 |
THREE RODE TOGETHER COVER JUST RELEASED!!!
Here's the first look at the Prieto Muriana cover for Steve and Dave's forthcoming Black Horse Western, Three Rode Together, due to be published in June 2012.
TWO MORE WESTERNS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE!!
TWO MORE WESTERNS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE!!
Black Horse Western publisher Robert Hale has just released the Kindle e-book edition of All Guns Blazing and under our own Bookends imprint we've just issued the long-awaited e-book version of Dave's fiftieth book, Draw Down the Lightning. Check them out on Amazon right now!
A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES!!!
We've just added three of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romances to our Kindle catalogue, plus an e-book edition of Autumn Leaves, a heartwarming story about evacuees set in the early days of the Second World War, which was written by the 'real' Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. As usual, check out Amazon's Kindle pages in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy for more details ... or if you're feeling lazy just go to our own Kindle Collection page.
NINE BOOKS REISSUED AT BARGAIN LOW PRICES!!!
Fancy grabbing yourself an 'e-bargain' just ahead of Christmas 2011? Nine out of the twelve books Dave wrote with Steve Hayes have just been reissued by publisher Sixgold Books in three low-priced omnibus editions exclusive to Kindle ... and we DO mean low-priced!! Check out Amazon's Kindle pages in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy to see just HOW low!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Our Kindle ebook editions are continuing to sell well and steadily. Heller and Heller in the Rockies, Dave's two westerns featuring an ex-Pinkerton detective turned private-eye are now available for download direct from Amazon's sites in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Dave's dark, noirish thriller with Steve Hayes, Killer Smile is also available for download right now. For more details on these three books, check out our Kindle Collection page.
MALCOLM'S GOT THE EDGE!!
Dave's good friend and fellow western-writer Malcolm Elliott-Davey, a.k.a.Cody Wells has embarked upon an ambitious project to bring all 61 books in George G Gilman's original Edge series back into 'e-print', along with the later six-book series Gilman (a.k.a. pulp legend Terry Harknett) penned more recently, which feature Edge as an older man. Please support this project! Not only are the Edge stories great entertainment, they virtually re-wrote the rules for the western genre, certainly here in the UK, and were responsible for the entire 'Piccadilly Cowboys' phenomenon. Check out Amazon now -- you won't regret it!
NEW ACTION-THRILLER FOR NOVEMBER!!
November 2011 sees the publication of a new action-thriller called Blackout!, which is now available in paperback from www.lulu.com (click the link below to order) or as a Kindle e-book from Amazon's sites in the U.K., America, Germany and France. Here's the blurb:
When Diana Callan was beaten to death, all the evidence suggested that her husband was the killer. After returning from Afghanistan, former Green Beret Christopher Callan had developed violent blackouts during which he could remember nothing. But another suspect was in the frame, and if Chris could just get enough evidence to prove his own innocence, the real murderer could be punished. Trouble was, that was going to be easier said than done -- especially when Chris found himself involved with the girlfriend of a psychotic hoodlum.
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button: 
AMERICAN PAPERBACK EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
The headline says it all, really -- BearManorMedia is publishing a handsome, standard-print paperback edition of Under the Knife in January of next year.
SAME MEAT, DIFFERENT GRAVY!!
Some collectors of our Kindle editions have expressed frustration at having not being able to find all Dave's westerns in one place when searching on Amazon. To remedy this, we've decided that, as from now, all Dave's westerns will now carry one name -- Ben Bridges -- regardless of the name under which they first appeared. This guarantees that, effective immediately, all the westerns currently available will be listed in one place, under the Bridges byline.
To this end, we've now reissued Hang 'em All and Tanner's Guns under the Bridges byline, complete with eye-catching new covers, as shown above. Two more reissues expected in the next week or so, Heller and Heller in the Rockies. So keep watching this space!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
November 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the cover for their next Large Print reissue, Under the Knife, which is coming out in January 2012. This taut psycho-thriller went through no less than FOUR major rewrites before Steve and Dave were happy with it. Was it worth the effort? Only you can decide! And if you can't wait until January, you can always buy the standard-print paperback direct from www.lulu.com, or the Kindle edition from Amazon!
FOUR MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
The next four titles in our ongoing programme of e-book reissues are now on sale. In addition to the contemporary thriller Fanatics we're also offering three vintage 'Ben Bridges' westerns, Wilde Fire, Mexico Breakout and Shoot to Kill, featuring Dave's popular series characters The Wilde Boys and Carter O'Brien respectively. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr!
NEW HORROR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWE'EN!!!
Night Creatures, the new chiller from Dave and Steve, has just been published and is now available as an e-book download from Amazon's stores in the U.K., America, Germany and France. If you prefer, you can order a paperback copy of the book direct from the publisher, by clicking the link below. Meanwhile, just to whet your appetites, here's the blurb:
In the wake of the worst storm anyone could remember, strange things started happening in Frankport, Michigan. A teenage boy disappeared. Another was murdered in full view of his friends. And if the evidence was to be believed, Reed Devlin, a retired, decorated Marine-turned-drunk, spent the night with a ghost -- a woman who had been reported dead earlier that same evening.
In the days that followed, young Skylar Lewis discovered an incredible secret on her new laptop computer. And Reed's old Army buddy was killed by two weird, half-seen things.
Something evil had come to Frankport. But for what purpose? And how was a dying town supposed to protect itself against a demon that was more than ten thousand years old?
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button: 
SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!!
October 2011, and Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds is now available for pre-order on Amazon (with publication scheduled for 29 February 2012). Here's the blurb:
Thomas Howard of Missouri came out of nowhere one foggy night to rescue Countess Elaina Montague from rape and robbery. He was in England, he said, to find his brother, who had disappeared. To repay him, the beautiful Countess offered to enlist her friend, Sherlock Holmes, to help in the search.
At the time Holmes was investigating a rash of audacious jewel-thefts, and much to Watson's dismay spending altogether too much time at the music-hall. But because the Great Detective felt that there was more to the mysterious Mr Howard than met the eye, he accepted the case.
This in turn led to their involvement in a vicious blood-feud, a spectacular -- not to mention death-defying -- daylight robbery, the possibility of a serious diplomatic incident and finally, a thrilling climax below the brooding River Thames.
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS!!
September 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the next two Large Print reissues of Fanatics, which is coming out next month, and Killer Smile, which follows in December. Lookin' good!!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button: 
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button: 
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here: 
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here: 
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here: 
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
We've just added three of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romances to our Kindle catalogue, plus an e-book edition of Autumn Leaves, a heartwarming story about evacuees set in the early days of the Second World War, which was written by the 'real' Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. As usual, check out Amazon's Kindle pages in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy for more details ... or if you're feeling lazy just go to our own Kindle Collection page.
NINE BOOKS REISSUED AT BARGAIN LOW PRICES!!!
Fancy grabbing yourself an 'e-bargain' just ahead of Christmas 2011? Nine out of the twelve books Dave wrote with Steve Hayes have just been reissued by publisher Sixgold Books in three low-priced omnibus editions exclusive to Kindle ... and we DO mean low-priced!! Check out Amazon's Kindle pages in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy to see just HOW low!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Our Kindle ebook editions are continuing to sell well and steadily. Heller and Heller in the Rockies, Dave's two westerns featuring an ex-Pinkerton detective turned private-eye are now available for download direct from Amazon's sites in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Dave's dark, noirish thriller with Steve Hayes, Killer Smile is also available for download right now. For more details on these three books, check out our Kindle Collection page.
MALCOLM'S GOT THE EDGE!!
Dave's good friend and fellow western-writer Malcolm Elliott-Davey, a.k.a.Cody Wells has embarked upon an ambitious project to bring all 61 books in George G Gilman's original Edge series back into 'e-print', along with the later six-book series Gilman (a.k.a. pulp legend Terry Harknett) penned more recently, which feature Edge as an older man. Please support this project! Not only are the Edge stories great entertainment, they virtually re-wrote the rules for the western genre, certainly here in the UK, and were responsible for the entire 'Piccadilly Cowboys' phenomenon. Check out Amazon now -- you won't regret it!
NEW ACTION-THRILLER FOR NOVEMBER!!
November 2011 sees the publication of a new action-thriller called Blackout!, which is now available in paperback from www.lulu.com (click the link below to order) or as a Kindle e-book from Amazon's sites in the U.K., America, Germany and France. Here's the blurb:
When Diana Callan was beaten to death, all the evidence suggested that her husband was the killer. After returning from Afghanistan, former Green Beret Christopher Callan had developed violent blackouts during which he could remember nothing. But another suspect was in the frame, and if Chris could just get enough evidence to prove his own innocence, the real murderer could be punished. Trouble was, that was going to be easier said than done -- especially when Chris found himself involved with the girlfriend of a psychotic hoodlum.
