Snowbeast!

Just back from morning dogwalk in the new snowfall. Of course I was thinking about the movie Snowbeast. Back in gradeschool days, I remember seeing it on TV and I was shocked! I never knew the yeti could be so ill-mannered.

Duluth

Thanks to our generous sponsor in Duluth--Doug’s Linear Siding.

2022 Preview

Currently at work on 4 new books for 2022. (Also in the back of my mind thinking of writing a new novel about movie theaters and mythology.) Hope you're all doing well and wish you the best. Thanks for reading.

2021 Books from Good Deed Rain

Good Deed Rain published 6 books during 2021: The Puttering Marvel, Something Bright, The Trillium Witch, Cosmonaut, Thriftstore Madonna, Half a Giraffe. Hope you got a chance to read them, if not Oprah has copies on her divan. 2022 already has 4 books lined up in the factory, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading!

Reading Corner Presents...

BOOK REPORT! The Shaggy D.A. begins with the disclaimer, “All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.” Nevertheless, I decided to read The Shaggy D.A. as a true story. An ancient curse inscribed on a ring has the power to turn businessman Wilby Daniels into an English sheepdog. The strange thing is, the dog he becomes already belongs to Tim, the ice cream man. I still don’t understand how that transformation occurs. Both characters, man and dog, disappear and merge into one supernatural being. Daniels is hindered by this curse in his efforts to run for office against the current District Attorney, a gangster with a warehouse full of stolen goods. There’s a pie fight, a jail break, and the sheepdog drives a getaway car. I know it sounds fantastic, but it really happened! So read the curse out loud if you dare: “In Canis Corpore Transmuto!” You or someone you know will turn into a dog.

Sponsored by

Special thanks to this week's sponsor:

Reading Corner Presents...

BOOK REPORT! Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout. Not only did this glutton detective Nero Wolfe manage to procure free room and board in two different country estates, he had the gall to laze in them and solve the crime (before there even was a crime!) while doing nothing more than consuming chicken fricassee, dumplings and beer. Archie was sent roving in circles for 400 pages. Did I like this book? Yes. Did I deduce the murderer? No. I’ll admit I thought Lily Rowan was guilty. Sorry, what can I say? I expected a Scooby Doo ending. For the answer, cut to Wolfe plopped atop a boulder sketching a bull. Next week: The Shaggy D.A.

LOOK OUT!

It's 5 year old Mickey Rooney

Clarice

As Canadians gather around their televisions tonight to watch the holiday classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I must implore our Northern Neighbors to restore Clarice's heartfelt song "There's Always Tomorrow" to their print. How on Earth could they censor that poor doe's aria? It's outrageous! Of course Sam the Snowman may have the best line in the program when he sighs in consolation, "Ah well...such is the life of an elf..."

A Christmas Carol

Every year at this time, I’m reminded what an amazing story old Charles Dickens pulled off. I’m always surprised that A Christmas Carol published way back on December 17, 1843, isn’t one of America’s banned books. It’s an outright slaying of capitalist greed with a karmic awakening. Every time I watch Alastair Sim’s Scrooge, I think they should do a version set in our modern day to really hit home.

1938

BIG NEWS! Benny Goodman kicks Gene Krupa out of band!

same different

chapter 16 sneak preview

Another page spread from HALF A GIRAFFE.

MARGIE

Here's my favorite page spread from HALF A GIRAFFE. Parrot is borrowed from that cheesedog Baretta--a show I don't think I ever watched. Guys in leather coats shoving each other around. Rockford and Columbo are far superior, no offense.

Marian Anderson Bach

the wrong caruso

I just remembered this time I was walking down the office hallway and, thinking I was alone, began to sing “O Sole Miiiooo!!!” Suddenly a woman appeared around the corner and snapped, “Do you know the next line?” I said, “Chicken cacciatorio?” She was displeased.

Giraffe page spread

The latest Good Deed Rain book HALF A GIRAFFE is available to order from amazon. Here's a page spread peek:

An IDEA for KILGORE TROUT

Planet Tralfamadore sends its most revered young band to Earth. They arrive for the Milky Way Music Contest. They listen in horror to the awful music the other bands are playing, the trite plight of the American teenager. When it’s their turn to play, they sing of philosophy, thermodynamics, the stock exchange and bird migrations. They were trying to impart advanced thought. But they come in last place, booed off stage. Their UFO is vandalized. They fix it and go home. Only to discover that in every city, every radio, every record player and 8-track deck is playing the Earthling winner.

the worm subway

music in the office today

TRUE STORY!

Three days of constant rain and a newspaper reporter wants to interview me about the flood. “What flood?” I asked. My poncho and rainpants are hanging to dry behind the office door. The creek was a mountain river. I said, “I just come to work as usual.” She said, “Can I quote you?”

Cronco's back!!

If you've read the previous Good Deed Rain novels, The ROBOTIC AGE, A FIELD of CABBAGES, COSMONAUT, you will be delighted to know that our heroic bucket o' bolts Cronco is back in the brand new adventure HALF a GIRAFFE, published this Thanksgiving. Sponsored by Radio Shack. Order your copy today!

The Adventures of Lunchtime

Was reading Saroyan's The Adventures of Wesley Jackson during lunch. Funny!

Giraffe page

First page of HALF A GIRAFFE, the next new Good Deed Rain book. Will be published Thanksgiving Day.

finding books

I'm reading Dear Sandy, Hello. A bizarre tale in early 60s America. What got me there was Ron Padgett's beautiful book about friendship with Ted Berrigan titled, Ted. I borrowed a copy through interlibrary loan. Meanwhile, I have searched Everywhere for a copy of Ted to buy. It has vanished from Earth! Even the publisher has no more copies! I'm afraid this could be the future fate of Good Deed Rain books too. Hope not, but if there are GDR books you want to read let me know.

back of giraffe

Book #50

My 50th book will be published this Thanksgiving. More about this novel soon.

50 BOOKS

THRIFTSTORE MADONNA is Here

Halloween is the official publication day for new Good Deed Rain book, THRIFTSTORE MADONNA. Ask for a copy at your local bookseller or luncheonette. (Or ask me)

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Winnebegone

I'm enjoying reading Escape to Witch Mountain. However, I'm at the last chapter and no sign of a Winnebago. That may have been just for the movie, but for us fans of flying 1970s Winnebagos, it's kind of disheartening. I'm hoping there's still a chance it might appear in these last 11 pages though. Fingers crossed.

Another Atlantis

I finished writing the draft of my novel about college. That was a challenge! (The best book about college is Hearts in Atlantis, by Mr. King). This new book will be published at start of 2022. How futuristic!

pages 82 and 83

thriftstore pages

A page spread from THRIFTSTORE MADONNA

THRIFTSTORE MADONNA

Approved proof for the new Good Deed Rain book, titled THRIFTSTORE MADONNA. Thriftstore Madonna is a visionary collection of 124 story poems written during the summer of 2021. Inspired writing pinned on washing lines to dry in the sun. Illustrated throughout by the author. Publication date is this Halloween! Available from Amazon.com This is the cover spread (if book was run over by a Richard Scarry steamroller):

next book cover

This is the cover for the next Good Deed Rain book. To be published Halloween. More about this soon!

lunch break at work

from a new Halloween story working on

My name is Ichabod Crane. You think that’s an easy name to live up to?

long ago library

winter read

Just started reading Don Carpenter's book, The Hollywood Trilogy.

groucho at rest