Who was that masked man?

"Who was that masked man?" So ended each episode of the 1950's television series, The Lone Ranger, starring Clayton Moore as the Ranger and Jay Silverheels as his trusted friend, Tonto. The query would be posed by a benefactor of the Ranger's heroic actions, asking the question to knowing viewers as the two good guys rode into the sunset to the tune of William Tell's overture. Readers of Dogwoods Blush know that the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson, aka "The Night Terror," also wears a mask to hide his features. In the book, he takes the mask from the costume room of the Valhalla Theatre, using a prop from a long-forgotten production of Phantom of the Opera. Bronson wears the mask for two purposes ... to frighten his intended victims before dealing the death blow and to deliver a "shock value" to those same victims when he removes the mask, revealing his true identity. But why a mask from a popular Broadway musical? And what did the mask actually look like? Ah, grasshopper, I am glad that you asked! The mask used by Night Terror in Dogwoods Blush was inspired by the one worn by Herbert Lom in the 1962 Hammer Studios Production of Phantom of the Opera (see above right photo). While many of you are quite familiar with the tremendous success of the Broadway musical and major motion picture starring Gerard Butler, this tale dates back to the silent film era of Universal Studios and is one of the iconic "monsters" of silver screen history. The original Phantom was played by legendary movie pioneer Lon Chaney, Sr., aka "The Man with 1,000 Faces." He was the father of Lon Chaney, Jr., the man who starred in Universal's Wolfman pictures (to be a major motion picture again in 2010). In many ways, Phantom is part of the Universal pantheon of successful screen monsters. He stands shoulder to shoulder with Lugosi's Dracula, Karloff's Frankenstein and Mummy, and Chaney's Wolfman. While Phantom has been remade many times since the original silent era classic, none made a more lasting impression on me than the 1962 version starring Herbert Lom as the horribly scarred, murderously insane musician. England's Hammer Studios energized the old Universal Monsters in the 60's, cementing Christopher Lee's Dracula and Peter Cushing's Frankenstein as rightful heirs to the old Universal characters. Herbert Lom did the same for the pitiful but psychotic Phantom. In all the movie versions, a chilling scene involves the Phantom removing his mask, revealing the horrid features that reside beneath the frightening outer disguise. In the original version starring Chaney, reports state that audiences gasped as the mask was removed and women fainted in fright. This is the feeling I wanted to depict in Dogwoods Blush as Night Terror removes his mask for Arlo Sanchez and Mike Ewing in their fateful confrontations. (See Darren Auck's concept sketch in the above left photo). The initial fear is felt when they are confronted by this frightful man wearing the grotesque mask but the real terror strikes as the mask is removed, revealing the face hidden underneath! In many ways we all wear masks to cover our true intentions. But when the mask is removed, what terrors might then be unleashed on us all? That's the true fear depicted in the many versions of Phantom of the Opera and it's what I attempted to recreate in Dogwoods Blush. Did I manage to succeed? Drop me a line and let me know. Until then, be careful to ask the identity of the man wearing the mask. The answer may be more chilling than anyone could know!

