Giants of West Tennessee: Buford Pusser

NOTE: This is the first in an occasional series about notable figures from my home region. These are personal reminiscences and opinions; where available, I’ll include links so interested readers can find out more. There aren’t many heroic figures to come out of flat, muddy west Tennessee. Elvis is one, obviously, but he’s a special case. Tina Turner, born Annie … Read More

Julius Caesar, fair and balanced

One of my favorite books to pick up and read random sections from is Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human by Harold Bloom. He means the title literally: “Our ideas as to what makes the self authentically human owe more to Shakespeare than ought to be possible.” I don’t know if I’d go that far, but no writer can deny … Read More

Epiphany in slow motion, with blood

A few months ago I found myself seized with the urge to see anything and everything by filmmaker Sam Peckinpah. Up until then I’d seen only the highlights of his career–The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs, The Getaway. So I started watching, in no particular order. I wasn’t sure why I was driven to do this, but I get these periodic … Read More

Brother Blue (1921-2009)

Brother Blue passed away earlier this month at age 88. If you know of him at all, it’s probably from the George A. Romero film Knightriders. In this Arthurian story of jousting motorcyclists, Brother Blue played Merlin, advisor to King William (Ed Harris). He was the troubled king’s lone confidante, and the one person who understood William’s desire to maintain … Read More

RELEASE DAY! (whew…)

Today is the official release day for BURN ME DEADLY. If you’ve pre-ordered it, you’re awesome. If you buy it today, you’re only slightly less awesome. If you buy it eventually, you’re still on the awesome scale. And the winner of the “Name a drink at Angelina’s Tavern” contest is…PARANOYD, for suggesting The Rogue’s Stiletto, also known as the Back-Stabber … Read More

Release day TOMORROW

Tomorrow, November 10, BURN ME DEADLY is released in hardcover from Tor Books. Thanks to my awesome fan Dori, I now have a Facebook fan page. Join up, invite your friends. There will be gradual updates on my oft-neglected website, since I now have new HTML software for the iMac. And I’m deep into work on the third Eddie LaCrosse … Read More

Coffee, tea or a signed copy?

If you’ve read The Sword-Edged Blonde, you know about Angelina’s Tavern. Eddie LaCrosse has his office above the kitchen, and spends a lot of his off-time sitting at the bar. It plays an even bigger role in BURN ME DEADLY. Now we all know about mead, and ale, and rum, and all the standard tavern drinks. But what would be … Read More

One more week until BURN ME DEADLY!

One more week until the November 10 release of the second Eddie LaCrosse novel, BURN ME DEADLY! Learn what happens to Eddie and Liz after the end of The Sword-Edged Blonde! Who are Lumina and Solarian? Find out more about the mysterious moon priestesses! What secrets are found in Angelina’s attic? Discover what the deadly dragon people are after! And … Read More