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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78326690356109681822014-11-17T03:58:55.426-08:00FROM DUNDEE'S DESKwayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-83200384324108865812014-11-16T21:32:00.002-08:002014-11-16T21:32:54.031-08:00Anthology In Memory of C.J. HENDERSON: A Kickstarter Project

Earlier this year, I wrote about the passing of my old pal C.J. Henderson.

My association to Chris went back a long ways and was mainly linked through his Jack Hagee and Teddy London stories and novels.

But Chris wrote extensively in other genres and had a wide, wide range of friends and fans from his writing and the many appearances he made at numerous book conventions and conferences … right up to the end.

It's been brought to my attention that some fine folks who were touched by Chris, either through his writing or appearances or both, are working on a tribute anthology that deserves wide attention.

I pass this on for your consideration:

Danielle Ackley-McPhail has put together a tribute anthology for C. J. Henderson, who passed away last July. She's funding it through Kickstarter. If any of you can spread the word it would be greatly appreciated.

Here's the link:
http://kck.st/1xu1DH9

wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-20839878578086160952014-11-15T08:39:00.000-08:002014-11-15T08:39:24.019-08:00Noteworthy Reads: THE IRON FISTS OF NED KELLY (Fight Card Books)

This latest in the Fight Card series (with David Foster behind the Jack Tunney byline for a second time) is another case where a rousing fight climax is cleverly interwoven with historical events and people --- such as most recently done with the JFK assassination and a fictionalized extension of the life of pulp writer icon Robert E. Howard.

This time around, the historical figure – as clearly indicated by the title – is Australia's infamous, romanticized, Robin Hood-like outlaw/folk hero, Ned Kelly. Although author Foster manages to incorporate much of Kelly's brief, violent history (he was hanged at age 25) via a "framing" device in which Kelly is talking to a priest before going to the gallows, the main thrust of the tale involves a bare knuckle fight between a young Ned and another rowdy Irishman named Isaiah "Wild" Wright. In an Afterward, Foster reveals that the fight actually did take place, although it may not have been on as grand a scale as re-told here. Kelly and Wright would go on to become good friends and Wright would even become a member of Kelly's gang in later years.

Foster (an Australian himself) clearly knows and has a fondness for his subject matter. His writing style is fast-paced, with frequent cuts in and out of different scenes building up to the prolonged and exciting climactic big fight. A strong sense of time (late 1800s) and place is conveyed, enriched by the use of local slang and a wide range of colorful characters.

All and all, an exciting, rollicking good tale that leaves you feeling as if you were given some real insight into Ned Kelly and the hard, harsh circumstances of the time in which he lived, fought, and rebelled.

You're sure to have a good time with this one.

Recommended.
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-86266709206479054702014-11-14T10:09:00.000-08:002014-11-14T10:09:42.357-08:00Noteworthy Reads: UNDERGROUND by Andrew Vachss

This latest work by Andrew Vachss is a futuristic tale of repression, deceit, corruption, control, rebellion … and, ultimately, hope and survival.

Underground has been built by the Rulers to escape the Terror. Whatever the Terror is – or was – is never made quite clear to the citizens of Underground. They need only to believe and trust that the Rulers have their safety and well-being at heart. Strict adherence to the ever-growing, ever-evolving, often harsh "Rules" under which people must live are necessary --- even at the cost of their individual liberties --- in order to survive the Terror. Beyond the protection within Underground's charted tunnels, no one can survive.

A large part of the Rulers' power over Underground comes from control of all news media and education. What is thus imparted becomes the accepted truth. It is only with the rise of the "Book Boys", who begin spray-painting the walls of the tunnels with graffiti done in a specialized blue ink that the real truths are told to citizens who are willing to open their eyes and pay attention. From these words, these truths, a path out from under the thumbs of the Rulers may be found …

As usual with a Vachss book, there are many layers and nuances to this story. Different readers will take away different things; and re-readings may reveal previously unrealized points. In UNDERGROUND, the many parallels to today --- the biased news media, government over-regulation (my take, my opinion), the infringements into our personal freedoms for the sake of our safety and overall good, etc. --- are unmistakable and can be taken as a warning of what might be just around the corner if we aren't careful. The abuse of our young and vulnerable (the theme Vachss always incorporates – "I have but one song to sing" is his often stated goal) is here, too, and is the hinge upon which so much else pivots.

UNDERGROUND is available in a beautifully produced, hardbound graphic novel from Dark Horse Books. The story is from an original screenplay by Andrew Vachss. Scripting is done by Mike Richardson and Chet Williamson. Internal artwork is from Dominic Reardon and Keith Champagne, with a striking front cover by Sean Phillips.

And an afterward ("Leaving the Underground") by the always insightful Zak Mucha provides a fine analysis of the work and an overview of what Mucha calls Vachss's "unrelenting message": Crimes against children are the greatest danger our society faces.

A powerful, important work - not to be missed.

Highly recommended.
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-82426155673595404602014-11-02T13:43:00.000-08:002014-11-02T13:51:30.741-08:00The BODIE KENDRICK Series --- Re-formatted, Re-priced, and Ready to Ride into Your Action-Western Library

The supportive hands of the good folks at Bil-Em-Ri Media continue to keep busy.

As a result, the three titles (so far – more coming soon) in my Bodie Kendrick – Bounty Hunter series are now all under the Bil-Em-Ri banner. They've been re-formatted to feature a set of "theme" covers and --- best of all, for potential readers --- they have been re-priced on Amazon Kindle to a bargain $0.99 each.

If you are not yet familiar with the Bodie and his adventures, this is your chance to get caught up at a very modest expense.

Here's what reviewers and peers have had to say about the available titles:

"Guaranteed to please fans of hard-edged Western fiction."

"Dynamic tension leading to a satisfying conclusion."

"Plenty of action, sympathetic characters, snappy dialogue, surprising twists, and even a bit of romance."

"The protagonist is tough and likeable, the villains are suitably evil, the setting is rendered in vivid prose, and there are plenty of great action scenes."

"Great stuff … Dundee writes the kind of Westerns that harken back to the Golden Age."

"There's tons of adventure, gun-play and romance along with great characters in high stakes situations."

 "In a relatively short period of time, Dundee has become one of the best Western writers in the business."

"Great narrative, lots of action and dialogue, and larger-than-life characters that leap right off the pages."

"Brisk action, old-fashioned adventure --- it's H. Rider Haggard meets Sergio Leone, and Dundee weaves it together masterfully."

Saddle up and ride with Bodie!

I think you'll be glad you did.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-50759073299103807362014-10-31T10:57:00.001-07:002014-10-31T10:57:40.751-07:00ME, POPSICLES, & DRACULA - The Summer of 1958

It seems like I might have done a post of this story at some point in the past, but I'm darned if I can remember where. Maybe it was part of an interview. At any rate, I can't find it in the post history of this blog so, it being Halloween and all, I thought I would go ahead and share it here. If you've read it before and I'm being redundant, my apologies; if it's new to you, I think you might enjoy and maybe get a chuckle from it. –WD-

In 1958, when I was ten years old, Hammer Films of England, in the early stages of what would become their signature series of movies re-telling most of the horror lore from the old Universal pictures of the 30s (Frankenstein, The Mummy, Invisible Man, etc.), released their version of Bram Stoker's classic tale, DRACULA. So as not to be confused with Universal's famous earlier version starring Bela Lugosi, in the US Hammer called their version Horror of Dracula. It was a lavish, full-color production starring Christopher Lee as the bloodsucking count and Peter Cushing as his nemesis, Van Helsing. It was quite faithful to Stoker's tale and, to take full advantage of its color feature, it incorporated plenty of bright red blood and dripping fangs to an extent never before seen.

One evening, two of my older cousins invited me along to see Horror of Dracula and The Monolith Monsters at a local drive-in showing. By that point, even at my young age, I had seen dozens of horror movies (although the term "horror" wasn't in vogue yet back then – the TV Guide called them melodramas) on late night presentations shown via the syndicated Shock Theater program, and was never affected by them … But, for whatever reason, I'd never seen Dracula or anything with vampires.

To cut to the chase --- Horror of Dracula, in all its moodiness and gory, bloody color, scared the living crap out of me. The Monolith Monsters (more of a science fiction thing, done in black and white, with a meteorite that crashed to earth and then its shattered remains began rising up into huge columns that eventually toppled and destroyed everything in their path as the rubble crept across the land) didn't bother me one whit.

Then came Dracula … I sat through it without saying anything (although I likely closed my eyes a few times, sitting in the back seat by myself) because there was NO WAY I was going to let my cousins know I was crapping my pants. Nor, after returning home, did I say anything to my parents or anybody else. I was a BIG BOY, see, and couldn't be acting like a sissy.

To make matters worse, where we were living at the time (due to my dad's "hobby" of frequently switching jobs and moving from one rented house to another) was this huge old gray, unpainted monstrosity of a house out in the country that had once been a rural inn. It had no running water or indoor plumbing. The pump was outside and all water for washing, bathing, doing dishes, drinking, etc., had to be pumped and brought inside in buckets. Guess who's job it was to pump a fresh pail of water last thing every night and bring in to be ready for drinking and making coffee in the morning? What was more, the outhouse was across a gravel driveway and then back in some bushes and trees alongside an old shed that we called "the garage".

Up to that point, I'd never been bothered by the dark. Heck, I even enjoyed it. Late in the evening, playing tag or hide-and-go-seek with neighbor kids from down the road, catching lightning bugs, etc. --- I never gave a thought to how late it got.

But after that damn Dracula movie, a trip outside after dark to the pump or – worst of all – to the outhouse, became a dreaded prospect. I just knew that bloodsucking bastard or one of his minions was lurking out there somewhere, waiting for me.

