Lots of stuff coming up.

Lots of stuff coming up.

So this year has been hell for me, personally.  But writing-wise, things have been good. I’m not going to go into the personal crap, but I wanted to give folks a heads-up about what’s coming down the road.

Within the next couple of weeks, I have two stories being released.  The first is a pirate tale, a fictional account of the lady pirate, Anne Bonny’s last great adventure.

In reality, Bonny, after being captured along with her husband, Calico Jack Rackham and Mary Reed, was imprisoned in the Royal prison in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Rackham was executed for piracy, while Bonny and Reed were spared a death sentence after ‘pleading the belly’ (being pregnant). Reed later died from an illness and fever. Bonny, however, seems to have disappeared from recorded history.  Some speculate that her father bought her freedom and returned her to Charlestown, South Carolina. Others say she died in prison.

While the true history of Bonny’s fate is unknown, I decided that she should have one last, great adventure. ‘Anne Bonny’s Revenge’ will be featured in Pro Se Production’s ‘Tall Pulp’.

 

 

The second story is a pulp adventure called, ‘Cry Blood’. It’ll be featured in Pro Se Production’s ‘Pulse Fiction’. The story centers on Thomas ‘Tommy’ Gunn, P.I. and all around scoundrel.

When a young woman in trouble shows up at his door, Tommy takes the case. What he doesn’t count on is that everyone around her end up dying in horrible ways. Can Tommy figure out what is happening before he becomes another victim?

 

Beyond this, Capes & Clockwork 2 is in the works, bringing back many of the authors from the first and a few new ones. Also, an unnamed short story collection is in the works. An untitled Steampunk project is in the works. The planned serialized Port Victoria books are on temporary hold, but hopefully will be out sometime soon.

Stay tuned for more news!!!

Big News for fans of Port Victoria!!!

 

Big News for fans of Port Victoria!!!

3 serialized Port Victoria stories are coming, later in 2014.

 

Coming up from Pro Se Productions is a new era in short Pulp Fiction and I'm fortunate to be a part. Below is the press release from Pro Se, announcing a new monthly program.

Starting this summer, I’ll have 3 serialized stories featuring characters from the Port Victoria universe. Each story will consist of 4 parts that’ll be released 2 to 4 weeks apart. Each will be available on eBook from Amazon. The first, starting sometime in June, will center on Angelina Wolfe, followed by Dexter ‘Black’ Wolfe and lastly Lady Victoria.

I’m looking forward to seeing this in action.

 

 

 

PRO SE PRODUCTIONS TAKES SHORT FICTION TO THE NEXT LEVEL

A leading independent publisher of Genre Fiction, Pro Se Productions announces an innovative new Fiction line today.

In 2010, Pro Se Productions debuted as a small press focused on ‘Puttin’ The Monthly Back into Pulp!’ The company originally produced a line of three magazines that featured ‘New Pulp’ short stories, that is stories written by modern writers very much in the style and feel of tales featured in classic Pulp magazines in the early 20th Century. When Pro Se made the move into publishing novels and short story anthologies, it closed the magazine line, only to restart the concept as a single magazine title due to popular demand. PRO SE PRESENTS grew into an award winning magazine that ran for 20 issues, its final installment released in February 2014. With the end of the magazine, Pro Se Productions closes one era to enter another, one that readers got a taste of in December of 2013.

“We are always,” says Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor-in-Chief of Pro Se, “focused on producing the very best in New Pulp and Genre Fiction in all aspects, including the format which we present it in. It’s no secret that Publishing in the last five years, particularly for independent presses such as Pro Se, has moved more and more into the digital realm. Not only can readers carry more books around on their Ereaders or their phones, but the price point is tremendously better in most cases over print books. Digital publishing also affords writers and publishers to produce any size work they wish, including single short stories that can be offered for less than a dollar each. Pro Se Productions decided to dip its foot in that pool and in December we held a grand opening of sorts for our new imprint- Pro Se Single Shots.

“The success we had,” continues Hancock, “with the first volley of Single Shots was quite amazing. No one’s getting rich on them, but the interest readers showed in being able to drop 99 cents and get a good, solid short story that they could read in a single sitting was staggering to us right out of the gate. This combined with the fact that our second magazine line had run its course we felt in its current format, gave us a few ideas. Chief among them was the fact that we could take each story that would have appeared in a PRO SE PRESENTS and offer it individually to readers in a digital format. That way a mystery fan could pick up the mystery stories he or she wanted for a reasonable price without having to feel like they were buying other stories they may not enjoy. But an even more intriguing idea presented itself rather quickly.

