SOUNDS FOR SPIES AND PRIVATE EYES!

SOUNDS FOR SPIES AND PRIVATE EYES!

AL CAIOLA

HERE’S SOMETHING VERY COOL FROM FAT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE

More Sounds for Spies ~ While guitar names such as Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins, Santo and Johnny and others are much more familiar to fans of the early age of rock and roll, the sound of Al Caiola is very much a part of the music of that era.

Only two of his single releases dented the top 100 of the pop charts but his albums were a part of the music of the 60's for the entire decade. And his guitar can be heard on many of the tracks of big recording stars of the era such as Frankie Avalon ("Venus" and "De De Dinah"), Fabian, Bobby Vinton, Connie Francis and others.

Some of the most recognizable tunes he recorded were TV and motion picture themes along with covers of recordings made popular by other artists. One of the all round guitarists of the era. Plenty of his stuff here and all over the blogosphere so get crackin' twang fans. This will whet your appetite.

TRACKLIST:

01) Theme From The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
02) The Fugitive Theme
03) Secret Agent Man
04) Underwater Chase
05) The Third Man Theme
06) Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
07) Man Of Mystery
08) The Bronze Doll
09) Baker Street Mystery
10) Goldfinger
11) The Eye In Flat Five
12) A Quiet Thing

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

BEAT TO PULP!

BEAT TO PULP!

ANGEL OF MERCY BY DAVID PRICE

There's got to be a better way. I was never big on church or religion. I'm not looking for any reward for a life well lived. Doubt I'd even qualify. I'm content to just lie down and take the long sleep. Sure ain't looking for the white light at the end of the tunnel. I just want to go out standing on my own two feet, not hooked to a bunch of tubes and monitors.

Ever wonder what it might be like to rid the world of one worthless piece of trash? In David Price's "Angel of Mercy," a man decides to do just that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Price is an ex-college jock and retired probation officer residing in California. His short story writing is a fairly recent hobby. His blood spatter can be found at Thuglit, A Twist of Noir, Crooked, Darkest Before the Dawn, Powder Burn Flash, The Flash Fiction Offensive and Thrillers, Killers "N" Chillers.

TO READ THE STORY CLICK HERE

FANTASY CORNER ~ THE ELECTRIC CHURCH!

FANTASY CORNER ~ THE ELECTRIC CHURCH!

JEFF SOMERS

THE FILM RIGHTS TO THIS SERIES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN PICKED UP BY SONY . . .

THE ELECTRIC CHURCH

In the System of Federated Nations, a new religion is growing fast. The Electric Church offers eternal life – the only catch is, you’ve got to be killed first. Millions have had their brains placed in advanced cybernetic bodies, making them immortal. But rumour has it that the new converts aren’t quite as willing as the Monks make out.

Avery Cates is a low-life contract killer, prepared to slit anyone’s throat for a few measly Yen. But even he gets the heebie-jeebies from the plasticised, eternally-serene stare of the Monks. He’ll have to come face to face with them soon enough though, because Cates is on the run from the System Cops and can only redeem himself by taking out the head of the Electric Church. That’s if the gun-toting, super-augmented cybernetic Monks don’t get to his own head first . . .

THE DIGITAL PLAGUE

‘This is an assassination. Not yours. But an assassination none the less.’

Avery Cates, criminal ‘king’ of New York, has climbed his way to the top of a heap of trouble. On his knees in the snow, with a gun to his head, Avery thinks this must finally be it. Instead, he is injected with nanotech and left confused but alive. Then everyone around him starts dying.

With every moment bringing humanity closer to extinction, Cates finds he will be either executioner or saviour of an entire world.

THE ETERNAL PRISON

Avery Cates is a wanted man. After surviving the worst bioengineered disaster in history, Cates finds himself incarcerated - in Chengara Penitentiary. As Chengara has a survival rate of exactly zero, the System’s most famous gunner must do some serious plotting. And a betrayal or so later, he achieves his goal. At a price.

All he has to do next is defeat some new personal demons, forge some unlikely alliances, and figure out why the people he's killed lately just won't stay dead. Plus pull off the biggest assassination of his career . . .

AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE #87!

AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE #87!

Join the BIG W every Friday evening as he continues to explore, with drink in hand, the Space-Age Pop Hi-Fi musical sounds of the 1950’s and the 1960’s in LIVING STEREO!

PLAYLIST:

• He Loves Me - Shirley Bassey
• Put On A Happy Face - Mitchell Ayres
• The Start Of Something Big - Ella Fitzgerald
• Oh, What A Beautiful Morning - George Cates
• I’m In Love - Buddy Greco
• Fly Me To The Moon - Dick Hyman
• Wonderful Day Like Today - Steve Lawrence
• Swanee - Sid Ramin and his Orchestra
• The Best Thing For You - Nat “King” Cole
• Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini
• Big Beautiful Ball - Ray Charles Singers
• Hallelujah, I Love Her So - George Chakiris
• My Personal Property - Peggy Lee
• The Whole Thing Off - Stereo Brass Choir
• I Want To Be Loved By You - Marilyn Monroe
• I Believe In You - Ray Ellis
• Five Hundred Guys - Frank Sinatra
• Run Buddy Run - Al Hirt
• A Deep Dark Secret - Lizabeth Scott
• Bye, Bye Blues - Barney Kessel
• Coming Up Roses - Ferrante & Teicher
• New Sun In The Sky - Keely Smith

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW!

COCKTAIL NATION #111 ~ JACK PARR!

COCKTAIL NATION #111 ~ JACK PARR!

Thanks to Tiki Shark, Cocktail Nation with Koop Kooper is back on the radio after celebrating our national day this week called ~ Australia Day!

So in honour of Austrailia Day, Koop will be proviing some fun facts about Australia.

