BILL RAETZ - PULP WRITER

Noir City 2012

2012-02-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Noir City returns to the Seattle International Film Festival. From their site:

Noir City returns with more of the dark and dangerous delights to be discovered in the resurrected rarities that are this festival's stock-in-trade. The inimitable Czar of Noir, Eddie Muller, will once again host this week-long extravaganza of buried film noir treasures rescued from the margins of mid-20th century American cinema.

Tickets: $12 | $7 SIFF Members | $11 Youth/Senior (with valid ID)

http://www.siff.net/cinema/seriesDetail.aspx?FID=268

Voodoo Lodge Teaser

2012-02-10T01:01:00.002-07:00

Crime Jazz at the Quiet Village

2012-02-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

From the Quiet Village podcast:
What was that sound in the dark alley? Who was that masked man running from the cops? Crime Jazz comes to the Quiet Village. Epsiode 45 of the Quiet Village is dedicated to the music genre known as Crime Jazz. I looked all over the internet and I simply could not find anyone who endeavored to define Crime Jazz as a genre. So here goes: Crime Jazz is a mid-century nich music genre that musically brings the essence of cops, detectives and criminals, mobsters and even spies, within a mid-century urban setting.

So join me as we walk the streets of the seedier side of the Island accompanied by our own soundtrack for the occasion. The Quiet Village dives into Crime Jazz. Episode 45 available now.

For the podcast, click http://www.digitiki.com/podcast/QuietVillage45.m4a

Bad Agent: Kindle Edition

2012-01-28T01:05:00.001-07:00

Bad Agent, the book that really kicked off my pulp series, is now available as a Kindle edition. This weekend only, I'm offering it as a free download on Amazon! To grab your copy, click HERE.

Credit for cover: Betsey Bosen.

Sugar Heart Magazine

2012-01-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

An abridged chapter from my first pulp fiction novella, Strip Poker, is in the latest issue of Sugar Heart magazine. Support this cool rockabilly and pin-up mag by getting your copy today!
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/329728

In The Jailhouse Now

2012-01-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

From the Lost in Paradise podcast:

Angel Baby's all points dragnet of great crime and punishment discs. She's accused of spinning crazy court pleas, murderous mayhem and deranged death row laments. The verdict? Guilty as charged!

Playlist:
Jailbreak - The Galdeans
Day In Court - The Varnells
Snatchin’ Peaches - Dave Sheffield
Divorce Court - The Five Du-Tones
Dirty Robber - The Noblemen
In The Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce
Doin’ My Time - Bill Flagg
County Jail Blues - Gary Williams
Casey Cop - The Elgins
But Officer - Sonny Knight
Framed - The Robins
Street Fight - Phil Campos
Nightmare - The Whyte Boots
Ballad Of A Juvenile Delinquent - Phil Johns & The Lonely Ones
Down And Out - Chuck Wells
Cocaine Blues - Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison
Twenty Cigarettes - Ray Phillips
Bugger Burns - Jerry Lynn
Stagger Lee - Kay Johnson
California Hippie Murders! - Red River Dave From San Antone
Hangman’s Boogie - Cowboy Copas
Death Row 172 - Lenny Bruce
The Last Meal - Hurricane Harry
Crime Doesn’t Pay - The Coronets

Download the podcast here: http://lostinparadise.podomatic.com/entry/index/2012-01-16T17_22_40-08_00

Voodoo Lodge: Available March 1, 2012

2012-01-20T01:04:00.004-07:00

Free Pulp Fiction

2012-01-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

I'm making Armed and Gorgeous, the Kindle edition, available as free download January 18 and 19. To get your copy, click HERE. Enjoy--and be sure to tell a friend!

Kindle Editions

2012-01-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

It’s taken long enough, I know, but I’ve started making my titles available as Kindle editions.

You can still grab each of my titles as paperbacks by clicking HERE. Going forward, I will publish each new title in both formats.

For my new Kindle books, visit my Amazon author page.

There will be much more from the World Espionage Bureau in 2012, the tip of the iceberg being Voodoo Lodge, my first release of the year. Stay tuned!

Pulp Fiction Goes Tiki

2012-01-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

Inspired by several mai tais, pulp fiction goes tiki on March 1!

A secret agent. A vampish wahine. It was a caper that kicked off in a tiki bar haunted by a ghost—where the drinks are lethal!

Voodoo Lodge is a book I’ve wanted to write for almost eleven years, and it pays tribute to the bar that first gave me the concept. But there’s another reason this book is extra special; Voodoo Lodge will be published in the format of the old pulp magazines! Each chapter is richly illustrated, making this something like Black Mask magazine meets Hawaii Five-0.

Click HERE to read a sample.
The hoodlums, hauntings, and hula girls are just around the corner!

Pulp Covers

2011-12-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

A few of my titles are now featured at PulpCovers.com, a site with an incredible collection of vintage pulp art.

http://pulpcovers.com/armed-and-gorgeous
http://pulpcovers.com/sin-city-spy
http://pulpcovers.com/the-grifters-girl

And don't forget, you can still get my latest novella as a free download by clicking HERE. The link expires 1/1/2012.

Merry Christmas--200 Times

2011-12-18T03:17:00.002-07:00

Vintage Books: Red Hot Ice

2011-12-15T02:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Frank Sinatra

2011-12-12T02:55:00.001-07:00

In my humble opinion, Frank Sinatra was the world's greatest singer and the king of cool. He was born today in 1915.

Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace.

Free Pulp Fiction

2011-12-01T04:56:00.003-07:00

As my holiday gift to you, I’m making my second pulp fiction novella, The Grifter’s Girl, available as a free download until the end of the month.

Featured in Sugar Heart magazine (http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/286806) and recently adapted to a film noir short, The Grifter’s Girl has made quite a splash—and it can be yours for the cost of a click.

For the free download, click HERE.

Noir City Xmas

2011-11-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

From Noir City:
Join us on December 14 at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre for the second annual NOIR CITY XMAS, as the Film Noir Foundation offers a pair of rare noir-stained yuletide classics to darken your spirits this holiday season.

Dates:
Start:    Wednesday Dec 14, 2011 7:30 PM
End:    Wednesday Dec 14, 2011 11:00 PM
Prices:
$10.00
Location:
Castro Theatre
429 Castro St.
San Francisco, CA 94114

For more information, visit http://www.noircity.com/

Vintage Pulp E-books

2011-11-28T02:43:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across this site the other day and found it to be share-worthy.

