Ballad of Papi Huesos - author notes

It's almost over! Here is the next to the last week in the Bindlegrim blog comment contest (see below)*** of author-note series for the print & e-book Tall Tales Shorter Days.

This fifth tale in On Stranger Winds was actually the last story penned for the book, and is very much a playful piece, a break in style that I needed following the darkness of penning Let Rains Bring Toads. For its part, Ballad is all fantasy, and a prequel of sorts (taking place in that whimsical world of Pumpkinheart). This time, humans make the small cameo appearances in a story that follows mummies, witches, ghosts, and a rabble of other strange things... like these...

SNEEK PEAK: Working character designs (Bindlegrim for Halloween 2013)

The story basically follows a boney mummified gent who is in process one Halloween night of composing a very personal biographical ballad. However, he is frequently interrupted by one thing or another, as when he becomes entangled in some Halloween thievery. Since Sr. Huesos never fully sings his ballad, from start to finish, in the book..., I thought I'd give a chance for the ballad to be seen here without disruption:

When as a mortal man I roamed
With more to me than crust and bones
I met, that day my life did end,
A lovely girl with cocoa skin -

Her eyes like coal from once great fires
Foretold the fate of my desire
For knowing not next morn I die
Vowed ne’er again to leave her side…

Yet as we dozed beneath the stars
A man appeared whose pride was scarred
In honor until death to fight
With naught but fists against his knife

And while the tears of my betrothed
In moonlight like the comets rolled
So too did I upon his blade
That carved my soul upon the grave

But ‘ere my journey to the deep
My love with charms did kiss this cheek
That guarded me in death by spells
To bar me from the gates of Hell

But in those years her soul did fade
My soul retook these old remains
And stood alone clawed from the dirt
As Papi Huesos here on earth

And should my love I fail to find
Upon this earth such years to pine
At least these old bones played a part
To keep the fires of Pumpkinheart

We lit the glow from bindles grim,
And charged the will o’wisp to mend
The embers bright we most esteem
That save good souls on Halloween

The ballad closes, with lyrics inspired by surrounding events. In this Pumpkinheart tale, a witch (perhaps the younger version from Watrous & Valmora?) is up to no good - trying to steal a powerful Halloween jewel. She is accompanied by a ghost. Could this too be the very same from Watrous & Valmora? The main character, most certainly new to the world of Pumpkinheart, is Papi Huesos (a name, in a more famous story, by which band members call a certain Jack Skellington if you watch with Spanish subtitles - the translation for Bone Daddy). Our emaciated skeletal gentleman, Sr. Huesos, gets stuck in the middle of the witch's plans.

To be revealed: Can you name the postcard described in the story's first scene?
Update 3-10-2013... And the answer is...

The opening scene,  (introducing the ghost and witch in the midst of heist capers), is actually based on visuals from one of two vintage postcards. This one featuring something we don't see much in modern Halloween - Veggie People. In this scene the Veggie People are at chase, doing their best to reclaim the Pumpkinheart. Can any vintage Halloween fans out there name that postcard? I will automatically give away a book to anyone who can point out that card in a book or on the internet.

To be revealed: Can you name the 2nd vintage postcard in a subsequent scene?

Update 3-10-2013... And the answer is...

This is something you probably need to read the book to know for sure... but I've offered some very definite clues. And I'll do the same for anyone who can name the second postcard that is described in this story - where, in a later scene, our main character views a very picturesque Halloween scene upon the water. As to that, I should likely give no more clues, since few vintage cards appear off dry land...

Well, that's it until next week, the final entry! I very much appreciate all who who may be enjoying their copies: (in print on Amazon or Etsy) or by e-book via Kindle/iPad.

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

*** GIVEAWAY DETAILS ***

1) From March 3rd to Mar 9th - leave a blog comment here about whatever you like... about mummies, witches, ghosts, maybe even Halloween pranks...?

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 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, that readers might leave a Like or a Review on the Amazon pages for the book: print or e-book.

*** GIVEAWAY DETAILS ***

Watrous & Valmora - author notes

Welcome to the fourth week in the comment contest (see below)*** containing six weeks of entries in an author-note series for Tall Tales Shorter Days.  The fourth story in On Stranger Winds was a personal break from some of the book's darker content. Not that this story isn't scary for the right age group, but unlike more gruesome stories (such as Jitter), "The Pumpkinheart Tales" were written in mind (but not to compare) with the likes of Frank Baum, Roald Dahl, Madeleine L'Engle or Dianna Wynne Jones, which I think are still a great read at any age.

