The Completion Of the Third Cain Story

As noted in my yesterday's Facebook status, I completed my third Cain story and sent it off to my publisher. It is the best out of the three. Because, like I said prior, I have hit my stride creatively. And as I close in on The Cool One, I find myself saddled with an addiction for writing period pieces-- not stories that pay homage to decades past, but a true reporduction of a Gold Medal yarn and that of other cheap paperbacks of the time. So, that means I have to follow the rules and omit any gratuitius sex scenes and keep the gore to a minimum.

For my inspiration, as always, I am drawing on the writing of Mickey Spillane. But, for my next story I  also plan to channel Orrie Hitt and Gil Brewer. My goal is to capture the sultry, sleazy, mood of those writers without having my characters actually do the deed.

So, like I mentioned earlier, I have given over to the pulp novels of the fifties and sixties and right now my focus is on immitating the thrills, titilations and the zest of those rough tales. I know I am writing for a small audience, but it is a crowd who is starving for a new purveyor of fiction of that type.

The Cool One

Right now I am at the top of my writing game. I am currently working on a story I have affectionately titled The Cool One. It's a fifties flavored noir that is not too dark. With the exception of my Cain Western Series, I don't really do deep dark noir. To me when you get to that place it is hard to distinguish it from outright horror. And with the exception Joe r Lansdale, I really haven't been bitten by the horror bug. So I keep things fairly light and relatively clean.

The Cool One is another example of light hearted noir. It's not really that humorous as it is dry and droll if that makes any sense. The other point I might add is that it is a stand alone void of either clowns or cowboys.  What I am most proud of is that I have written a story where the narrator, who is third person, has personality and attitude.  And because of that, it was so much fun to write.

Also, with this piece, I had some process oriented breakthroughs. In drafts past I would agonize and labor over every sentence. But not this time. In this instance, I just let myself go and put words down on the page regardless of whether they made sense.

I feel I have finally developed my own voice. When this story is released, you'll find it is written in a more conversational and poetic style than tales past. Previously my tendency was to be very minimal with my prose. But, I find the prose in this yarn to be rich and full bodied like fine wine. So, in the future, look for my newest noir creation The Cool One.