tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59188006179544873112024-03-17T20:03:56.277-07:00Les Edgerton on WritingOn writing, books, films, potpourri and lagniappe on anything and everything...Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comBlogger655125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-3655107519952764722023-08-05T15:14:00.001-07:002023-08-05T15:14:39.464-07:00MY SCREENPLAY NAMED A FINALIST<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Just got some good news! My screenplay, THE DEATH OF TARPONS, was named a Finalist in the Script Matrix True Story Screenplay Competition.<br /><br />Announcing the Finalists of the Scriptmatix True Story Contest!<br />Email from Scriptmatix Inc.: Announcing the Finalists of the Scriptmatix True Story Contest!<br />SI<br /><br />We are thrilled to share with you the highly anticipated announcement of the finalists in the Scriptmatix True Story Contest! After receiving an impressive array of submissions and after a careful review process, our expert team has selected the standout screenplays that captured true stories with compelling authenticity. You are amongst them! <br /><br />Finalist Announcement:<br />Check the results here<br /><br /><br />We want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt <span data-delight-asset="196809267710501" data-delight="true" style="color: #f1765e; font-weight: bold;">congratulations</span> to you for placing as a finalist. Your passion, creativity, and dedication to the craft of screenwriting have truly inspired us, and we are grateful for your contributions.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more exciting updates, as winners have yet to be announce and being that you're a finalist, you're in the running! <br /><br />Winners will be announced next week. <br /><br />Once again, <span data-delight-asset="196809267710501" data-delight="true" style="color: #f1765e; font-weight: bold;">congratulations</span> for placing as a finalist and thank you for being a vital part of the Scriptmatix True Story Contest. We look forward to continuing to support and celebrate your work.<br /><br />Development Coordinator<br />Gabriel<br /><br /> <br /><br />Scriptmatix True Story Results – August 4, 2023<br />We are thrilled to announce the results of the “Scriptmatix True Story Contest.” The response was overwhelming, with screenwriters from around the globe submitting their remarkable true story screenplays. The talent, creativity, and authenticity reflected in the submissions made the judging process both inspiring and challenging.<br /><br />Without further ado, let’s unveil the results:<br /><br />Finalist:<br />TITLE WRITER<br />Abstract Faces Dimitrios Aletras<br />Abuse of Power Rachel Cann<br />Bearing Witness Wiindsor Racine<br />Before the Boogie Down Floyd Fisher<br />BEYOND THE RAZOR WIRE Sandy Thorne<br />Box and Boxer Kevin C.<br />Cheap, Sexy, and Shocking! Janna Jones<br />Collaborator? morris G<br />Cruise of the Amberjack E. Lyn<br />GADHAFI: Mad Dog of the Desert Georges S.<br />Gorilla Gram Jack Bennet<br />Gringos Gladden Rangel<br />Integrated Offender Manjit Bhangoo<br />It’s Only Life J. Stephen<br />Jackie, Holly, Candy and Craig Craig Highberger<br />No Small Thing Tony Gonzalez<br />No. 1 Jai Ti Chang Brian Stoddart<br />One Mad Apple Tom Pratt<br />PRISONER OF HEAVEN Douglas Rappaport<br />Reunion Anhtuan Do<br />SEOUL ’88 Jennifer D’Angelo<br /><b>THE DEATH OF TARPONS Les Edgerton</b><br />The Rockefeller Massacre Sven Damer<br />THE WAY THINGS TURN Timothy Williams<br />This Wonderful Life Sam Juergens<br />Those Who Wander David Neal <br /><br /><br />Wish me luck!<br /><br />Blue skies,<br />Les<br /></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-3207339441232709772023-07-28T11:15:00.001-07:002023-07-28T11:17:44.518-07:00KILLER NASHVILLE!<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>I was just notified the novel I'm currently working on was named a Finalist in the Killer Nashville Claymore Awards. This is a prestigious award and I'm stoked. But, I'm even more stoked that a student in my online novel-writing class--Les Edgerton's Bootcamp for Writers--is also a finalist for the novel she's finishing up in class. And... Cheryl Arko was a Finalist last year also, for another novel she wrote in class!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span face=""alternate-gothic-no-3-d","serif"" style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">2023 Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalists<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Awarded to the Best First 50 Pages
of an Unpublished Manuscript at the time of entry into the competition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finalists are chosen from hundreds
of submissions. As a benefit to Finalists, for entrants who are interested,
Killer Nashville will make every effort to help Finalists secure an agent
and/or publisher. Our goal is to see each and every Finalist manuscript
published.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Winners in each category and overall
best manuscripts will be announced at the <a href="https://www.killernashville.com/awards-dinner" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">2023 Killer Nashville Awards Ceremony </span></a>on
Saturday, August 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Finalists are heavily
encouraged to attend to meet with agents, editors, publishers, and fellow
writers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><span face=""alternate-gothic-no-3-d","serif"" style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2023
Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalists<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""alternate-gothic-no-3-d","serif"" style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BEST
ACTION ADVENTURE</span></b><span face=""alternate-gothic-no-3-d","serif"" style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Greg
Baldwin / The Napoleon Document<br />
Sharon Barnes / Shanghai Sunset<br />
Nordean Baxter / Black Power<br />
David Darling / Signs of Anubis<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Les Edgerton / Francois Roberge – The
Fixer<br />
</b>Dennis Meredith / The Czar Bomb<br />
Richard Meredith / The Double Cross of Brigid<br />
Ryan Pote / False Horizon<br />
John Righten / The Englander<br />
Patrick Weill / The Mazatlan Showdown<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>BEST SCI-FI / FANTASY</b></span></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b> Cheryl Arko / Touch of the Elegrian</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Arnie Benn / The Intrepid: Dawn Of The Interstellar Age</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Michele Brady Boom / A Nest at Four O'Clock</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mary Butler / Death of a Druid</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Anthony Catalano / Once We Were Perfect</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Savannah Jackson / Scars of Fire</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> JS Morrison / The Pieces of My Self</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Colleen Story / The Untold Story of King Midas</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Troy A. Thompson, M.D. / Crumble's End: Flame and Scar</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Kane Williams / Perils of the Past</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Wish us both luck! And, if you get a chance to attend,
please do—this is one of the premier writing conventions in the world!</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Blue skies,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Les</p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-17840101328861299932023-06-25T14:43:00.004-07:002023-06-26T08:10:39.484-07:00MY BEST INTERVIEW EVER...<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Well, my Italian publisher, Elliot Edizioni, will be coming out with another of my novels--THE BITCH--in December. I'm really pumped. They experienced great sales and great reviews with HARD TIMES and THE DEATH OF TARPONS (Retitled THE DEATH OF THE SILVER KINGS). I more than earned out my advance with each. Plus, they're just fantastic people to work with!</p><p><br /></p><p>So, it is to commemorate this upcoming publication that I'm reprinting the very best interview I've ever been privileged to take part in, one with the brilliant writer and interviewer, Richard Godwin, based on the original publication of THE BITCH.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hope you enjoy the read!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fgTn37VBoxlszCZ4Cgc5ijSOj-K8KtZryit6OivWumXbxydt0XR7vqoZ-ut9qIlf629eaaTmAh6lzaR8EuqEVduIYkRULT__SP0GmKDFdtrIfENtjLY3WX-nLNaUICKrVY4lGpaBc1Rs9q7d3veGzmo3R9pqRYWKXuivxf8AKZaukb0OUYzwlcZ7i34/s3508/THE%20BITCH%20Final.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3508" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fgTn37VBoxlszCZ4Cgc5ijSOj-K8KtZryit6OivWumXbxydt0XR7vqoZ-ut9qIlf629eaaTmAh6lzaR8EuqEVduIYkRULT__SP0GmKDFdtrIfENtjLY3WX-nLNaUICKrVY4lGpaBc1Rs9q7d3veGzmo3R9pqRYWKXuivxf8AKZaukb0OUYzwlcZ7i34/s320/THE%20BITCH%20Final.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_3gg2SqDJ3TK6n3SDoImxB6Iilh51I1tB_OpWVxfmDSuilMoae3dzapliu8kDLmiNqFjT5VR3o1qr98q5a20fF14F7bCs6qmk8w6R6KdVrKYfHQvajrAXBnvLCG2zBZWiWXvayZD9vw8CeaCabVJU_it5obQESpxIJdNXyCyXiIpTUImidUWcVPupj8/s1683/COVER%20OF%20THE%20DEATH%20OF%20THE%20SILVER%20KING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_3gg2SqDJ3TK6n3SDoImxB6Iilh51I1tB_OpWVxfmDSuilMoae3dzapliu8kDLmiNqFjT5VR3o1qr98q5a20fF14F7bCs6qmk8w6R6KdVrKYfHQvajrAXBnvLCG2zBZWiWXvayZD9vw8CeaCabVJU_it5obQESpxIJdNXyCyXiIpTUImidUWcVPupj8/s320/COVER%20OF%20THE%20DEATH%20OF%20THE%20SILVER%20KING.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxto0kdUNUNK3JcXX-pjz_ZOrOqrR2B4YaDn-HADebXE9xF4ruL5gSYtTYcHu7jlLr8BfgDH0xx6R4lYGAc3HDSyh_CuHZSx77NpN_HHN5licKargMvhE1bh08HKJxT-yyM1D1LviCmNbYSvQdDttNK0nuditAUomK84vkh4vyKaF0f0SbF8x28lFSlg/s1001/Cover%20TEMPI%20DIFFICILI%20for%20ITALIAN%20VERSION%20OF%20HARD%20TIMES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxto0kdUNUNK3JcXX-pjz_ZOrOqrR2B4YaDn-HADebXE9xF4ruL5gSYtTYcHu7jlLr8BfgDH0xx6R4lYGAc3HDSyh_CuHZSx77NpN_HHN5licKargMvhE1bh08HKJxT-yyM1D1LviCmNbYSvQdDttNK0nuditAUomK84vkh4vyKaF0f0SbF8x28lFSlg/s320/Cover%20TEMPI%20DIFFICILI%20for%20ITALIAN%20VERSION%20OF%20HARD%20TIMES.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Chin
Wag At The Slaughterhouse: Interview With Les Edgerton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Posted on <a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton" title="5:39 pm"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012</span></a> by <a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author/richardgodwin" title="View all posts by richardgodwin"><span style="color: blue;">richardgodwin</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Crime fiction has many styles, there is the
formulaic and the safe, there is the whodunit and the forensic, among others.
There are writers who try to take on the image of crime, and there are those
writers who know exactly what they are writing about. Les Edgerton is one such
writer. He is a rare breed. Les is a highly literate man who has seen life from
inside and outside a prison and knows more about writing than most reviewers
for the establishment journals. He is the author of some of the grittiest and
most incisive crime fiction out there, as his novel The Bitch illustrates. It
is not for those who seek a morality inside a genre which, if realistic, ought
to, on balance, deny it, it is for those who want to read a real crime story
told by a writer at the top of his game. Les met me at The Slaughterhouse,
where we talked about the sanitisation of crime and No Country For Old Men.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Do
you think that most readers of crime fiction want to read about real crime, or
a sanitised version of it with a morally conservative ending?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tough question! It depends on what kind of “crime
fiction” the reader is reading. If they’re reading cozies, or detective novels,
or most of the subgenres, they probably want that morally conservative ending.
For instance, those who like Jack Reacher want him to wreck havoc on the bad
guys in particularly violent ways. Same for the fans of Harlen Coben, Joe
Finder, Robert Crais and most bestselling crime writers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think most of those readers gravitate to like what
I call “daydream” stories. Fairly superficial, in that they often operate on a
vengeance level. Common plot—similar to the “skinny kid goes to the beach to
see the girl he’s secretly in love with and hoods find him and depants him and
embarrass him in front of her and he goes to the gym and lifts weights and
learns a martial art and comes back and kicks their asses and gets the girl.”
Same plot as the Charles Bronson movies, the Rocky Movies, etc. Revenge rules.
Very definitely a kind of “morality” story, especially the endings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But, while I enjoy much of that kind of fiction and
read it often, I’m more interested in dark or noir story and I suspect those
readers are more interested in real crime, or, to be more particular, in real <i>criminals</i>.
I don’t think it’s so much the <i>crime</i> itself that attracts the noir
reader as it is the <i>sensibility</i> of the criminal character.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My idea of noir is that it’s closer to the Jungian
idea of story. The “nightdream” story. Not “nightmare” although it can be a
nightmare, but the night <i>dream</i>, which is without a moral bias. As you
know, Carl Jung felt that since language was composed of symbols, communicating
via language was flawed and contorted truth as it added a layer between truth
and actual communication. He felt that real truth was revealed through dreams
(i.e., the “nightdream” definition), in which the barrier of language (symbols)
was overcome via the images the subconscious revealed in the dream state. That
if you could decipher dreams properly, you could decode the real truth of the
individual. The nightdream kind of story operates on this level and this is
what I feel noir is. I don’t think it’s a stretch to posit that William
Faulkner came up with stream-of-consciousness writing as he was nothing if not
a noir writer. He found a way to make language less symbolic (in some ways—in
other ways it’s even more symbolic) with this technique.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Noir requires a higher level of participation from
the reader. The reader who delves into the pages of Cormac McCarthy has to do
more work than the reader of Lee Child’s work. This isn’t a pejorative comment
against Mr. Child at all—I’m simply using his well-known body of work to
further the definitions. Noir is less cinematic and more literary. In Marshall
McLuhan’s vision, a novel such as Heath Lowrance’s <i>The Bastard Hand</i>
occupies a “hotter” place on the “hot media” scale than does <i>The Concrete
Blonde</i> by Michael Connelly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s an interesting element at work within crime
fiction readers of all stripes than in readers of other literary genres. In
other genres—say romance, for instance—the reader is a person who probably has
a first-hand experience with love or sex. They bring at least a minimum amount
of experience with them as they approach the story. They’ve been between the
sheets themselves and know what a meaningful look looks like and how to create
the “two-backed beast.” In other words, those who read a Shirley Jump novel
have an experiential knowledge of the subject matter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of cowboys read Westerns.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of doctors read medical thrillers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of lawyers read legal thrillers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of cops read detective thrillers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of people who came from dysfunctional
childhoods read memoirs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, to quote Kurt Vonnegut who was always the
smartest guy in whatever room he was in: “And so it goes.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The point is, the fans of most crime fiction
(including noir) don’t feel the same level of identification with the
characters in the story as do readers of other genres. You can’t say, for
instance, that “lots of criminals read crime novels.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crime fiction in general and noir in particular are
perhaps the only genres that have very few readers who come from the same
ranks. The “same ranks” would be… criminals. And, in proportion, very few
criminals read anything, and in particular, even fewer read noir… or are even
aware of its existence. Noir isn’t going to be found in many prison libraries.
Zane Grey books are as close as it comes to anything noirish.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The thing is, most inmates of state prisons aren’t
well-educated. When I was in Pendleton, the average educational level was about
third grade. In federal joints, it’s higher, but for a large percentage of
those folks, I wouldn’t consider them true criminals. White collar crime just
isn’t the same as sticking a gun in the face of the liquor store dude who’s got
his own meathook eight inches away from the sawed-off under the counter. The
federal prisons are vastly different than state joints also.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, yes, I do know that there are murderers and
other mean-spirited types in federal joints. Just not nearly as many as in
state joints. Not even close. A lot more accountants and lawyers and
politicians in federal prisons… You can write that down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What does all this have to do with the question?
Well, the question was: <i>Do you think that most readers of crime fiction want
to read about real crime, or a sanitised version of it with a morally
conservative ending?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Truth is, most readers of crime fiction don’t have a
clue what real crime is and how the mind of a real criminal works. I was made
aware of that when my novel <i>Just Like That</i> came out and a number of
reviewers stated that they had no idea the criminal mind worked like it did for
my protagonist Jake in that story. Some of the reviewers were crime writers
themselves. Well… most criminals think and act exactly like Jake does. Readers
of crime fiction were surprised by Jake because the only fiction they’d read
was from the pov of writers who… weren’t criminals. Writers who obtained their
knowledge of crime and criminals primarily from the same kinds of books they
write themselves. Or worse—from movies…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most readers of crime fiction simply want to live a
bit vicariously, just as do most writers of crime fiction. It’s kind of neat to
get close to real crime without having any of it actually get on you. It’s a
mindset I used to use to my advantage with ladies in my salad days… Bad boys
are very aware of the “bad boy syndrome…” There are those readers who venture
closer to the criminal than do others. Most find it fairly comfortable to get
close to a larger-than-life almost cartoon character superhero like Reacher
than they do to a guy like Jake Mayes who sticks his shank into Toles’ gut
simply because he didn’t know his name and therefore disrespected him. And is
mostly curious in watching his eyes to see how they change as he dies. That’s <i>too</i>
close for many folks. That’s close enough it may rub off or it may make them
aware that deep down, they’re very close to Jake in ways they don’t want to
admit.<br />
Noir approaches the true nihilistic nature of man better than most genres.
Which means it will never take up a lot of shelf space at Barnes & Noble.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crime fiction will. It’s safe to read about the same
kind of character one might encounter on their Gameboy or at the multiplex.
It’s kind of fun to imagine oneself as that skinny kid on the beach who
develops muscles the size of Buicks and creams the mean bullies. It’s a bit too
scary to imagine oneself as the Everyman who simply pulls the trigger on
someone who didn’t remember his name. Even though we’re all very close to that
guy… Nobody’s scared of a cartoon. Most people are by a real-life badass.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crime fiction readers are the ones who cross to the
other side of the street when they see three black dudes wearing hoodies
approaching…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Noir readers are the ones who keep on walking and
put their hands in their jacket pocket to be sure their nine is there…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can write noir realistically because I still
retain the same mindset I did when I was a practicing outlaw. I don’t commit
crimes anymore not because I’ve had my “come-to-Jesus” moment or that I just
want to be a productive, contributing citizen to society. I don’t commit ‘em
because I don’t want to go back to prison. It’s that simple. Being on the
bricks is just a lot more fun. And, the food’s better.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If anyone wants to know how criminals really think,
just read <i>Just Like That</i> or <i>The Bitch</i>. And, then, think about
this. There are currently about 3 million people in the joint. That means there
are probably at least 3-5 times that number who’ve been in prison and are now
out on the bricks. Living in your neighborhood, most likely. Most just don’t
know that as they think criminals look like what Central Casting comes up with
for movies… And, they assume they all move to the slums when they get out or in
worse neighborhoods than they live in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you think most criminals are like what you read
in books or see on television or in the movies, consider that while I’m not the
norm, I did spend time in the joint. And, I also taught college classes, cut
hair, and coached little league. I’m not the norm… but I’m not far off. The
guys I hung out with in Pendleton were pretty much like the guys I hung out with
at the local American Legion post or down at the neighborhood Starbucks. You
may be closer to getting some on you than you imagine…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My short answer to the question is that I think most
readers want to read a sanitized version with a morally conservative ending.
That doesn’t require a genius to figure out or a government study. Hang around
the checkout line at your local B&N and see what’s selling. More people buy
Lee Child than they do Allan Guthrie even though both writers are supremely
gifted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You
know what date is on this coin?”<br />
What do you make of Anton Chigurh’s philosophy in No Country For Old Men?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Man! You’re going to make me have to think, aren’t
you, Richard!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Okay. Here goes. I’ve never read an interview of
McCarthy’s or any articles on his book so this is purely my opinion and that’s
all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First, what characters do or say isn’t necessarily
the author on the page. Often, they’re just what they seem to be. A character.
That includes philosophies like that expressed by Chigurh in the coin toss
scene. On the surface, it expresses a fatalistic view of life. A Calvinistic
belief in predestination. Ordered by an omniscient God. That hoary trope, that
infamous “butterfly that flapped its wings in South America” beginning a chain
of events that resulted, weeks later in a “tsunami in Indonesia” kind of thing.
We’ve seen this before, notably in Ray Bradbury’s short story, “A Sound of
Thunder.” And, ol’ Ray adopted it from Edward Lorenz and some other proponents
of chaos theory. One might posit that this is McCarthy’s personal philosophy. I
don’t know if it is or if it isn’t and I don’t think it matters.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I only say this because too many times readers make
this kind of absurd leap—assuming the character is the author or represents the
author’s beliefs or philosophies—perhaps not his or her public persona but
maybe their private self. Sometimes that’s the case. It’s pretty obvious that
Ayn Rand’s Howard Roark is doubtless a manifestation of Rand’s philosophical
outlook on the body politic, but Nabokov’s Humbert Humbert probably isn’t an
expression of that author’s belief system. In fact, he was fairly adamant in
public utterances that it wasn’t. That he felt compelled to even address it is
proof positive that he acknowledged there were some who felt Humbert was, in
some way, Nabokov. Some dark corner of his psyche, perhaps. It’s this kind of
mindset that I think prevents some writers from creating characters like a
Humbert Humbert. Most of the folks who come to these kinds of conclusions don’t
have a platform other than the washeteria in their trailer parks, but on
occasion opinions like this gain publicity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ll face this kind of absurdity myself when my
novella, <i>The Rapist</i>, comes out. The protagonist is a vile man by any
reasonable definition and I think he’s accurately portrayed—there are folks out
there who think and act just as Truman Ferris Pinter does, but he’s not me nor
even a small part of me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It seems to me that what’s important about the
philosophy McCarthy gives his character isn’t the religious or political or
social view it expresses. It seems to me that there’s something deeper going on
with Chigurh and why the author gives him this expression of his take on
existence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In my view, this shows a writer who understands the
criminal mind better than most writers. It’s why I enjoy and respect his books
and especially this one which is an absolute work of genius. He knows how my
mind works.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s the deal. Many sociologists and other social
scientists and your average citizen down at Starbucks enjoying their soy lattes
come up with all kinds of theories as to what creates a criminal. Economic
conditions are an oft-cited reason. Poor people commit more crimes because
they’re… well… poor. Abused people commit crimes because they’re… well… abused.
Kids from broken homes commit crimes because they’re… well… you get the
picture. As that sage philosopher Kurt Vonnegut would say, “And so it goes.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, they all miss the real reason some of us are
criminals. They all approach criminality via a cause and effect point of view.
“Sixty percent of those incarcerated come from poverty.” “Seventy-one point
three percent of those in prison were abused as children.” And… so it goes.
