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About DonHerron.com
In 1977 Don Herron began leading The Dashiell Hammett Tour, now the longest-running literary tour in the nation. On this site you’ll find information on current walks — dates, where to meet, arranging tours by appointment — plus a hard-boiled blog with news, reviews of books and film, and a dash of noir.
The latest and greatest edition to self-guide you up and down the mean streets.
Willeford: The Book
Includes the first “Mr. Hunt” story, “Knives in the Dark.”
Category Archives: Willeford
Rediscovered: Willeford Talks
Ethan Iverson of The Bad Plus — big Charles Willeford fan — just sent me a link to a 1987 interview with Willeford, posted to YouTube in March this year. Ten minutes, with Willeford reading some snippets from his books, … Continue reading
Rediscovered: CrimeReads Discovers Willeford
Nathan Ward just alerted me to the news that today CrimeReads put up an article on the late, great Charles Willeford. A little something for Willeford’s centennial year. Not a bad introduction for people who don’t know Willeford (which is to … Continue reading
Noir: On the Prowl
One intriguing pic Nathaniel Mills sent along from his trip to Malta, he noticed later, “unintentionally captured this Maltese blonde, there on the bench, checking me out as I walked by. “Did she think I was handsome or was she … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, Tour, Willeford
Tagged Gold Medal, Malta, Nathaniel Mills, Orrie Hitt, Robert McGinnis
Sinister Cinema: The Boss Digs Cockfighter
Michael Chong keeps an eye peeled for any online mention of Willeford, and reports in that “The Boss has good taste!” Yes, Cockfighter makes the short list of Springsteen’s fave movies — or, maybe the dude is just another one of us … Continue reading
Sinister Cinema: Burnt Orange to “Close Venice”
Kent Harrington, who watches the media scene more closely than I do (which means he follows Variety) just popped me a link to an article which reports that the film of Charles Willeford’s novel The Burnt Orange Hersey apparently got … Continue reading
Posted in Film, News, Willeford
Tagged Burnt Orange Heresy, Christopher Walken, Hary Dean Stanton, Kent Harrington, Mick Jagger, Warren Oates
Rediscovered: A Chat with the Sundial Book Club
Michael Chong hasn’t sent any cool online tidbits about Charles Willeford in awhile, so maybe one was due. A little interview with Betsy Willeford — https://www.wlrn.org/post/mystery-writer-and-teacher-loved-freaking-out-his-students — posted June 20, occasioned by the Sundial Book Club selecting Miami Blues as … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Beat to Crap by Jack Palance
On Autograph Hound Saturday we showed you the signatures. How about on Autograph Hound Super-Sunday we show you the book they came in? To nab those autos you need this copy of the book. Leno mentioned the battered condition of … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Lit, Willeford
Tagged Arkham House, Autographs, Book Collecting, Jack Palance, Knopf yellowback Machens, Roads, Seabury Quinn
Rediscovered: The Full Belknapius
Then again, I could start a regular Autograph Hound Super-Sunday feature. . . . Brian Leno’s mention yesterday that he picked up his Alfred Galpin/Frank Belknap Long item from the Necronomicon Press catalog of Long’s last library reminded me of something. Leno isn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, Willeford
Tagged Autographs, Bill Clinton, Book Collecting, Brian Leno, Dennis Etchison, Frank Belknap Long, Necronomicon Press, Reign of Fear, Thomas M. Disch
Rediscovered: The Willeford Centennial
One hundred years ago today Charles Willeford was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. January 2, 1919-March 27, 1988 — and that March 27th happened to be Palm Sunday, that year. One of the absolute greats.
Rediscovered: NYT Flogs Cockfighter
Chad Calkins just tipped me to a feature in the New York Times where their in-house book critics do a year’s end roundup, of interest here because they are asked about older titles they may have read in 2018. Dwight … Continue reading
