Halloween Reminder

The Dead Sheriff Volume One: Zombie Damnation is available now in trade paperback for just $13.95 or for the Kindle at only $4.49.

You can pick up both or either right here.

As Bartles & Jaymes were fond of saying, thank you for your support.

The Dead Sheriff Between the Covers

The paperback edition of the first book in my supernatural western series The Dead Sheriff is finally here.

The Dead Sheriff: Zombie Damnation just hit Amazon this weekend. I had quite a few inquiries asking about the availability of the “actual” book (as opposed to the e-book) and I’m am incredibly psyched to be able to tell you it’s here.

Kudos to Evileye Books on the incredible design of this gorgeous book.

The legend said a murdered lawman clawed his way from the grave to avenge the deaths of his family. The legend is only telling half the tale. If you like magic, monsters, hot lead, horror, hard-drinking, cussin’, non-stop action and the lure of adventure on the dusty trail, then follow this link to saddle up with The Dead Sheriff.

And as we all know, stories about rotting, reanimated cowboys make wonderful holiday gifts, right?

Right?

Seriously, if you’re a horror fan I think you’ll really like it. But whether you love it or loathe it, please do me a favor. Leave a review at Amazon, if you don’t mind. Thanks.

Now I have to get back to writing book 2.

Soon...

My Wife Reads Only The Finest Fiction

The Dead Sheriff Between the Covers

Here's the cover to the trade paperback edition of the first Dead Sheriff book, due out in a few weeks.

It's So-o-o-o-o-o-o Stressful Here

Nothing to say here This picture just makes me feel good.

The Last Thing Ray Bradbury Ever Wrote

 It's an essay on his love for books, and you can read it here.

Warning: if you're a book lover and a lifelong Bradbury fan, you may want to grab a tissue first.

I'm 53, Whee!

Birthdays make me a little reflective. They didn’t used to. Mostly, I noted the birthday and carried on. Since hitting 50, though, I feel like I should take some time to, well, ponder.

For the most part, I feel pretty good these days. I walk as often as possible and will do more now, since fall is here and it’s not 300 frakkin’ degrees, and also since a busy work summer is over. I try to eat well (and when I succeed, it’s all due to Norma).

My writing has slowed considerably, mostly because of the events of the last 18 months (which comes with a huge tradeoff: my wife is still here and she’s doing great and nothing–NOTHING–means more to me than that), but I also think my writing is better than it’s ever been. I know, I know. Some of you believe it had nowhere to go but up. Who am I to argue?

In a few weeks I will mark 36 years in the radio business. Incredibly, I still love it.  Or most of it, anyway. Specifically, I love the part I got into the business for: I still dig going to work early, putting the show together. Writing funny scripts and doing funny voices and finding out what stupid things celebrities got up to overnight and what boneheads in little towns did when they drank too much.

53 was also the last birthday my father ever had. Not surprisingly, that’s an age that been in my head for a while. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t obsess over it. But the idea will surface now and again this year.

Mostly, my hopes for the next year are simple, ‘cause I’m a simple guy.

I want to spend more quality time with my wife.

I want to watch my niece grow another year and hear her describe lunch as “chicken with a handle”.

I want to talk more walks and write more books.

And I hope the Bengals finally figure out this football thing.

Why I'm Always Thirsty

So Anyway

I've been remiss in reminding you of my weekly newspaper column in the Ashland (KY) Beacon.

This week's edition chronicles a recent visit to The Possum Ranch, the best gentleman's club in Argillite, KY.

You can read it here on page 2.

More on The Dead Sheriff

Thanks to all who've downloaded the Kindle book. For those who haven't gone the e-book route or who have a different device, the trade paperback will be out in a few weeks. You can bet I'll keep you informed.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of pieces on the book. First, the story of that gorgeous cover.

Then, my essay on the story's inspiration.

And, as always, if you read the book I would really appreciate it if you posted a review on Amazon.

The Dead Sheriff Finally Rides Into Town

The Kindle version was released today. Other formats will follow, with a trade paperback later this year, for those who like to hold a real book while you read.

Here's the link at Amazon. If you have a Kindle, you can saddle up in a few seconds.

In lieu of a plot description, the site uses my afterword from the book, a short essay on the beginnings of the notion of The Dead Sheriff. It's a pretty good introduction to what I hope to accomplish with the series.

I'm so pleased the book is finally out there. It seems I've been talking about it for years (and it's been a great lesson for me: shut up until the release date is near).

The Dead Sheriff: Zombie Damnation is a pulpish brew of action, magic and mayhem which kicks off what I hope is several books.

I have big plans for my decomposing lawman. I hope you'll hitch up for the long haul.

As always, your feedback is appreciated.

Writing, Etc.

I haven’t provided a writing update for a while. That’s because August is basically my busiest month at work, and my time at the keyboard has been limited.

Work continues on the new novel. Right now I’m working on a scene in a diner in which two of my characters toss witty one-liners at each other. Yes, it’s my writing kryptonite. Like a hamster on a wheel, I could keep this scene going for 100 pages. But this weekend I have to find my way out of the diner and to the creepy house where all the remaining action takes place.

I also abandoned the idea of posting regular word counts here and on Facebook. When I reached or surpassed my goal, I felt like I was bragging. When I missed the goal, I got depressed. Blame my blue-collar upbringing.

***

My latest newspaper column in called “Freakin’ Personal Assistant” and can be read online right here.

***

I recently finished James Lee Burke’s Creole Belle. I liked it quite a bit, which does not come as a surprise. If I can get the time I’ll review it here. On the other hand, I do plenty of reviews on a regular basis for my podcast, so I may skip it.

I also enjoyed “A Face in the Crowd”, the new baseball horror story from Stephen King and Stewart O’Nan. Your enjoyment may depend upon whether you think two bucks is too much to pay for a short story.

I Almost Forgot

My new column in this week's Ashland Beacon is online. It's an adventure of the Argillite Secret Service. You can read it here on page 2.

That's it. You can go back to slowly and loudly riding your motorcycle in front of my house.

Elvis Lives!

...at least in my column in this week's freakin' Ashland Beacon. It's on page 2. Thank ya. Thank ya very much.

Doctor Who Season 7 Trailer

James Lee Burke News

Hutch Parker To Resurrect James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux Mysteries With Cable Series

Naughty Teachers

That's the title of my humor column this week in the Ashland Beacon. You can read it free right here.

By the way, that's not me in the photo above, in case you were wondering.

Dean Koontz and Odd Thomas

The LA Times has a brief interview with Dean Koontz on the eve of the release of the new Odd Thomas book. I enjoy the series, and I'm looking forward the latest installment.

Trailer for Cloud Atlas

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