William Vlach
Author, Poet, Satirist, Essayist, Psychologist
Welcome to the online home of Award winning author William Vlach. Learn more about BIll and his assorted work in Western Fiction, Historical Fiction and outrageous Comedy and Satire. Bill has also published on topics such as Police Psychology, the history of ethics, and film noir. His photograpy and Haiku can be viewed at Drifting Sands, Contemporary Haibun and at his Instagram account: @haigasanfrancisco.
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WESTERN FOLK
TALL TALES OF THE OLD WEST
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Bill Vlach's collection of Western tall tales are populated with every sort of creature - outlaws, preachers, rebellious vultures, Comanche captured girls, and maybe even a magic cactus. These are outrageous short short stories reminiscent of the Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill yarns but written in the style of Twain, Faulkner and Annie Proulx. They will appear on a weekly basis. Come to the party but be prepared with a healthy appreciation of magic, awe, and outlandish humor.
NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY!
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UNDER THE SHADOW OF HAWKS
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The newest western smash by William Vlach. A mysterious young girl who can barely speak and appears witless tells the story of a struggling family ranch in Northern California of the 1950's. Her grandparents work to protect the family from an unseen pyromaniac, a government take over of their land, and family crises. The girl, Etta May, harmonizes with nature and lives in innocence as she begins to face the harsh realities of the world. Her life becomes increasingly complicated as her city cousin, Luke, comes to live with her and her grandparents. The dangers to her, her family, and the ranch mount to an unexpected dramatic climax.
THE GUNS OF SANTA
MUERTE:
A Tale of The San Patricos
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"The incredible story of the San Patricios is a little understood, but an amazing chapter in the history of the United States, Ireland, and Mexico," Vlach said. "I felt compelled to explore this story with its themes of heroism, love and meaning."
The novel begins in the tragic famine in 19th century Ireland. Fleeing the hunger ravished island, Patrick and his cousins arrive in old New York only to find themselves betrayed by that city's violent pandemonium. They enlist the United States Army in the Mexican-American war, but further injustices lead them to join the legendary San Patricios Battalion, a mostly Irish group fighting for Mexican independence. This exciting story leads Patrick to fall in love with the Mexican novitiate Esmeralda and they together engage in the novel's climax in the battle for Mexico City.
"The Guns of Santa Muerte: A Tale Of The San Patricios," St Andrews Press, London 2021 is available at independent bookstores and from Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and other online bookstores.
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The Gospel According to Father Coffee
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One can download the Kindle edition for $.99 (yes, ninety-nine cents!) for instant fun reading, or order the paperback (William Collins Publishing, London) at independent bookstores, or Amazon.
Here is a partial quote from the Amazon review:
"...Set in a 1950’s rural town in California, The Gospel According to Father Coffee, is a fast moving, unusual, magical story of redemption through trickery. The town's lives, rich and poor, young and old, are revealed as Father Coffee night-flies, becomes invisible and delivers pagan sermons astonishing his parishioners. Through these stories, told in vignettes, each one with a twist, the magical Father Coffee discovers redemption for himself and his town through his magical skills. Many of these tales are informed by the world trickster stories of the Native American Coyote, Zen parables, The Dead Sea Scrolls as well as the Sufi stories of Nasrddin Hoja."
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