Night of the Bindlegrim

So perhaps the weather was an omen... rainy and cold... an appropriate Bindlegrim night full of thunder and dark purple skies with bits of brilliant Halloween orange peeking out from a setting sun... yet I had zero expectations (certainly after reading the other finalists listed below) so this was to be an amazing surprise that On Stranger Winds won in the Fiction: Sci-Fi / Fantasy category of the NM Book Co-op's 2013 New Mexico - Arizona Book Awards!

Days before the actual announcement, I wanted to take the time as a scifi/fantasy fan to see what our local authors had to offer, and with an eagerness to cheer them on for their hard work. Therefore I assigned myself homework - to read (as much of) each as I could before the date. And I feel confident recommending most of these if you enjoy the genre. Here is a quick rundown of the book and author finalists in the Sci-Fi Fantasy category, (with many offered as Amazon e-books with a downloadable free preview).

1. Ghosts of the Black Rose: Belinda Vasquez Garcia -  www.belindavasquezgarcia.com
   Note: there is a very interesting scene in here involving a priest, his deceased skeleton wife, and the enchanted beautician.
2. Asleep at the Wheel of Time: Michael Gray - www.michaelfgray.com
   Note:  a true well written sci-fi entry that had my interest piqued with a story that involves dolphins and a recent VLA discovery of what could be a message from Titan.
3. The Tower of Il Serrohe: RJ Mirabal - http://rjmirabal.blog.com
   Note: an anti-hero in the Rio Grande Valley finds an alternate universe. Back-story involves curanderas. And there is a sly sense of humor to some of the dialogue.
4. Corr Syl the Warrior: Garry Rogers - www.garryrogers.com
   Note: A smartly written YA novel where animals evolved, and utilize natural powers together with technology. A murder has occurred at the beginning, while trouble brews on the borders.
5. On Stranger Winds: Robert Aaron Wiley - www.bindlegrim.com

With my reading accomplished, I was ready to cheer any of these authors for a well-deserved award. And we arrived at the 2013 NM Book Awards on that stormy November 15th night in ABQ. New to the experience, I had no idea what to expect, yet had a welcoming, wonderful time. Met some great authors and publishers, enjoyed drinks, and the food was actually top notch. (Heartfelt kudos to the meal planner!)

The award ceremony itself was perfectly timed and the actual winning of the award a bit of a blur... (see the full list of winners here)... and while I wish I had bid more money to win that Rodulfo Anaya book package, the following are my personal highlights of my evening...

1. Out of pure chance we sat next to Fresco Books. Really awesome chatting with the authors behind this amazing hardcover book. They won both the Art Book category and the Best New Mexico Book for Art of the National Parks. To my immediate right was this wonderful artist, Terry Dunn: www.tlawsondunn.com.
2. On our left sat a first-time author Karen Kelling. I'm not sure I understood the complete plot, but the book sounds like a good read for you holiday fans as it takes place around Christmas, and there are appearances of ghosts from the past: The Comanchero's Grave.
3. Across the distance of the table sat Arturo Madrid with what sounds like a fascinating book (and most definitely with quality design & photography): In the Country of Empty Crosses: The Story of a Hispano Protestant Family in Catholic New Mexico .
4. And during our wait for winner stickers at the end, had a great time conversing with Candace Walsh and learning about her book: Licking the Spoon: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Identity.

Well, that's it! After all the hard work, and latest excitement, I've been spending the past 24 hours quietly(?) basking. Thank you to all the words of congratulations from friends and family. And of course thank you again to the informed editing assistance of Cara Wilhelm, the spooky whimsical cover art from David Irvine, the spooky font Zombie Apocalypse available from Sinister Visions, and the word-styling of Daniel Boyer in his fabulous foreword.

 Goodnight folks... time now to work on volume two...?

2013 Sci-fi Fantasy Book Finalist

Okay, I admit, I am 30 days late to the party! This was announced on September 20th - and I've been so lost in the new candy container / lantern designs that I missed this incredible news:

On Stranger Winds (Tall Tales for Shorter Days) by Robert Aaron Wiley (aka Bindlegrim) was listed as a finalist in the science fiction and fantasy category of the 2013 New Mexico & Arizona Book Awards. (In June the NM Book Co-op mentioned processing over 1200 entries and getting more every day)...! New Mexico Books promotes the best in local New Mexico & Arizona books. The list of finalists are available here: 2013 Finalists.

Just to mention once again - the book can be found on both Amazon & Barnes & Noble as a self-published work from Bindlegrim Press. Amazon (in print and on Kindle). Barnes & Noble (on Nook).

Thanks once again to David Irvine of The Gnarled Branch for the cover art "The Traveling Ghost." And to Cara Wilhelm for her help editing some of the contents. Also, please note the newest cover design utilizes a font Zombie Holocaust by Sinister Visions.

Best October wishes to all. This is the perfect season to read these tales!

Let Rains Bring Toads - author notes

It's here! At the end of the week occurs the drawing from those who comment for a Bindlegrim vintage-style lantern. Yes, this is the final entry in the Bindlegrim blog comment contest (see below)*** of author-note series for the print & e-book Tall Tales Shorter Days, and looks like ol' Bindle will have to find something else to yak about for the next batch of entries...

This final story in On Stranger Winds is, as mentioned in The Ballad of Papi Huesos entry), a grim piece called Let Rains Bring Toads. And this would definitely be on the darker side of the book's various journeys.

