Golden Bell Blog Tour Continues

Today is day three of the Golden Bell Blog Tour. Check out author Percival Constantine's blog for an in-depth interview with Derrick Ferguson, which happens to include a mention of the infamous Gantlet Brothers. And if you want to hear about the time that Sly found a nuclear suitcase in the New York City subway system be sure to grab a copy of The Nuclear Suitcase.

A Note From C.S.

Check out Josh Reynold's blog for details on a note he received regarding Dillon's various exploits. Besides being a note of curious origin, Joshua Reynolds mentions the envelope in which the note came in had an even curioser anatomical illustration of something called a senrast.

Now for those not familiar with the term it is indeed a creature of Martian origin, known only to select government scientists and a few of the general public by the leaked photos the Mars Voyager took of its fossilized remains. Some others know of it by their perusal of the records of Garvey Dire's Mars excursion.

By using the arcane search device on Amazon one can actually access these records and learn that senrasts are blind creatures that locate their prey by scent. You can also learn that Martian mothers use the specter of the senrast to scare their children into obedience.

The Battered Golden Bell

One of the unique things about Dillon and the Legend of the Golden Bell is that right out of the wrapping it looks like an old pulp magazine that's been around for seventy years.

No, PulpWork Press isn't pulling a switcheroo and sending you an old beat up copy they've passed around the offices, lent to their friends, and that they in turn lent to their friends. Cover artist Tamas Jakab (artist for El Gorgo the greatest comic book about a wrestling rock-star gorilla that ever was) purposely simulated the cover of a beat up pulp magazine. Look close and you can see the cracks, wrinkles and stress lines. You can even see the texture of the canvas upon which the cover art was painting. (These canvas textures come out more clearly in the printed copy of the book. They might be difficult to see in the low-resolution digital image on your computer).

Now, I don't know if Tamas Jakab actually painted the cover on canvas or if he used some nifty Photoshop texturizer filter to create the effect, but while I was toting Dillon and the Legend of the Golden Bell around, so I could read it whenever I had a spare moment, I had a number of people comment on the "old book" I was carrying.

So enough about the cover. We all know that we can't judge a book by one, right? What about the contents of the book? Well, I like to describe it as "James Bond meets Cthulhu" and Pulpworks liked my quote so much they used it on the back cover.

I asked Derrick Ferguson a few questions about Dillon and the Legend of the Golden Bell and I'll post his responses later this week. In the meantime, consider picking up a copy at Amazon.com, order a copy at your local book seller, and/or check out the press release at Derrick Ferguson's own blog.

I Blinked

So, I blinked and 2010 is nearly over. Well, at least 1 /12th of it is over...and I've been lax about my blog-posting duties. However, I suspect that things will get a little faster and more furious around here because Pulpwork Press is beginning its 2010 releases and I'll have information to share about some of my projects and some other cool projects by other Pulpwork Press authors.

For example: Derrick Ferguson's Dillon and the Legend of the Golden Bell has just been released by Pulpwork Press and is now available at Amazon.com. Check out the press release at the Pulpwork Press Blog.

Pulpwork will be holding a Dillon and the Legend of the Golden Bell blog tour this coming week and I'll be hosting one of the stops here at the Vaults in the ruined city of Caladrex, which is deep beneath the crust of ancient Mars. Please stop in for a visit, but watch out for the tentacled, sabre-tooth vackri. Yes, you can distill the elixir of immortality from their glands but more likely they will tear you limb from limb first. And then there's the artificial intelligence known as Sved who has been known to trick, trap and slay intruders... (If you don't know what I'm talking about you haven't read my Dire Planet novels--shame on you--but that can be easily rectified by a trip to Amazon).

Speaking of Dire Planet my latest Martian novel is coming along nicely at 67,000 words. That means I'm roughly 2/3rds of the way through the first draft. I've got good news and bad news about that project, which I'll relay in the near future.

Merry Christmas

I pray that you all have a most excellent Christmas and a plentiful and happy new year in 2010.

Cookie Thief

For years there have been reports that Santa wasn't receiving all the cookies that were set out for him. Last year security camera footage caught the following image, which indicates there was some truth to the rumor.

Rudolph and Santa Throw it Down

Apparently, Rudolph and Santa have had a disagreement--but don't worry. I'm sure they will blow off some steam, apologize and be ready to go for Christmas.

This illustration comes courtesy of Noel Tuazon who is the cover artist of Exiles of the Dire Planet, and Into the Dire Planet. He's also completed some fantastic illustrations for my upcoming childrens' book The Pirates of Mirror Land and for the soon to be released chapbook of The Blood Vault.

I'll be spilling further information on both those projects come the new year, including sharing a few illustrations and even letting you know how you can get a free copy of The Blood Vault.