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
AMERICAN PAPERBACK EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
The headline says it all, really -- BearManorMedia is publishing a handsome, standard-print paperback edition of Under the Knife in January of next year.
SAME MEAT, DIFFERENT GRAVY!!
Some collectors of our Kindle editions have expressed frustration at having not being able to find all Dave's westerns in one place when searching on Amazon. To remedy this, we've decided that, as from now, all Dave's westerns will now carry one name -- Ben Bridges -- regardless of the name under which they first appeared. This guarantees that, effective immediately, all the westerns currently available will be listed in one place, under the Bridges byline.
To this end, we've now reissued Hang 'em All and Tanner's Guns under the Bridges byline, complete with eye-catching new covers, as shown above. Two more reissues expected in the next week or so, Heller and Heller in the Rockies. So keep watching this space!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
November 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the cover for their next Large Print reissue, Under the Knife, which is coming out in January 2012. This taut psycho-thriller went through no less than FOUR major rewrites before Steve and Dave were happy with it. Was it worth the effort? Only you can decide! And if you can't wait until January, you can always buy the standard-print paperback direct from www.lulu.com, or the Kindle edition from Amazon!
FOUR MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
The next four titles in our ongoing programme of e-book reissues are now on sale. In addition to the contemporary thriller Fanatics we're also offering three vintage 'Ben Bridges' westerns, Wilde Fire, Mexico Breakout and Shoot to Kill, featuring Dave's popular series characters The Wilde Boys and Carter O'Brien respectively. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr!
NEW HORROR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWE'EN!!!
Night Creatures, the new chiller from Dave and Steve, has just been published and is now available as an e-book download from Amazon's stores in the U.K., America, Germany and France. If you prefer, you can order a paperback copy of the book direct from the publisher, by clicking the link below. Meanwhile, just to whet your appetites, here's the blurb:
In the wake of the worst storm anyone could remember, strange things started happening in Frankport, Michigan. A teenage boy disappeared. Another was murdered in full view of his friends. And if the evidence was to be believed, Reed Devlin, a retired, decorated Marine-turned-drunk, spent the night with a ghost -- a woman who had been reported dead earlier that same evening.
In the days that followed, young Skylar Lewis discovered an incredible secret on her new laptop computer. And Reed's old Army buddy was killed by two weird, half-seen things.
Something evil had come to Frankport. But for what purpose? And how was a dying town supposed to protect itself against a demon that was more than ten thousand years old?
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!!
October 2011, and Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds is now available for pre-order on Amazon (with publication scheduled for 29 February 2012). Here's the blurb:
Thomas Howard of Missouri came out of nowhere one foggy night to rescue Countess Elaina Montague from rape and robbery. He was in England, he said, to find his brother, who had disappeared. To repay him, the beautiful Countess offered to enlist her friend, Sherlock Holmes, to help in the search.
At the time Holmes was investigating a rash of audacious jewel-thefts, and much to Watson's dismay spending altogether too much time at the music-hall. But because the Great Detective felt that there was more to the mysterious Mr Howard than met the eye, he accepted the case.
This in turn led to their involvement in a vicious blood-feud, a spectacular -- not to mention death-defying -- daylight robbery, the possibility of a serious diplomatic incident and finally, a thrilling climax below the brooding River Thames.
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS!!
September 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the next two Large Print reissues of Fanatics, which is coming out next month, and Killer Smile, which follows in December. Lookin' good!!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
Fancy grabbing yourself an 'e-bargain' just ahead of Christmas 2011? Nine out of the twelve books Dave wrote with Steve Hayes have just been reissued by publisher Sixgold Books in three low-priced omnibus editions exclusive to Kindle ... and we DO mean low-priced!! Check out Amazon's Kindle pages in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy to see just HOW low!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Our Kindle ebook editions are continuing to sell well and steadily. Heller and Heller in the Rockies, Dave's two westerns featuring an ex-Pinkerton detective turned private-eye are now available for download direct from Amazon's sites in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Dave's dark, noirish thriller with Steve Hayes, Killer Smile is also available for download right now. For more details on these three books, check out our Kindle Collection page.
MALCOLM'S GOT THE EDGE!!
Dave's good friend and fellow western-writer Malcolm Elliott-Davey, a.k.a.Cody Wells has embarked upon an ambitious project to bring all 61 books in George G Gilman's original Edge series back into 'e-print', along with the later six-book series Gilman (a.k.a. pulp legend Terry Harknett) penned more recently, which feature Edge as an older man. Please support this project! Not only are the Edge stories great entertainment, they virtually re-wrote the rules for the western genre, certainly here in the UK, and were responsible for the entire 'Piccadilly Cowboys' phenomenon. Check out Amazon now -- you won't regret it!
NEW ACTION-THRILLER FOR NOVEMBER!!
November 2011 sees the publication of a new action-thriller called Blackout!, which is now available in paperback from www.lulu.com (click the link below to order) or as a Kindle e-book from Amazon's sites in the U.K., America, Germany and France. Here's the blurb:
When Diana Callan was beaten to death, all the evidence suggested that her husband was the killer. After returning from Afghanistan, former Green Beret Christopher Callan had developed violent blackouts during which he could remember nothing. But another suspect was in the frame, and if Chris could just get enough evidence to prove his own innocence, the real murderer could be punished. Trouble was, that was going to be easier said than done -- especially when Chris found himself involved with the girlfriend of a psychotic hoodlum.
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
AMERICAN PAPERBACK EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
The headline says it all, really -- BearManorMedia is publishing a handsome, standard-print paperback edition of Under the Knife in January of next year.
SAME MEAT, DIFFERENT GRAVY!!
Some collectors of our Kindle editions have expressed frustration at having not being able to find all Dave's westerns in one place when searching on Amazon. To remedy this, we've decided that, as from now, all Dave's westerns will now carry one name -- Ben Bridges -- regardless of the name under which they first appeared. This guarantees that, effective immediately, all the westerns currently available will be listed in one place, under the Bridges byline.
To this end, we've now reissued Hang 'em All and Tanner's Guns under the Bridges byline, complete with eye-catching new covers, as shown above. Two more reissues expected in the next week or so, Heller and Heller in the Rockies. So keep watching this space!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
November 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the cover for their next Large Print reissue, Under the Knife, which is coming out in January 2012. This taut psycho-thriller went through no less than FOUR major rewrites before Steve and Dave were happy with it. Was it worth the effort? Only you can decide! And if you can't wait until January, you can always buy the standard-print paperback direct from www.lulu.com, or the Kindle edition from Amazon!
FOUR MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
The next four titles in our ongoing programme of e-book reissues are now on sale. In addition to the contemporary thriller Fanatics we're also offering three vintage 'Ben Bridges' westerns, Wilde Fire, Mexico Breakout and Shoot to Kill, featuring Dave's popular series characters The Wilde Boys and Carter O'Brien respectively. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr!
NEW HORROR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWE'EN!!!
Night Creatures, the new chiller from Dave and Steve, has just been published and is now available as an e-book download from Amazon's stores in the U.K., America, Germany and France. If you prefer, you can order a paperback copy of the book direct from the publisher, by clicking the link below. Meanwhile, just to whet your appetites, here's the blurb:
In the wake of the worst storm anyone could remember, strange things started happening in Frankport, Michigan. A teenage boy disappeared. Another was murdered in full view of his friends. And if the evidence was to be believed, Reed Devlin, a retired, decorated Marine-turned-drunk, spent the night with a ghost -- a woman who had been reported dead earlier that same evening.
In the days that followed, young Skylar Lewis discovered an incredible secret on her new laptop computer. And Reed's old Army buddy was killed by two weird, half-seen things.
Something evil had come to Frankport. But for what purpose? And how was a dying town supposed to protect itself against a demon that was more than ten thousand years old?
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!!
October 2011, and Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds is now available for pre-order on Amazon (with publication scheduled for 29 February 2012). Here's the blurb:
Thomas Howard of Missouri came out of nowhere one foggy night to rescue Countess Elaina Montague from rape and robbery. He was in England, he said, to find his brother, who had disappeared. To repay him, the beautiful Countess offered to enlist her friend, Sherlock Holmes, to help in the search.
At the time Holmes was investigating a rash of audacious jewel-thefts, and much to Watson's dismay spending altogether too much time at the music-hall. But because the Great Detective felt that there was more to the mysterious Mr Howard than met the eye, he accepted the case.
This in turn led to their involvement in a vicious blood-feud, a spectacular -- not to mention death-defying -- daylight robbery, the possibility of a serious diplomatic incident and finally, a thrilling climax below the brooding River Thames.
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS!!
September 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the next two Large Print reissues of Fanatics, which is coming out next month, and Killer Smile, which follows in December. Lookin' good!!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
Our Kindle ebook editions are continuing to sell well and steadily. Heller and Heller in the Rockies, Dave's two westerns featuring an ex-Pinkerton detective turned private-eye are now available for download direct from Amazon's sites in the UK, America, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Dave's dark, noirish thriller with Steve Hayes, Killer Smile is also available for download right now. For more details on these three books, check out our Kindle Collection page.
