for Rum Punch. Mix ‘em shake em, garnish with orange or lemon wedge.

1 cup white rum

1/2 cup dark rum

1/4 cup coconut rum

2 1/2 cups pineapple juice

2 1/2 cups orange juice

1/4 cup lime juice

3 tbsp grenadine syrup

ice cubes

Tagged: death, drinks, Elmore Leonard, Get Shorty, Justified

Topless Activism and Bad-ass Librarians

Topless at the NY Public Library.

I wrote about the Outdoor Co-Ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation society for The Good Men Project. Not because I enjoy admiring brave and beautiful women, but because they struck me as a force for change. First something is shocking, then it becomes controversial, then it becomes something you barely notice. Our bodies will always be sexualized to a degree, but if we stop seeing each other as consumables, it’s a good thing.

And now, Librarians recreate the Beastie Boys video for SABOTAGE:

Listen alla y’all, your book’s OVER DUE!

Tagged: Beastie Boys, Boobies, Librarians, The Good Men Project, The Outdoor Co-Ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society

Hunting Yabbits

A friend on Twitter suggested that I write a book on writing. I think that’s a bit premature, as there is a plethora of writers giving advice out there. But I try to make a habit of distilling the essence of an idea and filtering out the bullshit. So here goes.

Writing is a muscle. You must flex it. You must use it. Does this mean “write every day?” For me, it does. For you, maybe not. Whatever works. But to find out what works, you need to try a lot of things, which involves writing.

In weightlifting everyone wants answers. The articles are a lot like articles on writing- the same stuff, then some new radical idea that everyone tries a while because this one person saw amazing results, and everyone talks about it a while, then it fades away, and then maybe a few years later it gets rediscovered when someone has a deadline. What works is lifting heavy things. You want a better bench press? Do a lot of bench presses with proper form, adding a little more weight each cycle, no more than you can do with proper form.

Part of this came to mind from Steve Weddle saying that some story writers should build a set of stairs before they try to build an escalator, or a Wonkavator for that matter. I think those are two totally different fields of construction, but I see the point. Before you can write a complex story, you should write a straightforward one. And write some more.

This is where the yabbits come in.

Yeah, but Tarantino’s first movie was non-linear and stuff. Yeah, but David Foster Wallace. Yeah, but this bro at the gym with thunder guns said… Yeah, but. Yabbit, yabbit, yabbit.

Write. Don’t agonize over it. Just write it. I still agonize, way too often. I don’t trust my voice all the time. I worry about building the roof when I’m putting in the basement. I want to take the elevator when I haven’t built the stairs. We all do it. It takes discipline not to do it, and discipline falters now and then, but we don’t tear the house down or abandon it, we go back and build the damn stairs.

Six metaphors later, I get to the point. My writing advice is simple. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. Does every story have to be great? Certainly not. I have a few turds in my pocket I’ll never share. (Unless you approach me nicely and say, “Tommy, can I hold the the dessicated turd you keep in your pocket?” Then I’ll gladly let you fondle it.) This also doesn’t mean you need to construct the perfect, master carpenter spiral staircase before you let your imagination run free. Just be aware that the tough, complex stories will take a lot of work. Sometimes you need to build them later, after you’ve tackled stuff that’s a little easier and more fun.

Because no matter what people say, writing should be fun. It can be tedious, brain-racking work. But so is working out, or building a set of stairs. You can learn to enjoy it, but it’s always work. It’s the results that are the fun part, when you’re proud of what you’ve done, when you read it yourself and don’t cringe, or when everyone wants to squeeze your biceps like Brad Pitt’s booty, those are great moments. Like riding the Wonkavator. But before you get there, build the damn stairs. And climb them a few times. Writing is sedentary. You don’t want to die of heart disease before you finish your bullet train escalator novel, do you?

To distill this…

How I Write.

1. Daydream often. You need ideas. Daydream in the shower. On the train. In the car. Try not to daydream while other people are talking.

2. Read everything. News, books by authors you love, books by authors you’ve heard are great but aren’t “your thing,” old books, new books.

3. Sit down to write regularly. To quote Jack London, “you can’t wait for inspiration. You have to chase it down with a club.” Talk yourself into writing for five minutes.

For real advice, I recommend these books.

Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block. The one book that I read first. LB is funny, tolerates no bullshit, and is one of the greatest short story writers working today. Let him be your Writer’s Block. Haw haw.

On Writing, by Stephen King. Half memoir- which made me like the man even more- and half no-BS writing talk. He eschews notes, which I disagree with. I use Evernote to take notes on my phone. But solid advice.

Break Writer’s Block Now! by Jerrold Mundis. This is the advice you’ll say YABBIT about. But it works. Whether you want to begin writing, write regularly, or break a dry spell this book is a must. Some sounds like bullshit- relaxing before you write? WTF? but it makes sense once you actually think about it, and try it. Anxiety is the root of most blocks.

And when you quit being a yabbit and start writing the big ponderous novel, I recommend Scrivener. It helps keep me organized, lets me write the scene I want to write, no matter where in the book it is, and keep things sensible. You can compile in Standard Manuscript format, Screenplay, as an e-book, paperback templates… truly a powerful tool, and great for taming that wild imagination:

Get Scrivener 2 for Mac

Get Scrivener for PC

And Steve Weddle’s debut novel COUNTRY HARDBALL is available for pre-order. Steve is a fine writer, and I’m sure these stairs won’t creak or send you plummeting to the basement.

Tagged: Jerrold Mundis, Lawrence Block, Stephen King, Steve Weddle, Yabbits

Noir at the Bar NYC: Sunday Aug. 18th

At Shade Bar NYC in Greenwich Village, not far from the Cozy Soup & Burger shack, if you get hungry.

