The Duke Don't Dance

[Richard]

More than two years after its publication The Duke Don't Dance continues to generate regular paperback and eBook (primarily Kindle) sales, a product of favorable reviews (Kirkus, ForeWord, Midwest Book Review and many customer reviews) and awards (Independent Publisher gold medal(2013), Kirkus Best Indie book list (2012).

[Richard]

Several reviewers of both The Duke Don't Dance and Crystal Ships have commented on the musical references, some expressing the feeling that they were Baby Boomer themes. Since my protagonists were mostly born in the late 1930s or early 1940s, before the baby boom, I thought it would be interesting to do an age profile of the rock and folk rock legends of the 60s. There were only about seven major rock stars born before 1930 -- but they included Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Bil Haley. There were about eight more born 1930-1934, including Little Richard, Willie Nelson (who wrote rock lyrics before turning to country) and Yoko Ono. Then the explosion began,about 15 Sixties rock artists were born 1935-1939, including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis,Bill Wyman, Buddy Holly, Ray Manzarek and others. Then 40 more were born prior to 1946, including the Beatles, the rest of the Doors and Stones,mostly all of the Beach Boys,the Animals, the Kinks and Grateful Dead, Zappa, Eric Clapton, Dylan, Fogerty and many others. Not surprising. The oldest Boomers were only 14 in 1960, and the youngest only born in 1965. Boomer rock musicians only began to make their mark in the Seventies. It is true that many Boomers grew up on the music of the Sixties. But, for better or worse, with few exceptions they didn't compose or perform it.

[Richard]

The Duke Don't Dance has been honored with the following awards:
Kirkus Review Star
Kirkus Best Indie Book List (2012)
Foreword Review Foreword Firsts (debut novel)Finalist (Winter 2012)
Independent Publishers (IPPY) Awards, Best Adult Fiction E-Book Gold Medal (2013)