The Devil and Preston Black (Murder Ballads and Whiskey) [Kindle Edition]

Jason Jack Miller (Author), Hatch Show Print (Illustrator)

Book Description

Preston Black has a nasty habit of falling in love with the wrong type of woman. But girls who don't play nice are the least of his problems. This handsome bar band guitarist isn't washed-up, but he's about to be. He's broke, he's tired of playing covers and he's obsessed with the Curse of 27.

He's about to add 'deal with the devil' to his list.

Lucky for Preston, he has help. Like the angelic beauty who picks him up when he's down. And the university professor who helps him sort through old Appalachian hexes and curses to find the song that may be his only shot at redemption. And when things get real bad, he has the ghost of John Lennon to remind him that "nothing is real."

Let Raw Dog Screaming Press author Jason Jack Miller take you to a place where love is forever even when death isn't, where magic doesn't have to be seen to be believed, where a song might be the only thing that saves your soul.

MURDER BALLADS AND WHISKEY is a unique blend of dark fiction, urban fantasy and horror. It's Appalachian Gothic, Alt.Magical.Realism, Hillbilly Horror. It's AMERICAN GODS meets JUSTIFIED. TRUE BLOOD with witches. It's Johnny Cash with a fistful of copperheads singing the devil right back to hell.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jason Jack Miller has single-handedly cornered the market on Appalachian Noir fiction, and deservedly so. The Devil and Preston Black is a page-turner laced with an audiophile's longing for the days when music was genuine, and the storytelling reminded me of a strange array of similar stories -- High Fidelity, Crossroads, Justified... -- yet it stood out from the pack as fresh, thanks to Miller's authentic Appalachian voice. Any lover of guitar music or the history of the blues will instantly see themselves reflected in the story, filtered through a noir fuzz pedal, amped up with the electricity of dark fantasy."
Michael A. Arnzen, author of PLAY DEAD and 100 JOLTS, winner of five Bram Stoker awards.

Praise for other books in the MURDER BALLAD AND WHISKEY SERIES:

"I wonder if this book (and its author) represents a changing tide, a new trend in the way books, good books, move from writer to reader."
In 'Hellbender', Is He Speeding Away from Trouble? Or Toward It?
Catherine Ramsdell, Popmatters.com, September 2012

From the Back Cover

Preston Black has a nasty habit of falling in love with the wrong type of woman. But girls who don't play nice are the least of his problems. This handsome bar band guitarist isn't washed-up, but he's about to be. He's broke, he's tired of playing covers and he's obsessed with the Curse of 27.

He's about to add 'deal with the devil' to his list.

Lucky for Preston, he has help. Like the angelic beauty who picks him up when he's down.  And the university professor who helps him sort through old Appalachian hexes and curses to find the song that may be his only shot at redemption. And when things get real bad, he has the ghost of John Lennon to remind him that "nothing is real."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 550 KB
• Print Length: 415 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615472907
• Publisher: Raw Dog Screaming Press; 1 edition (December 8, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004SURM0O
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,888 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Devil of a Good Read March 25, 2011

By Ron Edison

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't like to rehash plot in Amazon reviews--that's the job of the book description, but in brief, THE DEVIL AND PRESTON BLACK (D&PB) is a story that will be familiar to anyone who has ever faced the choice between pursuing their passion and creativity and the need for buckle-down practicality (i.e., a real job).

Black is a likeable character with the best of intentions. He has a dream but he also has family problems, lack-of-family problems, friendship problems, and of course, problems with the women in his life. All of these relationships and problems are woven seamlessly into the plot. (There's a wonderful push-pull in his love life that reminded me of the agonizing Holly Golightly situation in Capote's BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S--male readers will relate.)

In his late 20's, Black faces that crossroads familiar to anyone who dreams of becoming a rock star, movie star, star quarterback, top chef, top model, novelist, champion thrasher or the next Monet: Do you pursue your impossible dream or grow up, give it up and join the rat race? Black faces his now-or-never opportunity: Go for it, or turn back and join the ranks of the muggles and mundanes.

