Some announcements as we head toward Christmas 2025, after which I have some presents for you to unwrap.

Barb and I have been invited to be guests of honor at this year’s Star City Film Festival, where last year Death by Fruitcake won Best Feature. Mickey Spillane’s Cap City, which I co-produced and wrote, will be an official entry.

Last year we went to Waukon, Iowa, for the fest; but this year festival chair Dr. Katie O’Regan is moving the proceedings to Des Moines and the terrific Fleur Theatre, which is very supportive of Iowa filmmakers. More about this later, but if you’re within driving distance, mark your calendar for Valentine’s Day weekend 2026.

I’m pleased to say that the great Borg web site has named Baby, It’s Murder the Best Crime Novel of the Year. If you go to the link, you’ll need to scroll down to read this nice honor for my final Mike Hammer collaboration developed from unpublished Spillane material.

And out of the blue comes this interesting review of Seduction of the Innocent, the third of the Jack and Maggie Starr mysteries (and likely the last).

If you haven’t seen my movie Blue Christmas, and would like some low-budget holiday cheer, it’s available on various streaming services, most recently You Tube.

Now my Christmas presents for all of you who stop by here. These are performances from some of my favorite musical artists – many of you will be familiar with most if not all. But I encourage everyone to enjoy these, possibly with some rum-spiked egg nog.

This rendition of “Lazy River” starts out slow but really, really builds, as Bobby Darin so often did. Stick around for the whole performance and you’ll likely understand my obsession with BD that dates back to when I was eleven years old.

Introducing the Beatles doing “Ticket to Ride,” which I loved performing with the Daybreakers and Crusin’.

If you’ve never witnessed Vanilla Fudge in action, here’s their mind-boggling classic appearance on Ed Sullivan with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.”

What James Bond fan can resist a great live performance of “Thunderball” by Tom Jones?

The most underrated female artist of the ‘80s – Kim Wilde. Feast your eyes and ears.

This, my friends is rock ‘n’ from the king – Elvis…Costello.

And here is Debbie Harry on The Midnight Special making America fall in love with her:

And my favorite non-Beatles British invasion group in a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame performance.

Finally, last and least, here are the Daybreakers in 2008, the original band regrouped for their induction into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Say what you will about the goofy song I wrote in 1967 – which became the only national release by my first band, the Daybreakers – it did go on to be one of the most anthologized garage band singles, covered by bands around the world, including (but not limited to) The Outta Place, The Tellers and the X-Ray Harpoons.

You’re welcome. Now, let’s have a better 2026, everybody!

M.A.C.

Tags: Appearances, Baby It's Murder, Blue Christmas, Cap City, Jack and Maggie Starr, Mickey Spillane, Mike Hammer, Reviews, Seduction of the Innocent