MALCOLM'S GOT THE EDGE!!
Dave's good friend and fellow western-writer Malcolm Elliott-Davey, a.k.a.Cody Wells has embarked upon an ambitious project to bring all 61 books in George G Gilman's original Edge series back into 'e-print', along with the later six-book series Gilman (a.k.a. pulp legend Terry Harknett) penned more recently, which feature Edge as an older man. Please support this project! Not only are the Edge stories great entertainment, they virtually re-wrote the rules for the western genre, certainly here in the UK, and were responsible for the entire 'Piccadilly Cowboys' phenomenon. Check out Amazon now -- you won't regret it!
NEW ACTION-THRILLER FOR NOVEMBER!!
November 2011 sees the publication of a new action-thriller called Blackout!, which is now available in paperback from www.lulu.com (click the link below to order) or as a Kindle e-book from Amazon's sites in the U.K., America, Germany and France. Here's the blurb:
When Diana Callan was beaten to death, all the evidence suggested that her husband was the killer. After returning from Afghanistan, former Green Beret Christopher Callan had developed violent blackouts during which he could remember nothing. But another suspect was in the frame, and if Chris could just get enough evidence to prove his own innocence, the real murderer could be punished. Trouble was, that was going to be easier said than done -- especially when Chris found himself involved with the girlfriend of a psychotic hoodlum.
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
AMERICAN PAPERBACK EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
The headline says it all, really -- BearManorMedia is publishing a handsome, standard-print paperback edition of Under the Knife in January of next year.
SAME MEAT, DIFFERENT GRAVY!!
Some collectors of our Kindle editions have expressed frustration at having not being able to find all Dave's westerns in one place when searching on Amazon. To remedy this, we've decided that, as from now, all Dave's westerns will now carry one name -- Ben Bridges -- regardless of the name under which they first appeared. This guarantees that, effective immediately, all the westerns currently available will be listed in one place, under the Bridges byline.
To this end, we've now reissued Hang 'em All and Tanner's Guns under the Bridges byline, complete with eye-catching new covers, as shown above. Two more reissues expected in the next week or so, Heller and Heller in the Rockies. So keep watching this space!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
November 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the cover for their next Large Print reissue, Under the Knife, which is coming out in January 2012. This taut psycho-thriller went through no less than FOUR major rewrites before Steve and Dave were happy with it. Was it worth the effort? Only you can decide! And if you can't wait until January, you can always buy the standard-print paperback direct from www.lulu.com, or the Kindle edition from Amazon!
FOUR MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
The next four titles in our ongoing programme of e-book reissues are now on sale. In addition to the contemporary thriller Fanatics we're also offering three vintage 'Ben Bridges' westerns, Wilde Fire, Mexico Breakout and Shoot to Kill, featuring Dave's popular series characters The Wilde Boys and Carter O'Brien respectively. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr!
NEW HORROR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWE'EN!!!
Night Creatures, the new chiller from Dave and Steve, has just been published and is now available as an e-book download from Amazon's stores in the U.K., America, Germany and France. If you prefer, you can order a paperback copy of the book direct from the publisher, by clicking the link below. Meanwhile, just to whet your appetites, here's the blurb:
In the wake of the worst storm anyone could remember, strange things started happening in Frankport, Michigan. A teenage boy disappeared. Another was murdered in full view of his friends. And if the evidence was to be believed, Reed Devlin, a retired, decorated Marine-turned-drunk, spent the night with a ghost -- a woman who had been reported dead earlier that same evening.
In the days that followed, young Skylar Lewis discovered an incredible secret on her new laptop computer. And Reed's old Army buddy was killed by two weird, half-seen things.
Something evil had come to Frankport. But for what purpose? And how was a dying town supposed to protect itself against a demon that was more than ten thousand years old?
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!!
October 2011, and Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds is now available for pre-order on Amazon (with publication scheduled for 29 February 2012). Here's the blurb:
Thomas Howard of Missouri came out of nowhere one foggy night to rescue Countess Elaina Montague from rape and robbery. He was in England, he said, to find his brother, who had disappeared. To repay him, the beautiful Countess offered to enlist her friend, Sherlock Holmes, to help in the search.
At the time Holmes was investigating a rash of audacious jewel-thefts, and much to Watson's dismay spending altogether too much time at the music-hall. But because the Great Detective felt that there was more to the mysterious Mr Howard than met the eye, he accepted the case.
This in turn led to their involvement in a vicious blood-feud, a spectacular -- not to mention death-defying -- daylight robbery, the possibility of a serious diplomatic incident and finally, a thrilling climax below the brooding River Thames.
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS!!
September 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the next two Large Print reissues of Fanatics, which is coming out next month, and Killer Smile, which follows in December. Lookin' good!!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
Dave's good friend and fellow western-writer Malcolm Elliott-Davey, a.k.a.Cody Wells has embarked upon an ambitious project to bring all 61 books in George G Gilman's original Edge series back into 'e-print', along with the later six-book series Gilman (a.k.a. pulp legend Terry Harknett) penned more recently, which feature Edge as an older man. Please support this project! Not only are the Edge stories great entertainment, they virtually re-wrote the rules for the western genre, certainly here in the UK, and were responsible for the entire 'Piccadilly Cowboys' phenomenon. Check out Amazon now -- you won't regret it!
NEW ACTION-THRILLER FOR NOVEMBER!!
November 2011 sees the publication of a new action-thriller called Blackout!, which is now available in paperback from www.lulu.com (click the link below to order) or as a Kindle e-book from Amazon's sites in the U.K., America, Germany and France. Here's the blurb:
When Diana Callan was beaten to death, all the evidence suggested that her husband was the killer. After returning from Afghanistan, former Green Beret Christopher Callan had developed violent blackouts during which he could remember nothing. But another suspect was in the frame, and if Chris could just get enough evidence to prove his own innocence, the real murderer could be punished. Trouble was, that was going to be easier said than done -- especially when Chris found himself involved with the girlfriend of a psychotic hoodlum.
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
AMERICAN PAPERBACK EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
The headline says it all, really -- BearManorMedia is publishing a handsome, standard-print paperback edition of Under the Knife in January of next year.
SAME MEAT, DIFFERENT GRAVY!!
Some collectors of our Kindle editions have expressed frustration at having not being able to find all Dave's westerns in one place when searching on Amazon. To remedy this, we've decided that, as from now, all Dave's westerns will now carry one name -- Ben Bridges -- regardless of the name under which they first appeared. This guarantees that, effective immediately, all the westerns currently available will be listed in one place, under the Bridges byline.
To this end, we've now reissued Hang 'em All and Tanner's Guns under the Bridges byline, complete with eye-catching new covers, as shown above. Two more reissues expected in the next week or so, Heller and Heller in the Rockies. So keep watching this space!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF UNDER THE KNIFE COMING IN JANUARY 2012!!
November 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the cover for their next Large Print reissue, Under the Knife, which is coming out in January 2012. This taut psycho-thriller went through no less than FOUR major rewrites before Steve and Dave were happy with it. Was it worth the effort? Only you can decide! And if you can't wait until January, you can always buy the standard-print paperback direct from www.lulu.com, or the Kindle edition from Amazon!
FOUR MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
The next four titles in our ongoing programme of e-book reissues are now on sale. In addition to the contemporary thriller Fanatics we're also offering three vintage 'Ben Bridges' westerns, Wilde Fire, Mexico Breakout and Shoot to Kill, featuring Dave's popular series characters The Wilde Boys and Carter O'Brien respectively. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr!
NEW HORROR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWE'EN!!!
Night Creatures, the new chiller from Dave and Steve, has just been published and is now available as an e-book download from Amazon's stores in the U.K., America, Germany and France. If you prefer, you can order a paperback copy of the book direct from the publisher, by clicking the link below. Meanwhile, just to whet your appetites, here's the blurb:
In the wake of the worst storm anyone could remember, strange things started happening in Frankport, Michigan. A teenage boy disappeared. Another was murdered in full view of his friends. And if the evidence was to be believed, Reed Devlin, a retired, decorated Marine-turned-drunk, spent the night with a ghost -- a woman who had been reported dead earlier that same evening.
In the days that followed, young Skylar Lewis discovered an incredible secret on her new laptop computer. And Reed's old Army buddy was killed by two weird, half-seen things.
Something evil had come to Frankport. But for what purpose? And how was a dying town supposed to protect itself against a demon that was more than ten thousand years old?
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!!
October 2011, and Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds is now available for pre-order on Amazon (with publication scheduled for 29 February 2012). Here's the blurb:
Thomas Howard of Missouri came out of nowhere one foggy night to rescue Countess Elaina Montague from rape and robbery. He was in England, he said, to find his brother, who had disappeared. To repay him, the beautiful Countess offered to enlist her friend, Sherlock Holmes, to help in the search.
