To publish and preserve 1000 classics - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

 Published a nice paperback version of "Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen today. The woman could by-God write. Priced at 10.45.

Here's the link:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/jane-austen/northanger-abbey/paperback/product-zmyze9w.html?q=northanger+abbey&page=1&pageSize=4

Six classic novels published, nine hundred and ninety-four to go.

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 18, 2025

 June 18, 2025 and eighty years ago on this day in 1945, Actress Laurie Sibbald, who played the blind “Nara” in the pilot episode of the Ron Ely Tarzan television series, “Eye of the Lion,” was born in Los Angeles. She only had eight television credits, “Tarzan,” “The Girl From Uncle,” “No Time For Sergeants,” “F Troop,” “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies,” “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” and “Dennis the Menace.” Her only film was “Under the Yum Yum Tree.”

Laurie’s star burned brightly for a little over three years in the mid-1960s and then, she seems to have disappeared. I hope she’s well wherever she is.

Details about the first episode of Tarzan starring Ron Ely: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7421.html

Not sure what Nara’s history was, the episode never really made it clear. Her parents were killed when their riverboat exploded and she was raised by natives who were killed in a tribal The same explosion that killed her parents blinded her. Her adoptive father trained a Seeing Eye Lion. She feels she can live alone but Tarzan convinces her she has to trust someone and be with people.

The 100-word fictional drabble for today, Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?, was inspired by her role as Nara, the woman with a Seeing-Eye-Lion. A little credit to my high school Latin teacher, Leon Cherrington. The title translates to “Who will guard those selfsame guardians?”

Tarzan realized the woman was blind and being led by a large lion. He said, “My name’s Tarzan. It’s dangerous in the jungle, especially a woman who can’t see.”

“I’m Nara. I see with my ears and my nose. I’m not alone. I have my lion.”

“The jungle is filled with dangerous men and animals.”

“I’ve got a lion.”

“You’d be safer in civilization.”

“Will I keep my lion in a city?”

“No, but there'll men whose job it is to protect you and keep you safe."

“And who’s to protect me from those protectors? I’ll stay with my lion.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025 and 107 years ago on this day in 1918, artist Charles Edmund Monroe was born. He illustrated the covers for seven Tarzan novels reprinted by Grosset and Dunlap from 1948 through 1950. He didn’t do the illustration for “Tarzan and the Ant Men.”

The reprints were published in two formats, hardcovers with dust jackets for general release and hardcovers with printed boards for libraries.

C. E. Monroe was trained at the Howard Pyle School of Illustration Art, Monroe created covers for Tarzan books, among many other magazine and commercial commissions. In 1994, he was honored by the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama for his wildlife and sporting art. He was originally a landscape artist, but moved on to portraits and book and magazine covers. His’s best known for his wildlife artwork.

Robert Barrett penned an excellent article about Monroe and the entire article is available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag64/6415.html

The 100-word drabble for today is, “Wildlife,” a fictional conversation between Monroe and Grosset & Dunlap.

Artist Edmund Monroe talked to the cover designer for Grosset & Dunlap publishing. The designer said, “Ed, I love your landscape work and I’ve come to appreciate your portraits, but I envision that the new Tarzan covers will be action-filled.”

“I can draw action. I’ve done several magazine covers featuring wildlife. Nothing says action like a bird in flight or a predator on the prowl”

“With respect, I don’t see how that qualifies you to illustrate Tarzan.”

“With respect, Tarzan is the definition of wildlife and if you don’t know that he’s the apex predator, you haven’t read the books.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025 and fifty-seven years ago on this day in 1968, Russ Manning’s first Tarzan Sunday comic story arc, “Tarzan Returns to the Land of the Ant Men, concluded after a run of 23 weeks. The entire story arc may be viewed at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1760.html

Without saying too much about the story, a woman named Marlene becomes completely infatuated with Tarzan. Marlene spent some time in Ant Man size and upon returning to normal size her clothes didn’t fit. Tarzan made her a quasi- bikini from ostrich feathers, a costume she wore for the remainder of the story. Another interesting observation in the story is the problem with regaining full size if you’re somewhere that’s going to be a problem. Think Alice In Wonderland when Alice suddenly grew bigger than a house.

As always, beautiful art and an excellent story. Check it out.

The 100-word drabble for today is “When I’m Six Foot Four,” and it was inspired by “Tarzan Returns to the Land of the Ant Men.” Credit goes to the Beatles for “When I’m Sixty-Four.”

When I get taller, regaining my height

Only hours from now,

Will you go swinging with me on a vine,

dance in the jungle, forever be mine.

If I'd been hiding in a tree,

Would you think me a bore?

I hope and I plead that I’ll be what you need

When I'm six foot four?

You'll be taller too.

Just say the word,

I could stay with you.

Give me your answer, show me sign,

Now that we’re bigger, will you still be mine.

I hope and I plead that I’ll be what you need

When I'm six-foot four?

