many roads

Just so you know, there are more RIVER ROADs than one...

BOOK #7 of 2020: RIVER ROAD

Book #7 from Good Deed Rain in 2020 is RIVER ROAD, published in December. I wrote this one last summer. Nearly every summer I reread Richard Brautigan’s SO THE WIND WON’T BLOW IT ALL AWAY. This time it inspired me to write about a newspaper boy who rides his bike down River Road to deliver the Herald to a ghost town. He never gets to see the ghosts but he does meet a vampire who has a radio station hidden underground. He can tune in while he rides his bicycle at night. He meets Agatha Christie at the library. He has a pet tadpole that is turning into a dog. He steals a hunting cap and regrets it. He gets paid in invisible money. A cowboy makes him a sandwich and warns him, “Beware of River Road!”

BOOK #6 of 2020: A FIELD OF CABBAGES

Book #6 from Good Deed Rain in 2020 is A FIELD OF CABBAGES published in December. This was such a fun novel to create in collaboration with artist Aaron Gunderson. It’s our sequel to our previous novel, THE ROBOTIC AGE (2018). This beautiful cover came about when we were walking our feisty dog back behind Joe’s Garden. This area we live in called Happy Valley (I know, it sounds like a Gene Autry song) was once filled with truck farms, fields and poplar trees. You can read more about that time and place in my novel KENNEDY (2018) and also THE PUTTERING MARVEL (2021). It’s a wonder having this big garden by our house in this time. The sight of it inspired my title.

BOOK #5 of 2020: OLD SALT

BOOK #5 from Good Deed Rain in 2020 is the novel OLD SALT, published in October. The writing was already zooming along when I met Aaron for breakfast and our pilgrimage to the antique store. (That same store also makes an appearance in a previous novel, ISLAND AIR, 2019). There’s a creaky ramp in there crowded with shelves and pictures on the paneled walls. Antique stores are museums and at the top of the ramp we discovered a work of art. The second I saw this sailor painting I knew it had to be the cover and I also knew what the title of the book would be. Being open to inspiration is probably the greatest thing about being a writer, it’s everywhere!

BOOK #4 of 2020: HEAVEN CRAYON

Book #4 from Good Deed Rain in 2020 is HEAVEN CRAYON, published in July. This 300 page book compiles 2 Ohio novels, ‘The Heaven Antenna’ and ‘Crayon Fable’ fully illustrated like a Big Little Book.

BOOK #3 of 2020: THE TIN CAN TELEPHONE

Book #3 published by Good Deed Rain in 2020. THE TIN CAN TELEPHONE appeared in May. What an adventure this one is. The narrator discovers two cans connected by string that allow him to hear the 1970s of Seattle childhood again. I had a great time writing and illustrating this book. Actually I published 2 books about children this year, this one and RIVER ROAD. There have been others too, ROOSEVELT, KENNEDY, FABLE, THE ORPHANAGE OF ABANDONED TEENAGERS. So many books for you to flip over. And Tin Can Telephone is available from Amazon for only $3! You can’t go wrong. I’d love to know people are enjoying these.

BOOK #2 of 2020: VIOLET of the SILENT MOVIES

The 2nd Good Deed Rain book of 2020, published in April, is VIOLET OF THE SILENT MOVIES. This one began after a thrilling visit to a local poster collector on Pacific View. Hundreds of 1950s monster movies and the stories to go with them! Also, turns out he is related to the silent movie star Violet Mersereau who features honored on the cover. Knocked for a loop, over 70 poetry short stories followed, including drawings and the cartoon appearance of a trapeze star. I was hoping to create a fun inspired carnival ride for you. (Dip into the penny jar, it’s only $4.53 from Amazon--I don’t know how they do it!) I try my best to keep you entertained.

marlowing

Been writing a film noir novel and been reading Raymond Chandler for inspiration. Just finished his novel THE HIGH WINDOW and watched some of the movie rendition The Brasher Doubloon. It's strange to think about Chandler watching that movie premiere which I'm sure he would have done, sitting in the theater smoking and trying not to say anything. I wonder what he thought of this Marlowe. He's a tough character to cast. He's smart and kind but also he gets knocked out all the time. I guess Chandler wanted Cary Grant which is interesting. I would love to see one of my books turned into a movie, how fun that would be to see. I love having artists illustrate my books, seeing how they picture things: Fred, Annabelle and Aaron have all done amazing jobs.

BOOKS of 2020, #1

Hello there. Good news from Good Deed Rain! 2020 produced 7 new books for you. IMAGINARY SOMEONE, VIOLET OF THE SILENT MOVIES, THE TIN CAN TELEPHONE, HEAVEN CRAYON, OLD SALT, A FIELD OF CABBAGES, and RIVER ROAD. I’ve been trying to deliver the most beautiful books possible, each one different and also part of the same marveled world you’ve come to walk around in. The first book, published February 14, was IMAGINARY SOMEONE. I’ve always loved to read those memoirs specific to being a writer (like Stephen King’s ON WRITING for example). It’s not an easy road to be an author in today’s America, in fact it’s all imaginary. This book gives you a good glimpse into the obstacles and inspirations that created my life as a writer. It’s all worth it, I know there’s a garden here that readers in the future won’t believe.

"The Best Books of 2020!" --The Biddeford Bugle

The Puttering Marvel

Amazon order listing for THE PUTTERING MARVEL

Pongo vs. Cronco

Aaron's amazing full page illustration from A FIELD OF CABBAGES features the thrilla in Manila moment I requested for Pongo and Cronco. (The truth is, this never happens in the novel, it's all hype!)

page 26 and 27

2 pages from The Puttering Marvel, featuring the start of short story, "Holly":

puttering title page

Here's the title page spread:

THE PUTTERING MARVEL

This is the first Good Deed Rain book of 2021. THE PUTTERING MARVEL. Beautiful cover photo by Laura Smith, field flowers near our house. This is collection of 11 new short stories written over the summer: "The Puttering Marvel, The Broken Record, Holly, El Caminos, The Meanest Parents Ever, Silent Movie Stars, The Old Submarine, The New Apple Tree, Other Flavors, Wild Birds, Marvelous Marvin's Unreal Estate" Book available from Amazon on January 7, 2021.

2021 peek

Here's a sneak peek at the back cover of the first Good Deed Rain book of 2021 (to be published in one month!). It's a collection of short stories. More soon...

Cronco History

"What is the story behind Cronco?" loyal readers keep asking. The robot star of A FIELD OF CABBAGES and THE ROBOTIC AGE has humble beginnings. My friend Aaron (illustrator for the aforementioned novels) told me his family once owned the Cronco Cooler empire. Popular among 1950s picnic-goers, the company went belly-up eventually. Of course I was intrigued by the story (and the name especially!) and joked with Aaron that the reason the Croncos fell out of favor was the fact that the coolers had a tendency to overheat. From there, it was only a jump away for Cronco to become a robot.

Arnold approved

Just did a search of A Field of Cabbages on Amazon and found out it's Arnold approved.

Chapter 18

Another page spread from A FIELD OF CABBAGES. (Chapter sponsored by The George Lucas Fund).