So, because I couldn't let on how much going out after dark suddenly bothered me --- so as not to appear a sissy or fraidy-cat (things that were very serious concerns back in those days) --- I had to figure out some way to overcome my fear. It occurred to me that, in the big climax of the movie, the way Van Helsing had overcome Dracula at the height of their fight was to grab two large candlesticks and hold them up as a sign of the Holy cross. This drove Drac back and forced him into the sunlight, where he ultimately crumbled and died.

So there was my answer. The sign of the cross.

Why it never occurred to me to have my mother buy me a small, simple cross to carry around in my pocket or maybe wear on a chain around my neck, I can't say. Other than to lay it on the impression made by Van Helsing grabbing those candle sticks and holding them up with such a dramatic flourish … My solution, then? My version of that?

Popsicle sticks.

Yeah, you read right --- Popsicle sticks.

Popsicles were a common and popular treat around our house back then. So, once I'd seized on my combat/survival plan, I immediately began gathering up and saving empty Popsicle sticks after the frozen goodness had been eaten off of them.

From then on, I ALWAYS had two or three Popsicle sticks in my pocket. And I had a pile of spares in a drawer in my room. I used to walk around practicing how fast I could whip out a pair and hold them up in the form of a cross. I got so good I could have out-drawn Wild Bill Hickock in his prime. It darn near got to the point where I looked forward to visiting the outhouse after dark, daring that pussy count to make a try for me … darn near, but not quite; not really.

Nevertheless, my Popsicle sticks got me through that summer. I never told anybody my secret. But I was always ready. At some point, I don't recall exactly when, my fears and my habit of carrying the sticks in my pocket ended. A passing phase, like so many we go through when we are young.

Yet today, however, you can still find Popsicles in my freezer. For my grandkids … Or, just maybe, in case that creepy ol' bloodsucker comes lurking around again.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-42977609167538812862014-10-30T10:15:00.001-07:002014-10-30T10:15:56.516-07:00In Time for Halloween: THE NAKED AND THE UNDEAD - A Novel of Hardboiled Horror

Just in time for Halloween, the busy hands at Bil-Em-Ri Media have regained the rights to this novel that I wrote some time back and had published under the title NIGHT SPOOR. The title was mine but, in retrospect, I think it was a lousy one that played a big part in the book's resounding thud clear down to the bottom of the sales barrel. The previous publisher (whom I won't name, not for lack of gratitude but so as not to embarrass them) did a very nice job with the cover and promotion, so I can't blame them. Still, for whatever reason, NIGHT SPOOR not only never took off, it barely even wiggled its wings in the nest.

But we authors (at least this one) are a stubborn bunch. The things we write are like our little offspring that we trot out into the world and push for them to do well. To others they may appear homely, ungainly, buck-toothed little gremlins, but they are ours, damn it, so we keep pushing and believing ("Look, everybody in the marching band is out of step except my kid!").

For me, so it is with THE NAKED AND THE UNDEAD (aka NIGHT SPOOR). Darn it, I still think it's a pretty decent tale and I believe there is a reading audience for it, out there somewhere. So, with a title change, a couple minor revisions to the content, and a jazzed-up cover, I am once again nudging the offspring to the edge of the nest and hoping this time that it flaps its wings a little stronger than before …

Story-wise, THE NAKED AND THE UNDEAD is a hardboiled crime fiction approach to horror lore. This method has been done before, of course, but my first exposure to it --- and, admittedly, a primary inspiration for me to eventually try my hand at it --- was Jeff Rice's initial novel, THE NIGHT STALKER. I read the book long before I ever saw the famous TV movie and all that it has since spawned.

Basically, my tale is that of a cynical hit man hired to kill a vampire. He doesn't for a minute believe in nonsense like vampires, but for the right price he'll kill anybody he's hired to go after and, for a little extra, even do it in a prescribed manner ("Hell, I'll snap 'em to death with a rubber band, if that's the way you want it"). Wrapped around this premise are various subplots and a cast of other characters --- on both the Good and Evil sides --- who provide some unexpected twists and motives along the way. Giving it all added impetus is the realization soon arrived at by the hit man that his target really is a vampire and that there is evil loose in the world far greater than anything he represents!

As far as the title, it is, of course, a play on Mailer's famous THE NAKED AND THE DEAD. I originally came up with my variation at a time when I was contemplating --- since I couldn't seem to be able to sell anything anywhere else --- trying my hand at a book for the porn novel market that was going pretty strong back then. Hustler, for one, had a line going that incorporated all sorts of other genres (everything from pirates to the science fiction) as long as the tales were heavy on graphic sex. Since writing private eye fiction was my ultimate goal, THE NAKED AND THE UNDEAD was originally planned as having a cynical PI (Mike Rex, I believe I named him) hired to hunt down a vampire. Much later, when the concept again rolled to the front of my consciousness, I'd already established a pretty solid PI in Joe Hannibal, so I brought in the hit man angle instead. And, although the resulting book contains plenty of sex and sensuality, it is not of the overtly graphic nature I first contemplated for the Hustler-type market.

Anyway, THE NAKED AND THE UNDEAD is now available via Amazon Kindle at the bargain price of only $0.99. It is fitting for the Halloween mood and beyond --- an exciting, suspenseful, romantic (yes, romantic) tale of things that go bump in the night and unlikely forces aligned to bump back. I call it "a novel of hardboiled horror" because everything I write has a hardboiled edge to it.

I hope you give it a try.

I think you'll like it.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-19423746658479026292014-10-29T10:55:00.000-07:002014-10-29T10:55:18.796-07:00THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

On this date forty-eight years ago, the best thing ever to happen to this ol' country boy took place when a beautiful brown-eyed young lady named Pamela Daum said those magic words – "I do" – and became my wife.

Although we would have the marriage blessed in a Catholic Church a few years later, our initial union came as the result of a simple ceremony performed by a judge. We eloped, you see, probably the first serious act of rebellion Pam ever did against her parents, thanks to the influence of impetuous me.

Needless to say, there was a definite chill between me and my brand new in-laws for a while, but eventually I became the favored son-in-law. I'd like to think I earned most of this but, truth to tell, part of it was also due to the fact that the other son-in-laws who came along to marry Pam's sisters proved to be a parade of duds who just kept making me look better by comparison.

The day of that first marriage, the judge scheduled to perform the ceremony forgot the appointment and failed to show up at the courthouse. What was more, I couldn't remember his name. So I had to go to the cop shop next door and start doing cold calls to the list of local judges in hopes of finding the right one; I scored on the third call and he came right over. I always figured he must have been home engrossed in a college football game on TV (it was a Saturday) because, when he did show up, he rattled off the words and the pronouncement in mighty quick order and then took off again. Which was fine with me --- all I wanted was to get started on the honeymoon (you know the main thing on my mind).

With the dodging parents part and the absent-minded judge and all, you might think there were some bad omens in there that should have warned Pam and me we were off on an ill-fated venture. If there were, we failed to pay any attention and blew right past 'em. I never regretted being married or who I was married to for one second; I'm pretty sure Pam never did either.

We had 41 years, 3 months, and 13 days together before she died in my arms in 2008. I could dwell on the sadness of having her gone now --- and, believe me, I am aware of that empty feeling every minute of every day --- but on this day I will instead think about the blessing of having had her for as long as I did.

And why shouldn't I … it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-65768921738886758232014-10-27T10:54:00.000-07:002014-10-27T10:54:07.305-07:00Available Now: FUGITIVE TRAIL by Wayne D. Dundee

Fresh off the virtual printing presses of Bil-Em-Ri Media, my latest Western just went live on Amazon's Kindle program. A print version will follow in the hopefully not too distant future.

FUGITIVE TRAIL is a stand-alone tale (at least that's the way I see it right now, although it ends in such a way that the main character - one Eli Cole - could go on to further adventures if something comes to mind later on).

Here's the cover blurb that I hope stirs readers' interest:

A hardened, battle weary Civil War vet returns home after the fighting … to an unfaithful wife and a trumped-up murder charge!

The choice between facing a hangman's noose or going on the run as an outlaw isn't a hard one for Eli Cole to make. But when a grieving, vengeful father offers a huge personal bounty—not for Cole's capture, but for proof of his death—the swarm of manhunters and mercenaries this stirs up dramatically increases the odds against staying alive on the fugitive trail.

Complicating matters further for Cole is the group of fellow fugitives he falls in with. Keeping himself alive is tough enough, keeping the others out of harm's way, too, only adds to it. But rage, righteous indignation, and a blazing gun can go a long way toward bucking the odds …

It's over 35,000 words action, raw emotions, and memorable characters --- all bargain-priced at only $0.99!

Hope you give it a try. I think you'll like it.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-24134521628955258022014-10-20T09:27:00.000-07:002014-10-20T09:27:48.840-07:00Noteworthy Reads: The CUTLER Series created by John Benteen

The John Benteen byline has long been one of my favorites, specifically relating to the Fargo series of paperback originals from back in the 60s and 70s. Benteen's other popular series from that period was Sundanceand, while I read a number of those, too, and enjoyed them well enough, for some reason I never warmed to them nearly as much as the Fargo books. While I have no conclusive evidence of this, the fact that Benteen eventually allowed other writers to take over the Sundance series while he kept doing the Fargos almost exclusively (with the exception of three out of twenty-odd titles) suggests that he had a stronger affinity for Fargo as well. Maybe this is merely what I want to believe due to my own tendency to favor Fargo over Sundance --- comes right down to it, I have no way of knowing how much say Benteen actually had in the matter with Belmont Tower, his publisher.

