MEET MY FAVORITE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME

Anyone who knows me well has heard me rave about Tom Robbins. One story that I especially like about him is that, along the path of his career, he found drumming. Like Ringo, drumming, but more like a drum circle sort of drumming, as I understand it.

So why drumming?

If you know Robbins you know he is a slow writer. He’s not cranking out a book a year, and he is, for me, perilously old now… meaning I might not get another book out of him.

Robbins, one of the most unique writers ever, uses drumming to help him find the music and rhythm in his writing, and also to fight procrastination. When the mind wanders, as Robbins’ mind surely must, the drumming helps him refocus on his writing.

What can you do with a writing coach? You can meet, as often, weekly, or as little, every other month, as you like, but when you meet with me you will have to hand over some of your writing: a page, a chapter… you’re going to get there. We can work on your schedule; we can read your work to each other to check on the music and rhythm in your writing; we can try exercises; we can craft your online author presence. I help you give your writing the time, grace, and respect it needs, and I make you accountable so that you finish your damn novel. Robbins has a dozen books. That is not enough for me, and I wish he had more. Those books have gotten me through some dark nights, and some long days. Who is waiting for your book? Who will you rescue from a long dark night with your story?

Coaching is so reasonable and so worth it. For $50/hour, and you can split that into 2 half hour meetings if you like, you get editing, planning, encouragement, a clear head, and the friendship you need to get your book done. When you’re Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas, I can help you wake up and get to the keyboard. And it’s my favorite thing to do, after reading Tom Robbins, that is.

BTW, late bloomers, did you know Robbins was just on the cusp of 40 when he published his first book? And it took him 2 years to write it?

And did you know that all coaching inquiries come with a free hour-long Zoom meeting to talk about what you want and if coaching is right for you?

If you really want to be a writer, and you have an idea, or many ideas, but you just don’t know if you can do it… if you just don’t know if you are an author, but you want to be, coaching can get you there.

Good luck with your book~

Much love~ Dianne, possessor of an MA and an MFA, writing teacher and encourager for over 20 years, and Tom Robbins’ #1 fan. My favorite book: Still Life With Woodpecker.

Find out all about coaching, shoot me an email (dianne@devilspartypress.com) or fill out the nice form Dave made.

Guest Designer: Halloween Party ’23

Piece of art by Juan Kantu _1Kan2_ a white skull on a black background with the words the end is my beginning
The End is my beginning by #_1kan2_

The moment I saw Juan Cantu’s art I knew I had to own some. Luckily his work is still affordable (but for how long people!), and I was able to grab this beauty you see above.

Because I was also lucky enough to meet him in person, this kind, gentle, and amazingly talented man, I was also able to get to know him a bit, and keep in touch, and I was so thrilled when he said he’d design the new Halloween Party anthology for us. If you visit Juan’s Instagram (_1kan2_) you will see how macabre, funny, dark, and philosophical his work is. If you like to collect art, I suggest you buy yourself an original while you still can. And, it may interest you to know, Juan is also a veteran. He served his country, and that informs his art, and he works to bring art opportunities to veterans like himself.

We did an interview with Juan, and we’ll be posting that in our newsletter in the coming months. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

CHEAP READS!

Mosquitoes and Men is a searing Southern Gothic novel that exposes the hypocrisy of a storied and monied southern family from the brothel to plantation. Winner of many awards, this book will leave you breathless and unable to put it down. Get it today on Kindle Unlimited, or the Kindle Countdown Deal!

Did you know that most of our titles are available for free via Kindle Unlimited? While some of our earlier publications are currently only available in paperback format, we’ll be making those titles available via Kindle in the coming months.

If you’re not a KU subscriber, take advantage of the following specials through the end of 2022:

KINDLE FREE BOOK PROMOTION (available free of charge during the promotional period): 

KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEALS (each title is available for 99 cents during the promotional period):

STEALS AND DEALS!