At the time Holmes was investigating a rash of audacious jewel-thefts, and much to Watson's dismay spending altogether too much time at the music-hall. But because the Great Detective felt that there was more to the mysterious Mr Howard than met the eye, he accepted the case.
This in turn led to their involvement in a vicious blood-feud, a spectacular -- not to mention death-defying -- daylight robbery, the possibility of a serious diplomatic incident and finally, a thrilling climax below the brooding River Thames.
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS!!
September 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the next two Large Print reissues of Fanatics, which is coming out next month, and Killer Smile, which follows in December. Lookin' good!!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
The next four titles in our ongoing programme of e-book reissues are now on sale. In addition to the contemporary thriller Fanatics we're also offering three vintage 'Ben Bridges' westerns, Wilde Fire, Mexico Breakout and Shoot to Kill, featuring Dave's popular series characters The Wilde Boys and Carter O'Brien respectively. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr!
NEW HORROR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWE'EN!!!
Night Creatures, the new chiller from Dave and Steve, has just been published and is now available as an e-book download from Amazon's stores in the U.K., America, Germany and France. If you prefer, you can order a paperback copy of the book direct from the publisher, by clicking the link below. Meanwhile, just to whet your appetites, here's the blurb:
In the wake of the worst storm anyone could remember, strange things started happening in Frankport, Michigan. A teenage boy disappeared. Another was murdered in full view of his friends. And if the evidence was to be believed, Reed Devlin, a retired, decorated Marine-turned-drunk, spent the night with a ghost -- a woman who had been reported dead earlier that same evening.
In the days that followed, young Skylar Lewis discovered an incredible secret on her new laptop computer. And Reed's old Army buddy was killed by two weird, half-seen things.
Something evil had come to Frankport. But for what purpose? And how was a dying town supposed to protect itself against a demon that was more than ten thousand years old?
To order the book direct from www.lulu.com, click this button:
SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!!
October 2011, and Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds is now available for pre-order on Amazon (with publication scheduled for 29 February 2012). Here's the blurb:
Thomas Howard of Missouri came out of nowhere one foggy night to rescue Countess Elaina Montague from rape and robbery. He was in England, he said, to find his brother, who had disappeared. To repay him, the beautiful Countess offered to enlist her friend, Sherlock Holmes, to help in the search.
At the time Holmes was investigating a rash of audacious jewel-thefts, and much to Watson's dismay spending altogether too much time at the music-hall. But because the Great Detective felt that there was more to the mysterious Mr Howard than met the eye, he accepted the case.
This in turn led to their involvement in a vicious blood-feud, a spectacular -- not to mention death-defying -- daylight robbery, the possibility of a serious diplomatic incident and finally, a thrilling climax below the brooding River Thames.
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS!!
September 2011: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the next two Large Print reissues of Fanatics, which is coming out next month, and Killer Smile, which follows in December. Lookin' good!!
THREE MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
We've really been amazed by just how popular the Kindle editions of Dave's books have been so far ... so much so that we've now released THREE more, somewhat earlier than expected. They're all now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de. The good news is that the next batch is already being prepared, and we don't intend to stop until the entire back catalogue has been made available in e-book format!!
AUGUST 2011 UPDATE!!
Dave and Steve have just finished writing their second Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Knave of Hearts, and Dave is about a third of the way through the next Janet Whitehead romance, Light of My Life. Meanwhile, our publication schedule for the next several months is shaping up nicely. The Large Print edition of Fanatics comes out in October 2011, to be followed in December by Killer Smile. December also sees Hale's e-book version of All Guns Blazing. In January 2012 F A Thorpe issues Under the Knife. Hale publishes Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds in February and the Large Print edition of Cast a Deadly Shadow comes out in March 2012. April sees the Large Print edition of Tomorrow, Utopia and the Black Horse Western edition ofThree Rode Together is scheduled for June. We may also have an additional surprise for you as we reach the end of 2011!!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE FLUTTERING!!
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COVER!!!
August 2011: We just got our first sneaky peek at Derek Colligan's fine painting for Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds, which is being published by Hale next February. Publisher Gill Jackson reports that the book's editor wondered "whether the authors maybe took on a bet that they could successfully combine the western genre with Sherlock Holmes. If so I think they have won hands down and produced what used to be called a ripping yarn!"
SIX MORE BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!!
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
Six more books from our back catalogue are now available at BARGAIN LOW PRICES from Amazon Kindle. The next two are already being prepared for publication in August or September 2011. They are Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges and Apacheria by Carter West.
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR THE WILDE BOYS!!
NEW PROMOTIONAL TRAILER FOR DEAD END!!
YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!
Given that Dave and Steve Hayes are both so closely associated with the western, some readers have e-mailed to ask why they haven't collaborated on a western novel yet. Fear ye not! Earlier this year they wrote a western entitled Three Rode Together. It's an exciting cavalry story very much in the John Ford tradition, and it was immediately purchased by Hale for their Black Horse Western line. No publication date as yet, but as always, keep watching this space!
BEN BRIDGES TAKES 'THREE FOR THE TRAIL'!!
May 2011: The latest addition to our Amazon Kindle e-book library is Three for the Trail:
Here are three classic short stories set in the Old West, gathered together for the very first time. In LONIGAN MUST DIE!, a simple quest for vengeance turns into something much different. In COMANCHE RECKONING, a down-at-heel sheepherder and his family, have to set past hatreds aside when a bunch of renegade Comanches attack their modest spread. And in STRETCH-HEMP STATION, an elderly couple struggle to keep a terrible secret that threatens to tear them apart.
More books to follow on a monthly basis!
TWO MORE E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: Two more e-books have just been published for Amazon's Kindle and other compatible devices. Hang 'em All is the FIRST book in the Judge and Dury series. More will follow over the coming months until all six are back in 'e-print'. Scare Tactics is Dave's highly-acclaimed seven-story horror collection. Check 'em out now!!!
NEW BOOKENDS E-BOOK COLLECTION PREMIERES ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
May 2011: We've just embarked upon an ambitious programme of e-book reprints, our aim being to make all of Dave's books available at BARGAIN low prices on Amazon's Kindle. Our first two titles -- shown above -- are now available for purchase at Amazon's UK and US sites, plus Amazon Germany. More to follow on a monthly basis!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!!!
The sixth and, to date, final Judge and Dury western, Judgment Day, is finally reissued in Large Print, courtesy of Magna Books, in May 2011. For new readers, or those who never caught this book when it was originally published in 1994 (shame on you!), here's the blurb:
Tension was rising fast in the hell-for-leather town of Little Cody, Wyoming. A young girl had been murdered and the killer was locked up awaiting trial, but the rough-and-ready miners weren't prepared to let justice take its course, while the killer's family were trying every dirty trick they could think of to make sure the case never reached the courts. Then Fate involved the legendary town-tamer Sam Judge and his gun-swift young partner Matt Dury. As the snow piled up, the men from Texas found themselves dodging bullets and fists in order to make sure the killer had his day in court.
TWO NEW HORROR/THRILLERS FOR APRIL 2011!!
Cast a Deadly Shadow and Under the Knife, Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes, have just been published, as indeed has Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, Cannon for Hire. Here's the blurb for Cast a Deadly Shadow:
Four men went up into the mountains in search of a lost mine. Only one came back -- driven out of his mind with fear. Their employer, old Colonel Fogarty, was determined to discover exactly what had happened to them, but no one was willing to go and find out -- just Rachel, the colonel's daughter. Then Rachel was joined by the colonel's mean-tempered surveyor, Harvey Wheeler, and two local ne'er-do-wells with larcenous plans of their own.
Then there was Jason Hart, the enigmatic stranger who claimed that his job was all about 'chasing shadows.' Who was he, really? Where did he come from? And what did he intend to do when the mountain's dark secrets were finally unlocked?
To buy your copy, click this button:
Under the Knife was originally written toward the end of 2009, but the story was so involved that it has since gone through THREE major revisions to get it just right. Here's the plot:
A vicious serial killer is haunting the bayous of Louisiana, and the only person who can catch him is F.B.I. agent Kate Palmer. But after years spent thinking like serial killers in order to catch them, Kate is finally facing burnout. To make matters worse, she's just about to rekindle a relationship with the only man she ever loved when the Bayou Butcher strikes again, this time terrifyingly close to home.For Kate, that makes it personal. And it might also be just the thing it takes to break her completely.
To order your copy, click this button:
SHERLOCK HAYES AND DOCTOR WHITEHEAD?
Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes is an exciting, all-new mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, the Great Detective himself. Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds has just been picked up by Robert Hale Limited, and will appear in hardcover early in 2012. More details as we get them ... although word is that Steve and Dave are already plotting a sequel!