“The concept of digital singles affords Pro Se the ability to really bring the concept of Pulp storytelling and even, in a indirect way, the idea of recurring tales from a consistent stable of authors on a regular schedule –much like classic Pulps did- into the 21st Century. This kernel of an idea took root with us rather quickly and brings us now to possibly the most exciting announcement Pro Se has made in a long time. Pro Se Single Shot Signatures.”

The Pro Se Single Shot Signature line brings together 38 writers from across the spectrum of Genre Fiction. Each of these authors will be producing either an original series of his/her creation featuring recurring characters and concepts or writing an imprint of individual stand alone stories entitled ‘From The Pen of…’ and the author’s name. Multiple genres are represented, from jungle tales to horror stories to some that defy description.

Regardless if an author is doing a series or imprint, they will all be working on a regular production schedule established based on their own ability to produce quality work. Some will produce stories on a bi weekly, monthly, bi monthly, quarterly, or bi annual schedule. Each story will range in length from 3,000 to 15,000 words. Also, debuts of the individual series and/or imprints will be spread out over the remaining months of 2014, with at least three titles debuting in April.

Pro Se Productions proudly announces the inaugural cast of authors in the Pro Se Single Shot Signatures line. They include:

David Foster

 PJ Lozito

 Russ Anderson

 Sean Taylor

 Teel James Glenn

 Fuller Bumpers

 Tommy Hancock

 Morgan Minor

 Mark Bousquet

 Philip Athans

 Jim Beard

 I. A. Watson

 Joshua Reynolds

 Bobby Nash

 Greg Norgaard

 Mark Gelineau

 J. Walt Layne

 Nikki Nelson-Hicks

 D. Alan Lewis

 H. David Blalock

 Gary Phillips

 Sean E. Ali

 Barry Reese

 Percival Constantine

 Jeremy Hicks

 Logan L. Masterson

 Chuck Miller

 Alexander S. Brown

 Adam Lance Garcia

 David White

 Kevin Rodgers

 Derrick Ferguson

 Aaron Smith

 Frank Schildiner

 Brad Mengel

 Richard White

 Terry Alexander

 Terrence McCauley

Each Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series and Imprint will feature cover art by Artist Jeffrey Hayes.

If the author of a series or imprint chooses to, print collections of his or her stories will be produced at later dates as agreed upon by Pro Se and the individual creator. Hancock also stated that Pro Se will continue to produce stand alone Single Shots as they did in December and again in March.

“The Signature line,” Hancock says, “is a very exciting prospect for Pro Se, the authors and artist involved, and the readers I believe. It puts these fantastic New Pulp tales in a quick, easy to digest format, makes them inexpensive, and opens readers up to a whole host of ideas and authors that they may never have been exposed to otherwise for whatever reason. It may not be the same feel as having a paper magazine to fold up in your hand, but the Pro Se Single Shot Signatures line definitely makes Puttin’ The Monthly Back into Pulp something Pro Se can do in a big way.”

In coming days, news concerning the individual authors and the series and/or imprints they are working on as well as production schedules will be released from Pro Se Productions.

For More information on Pro Se Single Shot Signatures, to be placed on a review list for upcoming releases, or for interviews with the authors involved, please contact Morgan Minor, Director of Corporate Operations for Pro Se, at directorofcorporateoperations@prose-press.com.

To learn more about Pro Se Productions, go to www.prose-press.com and like Pro Se on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProSeProductions.

Pulpology is here, along with Black Wolfe

Pulpology is here, along with Black Wolfe

The latest Black Wolfe story is here! The Snake and the Black Wolfe is featured in Pulpology from Pro Se Press.

The concept behind Pulpology is taking a mythological creature or story and add 'Pulp' elements to it. Phillip Drayer Duncan, Joel Jenkins and myself were picked to contribute. My friend, Logan L. Masterson and Morgan Minor were tasked with the job of editing.

Dexter 'Black' Wolfe is back!

I first came up with the character, Dexter 'Black' Wolfe for a short story in Black Pulp. He was tough, smart and slightly super-powered. What drew me to creating him was the challenge of writing him. After all, I'm a white man living in the 21st century trying to capture the voice and struggle of a black man, living in a Depression Era 1930's.

Writing a character is easy. Making that character believable and capturing the ways that he deals with the world around him, is another thing. When the first Black Wolfe story was accepted, the publisher along with my beta readers, wanted more. I have to admit, nothing made me happier then seeing how well received Wolfe was by the readers. They wanted more, so I gave them more.