Did you know that most of our titles are available for free via Kindle Unlimited? While some of our earlier publications are currently only available in paperback format, we’ll be making those titles available via Kindle in the coming months.

If you’re not a KU subscriber, take advantage of the following specials through the end of 2022:

KINDLE FREE BOOK PROMOTION (available free of charge during the promotional period): 

KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEALS (each title is available for 99 cents during the promotional period):

FREE (& virtual) INDIE AUTHOR EVENT

Do you like Humphrey Bogart movies?
How about Raymond Chandler mysteries?

Join us online for a conversation with William F. Crandell, award-winning author of Let’s Say Jack Kennedy Killed the Girl, Book 1 in The Jack Griffin Detective Series.

In this hard-boiled adventure we find a young senator Kennedy’s personal and political future at risk when he’s set up to take the fall for a ghastly murder. Working against time, bureaucratic red tape, his own personal demons, and individuals who want him out of the way, Detective Jack Griffin must identify the real killer, assuming he survives long enough.

William F. Crandell returned home from the Vietnam War with a taste for adventure, a skeptic’s eye, and a hundred thousand stories. Awarded a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for his private detective novel, Let’s Say Jack Kennedy Killed the Girl, Crandell has published short stories, book reviews, scholarly articles, journalism, state and federal reports, political analyses, and congressional testimony that he presented in Washington hearings. An Ohio native, Crandell received all his degrees at Ohio State University, completing his doctorate in American History with a study of the interaction of McCarthyism and Republican politics. Bill is a former DC speech writer for Veteran’s Affairs.
Click below to register for the Zoom link:

TALK WITH BILL CRANDELL

FROM MARYLAND ARTS GRANT TO PUBLISHED AUTHOR WITH GREAT KIRKUS REVIEW

Meet William Crandell, this week, on Del Arts!

LAST CHANCE FOR A FREE READ

We have a new book that is free for download today on Amazon. If you like hardboiled detective series, you won’t get too much better than Bill’s version. Bill, as an FYI, is a Vietnam vet, and he first wrote this when he was on a Maryland state arts grant. 

There are 3 more in the series too, so if you like this, more are coming. This one is free until midnight tonight, 11/29/2021.


You can download it to any device:  laptop, tablet, smartphone, and read it whenever, or share it (you can let another person read it, also for free). You do not have to read it today, but you can only “obtain” it today.(Amazon limits how much we can give away).

Get it now!

FREE BOOK FRIDAY: IT’S A MYSTERY

Damn that’s a good-looking book!

You know you want it!

And this weekend you can have it, free!

Yes, we’re giving it away to say thanks for your support of the Hawkshaw mysteries.

If you get it, and you read it, would you be so kind as to drop it a review on Amazon?

Or Goodreads?

Bill is an indie author with an indie press who wrote one-helluva hard-boiled mystery, so he can use all the reviews he can get to help people find out about this wonderful book. He has been called the successor to Raymond Chandler by some reviewers, and they’re not exaggerating.

But, review or not, you can have it, no strings attached. We want you to have the book, and to enjoy it, on us, as a way to say “Thanks!” So get your free copy today!

It didn’t occur to me then that Kennedy was rich. All I saw was this skinny, unassuming guy with a New England accent. His suit hung on his bones as though he were still recovering from the South Pacific, but his grin was a Steinway piano. Kennedy had the kind of charm that made you like him even when he was winning the girl you wanted. How do you outmaneuver a romancer like that?

THE PROOF, AND NOTHING BUT THE PROOF

It’s time for the final read-through before the curtain goes up on Let’s Say Jack Kennedy Killed the Girl, released by our imprint, Hawkshaw Press. As with every book we print, we check them once, we check them twice, and we check them a few times after that to be sure they’re clean, like Griffin’s case.

This book is getting great reviews and winning awards even in its proof phase. You’re going to want a signed copy.

And you’re going to want in on a chance to talk to Bill! 

And maybe you find yourself behind the 8-ball, and you need someone who believes you when you say you were in Montreal at the time. You know who to call: