Pulp Factory Award Nomination - "Knights of the Silver Cross"

Yes, last year's "Knights of the Silver Cross" for ProSe Productions' 1950s Western Roundup has been nominated for a Pulp Factory Award!

You'll find the full press release via this Patreon post).

The public can vote for nominees until March 15th via this link. 

You'll find my "writer's commentary" via this link.

Thanks!

Where Stories Come From: "Publish or Perish" - MARTY QUADE

(Revised 03/04/2024)

(If you want more essays and other exclusive content, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor!)

I've always believed that most young men (or, more specifically, most young white men) tend to gravitate and get their philosophies from one of two authors: Ayn Rand or Raymond Chandler.

I'm grateful I chose the latter since I spent my college and graduate school years poring over hardboiled detective novels. It started with Robert B. Parker's Spenser, with his unconventional morality (see Early Autumn, Ceremony, A Savage Place, and Taming a Sea Horse for details). That led to Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane, Jim Thompson, and Sara Paretsky...yes, I was a moody young man, wasn't I?

But all of them wrote about men with their own codes of honor, who could aim wisecracks as well as their guns...and I was hooked.

So when Ron Fortier of Airship 27 asked me to contribute to this anthology shortly after the publication of "The Magnificent Anderson" in Black Bat Mystery - Volume 3,  I jumped at the opportunity.  Thanks to a recent reading of The Pulp Jungle by Frank Gruber (motivated by one of my mother's coworkers who claimed to be the writer's daughter-in-law) that helped me develop my writing/work ethic...both spurred me to write a tale set in the pulp-writing industry.

(No, I didn't know about William Bogart's Hell on Friday, which is now in my to-read pile).

Shortly after being commissioned, I served on a panel for the DePaul Pop Culture Conference Celebration of Joss Whedon. Much of the "fuel" for the story came from a conversation with a fellow Chicago Nerd Social Club board member (who I thought was full of themselves at the time; we've since reconciled) and meeting a fellow CNSC member (who subconsciously served as the model for one of the lead characters).

As I explain in the essay that accompanies "Publish or Perish" in Marty Quade, Volume One, writing the story was not easy...but once I got the hang of it, prose came out almost lightning fast. It also helped that I could download and read various Quade stories (which  I've linked to in this sponsor-only Patreon update).

But it's one of the first stories where I "hit my stride" in terms of writing; there was a comfort level there (I had invented my own "hardboiled" character - a social worker who was a cop's son - in college), and I felt like I was "in my territory."

Honestly, I want to return to the world of Marty Quade...and I have a corker of an idea. The title alone tells the story...but one step at a time.

So please buy Marty Quade, Volume One...if only to justify Airship 27 commissioning Volume Two. You can find that and other things I've written via my Amazon author page. 

Become My Patreon Sponsor & Snag My Autograph (and Other Goodies)

As the above video states, you can get an autographed copy of Always Punch Nazis by sponsoring me on Patreon.

(Or you can order Always Punch Nazis via Etsy...but no autograph)

I've Been Published: Airship 27's MARTY QUADE - "Publish or Perish"

(Yes, I have another appearance in print - you can find more great work via my Amazon page...and yes, there is a "writer's commentary" forthcoming!)

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS

Presents

THE RETURN OF MARTY QUADE

During the days of the classic pulps, one of the finest mystery magazines on the stands was 10 DETECTIVE ACES. Among the revolving series that appeared in that monthly were the cases of tough guy private eye Marty Quade as written by Emile C. Tepperman whose career went from 1933 to 1942. His most remembered work has been the Purple Invasion Series for Operator 5. Little is known about Mr. Tepperman. He was credited for writing radio broadcasts for programs such as Suspense and Gang Busters. Other than that, his life remains a mystery.

Now Airship 27 Productions is thrilled to bring back this classic pulp character in four brand new adventures written by Gordon Dymowski, Chris Bell, Gene Moyers, and Michael Black. From a missing pulp writer to spies on a military base, gumshoe Quade finds himself knee-deep in hot dames, flying fists, and lethal lead. But Quade is no ordinary shamus, with both a quick wit and street-smart survival skills; he almost always solves the case.

Brian Loner provides 12 black and white interior illustrations while Airship 27 Productions’ own award Winning Art Director, Rob Davis, the cover, which is our homage to that old classic pulp mag.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

Now available on Amazon and soon on Kindle.