The Lucky Number -- #41

Readers of Dogwoods Blush may have noticed that the number "41" is used twice in prominent scenes. In chapter #2, when the mysterious stranger breaks into the Valhalla Theatre, he immediately goes to dressing room #41, the room once used by the late local acting legend, Angel Andrews-Bronson. The number is used again in a critical later chapter when an unnamed trio (for this post ... I don't want to ruin anything for readers who have not yet read the book) enter an assisted living center and go directly to room #41. The double use of #41 is a tribute to one of my all-time favorite actors in my absolute all-time favorite film, the 1959 epic blockbuster, Ben-Hur. This MGM massive success starred the legendary Charlton Heston in the role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role. In fact, Ben-Hur altogether won 11 Academy Awards, tied after all these years only by James Cameron's Titanic. If you have not seen Ben-Hur, stop reading this post and go rent or buy it right now! For those who have seen it, you know the classic tale of pain and redemption written by Lew Wallace (a Union general during the Civil War and later, Governor of New Mexico who signed the warrant for the arrest of William H. Bonney, aka "Billy the Kid"). The chariot race in the film, where Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur crushes his arch enemy, the Roman Tribune Messala, is still considered one of the most compelling action sequences ever filmed. What does this have to do with #41? Great question! When Tribune Messala condemns Judah to be a galley slave in the Roman Navy, Judah loses his name and is only assigned a number ... you already guessed the number. In 1991, while deployed to Saudi Arabia and eventually to Iraq and Kuwait as part of Operation DESERT STORM, I wrote Mr. Heston a letter relating my love of the film to him and asking for his autograph. When I returned to my home station in Germany several months later, there was the letter from Mr. Heston waiting for me along with a beautifully autographed photo of him in character as Judah Ben-Hur! In the letter he sent that accompanied the photo he wrote, "Thank you for defending so bravely those who needed you so desperately and representing all of us so nobly. You know you have my earnest support and respect." And then he signed it, "Charlton Heston, #41." Over the years, Mr. Heston and I exchanged many letters until his deteriorating health prevented him from continuing. Today his personal assistant, Mrs, Carol Lanning, keeps me up to date on the happenings surrounding Mr. Heston's continuing influence. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Heston at a book signing in St. Louis in 1997. My son Nick was 6-years old and was wearing my US Army hat with my rank attached (Lt. Colonel at the time). Mr. Heston smiled at him, shook his hand and said, "My, you are the youngest lieutenant colonel I have ever met." It was a great memory I will never forget. So when you read Dogwoods Blush and see the references to #41, there's a reason for it. And now you know what that reason is! Thanks for all the memories, #41! You were a real gentleman.

Jeremiah Bronson -- Thanks, Charlie!

He was the ultimate tough-guy to millions of movie goers from the 60's through the 90's. He played good guys and bad, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, syndicate killers and vigilantes bent on vengeance. But no matter what role he played, Charles Bronson ALWAYS played it from the heart ... and nobody did it better. Born to Lithuanian immigrants in Pennsylvania, Charles Buchinsky left the coal mines of his childhood to join the Army Air Corps during WWII. Eventually making his way to Hollywood, this tough-as-nails actor changed his name to "Bronson" and soon landed roles as a bit player to big stars and later, as "one of the guys" in hit films like The Magnificent Seven and The Dirty Dozen. Eventually becoming a big star in Europe though films like Once Upon A Time in the West and Cold Sweat, he found his niche portraying Mafia "hitmen" in films like The Family, The Valachi Papers and The Mechanic. Fame in the USA eluded him until 1974's Death Wish, where Bronson's portrayal as vigilante Paul Kersey catapulted him to the rank of the #1 box-office star in the world. When I first began writing my tale of the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson, it was Charles who formed the perfect image in my mind. I also used his given name, Buchinsky, to label Jeremiah's nemesis, Vladimir. Charles Bronson is a major reason that "action films" even exist today. In my mind, no one ever dealt revenge like tough Charlie Bronson. Rest in peace, sir. For a look at a great Bronson website, go to: http://members.fortunecity.com/bronson1/

The Toughest Sheriff of them All!

Readers of Dogwoods Blush know that the tale is filled with tough-guys sheriffs who kept law and order in fictional Timmons County, Georgia for decades. Two of these heroes are the legendary "Big" Ben Spear, who WAS the law in the county from the 30's to the 90's, and the tormented Jeremiah Bronson who died trying to stop a Russian drug cartel from moving into the county in 1995 ... or so the "official report" stated. While many real-life and fictional characters formed the basis for these characters, none made a bigger impact on me than actor Joe Don Baker's portrayal of heroic Tennessee lawman Buford Pusser in the 1973 hit movie, Walking Tall. The real-life Pusser, elected Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee in the late 60's (possibly the most corrupt county in the USA at the time) proceeded to bring law and order to the county despite overwhelming odds and syndicate intervention. He survived multiple attempts on his life, including a brutal ambush on his family that killed Mrs. Pusser and severely injured him as well. Surviving his horrific wounds, this American hero continued to fight crime until he died in a very suspicious single-car crash on August 21, 1974. I was 15 years old the morning of August 22 when my mom awakened me with the sad news that she'd heard on the radio ... Sheriff Buford Pusser had been killed. But the legend and example of Buford Pusser still lives today, as evidenced by the many movies that still bear tribute to his memory as the uncompromising lawman who could not be bought, bribed or intimidated. In 2000, Tennessee Highway 64 was named the Buford Pusser Highway in his honor. A memorial was erected to him on the spot where he had his fatal accident. And in 2009, with the publication of Dogwoods Blush, I added my own tribute to this great American hero. This excerpt from the book describes a critical scene where Sheriff Jerry Bronson recalls a tragic night from his past:

