My mermaid/tiki/zombie noir novel now available!

My first novel in 14 years and my second published, A MERMAID DROWNS IN THE MIDNIGHT LOUNGE is now available on Lulu.com
It will be available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online outlets in a few weeks.

The "Midnight Lounge" of the title is actually a tiki bar where with a jukebox full of Exotica.

WARNING: this novel contains explicit sex, graphic violence, gratuitous B movie and musical references, an Elvis-spawned zombie apocalypse, and parallel dimensions.

Front cover image by Mike Lewis, http://www.mikelewis.ca/

Back cover:

The book also comes with a companion CD with an original "book score" by Actual Rafiq (ordered separately), MUSIC FOR A DROWNING MERMAID, four cool, weird instrumentals. Sort of sounds like David Lynch retro-porn music.
http://www.myspace.com/actualrafiq

Order novel from Lulu
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-mermaid-drowns-in-the-midnight-lounge/11780126

Order CD from Lulu
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/music-for-a-drowning-mermaid/11915415

San Francisco Bay Guardian article plugging book:
http://www.sfbg.com/pixel_vision/2010/07/14/will-thrill-says-good-bye-kinda-movies-and-hello-mermaid

Oakland Tribune article plugging book and my new monthly Monday movie nites at Forbidden Island, FORBIDDEN THRILLS
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_15176430

See many of you at Tiki Oasis where Monica Tiki Goddess and I are hosting Movie Nite, Thrillville's final "road show"
http://www.tikioasis.org/entertainment/

MERMAID Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/mermaidlounge
FORBIDDEN THRILLS Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/forbiddenthrills

cheers & aloha, Will

Awesome! Can't wait till it turns into a movie! Sounds like you hit almost all the B-movie classic elements. You should have an audio version of the first few pages to get us hooked, so we buy it!

I'm not tech-savvy enough to create an audio file, Tony, though that's a great idea, I'll figure it out like I've figured out all the other social media networking required for DIY media. There are some excerpts on the MERMAID Facebook fan page, though, and on my blog here: http://willthrillville.blogspot.com/2010/05/mermaid-drowns-in-midnight-lounge-thats.html
Cheers.

Oh yea, Jason Croft is printing the first two chapters of MERMAID in the next issue of BACHELOR PAD MAGAZINE, #13, on sale in September, I believe.

I told some people this book existed and everyone thought is was one of my crazy tiki mermaid zombie rants that had no basis in reality.

I often have the same problem, brudda. That's why I posted pictures.

fyi now available as an ebook:
http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/a-mermaid-drowns-in-the-midnight-lounge/12095352

more on the book in this recent SF Chronicle interview
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-07-31/entertainment/22005347_1_surf-bands-surf-music-four-bands

cheers

Nice, a cool book with it's own soundtrack. The only thing missing is it's own drink. "The drowning mermaid: garnish with fish tail and enjoy."

Nice, a cool book with it's own soundtrack. The only thing missing is it's own drink. "The drowning mermaid: garnish with fish tail and enjoy."

I just got my copy from Lulu the other day and have just started reading it.

Thanks! A certain Scott Fulks just posted the very first readers review on the Lulu MERMAID page:

"Just finished reading "A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge". No spoilers in this review; this thing is all about mood and style just as the work itself. It took me two days to finish the book because I just couldn't bring myself to read it in daylight. It's a sort of pulp film noir for the video generation, all fast cuts and plenty of lurid action on every page. Reading it felt like taking a drive to the corner store at night in the rain making all left turns and ending up parked in front of an opium den in Morocco. Sorry, no Haagen Daz here! I strongly advise having a bottle of booze and a dirty glass handy while reading this... not so much to drink, but to bring the mood of the story into your space."

As the author, I must concur. This book is definitely hallucinatory, alcoholic-sanctioned material. Basically a "review" like that will either seduce or repel the prospective reader, depending on one's tastes in literature. It is intentionally a "pulp film noir for the video generation."