I guess most people know that John Benteen was one of the pseudonyms of prolific writer Ben Haas, who also did books under his own name. On their own fine blogs and elsewhere, both James Reasoner and Randy Johnson have done some pretty extensive coverage of Haas/Benteen so maybe they will weigh in and tell me where/if I am going wrong in the foregoing … and perhaps also in what follows.

The main gist of this post is to touch on another action/adventure series Haas wrote under the Benteen byline --- one I had not read or heard about before, until Piccadilly recently re-issued them as eBooks. As indicated above, the series was titled Cutler and was centered on one John Cutler, a typically tough, rugged individual very much in the mold of various other action/adventure protagonists as written by Benteen and others.

The set-up for Cutler is that he is a former lawman turned hunter/trapper who is on the vengeance trail for his wife's killer. This is a basic framework that has been used, with a few refinements here and there, over and over and over again in the Western genre. But here's the interesting twist that Haas/Benteen uses for this series --- the killer Cutler is obsessed with running down is not a human but rather a rogue silverback grizzly.

The bear has a stump for one of its hind legs thanks to a trap that Cutler set but did not check on as promptly as he should have, that's what turned the beast into a rogue who's first victim was Cutler's unsuspecting wife. This adds a haunting layer of guilt to the revenge Cutler is after.

Being a rogue, the grizzly roams wide and wild over vast mountainous stretches of Colorado and Wyoming, sticking to no particular territory. Cutler responds to reports from wherever the bear has been sighted, never quite succeeding in catching up with him but also never giving up. He finances his way by hiring out to track and kill other rogue predators who are causing trouble in areas he is near or passing through.

I found the whole concept quite intriguing and well done.

Unfortunately, Haas wrote only two books in this series, THE WOLF-PACK and THE GUN-HAWKS, both in 1972. He then switched to create and write four books in the Rancho Bravo series, as by Thorne Douglas. Whether he would have gone back to do any more Cutlers we'll never know, because Ben Haas died unexpectedly in 1977.

Starting in 1978, Belmont Tower hired another writer, H.V. Elkin, to pick up the Cutler series. He wrote four titles. I haven't read any of those yet, though I plan to check out at least one or two at some point. With no disrespect to Mr. Elkin, I simply don't feel the urgency for that as I did to dive into the Benteen titles when I found out about them.

Haas/Benteen have brought me many hours of enjoyment over the years. It was great to discover these added titles.

If you haven't discovered Cutler yet --- not to mention (which almost seems unthinkable) Fargo or Sundance --- I heartily recommend you check this out.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-91586401130489131412014-10-19T08:14:00.000-07:002014-10-19T08:14:17.382-07:00Aailable Now: THE GUNS OF NOVEMBER (Fight Card Books) by Joseph Grant writing as Jack Tunney

Fight Card Books continues slugging out a new title every month and each one is as exciting and entertaining as those that have come before. And while tough, gritty boxing conflicts are always at the core of the tales, the surrounding storylines and subplots are increasingly imaginative and well crafted.
In this latest entry --- THE GUNS OF NOVEMBER, with author Joseph Grant (who previously did THE LAST ROUND OF ARCHIE MANNIS for FC) at work behind the Jack Tunney byline --- we are given a whole new slant on the 1963 assassination of President John Kennedy.

Here, I'll let the cover blurb set it up the rest of the way:

November, 1963...Sent to Dallas by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to investigate the disappearance of a boxer connected to a major Civil Rights violation, FBI Special Agent Jim Gregory finds himself desperately trading punches with those plotting to change the course of history. Kidnapped, beaten, tied up, and blindfolded, young boxer Jimmy Lee Williams knows his situation is dire. Nicknamed Guns for the relentless firing power of his fists, Williams isn't going to go down without a fight. However, this is no typical 15-rounder...and the clock is ticking toward disaster. Mixing with a disparate group of Cuban exiles, the Mafia, the FBI, the CIA, and corrupt Dallas Police, Gregory's search for Williams takes him into the heart of the JFK conspiracy. In the Carousel Club, owner Jack Ruby – Gregory's old Chicago boxing opponent – introduces the undercover FBI agent to his many shady contacts, including a young, ex-Marine and Communist defector named Oswald…a man with unusual intelligence and connections to both the FBI and the CIA. With disaster looming, the latest Fight Card novel, Guns of November, is a two-fisted take on the tragic events you thought you knew, but never imagined...

This is one you're not going to want to miss!

I recommend you check it out.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-30797347411034068692014-10-15T09:08:00.000-07:002014-10-15T09:08:11.637-07:00Available Now: DEVIL'S LEDGER by Richard Prosch

Well, I got good news and more good news.

DEVIL'S LEDGER marks not only the return of author Prosch's popular John Coburn (aka The Peregrine) character, but it is his first appearance in a novella-length work. Previously, The Peregrine has made acclaimed short story appearances in DEVIL'S NEST (2011) and more recently in ONE AGAINST THE GUN HORDE (April, 2014).

What's more, since the cover of LEDGER announces it as "Book 1" of an ongoing series, we have some assurance there are more to come. In fact, I happen to have it straight from the horse's mouth (and I don't mean the one Coburn rides) that the next adventure is already being written.

The events of DEVIL'S LEDGER all stem from a legendary volume called The Judas Book, a volume, accumulated over a span of time, detailing all the corrupt dealings and dirty secrets of the territory. The kind of information that men would kill for --- either to keep quiet, or to use as leverage. When Bandy Murphy, Coburn's old pal and former cell mate, shows up claiming to be in possession of the book, such men are hard on his heels and Coburn can't help but be drawn into trying to save both Bandy's hide and the Judas Book.

As usual, one of the big positives here is Prosch's distinct writing style and his use of common, everyday, "real"-seeming folks pulled into extraordinary events. In this tale, I particularly liked the early banter that takes place between Coburn, Bandy, and an old codger named Hutch Gunnar. It is funny, entertaining, and subtly character-establishing for purposes that become important later on. This is certainly not the end of colorful, interesting characters (some who turn out not to be what they first may seem) that the reader will meet, however; nor of the plot twists and turns that will ensue.

Coburn comes across as a little more mature this time around, somewhat comfortably settled into the lore that has built up around his Peregrine persona. Yet he remains ever-cautious and prepared, his anger maybe a bit slower to burn --- but, once the fuse has been ignited, as explosive and dangerous as ever.

This represents some of the best work being done in Western fiction today, and I predict readers will be looking forward to more of Prosch and the Peregrine!

Strongly recommended.

Also of note:

SHOOTING THE MOON, Richard's fourth book in his YA series featuring feisty young Jo Harper and her turn-of-the-century adventures in and around Willowby, Wyoming, has also just been released and it's another corker. Like me, I expect most readers of this blog probably do not read a lot of YA fiction. I've blogged about the highly entertaining books in this series before, and once again recommend them as an exception you really ought to consider making.

wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-39769169060932578712014-10-04T21:23:00.000-07:002014-10-04T21:23:02.817-07:00Another Look: ORCA (1977 film, starring Richard Harris)

Released two years following the phenomenal box office hit JAWS, this film was undeniably inspired by that success. In fact, according to movie lore, it was set into motion almost immediately after JAWS hit the theaters when executive producer Dino de Laurentiis called his co-producer Luciano Vincenzoni and ordered him to "find a fish that is tougher and more terrible than the great white!"

From that, the film that was to become ORCA was born. It probably shouldn't have come as any surprise, then, that when the movie got released, it was immediately panned by both critics and audiences alike as a JAWS rip-off. Subsequently, it did lousy at the box office.

Only part of that was deserved. Strictly from the standpoint of let's-jump-aboard-a-popular-concept-and-make-some-money-with-our-own-killer-fish- movie, it surely was, as already acknowledged, inspired by JAWS. Beyond that, however, ORCA has its own story to tell and in many ways stands as its own movie. Heck, you could even make the case that it owes as much to MOBY DICK as to JAWS. In a role-reversal sort of way, instead of the human Ahab obsessed with hunting down and dispatching Moby Dick, here you have a vengeful killer whale obsessed with singling out and dispatching the fishing captain who killed the whale's mate.

That's the central theme of ORCA: A shark-hunting sea captain (played by Richard Harris) decides to switch tactics and try instead for a killer whale. In the attempt, his harpoon misses the bull whale (except for slicing a tell-tale notch in its dorsal fin, the sight of which will become a forboding occurrence throughout the rest of the film) and instead hits the bull's mate. As the wounded cow is being winched aboard Harris's ship, she gives premature birth to a calf. Both mother and infant die. Watching from nearby waters—and focused primarily on Harris, who fired the deadly harpoon—is the bull. We have been told earlier, in a presentation by Charlotte Rampling, playing a scientist specializing in killer whales, that the creatures are highly intelligent, they mate for life, and are known to possess a human-like capacity for seeking revenge against anyone or anything who have done them harm.

So there's the rest of the set-up. When Harris docks his ship for repairs in the harbor of a small fishing village, the vengeful bull killer whale follows. First, to the great concern of the local fishermen, all the fish in surrounding waters flee. Then boats—all but Harris's—start being damaged. Then various buildings and businesses on piling all along the harbor are wrecked and damaged, including a huge fire that breaks out when a gas line breaks and is ignited by a fallen lantern. The house Harris is renting is knocked off its pilings and his sister, sliding partially into the water during the chaos, has her leg chomped off by the attacking whale … Yet Harris's boat remains untouched. The message is clear: The whale wants Harris to face him out on the open sea. The fishermen of the village want the same thing—or, at least, they want Harris gone from their village and want him to take his vengeful stalker with him.