Jerry had been away from the office and from typical police reports for more than 48 hours. He had been holding a prisoner on the run from McNairy County, Tennessee after he’d escaped from a road work detail near the Arkansas border. He’d agreed to meet the Tennessee sheriff halfway since they were friends and had worked so well together on numerous occasions over the years.

This passage from the book is my homage to the memory of the late, great Sheriff Buford Pusser and to the performance of actor Joe Don Baker, who brought this man to life for so many of us in the 1973 film. The film's slogan was "When was the last time you stood up and applauded a movie?". It stands as one of the most successful in Hollywood's history. And this rugged portrayal was pivotal in depicting the tough sheriffs in Dogwoods Blush. As Reverend Spindola acknowledges in a pivotal scene from Dogwoods, "the bad guys don't stand a chance!"

Roscoe Parker -- Call Him "BACKBONE!"

The primary villain in Dogwoods is the brutal leader of the Broken Bones biker gang, Roscoe Parker, aka "Backbone." His clash(es) with the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson comprise the extremely critical plot points of the book and allow readers to determine what truly sets a man's destiny. Roscoe Parker was patterned after the tremendous character-actor of the 60's - 90's, multi-talented William Smith. Smith is a true Renaissance Man ... world champion arm-wrestler, bodybuilder, Korean War vet, linguist (fluent in at least 5-languages), and of course, actor. When he appeared as the evil Jude Bohner in a 1972 classic episode of Gunsmoke, he was hailed as "the greatest bad-guy character of our time!" While he's played both good guys and bad in more than 300 films and TV shows, (many fans will remember him as the fighter who stood against Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can), I will always think of him as the scary bad-guy, especially in the many biker, western and sci-fi films he starred in from the 60's and 70's. It was his screen-persona as the powerful and ruthless biker that imprinted him in my mind as Roscoe Parker, a character Smith could have played with ease in his prime. To this day, watch any film with Smith on-screen and I dare you to take your eyes off him. A true American patriot, William Smith is the perfect model for Jeremiah Bronson's greatest nemesis, the ruthless Roscoe Parker. Check out any of the many fan websites dedicated to Smith, but one of my favorites is here: http://www.williamsmith.org/.

Here's a peak at a scene from Chapter 29, I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush, as Jerry faces off against Roscoe in the explosive climax:

Parker nodded and locked eyes onto Jerry, who took his battle stance. Blue lowered his head and emitted a low, threatening growl. “I’m going to grind you and your dog into buttermilk, Bronson! And this time, there won’t be anyone to save you!”
“I don’t need any help to take you down, Parker. Let Hell claim the one of us who falls first!” The demonic biker smiled.

“Call me Backbone!”

How did 'Dogwoods Blush' Get Its Title?

Pink dogwood blossoms compared to the more common white.

My Mom introduced me to the legend of the dogwood tree when I was a child. It was one of the most poignant poems I'd ever read. It has stayed with me for lo these many years. The text of this great story is captured below:

The Legend of the Dogwood

In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.
'Twas strong & firm its branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.
Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so
Slender & twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.
As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.
All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
Cherished and protected this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony."

- Unknown

As I began writing I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush, I was of course trying to create a title that would infer mystery ... suspense ... a secret that readers would enjoy seeing unravel as they read. I needed something to link characters like the mysterious Jeremiah, the gentle Roman and the dedicated Dick. Readers are introduced to the legend of the dogwood tree in Chapter 2 during a conversation between a child and his father. In the course of this conversation, the child asks why some dogwood blossoms are pink. The father explains that the pink blossoms blush in shame over their complicity in the crucifixion of Christ. I have read this version at some point in my life but cannot find it now ... perhaps that story only exists in my mind? In any event, this explanation comes to the fore several times as the story unfolds ... a soldier's heartfelt confession, the frantic plea of a fearful wife, the horrific vision of a concerned pastor ... but is that the REAL reason some dogwoods 'blush'? Ah, that's part of the mystery readers will discover and solve as they navigate the pages of Dogwoods Blush. I hope you enjoy reading it even a fraction as much as I enjoyed writing it. May the dogwoods always blush for you ... to light your path ... and show you the way!

