Refried Beans and a Snub-Nosed .44

Refried Beans and a Snub-Nosed .44
Author: Hugh Lessig
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Total Pages: 60
Release: 2021-10-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Chicago sports columnist Stan Jedd always had latest scoop, the sharpest insight and the must-read analysis. For 35 years, he prowled the sidelines and dugouts of his beloved city for the scrappy Northside Courier, a twice-weekly tabloid that often beat the larger competition. But Jedd’s glory days are long gone. He’s lost his job thanks to Sideline Sal, a sports blogger who specializes in sensational and cruel clickbait that drives profits. Sal’s brand of gutter reportage is what sometimes passes for journalism these days. In this new world, an in-depth piece stops at 280 characters and credibility goes as far as Wikipedia factoids and anonymous sources take you. Readers take a back seat to feeding the bots and trolls. On Jedd's last day, he limped from the newsroom on a bad hip. He held a box that contained dusty award plaques from years ago, a dog-eared dictionary and old notebooks with unreadable scrawls. The newsroom didn’t even spring for a sheet cake. But Stan Jedd isn’t quite finished with the Chicago journalism scene. He’s kept score on the lives Sideline Sal has ruined in exchange for page clicks, and the young blogger is going to apologize for what he’s done—and do it in a very public way. Stan Jedd will make the headlines scream one more time. The problem? Sal is a young gym rat, veins popping from his biceps, his legs lathed by hours on a bike. Jedd is 62 with an enlarged prostate who never did get that hip replacement his doctor recommended. So he’ll need a persuader. He’s plied his old street sources and learned of a taco truck near Wrigleyville that sells more than food. Jedd is Polish-Slav, better suited to stuffed cabbage rolls than burritos. If he can get past the food, it should be an adventure. But as he limps into his last assignment, Jedd re-discovers a lesson he learned long ago. People aren’t always what they seem. You think you find a good guy and he’s dirty. You want to nail a villain and maybe you should stop. Peeling back the layers of an onion on a story can make you cry. Jedd also learns a new lesson, and this one will much more painful: Don’t wave a gun around Chicago unless you intend to use it.

Chimichangas and a Couple of Glocks

Chimichangas and a Couple of Glocks
Author: David H. Hendrickson
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Total Pages: 60
Release: 2021-09-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

When Peter tries to slip a roofie into a target’s drink, he triggers events that lead to blackmail and harsh street justice. To defend himself, he sends his unsuspecting fiancée, Lizzie, into the scariest neighborhood in Chicago to buy the protection he needs from, of all places, a taco truck. Ever subservient because she knows a Plain Jane like her doesn’t deserve him, Lizzie fights back her terror and resolves to help Peter however she can, even in ways hidden from him. “David H. Hendrickson is one of my favorite writers.” —Edgar-nominated author Kris Nelscott “One of the most diverse writers I have had the pleasure to meet.” —USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith

Guns + Tacos Vol. 6

Guns + Tacos Vol. 6
Author: Hugh Lessig
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Total Pages: 109
Release: 2022-01-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

There’s a taco truck in Chicago known among a certain segment of the population for its daily specials. Late at night and during the wee hours of the morning, it isn’t the food selection that attracts customers, it’s the illegal weapons available with the special order. Each episode of Guns & Tacos features the story of one Chicagoland resident who visits the taco truck seeking a solution to life’s problems, a solution that always comes in a to-go bag. Episode 16: Refried Beans and a Snub-Nosed .44 by Hugh Lessig Episode 17: Two Steak Taco Combos and a Pair of Sig Sauers by Neil S. Plakcy Episode 18: A Smith & Wesson with a Side of Chorizo by Andrew Welsh-Huggins Episodes 13-15 are featured in Guns + Tacos Vol. 5.

Guns + Tacos Vol. 5

Guns + Tacos Vol. 5
Author: Dave Zeltserman
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Total Pages: 115
Release: 2022-01-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

There’s a taco truck in Chicago known among a certain segment of the population for its daily specials. Late at night and during the wee hours of the morning, it isn’t the food selection that attracts customers, it’s the illegal weapons available with the special order. Each episode of Guns & Tacos features the story of one Chicagoland resident who visits the taco truck seeking a solution to life’s problems, a solution that always comes in a to-go bag. Episode 13: Two More Tacos, a Beretta .32, and a Pink Butterfly by Dave Zeltserman Episode 14: Two Tamales, One Tokarev, and a Lifetime of Broken Promises by Stacy Woodson Episode 15: Chimichangas and a Couple of Glocks by David H. Hendrickson Episodes 16-18 are featured in Guns + Tacos Vol. 6.