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946183555/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549735214&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Marty+Quade+Private+Eye)

News: AIRSHIP 27 TO ADD PROFESSOR CHALLENGER

(Yes, this was originally posted on Airship 27, and yes, I'm behind this new anthology. I'll write about it later, but let me link to this All Pulp post to ensure that there's an evergreen direct link)

AIRSHIP 27 TO ADD PROFESSOR CHALLENGER

It is no secret that Airship 27 Production’s best-selling books for the past six years have been their volumes in the “Sherlock Holmes – Consulting Detective” series. Now twelve volumes rich, they continue to sell and are constantly on Amazon’s top mystery anthology list year after year. To their thousands of loyal readers, the reason for this continued success is no secret. All Airship 27 Production’s “Consulting Detective” books are done strictly in the tradition of Holmes & Watson’s creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Now, this leading New Pulp publisher is hoping this formula will work a second time as they prepare to launch a brand new anthology based once again on a Conan Doyle character; Prof. George Edward Challenger.

“After Holmes, Challenger is clearly Doyle’s most popular creation,” says Airship 27 Production’s Managing Editor Ron Fortier. “Which is why when our pal, and fellow writer, Gordon Dymowski approached us about doing a series featuring George Challenger, we were eager to hear what he had in mind.” Dymowski, a popular Chicago writer and blogger, is also known as an enthusiastic Doctor Who fan and can be found at most Who related events in the Windy City.

“Gordon not only suggested the concept,” continued Fortier, “but actually went the extra step by writing up a Prof. Challenger bible.” A bible is a name given to character data documents with which editors use to introduce perspective writers to a series. “Our hope is to elicit interest from established New Pulp writers in our community. Anyone interested in submitting should contact me and I’ll happily send them a copy of the bible.” Fortier ends with stating this is not a project for new amateur writers and Airship 27 will only look at those inquiries send in from known, published writers.

Will lightning strike twice? Time will tell, while Fortier and Dymowski certainly have their fingers crossed.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

Various Online (and Offline) Shenanigans

You're probably already aware of my first public reading at Volumes Book Cafe this Thursday...but there are some other events coming up (and some other online mentions) that are worth promoting.

For example, I was part of a September Twitter chat on "unleashing your creative genius"...

...which was helpful when I proposed a new Airship 27 anthology of Professor Challenger stories.

I have also been blogging up a storm for Chicago Now's One Cause At a Time, and have even made some surprise appearances online.

And yes, I also made my spoken word debut in September, why do you ask?

By the way, come see me Wednesday and let's watch Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who debut on the big screen! 

I'm Reading At Volumes on October 11th

First, a quick summary: things have been busy on the writing/Mom front, and I'm hoping to write some catch-up posts in the interim.

However, I am proud to announce my first-ever reading at Volumes Cafe on October 11th.

Here's the info via graphic:

And there's a Facebook event page as well. 

Where Stories Come From: ALWAYS PUNCH NAZIS

(Revised 03/04/2024)

One year ago, Nazis and white supremacists held their "Unite the Right" protest in Charlottesville. A young woman who was protesting against white supremacy was run over by one white supremacist; a black man was violently assaulted by a group of white supremacists.

Pals Ben Ferrari and Silas Dixon of Pilot Studios (who graciously invited me to review Longhunters and Carriers in the past) held an open call for an anthology called Always Punch Nazis, focusing on efforts to fight white supremacy and to serve as a fundraiser for a noble organization.

And when they put out a call for stories, I said "Hell, yes"...and cranked out a script in an hour and a half. It was a story called "One Bullet Too Many." and was a relatively easy script to write based on an idea for an unpublished Black Bat story for Excelsior Webcomics. Rather than the original premise of a big game hunter gone rogue, the story focused on a Nazi whose intentions were to clear the way for the "Master Race"...by any means necessary.

(Plus, I was engaged in writing my Black Bat novel for Pro Se Productions, and writing a then-classic Black Bat helped me stay "in the mood" when revamping him for the 21st century."

Admittedly, it's a simple story (after all, I only had six pages of art), but after cranking out the script...the right art team came together. Stuart Berryhill drew the *hell* out of this story from Kurt Belcher's breakdowns. Micah Myers did a great job of lettering, and the colorist (whose name escapes me right now) hit the right Batman: The Animated Series vibe that I wanted.

The only bummer is that Breitbart decided to jerk Pilot Studios around, claiming that their Always Punch Nazis Kickstarter violated their terms of service. Between this and Facebook preventing online advertising of my friend Dawn Xiana Moon's fundraiser for immigration rights due to "political content", well...you might understand why I'm feeling outraged.