Linking Bela, Bronson and Buchinsky

Readers of my current book, I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush, know that villain Vladimir Buchinsky was patterned after the late, great Bela Lugosi. Lugosi remains a Hollywood icon today more than 40 years after his passing, still standing as the definitive model for everybody's favorite vampire, Count Dracula. While writing Dogwoods, I imagined Bela playing the role of the charming Buchinsky, an immigrant from (as one character in the book put it, "not from around here") Romania who comes to Timmonsville with a secret agenda. It does not take long for the reader to figure out that Buchinsky's agenda is not in the best interests of the townfolk. I can easily see Lugosi perfectly merging the charm of a European visiting the rural south with an underlying menace that is fully revealed in the explosive climax. Longtime fans of Charles Bronson also know that Charlie was the model for the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson, who also arrives in Timmonsville shortly after Buchinsky. Not only is there a possible connection between these two characters in the book (no more hints on that ... readers will have to decide that for themselves) but in real life, Bronson's TRUE name was Buchinsky. He is credited with this name in his early films with Vincent Price, only changing his name to BRONSON to make him more appealing to American audiences of the day. More on Charles Bronson and his influence in later posts, but for now, don't overlook my admiration and respect for one of the greatest screen villains and most under-appreciated movie stars of all-time, the late, great Bela Lugosi. Check out his official website at www.belalugosi.com. And always remember his fabled warning from Dracula ... "There are things worse than death awaiting man!" That is so cool ... and true! Come back later for more info on Bela, his influence on my writing and characters, and so much more!

DOGWOODS Gets Local Press Coverage

Hello everybody. Here's an advance look at the ad that will run in The Dahlonega Nugget for six consecutive weeks beginning Wednesday, December 16. It's part of my effort to get the word out to local residents and try to improve the exposure of the book to prospective interested readers. I am supposed to interview with the Nugget later this week for next week's issue. I interviewed today with The Dawsonville News ... that paper is set to run an article on me and Dogwoods for their December 16th issue. I am working now to attempt to get exposure in The Atlanta Journal. Hope to have a positive update on that in a future post. So if you are in the local area, check out upcoming features in The Nugget and The News! And tell your friends!

The Legendary LUNAR-MAN

In my new book, I KNOW WHY THE DOGWOODS BLUSH, I explain in the afterword about my love for comics as a child. It was colorful characters like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Batman that inspired me to learn to read as quickly as I could. Over the years, I have had the tremendous honor to meet many of the legendary creators who wrote, drew or inked the comics I read as a child. One of these men was the late, great George Roussos. I will devote a future post (probably several) to George and the impact he made on my life but today I would like to discuss our joint creation, The Legendary LUNAR-MAN. Readers of DOGWOODS know that Joe LaHoud (see my 9 December post) is a former wrestler who had a TV series playing the super-hero, Lunar-Man. George Roussos actually devised the name and look of the character and asked me to come up with an origin and universe for him to operate within. At the time (1999) we were planning to attempt to launch our own comics company called VICTORY COMICS. We wanted our series to focus on morality tales for younger readers who were looking for "heroic" rather than "tragic" characters. When George unexpectedly passed away in 2000, our dream went into limbo. I tried several times after that to pitch Lunar-Man as a superhero comic but it never got any interest. So when I published DOGWOODS, I saw a chance to weave the character into my universe. As readers of DOGWOODS know, the character is a comic book/television costumed hero that exists within the reality of the novel. But if you will stick with me for forthcoming novels in this ongoing tale, you'll see there is much, much more to the legend of Lunar-Man, dating back to a government operative who fought the Nazis in WWII, battled communist KGB and Neo-Nazi agents in the 60's, and was assassinated by a mysterious secret organization plotting world domination in the 90's. This mysterious agent (in the storyline) was the real-life inspiration for the Lunar-Man comic character and will play a minor role in the next novel (The Dove of War) before being revealed as a major, major character in part #3 of my planned quartet of books, Stands Against the Wind. The painting above was commissioned by me from Canadian artist Jason Card in the late 90's. It was designed to look like a paperback book cover. Look for more info on this character near and dear to my heart in future blogs and in future novels. Beware the light of the Lunar-Man ... evil has a new reason to fear the night!