During the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s pulp novels were all the rage, as people couldn’t get enough of their swaggering and suggestive storylines and sexy covers. The reading public devoured the hard-boiled detective novels and pulp mysteries, as well as the science fiction pulps, “sleaze” and lesbian pulp fiction stories.
We’re excited to bring these retro vintage paperbacks to the public in eBook format. We hope you will enjoy this nostalgic look back at a period in American history when dames were dangerous, tough-guys were deadly and dolls were downright delicious.

Available categories include:
    Crime Fiction Pulps
    Hardboiled Detective Pulps
    Lesbian Pulps
    Mystery and Suspense Pulps
    Science Fiction Pulps
    Sleaze & Delinquent Pulps

It's all there for you at: http://pulp-ebooks.com/

Vintage Books: Carter Brown

2011-11-26T02:52:00.001-07:00

Two of my recent vintage paperback finds.

The Never-Was Girl (1964)

The tawny Hollywood primitive dazzled the famous British actor when she threw off her clothes and whirled around into a pagan love dance. He thought she was the hit of the party…but all the other guests claimed she was simply never there!

The international screen idol hires Rick Holman to find out whether he’s lost his girl or his mind in this sizzling Carter Brown thriller.

The Pipes are Calling (1976)

Private eye Danny Boyd and his beautiful buxom client, Melanie Rigby, walked right into a setup. The cabin was deserted, the lights were out, and Melanie’s millionaire hubby was dangling above their heads with his throat slit.

Boyd wasn’t about the be the fall guy for anyone, especially when Melanie was ready to foot the bill if he could catch the real killer. But in the tight-knit world of Santo Bahia’s upper crust, pinning the knife blade on the murderer was no kid’s game.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Vintage Books: The Origin of Evil

2011-11-15T03:14:00.001-07:00

Cocktail Nation: The Interviews

2011-11-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Koop Kooper, the cocktail universe's high priest of all things hep, swingin', and swank, and cyber disc jockey of his radio show the 'Cocktail Nation', has unleashed the definitive guide to the lounge universe, with his new eponymous tome now available as an e-book.

Replete with gassin' interviews and cool pixeramas, Koop Kooper reveals the incredible diorama of Cocktail culture, lifestyle, and music.

http://www.amazon.com/Cocktail-Nation-the-Interviews-ebook/dp/B0062Z15TM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320659059&sr=8-2#_

Surrounded

2011-11-04T07:53:00.001-07:00

Waking up this morning, I found myself surrounded by beautiful pin-up girls--sorta.

An abridged chapter of my second pulp fiction novella, The Grifter's Girl, is in the first issue of Sugar Heart, a magazine devoted to pin-up and rockabilly culture. Grab your copy today by going to http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/286806

$15.00 print, $6.00 digital.

From the publisher:
Sugar Heart Magazine is a place for all things retro and vintage inspired. Showcasing today's best pinup and burlesque models representing yesteryear. Stop by to day for something sinfully sweet!

Vintage Books: Hesitant Hostess

2011-11-02T03:13:00.000-07:00

Sugar Heart

2011-11-01T01:43:00.001-07:00

Don’t miss the November 2 debut of Sugar Heart, a magazine devoted to pin-up and rockabilly culture. This issue will feature the ravishing Nikki St. James, interviews with Little Darling and Beretta Fleur of Pin-ups for Pitbulls, pulp fiction by Bill Raetz, vintage care columnist Uncle Fezter, and recipes by the enticing Jesca of The Drunken Cupcake. Meet the girls behind Sugar Heart, including art director and cover model Lady Harlow and executive editor Tabatha “Sugar” Acosta. With more than seventy pages of bombshells and deviant dolls, Sugar Heart will satisfy your sweet tooth.

For more, visit: http://sugarheartmagazine.com/

Have A Pulpy Halloween

2011-10-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol

2011-10-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Ving Rhames.
Directed by: Brad Bird.

For more, visit: http://www.missionimpossible.com/

Mysterious Press

2011-10-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

This just in from Otto Penzler:

After two years of hard and often frustrating work, the website of my electronic publishing company is up and running. Click this link -- http://mysteriouspress.com/ -- if you'd like to see it and the terrific array of books and authors we're offering. It's the first day, so only about 40 books are up, but we'll be adding hundreds more over the next few months.

About Mysterious Press:
Otto Penzler, proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in TriBeCa, founded The Mysterious Press in 1975. The imprint was devoted to printing the best mystery, crime and suspense books, using fine paper and top dust jacket artists, as well as offering many limited, signed editions.

It went on to publish such best-selling authors as James Ellroy, P.D. James, Donald E. Westlake, Eric Ambler, Ross Macdonald, Isaac Asimov, Ed McBain, Kingsley Amis and Elmore Leonard, both in hardcover and paperback.

Now, The Mysterious Press is back - and it's going digital, putting out books through TheMysteriousPress.com.

Las Vegas Halloween Parade

2011-10-15T04:36:00.001-07:00

The Las Vegas Halloween Parade is Monday, 7:00pm, October 31st, 2011.

For more information, visit: http://www.thelasvegashalloweenparade.com/

Vintage Books: Case 561

2011-10-10T03:11:00.000-07:00

Now Available: Armed and Gorgeous

2011-10-01T01:06:00.001-07:00

At long last, it’s finally here. Armed and Gorgeous, the sequel to Bad Agent, is now available! To get your copy of my latest pulp thriller, click here.

Excerpt:
    "Empty the register!" he growled. "Step on it, honey!"
    "I only keep twenty in change in the drawer," the girl said. I didn’t think she could get any whiter, but she did. Her face was so chalky that I thought she would pass out. "Don’t kill me. Please. I don’t--"
    "Don’t screw around with me. I know that gag about--"
    "You heard her." I already had my sawed-off pointed at his face when he looked right. "Put that gun down," I said icily.
    "Who are you?"
    "The guy who’s about to blow your face clean off if you don’t drop that thing." I stared at him. "I haven’t killed anyone in six weeks, so if you want to help me get my fix, just keep standing there like you are."
    "Oh, God," Bianca moaned. "We all ‘gon die."
    "You won’t do nothin’," the guy grumbled. "If you shoot me, my finger might hit the trigger before I go down and plug the girl."
    "There’s a thirty-six percent chance of that, yeah," I said rigidly. "But I’ve already figured you for a doper needing a hit, which means you’ve fried a good part of your brain and motor functions. That takes the odds down to around eighteen percent--and I’m being generous because I think you’re plain stupid to begin with. So let’s gamble, shall we?"