We're living in contentious times. Some people still don't want to see the pernicious and toxic role racism plays in American society. It's easy to adopt a philosophy that "both sides are equal"...but unfortunately, neutrality is no longer an option.

Both sides are not equal: one side wants to see the destruction and denigration of various groups due to skin color, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The other side believes in the inherent dignity and worth of human beings.

You can order Volume One of Always Punch Nazis via Amazon, and you can find my other writings via my Amazon Author page. 

Check Out My Recent Interview With ProSe Productions

(Earlier this month, I was fortunate enough to participate in a Facebook interview for ProSe Productions. For those who aren't on Facebook but follow my fiction writing, you might find this...interesting, to say the least. And don't forget to spread the word about the August 2nd bellydancing/fire spinning fundraiser at Uptown Underground)

-----------------------------------------------

THREE WITH A BULLET - PRO SE INTERVIEWS!

Author - Gordon Dymowski

What have you written for Pro Se, either published or to be published?

I’ve been very lucky to have several short stories published by Pro Se Productions, including “Crossing McCausland” in Tall Pulp and “Cowboy of the Dakotas” in Pulpternative (both nominated for Pulp Factory Awards); Other writings like “Blank Page”, an essay in the benefit anthology When the Shadow Sees the Sun; “All Roads Lead to Rome” in The Adventures of Moose & Skwirl, and the Pro Se Thriller of the Week novella AKA THE SINNER: Cover of Night. 

More recently, I’ve seen “In the Frame” (featuring the crime-busting duo of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd) published in Hollywood Mystery and “Knights of the Silver Cross” appear in the recent 1950s Western Roundup.

But I’m really excited about what’s coming out from Pro Se later this year – in fact, I’m proud to announce that my novel, The Black Bat – The Politics of Murder will be released in late September. Think of it as “two-gun avenger has a Leverage-style backup team” and you have a great idea of what to expect. 

Yes, it’s the classic character done in modern times. Yes, it stays true to the spirit of the original pulps. But its plot – focusing on how a racial incident leads to the revelation of political corruption – has its roots in the 21st century. I’m proud to take the lead on such a character, and yes, we will see Tony Quinn and his aides take on more adventures!

I’m also eagerly anticipating my short story, “The Adventure of the Master Logician” in the Madness of Dr. Nikola anthology. If you know your Victorian literature, Doctor Nikola is the proto-supervillain creation of Guy Boothby. My story relates of his final battle with Roderick Sharpe of the Vermillion Branch of Her Majesty’s Government. One of the combatants has a plan to prevent world war; the other wants to build a global empire. But which person is the hero, and which one’s the villain?

Pick up to three of the titles you've written and tell the story behind it. Influences, inspirations, etc.

When I’m writing stories, I include various influences by a variety of sources. For example, AKA THE SINNER: Cover of Night has a slight Leslie Charteris/The Saint vibe, but it was also influenced by last year’s events at Charlottesville as well as various Twitter threads about the lack of Asian actors and representation in media. (Two of my friends had posted articles that definitely influenced this novella, and yes, I owe them both a debt of gratitude. And baked goods.). “Cowboy of the Dakotas” came from a little-known event in Theodore Roosevelt’s life that, in my tale, took a slightly darker turn. Even “Crossing McCausland” was as much influenced by memories of my grandparents’ life (they were first-generation immigrants from Eastern Europe) as it was from television shows like The Fugitive or The Incredible Hulk.

Why Pro Se? Why write for them?

Pro Se’s flexibility and openness around stories and genres are why I love writing for the company. Much of classic pulp literature has often had a wildness of spirit from Norvell Page’s feverish prose for The Spider to the flat-out apocalyptic tone of Operator 5’s Purple Invasion. Pro Se Productions has a great philosophy of encouraging the “out-there” idea while staying grounded in traditional storytelling techniques, and it has provided an exceptional canvas for me to work

Hey, Look! I'm On Patreon (And Elsewhere on the Net!)

Now that I'm a semi-professional author (meaning that I still need a day job), I've decided to open up and start a Patreon page! If you're looking to join an exclusive community and get some great perks, please head over to http://www.patreon.com/gordondymowski and become a monthly sponsor!

Of course, I'm not a big shot like Scott Adams, the guy who created Dilbert. He's a bit touchy, especially when confronted on his statements. So learn how you, too, can get blocked on Twitter by Scott Adams of Dilbert (like I did!)

And yes, back again after too long a time, I've written a post for I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere focusing on a tale of Moriarity!