He’s also got some cool lounge and exotica lined up on the Kriesler Stereo, one from an Aussie gal who reminds Koop of a female Chet Baker. Seems some interesting parties have been poping up across the globe, so Kopp will dedicate some time to those, along with a special look a the life of TV talk show host Jack Parr.

Koop will let us in on an interesting rumour his spies have dug up, as well as Ask Koop and the usual look at the world of swank.

PLAYLIST:

Pink Martini ~ But Now I Am Back
Royal Crown Revue ~ Port Au Prince
Elliot fisher ~ Dr No's Fantasy
Tiki Joe's Ocean ~ Sacred Island
Waitiki7 ~ Totem Pole
Antonio Carlos Jobim ~ Once Again
Jack Costanzo ~ Can Can overture
Janet Seidel ~ Whatever Lola Wants
B Sharp Big Band ~ Frenesi
Arthur Lyman ~ Jungle Jalopy
Martini Kings ~ Swingin Shepherd Blues
Frank Sinatra ~ A Fine Romance
Julie O'Hara Sextet ~ Angel Eyes
HugoMontenegro ~ HeatWave
Art Van Dame ~ Cheers
Clouseaux ~ Kiss of Ku　
Dave Pell Octet ~ The Man I Love

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

SEXTON BLAKE: CRIMEFIGHTER!

SEXTON BLAKE: CRIMEFIGHTER!

COMING IN APRIL 2010!

Created at the tail end of the Victorian era, Sexton Blake rapidly became one of the most popular fictional characters of the 20th Century. He featured in thousands of adventure stories written by more than two hundred authors and published in countless story papers, magazines and comics.

He also appeared in stage plays, radio dramas, movies and television serials. One of the most written about characters in the English language, he was once a household name and a publishing phenomenon.This book contains a selection of the finest stories from this vast output, edited by George Mann with an introduction by Blake aficionado Michael Moorcock.

SNOWBOOKS

HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD!

HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD!

EDITED BY RUSS ANDERSON

COMING IN MARCH!

Aztec vampires gorge themselves on a small Mexican village! A masked hero of the 1940s stumbles onto a town that time forgot! A gunslinging exorcist works to save a boy from demonic possession! These are the stories of the American West your history teacher never told you about...because she was scared!Includes nine original tales of the weird, wild west by Barry Reese, Derrick Ferguson, Mike McGee, Joel Jenkins and more!

Trade Paperback ~ $11.95

PULPWORK PRESS

SHERLOCK HOLMES~CONSULTING DETECTIVE VOL. TWO!

SHERLOCK HOLMES~CONSULTING DETECTIVE VOL. TWO!

NOW AVAILABLE FROM AIRSHIP 27!

THE GREAT DETECTIVE IS BOX-OFFICE GOLD!

Following the overwhelming success of Sherlock Holmes-Consulting Detective Volume One, Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Book Publishers are thrilled to offer mystery fans this brand new anthology of mystery adventures. Once again, Holmes and Watson challenge the criminal forces that threaten Victorian England at every turn.

Arriving in the midst of the media phenomenon that is the new record breaking movie, “Sherlock Holmes”, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, this new collection is the perfect treasure for movie-goers eager to get their hands on more Holmes and Watson adventures. As this iconic character’s exploits again take hold of the public’s imagination, new and old fans alike will be pleased to find this volume of all new stories.

A twisted scientist plots to alter the course of human evolution while another dreams of creating the world’s first mechanical thinking machine. A body is found in a secured bank vault and modern day pirates have begun harassing Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. Here are five new mysteries that will test the Great Detective’s uncanny talents of observation and the courage of his loyal companion.

Writers Bernadette Johnson, Joshua Reynolds, I.A. Watson and Andrew Salmon have delivered another compilation of fast paced, old fashioned tales guaranteed to warm the blood of the most ardent Holmes enthusiast. Sit back, dim the lights, and prepare yourself for the chase. Once more, the game is afoot!

This new volume features a stunning cover by artist Ingrid Hardy and black and white interior illustrations by the book’s designer, artist Rob Davis. Edited by Airship 27 Productions’ Managing Editor, Ron Fortier. Sherlock Holmes – Consulting Detective Vol.Two is another quality addition to the company’s list of action/adventure pulp titles.

PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS

SATAN'S PLAYMATES!

SATAN'S PLAYMATES!

THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLOY AND MCNAMARA

NOW AVAILABLE FROM AGE OF ACES BOOKS

Mike Molloy and Tommy McNamara were the "Twin Terrors of the Western Front".

They flew as if they had been born in Spads, they drank like thirsty whales, and they'd fought by each other's side through every mile of air along the lines and in every bar from the Front to Paris. If there were no more pressing targets, they pounded each other to a pulp, for any reason at all, and were strangely happy.

Leading the 24th Pursuit Squadron across WWI Europe's blood red skies, Molloy and McNamara were the bane of the German Air Force. Their names and reputations were known wherever fighting men met with blazing guns or flying fists. Written by William Hartley, the twenty tales of Molloy and McNamara appeared in Dare-Devil Aces between 1936 and 1942. Age of Aces has collected the first eleven of them for this volume.

Trade Paperback ~ $16.99

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

WARPED SPACE!

WARPED SPACE!

Warp'd Space is a space opera set in the far-flung future of humanity. Rather than focusing on huge space battles and spiffy laser swords, Warp'd Space tells the story of people on a colony ship - a ship they will be on for a very long time.

Welcome to The Drake! The Drake's mission is a so-called "milk run" - a series of colony drop-offs and pickups. Moving people from one sector of the galaxy to another one just like it... just not quite as civilized.

Hard on the heels of a galactic civil war that all the various factions of humanity are still recovering from, colonization seems the logical answer to the in-fighting of disparate cultural groups, but Star Services, the latest face of the military, still controls travel - with the proprietary jump drive technology.

