Vanishing Creeps

Week two of the Bindlegrim sale - and already some items in the Creeps editions are sold out as I pack their bindles with care for cross-country travels literally coast to coast! Again, thank you to all who gathered for week one.

It actually appears that the Summer Lantern Sale might be something of a misnomer, as I seek to fill out some unexpected gaps in the coming weeks - but for you 12-sided lantern fiends (and I know there are a few) I do plan to list the last 12-sided Creeps lantern in the final fourth week.

As I pull together some oddities for week three, here's a quick review of what is currently up for grabs in the second week ending Sunday, July 26th.

1) Vintage-Style Christmas SPIRITS #5/5 Artist Signed Set KRINGLE, FROST, & KRAMPUS

This listing is for the last full set of vintage-style candy-container lanterns from Spirits, a 5/5 limited edition set of three characters designed, printed, and diecut in the artist's studio. While a couple of characters may show up solo, this is the last of the Krampus characters available.

This is the fifth in an edition of five packaged sets - each character is signed, and the package insert is numbered #5/5.

2) Vintage-Style Easter Greetings TO THE HUNT #4/10 Artist Signed Postcard & Folio

Since Bindlegrim reached outside of the Hallowe'en norm for the above Christmas listing... this Easter card was also included to bring in a little more cheer, albeit slightly twisted once again. This print postcard was limited to a run of only ten cards, each with a peek-a-boo folio. This card is signed and numberd #4/10.

3) Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS A.P. 2/2 Open Silhouette Set Candy-Box Lanterns

This is the 2/2 set of artist proofs created before the final 5/5 run of "soot-faced" Creeps. I cannot fully recollect why this set was created before the final packaged sets, but I believe it must have had to do with the direction of the dies upon the 2-ply museum board (since the die cutting process actually gives a subtle front and back edge to the paper). In any case, unlike the 1/2 set sold off the previous year, the 2/2 set was never even bent into shape... as shown here standing at full attentive display in this old crate.

4) Vintage-Style HALLOWEEN & CORNISH LITANY variety set themed Postcards and Book

With Bindlegrim's 2013 lantern stock rapidly vanishing - I continued to grab up a few other items for the sale... and thought it fun to gather a collection of printed goodies. This lot contains the following:
1) On Stranger Winds - Tall Tales for Shorter Days: a signed copy of the book with the newer matte cover (which I love much better than previous editions for its soft touch). The book is a collection of stories and poems (and was a winner of the New Mexico Book Awards in 2013 in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category). Cover art by David Irvine (aka The Gnarled Branch).

2) Cornish Litany cards, 2011, has a limited number #/25 of signed cards. Both here are numbered #6/25. These postcards are artist reprints of the original art that was commissioned by Cornish Litany fanatic Debra Mesiter: A Litany... Cornish and Otherwise.

3) Cornish Litany cards, 2012. This set was originally release with a (sold-out) 12-sided Cornish Litany lantern that contained the same imagery.

4) One set of 4 Hallowe'en cards from the new Spooklights lanterns by Bindlegrim. Un-signed from a moderate run of 100 sets.  

Thank you once again to all for considering these items for your Halloween bindle. Stay tuned for week 3 starting this Sunday, the 26th.

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 ***

El Bindle Nuevo

Per his namesake, every once in a while Mr. Bumble has to pack up that tatty ol' bindle and hit the road. And this month big changes are happening as Bindlegrim begins to uproot Ichabod's cottage near the Rocky Mountains for new digs further southward in what is actually a long-awaited return to Nuevo Mexico. Si, es verdad, Ichabod's cottage on the outskirts of the big city will soon be a casita cerca del pueblo. And who knows where the influence may take those brooding bindle-moods once in the land of adobe, chili verde, and kachinas? Perhaps we will see influences such as imagery from Dia de Los Muertos, or perhaps ghost tales of the magical desert?

