First Draft

Note the contrasting femme fatales. On the first cover, she looks smug and seductive. On the second one, she looks scared shitless. So it goes.

As you can see below, Dell Books had cool graphics back in the day.

How about some moonlight music?

We’ve done a lot of jab talking lately. It’s time to really put the needle in:

This is the first time I’ve posted a book aimed at young’uns in this feature. It is not, however, a substitute for catblogging. I fear the wrath of the Calico cat.

I still have mirrors on my mind.

Another day, another lunar title this time from the outstanding Philly crime fiction writer, David Goodis. He was really, really Goodis at what he did.

This tome has a tagline to die for: Head Over Heels In Homicide.

Liam O’Flaherty was an Irish writer best known for his novel, The Informer. The movie version was directed by John Ford and won a bunch of Oscars.

Insurrection is a novel about the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule. The title seemed appropriate since the Dipshit Insurrection occurred a mere 29 days ago. Like the Easter Rising, it should never be forgotten.

This book is not about the second senate trial of the Kaiser of Chaos.

Hoofs? Isn’t it hooves? Apparently, both are correct. Who knew?  It behooves me to end this discussion.

Drummer by Richard Carlile is the literary equivalent of David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs? Who knew?

I obviously still have Georgia on my mind.

I grew up on Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries. My mom was a fan and she introduced me to the books. I never got into growing orchids, but my paunch currently resembles that of William Conrad and Maury Chaykin who played the detective on teevee.

And Four To Go is a short story anthology that kicks off with the holiday classic Christmas Party.

The holiday theme continues:

Chester Himes was a crime fiction writer whose own life story was nearly as interesting as his books. He grew up in Cleveland and attended Ohio State University. He fell afoul of the law and was convicted of armed robbery. He began writing in prison and started selling stories to the pulps then Esquire Magazine. That eventually led to an early parole. The rest is crime fiction history.

Here are two of his books featuring Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones:

I certainly wouldn’t smile at this kid. Her lips are sealed and so are mine.