Even with the jump drive, habitable worlds are few and far between, so the milk run takes years and years - unless a ship comes across one of the colonies "lost" in the war, and then it can take much, much longer.

The Drake is honored to welcome Captain Eldrige Buchanan - war hero and legendary leader - taking on the helm for his final trip before retirement.

Welcome to the Drake!

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

BLACK JACK JUSTICE #35!

BLACK JACK JUSTICE #35!

SMALL MERCIES

NEW FROM DECODER RING THEATRE . . .

A certain hack writer who shall remain Shakespeare is of the opinion that the quality of mercy is not strained. He obviously doesn't ride the bus past the stylish world headquarters of Justice and Dixon all that often, 'cause around here both the quality and quantity of mercy are strained beyond any reasonable breaking point, and old friends are no exception.

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

THE WEIRD ADVENTURES OF THE BLOND ADDER!

THE WEIRD ADVENTURES OF THE BLOND ADDER!

THE COMPLETE CASEBOOK OF LEE NACE
BY LESTER DENT
INTRODUCTION BY WILL MURRAY

It's 1933 and pulp writer Lester Dent has created a new hero who used gadgets to solve mysteries and fight crime. No, it's not Doc Savage, but Lee Nace, the Blond Adder!

This volume collects for the first time all five Lee Nace adventures from the pages of Ten Detective Aces. The majority of these have not seen the light of day since their original publication nearly 80 years ago!

We've gone back to the original manuscripts to restore deleted passages and also included Lester Dent's original character Bible for the Blond Adder series. Rounded out by an all-new introduction by pulp historian Will Murray, it's the must-own pulp publication of the year.

300 pages ~ $29.95 softcover

ALTUS PRESS

AGE OF ACES PRESENTS!

AGE OF ACES PRESENTS!

DOWNLOADABLE PDF AIR WAR PULP STORIES!

NEW THIS WEEK:

TARMAC OF TREASON
FREDERICK C. PAINTON
JUNE 1935 SKY BIRDS
FEATURING THE SQUADRON OF THE DEAD

They were a powerful group, those men of the Squadron of the Dead. The dread skull emblem on their planes was their only flag, and to them fell the deadly tasks which no other squadron dared attempt. Yet powerful as they had become in the service of the Allies, a more terrible force had organized against them. For the German chief of Imperial Intelligence had proclaimed the grim order: “Every man in the Squadron of the Dead must be destroyed!”

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

CHERUB NEWSLETTER!

CHERUB NEWSLETTER!

THE LATEST ISSUE FOR Y/A AUTHOR ROBERT MUCHAMORE'S CHERUB AND SECRET ARMY SERIES IS AVAILABLE NOW ICLUDING A FIRST LOOK AT THE COVER FOR THE LATEST CHERUB ENTRY, SHADOW WAVE.

TO READ THE NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

THE IMAGINATION THEATRE NEWSLETTER!

THE IMAGINATION THEATRE NEWSLETTER!

Hello all, it's a new year and the days are starting to get a bit longer although winter is still with us. We've got several things to tell you about so let's get started.

FROM THE DESK OF JIM FRENCH

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the broadcast of the first Harry Nile episode with Larry Albert in the role of Harry. Some time back we asked him if he would write down his thoughts about taking over the role and just how it happened. We've had several requests for copies of the piece so we're offering it here as a part of this issue of the newsletter. We've updated the article a bit but outside of that it's exactly as it appeared three years ago.

MIGHTY BIG SHOES TO FILL

It was five years ago this month and I was sitting at my desk in the combination office/studio of Jim French Productions when Jim walked in with a look on his face that clearly said something bad had happened or was going to happen. He didn't waste any time with "Good morning" or "How was the weekend?" he simply said in a low voice "Phil Harper's dead." There followed a stunned silence on my part as I tried to take in what I'd just heard and, just like in the stories, an avalanche of emotions and thoughts rushed over me.

I'd known Phil for many years, we'd shared the same agent and I'd worked with him on over 60 Harry Nile episodes and several non-Nile shows. I'd just seen him at the September live audience recording session some two weeks earlier. He was more then just an actor he was a presence. A bit bigger then life, welcomed wherever he went.

Jim and I sat in the room for some minutes, not saying anything. After a while I felt it necessary to be the one to broach the subject of future of Harry Nile. I know that it may seem to some that I was rushing the discussion, and perhaps I was, but I wanted to talk about something, anything to get past the sadness of losing a friend and as it turned out so did Jim. We'd both known Phil's health wasn't the best and that he could go anytime, it was just that we'd both clung to the fantasy that he'd be around forever regardless of that knowledge. And of course Phil was Harry Nile and had been since 1976. That's 28 years! When someone's played a role that long it's seems inconceivable that anyone else could step into those shoes and be accepted by the audience. Jim knew that if he ever wanted to end the series then this was the best time to do it. He also knew that Phil had hoped the show could continue if anything should happen to him.

We talked about audience reaction to a different voice, or should we try and look for a Harper sound a like to be safe. Should the new actor be directed to copy Phil's style or should he be encouraged to establish his own? Most importantly we talked about the essence of Harry Nile and would we be able to find a talent that could understand and portray it as well as Phil, since it was he and Jim who'd created and developed that essence over the years. Hard questions, and as we talked I made out a short list with the names of five men I felt should be considered for the part if Jim decided to continue the series, all the while I'm espousing my idea of just who Harry Nile is and what the chosen actor would have to bring to the role from the start. Suddenly Jim literally threw up his hands and said, "I know who should play Harry Nile!" I asked "Who?" and he said "You!"

