Pump Fake Press books make for fun and affordable holiday gifts!
Book bundle deals are available at https://jimantonini.com
Jim Antonini is an award-winning author from West Virginia.
1. BULLETS FOR SILVERWARE (2020): a gritty, murder-mystery thriller set in the backwoods of West Virginia. It was a finalist for the Appodlachia 2020 Best Appalachian Book of the Year. What others have said:
“…chills, titillates, and above all entertains…the scenes roll out smoothly, and it is easy to imagine this story as film noir…has a Hitchcockian flavor…” – Independent Book Review – 07/28/2020
Book Review: Bullets for Silverware – Independent Book Review
“…feels fast-paced, hard-boiled, and edgy…” – BookTrib – 05/05/2021
Book Review – “Bullets for Silverware” by Jim Antonini
2. WILD BILL RIDES AGAIN (2023): To escape an unfilled life, a socially awkward middle-aged family man steals one million dollars and goes on an unforgettable joyride from the east coast to the west. As he keeps one step ahead of the law and a fascinated media, he discovers love and friendship, becoming a national folk hero along the way.
“…a marvelous adventure story …written fluidly, keeping readers on the move…” -BookTrib – 11/10/2023
“…A striking story full of wit and emotion about individualism in America and how one can redefine a life when everything seems lost…” -Independent Book Review – 11/01/2023
Book Review: Wild Bill Rides Again by Jim Antonini (independentbookreview.com)
“…With non-stop tension, compelling characters, and a plot that twists like a Rocky Mountain switchback, WILD BILL RIDES AGAIN is an epic road story that never disappoints. Highly recommended…” -Goodreads – 11/22/2023
Greg Leatherman’s review of Wild Bill Rides Again | Goodreads
3. THE BUTCHER AND THE BUTTERFLY (2024): A wearied boxer turns his back on a chance at a world championship to search for his estranged brother in New Orleans. Trapped in a strained family relationship, a promising, young ballet dancer looks for an escape. Unexpectedly, their paths cross as they discover friendship, heartbreak, and hope in the most unlikely place.
“…A gritty story of smoky bars, violence, and salvation… The novel’s pulpy sensibility wears its references on its sleeve. There’s a little bit of Bukowski, a dash of the classic detective noir, and an array of shameless boxing-story tropes that touch on everything from Rocky to Raging Bull…” – Independent Book Review, 12/10/2024
Book Review: The Butcher and the Butterfly by Jim Antonini
“…The Butcher and the Butterfly follows several lost souls looking for connection, reconciliation and purpose… a riveting and heart wrenching story… readers will be witness to the rich diversity of the people and the nightlife of New Orleans, as well as the gritty underside of this historic location… setting of the story provides a special kind of realism, pulling the reader into the story and endearing them to the characters…” – Book Trib, 02/10/2025
Boxer and Ballerina Discover Friendship and Hope in Most Unlikely Place | BookTrib.
4. LIKE FALLING FROM AN AIRPLANE (2022), is a romantic, urban drama set on the downtown streets and back alleys of San Francisco. What others have said:
“…A fast-paced novel of family, betrayal, and undeniable attraction… If you love a bad boy, a shot of tequila, or a forbidden love story, you’ll be more than pleased… … a swirling storm of events in this quick literary fiction…” – Independent Book Review – 04/08/2022
Book Review: Like Falling from an Airplane – Independent Book Review
“…Fast-paced… break-neck story telling centering around unstable dreamers… Set in a dreamy version of San Francisco… it’s a chaotic and rollicking trip that is unsettling, and at the same time wildly satisfying… Full of bad decisions and good fun…” Amazon Review – 08/11/2022
5. THE HOT DOG DIARIES (2024): The book is for everyone who has ever visited Morgantown’s oldest and most beloved neighborhood bar—Gene’s Beer Garden. It was written in collaboration with friend Al Bonner, owner of Gene’s. It is in celebration of the bar’s 80th year of operation. With this book, some good tales and memories were revisited after 80 years in business.
“…Gene’s Beer Garden is more than a place to get something to eat, have a beer, or watch a ball game. It’s a place to gather with friends — to see a familiar face, to share a laugh, to be included …”
“… The Hot Dog Diaries is truly a love letter to this wonderful place and the stories and photos shared in the book give it such flavor …” BookTrib – 06/28/2024
THE LATEST BOOK – 2025 FALL RELEASE
6. SOMETIMES ORANGE IS ALMOST GOLD (2025): This book was written with graphic designer Suzanne Reynolds and captures the colorful and hilarious exploits of a group of orange-clad outcasts on their futile two-decade quest for softball glory. Part softball team. Part social club. Part mythology. But mostly failure. Nobody loses better than the Chico’s Bail Bonds softball team–the forever doormats of adult softball in a college town in the hills of West Virginia.
STARRED Book Review: Sometimes Orange Is Almost Gold by Jim Antonini and Suzanne Reynolds
Hilarious, warmhearted, bite-sized stories of a cult softball team from West Virginia
“…a dash of the tall tale, the frenzied sports announcer, and the romantic writer who can memorialize the most insignificant moments, lift up failure, laugh at it, and love it…”
“…I’ve never read a book quite like this one. It has charm, wit, adventure, and a strange anthropologic intrigue. It is a record of a unique kind of community, one that centers around sports yet values friendship and joy above anything as commonplace and shallow as winning…”
“…it’s difficult not to get swept up in the mythology of this rambunctious team…”
“…an explosive array of photos of all shapes and sizes clustered on pages alongside ever-expanding paragraph-long game summaries, grabs the eye and invites readers to bounce from story to story…”
“…the book exudes a rules-be-damned attitude that emphasizes fun over any specific method for reading…”
“…there’s a special beauty to this book that comes from a sheer of-the-moment authenticity…
- All six books and other Pump Fake Press merchandise are available online at https://jimantonini.com
- All books are also available at your favorite online bookstore