Aided by the only remaining member of his original crew, the scientist (Rampling, who is inexplicably drawn romantically to him), and a somewhat mystical Indian (Will Sampson) who knows whale lore and volunteers for this epic battle, the captain sets out to sea to meet the challenge put before him. The whale leads, Harris and crew follows … all the way up to the ice packs of the northern seas where the climax and ultimate final confrontation takes place.

There are many moments in the first two thirds of the film that strain credibility. But they are done with enough energy and excitement to carry them off pretty well. The final third bogs down and plays out so slowly that illogical factors pile up and almost sink the whole show (no pun intended). Whatever the film suffered in the way of negative reviews, etc., is, in my opinion, earned here more so than from any of the rip-off accusations. Nevertheless, according to Wikipedia, in recent years ORCA has earned a cult following of sorts in the natural horror subgenre(whatever the hell that is).

On the plus side, by anybody's standards, the film has top notch production values throughout. The score, the cinematography, the direction (by old pro Michael Anderson) are solid. Same for the acting, for which not a great deal of range is required. Richard Harris's tough, knocked-around Irish mug is perfect for the captain who is pushed to the point of declaring: "I'm coming for you, you vengeful sonofabitch!" And Charlotte Rampling's ever-sultry presence manages to steam up the screen even though she is not called upon to do much more than spout scientific facts and alternately discourage and then encourage Harris as far as what he has to do.

I wish they'd taken time to strengthen the ending. Still, I came away with the feeling that the makers of ORCA (despite the harried middle-of-the-night phone call that launched it) tried hard to do something bigger and better than just copycatting a previous mega-hit. And they scored in a number of areas.

Worth your time if you can catch it on cable or purchase it out of a DVD bargain bin.

Recommended, with reservations.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-2094926595702826642014-09-30T16:40:00.001-07:002014-09-30T16:40:28.312-07:00Noteworthy Reads: OUTLAW RANGER by James Reasoner

James Reasoner writes clean, buttery smooth prose that goes down as easy home cookin'. He seasons it a bit to whatever genre he is writing in, but the basic fare remains Reasoner and that means the reader is sure to come away well satisfied.

James is especially adept at writing Westerns and one need look no further than his latest, OUTLAW RANGER, for an example of his polished skill and for some of the finest Western fiction being done today. Although some of the circumstances in OUTLAW RANGER are based on historical fact, the imaginative storyline and creative twists contained therein are strictly Reasoner.

The protagonist here --- G.W. Braddock --- was born to be a Texas Ranger, and nothing else. He was set on this path by his overbearing father, who was himself a Ranger, and locked into the role by his own determination, stubbornness, and love of the job. When a quirk in the law deprives G.W. from continuing as a Ranger, it is a devastating blow. Complicating matters even more, two of G.W.'s most recent arrests --- a pair of murderous and wholly despicable lowlifes --- are set free under the guise of not having been apprehended "legally".

(The parallel to some of today's legal shenanigans that too frequently allow obvious scumbags to walk free via even more ridiculous decisions, is painfully familiar.)

G.W. knows that the men who got set free are not done with their ruthless ways … just as he knows damn well that he is not ready to quit being a Ranger, whether some cockeyed court ruling says so or not. The violent, action-packed series of events that eventually cause their trails to converge once again makes for a rousing Western adventure and a page-turning experience for the reader.

Strongly recommended.

And a bit of added good news is that this is the first in an exciting new series planned by James.

He has already announced that the next, HANGMAN'S KNOT, will be available before the end of the year.

I, for one, can hardly wait!
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-84784330368204585932014-09-23T11:50:00.000-07:002014-09-23T11:50:45.093-07:00Available Now: TRAIL REVENGE (Book #2 - The Westward Tide series)

Live on Amazon Kindle today is TRAIL REVENGE, the second book in the Westward Tide series being written by Mel Odom and yours truly, as "Jack Tyree".

As with TRAIL JUSTICE, the first title in the series, this one is from me. Mel will be weighing in with a couple of titles soon

Though it can be read as a stand-alone, TRAIL REVENGE picks up right after events detailed in the first book. The following cover blurb sums it up pretty well:

Embarked on the Oregon Trail, the Culbertson-Barkley wagon train has already endured danger, hardship, and betrayal from within their own ranks. But driven by dreams of the promising new lives that await them in Oregon, they press on—even knowing that the distance still to be covered will only get harder as their route transitions from the high plains into the mountainous regions.

Braced for what lies ahead, what the emigrants are unaware of and unprepared for is the menace that is closing on them from behind. Dangerous, determined vengeance-seekers have their sights set on certain members of the Culbertson-Barkley party. But what the vengeance seekers, in turn, are unprepared for is the extent to which other members of the company will go to protect their own.

When the forces clash, the result is bitter and bloody. The journey toward Oregon will continue, but those who forge on will be forever marked by the violence and startling revelations they have experienced.

Having said that REVENGE can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I nevertheless feel it would be enhanced by having read JUSTICE first. For that reason, for a limited time only (today through Sunday 9/28), I am offering TRAIL JUSTICE for the bargain price of only $0.99. That's two exciting Western adventures for under four bucks.

I think that's quite a deal and I further believe anyone taking advantage of it won't be disappointed.

The wheels of the Westward Tide are rolling—Come on along for the ride!
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-35526449690070088652014-09-21T17:42:00.000-07:002014-09-21T17:56:24.238-07:00Available Now: THE BAREKNUCKLE BARBARIAN - Fight Card Books

The Fight Card series continues sending exciting contenders into the squared circle of pulp fiction with a new book every month and the punches landed are always solidly entertaining.

BAREKNUCKLE BARBARIAN is no exception, and even has a little extra going for it by blending in some alternative history and a dose of heroic fantasy. Author Teel James Glenn uses a fictionalized Robert E. "Bob" Howard as his protagonist. He time-shifts him past the point where (in real life, sadly) Howard committed suicide. "Bob" endures the pain of his mother's death (the real-lie event that caused Howard to take his life) and then embarks on a journey beyond his hometown of Cross Plains, Texas where he hopes to benefit from meeting "real" writers and also to test his physical stamina and inner barbarian against a wider slice of the world.

With this imaginative set-up, author Glenn --- in the Part One "Barknuckle Barbarian" title piece of this two part adventure --- first pits Bob Howard against a gang of New York City hoods staging and controlling the bareknuckle fight game in and around Madison Square Garden. Colorful characters from a visiting circus setting up for a run at the Garden is also worked in. In the rousing climax, Bob himself --- a trained pugalist who has battled in bareknuckle "icehous fights" back in Cross Plains --- steps up as a last-minute replacement in the main event to foil the grip of the crime bosses.

In Part Two – "The Fists of Fae" – a mythical/heroic fantasy element that the real Howard (creator of Conan the Cimmerean and King Kull) would have appreciated is introduced. When Bob visits the Old Sod of Ireland to connect with his Gaelic roots, he soon finds himself invited to attend the Fae Fair that takes place every five years wherein the veil between worlds is weakened sufficiently to allow mortal Bob to also attend the festivities leprechauns, elves, centaurs, etc., are present. Here, once again, he is drawn into becoming a participant in the climactic fight.

Author Glenn does a nice job of capturing the "feel", racial attitudes, and language of NYC in the late 30s and his fight scenes are vivid. He imbues "Texas" Bob with just the right mixture of awe and "aw shucks-iness" yet also strong in his sense of right and wrong and self-confidence when it comes to handling himself. And in Part Two he clearly knows his stuff when it comes to mythology and the intermingling of Worlds.

Imaginative and well done, a pleasant change of pace. Recommended.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-86298523557855484532014-09-15T14:42:00.001-07:002014-09-15T14:42:55.933-07:00Another Look: RIO CONCHOS (1963 Western film)

This tough, gritty, generally overlooked action Western actually has a lot going for it and deserves to be ranked higher on lists of top Western films, where it seldom appears at all.

Heading the list of positives is the gutsy performance by Richard Boone in the lead role as harsh, uncompromising, embittered James Lassiter, a former Confederate officer with little regard for the post-Civil War U.S. Army operating along the Mexican border and a seething hatred for the Apaches who murdered his family.

The latter has set him on a quest to hunt down and kill as many Apaches as he can find. In the process of doing this, he confiscates a repeating rifle from the body of one of the braves he caught up with. His possession of same comes to the attention of Army Captain Haven (played by Stuart Whitman) who recently had a shipment of these rifles stolen from his command by marauders striking from south of the border.

Inasmuch as the Apaches have already been wreaking havoc throughout the territory with less formidable weapons, it would be disastrous for them to gain possession of these modern repeaters. Lassiter is first arrested for possessing the stolen rifle and then offered his freedom if he will lead a special covert unit into Mexico to locate and retrieve the stolen rifles before they fall into the hands of the Indians.

Unable to stand being penned up, Lassiter grudgingly agrees to the job. The unit is made up of Lassiter, Haven, a Buffalo Soldier named Franklyn (played by Jim Brown, in his first film role), and --- just to keep the "sides" even --- a knife-wielding Mexican outlaw named Rodriguez (played by Tony Franciosa), who shared Lassiter's cell during the time he was locked up.

After a series of violent encounters with both bandits and Apaches, not to mention a good deal of bickering and fighting within the group itself, the unit discovers the rifles are in the possession of a madman named Theron Pardee, a former Confederate colonel who at one time commanded Lassiter. Pardee's plan is to trade the rifles to the Apaches for gold, turn the Indians loose to conquer the scattered U.S. Army troops defending the border, and then use the gold to finance a New Southern Confederacy in the conquered territory.

With aid of a sympathetic Apache girl they had held captive for a time in order to help guide them, Lassiter and his unit take desperate action to foil Pardee's plan.

