A Tarnished Review

Mr Lennon John Paul George Ringo Dobbs

Us writers are a insecure lot - we sit alone all day, staring at the screen, with only Lennon for company and he's too busy chewing on his rawhide bone to take any notice (oh wait that's just me). We don't really get any human interaction during the working day.

And that's why reviews are so important to us - because it gives us some indication that all those hours of torture from characters who refuse to do what we want, and take us off on tangents not imagined in the outline, are worth it.

 I was especially pleased to see the latest review of my debut western, The Tarnished Star (was it really four years ago that it first saw the light of day? Seems like only yesterday) on Amazon. The review comes from Laurie Powers - this ladies grandfather was  pulp writing legend, Paul Powers.

Here's the review:

The movie's gonna be called LawMaster

The Tarnished Star will not disappoint those who want a quick read that is lean, suspenseful and is true to the standard Western conventions. It has the feel of the Westerns from the 1950s and 60s. All of these qualities total up to a solid Western that is appealing and suitable for anyone's taste. The writing has almost a minimalist quality, resulting in a style that is spare and yet nuanced. Martin wisely keeps his storyline within a time frame of only a few days and fills his scenes with finely detailed scenes, rich characters and believable dialogue - the latter being one of the hardest skills for a writer of Westerns to master. The result is a book that you can get lost in with scenes filled with strong tension. One feels as if time has stopped, and I could not help but think of the movie High Noon throughout the story.

For those who like to read the works of new and talented writers, this is the book for you. 

The Tarnished Star is currently in the early stages of development by Burn Hand Films, as a future vehicle for talented director Neil Jones - I've a meet with Neil this evening and rest assured I'll be badgering him about the movie. Neil's latest movie, The Reverend, a horror movie starring Rutger Hauer, Stuart Brannan, Tammar Hassan and Doug Bradley is due for a DVD release soon and expect a review here very soon.

And check out the round up of other Black Horse western reviews on Black Horse Express

The Tarnished Star large print trade paperback OUT TODAY

The large print edition goes on sale today - request the book from your local library or purchase online.

THE TARNISHED STAR AND OTHER RUMBLINGS

New edition, new design

In a previous post I revealed the cover design for the large print paperback edition of, The Tarnished Star. It was a great image but the JPG provided by the publisher was too small to do the image justice and increasing the size caused too much breaking up of the pixels.

And so I have now secured a larger JPG image, courtesy of Linford Westerns.

The paperback edition will be published 1st March and is available for pre-order now from Amazon and all the usual retailers.

Linford will also publish a large print paperback of Arkansas Smith later this year, and then in July comes my newest western, The Ballad of Delta Rose from Black Horse Westerns. All in all it looks to be an active year on the Jack Martin front as I also prepare for scripting duties on the movie version of The Tarnished Star which will go into production very soon with award winning director, Neil Jones at the helm.

The original hardcover

But all this new product is in one sense all old stuff - The Tarnished Star was first published in 2009 and the hardcover of Arkansas Smith a year later. And because of lead times and so forth the mss for The Ballad of Delta Rose has been with the publishers for the best part of a year. At the moment I'm actually working on the final stages of Arkansas Smith: The Tumbleweed Trail, the second adventure to feature the fastest gun in the West, which should then see print some time next year. Once that's done I need to get on with the proofing of my eBook project, Riding the Western Trail which I hope to publish to Kindle and other eFormats this summer. Riding the Western Trail will be a collection of short stories and an all new novella from the pen of Jack Martin. And there's so many other things to do - I'm working on an article concerning George G. Gilman's Edge for Paperback Fanatic, learning scripts, blogging away like mad and hoping to get something to eat sometime soon.

As always - watch this space for news

Tarnished Star: The Movie has Risen

Today I've been emailed the early pages of the script for the movie and secured permission from director, Neil Jones to keep Archive readers informed on every step of the way until the movie makes it to the big screen. It may be some time but it's a definate thing that we will see Cole Masters walking the cinematic screen.

Firstly let me tell you a little something about Neil and his company Burn Hand Films. I met Neil several years ago when I took a part in the boxing biopic, The Risen which is currently available for pre-order on Amazon - by the way I'll be offering a feature on Risen and an interview with Neil here on The Archive very soon.