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
Dave has finally tracked down the man everyone has been claiming to be his long-lost twin brother, Jack Jay of the Hippodrome Circus of Norfolk, England. Here's a picture of them side-by-side. Can you see any resemblance? Dave can't.
MORE LARGE PRINT ON THE WAY!!
Ulverscroft have just bought the Large Print rights in Tomorrow, Utopia, Killer Smile and Fanatics. So far we have publication dates for two of the three -- October 2011 for Fanatics and December 2011 for Killer Smile.
NEW FOR NOVEMBER!!
Fanatics, Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, is now available! Here's the blurb:
The president himself gave Special Agent Gus Novacek his orders. He had to stop Koji Shaguma's sinister Armageddon cult before it destroyed the world. But that was easier said than done. Armageddon struck first in Tokyo, then Paris, then London and finally New York, and Gus always seemed to be one step behind the murderous fanatics.
Then fate stepped in and set the stage for the final bloody confrontation aboard a hijacked plane bound for Algiers. A plane that was rapidly losing fuel. A plane that was going to crash in the Atlantic and kill everyone on board, unless Gus could find a way to avert total disaster.
To order your copy, click this button:
NEW REVIEW FROM TOM MCNULTY!!
Good friend and pretty neat western writer Tom McNulty has just published a glowing review of Tanner's Guns over at his always-entertaining blogspot. Click on Tom's name to go directly to it, or check it out right here on out "The Critics Rave" page!
AT LAST! OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE COVER FOR "CANNON FOR HIRE"!!
We've just got our first look at the cover for Dave and Alfred's next Black Horse Western, which is due for publication in April 2011. As you can see, the original cover contained a red background that wasn't really reflective of the chilly Yukon Territory setting of the story, but our good friend at Robert Hale Ltd, the always-efficient Catherine Williams, soon remedied that with a colder blue background. Thanks, Catherine!
TWO MORE BOOKS DEDICATED TO DAVE!!!
Two of Dave's fellow writers have just dedicated books to him. Steve Hayes' Children of the Dark is a fine and often moving collection of stories revolving around the darker side of childhood. Six Trails West by Mike Stotter is a fabulous collection of western stories, gathered together for the first time. Needless to say, Dave considers the dedications to be a wonderful privilege!!
To order CHILDREN OF THE DARK click here:
To order SIX TRAILS WEST click here:
ALFRED AND DAVID STRIKE AGAIN!!
Dave recently supplied an introduction to Alfred Wallon's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dark Worlds, which has just been issued as an audio book (in German). Unknown to each other, Alfred and Dave had both been working on a very similar concept, which in Dave's words, "Alfred had been able to realize much more ably that I." Deciding to collaborate again, Dave chipped in with some additional ideas and Alfred wrote the novel, which is being published in book form sometime in 2011.
OUT NOW!! TWO NEW BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2010!!
Dave's latest collaborations with Steve Hayes have just been published. Here are the back-cover blurbs:
TOMORROW, UTOPIA: In Washington, a high-ranking politician is murdered. In central Africa, a new and seemingly unstoppable virus starts killing its male victims by the thousands. And on the internet, a mysterious group known as The Utopians grows more powerful by the day. What's the connection between the -- if any? At first, homicide detective Ben Hicks couldn't care less. He's got problems of his own, which involve a nightmare from the past and an addiction to the bottle. But Pentagon cryptologist Hunter McCormack's got problems, too. The killers know she witnessed the murder of the politician and are out to silence her as well. The trouble is, no one believes she saw the killing to begin with. Except Ben ...
KILLER SMILE: Jack Monroe was a man with a dream. He wanted to start a foundation that would encourage architects from poorer families. But to do it, he needed fifty million dollars. So he hooked up with the wealthy Thornhill family. But the Thornhills had more than their share of dirty little secrets, and Jack soon found himself a pawn in a deadly game of murder and deceit. If he wasn't careful, he could wind up becoming the architect of his own downfall.
To order TOMORROW, UTOPIA click here:
To order KILLER SMILE click here:
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
September 2010 saw the Large Print publication of AUTUMN LEAVES by Dave's wife Janet. For further details on this title, scroll further down the page!
HANG 'EM ALL RIDES BACK INTO PRINT!
August 2010: The first Judge and Dury western, Hang 'Em All is back in print, an incredible twenty-one years after its original publication. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover just how these two gunswift troubleshooters hooked up and blazed their way through six full-length novels. Grab it while the grabbing's good. You really don't want to wait another twenty-one years before the next edition comes out!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
August 2010: Magna Books have just released the next three covers for their ongoing series of Large Print reissues. Long-time western readers may recognize the work of Richard Clifton-Dey. It's ironic that two of these covers were originally painted for westerns written by Terry Harknett ... ironic because Dave founded Terry's fan club way back in 1976! Gordon Crabb is also on hand to add a touch of class to Hangman's Noose by Ben Bridges. Dave says all he needs now is a Tony Masero cover and his life will be complete!
NEW LARGE PRINT EDITIONS FOR JUNE 2010
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
June 2010: Magna have just published two of Dave's earlier westerns in new LARGE PRINT editions -- Shoot to Kill by Ben Bridges and The Spurlock Gun by Matt Logan. Never previously available in this format, the books are sure to reach a new audience!
DEFINITELY 'OUT OF THIS WORLD'!
Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's Alfred Wallon is now available by clicking the link below. EARTH-SHATTERING is a science fiction adventure in which ... well, read the blurb and see for yourself:
It's 1955 -- the height of the Cold War. John Cutler and Jane Dixon, scientists working for the Atomic Energy Agency, are unwilling participants as America embarks upon a new and controversial series of atomic tests. But alien eyes are also watching, and they don't like what they see either. Furthermore, they're prepared to do something about it. And what they do is truly ... EARTH-SHATTERING.
You can buy your copy by hitting this icon:
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it.
Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here.
The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
LATEST PUBLICATION DATES!
Our pals at Magna have just confirmed the publication dates for a further three Large Print reissues from Dave's back catalogue. They are GUNSMOKE LEGEND (October 2010), LAW OF THE GUN (November 2010) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (December 2010). More news (and hopefully covers) as we get it!
NEW COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
It's now March 2010 and we've just received the latest three covers for Dave's forthcoming large print books Tanner's Guns (April 2010), Feral (May 2010) and Dead End (June 2010). Enjoy!
SECOND 'DOUG THORNE' WESTERN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
February 2010: Dave's latest collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon is now with publisher Robert Hale Ltd and awaiting publication under the Black Horse Western banner. Entitled Cannon for Hire (formerly announced as Alaska Hell), it's Dave and Alfred's tribute to the Fargo books of the late, great John Benteen (Ben Haas). Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetites:
It was the autumn of 1897, and men were flocking to the wild and woolly Yukon Territory in search of gold. But soldier-for-hire Tom Cannon had a different reason for making the hazardous trek north. The one-time cavalry officer had been hired to find Emmet Lawrence, a greenhorn who'd gone to seek his fortune and then ... disappeared.
Time and again, as he searched the icy wastes and snow-capped mountains, he drew a blank. No-one remembered Lawrence or knew where to find him. But when Cannon finally reached Dawson City -- Lawrence's last known whereabouts -- things took a sinister turn and soon the bodies started piling up.
Almost before he could work the lever on his deadly Winchester shotgun, something happened that Cannon hadn't allowed for.
Emmet Lawrence came looking for him ...
More information regarding publication date as we get it!
HOW 2010's SHAPING UP SO FAR ...
Here are the latest firm publication dates we have for 2010's titles:
TANNER'S GUNS by Matt Logan (F A Thorpe, April 2010)
FERAL by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, May 2010)
SHOOT TO KILL by Ben Bridges (Magna, June 2010)
THE SPURLOCK GUN by Matt Logan (Magna, June 2010)
DEAD END by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead (F A Thorpe, June 2010)
HANG 'EM ALL by David Whitehead (Magna, August 2010)
AUTUMN LEAVES (Magna Story Sound, September 2010)
GRAB YOURSELF A FISTFUL OF LEGENDS!!