Lassiter and Franklyn sacrifice themselves by driving a burning wagonload of gun powder into the shipment of rifles, still stacked in their shipping crates. Before the massive explosion takes his life, Lassiter is able to kill Bloodshirt, the Apache chief preparing to take possession of the rifles and also the leader of the raid that massacred Lassiter's family.

This is a taut, tough, grim movie with expansive, top quality production values. What little humor there is comes in a few bits performed by Franciosa. Although he shares star billing, Whitman is given very little to do. The Apache maid, played by seldom-ever-heard-from-again Wende Wagner, could have been done by practically any actress in dark make-up and a black wig. Jim Brown hardly has more than a couple dozen lines, but brings a powerful physical presence that perfectly fits the role he's given to play.

Like I said at the outset, Boone is far and away the star here --- both in the role he has and in the way he chews it up and spits it out. The largely unlikeable Lassiter character, in his grimness and racial hatred, is somewhat reminiscent of John Wayne's Ethan Edwards in THE SEARCHERS; just as the latter two thirds of RIO CONCHOS is somewhat reminiscent of THE COMANCHEROS (which also starred Wayne, along with Whitman in a far more substantial role). But maybe that's an unfair comparison, and for sure not one meant to deter from all that is good about CONCHOS in and of itself.

A final note on the director, Gordon Douglas, a veteran whose career spanned over five decades and covered subject matter ranging from Our Gang shorts to Oliver and Hardy features to the cult classic THEM! to Elvis's FOLLOW THAT DREAM (one of his most entertaining) to a string of Frank Sinatra films through the mid/late '60s to the trio of Clint Walker westerns (FORT DOBBS, YELLOWSTONE KELLY, and GOLD OF THE SEVEN SAINTS) that have been compared to the Budd Boetticher/Randolph Scott collaborations and too many more to mention … But, although it came somewhat late in his career, he seldom helmed anything better than RIO CONCHOS.

This is a good one.

Be sure to check it out if you get the chance.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-77764955763004624192014-09-13T11:45:00.001-07:002014-09-13T11:45:31.402-07:00Good News for CASH LARAMIE & GIDEON MILES Fans

THE EMPTY BADGE, the third novella-length Cash Laramie adventure penned by yours truly --- having previously appeared in the acclaimed anthology, TRAILS OF THE WILD --- is now available as a stand-along eBook and will soon also be in print format.

As recently featured on his own fine blog, Education of a Pulp Writer, I will let David Cranmer (the man behind the Edward A. Grainger byline and creator of Cash and Gideon Miles), talk about THE EMPTY BADGE:

I had the privilege of publishing TRAILS OF THE WILD: SEVEN TALES OF THE OLD WEST awhile back, though, now, the praised collection has run its course and I have removed it from the published status. In doing so, it left a bit of an issue with the book containing the Cash Laramie novella, THE EMPTY BADGE by Wayne D. Dundee, which is an integral part of the ongoing Western series. So, I'm re-released BADGE on its own. And for fans of the Outlaw Marshal, I will be offering the e-book free for the next several days.

Plot: It's been weeks since Cash Laramie, the famed "Outlaw Marshal," has been heard from. Meanwhile, at the Federal Marshal headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyoming, some disturbing reports are starting to filter in about the notorious Driscoll Gang rapidly hitting a series of banks, allegedly with the aid of a badge-wearing accomplice claiming to be Laramie. Can it be true? Can it be that the lawman with the hair-trigger temper and the mile-wide independent streak has finally gone completely rogue?

The truth is seldom easy to find. And on the lonely, twisting trails of northwestern Wyoming in the 1880s, it was often lost forever. But every now and then, when those dusty trails converged in certain unexpected ways, answers were revealed and justice was delivered in a blaze of gunfire.

Did you catch that? ... FREE ... Right now. For the next several days.

What's more, David also mentioned recently on his blog that he is putting the finishing touches on an all-new collection of Cash and Gideon stories --- THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CASH LARAMIE & GIDEON MILES --- he is writing (as Edward A. Grainger). This will be the first time in over three years that David himself has written about the rugged Western duo ... News that surely should be cause for celebration from long-standing fans of the popular series.

Keep a sharp eye peeled.

And rest assured that I surely will give notice here when FURTHER ADVENTURES is available.

wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-25325979286734982702014-09-05T03:32:00.000-07:002014-09-05T03:32:12.009-07:00My Take: EXPENDABLES 3 (Stallone & Company)

I wanted to like EXPENDABLES 3 better than I did.

Which, I guess, is another way of saying I wanted EXPENDABLES 3 to be better than it was.

I've long admired Sylvester Stallone, mainly for the way he stuck to his guns after writing ROCKY and then refusing many lucrative offers for the screenplay until he got one that included him in the starring role. It was a gutsy, believe-in-yourself gamble that rightfully paid off big.

I even forgave him his next phase where too much success too fast (not to mention the apparent brain-numbing effect that the mile-long legs and threaten-to-stab-your-eyes-out plastic boobs of Brigitte Nielson also played) turned him all Hollywoody and cocky and spun him off course for a number of years.

He fixed most of that with the wrap-up chapters (RAMBO and ROCKY BALBOA) to the sagas of his two most iconic characters.

And then he came up with THE EXPENDIBLES (based on an original concept by writer David Callahan). A bunch of nearly-over-the-hill action stars playing a crew of gritty, wild-ass mercenaries taking on the kind of dirty jobs no one else wants to touch … a throwback to those over-the-top action movies from the 80s and 90s that we never took too seriously but flocked to in droves and remembered fondly. This time around with a healthy dose of wry humor to balance the grimness of the bloody action.

EXPENDABLES I was a huge hit and EXPENDABLES II was also well accepted, with more of the same ingredients including expanded roles for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, who had received big billing in the original but only very limited screen time. There was even a bit more humor this time around, along with a dose of "youth" injected in the form of team member Liam Hemsworth, and even a babe (Yu Yan) for Stallone's character to get almost romantic with.

But now EXPENDABLES 3 needed something more. The novelty of the aging action stars (even with new players rotated in and out), the witty banter, and the kick-ass testosterone rush had been done … and re-done. Remember, even though Stallone and company does this kind of thing full tilt and does it very well, the whole phase had already played out once before about three decades ago.

What they tried for as a "new twist" this time around is where they almost lost me.

When one of the veteran members of the team (Terry Crews as Hale Caesar) is badly wounded in the film's opening sequence, team leader Barney Ross (Stallone) is deeply affected by the near loss of yet another man (there have been many others, we learn, and their dog tags are hung as reminders in their transport plane). Further upsetting Ross is the fact that during the attempted mission that went awry, the leader of the bad guys turned out to be one Conrad Stonebanks (played by Mel Gibson) who had been a co-founder of the Expendables years earlier, before he turned corrupt and Ross thoughthe killed him.

From there, Ross knows he has to go after Stonebanks --- to avenge Caesar and also to finish the job he thought he'd taken care of years ago. And here's the really weak, stupid part: Because he can't bear to risk any more of his veteran guys, the men he has bonded with and gone through hell with many times over, he rejects them in favor of going after Stonebanks, possibly his most dangerous foe, with a new, fresh, green team of mercs.

I won't go into any additional details so as not to spoil any more than I already have.

Suffice to say that the new team shows some mighty impressive moves and there's a whole flurry of exciting action. But, ultimately, they get their asses in a sling and --- excuse me, but if you didn't see this coming so it serves as a spoiler, I can't help it --- the old veterans have to re-form to help save the day.

I gotta admit that by the time the vets came back into the picture and joined up with the newbies, I had managed to choke down my frustration and I started to get into it again.

Remember, I said I wanted to like this movie morethan I did – I didn't say I didn't like it all. The addition of Harrison Ford and even Kelsey Grammer were fun, as was female MMA champ Ronda Rousey playing (in a real stretch) an ass-kicking female member of the team. And Mel Gibson --- as wild-eyed, menacing, maniacal Stonebanks --- stole every scene he was in (along, presumably, with all the scenery he voraciously chewed up in the process).

All in all, I came away from the viewing … satisfied, I guess. Not really stoked – but satisfied. I laughed, I cringed a little, I was in awe at some of the action stunts.

Lot worse ways I could have spent two hours and six minutes. Plus I saw it at a bargain matinee, so I got no bitch.

It's mostly played on the big theater circuit now, so if you haven't seen it yet you'll probably have to catch it on cable or rental or whatever.

Whether or not there will be an EXPENDABLES 4 remains to be seen. This one didn't do so hot at the box office, partly due to a couple million pirated copies hitting the market before its release, partly because it got its ass kicked by those stupid mutant turtles … a fate nothing or nobody deserves, in my book.

I kinda hope there's another. I'll be ready again in a couple years. After all, by the time it was done, there was quite a bit more that I enjoyed about this than I didn't.

Moderately recommended.
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-52957056128424433972014-09-02T07:06:00.000-07:002014-09-02T07:06:22.558-07:00Special Reduced Price for Limited Time: DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

For a limited time (starting now 9/2/14 thru 9/6/12) I've reduced the price on this, the third and latest entry in the Bodie Kendrick – Bounty Hunter series to only 99 cents! That's a steal, folks, for a full-length, action-packed Western adventure that deserves, in my humble opinion, to reach a wider audience than it has so far.

I am in hopes that this bargain will help turn that around.

Plus, keep in mind that readers who like DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH can also find additional adventures of Bodie already available in HARD TRAIL TO SOCORRO and RIO MATANZA … with the promise of more titles coming in the near future.