Watrous & Valmora is basically an adventure story following a young girl (costumed as royalty) chaperoning her younger brother, a werewolf, out for trick or treats on the night of Halloween. With its full title - Watrous & Valmora: Further Tales of Pumpkinheart - the story describe a Halloween chain of circumstance after a bit of candy greed starts the engines of unexpected havoc. What ensues involves a magical jewel, a weird scarecrow, a talking cat, a mournful ghost, armies of bats and ravens, as well as other oddities, and not to forget, a terrible witch.

You can actually read the story, in its entirety, here on the Bindlegrim blog. It was published here first during the week of Halloween 2012... see Watrous & Valmora (Part 1). And since the story is here, on the blog, I thought I would rather just offer a few bits of acknowledgement for some of the characters and scenes that appear in the tale.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:. Watrous and Valmora, New Mexico

Watrous & Valmora: In the spring of 2012, while finishing up this story, (during what turned out to be long Colorado / New Mexico road trips), I often passed this sign for two towns that screamed out to me as likely characters names in an Edward Gorey book. And I suppose, you might notice, the characters go un-named at the beginning of the tale, because as yet, they didn't have names. I adopted these town names Watrous and Valmora to the characters, yet I have to admit I still haven't been to these towns. I do hope, out of curiosity, to some day see what is there!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:. New Mexico scarecrow photo by pinconnected

The scarecrow: There is a very odd bogle in this story (part two), that our characters discover during their unintended raid of a night-time pumpkin patch. It's not your average anthropomorphic scarecrow, but instead described as a mix of various materials such as wood and Christmas tinsel, and the entirety moans as it spins about on the wind. The above photo was a huge inspiration on that "character" and is one my favorite scenes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Carbon (right) and work by Kilkennycat

Carbon: And finally a big thank-you for the posting of this adorable photo by artist on flickr Kilkennycat that inspired a few things in part three.  For beginners, I was very taken with this cute cat's name Carbon, which was the name bestowed to a very affable talking cat that helps Valmora on her adventure. That cat in the story lives on a farm owned by none other than the Kilkenny's (as another nod to the artist). Yet this also had me curious about the origin of Kilkenny cats which is  terminology based on an older story from the old world. You can read more about that in this wikipedia article (Kilkenny cat), that in turn inspired a bit of the story where Carbon mentions singing the lyrics of an old song.

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

Well that's it for now, and next week will feature notes on the next to the last story in the book - another of The Pumpkinheart Tales. In the meantime, thank-you to all who found their way to a copy of the book in either print (on Amazon or Etsy) or the Kindle/iPad e-book version which is available by loan (for a short time) or for purchase. And hope you are having fun during this giveaway...!

*** GIVEAWAY DETAILS ***

1) From Feb 24th to Mar 2nd - leave a blog comment here about whatever you like... about cats, witches, memories of trick-or-treat, recommended reading...

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 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, that readers might leave a Like or a Review on the Amazon pages for the book: print or e-book.

*** 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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The Herbivorous Witch & Other Spooky Verse

A small selection of short Halloween poems for October, and the difficulties of dealing with haints and witches in the modern world...

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The Herbivorous Witch



The herbivorous witch lived in the woods
Behind our house

When snow fell she appeared with her long green nose
Perched on our gate

Usually we just hid under blankets pretending the police
Would do something if we called

While the witch stared for hours motionless and silent
Toward our windows...

One day though Molly became so mad she threw old vegetables
In her direction

We giggled watching garbage bounce off the droopy hat
As she stood unblinking

But at sunset she finally drifted backward into the woods
As crows fought over the spoils

And that night Molly disappeared as we all slept warmly
In our own beds

---

Leaky Ghost



There is a leaky ghost on my ceiling
Whose tears drip into a growing collection of buckets
Scattered about my house

Some nights it’s like a choir of misery
As waves churn from room to room while the unhappy spirit
Restlessly paces the dark

Last spring I made the best of it
And created cascading waterfalls of rock and stone
With water lilies and coy

But during the autumn a gang of thirsty monsters
Moved downstairs and drained the pools
To wash down their deserts

---

A Vampire to Dinner



Its good manners to occasionally invite a vampire to dinner
So say the magazines at the grocery counters.

Our market has a complimentary bulletin of names and numbers
For those who have no contacts of their own.

Throwing a couple of blood-pigs into my cart
I secretly snatched a card off the board when no one was looking.

I had never had a vampire over for dinner
And had to convince my nervous family that everyone did this.

But as x-marks whistled from the blood-pigs eye sockets
I began to grow nervous and called my friend Blanche

She laughed and said she entertained the undead quite often
Though her fingers were crossed as she lied.

---

About these Halloween poems:

Around the time I was just starting to explore writing again for Halloween themes, from around 2004 to 2007, I created a small collection of poetry (of which one became The Pumpkin Dream) and at least one short story, all of which might just might find their way into a small future volume of collected spooky works. In the meantime, above are three of a handful of poems from that time period.

Happy Halloween 2011...!!!