Don’t let that snippet fool you. Bryce is back, but he’s finally crossed the wrong guy and is mostly looking at the other end of a gun in this one. What hasn’t changed, though, is the company our hero keeps. The sultry Bianca from Bad Agent makes a return--and takes Bryce on his wildest ride yet.

Banned Books Week

2011-09-24T04:37:00.001-07:00

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

For more, visit http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/

Vintage Books: Manhunt

2011-09-18T01:30:00.000-07:00

A (Very) Short Film (Noir)

2011-09-09T02:47:00.001-07:00

An abridged chapter from my second pulp fiction novella, The Grifter’s Girl, has been adapted to a (very) short film (noir). Check it out!

Pretty cool, huh? Want the rest of the story? Grab your copy of The Grifter’s Girl, which is available as a paperback or e-book, here: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-grifters-girl/14938934?productTrackingContext=author_spotlight_9146_

MDA Telethon

2011-09-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I sure miss these guys.

The Cocktail Nation

2011-09-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm on this week's episode of the Cocktail Nation, chatting with Koop about my next novel, Armed and Gorgeous, my second pulp fiction novella, The Grifter's Girl, and more. Check it out!
http://cocktailnation.podbean.com/2011/09/03/cocktail-nation-186-armed-and-gorgeous/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cocktailnation+%28Cocktail+Nation%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

Armed and Gorgeous Teaser

2011-09-01T02:54:00.005-07:00

Pulp Fiction Paintings: Selections from the Robert Lesser Collection

2011-08-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Pulp Fiction Paintings: Selections from the Robert Lesser Collection is on display at Union College through September 25th. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm. For more information, call 518-388-6004 or visit http://thefreegeorge.com/thefreegeorge/pulp-fiction-paintings-union-college-review/

My Brother's Wife

2011-08-15T02:28:00.001-07:00

In this 1966 flick, Mary falls for her husband’s brother, Frankie. Instead of often-overdone plot to kill Bob, the two decide to run off to Mexico together—with the money Mary and Bob have saved. There’s a fly in the ointment, though. If the fact that Mary is married isn’t enough, there’s Zena, Frankie’s other girlfriend. Oops! Oh, and he’s promised to take it on the fly with her, too—using Mary’s loot. Oops again!

Cheesy and sleazy? Yeah. Stilted and slow at times? You bet. But with the ending revealed at the start and the rest of the film leading up to that point, it’s just about impossible to stop watching.

Got Pulp?

2011-08-12T01:32:00.002-07:00

I Love Vegas

2011-08-10T02:07:00.002-07:00

Vintage Books: America's Cities of Sin

2011-08-08T01:26:00.001-07:00

Armed and Gorgeous Trailer

2011-08-05T04:49:00.006-07:00

The trailer for my next book, Armed and Gorgeous. Available October 1, 2011!

Happy Birthday, Louis Armstrong

2011-08-04T03:21:00.001-07:00

In my opinion, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong was one of the finest entertainers ever. He was born today in New Orleans.

Got Pulp?

2011-08-02T02:09:00.001-07:00

Armed and Gorgeous: Chapter One

2011-07-30T01:22:00.003-07:00

How about some serious pulp action to kick off the weekend? Below you will find the first chapter of my next book, Armed and Gorgeous. The expletives have been deleted to keep this an all-ages blog. Enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE
ON THE LAM

    Things are seldom as they seem.
    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
    Expect the unexpected.
    There was a cliché festival going on in my head as I drove my Chrysler along I-15 trying to get across the border to Mexico. I drove, my hat angled on my head, a cigarette between my lips, sweating. I knew this day would come, knew it like I know nobody leaves this world alive; I just didn’t know that everything would strike so swiftly and I’d be forced to leave the country at a moment’s notice with a girl in my car and a ****load of evidence in the trunk.
    The windows were down, stereo cranked. I was armed, and she was gorgeous.
    It was the thing that happens to the other guy, never you, that had me on the lam—and what a ride it had been. I glanced at the rearview mirror and had to laugh at myself. Why hadn’t this happened to me sooner? But you don’t question things in my line of work because that requires slowing down long enough to get a little philosophical, and slowing down is usually the last thing a guy like me does before an undertaker goes to work on him. And that was the problem—someone wanted me dead.
    “You jus’ ‘bout there,” the girl said, her accent thick. “’Bout ten or so more—”
    “I know where it is.” My size eleven shoe was a bag of bricks on the gas, my heart pounding. I flicked the butt out the window and skipped to the next track on the CD I had playing. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that.”
    “It okay, baby.” She turned the visor mirror around and used it to primp her hair. Why she was sprucing up was beyond me because we weren’t going to a place that required impressing anyone, except the officer at the border. We’d sail past him, too—provided he didn’t want to search the car. If he did, I was going to be in the soup because guns are illegal in Mexico, and the sawed-off shotgun I had in the back wouldn’t exactly speak well for me. And then there was what I had in the trunk. Finding either of those things would wind me up in a Mexican prison cell, which is a fine place to hang out if you’re into dysentery or never being heard from again. There wasn’t time for me to do an emergency dump, so I had to keep going, relying on old-fashioned luck to get me through. If I managed that, I might be able to start putting my life back together again.
    “Cigarette me,” I said.
    “Okay.” She put two butts between her lips, clicked a lighter to start them. “Here you go,” she said, handing me one.
    “Thanks.” I pulled on it. “Keep feeding me those things like they’re Chiclets, okay?”
    “Sure.” She leaned back in her seat. “So this all really ‘bout—”
    “Yeah,” I cut in. “Don’t make me keep regurgitating the story.” I shut off the stereo, got heavier on the gas. “He went after me because he wanted revenge. We’re lucky to be alive. All we can do is try to make a clean—”
    “Bryce!”
    I looked ahead and saw a bumper. I hit the brakes and swerved, which did nothing but burn up the guy in the right lane. He laid on the horn and switched lanes, showing me his middle finger. Then it got ugly.
    Behind me now was a black and white, and it was closing in fast. Checking the rearview mirror, I saw the face of a not-too-happy highway patrolman. He got right on my tail and hit the blue lights.
    “Bloody hell, we’ve got company!” I fumed. Trying to outrun him was out of the question because he was driving one of those interceptors that can go faster than the space shuttle. “I’m gonna have to pull over.” I braked, eased right.
    “You no have to worry,” she said. “You policeman, too. You jus’ tell him an’ he let you go.”
    “He won’t believe me.” I pulled further right and slid to a stop. “Especially if he finds what’s in the trunk.”
    “Oh, yeah,” she said, her voice trailing off. “I forget ‘bout dat.” A sigh. “We screwed.” She sniffed the night air as if it had fragrance.
    It’s not over ‘til it’s over.
    It all works out in the end.
    The clichés were back in full force.
    “Let me do the talking, okay?” I watched the cop set the emergency brake, get out of the cruiser, and start marching up to my car. By his gait alone, I could tell he was one of those old school types, someone who still uses a phone book to get a man to confess.
    “Okay,” she said. “I no say nothin’.”
    “Got anything in your backpack I need to worry about?” I asked her. “Knives? Guns?”
    “No.” She shook her head stiffly. “Only some weed.”
    “Oh, for—”
    “It only a lil’ grass.”
    “A little?” Now I was really about to lose it. “Why didn’t you tell me you had it earlier?”
    “’Cause I no think you want none!”
    “How much of it do you have?”
    “Only ‘bout half pound.”
    “Ke-roist….”
    “I can hide it in—”
    “Don’t even go for it,” I snapped. “We’re already in a world of hurt. Just let me handle this.”
    “But I—”
    “Zip it!” I watched as the trooper strode up to the side door, his hand on his gun, and all I could do was think about how I’d wound where I was.
    Drugs.
    Money.
    Revenge.
    The combination of the three was what had me beating it across the border to Mexico—that and the fact that there was probably a warrant out for my arrest. My mind flashed back to how it all started.