Here's what some reviewers have had to say about DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH:

"In a relatively short period of time, Wayne D. Dundee has become one of the best Western writers in the business. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is an excellent example of why." --- James Reasoner

"One thing I liked about DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is the incorporation of real history that forced me to do a little research … A bit of speculation mixed with history spins out an action packed novel of the old west." --- George R. Johnson

"It's H. Rider Haggard meets Sergio Leone, and Dundee -who has won the Peacemaker Award three years in a row -weaves it together masterfully." --- Troy D. Smith

And here's the sales blurb from Amazon:

Bodie Kendrick wasn't in time to stop the stagecoach from being ambushed, but he did manage to save the lives of the driver and most of the passengers. Among the latter was Amelia Gailwood, a freelance journalist working on "the story of a lifetime." In order to try and make sure her lifetime doesn't end too soon, Kendrick agrees to hire on as her protector while she continues to chase her story. The chase will take them from the gunfire-laced streets of a rowdy mining town, to the smoky mysteries of an opium den, across a punishing desert, and into beautiful but treacherous remote mountains. At the heart of their quest is a legendary gem from the time of Caesar and Cleopatra. But before they can lay claim to it so Amelia will be able to reveal it to the world and tell its fascinating history, they will have to survive betrayal from within and menace from fierce mountain Apaches—all the while eluding pursuit by a pack of hired guns who will stop at nothing to seize the stone for their unscrupulous employer.
Three-time Peacemaker Award-winning author Wayne D. Dundee spins another exciting yarn of grit, gunfire, and gallantry in the Old West! Read DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH and find out why his work continues to win praise and gain followers.

Take advantage of this bargain and get to know Bodie Kendrick.

Then I hope you check out more of his adventures and more exciting books and stories from yours truly.
wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-63105902668750370562014-08-26T08:51:00.000-07:002014-08-26T08:51:39.844-07:00Goodbye to Another Old Friend (Hardboiled Magazine 1985 - 2014 R.I.P.)

Over the weekend, I received a copy of the latest Hardboiled (#47) from editor/publisher Gary Lovisi. In the envelope, Gary included a short note saying this would be the last issue. On the editorial page of the issue, he expands on the reasons why.

If you want to read what he has to say, I encourage you to buy a copy of the issue. As always, it has a great selection of tough, hard-edged fiction, including tales from two of my favorite writers … the late C.J. Henderson and a current rising star, Thomas Pluck.

Naturally, I have a particular fondness for Hardboiled. It was, after all, my baby originally, when I started it back in 1985 with the help of "outlaw poet" Todd Moore and encouragement from a number of writers in the crime/mystery genre.

We did twelve issues and I'm damned proud of each and every one. I'm sure Gary feels the same.

When I ran out of gas in 1991, Gary took over at the urging (to each of us) of Andrew Vachss. Gary took Detective Story Magazine, which he had begun publishing, fused it with HB as Hardboiled Detectivefor three transitional issues, then continued on with Hardboiled.

Hundreds of stories later --- by established names, new names who went on to become very established, more than a few one-shots, and everything in between --- HB fades quietly down the dark street of ceased publications.

That's too bad. Because, right from the get-go, it represented what there was (and certainly remains) far too few of … a fair shot for a writer to get published, to get his or her name "out there".

Maybe … just maybe … as Gary indicates in his editorial, there's a chance Hardboiled will be revived as an e-zine or some such. I hope so.

If not, after nearly three decades, I hope it will remain a deservedly fond memory for readers and writers alike.

I know it sure will for me.

wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-61766572486688622162014-08-19T13:37:00.000-07:002014-08-19T13:37:56.696-07:00Noteworthy Reads: CHASING A DOG STAR - brand new from Richard Prosch

Out today from Painted Pony Books and my pal Richard Prosch. This is the follow-up to CHASING A COMET, and continues the adventures of Jo Harper and her pals --- with more to come, I sincerely hope.
It is billed as YA, but readers of any age will enjoy it, largely due to Prosch's distinct writing style, which I have heralded here before. I had the chance to read this in mss., and the pleasure was all mine.
Here's the Amazon review I put up earlier today:

In this worthy sequel to CHASING A COMET, we are once again in the company of feisty Jo Harper, her loopy pal Frog, and of course the one-eyed, gun-totin' constable of their little Wyoming town, Abby Drake … along with a few other recurring characters we either first met or heard mention of in COMET.

I liked the comfortable feel I got from the characters and the way they're all settled in with one another. Frog comes more into his own (for better or worse, depending on how you look at it) this time around. This amps up the banter between him and Jo and the potential for mischief that they can get in together --- a sort of Tom-Huck feel, and I mean that in a complimentary way. Then, when a sense of danger is injected, it makes even more of an impact.

Abby, of course, remains stalwart throughout.

A wild ride in a horseless carriage is only part of the fun and adventure. With the threat of danger comes a strong mystery element, a pair of bad guys who are by turns cunning and menacing, and then a twisty wrap-up that is very neat indeed.

Though billed as YA, older readers will not come away disappointed, especially with the yarn being told in typical high style via the writing talents of author Prosch.

A fun tale that will give you some thrills and chills, more than a few chuckles, and likely have you feeling a little younger-at-heart, both during and after the reading.

Recommended.

wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-35310081453712436712014-08-18T16:20:00.000-07:002014-08-18T16:20:11.226-07:00Available Now: THE FYREDRAKE'S PREY by James Reasoner

And now for something a little different from the ever prolific, ever reliable James Reasoner. James calls this "Not quite fantasy, not quite sword and sorcery, but more along the lines of what George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercombrie write … " Since I, personally, am not familiar with the work of either of those men, I can't quite judge what that leaves. So it seems safe to say "somewhere in between".

In the end, though, I don't expect that it makes a whole lot of difference. Like I said, James is always reliable. So if you're in the mood for a rousing adventure tale set in olden times, you will surely be in good hands. If the exciting synopsis below gets your motor revving --- the way it does mine --- then what are you waiting for?

Be sure to check it out.

THE FYREDRAKE'S PREY is available now on Kindle, with a print version soon to follow.

Sir Gault the Red was once the fiercest knight in all Malachar, but that was before age and a life of peace reduced him to a shadow of the warrior he once was. Now his epic battles against the fyredrakes, the race of reptilian monsters that terrorized the countryside in times past, are just a memory...until an unexpected encounter prods him into a desperate attempt to recapture past glories.

Keldrick is the last of his kind, a giant fyredrake whose flaming breath once blazed a path of destruction across the land. He wants only to reach the legendary northland where others like him may still be found...but his journey will also be one last rampage of fire, death, and devastation across the domain of the hated humans.

These two natural adversaries are fated to meet, but before they do both will be drawn into a web of deceit, ambition, and lust that will leave them questioning who are the real monsters, humans or fyredrakes!

THE FYREDRAKE'S PREY is a gritty fantasy saga packed with bloody action and unexpected heroism from New York Times bestselling author and legendary storyteller James Reasoner, a never before published 70,000 word novel available only from Rough Edges Press.
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-85063059237075673722014-08-13T13:10:00.000-07:002014-08-13T13:12:18.927-07:00FROM THE PEN AND PRESS OF MEAN PETE ... and an added personal rant from the guy behind the desk here at FDD

Ol' Mean Pete is a mighty slippery character.

In addition to the Mean Pete handle, he also goes by aliases such as Peter Brandvold and Frank Leslie. You just know you gotta keep your eye on any hombre who dodges around like that. What's more, word has it that he soon will be pulling his picket pin and hitting the wide open trail with some dubious dame called Miss Sydney … putting him even more on the dodge.

But the good news about all of this is that --- by whatever name and from wherever he may roam --- Peter Brandvold (that one is his real moniker, folks, in case you're trying to keep track) keeps on turning out some of the toughest, grittiest, most exciting Westerns being published today. And most of them are being first made available on Kindle through Mean Pete Press.

Just today, I posted reviews on Amazon for three of the most recent:

 Blood Trail of the Horsetooth Widow

Nobody writes tougher, grittier, more action-packed Westerns than Frank Leslie (who everybody knows is really Peter Brandvold, ol' Mean Pete hisself). In addition to rough and tumble protagonists and vicious villains, he also creates some of the sexiest, most memorable gals on the frontier --- the Horsetooth Widow in this yarn being among the tops. Saddle up for twists, turns, double- and triple-crosses, gun-blazing shootouts, and bouts of blistering sex. Recommended.

Love and Bullets

Author Brandvold crams so much into this short, bittersweet, action-packed tale that you come away feeling more satisfied than you often do after reading a novel-length work from other writers. The title really says it all. Drifter Tanner Moody meets a ravishing Spanish beauty who just happens to be a vengeance-seeking outlaw, falls in love with her amidst a flurry of hard riding and blazing bullets ... only to have it all end tragically. But not until he has discovered the root of her desperate rage and makes sure her revenge is complete. Not to bee missed.

The Devil's Ambush

I've been a huge Lou Prophet fan right from the git-go, and this latest entry in the series only makes me appreciate the depth of the character and the talent of author Brandvold all the more. This is a somewhat more reflective, slower-paced outing for the rugged bounty hunter (keeping in mind that slower-paced for Mean Pete still means plenty of grit and action) as he struggles with concern for the well-being of his sometimes partner/sometimes lover Louisa Bonneventure while at the same time plotting revenge for those who harmed her. There is a mysterious, somewhat eerie tone to all of this as the central storyline and a couple of subplots gradually play out. When the conclusion comes, it is fast and satisfying and we can rest assured that Prophet --- and Louisa --- will ride again for our enjoyment. Strongly recommended.

