I wish I could claim I made that title up, but I stole it from a program I saw at an art house theater nearly 40 years ago.
Back then Steve and I lived just outside Seattle, and we loved the city, particularly the availability of a wide variety of arts, including the kind of cinematic programs that only play in big cities with tiny art house theaters. Thanks to places like the Egyptian, the Neptune, and the Harvard Exit, we saw lots of odd and delightful programs.
One of the best was entitled "Return of the Son of Coming Soon," and the entire program was made up of theatrical trailers. It was a long show - more than 3 hours, as I recall - and it played on a week night when I had to go to work the next morning.
We figured we didn't have to stay for the full program and would still get our money's worth without staying out too late. So we drove over to the University District when I got off work, intending to be home at a reasonable hour.
Nope. We watched every minute, and were sorry when it was over. It was an incredible piece of both film and pop culture history. It illustrated and illuminated both cultural and film trends with precision and imagination. I remember that night fondly, even all these years later - although I have fortunately forgotten the struggle to get to work the next morning!
All that is a long way of saying I have some announcements of coming attractions. I have been looking ahead to working from home soon, working fewer hours, and having time for many of the projects coming up in the next few weeks.
First, I am planning to launch a Kickstarter toward the end of this month for the release of the newest novel in my Haunted Gift Shop series. MURDER BUYS A LEMON is the latest adventure of my Florida crew, featuring gift shop owner Gloryanna Martine and her foul-mouthed parrot, Bluebeard. Bluebeard, I have discovered over the past four books, is a fan favorite and he is now a fixture of my covers.
Really, who can resist this guy?
Second, on the 20th of April the first book of columns from this feed, DO ... QUIT YOUR DAY JOB, will be part of the Write Stuff Bundle through Bookbundle, with a portion of those proceeds donated to Able Gamers. More info on that when it launches, but if you're a writer this is a heck of a deal for books on writing from some very successful authors.
Thanks to the fabulous husband for both these wonderful covers!
Third, on the 15th of May I have a new story in Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem, a quarterly magazine of, well, mystery, crime, and mayhem. In addition, I have agreed to become part of their regular collective of writers, and will be writing for them on a regular basis.
Fourth, after the Kickstarter rewards have been fulfilled, I will be releasing the new book in all the usual places, along with an omnibus edition of the first four books with new material and author notes.
Of course the parrot is on the cover. I told you he was a fan favorite!
So that's what is coming in the next few weeks, and there will be more to share as we go along, including an update on the Dreaded Day Job situation.
Hope you're all having a good weekend, and have recovered from losing an hour!