(Thanks for the leit motif, Kurt.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These folks never seem to have a good answer when
skeptics point out that the two brothers and three sisters from the same social
and economic background as the armed robber brother doing ten and a quarter
didn’t end up the same way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These folks are oh-so-close but unfortunately
understanding people accurately isn’t scored like a horseshoe match.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is one thing only that creates a criminal and
a criminal mindset.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">More accurately, the overwhelming sense of a<i> lack
of control</i>. Control is often confused with power, but power is simply the
active element of control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we know from being told in countless articles and
lectures in Intro to Soc 101, rape isn’t about sex; it’s about power. Well, yes
and no. It’s really about control. Power is just one of the facets of that
control. The rapist is a person who sees himself as being without control
inasfar as the opposite (or even same) sex is concerned. He’s a guy who’s
tongue-tied around women. A guy whose hands sweat even thinking about holding a
girl’s hand or touching her skin. He’s a guy who stands in the corner at a
nightclub, afraid to approach the women at that table across the way. He’s
positive they’re going to laugh at him. He has no control over women. Or, on
the outside he may appear to, but inside he knows he really doesn’t.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But… he does. He figures out a way to gain control
of women–or men, sexually–or children, sexually. When he has a knife in his
hand or a gun or a terrifying look and voice, or is physically stronger, and
there’s no one around but him and his victim. For a brief period, he’s gained
control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As has the armed robber, the burglar, the
purse-snatcher, the check-kiter, the confidence man or woman, the murderer, the
arsonist. All of ‘em. Each crime, each criminal, arrives as a reaction to a
deep sense of the lack of control in the miscreant’s life in a particular area.<br />
It’s why the siblings of the armed robber doing time aren’t in there with him
and have never committed crimes themselves. They don’t feel the same degree of
lack of control in their lives. They haven’t reached the place in their own
lives that convince them they have no control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, yes, in a way, poverty, bad childhoods, and all
of those factors help create criminals, by convincing the individual that he or
she lacks significant control over their lives. Most of the time the child
molester was molested himself during childhood. In a graphic and
up-close-and-personal way it was brought home to him that he didn’t have an
ounce of control when Pappy had him down and was drilling him. The only way to
regain any sense of control is to control someone else. Briefly, he has control
and it’s an exhilarating experience. But, it’s soon over. But, he remembers the
feeling of being in control and so he has to repeat the action to regain the
feeling. It’s why serial killers, serial rapists, serial molesters, career
robbers and burglars and all the other forms of criminals keep on keeping on.
To recapture that feeling of being in control. All other times and events in
their lives simply… what’s the word I want?… oh, yeah… simply suck in
comparison.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We criminals call it “the high.” It’s better than
sex, we say. Better than drugs. Breaking into a bar and walking out with the
contents of the cash register is an indescribable high. You’re king of the
mountain. You feel just like the politician who just got elected mayor or
president. Same deal. Why do you think the mayor then wants to be governor and
then president? Same impetus as the guy who snatches purses, then burglarizes
bars, then holds up banks. Control furnishes a high but just like any drug the
user requires more and more and in stronger doses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, McCarthy understands all this. For me, this is
his genius. He doesn’t give us Chigurh’s terrible or happy childhood. It
doesn’t matter. Chigurh could have been the son of a Fortune 500 CEO or he
could have been raised in a tarpaper shack. Somewhere along the line—no matter
what his circumstance was—something happened to him that convinced him he
lacked control over his life or at least a significant part of it. It’s just more
likely to happen in an impoverished circumstance. So, he did what any
half-intelligent person does. He regained control. By killing folks. Every time
he stood over someone he’d just rendered room temperature, he got that feeling
not to be had anywhere else… of control. The moment before he killed them was
the very best part. It’s a place where he knows and his victim knows that he’s
in total charge of them. It’s the feeling the ancient kings enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The high.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He (Chihurh) probably even came up with his
philosophy of order in a chaotic universe with the coin bit. If it hadn’t been
that, it would have been something else. Probably something like that of Jules
in <i>Pulp Fiction</i> just before he kills the frat boy drug dealers. In fact,
if Julies did go forth and travel the land as he proclaimed he would, he could
have become Chigurh. They come from the same place and, not coincidentally, are
both the best examples of the true criminal mind in literature I can think of.
What film critic Mark T. Conrad noted about <i>Pulp Fiction</i>—that it was
about “American nihilism,” could be just as accurately applied to Chigurh’s
character. It’s a different brand of nihilism than British nihilism but both
are cuttings from the same plant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Although, one thing disturbs me about Chigurh. He
doesn’t “feel” like an American. He feels more like a Russian. Maybe it’s his
bad haircut…)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s the scene from the movie version:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">GAS STATION GUY: I didn’t put nothin’ up.<br />
ANTON CHIGURH: Yes, you did. You’ve been putting it up your whole life you just
didn’t know it. You know what date is on this coin?<br />
GAS STATION GUY: No.<br />
ANTON CHIGURH: 1958. It’s been traveling 22 years to get here. And now it’s
here. And it’s either heads or tails. And you have to say. Call it.<br />
GAS STATION GUY: Look, I need to know what I stand to win.<br />
ANTON CHIGURH: Everything.<br />
GAS STATION GUY: How’s that?<br />
ANTON CHIGURH: You stand to win everything. Call it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s the tsunami arriving, courtesy of that
butterfly flapping its wings weeks before. (In this case, 22 years before.)
Only one new element introduced in this scenario. God. Chigurh has inserted
himself into the equation as the Almighty God of this particular universe. He
alone can decide if the tsunami is going to happen. If not the God himself, the
instrument of that diety. I imagine others might see him as Satan, but I think
he sees himself as the avenging angel of God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He’s in control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the midst of chaos.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, that’s what I make of Chigurh’s philosophy… And
why I think <i>No Country for Old Men</i> is one of the best American novels
ever written. This is noir at its gothic best.<br />
As a note unrelated to the above, I’ve been curious as to what symbolism
critics give to the captive bolt gun. Personally, I think it’s simply a
MacGuffin. I’d love to turn the tables on the interviewer here and ask you,
Richard, what do<i> you</i> think it represents?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although, the more I think about it, by employing
the captive bolt gun—which is designed to render livestock killings as more
“humane” as it is used to stun the animal before killing to prevent pain and
suffering as they bleed out—that makes Chigurh more the agent of a fierce Old
Testament God who only extracts justice, as opposed to Satan who would most
certainly desire pain and suffering.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>How
important is body language to a criminal and how does it inform your writing?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s absolutely crucial to survival. Both inside and
outside the walls.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inside, anybody in there can go “off” at any second.
If you’re not prepared for that eventuality, you may well end up room
temperature. I think it’s why a lot of guys who’ve done time are above-average
poker players. Of course, most guys inside the walls have probably played more
poker than the average straight on the bricks, simply because of our
lifestyles, but you quickly learn to read the “tells” everyone has.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the bricks, it’s easier to spot significant body
language, mostly because more people aren’t aware they’re signaling a potential
action. Fewer people read body language so when you’re aware someone is, you
know that’s a person to watch. And, on the bricks the observers stand out, much
more so than in the joint where everybody is watching each other.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Staying alive depends a lot on avoiding dangerous
situations. There are dozens and dozens of signals people give off but I’ll
give you just a couple. If I’m in a bar, just having a peaceful glass of beer,
and a guy walks in and sits a couple of stools away from me and I see he’s
ordered a beer, I keep an eye on him. I want to see what he does when he
empties the bottle. If the barkeep comes over to remove it and the guy grabs it
and smiles at him that he wants to keep it, I usually move to a table or at
least farther down the bar. It’s what I do. It’s what most ex-cons do. The
first thing we do when we walk into a room is find a weapon. In a bar, the
easiest is to just hang onto that beer bottle. Don’t give it up until it’s
replaced by another. Sometimes, I’ll spot a guy who walks in, sits at the bar,
orders a drink and then reaches over and grabs a large ashtray. When he doesn’t
begin to smoke and doesn’t look as if he plans to, I again get up and move.
He’s just selected a weapon in case things go hinky. It doesn’t necessarily
mean he’s itching to use it, but if someone comes in and starts some shit,
he’ll have it ready and probably clip the nearest guy to him with it. It’s just
a good idea to remove yourself from the near vicinity of someone who’s made a
point of obtaining a weapon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even at this far remove from my prison days, I
retain some habits that are so ingrained I doubt that I’ll ever change them.
Here are just a few:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. I will rarely, if ever, sit in a public place
with my back exposed. I want to know who enters the space immediately.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. The second thing I do after entering and locating
a potential weapon, is to figure out at least a couple of escape routes should
the need arise. Usually, in a restaurant, a table by the kitchen is considered
a negative. I see it as a positive, simply because that’s where the nearest
back door is.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3. When walking down the street I avoid direct eye
contact in a way that’s hard to describe. Looking away is a sign of weakness,
while making direct eye contact is a sign of aggressiveness. But, there’s a way
of looking directly at a person that’s neither and doesn’t threaten or signal
submission. I wish I could explain how to do it, but I can’t. I just know how
to do it and most who’ve done time also know how. It’s kind of like when
Justice Potter Stewart was asked to define pornography and he said he couldn’t
define it, but he knew it when he saw it. I can’t define the technique, but I
know it when I see it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4. If I see a guy who keeps touching his front pants
pocket I assume he’s got a knife or mayb a gun there. If I see him touching his
wallet in his back pocket, I laugh as he’s expecting pickpockets and has read too
many crime novels and his actions are only going to draw a thief as he’s just
exposed himself as being perhaps a bit naïve and from a small town. In other
words, a probably easy mark.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5. In a public bathroom that’s unoccupied when I
enter, I always select a urinal on the end and never one in the middle. I’ve
just cut down the possibilities in half of someone next to me attacking me. If
someone comes in and there are 4-5 urinals and I’m on one end and he picks the
one next to me, I’m going to deliver some fairly overt body language that tells
him to back off. Most likely, I’ll just say something. Before I do, I’ll
already have cut the flow and zipped up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The most important body language however, is
delivered via the eyes. You can tell just about everything you need to know
about someone via the eyes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a look almost all inmates hate to see. The
guy looking at them with bovine eyes. The “look of love.” Once you’ve seen it
on a guy, you never forget it. And, you want to go to a planet they’re not
currently on. It’s a look that makes your blood curdle. The instant you see it,
you know there’s going to be blood on the floor. Yours, his, or both of yours.
It’s a foregone conclusion almost always.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s that “comfortable space” thing. I forget the
dimensions other than Europeans will allow other folks to get closer to them
than Americans will. In the joint, the allowable space is closer to the
American model but further than that allowed in civilian life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are dozens and dozens of things body language
tells you, if not hundreds. It would take a thick book to list them all and
then I’d miss some.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As far as how it informs my writing? I think it has
a huge impact, perhaps not consciously but at least on an experiential level.
I’m extremely aware of how characters’ actions not only inform their character
but also create character arc. I’m currently writing a new writer’s how-to, <i>A
Fiction Writer’s Workshop at the Bijou</i>, and this is one of the most
important subjects I’m exploring. I use the movie <i>Thelma & Louise</i>,
and as one example show how the action of smoking works both to establish
character as well as show character growth. In the beginning, Louise is smoking
and Thelma is nibbling on a candy bar. One is the action of an adult and the
other of a child. As the story moves forward, Thelma pantomimes Louise smoking,
dragging on an unlit cigarette and obviously mimicking Louise. Eventually,
Thelma begins to smoke, but she places the cigarette in the middle of her
mouth. Near the end, Thelma has become a chain smoker and the butt hangs
loosely from the corner of her mouth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I try to use body language and actions just as
Callie Khouri (the screenwriter of <i>T&L</i>) did. For instance, in one of
my short stories, “Blue Skies,” the protagonist in the turning point suddenly
realizes his teenaged daughter Celsi is never going to change from the
mentally-challenged child she was at the age of six, when he sees her bite into
a sandwich from the middle, just as she did when a young child. He realizes
adults almost always bite the tip off first and knew from that, that she was
never going to be any older mentally than she was at the age of six.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Body language and actions are extremely powerful,
both in real life and in effective fiction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Do
you think killing and fucking are related?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, I was having fun with that one.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a long tradition within civilized history of
the two being connected. Look at the metaphysical poets like Andrew Marvel and
John Donne in the 17th century. Writing at that time was restricted to the educated
which meant the clergy. And, their output was severely restricted and censored.
Bad things—like dismemberment and other nasty things—happened to writers and
other thinkers who violated the precepts of the Church. The only problem was,
poets then were pretty much like poets now. Mostly what they wanted to write
about—mostly what they thought was writing about—was sex. Since they were
writers and therefore clever fellows, they wrote about sex.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the only way available. By using coded language.
These guys were dripping with testosterone and wrote verse that was basically
porn. And not just soft porn, but lots of hard-core porn as well. How did they
do that and keep their heads attached?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Easy. When they wanted to express the joys of a
sexual climax, they just used the code. They didn’t say their character was
“getting his rocks off” in whatever the popular vernacular of the day was.
Nope. They just said he had a “little death.” Everybody was in on it, even
Church officials. Especially Church officials! Under those robes beat a
throbbing… well, you know… Ol’ John might have meant something else by that “no
man is an island…” thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Killing and sex are Siamese twins joined at the hip.
It was entirely natural to use death and killing in those codes for sex. They
knew they were related.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Probably three-fourths or more of all murders are
linked to sex in some way. Probably a higher percentage than that. Even the
murders ostensibly over money are more often than not about money as a means to
gain sex. It takes money for a really ugly, really fat, really old guy to get
the kind of sex partner he lusts for. Killing the wife gains not only a life
insurance policy, the family business, but at the end of that rainbow, a newer,
thinner, less-wrinkled piece of tail.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, it cuts both ways among the sexes. Equal
opportunity. Just as many horny women killers as there are male. It takes money
for a really ugly, really fat, really old woman to get the kind of sex partner
she lusts for. Killing the husband gains not only a life insurance policy, the
family business, but at the end of that rainbow, a newer, thinner,
less-wrinkled lover. Again, a form of control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The connection between the two goes back much
further than history. Prehistory gives us the image of Thog with his club knocking
out the woman and dragging her back to the cave by her tresses. What’s missing
in that cartoon panel is the start of the story. Thog cracking the woman’s mate
over the head first…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Early nihilism…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sex is both a need and a desire and the time-honored
and time-proven way to get it is to kill whoever or whatever’s in the way.
Whoever being the current sexual partner. Whatever being the capital to secure
the sexual partner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This probably isn’t the answer you expected,
Richard, but it’s the one I’m giving. Sometimes, we make things more
complicated that they are, yes?<br />
Of course they’re related.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Tell
us about your novel The Bitch.</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aha! This is what we call ”the money shot” in porn
movie parlance…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Bitch</i>
is the book I’m the proudest of. Well, <i>co</i>-proudest of… I have a new
novella coming out next year—<i>The Rapist</i>—that I’m equally proud of, but
this question is about <i>The Bitch</i>, so I’ll restrict my remarks to it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It marks a break-through for me from something
learned during the writing of it. I’d written several endings to it and while
each one would have been fine—at least on a commercial level—each left me
unsatisfied. First, the protagonist in this book—Jake Mayes—is as close to
being myself as any character I’ve ever created. He’s not my alter-ego—he’s my
ego.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I kept writing endings that while not “happy”
endings, still stayed within that parameter of commercial endings termed
“satisfactory” endings. Not the ending I wanted, but the ending I thought the
reading public (whoever they are) would accept. You see, I’m like a lot of
other writers—I want to sell books.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I also want to have integrity in my writing.
Finally, I took the plunge and wrote the ending I felt true to my character and
to the story. Figuring I’d just lost either a publisher or the market. It was…
dark. And then I sent it out to Brian Lindemuth, the editor/publisher of
Spinetingler Magazine and Snubnose Press for a possible blurb and when I got
his response back, I knew I’d trusted the right instincts. Here’s what Brian
said:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I liked The Bitch so much that I wanted to publish
it. But we lost out and Bare Knuckles Press got a hell of a book. The Bitch is
a dark crime fiction story that never once pulls a punch or ducks behind some
bullshit like ‘happy endings’ or ‘closure’. The Bitch isn’t afraid to stay dark
until the very end.” — Brian Lindemuth, editor of Snubnose Press and
Spinetingler Magazine.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was the last two lines that told me I’d done the
right thing in trusting my instincts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was the first time I knew it was all right to
end a novel in a dark place, without the Hollywood happy-sappy ending or, as
Lindemuth said, with “closure.” (Whatever that is…)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To those more learned than I am, it’s no doubt old
news that one could write an ending like this and get published. I didn’t know
it was possible. The feeling I got when I learned this was the same as when I
discovered writers like Charles Bukowski and Brian Everson and realized I could
write about the kinds of people that populated my own life. I was
overwhelmingly naïve about what was possible in fiction. This was enormously
liberating and it was a release from what I assumed were the limits of
publishable fiction that allowed me to pull out a manuscript I’d written 20
years before and send it out. I’m referring to a novella titled <i>The Rapist</i>
that’s coming out next year from New Pulp Press. I’d written it for myself and
not for publication, believing it wasn’t at all publishable and with the
response to <i>The Bitch</i> realized that it might be. It was the book I
wished someone else had written and they hadn’t so I had to write it myself…
and I did. Thinking that it would forever only be read by myself and maybe a
carefully-considered friend or two that I trusted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That first friend was Cortright McMeel. Cort
instantly called it a work of genius and the best thing he’d ever read. The
opinion of someone I respected so very much, coupled with Brian Lindemuth’s
words about <i>The Bitch</i>, have changed my entire writing life. Now, I know
anything is possible and that’s incredibly liberating.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Bitch</i>
is about Jake Mayes, a guy who’s done two bits in the joint and has been out on
the bricks for a few years now and for all intents and purposes has become a
regular citizen. He’s married a wonderful young woman, they’re expecting their
first child, and he’s about to open his own business. And then… His former
cellmate, Walker “Spitball” Joy calls him out of the blue to demand a favor of
him. A favor he feels duty-bound to honor as Spitball saved his life one time
back in the joint. The favor centers around Jake’s former specialty, burglary.
He was the best in the business. He wants nothing to do with Spitball. His
life’s on track and his situation is a dangerous one. If he gets caught, he
faces the “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” ha-<i>bitch</i>-ual criminal statute”
(hence, the title “The Bitch, which is what cons refer to this law as), and
will end up doing life in the joint.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s a story that was birthed by my own prison
experiences and even present life. As Jake faces events transpire that plunge
him further and further into the abyss, he makes the same kind of choices I’d
make in the same situations. Choices that might not play down at the First
Baptist or on Main Street, but that I’d make under the same circumstances.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Writing this novel felt more like writing a memoir
than it did fiction. It’s very up close and personal. If I’d had a cellmate
like Spitball to whom I owed a favor I couldn’t refuse, my own life might well
have turned out the same as Jake’s does. Actually, I do have a former cellmate
to whom I owe such a favor. So far, he hasn’t turned up demanding I repay him.
If he does, my publisher may want to repackage this as autobiography…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s difficult to talk about this novel in terms of
plot as it’s nearly impossible to do so without revealing spoilers. What has
been extremely gratifying about it is the fantastic blurbs and reviews it’s
received from writers I have the utmost respect for. I’m very proud it won the
Preditors & Editors award for Best Novel for 2011, even though it wasn’t
released until the middle of December and all of the other nominees had a
many-months’ head start on it for votes. I’m extremely stoked over the fact
that it has been awarded a nomination for Best Novel in the Legends category by
the prestigious <i>Spinetingler Magazine</i>. As it’s only available at present
in ebook format and therefore not eligible for the Edgar awards, this is my
own, personal “Edgar” nomination.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>To
what extent do you think Jung’s notion of the shadow criminalises some people
and alienates others?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You ask the toughest (and best) questions I’ve ever
been asked in an interview, Richard. I feel like I’m preparing for my orals…
Remember, I’m just an ex-con who spent much of my time lying on my bunk in my
cell, giving my toes names and teaching my trouser worm to sit up and do
tricks…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Okay. You just happened to pick the one guy I think
knew something about the human psyche more than just about anyone else… I’ll do
my best here.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From my (very!) rudimentary awareness of Jung’s
shadow theory, it represented kind of the negative part of Freud’s
subconscious, which makes it the interesting part…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, it was more prominent during the individual’s
childhood; as the person grew older, the conscious more and more suppressed it.
That kind of makes it where truth resides in my personal interpretation. It’s
governed more by instinct or race memory than the “logic” gained through
“education” or “socialization/acculturization.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My problem with this question is that I don’t
subscribe to the same general definitions of criminality as most appear to.
What is termed a “crime” and a “criminal” seem to be artificially-imposed upon
the particular culture or society an individual finds himself in. What’s a
crime in one society is deemed an activity to be lauded in another or totally
ignored by yet another. Also, I have another problem with the shadow and animus
in that they were assigned moral values by Jung as well as his followers and I
think that by giving it weight in that fashion if it exists, then it’s been
corrupted by the morality component of the definition.<br />
My feeling is that once you introduce morality into the equation, it becomes
just another brick in the myth of deity governing man.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, I don’t think it criminalizes or alienates
anyone except in the minds of those who subscribe to notions of morality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For instance, if the “authorities” in a Western
culture were to come upon a woman performing fellatio on her infant son or even
her infant nephew or just a random baby, she would undoubtedly be punished for
what would be deemed a transgression. However, a like woman in one of several
American Indian cultures of say two hundred years ago, performing the same act,
might easily be honored for the same deed. Why? Well, because this was one of
the evasive tactics when warriors from another tribe were near and the at-risk
tribe would be killed if detected and it was the custom for a woman (or even a
man) to suck on a baby’s penis to keep him quiet and avoid detection.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One arguing that it’s the intent that separates one
act from another, similar act, but isn’t that always the standard? And, if so,
how can one determine what is in the heart of another?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I just can’t subscribe to a moral view of nearly
anything. I always view morality as a contrived set of rules or beliefs that
shift vast degrees, depending on the culture or society and only useful for the
ruling class to maintain control. And, the older the culture, the more twisted
and tortured that moral code becomes as it’s cannibalized and perverted over
time by particular interests who hold sway at various periods.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each side of a debate claims morality as his
authority. If this is so—and it is—who determines which is the true moral
person? The answer is simple. The one who wins the battle. That’s what it
always and ultimately comes down to.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One person’s “crime” in one culture is another
person’s laudable deed in another. The criminal only exists when his acts are
judged according to an artificial code. A code which is often illogical.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is the difference in the druglord who sends his
minions to kill the opposition’s men who are taking over his drug trade in a
particular neighborhood, from the king or president who sends his minions to
kill the opposition’s soldiers who are taking over his land in a particular
locale, from a religious leader who sends his minions to kill the opposition’s
men who are trying to supplant his brand of religion with another? I don’t see
any difference. In the end it’s always about control of another and the
“morality” is determined by the winner in each case.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With all due respect, I think the question is wrong
here. Wrong for me. I don’t operate my life by a moral code as much as I do by
an expediency set of values. If I commit what society deems to be a crime and I
don’t suffer consequences, then I’ve done nothing wrong in my universe—in fact,
“wrong” isn’t an accurate word. Right and wrong don’t exist as far as I’m
concerned, at least not in the same manner of definition as would be deferred
to by most others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jung’s shadow made sense until he began explaining
that it was the irrational side of man. I propose it’s the opposite. I do agree
with him that it represents the creative side of man.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Which accounts for the lack of true creativity in
many. It seems to be civilization’s goal to sublimate the shadow side of man.
