Readers of The Hanged Man’s Noose will recognize the charismatic Johnny Porter as the owner of It’s a Colorful Life paint store, and the Chairman of the Main Street Merchants’ Association in Lount’s Landing. Johnny has movie star good looks, and he is often described by the townsfolk as “good people” who would do anything for the independent business on Main Street.
When I think of Johnny Porter, I think of a Christian Bale type. Bale is incredibly handsome, but he’s also a chameleon, assuming the appearance required for the role he’s currently playing, much like my Johnny. Of course, my protagonist, Emily Garland, is instantly smitten with Johnny. Here’s an expert from the book, where the two first meet:
It’s a Colorful Life was a throwback in time, the sort of store you’d expect to find Jimmy Stewart wandering into in Bedford Falls. Plastic paint trays hung from the ceiling like oversized Christmas ornaments. Every wall surface was covered with clusters of paint chips, a kaleidoscope of reds and blues and golds and ochers, of greens and purples and pinks and whites. She wedged her way between aisles of metal bins overflowing with rollers and brushes and sandpaper and masking tape, dodging paint cans piled high into pyramids.
The faint scent of vanilla filled her nostrils. “Pure vanilla extract, the real stuff, not the imitation kind,” a man’s voice called from the back of the store. “Stir one tablespoon into a gallon of paint and you get rid of that new paint smell. I add it to every gallon I sell.” He came out into the open, held out his hand, and smiled. “Emily Garland, I presume.”
The main thing Emily noticed about Johnny Porter, beyond the fact he was roughly her age and drop-dead movie star gorgeous, were his eyes. Eyes so dark brown they looked black. Miner’s eyes, her old pals at boarding school would have called them, the kind of eyes that could dig their way into the depth of your soul. Emily made an effort to collect herself. Acting like an infatuated high school student was not the way to start off her new life in Lount’s Landing.
“And you must be Johnny Porter.” Emily shook his hand, noticing his grip was firm but gentle. Thought his hand lingered a moment longer than necessary. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Johnny said, although Emily got the distinct feeling he was assessing her. She wondered if she made the grade.
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The Hanged Man’s Noose is available in trade paperback at all the usual suspects, and in all e-book formats (Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, Apple Books) as well as in audiobook on Audible, Apple Books, and Amazon. Click here to listen to a 4:37 minute sample.