Armed and Gorgeous will be available October 1, 2011 at www.worldespionagebureau.com.

Borderless: Things I Miss

2011-07-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

I was quite saddened to hear that Borders is going out of business. I’ve done countless book signings at Borders stores over the years, and they have always been very kind to me.

As I was walking through one of their stores for the last time, with everything on sale and no music playing, the entire experience was a bit mournful. No music? Hell, there was music playing as the Titanic sank.

Anyway, I will miss Borders. Here are some other things I miss:

•    Postcards
•    Watches
•    TV stations going off the air at night
•    Getting a party invitation in the mail
•    Picking up the landline to call someone instead of texting
•    Catalogs
•    Going an hour without hearing the news
•    Jigsaw puzzles
•    A time when there was no such thing as Facebook

Wired magazine has a similar list of bygone things at: http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/648/100-things-your-kids-may-never-know-about/

What do you miss?

To the employees of Borders, thank you for hosting me and making me feel like part of the family while I was in your stores.

The Smell of Noir

2011-07-18T04:47:00.000-07:00

It seems like film noir is making a serious return these days. There’s the game, L.A. Noire, and now the Britney Spears album, Femme Fatale. Only recently, though, have I learned that film noir has a scent.

It all started when my buxom and often snarky typist stopped by to drop off one of my manuscripts and I inquired about her fragrance.

Me: What’s that you’re wearing?
Her: A UNLV T-shirt, silly.
Me: No, your perfume.
Her: Are you being fresh?
Me: Not at this hour.
Her: It’s called Noir Tease. Victoria’s Secret makes it.
Me: Are you pulling my leg?
Her: No.
Me: Noir Tease? You’ve been reading too many of my books.
Her: Maybe. But it’s a real perfume.
Me: Uh-huh.
Her: I’m serious.
Me: How much is it?
Her: That’s personal.
Me: Humor me.
Her: Forty-five a bottle.
Me: I’m paying you too much.
Her: Like hell!

To set me straight, she brought the package by the following week. Sure enough—it’s for real. So this post is for all the molls and dangerous dames who read my blog. If you want to wear the scent of a true femme fatale, pick up a bottle of Noir Tease by clicking here.

Vintage Books: Don James

2011-07-16T02:04:00.001-07:00

Prowl Car

2011-07-14T01:14:00.005-07:00

Me beside a Vegas Metro black and white.

And, no, I don't know what the view is like from the back seat!

Armed and Gorgeous

2011-07-08T02:55:00.011-07:00

At long last, it's time to announce my next book. Available October 1, 2011: Armed and Gorgeous--the sequel to Bad Agent!

Don’t let that snippet fool you. Bryce is back, but he’s finally crossed the wrong guy and is mostly looking at the other end of a gun in this one. What hasn’t changed, though, is the company our hero keeps. The sultry Bianca from Bad Agent makes a return--and takes Bryce on his wildest ride yet. The heat turns up October 1st at www.worldespionagebureau.com. Be sure to tell a friend!

Frank Sinatra, Jr.

2011-07-03T12:28:00.001-07:00

Writing stories about Las Vegas, it behooves me to keep up with what’s going on in town—which was a fine reason to see Frank Sinatra, Jr. in concert again.

Mr. Sinatra was at the Orleans last week, singing jazz standards to a packed house. The ninety minutes of music started off with That Face and wrapped up with Put Your Dreams Away/My Way. I especially enjoyed his moving rendition of Empty Tables, the last song written by Johnny Mercer. With a voice as mellow as fine wine and a stage presence nothing short of majestic, Mr. Sinatra treated us to an evening to remember.

Aside from being an incredibly talented singer, Frank Sinatra, Jr. is pure class. I met him after a concert in 1998, and I must say that he is the kindest gentleman I’ve ever known—next to my dad, of course. For so many reasons, he is worthy of a standing ovation.

Prelude

2011-06-22T02:08:00.002-07:00

With the official announcement about my next book just around the corner, I've decided to repost the video to the WEB theme song in the interim.

In 2010, Spy-Fi produced and recorded a theme song for my books. Pretty cool, huh? One of their latest releases--the best surf song ever recorded, in my opinion--will be in the trailer for my upcoming paperback.