Express Westerns' latest anthology of western short stories, A Fistful of Legends will be available to buy from www.lulu.com and all on-line retailers on 31 January 2010. The ISBN is 978-0-557-19954-9 and the price will be $15.95 (about 10 pounds or 17.50 Euros)
The book has been edited by Nik Morton and co-edited by Charles Whipple. It features an introduction by James Reasoner along with a front and back page cover illustration designed by Jennifer Smith-Mayo, based on an original painting by David McAllister. This is a western title all western fans (and anyone who enjoys a good yarn) will want to buy. The 21 stories on offer will be:
DEAD MAN TALKING by Derek Rutherford
BILLY by Lance Howard
LONIGAN MUST DIE! By Ben Bridges
THE MAN WHO SHOT GARFIELD DELANY by I J Parnham
HALF A PIG by Matthew P Mayo
BLOODHOUND by C. Courtney Joyner
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by Gillian F Taylor
BIG ENOUGH by Chuck Tyrell
ONE DAY IN LIBERTY by Jack Giles
SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON by Bobby Nash
ON THE RUN by Alfred Wallon
THE GIMP by Jack Martin
VISITORS by Ross Morton
THE NIGHTHAWK by Michael D George
THE PRIDE OF THE CROCKETTS by Evan Lewis
DARKE JUSTICE by Peter Avarillo
ANGELO AND THE STRONGBOX by Cody Wells
CRIB GIRLS by Kit Churchill
MAN OF IRON by Chuck Tyrell
CASH LARAMIE AND THE MASKED DEVIL by Edward A Grainger
DEAD MAN WALKING by Lee Walker
Discover what it's like to ride with damaged men and sinister night stalkers, tragic doves, plucky homemakers and gun-toting belles. Experience for yourself the harsh reality of birth and death, love and hate, revenge, retribution and robbery. You'll find it all here, penned by a whole posse-full of Western writers old and new.
So what are you waiting for? Saddle up for action and adventure ... and grab yourself A Fistful of Legends!
WINTER CHILLS A-COMIN'!!
We just got our first look at Thorpe's cover for the forthcoming Large Print edition of Scare Tactics, which is due out in December. Very nice! More horror's on the way from Thorpe when Feral sees publication in May 2010.
MORE LARGE PRINT HORROR ON THE WAY!!
Large Print rights in Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, have just been sold to Ulverscroft. Our friends at Ulvercroft have also just scheduled their Large Print edition of Tanner's Guns for April 2010 publication.
EIGHT EARLY WESTERNS GALLOPING BACK INTO PRINT!!
September 2009: Magna Print recently purchased the Large Print rights in no less than EIGHT of Dave's earlier westerns. The titles which will be appearing in all-new editions over the next twelve to eighteen months are:
Hangman's Noose -- O'Brien tracks down a pair of merciless killers before they can hang Judge Isaac Parker from his own gallows!
Shoot to Kill -- The Texas Rangers send O'Brien into Mexico to kill a notorious bandit called Angel -- but all is not as it seems ...
Hang 'em All -- The first book to feature Sam Judge and Matt Dury, and a personal favourite of Dave's. Here the old lawman and his young protege join forces to track down a bunch of child-killing bank robbers ... robbers who just happen to be old friends of Matt's!
Law of the Gun -- A distraught army officer hires Sam and Matt to ride deep into Apache country to buy his kidnapped daughter back for him.
Barbed Wire Noose -- Sam and Matt find a dead man hanging from a coil of barbed wire and find themselves up to their gunbelts in a bitter war between cattlemen and sheepherders.
Judgment Day -- The family of a callous murderer try to kill the circuit judge before he can pass sentence on the killer. Always ready to see justice done, Sam and Matt step in to protect him.
Gunsmoke Legend -- The first book in the Ash Colter trilogy tells the story of how reluctant gunfighter Ash learns his deadly killl from the infamous 'Hair-Trigger' Jack Page.
The Spurlock Gun -- The first -- and to date only -- Chase Donovan adventure. Kicked out of the Texas Rangers for his heavy-handed methods, Chase is hired by the head of the Spurlock business empire, his mission -- to handle the cases the law seems to ignore, and dispense his own brand of justice. If you enjoy this story and want to see more from Chase and his partner, Jonah Peach, let Dave know!
As if that wasn't enough, Dave's wife Janet also clinched a deal of her own, and her novel Autumn Leaves will also be appearing in Large Print (again, from Magna) sometime over the next year or so.
MANO A MANO ... AT LAST!!
The friendship between Dave and best buddy Mike Linaker is well-documented. They were first introduced to each other by fellow western writer Peter Watts (a.k.a. Matt Chisholm) way back in 1978. But it's been almost thirty years since they were last able to meet up in the flesh. They finally got together in August 2009 and more than made up for lost time. For Mike, the highlight of the trip was finally realising his long-held ambition to buy a Henry repeater. For Dave it was simply not getting shot at!
WHAT'S THAT STRANGE FLUTTERING SOUND?
August 2009 saw the publication of F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of The Fluttering. As always, production values are high and the cover is exceptional.
A NEW WESTERN PUBLISHER RIDES INTO TOWN!!
Keith Chapman, editor-publisher of the always-excellent Black Horse Extra, has just launched his own imprint with the latest addition to his popular 'Misfit Lil' series, Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope, published under his pseudonym 'Chap O'Keefe.'
Keith explains, "Readers are always asking why Britain's seven-books-a-month Black Horse Western series is available only in expensive library-hardback form, while the broader retail market has for years been dominated by the ubiquitous pocket-book paperback.
"Readers of other genres -- especially romance and crime -- can buy new reading at most bookstores. Harlequin Mills & Boon, for example, have for decades sold vastly more copies of their books as slim paperbacks than as hardback editions.
"But western readers in many countries must rely on a trickle of hard-to-find US imports, often of classic titles, like those of the much-reprinted Louis L'Amour, which older hands have already read.
"Author Ray Foster (aka Jack Giles) recently informed me that if writers like Chap O'Keefe, Elliot Long, Jake Douglas and David Whitehead were in paperback, then the face of the western would change."
A few months ago, Keith received word from his regular publisher that the latest entry into the Misfit Lil series was unacceptable for publication. "I can see no way in which we can accept this for publication in our Black Horse Western series. Quite apart from any merits the novel may have the subject matter rules it out completely."
The "subject matter" was, as usual for a Lil story, ninety percent traditional western with a spicing of what one reader has called "friskiness" plus some serious themes and characters drawn from more than one sector of humankind. Keith promptly forwarded an e-copy of the book to several author colleagues, including Dave. They were unanimous in saying they could find nothing offensive in it. Dave's verdict, in particular, was that "Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope is a FINE and eminently ACCEPTABLE western, beautifully written as always, with a nice line in dry humour, good characterization, a whole string of neat and imaginative sequences and a mystery that certainly baffled this reader right to the end. Are we really to understand that in this day and age a certain element of the story would shock most BHW readers? On the contrary, I found it a refreshing and bold move, because it truly confounded expectation. It takes western fiction in an exciting new direction and this, I believe, is a major selling-point. Whatever happens, we need to get this book into print one way or another!"
Keith decided to put the book on the market using the Lulu distribution system, and a very handsome volume it has turned out to be! If you care about the genre and its resurgent possibilities, please consider buying a copy of the first book through Lulu or another online seller. You never know -- it could become a collectors' item!
Keith continues: "Unaltered repetition and nostalgic celebration of the plots and stories of decades ago is destructive to the western genre. A healthy interest in the past has always been encouraged by the Black Horse Extra, but it needs to be matched by an equally healthy interest in fresh and exciting developments.
"Writing and publishing westerns today is harder than ever. As readers, let's back our contemporary writers in worthy ventures. It's as much in our interest as theirs!"
The opening chapter of the book is available FREE here. The book itself should be available through the major online retailers very shortly. The ISBN is 978-1-4092-8943-2.
JULY 2009 UPDATE!!
Dead End, Dave's second collaboration with Steve Hayes, has just been published and can be ordered by simply pressing the button below. As always, here's the blurb just to whet your appetites:
To anyone passing through, the town of Dead End, Arizona, was just another whistle-stop on the way to nowhere. But there was more going on in Dead End than met the eye. For the very future of humanity depended upon the actions of a few brave souls ... and a rag-tag army of supernatural creatures who had no souls at all! If they lost the war, Earth would be left open to invasion from another planet. If they won, their fragile alliance would end and the age-old battle between the living and the undead would continue as before. Either way, the streets of Dead End were going to run with blood. Lots of it.
To buy this book, just following this link:
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of
horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features
seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver
down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once
Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt,
Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever
Pitch
.
To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named
Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The
day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel,"
remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date.
"He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest
in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD
PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain
Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the
side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real
Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are
evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of
Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do
without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already
hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY
BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the
weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow
over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone
out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and
more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western
writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights
in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication
to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print
rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book
itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever
remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first
collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very
same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which
will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that
it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's
been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate
the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The
Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic
Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the
potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST
2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print
edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael
Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will
be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING
OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold
Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good
news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January
1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering,
an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the
1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and
Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed
to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and
updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
MORE NEWS ...
We've just learned that the large print edition of All Guns Blazing, Dave's collaboration with Alfred Wallon, will be published in November 2009, complete with an eye-catching cover by the always-reliable Gordon Crabb.
Finally, Dave completed his contribution to the forthcoming Black Horse Western anthology a couple of weeks ago, and has almost completed his latest Commando script.
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU NICE!!
July 2009: Dave and his oldest friend, fellow Black Horse Western writer Mike Stotter, recently met up again for the first time in more than twelve years. In addition to running Shots Britain's most popular crime website, Mike has also written a number of successful non-fiction books. To find out just how far Dave and Mike go back together, read this article. The good news is that Mike hopes to return to the western genre very soon with further adventures of his regular characters Brandon and Slate and Thaddeus McKinney.
GOODBYE, MAX
On 9th July 2009 Janet and Dave lost another of their beloved dogs, fourteen year-old Max. Max was originally bought by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, but when the woman became pregnant, poor old Max was immediately shunted off to the local animal shelter. That's where Jan and Dave found him. He was quite a scamp in his early years and could still give his younger "brothers" a run for their money right up to the end. Rest easy now, Max.
BEN BRIDGES' TOP 50 WESTERNS!!
Dave's long-awaited article on the top fifty western novels of all time has finally been published in Book and Magazine Collector issue 309 (cover-dated July 2009). Gary Dobbs writes: "I'm pleased to report that it is a very informative nineteen page article that more or less covers the history of western fiction. Of course it's geared towards the book collector but the list of the fifty top westerns, in the collectible sense, makes for great reading. It's no surprise to The Archive but David, who writes Black Horse Westerns under the name Ben Bridges and others clearly knows his subject." Thanks, Gary!
JUNE 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights to both Feral and the recently-revised edition of Tanner's Guns. Thorpe's edition of The Fluttering is due out In September 2009, with Scare Tactics following on in December. In the meantime, work on Dave's latest collaboration with Steve Hayes, Dead End, is going well, and both this and "Lonigan Must Die!", Dave's contribution to the second Express Westerns anthology, are about halfway to completion.
DAVE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!
Well, almost. In fact, today (April 13th) sees the publication of the psychological suspense thriller FERAL, Dave's first collaboration with Hollywood screenwriter (and highly impressive Black Horse Western contributor) Steve Hayes. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:
There's something not quite right about Shelby's Oasis, the run-down tourist trap in the middle of the Arizona desert. For a start, the Shelby sisters, Agnes and Diana, seem to have more skeletons than closets in which to hide them. And with rumours of a fortune in gold buried somewhere on the property, who can really be trusted -- the sisters' scheming brother Scott? The seductive Kelly-Anne? Or Mitch, the manipulative loner who accidentally stumbles into their twisted lives? Only one thing's for sure: nothing at Shelby's Oasis is quite as it seems.
Both Steve and Dave are delighted with the way the book has turned out, and plan to collaborate again in the very near future -- so keep watching this space!
In the meantime, to order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
AT LAST -- THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TANNER'S GUNS!!
Fourteen years after it first appeared as a Black Horse Western, Dave's 'Matt Logan' yarn TANNER'S GUNS has finally been published as the author intended it. In addition to a new, eye-catching cover, this edition has been completely revised, re-set and edited and now replaces the previous paperback edition, which has since been "retired". For any of you not familiar with this classic high adventure, here's the blurb:
By 1913, Mexico was being torn apart by revolution. But the rebels needed guns before they could march on Mexico City and oust the corrupt General Huerta. Shady businessman Elliott Blaze had an entire arsenal for sale. All he needed was someone to deliver the goods -- and that's where Jake Tanner came into it. Jake was trustworthy, he spoke Spanish and he knew how to get a tough job done. In next to no time, however, he and his young British partner in crime -- a would-be Hollywood movie writer -- were playing cat-and-mouse with the armies of two countries, trying to get even with the men who double-crossed them and, in a final terrifying showdown, pitting their wits against the Mexican Army's latest secret weapon!
To order your copy, or read a longer preview of the book, just follow this link:
APRIL 2009 UPDATE
F A Thorpe recently bought the Large Print rights to Dave's collection of horror stories, SCARE TACTICS. Their Large Print edition of THE FLUTTERING comes out in September 2009. And Dave's wife, Janet, has just had her poem Lowestoft published in United Press' anthology HEARTLAND.
BOYCOTT CLEVELAND WESTERNS!!
A few weeks ago I discovered that I was apparently persona non grata with the good folks at Cleveland Publishing in Brookvale, NSW. I wrote to ask head honcho Les Atkins just why this was, and suggested that maybe he'd gotten hold of the wrong David Whitehead, since I had never had any first-hand dealings with him myself and had always hitherto championed Cleveland's highly attractive and entertaining westerns.
This morning (3rd March 2009) I received the following communication from dear ol' Les:
David, Following in depth discussions with Veda Meares, the Company severed all relations with you back in 1999. The Company is still unwilling to do any business with you now or in the future. Nor will the Company engage in any further discussion with you concerning the reason, nor do we have you confused with any of our clients. Any further e-mails from you will be trashed without opening, and we have instructed our bank not to accept any funds from you. The Company will be delighted not to hear from you again.
Well, at least now I think I understand the "terrible crime" for which I have been cast out. You see, before my very dear friend Len Meares died in 1993, he left me his entire collection of author's copies. Reviewing many of those older books one day, I decided to suggest that Len's widow Vida (please note the correct spelling) contact Les Atkins and request of reversion of rights. Then, with the rights once again in the ownership of Len's wife, I would attempt to get those early books republished in the Black Horse Western series.
Vida (herself now deceased) duly wrote to Les Atkins and he replied saying, in essence, "No. The rights remain with us."
This, then, is apparently the reason he severed all contact with me (such as it was), and why even ten years on he continues to adopt such a snotty attitude. Ah well, you can't win 'em all, I guess ...
Anyway, do me a favour, all you genuine western fans out there, and in future please BOYCOTT THE CLEVELAND PRODUCT! Sadly, I know I will.
DAVE INTERVIEWED FOR THE TAINTED ARCHIVE!!
A fast-rising star on the British western scene, actor-writer Gary Dobbs has just published an interview with Dave on his excellent blogspot, The Tainted Archive. Gary is determined to spearhead a revival in popularity of the western, and among his more recent innovations is the introduction of "Wild West Monday", where western fans are encouraged to go into shops and libraries up and down the country and do their bit to help promote the genre, and the first-ever four-part serialisation of a vintage Black Horse Western written by Chap O'Keefe. To read Gary's interview with Dave, click here.
LATEST LINFORD ROMANCE LIBRARY COVERS JUST RELEASED!!
February 2009: Our good friends at F A Thorpe have just sent us the covers for the Large Print editions of Yesterday's Child (available in March 2009) and Hold Me Forever (coming in June 2009). Here at the Hacienda we're very happy with them and have already awarded top marks to all concerned!
NICE WORDS FROM A FABULOUS EDITOR!
The March 2009 issue of Book and Magazine Collector celebrates this long-running journal's 25th anniversary. Among the articles is a retrospective by Crispin Jackson, who edited the magazine for an impressive thirteen years. In his article, Crispin writes in part: "I recall with particular gratitude ... David Whitehead, who -- as the author of nearly fifty westerns -- has brought a novelist's wisdom and experience to many articles on a range of subjects, particularly popular fiction writers. Among the most cherished books in my own collection is an inscribed copy of Judgment Day, a typically pacy western which David was kind enough to dedicate to me."
Nice words from an exceptional editor!
PUBLICATION NEWS
News just in -- F A Thorpe's Large Print edition of Dave's 'Janet Whitehead' romance, Yesterday's Child, is being published in March 2009. Hold Me Forever follows in June. No word yet on a publication date for the Large Print edition of The Fluttering, but Dave has just been commissioned to write a new Commando story, provisionally entitled Two Tough Targets. Alaska Hell, Dave's second collaboration with Alfred Wallon, is also finally nearing completion.
IT'S WINTER -- SO HAVE A SHIVER ON DAVE!
January 2009 sees the publication of Dave's first-ever collection of horror stories, Scare Tactics. The 208-page collection features seven stories, each one guaranteed to send a good, old-fashioned shiver down your spine! The stories are Empty-Handed, Once Bitten, Beware of the House, Shadow of Doubt, Loathe Story, The Thirteenth Dream and Fever Pitch
.To buy a copy of the book, just follow this link:
GOODBYE, CHICK
2009 kicked off with the loss of Dave's oldest dog, a collie-cross named Chick, whom Jan and Dave rescued from Battersea Dogs' Home in 1994. "The day we got Chick was the day I had the idea for Cold Steel," remembers Dave, citing what he considers to be his best western to date. "He was a wonderful companion, and an almost indescribable loss." Rest in peace, Chick.
WILL THE REAL JANET WHITEHEAD PLEASE STAND UP?
December saw the publication of Autumn Leaves by a certain Janet Whitehead. But has Dave been doing a little moonlighting on the side? No sir! Autumn Leaves is the work of the real Janet Whitehead, Dave's wife. It's the story of three children who are evacuated from the mean streets of London to the genteel countryside of Norfolk at the outbreak of World War Two. Although Dave says he can do without the competition, he's pleased to announce that Janet is already hard at work on Book Number Two!
DAVE'S (MERCIFULLY BRIEF) CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!
