A Shameless Excursion Into Self-Promotion

May 17th, 2022 by Max Allan Collins

A reminder: today is the publication date of Stand Up and Die! (the new collection of Mickey Spillane’s novellas and short stories from Rough Edges Press, edited by me and with a Mike Hammer short story co-written by Mickey and me).

The new crime/horror novel, The Menace, by Mickey Spillane and me is $3.99 on Kindle at Amazon.

Stand Up and Die! cover
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The Menace cover
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The Menace just came out and is, as may already know, developed by me from an unproduced Mickey Spillane screenplay. If you’re not a horror fan, don’t be put off: it’s fundamentally a crime novel. It’s rather short – though not, as some have described a novella (it’s 40,000-words), but two additional Spillane pieces are included as a bonus at the back – the previously unpublished original version of his comic tale, “The Duke Alexander,” and a rare true-crime article.

For you physical media types (like me), the handsome trade paperback edition is just $9.99 at Amazon right now.

This update exists as a place for me to share views on pop culture, talk about what’s going on with me (and my wife Barb) personally and professionally. Part of that is letting you know about sales going on at Amazon (and elsewhere). There are several worth making you aware of going on right now.

On sale is Supreme Justice, the first of the political-thriller trilogy Matt Clemens and I wrote about Joe Reeder and Patti Rogers. Sales have stayed strong since its publication in 2014 – I believe it’s sold something like 150,000 copies, and the two sequels (Fate of the Union and Executive Order have done very well, too. Something like 350,000 copies of the Reeder and Rogers trilogy have been sold. Supreme Justice on Kindle is just $1.99 (till the end of the month).

Supreme Justice – the trade paper edition is $14.95 – has generated renewed interest because the plot concerns an attempt to rearrange the Supreme Court’s political slant by killing conservative members. It’s set in the near future, after the court overturns Roe V. Wade – again, it was published in 2014.

Supreme Justice cover
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Executive Order cover
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Fate of the Union cover
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My eco-thriller, Midnight Haul, is also on sale on Kindle for $1.99.

Midnight Haul cover
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This leads me into what will undoubtedly be a self-serving discussion – a shameless one at that – hoping to convince you to try novels of mine that you may have avoided. Things that may have been out of your comfort zone. Like Supreme Justice, for example.

Kill Me if You Can cover
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E-Book: Google Play Kobo

I have talked here more than once about the reasons why I sometimes work outside of the Quarry, Nolan, Nate Heller and Mike Hammer noir-ish area. The truth is I have readers who follow one or two of those series, but avoid the others. The Quarry and Nolan novels are books in the 50,000 to 60,000-word range and are fast and (I hope) fun reads. The Mike Hammer novels, also in that word-length range, are overlooked by some of my readers because those readers are not Spillane fans or simply don’t care for books that continue a series created by someone else. Similarly, some Spillane fans don’t try these continuation novels, even though the books all have Spillane content (some a good deal of Spillane content), because Mickey himself did not write every word. The fact that Mickey engaged me to complete his unfinished material does not convince these stubborn souls. Kill Me If You Can, celebrating the 75th anniversary of Mike Hammer’s first appearance in 1947’s I, the Jury, is a novel developed from an unproduced Spillane teleplay, and it looks at the period between Kiss Me, Deadly (1952) and The Girl Hunters (1962), when Velda goes missing. It’s Mike at his most psychotic. Pre-order it through the links on the left.

That the Caleb York novels are westerns discourages some readers, who prefer crime/mystery, and that the first novel of the six is a novelization of an unproduced Mickey Spillane screenplay does not sway them. I think they’re missing out.

And of course the cozy Antiques mysteries written by Barb and me are not the hardboiled fare many of my readers enjoy, though the humor and murder content are high. I get that this approach isn’t for everybody, but will point out that the Trash ‘n’ Treasures mysteries are the series of mine with the most entries. The new one will be out in October and can be pre-ordered through the links below.

Antiques Liquidation cover
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Some fans of my hardboiled books avoid the Nate Heller novels, which run in the 75,000-word to 150,000-word range, their lengths off-putting to at least a few readers. The true crime basis of the novels also discourages some Quarry/Nolan fans. The Big Bundle, coming out Dec. 6 (and available for pre-order now), will be the first Hard Case Crime publication of a Heller, and I think Quarry and Nolan fans who haven’t tried the series before will find themselves at home.