In a slightly related note, I'm proud that this blog post on male depression was named one of Chicago Now's Best Posts of June 2018

Finally, via Sean Taylor's blog, a conversation about plotting vs. pantsing when writing stories

I've Been Published - 1950s WESTERN ROUND-UP

Be sure to check out my short story, "Knights of the Silver Cross" in this anthology...but here are the fine details.

====================

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHEN OUTLAWS BECAME BLACK AND WHITE HEROES-‘1950s WESTERN ROUND UP’ DEBUTS FROM PRO SE PRODUCTIONS

One of the most exciting periods in American History was that of the Wild West. Tales of gunfights and outlaws have captivated the imagination of readers since that era, but this period of lawlessness and excitement held particular sway over television viewers of the 1950s. Darkly shrouded outlaws became garishly dressed heroes when they leaped from their saddles to the small screen. 1950s WESTERN ROUND-UP returns to those celluloid days of a revised yesteryear, taking real outlaws and sanitizing them into good, mostly upstanding citizens! 

Relive this odd, yet important era in TV and Western fiction history as three of today’s best authors put tassels and morality on some of the baddest people to ever ride the range in 1950s WESTERN ROUND-UP! From Pro Se Productions and now available in paperback and digital formats. 

With a whimsical cover by Larry Nadolsky and logo design and print formatting by Marzia Marina and Antonino Lo Iacono, 1950s WESTERN ROUND UP is available now at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1722196610/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530566610&sr=8-1&keywords=1950s+western+roundup and through Pro Se’s own store at www.prose-press.com for 9.99.

This flashback to a simpler time is also available as an Ebook, designed and formatted by Lo Iacono and Marina for only $2.99 for the Kindle at https://amzn.to/2lNHr3l. This book is also available on Kindle Unlimited, which means Kindle Unlimited Members can read for free.

For more information on this title, interviews with the author, or digital copies to review this book, contact Pro Se Productions’ Director of Corporate Operations, Kristi King-Morgan at directorofcorporateoperations@prose-press.com.

To learn more about Pro Se Productions, go to www.prose-press.com. Like Pro Se on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProSeProductions.

Where Stories Come From: THE JOY OF JOE

(Revised 03/09/2024)

Now I know what you're thinking, and yes...I have been away. Freelance work has been pretty steady, my life is...well, it's there. I've been getting back into the swing of a semi-regular life, and have focused more time on the other blog, discussing comedy stars and free speech issues as well as recent celebrity passing.

But sometimes, I get so busy with the work/writing grind that I forget that I write things that will later be published...and they usually come from the most innocuous of sources.

For example, Jim Beard - he's the editor of Sequart Publishing's Gotham City 14 Miles; he's also put out a ton of great stories. He also looks like Bill Mumy and acts like Jonathan Harris.

(I kid, I kid).

Anyway, Jim reached out to fellow writers via Facebook; he was looking for people who played with G.I. Joe as a kid. Not just any G.I. Joe, mind you, but the classic large, 12-inch action figure; not the 4-inch monstrosities from the 1980s. He was also interested in having people write essays about their experience for The Joy of Joe, celebrating the classic toy line.

Although yes, I owned a GI Joe...I had no idea what to write about. It wasn't the centerpiece of my collection (my Mego Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, and DC Comics figures were my main focus of play), nor could I write about how I owned all the equipment. And I wasn't going to write about how my father would scold me for playing with dolls...

Oh, [expletive], I thought, I'm not going to have to...aw, [another expletive]. I have to, don't I...

See, one of the things about my childhood...was that I was an atypical male. I played with a baby doll at three years old. I was more sensitive than other kids. And I sewed GI Joe a sleeping bag.  That was the memory that I chose to focus on, and how that memory led to me becoming more than just a manly man who does manly things...

(Of course, I am still a manly man who does manly things; I'm just much more open and flexible about being a man).

Writing my essay "The Ultimate Accessory" for The Joy of Joe also allowed me to reconcile some of my feelings for my late father. My dad and I rarely, if ever, got along - Dad was a heady mix of Ken Titus, Ron Swanson, and your local neighborhood douchebag. Look up toxic masculinity in the dictionary, and you'll see my dad's picture...

(As you can guess, June is a rough month for me since Dad was born in early June and...well, Father's Day...and for those without a dictionary, just picture me with a mustache.)

But my essay allowed me, on some level, to embrace some of the more unique aspects of growing up male. It also allowed me to look back with some nostalgia, viewing the past through half-rimmed rose-colored glasses. Yet it also allowed me to let go of my upbringing and continue the cycle of self-assessment and self-acceptance that I have been experiencing since...well, since I moved to care for Mom after last year's health issues.

