RIVER BOTTOM BLUES' Official Acquisition Press Release

I posted about signing my publishing contract for RIVER BOTTOM BLUES back in August, but there's just something a bit more exciting about seeing the official acquisition announcement--especially seeing my name following the word "author". Plus, for the first time, it really feels real (if you know what I mean). I've got to stick in a shout out for my editor, Ti Locke. I do believe that she understands the blues and the tale that I'm telling and working with her has been a pleasure. Well, here's my BSP (blatant self promotion):

Virtual Tales, a privately held publisher of general and genre fiction in print and e-formats, announced the acquisition of the worldwide print and electronic publishing rights for the murder mystery novel RIVER BOTTOM BLUES from noted blues reviewer Richard Bush. Mr. Bush’s articles have highlighted the careers of blues musicians in magazines such as Blues Access, Hittin’ the Note, Southwest Blues and the American Harmonica Newsmagazine. He has written hundreds of reviews of recorded blues music and brings his view of the blues to readers at his blog.

Set in the gritty milieu of the Southeast Texas blues scene, RIVER BOTTOM BLUES tells the story of blues musician Mitty Andersen, who refuses to accept that drugs killed his good friend and fellow blues musician Bobby Tarleton. Bobby’s star-status in the blues world was smoking hot, and Mitty knows that his buddy never touched the stuff. Can Mitty find out what really happened and clear Bobby’s good name?

RIVER BOTTOM BLUES has been assigned to Virtual Tales staff editor Ti Locke of Decatur Island, Washington. Publication in both print and eBook formats is anticipated for the second half of 2011. Interested readers can sign up to preview the first four chapters of RIVER BOTTOM BLUES for free by visiting the Virtual Tales website, or by sending an email request.

Virtual Tales is a privately held partnership founded in 2006 to publish original works of general and genre fiction in multiple formats, including print, eBooks and eSerials. Trade paperbacks are available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other outlets throughout the world. eBooks are offered in a variety of formats, including MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader, Amazon/Kindle, ePub and PDA-formatted Adobe Reader files. eSerials are delivered through email as Adobe Reader files suitable for reading on a PC, Mac, PDA, e-reader, cell phone or other devices. Virtual Tales is based in Vancouver, Washington, just north of Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States.

Heres the official link: http://www.virtualtales.com/Press-Releases/river-bottom-blues-acquire.html

Blues For Food Fest 2010

I'm passing along this e-mail message from Sonny Boy Terry in regards to a fine Blues Party held each year to help stock the Houston Food Bank. This is certainly a smokin' lineup of blues artists giving back to the community for an excellent cause. If you've never been, then go and enjoy some great music while contributing to those less fortunate than ourselves. You'll not likely ever experience such a great collective of musical talent on display in one room anywhere else, unless you've been before and you decide to attend again. Be there. Excuse my formatting-the message didn't translate exactly right, but the message is clear.

Please join us for our 20th annual BLUES FOR FOOD FEST 2010, Houston's
oldest grass roots music festival and charity. Originated by the late blues
singer and KPFT blues deejay, Big Roger Collins back in 1991 when he held
several a year, BLUES FOR FOOD has donated over 160 thousand lbs of food and over 100 thousand dollars to the HOUSTON FOOD BANK. Still going strong and by any estimation BLUES FOR FOOD is now officially a genuine living
historical Houston event held just before each holiday season at Shakespeare Pub. That's right, each year, forty or more blues musicians, Shakespeare Pub, a hundred or so eager volunteers and thousands of donors join forces to keep a tradition alive making a difference in our city.


As the legend of BLUES FOR FOOD grows, to celebrate 20 years AND COUNTING,
we felt we needed to up the ante and get bluesier while doing something
special for 2010. So TO GO WITH AN ENTIRE DAY OF REAL DEAL HOUSTON BLUES, we asked the incredible Little Joe Washington to perform and co-headline along with blues powerhouse vocalist Diunna Greenleaf and her band BLUES MERCY W/Jonn Richardson on guitar. But that is just the beginning of a fantastic day of blues and goodwill. Yes, Shakespeare Pub is a juke joint in Memorial,but BLUES FOR FOOD is set up like a real all day blues fest taking up just about a whole block. And all the bands come to play like they mean it, bring their A bands and always in showcase fashion. So if you want to have some fun with a heavy dose of the real blues, bring non perishable food items,cash, checks, memorabilia and auction items. Plus we feed you SOME VERY GOOD
BBQ too!

The entire day's events are listed below.


