Free for Your Bindle...

Uh, ehr, I mean Kindle... and for iPad too...

Here is some quick day-specific news for the blog - letting folks know about this free digital book promo (1-27-2013) for the digital edition ending 12 midnight pacific time. These copies are available via Amazon for both Kindle and iPad viewing.

If you are seeing this late, fret not, for during the next 90 days the book is available as a free loaner from the Kindle online library. And the book is usually priced at an affordable $2.99 (of which the author receives a humble percentage). (Note to Nook users - after that 90 days I will make this title available in that format too. Kindle Select regrettably bars other digital releases for that period, which I would argue is a bad idea for all... but I learned a lesson for the next book. Grrrr.)

For those who prefer the old school version, paperback first editions are available on Amazon too. (Please note that if you get any strangely printed copies, please return until you get a correct one). As well, the book is now available from the Bindlegrim store on Etsy. For the latter, I have ordered some stock, which I have eyeballed to be good print quality, that will be shipped direct from Ichabod's Cottage as signed copies.

Well, that's it for now, and my deepest (darkest) apologies to write and run... but Bindlegrim has more exciting mad-scientist creations mutating just around the corner... Stay tuned!

Ghost in the Machine (Tall Tales for E-Book)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *

Bindlegrim Releases New E-Book Digital Edition Horror/Humor Collection:
Tall Tales, Stranger Days

Holiday artist Bindlegrim (aka Robert Aaron Wiley) releases second edition of short story collection On Stranger Winds now in popular e-book formats for Kindle and iPad, following the release of a more traditional printed first edition.

January 19, 2013 - Robert Aaron Wiley (creator of Bindlegrim™) follows up printed collection of spooky stories “On Stranger Winds: Tall Tales for Shorter Days” with new e-book edition. This second edition is released through Amazon Kindle (offering Kindle and iPad formats). Depending on the customers' preferred format and memberships, the availability is very affordable - as free loaner or low purchase cost of $3 USD.

Amazon reader reviews have been positive. “The author has a wonderful ability to set an eerie scene and draw you further into the stories with delightful and/or weird characters.” (Irene Stanton, Amazon). “Time to cozy up in a bed of frosty autumn leaves under a dead oak tree and read through this wonderful book again!” (Dranem, Amazon).



The author admits backlash from at least one critic. The introductory story, The Herbivorous Witch received the following angry review after submission to a un-named magazine: "Quite frankly, I found all of the characters unlikable. The aunt was unintelligent and all the angrier for it, Solace was pretentious and bratty, Ferris was somewhat underdeveloped, and Pearl was as annoying as her mother.” The author counters, ”...the person nailed a surface reading of the characters as written, which makes me grin... The piece drew this person to finish, and was powerful enough to require an outline of offense. In my book, that's a good story!” (facebook.com/bindlegrim). The true audience for this book will get that too.

"On Stranger Winds: Tall Tales for Shorter Days" © 2012 Robert Aaron Wiley is currently available in print and e-book in both U.S. and Europe. Quality paperback, 138 pages, at $7.95 (Amazon print -edition one) and digital e-book download (Amazon Kindle - edition two). Cover art is by David Irvine (The Gnarled Branch) and Foreword by Daniel Boyer of Critical Corner.

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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* Press release originally posted to PRLOG: http://www.prlog.org/12062651-bindlegrim-releases-new-book-digital-edition-horrorhumor-collection-tall-tales-stranger-days.html

The 12 Panes of Krampus

Ah..., as Saint Nicholas might say, naughty children are just that, pains, and fortunately in the alpine regions of Europe he has a helper Krampus (exactly 12 of them on the panes of this vintage-style collapsible paper lantern) to assist with disciplinary difficulties.

Last night, Bindlegrim posted a super short 3-day only auction (ending Dec 20, 2012 19:47:55 PST) for a new lantern, and the last Bindlegrim lantern of 2012. GRUSS von KRAMPUS vintage style HALLOWEEN-CHRI​STMAS lantern BINDLEGRIM: 3rd of 3. This lantern (of which only 3 were produced) features 12 scenes of Krampus shenanigans, with a look inspired by vintage postcards of this strange Christmas character.

It's a little hard to photograph all the scenes in a single image when the lantern is set up for lighting, so here are some working files for the panes. This shows Krampus doing what Saint Nicholas hired him to do --- capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away... (wikipedia entry on Krampus).

Fortunately most children must be good here in America, for I have never seen Krampus set foot on this soil. However, with his underground popularity increasing, I wonder if he might finally make it across the water some day, as did one dear friend of ours, the Jack O'Lantern...? Until then, for more images of this lantern check out Bindlegrim on flickr and Happy Holidays and by all means, be good!!!

Krampusnacht

A quick entry just reminding everyone to be good tonight, Krampusnacht. Here's a little 3 panel comic as a cautionary tale... (for some works in progress for a possible lantern release by Bindlegrim for December 2012). In the meantime here are just a tiny few of the many fun Krampus links out there: wikipedia, or  krampus.com, and there are at least 2 books with vintage Krampus imagery collected by Monte Beauchamp.