The Big Bundle cover
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E-Book: Kobo Google Play

Now I don’t expect any of you – except the hardier souls among you – to buy, read and like everything I put out. Over the last ten years or so, I have increased my already prolific output considerably. I understand that you have only so many hours available to devote to your reading pleasure, and that (however misguidedly) you have other authors you like to read who aren’t me.

So why do I write so much? My standard answer for that is, “If I don’t, they don’t send money to my house.” And that flip response is true enough. But I have also been aware of the ticking clock of mortality and realize that once I am dead, my output will slow considerably. You readers who outlive me will probably have plenty of my stuff to catch up on. That’s fine. It’s as close to living forever as I’ll come.

And I feel I stay fresh by not writing just one thing. I shudder to think if Quarry had taken off in the mid-‘70s and that what I would be doing right now is writing book #45 in the series.

What I’d like to do with the rest of this ridiculously self-serving column is ask you to read – to buy, actually, and then read – a few of my recent books that you may have skipped. I’ve already mentioned The Menace, which some might pass on because (a) it appears to be horror, and/or (b) it doesn’t feature Mike Hammer. I can only say that Mickey came up with a good story and I developed it into a good novel that I’m very proud of.

Here are a couple of others you may have overlooked.

Fancy Anders Goes to War is a novella available on Kindle but also has a handsome little trade paperback with a wonderful Fay Dalton cover (and interior illos). It’s a private eye story with a new heroine who has much in common with Ms. Tree but is also her own girl (it’s a ‘40s story so I can call her that, and anyway she’s young). The research is Heller level. It’s the first of three such novellas from Neo-Text. I just loved writing it (and its two follow-ups, the second of which will be out before long). On Kindle it’s 2.99 and the paperback is only $6.99.

The audio of Fancy Anders Goes to War from SkyBoat is outstanding, virtually a movie for the ears.

Fancy Anders Goes to War cover
E-Book: Amazon Purchase Link
Trade Paperback: Amazon Purchase Link
Digital Audiobook: Amazon Purchase Link

Girl Most Likely and Girl Can’t Help It are two books that have suffered a handful of bad reviews and a wealth of good ones that haven’t overcome that handful. This was my attempt to do something along the lines of an American version of Nordic noir. The detectives are a young woman police chief and her retired homicide cop father in Galena, Illinois (I had the cooperation of the town’s police chief, female). I like these books a lot but they didn’t do as well as previous Thomas & Mercer titles. Girl Can’t Help It touches heavily on my rock ‘n’ experience. If you like my work at all, give these a try. They are $4.99 each on Kindle and $10.93 and $12.83 respectively as trade paperbacks.

Girl Most Likely cover
Paperback:
E-Book: Amazon
Digital Audiobook: Amazon
MP3 CD: Amazon
Audio CD: Amazon
Girl Can't Help It cover
Paperback:
E-Book: Amazon
Digital Audiobook: Amazon
MP3 CD: Amazon
Audio CD: Amazon

Finally, one of my favorites among all of my novels: The Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton, written with SCTV’s Dave Thomas. Two things seem to get in the way of my regular readership trying this one: the science-fiction aspect, and the assumption that it’s a comedy. Where to begin? This novel is as much a crime story as s-f, with an older male Black cop and a young female Gen Z partner struggling to find out who shot smalltime thief Jimmy Leighton, who is in the hospital in a coma. Meanwhile, Jimmy, who accidentally triggered a quantum experiment in the basement lab he broke into, is careening from one lifetime to another. The chapters alternate between the cops working on the crime and Jimmy’s journeying.

As for the book being mistaken for a yuk fest, my co-writer Dave Thomas was a writer and producer on the TV series Bones and Blacklist. So there.

Some have characterized Jimmy’s adventures in terms of the old Quantum Leap TV series. While there is some similarity, there’s a major difference. Dave and I, who wrote this book together during the Covid lockdown (lots of phone calls and Zoom get-togethers), wanted to avoid the notion that our traveler would find himself a jet pilot, or on a Broadway stage, or in the middle of doing brain surgery. Jimmy is encountering different lives of his – the different paths he might have taken – possible lives, not unlikely ones.