If you like SIN CITY, you'll like this book, I think. And though you have to order it separately, I highly recommend the companion "soundtrack" MUSIC FOR A DROWNING MERMAID, it'll definitely put you in the required "Morocco opium den" sorta mood.
Print book, ebook and CD all available here
http://stores.lulu.com/willviharo
Cheers.

ps I'll post when MERMAID is available via Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com and ordering via your local bookseller (in a month or so, once the ISBN# has gone through the wholesaler's system), though when it's sold via retail outlets, my cut per book is reduced to .86 cents!

[ Edited by: AquaZombie 2010-08-08 16:30 ]

Heads up:
Koop Kooper just interviewed me about A MERMAID DROWNS IN THE MIDNIGHT LOUNGE for his popular COCKTAIL NATION podcast, the installment (#138) premiering this Saturday, August 21 (when I'll be hosting Movie Nite at Tiki Oasis!), but then archived and available for download on his site, http://www.cocktailnation.net/
He'll also be playing a tune from the book's soundtrack, MUSIC FOR A DROWNING MERMAID. Thanks, mate! Cheers.

Here's the link to download the podcast of Cocktail Nation 138

http://cocktailnation.podbean.com/2010/08/21/cocktail-nation-138-will-the-thrill/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cocktailnation+%28Cocktail+Nation%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

Cocktail Nation thanks to Tiki Shark with Koop Kooper. on the show this week we talk to Will the Thrill about his brand new book, I’ve got news about an incredible video store that is closing down this week, but there will be some bargains for you to grab, there’s some more Bond film news. I’ll let you know about a fantastic release for that you need to have in your collection, in our ask koop segment we find out how you should handle an accidental dog poisoning issue, there’s the world of swank and a cool blog to follow in our blogosphere.

Tiki Joe’s Ocean-Moonlight Moods

Combustible Edison-Breakfast at Denny’s

Actual Raiq-Lunar lounge lizard

Esquivel & His Orchestra - La Raspa

Martini Kings-Fly Me To The Moon

Kenny Sasaki-Slow Dancer

Jackie Gleason-Get Out Of Town

Mr Ho’s Orchestrotica-Arab Dance

Frank Sinatra- All My Tomorrows

Bob Thompson- On The Rocks

Les Baxter- The Other Side of the Moon

Jimmy Vargas-Black Widow

Royal Crown Revue-Deadly Night Call

Two more readers reviews for MERMAID, posted on its Lulu page
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-mermaid-drowns-in-the-midnight-lounge/12037132

Aug. 17, 2010 By koop kooper
A fantastic book that manages to grab every b grade scenario and character you could think of. A spinnning and heady journey through the dark world of noir, just watch out for the Elvis Zombies! You can hear my interview with the Author Will Viharo by heading to http://www.cocktailnation.net

Aug. 25, 2010 By a Lulu User
This book was not what I expected at all and in a very very good way. On first glance it is a sort of pulp adventure, but it goes very interesting places very quickly. Three people picking this book up and turning to any random page and reading what they found would disagree wildly on what this book is about... and they would all be wrong. Wild, fun, uncomfortably personal at times, this book is so far up my alley that I just got mugged.

also, if the guy holding the book in this photo (Michael) is reading this, dude: you left your (signed!) book behind at Tiki Oasis!?! Email me [email protected] and I'll mail it to you.

Aloha.

[ Edited by: AquaZombie 2010-08-25 12:31 ]

Issue #13 of BACHELOR PAD MAGAZINE, now at press, features the first two chapters of MERMAID in addition to my usual movie column, this one on classic gangsters, and Michael, your book is on the way, cheers.
http://www.bachelorpadmagazineonline.com/

Cool Beans!!
-Michael

It is a little known fact that real hula girls had long armpit hair.
I recently bought the book - looking forward to reading that and the bachelor pad issue.

Mahalo, Martian! Let us all know what you think, you too, Michael, cheers.

