Robert E. Howard Days has come and gone for another year. This one was a little different, but it was very good.
I got there early. Jason M. Waltz and I shared a room in Eastland, which is about half an hour from Cross Plains. (Most people don’t stay in Cross Plains. There simply aren’t enough rooms.) We got there Wednesday afternoon. Those who arrived on Wednesday were invite to a fajita dinner at the home of Jack and Barbara Baum. It was a great evening of food and fellowship, and I’d like to thank the Baums for their hospitality.
(r. to l.) James McGlothlin, Jason M. Waltz, Your Intrepid Blogger
Thursday morning we helped set up for the banquet on Friday then headed for the Pavilion to help set up there. That was where I met Black Gate blogger James McGlothlin for the first time. He and I and James Reasoner went to the local Mexican food restaurant for lunch and ended up talking for a couple of hours (in the air conditioning). That evening a large number of us skipped the fish fry and the parade and went to Cisco for drinks and dinner.
Friday I went on the first part of the tour, but I jumped ship when the second part, to the nearby towns of Burkett and Crosscut, where the Howards lived before moving to Cross Plains. I had an opportunity to join a group hitting a used book store in Abilene. I came back with a grocery sack of paperbacks for $15. Sadly, the owner of the store died last month, and her husband is trying to sell the store.
Baseball signed by Babe Ruth.
After we got back, I skipped the panels and went to the Post Office to get this year’s cancellation. There is a new museum in Cross Plains that has a number of classic cars and baseball memorabilia. Also good air conditioning. I joined friends over there, then went back to the Pavilion and hung out with friends.
The Guest of Honor was David C. Smith, who spoke at the banquet. As usual The Staghorn Cafe catered the meal (chicken fired steak), and as usual it was delicious.
Saturday morning John Bullard joined me in Eastland for an excursion to the local cemetery. Doc Scurlock rode with Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War. After it was over, he decided he was tired of being shot at and moved to Eastland to open a candy store. He died there in 1929. John wanted to see the grave, and since I had visited it a few years ago, I showed him where it was.
John and I hit the morning panel (which character of Howard’s was the first sword and sorcery hero), then joined his sister, her husband, and James McGlothlin for lunch. Mexican food again. Good chili rellenos are hard to find, and I eat them every chance I get.
(l. to r.) Shanks, Louinet, Gruber
There were two afternoon panels. The first was a celebration of Sailor Steve Costigan, hero of a series of boxing stories. Jeff Shanks, Patrice Louinet, and Chris Gruber led the discussion. Chris presented a championship belt to the Howard house to put on display.
The second panel was what is coming in Howardiana. The Dark Man journal is being revived. The Foundation Press will be republishing some OOP titles, starting with the poetry and letters, then moving on to some of the collected fiction, such as the weird menace and spicies. These will be POD trade paperbacks. The first will be available sometime during the next year. A representative from the company that owns the rights (the name has changed and I don’t recall what it is now) talked about the comics. (Conan a part of the regular Marvel universe and a member of the Avengers? Shoot me now.) He wouldn’t say much about any film projects.
The day ended with the barbeque at the Pavilion followed by poetry reading on the steps of the Howard House, including the poem “Cimmeria” in eight languages.
My father had had a kidney stone flair-up while I was there, so I skipped the informal breakfast Sunday morning and went and had breakfast with my parents.
I enjoyed the weekend a lot, and I think that was more because I was reconnecting with friends more than anything. There were some good books there. Jason M. Waltz, publisher of Rogue Blades, had a number of his books available, including his latest, Crossbones and Crosses. David C. Smith signed my copies of his Red Sonja novels as well as copies of some of his other books. The Robert E. Howard Foundation Press had their collection of Howard’s autobiographical writings, Post Oaks and Sand Roughs, for sale. I picked up a copy for me. I also bought a few items for friends, which I will be getting in the mail later this week.
Howard Days 2019 might be over, but I had a great time and am looking forward to next year. Attendance was down a bit, and some of the regulars weren’t able to make it. Guys, you were missed. Hopefully, I’ll see you next year, along with some others who have been trying to make it for a while.