Which may be why they call it the “dark” side.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>What
are you working on now?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots and lots of things! I’m blessed with being ADD,
which is a beautiful thing to be if you’re a writer. I’m able to
compartmentalize well and focus narrowly and intensely, and I use it to my
advantage. I keep an average of about 20-25 writing projects going at a time.
That includes a wide range of activities, including novels, nonfiction books,
articles, letters, blog posts, research, reading and a variety of other writing
things going on at once. It means I don’t waste much time and get a lot done
each day. What happens is if I get tired (I won’t say “suffer writer’s block”
as I don’t believe that exists) of a particular project—say a novel I’m working
on—I simply pull up another file—say another novel I’m writing—and continue on
with it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At present, I’m working on a new thriller I’ve
titled THE FIXER, about a hitman from New Orleans who hires out for
assassinations but with a twist—all of his hits are made to look like
accidents. For instance, he’s in the process now of killing a Vermont woman for
her husband so the hubby can gain her family fortune, and the method he’s
chosen is to give her rabies. Her husband invites him to their home for dinner
under the pretext that he’s a business associate and during the meal, The
Fixer, aka Francois Roberge, Jr., born in Opelousas, Louisiana, drugs the wife
and while she’s sleeping, inserts her with live rabies. The beauty of rabies is
that when a person learns they’re infected with the disease… it’s too late for
much of anything other than scribbling out a will… I’m having a lot of fun
writing this one as I’ve accumulated a lot of “perfect crimes” that I get to
use here. What’s going to be really neat is that Francois is never going to get
caught.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m also writing another novel that’s along the
lines of my forthcoming noir novella, THE RAPIST, and which I won’t talk about
as it’s still in the evolving stages when too much said about it kind of takes
my edge off when I really need it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m writing a new writer’s how-to craft book, titled
A FICTION WRITER’S WORKSHOP AT THE BIJOU, that I’ve been working on for several
years. Had the proposal sold twice and an advance of $10,000 offered and each
time pulled it back as the publisher wanted things in it I didn’t. I think I’ll
end up self-publishing it instead and that way I know it’ll be what I want and
I won’t have to do some of the things the publisher wanted me to do with it.
For instance, include “exercises.” I frickin’ hate exercises. I frickin’ don’t
think they do much at all except look cute and eat up time for writing
teachers. So, my version won’t have any frickin’ exercises. Be ye so
forewarned. Did I mention I frickin’ hate writing exercises?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hate ‘em enough to give up a sure 10K… I’m kind of
an idiot, aren’t I…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m doing final rewrites on several books that
should come out in the near future. I have a YA I’m working on, titled MIRROR,
MIRROR for StoneGate Press which I’m told will come out soon. Working on
last-minute changes to a black comedy novel, titled THE GENUINE, IMITATION,
PLASTIC KIDNAPPING about a couple of low-lifes who are in debt to the Italian
Mafia and work out a plan to end their indebtedness by kidnapping the head of
the Cajun Mafia and amputating his hand and holding that appendage for ransom.
And writing a follow-up novel to it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Working on my memoir, ADRENALINE JUNKIE. And,
figuring out how to get a fake passport and new I.D. for when it comes out as I
name names…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have a couple more novels and nonfiction books I’m
working on. Plus, teaching a private online novel-writing class, and teaching a
class via Skype with author Jenny Milchman for the New York Writer’s Workshop.
Coaching a few individuals privately on their novels. Getting ready to teach
video classes for a new venture Kristen Lamb is creating.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Doing pub work for FINDING YOUR VOICE. This was my
first craft book, published by Writer’s Digest Books in hard- and softcover,
and my agent, Chip Macgregor secured the ebook rights to it and we published
that version ourselves. Trying to get the word out that it’s available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reading. I average about 3-4 novels a week and
consider it the most important part of writing other than the actual writing I
do myself. It’s how we learn first to be writers and then how to keep improving
our craft. As it so happens, one of the novels I’m reading at the moment is
your own MR. GLAMOUR.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Doing this interview! This has been the most
exhaustive interview I’ve ever been involved with. It’s really made me think.
After we’re done here, Richard, I just want to go away with a bottle of Jack
and find a deserted beach somewhere and just get blotto for a week… What this
reminds me of are the <i>Paris Review</i> interviews, only I think yours are
even more personalized and more in-depth (read: <i>intense</i>) and those are
pretty good interviews—really the best in the business, I thought, until I met
you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>How
much pleasure is derived from fucking during a porn film with a camera crew
filming you and what did those experiences tell you about the average sex life
and the prevalence of voyeurism in modern culture?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I imagine you’re talking about the stag movies I
made when I was in Bermuda at the tender age of 20, right? That’s how long ago
it was—the term “porn” wasn’t even around then. They were just… stag movies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What happened was a friend of mine and I were
walking down a beach in Bermuda on our usual quest—to pick up girls. We had a
little “routine” we used all the time. He carried a camera—that didn’t even
have film in it—and I carried a notepad and pen. We’d walk the beach until we
spotted a pair of girls we deemed attractive and then “Mike” (not his real
name) would begin walking around them, snapping pictures. I’d start jotting things
down in my pad. One of the girls would ask what we were doing and we’d explain
that we were doing a feature for <i>Life Magazine</i> on the “College Week”
phenomenon in Bermuda. That they might well make the cover! It was a con that
worked often and well. Almost always we ended up with the girls.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, this day a guy was watching us and laughing to
himself—we weren’t too hard to figure out—and he approached us to ask if we’d
be interested in making a movie. A sex movie.<br />
Of course we were! We were 20 years old and fancied ourselves as studs to begin
with so he didn’t have to sell his proposition very hard.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The upshot was, we ended up making a movie that
turned out to not have much of a plot. Two girls in nurses’ uniforms walk into
our “doctor’s office” and pretty soon shucked their dress whites and we got rid
of our stethoscopes and were soon doing the horizontal boogie on a couple of
examination tables. Fairly low-rent production.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we finished the “film” the guy in charge gave
Mike a hundred-dollar bill, and thanked him, and asked me to stick around. Mike
left and the guy asked if I’d be interested in making more movies. Of course I
would! I ended up making two more “movies” that day and made a couple hundred
more dollars. He asked me to come back the next day and I said I would, but
something or other came up—a party probably—and I never went back.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That wasn’t the end of it though. Years later, I was
back in Indiana and getting ready to get married. A friend hosted a bachelor’s
party for me and somebody brought stag movies. I never watch those things—most
are boring—and, in fact, was engrossed in playing in the poker game we had
going, my back to the screen, when somebody yelled out, “That’s Les!”<br />
I turned around and sure enough… it was moi. In one of those godawful stag
movies I’d “starred” in. As I was striving to keep my past hidden in those days
(I’d already done time in Pendleton at the time), I managed to convince
everybody it wasn’t me. It was a fairly grainy copy so it wasn’t all that hard.
It could have been embarrassing if my fiancée had discovered my acting days…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As to your question, I’m not sure if I can provide a
good answer. Screwing in front of a camera just wasn’t a big deal at that time.
Before that time, I’d logged in many hours in another establishment in Bermuda
that was far more risque. A guy owned a huge loft downtown that consisted of
dozens of mattresses laid end-to-end and covering the entire floor and there
were large movie screens on three walls. On which were being shown porn movies continually.
To get into the loft you simply paid five dollars a person. It was a “date”
scene. At any time, there would be up to 20-30 people and occasionally more—men
and women, men and men, women and women—you name the combination, they were
there—all doing the nasty on the mattresses while the movies played. We used to
take the little college coeds visiting the island there and they were thrilled
to experience the seedier side of life. It’s amazing what girls will do when
they get away from home and no one knows them… Mostly girls from Vassar and
Bennington and the like… So screwing before a camera just wasn’t a big deal. I
don’t remember thinking much about it. If I’d been in the States and never
ventured anywhere else it might have been, but fucking in front of the camera
just didn’t represent much of a wow factor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, when you say “modern culture” my observation is
that we did a lot more risqué things then than folks do today. By the time I
was twenty, I’d been to bed with more than a hundred women and with the advent
of all the STD’s today, I’d be an anomaly today I suspect. Then, I was just a
normal young male. The culture today seems much more Puritanical, although the
younger generation would want to argue about that I imagine, taking for granted
that they’re freer sexually. Not so, my young grasshoppers…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today’s kids talk a good game. I’m not sure they
play as hard as we did…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Graham
Greene said writers have a piece of ice in their hearts. What do you make of
his observation?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many writers do. I do. I’m not sure if those who
write for publications such as <i>Guideposts</i> do. My instincts say they do
not. Like a lot of sayings like this, often they could be made clearer with
qualifiers. In this case, perhaps what he said could be improved by saying, “<i>Good</i>
writers have a piece of ice in their hearts.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before I was aware of Greene’s observation, I’d come
to the same conclusion myself. I think that nearly all writers of real ability
do the same. Often, I would tell students that “if you want to write, you
should write every day. For instance, I love my mother (this was before I found
out my mother was a lying bitch–another story) and if she died tomorrow, I’d be
very sad and go to the funeral. But, when I returned home, I’d write. Probably
about the funeral.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s what Greene is referring to. The art of
detachment from the emotional to be able to observe an event and describe it
accurately and dispassionately. It’s what allows us to write dramatically
instead of melodramatically. It is simply the ability to maintain alertness and
keep your own emotions at bay when describing events, especially events that
carry emotion personally. It’s not “coldness” or “calculating observation” as
some would say. It’s simply maintaining the reporter’s stance when writing
drama so as to maintain the drama and not tip over into melodrama.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The writer who creates the scene with the young
mother walking down the street with her beloved toddler, hand-in-hand, laughing
at the child’s antics, and then abruptly, the little girl tears her hand away
from her mother’s, darts into the street and is struck by a van and instantly
killed in a particularly bloody manner, attendant with gore and bits of the
child’s brains spattered against the vehicle’s bumper—the writer who writes
such a scene and portrays the mother as then running into the street, screaming
at the top of her lungs, cursing God as she shakes her fist at the heavens, and
then prostrating herself across the dead body of her baby, wailing and moaning
and screaming by turn, tearing out handfuls of her hair—that writer is one who
isn’t aware of Greene’s description of a (good) writer. However, the same scene
rendered by one who has a character facing the same scene—the mother—and has
that woman simply slump to the curb, eyes dry, and instead given that
“thousand-yard stare” that soldiers in combat have—this is a writer who has
that piece of ice in his heart. Two writers—one who sees and writes about what
they see in melodramatic terms—and one who sees and writes about what they see
in dramatic terms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having that piece of ice in our hearts is what
allows the good writer to lower the volume instead of raising it. Thereby
creating true emotion and not surface emotion, cheaply and easily wrought.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That first writer is who Oscar Wilde was referring
to in his famous criticism of that most melodramatic writer of all time,
Charles Dickens, when he said, “One must have a heart of stone to read the
death of little Nell without laughing.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Indeed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To be fair, there is another point of view
concerning Greene’s statement. His own cousin, Barbara Greene, said of him
that: “…most of humanity was to him like a heap of insects that he liked to
examine, as a scientist might examine his specimens, coldly and clearly.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, you have that, too…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I suspect Babs enjoyed Dickens’ books more than she
did her cousin’s…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why we have readers of romance novels and readers of
noir…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just sayin’…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Do
you think Faulkner merged Noir with Southern Gothic and that the history of the
South provides a rich soil for Noir fiction?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Absolutely, on both! My personal opinion is that the
best U.S. writers in any genre come from the South. It’s because of several
factors. One of the biggest is that language is more important to Southerners
than for those of other regions. It’s a class-conscious society to the nth
degree and what you say, the words you choose, and how you say it tell a native
exactly who you are, where you came from, and what your status is. And status
is important to Southerners. It’s all about family. Unlike Yankees, money isn’t
the determining factor in your status. It’s family. Old money is good; new
money is suspect and not well-regarded. Those folks are better regarded in
towns like Miami and Dallas which are two towns that aren’t considered all that
southern by the surrounding natives. Too many carpetbaggers. Atlanta’s getting
there if they’re not there already… Houston for sure.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For instance, I’ve lived in New Orleans for much of
my life, and I can easily identify nine different accents from different parts
of town. An Uptown accent is much different than one from the Irish Channel as
is a Downtown accent much different than one from the Ninth Ward. And so on. If
I hear a teenaged girl say “Jeezum” I know almost to the block where she’s from.
And, where a person is from is important to most natives. We live in a class
society in the South and what class you belong to impacts the way you’ll be
treated by others. It determines how you think of yourself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I consider myself a Southerner even though these
days I find myself in Indiana. Most of my stories are set in the south. I’ve
written a few set in the north, but I’m always uncomfortable. It feels like I’m
writing about a foreign country. The north “feels” sterile to me. Family
doesn’t seem to matter—the history of families doesn’t seem to matter. The
class lines are blurred and seem to focus more on wealth than anything else.
The north feels like TV; the south feels like movies. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s
novels feel like soap operas—TV—James Lee Burke’s novels feel like movies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a real-life anecdote that somewhat
illustrates the differences. My wife Mary is a born and bred Yankee, having
been born in New Hampshire and living most of her life in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Before we got married, I told her there was no way I could live in Ft. Wayne,
and she was happy to move with me back to New Orleans. At the time, we were
both hairstylists. She found a job in a salon a block from our home on Burthe
(pronounced “Butte”) on Carrollton where it ends at the levee and takes a turn
onto St. Charles Avenue. Across the street from the little strip mall where the
Camillia Grill is. I worked uptown at a salon in the Fairmont Hotel, “Busta’s
at the Fairmont.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One day, shortly after we’d moved to New Orleans,
Mary and I were walking from our house to the Camillia Grill for breakfast and
I saw this young lady with a young man. In passing the couple, I overheard her
say something to her escort. Without thinking, I pointed her out and said,
“Looks like she’s trying to pass.” Being from the north, Mary didn’t have a
clue what I was talking about, so I had to explain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That girl’s black,” I said. “She’s trying to pass
for white.” She was with a young white guy which is why I made the assumption.
To me it was obvious for a couple of reasons. One, the couple went into
Madigan’s which was a neighborhood bar and not a bar a black person would
ordinarily go into. Also, when she spoke to her companion, her syntax told me
she was black. I wish I could remember what it was she said, but at this late
remove I can’t. All I remember was it told me she was from the Ninth Ward.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mary looked at me like she thought I was nuts, and
said, “You’re crazy! That girl’s whiter than I am!” Well, her skin color was
but she had other features that told me she had some black blood in her, plus
her language. I didn’t pursue it or try to convince her otherwise and I thought
that was the end of it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until the following day. When Mary came home from
work the first thing she did was tell me about an incident at work. Seems that
the same girl we’d seen the day before was a client of one of the other
stylists at her salon and came in for her appointment. Another of Mary’s
co-workers, a black lady who was one of the shampoo assistants, walked by Mary
and whispered to her, “That hussy! She’s passin’!” Mary said she went into mild
shock and told the girl that’s what I’d said when I saw her, to which the girl
just shook her head as if amazed that Mary couldn’t see what was obvious to
both her and me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The point of this little anecdote isn’t to show that
racism is alive and strong—of course it is—but to show the difference between
the north and the south. Both a southern white man and a southern black woman
were instantly aware that a black woman was trying to pass as white. And, it <i>mattered</i>
to them, at least enough to comment on it. The Yankee (Mary) didn’t “see” what
we saw and even when it was pointed out to her, she just didn’t see why it
mattered. That’s because she doesn’t share a history. She’s not even aware of a
history. I also know that if this was in the north—say in Cleveland or in
Bridgeport—and that same woman had walked by, a northern black very likely
would have taken her appearance, speech and circumstance in and come to the
same conclusion—that she was passing. The northern white person wouldn’t have.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blacks and whites are intertwined with their joint
histories in the South in ways that doesn’t occur anywhere else. It’s a bloody,
violent history and renders the perfect tableau for noir and gothic, more so
than any other region. It’s simply a dark, twisted history. Fertile loam for
story to grow in. The climate also contributes. As Ellen Gilchrist said, to
survive in New Orleans “requires equal amounts of sugar and alcohol.” That
isn’t something that would hold water if she were talking about say, Des Moines
or Santa Barbara or Albany… It <i>would</i> apply to Biloxi, Houma, or my
hometown, Freeport, Texas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s thousands of seemingly little things like this
that make language extremely important to Southerners. There’s a rigid class
system at work and it’s why that young woman was trying to pass. If she could
be taken as white, at least in her mind, she would have improved her station in
life. It doesn’t matter that some people think that’s a bunch of hooey or not—it
exists and that’s what’s important.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Faulkner, as a native Southerner, was also well
aware of it and wrote from that place. It’s why his fiction resonates with so
many. Even readers from other sections of the country and other countries can
just “sense” that history bubbling beneath the surface. A dark history, not
available in most other places, at least not over a significant period of time.
You can’t fake that. It lends his writing a verisimilitude that has to be
earned by coming from a particular place. It’s the same kind of thing that
happens when I read criminal characters from writers who have never been
criminals nor have ever done time. The verisimilitude isn’t there. There’s no
experiential “heart” to the writing. A TV show, not a movie.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Language is all. It’s why overall, the Irish are the
best writers and the American Southerner the second best. Which makes me wonder
if there isn’t another relationship going on—after all, the American South was
populated originally mostly by the Scotch-Irish…<br />
In my opinion…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(I expect other opinions will surface… most likely
from those not Irish or Southerners…)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for this opportunity, Richard. This has
been the single toughest interview experience I’ve ever had!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Thank
you Les for a great and heavyweight interview.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br />
Links:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.lesedgertononwriting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Author website</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #a10801;">The Bitch</span></i> at
Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Bitch-ebook/dp/B006P2NLHG/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340202620&sr=1-8&keywords=les+edgerton" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">US</span></a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Bitch-ebook/dp/B006P2NLHG/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340200423&sr=1-4" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">UK</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #a10801;">Just Like That</span></i>
at Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Just-Like-That-Edgerton/dp/0615572227/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340205584&sr=1-1&keywords=just+like+that+by+les+edgerton" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">US</span></a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Like-That-ebook/dp/B005GHDY82/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340205658&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">UK</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All Les Edgerton works listed on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=les+edgerton" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">US</span></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=les+edgerton&x=0&y=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">UK</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This entry was posted in <a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/category/author-interviews-extensive" title="View all posts in Author Interviews - Chin Wags"><span style="color: blue;">Author Interviews - Chin Wags</span></a>. Bookmark the <a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton" title="Permalink to Chin Wag At The Slaughterhouse: Interview With Les Edgerton"><span style="color: blue;">permalink</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-cindy-rosmus"><span style="color: blue;">← Chin Wag At The Slaughterhouse: Interview With Cindy
Rosmus</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-jack-ketchum"><span style="color: blue;">Chin Wag At The Slaughterhouse: Interview With Jack Ketchum →</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">23 Responses to <i>Chin Wag
At The Slaughterhouse: Interview With Les Edgerton</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5"
o:spid="_x0000_i1047" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/89168d1eaf2d8a24b1c613d22a054508?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg"
o:title="89168d1eaf2d8a24b1c613d22a054508?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/89168d1eaf2d8a24b1c613d22a054508?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Paul
D Brazill</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32496"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 6:22 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">A fantastic interview. Les
has a great understanding of people and writing, which he is why he is one of
the best storytellers around. Great questions. Great answers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32496#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="2" type="1">
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style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="29fe1016c31a1d67c7347c09c905191a?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/29fe1016c31a1d67c7347c09c905191a?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.kalaity.com/"><span style="color: blue;">K. A.
Laity</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32502"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 7:14 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Another excellent interview,
Les and Richard: a good subject drawn out by a dogged host. Insightful views on
the genre, Faulkner and McCarthy. I do chafe a little at the characterisation
of the 17th century. You can’t get much more explicit than Donne’s Elegy <a href="http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/elegy20.htm"><span style="color: blue;">“To His Mistress Going to Bed”</span></a> where he cheekily
says “To teach thee, I am naked first.” A quibble, no more. And after the
Puritans take over — well, no one has any fun.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32502#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7"
o:spid="_x0000_i1045" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4bf05db2f69037f9a807e952449e55b9?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="4bf05db2f69037f9a807e952449e55b9?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4bf05db2f69037f9a807e952449e55b9?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_7" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.lesedgertononwriting.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Les Edgerton</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32505"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 7:24 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">I have been waiting for this
interview to appear. It is without any doubt, the most intensive questioning
I’ve ever undergone and it was exhausting. Richard Godwin is the most superb
interviewer I’ve ever been honored to have participated in such a venture with.
As I told him, this “felt” like one of those Paris Review experiences. I’m very
proud of it and of anything I’ve ever taken part in, would be pleased to have
this as my epitaph on what I feel about the art of writing..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">If folks like this, it’s all
because of the genius of Mr. Godwin. He is, simply, the best.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Thank you for having me. I’m
humbled and honored.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Blue skies,<br />
Les<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32505#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="4" type="1">
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image010.jpg"
o:title="30e1a4167a992e4bbb8e8bbc9b5c25a4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/30e1a4167a992e4bbb8e8bbc9b5c25a4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_8" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i>B.R. Stateham</i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32506"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 7:27 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Les is a talkative
sonofabitch (that’s a compliment, by the way). But for anyone thinking about
becoming a writer they ought to carefully read and reread this one.
Thought-provoking doesn’t come close to describing what’s going through my mind
now! Great stuff! Great Questions! Great Answers!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32506#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="173eb5b2bf3ce03299b21504af2eecea?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/173eb5b2bf3ce03299b21504af2eecea?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_9" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://pulpmetalmagazine.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Jason Michel</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32509"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 7:44 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Goodness!<br />
I’m speechless. Fantastic gents …<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32509#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
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o:spid="_x0000_i1042" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/532f770cc4ca0f852931d99d2f376bc2?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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o:title="532f770cc4ca0f852931d99d2f376bc2?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/532f770cc4ca0f852931d99d2f376bc2?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_10" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://death-by-killing.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Chris Rhatigan</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32515"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 8:38 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">“Noir approaches the true
nihilistic nature of man better than most genres. Which means it will never
take up a lot of shelf space at Barnes & Noble.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Yes!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32515#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="7" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_11"
o:spid="_x0000_i1041" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/128aef3ee7127c7100d8b7e756bb1a4b?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="128aef3ee7127c7100d8b7e756bb1a4b?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/128aef3ee7127c7100d8b7e756bb1a4b?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_11" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://nigelpbird.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">nigel
bird</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32517"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 8:55 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Was that an interview? I was
making mental notes of quotes I wanted to flag, but then lost them as there
were so many.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Just a con? Don’t think so,
Les. You’re not ‘just’ anything.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Interesting answers all, some
of which passed over my head. I’ll come back and take them one at a time
another day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Thanks both.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32517#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="8" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_12"
o:spid="_x0000_i1040" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4470907086cd95e0508bfa59f2fef8fd?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image013.jpg"
o:title="4470907086cd95e0508bfa59f2fef8fd?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4470907086cd95e0508bfa59f2fef8fd?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image013.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_12" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.thomaspluck.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Thomas
Pluck</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32519"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 9:16 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Fine interview, as always,
Richard! And Les always has something interesting to say. A great read.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32519#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="9" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_13"
o:spid="_x0000_i1039" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/a5193da7b785e41c7cd0881fbcd21f8c?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="a5193da7b785e41c7cd0881fbcd21f8c?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/a5193da7b785e41c7cd0881fbcd21f8c?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_13" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.psychonoir.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Heath Lowrance</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32524"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 10:18 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Best. Interview. Ever.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32524#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="10" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_14"
o:spid="_x0000_i1038" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b40382a92fc4403384bd7097764fd974?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image014.jpg"
o:title="b40382a92fc4403384bd7097764fd974?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b40382a92fc4403384bd7097764fd974?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image014.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_14" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://suspenseyourdisbelief.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Jenny Milchman</span></a></i>
says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32531"><span style="color: blue;">June 20, 2012 at 11:53 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Richard does make one think,
and Les is the perfect thinker to be prodded! OK, first I have to say, read THE
BITCH. It’s true it’s not a daydream book (which I happen to love). It’s true
it won’t restore order to anyone’s disordered world. But it, like Richard’s
interviews, will make you think and feel and despair. And that’s what great
fiction does.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">I’m also wondering what it
says about me that despite never having been inside, I follow almost all of
Les’ safety tips except for the one at the urinal?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32531#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="11" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_15"
o:spid="_x0000_i1037" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4bf05db2f69037f9a807e952449e55b9?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="4bf05db2f69037f9a807e952449e55b9?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4bf05db2f69037f9a807e952449e55b9?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_15" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.lesedgertononwriting.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Les Edgerton</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32535"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 12:31 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Thanks, everyone! Good
point, K.A. He did write some “out front” verse, didn’t he! I like his “coded”
stuff maybe better–makes one feel good and dirty… Donne’s my favorite poet and
I almost decided to get a doctorate on the metaphysicists–particularly Donne
(not nearly as big a fan of Marvell’s), but went for the MFA instead. Should
have followed my instincts… Just nice to see a fellow “fan”…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32535#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="12" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_16"
o:spid="_x0000_i1036" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/96d01be8f40adcb1237bcfe3e9a7f14a?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image015.jpg"
o:title="96d01be8f40adcb1237bcfe3e9a7f14a?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/96d01be8f40adcb1237bcfe3e9a7f14a?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image015.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_16" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.catierhodes.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Catie
Rhodes</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32539"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 1:35 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">I loved reading this
interview. Les, you are one of the most fascinating individuals I’ve come
across. I could “listen” to your stories forever. Loved reading your insights
here both on human nature and on fiction. I learned a lot. Keep on rockin’,
Les.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32539#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="13" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_17"
o:spid="_x0000_i1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/04d69b5cb6e12f126d43d95ed7dada22?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="04d69b5cb6e12f126d43d95ed7dada22?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/04d69b5cb6e12f126d43d95ed7dada22?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_17" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.allanleverone.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Allan
Leverone</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32542"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 2:03 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Maybe the best interview of
an author I’ve ever read. I did exactly the same thing as Nigel, noting quotes
I wanted to remember, but had to give up because there were so many. Great job
on both ends of this interview…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32542#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="14" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_18"
o:spid="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/50c09f6f395a19e02e32374ed42d3de1?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="50c09f6f395a19e02e32374ed42d3de1?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/50c09f6f395a19e02e32374ed42d3de1?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_18" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://rickbylina.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Rick
Bylina</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32557"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 2:38 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Great interview, Les and
Richard. I wouldn’t survive five minutes in the state pen. Might get by in a
federal prison, as long as I was isolated 24 hours a day. So much to mull over
here, my head hurts. But that’s good for a mystery writer. Now, if I could only
find the plot I left lying on the floor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32557#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="15" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_19"
o:spid="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/78084d95acd9fc682771c4fd4b074323?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="78084d95acd9fc682771c4fd4b074323?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/78084d95acd9fc682771c4fd4b074323?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_19" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i>Scott Phillips</i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32573"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 4:47 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Great interview….just got
started reading Les’s stuff, and am completely blown away by it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32573#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="16" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_20"
o:spid="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4878275465760fe98dfc54c6868ecf7b?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="4878275465760fe98dfc54c6868ecf7b?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4878275465760fe98dfc54c6868ecf7b?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_20" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.aimeelsalter.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Aimee
L. Salter</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32576"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 5:28 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">A fabulous interview! But,
Les, I have to disagree: A good interview requires not only a person who knows
what questions to ask, but another who’s willing to actually answer them. It’s
why most interviews in any format these days are such utter tripe. People
telling you what they think you want to hear – or what they want you to hear –
rather than the truth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">So, well done to both of
you. I’m pointing people here for an ACTUAL study in writing and
characterization.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32576#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="17" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_21"
o:spid="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/e806423e3ee8b839e521ed138e8745e8?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="e806423e3ee8b839e521ed138e8745e8?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/e806423e3ee8b839e521ed138e8745e8?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_21" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.traceyedges.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Tracey Edges</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32652"><span style="color: blue;">June 21, 2012 at 3:28 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Excellent – don’t need to
say anything more as it would be superfluous.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32652#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="18" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_22"
o:spid="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d643f5c5992e39d5ea951b8b7e710e33?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="d643f5c5992e39d5ea951b8b7e710e33?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d643f5c5992e39d5ea951b8b7e710e33?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_22" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i>AJ Hayes</i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32838"><span style="color: blue;">June 23, 2012 at 2:18 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Thanks for the hat tip to
“Southerners and Irishmen,” Les. I could not agree more. Probably doesn’t
matter that I’m both of those oh-so-desirable states of being, does it? Of course
not. Many thanks to the both of you for this massive effort, both ways. Reminds
me of Proust, sort of. I mean it’s got the physical dimensions and duration of
“Remembrence” and, like that tome, contains some of the most clear edged,
diamond bright images and opinions I’ve seen.<br />
Are criminals smart? Define smart. (Never really met a criminal genius, myself.
But that probably means the crook I don’t know about is a genius.) Ah, just too
much meat here to reiterate (requrgitate?) in a comment.<br />
Have known and worked with many guys fresh out of the joint. In my last job
(twenty years worth of job) probably every eight guys out of ten we hired were
in a halfway house, so I can tell when somebody is bullshitting about “heavy
time.” No BS in the above, none at all. It’s absolute truth. I got stories,
good, bad and heartbreaking about those guys.<br />
Thanks Les and Richard. Another superior outing in the Slaughterhouse<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32838#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="19" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_23"
o:spid="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/62c0fd9b9919e4ad17c0be715ec0ec10?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="62c0fd9b9919e4ad17c0be715ec0ec10?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/62c0fd9b9919e4ad17c0be715ec0ec10?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_23" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i>richardgodwin</i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32909"><span style="color: blue;">June 23, 2012 at 7:41 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Les thank you for a classic
and brilliant interview.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32909#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="20" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_24"
o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/7b2ae61d0b2978452004ef73a644d9e4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image016.jpg"
o:title="7b2ae61d0b2978452004ef73a644d9e4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/7b2ae61d0b2978452004ef73a644d9e4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image016.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_24" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://jennyhansenauthor.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Jenny Hansen</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-32951"><span style="color: blue;">June 24, 2012 at 7:18 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">This interview was so good
and so full of information, I’ve had to read it a little sip at a time. Though
Les is definitely a shot of good tequila, rather than some snooty French wine
(thank the Lord). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">This is an interview to be
revisited multiple times, and savored. I appreciate the time and effort that
BOTH of you put into this.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=32951#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="21" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_25"
o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/83ff981d6e2805b451e5e5c5ca5e11b4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.jpg"
o:title="83ff981d6e2805b451e5e5c5ca5e11b4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/83ff981d6e2805b451e5e5c5ca5e11b4?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image017.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_25" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i>Vero</i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-33825"><span style="color: blue;">July 1, 2012 at 10:45 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">One of the best interviews
I’ve ever read, and certainly one of the sharpest writers and best writing
teachers I’ve ever met—thank you, Les!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=33825#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="22" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_26"
o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/e7767bb83c925763704fbe9dce7a05c6?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image018.jpg"
o:title="e7767bb83c925763704fbe9dce7a05c6?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/e7767bb83c925763704fbe9dce7a05c6?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image018.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_26" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://www.vegawire.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Eddie
Vega</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-36747"><span style="color: blue;">July 25, 2012 at 4:38 pm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">This is the kind of
interview you want to print out and include in a course packet for a college
writing class.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton?replytocom=36747#respond"><span style="color: blue;">Reply</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="23" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_27"
o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3f48a6988eacfbaaa72d3d54daba5a49?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G"
style='width:30pt;height:30pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.png"
o:title="3f48a6988eacfbaaa72d3d54daba5a49?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/3f48a6988eacfbaaa72d3d54daba5a49?s=40&d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D40&r=G" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_27" width="40" /><!--[endif]--><i><a href="http://leethompsonfiction.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Lee
Thompson</span></a></i> says: <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://www.richardgodwin.net/author-interviews-extensive/chin-wag-at-the-slaughterhouse-interview-with-les-edgerton#comment-50319"><span style="color: blue;">October 5, 2012 at 9:49 am</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Great interview, fellas!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">One of the letters here means something extra to me. It's the one from A.J. Hayes, a much-respected writer who has sadly passed on a couple of years ago. To get the approval of a writer and thinker such as he was means the world to me. As do the comments of everyone else, among them some of the best writers in the business. Thank you each and every one!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Blue skies,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Les</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9iGDbnoidCnpA7uCFvD8uU_z2SwyZKcW8EnW0YV5R4omreYZOkq2q-ABiRdxuQa12ciL-KNDcm-9CqhknUWdv3_dVeQKJaX1ysGqw5iP4HJGjb1bfeaWvZXg6fe4-SxbRWW9JQ3Ebcyh9UIkHSklVwCNljgD7SjkfIO43m4seOnxcy-g6KEII-Ce79k/s2155/ARTS%20INDIANA%20SHOT.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2155" data-original-width="1568" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9iGDbnoidCnpA7uCFvD8uU_z2SwyZKcW8EnW0YV5R4omreYZOkq2q-ABiRdxuQa12ciL-KNDcm-9CqhknUWdv3_dVeQKJaX1ysGqw5iP4HJGjb1bfeaWvZXg6fe4-SxbRWW9JQ3Ebcyh9UIkHSklVwCNljgD7SjkfIO43m4seOnxcy-g6KEII-Ce79k/s320/ARTS%20INDIANA%20SHOT.bmp" width="233" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>P.S. Reminder--please tune in to my new podcast with my writing buddy, screenwriter Jack Holland. It's on many outlets and is titled "Les and Jack on Writing--Uncensored"</b></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-82085139002943866512023-05-21T08:42:00.003-07:002023-05-21T09:11:08.382-07:00NEW PODCAST -- LES AND JACK ON WRITING--UNCENSORED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3tVx79_p0FmymD6Wo0q4Tgoph5tzMw3FmS4SEDkUU3RaO9XOkYvDc9ALMa98np8YSaNRrHJoId2LnwFVCMuga3XBYsijm01_5TUVcSlFE6GdmVzeMWtt5YhDrtoYgWJ0xb179N2mdiTEoix5UJ_zvui6bEWq8XMEZ9Oon-hZxMa07zn7rjvdzY9gc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3tVx79_p0FmymD6Wo0q4Tgoph5tzMw3FmS4SEDkUU3RaO9XOkYvDc9ALMa98np8YSaNRrHJoId2LnwFVCMuga3XBYsijm01_5TUVcSlFE6GdmVzeMWtt5YhDrtoYgWJ0xb179N2mdiTEoix5UJ_zvui6bEWq8XMEZ9Oon-hZxMa07zn7rjvdzY9gc" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi folks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve teamed up with fellow writer
Jack Holland and we’ve created a podcast on writing I hope you’ll tune into and
give a listen. It’s called “Les and Jack on Writing.” (Catchy title, eh?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s the setup: Jack is a student
in my online writing class, “Les Edgerton’s Bootcamp for Writers.” For the past
29 years, Jack has worked as a screenwriter and playwright in L.A. Last year he
decided to write his first novel and joined my class. While possessing a vast
knowledge in the film business, he found out quickly that writing fiction is a
much different enterprise. He moved to Ft. Wayne for two reasons. His lovely
wife Kim is from here originally and contacted some health problems that
necessitated leaving California and he had two options—his home in NYC and
Kim’s home in Ft. Wayne. The deciding factor, he told me was that he’d been
reading my craft book HOOKED for several years and discovered this was where I
lived so they decided to become Hoosiers so he could study directly with me and
Kim could be close to her own family. Very flattering! This week will be his
third session with the class and he’s come a long, long way!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We decided to come up with a
different format for the podcast. What we’re doing is chatting as friend to
friend and as student to mentor and work each week on his novel. Already, Jack
has made several dramatic breakthroughs and his novel improves by leaps and
bounds each week. We’re both very excited about the direction it’s taking. And,
we both immediately saw the value our conversations could have for other
writers, both those relatively newcomers to writing fiction as well as seasoned
professionals. Also, because of Jack’s background in the movie and theatre
business, each week I learn a lot about how that business works and others will
find his insights both entertaining and valuable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In short, we feel we’re creating a
product that will prove valuable to both tyros and seasoned vets. We’ve already
picked up some listeners and subscribers whose names many of you will
recognize.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From time to time, we plan to have
folks from both the current class as well as former members joining in our
conversations. As more than three dozen past attendees have published their
novels written in class—in several cases, multiple novels—you’ll be treated to
some downright talented folks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is with great expectations we
welcome you to tune in and also contribute in the comments each week. It will
sometimes get raucous—our class is called a “bootcamp” for a reason. We simply
tell it like it is and strive to always be honest and at times that hurts
people’s feelings. Sorry… but not sorry. If a teacher isn’t honest in
evaluating a writer’s work, it’s the cruelest thing he can do. We tell folks what’s
wrong but we also tell them why and how to fix it. There’s a lot of pure-d
bullshit floating around out there… We aim to keep the smell down…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope we see you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Places to hear Jack’s and my
podcast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/338-les-and-jack-on-writing-un-114254064/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3c61aa; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.iheart.com/podcast/338-les-and-jack-on-writing-un-114254064/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/843db388-51cd-4a2a-b1d0-de9efa0b094a/les-and-jack-on-writing---uncensored" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3c61aa; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/843db388-51cd-4a2a-b1d0-de9efa0b094a/les-and-jack-on-writing---uncensored</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://lesandjack.podbean.com/Lesw"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://lesandjack.podbean.com/</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ve got about half a dozen shows out there and aim
to post at least one new one per week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Blue skies,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Les and Jack<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbuAKaLxW_B2KGI7ZdGCUPG09fSIWj1XONPIGTqOhgBvk80ep286YEpdWe0gIUeqEuCP5oYoDEj_ruDO6y8BPgCQhtcXlfMJItsXFyvXsufHAqHc5SIxT7yE_Yt11akEAnX-jM4yYpWNQVHQk5YPFIS0PRBV9vOs2SqbDytBe2CYpElRtz7uLMR5i/s300/FINDING%20YOUR%20VOICE%20COVER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbuAKaLxW_B2KGI7ZdGCUPG09fSIWj1XONPIGTqOhgBvk80ep286YEpdWe0gIUeqEuCP5oYoDEj_ruDO6y8BPgCQhtcXlfMJItsXFyvXsufHAqHc5SIxT7yE_Yt11akEAnX-jM4yYpWNQVHQk5YPFIS0PRBV9vOs2SqbDytBe2CYpElRtz7uLMR5i/s1600/FINDING%20YOUR%20VOICE%20COVER.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JNW-KtQk3GgaHExSsKKfD07hdmOm_AVRCr5hESGqahTHkomQ_BX6L9BTjjUsQTw2cilAQctNETR4W5QHxT-wKNB4ZgF9to-nidfHCrRheYVI8Rfc8m0Xcn3ioKXNTuuJKX5BzP3ZrQ5s3X8jCuDCU2htnBU63hco58VDWVixR3xFEdBBmiFtTvX1/s240/Hooked%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JNW-KtQk3GgaHExSsKKfD07hdmOm_AVRCr5hESGqahTHkomQ_BX6L9BTjjUsQTw2cilAQctNETR4W5QHxT-wKNB4ZgF9to-nidfHCrRheYVI8Rfc8m0Xcn3ioKXNTuuJKX5BzP3ZrQ5s3X8jCuDCU2htnBU63hco58VDWVixR3xFEdBBmiFtTvX1/s1600/Hooked%20Cover.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-56818368512418605312023-03-26T12:11:00.000-07:002023-03-26T12:11:42.341-07:00My son, Mikie Bud Edgerton passed away.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hi folks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve spent the last several days trying to write
this and kept failing. I’m just too overcome with grief to say this, but I have
to. Our precious son, Michael Bud Edgerton passed away unexpectedly Thursday
morning with a massive heart attack. I’m a writer and I just don’t have the
words at this time for more than this announcement. His beloved wife Victoria
is struggling with the final arrangements and hopefully soon we can announce
when and where the services will be for those who wish to attend. Both Mike’s
mother and I are simply overcome with grief as is the love of Mike’s life,
Vick. His beautiful son Lewis Bud is thankfully too young to know what’s going
on and it breaks our hearts to know he’ll never have his dad to watch him grow
up. Sorry, but I can’t write any more at this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Les Edgerton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcW8dAGlfTpc-5uijX-NjZkzoE62g-RoB2Xzw_CRT9i0H14-CBkOR3lIS0-VEjVM3FpCmUtmIqmnvlWG3m8f9beDvCMBGr7E3srSJFDuHYpTa5sGzmxgfqZmvSqouYgKMh5blmYJS3_bTCwL8hC8PmusbJwX_5pgoqygtBdKHWSYbuMeLQDbQxtkl/s2048/MARY,%20ME%20AND%20LEWIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcW8dAGlfTpc-5uijX-NjZkzoE62g-RoB2Xzw_CRT9i0H14-CBkOR3lIS0-VEjVM3FpCmUtmIqmnvlWG3m8f9beDvCMBGr7E3srSJFDuHYpTa5sGzmxgfqZmvSqouYgKMh5blmYJS3_bTCwL8hC8PmusbJwX_5pgoqygtBdKHWSYbuMeLQDbQxtkl/s320/MARY,%20ME%20AND%20LEWIS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycZWsZ_Rovu11W12nSlYR5dYz2vyD6JTQnaR-AepbO5LjdREUnwjT23g7zY7s_bhkBJIY20f2DJEuD3X-9aSQ3FPQN9QtHZ4AerfvzcVjCtifuYVbRXnRzLNohTMFbVX_gFUkzKCbgArP3UTDiIXALoO4J_vzXazHndJoGkmoeTMyp8oOZn345jCY/s1179/mikepitching2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1167" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycZWsZ_Rovu11W12nSlYR5dYz2vyD6JTQnaR-AepbO5LjdREUnwjT23g7zY7s_bhkBJIY20f2DJEuD3X-9aSQ3FPQN9QtHZ4AerfvzcVjCtifuYVbRXnRzLNohTMFbVX_gFUkzKCbgArP3UTDiIXALoO4J_vzXazHndJoGkmoeTMyp8oOZn345jCY/s320/mikepitching2.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-8577107955527079162023-01-28T09:14:00.003-08:002023-02-12T14:27:39.581-08:00I'm giving a presentation via Zoom and you're invited.<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>They're opening this up to the public. Just send an email to the address (dvwritersguild@gmail.com) and they'll send you the link. Hope to see some friends there!</p><p><br /></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbRPGhvEso34SfDYL6M9ynzIkJXdo-aZJyLDLsQKUY_C-KK405Vrce1pvrx50ucGxVIj1YMwGwftg3f1Kp2MNnBIeYpz1xYNENGsE9bkwi33QARnqe-0nbJ3expxP1uNqzKD3fBaqw7cNWp3SYMN9blJ05et7cNMY3XedPmCn3vsgVxOQ4ZUk5njE/s3300/LES%20EDGERTON%20flyer%20copy%20(1)%20Jan%2027%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="655" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbRPGhvEso34SfDYL6M9ynzIkJXdo-aZJyLDLsQKUY_C-KK405Vrce1pvrx50ucGxVIj1YMwGwftg3f1Kp2MNnBIeYpz1xYNENGsE9bkwi33QARnqe-0nbJ3expxP1uNqzKD3fBaqw7cNWp3SYMN9blJ05et7cNMY3XedPmCn3vsgVxOQ4ZUk5njE/w426-h655/LES%20EDGERTON%20flyer%20copy%20(1)%20Jan%2027%20(3).jpg" width="426" /></b></span></a></p><br /><p><br /></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-66124891809179445162023-01-04T10:06:00.000-08:002023-01-04T10:06:54.809-08:00Great email<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I recently received a great email from a writer who's presently auditing my online novel-writing class and will join us as an active classmate in a few weeks when our next session begins. Here's what Ken had to say after watching us work for the past couple of months:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Les,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for the way you handle critiques in your bootcamp. I love that you’re blunt and direct, and don’t feel the need to give participants a handjob for work that misses the mark. I won’t change my <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>tune when it’s my butt in the hot seat. Yep, honest criticism is painful at the time, but it’s a heckuva lot better than thinking you’ve written a literary masterpiece, then learning the brutal truth when nobody will publish it. Maybe I successfully publish, maybe I don’t. I’m convinced I’m in the right place to maximize my chances. And that’s worth the price of admission.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you, Les!</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Best,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ken Speegle</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We'll be starting a new 10-week session in three weeks and it looks like we may have a couple of openings. If interested, shoot me an email at butchedgerton@comcast.net for more info.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Blue skies,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Les</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlBZGnkepm1wTUh1ESRfLn100bki-2Uv_DWJgCffi8ZGNha53Ydb3tkyarfPuE6Mwgz9JDP81NzbGiqfy-L_MfNDdXbwLDYJFAv39YMpgBf8FVh5tsJhPZXsJ8IjjnyyCil-FwAShNBGezDMeyvqLs7_sWI9e_fzq_VUJQ5YdMd7Bo2wf0_2FLeSa/s640/FEDERAL%20PIZZA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlBZGnkepm1wTUh1ESRfLn100bki-2Uv_DWJgCffi8ZGNha53Ydb3tkyarfPuE6Mwgz9JDP81NzbGiqfy-L_MfNDdXbwLDYJFAv39YMpgBf8FVh5tsJhPZXsJ8IjjnyyCil-FwAShNBGezDMeyvqLs7_sWI9e_fzq_VUJQ5YdMd7Bo2wf0_2FLeSa/s320/FEDERAL%20PIZZA1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Some former students who successfully wrote and had their novels published from our class.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCKoOnF05WW3MtXqKwnFnEMxqGp6seNfpXE-qZ_yAEpw2F_W28RhmIQmIShk7kh87I000gPqF3HQhDQCHQOSkrs_huplwDmFPQOHpHOEzUM0brVka6ZqrC6khJ4JzmWuRhhgyjZV2NTcpiuDwN4cx7lXBSSRSxt7Hp4ODjv5i9Ez0QOt4ab6qF-z3/s300/FINDING%20YOUR%20VOICE%20COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCKoOnF05WW3MtXqKwnFnEMxqGp6seNfpXE-qZ_yAEpw2F_W28RhmIQmIShk7kh87I000gPqF3HQhDQCHQOSkrs_huplwDmFPQOHpHOEzUM0brVka6ZqrC6khJ4JzmWuRhhgyjZV2NTcpiuDwN4cx7lXBSSRSxt7Hp4ODjv5i9Ez0QOt4ab6qF-z3/s1600/FINDING%20YOUR%20VOICE%20COVER.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrRxOKe2wTxnJAF1MHhy_KeDxXIu6P0qEEPvcR7dF7bgI1Wm6IELemQLhnneameGluMT_9Q3h5jbE0fjuD1KpRQSEMSOVgWMF9HK3ePn9-Qow4ACMpHO1knlqex72YzxnDjFgcM5Yu9V9VOa574ZrAFe5jLyk2-vOwK9Nl-WnwXOEJanoDyjjqX_1/s240/Hooked%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrRxOKe2wTxnJAF1MHhy_KeDxXIu6P0qEEPvcR7dF7bgI1Wm6IELemQLhnneameGluMT_9Q3h5jbE0fjuD1KpRQSEMSOVgWMF9HK3ePn9-Qow4ACMpHO1knlqex72YzxnDjFgcM5Yu9V9VOa574ZrAFe5jLyk2-vOwK9Nl-WnwXOEJanoDyjjqX_1/s1600/Hooked%20Cover.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbhXFP2-qOKERijIcy6I_G0TGJPkNyxIVEU7mgBDFRC1ygUab-G6m1ClJQCmeqmoEpCCt1N2uofYgLWB_mDXKuM4h-L66DKGdzal8fmYrhPUumFz2LcZET511Ca4-BTE4Swyi05gwTT8mo5CKBhqOo3eyF6kZYVDnEfwXxP2VgbsSsrtIcl-DyuEF/s2592/Perfect%20Game%20Academic%20052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbhXFP2-qOKERijIcy6I_G0TGJPkNyxIVEU7mgBDFRC1ygUab-G6m1ClJQCmeqmoEpCCt1N2uofYgLWB_mDXKuM4h-L66DKGdzal8fmYrhPUumFz2LcZET511Ca4-BTE4Swyi05gwTT8mo5CKBhqOo3eyF6kZYVDnEfwXxP2VgbsSsrtIcl-DyuEF/s320/Perfect%20Game%20Academic%20052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Teaching from home's da bomb!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Blue skies,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Les</div></div>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-10077074477775802832022-12-31T11:42:00.001-08:002022-12-31T11:42:30.237-08:00Pistol Pete - the Life and Times of Pete Maravich HD<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P15GPG6p2ds/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/P15GPG6p2ds" frameborder="0"></iframe>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-44668968293331165892022-12-30T16:43:00.000-08:002022-12-30T16:43:57.682-08:00SECOND ITALIAN REVIEW OF THE DEATH THE SILVER KING (Retitled from THE DEATH OF TARPONS)<p> Hi Folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Just received the second Italian review of THE DEATH OF THE SILVER KING</p><p><br /></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><div class="td-header-template-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Old Standard TT"; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: normal; z-index: 100;"><div class="td-header-desktop-wrap td-header-active" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 1903px;"><div class="tdc-zone" id="tdi_20" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="tdc_zone tdi_21 wpb_row td-pb-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 999;"><div class="tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content" id="tdi_22" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1440px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; width: auto;"><div class="vc_row tdi_23 wpb_row td-pb-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -24px; margin-right: -24px; 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height: auto; perspective: unset; width: auto;"><div class="tdm_block td_block_wrap td_block_wrap tdm_block_popup tdi_31 td-pb-border-top z index: 10.000 td_block_template_7" data-td-block-uid="tdi_31" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; display: inline-block; float: right; margin-bottom: 48px; position: relative;"><div class="tds-button td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px);"><a class="tds-button5 tdm-btn tdm-btn-xlg tdi_74" href="https://www.pulplibri.it/les-edgerton-una-storia-americana-di-violenza-e-pesca/?fbclid=IwAR25evT2ysO-wq-OAF2f23eID_O9l0aSh7cXQDHQleltWGvJuI3XRkqSsBk#" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e05915; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; height: auto; line-height: initial; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;"><span class="tdm-btn-icon tdm-btn-icon-svg" style="align-items: center; 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margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content" id="tdi_77" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1440px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; width: auto;"><div class="vc_row tdi_78 wpb_row td-pb-row tdc-element-style tdc-row-content-vert-center" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex: 1 1 0%; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -5px; margin-right: -5px; min-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px !important; padding: 10px 0px; position: relative; width: auto;"><div class="tdi_77_rand_style td-element-style" style="background-color: #e6e9f0; box-sizing: border-box; height: 104px; inset: 0px 0px 0px -24px; overflow: hidden; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transform: translateX(-50%); width: calc(100% + 48px); z-index: 0;"></div><div class="vc_column tdi_80 wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 196.266px;"><div class="wpb_wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; perspective: unset; width: auto;"><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_header_logo tdi_81 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7 tdb-header-align" data-td-block-uid="tdi_81" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="tdb-block-inner td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px);"><a class="tdb-logo-a" href="https://www.pulplibri.it/" style="align-items: flex-start; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e05915; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: flex-start; pointer-events: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="tdb-logo-img-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><img alt="PULP - books daily" class="tdb-logo-img td-retina-data" data-retina="https://pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/testataok.png" decoding="async" height="60" src="https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_200,h_60/https://www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/testatapiccola-e1639063988155.png" style="border: 0px; 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clear: none; display: inline-block; float: right; margin-bottom: 48px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="tds-button td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px);"><a class="tds-button5 tdm-btn tdm-btn-xlg tdi_129" href="https://www.pulplibri.it/les-edgerton-una-storia-americana-di-violenza-e-pesca/?fbclid=IwAR25evT2ysO-wq-OAF2f23eID_O9l0aSh7cXQDHQleltWGvJuI3XRkqSsBk#" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e05915; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; height: auto; line-height: initial; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;"><span class="tdm-btn-icon tdm-btn-icon-svg" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; line-height: 1; margin-right: 14px; pointer-events: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: middle;"><svg version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 1024 1024" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M89.006 490.013h845.978v62.269h-845.978v-62.269zM89.006 226.835h845.978v62.269h-845.978v-62.269zM89.006 753.181h845.978v62.259h-845.978v-62.259z"></path></svg></span><span class="tdm-btn-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; pointer-events: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: middle;"></span></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div data-autoload-count="5" data-autoload-org-post-id="32616" data-autoload-type="" data-autoload="off" id="tdb-autoload-article" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Old Standard TT"; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"><div class="td-main-content-wrap td-container-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; width: 1164px;"><div class="tdc-content-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><article class="post-21389 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post" id="template-id-21389" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Article" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="tdc-zone" id="tdi_130" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="tdc_zone tdi_131 wpb_row td-pb-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="tdc-row stretch_row_1200 td-stretch-content" id="tdi_132" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1240px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; width: auto;"><div class="vc_row tdi_133 wpb_row td-pb-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -24px; margin-right: -24px; margin-top: 30px !important; margin: 30px -24px 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; position: relative; width: auto;"><div class="vc_column tdi_135 wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span3" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 291px;"><div class="wpb_wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; width: auto;"><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_136 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7" data-td-block-uid="tdi_136" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-bottom: 26px; opacity: 1; position: relative;"><div class="tdb-block-inner td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px); transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div class="vc_column tdi_135 wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; float: left; font-family: "Old Standard TT"; font-size: 14px; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; width: 291px;"><div class="wpb_wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; width: auto;"><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_136 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7" data-td-block-uid="tdi_136" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-bottom: 26px; opacity: 1; position: relative;"><div class="tdb-block-inner td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px); transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="" class="entry-thumb" decoding="async" height="1069" sizes="(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=696%2C1069&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?w=1108&ssl=1 1108w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=195%2C300&ssl=1 195w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=667%2C1024&ssl=1 667w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=768%2C1180&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=1000%2C1536&ssl=1 1000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=150%2C230&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=300%2C461&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=696%2C1069&ssl=1 696w, https://i0.wp.com/www.pulplibri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/La-morte-del-re-dargento.jpg?resize=1068%2C1641&ssl=1 1068w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 243px;" title="The-death-of-the-silver-king" width="696" /></div></div></div></div><div class="vc_column tdi_138 wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span9" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; width: 873px;"><div class="wpb_wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; width: auto;"><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_single_categories tdi_139 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7" data-td-block-uid="tdi_139" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font-family: "Open Sans", "Open Sans Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative;"><div class="tdb-category td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px);"><a class="tdb-entry-category" href="https://www.pulplibri.it/category/recensioni/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: Raleway; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding: 6px 8px; pointer-events: auto; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="tdb-cat-bg" style="background: linear-gradient(-90deg, rgb(0, 0, 0), rgb(67, 28, 93)); border-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 1; border-image-width: 1; border-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(0deg, rgb(251, 212, 46), rgb(251, 212, 46)) 1 / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 28.0312px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; width: 85.4531px; z-index: -1;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">REVIEWS</span></a></div></div><div class="vc_row_inner tdi_141 vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Old Standard TT"; font-size: 14px; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; position: relative; top: 0px; transform: none; width: auto;"><div class="vc_column_inner tdi_143 wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 825px;"><div class="vc_column-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><div class="wpb_wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div></div><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_145 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7" data-td-block-uid="tdi_145" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font-family: "Old Standard TT"; margin-bottom: 19px; position: relative;"><div class="tdb-block-inner td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px);"><h1 class="tdb-title-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: "PT Serif"; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.05; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium; vertical-align: inherit;">Les Edgerton / An American history of violence and fishing</span></h1><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"></div></div></div><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_146 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7" data-td-block-uid="tdi_146" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-bottom: 14px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative;"><div class="tdb-block-inner td-fix-index" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translateZ(0px);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: "Open Sans", "Open Sans Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Les Edgerson, </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Death of the Silver King</em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> , tr. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Marco Piva, </span></span><a href="http://www.elliotedizioni.com/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e05915; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Elliott</a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> , pp. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">224, 17.50 euros printed</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: "Open Sans", "Open Sans Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">The bildungsroman is a genre widely used in literature, starting from the</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"> end of the eighteenth century</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Term originally coined in Germany, </span></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Bildungsroman</span></span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> , the first text</span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> defined as such is Goethe's </span></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre</span></span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> , published in</span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> 1797. Over time the genre has evolved, adapting to the various social</span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> and technological transformations of the short century and the first</span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> twenty years of the new millennium by changing the settings and </span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">psychologies of the characters. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">There are many masterpieces of this</span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> literary genre, the first two that come to mind are </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Salinger's </span></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Young </span></span></em></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Holden and </span></span></em><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"></span></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Someday this pain will be useful to you</span></span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">, by Cameron, and </span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">this novel too, while not reaching such high peaks, is an excellent example of it.</span></span></span></p></div></div><div class="td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_147 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_7 tdb-post-meta" data-td-block-uid="tdi_147" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; color: #444444; display: inline-block; font-family: "Open Sans", "Open Sans Regular", sans-serif; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 16px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="tdb-block-inner td-fix-index" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; transform: translateZ(0px);"><div class="tdb-author-name-wrap" style="align-items: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><span class="tdb-author-by" face="Raleway !important" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin-right: 3px; vertical-align: middle;"></span></div></div></div></div></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><a class="tdb-author-name" href="https://www.pulplibri.it/author/roberto-sturm/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: inline; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; margin-right: 3px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle; white-space: normal;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">ROBERT STURM</span></a>PULP - books daily</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;">PULP - books daily</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">REVIEWS</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Les Edgerton / An American history of violence and fishing</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Les <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>Edgerson, The Death of the Silver King , tr. Marco Piva, Elliott , pp. 224, 17.50 euros printed</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">ROBERT STURM</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">DECEMBER 27, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Corey John returns to the town where he grew up thirty years after leaving it, in 1955. His family (only his sister is still alive) emigrates to Texas from Indiana where his maternal grandparents live. The father, Robert, begins working for the grandmother, Lucille, who runs a restaurant bar and various other businesses. He almost immediately regrets having moved - Lucille's promise to make him a partner is rejected -, the dream of becoming an airline pilot turns into an obsession and suddenly becomes violent with Corey, giving improbable excuses to punish him violently. Her mother is incapable of reacting and she seeks solace in religion by reading the Bible and attending a community of fanatical believers: she distances herself from her husband and withdraws more and more into herself. The teenager has a friend, Destin, with whom he shares the experience of domestic violence and spends much of his time dreaming of fishing trips with his father, an occasion that for one reason or another almost never materialises. The boy's lifeline is his grandfather, Toast, who introduced him to reading. “It was he who gave me my first book by Mark Twain, and with it also novels by Dos Passos, by Steinbeck, even by Kafka and Camus. […] I was probably the only fourteen-year-old in town who read Céline, and only because I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who was passionate about literature”. “It was he who gave me my first book by Mark Twain, and with it also novels by Dos Passos, by Steinbeck, even by Kafka and Camus. […] I was probably the only fourteen-year-old in town who read Céline, and only because I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who was passionate about literature”. “It was he who gave me my first book by Mark Twain, and with it also novels by Dos Passos, by Steinbeck, even by Kafka and Camus. […] I was probably the only fourteen-year-old in town who read Céline, and only because I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who was passionate about literature”.