It's the start of December and as I sit here writing these words, the weather forecasters are telling us to prepare for heavy falls of snow over the next few days. So what better time than now to just wish everyone out there a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season, and a brighter and more prosperous New Year. Here's to the next twelve months of western writing, western reading and western watching for all of us!!
LARGE PRINT STRIKES AGAIN!!!
This news just in! F A Thorpe have snapped up the Large Print rights in Dave's fright-fest, The Fluttering. We expect publication to occur next summer. In the meantime, Magna just bought the Large Print rights in All Guns Blazing -- amazingly, before the book itself was even published! This is the first time that we can ever remember this happening. But the good news about David and Alfred's first collaboration continues.
The book was reported as "Sold Out" on 28th November 2008 ... the very same day it was published!
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!!
We've just received the cover for All Guns Blazing, which will be published on 30th November, and we're all delighted to see that it marks the return of that superb Spanish artist, Salvador Faba, who's been missing from the Black Horse Western line for too long.
DRAW DOWN THE "FRIGHTENING"!!
The Fluttering is now available for purchase. Just click
the button below for more details.
As you know, The Fluttering was David's attempt to recreate the so-called "nasty" novels of the 1970s. His next horror project, The Dead Are Awake will attempt to recreate the feel of the classic Hammer horror movies of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This one also has the potential to become a series, so keep watching this space for more details!
LARGE PRINT EDITION OF DRAW DOWN THE LIGHTNING COMING IN AUGUST 2008!
We've just received the cover to F A Thorpe's forthcoming Large Print edition of Draw Down the Lightning. Once again artist Michael Thomas has provided an eye-catching illustration. The book itself will be available in August 2008.
AND SPEAKING OF LARGE PRINT EDITIONS ...
F A Thorpe have just bought the Large Print rights in both Hold Me Forever and Yesterday's Child, which is good news indeed. David began his association with F A Thorpe way back in January 1991, with the publication of their Large Print edition of Heller.
DAVE HITS THE "NASTY" TRAIL!!
It's June 2008 and David has almost finished writing The Fluttering, an old-style horror novel that harks back to the "nasty" novels of the 1970s, which were written by the likes of James Herbert, Guy N Smith and Shaun Hutson.
The Fluttering was originally written in 1977, but failed to find a publisher at the time. Now David is completely rewriting and updating the story. Here's the back-cover blurb:
Something terrible has started happening in Eggerton. People are turning
up drained of blood and very, very dead. Have vampire bats started attacking
humans? If so, then who's delivering the hammer-blow that finally kills
the victims? For Detective Inspector Jack Sears it's a mystery that not
even virologist Professor Christopher Deacon can help him fathom. But
then the police get lucky. Against all the odds, one of the victims survives.
But strangely enough, that's when things go from bad to worse ...
Watch this space for a firm publication date!
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years
Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But
then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now
in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed
out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving
in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything
that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would
be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child
was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without
its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
YESTERDAY'S CHILD NOW ON SALE!!
Yesterday's Child is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "For ten long years Laura had cared for her sick mother. She knew no other way of life. But then her mother died, and suddenly she was all alone in the world. Now in her mid-twenties, she began to realise exactly what she had missed out on during those all-important formative years. But instead of giving in to despair, she was determined to make up for lost time. Despite everything that went against her, she remained optimistic. A career would be hers, as would friends, a social life ... and love. Yesterday's Child was going to become Today's Woman. But the journey would not be without its pitfalls ... "
Click this button to buy your copy now:
THREE NEW ROMANCES JUST ANNOUNCED!!
|
|
|
The covers for David's next three romances have just been released. As
seen on Yesterday's Child, there's going to be a new "Janet Whitehead"
logo, and "she" is now being billed as "The New First Lady of Romance".
Needless to say, David's working hard to live up to the title! No firm
publication dates yet, but the next three romances will be Light
of My Life (tentatively pencilled in for June or July 2008), Dare
to Dream and A Dangerous Love.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
A SNEAKY PEEK AT HOLD ME FOREVER!!
Hold Me Forever is now available for purchase at www.lulu.com.
Here's the blurb, just to whet your appetite: "To her fellow vacationers
at the Meadow Spring Dude Ranch, Kate Weaver was just another tourist.
Or was she? Ranch foreman Gil Singleton suspected otherwise. But
even he had no way of guessing the truth about Kate, just as she
had no way of knowing that she would fall hopelessly in love with Gil
even as the two of them fought for survival in Colorado's untamed high
country!"
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
DAVID'S FIRST COLLABORATION WITH ALFRED WALLON ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred
Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing,
to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero
in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the
summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend
named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah
Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully
be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled
Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune
named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's
legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
David's first collaboration with Germany's premier western writer, Alfred Wallon, has just been accepted for publication. All Guns Blazing, to appear under the pen-name "Doug Thorne", introduces a new western hero in the shape of fighting man Cal Hennessy, who visits Adobe Walls in the summer of 1874 to renew his acquaintance with an old buffalo-hunting friend named Billy Dixon, but instead lands slap-bang in trouble with Quanah Parker's Comanches, who are determinted to wipe Adobe Walls off the map!
Based on actual historical events, All Guns Blazing will hopefully be followed fairly soon by a second "Doug Thorne" western, presently entitled Alaska Hell, which introduces a tough soldier-of-fortune named Clint Morgan -- a hero very much in the tradition of John Benteen's legendary Neal Fargo.
DAVID'S NEW ROMANCE HITS THE LIBRARY SHELVES!
Annabel Tyler's boss sent her to the Scottish Highlands to save Winterhaven,
the estate of a valued client. But at every turn Annie found a mystery
to unravel. Who was David O'Neal, the stranger who seemed to know all
about her? What was the dark secret of Winterhaven's deep loch? And were
the estate and its inhabitants cursed? As if that wasn't enough, Annie
then went and fell in love with the new master of Winterhaven -- and things
took an even more dramatic turn!
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes
of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast.
Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track
down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding
that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious
plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and
courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
DAVE'S LATEST COMMANDO FINALLY PUBLISHED!!
The Mediterranean, 1799. American shipping is at the mercy of hordes of ruthless pirates, preying on seafarers all along the Barbary Coast. Lieutenant Matthew Sykes and his marines are there on a mission to track down missing US Navy ship-of-the-line USS Valiant. With rumours abounding that the most feared brigand of them all, Belal Ezzedine, has a mysterious plan in mind for that very ship, it will take all Matthew's cunning and courage to defeat The Buccaneers!
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! (Well, probably!)
Express Westerns proudly present WHERE LEGENDS
RIDE -- An all-new anthology of western fiction!
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2
Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse
Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting
venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen
fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies
starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad
Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed,
both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing
new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur
of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character;
many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter
good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element,
where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the
right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a
battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption.
You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching
of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the
humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never
read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland
and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns
will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack
Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben
Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton.
With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected
author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo,
this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront
at www.expresswesterns.com,
or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.
|
|
Anthology available Nov 30, 2007 from Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-6151-7581-2 Print Paperback $13.95, Download $5.00 More information on Black Horse Westerns Black Horse Express
Express Westerns
WHERE LEGENDS RIDE
A number of writers from around the world have embarked upon an exciting venture. They've formed a group of established and new writers to pen fourteen intriguing tales of the Old West, WHERE LEGENDS RIDE!
This book launch coincides with the current resurgence of western movies starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Indeed, both Kevin Costner and Tom Selleck are in the early stages of bringing new westerns to the screen right this minute.
Within the pages of WHERE LEGENDS RIDE can be found the grandeur of the Old West, the epic nature of the myth and a richness of character; many stories evoke a strong sense of place and throughout you'll encounter good period detail. The best western stories contain a moral element, where ordinary decent people strive against remarkable odds to 'do the right thing'. Here you'll meet brave school-teachers, plucky widows, a battered wife, a stubborn mule and several folk who are seeking redemption. You'll feel the heat of the badlands, the chill of danger and the gut-wrenching of betrayal. The stories cover a broad range, from the poignant to the humorous and offer up some pleasant surprises for any reader who has never read a 'western' before.
The anthology's writers come from the United States, England, Scotland and Spain. Regular readers of UK publisher Robert Hale's Black Horse Westerns will recognise some of the names of this anthology's contributors: Jack Giles, Lance Howard, Gillian F Taylor, IJ Parnham, Derek Rutherford, Ben Bridges, Chuck Tyrell, Philip McCormac, Matthew P Mayo and Ross Morton. With an introduction by David Whitehead, a prolific and much-respected author, and the editing skills of professional editor Matthew P Mayo, this anthology is an ideal gift.
You can order WHERE LEGENDS RIDE from the Express Westerns Storefront at www.expresswesterns.com, or through any good bookshop or online bookstore.
Robert Hale westerns can be ordered through their website www.halebooks.com
www.blackhorsewesterns.org.