Paul Bishop's Blog, page 66

INTERVIEW WITH FIGHT CARD CO-CREATOR AND AUTHOR PAUL BISHOP

INTERVIEW WITH FIGHT CARD CO-CREATOR AND AUTHOR PAUL BISHOP  RENOWN MYSTERY FIELD PUNDIT ED GORMAN FEATURES FIGHT CARD CO-CREATOR AND AUTHOR PAUL BISHOP IN HIS LATEST PRO-FILES BLOG POST ...  Can you give us a sense of what you’re working on now?   Currently, I’m putting the finishing touches on my next Fight Card novella, Swamp Walloper, which is a direct sequel to Felony Fists. By the end of 2013, we will have launched twenty-seven Fight Card related titles from some of the most exciting new writers working today. The roster also includes three titles in our Fight Card MMA spin-off brand, as well as the debut of the first Fight Card Romance spin-off, Ladies Night ...   What other projects do you have in progress?  I have two new books coming out early next year via a new publishing paradigm. Lie Catchers is set in the world of interrogation and makes use of my extensive background and expertise in deception detection (I currently teach a week long interrogation course to law enforcement nationwide). Next up is an all out action piece, Gun Hawks, about the LAPD’s Special Investigative Service, which The Los Angeles Times once dubbed the LAPD assassination squad ...  FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW CLICK HERE

MYSTERY NOW: HAVE YOURSELF A CROOKED LITTLE CHRISTMAS!

MYSTERY NOW: HAVE YOURSELF A CROOKED LITTLE CHRISTMAS!

IT'S NEVER TOO SOON TO START PLANNING YOUR CHIRISTMAS READING ...

Have yourself a crooked little Christmas with The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. 

Edgar Award-winning editor Otto Penzler collects sixty of his all-time favorite holiday crime stories--many of which are difficult or nearly impossible to find anywhere else. From classic Victorian tales by Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Hardy, to contemporary stories by Sara Paretsky and Ed McBain, this collection touches on all aspects of the holiday season, and all types of mysteries. They are suspenseful, funny, frightening, and poignant. 

Included are puzzles by Mary Higgins Clark, Isaac Asimov, and Ngaio Marsh; uncanny tales in the tradition of A Christmas Carol by Peter Lovesey and Max Allan Collins; O. Henry-like stories by Stanley Ellin and Joseph Shearing, stories by pulp icons John D. MacDonald and Damon Runyon; comic gems from Donald E. Westlake and John Mortimer; and many, many more. Almost any kind of mystery you’re in the mood for--suspense, pure detection, humor, cozy, private eye, or police procedural—can be found in these pages. 

FEATURING:

-        Unscrupulous Santas
-        Crimes of Christmases Past and Present-        Festive felonies-        Deadly puddings-        Misdemeanors under the mistletoe-        Christmas cases for classic characters including Sherlock Holmes, Brother Cadfael, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, Rumpole of the Bailey, Inspector Morse, Inspector Ghote, A.J. Raffles, and Nero Wolfe. 

HARDBOILED NOW: INSIDE JOB

HARDBOILED NOW: INSIDE JOB

LEN LEVINSON

NOW AVAILABLE, THE LATEST ACTION FILLED VOLUME IN THE COLLECTED PULP FICTION OF LEN LEVINSON SERIES ...

INSIDE JOB

Bitter at being laid off because New York City had gone broke, four tough cops planned and carried off the biggest robbery in the history of crime. Their target was the Property Room in the basement of police headquarters—a lightly guarded storeroom bulging with millions of dollars in cash, narcotics, stolen art treasures, jewelry. They went strictly for the cash and their take was a million dollars apiece. But would they get to keep it …

ACTION JUNKIE CORNER: THE JOHN CROWN OMBIBUS!

ACTION JUNKIE CORNER: THE JOHN CROWN OMBIBUS!

TERRY HARKNETT

BACK IN 2010, I WROTE A FORGOTTEN BOOKS POST FEATURING TERRY HARKNETT’S JOHN CROWN SERIES ...

With the eminent e-book reprise of his seminal western series Edge, written under the pseudonym George Gilmore, prolific author Terry Harknett is enjoying being in the spotlight once again.

The leader of the posse known as The Piccadilly Cowboys – a group of British writers of fast and violent westerns during the ‘70s – Harknett was the fastest typewriter of them all – fanning out book after book in not only his most popular series, the ultra-violent Edge, but also the Adam Steele series and many of the early Jubal Cain titles. My favorite Harknett western series, however, is the six books he wrote in the lesser know Undertaker series.

Aside from his westerns, however, this current revival of interest in Harknett’s work made me go digging for another, more contemporary series, written under his own name.

