Muddy did it in '45.
Dylan did it in '65.
And now Nick Travers has gone electric. For the first time, all the Nick Travers' novels will be available on kindle. You might have seen those funny Etch A Sketch looking things on planes. Now all four Nick Travers' books will be available for download at amazon.com. We'll be releasing a new title every month starting in July with Crossroad Blues on kindle.

Two of those novels have been hard to find as of late -- Leavin' Trunk Blues and Dark End of the Street. So this will be an exciting chance to bring the Nick Travers' stories to a whole new audience. And to think Nick Travers doesn't even own a CD player -- he's vinyl only.

By the way, check out a bad-ass version of Leavin' Trunk by Taj at the link above.

I'm always heartened to hear from people who still remember my original creation, Nick Travers. The star of my first four novels, Nick was unlikely hero -- a New Orleans hipster music researcher who'd rather listen to a classic blues show, drinks a few Dixies, and sleeps in. He had also been a professional football player and was pretty good with his fists. But it took some prying to get Nick out of his comfortable NOLA groove.


So I'm always pleased when people ask me about what Nick has been up to since Dirty South. Will he make an appearance in The Ranger books? What happened to Nick after Katrina? Well, I honestly have no answers for those questions. But you will be pleased to know I can absolutely be certain what Nick would be reading right now -- The Chitlin' Circuit and the Road to Rock 'N' Roll.

A new book from Memphis author/journalist Preston Lauterbach takes on the fascinating, gritty all-too-true world of the old Chitlin' Circuit. For those of you who don't know, the Chitlin' Circuit was the road through a string of Southern music clubs in all-black neighborhoods. A lot of great acts got their start playing these clubs like Sam & Dave and many great acts were only known to the black audience of that time.

In the forties, many of these acts gave roots to the sound that became rock 'n roll.

The Washington Post says: Mr. Lauterbach uncovers a story as sensational as any day-glo circuit-show poster, featuring "the numbers racket, hair straighteners, multiple murders, human catastrophe, commercial sex, bootlegging, international scandal, female impersonation, and a real female who could screw a light bulb into herself—and turn it on." READ ENTIRE PIECE


That's like baiting a trap for Nick Travers. An all-too fascinating subject in the hands of a terrific storyteller. Hope you'll join Nick in picking up one of the summer's best books.

I just saw a review of The Ranger alongside a memoir written by Oxford pal, Dean Faulkner Wells. You may have heard of her uncle. He wrote a few books some time back. Leonard Gill with Memphis magazine is one of the few to get the background of Quinn and the world of Tibbehah County. I tip my hat and greatly enjoyed his piece.

Congratulations to the happy couple who got married in a convenience store where I often buy gas and coffee. Just when I think I'm pushing the Southern Gothic too far, I see these real Mississippi tales. They are greatly appreciated. God bless these folks for making a life altering decision before those snack cakes and to a wedding march played on a cell phone. Welcome to Deep Mississippi. You can bet the happy couple will turn up in Tibbehah County for The Ranger sequel. Click below for a terrific story by Jack Gurner.

WATER VALLEY – Danielle and Shelton were married last Thursday surrounded by family, friends, snack cakes, candy bars and beef jerky.

For those keeping track of production, I'm putting the finishing touches on the new Spenser novel and headed right back into the sequel to The Ranger. Both novels will be out in 2012. As I return to writing about Quinn, I'm often reminded of James Coburn in The Magnificent Seven. For those of you in the know, you'll understand.