Deep Water and Hot Pursuit

2011-06-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

My pal, Paul Bishop, has two new LAPD e-books available: Deep Water and Hot Pursuit! Both are Walker/Tamiko novels, priced at just $2.99 for the Kindle edition. Click HERE to learn more.

About the author:
A thirty-five year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, Paul has twice been honored as Detective of the Year. Aside from his numerous novels, he has written scripts for episodic televison and feature films. As a nationally recognized interrogator, he appears regularly on the hit ABC reality series Take The Money And Run.

Tiki Corner: Gang of Three

2011-06-20T03:45:00.002-07:00

Tucson’s Kon Tiki, the coolest tiki bar on earth, has launched a new line of mugs!

Milan Guanko Face

From their official site:
The newest mugs made exclusively for Kon Tiki. Inspired by the Milan Guanko carvings at Kon Tiki. Designed by Lowbrow Artist 'The Pizz' and manufactured by the fabulous folks at Tiki Farm.

To order, go to: http://www.kontikitucson.com/Store/guankomugs.html

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T02:41:00.001-07:00

Vintage Books: I Prefer Girls

2011-06-17T04:31:00.001-07:00

The Grifter's Girl

2011-06-03T03:47:00.003-07:00

News about my next full-length book is right around the corner. But for now, how about a free novella?

Through the end of next week, I’m making my second pulp fiction novella, The Grifter’s Girl, available as a free download. If you enjoy the novella, posting a comment here or a short review somewhere online would be appreciated.

If you’d like to buy a copy, I certainly won’t stop you! It’s also available as a paperback for just $5.95.

For the free download, click HERE. To buy the paperback, click HERE.

Either way, please enjoy--and be sure to tell a friend!

Big Book of Adventure Stories

2011-05-31T02:06:00.005-07:00

Otto Penzler's Big Book of Adventure Stories is out today. To pick up a copy of this anthology, click HERE.

Also, don't forget to check out my interview with Otto Penzler HERE.

Dangerous Dames

2011-05-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Pulp fiction isn't exclusively male-driven, as pointed out in i09's recent article, Badass Women of the Pulp Era.

Click HERE to read their list of the most badass fictional women to appear during the pulp era.

A Sad Day

2011-05-16T03:55:00.005-07:00

The Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas closes its doors today, but will live on in the hearts of those who love the vintage Las Vegas. Thank you, Sahara, for treating a pulp writer like a rock star.

1952-2011

Vintage Books: Don Lee

2011-05-10T01:24:00.003-07:00

A MATTER OF ADULTERY (1961)

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Bryce's Theme: The Man From WEB

2011-05-06T05:44:00.003-07:00

With my next pulp fiction novella coming out shortly, I thought it would be cool to set the stage for it by re-posting the video for my main character's theme song. Bryce's Theme: The Man From WEB was written and produced by Spy-Fi and Vic Flick, the original James Bond theme guitarist!

Coming June 3: The Grifter’s Girl

2011-05-03T04:37:00.002-07:00

My second pulp fiction novella will be another grabber from the case files of Bryce Attewelle. Check back in June to find out how to get your mitts on a copy!

Excerpt:

"You told him you only wanted a million for me?"
    I nodded.
    "Why are you shooting so low?" She smoked the cigarette like it was a new experience, nibbling the filter and inhaling shallowly. "He’s got the money. He has ten times that, and I’m sure there’s more I don’t know about." She exhaled, knocked ash. "Damn prenups."
    "Asking for only a million makes sure I get him to play ball," I said. "If I say I want five, he’ll tell me to go ahead and kill you."
    "But don’t you think I’m worth more than that?"
    I smoked.
    "How much do you think I’m worth?" Julie wetted her lips sensually, and that just about cut me in half.
    "I’m not gonna say. I don’t want you getting a big head."
    Julie rolled her eyes. "And what if Paul doesn’t bite?"
    "He’ll bite."
    "Suppose he doesn’t?"
    I hadn’t considered that possibility. "Then I guess I’ll just kill you."

Modern Femmes Fatales

2011-05-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

Mark Clark's Film Noir Photos blog has a new installment of an ongoing series of contemporary dangerous dames.

Click HERE to check it out.

Vintage Corner: GE

2011-05-01T00:20:00.001-07:00

Film Noir Hits iPhone/iPad

2011-04-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

Red Giant software just released an app that transforms regular photos into dramatic film noir-style images.

From iTunes:

Don’t just take a photo. Tell a story. Noir Photo lets you transform your photos with beautiful, dramatic lighting and instant results. Peel away the color to a cinematic black-and-white, apply a lovely tint, and then light up your subject. Touch and pinch the brightness Vignette and spin the Contrast and Exposure dials for white hot thrills and shadow-rich drama.

You tell a story in your photos with the glowing smile on your daughter’s face, or a moody skyline under radiant street lamps. Focus on the part that you love, massage your Noir Photo settings, and come up with something amazingly cool in a few seconds. Use Noir Photo to create bad-ass black, white & light in a color world.

For more, visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/noir-photo/id429484353?mt=8

Tiki Corner: The Tikiyaki Orchestra

2011-04-25T02:21:00.006-07:00

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T01:27:00.002-07:00

Richard Deming

2011-04-19T02:26:00.008-07:00

When I first read Anything But Saintly, Richard Deming shot to the top of my favorite authors list. Sadly, his other books can be difficult to find.

I recently ran across two of his vintage paperbacks, which I quickly snapped up.

BODY FOR SALE (1962)

Love the opener:
When I arrived back in Raine City, I didn't go straight to the office. I stopped by Tony Vincinti's Bar and Grill first. When you know you're going to be fired anyway, what's the point in being careful not to breathe liquor in the boss's face?

From the back cover:

Tom Cavanaugh never quarreled about the means involved, just so long as the end was worth grabbing for. He was about to get fired when he blackmailed his boss into making his district sales manager.

Helen Matthews was no lily-white either. She was rich, beautiful, and as coldly calculating and cruel as a jungle animal. When she learned her husband might kill her for her money, she wasn't frightened. All she wanted was revenge!

She let Cavanaugh sample her lush body and then made him an offer. For killing her husband, Cavanaugh could marry her and all her wealth.

Cavanaugh hesitated, but his decision was inevitable. He set out to commit the perfect murder.