In some ways the book is a travelogue. Since the first story was penned, I have moved from the rainy Seattle (Jitter, The Pumpkin Dream), past the snow-deep woods of Ichabod's Cottage (Herbivorous Witch, Watrous & Valmora), to desert environs, (Papi Huesos, Let Rains Bring Toads). This one was written during the monsoon season, when huge storms, like thundering animals lash with lightening, sweeping across the warm summer desert lands where you have little place to hide. The name follows one of these experiences, when one quiet night, after a tremendous storm, a nighttime canyon echoed with the calls of desert toads, perhaps like this one...(seen in this list of New Mexico amphibians)?

photo: list of amphibians - New Mexico (Wikipedia)

The story opens during a monsoon, upon a property of one particularly odd building. But this is not the adobe that the area is so famous (see wikipedia photo below). It is instead described as having a surface more like a termite hill. And as the view enters inside one of the small, thick border windows, that is where our tale begins...

photo: adobe - (Wikipedia)

So, at that, I'm ending this entry rather short, sufficing to say, that there is, as seems to be coincidental in all these stories, another spell-caster, who lives at this abode. And on this given night, a mob of towns people have entered very upset with her magic, and their choices in the past at their own questionable utilization of her magic. What follows is perhaps something like an old horror movie scripts that struggles with morality and mortality, or perhaps I was channeling such shows as The Outer Limits, One Step Beyond, or The Twilight Zone.

photo: vinegaroon - (Wikipedia)

Oh, and before I forget, last, but not least, there is a guest appearance by some skeletons, as well as some desert creatures in this story. The witch has a couple of acquaintance --- there is a shape-shifting coyote, and another creature involved in her spell-casting, the vinegaroon (whip-scorpion shown above), the latter of which I have yet to see in the wild, because they only come out at night. Imagine that crawling into your boots or tent. Yikes!

Well, that's it - the final entry! A big thank-you to all have have visited the blog these past few weeks and participated, and I'm looking forward to the giveaway at the end of this week!

Bindlegrim books in need of a new home. PS - Cover art is by David Irvine

*** GIVEAWAY DETAILS ***

1) From March 10th to Mar 17th - leave a blog comment here about whatever you like... about witches, old movies or TV shows, weird architecture, big bugs, you name it...

2) For each author-notes blog entries, I will draw randomly at the end of that week to give the commenting visitor a signed printed copy of Tall Tales Shorter Days.

3) At the end of all six blog entries (occurring THIS week) I will draw from ALL comments (more commenting visits, more chances to win) for one Bindlegrim lantern - The Horrid Decor (Orange on Ghost Skin) seen below.

Note - Bindlegrim encourages and hopes, but does not require, readers might leave a Like or Review on Amazon for the book: (in print on Amazon or Etsy) or by e-book via Kindle/iPad.

*** GIVEAWAY DETAILS ***

Press Release - Tall Tales for Shorter Days

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bindlegrim Book Tells Tall Tales of American Kitsch and Horror

Holiday-centric circles will identify the Bindlegrim name with retro-style art including two illustrated books “The Pumpkin Dream: A Cautionary Tale” and “Grim Happy Christmas”. With publication of a third, Robert Aaron Wiley explores the power of words alone to convey vivid imagery of the innocent and the gruesome, in six stories of humor and frights for the year-round reader.

Albuquerque, New Mexico: November 11, 2012 – Robert Aaron Wiley (creator of the fictional Mr. Bumble Bindlegrim) has released a new book of short stories and poetry “On Stranger Winds: Tall Tales for Shorter Days”. The author's third book collects writings from the past two years, and expands a growing body of work concerning all things holiday that include limited edition postcards, books, commissioned works, and art-objects.

The haunted worlds found within the pages of “On Stranger Winds” will be a welcome addition to those accustomed to Bindlegrim’s frequent nods to holidays of yesteryear - (vintage collectors may even recognize scenes inspired directly from vintage postcards). As well, the writing will reach a larger audience of young and old alike who enjoy horror and fantasy adventure genres at any time of the year.

In the book’s Foreword, Daniel Boyer writes, “Either by fireplace in winter, or poolside in summer, you will be transported to a world where trees are decorated in gold and orange, and where darkness reigns supreme. There is happiness and humor to be found in such corners, but by all means proceed with caution. Bindlegrim has October’s heart beating in his chest.”

"On Stranger Winds: Tall Tales for Shorter Days" is currently available from Amazon.com U.S. as quality paperback, 138 pages, at $7.95. And is also available in Europe including Amazon UK. Cover art is by David Irvine (The Gnarled Branch) and Foreword by Daniel Boyer of Critical Corner. A digital release is expected in early 2013.

About Bindlegrim (aka Robert Aaron Wiley)

The author cites examples like the mysterious kudzu-covered landscapes of an abandoned South as primary influences during youthful studies in fine art; a search for wonder that led him to relocate to Albuquerque and to Seattle, each for their rich support of cultural and artistic diversity. Pursuing fine art media and classical world music, the artist discovered a happier balance through the creation of recent alter ego Bindlegrim - outlet for whimsical exploration of seasonal holidays and their mix of curious imagery with inventive design.

For more information about "On Stranger Winds: Tall Tales for Shorter Days", please visit www.bindlegrim.com or contact Bindlegrim Press at bumble@bindlegrim.com.


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