Burn Hand Films have won several awards - They have been producing films for the last 9 years, including the critically acclaimed Risen, The Lost and The Feral Generation.They have also been employed by Microsoft, to produce the Bill Gates approved corporate film, highlighting the uses of Microsoft Hosted Exchange Software.

Now Neil's a great guy though I can't say much about his eyesight because he told me I look like Daniel Craig.

Now Neil read and loved The Tarnished Star and, like I suspect all film makers, he has always wanted to do a western and The Tarnished Star fitted the bill. It's early days yet and it will be a couple of years before it hits the screens but I will report every step of the way. The film will probably come out with a title change and Neil already has something in mind, but I've seen early stages of the script and it's very much my Tarnished Star with a few tweaks to give it a more cinematic feel. Now Neil knows his onions and once the first draft is complete I'll be working on future drafts with him. As Neil said he wants to collaborate 120% on this.

We've already got a location in mind and plans are for us to visit soon to view the Wild West Town where we hope to film, so expect some great pictures here soon. As for who will play Cole Masters - well there are several names floating around but I doubt if we'll be able to reveal who until the film goes before the lens. How about Archive readers making some suggestions - just for fun of course.

Daniel Craig Dobbs

As I say I intend to document every step of the way so by the time the film hits, Archive readers will know it inside out and hopefully enjoy the film because they will feel a part of it. Personally I've over the moon - it's a dream come true and I'll also get a small part in this thing. Hey, I'll get to wear the hat and carry the guns.

Look out Daniel Craig.




(The Tarnished Star can be ordered from Amazon, Book Depository and pretty much all online retailers. Or check the book out at your local library. )

The Tarnished Star at 40% discount

Pickabook are offering my debut western in a hardcover edition at a 40% discount but there are only a few left in stock, so if you fancy owning the western adventure in hardback before the forthcoming paperback then go HERE

The book is currently under option to become a movie and this first edition could become a collector's item.

THE RETURN OF COLE MASTERS

I am pleased to announce that my début western, The Tarnished Star, which was the fastest selling title in the history of the Black Horse Western imprint, will be coming out in a large print edition from F. A. Thorpe. They've bought world large print rights so the books will be aimed at the library market.

The company publishes the Linford Western Library - We offer wide variety of large print titles in hard and soft cover formats as well as abridged and unabridged audio books. Many titles are written by the world's favourite authors and Ulverscroft is considered the leading world-wide publisher of large print and unabridged audio books.

Jack Martin News

The Tarnished Star, my successful début western, is listed on publisher, Robert Hale LTD's website as being reprinted.

Arkansas Smith is now available for order direct from the publisher.

Check out both books HERE

JACK MARTIN NEWS

G talks about my debut novel The Tarnished Star HERE and has some kind words to say. Don't forget the book is still available from Amazon, The Book Depository and other book retailers. Amazon has the book in a gleaming new hardcover for only £8.30.


And you can pre-order my follow up Arkansas Smith HERE.

ARKANSAS SMITH NEWS

UPDATE 2012 - Arkansas Smith will be available as an eBook on April 30th - pre-order at Amazon now


There's a ultra early advance review of Arkansas Smith HERE.

Ms. Powers reviews an early draft of the novel and she seemed to like it.

"There is a sadness about Arkansas Smith that I found unsettling and yet compelling. He has a "void deep inside himself that felt on times like a cavity in his soul. It was a need for identity that would always be there and would never be fulfilled." He's a man of few words and when he smiles, it's a grim smile that hints at a lot of tragedies played out in the past. He is an enigma who keeps his personal history to himself and who doesn't offer up too many explanations. While we are caught up in the dilemma at hand, we are never allowed to forget that we are dealing with a mysterious man here who has a few bones to pick with the world. In the post-modern world, he would be diagnosed as clinically depressed. In the 19th century western, though, he's simply trying to deal with the hand that's been dealt him." Laurie's Wild West


It's out next March from Black Horse Westerns and can be pre-ordered now. Pre-ordering is always a good option as the size of the print run is often dictated by the pre-orders and no monies will be deducted from bank accounts until the book is on the way to you.

Pre-order Arkansas Smith HERE

Update

JACK MARTIN'S WEST WEBSITE now updated to include Arkansas Smith

TARNISHED STAR OFFER

The Tarnished Star can now be purchased direct from the publisher at the web only price of £8.57 - check it out HERE

Now that's a bargain, a handsome first edition of my novel, The Tarnished Star.