Last week Koop Kooper interviewed me about the book and played one track off the soundtrack, "Music for a Drowning Mermaid" by Actual Rafiq, the selection being "Lunar Lounge Lizard." You can download that show here for free
http://cocktailnation.podbean.com/2010/08/21/cocktail-nation-138-will-the-thrill/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cocktailnation+%28Cocktail+Nation%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

This week Koop brought Rafiq back and played another tune off the original book score, called "One Way Ticket to Thrillville" - ironically, this same program features an interview with Tony of the Martini Kings, here's me with the boys at the premiere of their short film about the making of "The Buddy Greco Sessions" at Tiki Oasis Movie Nite last Saturday:

download and dig it all here:

http://cocktailnation.podbean.com/2010/08/28/cocktail-nation-139-martini-kings-vs-shag/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cocktailnation+%28Cocktail+Nation%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

On the show this week we talk to Tony Marscio from the Martini Kings about the stack of releases from the guys recently some great music to add to your collecion, Last friday night I caught up with Shag at the Outre Gallery here in Sydney and I’ll play back that chat for you as we check out his inscrutable mystery guide, our segments ask Koop and the blogosphere back this week plus we’ll take a look at Tiki Oasis from last weekwww.cocktailnation.net

Vibes On Velvet-Jorges Basement

Cal Tjader-The Way You Look Tonight

Martini Kings-Lost In Paradise

Julie London- The End of a Love Affair

Waitiki7 -Ruby Janet Seidel- Straight To Baby

Moe Koffman- Swinging Shepard Blues

Acutal Rafiq-One way ticket to Thrillville

Frank Sinatra- The Best is Yet To Come

Alvino Rey-A Swingin Fling

Les Baxter- Saturday Night on Saturn

Chet Baker- The Touch of Your Lips

Frank Bennett -Everything Counts

Tiki Joes Ocean-Sand Bar

[ Edited by: AquaZombie 2010-08-28 18:13 ]

MERMAID is finally available via these popular online marketplaces:

AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/Mermaid-Drowns-Midnight-Lounge/dp/0557548993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283197256&sr=8-1

BARNES AND NOBLE
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/9780557548996/?itm=1&USRI=a+mermaid+drowns+in+the+midnight+lounge

or via special customer order from your local bookstore.
Aloha and thanks for reading.

"Will Viharo drinks Chuck Palahniuk and Hunter S. Thompson under the table at a tiki bar with A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge."

I actually think I kinda want to read this. You really had me at David Lynch Porno music. lol

The latest issue of BACHELOR PAD MAGAZINE, #13, is now available, featuring not only my regular movie column (this one on Gangster Flix) but also excerpts from MERMAID:
http://www.bachelorpadmagazineonline.com/

btw, my novel DOWN A DARK ALLEY will be available very soon from Lulu.com and Amazon, with direct tiki references including the Mai Kai and Tiki Ti's

and my very first novel, CHUMPY WALNUT, available next week via Lulu.com, and later Amazon.com, etc, featuring my original illustrations, and a reference to a place called "The Hula Lounge", cheers

snip

Tiki Ti's

I needed to read Ti's twice because my brain read the text wrong with all those T's and I's.

Just taped my second guest shot on CREEPY KOFY MOVIE TIME,hosted by No Name and Balrok (pictured below, with house band the Deadlies, and Monica) to plug MERMAID. Episode is slated to air October 2 on KOFY TV20/Cable 13,11PM, the movie will be FRANKENSTEIN'S CASTLE OF FREAKS.
http://www.kofytv.com/whats-on/programs/37282374.html

Here is the video of my appearance on Creepy KOFY Movie Time, 10/2/10, plugging MERMAID as well as my "Forbidden Thrills" movie nite at Forbidden Island, and Bachelor Pad Magazine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT-_qZUj3a0

btw, CHUMPY WALNUT and DOWN A DARK ALLEY are now available as well:
http://stores.lulu.com/willviharo
http://www.thrillville.net/fiction/index.html

cheers, Will

btw:
CHUMPY makes reference to an imaginary nightclub called The Diamondhead Hula Lounge
and DOWN A DARK ALLEY contains numerous tiki references, including Tiki-Ti and the Mai Kai

