• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sandhenge Publications

Jim Potter, Author

  • About the Author
  • Author Blog
    • Sign Up for Jim’s Posts
  • Blog Podcasts
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact the Author
  • Read the Behind the Books Blog
    • Listen to the Audio Blog
  • Check Book Reviews
  • Sign Up to Receive Blog Posts
  • All Books

Meeting Authors

November 7, 2018 by Jim Potter 4 Comments

Share this blog post

Email
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
https://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Meeting-Authors-H.B.-Berlow.m4a

·  H.B. Berlow  ·

Author H.B Berlow in 1930s period costume at a cocktail party-book signing.

A few weeks ago sixteen artists gathered at the Wichita Library to recite their poetry accompanied by music. In short time I learned that one of those poets, H.B. Berlow, also writes crime novels.

By the time I arrived home to Greater Medora, I had a Facebook friend request from Berlow. I accepted.

A day later I could barely believe my eyes! H.B. had posted a mugshot that looked like it belonged in my “Wanted” postcard collection. He commented: “This is career criminal Neil McCauley from his Alcatraz mugshot in 1954. He was the inspiration for Robert De Niro’s character in the movie ‘Heat.’ And I just figured out how to include him in Book Five of the #ArkCity Confidential Chronicles.”

I commented: “I would sure like to hear more about this!”

H.B.’s response: “Let’s get together and talk.”

We made arrangements to meet in Wichita at the Beautiful Day Café.

I searched online for Berlow’s bio and found it:

“H.B. Berlow (1962- ) studied filmmaking at the University of Miami in the 80’s; was involved in the Boston poetry scene in the 90’s; and is a former president of the KWA (Kansas Writer’s Association). In fiction, he has concentrated largely on hard-boiled and neo-noir, having been inspired by such writers as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompsom, and James Ellroy. He has delved into various elements of experimental fiction and verse. He discusses his passion for writing at http://tikiman1962.wordpress.com.”

Prior to meeting with H.B., I did a little more research. The cover of his Ark City Confidential novel shows automobiles from the 1930s. I wondered, what’s the crime drama about? I learned that Baron Witherspoon is a police detective, a hard-boiled street cop, ready to rumble. This flawed yet enduring hero, with identity issues from his youth and the war, lives to fight for justice in Arkansas City, Kansas.

H.B. and I met over brunch. He expected us to hit it off since we had both read our poetry at the library, we’re both authors, we collect postcards, and I’m a retired cop while he writes crime fiction. Boy, was he right!

Ark City Confidential is the first book of a series. It takes place during 1933-34. Book two, Secrets of the Righteous, covers the years 1935-38. The third book, being written, takes place in 1943 during the war. Book four, set in 1948, is outlined. Ideas for the last book, in 1954, are still developing.

Since historical novels require a lot of research, I figured H.B. might have lived in Ark City. Not quite. His wife, Shelia, has an uncle and aunt who live in the community. For years Shelia’s uncle has been telling stories about “Little Chicago” where gangsters would lay low from Chicago’s heat.

These tales lit a fuse in Berlow’s creative mind, and he continues to do research on the border town because each book in the series requires greater detail.

Making sure that historical information is accurate is a huge undertaking. For Berlow, it meant figuring out where the buildings and businesses were located. He also had to be cognizant of only using law enforcement terminology, tools, and techniques available during that era.

Even though book five is down the road, it’s important and fun to figure things out ahead of time. A character can be introduced in one book, like planting a seed, but not fully mature into a multidimensional character until a later publication.

I asked H.B. about Neil McCauley. It was his Alcatraz mugshot posted on Facebook that had attracted my interest. I learned about H.B. and Shelia touring Alcatraz. Afterwards, Shelia commented to her author-spouse: “You should figure out how to fit Alcatraz in your books.” Thanks to her idea, career criminal McCauley is itchin’ to get back into action in book five.

I’ve watched a few neo-noir movies, like the Maltese Falcon, but that doesn’t mean I understand the term. I asked H.B. He explained that neo means new, and noir means a crime element. During the mid-1940s to late 1950s noir movies, mostly in black and white, influenced by German expressionism, showed the darker side of humanity when it was brought to the surface.

Berlow commented that neo-noir movies don’t have happily-ever-after endings like in The Wizard of Oz.

I asked Berlow about how he got started on writing neo-noir. He explained that when he was studying screenwriting at the University of Miami he was immersed in lots of film.  

Writing crime fiction allows authors to reveal a dark side of people that they’d rather hide. Berlow offers, “We all want to look good but if we’re sinister, it’s going to come out.”

If you see a guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt in Wichita, even in the dead of winter, it could be H.B. Berlow. When he wears any of his collection of colorful, decorated shirts, he’s transported back to a Florida beach during his college days.

To emphasize his statement, Berlow gives an example. “People will comment, ‘He’s only like that when he’s drunk.’ I don’t believe that. He’s that person.”

Now I’m looking forward to reading Berlow’s novels. I’ll start with Ark City Confidential. I’ve heard from readers that his “characters are real and raw and compelling.” I’ll meet Police Detective Baron Witherspoon and the gangsters he battles in Little Chicago.

I’m curious how dark this neo-noir will be. I don’t expect The Wizard of Oz but I’m not ready for Dante’s Inferno.

Until next time, happy writing and reading!

 

Share this blog post

Email
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin

Related

Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: Behind the Books Blog, Jim Potter

Sign Up for the Blog

You will never have to check this site for the latest blog post, and you’ll get the latest and the greatest first! You will receive a confirmation email that you must respond to in order to be officially subscribed.

IMPORTANT! Check your Junk and Spam folders as needed!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy Julien Kopp says

    November 7, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    Very interesting post today, Jim. Definitely piqued my interest in the novels of H. B. Berlow, who is a fb friend and attended a KAC convention several years ago. I conducted a discussion on obtaining new members and I remember that he was one of the only people present who took time to tell me he liked the presentation. Made me remember him, didn’t it? 🙂

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      November 7, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      Nancy, thanks for the comment. Yes, I’m looking forward to a good read. H.B. is scheduled for the Kansas Authors Club convention next year, October 2019, in Wichita. His seminar will cover historical research. Jim

      Reply
  2. Tom says

    November 7, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    That was a great story about H. B. Barlow. He sounds like an interesting guy.
    Tom

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      November 7, 2018 at 6:49 pm

      Thanks for your encouragement, Tom. We had a lot of fun talking about how much fun it is to write!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Jim Potter, Author

author

Recent Blog Posts

  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Choosing a Title January 26, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Multitasking January 19, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Networking January 12, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Introduction January 5, 2023
  • Charles Collins: First Reno County Sheriff September 30, 2022

If you prefer to listen . . .

If you prefer to listen to my blog posts, you can do so … List of podcasts about Podcasts

Post Archives

  • January 2023
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017

What People Are Saying

Footer

Follow Jim on Facebook

Follow Jim on Facebook

Interviews with Jim Potter

Video interview with James Lowe outside Bookends Bookstore July 21, 2022

Print interview with author Bill Bush September 1, 2022

Print interview with author Cheryl Unruh February 28, 2019

Hutchinson Magazine Article

Copyright © 2023 Sandhenge Publications · Website by Rosemary Miller