In Restless City, a serial novel written by seven different Las Vegas authors, private eye Daniel Brady takes a routine job for a high-rolling gambler that turns into a dangerous journey into the dark recesses of Sin City.
This fast-paced mystery, which pays homage to crime noir pioneers Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, propels readers from the seedy streets of downtown Las Vegas to the posh suites of the Strip. Along the way, Brady must untangle a web of intrigue, distinguishing fantasy from reality in a city that thrives on illusions. Each writer pushes Brady deeper into a conspiracy in which he encounters a rich cast of characters, reflecting the diverse palette of Las Vegas.
The authors who participated in this project, sponsored by the 2009 Vegas Valley Book Festival, represent a who’s who of the Las Vegas literary scene. They are H. Lee Barnes, John H. Irsfeld, Brian Rouff, Leah Bailly, John L. Smith, Constance Ford, and Vu Tran, with Geoff Schumacher serving as editor. Restless City is the first title published by CityLife Books, an imprint of Stephens Press.
Probing the dark, human stories lurking in the neon shadows, Blue Vegas represents the work of a writer who knows Las Vegas and is a keen observer of its diverse population. These seventeen stories explore the clash between old and new Las Vegas, and the quest for scraps of love and dignity amid the ruins of the lives of has been showgirls, desperate killers, degenerate gamblers and quickbuck mercenaries.
Blue Vegas shines a light on the hard luck, faded dreams and lingering anguish faced by people who’ve been trampled by this singleminded city.
Just a few miles beyond the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding suburbs, a quiet village vigorously resists the insistent pull of the metropolis. The villagers believe the modern way, the urban way is not necessarily the best way. They want to make their own rules and set their own standards, insisting that one size does not fit all. In Vanishing Village, Evan Blythin explores the history and folkways of his longtime home, illuminating the enduring values and pastimes of small-town living. But this lifestyle, Blythin reveals, is at risk of extinction, as the village fends off relentless demands to conform and modernize.
The Perpetual Engine of Hope, a collection of short stories inspired by vintage Las Vegas photographs, takes you on an epic journey from the heyday of the mob era to a dystopian future of dashed dreams. No matter the genre, from crime noir to horror, psychological drama to urban fantasy, these stories have something compelling to say about Las Vegas and its ability to inspire hope even amid the most dire circumstances. Along the way, the writers revel in the city’s rich past and ponder its uncertain future, the historic images driving them to consider Las Vegas from fresh and illuminating perspectives.
The local authors who participated in this project, sponsored by the 2010 Vegas Valley Book Festival, exhibit the diverse array of styles and perspectives represented within the city’s growing community of writers. They are Juan Martinez, Dayvid Figler, Oksana Marafioti, Alissa Nutting, Megan Edwards, P Moss, and K.W. Jeter, with Geoff Schumacher serving as editor.
Notorious L.A. rock critic Gabe Sack is tired. Tired of knee-jerk cynicism. Tired of hating everything on principle. Tired of wrecking bands and relationships with his venom-tipped tongue. Tired of getting black eyes and fat lips from angry musicians.
There’s just one thing standing between him and retirement: Las Vegas. Gabe Sack’s final assignment is a heart-of-darkness journey to the bright lights of Sin City, where he’s supposed to pen a withering profile of a legendary lounge singer, Hambert Larkin. But in that land of cheap fakes and grand illusions, Gabe discovers that Hambert Larkin is much more than just a target for an easy hit piece. In Las Vegas, Gabe realizes that redemption can come in the most unlikely places, that frauds and thieves can be saviors in disguise – and that dive-bar karaoke just might save your life. Crit is the hilarious and heartbreaking story of what happens when a rock critic takes the ultimate gamble – and reviews himself.
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