First, it was Elvis Presley, who died on August 16, and now we have lost the King of crime novelists, Elmore Leonard.  Needless to say, I was a huge fan, and more than that, a student of the “Elmore Leonard School of Writing.”  Mr. Leonard was born in 1925, in New Orleans, which undoubtedly provided an early introduction to colorful and unsavory characters.  (His second choice was Washington, D.C.)

One of the things that fascinated me most about this man was his earliest writings, which were not crime-related, but Westerns!  Did you know that he wrote “Valdez Is Coming,” “Hombre,” “The Bounty Hunters,” and “3:10 to Yuma?”  After the western lost popularity, he began to write crime-based books, and I understand that he did quite well!

Sometimes called “The Dickens of Detroit,” (his hometown) Leonard was famous for his sparse writing, and the best advice he gave to beginning writers was this:  “Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.”  Wise words from a wise man.  There will never be another quite like him, but let’s face it, I’m pretty darn close.  (Hey, he only sold 150,000,000 more books than me.)

So what else is new?  Well, in connection with two new mystery novels that I’m working on, I have been spending some time at the gun range, trying out some weaponry that I may let Adam Gold use in his upcoming adventures.  (No, I didn’t go off “half-cocked” and I don’t think I’m a “big shot” either.)  Always good to know what a weapon feels like before your main character starts blasting away.  (The bazooka was too cumbersome and heavy as hell!)

Playing under the nom de plume (or non de plum if you prefer fruit) of “The Mighty Cobra,” I managed to extend my poker legend by placing 2nd. in last week’s poker tournament, which I dubbed “Venom & Denim.”  I wound up at the final table through a combination of skill, luck, and cheating.  Nonetheless, my second place finish garnered a huge cash payout…… and even better, I won a copy of my own damn book!  (THE PRESLEY PLOT)  Now I actually have to read the darn thing!

Judge Susan is coming over this afternoon for a pool party, and I am quite excited because I heard her and Patty talking about wearing thongs outside.  Never a dull moment around here!  If things work out (or off) I will post some inappropriate photographs on Facebook.  (God, I hope they weren’t talking about flip-flops.)

Well, dear friends, I must leave you now.  Time to skim the pool and install the film in the underwater camera.  (We shall see what “develops!”)  After the party is over, I’ll sneak outside, and if I get caught, I’ll just say that I was……  “removing some film from the pool!”  Yeah, I know, I need a job.

Love to all!

Doc Yanoff