A Cowboy in Carpathia: A Bob Howard Adventure by Teel James Glenn
Cover art by Larry Nadolsky
Published by Pro Se Productions
Winner of Best Pulp Novel of 2021 from the Pulp Factory Awards

Robert E. Howard is a name to conjure with. What comes to your mind first? Conan? Bran Mak Morn? Solomon Kane? In such a short time span he created and breathed life into characters that have endured for almost a century. With his life cut short, and with such a promising writing career under his belt we're all left to wonder what the future would have held if he had chosen to live.

Teel James Glenn's story begins on that fateful day. What if Howard had chosen to live? With nothing left to keep him in Cross Plains, Howard decides to go see the world he has written about but never seen. He travels to New York, England, and onward into Europe. Along his journey Howard makes fast friends because of his stark integrity and his stiff-necked determination to see the right thing done.

I first became aware of A Cowboy in Carpathia when Airship 27 congratulated this year's Pulp Factory Award winners. The review by Ron Fortier of Airship 27 sealed the deal. This is a short, fast paced novel that boasts only 194 pages. A quick entertaining read. Although, writing a fictional account of an author who is held in such high regard is bound to receive mixed reactions. It is an ambitious endeavor, but I welcome it wholeheartedly. Glenn incorporates characters both real and fictional to populate his tale. If you like this sort of thing another novel to check out is The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma.

This was the first time I had encountered anything published by Pro Se Productions, although they have been publishing since April of 2010. Here's a little bit about them in their own words:

"Pro Se Productions is a leading independent Publisher on the cutting edge of New Pulp and Genre Fiction today. Pro Se has made a commitment to 'Put the Monthly Back into Pulp' and continues to do that successfully, producing at least one new work every month! Pro Se is an innovator in the Genre Fiction market, continually refining its presentation and product and working on exciting new veins of New Pulp to bring to readers and fans of all ages everywhere!"

Go check out their online catalog: Pro Se Productions and be sure to look them up on social media.

Sadly I was also unfamiliar with Teel James Glenn. This isn't his first foray into fiction either. From his website: "Author, Actor, Stuntman, Stunt choreography. Teel James Glenn embodies the idea of creative expression in all forms and fields of the creative arts." Be sure to visit him on the web: Teel James Glenn Urban Swashbuckler.

I eagerly anticipate more adventures of Bob Howard in the future.