MARK JUSTICE'S THE DEAD SHERIFF, VOL 4: PURITY COMETH!!!

Howdy, partners! My Airship 27/New Pulp novel, "Mark Justice's the Dead Sheriff, Vol 4: Purity" is now available for purchase. It sports a gritty cover by Michael Youngblood and ornate interiors by Rob Davis. 

For my contribution to Justice's saga, I pulled from "High Plains Drifter", "The Wild Bunch", "Friendly Persuasion" and (I realized in enlightened afterthought) "Wall/Guns for San Sebastian". There are also traces of Sam Raimi, George A. Romero and John Russo's works woven into the plot, plus a salient, Tolkien/"Lord of the Rings" undercurrent to fortify my weird western's fight-or-perish motif.

I trust Vol 4 will please; and as an extra grabber, take a gander at the below Davis illustration spotlighting two of my tale's fearsome foes, Palmer Perdifious and Crabby MacIntosh.  Pretty gosh-darn foreboding, eh?

Order "Mark Justice's The Dead Sheriff, Vol 4: Purity" (in paperback or via Kindle) at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946183946/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mark+justice%27s+the+dead+sheriff&qid=1605619089&sr=8-1

MARK JUSTICE'S THE DEAD SHERIFF IV: INSPIRATIONS & INSINUATIONS

At this stage, I can't reveal much regarding my sequel to "Mark Justice's The Dead Sheriff", so as not to spoil it. (Incidentally, my contribution is the fourth in the series and subtitled, "Purity".)  I can only imagine what the illustrations and cover will look like; however, an art team will soon be assigned. (I added Boris Vallejo's creepy "Gunslinger" above, which I seized from a Ron Fortier update, just to give this entry extra pizzazz.) 

I can, however, reference my novel's inspirations at least, which include three movies.  

"Dead Sheriff 4'"s main movie inspiration is Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch", renown for its violent displays. However, I also tapped into Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter" to raise the yarn's hellish quotient. 

My novel also includes some introspective, moral moments, which spring from William Wyler's Civil War/Quaker-life classic, "Friendly Persuasion".

Somewhere in this threefold mix, there even exists elements culled from the works of George A. Romero, John Russo, Sam Raimi and J.R.R. Tolkien, in addition to the obvious, established Dead Sheriff books. (One of my story's supporting characters is based on a fleeting, though memorable little girl from the monster-movie classic, "Them!", but more on her in a future post.)

Anyway, there's the warm-up gist of it. I promise to keep all in the loop with the novel's progression. Please do visit "bizarrechats" for updates. 

FAREWELL, ANTHONY JAMES...

Beyond a doubt, you were one of my all-time, favorite character actors: menacing, creepy and as cool as a cucumber whenever a scene called for such.

Your television outings made your face known to many, with two stand-out guest spots on "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" no less, and a slew of visitations that covered "Star Trek: The Next Generation"; Beauty and the Beast", "V"; "Holmes and Yoyo"; "Charlie's Angels"; "The A-Team"; "The Rookies"; and "Columbo".

On the big screen, your face was arguably even better known, featured in "Blue Thunder"; "Return to Witch Mountain"; "Mortuary Academy"; "Nightmares"; "Ravagers"; "Wacko"; "The Fifth Floor"; "World Gone Wild"; "...tick...tick...tick"; "Victory at Entebbe"; "The Teacher"; "Slow Burn"; "Naked Gun 2 1/2"; "Vanishing Point '71"; "In the Heat of the Night"; "Sam Whiskey"; "Culpepper Cattle Co"; "Hearts of the West"; "High Plains Drifter"; "Unforgiven": and "Burnt Offerings" where you played that pale, smiling chauffeur (the cold personification of death warmed over, for sure). 

Your abilities exceeded your fame, and Lord knows, you deserved more acknowledgment than you received. However, to those who had the pleasure of engaging your stealthy presence, you'll always be one of the best.