BLUES FOR FOOD FEST 2010 - OUR 20 ANNUAL BLUES FOR FOOD. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER
14TH, 2010 SHAKESPEARE PUB, 14129 MEMORIAL DRIVE @ KIRKWOOD, HOUSTON, TX
HOSTED BY SONNY BOY TERRY. MUSIC BEGINS AT 1PM AND GOES TILL 2AM. ALL
PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. ADMISSION IS ANY NON=PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND/OR CASH. A FREE PLATE OF AUTHENTIC TEXAS BBQ PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO DONATE. MASTER OR CEREMONIES, JAMES BLUESHOUND NAGEL, MR AND MRS V, AND NURI NURI. RAFFLES, DOOR PRIZES, SILENT AUCTION. MAKE ANY TAX DEDUCTABLE BUSINESS/PERSONAL CHECK DONATIONS OUT TO THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. PLEASE SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES TO HELP MAKE BLUES FOR FOOD FEST 2010 ONE OF OUR MOST MEMORABLE.


SPECIAL THANKS TO THE HOUSTON BLUES SOCIETY, BILL WAX AT BB KING'S
BLUESVILLE SIRIUS/XM RADIO, HOUSTON PRESS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, MUSIC NEWS
MAGAZINE, KPFT 90.1, KACC RADIO/THE GULF COAST ROCKER, MARTIN MIGLIARETTI,
KTRH NEWS RADIO 740, THE BLUES FOUNDATION.


1PM Bourbon Street

2PM Don Kesee and the Blues masters (Bellville, TX)

3PM - Erin James and her Bad Habits(Austin)

3:45PM Mojofromopolis

4:30PM Texas Johnny Brown and his Quality Blues Band

5:15PM HEADLINER: DIUNNA GREENLEAF AND BLUE MERCY

6PM HEADLINER LITTLE JOE WASHINGTON

6:45PM - Sonny Boy Terry Band

7:30PM John McVey and the Stumble

8:15PM Snit's Dog and Pony Show

9PM - Spare Time Murray and the Honeydrippers WORLD FAMOUS BLUES JAM All
blues musicians welcome on this special night.


www/myspace.com/houstonbluesforfood www.shakespearepub.net

www.sonnyboyterry.com www/kpft.org CALL SONNY BOY TERRY AT 713.869.7746 or

email at sbt@sonnyboyterry.com CALL SHAKESPEARE PUB AT 281.497.4625 Details

about volunteer participation forthcoming.

Thanks in advance for everybody's support as we continue this great HOUSTON

BLUES TRADITION.

Little Walter Video

Here's a link to a Little Walter video that I've never seen before. It certainly shows that the man was still capable of swinging the blues on his harp when many had dismissed him as washed up. Thanks to Hash Brown for post this for a Harp-L discussion post.

Little Walter

This 'n' That Snippets

Got into a pretty good groove working on my latest crime story and my assigned editor began sending me chapters from River Bottom Blues to get that process rolling, so I thought that I'd better drive by the blog while I had a minute and plop down a few snippets.

My good buddy, blues harp wiz and singer extraordinaire, Rob Roy Parnell gave be a heads up that his wife, Wendy's book was on the market. It's a wonderful children's book inspired by the Joe Ely song, Musta Notta Gotta Lotta Sleep Last Night. Matter of fact, that's the title of the book and it may just be the first Joe Ely song that caught my attention back in the day. Well, anyway, the story follows Buddy Brown's calamity of a school day after his cat, Lucky, keeps him awake all night. She tells the tale in rhyme as Buddy is followed from one mishap to another in a cautionary story of the importance of getting enough sleep eye.
Wendy's brother, Guy Hundere, captures the characters colorfully with his illustrations.

No, I did not buy it for myself. My daughter, Erica, presented us with our first granddaughter this past May. So, when she old enough to be read to by her grandpa, Wendy's book will be one of the first. Click here to order a copy.

Then there's my blues harp buddy from Houston, Sonny Boy Terry, who helped orchestrate that Guinness Book of World's Records harmonica event at the Astros' L.A. Dodger's game on September 10th. Sounds like everyone had a marvelous time, but the Astros decided wait until the 11th inning to lose, and they lost a number of fans along the way---including the number needed to break the records. Oh well, best laid plans. BUT--here's a picture by Jim Pierce documenting Michael Rubin, Ronnie Shellist, Sonny Boy and Gary Allegretto doing the pre-game 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame'.

10,000 Maniacs? No, Harmonica Players!

Just a short reminder that a group of harmonica loving individuals will attempt to set a Guinness World's Record by getting 10,000 harmonicas playing the blues at Minute Maid Park. Eat your heart out fans of South African soccer, these folks will be blowin REAL music on REAL instruments. There's gonna be fireworks, music, mom, baseball and apple pie (or at least hot dogs) and off course a good ol' fashion whipping of the LA Dodgers by YOUR Houston Astros. Houston blues harp star, Sonny Boy Terry has rounded up a venue across the street for an after game blues jam.