The three books in the Crown series are kick-ass examples of straight forward action writing. There is not a wasted word, or emotion, this is pulp-style writing as it was meant to be – fast, furious, and most of all, entertaining.

NOW PICCADILLY PUBLISHING HAS GIVEN US ALL THREE BOOKS IN A NEW E-OMNIBUS ... 

A SUPER-VALUE THREE-BOOKS-IN-ONE OMNIBUS EDITION FROM THE AUTHOR OF EDGE: THE LONER!!

THE SWEET AND SOUR KILL
 Hong Kong: Where East meets West in a boom of skyscrapers and shanty towns, of luxury hotels and sleazy waterfront bars. Where anything can be had for a price, from a pretty girl to a shipment of raw heroin. When an American mob backed with Mafia money muscles in on the colony’s lucrative rackets, offering their own special brand of ‘protection’, they trespass on Crown’s patch. Big mistake. Chief Superintendent John Crown isn’t your usual policeman. Tough, bitter and ruthless, he believes that bullets speak louder than words. And he has a special dislike of trespassers. MACAO MAYHEM Hong Kong – the international brokerage house for the exchange of secrets. Somebody was buying some big ones and selling them at a big profit. Then a girl nobody seemed to care about got killed. Somebody did care. Senior Superintendent John Crown of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. And when he took a hand, Chang Po, his Chinese partner, joined the action. Macao – not part of Crown’s Colony. But the blood and violent trail led there, so that’s where Crown and Chang went. In the tracks of a girl who knew too much. Enough to make her another victim … unless she traded her secrets for protection instead of money. BAMBOO SHOOT-OUT The Chinese People’s Republic – Getting into this forbidden land isn’t easy, unless you’re invited. Chief Superintendent John Crown of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force had no invitation. Just the help of his partner, Chang Po, and an agent of British Intelligence.
The Assignment – Reach into the city of Canyon by any means available and at whatever cost, to meet a man. Why? Only Crown knew that, and he wasn’t talking.
Red China – Never was the name more apt that when Crown and Chang penetrated the Bamboo Curtain. For the good earth was stained crimson with the blood of all who stood in their way. At any cost they had said, and the price was high. ABOUT THE AUTHOR The son of a truck driver, Terry Harknett was born in Essex in 1936. He left school at fifteen and worked as a copy boy in a Fleet Street newsagency, later becoming a features writer for an international syndicate. Then for a short time he joined the exploitation department of a film company, leaving to work for a newsagency trade journal where, he became the Features Editor. Having written short stories and books in his spare time since the age of fifteen, he eventually turned to writing full-time. His first book was published in 1962 and well over 200 have since followed. Today he is best known as ‘George G. Gilman’, creator of the phenomenally successful western series EDGE, ADAM STEELE and UNDERTAKER. In addition to his CHESTER FORTUNE series, Terry also created the APACHE series (writing under the name William M. James) and JUBAL CADE, as Charles R. Pike. His movie adaptations include RED SUN and A TOWN CALLED BASTARD (under the name William Terry) and A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (under the name Frank Chandler).  

THE TROUBLE WITH BLONDES!

SHE WAS BLONDE, BEAUTIFUL AND WILLING - TO MAKE HIM A CORPSE ...

AUDIO NOW: THE ORIGINALS: BATTLE FOR LA!

  AUDIO NOW: THE ORIGINALS: BATTLE FOR LA!

Starting September 1, AudioComics will begin taking pre-orders for the audio drama adaptation of Moonstone Entertainment's Battle for LA, starring the Phantom Detective, the Black Bat, the Domino Lady, Secret Agent X, and Airboy.

Battle for LA will be released as a digital download October 1, available exclusively through the AudioComics website at:

www.audiocomicscompany.com

Between September 1 and October 1, you can preorder the Battle for LA MP3 for $6.45 ($1.50 off the retail price of $7.95). Plus you will receive a FREE episode from AudioComics' Horrorscopes series!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BATTLE FOR LA CLICK HERE

FIGHT CARD: TOMATO CAN COMEBACK AUDIO!

FIGHT CARD: TOMATO CAN COMEBACK AUDIO!

THE FIRST FIGHT CARD NOVEL TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ON UNABRIDGED AUDI VIA AUDIBLE.COM IS TOMATO CAN COMBACK WITH HENRY BROWN WRITING AS JACK TUNNEY ... NARRATED BY JOHN PODULKA ...

FIGHT CARD: TOMATO CAN COMEBACK AUDIO

Tom Garrick had a heart of gold, a jaw of iron, and heavy artillery in both fists. This orphan from the Windy City returned from the Korean War, determined to battle his way up the welterweight ranks, inspiring speculation about a title bid. Then he slugged it out with a top contender, who humiliated him over eleven rounds, cutting short his victory march. 