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But Corey's real goal is to be well liked and loved by his father, who always accuses him of only knowing how to read, a passion that will prevent him from finding a real job and extricating himself in life and for this reason he decides to secretly build a boat to give him. on your birthday: study all the techniques, raise money by collecting glass bottles throughout the city and mowing the gardens of the houses. But things in life don't always go as they should or as we hope, and the mother's fall into severe depression, her grandfather's illness, yet another misunderstanding with her father and a murder, bring down the castles in the air she was chasing. . The Death of the Silver King –proof of debut of Les Edgerton -, originally published in America in 1996, is a novel narrated with a smooth and dry style (apart from perhaps a couple of passages), capable of entering in a precise and profound way into the psychology of all the characters . Period, the one in which the story unfolds, in which domestic violence was considered an evil to bear, in which society still lived in the most sinister racism, in which the balance of power (as still today, to tell the truth) was dictated by the oppression of the weakest: unresolved problems but which, after long and terrible struggles, perhaps we have begun to partially mitigate. Corey makes peace with himself by returning to the places of his adolescence and untying the knot of his last fishing trip with his grandfather in the beautiful and teeming Gulf of Texas: episode that he had hidden in his mind for thirty years but which resurfaces forcefully. And his life, in spite of everything, seems a little more acceptable.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Les EdgertonAmerican fiction</div></div>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-70825745263478803092022-12-16T15:32:00.000-08:002022-12-16T15:32:01.706-08:00Italian Review of THE DEATH OF TARPONS (retitled THE DEATH OF THE SILVER KING)<p>Hi Folks,</p><p>Great first review!</p><p><a href="https://contornidinoir.it/2022/12/les-edgerton-la-morte-del-re-dargento/" style="font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">https://contornidinoir.it/2022/12/les-edgerton-la-morte-del-re-dargento/</a></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-39410342860892103762022-10-19T09:17:00.002-07:002022-10-19T09:17:55.237-07:00REVISED COVER OF THE ITALIAN VERSION OF THE DEATH OF TARPONS (RETITLED AS THE DEATH OF THE SILVER KING)<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Mauro Falciani, my bookstore owner friend in Italy, who is responsible for getting my novels in front of Italian publishers, talked to me about the first cover publisher Elliot had come up with for their forthcoming version of THE DEATH OF TARPONS (retitled THE DEATH OF THE SILVER KING), and how he thought a better version might be had, and I agreed and talked to my editor, Loretta Santini, who is the epitome of graciousness (my wish for all writers is that they get an editor as great as she is!) and she asked me for suggestions. To my delight, she vastly exceeded my expectations and their cover artist came up with what you see below. My first reaction was: It pops! and my second was: I love it! Mauro emailed me and said: Now, THIS is a cover! </p><p>We're all just tickled pink! Easily one of the two or three best covers I've ever been privileged to have. I rank it up there with the covers for MONDAY'S MEAL, THE RAPIST, and THE BITCH.</p><p><br /></p><p>Whaddya think?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH4Xb2r9Ueb5fNcTLtMX61hfl-aghpCdCQpZlzsCcKjJe_u5URymlEPMkiFbVVEAwi4Hc_rRj5BbYQkUtb4LwboQgtfDvuDHblPXqbG-4FpFospWyIbxICmw7YLqKD9jP0J6enfNz4aJeegg_8zJrb0fz3GHYeooEzbCGVj1yZxf3vT92WSlHtJm6/s1683/COVER%20OF%20THE%20DEATH%20OF%20THE%20SILVER%20KING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="1124" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH4Xb2r9Ueb5fNcTLtMX61hfl-aghpCdCQpZlzsCcKjJe_u5URymlEPMkiFbVVEAwi4Hc_rRj5BbYQkUtb4LwboQgtfDvuDHblPXqbG-4FpFospWyIbxICmw7YLqKD9jP0J6enfNz4aJeegg_8zJrb0fz3GHYeooEzbCGVj1yZxf3vT92WSlHtJm6/w282-h385/COVER%20OF%20THE%20DEATH%20OF%20THE%20SILVER%20KING.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><p>Comes out at the end of October.</p><p><br /></p><p>The English language version is from Betimes Books, Dublin, and available on Amazon.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpYM2gqHLue4UnKAQfdqhzZslcxj9FF6TLGLKQOliIqPYz8SwJjabttazY4I07glRPSG6bMnKv8qslQtR6Jp2Qi-bfqrGnJhC84ULDcQJi_bNZ62jPjDWNN62sBGZZFVb0ctqaQZrNXt9J8oU6xCdYLLs747r5Nkx6I7dd3KmnzRtuu3PnfNR9Y8l/s2550/TARPONS%20COVER%20FOR%20BETIMES%20BOOKS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpYM2gqHLue4UnKAQfdqhzZslcxj9FF6TLGLKQOliIqPYz8SwJjabttazY4I07glRPSG6bMnKv8qslQtR6Jp2Qi-bfqrGnJhC84ULDcQJi_bNZ62jPjDWNN62sBGZZFVb0ctqaQZrNXt9J8oU6xCdYLLs747r5Nkx6I7dd3KmnzRtuu3PnfNR9Y8l/w238-h359/TARPONS%20COVER%20FOR%20BETIMES%20BOOKS.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p>I can't begin to tell you how great it is to have super publishers!</p><p><br /></p><p>Blue skies,</p><p>Les</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-26042473412123151752022-09-23T06:37:00.000-07:002022-09-23T06:37:57.390-07:00JAPANESE VERSION OF HOOKED<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Finally got my copy of the Japanese version of Hooked. They made a beautiful book!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2vfuCQ3qtlqiRIxawoNJjwYpr9AoHU2mn8sACSzWumYF7bx4J17W2_zrm-n7L--mMCOz8uO-tkqHuY0QgwhZfGG-jKLzBc5wJGYZqnoYozV8rFjysT4XxD8RMWQEUypJaSFbXELHsvrFqF0U5KadJc0IeaNaK1eAsU84a-wj39ncN9_mY1mSG1zE/s1365/JAPANESE%20COVER%20OF%20HOOKED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1024" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2vfuCQ3qtlqiRIxawoNJjwYpr9AoHU2mn8sACSzWumYF7bx4J17W2_zrm-n7L--mMCOz8uO-tkqHuY0QgwhZfGG-jKLzBc5wJGYZqnoYozV8rFjysT4XxD8RMWQEUypJaSFbXELHsvrFqF0U5KadJc0IeaNaK1eAsU84a-wj39ncN9_mY1mSG1zE/w293-h362/JAPANESE%20COVER%20OF%20HOOKED.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><p>Japanese publisher Film Art, Inc. is the publisher. Out of the blue one day, I got an email from a former agent of mine that they'd contacted him and wanted to purchase the Japanese rights to Hooked. He hadn't been my agent on it, so he got in touch with me and they made me a very generous offer of a $2,500 advance against royalties, which I happily took. It's rare for a book to sell foreign rights after it's been out 17 years, but Hooked has been mighty kind to me. I still get substantial royalties each year from Penguin who own the U.S. rights after Writer's Digest went bankrupt.</p><p>Film Art, Inc. came out with an initial run of 3,000 copies. Please tell all of your Japanese writer friends they can now buy it in their native language!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLqI9TLURM4h46DjqRySsfa6TfebXxlSRZ8dd_tb4wjgVWm65ubucn9bOgDr4lbSM8ZER53xvOjG1HargZUowc4JK9e9MlMgU3fLQMaqNubJqntbtTiOqqLU4RzTULwD5y9Fgq-Vv1KlAxG37JY_eTo4To6nHgcHiXeKEcuF_38CT47eFM3BNBgDp/s240/Hooked%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLqI9TLURM4h46DjqRySsfa6TfebXxlSRZ8dd_tb4wjgVWm65ubucn9bOgDr4lbSM8ZER53xvOjG1HargZUowc4JK9e9MlMgU3fLQMaqNubJqntbtTiOqqLU4RzTULwD5y9Fgq-Vv1KlAxG37JY_eTo4To6nHgcHiXeKEcuF_38CT47eFM3BNBgDp/w276-h304/Hooked%20Cover.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, here's the original!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blue skies,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Les</div><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-5731373116631102472022-09-19T08:35:00.001-07:002022-09-20T13:03:32.906-07:00REVEAL--ITALIAN COVER OF THE DEATH OF TARPONS<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's the cover of the Italian edition of my first novel, THE DEATH OF TARPONS. They changed the title to (to quote my editor, Loretta Santini, of Elliot Edizioni) <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">The Italian title will be “La morte dei re d’argento” (The death of the Silver Kings).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">She says: I think it’d be better because it sounds beautiful and, unfortunately, nobody knows what the Tarponi are!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">I hope you agree with this.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2ynL-1afKS6tTf0gpymAUN3e7sfQmaly1NkLU4THIYV5_QOF1EpfHvNNKsLnGSTLeNv9XMTAoGUT_--DJQTv3GYeNISi142nlDwEm-z_OjyjF-FMUjSkZ-HQXFgUHR2m_PnzV4bWspV7TkfCGPledyseGkHDei4YCa21LVNqb0HBVuMyY4vWnS5O/s1654/ITALIAN%20COVER%20OF%20THE%20DEATH%20OF%20TARPONS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="1102" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2ynL-1afKS6tTf0gpymAUN3e7sfQmaly1NkLU4THIYV5_QOF1EpfHvNNKsLnGSTLeNv9XMTAoGUT_--DJQTv3GYeNISi142nlDwEm-z_OjyjF-FMUjSkZ-HQXFgUHR2m_PnzV4bWspV7TkfCGPledyseGkHDei4YCa21LVNqb0HBVuMyY4vWnS5O/w286-h398/ITALIAN%20COVER%20OF%20THE%20DEATH%20OF%20TARPONS.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">THE DEATH OF THE SILVER KINGS (THE DEATH OF TARPONS) It's scheduled for release at the end of October.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">I LOVE MY ITALIAN PUBLISHER!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">Again, thanks to my good friend Mauro Falciani who made all of this possible!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">Blue skies,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">Les</p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-29525008218953541062022-07-25T12:16:00.003-07:002022-07-25T12:16:53.504-07:00MY WIP, THE FIXER, NOMINATED FOR BEST SOUTHERN GOTHIC...<p> Hi Folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Just received an email from the folks at Killer Nashville. I'm gobsmacked! They said:</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a name="_Hlk78459622" style="color: inherit; word-break: break-word;"> </a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk78383265" style="color: inherit; word-break: break-word;"></a><a name="_Hlk78371250" style="color: inherit; word-break: break-word;"></a><a name="_Hlk78385456" style="color: inherit; word-break: break-word;">Hi Les,</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk78385260" style="color: inherit; word-break: break-word;">Congratulations!</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk78444172" style="color: inherit; word-break: break-word;">I don’t know if you’ve heard already, but I wanted to let you know that your unpublished manuscript, <span style="background: white;">The Fixer</span>, is a finalist for the Killer Nashville Claymore Award for Best Southern Gothic </a><a href="https://killernashville.com/2022-killer-nashville-claymore-award-finalists/" rel="noopener" style="color: #0563c1; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">https://killernashville.com/2022-killer-nashville-claymore-award-finalists/</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">On behalf of Clay Stafford, founder of Killer Nashville, and all our judging volunteers, we couldn’t be more excited!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">I’m happy to answer any questions about the award and nomination.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">The winners of each category will be announced August 20, 2022 at the Killer Nashville Awards Dinner <a href="https://killernashville.com/killer-nashville-awards-dinner/" rel="noopener" style="color: #0563c1; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">https://killernashville.com/killer-nashville-awards-dinner/</a>. We’d love to see you there.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">If you wish to register for the conference (<a href="https://killernashville.com/register-for-killer-nashville/" rel="noopener" style="color: #0563c1; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">https://killernashville.com/register-for-killer-nashville/</a>), panel assignments for Killer Nashville (<a href="https://killernashville.com/" rel="noopener" style="color: #0563c1; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">https://killernashville.com/</a>) will be finalized on or before Tuesday, August 2, so if you are interested in being on a panel, please let us know your preferences soon.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">I hope we see you at this year’s Killer Nashville Awards Dinner! And if I can be of any help in any way, please let me know.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Congratulations again!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">- Jacqueline</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">I'm on that proverbial Cloud 9!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Blue skies,</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Les</p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-72754927349890517442022-05-22T08:16:00.001-07:002022-05-22T08:16:28.170-07:00NEW REVIEW BY JOHN JANTUNEN OF ADRENALINE JUNKIE IN CANNERY ROW MAGAZINE<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Just got this review of my memoir, ADRENALINE JUNKIE, by John Jantunen in Cannery Row Magazine. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Book</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Nook</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> with</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> John</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adrenaline Junkie</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 3.8pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Les Edgerton</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Down & Out Books, USA, Memoir,
2018, 344 pages</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Review
by John Jantunen</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2014 Jack David, my publisher at
ECW Press, rented a van and drove four Canadian mystery writers to Bouchercon
in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bouchercon bills itself as the largest crime
writers convention in the world and, as a newly published, first-time mystery
writer, the trip would serve as a rite of passage for me as well as provide the
opportunity to mingle with my more esteemed peers, most of whom would welcome
me into their fold with a degree of fellowship I’d never thought possible.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
And few could have been more welcoming than Les Edgerton.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
met him on the second night of the conference. Up until then, I admit, I’d been
feeling a bit like a fish out of water. While the drive down with Jack, John
McFetridge, Dietrich Kalteis and Sam Wiebe had been a thoroughly memorable and
even joyful affair, I was beginning to suspect that any hope of capitalizing on
the euphoria I’d felt during the thirteen-hour trip wouldn’t amount to anything
more than a case of wishful thinking.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My first
inkling that I’d likely been a trifle too optimistic in believing an unknown
author such as myself might so much as make a ripple in these international
waters had been provided by way of the gift tote I’d received upon signing in
at the authors' table. In it were a half-dozen free books from some of the convention’s
'featured' authors. All were of a decidedly mainstream appeal, quite at odds
with my own reading habits. I knew I wouldn’t read any of them and since my
motel was a thirty-minute walk from the Raleigh Convention Center and I didn’t
want to be burdened with them until I'd return to my room that night, I stacked
the pile of books on a table in the lobby of the adjoining Marriott City
Center, free for the taking.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
A few seconds later I saw an older gentleman sorting through them
and watched, with idle curiosity, to see which of them passed his muster. The
one he finally chose featured on its cover a cat sitting on a table beside a
martini glass, which was about as far as my interest in the book had extended
when I first found it in my tote.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jack David would shortly thereafter
inform me that it was from a sub-genre of mystery novels called “Cat Cozies”
(the most popular in this breed being: <i>The Big Kitty, The Whole Cat and
Caboodle, Faux Paws & Hiss Of Death)</i>. Call me naïve but it had never
occurred to me that people wrote books (for adults) in which cats solved crimes
and that people (adults!) might actually want to read them. But read them they
do, and by the millions as I soon found out. For the rest of the day, it
seemed, whenever I spied someone holding a book, it featured a tabby or calico
on its cover and the 'Cat Cozy' corner in the bookseller’s room sported a
permanent line-up - while, I might add, nary a soul was to be seen at the table
selling <i>Cipher</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That night I ended up at an event
called 'Bar Noir' and my mounting despondency was somewhat tempered by the
promise that 'Noir', another sub-genre, was reserved for those who wrote to
discomfort rather than its opposite. The first reader was a fellow named Tom
Pitts who, I’d later discover, was a transplanted Canadian living in
California. His offering involved a heroin junkie trying to shoot up in the
video booth at a porn shop whose efforts were constantly being thwarted by
a 'dwarf' banging on his door intent on purchasing his used jizz rag. <i>Now
that</i>, I thought joining in with the audience’s boisterous applause, <i>is
more like it!</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The next
reader was a shaven-headed, somewhat elderly author with a handlebar moustache
that, to me, suggested he might have been a retired sheriff from down Texas-way.
He was introduced as Les Edgerton and, while it turned out he was indeed
originally from Texas, I quickly learned that he was about as far removed from
a lawman as one could reasonably get.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> His piece
recounted a true story from his stint as a convicted felon in an Indiana
prison. Apparently the farmer who supplied the prison with beans always threw
in a few shovelfuls of gravel to increase his profit. This meant that inmates
had to be constantly on guard when eating the legume but in his story
"Toothache" the protagonist becomes distracted by one of the cooks
attacking a fellow inmate with a meat cleaver and thus bites down on a rock
amongst his beans, breaking his tooth. Delivered with such dry wit and grisly
humour, Les’s reading that night at Bar Noir, to this day, stands as the most
compelling recitation I’ve heard in any of the dozens of literary events I’ve
attended over the years and, between him and Tom, my mood was on a definite
upswing come intermission.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The break
found me smoking a cigarette on the bar’s street-side patio. One of the perks
of the evening was a sampling of North Carolina whiskey. Given that a half-pint
of beer cost almost ten dollars Canadian, I’d been keeping an eye peeled for
the waitress in charge of dispensing these complimentary drinks. Having already
managed to snag a couple previously, I was downing my third between drags when
I heard a rather garrulous voice shouting out, “Who's got a smoke? I’m jonesing
for a goddamn cigarette!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Turning, I saw it was Les. Pulling
out my pack, I handed a smoke over, assuring him that my <i>Canadian
Classics</i> would be the best cigarettes he'd ever tasted. I’m almost
certain he didn’t entirely agree but we still ended up jawing at one of the
patio’s tables for a couple of hours joined by Chicago mystery writer - and
former Def Jam comic - Danny Gardner who’d go on to found Bronzeville Books a
few years later (a publishing venture at which a friend from my high school in
Bracebridge would serve as an editor, another of those funny coincidences I
tend to thrive on as a writer).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Les
proved himself as proficient a story teller as he was a reader and our
conversation would give me plenty of fodder for the three minutes I’d been
allotted to introduce myself and <i>Cipher</i> at the Emerging
Writers Breakfast the following morning. Les was to sit on one of the panels
that same day and, naturally, I put his appearance at the top of my 'to-do
list'. He was seated between two law enforcement officers-cum-writers and set
the tone of the discussion early on when he paused briefly while recounting one
tale from his seemingly endless repertoire of stories as an outlaw to remark
rather impishly, “I probably shouldn’t be telling this one with so many cops
around,” before boldly charging ahead anyway. But it was something he said a
few moments later which would tell me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had
found a kindred spirit. Answering a question about whether he had a specific
reader in mind while writing, he answered that he didn’t write for a million
readers, he wrote to find that one reader who might just get it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In my
twenties I’d read Herman Hesse’s <i>Narcissus and Goldmund</i>, in which
Goldmund is enticed into the artist’s life by a statue he encounters in a small
country chapel at a particularly dark moment in his life. Ever since, I’d
become convinced that art’s true value resided in its potential to instil a
longing for a new direction in those ‘lost souls’ who needed it most. I’d
been inspired by quite a number of writers over the years in my own
efforts to chart a new direction for myself through my fiction but it was rare
indeed to actually meet a fellow author in the flesh who, by virtue of his very
being, seemed to embody such an all-too-often maligned ideal.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over the intervening years I’ve come
to respect Les's prowess as a writer as much as I do the man himself and there
are no emails I treasure more than the ones I’ve received from him during our
correspondence. Les generously offered to provide a blurb for <i>Savage
Gerry</i> and while he certainly struck at the heart of the matter when he
wrote, “This is a novel of the love of men for their sons” - after all I wrote
it <i>For Drake</i> (my first son) - it wasn’t until I’d read his
book <i>Adrenaline Junkie</i> that I’d fully understand the emotional
imperative simmering beneath the surface of these words. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Les leads into his memoir by quoting James Baldwin in the
first of two epigraphs: “Artists are here to disturb the peace.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Words were insufficient to express
my sudden elation upon reading that as I literally leapt out of my chair to
share this discovery with my partner Tanja, for James Baldwin’s <i>Another
Country</i> plays a pivotal role in <i>In for a Dime </i>and I
had also chosen another Baldwin quote as the epigraph for my next book, <i>Mason’s
Jar</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The
complete quote in which this line appears is: “Now it is true that the
nature of society is to create, among its citizens, an illusion of safety but
it is also absolutely true that the safety is always necessarily an illusion.
Artists are here to disturb the peace. They have to disturb the peace.
Otherwise, chaos.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I include
it here because, to me, it provides an invaluable key to fully appreciating
what Les has accomplished with <i>Adrenaline Junkie</i>, as does what
author Marjorie Brody writes in her Foreword: “Les understands that backstory
matters. It influences the presence. So, he journeyed through the past
seeking answers for why he was here . . . Fighting for a moment - regardless of
how fleeting - to feel in control of his life.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It was hard not
to pause again when reading this, since the only inspirational quote I have
hanging on the wall above my computer is a single page torn from a July,
2021, <i>Harper’s Magazine</i> article. I’ve highlighted the last
paragraph in Matthew Karp’s “History As End” to serve as both a constant
reminder of what I myself am striving for in my writing and as a welcome
reassurance that I am far from alone in what often feels like a solitary, and
futile, pursuit of such an ideal.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> To quote
from Karp's article: “The past may live inside the present but it does not
govern our growth. However sordid or sublime, our origins are not our destinies;
our daily journey into the future is not fixed by moral arcs or genetic
instructions. We must come to see history . . . as what we fight over, fight
for, and aspire to in practices of justice. History is not the end, it is only
one more battleground where we must meet the vast demands of the ever-living
now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If Les’s brazenly courageous and
brutally honest account of his past is anything, it’s one man’s attempt to
create just such a battlefield out of his own personal history . . . and what a
history it turned out to be!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> From working at
his grandmother’s bar/restaurant in the highly segregated - and oftentimes
callously violent - city of Freeport, Texas, during his youth, to his military
service as a cryptographer stationed on the Caribbean Island of San Sal, to his
life as an outlaw and professional thief. Then there was, of course, his stint
at Pendleton Reformatory - one of the worst prisons in America at the time -
during which he’d learn the skills which would lead him to becoming a renowned
hairstylist, only to have his career derailed in a self-destructive streak
fuelled by his seemingly insatiable appetite for sex and drugs, and finally his
moving on to rediscovering his true calling as an author. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
The only corollary within the literary world that I
could think of which even comes close to matching his story would be that of
Hunter S. Thompson. But whereas Hunter S. allowed himself to become a
caricature, forever trapped in a persona of his own devise, Les is driven by
what at times seems like an almost pathological desire to keep reinventing
himself, sometimes for the better, frequently for the worse.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To be honest, I often had a
difficult time reconciling the man he was with the man I’ve come to know. While
this dissonance primarily served to bolster the pervasive, and increasingly
palpable, tension which veritably bristles off every page, it also instilled in
me a certain reluctance while approaching the last few chapters. It was akin to
how I feel nearing the end of a particularly intricate mystery novel, knowing
that the whole thing could quickly become unravelled by an overly pat or facile
resolution that leaves far too little to the reader’s imagination, whereas my
favourite reveals always compel the reader to re-evaluate everything that came
before, even while pointing towards a far-from-certain future. <i>Adrenaline
Junkie</i>, I’m relieved to report, manages this with a similar prowess as Les
brings to his crime fictions.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In fact, it was a passage from his
2011 novel <i>Just Like That</i> which was ever in my thoughts while
I reflected on <i>Adrenaline Junkie</i>. In it his lead character, Jake,
is serving time for much the same reasons Les did and, while conversing with
his cellmate about what led him into a life of crime, he reflects that “the
scareder I get, the gutsier I become.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This itself
