EVERY SUNDAY THIS MONTH
You’ll find a Hammett tour offered every Sunday this month, just like it says on the Tour Page. All you have to do is show up at noon, a tenspot in hand, hand it over and walk the walk behind the guide who has been doing this routine now for thirty years and probably knows what he’s up to by now. Thirty years on the mean streets. Experience. Meaningful experience. And lots of it.
SUNDAY, JUNE 3rd
Okay, you know how it is when you offer tours for a whole month, but for some reason various people just can’t make it out for those? Don does — and he was considering saying “No” to some people asking for a tour early in June, but then Ace Atkins threw his two bits into the ring. Ace is one of the newer crime writers, whose first mysteries had a blues music theme to them, and he’s going to be in the burg on June 3rd and wants to do the tour. Don first heard Ace’s name dropped by his pal, blues harmonica great R. J. Mischo, and figures it is a courtesy to all of us who love hanging out in blues bars everywhere to make sure Ace sees the essential Hammett sites. Anyone else who wants to join in is more than welcome, just show up — same price, meeting point, etc. as for the regular tours. With any luck the other folk who wanted an early June tour will show up for this one, and Ace’s train will roll into town on time. If it’s just Ace and Don, though, the tour goes on.
BOOKS ROLLING LIKE TRAINS
Don’s chapbook celebrating the 30th anniversary of his essay “Conan vs. Conantics” was made up in April, and ought to be ready to order, for those interested in that sort of thing. Work on the 30th anniversary edition of the Dashiell Hammett Tour book is coming down to the wire — Jo Hammett just turned in a new introduction written expressly for the book, and Don is slaving over his updating and revisions. Come fall, the best edition ever should be available in bookstores everywhere.
