An Excerpt From “The Drug Dealer”
At noon I was summoned to Kumar’s office. He handed me a sheet of paper on his lawyer’s stationary. “You’re fired,” he said. “Clean out your office. This notice explains the basis for your termination. Show yourself out.”
I didn’t say a word. No point in contesting what he had obviously carefully planned out—including the lawyer’s letter. On the way back to my office I asked Linda for boxes and help in clearing out my office.
“What’s going on?”
What Retirement?
7 Books in recent years - that’s not bad for someone who is allegedly retired!
Another Excerpt from “Life Could Be A Dream”
A lot of people stood up one at a time and said things about his mother that he’d never heard before, friends from her hometown, people from the schools where she taught, her cousins, and finally Grandma Nelly, who simply said goodbye. She stared right at Malcolm like it was his fault her daughter was dead. Then they were done.
(An excerpt from my novel “Life Could Be A Dream”)
About “The Bookmen”
Have you read The Bookmen? And where were you during the riots of ‘65?
Another Excerpt From “Marlene”
We stopped in Lone Pine for lunch. Melvin pointed across the highway to a rounded rock formation. “The Alabama Hills is where old Western movies were shot, Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy, and John Wayne, among others. They made two reelers, technically the term for silent comedies, but any short B movie including talkies is a two reeler these days.”
“On Saturday mornings at Marlene’s house in Baldwin Park I watched Randy Rides Again with John Wayne and serials like Flash Gordon. Her dad usually woke up on the couch and watched with us. A nice man for a hopeless drunk. I was sure the outdoor cattle ranch scenes were shot up in Calabasas and Santa Suzanna.”
“In your father’s words, this is all useless mind candy. He has always been a killjoy when it came to having fun for its own sake.”
Another Excerpt From “Pasadena 1984” - About Generation X
Generation X was strikingly different from Baby Boomers. Alex P. Keaton was an epitome—as were my own children, Matt and Sandra. White kids were sullen, resentful, and conservative. They preferred alcohol to pot smoking, but they consumed whatever chemical was at hand.
An Excerpt From “Venoms” about the Vietnam Drug Trade
“If you were in charge, what would you do to end heroin use among the troops in Vietnam?”
He laughed. “Send everybody home. The rest will take care of itself.”
The Pitt Gets It Right
I watched the first season of The Pitt and await subsequent seasons on HULU. Having been a physician for many years I can attest that it’s on target, a great show, and a gritty hour-by-hour view of a busy urban emergency department. The medical care is accurate and current. However, it is more than a situational drama, the subtext is medical ethics. Every episode has elements of ethical dilemmas, which the cast must try to resolve in real time.
Sneak Peek At My Next Novel, “Death Lover”
Fortunately, mosquitos hadn’t returned yet. We had a week at most before they swarmed and drove everyone mad. Cruising along the canal in our power boat, a hundred yards in I spotted a skull on an embankment. Retrieving it required a tough scramble. The steep slope was created when the Army Corps of Engineers dug the channel. I lifted a mature adult skull. Yorik it was not. The sutures were closed, three worn intact teeth remained. Not a youngster for sure.
It’s Not Just Amazon
Which app is your favorite to discover and share your favorite author’s works?
Remembering The Cuban Missile Crisis: An Excerpt From “Camelot Lost”
“Can they make a deal with Khruschev and not precipitate a right-wing coup d’etat? The Kennedy’s know that militaristic chest pounding won’t cut it when you’re at the endgame.”
What Your Sweetheart Really Wants For Valentines Day
If your favorite book lover enjoys any of these, they will love the works of author Henry Rex Greene. Here are some of the titles you might prefer:
An Excerpt From “Brevity”
I have a notebook filled with the last words of the memorable and the memorable words of the forgotten. Mostly made up, of course, by others not so pressingly engaged. On various pages I have inserted my own last words and those of my old playmates, lovers, friends, and otherwise, so everyone dies talking.
“Is this in the play?” – A. Lincoln
Books Needing Reviews
The following books do not yet have a review - help your fellow readers discover my works of fiction by sharing your experience.
Another Excerpt from “Executive Justice” - Revised
What will happen in this contemporary novel pitting America’s red, blue, and neutral states against each other?
And is this a likely scenario or purely fiction?
Thinking About Drug History
“There are four interest groups that will make sure our efforts are frustrated: First, law enforcement. Drug laws are a make-work project for police. (The marijuana laws were written to provide work for unemployed alcohol enforcement officers during the Depression). Secondly, politicians need non-voting scapegoats. Third, banquet circuit scientists, who (for a price) provide rationalizations for anti-drug laws. Fourth, the drug cartels’ profit margin flows from the risk premium on contraband drugs.” [Meyers 1967]
Wishing You The Best This New Years
I hope each of you has a joyful, safe and happy start to 2026!
A Holiday Message To You All
Wishing each of you peace, joy and happiness this holiday season.