I won't go into the reasons why he chose me, that's something for Jim to write about, but suffice to say I was startled, thrilled and scared all at the same time. I'd never, ever seen myself as Harry Nile. I'm Dr. Watson, that's my main role in the JRF universe and I'm more then happy with it. To suddenly be told I'm going to play the character that's the foundation this company was built on and who to listeners around the country had always had the same voice, well I simply wasn't ready to hear that. However, once Jim made it clear he wasn't kidding we talked about when I'd take over and what I could expect as a public reaction. We both knew there'd be some who'd not be willing to accept any new voice for Harry. They'd be the ones who'd want the series to stay pure with Phil to be the only voice of Harry Nile, ever. We also knew, or rather hoped, that there would be many more who'd be willing to give the "new kid" a chance. What we didn't know was the answer to the fundamental question of was it Harry Nile that the public liked or was it Phil Harper or a combination of both? Keeping that in mind it was decided to introduce me as the new Nile at our November live audience recording session at the Kirkland Performance Center.

Normally at these sessions we record a Harry Nile first and, following a break, we then do a Sherlock Holmes. This time we decided to reverse the order to heighten the suspense. When all of the audience was back in their seats Jim gave a short history of what had happened and how he'd arrived at his choice for the new voice of Harry. I was in the wings sweating bullets. In my head I was playing out all sorts of disastrous scenarios. My name is said and the theater rings with boos and "Oh no, not him." Or there's deafening silence with grown men quietly weep in despair and women fainting from shock. Then I heard Jim say, "The new Harry Nile is Larry Albert!" I stepped onto the stage to the sound of cheering and applause, prolonged and loud. I hadn't said my first line as Harry yet, but that's when I knew it was Harry they really loved and they were truly happy he wasn't going to disappear from their lives.

In the intervening years and after, to date 59 episodes, I've done my best to keep the essence of Harry Nile alive, while developing my own identity as the character. I've never tried to impersonate Phil or devalue his work. We're two different men from vastly different backgrounds and our Harry's, while they share the same basic intrinsic values, approach life from very different viewpoints, and as expected there has been some rejection of my interpretation, but as hoped there have been far more positive responses to the change, and of course those hearten me. How do I feel about the negative reviews? Well, they sadden me, an actor's dream is to please one and all that will see or hear his performance, but I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on them. I can't, otherwise I'd go mad.

As the title of this article says I've stepped into some mighty big shoes and whether people think I've filled them or not I'm the one wearing them and I hope to continue to do so for many years

NEW DOUBLE CD SHERLOCK HOLMES RELEASE, THE VOICE IN THE SMOKE

Sherlock Holmes and the supernatural sounds like a perfect fit. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle must have thought so when he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Sussex Vampires. Or did he? Each of the stories has logical explanations for their otherworldly happenings; in the world of Holmes and Watson ghosts and ghoulies didn't exist. So it has been left to the authors of new Holmes stories to take the Great Detective into cases that deal with the unknown. Scottish master of the macabre, writer Daniel McGachey (They That Dwell in Dark Places, The Shadow in the Stacks and Shalt Thou Know My Name) in his original play The Voice in the Smoke takes the Baker Street duo to a seance conducted by a seer whose skills may equal Holmes.

From there the two follow the voice of a dead man who begs them to find his killer. You'll enjoy this feature length (75 Minutes) tale for many days to come. On the 2nd CD you'll find the edited version (48 Min.) that was broadcast on Imagination Thea tre. As a special bonus on CD #2 you'll hear The Estonian Countess, a story of Doctor Watson and his adventure with Holmes brother Mycroft. $16.95 for the CD set and $12.00 as a download. If you'd rather pay by check or money order simply mail them to Jim French Productions

NINTEEN NEW ADDITIONS TO THE SINGLE EPISODE DOWNLOADS

We're going to start off 2010 with 19 new shows for you to enjoy as $1.99 single episode downloads. Add these to your collection and look for more new additions soon. Check our site for episode specifics.

OUR $3.00 VALENTINE TO YOU!

Since we've made the $2.00 discs available to the public we've sent out several hundred of the Weekly CDs all over the country. We still have thousands of these CDs ready for you to order and add to your collection and remember these are the same discs that are sent out to the radio stations every week.

Now beginning on the first and running for the entire month of February we are going to lower the price of our $5.00 discs to $3.00 per CD. This is our thanks you to all of the folks who have help to keep Jim French Productions alive and Imagination Theatre on the air for the past year. As with the $2.00 discs when the any particular week's CDs are sold out that's it for that week. So for the shortest month of the year we offer our longest sale on any product to date.

To order all you have to do is go to www.harrynile.com on the web or call us on our toll free line 1-877-875-6453 Monday thru Friday if you are within U. S. borders or at 1-425-865-0458 if you're not. Have your Visa or MasterCard ready and we'll be happy to get your $2.00 or $3.00 Imagination Theatre CDs out to right away. If you'd rather pay by check or money order simply mail them to Jim French Productions 16215 SE. Roanoke Pl. Bellevue, WA. 98006 along with a complete description of what discs you'd like.

Get that one particular show or start collecting a whole series. "Hurry while supplies last.

AGATHA CHRISTIE NEWSLETTER!

AGATHA CHRISTIE NEWSLETTER!

2010 marks the 120th anniversary of Christie's birth year, 1890. To mark this special occasion Christie fans around the world will be taking part in a series of anniversary celebrations and events culminating in Christie Week 2010, in mid September. Watch this space for further announcements and keep your eyes peeled for the official logo (below) in bookstores and magazines.

As part of this anniversary year, every month through this newsletter we'll be taking a closer look at the decades that Christie lived through, beginning this month with 1890 - 1900.