"THE TARNISHED STAR is an entertaining, fast-moving story." James Reasoner author of Berkley's Deadwood series.

THE TARNISHED STAR

The Tarnished Star - the western they're all talking about. Buy it now - Amazon, Book Depository, Borders and anywhere else books are sold.

"If you’re a Western fan, you want to get your hands on this one." James Reasoner

"Martin keeps the action high and the suspense notched up to eleven, but he also manages to show us some timeless truths about being young, being old, showing personal responsibility, achieving autonomy, and what it means to be a good guy…and what it means to be bad." Meridian Bridge

"Plenty of action, a fast pace and a hero in the mould of James Stewart." Ross Morton

THE TARNISHED STAR NEWS

Regular visitors will know I have cobbled together several video promos for my forthcoming novel, The Tarnished Star. Well there's little over a month to go now before it is birthed on the world and so I've made one final video advert.

The video ad below is currently live on you tube, google video, facebook, my space, twitter and anywhere else I can place it.

Let me know what you think:

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THE TARNISHED STAR - EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW

These little audio snippets come from the forthcoming Tainted Podcast which is the Tainted Archive podcast which will be available on this blog, I-Tunes and other podcast feeds. It should give you a little taster of The Tarnished Star due out June 30th.

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Jack Martin/Gary Dobbs News

First Edition Magazine will see the print debut of A Man Called Masters by Jack Martin.

The story will be in the fourth issue which should be in the shops for May 7th.

Also in May and under my own name Crimewav will podcast Rhondda Noir - I'm actually about to record the piece today. Sitting in my closet, better for acoustics don't you know.

And Beat to a Pulp will publish Jack Martin's The Devil's Right Hand sometime in June.

And of course June 3oth sees the publication of the Amazon and Book Depository chart topping The Tarnished Star - ORDER NOW

WILD WEST ROUNDUP

Geronimo who surrendered to the US government in September 1886, died of pneumonia in Feb 1909 and was buried at Fort Sill, Okla. Now one hundred years later his grandson has brought suit in Washington against the US government for his remains to be handed over and reburied in New Mexico where the Apache leader was born. However descendants of Apaches who remained in Oklahoma have said they would prefer his remains to stay where they are. The legal battle continues.

Black Horse Western writer, Gillian F. Taylor has appeared on the BBC's Mastermind semi-finals and did herself proud. Everyone at the Black Horse stable are chuffed to bits with Gillian's performance - the audio of the show is at the bottom of this post.

The first volume of Lee A. Silva's Wyatt Earp: A Biography of the legend which appeared in 2002 is widely regarded as the premier work on Earp. Now Volume 2 subtitled: Tombstone before the Earps is to be published this June.

The Archive is saddened to report the passing of Frances Kavanaugh who died this January at the age of 93. Francis penned many screenplays for the B westerns of the 30's and 40's.

There is now a little over two months to go before the June 30th publication of my debut western, The Tarnished Star. The book is doing well on pre-orders which remains the best option to get the book as my publisher specialises in small print runs. Order now and no money will be taken from your account until the book is sent out. For readers outside the UK the cheapest way will be The Book Depository which offers free worldwide delivery - Order here . Amazon are also taking pre-orders and you can order HERE . Or you can order direct from the publisher HERE.


And now Gillian F. Taylor on Mastermind.
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INTERVIEW FROM PONTYPRIDD OBSERVER

Interviewed by my local newspaper - fame at last!

Click on image for larger, readable, version.

TARNISHED STAR NEWS

AMAZON

have now relisted The Tarnished Star for pre-order. They had previously run out of the number allocated to them with still almost four months till publication. Order now and no money will be deducted until publication day.

The Tarnished Star is now officially the fastest selling book in Black Horse Western history and is currently at No 2 in the pre-order charts.

TARNISHED STAR NEWS

Thank you all.

My first novel, The Tarnished Star by Jack Martin is now listed on Amazon as " temporarily out of stock" . It's not out until June and already on pre-orders alone it has sold out its initial projected print run.

So there's more coming and Amazon will have the book back in stock soon. It doesn't make any difference to anyone who wants to order as Amazon are still taking orders and the book will be delivered in June.

Thank you once again and anyone fancy a good action filled read then use the link to Amazon and pre-order now.

ORDER HERE


Still have no firm publication date for my second novel, Arkansas Smith but expect the book early in 2010 and watch the Archive for news.