One must always keep in mind that Amazon reviews are a multi-edged sword. It is a good forum for common, everyday readers to voice their opinions and (hopefully) support authors and books that they like. Unfortunately, it is also an outlet that can be used for personal beefs and agendas that can drag a book's "rating" down for reasons that have little or nothing to do with the work itself.

In the end, any review --- even by the so-called pros --- is only one person's opinion. As an author, if you enjoy the reviews that laud your work, then you must also accept the ones that may be less flattering. To take issue is to look like a whiner munching sour grapes … IF the reviews are done in a genuinely analytical way, that is. For the other kind, the author still has little recourse without putting him- or herself in a bad light.

But that doesn't mean that others can't take up the skirmish for them.

While preparing to write my review for Devil's Ambush, I noted that one of the reviews already posted was only one star. One star? What the hell was up with that? Then I read the review and found out --- The so-called reviewer hadn't even read the book. He or she (the byline was one of those chickenshit kind that uses a cutesy term ["interchangeable head", in this case] instead of an actual identity) was *actually* bitching because the work was available only as an eBook, meaning IC would have to buy "a hunnert dollar machine" to read what was allegedly being reviewed. So, for those reasons, the book's rating got trashed.

I, in turn, gave Devil's Ambush a 5-star rating (legitimately so, because I liked it that much) and unloaded a piece of my mind in the Comments section of IC's review.

I encourage everyone else to take similar action when you run across this kind of thing. In the grand scheme, I don't know how important an Amazon star rating is to a book's success, especially for an established name like Brandvold/Leslie. But it surely might make a difference for a lesser-known. Besides, what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. If we don't hit a lick for right at least once in a while, then we're allowing wrong to skate free.
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-1842851936131749192014-08-10T11:39:00.000-07:002014-08-10T11:39:18.433-07:00Latest Two-Fisted Action from FIGHT CARD

Fight Card keeps on punching and keeps on putting out some of the best, most exciting two-fisted action to be found anywhere. In addition to just entertaining readers, however, they also are making time for worthwhile charitable causes. Their second effort in that category is the just-released BATTLING MAHONEY AND OTHER STORIES, featuring 15 stories by some of the finest writers in the business. You should check it out. Enjoy a good reading experience and put your money toward a good cause, at the same time.

We have recently release our second Fight Card charity anthology, Fight Card Presents: Battling Mahoney & Other Stories, which is available via Amazon as an e-book for $2.99 with 100% of the proceeds going to help the family of the late Jory Sherman. A paperback version will follow shortly.

FIGHT CARD PRESENTS: BATTLING MAHONEY & OTHER STORIES

The second in a series of charity anthologies from the Fight Card authors' cooperative – a writers' community featuring many of today's finest fictioneers – features fifteen rounds of fight fiction from authors James Reasoner, Loren D. Estleman, Len Levinson, James Hopwood, Mark Finn, Jeremy L. C. Jones, Michael Zimmer, Marc Cameron, Nik Morton, Marsha Ward, Clay More, Chuck Tyrell, Bowie V. Ibarra, Art Bowshier, and featuring an extensive essay, On Boxing, by Willis Gordon.

Compiled by Paul Bishop and Jeremy L. C. Jones, 100% of the proceeds from these anthologies go directly to an author-in-need or a literacy charity. Words on paper are the life blood of a writer. The writers in this volume were willing to bleed in order to give a transfusion to one of their own – and then continue to bleed to give a transfusion to literacy charities in support of that most precious of commodities...readers. They are true fighters, every one...

Fight Card's upcoming line-up includes Bareknuckle Barbarian from Teel James Glenn (featuring the two-fisted adventures of Bob Howard – R.E.H.), Job Girl from Jason Chirevas (the sequel to Monster Man), Joseph Grants long awaited The Guns of November, and a new Fight Card Sherlock Holmes tale from Andrew Salmon.

wayne d. dundeehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832669035610968182.post-49466733795919262412014-08-08T16:27:00.000-07:002014-08-08T16:27:09.016-07:00Double-Barreled Reasoner: LAST CHANCE CANYON & LAST STAGECOACH TO HELL

Rye Callahan is a relentless bounty hunter, grimly determined to always bring in his prisoner, even if he literally has to go through Hell to get the job done.

Callahan is the protagonist in these action-packed short features recently released by James Reasoner via his Rough Edges Press. He is a tough, hardboiled Western character that I, for one, certainly wouldn't mind reading more about.

But, as is generally the case, the real star in these tales is Reasoner's polished writing. Anybody out there who wants to become a genre writer or simply hone their craft as one—you can take courses and go to lectures and all that sort of thing … or you can simply read and savor the work of veterans like James. It's all right there on the page. He hooks the reader in just a few sentences and then propels said reader along, never letting up, until the final word is arrived at … and more are wished for.

Want proof? Read the first couple paragraphs of LAST CHANCE CANYON then see if you can put it down and walk away without getting withdrawal symptoms from wanting to go back and get the rest of the rush of finding out what happens next.

Both of these titles are billed as "weird westerns" and there certainly are supernatural elements present in each, but as much as anything they are just gritty, damn good Westerns.

LAST CHANCE CANYON has an interesting back story as it was originally written a number of years ago, only to see limited foreign market release. Then the manuscript for it—along with any likelihood of the tale ever seeing American exposure—was lost in a fire. But a recently revived copy and subsequent translation allowed Reasoner to revive it, punch it up a bit, and make it available to a wider range of lucky readers.

In addition to trying to outwit and survive the cunning of his quarry, bounty hunter Rye Callahan finds himself desperately trying to escape the soul-hungry clutches of a desolate haunted canyon where the dead don't want to stay dead and the living have only the slimmest chance of getting out in one piece.

THE LAST STAGECOACH TO HELL brings bounty hunter Rye Callahan, along with his latest prisoner, to the town of Providence, Arizona Territory. Although the citizens of the town at first seem friendly enough – although in a strangely dazed kind of way – it won't be long before Callahan and his bounty find out that their biggest fight for survival may not be against each other, but rather for either of them to get the Hell out of Providence alive.

Both available in eBook format at a steal of a price, and both highly recommended.

