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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Never A Dull Moment Here At Blockhead City

A few days ago, Steve Murphy, who is the Executive Producer & Host of the MSNBC television show "Insider Exclusive", a Senior Producer of the "SkyRadio Network" (Talk Radio for all of the major airlines) and the Executive Producer & Host of the nationwide radio talk show "Law Business Insider", had a very interesting conversation with our resident celebrity biker, Edward Winterhalder. It seems that Mr. Murphy is extremely interested in interviewing Mr. Winterhalder soon for a segment to be aired on either the "Insider Exclusive" and/or the "Law Business Insider" in early fall.

We have also been very busy around here trying to work out the details for the filming of the Pilot for the "Living On The Edge" television reality series, which has now been funded. We hope to start filming in late July, but it is a little premature to announce the motorcycle club that has committed, or to name the corporate executive personality we intend to inject into the club members' lives; suffice it to say, you won't be disappointed, so stay tuned for more information about this soon.....

The advertising campaign for "The Mammoth Book of Bikers" is rapidly making its' way all over the world. You can now see ads for the book in almost every country in the world, in almost every language:

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Denmark, Sweden, Norway & Finland

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Germany

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - England

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Wal-Mart Worldwide

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - USA

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - France

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Canada

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Japan

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Netherlands

More about other Winterhalder Books

Sunday, June 10, 2007

2007 Book Expo America in New York City

Last weekend biker celebrity Edward Winterhalder (author of "Out In Bad Standings: Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club; The Making Of A Worldwide Dynasty", contributing author of "The Mammoth Book of Bikers" and co-author of "The Assimilation") was at the annual Book Expo America (BEA), which was held this year at the Jacob Javitts Convention Center in New York City. Winterhalder, along with his friend Dennis Fritz, author of the best seller "Journey Towards Justice", were the guests of Seven Locks Press Publisher Jim Riordan; also appearing at the BEA this year were James Patterson and Stephen Colbert.

While attending the BEA, Mr. Winterhalder spent some time visiting with Stephanie Esposito, who is a Producer for Court TV USA; Stacey Fincher and Molly Young from Pat Robertson's 700 Club; Jack David and Simon Ware from premiere independent Canadian Publisher ECW Press (who will publish "The Assimilation" in the spring of 2008, Edward's new book with famed Canadian motorcycle journalist Wil DeClercq); and Will Balliett, CEO of Carroll & Graf, who is the distributor of "The Mammoth Book of Bikers" for Constable & Robinson of London, England (which is a compilation of famous biker stories by some of the world's best biker authors, set to be released in September of 2007).

Edward also spent some time with the 81 yr old son of famed composer George Gershwin, Alan Gershwin; Mandy Berry from the University of Oklahoma Press, where Mr. Winterhalder got to meet famed fellow Oklahoma author S. E. Hinton ("The Outsiders"); literary agent Kevan Lyons from the Dijkstra Agency; and Producers Peter Bjornson and Marco Bresba from Canada's CHUM Television. CHUM TV cameramen spent more than an hour filming Mr. Winterhalder, at the Seven Locks Press booth and the ECW Press booth, for an upcoming segment of Canada's Book TV, which will appear in the fall of 2007.

Author/TV Biker Celebrity Available For Personal Appearances

A Press Release from May 15, 2007:

Edward Winterhalder, author of the current best selling biker book "Out In Bad Standings" (distributed by American Publisher Seven Locks Press and published by Blockhead City Press) and co-executive producer of a new nonfiction TV reality series about motorcycle clubs called "Living On The Edge," is now represented by APA, which is one of the largest and oldest talent agencies in the country.

During your event, Winterhalder is available to mingle with your guests, take part in organized rides, do book signings, hang out at evening socials, do event hosting or whatever else you may have in mind. Steve Lassiter (known for his association with other high profile Harley loving celebrities like Travis Tritt & Billy Ray Cyrus, and an avid Harley rider himself) will be the agent to contact concerning Winterhalder's personal appearances; Steve can be reached at 615-297-0100 or slassiter@apanashville.com.

Winterhalder, who was a Bandidos Motorcycle Club high-ranking world leader until his departure from the club in late 2003, is now a leading authority on motorcycle clubs. The patchover of Canada's Rock Machine into the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, which was overseen by Winterhalder, is a critical part of a new book that will be released this fall by London book publisher Constable & Robinson, titled "The Mammoth Book of Bikers", which is edited by famed Australian motorcycle club authority Dr. Arthur Veno.

Winterhalder is also the co-author of a new book on motorcycle clubs titled "The Assimilation," which is scheduled for release by Canadian Publisher ECW Press in the spring of 2008, and the co-author of an academic book about the psychology, criminology and sociology aspects of motorcycle gang members for students and faculty of the college world, which is expected to be released in the summer of 2008.