Although it may seem trivial, writing my essay for The Joy of Joe was a bit of a release for me. It's a bit more self-revelatory than most of my other writing (including my blogs), but it's a great next step before my latest pulp fiction is published...

But check out The Joy of Joe, available in softcover and Kindle: you won't be disappointed.

Your Monthly Summary of Online Shenanigans

If you've been following this blog, you know I've been busy with convention appearances, panels, and all sorts of fun...but now that things are starting to die down, I thought I would highlight some of my online appearances and writings.

For example - for many of you, I appear to be "crushing it", or "the favorite phrase of egotistical douchebags everywhere". Here's my recent Chicago Now post about the myth of "crushing it".

Not only am I proud of my recent C2E2 Doctor Who panel (thanks Dawn, Shira, Karlyn & Phil!), but it's also been written up by Culturess and FangirlBlog. I'm always proud to see my name in print...yes, I am that egotistical.

(A note to Russian hackers - if you're going to contact me via my personal website, please don't write in Cyrillic. It's a dead giveaway that you're looking for me to send my password to you. I'm not that dumb, you know)

In case you missed them - my answers to Sean Taylor's Writer Roundtables on "literary pulp" and "classic tropes".

Also, when I'm not writing or speaking on panels, I'm discussing content creation and thought leadership in #ContentWritingChat on Twitter. Enjoy the transcripts!

Finally, if you missed my appearance at DePaul's recent Celebration of Slashers, click the link and order my essays. Trust me, you'll enjoy them.

Cruising (Not Boozing) Around the Internet

As you can see, I haven't been keeping out of trouble; in fact, there are several really cool opportunities where my name's been out in the spotlight in the past few weeks...and I'm also really glad to highlight (and repeat) several of them.

First, I'm glad that in 2017 I did two podcast interviews that really bring me a lot of pride: this interview for Radio Islam on Net Neutrality and this podcast interview for Working Class Creatives. The former I'm especially proud of because it helped me land the "one of the best posts of 2017" designation for this Chicago Now post about Ajit Pai and Net Neutrality. (And here's another post about Net Neutrality)

Hey, look - I've been interviewed!

Hey, look! Mike Sterling posted his answers to my 2017 predictions on his blog!

Also, I help Chicago Now answer one of the most troubling questions about living in Chicago, as well as great places to get free stuff.

In April, I'll be running two panels at DePaul Pop Culture Conference - Celebration of Slashers. One is on John Carpenter; the other is about the "death" of Gothic Horror. Won't you join me?

Should Art Be Political? You Mean...It Isn't Already?

Whenever I'm talking with others on Twitter or Facebook (it's almost never in person, for reasons that will soon become apparent), there's always a line of conversation. Usually, it's white dudes over 40 years of age (like me) who say something like this. (Although I admit that I had a conversation with a white woman over 40 years old who expressed similar sentiments over Doctor Who).

Usually, the line of conversation usually results in someone making a variation of the following:

"You know, I'm tired of this movie/show/book/genre being so political? Why can't we just have things the way they used to be, with good old fashioned escapism/entertainment"

And the problem with that statement is that there was never a golden age when things weren't political. I would argue that the act of creating - especially now, in the age of the current GOP administration - that creativity is an especially powerful political statement.

Nostalgia is a tricky thing: it allows the person to momentarily escape the Doctor Who conversation I mentioned previously? We were at a Chicago Doctor Who Meetup event, and she spent so much time complaining about a female Doctor/
difficulties of the present by engaging in an idealized past. Yet paradoxically, escaping into that idealized past prevents you from even enjoying the present experience of that media.

That Doctor Who conversation that I mentioned? In the background, a Tom Baker story was playing. You know, the guy who was the David Tennant of the 1970s? The Doctor for many people? And ironically, this woman could not understand that she was spending more time complaining about Jodie Whittaker than watching the show she loved.

But how does this play into politics? No creative act - writing, music, dance, what have you - exists in a vacuum. Politics permeates any piece, and many writing is a reaction to the politics of the time. Even "simple escapist fare" is a political statement because it serves to relieve the tensions of modern living. (And one the things I've learned about the Operator 5 Purple Invasion and the Spider Empire State Pulp arcs of the 1930s...they weren't done on the whim. Harry Steeger, the editor of Popular Publications, wanted those storylines written in response to the then-prevalent isolationist movement in the United States). So the idea that there was this "golden age" when politics was never involved in art - whether through individual motivation or editorial mandate - is simply naive, choosing to avoid present reality and emphasize an unhealthy nostalgia.