Dexter Wolfe's latest adventure matches him up with a monster/nightmare/titan from the Greek myths. They didn't call it Pulpology for nothing. But while many will recognize the myth, I put my own twist on it.

As for Dexter Wolfe, he has returned also in 'The Bishop of Port Victoria'. Here is a fun fact... BPV is written in several short stories that tell the life of a criminal king pin. Dexter Wolfe shows up in the third story, 'The Bishop and the Wolfe'. But in Wolfe's Universe, this story takes place the day after the story in 'Black Pulp'. So if you read 'Black Pulp' and the read BPV... it'll open your eyes a little more to Wolfe's background and story. :)

Read and enjoy... and let me know what you think.

High Adventure History hits the stands

High Adventure History hits the stands

The latest story is ‘To Catch a Copperhead’ in Pro Se Press’ High Adventure History anthology. The story was originally released as a ‘SingleShot’ story by Pro Se but now is in the collection it was written for.

Here is what Pro Se has to say about the book:

Pulp Happens…Throughout History! Pro Se Productions, a publisher of Genre Fiction, proudly presents HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY, an anthology that puts the fast pacing and over the top action of Pulp Fiction in the History books! Setting tales in the past and telling them with a predominantly Pulp flavor, these stories find action and adventure in the annals of yesterday for readers today! Take a trip to the past with authors D. Alan Lewis, Teel James Glenn, and Mark Gelineau as they redefine High Adventure and History! Action, Adventure, Espionage, Mystery, and Horror abound in tales of days gone by in this thrilling collection. With a stunning cover by David L. Russell, design and formatting by Jeff Hayes, David Foster, and Russ Anderson, this volume will definitely prove to be historic. Relive the Past with Extra Pulp in Pro Se Production’s HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY.

My story features a young woman named Jessica but is better known as ‘Assassin Anne’.  She is guardian and protector of the working girls in an 1860’s era New York. She may be showing up in a future Hawke Girls’ Adventure.

I hope you enjoy it.

Steampunked Superheroes are on the scene.

Capes & Clockwork arrives.

 

 

 

When it comes to entertainment, we live for all things new and exciting. And should a new fad come along that excites us, then we find ourselves mixing everything else we love with it. So it wasn’t a surprise that many artists have been combining their love of comic books with the growing popularity of Steampunk.

That was the real inspiration behind this collection of stories. For years now, drawings and paintings of some of the most beloved comic heroes, such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, the X-Men, and so many more have been ‘Steampunked’. A simple online search will bring up hundreds of images of our heroes, re-imagined with steam and clockwork.

What makes a Superhero? At their core, they are just regular folks who want to do something good for their community. What makes them ‘super’ can be anything the author thinks up and the reader accepts.

Centuries ago, mankind needed gods and heroes, partly to explain the mysteries of how our world works, but also as a way to inspire and entertain the youth. Stories of heroes that fought terrible monsters and saved humanity were passed from one generation to the next. There is a reason those myths are still known to us, they worked and still do. Each year, more movies, books, and such are made about the gods of old.

But in our modern world, we’ve moved away from the ideas of gods and myths. They’re old fashion now-a-days and have been replaced by fictional people with superhuman powers, skills, or in some cases, other-worldly origins. They were first brought to us in the pulp novels of the early 20^th century, then drawn out in the comic books and eventually turned into blockbuster movies.

So the question is, why ‘Steampunk’ them? The answer is simple: Why not?

With the growing popularity of the Steampunk genre, there is plenty of room for stories of all types. Steampunk doesn’t have to be all about airships, corsets, and romance. The more the genre grows, the more diverse people will expect their tales to be within it. With the number of comic book fans growing every year, this book will hopefully give them a new source for ‘Super’ entertainment outside of the traditional comic books formats.

 

I have to admit that I loved working on this book. When I pitched the idea, I thought it'd go over, but wasn't expecting the way it'd be received. Allan Gilbreath mentioned the project at Dragoncon. This was during the editing stage and the crowd's excited reactions sealed the deal. So, get it, read it and let me know what you think. :)

 

Buy here at Amazon.com

High Adventure History's OneShot version of To Catch a Copperhead.

High Adventure History's OneShot version of To Catch a Copperhead.

 

 

 

Last year, Tommy Hancock With Pro Se Press asked me about submitting a few stories for his upcoming anthologies. One of the books, High Adventure History grabbed my attention. I liked the concept behind it, Pulp stories with a historical slant.

