Just like Preston Lang to put out his next neo-noir surprise without telling anyone. Two months later: Surprise! Dark, humorous matter available. Review coming soon. Everyone knows that cigarettes will kill you. Mark works the overnight in a grimy deli in the Bronx, selling gray market smokes and bad meat. His hotheaded manager Janet pushes him … Continue reading Sin Tax, by Preston Lang, coming July 1 from All Due Respect Books
Month: August 2016
Bart Simpson, Foreign Service Officer
I was driving the boys to a wishing well Sunday morning when good fortune came my way: NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me was airing Not My Job. Talented people were supposed to do something without drawing on their talent. The talent in this case was Bill Oakley, who turned a Foreign Service exam cop … Continue reading Bart Simpson, Foreign Service Officer
Indies Make it Great
These independent writers are Making Books Great Again: screamingskullpress.com roguepress.net joylesshousepublishing.com paperandinkzine.co.uk vidlit.com Who else do you support by reading, reviewing, and sharing?
No Whizzpopping Allowed!
How do you celebrate six years of Mohan? A small party with big guests, of course! Yes, all the invitees came to make dream jars in our former home, the BFG's cave. And while they ate snozzcumber sandwiches and guzzled delicious frobscottle sodas and chomped on fleshlumps of watermelon, the evil giants ran off with the dream jars and deposited … Continue reading No Whizzpopping Allowed!
Cover Story
To my colleagues in the foreign affairs community, known and unknown, I regret that the artwork of my novel about your service has misrepresented the truth. “BOO-ring," LousyBookCoversDotCom hooted. "Showing you just how dramatic diplomacy can be.” What an insult my cover must seem to those of us who serve our country. What an insult to those who've worked in … Continue reading Cover Story
Peace Corps Writer’s Crime Debut
Congrats to fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Chris Orlet (Poland, 1992-94), who's debut novel In the Pines came out this month from New Pulp Press. New Pulp is home to many other fine noir and crime writers like Mark Richardson (see my review of Hunt for the Troll--2015). NPP released my neo-noir satire, Two Pumps for the Body Man, this … Continue reading Peace Corps Writer’s Crime Debut
this is what i do when… #4
Summer fantasy surf quest In Episode 4 of this is what i do when i should be... we recap skateboard and bike camp, move operations up to the beach, and take a stab at that notorious dragon, Smaug. True to form the conversation allows escape from what we really should be doing, which is reviewing Brian Booker's … Continue reading this is what i do when… #4
A Wry Ode to Clusterf***ing
Joyless House posted this generous review of Two Pumps for the Body Man. See what else they're reviewing with a click on the image. "...Two Pumps is a page-turner, baby, and it takes some real balls to satirize the great Christian crusade of our times." Two Pumps is set in the Royal Kingdom of Saudi … Continue reading A Wry Ode to Clusterf***ing
Trivial Armchair Protest #2
Is this really necessary?! I believe in pants. Pants are good, modest clothing. Call them trousers if you like: trousers are just as good as pants. Socks, to prevent blisters. Shoes, black or brown. Keep it simple. A belt to hold up your pants or trousers is a common-sense approach. Black or brown, as with your … Continue reading Trivial Armchair Protest #2
Ben East Books 