Babel Clash

It’s the day after Thanksgiving otherwise known as ‘Black Friday’ and the Babel Clash folks have very graciously allowed me, Michael P. Spradlin author and international raconteur to guest post today. And believe it or not, Black Friday has me thinking about…well, me. And my books. Stick with me on this. Really.

Black Friday makes me think of Pirates. And Pirates remind me of my recently published book PIRATE HAIKU: Bilge-Sucking Poems of Booty, Grog and Wenches for Scurvy Sea Dogs. It’s a ‘memoir’ of the famous, yet ever so slightly incompetent One-Leg Sterling, Captain of the Black Thunder and scourge of the seven seas. And the thing is, this memoir is told in “Haiku”. That’s right. You’ll read all about One-Leg’s Piratin’ ways in seventeen syllable installments and have a good snicker or two while you do. If you’re rushing about your favorite Borders today, I highly recommend you pick yourself up a copy.

Black Friday makes me also think of Zombie Tuesday, which is what I have officially named November 30^th, the release date for my newest zombie inspired mash-up, Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs. Following on the heels of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Zombies: A Book ofZombie Christmas Carols, you’ll find nearly thirty classic love songs zombiefied for your enjoyment. Songs like Chew Me Up, Buttercup, Fifty Ways To Eat Your Lover, You’ve Lost That Livin’ Feeling and Eat Caroline!

Finally, Black Friday brings to mind Friday the 13^th, a day that is considered unlucky. The origin of Friday the 13^th as an unlucky day, comes from the 14^th century when King Philip the IV of France ordered all members of The Knights Templar arrested and thrown in prison. Then he had a lot of fun torturing and condemning them as heretics. And you can learn about the Knights Templar by reading my newest Youngest Templar novel Orphan of Destiny. Also available at Borders!

See, I told you I could pull off this Black Friday connection! And that leads me to my question of the day. Post your answer in the comments section and I will pick a random winner to received signed copies of the aforementioned three books. (And I mean signed by me, not….you know, Jennifer Aniston or anything. Still free is free!)

And the question is: If a Zombie and a Pirate get into a fight, who wins? Discuss! And good luck! And please visit your local Borders and look for one of my books. Or somebody else’s. They have lots of books, I’m reasonably sure you’ll find something you like.

Excelsior!

Michael P. Spradlin

I’m glad to see your post about pirates and the anthology.  When it comes to archetypal fantasy characters, pirates are not represented much anymore.  We see far more knights, barbarians, wizards, thieves and assassins than we do pirates.  I wonder why that is.

What other fantasy archetypes are underappreciated in today’s novels?  My vote is for ninjas.

Back to pirates, one book that features them that I’m eager to read is Tim Power’s On Stranger Tides.  From all I’ve heard about it, it’s outstanding, but I haven’t had any luck tracking down a copy.