Edit - this mug is an auction photo of the MUNKTIKI FEEJEE MERMAID Tiki Mug 38/100 from Tiki Farm

[ Edited by: martian-tiki 2010-10-13 23:22 ]

Martian-tiki, that is AWESOME. That figure pretty much sums up my book.

btw here is my previous appearance on Creepy KOFY from September '09, plugging not only Thrillville but also my Oakland Mai Tai campaign for the Conga Lounge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I4JDvUOW1s

Here's a reader's review by someone many of you know, Ferenc of Pollo del Mar, as posted on the Surf Guitar 101 forum
http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=184834#184834

"A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge" by Will Viharo.
First off, don't believe a thing I say because Will is a good friend of mine.
However, Will is a very talented writer who has recently come back to fiction after at least a 15 year break. And the ideas that bubble out of his head are outrageous. It's obvious that this guy has watched way to many B movies, and this is the story of a B-movie, as told from the writer's p.o.v. (he yearns to be like his characters), the characters (who just take all the weirdness without asking questions) and the director (and real writer) who manipulates all, but is completely manipulated himself. Zombies, dead Elvises, tiki bars, lounge singers, gang rape by biker gangs, exploitation, exploitation, exploitation. If you know Will, you will see many parallels to his own life, as he works through the drama that has surrounded him over the years. In fact, his frequently updated blog becomes another active p.o.v. to this novel.
As I said, don't believe me, but if this wasn't an engrossing read, I wouldn't recommend it.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-mermaid-drowns-in-the-midnight-lounge/12037132
AMAZON http://www.amazon.com/Mermaid-Drowns-Midnight-Lounge/dp/0557548993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283197256&sr=8-1
BARNES & NOBLE http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/9780557548996/?itm=1&USRI=a+mermaid+drowns+in+the+midnight+lounge

btw, my novel CHUMPY WALNUT now available now available from AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/Chumpy-Walnut-Will-Viharo/dp/0557600375/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287697260&sr=1-3
and BARNES & NOBLE
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Chumpy-Walnut/Will-Viharo/e/9780557600373/?itm=1&USRI=chumpy+walnut

aloha

5 Star Review by fellow author and exotica enthusiast, "Tiki" Christ Pinto, on MERMAID'S Amazon page
http://www.amazon.com/Mermaid-Drowns-Midnight-Lounge/dp/0557548993/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288817319&sr=8-2

"Will The Thrill is no newcomer to writing. He's been around the block
and his professionalism as a writer is proven in this book. Let me say
this book isn't for everyone...it's far out there, taking insane twi...sts
that pull you into his insane universe. But if you dig old-style noir
fiction updated and re-imagined, mixed with the supernatural and kicked
with lurid sex, blood, and booze, this tome is for you. Will doesn't
hold anything back. He writes with his brain and his gut twisted
together and fearlessly puts it out there for the world to love it or
hate it. Some people will call it trash. They're the ones who just don't
get it, and that's too bad for them. The rest of the world will dig it,
especially if you dig down-and-dirty insanity with plenty of
supernatural creatures, vivid descriptions and a truly retro style. This
book is all kinds of fun to read. Not one page is fluff. Looking
forward to reading more of Will's work soon!"

Dig it: giving a copy of "Mermaid" to Stuart "Re-Animator" Gordon at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco, 11/16/10 - zombies, sex, mayhem - it's right up his alley!

Couple more shots of cult filmmaker Stuart Gordon "re-animating" my "Mermaid"

In this one I explain that the book comes with its own original soundtrack, "Music for a Drowning Mermaid," by Actual Rafiq.

I also had a Re-animator encounter recently!

Is that Barbara Crampton in the top photo?

I'm almost done reading it and love it! It's like raymond chandler meets dean koontz by way of bettie page!

I'm almost done reading it and love it! It's like raymond chandler meets dean koontz by way of bettie page!