Mickey Finn Vol. 4

Mickey Finn Vol. 4
Author: Michael Bracken
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Total Pages: 263
Release: 2023-12-11
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir, Volume 4, the fourth entry of the hard-hitting anthology series, is another crime-fiction cocktail that will again knock readers into a literary stupor. Contributors push hard against the boundaries of crime fiction, driving their work into places short crime fiction doesn’t often go, into a world where the mean streets seem gentrified by comparison and happy endings are the exception rather than the rule. And they do all this in contemporary settings, bringing noir into the 21st century. Like any good cocktail, Mickey Finn is a heady mix of ingredients that packs a punch, and when you’ve finished reading every story, you’ll know that you’ve been “slipped a Mickey.” The nineteen contributors, including some of today’s most respected short-story writers and new writers making their mark on the genre, include: Ann Aptaker, Trey R. Barker, Michael Bracken, John M. Floyd, Nils Gilbertson, David Hagerty, James A. Hearn, Hugh Lessig, Sean McCluskey, Adam Meyer, Gabe Morran, Alan Orloff, Josh Pachter, Stephen D. Rogers, Bev Vincent, Joseph S. Walker, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Sam Wiebe, and Stacy Woodson.

Black Cat Weekly #80

Black Cat Weekly #80
Author: Phyllis Ann Karr
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 494
Release: 2023-03-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1667681753

Our 80th issue has some great tales for you, starting with an original mystery by Hugh Lessit (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and a great reprint by Jim Thomsen (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Plus we have a pair of detective novels, the first featuring New York-based private investigator Nick Carter, and the second another original Hardy Boys mystery. If you read the later editions, you will be shocked to find how much was changed from the originals. These are not the watered-down Hardy Boys most of us read as kids. Give it a read. On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have a Frostflower & Thorn tale by Phyllis Ann Karr, as she brings her famous duo to a world created by M. Coleman Easton...in collaboration with Easton. Great fun. Plus classic SF by Mike Curry, Robert Silverberg, Robert F. Young, and Murray Leinster. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Shade Tree Mechanic” by Hugh Lessig [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Clear as Glass” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Ride Home,” by Jim Thomsen [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Little Glass Vial, by Nicholas Carter [novel] The Tower Treasure, by Franklin W. Dixon Science Fiction & Fantasy: “A Glassmaker’s Courage,” by Phyllis Ann Karr and M. Coleman Easton [short story] “Metamorphosis,” by Mike Curry [short story] “Come Into My Brain!” by Robert Silverberg [short story] “Bbruggil’s Bride,” by Robert F. Young [short story] The Gadget Had A Ghost, by Murray Leinster [novella]

Chocolate-Covered Katie

Chocolate-Covered Katie
Author: Katie Higgins
Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2015-01-06
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 1455599697

From one of the top 25 food websites in America and the "queen of healthy desserts,” Katie Higgins, comes Chocolate Covered Katie's first cookbook with 80 never-before-seen recipes, such as Chocolate Obsession Cake, Peanut Butter Pudding Pops, and Ultimate Unbaked Brownies (Glamour magazine)! What if you CAN eat all of your favorite desserts . . . and still be healthy and fit into your skinny jeans? Meet Katie: a girl who eats chocolate every day and sometimes even has cake for breakfast! When Katie's sugar habit went too far in college and left her lacking energy, she knew something needed to change. So she began developing her own naturally sweet recipes and posting them online. Soon, Katie's healthy dessert blog had become an Internet sensation, with over six million monthly visitors. Using only real ingredients, without any unnecessary fats, sugars, or empty calories, these desserts prove once and for all that health and happiness can go hand-in-hand-you can have your dessert and eat it, too!

Celebrate with Babs

Celebrate with Babs
Author: Barbara Costello
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 615
Release: 2022-04-12
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 0744059410

USA Today Best Seller As seen on the Today Show, Good Morning America, QVC, The Rachael Ray Show, Woman’s World, Bon Appetit, Food52 and Seventeen.com Selected as one of GMA’s highly anticipated spring cookbooks It only takes two years to start a tradition! From New Year's Day to Christmas and every holiday in between, your adopted grandmother Babs shares all of the holiday recipes and motherly advice you need to make every celebration special. With menus for festive moments throughout the whole year, you'll always know what to serve. Babs bestows upon you 100 of her family-favorite recipes—passed down from family and friends through the generations, recorded on tattered and torn recipe cards, and all stored in her old wooden recipe box. She also shares the holiday traditions her family has grown to love so you can pass them down to your family, too, and elevate all of life’s gatherings into memorable occasions. From little party hacks and entertaining tips, hosting the holidays will become less stressful and more meaningful. Celebrate with Babs will insert itself at the center of all of your gatherings for generations. What are you waiting for? Start your new traditions today!