Join us for the mellifluous and doomheavy tones of noir. Begins at 6pm promptly… if Mr. Stella is starting things off you’ll want to get there early. Charlie is one hell of a writer.

241 Sullivan Street. Off the West 4th Street subway stop.

They serve awesome crepes and have good beer on tap, and a nice selection of bourbon.

Tagged: Noir at the Bar

A Little Trip to London and Scotland

I was in beautiful sunny Scotland for the last week or so, with a few days in hot and sunny London as well. I tend to visit those isles during freakish weather. When I visited Ireland, we had thirty minutes of rain. Don’t tell anyone, lest they kidnap me and stick me in a dungeon to keep the clouds away. It was a lovely trip. That word was said quite a lot on the trip. That and delightful. Scotland’s natural landscape truly does evoke powerful emotions which obliterate the brain’s thesaurus. Or perhaps it’s the whisky and the beer.

Sunset and Ruins on the Isle of Skye

We arrived in London for a friend’s wedding at the Naval college, went on a great Jack the Ripper tour with London Walks, then met writer Ian Ayris at The Grapes pub in the East End and talked until closing. Great fellow, that Ian. His novel Abide with Me was released to rave reviews, and he has a great story in Protectors as well.

Rob Roy’s Grave

Then we took a train to Scotland with a crowd of loud children in the quiet car, and I drove 848 miles on the wrong side of the road and survived several near-death experiences across the roundabout infested, wind scoured kilt-scape. Firs stop: Oban, where we met the magnanimous Fiona “McDroll” Johnson for fish and chips. The best of the trip. McDroll has several story collections and a novella series out, and we edited the Lost Children anthology together. She writes with great power.

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Fiona “McDroll” and me

Next to Skye. A gorgeous isle of castle ruins, unique geological protuberances and wildlife, we crossed its 20 miles on a one lane road among oil trucks and tour buses. The beautiful setting made up for the stark raving terror. We had a terrific meal of fresh seafood in Portree, along with a few glasses of smoky Talisker’s scotch, the Port Righ port-barrel finished being my favorite. We also visited the Dalwhinnie distillery and enjoyed their distiller’s edition and 25 year very much.

Eilanan Donan castle

On the way out we stopped at Eileanan Donan castle, one of the biggest and most evocative, but also where Highlander was filmed, which was the important thing. Here I am, the master of your destiny:

The Kurgan in his natural habitat

From there to Loch Ness, where we caught some rain and ducked into a pub to enjoy a night of traditional music at Ghillie’s rest, where local musicians wander in and join the band. The next day took us to Inverness and the coast, where we hopped a boat to see a dozen plump north sea bottlenose dolphins settling down to lunch. We hugged the coast and stopped in Aboyne to see the Highland Games, where I regrettable didn’t join the shotput event despite having set the record in my Freshman high school year, thanks some pestering old injuries. That and I had no kilt. Maybe next time. I do want to learn to toss the caber.

Castle Pat Benatar

South we hit Castle Dunnotar, one of the last fortresses to hold out against the British invader, then St. Andrew’s cathedral, whose tower has existed since the first millennium. Saw the RSS Discovery, which explored the Antarctic.  From there we drove straight to Edinburgh.

St. Andrew’s cathedral

In Edinburgh we saw Mary Read’s Close, which is an alley from the old city that was built on top of in the 1900′s. Much of it remains and it is a curious if dank window into the city’s past. We also saw the Military Tattoo play outside the castle, and met up with Allan Guthrie, Nigel Bird, and Tony Black & family in Portobello, and spent a fine evening chatting over pints and chai. Overall it was a great trip and I can’t wait to return to Scotland and the East End of London, visit my friends once more, and have more time to relax and explore.

Nigel Bird, myself, and Allan Guthrie

Tagged: Allan Guthrie, Fiona Johnson, Highlander, Ian Ayris, London, mcdroll, Nigel Bird, Scotland, Tony Black

Breaking Bad Contest: The First Three to Die?

Let’s make this simple. Post a comment below with your guess of who the first three characters to die are in the final season of Breaking Bad.

The one who guesses first wins their choice of one the following:

1) ONE season of Breaking Bad of your choice (DVD or Blu-Ray)

2) Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution: From The Sopranos and The Wire to Mad Men and Breaking Bad (Kindle or Hardcover)

or

3) The Revolution Was Televised: The Cops, Crooks, Slingers, and Slayers Who Changed TV Drama Forever by Alan Sepinwall (Kindle or Paperback)

Rules: Limited to U.S. addresses. Will be shipped from Amazon. You must guess all three in order that their deaths are portrayed in the show. In the event of a tie your names will be written post-it notes and one winner drawn from a bag by my wife. Judge Plucker’s decision will be final.

NEW RULE: Comments must be in by Sunday August 18th at 7pm EST (may be extended if no one dies next episode)

So… who dies first?

My guess is: Marie, Saul, Junior.

Go:

Tagged: Breaking Bad, contests

I’ll fight you, Highlander…

Here I am… the master of your destiny. (at Eilean Donan castle where Highlander was filmed)

Tagged: Highlander, Scotland

Writing about Angola Prison, at Criminal Element

I wrote about Angola prison for Criminal Element.

First, thanks to Les Edgerton for cluing me in to The Angolite magazine, written by Angola inmates. I look forward to it every month.

Leave a comment over at Criminal Element for a chance to win a copy of my story collection, Steel Heart: 10 Tales of Crime & Suspense. If you don’t win, it’s 99 cents on Kindle right now.

 

 

RIP, Karen Black.

The actress who appeared in Five Easy Pieces, The Outfit, Easy Rider, Family Plot,  and the most memorable story from Trilogy of Terror has left us.