 

As a history buff, I jumped on this one along with another historical themed anthology, Tall Pulp. At the time, I was editing my steampunk novel which has alternate elements of the Civil War era. So, I decided to focus on the era. Although To Catch a Copperhead isn't true steampunk, there are some elements.

At the same time, I was weeding through stories for an anthology I was editing for Dark Oak, Capes & Clockwork. Those stories are all about steampunked superheroes. I'd already written a story but had another one in mind. As it ended up, that 'other' story evolved into To Catch a Copperhead.

 

In recent weeks, Pro Se Press has begun pulling a story from their antholgies and putting them online as a 'single shot' download. I'm honored that this story was deemed good enough to be a stand-alone product.

 

Read it and enjoy... and please let me know what you think.

 

Oh, and one more thing... Assassin Anne maybe back, but in a place you may not predict. As I was writing about her, I kept thinking of ways to have her meetup some other characters in my worlds. So... be on the look out for more of Assassin Anne.

 

 

 

'To Catch a Copperhead' is now available on Amazon.

 

To Catch a Copperhead at Amazon.com

The Bishop is on the loose.

The Bishop is on the loose.

 

My latest book is a collection of intertwined short stories. Below is the official press release from Pro Se Press. :)

 

 

 

 

Pro Se Productions, a leader in Genre Fiction and New Pulp, announces the release of its newest title today, one that asks the question-With Ultimate Power, Who is Corrupted More? The Good Or The Evil? The answer is explored in D. Alan Lewis’ THE BISHOP OF PORT VICTORIA.

 

 

First appearing in Lewis’ contribution to Pro Se’s best selling and groundbreaking BLACK PULP anthology, Port Victoria is a city with a history rich in Heroes and Villains, in Good and Bad.  And one man seeks to bring righteousness to the troubled city in any way necessary.

 

“It’s a great concept,” says Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions, “that can not only pack the punch of a classic Pulp tale, but also have a relevance that resonates with readers today.  THE BISHOP OF PORT VICTORIA at first glance appears to be a novel aimed at deconstructing the concept of a hero, but it’s really not.  At the heart of this collection of stories lies an exploration of what it means to stand up and be a hero and if everyone is actually suited for that. The book also dissects the concepts of good and evil and shows not only what makes them different, but also the fearful similarities of each idea.  Add in battle scenes, tense situations, and death defying acts of bravery and stupidity, and THE BISHOP OF PORT VICTORIA is the definition of what New Pulp is.” 

 

At the start of the 20^th century in the city of Port Victoria, three college students were given a formula that imbued them with incredible powers; strength, agility, and speed. Donning masks and capes, they took to the streets to fight crime and battle evil. Their tactics were effective but harsh, stacking up a body count larger than the mobs.

But as the decades went by, the heroes passed their abilities through their bloodline to each generation of their descendants. And each generation spawned a hero to protect the Port.

Born into a city when the first generation of heroes fought, Eric Raven struggled in the mean streets of Port Victoria to survive. After witnessing the horrific murder of his mother, he found a home in an orphanage where the men of God taught him right from wrong. Another lesson he learned, however, is that sometimes what is considered right by some is evil in the eyes of others.

Although lacking super powers, Eric transforms himself into The Bishop to bring his own form of justice and peace to the city. But as he grows physically and spiritually, he finds the lines between of good and evil blurred. Are the heroes doing God’s work or is he? And in the end, will he be the city’s spiritual leader or the world’s most diabolical villain? 

 

The Bishop of Port Victoria by D. Alan Lewis chronicles the life of Eric Raven from orphaned street rat to a bastion of power in his nineties in a collection of intertwining stories.  These nine tales not only feature stunning characters and edge of your seat action, but also explore truly what it means to be a hero and a villain…and how a man might just be both.

 

Lewis’ collection features a stunning cover by Jeff Hayes as well as cover design by Perry Constantine.  Constantine and Adam Lance Garcia formatted the book for print and Russ Anderson designed and formatted the eBook version.  THE BISHOP OF PORT VICTORIA is currently available in print at www.Amazon.com and through Pro Se’s own store at http://tinyurl.com/k6zcgko for $12.00.  It is also available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and www.smashwords.com as an eBook for $2.99.

 

For review copies, interviews with the author, or other questions regarding THE BISHOP OF PORT VICTORIA, contact Pro Se’s Director of Corporate Operations, Morgan Minor, at MorganMinorProSe@yahoo.com.

 

For more information on Pro Se Productions, go to www.prose-press.com and like Pro Se on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProSeProductions.