Interview: Freelancing and Coworking

Recently, I was interviewed about my experiences and perspectives around freelancing and coworking for a French project.

My thanks to Samuel Durand and Thuy Khanh-Nguyen for a wonderful conversation...and for the opportunity to share this video. Enjoy!

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)

Obligatory YouTube Linux Post

Assorted Online Shenanigans - Brought to You by Coffee!

November went by really fast...because, let's face it, I needed to take a break

One of the great things about leaving Chicago TARDIS is that my Thanksgiving was a bit calm....but I was dealing with a lot. I talk about it here - as well as The Witchhunters - for the Who 37 Doctor Who Podcast.

As for the "taking-a-break"  part, well...earlier in November I suffered a serious case of caregiver burnout, but I recovered in time for Family Caregiver Month.

Huzzah! I have a sponsor on my Patreon page! Please come to join him!

Finally, here's video from my October Deep Dish reading at Volumes Cafe:

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. 

I Know Cool People: Raks Geek/Uptown Underground Closing

Thread. With Uptown Underground's closure, many performers - including members of @RaksGeek - will be adversely affected. On the advice of one friend/performer, I'm boosting their hiring info. (ATTN: @Mcoorlim) /1 https://t.co/E23ZygDYA8

— Gordon D Tweets (@gordondym) September 12, 2018

(Originally posted via my Facebook Author Page. Some edits made for clarity)

Right now, I'm feeling a definite loss. (And this is gonna be a *long* post)

Earlier today, Uptown Underground - a theater located on the north side of the city - announced that it was closing. Permanently. And I'll be honest, it hurts.

Part of it is my love of vintage theaters. Part of it is that I worked in Uptown when I was a research assistant for Harvard University. But a large part of it is that two of my friends, as well as various performers, are being affected.

I was introduced to Raks Geek via - we were both on the board of Chicago Nerd Social Club. She had encouraged everyone to attend a show, but somehow, I managed to be too busy. In fact, the only other contact I had with Raks Geek were scattershot, high-school-corridor-type conversations with Michi's friend Dawn.

But my first exposure to Raks came at a C2E2 afterparty - Dawn did a really cool fan dance in a TARDIS dress, Michi spin fluorescent spheres (the theater's fire code prohibited pyrotechnics), and Kamrah (another performer in the troupe) was a bandaged SILENT HILL nurse.

(It was good...but creeped the hell out of me. Not criticizing, because I respect the artist).
But in time, the Uptown Underground became a great way for me to connect with my fellow geeks...but also enabled me a bit of nostalgia. Feeling like I was the rough-and-tumble dude once again venturing into depths of Chicago to explore hidden treasures. It provided some sense of escape, community, and belonging. I was fortunate enough to attend Raks Inferno last week and celebrate Dawn's birthday - yes, she invited me. And I was honored to accept. There were no hidden warnings, no vibe that suggested that this would happen...but it did, and the loss is difficult to process.

For many performers, especially those from marginalized communities, the loss is even harder. It was sudden, abrupt, and seemingly forced. (No, I don't have the details, and I don't care - I only care about the people who are affected by this closure).

My point: I'm asking those of you who read this blog to help by spreading the word. I'm embedding a Twitter thread with booking/hiring information. It's the kindest, most compassionate act I can take - after all, artists and creatives deserve to do the work they enjoy and be compensated for it.

Consider this as a sad reminder that sometimes, a venue is more than a venue - it's a home for a community. And no one ever gets over losing a home.

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. 

I'll Be Published: ALWAYS PUNCH NAZIS

I'm proud to announce that my Black Bat comic story, One Bullet Too Many, will be appearing in the Pilot Studios anthology Always Punch Nazis.

Proceeds benefit Southern Poverty Law Center; learn more about the Always Punch Nazis Kickstarter by clicking this link.

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

My Plans for August 2nd

Check out the details about this Raks Inferno fundraising event which features one of my fellow C2E2 panelists.