I'm almost done reading it and love it! It's like raymond chandler meets dean koontz by way of bettie page!

I'm almost done reading it and love it! It's like raymond chandler meets dean koontz by way of bettie page!

Thanks, dangergirl, cheers!

On 2010-11-18 10:30, AquaZombie wrote:
Is that Barbara Crampton in the top photo?

Kathleen Kinmont "Bride of Re-Animator"

Yea, that doesn't look like Barbara. Haven't seen BRIDE in a while. If you liked those movies, you'll love MERMAID. I told Stuart my book is more warped than "Re-Animator"!

On 2010-09-06 20:57, martian-tiki wrote:
"Will Viharo drinks Chuck Palahniuk and Hunter S. Thompson under the table at a tiki bar with A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge."

Hey man, I just noticed this! I'll take that as a compliment! THANKS!
ps I should put this quote on the next edition, it's PERFECT!

[ Edited by: AquaZombie 2010-11-18 17:15 ]

In the last couple of years I haven't read books hardly at all, I used to read a book every couple of days. Mermaid was the only one I made time for lately and completely enjoyed.

I met Joe Knetter at the same horror convention and mentioned mermaid to him - because his book he was selling also has zombies and lots of semen. Haven't read his yet. http://www.joeknetter.com/books.html

On 2010-11-18 20:30, martian-tiki wrote:
In the last couple of years I haven't read books hardly at all, I used to read a book every couple of days. Mermaid was the only one I made time for lately and completely enjoyed.

I met Joe Knetter at the same horror convention and mentioned mermaid to him - because his book he was selling also has zombies and lots of semen. Haven't read his yet. http://www.joeknetter.com/books.html

"zombies and lots of semen"
the next edition's back cover quotes keep comin', so to speak, thanks! cheers.

Hey martian, I picked up Joe Knetter's book ZOMBIE BUKKAKE based on your "recommendation" - man, that is much more messed up than MERMAID, which has zombies, sex and even zombie sex, but that's all peripheral to the main storyline, as opposed to BEING the storyline! But hey, not only is his book also self-published, but it got him quotes from the likes of Rob Zombie and a stint on The History Channel (!?!) So he's doing something right. Dig the cover, which isn't at all ambiguous as to the content...

Also here's a FB PM I recently received from fellow self-published author/exotica enthusiast TIKI CHRIS PINTO http://wildwoodmurdermystery.com/
summing up why he enjoyed MERMAID, I'm sharing it here since I think he really "gets it" and these bullet points may inspire some of you to take the plunge....

Hey Will, just re-read some of your book again, paying more attention to the nuances. Here's a few things I really dug about it:

• Tying music into scenes to help set the mood, some of the song titles paralleling the charachter's action. I like that device, use it myself sometimes. Really does bring some scenes to life.

• I know the sadness you've gone through with your cat recently. I could feel it as you described your cat Buddy in the book. Last April, the same week Murder Behind The Closet Door dropped, a drunk-ass in a pickup killed our dog Snoopy, while my wife was walking him on the leash, in the grass. He nearly clipped her too. We were devastated. For weeks, the song "My Buddy" ran through my head.

• At first, it was a little confusing with the switching around of realities. But you somehow were able to quickly make it easy to keep track. By the time they started morphing together, it was no problem following along. Damned good writing, to have so much going on and not let the reader get lost.

• You have some seriously screwed up ideas for porn movies. You should produce them. It might revitalize the industry.

• At times, Nick, Delores and Miles reminded me a little of Arthur Dent, Trillion and Zaphod from Hitchhiker's Guide, the way they interacted. Don't know if that was an inspiration or not. Also, I got a Muholland Drive vibe, especially towards the end.

• I have to wonder how much of this you took from your own life experiences, and how much was your imagination. Obviously, the zombie Elvis is real.

These are just a few of the reasons I really liked your book. Cheers, CP

AquaZombie I'll have to make reading that a priority. I sent you a pm a while ago as well.