[And yes, many people who wish to "go back" to a golden age are a reaction to greater inclusion/creators of color. My response - just where do you expect new readers and creators to come from? And yes, I am aware that the Spider arc was known as the "Black Police" arc. In a time when we have a movement called "Black Lives Matter", I think renaming it "Empire State" is much cooler and more respectful. My blog, my rules]

Even in my own writing, I'm finding that certain political themes are creeping into my writing. Even before I deliberately chose to insert themes into works like AKA THE SINNER: Cover of Night, there's been an emphasis on portraying white supremacy as a malevolent force. (This was way before Charlottesville). Being more inclusive in my writing, and trying to "get" representation right, has been a focus, preferring not to "insert generic Indians/Asians", for example, or actually working to balance a 21st century understanding of gender and racial roles and attitudes with the less enlightened roles and attitudes of the past.

[Yes, I have actually been told - by fellow white writers - to use "generic" types of diverse cultures. And also, yes, I'm willing to get representation wrong and get called out on it.]

So yes, art should be political...because it's already political. Creating a unique statement, or crafting a story, is always influenced by external politics. We are living in a time when many voices are being extinguished or stifled (whether it's DACA or net neutrality), and quite honestly, we need to hear more diverse voices.

And we also need to let go of the past, because it's never coming back.

My 2018 Writing & Project Docket

I think I can say, with some confidence...that my non-blog non-freelance writing for 2018 is over. Much of it has been the sheer number of words I wrote (two novellas plus a short novel and two academic papers equal over 90,000 words, and that's not including a six-page comic story for a benefit book that's yet to be published), but much of it is that the muse seems to have left me...

...or more to the point, I'm just plain tired. (And yes, there are people I consider my "muses". They can contact me privately if they think they know who they are).

So as the holidays approach, I've decided to give myself a break from writing. After all, without the pressure of impending deadlines, I don't feel the need to crank out fiction. Plus, if I'm completely honest...I've compromised my own self-care. I need to be much gentler on myself and taking some time to catch my breath would not be a bad idea.

But looking forward to early 2018 here's what's on the fiction writing/personal project docket:

• Developing an animated bible and two scripts (one pilot/one episode) for animated adaptation of another's unpublished graphic novel; it's a contract position that I'm working on mostly to develop my portfolio and build skills;
• Finishing Big in the '90s (tentative title), a short story/possible novella focusing on a group of 1990s street-level superheroes reuniting to face one of their biggest challenges;
• Writing a speaker/presentation page and rewriting my professional services page for gordondymowski.com; 
• Developing and writing a graphic novel script tentatively titled The Reichenbach Notebook, which combines The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Leverage.
• Two sequels to already written stories (one published, the other yet-to-be); and 
  
• Potential work on panels for C2E2, Oak Lawn Fan Fest, and DePaul Pop Culture Celebration (as well as another, totally unrelated academic endeavor)

I know all that sounds rather daunting, but I'm more than willing to let it go for now. I'm a bit burned out and in a strange emotional place. (It's a tricky personal situation that isn't for public consumption...but it has meant that I'll be a lot more appreciative and open with my friends).  But for the last few weeks of 2018, a year that has been personally and professionally challenging, I'm chilling out.

Relatively speaking, of course. And you're always welcome to convince someone to hire me and/or buy one of my books in the interim. 

Sharpening My Online Profile

Now that Thanksgiving is over and we're on our way towards Christmas (and other holidays), I thought it would be a great opportunity to highlight some of my other online appearances. (Plus, it would allow me to build my search presence, since Blogger auto-posts to Google Plus, enhancing search optimization).

Yes, I can throw around online marketing buzzwords, why do you ask?

First, pre-Chicago TARDIS I had a hot streak writing for Chicago Now's One Cause At a Time, ending with a piece on "thoughts and prayers"...as well as a guest post on gratitude for another Chicago Now blog.

(When I'm not writing, I'm playing with Instagram....you can follow me there, you know)

Speaking of gratitude, I shared my thankful attitude on Sean Taylor's blog and also wrote a little about sex. Seriously.

And lest we forget...I have a new novella out. My fiction makes great Christmas gifts, you know. 

