Out of the Past and Against All Odds

Two versions of one story... with a 32 minute difference By Sam Wiebe The following is from Sam Wiebe's always interesting newsletter (available in free and paid versions, wherein he expounds on writing, crime fiction, film and whatever else catches his attention. Sam, of course, is the award-winning Canadian crime writer and the creator of … Continue reading Out of the Past and Against All Odds

Daniel Boone

(1734–1820) "What a Boone. What a wonder. What a dream-comer-truer, was he..." --lyrics from the TV theme song by Vera Matson and Lionel Newman "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend...” from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Ah, the interconnectedness of all things... One of my very first childhood heroes (after Roy Rogers, … Continue reading Daniel Boone

“Piece by Piece”

By Paul Sundeson Featuring Gil Barntree Holiday 2007 New Orleans March 1962 “Thirty cents a gallon for ethyl?” my partner Frank Whitney said. We were parked in his Mercury just up Burgundy Street from the garage. “No wonder they're not pulling in the customers.” Hyams Auto Repair was a long white barn with a tin roof … Continue reading “Piece by Piece”

My Scrapbook: Dan Tanna’s T-Bird… in Matchbox Scale

My Scrapbook Dan Tanna's T-Bird... in Matchbox Scale By Stefan Halushka   Falling the breadcrumbs from Jim Rockford's Trailer... in Matchbox Scale, I discovered another great diorama recreating an another iconic scene from a private eye show by master modeler Stefan Halushka--this one featuring Las Vegas private eye Dan Tanna's classic cherry red 1957 Ford … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Dan Tanna’s T-Bird… in Matchbox Scale

My Scrapbook: Jim Rockford’s Trailer… in Matchbox Scale

My Scrapbook Jim Rockford's Trailer... in Matchbox Scale By Stefan Halushka     Saw this on Facebook, and just had to share this amazing Matchbox-scale diorama of Jim Rockford's trailer and Firebird, lovingly crafted by Stefan Halushka. One of Stefan's hobbies is recreating Hot Wheels/Matchbox-scale scenes featuring vehicles from film and television scenes. "I had been … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Jim Rockford’s Trailer… in Matchbox Scale

Thibault

Created by Gigi Vernon Chandler may have been wrong. Maybe it is a game for knights. Or at least former knights. It's the 12th Century, and  the French city of Troyes in the county of Champagne is a major trade center, a crossroads of commerce and culture, ruled by Henri the Generous, the Count of … Continue reading Thibault

Brian Petersen (aka “The D.C. Man”)

Created by James P. Cody Pseudonym of Peter T. Rohrbach (1926--) Another rescue from Lee Goldberg's Brash Books resurrects James P. Cody's quartet of gritty, action-packed  Men's Adventure paperbacks from the mid-seventies, originally published by Berkley Medallion. BRIAN PETERSEN, tagged as "The D.C. MAN" on the covers, was a former football player and  military intelligence … Continue reading Brian Petersen (aka “The D.C. Man”)

Jack Silence

Created by Teel James Glenn "We Make Parafey go away." -- Ghostmaker Inc.'s slogan Former actor JACK SILENCE is the hard-boiled hero in  author Teel James Glenn's urban-fantasy series, set in a cock-eyed world a little bit like ours, and a little bit not. It seems that after The Convergence, the "Fey" took over from … Continue reading Jack Silence

My Scrapbook: “The Game is Afoot” by Tom Richmond

My Scrapbook "The Game is Afoot" by Tom Richmond      This rogues gallery round-up of various cinematic Sherlocks displays definite MAD-like tendencies--but that's understandable, given that it was done by Tom Richmond, a proud member of the Usual Gang of Idiots. According to Tom, "Sherlock Holmes is one of literature’s greatest characters, and holds the … Continue reading My Scrapbook: “The Game is Afoot” by Tom Richmond

Johnny Cass (aka “Johnny Carr”)

Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) One of the earliest of what would soon become a long string of hard-boiled private eyes created by pulpster Torrey, JOHNNY CARR (sometimes called "Johnny Cass") was your typically tough, cynical shamus, quick to dish out either the rough stuff or … Continue reading Johnny Cass (aka “Johnny Carr”)