Novelist

Category: Smokin’ & Cryin’ (Page 2 of 4)

“Ohio Turnpike” – Econoline – Smokin’ & Cryin’

Author’s note

I’m serializing the first 10% of Smokin’ & Cryin’ here on my blog. It’s the story of a young American rock band set in the early 1970s. Please feel free to share this with your friends.

Overture is the first installment. This post is #10 in the series.

 

Chapter 4 – Econoline continued (part 3)

Arthur made up a driving roster to end the arguments over who was riding up front. I did whenever Arthur drove, and, after I got my driving permit, Waverly rode up front when I drove. He was laid back enough to deal with a new driver.

Perry took the biggest cut of whatever we had left over after expenses. On top of that, we contributed 10% of our earnings toward the Hammond B3 fund. It was all about keeping Studio Perry happy. We paid Deuce to manage us and paid him rent on the P.A. system. Arthur, Waverly, and I split the remaining chump change. I spent mine on guitar strings, truck stop coin showers, food, and chewing gum. Sometimes I had a dime to spare on a pinball machine.Continue Reading “Ohio Turnpike” – Econoline – Smokin’ & Cryin’

“Fear flu” Econoline – Smokin’ & Cryin’

Author’s note

I’m serializing the first 10% of Smokin’ & Cryin’ here on my blog. It’s the story of a young American rock band set in the early 1970s. Please feel free to share this with your friends.

Overture is the first installment. This post is #9 in the series.

 

Chapter 4 -Econoline continued (part 2)

Deuce booked us at a bar in a paper mill town that stunk like ten thousand bean farts. The minuscule stage was crammed into a back corner. With the P.A. system wedged in, we were stepping all over each other. Perry’s bass headstock was under my nose, and I knocked over Waverly’s high hat at least three times. Fed up, he hauled it out to the equipment trailer during a set break—and caught me puking in the alley.Continue Reading “Fear flu” Econoline – Smokin’ & Cryin’

“The Whale” Econoline – Smokin’ & Cryin’

Author’s note

I’m serializing the first 10% of Smokin’ & Cryin’ here on my blog. It’s the story of a young American rock band set in the early 1970s. Please feel free to share this with your friends.

Overture is the first installment. This post is #8 in the series.

 

Chapter 4 – Econoline (part 1)

The Ford Econoline was gray on the outside with a red vinyl inte­rior. As we rumbled along Dixie Highway, I imagined a whale had swallowed me and was carrying me into the unknown. Rain thrummed on the roof and the windshield wipers beat in 4:4 time. The AM dash radio played The Doors for two or three glorious minutes before reverting to an unsteady stream of static.Continue Reading “The Whale” Econoline – Smokin’ & Cryin’

Black Beauty – Smokin’ & Cryin’

Author’s note

I’m serializing the first 10% of Smokin’ & Cryin’ here on my blog. It’s the story of a young American rock band set in the early 1970s. Please feel free to share this with your friends.

Overture is the first installment. This post is #7 in the series.

 

Chapter 3 – Black Beauty

Getting my first electric guitar was a head trip. We drove Arthur’s decrepit Dodge truck to Flint to see this old luthier, Mr. Handy, about getting the Gibson J200 pieced together. Maybe it was a lost cause, but we’d both learned to play on that guitar. We owed it something.Continue Reading Black Beauty – Smokin’ & Cryin’

“Red Lion” – Sweet Pea – Smokin’ & Cryin’

Author’s note

I’m serializing the first 10% of Smokin’ & Cryin’ here on my blog. It’s the story of a young American rock band set in the early 1970s. Please feel free to share this with your friends.

Overture is the first installment. This post is #6 in the series.

 

Chapter 2 – Sweet Pea continued (part 3)

Arthur took me out for lunch at the Red Lion, a downtown diner famous for its Coney dogs. I’d been sleeping on Deuce’s floor ever since the fight with Dad. Bev had dropped off a paper grocery sack full of my clothes and a cardboard box with the broken pieces of the acoustic guitar. She’d stuffed the contents of my piggy bank into an envelope, stashing it between my jeans and T-shirts. She was too good for my dad. We all were.Continue Reading “Red Lion” – Sweet Pea – Smokin’ & Cryin’

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