EDGE OF THE LAW (1960)

From the back cover:

Jud Sands lived on the edge of the law. When he blew into Ridgeford he had exactly twenty-four dollars in his pocket--it had cost a lot of money just to stay alive after he'd been fingered by Big Mark Fallon...

But he had his gun.

He had his wits.

And there was nowhere else to go.

Then there was the beautiful red-head, Bridget O'Rourke. She helped Jud in more ways than one...

But Fallon's boys were closing in for the kill. Not all the Bridgets in the world could save his hide if they got their hands on him...which they would...

Vintagte Corner: Perry Como

2011-04-15T02:12:00.002-07:00

Tiki Corner: Martin Denny

2011-04-11T02:37:00.000-07:00

The Exciting Sounds of Martin Denny: Exotica/Exotica, Vol. I & II

1. Quiet Village
2. Return to Paradise
3. Hong Kong Blues
4. Busy Port
5. Lotus Land
6. Similau
7. Stone God
8. Jungle Flower
9. China Nights
10. Ah Me Furi
11. Waipo
12. Love Dance
13. Soshu Night Serenade
14. Island of Dreams
15. Japanese Farewell Song (Sayonara)
16. Singing Bamboos
17. The Queen Chant (Li Liu E)
18. Wedding Song (Ke Kali Ne Au)
19. Escales
20. When First I Love
21. August Bells
22. Bacoa
23. Ebb Tide
24. Rush Hour in Hong Kong

Bryce's Beat: Las Vegas Mob Experience

2011-04-10T04:05:00.003-07:00

Pin a carnation on your lapel and grab your gat; the Las Vegas Mob Experience is here!

From the Tropicana:

The Las Vegas Mob Experience will use the latest in "interactive entertainment technology" to re-create the rise and fall of organized crime in Las Vegas. Featuring apparitions of famed gangsters, the Las Vegas Mob Experience promises a personalized and theatrical setting full of intrigue, mystery and suspense! Meet the "family members" of a number of the men and women who will be highlighted throughout the Experience, while seeing and hearing first-hand accounts of the stories that shaped Las Vegas decades ago. The Experience will feature over 1,000 authentic artifacts once belonging to the famous organized crime figures who helped create the Las Vegas we know today.

For tickets or more information, visit: http://www.troplv.com/entertainment/las-vegas-mob-experience

Otto Penzler

2011-04-05T02:43:00.004-07:00

Otto Penzler, mystery fiction editor and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop, is a household name to those of us who love crime/pulp fiction. So it was a thrill for me to catch up with him recently and chat about what he has coming next.

Q: You’ve treated us to some great anthologies of fiction, including The Big Book of Pulps and The Big Book of Black Mask Stories. Coming up next is a telephone directory-sized omnibus of adventure. Tell us about it.

Honestly, this has been the most fun of any book I've done in years, maybe because it brought me back to my early reading years. It's about a thousand over-sized, double-column pages (like the other "Big Books") of stories in such genres as sword & sorcery, science fiction, horror, espionage, man vs. nature, fantasy, westerns. There are stories set in Africa (when it was still largely unexpolored) and at sea and in other times. Among the characters featured here are The Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, Buck Rogers, Tarzan, King Kong, Conan the Barbarian and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.

Q: How did you go about selecting which stories to include in this highly-anticipated gem?

Like all the "Big Books," there was a lot of reading. I usually read 500-600 stories to find what I think are the best. I started with a list of famous characters, another list of authors, and a third list of stories. I remembered a lot of my reading from decades ago, so KNEW I had to have stories by certain authors, like Jack London, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, etc. Among my favorite stories were classics like "The Man Who Would Be King" and "The Most Dangerous Game," which everyone knows, and "Leinengen versus the Ants," which is one of the most exciting stories of all time but less well known. I also made contact with friends who know more about pulp fiction than I do, Robert Weinberg and John Pelan, who were tremendously helpful in recommending stories that were slightly more obscure except to die-hard pulp fans. Sometimes I found myself reading additional stories by a writer after I'd already picked a story for the book, simply because I enjoyed reading them so much.

Q: The Big Book of Black Mask Stories includes the serial version of Hammett’s Maltese Falcon. Will the Big Book of Adventure Stories offer any similar special publications?

There really isn't anything quite comparable to The Maltese Falcon. There is a full-length Tarzan novel, and a previously unpublished pulp adventure by Lester Dent, the Doc Savage author.

Q: The cover is nothing short of incredible. Who is the artist?

All credit for this goes to the great team at Vintage. I had nothing to do with the cover except approve it--which was easy to do. It is taken from a pulp cover, and probably photo-shopped a bit, but that's about all I know.

Q: Do you have any other anthologies planned for the future? Please tell us that you do!

Oh, yes. A lot of them, in fact. In addition to the annual Best American Mysteries 2011 (Harlan Coben is my Guest Editor this year), which I've edited for 15 years, I have more "Big Books" coming from Vintage. Scheduled for the fall of 2011 is one with the subtle, understated title of Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!, a sort-of sequel to The Vampire Archives. In the spring of 2012 will be a big book of ghost stories (so far untitled), which has been delivered. I'm now working on another book that goes back to my reading roots, a giant collection of "locked room" mysteries and "impossible" crimes. I'm in awe of the brilliance plotting pulled off by so many writers, both household names and authors known mainly by their parents.Several others are planned, but contracts have yet to be finalized. Check in with me in a couple of months and I'll fill you in.

Otto Penzler has worked with Elmore Leonard, Nelson DeMille, Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, and many other authors. The Mysterious Bookshop is one of the oldest and largest bookstores specializing in mystery in America.

The Big Book of Adventure Stories
Paperback: 896 pages
Publisher: Vintage (May 31, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 030747450X
ISBN-13: 978-0307474506

To pre-order, visit: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Adventure-Stories-Vintage-Original/dp/030747450X/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301347602&sr=1-7

Happy Birthday, Jack Webb

2011-04-02T04:24:00.001-07:00

Jack Webb, the star of my all-time favorite police show, Dragnet, was born today in Santa Monica, California.

Vintage Corner: Texaco

2011-04-01T00:19:00.002-07:00

Modern Noir: Mildred Pierce

2011-03-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Based on a novel by James M. Cain, HBO is releasing a five-part miniseries starring Kate Winslet in the title role, Evan Rachel Wood as Veda, and Guy Pearce as Monty Beragon.