For me – and for Dave, too – this is a novel that has more to do with Groundhog Day or A Christmas Carol than Quantum Leap. And the science-fiction aspect – Dave takes his quantum science very seriously – is like the history in Nate Heller. It’s important, and it strives to be right; but it’s not the story. If you trust me at all, know that in my opinion The Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton is one of the best books in my catalogue.

Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton cover
E-Book: Amazon Purchase Link
Trade Paperback: Amazon Purchase Link

Finally, for those of you who – like me – stubbornly insist on prowling actual bookstores, you must accept the fact that most of these books almost certainly will not be found in the world of brick-and-mortar. Supreme Justice and its two sequels, and the two Girl novels with Krista Larson and her dad, are mostly available at Amazon (physical copies at Barnes & Noble and others, but Kindle is Amazon). So is The Menace. Neo-Text books – Fancy Anders Goes to War and The Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton – are Amazon.

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Speaking of Supreme Justice, it has made another list of the best legal thrillers.

And here’s a great review of Tough Tender, the Hard Case Crime two-fer of Hard Cash and Scratch Fever with Nolan and Jon.

M.A.C.

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13 Responses to “A Shameless Excursion Into Self-Promotion”

  1. Ray Cuthbert says:

    I pick up everything you write – well almost everything as I tend to avoid the TV novelizations. My favourite is the Nate Heller series but I find it all worth a read – more than one usually so I have one entire bookshelf devoted to your work – by bookshelf I mean then entire piece of furniture, not just one shelf! Keep on keeping on Max!

  2. Andy Rausch says:

    My God, you stay busy, my friend. Your consistent output is incredible. I don’t know how you do it, but I think it’s amazing.

  3. Andy, I will tell you that I am slowing down. After finishing THE BIG BUNDLE, I really felt it. I will remain prolific by most standards, but not by mine.

  4. Rob Brooks says:

    As a fan of your “grittier” novels, I was so surprised at how much I liked the Trash n’ Treasures novels. After getting one in one of your giveaways and loving it, I’ve gone back and started buying more in the series. There might less swearing, sex, and on-page violence than in a Quarry, but the same sharp wit and great characters are there. I’ve also got a copy of Girl Can’t Help It sitting here beside me in my to-read pile.

  5. Rob, your positive response to the ANTIQUES novels means a lot, to both Barb and me. We just sent off the correction pages for ANTIQUES LIQUIDATION!

  6. Howard Cohen says:

    I tend to read almost anything you have written, but I definitely prefer the gritter stuff. I am not a huge fan of your fictionalized works such as the Heller series. I have read Chicago Confidential and one of your Antique books coauthored with your wife. I recommend the Reeder & Rogers series, Krista Larsen series, and the Caleb York books. I prefer reading new books rather than rereading books, and you certainly provide a wealth of books to read. I did enjoy the Many Lives of Jimmy… I have not read any of your novelizations, but I don’t think I’ve read more than one or two in my life. [I’ve read 13 of your books so far this year, but have to give other authors a spin now and again. Don’t forget the Jack and Maggie Starr books, but its been a while since I read them. I’ve easily read over 50 of your books (including graphic novels) and it amazes me that there are still books of yours that I haven’t read that I want to.

    I guess I’m a fan!

  7. Howard, thanks for all the kind words as well as the interest and support.

    CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL is not a typical Heller, in some respects, and while I like it and am proud of what it accomplishes, it’s not in the upper tier. I would respectfully suggest you try THE BIG BUNDLE and see if you don’t find it plenty gritty. If you don’t like it, I will shrug and respect your opinion.

  8. Howard Cohen says:

    I will check out the Big Bundle, I’ll have to slot it in behind Two For the Money . I have wondered at times why I find much of your work so appealing to me (besides the fact that you’re a damn fine writer). Your experiences and what you write about speak to me. I’m familiar with many of the locales you write about. Grew up in Chicago, went to a small college in rural Iowa (Grinnell) , know Iowa City superficially, Wisconsin, etc. I think I’m a couple years younger than you (69) , the Vietnam war was a big part of my growing up , etc. I like comics and more. My taste overlaps with what I think of as yours. , but are not identical. I am a big fan of the Matt Helm and Quiller books, never found Bond to be that interesting, for example. Thanks for all the pleasure you have given me.