Don't miss 'em!
wayne d. dundeehttp://email@example.com


text:
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Barcelona, Spain
Aribau, 33, L'Eixample, 08011 Barcelona, Spain – Show map
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2209 properties in Barcelona
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1527 verified reviews
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Axel Hotel Barcelona & Urban Spa's staff speaks: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Catalan
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Outdoor Pool, Terrace, Sun Deck
Sauna, Fitness Center, Solarium, Spa, Massage, Hot Tub, Turkish/Steam Bath, Bicycle Rental, Nightclub/DJ
Food & Drink
Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast in the Room
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Private parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs EUR 23 per day.
Room Service, Car Rental, Shuttle Service (surcharge), 24-Hour Front Desk, Tour Desk, Baggage Storage, Laundry, Ironing Service, Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Business Center, Fax/Photocopying, Honeymoon Suite
Newspapers, Safe, Shops (on site), Non-smoking Rooms, Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Soundproof Rooms, Heating, All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)
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Eurostars Cristal Palace is centrally located just off Barcelona's Passeig de Gràcia Boulevard. It features modern, air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV and free Wi-Fi.
Score from 1768 reviews Very good
Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel features a rooftop terrace with a pool and cocktail bar, providing 360 degree panoramic views of Barcelona. The hotel is located just 300 metres from Urquinaona Metro Station.
Score from 23 reviews Exceptional
Hotel & Spa Villa Olimpic@ SuitesThis minimalist hotel is in the Poble Nou district of Barcelona, 15 minutes by foot from Bogatell Beach. It features a seasonal outdoor pool surrounded by attractive wooden decking and lounge chairs.
Score from 962 reviews Good
Set just off Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas, Catalonia Ramblas has rooms with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and 24-hour room service.
Score from 1989 reviews Very good
Everything! The room was 620, was so nice and so big!! quite at the end of the corridor; breakfast very complete and the bulding is so close to the center (5 minutes walking) but of course, the amazing staff its what makes it really special!
Location / quiet.
Location, rooms, bathrooms, cleanliness, room design
Slow elevators
The staff were very welcoming and helpful during our stay at the Axel. They truly were a highlight in terms of making my experience memorable. The hotel is well located in a very trendy part of Barcelona. We were literally 10 minutes away from La Rambla and a 20 minute walk to the Magic Fountain and the Art Gallery which is a must place to experience..magic being the operative word! Barcelona has the most sophisticated infrastructure I have ever experienced and the rest of the world seriously need to learn a thing or two from the Barcelonians/Spanish in regards to city planning. I always felt safe as a pedestrian. Personally I think it should be voted the most liveable city just for that reason alone. The Gothic quarter is full of surprises, in terms of architecture, art, restaurants, groovy bars, shopping, art and craft stalls, galleries, street performers or simply getting lost in the cobbled stoned lanes/streets. Barcelona demands your attention whether it be to dance with her on the street or sit on the beach being at one with the Mediterranean sea and witnessing such spectacular sunsets. Barcelona has so many splendours to offer from the art, architecture, culinary delights, shopping, parks and gardens and all the in-between I love it all and is by far one of my favourite cities.
very friendly, efficient, and informative staff, nice exterior of the building, location near shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs
stairs within the rooms on the first floor, poor cleanliness, and very slow wi-fi connection
Ricardo to the receptionist was very kind and attentive. Great hotel location
room was not cleaned until late afternoon carpets date to Spanish Civil War no coffee in room or restruant
-the sky bar -the comfort of the room -very friendly staff
the spa could be better maintained
Location Friendly Staff Sky Bar Comfortable Beds
Poor soundproofing in rooms Expensive Room Service Breakfast Impractical storage space in rooms
As a gay couple this hotel was excellent. Located next to all the bars, clubs and restaurants you would want yet is only 10/15 min walk to Las Rambles. Loved the room decor plus a variety of freebies in the bathroom. Plus great choice of massages!! Lovely and cute staff!
Very uncomfortable rooms, smells bad, neseccary to renovation.
Terrace. Very friendly and helpful staff
Bars closed during the day.
Friendly staff, particularly cleaners Location Great Sky bar and roof pool Partner I was with - sorry not sharing him
Wi-Fi a little slow No tea/coffee making facility
The location was superb. Close to the metro and the bus to/from the airport. Great neighborhood filled with great places to eat, shop and relax. Get a room facing outside. The inside facing rooms get no natural light and can be depressing
The beds were very hard and the room was very small (but the space was used exceptionally well).
Location. A Short Walk to everything
Metal Rails for clothes: hit my Head Four Times whilst searching for bag contents.
Very close to center
One day they did not make up our room. I said it was ok, but if they please could send some proper towels. Never see the towels asked.
Roof bar was nice
Rooms are not clean enough SPA is not free Rooms are need to be re-new Expectations are not met(message, room breakfast,...)
Location was great, roof top terrace was great, spa area very nice but extra costs, staff was very helpful.
Rooms are small, no closet space really just a shelving arrangement at side of room, charge for spa and charge for WiFi
The only good thing was the sky bar
Room was ok but the bathroom was leaking all over the floor it took them 4 days out the 7 nights I statfed there to fix it and whe they fixed it they asked me not to use the bathroom for 10 hours. And when I asked them to change the room they said the r fully booked and if I want I have to pay over 800 euro to upgrade even though it was their fault and they they should've upgraded me if they were a respected hotel unfortunately they weren't.
Friendly and helpful staff. Good location, two blocks from the Metro and walking distance to the main tourist sights of Barcelona.
Booking.com should note that this hotel charges one's credit card the day before arrival for the entire stay. The hard faux timber floor means anyone walking above in hard soled shoes is heard within one's room. Lack of an easy chair as per other hotels of this rating. Poor houskeeping, room not made up until after 18.00, even with sign left on the door in the morning. Room style not to my liking, no doors on hanging area is untidy, all finishes looking very worn.
everything exceptional. The staff was very kind and available. Very satisfied. Alessandro London.
The location is OK.
Booking.com should mention as part of the hotel's description.
A chic, cool and classy hotel, nice breakfast, attentive staff.
The hotel caters somewhat aggressively to the gay community, while advertising itself as a hetro hotel. Your modern day "straight" traveler would find this fine & even interesting. Mixed couples were (in a minority) staying in the hotel. However, those who are somewhat conservative, catholic or Muslim couples for example, may well find the 'open' photographs adorning the lobby and bedrooms, rather offensive. The hotel is being some disingenuous by not making this point clear in their advertising.
Great location for non touristy & interesting places to eat. Great room
Small (double) bed Music in the sky bar left a lot to be desired, very dull, could definitely and easily improve that and create a 'party' atmosphere.
Suite had a very nice terrace with great views
A good 3*star hotel for me but not worth 4* for sure... Staff unfriendly and did not try to solve issues... One 1 person front office (which cannot leave reception) for the whole hotel when I checked in Noisy roof terrace bar with music until 2.00-2.30am and no food at all (not even peanuts or potato chips when I asked) Ground-floor bar entirely closed Mattress of poor quality, asked for a better pillow as well, did not get it Individual coffee machine in room, but no spoons (asked several times) Living room quite unpleasant with a pillar in the middle of the living room area and uncomfortable low-cost furniture like sofa Bad smell in the suite when I arrived Dozens of details made me think the rooms were neglected by the management (i.e. shower tap side cover missing...) Spend approx. 350 EUR/night and was extremely disappointed... Would NEVER return to this hotel.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Radishes in Suburbia: Documenting Urban Growth and the End of a Family Farm
When Matthew Moore returned to his family's 1,000-acre carrot farm outside Phoenix in 2003, he was struck by how much the landscape had changed. During the seven years the 35 year-old spent studying sculpture in San Francisco, the city had expanded into the surrounding land. What was once a 30-minute drive into civilization was now a stroll across the road. A new Target big-box store broke ground nearby and a Wal-Mart is close behind.
Few cities epitomize suburban sprawl in the United States like Phoenix, Arizona. Over the last half century, the city has become the nation's 6th largest metropolitan area, and with more than 4.1 million people, was one of the fastest growing until the housing collapse took some the wind from its sails.
Urban development nationwide has swallowed more than 23 million acres of agricultural land in the last quarter century. As a fourth-generation Arizona farmer, Matthew Moore is not the first to face the reality that one day soon, his family's property will be completely engulfed by urban development.
In 2007, the city of Surprise, Arizona, released development projections for the area surrounding Moore's farm. By 2030, his stretch of farmland is forecast to consist almost exclusively of mixed-use and medium density residential plots. Moore says he gets daily calls from speculators looking to snap up the property while the market is soft. "Every forecaster around here predicts that in 5 years, the market will be back," he says. "It's only a matter of time before we're zoned out of existence."
In order to save his family's farming legacy, if not the farm itself, Moore set about documenting everything his farm produces. He set up solar-powered time-lapse cameras paired with weather-tracking systems, covering the entire growing period of his crops. He collected his compendium of short films into a project called Lifecycles.
Fittingly, Lifecycles had its feature debut in a supermarket. With support from the Sundance Institute's New Frontier Program, Moore set up monitors above the produce section of a Fresh Market grocery store in Park City, Utah. He let the footage run on a loop for 10 days during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
While delicate growing patterns of squash, radishes, and broccoli unfolded on-screen, customers were invited to take a moment to reflect on the effort it takes to produce the surfeit of food to which Americans are accustomed.
Moore says he'd like to expand Lifecycles to stores around the country to spark a nationwide debate about farm policy. "I can get a raging conservative and an organic activist to shut up and watch transfixed for three minutes," he says. "In the process, I can gently wipe their minds clean for a minute."
The developer and the activist might take different cues from Lifecycles but Moore says if he can get people to more fully consider where their food comes from, that's a start. "The plain basics are gone from the debate." he says. "How is it revolutionary that people are just now re-learning where food comes from?"
Moore says he packs around 110,000 pounds of carrots a day, yet he's never seen his produce in his area's supermarkets. "It's much like the art market," he said. "I don't know the buyers and the brokers don't tell me." His organic CSA is small but growing and he says his customers seem to take comfort in the personal connection. "The food tastes better because they know me," he says.'>


text:
- Report: #1095960
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Complaint Review: BAY CITY PLYWOOD &CABINETS
BAY CITY PLYWOOD &CABINETS4335 EAST HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE TAMPA, Florida USA
BAY CITY PLYWOOD &CABINETS MAXWELL PRODUCTS INC. dba BAY CITY PLYWOOD NO REFUND FOR WRONG SIZE CABINET SALES PERSON MEASURED TAMPA Florida
*Author of original report: REFUND AMOUNT MISTAKE
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1-Orignal quote did not give description, only initials, 1 CSB36R $726, 1 1530L $178, !BTD24 $570. i had to call sale person Tommi Poole asking what all initals meant. i actually felt dumb, after he said csb is corner susan
Store is 45 minutes from my home, did email, the early emails with my oks, are not what Tommi is following. he emailed to me measurements fi forwarded to my contractor. quote was $7,48.46. delivery day contract came with all disclosures, such as, boxes must be opened within 48 hrs, to report findings.
Cabinets boxes are very heavy, felt everything would be fine. Contractors job to open. called asking about shouldn't extra shelves be included? "No, some people use utility closets without - you have to pay for the shelves" If I had not called again (about 4 or 5 weeks later with a complaint, I would not have been told of the $344 shelves Tommi would deliver the next week. I bought shelving since I was told thats all there is. if I never contacted store I would not have known.
Crown molding should not have been ordered with this step cabinet design. Tommi poole did not know this, even after my contractor spoke to him. He kept telling him (contractor) how to do this design. I returned the crown molding, the wrong base cabinet, polish that I did not order and this morning Tommi Poole ran out from my house after 13 minutes without finishing the discussion about my dissatifaction. This year one of the other Baycity stores was closed.
Remember the tv commercial of the guys laughing? Disclosure should be up front, not day of delivery - stating will not be or do not- no returns ever. I am a Realtor and will never, ever use, refer this company. Company refund in total should be $2,601, I received check I will not cash for $937, included was the tax charge on the $175 delivery, real slick. What is owed to me is $664. I'm going to see the owner who goes by SKI. i really don't need to be taking the precious time from my 91 & 1/2 year old mother who has al's, but this problem has been going on since delivery date of July27, 2013.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 10/31/2013 08:27 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/-BAY-CITY-PLYWOOD-CABINETS-/TAMPA-Florida-33610/BAY-CITY-PLYWOOD-CABINETS-MAXWELL-PRODUCTS-INC-dba-BAY-CITY-PLYWOOD-NO-REFUND-FOR-WRO-1095960. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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#1 Author of original report
SUBMITTED: Thursday, October 31, 2013POSTED: Thursday, October 31, 2013
The refund amount from Bayside Cabinets that is in my first complant is short by $1,ooo. The amount should have read $1,664.00. I have been asking for copies of my checks, to no avail, called owner today to make an appointment with him, hung up on me. I am waiting for all signed (by me) documents, paperwork handed to me today by Tommi Poole from my file does not have my signature on contract of 10 pages, or sketches (6) pages. First email asking for copy of reciept was July 1,2013, today finally was emailed a copy that could be read -3 months after my payment.
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