John Cloake looks a little more relaxed in his nice green neckerchief. I’m not sure how relaxed you should be around Lottie and Mildred. They’re a pair of live-wires. But given how he sticks away beer, I think relaxation is inevitable.
Archive for March, 2021
Have I got flick flacks for you today.
LATE IN THE DAY ADDENDUM: the original final page of this story told you the ultimate fate of John Cloake, ie whether he perishes on the cold cobbles or survives to drink another day. But I changed the last page at the last minute and neglected to include this information. So remind me on April the 8th to tell you whether he survives or not.
Like all authors without exception, whenever I visit a new town I like to go to the local comic shop and see how prominently they have displayed my very important publications (this varies from “right by the door” to “one book with its cover half hanging off” so it’s a real rollercoaster for the ego, very centring and character building). Most comic shops I visit are great and run by equally great people.
But then there is a special sort of shop where one enters and turns upon the heel after a 15-second lap. Three “lads” behind the till, enjoying hurtful “banter”. I think Tackleford’s “Variant Zone” might have been that sort of shop.
Many apologies to Robert J. Campbell M.D. for the misrepresentation of his dictionary in today’s page. I do not believe it actually features pictures of horror authors and clowns. Do not buy it if this is what you are hoping to find.
Terribly sorry that I wasn’t able to reveal exactly how clowns get the posters behind windows but I hope to come back to it when the legal issues are resolved. In the meantime, it looks like Lottie and “Mildy”(!) now have bigger problems.
Lottie’s last spell in the old hoosgow was, of course, in Wicked Things. Perhaps she is fated to return there over and over again. If she survives her meeting with “Boozoo”, that is.
If ever there was a Chekhov’s gun waiting to go off, it’s that sweet clown car, but sadly (according to my notes) it doesn’t seem to appear again. Maybe I could give it its own series.