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

Some Words of Inspiration For the Fourth of July

(Originally posted by Wil Stenberg on Facebook; later misattributed to Henry Rollins. Worth sharing if only to give credit where credit is due...and yes, I agree with every word, why do you ask?)

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

I hate “we’re fucked.”

I mean, I don’t want to shame anyone who has said it, thought it, or posted it. I have too. But as a philosophy, as a statement of belief, I hate it. Because it means you’ve given up.

We are absolutely NOT fucked.

Things are so bad. This country has taken a turn that I could never have predicted. It is absolutely fascist, nativist, and extremist. It’s every bit as scary as it seems.

But we are not fucked.

I read a long-form article on the Russia hacks in the New Yorker not long ago. However much you think that influenced the outcome, it was an instructive piece of journalism. There is very little indication that there was a specific political agenda that was being wished for. The goal was simple: Sow chaos and undermine the faith of Westerners in their own institutions.

This is really important to think about right now.

I have a high regard for Mueller and I think his investigation will have some influence. But don’t wait on him to save us. He can’t. And don’t wait on impeachment. I would support it fervently, but it is nothing to bank on. And especially don't assume Trump can't win again. He absolutely can. Our best bet - better, even, than all of our protests and actions - is actually voting.

It’s so square. It’s so old-fashioned. Many of us involved with the hard-left or anarchist scene have been trained to disregard it.

Fucking don’t. NOT NOW, guys. It is the best tool at our disposal. Yeah, you can say that they will sabotage it, reject it, whatever. “Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.” In other words, don’t create troubles before they exist. Anything seems possible to me right now, but it remains the case - despite hacked voting machines and gerrymandering - that there is no known mechanism by which our government can deny massive voter turnout. 

Take back the House in November. Then take back the Presidency in 2020. The worst thing we could do is pretend that these are givens. I never, ever, ever thought that this piece of shit could sit in the Oval Office. I was so humbled by my error. Therefore I assume he could take it again - I know he could - unless we accept the threat as real.

When we say, “We’re fucked,” we roll over. We defeat ourselves. We do their job for them. Don’t do that. We are NOT fucked. We are in a fight. It sucks. It’s hard. People are suffering. The earth is suffering. It will get worse.

You know, since everyone loves the Nazi comparisons, there were people during the HEYDAY of the Third Reich who NEVER said, “We’re fucked.” They said, “We’re in a fight.” And you know what’s interesting? Nazi Germany went from the worst regime in the world to a liberal democracy within a lifetime.

Look at Japan. Take the historical view. Stop pretending that the worst of what’s happening now is what is going to always happen. This is what is happening RIGHT NOW. That’s all you know. If you think it’s going to be this way forever, read a book.

Countries slide into fascism for long periods. It happens. Countries also have short-term extremist right-wing governments. Happens in Europe all the time. They get voted out. The threat remains. The threat of fascism will remain in America in a way it never has before. It’s a real movement. But we’re not fucked. Not even close. We can get off the ropes in the mid-terms and knock them out in 2020. But only if we stop saying that we’re fucked, and start seeing this as a fight.


I’m no Pollyanna. Things are so unutterably bad that I walk around in a constant state of nausea and horror. But you have to take the historical view, and you can’t lie down and say we’re doomed, or else they have beaten you.

Again, I don’t want to shame anyone who says, “We’re fucked” as an emotional reaction. I get it, I really do. But if you say that as a historical reality, then you SHOULD be ashamed. We are so far from being fucked. It's time for that warrior spirit, from everyone.

Our best bet, actually our only realistic bet, is to mobilize the vote. There has always been a silver lining to this situation. I have always hesitated to state it, for fear of sounding like I am not taking the horror seriously. Fuck that; I do. But there has always been the possibility, there remains the possibility, that this is a time when our country faces up to its worst reflection, sees it truly, and breaks the fucking mirror. A time when the last bastion of white power and male supremacy and oligarchy attempts to enact fascism, but the antibodies of the American system and American multi-culturalism kick in to reject it.

Where do you want to stand in that equation? As someone who rolled over because we’ve have had two awful years of shit that much of the world has already experienced many, many, many times over, so you decided that we’re finished and done for? Come on. Look at Europe, look at Africa, look at Asia. Back and forth with this shit, and much worse.

