The Lost Vale Character Roster

It's been pointed out that The Lost Vale, my short weird west tale that is included in the upcoming How the West was Weird Two anthology, has a fairly extensive character roster for a short story.  I thought it might be interesting to gather photos of the cast so it would be a simple matter to keep the players straight.

The Good Guys: (top to bottom) Asuncion Ramirez, Doc Holliday, Lone Crow, Morgan Earp, Warren Earp

The bad guys: (top to bottom) Butch Cassidy, Jorje and Javier, Kid Curry, the Sundance Kid, The Tall Texan, William 'News' Carvey.

Granted, this cast is winnowed down considerably for the follow up tale, Gunmen of the Hollow Earth, which can be found in How the West was Weird: Campfire Tales.  How do you get a copy of these stories? Just pre-order How the West was Weird Two and you get free shipping and a free PDF of Campfire Tales.  Pre-order your copy here:

Campfire Tales Bonus Book

On July 1, HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD VOL. 2 will be available to the whole wide world, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and a host of other places, both offline and on. Twenty stories by some of the top names in New Pulp, mashing the western with horror, sci-fi, and fantasy - and all wrapped in a gorgeous new cover by Jim Rugg--and I happen to have written one of those stories; a delightful little tale that includes a couple of the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, the Wild Bunch and the taciturn Native American gunslinger known as Lone Crow.

The cool thing is that Pulpwork and Anderfam Press is offering this 368-page blockbuster for presale--and if you pick up a copy of How the West was Weird Two before the official release dates

you get with your pre-order:

1. The book, of course.
2. Free shipping.
3. A free bonus e-book: HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD: CAMPFIRE TALES. This e-book, available in just about any format you like, includes weird west stories by Josh Reynolds, Joel Jenkins, Derrick Ferguson, and Russ Anderson. These are stories that aren't included in either of the HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD books, and this is the only way you're going to get your hands on them. Here's the cover.

The story I wrote for Campfire Tales, Gunmen of the Hollow Earth, includes all the survivors of the story that I wrote for How the West was Weird Two, The Lost Vale, and picks right up where the first story leaves off. 

HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD VOL. 2 is $14.99. To order, click the "Add to Cart" Paypal button below.

The Dark Worlds of Summer

This summer, I've got a short story appearing in the all-fantasy issue of Dark Worlds magazine.  The Remnant Band features Azark, the surly Arcasian warrior who appeared in my novel Through the Groaning Earth which was published last year by Pulp Work Press.  In pursuit of a lovely stew sway, Azark finds himself in Governor Icarod's tower, and discovers the answer to the riddle of his father's murder.  But a remnant band of assassins has gathered and Azark may not live long enough to exact his vengeance...

I'll pass on more information when I receive a firm publication date.

How the West was Weird Too

Editor, Russell Anderson, has announced the line-up for the impending How the West Was Weird Vol. 2 anthology of strange tales from the wild, woolly, and extremely weird West.  Fortunately, I've got a story in slot number four.  It features Native American gunslinger, Lone Crow,  Morgan and Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and just when you think it might be impossible to include any more awesomeness in one story it also includes a...

I better not say.  That might be ruining the surprise.

Here's the spectacular line-up.



1. Desolation by Barry Reese
2. The Rag Doll Kid by David Boop
3. They Call Him Pat by Ian Taylor
4. The Lost Vale by Joel Jenkins
6. The Yellow Dog by Ron Fortier
6. Mr. Brass and the Devil's Teeth by Josh Reynolds
7. Thunder Pursued by Tom Deja
8. Walker on the Wind by Desmond Reddick
9. Velvet Scourge by Grahm Eberhardt
10. The Demon Wrestler by Dale Glaser
11. Werewolf of Bent Elbow by Tracy Evans
12. Unhallowed Ground by Stacy Dooks
13. Train Comes a-Burnin' by Mark Bousquet
14. Testimony of Constable Fraser by Kevin Thornton
15. Raid at Razorfang Ranch by David Golightly
16. Witch Hole by Matthew Mayo
17. West of Fort Smith by Tommy Hancock
18. Beast of the Black Hills by Tony Wilson
19. Storms of Blood and Snow by Derrick Ferguson
20. Terror in Toyland by Mike McGee

Sly Gantlet and Dillon Meet

Author Derrick Ferguson discusses the first meeting of rock star and erstwhile mercenary, Sly Gantlet, and world-wide adventurer Dillon at his Dillon blog.  The story that details this fateful encounter is called Dead Beat in La Esca and will be appearing this year in Four Bullet for Dillon which will be released by PulpWork Press.

Ferguson even likens Dillon and Sly Gantlet to Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.  Check out his comments here.

Pulp-Ark Spotlight

Tommy Hancock, the mastermind behind the Pulp-Ark awards, conducted a brief interview with me last week in regards to my nomination for the best author category of the Pulp-Ark awards.  He has posted the results on the Pulp Machine website for anyone who would like to take a look. 

Pulp Ark Nomination

I recently received the happy news that I was nominated for the category of Best Writer for the 2011 Pulp Ark Awards.  This news was even better because it came as a complete surprise.  I had no idea that I was even in the running.  Though, considering the stiff competition (including fellow Pulpwork Press author, the illustrious Derrick Ferguson), I don't have any illusions about actually nabbing the top prize I'm just going to enjoy the fact that I was even nominated.