Authors - Pulpflakes

Biography of Warren Hastings Miller – author, outdoorsman, sailor, editor

The article can be found here. James Reasoner has a review of the Black Dog collection of Miller’s Captain Jim Colvin stories here.

Interview with Johnston McCulley (creator of Zorro)

Johnston McCulley, Alias Seth Bailey [Originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune, May 20, 1923] If you have ever read stories written by Harrington Strong, John Mack Stone, Walter Pierson or Camden Stuart, you have read works by the author about whom this article is written – Johnston McCulley. But few authors boast as many… Continue reading Interview with Johnston McCulley (creator of Zorro)

Johnston McCulley (Creator of Zorro) article about writing

[Originally appeared in The Editor, v. 52, Jan-Jun 1920] Twelve years ago we sold our first story; three years ago we felt that we had “arrived”; at present we cannot begin to supply direct requests from magazine editors for fiction along certain lines. Perhaps that is success in a measure. How was it attained?… Continue reading Johnston McCulley (Creator of Zorro) article about writing

H. Bedford-Jones, King of the Pulps, speaks about his typewriter’s keyboard layout

From the letters column of the Author’s League Bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 7, October 1918, a letter from H. Bedford-Jones about some typewriter modifications he made to increase his speed. Bedford-Jones was the “King of the Pulps”, writing more than a million words a year. A standard L.C Smith typewriter from the era: The Editor,… Continue reading H. Bedford-Jones, King of the Pulps, speaks about his typewriter’s keyboard layout

Henry Oyen – Reporter, Pulp Author

Henry Oyen was a popular author from the early years of Adventure. He was a reporter before he became an author. You can read a detailed biography of his life here. Bonus:Three full novels by Henry Oyen from Adventure for your reading pleasure: The Snow-Burner Gaston Olaf The Man Trail (Google Books, US only)

Arthur D. Howden Smith – journalist, historian, soldier, pulp author

[Arthur D. Howden Smith was one of the best authors writing for Adventure. He had a tendency to create series – with Captain McConaughy fighting the Germans in World War 1; the sword Grey Maiden repeatedly turning up across history, and Swain the Viking being the three most popular. He was a journalist and historian… Continue reading Arthur D. Howden Smith – journalist, historian, soldier, pulp author

The burning sky – novella by H. A. DeRosso

This novella by H.A. DeRosso is about a marshall who comes to town to retrieve stolen gold. With an unusual happy ending, perhaps because that is what a slick like Collier’s wanted. Download the story here.

H. A. DeRosso – Western Noir pulp author

[A tip of the Stetson to James Reasoner of Rough Edges for pointing out this excellent forgotten writer who doesn’t have a Wikipedia article. I have only read a few stories of his so far, of which one is a short story from Ranch Romances, but even there the dark, noirish tone of the story… Continue reading H. A. DeRosso – Western Noir pulp author

James B. Hendryx – Cowboy, Prospector, Gambler, Writer, Rancher

–> Today, 9th December, is the birthday of James B. Hendryx, who was the author of the Halfaday Creek series of stories (starring Corporal Downey of the Mounties and Black John Smith) as well as the Connie Morgan series for boys. I highly recommend the Halfaday Creek stories, some of which can be read online… Continue reading James B. Hendryx – Cowboy, Prospector, Gambler, Writer, Rancher

Commander Ellsberg – Commander, Diver, Engineer, Inventor, Fencer, Writer (part 3 of 3)

[This is the last part of a three part series, part 1 and part 2 have already appeared on this blog. Read on after the break.] Massowa was an Italian naval base built by Mussolini to attack Ethiopia. It had been bombed, and ships were sunk in the harbor. Ellsberg’s assignment was to make Massowa… Continue reading Commander Ellsberg – Commander, Diver, Engineer, Inventor, Fencer, Writer (part 3 of 3)