I have your back. Get up. Here’s my hand. Let’s fight.

It can’t become hip to give up. It can’t become hip to say we are fucked. Look at history. People have been so much more fucked than us, and won. If you truly believe we are finished, I’m sorry, but you were the first to fall. Stick a fork in you, turn you over, you’re done. I don’t want to see you do that, if only for the selfish reason that we need you.

Do all the protests, do all the direct action, make all the phone calls, then mobilize in October and November. That’s when we can get off the ropes and start punching again. Take the long view, my sisters and brothers. Don’t let them take you out of the fight.

And if you need me for anything, I am here.

Where Stories Come From: 1950s WESTERN ROUNDUP - Knights of the Silver Cross

(Revised 03/05/2024)

You would think that for a pulp writer, I would work well when writing Westerns. After all, they're merely historical fiction...with a heck of a lot of tropes. Many of which are...well, tricky and possibly problematic. Plus, there's tons of research...and anyone who tells you "too much research can ruin storytelling" hasn't ever really told a story worth telling.

But I managed it once with "Cowboy of the Dakotas" for Pulpternative - creating an alternate history for a well-known historical figure. And much like my last Pro Se story, Hollywood Mystery's "In the Frame", this latest Western tale was at Tommy Hancock's request to help fill out an anthology. The premise of the 1950s Western Roundup anthology was simple: take a well-known Western outlaw and turn him into a hero.

So I embarked on a one-man mission to find several and one of them was Deacon Jim Miller, an infamous hired assassin. He had it all - a dark cloak, a wide-brimmed hat, and a metal chest plate. The story pretty much told itself.

So the next day at Windy City Pulp, my conversation with Tommy goes something like this:

ME: (Gives pitch on the first person I selected)
TOMMY: I think that might be a little too obvious...
ME: How about Deacon Miller as a two-gun avenger?
TOMMY: You mean to give him the Green Hornet treatment?
ME: Precisely!
TOMMY: Write it up, and I'll publish it! 

I wasn't taking notes at the time so I may be exaggerating the details just a bit...

But developing the story was more complicated - I didn't want to do a simple "cowboys and bandits" story but wanted to move towards something a little more complicated. For example, the real Deacon Jim Miller often went to Methodist celebrations on Sunday; I had worked with several Methodist churches in St. Louis and knew about their Social Principles. So giving him a spiritual and moral motivation (with an accompanying Bible quote) felt perfect...especially since I was tired of the "corrupt preacher" trope.

Plotwise, however...well, let me just say this: I was watching a lot of The Wild, Wild West. One of the things that engage me about The Wild, Wild West is how it balances Western and modern (for the 1960s) storytelling tropes - many of the third and fourth season episodes were about corrupt governors taking over territories. However, I opted to mix that with the first season's straightforward pulp pastiches and focused on one man's use of a KKK-like organization to drive people away from...

Well, that would be telling, but suffice it to say, it is historically accurate...and a bit clever. And I based the villain on a man who...well, he was making one particular freelance assignment hell. Gaslighting me to get me to violate my contract. Although the assignment ended (and he was later fired for attempting to undermine the CEO), I had my revenge...that's right, people, mess with me and I will write you into a villain.

(One of my current projects is writing a novella where...um...I'm writing street heroes based on my friends. This means that if you're a Close, Personal Friend of mine, you may be flattered...or insulted).

Writing Westerns is tough, especially since there are so many well-worn clichés and tropes that it's easy to do it wrong. But in every way possible, I think that Knights of the Silver Cross in 1950s Western Roundup does it right. So much so that when Ron Fortier of Airship 27 Productions asked me to expand my short story idea into a novella...

...but that's a story for another time.

And you can find more stories via my Amazon author page. 

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.

Obligatory Harlan Ellison Post

Photo by Ronald Roan via Flickr

I won't lie - Harlan Ellison influenced my writing.

 Go read the details via Chicago Now's One Cause At a Time