"The Black Arrow" Book Tour--Notes From the Field

By Vin Suprynowicz

Hi, David --

That's great news![*]

We just mailed you a copy of the latest issue of the glossy magazine "Liberty Watch," with my leering mug shot and the tale of Laissez Faire Books and "The Black Arrow" on the cover.

They'll ship additional single copies of the magazine to anyone who sends them $3.95.

It sounds like we may draw some crowds -- and some media attention -- to my appearances in Colorado Springs on June 9. (My column runs in the Colorado Springs Gazette -- that's always been a good market for me.) See http://www.theblackarrow.us/BookTour/.

I have no idea if my appearance in New Hampshire June 26 will be equivalent ... although I WAS officially condemned by the sitting governor the last time I visited. :-)

The challenge is figuring out how to "break out" of the primarily young male readership that will generally pick up a quasi-Libertarian action/adventure shoot-'em-up. Not that we disdain that market. But I've been very gratified by positive reviews from folks like Sunni Maravillosa and Mary Lou Seymour -- this book simply won't "break out" into the more general populace until we can convince women that it is (to a considerable extent) a character-driven romance.

Oddly enough, I believe this discussion about whether there's "too much sex" probably helps. Anyone who's read any of the Laurell Hamilton "Meredith Gentry" books is going to have a tough time believing there can be "too much sex." The real question is whether the love/sex/whatever scenes are differentiated in ways that contribute to character development. And I think that's a much more productive discussion than things like "weapons choice."

The Deanna Forbush analysis piece due to run pretty soon on LewRockwell.com should help.

I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Thanks Again,

-- Vin
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[*]-Reaction to hearing that my review of "The Black Arrow" will be published in GUNS Magazine--DC]

Gonzales vs. Raich—Why Should You Care?

“[T]he Supreme Court accepted the government's argument that Congress could prohibit this wholly intrastate non-economic activity under its interstate commerce power because the ban on these purely local activities was an ‘essential part of a broader regulatory scheme.’ By this rationale, Congress can regulate pretty much anything it wants, and the list of limited powers provided by the Founders is once again in limbo.”

So why should gun owners care?

Oh, I dunno.

Naturally, nothing can be found about the Raich decision and its implications for reloading over at NRA-ILA.

Why do you think that is?

When Leftist Bedwetters Collide

Two teenagers set out to prove the lethality of BB guns for their science project. They "wanted to see if kids should not use BB guns because they're deadly."

Science fair administrators were appropriately horrified, and banned any type of experiment using such evil instruments.

I do love it so when there are competing subversions and these people turn on each other.

Someone ought to explain to Nancy G. Degon that an air rifle is not a "firearm." Then again, I doubt if she'd be interested.