Traveling with Mr. Bumble is his trusty sidekick, El Raton. And this particular mouse dates much much earlier than the hero of The Pumpkin Dream, to a time before ol' Bindlegrim had ever set his toeless shoes into the dusty cryptobiotic soils of the west. This little feller was a Christmas gift (an ornament) that back in the day had found his way swinging from the rearview mirror of a little blue hatchback, bravely establishing himself as the St. Christopher of safe journeys, in the miles before cell phones! El raton is still around after all those years and though often retired from life on the road, he's back on a new set of wheels, rediscovering the desert landscapes of the southwest. He's definitely a little rougher for wear, as is ol' Bindle, but both are happily basking in new explorations of the high desert sands.

Well, the gist of all this fanciful rhetoric, is that the goblins working in Bindle's shop will have much to do over the next month. While it is hoped a lantern, or other item of Halloween art might make its way here to the blog announcements, I hope you can be patient during this time of transition, as a few things are likely to slip a bit until the Bindle, and his sidekick El Raton are once more unpacked and settled in the new digs. Until then, hasta la proxima, and, of course, viva la fiesta!

Pumpkin Dreams in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Had a great weekend in Albuquerque reuniting with friends and family (miss that town so much) and bringing "The Pumpkin Dream" (Industry Edition) to the bookshelves there, featuring its more recent format full of decorative borders and dingbats.

Here are some of the places the book now resides, on the shelf, and I wish to recommend the following bookstores (together with a couple of travel highlights in the vicinity).

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ABQ (west):

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Bookworks is an awesome bookstore just north of the Bosque/Rio Grande State Park at 4022 Rio Grande Blvd NW, in the Flying Star Plaza next door, of course, to a Flying Star Cafe. It's a wonderfully charming bookstore, that at the time of my visit, I had just missed a presentation from an author who studies wolves, (I should have checked their event calendar). As you can see from the photo above (provided from the store to google maps) the atmosphere was made for cozy times with a good book - I really love the adobe style fireplace in the middle of the room.

While you are in the area - check out the store, cafe, park, and perhaps just drive along Rio Grande Blvd northward that is exceptionally beautiful during the autumn as it is lined with beautiful cottonwood trees scattered among the large farms and horse ranches along either side. Also, you would not be too far from Olde Towne Albuquerque full of southwestern shops, and nearby to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, The Botanic Gardens (part of the Bio Park), and The Albuquerque Museum (which for the latter if you go before August 21st is offering a great exhibit of Clara Driscoll, better known for the company Tiffany).

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ABQ (east):

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Page One Bookstore for me, is like an old friend on the east side of town (at the corner of Juan Tabo and Montgomery), that introduced me to a ton of great music and books when I was living there in the early 1990's -- (I loved their trade-in programs and for good finds on a budget for used and alternative books & music).  To see more of the store online - I just noticed they have a flickr account -pageonebookstore and here too is their events calendar.

They are just under the shadow of Sandia Mountain, a beautiful mountain landscape that was created by ancient plates moving one under another, so that the west side is full of great hikes along cliff faces, while the east is a forested slope, (the Sandia Peak Tramway from the west side will take you quickly to the top). And while I always enjoyed the "all day" hike of La Luz Trail, on this trip I finally discovered the beautiful Piedra Lisa Trail for a nice short morning hike to the Rincon Trail - (see Sandia Hiking Trails).

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Nob Hill (and more):

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Finally, I would also like to make sure a give a nod to Mariposa Gallery in Nob Hill (a district near UNM in central Albuquerque, that has some great shops and restaurants). The gallery has been one my favorite places during recent stops in Albuquerque... with friendly art representatives in store, who have a fun eye for contemporary alternative arts and for beautiful jewelry.  They have been ever so kind to carry the book starting in September.

And also, one side note, though my book is not on the shelf there, I would like to also recommend Alamosa Books (at the 88th block of Holly). Always heartening to see a newer independent bookstore, they have a very friendly staff, and a great atmosphere, and specialize in titles for youth.