Monday, August 31, 2015

It's official! Joe R. Lansdale is visiting Maine!

We're so excited!!!

Poster art by Ben Bishop
WHAT: Joe Lansdale’s Christmas with the Dead film screening & author signing
WHERE: Geno’s Rock Club, 625 Congress St, Portland, ME
WHEN: Friday, September 18, 2015. Doors open 7:30pm, films starts 8:30
FMI: https://www.facebook.com/events/409292709268471/

Joe R. Lansdale, bestselling author, will be visiting Portland, Maine, for the first time ever on September 18, 2015. His visit will herald a screening of his horror movie Christmas with the Dead paired with an author signing event.

The event will be held at Geno’s Rock Club, located at 625 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101. Doors will open at 7:30pm and the screening will start at 8:30pm. Cover price at the door will be $5.00, (21+ only).

The event will also feature a Zombie Costume Contest to get into the spirit of the movie. Bonus points for zombie Santas and elves! Zombie gingerbread cookies also welcome.

Joe Lansdale will be on hand at the event to sign books. I'll have a bunch of his novels in stock at the screening, including brand spanking new Pandi Press reprints of Big Blow, Freezer Burn, and Fine Dark Line, all with great new cover art by Daniele Serra. See more of Serra's delectably spooky art here! http://theoriginalvangoghsearanthology.com/2013/03/11/the-art-of-daniele-serra/

He will also stay for a Q&A after the movie, alongside star Damian Maffei (House That Cried Blood, Closed for the Season, Ghost Lake).

Christmas with the Dead is not your typical holiday movie. Instead, star Damian Maffei advises that viewers should expect “a Lansdalien holiday spin on zombies. Those not familiar with Lansdale will discover a bizarre little movie with a lot of heart -- and East Texas sweat mixed with good cheer!”

Grammy-nominated songwriter Judy Pancoast, who contributed to the film’s soundtrack, will also be attending (Weird Things Are Everywhere CD, and the hit song “The House on Christmas Street”). Born in Waterville, Maine, Pancoast is known for radiating joy in her music. Tristan Gallagher, event sponsor and owner of Coast City Comics, reassures viewers that “while definitely a horror movie, Christmas with the Dead does have a message of joy for viewers -- once you get past all the bloody bits.”

Texan Joe Lansdale is best known for his Hap & Leonard book series, such titles as his Edgar Award-winning The Bottoms, and his novella Bubba Ho-Tep, which was adapted as a film by Don Coscarelli, featuring superstar Bruce Campbell. His most recent novel is The Thicket. He has won an astounding 8 Bram Stoker awards for his writing, as well as the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award. More info here: http://www.joerlansdale.com/bio.html

His title of “Mojo Storyteller” is well-deserved. Lansdale’s writing is addictive. The last person I handed a copy of The Bottoms to missed all their appointments for the rest of the day when they just meant to read the first few chapters.

This event is sponsored by both Coast City Comics and the Green Hand Bookshop, in yet another effort to team up and support the best in pop culture and entertainment as part of their mission to keep Portland awesome.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Joe R. Lansdale event in September!

Just a quick note to say that we're cooking up a treat for all you horror/Joe R. Lansdale fans out there!!! On September 18th, we're bringing the man himself to Portland, Maine for a signing/horror film event at Geno's Rock Club! Stay tuned... :D

Those of you who have talked horror (and just plain good storytelling) with me in the shop know how highly I hold the man in my esteem. For heavens sake, if I could get everyone to read The Bottoms, I would!

Please spread the word to friends, and let's give this Texan an enthusiastic welcome to Maine. I'll have copies of his recent book The Thicket, as well as The Bottoms, his Hap & Leonard books, and more on hand for you to get him to sign for your collection.
Huzzah!!!

Thanks to Coast City Comics for helming this event, and to Damian Maffei for getting the ball rolling in the first place. :D See you all there!

Sunday, August 16, 2015

A video focusing on our SF/Fantasy section!

Here's a wee video that focuses on our science fiction and fantasy sections. If you haven't come in to see them in person, and that is your favorite niche of genre fiction, well -- you should give us a try!

I found that after Nancy Grayson retired and closed Cunningham Books, no one else in the area was really developing their SF collections (especially their paperback sections!), and felt it was high time that Portlanders had a good local place to go to get their SF fix!



Thanks again to Barry Dodd at Doddcom Productions for the excellent video services!