serves as incisive an explanation of what drives the 'adrenaline junkie' as
I’ve ever heard and, where in his past lives Les seemingly allowed this same
propulsive fear to drive him towards imminent self-destruction, ultimately it’s
his embrace of that same verve which elevates his memoir beyond a mere
cataloguing of the extreme turns his life took as a result.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
That his ultimate reversal was spurred by the love of
a woman and the birth of his son might have, in less adroit hands, come
across as trite but, here, it serves only to raise the stakes even further. In
McCarthy’s <i>Blood Meridian</i>, Judge Holden remarks “The stakes is the
game” and it’s a lesson Les seems to have taken well to heart. By using his
fear to force a reckoning with his own past, and damn the consequences, he’s
achieved the rarest of all feats; he’s turned what could have been a simple
cautionary tale into an epic saga of a man re-imagining what was once his
Achilles heel into his greatest asset and I, for one, cannot think of a more
compelling, nor salient, story for our times than that.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Les Edgerton is an
American author of 23 books, two of which are on writing fiction, and has
taught at several colleges and universities.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
His works, including a variety of short stories, screenplays, essays and
articles, have been nominated for numerous awards and several of his books have
been translated into Japanese, German and Italian.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0NVupbFcTBGqzNP4su3SRC8KZwRZVpgd48RxIz9BuryyZw2LX6eIlQVj0kc_TtnfIshq03OaPfmu2f8l96CA9Wd82XurCwef17YBX6wboMc0C2mBO3CJrCuM4wcFBl3AzPSwhgpKZmPhcXu77QAkF997ZJDH6gDp5hy62YAR78UOCXpVetlXVFSt/s1000/ADRENALINE%20JUNKIE%20COVER1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0NVupbFcTBGqzNP4su3SRC8KZwRZVpgd48RxIz9BuryyZw2LX6eIlQVj0kc_TtnfIshq03OaPfmu2f8l96CA9Wd82XurCwef17YBX6wboMc0C2mBO3CJrCuM4wcFBl3AzPSwhgpKZmPhcXu77QAkF997ZJDH6gDp5hy62YAR78UOCXpVetlXVFSt/s320/ADRENALINE%20JUNKIE%20COVER1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-83636915538580442192022-05-16T09:43:00.002-07:002022-05-16T09:52:57.275-07:00First royalty statement for Hard Times from Italian publisher, Elliot Edizioni!<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm very pleased to announced I just received the first royalty statement from Italian publisher Elliot Edizioni and not only did it earn out its advance, it earned almost three times that amount. I take great pride in that. Every one of my books that were on the bookshelves have earned out their advances in the first accounting. It's the key to success.</p><p>Much thanks to bookseller Mauro Falciano who recommended this book to Elliot Edizioni's Loretta Santini. And, thanks to Loretta for taking a chance on it. More good news--they've contracted to publish Italian versions of The Death of Tarpons and The Bitch this fall.</p><p>And, a big shout-out and thank-you to my friend Joe Lansdale, who provided a fantastic foreword to the book, which contributed significantly to its success.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gTPFIfnE2310bivWfDeElIEhXtKyChQpTISMMl18hH9tk5AfnuupVom9WKQCux-SUQxtHrbBDsEwvOmRAVV5FMU_YljMVvF7hOCdzqsH-e6GciCDV9550GggB8l_-P1tl650L0MFBhkFdkUCk_-Xb5UdFxy75XVIU8hpJmrF1KB9qIYxWB4zgV7Y/s1001/ITALIAN%20%20VERSION%20OF%20tempi%20difficili.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gTPFIfnE2310bivWfDeElIEhXtKyChQpTISMMl18hH9tk5AfnuupVom9WKQCux-SUQxtHrbBDsEwvOmRAVV5FMU_YljMVvF7hOCdzqsH-e6GciCDV9550GggB8l_-P1tl650L0MFBhkFdkUCk_-Xb5UdFxy75XVIU8hpJmrF1KB9qIYxWB4zgV7Y/s320/ITALIAN%20%20VERSION%20OF%20tempi%20difficili.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">JOE LANSDALE SAYS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">(INTRO TO TEMPI DIFFICILI (HARD TIMES))<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> Les Edgerton is one of our best and most underrated writers, and that’s a sad moniker to throw at anyone. Underrated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">To know you’re doing fine work, and not obscure or abstract work, to wake up and go at it every day, hammer and tongs, with the understanding that you may not be reaching the wider audience you would like or deserve, that’s got to put a kink in your mindset from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> But Les seems to be made of stronger stuff, or has the ability to de-kink the kink and keep moving forward, writing one amazing book after another.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">When he writes he takes his soul and winds it up and lets it loose and it sails across the literary skies with grace and truth, and damn if just about everyone seems to be looking in the wrong direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> I once told him, and meant it, that when he writes crime, he my favorite crime writer, though after one of his novels, I have to come up for air for a while before I leap into his next. His books can be that intense.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> Thing about Les, though, he’s not just a crime writer. He writes other things. And when he writes crime, he’s not just a crime writer. I like his kind of bonkers approach to fiction, as he both tells the daily truth, and tells the metaphorical truth as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">A storm isn’t merely a storm, an arithmetic award torn in two is more than a piece of paper or a momentary disappointment in the life of his main character in Hard Times.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> It is the symbol for all she is, and you might say all she will be. The award is ripped in half by an envious boy. This leads to the main character taping it back together and tucking it away. Wounded dreams, deferred, taped up and stored in wishful reserve. That one scene tells you who Amelia is. How she sees life. How she handles it. Any happiness she might have comes with Scotch tape and disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> I have read a lot of Les’s work, and I have liked it all, but this, hands down, pinky-swear, is his finest novel to date. It takes place where I live—East Texas—and though I might have a quarrel here and there with how the location is presented, and a wish for a quotation mark, its minor. How it feels is presented with accuracy. How Amelia feels is unquestioned. He is inside of that character, and I don’t care if he’s an older man writing about a younger girl, a young woman, he remembers youth, and his radar is hot and high and he has picked up the human condition vibrating in the air. He knows people, and seems to best know people who exist on the edge, supported by hot smoke and a doubtful prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> This is a dark and grimy story about a young girl growing up, making mistakes, and having to survive under tough conditions and enough disappointment Job might ask for room at the Devil’s table. Even the things that go well for Amelia come with that aforementioned Scotch tape and disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> I never had to deal with the things Amelia has to deal with, but I did deal with being poor, if not being dunked down at the bottom of abject poverty. My family was close to the bone all of the time, and as my father once said, if it cost a quarter to shit, we’d have to throw up. We thought of ourselves as broke, instead of poor, but what we have here is a different mindset. Amelia’s life is down deep in the greasy bucket of existence. A large bucket with slick sides and no easy way to climb out, jump out, and there’s no one to boost her up or to lower down a rope and say, “Take this. I’m pulling your ass out of there, sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> And if there was a rope for Amelia, there’s a good chance it would fray and break.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> Amelia is in for it. Life is chasing her with an axe, so to speak. Still, she’s after that American Dream.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> I believe in it, by the way. I’m a product of it. But it’s a dream that some are better able to grasp. It’s a dream that isn’t constantly snatched away from some. But for others, it’s too far away to reach.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> But like Gatsby reaching out for the Green Light from his position on the pier, she never stops reaching. Or at least thinking about reaching.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> Let me add, I like how this novel feels, how it is written, how the characters are presented, even more than the plot. Which, is indeed engaging, but this is not a novel of stick figures chasing to the last page. It’s got meat on its bones and blood under its hide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">But the color of sweat and despair, the sounds of tragedy and unexpected comedy, the taste of hope covered in shit, will fill a readers head before one truly understands what it all means. Or before one understands that this is a quintessential American novel, in the way Wise Blood is, in the way Gatsby is. It seems simple, but buddy, it means bloody business.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> I wish I had written this.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> A writer can’t offer another writer greater praise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> Truth is, though, only one writer could have written such a marvelous and constantly surprising book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> Les Edgerton.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> And long may he write.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">Joe R. Lansdale<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">Nacogdoches, Texas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">Big Bear Manor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #ffcc66; color: #333333; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;"> </span></p></div><p><br /></p><p><b>Blue skies,</b></p><p><b>Les</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-3037881451859342022-02-16T11:54:00.000-08:002022-02-16T11:54:03.782-08:00Book review - Hard Times by Les Edgerton<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/bwy3eK9rUIc" frameborder="0"></iframe>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-930701675379746622022-01-10T12:30:00.000-08:002022-01-10T12:30:55.759-08:00Our next class begins on January 16th--openings available!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hi
folks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
we’re just finishing up our final week on the current session of my online
novel-writing class, “Les Edgerton’s Bootcamp for Writers,” and find ourselves
a couple of openings. Our next session will begin on January 16 and consists of
a ten-week session, with the probability of taking a week off sometime during
the term to recharge batteries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is a call for new class members. Not sure how many openings we’ll have as we
offer vacancies first to our auditors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
basics are the course costs $400 and it’s limited to ten people. The $400 is
nonrefundable, as if a person quits during the session it would be impossible
to fill that vacancy. As this is my primary source of income, it would be
detrimental for myself and my family. It’s very rare that anyone opts out once
begun, however. In over five years, there have only been two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ve
had a remarkable history of success. Nearly three dozen writers over the past
dozen years who has become a part of our class or whom I’ve coached privately
has gone on to being legitimately published and/or secured a good literary
agent. In fact, that is our only goal—to become legitimately published.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiu6_7M8MvkHdoHdxo8PjcZTVLk30jbzA4UNZIu0M6hVJ7znxGycxJ0dXf2TFgD_JL9UjP7alzsZpFGcESsV3w8fj09Q5_0zFxS-jr6-7keQNxF59LafQZnfmEkRre0nTTp5GjWhOtkTLnEL0ethoHjDEVAJz3AsGgeL77buML88ZRWd7MCCgPDINQ=s2700" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiu6_7M8MvkHdoHdxo8PjcZTVLk30jbzA4UNZIu0M6hVJ7znxGycxJ0dXf2TFgD_JL9UjP7alzsZpFGcESsV3w8fj09Q5_0zFxS-jr6-7keQNxF59LafQZnfmEkRre0nTTp5GjWhOtkTLnEL0ethoHjDEVAJz3AsGgeL77buML88ZRWd7MCCgPDINQ=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtJW6s9u9axl7odlgPvEiCC_ZNjk4ufWjhP59XWOQfXKbgE1_ddmTD_cO_nN1mU1K_HV1NGb-vhXc0WSXQwrpzlJXr_6F3k5iC8AasUAN5VOckEI6Ai7tc8VYr4jVX8FVjwrvulB4utu-LoGhfQ8s7q9WPXgwvjf80IONDGljRnmbonz0cctQjgurX=s1392" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtJW6s9u9axl7odlgPvEiCC_ZNjk4ufWjhP59XWOQfXKbgE1_ddmTD_cO_nN1mU1K_HV1NGb-vhXc0WSXQwrpzlJXr_6F3k5iC8AasUAN5VOckEI6Ai7tc8VYr4jVX8FVjwrvulB4utu-LoGhfQ8s7q9WPXgwvjf80IONDGljRnmbonz0cctQjgurX=s320" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCgHj08o1eYT3FXbY1r_fALIRGBq16lIQbBpiwzfxU_0qNMsHG61dCf-qjXXJsCR-SDyUEEcnOIiMOHmsYxu9wjuJIOeOiE4khALN6q2UD8L4KGB3ZZcoGAbzgWyfzlt27ezvb5aHkKdpB47tFkYrjtUlWfoVq4KIBzjTUtWuGK7KcmGVUVBoodaM7=s802" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCgHj08o1eYT3FXbY1r_fALIRGBq16lIQbBpiwzfxU_0qNMsHG61dCf-qjXXJsCR-SDyUEEcnOIiMOHmsYxu9wjuJIOeOiE4khALN6q2UD8L4KGB3ZZcoGAbzgWyfzlt27ezvb5aHkKdpB47tFkYrjtUlWfoVq4KIBzjTUtWuGK7KcmGVUVBoodaM7=s320" width="183" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6HphxSKV_6iyN2dCCDCXYTNp0G3G9tLK1Cp2xumuhkD383sg_n4qdtugmgQqJvfw8kFNWfSxwlrpSyha6soCwM7wjrhDd2mum-1pN1FKtMqCtJ9qOrQNEKlubwyCJnVo9Xgfix1rtmYicF9bdIyvkXCnlQTlxA7rIfi4Iql1jJTjqCoLNKA5R7ptn=s300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6HphxSKV_6iyN2dCCDCXYTNp0G3G9tLK1Cp2xumuhkD383sg_n4qdtugmgQqJvfw8kFNWfSxwlrpSyha6soCwM7wjrhDd2mum-1pN1FKtMqCtJ9qOrQNEKlubwyCJnVo9Xgfix1rtmYicF9bdIyvkXCnlQTlxA7rIfi4Iql1jJTjqCoLNKA5R7ptn" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9mevaD_6lfjioeDyd3-Mv4k4asFyzGwsD93vVMEp1JXR3BiHcE9usvWolVqxLzG4Frl8xO-8B4wsaRJNl6uzcpZijDbyvV5xIVOpCb355US7V8swPcVz9080I1hBevsuBgyQ3spgd8-SZmnkEViR71qZgnC2PKIEPm-1-vt6nUtX8CBKpNL5TU_sG=s240" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9mevaD_6lfjioeDyd3-Mv4k4asFyzGwsD93vVMEp1JXR3BiHcE9usvWolVqxLzG4Frl8xO-8B4wsaRJNl6uzcpZijDbyvV5xIVOpCb355US7V8swPcVz9080I1hBevsuBgyQ3spgd8-SZmnkEViR71qZgnC2PKIEPm-1-vt6nUtX8CBKpNL5TU_sG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCld6_KvcV-L6gLTrE7yVrQ4QyjQ5DzBKyaDcwpZT4GDWODpPLqgMKFvcA88AQYwmkNC-Gs1BLKyAeSV71IfgZTHRP2ESu_9jZ6kHCxl9yYrXfPJovqQCGJF80PqHvjPOWdD4pv2gnN4ZT_5fnOlr9XTY2z7uDH6MeyxbKedi_Qzu6EDhxxjT4-DFZ=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCld6_KvcV-L6gLTrE7yVrQ4QyjQ5DzBKyaDcwpZT4GDWODpPLqgMKFvcA88AQYwmkNC-Gs1BLKyAeSV71IfgZTHRP2ESu_9jZ6kHCxl9yYrXfPJovqQCGJF80PqHvjPOWdD4pv2gnN4ZT_5fnOlr9XTY2z7uDH6MeyxbKedi_Qzu6EDhxxjT4-DFZ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I try to warn people who are
thinking of joining us, how tough the class is, but I know from past experience
that even so forewarned, at least some are going to be in for a shock when they
see that we really don’t hold hands, pat people on the back for minimum
efforts, or overlook writing that doesn’t work. I’m not cruel (at least I don’t
think so) nor are any of the oldtimers in class, but most new folks haven’t
been exposed to a class like ours. The truth is, most writers who haven’t had a
class like ours has been praised in other classes or most likely, has been in
classes that use the “sandwich” method of teaching. You know—that deal where
the teach applies a bit of praise, then a bit of criticism, and then a bit of
praise. Well, that ain’t our shtick. Not even close. The comments we all
provide on everyone’s work fit one definition only. They’re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">honest.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This isn’t to be mean or to act like
we’re the only folks around who know what good writing is. Except… we do. I’m
not aware of any other class out there with the kind of track record ours
enjoys. Virtually every writer who stays the course with us ends up with a top agent
and/or a book deal. That doesn’t happen in a single ten-week session. About the
earliest anyone has earned an agent or book deal in our class has been about a
year. And, that’s reasonable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The thing is, our writers don’t
expect things to be easy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I figured
I’d let some of the class members give you their take on our class. They don’t
hold back and they all have tough skins. They will all tell you the same thing.
It isn’t a class for sissies or for those who need their hands held or lots of
pats on the back. Becoming published is hard, hard work and isn’t an
undertaking for sissies. To get there, our students know they have to put on
their Big Boy and Big Girl pants and expect to work harder than they ever have
in their lives—and to never, ever “settle” their standards of excellence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From a student several years ago:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi ________. Since Les opened the
floor for comments from the "class veterans" I'm chipping in with my
two cents. I have a file cabinet filled with stuff I sent Les and then needed
asbestos gloves to take the paper off the printer. When I started this journey,
I'd never taken an English class past high school. (I was pre-med in college) I
figured I love to read, so how hard can it be? Okay, quit laughing at me.
Clearly, when I wrote my first version of my first novel, I had no idea about
story structure, POV, any of that. I figured I'm pretty articulate and
therefore I can write?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Les quickly set me straight. All of
this is to point out that we've all been on the receiving end of Les' brutal honesty.
I will find some of the comments he made on my work and post them but phrases
like "throwing up in my mouth now" and "bury this so deep in the
yard no one ever finds it" are seared into my brain and I don't have to
look to find those!!! The point is, I took other classes before I met Les and
the teachers were kind and gentle and never told me I sucked. If it weren't for
Les, I'd still be churning out awful drivel that makes people want to throw up
instead of trying not to throw up while I wait to see if my agent is able to
sell my book. I would never have gotten an agent without Les. So hang in there.
Listen to everything he says and if it doesn't make sense, ask away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From another student:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The novel that I am currently trying
to sell has been a work in progress for several years. The first time Les saw
it he sent it back and told me to re-write the WHOLE thing!!! My character was
a wimp. She sat back and let things happen to her. I argued a little, rewrote a
little and then moved on to another book. After a year, I went back and reread
it and saw the truth. It was awful. So I took a deep breath and started over.
Page one. First sentence. Re-wrote the entire thing. It took a full year and
then I revised it again. It's definitely a process. But once you get the inciting
incident and the outline steps down pat, it's a whole lot easier. Trust me!!!
And you'll never graduate completely. A few months ago, Les and I went
head-to-head on one single passage. I was trying to be lazy and take the easy
way out. He called me on it and I resubmitted three or four weeks in a row,
revisions on the same passage. I was sure my classmates were so sick of it they
were going to stick needles in their eyes rather than read it again! But in the
end, the passage rocked!! So hang in there!!!! It'll get better. (Note: This
novel sold and the writer is currently working on her fifth novel.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Class
members come from all over the globe. We’ve had students from the UK, Ireland,
Taiwan, Spain, all parts of the U.S., Canada, Australia, Luxembourg and many
other places. We work with writers in virtually every genre on the bookshelves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
way class works is that the class is divided into two equal groups. We used to
have just one group, but it got to be too much for many students. In the past,
everybody in the class was required to read everybody else’s work each week and
provide in-depth comments on everyone’s work. That meant they had to read nine
other class members’ work and deliver intelligent commentary on each one. We’ve
since evolved to a more manageable number where now each class member reads and
delivers comments on just four other classmates’ work. I provide comments on
everybody’s work and that’s why the class is limited to only ten. With ten
writers, I can give each person the quality of time and analysis each deserves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Each
week begins on Sunday evening, when people can begin submitting their weekly
pages from Sunday until Wednesday. If it’s a new writer to the class, they are
allowed to submit their first five pages of their novel, plus an outline which
consists of five statements and a total of 15-20 words. Oldtimers in class call
this “inciting incident hell.” If the outline isn’t working and their beginning
doesn’t represent the inciting incident as provided in their outline, they are
required to keep submitting each week until it does. Our feeling is if they
haven’t thought through their novels sufficiently and provided a publishable
novel structure (evidenced by the outline), then they most likely don’t have a
novel ready to be written and to simply plunge ahead will almost invariably
lead to an unfinished novel. We don’t want that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once
they’ve been okayed for the beginning, from thereafter they can submit up to
eight pages per week, along with the others in class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Time
zones don’t matter. Everybody’s work, including everyone’s comments and my own
comments on each person’s work each week is posted on the class site and folks
can go to it any time of the day or night. Class members can begin sending back
their comments on each others’ in their group from Sunday through the following
Sunday, when it begins again. Although, in practicality, most members send in
their work each week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It’s like being in an
“on-ground” class in that everything said or done in class is seen by
everybody.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
do have a chat function and people use it all the time, even though they’re in
different time zones. One of the best things about this class is that we have
lots of oldtimers who know from their own experience what works in a novel and
what doesn’t and more importantly… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i>
it works or doesn’t work. It’s like having a group of seven or eight other
professionals helping you with your own novel. Probably at any given time in
class, there will be four or five who already have had a novel or several
published as a result of being in class, so it’s a really rarified group. And,
if you think that you couldn’t operate in a situation like this because you’re
a beginner, that simply isn’t the case here at all. Every single person in each
class began just the way you did, as a rank beginner. And, they remember and
they have complete empathy for your situation, if you’re a beginning writer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
not a situation of simply saying, “This doesn’t work.” Myself and others in
class will surely say that, but we then let you know why it didn’t work and
give you solid suggestions on how to make it work. We collectively have a
nurturing nature and all of us want the newcomer to succeed just about as badly
as that writer wants to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides
class members, we also have an auditor function which works the same as it does
in a “regular” college class. You’re admitted to class and can view every
single thing we’re doing and the entire class session is archived and easy to
access. The cost of auditing the class is $50. If interested in joining us as
either a class member or auditor, just email me at <a href="mailto:butchedgerton@comcast.net">butchedgerton@comcast.net</a> and let
me know. If you decide to join us I’ll have our class administrator, Holly, get
you on board asap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
know there are no doubt a lot of questions you may have. Please feel free to
contact me at any time and ask me anything you’d like.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
past experience, when we’ve had openings like this, they go quickly, so if you
are interested, please get in touch, okay?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
those interested in such things, here are a few of my own qualifications to
teach writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">MFA
in Writing from Vermont College<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Taught
writing for the UCLA Writer’s Program<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Taught
writing via Skype for the New York Writer’s Workshop<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Writer-in-Residence
for three years for the University of Toledo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Writer-in-Residence
for one year for Trine University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Taught
writing classes for St. Francis University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Taught
writing classes for Phoenix College<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Taught
writing for Writer’s Digest Online Classes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Taught
writing classes for Vermont College<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Published
23 books, including craft books on writing, novels, sports books, YA novel,
historical nonfiction book, humor nonfiction, black comedy novel, noir,
thrillers, literary and existential fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dozens
of short stories published in such publications as The South Carolina Review,
High Plains Literary Review, Aethlon, Flatmancrooked, Murdaland, Best American
Mystery Stories and many others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
lot of living… much of it as an outlaw…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blue
skies,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Les<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-49215324046883506522022-01-06T16:01:00.000-08:002022-01-06T16:01:14.543-08:00I'm giving a workshop on Zoom for the Diamond Valley Writers Group in California<p>Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>For complete info, go to:</p><p> <a class="" href="https://dvwritersguild.org/" rel="noopener" style="color: #3c61aa; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">https://dvwritersguild.org/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Blue skies,</p><p>Les</p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-76793664513203007432021-12-24T11:07:00.002-08:002021-12-24T11:28:58.210-08:00NEW FOREIGN SALES!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hi folks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Just got a wonderful Christmas present!