AGATHA CHRISTIE AND THE 1890s

"Difficult to know what one's first memory is. I remember distinctly my third birthday. The sense of my own importance surges up in me... There is a table and it is covered with cakes, with my birthday cake, all sugar icing and with candles in the middle of it. Three candles. And then the exciting occurrence - a tiny red spider, so small that I can hardly see it, runs across the white cloth. And my mother says: 'It's a lucky spider, Agatha, a lucky spider for your birthday...'"

Agatha's early childhood can only be described as a happy and content period, somewhat reflective of the last Victorian decade, a relative calm before the storm of the twentieth century that would herald the end of Victorian Britain and an era of world war.

It would be inaccurate to describe Agatha's early years at Ashfield as lonely, quite the opposite was true thanks largely to her incredible capacity to imagine worlds, friends and stories; she described it as "The lovely, safe, yet exciting world of childhood". She also had the company of pets, which she loved dearly. Her canary, Goldie who she later renamed Master Dickie, the great adventurer who travelled the country (her garden) - and then when she was five, her first dog:

"On my fifth birthday, I was given a dog. It was the most shattering thing that had ever happened to me; such unbelievable joy, that I was unable to say a word... His official name, given him by my father, was George Washington - Tony, for short, was my contribution"

It wasn't long before Master Dickie was joined on his adventures by Lord Tony.

Victorian life, in its final decade, is recalled fondly by Christie, namely Victorian attitudes to childhood and education, which although humorous at first glance aren't without a level of validity:

"I think late Victorian parents were more realistic and had more consideration for their children and for what would make a happy and successful life for them... The Victorians looked dispassionately at their offspring and made up their minds about their capacities. A. was obviously going to be 'the pretty one'. B. was 'the clever one'. C. was going to be plain and was definitely not intellectual."

Attitudes towards schooling (especially for girls) also stand out, not that this stopped a determined Agatha - her passion for books and perseverance to learn saw her teach herself to read, despite her mother's zero tolerance policy on her being allowed to read anything until she was eight.

Another aspect of Victorian life commented on by Christie relates to money and the reasons for her family's departure abroad when she was just six years old, her father was in ill health brought on amongst other things by financial worries:

"The immediate remedy seemed to be that we must economise. The recognised way at that particular time was to go and live abroad for a short while... the cost of living was much less abroad. So the procedure was to let the house with the servants, etc, at a good rent and go abroad to the South of France, staying at a fairly economical hotel."

If only 'to economise' meant the same procedure in the twenty first century - the credit crunch would have been received far more positively!

And so began Christie's love of travel, ignited by her family's tour of France and the Channel Islands.

It was shortly after their return however, at the end of the century that the 'safe', 'exciting' world Agatha Christie had known as a child, would begin to be challenged, by the diminishing state of her family's finances but more so by the deterioration of her father's health...

Read next month's newsletter for Agatha Christie 1900 - 1910.

Excerpts are from Agatha Christie, An Autobiography.

CAROL WELSMAN!

CAROL WELSMAN!

JENSENBRAZIL GIVES US ANOTHER TAKE ON THIS LOW-KEY TORCH SINGER . . .

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. Brazasia
02. Hold Me
03. Dans Cette Chambre
04. What A Fool Believes
05. Eu Vim De Ahia
06. Cafe
07. Live To Tell
08. Nosotros
09. Too Close For Comfort
10. With Me
11. Dans Mon Ile
12. Beautiful
13. Ora

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

ROCKETEER!

ROCKETEER!

THE ACTION CONTINUES WITH THE ROCKETEER THIS WEEK OVER AT THE COMIC TWART BLOG . . .

FRANCISCO FRANCAVILLA'S COOL PULP CONTRIBUTION IS ABOVE.

TO CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS CLICK HERE

KINDLE PULP!

KINDLE PULP!

MORE PULP FOR YOUR KINDLE FOR UNDER A BUCK!

THE ADVENTURES OF AVERAGE JONES!

ELEVEN CLASSIC DETECTIVE STORIES FEATURING AVERAGE JONES!

SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS

Mystery stories from acclaimed author and investigative journalist, Samuel Hopkins Adams. This is a collection of eleven stories featuring the adventures of Adrian Van Reypen Egerton, or "Average" Jones as his friends like to call him. He's a member of the very exclusive Cosmic Club, whose members are all experts in very diverse fields.

Jones, who lives at the Club, uses his intelligence and remarkable sense of humor to solve very unusual crimes and cases which present themselves to him.

CONTENTS:

Story 1 -- The B-Flat Trombone
Story 2 -- Red Dot
Story 3 -- Open Trail
Story 4 -- The Mercy Sign—One
Story 5 -- The Mercy Sign—Two
Story 6 -- Blue Fires
Story 7 -- Pin-Pricks
Story 8 -- Big Print
Story 9 -- The Man Who Spoke Latin
Story 10 -- The One Best Bet
Story 11 -- The Million-Dollar Dog

These are well-written, thrilling mysteries. A must-have for classic mystery fiction fans!

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

THE BLOOD 'N' THUNDER GUIDE TO COLLECTING PULPS!

THE BLOOD 'N' THUNDER GUIDE TO COLLECTING PULPS!

ED HULSE

This comprehensive reference is geared to the specific requirements of collectors and covers the major pulp genres, enumerates the major titles and highlights specific issues, the most desirable authors and stories worth collecting.

Also includes two Appendixes, one list BnT's picks for the most noteworthy books about pulps and the other offering a list of the titles and issues for a well rounded collection. Features the photos of 400 pulp covers.

Softcover ~$19.95

DAMES, DOLLS & DELINQUENTS

DAMES, DOLLS & DELINQUENTS

GARY LOVISI

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A Collector's Guide to Sexy Pulp Fiction Paperbacks.

This book is a celebration of the female form in all its sexy and sultry allure, from cute and camp to outright lurid exploitation, as shown on the covers of paperbacks and magazines from the '50s and '60s. 700 of the most titillating covers ever, created from great artists including Bill Ward, Robert Maguire, James Avati, Robert McGinnis, Jack Faragasso and many more.