Joe LaHoud vs. Joe LeDuc

A very powerful and emotional character introduced in DOGWOODS is former wrestler and TV star, Joe LaHoud. In the book, Joe was an entertainment legend who fell apart when his 16-year old daughter vanished a decade ago in Los Angeles, never to be heard from again. Readers who have actually read Dogwoods know that Joe returns with a vengeance as a main character in the next chapter in my storyline, DOVE OF WAR, which I am writing now (more on that later). The fictional Joe LaHoud is based on the real-life wrestler and icon from the 1970's, Canadian Joe LeDuc. I was about 15 when Joe LeDuc hit the TV screens as a wrestler. I was immediately mesmerized by this giant of a man (he boasted having 22-inch biceps) who was tough as nails and stood against the "bad buys" like Dusty Rhodes, Dick Slater, Pak Song and Playboy Gary Hart. Some weekends he would appear in nearby Tallahasse, Florida and my Dad or brother-in-law would drive me down from Thomasville to watch him in-person. Imagine my thrill when I actually got to meet him and shake his hand behind the bleachers one night! Taking a cigar from his mouth, he shook my hand and said, "You are alright, kid!" And he sorta smiled at me! This real-life experience is recreated in DOGWOODS in the scene where young Jerry Bronson meets his idol, Joe LaHoud. Sadly, Joe LeDuc passed away several years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, from various health issues. But he is forever strong and mighty in my memory, and I hope his fans and family will be pleased with my homage character to this great and underrated wrestling star of the 70's.

Blueblood's Inspiration

One of the major characters of DOGWOODS is Jeremiah's faithful canine companion, Blueblood. I've had several people ask me about the ghostly dog who appears on the cover of the book. If you are a dog lover (and who isn't?) then this blog is for you. The inspiration for Blueblood is a deceased member of my family, the late, great Orry Cain. Orry was a black lab mix that we paid $5 to acquire as a puppy in 1997. He grew to weigh about 130. Who knows what myriad dog breeds comprised his lineage, but he was an absolute joy to our family. I used to take him on 3-5 mile runs each day and we ran three races over the years designed for pets and their owners. Orry placed 2nd or 3rd each time (in a field of about 25) and he'd have placed higher if I had not slowed him down. He had a crazy, goofy bark that signaled his happiness and an angry, menacing bark when he felt someone was not where they were supposed to be. In 2002, he began to show signs of extended fatigue and kept getting little cuts that would not heal. The Vet told us that he had an incurable canine disease and that the situation would get worse and worse until he could no longer eat, drink, walk or stand. Orry died in my arms on November 25, 2002, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. My family and I mourn him still. When I decided to give the fictional character Jeremiah Bronson a dog, Orry was the logical choice. I initially named the dog "Blackjack," leading his master to refer to him as "Jackie." If you see the proposed comic pages posted on my Face Book site, you'll see Jerry call the dog "Jackie Boy." (Now you know why). I changed it to Blueblood as an inside joke for the characters in the story (as it is played out in the book) ... the dog is clearly not a purebred Lab, hence the joke of naming him "Blueblood." When Orry died, I suffered depression for many weeks afterward. One legend that gave me joy was the story of the rainbow bridge. Here is a good link to the story:

http://www.rainbowbridge.com/Poem.htm

So as I was writing DOGWOODS, I wanted to include Orry in the story as well. I can't imagine heaven being complete and full of happiness for me unless Orry is there as well.