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 15, 2025

 June 15, 2025 and on this day ninety-five years ago in 1930, Edgar Rice Burroughs began the western story, “That Damn Dude.” He changed the title to “The Brass Heart.” It was published by Thrilling Magazine as “The Terrible Tenderfoot” and by ERB Inc. as “The Deputy Sheriff of Comanche County.” Collier's rejected the story. The story was also rejected by the Saturday Evening Post, Liberty, Ladies Home Journal, Blue Book, Argosy (twice), and College Humor. Five years later he re-submitted the manuscript to Liberty under the title "The Brass Heart" using the pseudonym, John Mann. Liberty rejected it again. The story eventually saw print in Thrilling Adventures in 1940.

Details about the publishing travails of the novel are to be found at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0777.html

By cosmic coincidence, yesterday, I received copy of “The Terrible Tenderfoot,” as published in conjunction with the 2022 Dum-Dum hosted by Jimmie Goodwin in San Antonio, Texas. The copy is signed by Jimmie and by artist Douglas Kluba and was limited to 100 copies. Thank you, Jimmie.

The photograph is of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Florence, Mary Lucas Pfleuger (in the flowered dress), and her husband Wayne – September 7, 1940. The novel was dedicated to Mary Lucas Pfleuger and I often wondered who she was and why ERB dedicated a book to her.

The drabble for today, Deserved Dedication,” is fictional, but ERB and the Pfleugers often played bridge, so could be.

Joan Burroughs Pierce said, “Dad, I don’t understand why “The Brass Heart” hasn’t sold. It’s a perfectly good western.”

“I agree.”

“One question. Who is Mary Lucas Pfleuger? You dedicated the book to her.”

“She and her husband regularly play bridge with me. He’s a big deal with the sugar farmers association.”

“Anything else?”

“She bids and plays like a madwoman. She overbid us to seven no trump doubled and redoubled at a three cents a point. I told her if she made it, I’d dedicate a book to her. She did. We earned a $100 each on that hand.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 14, 2025

 June 14, 2025, Flag Day, and 0n this day one hundred and seven years ago 1918, Captain Edgar Rice Burroughs of the Second Illinois Infantry Reserve Militia gave a speech on Flag Day in Oak Park Illinois.

The entire speech may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2853.html

The drabble for today is “National Emblem,” a 100 word-excerpt from that speech. Pretty good advice.

"We should be proud to openly acknowledge our love of country and of flag, which stands for the best and noblest ideals which we cherish -- it is no better and no worse than these ideals - the flag is what we make it. If as individuals our ideals are unworthy so will our flag become unworthy in the eyes of the other peoples of the world and thus it behooves us to foster in our own bosoms characteristics of honor and integrity, of chivalry and humanity that our beloved flag may reflect only the highest. This is our duty."

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 13, 2025

 June 13, 2025 and seventy-six years ago on this day in 1951, Actress Bessie Toner, who appeared in the silent films, “Tarzan of the Apes,” and “The Romance of Tarzan,” died in Los Angeles, California. Bessie only had seven film credits. Her role in “The Romance of Tarzan” wasn’t clearly defined, but in the 1918 “Tarzan of the Apes,” she played a barmaid.

For details about the two films, I suggest https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0503.html

and https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0504.html

When radio and sound pictures became popular, she left the film industry and had a successful career as a voice teacher. Elizabeth Toner married S. Russell Chesley, a businessman and socialite in 1914. She had two sons, Harry Childs Jr., from her first marriage, and Russell Chesley Jr., from her second. She moved with her family to Los Angeles in 1918 to pursue her acting career. Her grandson, Russell H. Chesley, is an entertainment industry executive and motion picture writer and producer.

The one hundred word fictional drabble for today, “Don’t Like Your Tone,” was inspired by Bessie’s decision to change careers and become a “voice” teacher. To quote Friedrich Nietzsche, “We often refuse to accept an idea merely because the tone of voice in which it has been expressed is so unsympathetic to us.” There’s an axiom about arguments, “10% of conflicts are due to a difference of opinion. 90% are due to the wrong tone of voice. Alas, Bessie, we need you today more than ever!”

“Russel,” Bessie Toner, said to her husband. “I’m giving up making pictures and opening a studio to teach actors how to talk.”

“That’s nice, dear, but everyone I know already knows how to talk.”

“Not really. Talkies and radio need people who enunciate properly and can communicate emotions with the tone of their voices and the slightest inflection when they speak.”

“Will people pay for that? My dear, I’m at a lost as to why you think you’re qualified to teach such a thing.”

Bessie froze him with a word. “Really!”

Russell blanched. “Sorry. I understand now. You’ll be perfect.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 12, 2025

 June 12, 2025 and one hundred and one years ago on this day in 1914, All-Story’s editor, Robert Davis, encouraged Ed to lengthen The Girl from Farris’s and write sequels to The Mucker, The Mad King and At The Earth’s Core. It’s a good thing that Burroughs agreed. Otherwise we wouldn’t have the second halves of “The Mucker” or “The Mad King.” “Pellucidar” was the first of six sequels to “At The Earth’s Core.”