Includes pricing and a collector's guide.

Softcover ~ $24.99

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ FOUR OF A KIND!

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ THE NEBRASKA QUOTIENT!

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ THE NEBRASKA QUOTIENT!

WILLIAM REYNOLDS

This novel was the first in a six book series featuring single moniker, Midwest private eye, Nebraska, working out of – where else – Omaha.

Once you get past the cute coincidence of character name and location, this was a solid ‘80s hardboiled outing. Despite being well written, the series never found its footing with reader. This was probably partly due to the insipid hardback covers (the paperbacks were somewhat better, as above), and most definitely to the lack of support mainstream publishers show for mid-list writers (no, I am not personally bitter – okay, well, maybe a little).

THE NEBRASKA QUOTENT

In the fast-paced, diamond hard tradition of Raymond Chandler, this tough and literate saga of Midwest murder and corruption introduces Nebraska – a young ex-private eye, world-weary but decent, and not quite as hardboiled as he’d like to pretend.

He’s left the grubby world of private detectives to eke out a living as a freelance writer – in Omaha. Nebraska is forced to delay his work on The Book when ex-partner Morris Cohen crashes through his screen door and expires on the living room rug – but not before delivering a damp strip of incriminating negatives featuring a senator’s daughter in some very revealing postures. Catapulted back into the P.I. trade, Nebraska swiftly finds himself ensnared in a tangled web of blackmail, deceit, and death.

Suddenly he’s back in the world he fled; up hard against the Omaha police, coping with a sleazy porno ring, and with a presidential candidate with something to hide.

Caught between two fierce Mafia mobs, Nebraska finds his life on the line as he races to solve the brutal killings and uncovers a stunning conspiracy that could reach all the way to the White House.

When asked why he chose to set his book in Omaha, William J. Reynolds responded with three reasons: “It’s not L.A., New York, Boston, or any other glamorous place; I know the city, and there’s something cowboy-ish about it, which appeals to my belief that the ‘P.I.’ is the modern variation of the cowboy myth. I called my P.I. Nebraska for the same reason – it’s a very Western, very American word.”

The Nebraska novels are not a landmark P.I. series, but they are worth seeking out for the fresh setting and the likeable, everyman, main character.

NEBRASKA NOVELS

The Nebraska Quotient (1984)
Moving Targets (1986)
Money Trouble (1988)
Things Invisible (1989)
The Naked Eye (1991)
Drive-By (1995)

BURN NOTICE NEWSLETTER!

BURN NOTICE NEWSLETTER!

TONIGHT!

When Sam gets an unexpected visit from a former Seal buddy asking for help, Michael must infiltrate a protected urban barrio and hunt down a child predator.

Chris Vince, Danny Trejo & Jacob Vargas guest star in "Friendly Fire", premiering tonight at 10/9C.

Missed last week's premiere? WATCH IT ONLINE!

THIS WEEK ON THE BURN NOTICE SITE

COVERT OPS: VEGAS HEIST - Help Nate Westen track down a missing friend in the all-new interactive game Covert Ops: Vegas Heist. Register and you could win weekly prizes, plus a chance at the grand prize: a brand new Hyundai Genesis Coupe! Play this week's mission — Thug Mansion — after tonight's episode!

ASK A SPY - Michael's spy skills are not only used in life-or-death situations, but also in everyday life. This week we've got three brand-new questions: What's the most important spy skill? How do I beat my friends at poker? And... How do I get a good deal on a new car?

SEE IT LIKE A SPY - Michael Westen has a knack for improvising gadgets, but how does your own spy savvy compare? We'll name a different gadget, and you'll have to decide which items will get the job done. This week: building a Long-Distance Laser Signaller.

EPISODE COMMENTARY - Burn Notice creator Matt Nix reveals behind-the-scenes info on each new episode in these special video commentaries! Find out what he had to say about last week's episode, "A Dark Road".

WATCH-TO-WIN SWEEPSTAKES - Want to win weekly prizes just by watching Burn Notice? Pay close attention during each new episode, then answer our weekly trivia question. You'll automatically be entered to win a prize pack that includes the Season 1 & 2 DVDs, a long-sleeved t-shirt, Burn Notice: The End Game book, and more!

SUPER-DUPER SPIES!

SUPER-DUPER SPIES!

BRUCE GROSSMAN’S CURRENT BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS COLUMN OVER AT BOOKGASM TAKES ON SOME GREAT SPY TITLES, INCLUDING A VINTAGE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. OFFERING . . .

It’s another collection of some of my favorite brainless reading. If there were ever books I knew going in that not only would deliver in mindless fun, but also be read in no time, it’s definitely the three paperbacks below. Let that soak in before the super-duper spy surprise at the end. Here’s a hint: Sam Jackson is a much better choice than David Hasselhoff.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. #7: THE RADIOACTIVE CAMEL AFFAIR by Peter Leslie — I think this might be the last MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. book I own, since my source for these closed a few years ago. That’s kinda sad, because these tie-ins come off as bigger-budget versions of the TV series . . .

TO READ THE FULL COLUMN CLICK HERE

PULP BOY!

PULP BOY!

FROM THE VISCOUSLY ODD MINDS OF VICTOR GISCHLER (GUN MONKEYS, THE PISTOL POETS, SUICIDE SQUEEZE, SHOTGUN OPERA) AND ANTHONY NEIL SMITH (PLOTS WITH GUNS: A NOIR ANTHOLOGY) COMES THIS INTERESTING FILM IN PREPRODUCTION CONCEPT:

PULP BOY is a comedy about the prolific pulp novelist, Emerson LaSalle, who has found himself replaced by the younger, more technology driven generation of writers.