Where Stories Come From: COVER OF NIGHT (AKA THE SINNER)

(Revised 03/04/2024)

Sometimes, writing can be therapeutic. And AKA The Sinner: Cover Of Night, which serves as the debut of Nathaniel Brigand in Pro Se Productions' Thriller of the Week series, is a great example.

Events and themes were percolating in my head: recent arguments in "support" of white supremacy groups in Charlottesville, a hashtag reacting to a news item about casting Asian actors, and some nostalgia for my "good old days..."

...and then Tommy had proposed a new series of novellas: a "Thriller of the Week" series of Kindle-only novellas based on the old NBC Mystery Movie series...and I had a way to channel some of these issues into my writing.

At this time, the #ExpressiveAsians hashtag popped up on my Twitter feed thanks to two of my friends' efforts. (They know who they are, and I don't need to call them out). When thinking of an entry-point character, I realized that I could write about the impact of racism without falling into the usual tropes by making her a third-generation Japanese-American female. (Of course, I ended up falling into a trap that a fellow writer to lived in Japan once made about limiting my stories to three areas of interest). If I needed background info, I knew many lawyers, and one of my female friends trained as a boxer. Rather than use AKA The Sinner's suggested setting, I used Rogers Park on Chicago's Northside since I knew the area, and I prefer writing fish-out-of-water stories.

Photo by Gordon Dymowski

And if you were to look at my search history for research...hoo, boy. Reading first-person accounts of families dealing with the implications of growing up in American internment camps during World War Two; female heads of white supremacist groups...and I even did fieldwork. One scene took place in the same meeting room where the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup holds its Third Coast Comics meetups. And yes, Terry gave me a strange look....but hey, I do the damn research).

Cover of Night was also a story that went through several changes from the initial outline to the final draft. Unable to formulate a compelling (non-cliche) antagonist, I realized that the "big bad" wasn't a man...it was a woman. One particular scene in chapter five went through several rewrites. And the reason for all this...

I wanted to get it right. Yes, I'm one of many authors who believe that representation matters, and my past writing (especially female characters) has been weak. Or worse, that I've had the "token" woman. Granted, it was a short story with a shorter turnaround time, but I had to back my advocacy with action.

Did I get it right? Probably not. But what matters is that I made the effort. No "just-use-generic-insert-types-here" strategies that other writers have advocated. Writing diverse characters means putting in the effort and making the characters real enough. If I want more than the usual pulp-reading crowd to read my work, I have to make the effort to attract them.

But all in all, AKA The Sinner: Cover of Night should read like a heady mix of Law & Order and Leslie Charteris' The Saint. (And yes, I am planning on checking those books out, why do you ask?) But it's not just a great read (although it's Kindle-only, you can use Amazon's online Kindle reader) at a great price...it's also, in a small way, a huge accomplishment on my part.

And you can find it - with other written works - via my Amazon author page. 

I've Been Published: AKA THE SINNER - COVER OF NIGHT

Last month, I was working on a novella....and now, it's a Kindle-only release via Pro Se Productions. Don't worry - there will be an installment of Where Stories Come From on this shortly....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRO SE THRILLER OF THE WEEK THIRD SERIES DEBUTS! ‘AKA THE SINNER: COVER OF NIGHT’ AVAILABLE FOR $1.49

Pro Se Productions presents the debut of its third series in the Future of Digital Storytelling-THE PRO SE THRILLER OF THE WEEK.

Each week, a new 'episode' of one of four rotating series will be released as a digital ebook for your reading pleasure. From Espionage to Supernatural, From Crime To Suspense, each week readers can find what they need in the PRO SE THRILLER OF THE WEEK.

AKA THE SINNER: Episode One - COVER OF NIGHT BY GORDON DYMOWSKI

Nathaniel (Never Nathan, that gets you a polite warning. Never Nate, that gets your life threatened. Never ever Nat, that gets you injured in some noticeable fashion) Brigand, his actual true surname, cursed from birth it would seem, is a man out to save the world after doing all he could to destroy it.

There isn’t a crime that Brigand hasn’t committed, save anything sexual or any crimes directly against children. There are reasons for that particular line not being crossed that are buried in his past, one that not even the best of detectives or even those highest in the ranks of espionage can uncover beyond his criminal history. This Brigand wears as a badge of honor, even though he is no longer a career criminal. Now he only commits crimes for the betterment of others when necessary. And he often finds it necessary.

It started when someone spray-painted swastikas and slurs on Amy Hirado’s door. She learned enough about those symbols from her grandfather, who was interred during World War II. As a defense attorney, she works in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood – she even lives across the street from a synagogue. Given the increased violence, she takes the advice of one of her (now deceased) clients and asks Nathaniel Brigand – aka the Sinner – for help! Little did Amy know...that sometimes the cure for a social ill is worse than the disease itself...especially when The Sinner is that cure.