Herb Trimpe and "Dogwoods Blush"

As a kid, I loved reading The Incredible Hulk comics published by Marvel. One of the iconic artists of that era was the great Herb Trimpe. Also an accomplished writer (check out his tremendous book, The Power of Angels, where he shares his extraordinary experiences as an ordained minister working hand-in-hand with the many real life angels at Ground Zero following the September 11th attacks), Herb draws tremendous fan interest all over the globe. I am honored that he chose to review my book. Here's what he said about Dogwoods:

"I have kept an eye on Bill Cain, particularly his writings connected to military things, as this was a subject area I was very much interested in. I was surprised to note Cain's leap into the world of fiction, particularly since I consider myself a writer (among other things), and so I dove into the book with a "show me" attitude. Low and behold! Any misgivings I may have had beforehand were swept away as I raced eagerly through his story. All I can say is, BRAVO, BILL CAIN!!!"
-Herb Trimpe, Hurley, New York

Thanks, Herb! You are a real pro! For info on Herb and how you can contact him and commission art of your favorite character, check out Herb's website.

Stan Lee Checks In!

Hi, everybody. Gotta share this with all of you. Stan Lee just sent me his review of DOGWOODS. As you may know, Stan is the creator of comic icons such as Spider-Man, X-Men, Hulk, Iron-Man, Daredevil, and many more. He is credited on my webpage and in the Afterword of DOGWOODS as one of my greatest writing inspirations. Today, this is what he sent me:

"Bill Cain is my kind of writer. He's got a great imagination and "I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush" proves he knows how to grab the reader from the first page and never let him go. I wish he had been available when I needed top writers for Marvel Comics!"

More later on inspirations and how they contributed to DOGWOODS creation. Cheers!

Origins

When I start talking about I KNOW WHY THE DOGWOODS BLUSH, I get excited because it's a dream come true for me. I've had this basic story in my head since I was about 12 and I began writing it in 1973 when I was 14. So today, let me start with the basic origin of this story of love and redemption from beyond the grave.

I grew up in a small farming community in South Georgia (Colquitt County). Directly across the paved dirt road out in the middle of nowhere was the church cemetery for Oak Grove Baptist Church. Many of my friends would not spend the night with me because of that fact. With funerals happening there on a regular basis, I was able to see first-hand from a very young age the devastating effect that death has on the people in our lives. As movies and TV began to change in the late 60's, tales of revenge and tainted heroes began to populate our entertainment culture. So I wove those together to create a character I originally called "The Night Phantom." He was a ghost who avenged crimes committed against the helpless. Comic characters like DC's Spectre or Lee Faulk's classic "The Phantom" were a major influence on my incarnation.

By 1973, I began writing my own version of an avenging ghost who fought crime. Based on tough guys like Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood and Joe Don Baker, "The Night Phantom" was Charles Baker (a hybrid version of Charlie Bronson & Joe Don Baker). Charles Baker was a cop from San Francisco (I'd never been to California in 1973, but San Fran was where Dirty Harry lived so I thought it was cool) who, along with his wife, went missing. One year later, there were no clues to what happened to them and no suspects (although Baker's best friend could not explain where he was on the night Baker and his wife vanished). One year later, a masked avenger dubbed "Night Phantom" by the press began killing people at exactly midnight every Monday night. As the story wound down, it turned out that the Phantom was the ghost of Charles Baker, back from the dead to avenge the murder of himself and his beloved wife. His partner was absolved (turned out he had an illegal gambling problem which was why he would not talk about where he was when Charles vanished), the villain revealed and punished (Chief of Police who wanted Baker's wife for himself) and the killers (thugs who took it too far) all killed.

This basic tale of a ghost avenging or solving his own death has since been played out in various books and films (The Crow, The Invisible, The Sixth Sense, etc) but when I created Night Phantom, such a premise was unknown to me. I'd write this tale in long hand and read it to my buddies in shop class aloud the next day. Their excitement helped inspire me to keep writing. The story ended being about 150 written pages. More on that later. Let me know what you think so far and if you have any questions you'd like for me to answer about how the story evolved.

Thanks for joining me today!

Welcome Aboard

Hello everybody. Welcome to my blog. I will be using this forum to talk about my current and upcoming projects that I hope you'll enjoy. I am excited to tell you that I just published my first novel, a crime drama/thriller called I KNOW WHY THE DOGWOODS BLUSH. I'd love to get your feedback on it when you get the chance. Also, please give me feedback on my website, billcainonline.com. In the days ahead, I'll be giving you exclusive insight into the creation of the characters, storyline, and settings and what inspired all of them, dating back to my teenage years of the 70's. Welcome aboard! I am happy to have you with me!