This isn't the first novel to explore such territory. Tom Perotta's THE WISHBONES comes to mind. (Started it twice and never made it to page 40.) And for the record, I should state that I own four guitars, two amps, a bagpipe chanter, a smelly nine-button accordion and a didgeridoo. If you're not a musician (and I don't really consider myself one), your mileage may vary. For me, Black's story brought to mind the struggle of so many singer/songwriters I admire like Dave Alvin, Richard Thompson, Robbie Fulks, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle. These are `second-tier' artists who produce far superior music, but who don't necessarily have Hollywood looks, the glitz or gimmickry that promoters and star-makers look for. They're safe from becoming the next Justin Bieber and probably better off for it. Preston Black is in good company with them.

And speaking of music, one of the most difficult things for a writer to achieve is articulating the magical spell that music weaves over us. Writing about music is like writing about sex--it means something to everyone but resonates differently for each of us. The difficulty is finding that commonality and painting it in a fresh, meaningful way. And for me, the glowing highlight of D&PB is how Miller handles the music. Most writers can mimic the clichés and jargon of music reviews. They open a window for us to look inside and you shrug and say `Yep, that seems like making music.' But Miller builds a door, drags us inside, sets us down, and makes us listen, makes us feel. We get Preston Black's perspective as both listener and as a performer. This is no small feat; even writers who are capable musicians fail miserably at this. In D&PB, not only do we feel the music, but we also feel Black's passion and drive and that's a lot of what pulls us through the novel. If you've ever been in a garage band, tickled a few keys, plucked a string or two, or played air guitar with your mom's broom, you've probably shared Black's wannabe rock-star dream. Miller captures that mania and drive beautifully. It's the force behind Black's character, tempered with flaws and enough baggage to stuff an SUV.

But you don't have to be a musician to enjoy this novel. Music aside, Miller does an outstanding job of bringing this West Virginia/Pennsylvania milieu (both off-the-grid rural and urban) to vivid life. (I almost got heartburn from the pepperoni rolls but he thankfully spares us from scrapple.) There are some delightful supernatural overtones but it is not a paranormal story. The narrative and dialogue is sprinkled with colorful colloquialisms and clever similes reminiscent of the best Southern writers. It's a story that could easily have taken place in Manhattan, LA, or Paris (and a less creative writer would probably have placed it there), but I found it all the richer for the colorful and intriguing world it presents. There are very few novels that make me feel like I've really been somewhere and lived someone else's life. This is one of them.

Now excuse me while I break out my Strat and re-string my Ovation.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Down the old plank road... March 21, 2011

By J Brain

Format:Kindle Edition

Using his keyboard like Joe Strummer used his guitar, Jason Jack Miller gives us a version of the kind of tragedy found in old songs like LONG BLACK VEIL and BANKS OF THE OHIO. Poor Preston Black just wants to be a rock star, and maybe find his pap along the way. Instead he ends up ass over teakettle in a deal with the devil he doesn't remember making.

Miller's vivid landscapes and attention to detail pull you into his version of Appalachia. He weaves a mix of magic and witchcraft into everyday life to tell a balanced story that's a fun, fast read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a great new author January 6, 2012

By G. Krisch

Format:Kindle Edition

Miller infuses his tale of longing and self-discovery with so many subtle and overt (in a good way) nods to music and its creators that his passion for music is quite evident. Even if you don't know all of the references, you know the type of music gods he's referring to. He also has created such a believable character in Preston Black that you care about the many ups and downs Miller puts him through. The finale, which I won't give away here, literally sent goosebumps down my arms. I can't remember the last time that happened while reading a book. All in all, a great read from an author with a mature voice. I look forward to reading more by Jason Jack Miller.

More About the Author

Jason Jack Miller is a writer, photographer and musician whose work has appeared online and in print in newspapers, magazines and literary journals, and as a smart phone travel app. He has co-authored a travel guide with his wife and served as a photographer-in-residence at a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Jason is an Authors Guild member who received a Master's in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill where he is adjunct creative writing faculty. In between projects Jason can be found mountain biking in West Virginia or looking for his next favorite guitar. Find him at http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com.