Just signed contracts for two more of my novels to be published in Italian by
Elliot Edizones! Editor Loretta Santini has chosen THE DEATH OF TARPONS and THE
BITCH to be published next. The first novel she chose, HARD TIMES, is doing
really well in sales and we expect even more with these next two as my work
becomes more and more known. This will make four of my novels translated into
Italian. Bookseller Mauro Falciani is responsible for all four being taken,
beginning with THE RAPIST from Odoya Publishing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY5yw_ZbjFWZ_z6LlfHCGanYynlLHVK7GTXBqfFIJyoRtXeYlj4wAjb5_bIO8JnBezCAc6fopVT5h6HALjkDFZlVO0C6snwgk8iRofIp4RcUr1dS-wji2hrLEMQRpIRYExFGJu8WthcoVKPmjt5CERkVwNd2hhMh6rwuSipquVacE02yMV8ZBvXwaI=s897" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="603" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY5yw_ZbjFWZ_z6LlfHCGanYynlLHVK7GTXBqfFIJyoRtXeYlj4wAjb5_bIO8JnBezCAc6fopVT5h6HALjkDFZlVO0C6snwgk8iRofIp4RcUr1dS-wji2hrLEMQRpIRYExFGJu8WthcoVKPmjt5CERkVwNd2hhMh6rwuSipquVacE02yMV8ZBvXwaI=s320" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt8QenA0TbVB9uCplXSQOHcC6NwnByG9Ga4qDOEPFrXvuvJK6P9D1Y0eRP9s_REx8gEYHIHt_5BOIMyhi0DWHgi3zfJ7li9YI_OcvTJzfpa30kHaKtZm-14lYQbGLUtF0l4Syrsg7grU_eTLSAKlVkQzKkem3qirUpfsVBeIbzDr4fv-3KMf0FOCTY=s3537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2625" data-original-width="3537" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt8QenA0TbVB9uCplXSQOHcC6NwnByG9Ga4qDOEPFrXvuvJK6P9D1Y0eRP9s_REx8gEYHIHt_5BOIMyhi0DWHgi3zfJ7li9YI_OcvTJzfpa30kHaKtZm-14lYQbGLUtF0l4Syrsg7grU_eTLSAKlVkQzKkem3qirUpfsVBeIbzDr4fv-3KMf0FOCTY=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiK6S0rSzp1FFp5Dw1bxVAj7rL7gdEy0y4yp52nWlmb1LVOt0YoNE-FVKoWyMVlnWsuwCg0XID5F9FtCaqI1SF4FoNb-zUQKkaam-EPBgzgP1Z9DwI-ykdXwNQlkETwXQjaXtvM5GwNtvpKEqVsRBpLewE9Iy_iYspXsRPWmSPb5yIT1qvHbSYmQif=s300" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiK6S0rSzp1FFp5Dw1bxVAj7rL7gdEy0y4yp52nWlmb1LVOt0YoNE-FVKoWyMVlnWsuwCg0XID5F9FtCaqI1SF4FoNb-zUQKkaam-EPBgzgP1Z9DwI-ykdXwNQlkETwXQjaXtvM5GwNtvpKEqVsRBpLewE9Iy_iYspXsRPWmSPb5yIT1qvHbSYmQif" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGys1wX8RpSNP9CX89i6MGqk9wtmQoJMS04oI19qkpJal4qnSKeuTV7EHsvNlR1wHXp3Drt4gfFSuPV27HW6p1t7r_CUFDN8SYVokbqrA6aabIMm3br3IQMQhbBMBtFyU76k9H4ucaBffO7TadY-OFgjgKkxxGQJe0hyRriS6WvR5vRP2Ub6ZsSQLo=s1001" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGys1wX8RpSNP9CX89i6MGqk9wtmQoJMS04oI19qkpJal4qnSKeuTV7EHsvNlR1wHXp3Drt4gfFSuPV27HW6p1t7r_CUFDN8SYVokbqrA6aabIMm3br3IQMQhbBMBtFyU76k9H4ucaBffO7TadY-OFgjgKkxxGQJe0hyRriS6WvR5vRP2Ub6ZsSQLo=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUZEmk1mrHAOBHpM73RYzf0hRTGRkfZJ3lSNp7joFi3ksY1xa4cHFfwzYvka0GcrEsKO2aB9xY-GqqkVkhb3IRk0swJnaq21Csrn4ryrp0YofRn7wudpgQAA76z4-Hq8FyRWRxFZ2N3Tx7KNhVI2iE0y_s_of0wtmH9hnbEEsZucsiBd-O0UhlyGSq=s900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUZEmk1mrHAOBHpM73RYzf0hRTGRkfZJ3lSNp7joFi3ksY1xa4cHFfwzYvka0GcrEsKO2aB9xY-GqqkVkhb3IRk0swJnaq21Csrn4ryrp0YofRn7wudpgQAA76z4-Hq8FyRWRxFZ2N3Tx7KNhVI2iE0y_s_of0wtmH9hnbEEsZucsiBd-O0UhlyGSq=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is so gratifying about Elliot is
that when they take an author on, they take all of his work on as well. They
create a true home for the writer. And, what’s really huge about Elliot is that
my books end up in bookstores all over the country. A true publisher! This is
the key to substantial sales and a national readership.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Loretta hasn’t announced the release
dates of each but as soon as she does, I’ll post it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This just caps off a great year in
foreign publishing and sales for me. My craft book, HOOKED, was signed earlier
by Japanese publisher Filmart-Sha Co., Ltd. for a very nice advance. They’ll be
coming out with a first-run of 2,500 copies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE1GwYegIIdvOq_tr-d7629PJ0g944oOwcT1sE5f8tfANjjqE37ui1bkbt06jfVZQ-45vcAWKzaWH-sgF5X-4RkHPNwr30BJ5AXCzUqa0wiuXyzCBFb1rDmbw_0U2W0gewGG2TDSJcQZ4AQ87sES3d2xaWYfHBoZSYGtQL6bJsxVaIVB7w2LSRfKU4=s240" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE1GwYegIIdvOq_tr-d7629PJ0g944oOwcT1sE5f8tfANjjqE37ui1bkbt06jfVZQ-45vcAWKzaWH-sgF5X-4RkHPNwr30BJ5AXCzUqa0wiuXyzCBFb1rDmbw_0U2W0gewGG2TDSJcQZ4AQ87sES3d2xaWYfHBoZSYGtQL6bJsxVaIVB7w2LSRfKU4" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All-in-all, this has been a terrific
year for me. To top it all off, my son Mike and his fiancé Vic have given Mary
and me the best present of all—their cute-as-all-hell son Lewis Bud Edgerton.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNbK8AVNZT_J04et038lWOgjnkRulvAEs5UP_gI0FLGOWAEfZ8ZuESsbGL3W--zOx69ergK1aI86x4SrRgNMGWfbhCfX0N7V6Kc9LfObgtgZj7j31CyT9fMvSxCC2fz88rgq7OslVn5iQO9bpI9zyK4mLFNI6hLDBkTxjs4EUIr-Uq__Qd6bHujeNe=s1365" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNbK8AVNZT_J04et038lWOgjnkRulvAEs5UP_gI0FLGOWAEfZ8ZuESsbGL3W--zOx69ergK1aI86x4SrRgNMGWfbhCfX0N7V6Kc9LfObgtgZj7j31CyT9fMvSxCC2fz88rgq7OslVn5iQO9bpI9zyK4mLFNI6hLDBkTxjs4EUIr-Uq__Qd6bHujeNe=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga4eC8h_aEXMg8OKYI5N9CQFC7fDh_WGi3R-GP78FEAjwqaLel0-xN6VpXDyQCpL3J5FhKGmXpn4NoRmv4amWahwnUzpUby4BVA3q8QSAJa0NQ4EDG44ikLHlH0skTgEVL-Vf_FfBRQOkQv6vrSVgjS7nU-o9CXLYZGX2AhR5FDbZZqOC_8m0R7vgT=s701" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga4eC8h_aEXMg8OKYI5N9CQFC7fDh_WGi3R-GP78FEAjwqaLel0-xN6VpXDyQCpL3J5FhKGmXpn4NoRmv4amWahwnUzpUby4BVA3q8QSAJa0NQ4EDG44ikLHlH0skTgEVL-Vf_FfBRQOkQv6vrSVgjS7nU-o9CXLYZGX2AhR5FDbZZqOC_8m0R7vgT=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merry Christmas to everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Blue skies,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Les</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And, here's my present to each of you!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjALHyGoXcKi_zoiK8X-Fb5_iIFwb2UiS6xkdI3CgASw7ePNxliJSGtdoO80Cr7OjAVZPlAcw8XldkC2x8-enkCJv4M4fJ762Isz6Tlmy2IRukcMuWk3L-0U-OTZElqWQzyMQLbqM1K0Mt9f1vhPKBehcp4GR0Xr-ovF3nyme_dnmhBTkNGTk1bjNGP=s743" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="743" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjALHyGoXcKi_zoiK8X-Fb5_iIFwb2UiS6xkdI3CgASw7ePNxliJSGtdoO80Cr7OjAVZPlAcw8XldkC2x8-enkCJv4M4fJ762Isz6Tlmy2IRukcMuWk3L-0U-OTZElqWQzyMQLbqM1K0Mt9f1vhPKBehcp4GR0Xr-ovF3nyme_dnmhBTkNGTk1bjNGP=s320" width="320" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-90979297883347950502021-11-25T12:12:00.003-08:002021-11-25T12:15:41.133-08:00MY SON MIKE AND HIS FIANCE VICTORIA JUST HAD THEIR BABY BOY!<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>My son Mike and his fiance Victoria just had their baby! A boy they've named Lewis Bud Edgerton, arrived at 7:15 ayem today (I predicted 7:31 last night). weighing in at 9 lbs, 1 oz. Doc said he had the biggest feet he'd ever seen, Here's some pics of the family!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgju83gd_pa1ZpaPKeEsECVSxJyEmJFSq1BnKTCJ58q2djm9huTrXIpAQXgg-GYSaeWxImLNzaqjFqDZ_QuLYqgtuHFA_ULW_JAwbJHjrsLg3RLketnsTOCKCb9Q44LMbrW8vxx3PX63jg/s1365/Lewis+%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgju83gd_pa1ZpaPKeEsECVSxJyEmJFSq1BnKTCJ58q2djm9huTrXIpAQXgg-GYSaeWxImLNzaqjFqDZ_QuLYqgtuHFA_ULW_JAwbJHjrsLg3RLketnsTOCKCb9Q44LMbrW8vxx3PX63jg/s320/Lewis+%25232.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-_D4zoMS-vcs8_L_Vq-FPeqC2sU7a0bJUNEh0ZDl83AyvBeTANc21AbS8xmRkBPEmdWZFZf8xw3pggUwHZCX7J8dxET6Q4gTxjFnHB0SB0MUt1YrNnDnKNCeBNm0Khii-FO8zvXU52Q/s1024/Lewis+%25233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-_D4zoMS-vcs8_L_Vq-FPeqC2sU7a0bJUNEh0ZDl83AyvBeTANc21AbS8xmRkBPEmdWZFZf8xw3pggUwHZCX7J8dxET6Q4gTxjFnHB0SB0MUt1YrNnDnKNCeBNm0Khii-FO8zvXU52Q/s320/Lewis+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJASPMYqtXRC_BU7I5Nmn4KIkPBY2zE73zMSqxc54JN6cNr6bokjd4dS1e4QotwOTCF0Tpf6iYQYASss_aW2oMakCFhEprap3Kk25HGjN_8-uTYmhYpMryElHSPctBvrbQMSnyJJfU7H0/s1024/Lewis+%25234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJASPMYqtXRC_BU7I5Nmn4KIkPBY2zE73zMSqxc54JN6cNr6bokjd4dS1e4QotwOTCF0Tpf6iYQYASss_aW2oMakCFhEprap3Kk25HGjN_8-uTYmhYpMryElHSPctBvrbQMSnyJJfU7H0/s320/Lewis+%25234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8WZQ1jjFN2TccKix4Sti-s6C7kzWCtE6NztrOQuYOLbzD7VuYupPMHIcEOHU_bWA_v6RiN2Bwe27cp-Epe05zD9toeAlhgeOawqt_wPPeK1KYwvs4kSC6ikkztdsJM2o6Qe99UdNcKE/s1104/Lewis+%25235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="593" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8WZQ1jjFN2TccKix4Sti-s6C7kzWCtE6NztrOQuYOLbzD7VuYupPMHIcEOHU_bWA_v6RiN2Bwe27cp-Epe05zD9toeAlhgeOawqt_wPPeK1KYwvs4kSC6ikkztdsJM2o6Qe99UdNcKE/s320/Lewis+%25235.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_sYqOaScGE-fsmoDtlbVKOfC9YpNYRNitbQao-Rwz3Vl5rdad1CLZhvHu6tSKO2gwbGkXQubuTSA5Qm7A2ap3AmkBTSVdROB_O_XuEFwl3uBd30LTAEUuySIxg1XoXqb1RNp21XxIVg/s1365/Lewis+%25236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_sYqOaScGE-fsmoDtlbVKOfC9YpNYRNitbQao-Rwz3Vl5rdad1CLZhvHu6tSKO2gwbGkXQubuTSA5Qm7A2ap3AmkBTSVdROB_O_XuEFwl3uBd30LTAEUuySIxg1XoXqb1RNp21XxIVg/s320/Lewis+%25236.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc9Z_5UE4Zc7Df47s1yc2VD3qTFjfc3VF_kBj4ANCBfq0qxKBmIedknaKjSQ124Tkey0umZ9Y5jLK49C1leZ3z4j6Cv3OXFF2EMc1O11XVVVsTJr1mP3RYC25VvWbwIwfzR6yeZpYseo/s1365/Lewis+%25237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc9Z_5UE4Zc7Df47s1yc2VD3qTFjfc3VF_kBj4ANCBfq0qxKBmIedknaKjSQ124Tkey0umZ9Y5jLK49C1leZ3z4j6Cv3OXFF2EMc1O11XVVVsTJr1mP3RYC25VvWbwIwfzR6yeZpYseo/s320/Lewis+%25237.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jX6GhUhrppWyTQeTJ9R6a-v7cEsGMGZ0SUGB_iEKCOCNUaVRJQ3V8r4UkzMontOiCTqlt80hHaM6-bmwGBb8BNz1vlD7S8JZOUdpV_nxgG2sSGYS0PV08fimIsXBCh3-M7zb-USgqIE/s1365/Lewis+%25231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jX6GhUhrppWyTQeTJ9R6a-v7cEsGMGZ0SUGB_iEKCOCNUaVRJQ3V8r4UkzMontOiCTqlt80hHaM6-bmwGBb8BNz1vlD7S8JZOUdpV_nxgG2sSGYS0PV08fimIsXBCh3-M7zb-USgqIE/s320/Lewis+%25231.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> Two of my three grandkids are holiday babies. Lewis is, or course, a Thanksgiving baby and Logan was a Fourth of July baby. Nicole wasn't born on a holiday so her birthday is its own holiday!<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Everybody's doing great and Mary and I are just as proud as we could be!</p><p><br /></p><p>Blue skies,</p><p>Les</p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-73858168135187928032021-11-18T08:45:00.002-08:002021-11-18T09:45:51.548-08:00HARD TIMES RELEASED IN ITALY!<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's my editor, Loretta Santini of Italian publisher Elliot launching the Italian version of HARD TIMES. Today, it's on the shelves of all the bookstores in Italy! ALL OF 'EM! This is the secret of sales. Every one of my books that have been released to bookstores have sold out their print runs! I'M PUMPED!!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiDOVSvRy0duVGlZDpIMXon4SUS2DAqoI79JdSS4iqtCnCjj2hX1vFrUpWj3oSQijWkIlUoHo5F7ooatGciybZf5EuseOSvk47qBRgHMK9L0lAmWXCHUHIadu-wc3im8yBn_hN_isrNQ/s640/ITALIAN+VERSION+OF+HARD+TIMES+WITH+LORETTA+SANTINI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiDOVSvRy0duVGlZDpIMXon4SUS2DAqoI79JdSS4iqtCnCjj2hX1vFrUpWj3oSQijWkIlUoHo5F7ooatGciybZf5EuseOSvk47qBRgHMK9L0lAmWXCHUHIadu-wc3im8yBn_hN_isrNQ/w298-h359/ITALIAN+VERSION+OF+HARD+TIMES+WITH+LORETTA+SANTINI.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's the introduction Joe Lansdale so very graciously provided for this version:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JOE LANSDALE SAYS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(INTRO TO <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TEMPI DIFFICILI
(HARD TIMES))<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Les Edgerton is
one of our best and most underrated writers, and that’s a sad moniker to throw
at anyone. Underrated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To know you’re doing fine work, and
not obscure or abstract work, to wake up and go at it every day, hammer and
tongs, with the understanding that you may not be reaching the wider audience
you would like or deserve, that’s got to put a kink in your mindset from time to
time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But Les seems to
be made of stronger stuff, or has the ability to de-kink the kink and keep
moving forward, writing one amazing book after another. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When he writes he takes his soul
and winds it up and lets it loose and it sails across the literary skies with
grace and truth, and damn if just about everyone seems to be looking in the
wrong direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I once told him,
and meant it, that when he writes crime, he my favorite crime writer, though
after one of his novels, I have to come up for air for a while before I leap
into his next. His books can be that intense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thing about Les,
though, he’s not just a crime writer. He writes other things. And when he
writes crime, he’s not just a crime writer. I like his kind of bonkers approach
to fiction, as he both tells the daily truth, and tells the metaphorical truth
as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A storm isn’t merely a storm, an
arithmetic award torn in two is more than a piece of paper or a momentary
disappointment in the life of his main character in Hard Times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the symbol for all she is, and you might
say all she will be. The award is ripped in half by an envious boy. This leads
to the main character taping it back together and tucking it away. Wounded
dreams, deferred, taped up and stored in wishful reserve. That one scene tells
you who Amelia is. How she sees life. How she handles it. Any happiness she
might have comes with Scotch tape and disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have read a
lot of Les’s work, and I have liked it all, but this, hands down, pinky-swear,
is his finest novel to date. It takes place where I live—East Texas—and though
I might have a quarrel here and there with how the location is presented, and a
wish for a quotation mark, its minor. How it feels is presented with accuracy.
How Amelia feels is unquestioned. He is inside of that character, and I don’t
care if he’s an older man writing about a younger girl, a young woman, he
remembers youth, and his radar is hot and high and he has picked up the human
condition vibrating in the air. He knows people, and seems to best know people
who exist on the edge, supported by hot smoke and a doubtful prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a dark
and grimy story about a young girl growing up, making mistakes, and having to
survive under tough conditions and enough disappointment Job might ask for room
at the Devil’s table. Even the things that go well for Amelia come with that
aforementioned Scotch tape and disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I never had to
deal with the things Amelia has to deal with, but I did deal with being poor,
if not being dunked down at the bottom of abject poverty. My family was close
to the bone all of the time, and as my father once said, if it cost a quarter
to shit, we’d have to throw up. We thought of ourselves as broke, instead of
poor, but what we have here is a different mindset. Amelia’s life is down deep
in the greasy bucket of existence. A large bucket with slick sides and no easy
way to climb out, jump out, and there’s no one to boost her up or to lower down
a rope and say, “Take this. I’m pulling your ass out of there, sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And if there was
a rope for Amelia, there’s a good chance it would fray and break.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Amelia is in for
it. Life is chasing her with an axe, so to speak. Still, she’s after that
American Dream.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I believe in it,
by the way. I’m a product of it. But it’s a dream that some are better able to
grasp. It’s a dream that isn’t constantly snatched away from some. But for
others, it’s too far away to reach.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But like Gatsby
reaching out for the Green Light from his position on the pier, she never stops
reaching. Or at least thinking about reaching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let me add, I
like how this novel feels, how it is written, how the characters are presented,
even more than the plot. Which, is indeed engaging, but this is not a novel of
stick figures chasing to the last page. It’s got meat on its bones and blood
under its hide. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But the color of sweat and despair,
the sounds of tragedy and unexpected comedy, the taste of hope covered in shit,
will fill a readers head before one truly understands what it all means. Or
before one understands that this is a quintessential American novel, in the way
Wise Blood is, in the way Gatsby is. It seems simple, but buddy, it means bloody
business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wish I had
written this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A writer can’t
offer another writer greater praise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Truth is,
though, only one writer could have written such a marvelous and constantly
surprising book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Les Edgerton.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And long may he
write. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Joe R. Lansdale<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nacogdoches, Texas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Big Bear Manor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Thank you, Joe. I can die now and feel fulfilled. And, thank you Mauro Falciani for asking Joe for this.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kqme5ZvMz8kGg5mSSv8T7wsccP12zNkYKXLhSCOlfIMSc4NJVB35MWrwVRtW8I2yRrMCAbhyQ-cp3Z4GhQZaN_EobDLeZDvac9nS6AqCQaGn-WFujuz0CCQRNb-C-SvBDiHKmPCRmLg/s960/Me+AND+JOE+LANSDALE+IN+INDY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kqme5ZvMz8kGg5mSSv8T7wsccP12zNkYKXLhSCOlfIMSc4NJVB35MWrwVRtW8I2yRrMCAbhyQ-cp3Z4GhQZaN_EobDLeZDvac9nS6AqCQaGn-WFujuz0CCQRNb-C-SvBDiHKmPCRmLg/s320/Me+AND+JOE+LANSDALE+IN+INDY.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Just two East Texas boys...</p><p><br /></p><p>Blue skies,</p><p>Les</p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-29292220477128582922021-10-29T08:18:00.002-07:002021-10-29T08:18:53.666-07:00COVER FOR THE ITALIAN VERSION OF HARD TIMES<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's the cover for the Italian edition of HARD TIMES, by Elliot Press, which launches on November 24.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGBqJ_w-IJmwfWS43ail9m96q4-APrao8DdOjDaoBRKz2qwM5gx0CmqWz8rh_K7jrgi8l3OenBH4OxrSZ3L3zUwRv-FkdR9u23pV6R4504-5WPVTVS1UIqBtU-pO_d2GVrnVR6XcMylc/s1001/Cover+TEMPI+DIFFICILI+for+ITALIAN+VERSION+OF+HARD+TIMES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="667" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGBqJ_w-IJmwfWS43ail9m96q4-APrao8DdOjDaoBRKz2qwM5gx0CmqWz8rh_K7jrgi8l3OenBH4OxrSZ3L3zUwRv-FkdR9u23pV6R4504-5WPVTVS1UIqBtU-pO_d2GVrnVR6XcMylc/w255-h369/Cover+TEMPI+DIFFICILI+for+ITALIAN+VERSION+OF+HARD+TIMES.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Many, many thanks to Mauro Falciani of Florence, Italy, who championed Hard Times to editor Loretta Santini of Elliot Publishing. This is the second of my books Mauro has recommended to Italian publishers (also THE RAPIST) which have resulted in being published in Italian.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, huge thanks to Joe Lansdale, who gave us a wonderful introduction to this version.</p><p><br /></p><p>Blue skies,</p><p>Les</p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-49809782098204394162021-10-04T16:32:00.000-07:002021-10-04T16:32:50.620-07:00SF CHRONICLE MENTION OF HOOKED<p> Hi folks,</p><p><br /></p><p>Was just sent this article with a mention of Hooked in the San Francisco Chronicle! I'm jazzed!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Scenes
from the life of a writer trying to write scenes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.7pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barbara Lane October
4, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.7pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The horror genre sometimes gets
little literary praise, but nobody writes plot and dialogue like best-selling
horror master Stephen King.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I met my friend Erin for lunch on
Clement Street recently. As neither of us was ready yet, COVID-wise, to go
inside to eat, we picked up sandwiches at Cafe Bunn Mi and sat down on a bench
in front of the Richmond branch of the San Francisco Public Library.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have a long and happy history
with that library. I lived a block away for 25 years, and my son grew up in the
children’s section. First it was on my lap as an enthusiastic attendee of the
aptly named Lap Sit program, at which the librarian read stories. Later, along
with countless other Richmond District children, he graduated to choosing his
own books and sitting on the carpet to read, and finally to the perfectly
kid-sized chairs. I loved that having a child gave me access to that little
piece of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Erin is a writer and, like me, reads
voraciously. She’s published nonfiction, writes a terrific newsletter and is
working on a novel, so, as it always does, our talk turned to writing.
Specifically, dropping into scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I read more than almost anyone I
know, and it wasn’t until recently when I started writing (I should say
struggling to write) fiction that I learned about scene. For those of you who
don’t know, a scene is a section of your novel where a character or
characters engage in action or dialogue. You can think of it as a story within
the story, with a beginning, middle and an end. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A scene has a specific time and
place and point of view. It unfolds moment by moment and usually involves
conflict and emotional change. Ideally, it has a goal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aha! That was what was wrong with my
so-called novel. Too much expository writing. I was making the classic mistake
of telling, not showing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Erin recommended two books that have
helped her with scene: Les Edgerton’s “Hooked” and, even though it’s about screenwriting,
Robert McKee’s “Story.” I’ve heard raves from other writers about Stephen
King’s “On Writing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A note about Stephen King: I’m not a
fan of horror, and for years I ignorantly dismissed King as a mainstream
commercial writer not worthy of my erudite attention. Then I read “11/22/63,”
his novel about a time traveler who attempts to get back to that fateful day
and stop Lee Harvey Oswald’s assassination of President John F.
Kennedy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Masterful, this book taught me
plenty. Nobody writes plot and dialogue like Stephen King. I ate crow
big-time. Since then, I’ve read lots of King, most recently his terrific
short story collection “If It Bleeds.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great literary scenes stick in the
memory: the fence whitewashing scene in “Tom Sawyer”; Emma Bovary’s erotic
carriage ride with the young clerk Leon; the tea party scene in “The Great
Gatsby”; George telling Lenny the fantasy of their little ranch in Steinbeck’s
“Of Mice and Men”; the horse-head-in-the-bed scene in Mario Puzo’s “The
Godfather.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In contemporary fiction, Francis
Spufford writes a stunning opening scene of devastation in his new novel “Light
Perpetual,” when a Woolworth’s store in South London and everyone in it is
destroyed by a German rocket. “Mayflies,” Andrew O’Hagan’s latest novel, is full
of vivid scenes of young, small-town, working-class men on a wild adventure at
an epic music festival in Manchester, putting the reader right in the middle of
the madness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And in Mohsin Hamid’s “Exit West,”
any number of conversations between protagonists Saeed and Nadia drop into
scene, doing more than any expository writing could to evoke the harsh reality
of their unnamed, war-torn city. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think of your favorite writer, and I
have no doubt you can recall a memorable scene or two. A well-written scene
makes a novel sing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After Erin left that day, I wandered
into the recently reopened library and was hit immediately with that soft,
comforting library smell of old books. I walked into the children’s section to
find the kid-sized chair with a plaque bearing my son’s name that I’d “bought”
to support the renovation of the building in 2009. And there it was, the same
fern-green wood, a beaver painted on its back, at a small table with five
little chair mates. I could easily see 3-year-old Harry sitting happily with a
picture book. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow, I thought. This would make a
good scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 7.05pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barbara Lane Barbara Lane can’t
remember a time when she didn’t have her nose in a book. Her column appears every
other Tuesday in Datebook. Email: barbara.lane@sfchronicle.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-28720386492189626212021-07-02T11:05:00.001-07:002021-07-02T11:05:26.446-07:00HOOKED by Les Edgerton: Writing Craft Book Review // How to Write the Be...<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ejWG8XpmSb4" frameborder="0"></iframe>Les Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.com0