The To Be Read Pile and maybe a Private Eye Novel

The to-be-read pile is out of control. ARCs, manuscripts, books of all kinds and genres. I'm finding it hard to keep up, especially with my reading time shrinking and shrinking, so much other stuff sucking away my time, comic books to write and edit, minor tinkering on a screenplay, and an outline due for a novelization project. But, hey, gotta make the time to read. Right?

I feel like I'm in the mood for a private eye novel, and there just happens to be one in the stack -- Swann's Last Song by Charles Salzberg. This is a debut and was sent to me by Five Star quite a while ago. I'm going to dive in. Anyone out there read this one yet? No spoilers please.

Noir Cinema: THE LAST LULLABY

I've now had a chance to watch Jeffrey Goodman's noir gem The Last Lullaby and am happy to report a thumbs up on the film. If you're wanting a fast-paced Transporter or Die Hard type experience then you're coming to the wrong joint. Rather, Last Lullaby is slower and moodier as one might expect from serious, modern noir. And just before the viewer might think things are a little too slow, maybe a good time to wander away and fix a sandwich, Goodman reels us back in with a sudden jolt of violence. And not cartoon violence. Not Captain Kirk fist fighting a lizard man violence. When Price (Tom Sizemore) pulls aside a would-be rapist and gives him a pasting, we are offered a palpable experience which we know hurts. When somebody takes it in the gut or the groin or the face it hurts. Characters don't shrug off punches like Rocky Balboa. And yet this is not an action film. It's very much about character. And while the screenplay by Max Allen Collins & Peter Biegen is good, the real triumph of the film is in the performances of Tom Sizemore and Sasha Alexander. We see the loneliness in Sizemore's eyes, the desperate need on Alexander's face.

The film was shot mostly in and around Shreveport, Louisiana, and Jeffrey Goodman has likely carved a place for himself in American cinema with this debut. I look forward to his next project.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

It's that time again ...

The new PLOTS WITH GUNS is ready for your enjoyment.

So go. Enjoy.

The Noir Picture Show

Cool dude Scott Phillips recently put me in contact with Louisiana filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman. This is how I was able to weasle a copy of Goodman's feature The Last Lullaby, starring Tom Sizemore. I'm very much looking forward to screening this film which has been raking in the festival awards. Anyone out there see this yet? Chime in. But no spoilers please.

Many Bothans died to bring you this post.

My son is five years old and has been seeing the promos on TV for the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series. This sparked a discussion. Did you know there were Star Wars movies before this cartoon? Waaaaaay back when daddy was a kid. I was eight years old when I saw the first film in the theater. My wife was four years old. (No, we didn't go see it together. It wasn't that long of an engagement.)

So the wife and I decided it would be okay for our son to watch the original three Star Wars films. Daddy would sit there right beside him to explain anything too scary. The kid loved these films.

In Return of the Jedi, Luke, Chewbacca and Leia rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. Light sabers flash. Explosions. Awesomeness. When the dust settles, my five year old son turns to me and says the following:

"Princess Leia is beautiful."

My boy. So proud. The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree, does it? Poor kid.

It makes a great holiday gift, you mofos!

Whoa. It's very cool to be on the same list as Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. What list? Cool guy Michael Berry has put me on the SanFrancisco Chronicle's list of Science Fiction holiday shopping. You can check out the whole list HERE. Bring your credit card.

Ouch, I hurt myself.

So, here's the thing. I'm addicted. In the past month or so, I've eaten roughly 1200 bags of Cape Cod Salt & Vinegar chips. Sooooo much salt. Sooooooo much vinegar. I feel like somebody has taken a belt sander to my tongue. This can't be healthy.

Thanks, Brian!

I'm a few dates late to the party on this one, but I would like to express my appreciation for this snazzy review of Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse.

Much obliged!

And just to be fair and balanced, here's a young lady that thinks Go-Go "sort of sucks."

She thinks I wrote the book on whiskey sours. Gong. Any other guesses?

Want to see a librarian interview various authors?

Go HERE and scroll down.

Enjoy.

Have you guys heard about this project?

The ATOMIC BOB trilogy, a space opera by Emerson LaSalle (with forward by Victor Gischler).

Book #1: PANGALACTIC DEATH HUNT

Book #2: HOOKERBOTS OF THE OUTLAW NEBULA

Book #3:THE ATOMIC FLYSWATTER

(The picture has nothing to do with the project, but I think it sets the right tone.)

As you can see in the photo, I've been working out.