In order to save his career and ultimately his place in the world, he sets out on a quasi-epic promotional tour across the nation attempting to re-gain his former glory.

Along the way, he runs afoul of rabid fans, slick TV executives, and his young Crichton-esque nemesis, Stone Q. Mann in an off-beat-adventure that will decide LaSalle's fate and place among the most terrible great novelists of all time.

LaSalle is not a real person, but he does exist in a very real way for many. He is of the same substance that makes up Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, and John Henry - a folk hero of sorts, though, perhaps an anti-hero on the surface.

Just Google his name, and you will be greeted with thousands and thousands of fantastic quotes, stories, and LaSalle-isms that have grown over the years. A fantastic mozaic of his ficticious life has unfolded throughout the blogs, twitters, and web pages of those who love him, and now he is finally making his way to the big screen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS CHARACTER CLICK HERE

A TIP OF THE FEDORA TO BILL CRIDER

CRIKEY ~ ISSUE #13!

CRIKEY ~ ISSUE #13!

PER BLIMEY! IT’S ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT COMICS

The latest issue of Crikey issue features the return of the ‘60s hero The Cloak as well as many more goodies, such as an interview with Kevin O'Neill, Mike Higgs on the creation of The Cloak, the conclusion of the feature on Doctor Who comics, a meaty article on Action strip Kids Rule OK and more.

Sadly, this issue sees Crikey! revert to a 52 page mostly black and white publication due to the unexpected closure of Borders bookshops who had been stocking the 84 page full colour issues. This retro step was unfortunately unavoidable, and it was a case of that or closing the magazine. I'm sure that no readers would wish that to happen so I hope everyone will continue to support Glenn B. Fleming and Tony Ingram in their efforts to keep Crikey afloat.

Due to the collapse of Borders and the distribution they provided Crikey! is no longer available in newsagents but you can still find it in some comic specialist shops. Annoyingly, Forbidden Planet won't stock it, but shops owned by Forbidden Planet International (a different company) will, as do other several other outlets.

However the best way to keep Crikey alive is by subscription. £30 for six issues sounds like a good deal to me to support the only magazine about British comics. Remember, this isn't a mag with the budget or circulation of the big publishers. It's produced by two blokes trying to make a small circulation magazine work for the benefit of comic fans.

TO SUBSCRIBE AT THE CRIKEY! WEBSITE CLICK HERE

Y/A CORNER ~ THE ADVENTURES OF JACK LIME!

Y/A CORNER ~ THE ADVENTURES OF JACK LIME!

JAMES LECK

Things might get rough, they might even get a little messy, but I was okay with rough and messy as long as I could shut the lid on this dirty case.

Meet Jack Lime, private investigator, who solves problems for his fellow Iona High students. Sometimes he falls for the dames who hire him, sometimes he falls in the river and sometimes he falls asleep (he’s narcoleptic). But rest assured that whether he’s tracking down a missing banana-seat bike or a kidnapped hamster, or cracking open a trivia tournament betting ring, Lime will follow every lead.

Jack Lime is a cynical sleuth who has the makings of a top-notch PI, though his personal life frequently goes awry. In these three stand-alone detective stories, readers will immerse themselves in an offbeat fictional world populated with eccentric characters where everything is not as it seems.

A TIP OF THE FEDORA TO MYSTERY BOOK NEWS

FANTASY CORNER ~ INCARCERON!

FANTASY CORNER ~ INCARCERON!

CATHERINE FISHER

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him.

But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.

THE WINDUP GIRL ~ FREE e-BOOK!

THE WINDUP GIRL ~ FREE e-BOOK!

THANKS TO WINDUP GIRL PUBLISHER NIGHT SHADE BOOKS, READERS CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON A DIGITAL COPY OF THE WINDUP GIRL BY PAOLO BACIGLUPI, A NOVEL LOOKING POISED TO TAKE A RUN AT THIS YEAR’S HUGO FOR BEST NOVEL.

YOU CAN READ ON YOUR COMPUTER AND MOST EBOOK READERS. (FINE PRINT: YOU WILL BE SIGNED UP FOR NIGHT SHADE BOOKS' EMAIL NEWSLETTER WHEN YOU GET THE FREE EBOOK - YOU CAN UNSUBSCRIBE LATER IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT.)

FOR THE EMAIL ADDRESS TO GET YOUR FREE EBOOK CLICK HERE

TO PARTICIPAT i09 BOOK CLUB’S DISCUSSION OF THE NOVEL CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

HARRY CONNICK JR.!

HARRY CONNICK JR.!

If there ever was a pianist with an intimate connection with his instrument, it’s Harry Connick Jr.

Last night at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, Connick showed off his singing chops on stylized samplings from the Great American Songbook, but it was when he sat down at the piano to ‘go New Orleans’ that both Connick and the concert came alive.

Connick has excellent control and a more than pleasant tone to his voice, but there is little of distinguishing character. It’s all rather pleasant, but honestly, a bit boring. But put the man’s fingers on a keyboard and turn him loose on a rag and he’s the equal of Big Tiny Little, Joe ‘Fingers’ Carr, or any other black and white plunker you care to name.

Connick has a decent-sized following, but it is still a nitch audience. I’m in that nitch, but I’m there for his jazz stylings. He can’t touch Michael Bublé on the standards, but when he’s doing his thing on the piano, he’s law unto himself.

Last night was an outstanding concert employing fourteen musicians in Connick’s big band. But for all the jumping and jiving, it was Connick on the piano, playing with his drummer and bassist as a trio, that made the music special.

COMIC TWART ~ THE ROCKETEER!

COMIC TWART ~ THE ROCKETEER!

THE ILLUSTRATORS OVER AT COMIC TWART (AKA: TWITTER ART) ARE TAKING ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE PULP HEROES THIS WEEK, THE ROCKETEER . . .

TO IT OUT CLICK HERE

THE GREEN HORNET IS COMING!

THE GREEN HORNET IS COMING!

PULP SUNDAY NEWS FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE CURRENT PULP ILLUSTRATORS, FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA . . .

I did have time, though, to do this little teaser illo (ABOVE) to finally make a big annoucement (well, it's big for me being the pulp fan you all know): I was asked by Dynamite and Matt Wagner to be part of the new pulp adventures of Green Hornet Year One, which will be on the shelves this April. While I am not drawing the book (the very talented Aaron Campbell is the artist for the title) I will be coloring it and will be providing alternate covers starting from issue 2 (with Matt's covers, just like we have done on Zorro).

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

LEVERAGE ~ THE SOUNDTRACK!

LEVERAGE ~ THE SOUNDTRACK!

TO CHECK OUT THE REVIEW VIA FANDOMANIA CLICK HERE

TRACKLIST:

“Leverage Main Title” (1:33)
“The Team” (2:16)
“Inside Job” (3:46)
“What I Do” (2:03)
“Parking Lot Mischief” (:53)
“Viva Vegas” (2:07)
“Zagreb” (1:40)
“Surprise” (0:41)
“Can’t Go Home Again” (2:24)
“Magical Soil” (0:57)
“On The Con” (1:51)
“An Honest Man” (5:24)
“Losing Underpants” (1:18)
“Mumbai International” (1:29)
“Rattlin’ Pots And Pans” (1:26)
“Nate Comes Clean” (1:48)
“Nate Gives Himself Up” (2:53)
“Diversion” (1:55)
“Count To Three” (2:19)
“Emergency Landing” (1:24)
“Do You Remember?” (3:04)
“Tank Fight” (4:31)
“Lifting Files” (2:17)
“Out Of Tricks” (1:17)
“Courthouse Security” (0:55)
“Madame Administrator” (1:16)
“Father Daughter Dance” (2:08)
“Wanna Bet” (2:21)
“Metamora” (2:35)
“All My Decembers” (2:14)
“Gone Crazy” (1:45)
“Diamond Heist” (1:02)
“Bellbridge” (1:29)
“Elevator Bomb” (1:17)
Andy Lange - “Not Sure Yet” (3:46)

THE BACHELOR PAD!

THE BACHELOR PAD!

1/22/10

Esquivel—Mini Skirt (Theme Music)
Martin Denny—My Little Grass Shack
Don Tiki—El Producto
Tikiyaki Orchestra—Tango Tahiti
Waitiki—The Sleepy Space Kadet
Tony Bennett—She's Funny That Way
Elmer Bernstein—Thinking Of Baby
Les Double Six—Doodlin'
Esquivel—Todavia
April Stevens—Teach Me Tiger
Ray Conniff—Sentimental Journey
Mel Tormé—Harlem Nocturne
Three Suns—Smoke
Peggy Lee—Fever
Buddy Morrow—One Mint Julep
Plas Johnson—Cherokee
Ray Ellis—How About You
Lenny Dee—That's My Weakness Now
Blossom Dearie—When Sunny Gets Blue
Laurindo Almeida—What Kind of Fool Am I?
Arthur Lyman—The Girl From Impanema
Wayne Newton—Call Me Irresponsible
Georgie Auld—Tippin' In
Keely Smith—You Go To My Head
John Buzon Trio—Ill Wind
Dicky Doo & the Don'ts—Vive L'Amour
Nat King Cole—Serenata
Jonah Jones—Dance Only With Me
Les Baxter—Havana
Mae West—Havana For A Night
Henry Mancini—The Sound Of Silver
Bobby Hackett—Stars In My Eyes
Frank Sinatra—Taking A Chance On Love
Sammy Davis Jr—Begin The Beguine
Morris Stoloff —Moonglow
Billy May—Ping Pong
Warren Barker—If I Could Be With You
Julie London—The Party's Over

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

INTERSPECIES FRIENDS!

INTERSPECIES FRIENDS!

Interspecies Friends is a photoblog all about animals of different species either being friends or at least not killing each other. Sometimes, even predator-prey relationships are nullified by sheer cuteness, as with this rat and cat.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

THE PUFFIN!

THE PUFFIN!

We say pretty often how bitter we are that personal jet packs, which were predicted to be commonplace by now, have never actually come to pass. But something even better is being developed, and we are officially placated. NASA’s Puffin concept looks a lot like its awkward, clumsy-looking namesake, but it’s full of amazing technology that could revolutionize not only military transportation, but personal transportation as well.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

FANTASY CORNER ~ PLEASURE MODEL!

FANTASY CORNER ~ PLEASURE MODEL!

NETHERWORLD BOOK ONE!

HEAVY METAL PULP (VOLUME 1 OF 3)

CHRISTOPHER ROWLEY

Presenting Heavy Metal Pulp, a new line of novels combining noir fiction with fantastic art featuring the themes, story lines, and graphic styles of Heavy Metal magazine.

In Pleasure Model, the first book in the Netherworld trilogy, down-and out police detective Rook gets a big break when he’s assigned to a bizarre and vicious murder case. The clues are colder than the corpse and the case looks like it’ll remain unsolved—until an eyewitness is discovered. But the witness is a Pleasure Model, an illegal gene-grown human.

Plesur’s only purpose is to provide satisfaction to her owner—in any way. When the murderer targets Plesur in order to eliminate the one witness, Rook takes her into hiding to protect her. Thus begins a descent into the dark world of exotic pleasure mods and their illicit buyers and manufacturers.

Rook frantically looks for clues, struggling to stay one stop ahead of those looking to kill them both. But is Rook falling under Plesur’s spell….?