Healthier Together

Healthier Together
Author: Liz Moody
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2019-04-09
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 0525573283

A healthy cookbook to share with a partner, featuring more than 100 recipes designed to nourish your bodies and souls. An Epicurious Best Cookbook for Spring • “Healthier Together focuses on real whole foods and bringing community together.”—Kelly LeVeque, celebrity nutritionist and bestselling author of Body Love Food writer and health blogger Liz Moody once followed trendy diets and ate solely for fuel, not for flavor. That changed when she met her soon-to-be-boyfriend and they started cooking nutrient- and vegetable-rich meals. She not only fell in love with food again, but she also discovered that setting goals and sticking to them is easier and more gratifying when paired with someone else. Mincing garlic and sautéing onions together eventually led the couple to marriage—proving that good food really is the universal connector! These 100+ flavor-packed recipes are designed to be cooked and enjoyed by two people, plus they’re all gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-centered. They include homemade alternatives for all the foods you love to share, such as brunch, takeout, and sweet treats. Indulge in Cardamom Banana Bread Pancakes with Candied Coffee Walnuts, Cornflake “Fried” Chicken, General Tso’s Cauliflower, and Chocolate Tahini Brownie Bites. Pick your partner—near or far—and get ready to get healthy. Praise for Healthier Together “This cookbook is one you’ll be reaching for time and time again when you need healthy food that is satisfying and delicious.”—Tieghan Gerard “Liz Moody offers heaps of tasty recipes packed with great ingredients.”—Real Simple “Healthier Together is a brilliant concept! Cooking with a friend/partner/mom is so much better than cooking alone, plus having a partner will keep you both accountable on your healthy eating journey.”—Gina Homolka “Liz does an amazing job helping you make delicious food in a way that is both feasible and fun.”—Rachel Mansfield “Liz’s book overflows with food made to share, healthy but with all the comfort and flavor that brings happy people around the table.”—Daphne Oz “Liz’s message is profound, yet so simple . . . you need to have both whole foods and whole, real relationships to truly be healthy and happy. This book makes eating healthy a celebration, not a sacrifice, and it brings an arsenal of fresh and flavorful recipes that are fun to make and eat!”—Jeanine Donofrio

Bean Sprouts Kitchen

Bean Sprouts Kitchen
Author: Shannon Payette Seip
Publisher: Fair Winds Press
Total Pages: 147
Release: 2018-11-06
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 1592338496

Bean Sprouts Kitchen brings the magic behind Bean Sprouts’ award-winning kids’ café menu to parents, kids, and chefs of all ages. The cookbook features tried-and-true tips for making mealtime hip and healthy with 60 creative and wholesome recipes that families will love to prepare and eat! Perfect for picky and adventurous eaters alike, Bean Sprouts Kitchen shares simple, smile-worthy ideas for dishes packed with protein, fruits, and veggies, including: Grilledzilla: healthy and goofy grilled cheese Crocamole: “croc” pot of avocado hummus and veggie dippers Spaceadilla: quesadilla propelled by pepper flames and jicama stars Do-Re-For-Me: musical munchie that won “Best Kids’ Meal in the U.S.” (Nat’l. Rest. Assoc.) Broctopus: broccoli-based veggie tot with eight veggie tot legs Daredeviled Eggs: deviled eggs with kale chip capes Dino S’mores: wholesome dino grahams with chocolate tarpits and fruity fillings Co-authors Shannon Seip and Kelly Parthen serve millions of visitors through their Bean Sprouts cafés in family destinations like children’s museums, science centers, amusement parks, zoos, and national parks. Based off the whimsical and wholesome kids’ menus from their cafes, Shannon and Kelly are experts in making healthy food fun. The new Bean Sprouts Kitchen cookbook captures their 10+ years of insight and their unique approach, including: Clean Ingredients: All recipes adhere to quality ingredient guidelines. In short: no artificial anything—no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Allergy-friendly Options: Bean Sprouts is known for its allergy-friendly approach. The recipes in Bean Sprouts Kitchen can accommodate nearly every dietary need, with ingredient alternatives and flexible recipes. Kid and Parent-approved: Bean Sprouts Kitchen features recipe themes around what kids love—from race cars and pets to building blocks and tutus—with healthy ingredients that make parents happy. Additional recipes are inspired by Bean Sprouts’ family destination locations (amusement parks, science centers, etc.)— from edible Roller Toasters to UFOats energy balls. Child Involvement: Shannon and Kelly know that getting kids to try new tastes and eat healthy foods can be tricky and frustrating. But studies have shown that the more playful an item and the more hands-on children can be in the food prep process, the more likely they are to try something new. The book’s recipes are simple enough for children to join in the prep. Add some whimsy to your healthy family cooking with Bean Sprouts Kitchen.