Popular opinion was that he had been exposed as a lucky pretender. The newspapers dubbed him 'Tomato Can' after watching the blood splatter around the ring like tomato juice from a tin can being battered by a tire iron. 

Now, for some mysterious reason, 'Tomato Can' Garrick is lacing up his gloves again, hoping for a shot at redemption. He has no promoter, no manager, and not even a sparring partner. The only one in his corner is a buddy from the war, who has never been inside a boxing ring before.

There's a punch-drunk pantheon of bums, brawlers, and cutthroat contenders just waiting to pound him into Palookaville...a lonely war widow with her claws in his heart...and a regimen of dubious training methods which may do more harm than good to his chances at success. But Garrick isn't going to go down in history as "the Tomato Can" - at least, not without a fight. 

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

PULP NOW: THE BAGMAN VS. THE WORLD'S FAIR!

PULP NOW: THE BAGMAN VS. THE WORLD'S FAIR!

Airship 27 Productions is delighted to announce the release of its latest pulp title, The Bagman vs The World’s Fair by B.C. Bell ...

THE BAGMAN VS. THE WORLD'S FAIR

It is the summer of 1933 and the Windy City is hosting the fabulous World’s Fair. The famous Navy Pier along the shores of Lake Michigan is invaded by thousands of tourists from around the nation and the world; all there to marvel at the newest scientific advancements on display.

But within this glittering pleasure park of wonder lurks a devilish fiend set upon causing mass destruction and ruining the Fair; a scientist turned mad employing a bizarre sonic cannon to commit murder and chaos amongst the innocent throngs.  Now it will be up to the unlikeliest hero of them all, the odd, notorious Bagman, to save the day.

Writer B.C. Bell sends his one time petty crook, Frank “Mac” McCullough back into action in this, the Bagman’s first full length adventure.  Along with his loyal buddy, the ace mechanic, Crankshaft, Chicago’s most unusual mystery man must find the lunatic inventor and put an end to his heinous attacks before more people will die.

“The first time I read a Chris Bell Bagman story, I actually chuckled aloud,” says Airship 27 Productions Managing Editor Ron Fortier.  “Bell’s ability to combine both fast paced, pure pulp action with slapstick humor is sheer genius. The Bagman is one of the most original of the new pulp heroes we have today.  His fans will not be disappointed with this new, longer adventure.”

The book features nine interiors illustrations by Andy Fish and sports a truly colorful painting by Laura Givens with book designs by Rob Davis.  As an added bonus, the story also features a very special cameo by Canadian writer Calvin Daniels’ own new pulp hero, the Black Wolf.

So slap another clip in your .45, straighten your tie and put that bag over your head, pulp fans – here comes the Bagman, delivering justice in his own peculiar way. 

FOR MORE ABOUT THE BAGMAN CLICK HERE

THE TROUBLE WITH BLONDES!

 BLONDES ARE TO SPICY

PULP NOW: DOOM PLATOON!

PULP NOW: DOOM PLATOON!

PULP HEAVEN IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE COLLECTED PULP FICTION OF LEN LEVINSON. BEFORE LEVINSON’S MOST FAMOUS CREATION, THE SERGEANT (WRITTEN UNDER THE PEN NAME GORDON DAVIS) THERE WAS DOOM PLATOON ...

DOOM PLATOON

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE – ONE PLATOON HAD TO HOLD A PANZER DIVISION!

The Germans were beaten … but no one had thought to tell them. So they launched a lightning attack through the Ardennes, right over the U.S. 25th Infantry.

There was a big depot at Dillendorf. If the German tanks could be kept from it, they’d run out of gas and the attack could be stopped. If the Panzers took the depot, nothing would stop them until they reached the sea!

There was a narrow spot on the road to Dillendorf. The second platoon was ordered to hold it against a Panzer division; to hold it until noon. No one expected them to survive, but Sergeant Mazursky refused to die!

BONUS MATERIAL:

MY SO-CALLED LITERARY CAREER / JOHN LENNON AND ME

THE AUTHOR

Hailed as a ‘trash genius’, Len Levinson was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1954-1957, and graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Social Science. He relocated to NYC that year and worked as an advertising copywriter and public relations executive before becoming a full-time novelist.

Len created and wrote a number of series, including The Apache Wars Saga, The Pecos Kid and The Rat Bastards. He has had over eighty titles published, and PP is delighted to have the opportunity to issue his exceptional WWII series, The Sergeant in digital form.

After many years in NYC, Len moved to a small town (pop. 3100) in rural Illinois, where he is now surrounded by corn and soybean fields ... a peaceful, ideal location for a writer.