In 1945, Mildred Pierce was made into an Oscar-winning film starring Joan Crawford.

Official site: http://www.hbo.com/mildred-pierce/index.html

Film Noir Festival

2011-03-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

The 13th annual film noir festival will take place 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, April 1-16, at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets are $11 per double feature.

For more information, call 323-466-3456 or visit www.americancinematheque.com.

Tiki Corner: Tiki Oasis 11

2011-03-25T02:24:00.001-07:00

Tiki Oasis 11: South of the Border

The Tiki Oasis weekender is happening this summer in San Diego, California, August 18-21, Experience a full weekend of live exotica and classic surf tunes, attend educational symposiums, peruse art, purchase the latest creations from local vendors, and imbibe tropical cocktails poolside while DJs from across the country provide a seamless soundtrack from spinning vintage vinyl. Come and enjoy three nights and three days of the greatest tiki show on earth.

For more, visit http://www.tikioasis.com/2011/

Dean Martin Festival

2011-03-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars now. The 2011 Dean Martin Festival in Steubenville, Ohio is set for June 17-19. The festival will feature Deana Martin in Concert, a Dino singing contest, and much more. Best of all, the Dean Martin Festival benefits a scholarship fund for local high school students pursuing music and the arts. For the full details, visit http://www.deanmartinsteubenville.com/index.html.

The Grifter's Girl

2011-03-13T01:49:00.001-07:00

Coming June 3, 2011: The Grifter’s Girl!

My second pulp fiction novella will be another grabber from the case files of Bryce Attewelle. Check back in June to find out how to get your mitts on a copy!

Excerpt:
"You told him you only wanted a million for me?"
    I nodded.
    "Why are you shooting so low?" She smoked the cigarette like it was a new experience, nibbling the filter and inhaling shallowly. "He’s got the money. He has ten times that, and I’m sure there’s more I don’t know about." She exhaled, knocked ash. "Damn prenups."
    "Asking for only a million makes sure I get him to play ball," I said. "If I say I want five, he’ll tell me to go ahead and kill you."
    "But don’t you think I’m worth more than that?"
    I smoked.
    "How much do you think I’m worth?" Julie wetted her lips sensually, and that just about cut me in half.
    "I’m not gonna say. I don’t want you getting a big head."
    Julie rolled her eyes. "And what if Paul doesn’t bite?"
    "He’ll bite."
    "Suppose he doesn’t?"
    I hadn’t considered that possibility. "Then I guess I’ll just kill you."

Bryce's Beat: The Sahara is Closing

2011-03-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

The Sahara hotel/casino, I just learned, will close on May 16, one year shy of its 60th anniversary.

This is an especially sad post for me; the Sahara was the setting for some of my books, and the cover for Bad Agent was shot there.

During my last visit to the historic Las Vegas hotel/casino, I had the privilege of chatting with a waitress who had worked there since the doors opened and still has one of the original menus. Fortunately, I picked up a shot glass while I was there--which will now be placed next to a book of matches I have from the Sands.

I hate seeing these Las Vegas landmarks disappear.

For the full story, go to: http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/27161545/detail.html

Vintage Paperback of the Moment

2011-03-10T01:34:00.003-07:00

I recently picked this up on one of my vintage paperback safaris. Ironically, the title is very similar to that of the second book I'll be releasing this year. Any guesses?

Michelle was a sizzling French dish with smoky blue eyes, and where there was smoke there was fire. The delectable blonde was consumed by two burning needs, both beginning with an M--money and men.

When she met Mike Shayne, he was added to her list, and what Michele wanted, she got. As for Mike, he got more than he expected. Michele was marvelous, memorable, magnificent. Unfortunately, as Shayne found out with a series of bangs, Michele was also murder.

Tiki Corner: The Scorpion

2011-03-09T02:29:00.001-07:00

Tip of the fedora to Tiki Chris at Tiki Lounge Talk for sharing this drink recipe.

The Scorpion:

8 ounces of silver Rum
4 ounces Brandy
8 ounces of orange juice
4 ounces of lemon juice
3 ounces orgeat syrup
2 cups of crushed ice

Mix up everything except the ice. Toss the crushed ice in a blender for a few seconds and add about half to your Scorpion or Volcano Bowl. Fill with the booze, add in a few cubes.

Nearly Nude Noir

2011-03-08T01:10:00.006-07:00

This is something my main character, Bryce, would definitely check out!

Olympia's Tush! Burlesque presents Deadly Dames, a burlesque tribute to film noir.

Saturday, March 12th, 2011. Two Shows: 7:30 and 10:00 PM at Eagles Grand Ballroom 805 4th Avenue East, Olympia, WA.

Tickets:
$12 in advance at Bellaza Ropa on the corner of 4th Ave. and Capitol Way. $15 at the door on the night of the show. 18 and up.

For more information, visit http://www.tushburlesque.com/

Pulp Fiction Paintings Exhibit

2011-03-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Robert Lehman Art Center will launch a new exhibit, "Pulp Fiction Paintings: Selections from the Robert Lesser Collection."

The thirty-seven piece exhibit of paintings promised to the New Britain Museum of American Art will run from April 7 through June 11 at Brooks School in North Andover, MA. The exhibit is free of charge.

For the full article, visit http://www.milforddailynews.com/entertainment/arts/x1174969200/Brooks-School-exhibit-to-highlight-Pulp-Fiction-Paintings#axzz1FvjQjS4j

Tony Bennett: An American Classic

2011-03-04T02:44:00.002-07:00

This DVD, a musical journey of this legendary entertainer's life, is nothing short of amazing. It's available through Netflix, but I recommend buying it because it's one that fans of Tony Bennett will want to watch over and over.

Tracks:
1."Smile" Barbra Streisand
2."Sing You Sinners" John Legend
3."Because Of You" k.d. lang and Chris Botti
4."The Best Is Yet To Come" Diana Krall
5."The Shadow Of Your Smile" Juanes
6."Rags To Riches" Elton John
7."Just In Time" Michael Buble
8."For Once In My Life" Stevie Wonder
9."Steppin' Out With My Baby" Christina Aguilera
10."I Left My Heart In San Francisco" Tony Bennett

Music of 007: Part Two

2011-03-02T03:06:00.001-07:00

The Quiet Village podcast posts a second episode paying tribute to John Barry and the music of 007.