AKA THE SINNER: COVER OF NIGHT by Gordon Dymowski. Concept created by Tommy Hancock.

Featuring an atmospheric cover, logo design, and digital formatting by Antonino Lo Iacono and Marzia Marina, AKA THE SINNER: COVER OF NIGHT is available now for the Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077NLSV27/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511305976&sr=8-1&keywords=aka+the+sinner for only $1.49. This ebook is also available for free via Kindle Unlimited for members.

For more information on this title, interviews with the author, or digital copies to review this book, contact Pro Se Productions’ Director of Corporate Operations, Kristi King-Morgan at directorofcorporateoperations@prose-press.com.

To learn more about Pro Se Productions, go to www.prose-press.com. Like Pro Se on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProSeProductions.

Buy My Books and Stop Digital Piracy!

One of the great ways I get a charge out of my day is when I see a Google Alert in my e-mail. As a published pulp writer, I'm always glad to see my name in print...especially since it means that I've either published a new blog post or have had a book published.

However, this past weekend I received an e-mail that my books had been featured on a site....and well, let's just say that I was not happy...especially since I have ranted about online piracy in the past.

(I'm including screen captures of the site in question as there is no way I would ever encourage traffic).

So I'm looking at this particular site, which is advertising that my books are "free to read" through this particular location. It's obvious that they've aggregated information from Goodreads, and I'm surprised that they are offering my books for free for the following reasons:

• The only publisher that offers my work for free is "Out There in the Night" for Les Vamps, which I knew going in (I entered a contest), and which you can freely download via http://bit.ly/LesVamps
• My past contracts for Pro Se Productions and Airship 27 Productions both include royalties...and both publishing houses are run by people with integrity and honor. 
• When I clicked on a link on this site which was to link to their DMCA policy...a site geared primarily to males over 18 years old popped up. (Think that "p" word that rhymes with "scorn". I don't need that kind of traffic).

Yes, that's right - once again, I'm being pirated. And why shouldn't you use any of these sites, you may ask.

Ironically, not linked to
DMCA on their site

First, unless you're purchasing from a site like Amazon, many of these "free book" sites aren't about selling books - they're about taking your money. (One such site actually had a scam where it was free to join, but the site had a $1.00 "termination fee"...and of course (thanks to an additional Google search, and not through trial-and-error), this site also would have a glitch meaning you would have to terminate again...for $1.00.

But when you pirate books...or music...or any other media, you're screwing over creators who put in a ton of hard work and should get paid for it.

Many of my friends are what you would call "Working Class Creatives" - they're creating cool stuff (like videos, music, writing, art) while working side gigs. (Or, like me, trying to find enough freelance work to make a living).  They're plugging away to create great things for people to enjoy...and some people have to earn a dollar by stealing from others.

And before you make a counterargument in favor of piracy, I'll provide my standard retorts:

• Libraries buy books, CDs, etc. So the person creating them gets royalties.
• Patreon is no substitute for a paycheck. And even I have a Patreon, but it's for the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup...and it covers a Britbox subscription and some other supplies. That's it.
• Congratulations! Piracy also diminishes sales - and visibility - for writers of color, LGTBQIA, and other marginalized authors. So yes, you are hurting them by promoting their book free of charge. 
• Public domain books are freely available via sites like Gutenberg, Manybooks, and Librivox....but public domain materials are without copyright. Meaning that they're free to distribute within certain limitations. 
• Public domain characters are free to use, but if I use a character in a story, I have full rights to that story, not that character. And yes, I should get paid for my written work
• When you distribute our work freely (via sites like the above or torrenting), you're not lending us a helping hand to get the word out...you're giving us the finger and telling us that what we do is worthless. 

So the best thing I can encourage all of you to do is to support your local artist. If you can purchase their work, do it. If you want to follow them on Facebook (like my Facebook author page) and forward their posts, do that. For musicians...pay to attend their shows, and purchase their CDs/officially released MP3s. 

Because let's face it, the only people who really can justify piracy might have never known the struggle to express an idea. It's easy to dismiss creative types are having our "heads in the clouds", but I can admit (and I hope many of my fellow creators will agree) that we are more likely to have focused on working to get it right, to get it honest, and to get it done.

All we want is to be paid for our work like any other worker. And pirating our work is not the way to do it.