  9. Howard, you are four or five years younger than me. My interest in Bond began perhaps a year before the DR. NO film came out and had to do with Bond being (correctly) marketed as the British Mike Hammer. Saw the film the day it opened (I was in junior high). I read Matt Helm at the same time, but when the books got thicker, I faded away…the early half dozen are so are remarkable. Never read a Quiller. We are, however, enough of the same era and interests for it to make sense that you’ve gravitated to my work…for which I am grateful.

  10. Nick Carlson says:

    I just finished all Quarry series and have to say after just getting caught up with all of Nathan Heller books I for one have enjoyed every book of yours I’ve ever read. I just purchased “Girl Most Likely” and will give that one a go. Will book 7 of Nolan ever come to audio? My dad can’t see to read anymore and that’s the only one missing! Thanks for all your great books!

  11. Hi Nick — don’t know which one is #7, because it depends on where you start the numbering. But the only Nolan that isn’t being done at Sky Boat (who do a GREAT job on them) is MOURN THE LIVING, and that’s because I withheld it. It’s a very, very early work and it’s included in MAD MONEY with SPREE just as a sort of courtesy and curiosity. I think you’re probably asking about SPREE, which isn[t out yet but will be when MAD MONEY is published.

  12. Nick Carlson says:

    Yes it’s Spree thanks I’ll tell him to be patient. I really appreciate it!

  13. Dominic Husband says:

    Hey Max! First time posting here! I’ve been a longtime reader of yours – I think the first book of yours I read was The Baby Blue Rip-Off early in the 1990s. I’m in the UK and in those days in my provincial home town, it was really hard to find your books and Mickey Spillane’s books, as shops didn’t seem to push the sort of books you guys write. I couldn’t find Spillane books anywhere and I was addicted to the Hammer TV shows which were being rerun around 1990. Eventually, my folks bought me the newly re-released Survival…Zero and The Girl Hunters (lush red cover paperbacks featuring a photo of a platinum blonde) for Christmas. The were very different from the TV shows, but I loved them at once My Grandfather didn’t approve: he had a really thing against Mickey Spillane books! My parents and I still joke about it every time I buy a Spillane book! I picked up The Baby Blue Rip-Off in a sale, because I’d read about the history of Dick Tracy when the Warren Beatty film came out and your name was there as one of the writers, so I guess the film is indirectly responsible for me discovering your books! Abe Books’ and Amazon’s arrivals were where I finally got to indulge the passion I had for American crime novels, because suddenly all these writers I’d heard of and wanted to read were represented in some new and, regrettably, often only in second hand editions on the sites!
    This article has actually been tremendously useful, because prolific authors with a big back catalogue and a number of series under their belts can be an intimidating prospect. Where do I start? Where do I go next? Should I read in publication order or internal chronological order? Can I read this book or do I need to try to read some earlier (sometimes unavailable) books first? For example, I bought a 1980 copy of (the out-of-print in the UK) The Delta Factor before reading The Consummata and I’m really glad I did! I’d been trying to decide whether to buy The Big Bundle (I buy a lot of Hard Case Crime nowadays) but was concerned about whether I needed to read some or all of the earlier books, given there are 21 books listed on Wikipedia. So on the basis of the article, I’ve decided to go ahead and order the hardback and I’ll try to pick up a couple of the earlier Hellers in the meantime.
    I’m working through the Nolan books at the moment which are so enjoyable. I love the way Nolan looks like Lee Van Cleef on the Hard Case covers, as he’s one of my favourite actors. For some reason, with Jon, I keep on thinking of the guy in Ghostbusters that Bill Murray is giving electric shocks to early in the film! I’m going to hold off reading Skim Deep until Mad Money (which is pre-ordered) arrives next year.
    Thanks so much for writing this article and thank you for all your books. For me, reading books is my favourite pastime: the last couple of years, it’s genuinely kept me sane! I tend to read your books (and whatever other Hard Case Crime takes my fancy) across Saturdays and Sundays. It’s my reading equivalent of going to see a movie: a treat to look forward to after a week’s hard work. I’m starting Hard Cash in the morning and can’t wait. Sorry for the long post! All the best! :)