Today’s guest is the bestselling author of nearly 40 published books over his career, which has seen him produce work for TV, Movies, and Video Games… We’re sure to pull on all of those dangling threads at some point during today’s conversation. He’s written both standalone and series and serial novels… He was the 3rd author (and 1st American author) to be tasked with taking over for Ian Fleming and continuing the James Bond story, something he did for 7 years.
His book THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, is an encyclopedic work on all things 007, and was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America for Best Biographical/Critical Work. His Black Stiletto 5-book series has been optioned for TV & Film. Today, we’ll explore his latest release – BLUES IN THE DARK… Raymond Benson is our guide for today’s adventure.
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Listen to “RAYMOND BENSON – Blues In The Dark” on Spreaker.
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A Hollywood crime drama set in the 1940’s and the present day that tackles racism, sexism, and murder…
Karissa Glover is a movie producer who moves into a decrepit but functional old mansion in the West Adams Heights area of Los Angeles, where black celebrities of yesteryear—Hattie McDaniel, Louise Beavers, and others—once resided. The former owner was a white actress, Blair Kendrick, who often starred as the “bad girl”—a femme fatale—in films noirof the 1940s. However, Blair’s career was cut short when she was tragically killed by the mob after allegedly witnessing the slaying of a corrupt studio head in 1949. As Karissa and her producing partner decide to develop a modern film noir about Blair Kendrick, malevolent forces from the past attempt to stop them—first with intimidation, and then with the thread of murder…
SEE FULL BOOK SUMMARY & REVIEWS ON AMAZON…
Available in Hardcover & Ebook
The five-book series that weaves the incredible tale of a retired female vigilante…
Could Martin Talbot’s elderly, Alzheimer-stricken mother, Judy, really have been the Black Stiletto? When Martin discovers several volumes of her diaries hidden by his mother, he is stunned beyond all imagination. His mother, the underground heroine of yesteryear? The famed ,still unidentified woman who battled Communist spies, took on the Mafia, and preyed on common crooks? The woman who exacted punishment on evildoers without mercy? But it is all described, in great detail, in the diaries. What caused her to begin her quest for justice. Her decision to act outside the law. Her feats as the famed and feared vigilante. How her reputation exploded. In short, how it all played out. Could it be true? Talbot is filled with doubt and disbelief. But the reappearance of one of the Stiletto’s old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge makes the story more than real and could imperil the life of not only the Stiletto, but her son and granddaughter as well…
SEE FULL BOOK SUMMARY & REVIEWS ON AMAZON…
Available in Hardcover, Paperback & Ebook
The 2002 novelization of the blockbuster Bond film, Die Another Day…
Bond infiltrates a North Korean military base where Col. Tan-Sun Moon is illegally trading weapons for African conflict diamonds. After Moon’s assistant, Zao, discovers that Bond is a British agent via an unknown source. Moon plots to kill Bond and a hovercraft chase ensues, ending with Moon’s apparent death. Bond survives but is captured by North Korean soldiers and imprisoned by Gen. Moon. After 14 months of captivity and torture, Bond is traded for Zao in a prisoner exchange. He is sedated and taken to meet M, who informs him that his status as a 00 Agent has been suspended under suspicion of having leaked information under duress. Bond is convinced that he has been set up by a double agent in the British government…
SEE FULL BOOK SUMMARY & REVIEWS ON AMAZON…
Available in Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, & Audio
An encyclopedic celebration of 007, the world’s most popular secret agent…
A comprehensive single-volume guide to the James Bond phenomenon, the volume is sure to excite even the most ardent James Bond fan. In addition to an intimate portrait of Ian Fleming as remembered by his friends and colleagues and a detailed analysis of every one of Fleming’s James Bond titles, this indispensable collection includes: An in-depth character study of James Bond, including a sketch of his background and early life, detailed descriptions of his trademarked clothing and other personal habits, including his preferences in food and drink, and a portrait of his famous (or infamous) attitudes toward women and marriage; Information about the many by-products of Bondmania and the merchandising of 007, such as Bond’s line of toiletries, board games, trading cards, Oddjob Action Dolls, and t-shirts; Contact information for the many James Bond fan clubs around the world; A critical look at the 007 film series that includes a cornucopia of trivia and essential information on the films’ producers, screenplays, directors, actors, soundtracks and special effects and over 100 seldom seen photographs.
SEE FULL BOOK SUMMARY & REVIEWS ON AMAZON…
Available in Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, & Audio
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Mark DeWayne Combs / Public Display of Imagination
463063 State Road 200 Unit #1473
Yulee, FL 32097
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What is a goal? It’s been defined in many ways, most of them so complex that things get fuzzy and complicated. Put simply, a goal is something you want to do. PUSH is designed to help readers think about things more simply. Identify your goals and put forth the simple, dedicated effort to achieve them. Having acheived one goal, it becomes easier to pursue others. We tend to make it complex. PUSH seeks to make it simple.
PUSH is designed to help each reader find their own personal pathway of identity and, having found it, pursue their dreams in a simple, attainable fashion that leads to achievement. Broken into a handful of easy-to-read essays, PUSH mixes humor, common sense, and thought-provoking insight in an effort to give each reader the opportunity to see for themselves why they have absolutely no shot at ever being ordinary.
Available in Paperback & Ebook
You’re being watched… You may not realize it, and the person watching you may never clue you in, but you’re being watched. It happens each day in the most undetectable way. Somewhere, someone is watching.
You touch more lives and topple more dominoes than you could ever imagine. For someone, you are the light in their darkness or the example to which they aspire. Completely disconnecting from the society in which we live is impossible. Even in death, our lives continue to touch others, both in the moment and as time slowly passes.
Don’t Forget Your Cape doesn’t dance off into the fancy world of who each person can be. I’ve always left that “think your way to wonderful” philosophy to other writers. It just doesn’t suit me and I’d bet that it doesn’t really suit you either. I’d rather be a part of a face-to-face journey that cuts through the fog and connects me with who I am. That’s where my value can be found and that’s where this journey takes each reader.
Available in Paperback & Ebook
“Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” There’s a brilliant irony in that quote; no one claims authorship and no one seems to be able to identify its true origin. Although the world is very familiar with this song and dance, no one knows the singer or the dancer.
Why do you do what you do? It’s a useful question to ponder. If you knew that no one would hear your song, would you still sing? Knowing that the chairs in the auditorium will be empty, will you still take the stage and dance just as enthusiastically?
HELLO… Is This On? explores why we do what we do and speaks to our ability to develop self-trust and quiet confidence, even in the face of daunting circumstances or, in some cases, no measurable response at all.
Available in Paperback & Ebook
Preview and Order Mark's Motivational Books on Amazon:
What is a goal? It’s been defined in many ways, most of them so complex that things get fuzzy and complicated. Put simply, a goal is something you want to do. PUSH is designed to help readers think about things more simply. Identify your goals and put forth the simple, dedicated effort to achieve them.
You may not realize it, but you’re being watched. It happens each day in the most undetectable way. Somewhere, someone is watching. You touch more lives and topple more dominoes than you could ever imagine. For someone, you are the light in their darkness or the example to which they aspire.
Why do you do what you do? It’s a useful question to ponder. If you knew that no one would hear your song, would you still sing? Knowing that the chairs in the auditorium will be empty, will you still take the stage and dance just as enthusiastically? Explore why you do what you do and develop self-trust and quiet confidence.