Details about all of these books are on www.erbzine.com

The drabble for today is “I Do It My Way,” and it features Major Bouncingbutt, an aspiring writer and colonial governor in an imaginary version of Tarzan’s Africa. It is inspired by arrogant writers, real life archetypes of the major. The final sentence quotes Carl Sagan.

Jane said, “Major Bouncingbutt, Tarzan said you’ve published a new novel.”

“It’s the fourth in my “Great Rift Lost Race” series.”

“How did the first three books sell?”

“Well, my mother bought copies.”

“Will you use distributors for the new book and place it in bookshops?”

“Share the royalties. Never!”

“You could consider conventional publication methods.”

“Publishers edit my perfect manuscripts and demand a lion’s share of the profits. No thank you.”

“Mayor, 100% of nothing is nothing.”

“Only I am qualified to edit and publish my stories.”

“How ever unfortunate. Nothing disturbs me more than the glorification of stupidity.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025 and nineteen years ago on this day in 2006, Artist Timothy Hildebrandt, Ballantine cover artist for The War Chief and Apache Devil, died in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Details about the novel, “The War Chief: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0773.html

and about “Apache Devil: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0775.html

Timothy and his twin brother Greg, were collectively known as “The Brothers Hildebrandt” and collectively produced fantasy and science fiction illustrations for comic books, movie posters, novels, advertisements, and trading cards. The duo is probably best known for their “Lord of the Rings” illustrations and a little painting that they did for Star Wars.

In 1981, the two decided to work separately.

The 100 word drabble for today, “Farewell, Friends” is an excerpt from “Bilbo’s Last Song,” written by J. R. R. Tolkien. The website, www.livejournal.com, included the complete poem in Tim’s obituary and I can do no less than use part of it for this post.

Day is ended, dim my eyes,

but journey long before me lies.

Farewell, friends! I hear the call.

The ship’s beside the stony wall.

Foam’s white and waves are grey;

beyond the sunset leads my way.

Foam’s salt, the wind is free;

I hear the rising of the Sea.

Farewell, friends! The sails are set,

the wind is east, the moorings fret.

Shadows long before me lie,

beneath the ever-bending sky,

but islands lie behind the Sun

that I shall raise ere all is done;

lands there are to west of West,

where night is quiet and sleep is rest.

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 10, 2025

 June 10, 2025 and ten years ago on this day in 2015, the graphic novel adaption of “Jungle Tales of Tarzan” became available in comic shops and book stores across the United States. The official release date of this beautiful book by author Martin Powell and creative director, Diana Leto, was June 16th.

The graphic novel was authorized by ERB, Inc. through Sequential Pulp’s distribution arrangement with Dark Horse Comics. The book collected the twelve loosely connected short stories written by Edgar Rice Burroughs chronicling the life of his most famous character, Tarzan of the Apes. All the events of the original work happened within chapter eleven of Tarzan of the Apes between Tarzan’s avenging of his ape foster mother’s death and his becoming the leader of his ape tribe. The original stories ran in Blue Book magazine from September 1916 through August 1917 prior to the book’s publication in 1919.

Publishing history and several illustrations for Jungle Tales of Tarzan - https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0492.html

There was a signed and limited edition, signed by Jim Sullos, Cathy Willbanks, Linda Burroughs, Llana Jane Burroughs, and Dejah Burroughs. There’s one other signature that I can’t make out.

My copy was also signed to me by writer, Robin Maxwell, who wrote a short introduction. The 100-word drabble for today, “In The Jungle, the Mighty Jungle,” is excerpted and adapted from that introduction. Hope the adaption is okay, Robin, I only have 100 words.

“Tarzan may be the most recognizable figure in the history of literature. He’s also the most misunderstood. Unless we’ve read the original books, we know next to nothing.

“The Tarzan you’ll meet in this graphic novel based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Jungle Tales of Tarzan” a collection of twelve linked short stories, is living among the Mangani as a feral man-child of almost twenty. It is Tarzan before Jane. Tarzan before the moment of consciousness that he is human and not Mangani. Tarzan, through his adventures, creating the legend that precedes the coming of the white man into his jungle.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - June 9, 2025

 June 9, 2025 and on this day three years ago in 2022, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. published first edition of “Tarzan and the Forest of Stone” by Jeffery J. Mariotte. Fun story, well worth reading. The book is available at: https://edgarriceburroughs.com/store/product/tarzan-and-the-forest-of-stone/

Jeffery J. Mariotte lives in Arizona where the petrified forest is located. That’s a hint. He’s written original novels and novels and comics based on licensed characters including Buffy, Angel, Charmed, Terminator, CSI, Supernatural, Star Trek, and Las Vegas.

The 100-word drabble for today. “Busy Boy,” is taken from Jeff’s website.

Mariotte has written well north of seventy books, including thrillers, westerns, mysteries, horror, fantasy, and more. Three novels have won Scribe Awards for Best Original Novel, presented by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. He’s won the San Diego Comic Con Inkpot Award and is a co-winner of the Mystery Writers of America Raven Award. He’s been a finalist for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award, the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, the International Horror Guild Award, and for comics writing, the Harvey Award and the Glyph Award.