Agent Joe Banks returns to the Quiet Village as we sip Vesper martinis and geek out of the world and music of Agent 007.

The episode is available at http://www.digitiki.com/podcast/The_Quiet_Village.xml

Sexy Dirty Bloody Scary

2011-03-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

Fifteen years after its Fringe debut, SEXY DIRTY BLOODY SCARY returns to the stage.

Writer: Chris Brophy
Director: Jeremy Hechtman
Cast : George Bekiaris, Patrick Charron, Patrick Goddard, Cat Lemieux, and Joanne Sarazen, with Nick Carpenter on piano.

SEXY DIRTY BLOODY SCARY is a sordid film noir tale of murder and betrayal, tight spots and loose women, fixed games and broken dreams. A red-and-black underworld where everyone's a loser.

The play is on until March 5 at the MainLine Theatre 3997 St-Laurent, Montreal. For more information, visit http://www.mainlinetheatre.ca/en/spectacles/sexy-dirty-bloody-scary.

Vintage Corner: Spaghetti Dinner

2011-03-01T00:17:00.001-07:00

Seriously Sinatra

2011-02-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

Seriously Sinatra: A Tribute Concert Event is coming to the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center for three performances March 11-13.

Seriously Sinatra pays tribute to Sinatra with hallmark songs and heartfelt video interviews from some of his best friends in the entertainment business, his family and with Frank Sinatra himself.

Ticket prices are $18-$25. For more information, call 1-877-275-7050 or visit http://www.salernotheatre.com/.

Never Say Never

2011-02-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

World Espionage Bureau Update: Never Say Never

I once said I would never write a sequel. I lied.

I didn’t set out to do it, but I had a great idea for a story and found a way to make it even better as soon as I put pen to paper. As I was starting out with it, the thought occurred to me that a tie-in would really knock this one out of the park. By then it was too late, and a sequel was born. So in my usual style of hinting at a project long before spilling the full details, here’s a little bit about what’s coming from me this year.

On October 1, 2011, the sequel to Bad Agent will be released. Is it necessary to read Bad Agent to fully enjoy the next book? No. Will it help? Yes. Without spoiling it for anyone, I’ll just say that two characters from the end of Bad Agent will be making a return; one of them Bryce never expected to see again--and, man, does this person have some news for him.

The cover will also pay tribute to the Bad Agent cover, which features Hollywood’s Betsey Bosen--and it’s nothing short of a jaw-dropper. More on that, as well as the incredibly pulpy trailer, before too long.

In short, this will be a super exciting release, and I look forward to sharing the full details in the coming months. Can’t wait until October? Neither can I, so look for another novella from me between now and then. That’s right--my second pulp fiction novella will be coming at you in just a few months! And speaking of cool covers, this one is just off the hook. Hang on, pulpsters--the best is yet to come!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T05:26:00.002-07:00

This is a Tasty Burger

2011-02-12T01:47:00.002-07:00

BU Today reports the opening of a new restaurant named after one of Samuel L. Jackson's lines in the movie, Pulp Fiction. You guessed it--Tasty Burger.

Naturally, the menu features a Big Kahuna Burger ($5.50) garnished with pineapple, grilled red onions, and teriyaki sauce.

For the full article, visit http://www.bu.edu/today/node/12280.

Tasty Burger
1301 Boylston Street
Boston, MA, 02215
http://tastyburger.com/

(Really) Big Book of Black Mask Stories

2011-02-11T01:50:00.001-07:00

The Palm Beach Post recently reviewed the Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories, describing it as indispensable. I couldn't agree more. If you're a true fan of hard-boiled crime fiction, this 1,136 page collection of stories is right up your alley. Thank you, Otto Penzler, for another great anthology!

For the full review, visit: http://www.pbpulse.com/arts-and-culture/2011/02/01/books-penzler-going-strong-with-latest-hard-boiled-collection/

The Music of 007

2011-02-08T01:34:00.003-07:00

The Quiet Village podcast pays tribute to the late John Barry.

Guest Scott Mabbut returns to talk about the music of James Bond, Agent 007. This episode is dedicated to the memory of John Barry, the man who made Bond sound so Bond.

To listen or download, visit: http://www.digitiki.com/podcast.htm

Detour

2011-02-07T06:22:00.001-07:00

According to Screen Daily, director Christopher Smith is developing Detour, a US-based road movie thriller with elements of film noir. The project centers around a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Smith commented, "It’s about how one decision can carve two entirely separate destinies."

While this doesn't sound like an exact remake of my favorite film noir classic, Detour (1945), there seem to be enough parallels to have me looking forward to this one.

Remembering John Barry

2011-02-05T01:29:00.001-07:00

On this week's episode of the Cocktail Nation, Koop pays tribute to John Barry and visits with a man who knew him very well, Vic Flick.

Playlist:
Vibes On Velvet-Spookmaster
John Barry-James Bond Theme
John Barry 7- Look Around
Ricki Derek-When The Moon Was Ours
Frank Sinatra -Have you met Miss Jones
George Shearing-Easy Living
Mark Copeland-at Long Last Love
Don Tiki-Odd Man Out
Martini Kings -Enchanted Lovers
Jonah Jones-Whatever Lola Wants
Mancini-A Shot in The Dark
Living Brass-That’s Life
Julie London-In The Wee Small Hours Of the Morning
Jimmy Vargas-The Girl You Left Behind

To listen or download, visit: http://www.cocktailnation.net

Frozen Neon

2011-02-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

People think it never gets cold in Las Vegas, but it does. It was so bad out that I was wearing a top coat over my suit, which provided about as much insulation as a strip of toilet paper whenever the wind got harsh.
That's an excerpt from my latest book, Sin City Spy. And it does get cold in Vegas. Want proof?
http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/26734451/detail.html

Yep, frozen pipes in the desert! Fortunately, temps are now climbing back to the 60s.

Frank Sinatra: Best of Vegas

2011-02-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Frank Sinatra: Best of Vegas is a series of live recordings set for release on Concord Records. The 14-song set, under license from Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE), includes Sinatra in concert at the Sands, Caesars Palace and the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas between 1961 and 1987. The CD will be available February 8, 2011.