Thank you, from Hell

Just got an e-mail from a "not-fan".

"Dear Mr Lowrence, I red your book. You have talent but your talent wont help you in Hell."

I still kinda feel like I should say thanks.

Cullen Gallagher at Pulp Serenade

Cullen delivers a gorgeously written review of the ole' Bastard thingie I wrote. It's here at Pulp Serenade.

Jed Ayre's on the Wicked Preacher Man

The Bastard Hand inspired Jed Ayres to start a great list of bad guy preachers over at Ransom Notes. The Good Reverend Phinneas Childe is only the latest in a loooong list of wicked Men o'Gawd.
Props especially for Harry Powell of Night of the Hunter, and Sam Springer of Black Mass of Brother Springer.

Lynn Kostoff on The Bastard Hand

Lynn Kostoff is one of our modern noir heroes. The author of The Long Fall, Choice of Nightmares, and Late Rain took the time to read The Bastard Hand and had some very nice things to say about it:

"Like Charles Willeford's BLACK MASS OF BROTHER SPRINGER, Heath Lowrance in THE BASTARD HAND takes comfortable and conventional notions of religion, filters them through a pulp sensibility, and then renders both of them beautifully in a literary and page-turning style. Heath Lowrance and New Pulp Press deliver on this one. Get your hands, Bastard or otherwise, on this novel. You won't regret it."

Thanks, Lynn!

Heath at Vin Zandri's Vox

A little over a year ago, I made the acquaintancce of Vincent Zandri, and he's had my back ever since. My guest post at his blog, The Vincent Zandri Vox, is up today, prefaced by some really nice words from Vin.
Thanks, brother, I appreciate it. Looking forward to that beer!

Box of Books

Got home from work today and found a big ole' box a' books on my porch. I was excited, until I brought the box in, opened it, and discovered that it was a bunch of copies of The Bastard Hand. Man, I already read that.

Heh. Kidding, of course. Naturally I was thrilled. Although to be honest...

It's kind of weird, but none of it feels like you THINK it's gonna feel. You work for years to get to a certain point, and when it arrives you're sort of thrown for a loop. I dunno. I can't explain it. Don't misunderstand, I'm very pleased that my book is out there and people seem to be enjoying it, but the sense of accomplishment or contentment I expected is nowhere to be seen. All I can think of is, 'what's next?' I need to polish up the manuscript for the second novel I just finished. I need to get back to work on the third one after that. The Bastard Hand is over and done now, aside from the pimping stuff. I feel the need to make sure the next book is even better.

And I imagine, if I'm lucky enough to have my second novel published, I'll feel the same way, all over again. Nothing's quite good enough, is it?

Oh, some good news: I heard this morning from the literary agent I've been holding out for, the one I really, really wanted-- she wants to see the manuscript for that second novel I mentioned. So that's very cool, yes? Fingers crossed.

Review at Dead End Follies

Ben at Dead End Follies has been one of my most outspoken supporters, and I truly appreciate it. Here's his official review of The Bastard Hand: Dead End Follies.
Thanks, Ben!