You can see more about Winterhalder, by going to any of the following links:

Living On The Edge TV Show

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Wal-Mart Worldwide

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - USA

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - France

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Canada

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Japan

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Netherlands

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Denmark, Sweden, Norway & Finland

The Mammoth Book of Bikers - Germany

Google Search = Edward Winterhalder

Winterhalder Books

APA Agency

USA Book Publisher Seven Locks Press

Canadian Book Publisher ECW Press

Book Review Printed from the International Journal of Motorcycle Studies

By Don Hennigan

From November of 2006

Motorcycle travel books are an established genre, from Robert Edison Fulton, Jr.'s One Man Caravan to Alan Noren's Storm. Such books written by women, however, are still relatively rare. Karen Larsen's book Breaking the Limit recounts "one woman's journey" from Princeton, New Jersey to Alaska and back, on "Lucy," a used Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster, modified with a larger gas tank and windshield. While it might be argued that most motorcycle travel books emphasize the adventures and dangers, Larsen does, at least in part, the reverse: she is intent on demystifying motorcycle travel for non-riders while invoking all its pleasures.

Traditionally books about motorcycle clubs are written by outsiders who ride for a time with the club or by members who have left the club. Out in Bad Standings is written by a member who has left the Bandidos Motorcycle Club "in good standings" but soon had his status changed to "out in bad standings" after El Presidente George Weger realized how much Ed "Connecticut Ed" Winterhalder truly knew about the club. Motorcycle club descriptions usually focus on the negative aspects of a particular club, such as Thompson's Hell's Angels or Daniel Wolf's The Rebels. Violence, or the promise of violence, is always a centerpiece of these books.

Winterhalder offers a somewhat different approach in his book. He was a well-respected member of the Bandidos before he left, and his book reflects that relationship and his respect for the years he spent with the club. The book covers the period from 1999 through 2005 and Winterhalder's attempt to assimilate the club Rock Machine into the Bandidos with all of the violence and death reported in an impersonal and matter of fact manner. Weger wanted this time to be seen as a reform movement in the Bandidos' history, but unfortunately the book ends with Weger and others being indicted on conspiracy charges.

Connecticut Ed explores the six-year period that starts with Weger's appointment, his expressed desire to reform the club, Winterhalder's efforts in that reform movement, and the eventual failure of the attempt to clean up the club's image. Weger did manage to change some of the traditions that were used to express love for one's brother such as pissing on the new members to instill a feeling of acceptance and the beatings meant to build solidarity among members or to maintain discipline.

Winterhalder does a good job of giving readers a detailed peek inside one of the world's most notorious motorcycle clubs. The book examines the prospect's experiences, why the prospect period is used, and all of the other details that a future member is expected to know. Indeed, instructions on proper etiquette toward patch holders are taken right out of the Bandidos' membership book. The Bandidos' by-laws are also included to illuminate club responsibilities and the day-to-day workings of the club.

As an alternate way of evaluating the manuscript, I shared it with a couple of friends who are members of what the mainstream media would undoubtedly identify as outlaw clubs, and both of them were surprised that Winterhalder had included the by-laws. Each club has its own by-laws and their own constitution, which they guard as their secret to success and their code of ethics tailored to meet the needs of a particular group; it is unfathomable to members that a person would be so blatant in disregarding this traditional taboo. Printing the by-laws for the public to read is the one thing that could cost Winterhalder a great deal, unless the "out in bad standings" is all smoke and mirrors, and Connecticut Ed actually had permission to share them.

Winterhalder also goes into detail about the secret dealings between clubs, especially between the Hells Angels and the Bandidos. Agreements to not invade another club's territory or to interfere with the workings of the other club are seldom honored since there does not appear to be any honor between enemies in the realm of outlaw motorcycle clubs. Winterhalder gives the impression that the Bandidos are always the victims of violence that is precipitated against them, mostly by their arch nemesis, the Hells Angels. The history of the media sensationalizing crimes committed by bikers is so complete that all readers should be leery of any discussions of violence.

In the case of Out in Bad Standings, it's not Winterhalder's focus on violence against the Bandidos that raises questions but the lopsided nature of that discussion. The Bandidos are portrayed as hardworking, honest, family men who are killed for absolutely no reasons that the Bandidos can explain. Knowing the reputation of the Bandidos, the reader has to decide whether the Bandits are innocent or if the whole story of inter-club rivalry is being reported.
At times, the book reads like a log kept by riders about the trips they have taken and about the people they have met along the way, and it challenges the reader's endurance.

At other times, however, the book has the feel of being taken straight from the minutes of club meetings and delivers a sense of authenticity that is largely missing from similar exposes. Indeed, Out in Bad Standings gives the reader the sense that the Bandidos are similar to other motorcycle clubs despite their reputation of being one of the most feared motorcycle clubs in the world.

Out in Bad Standings can also be used as a template for starting a motorcycle club. The Bandidos are an example of a successful motorcycle club, and Winterhalder gives the public a wide-open view of the club's inner workings. The reader gets the impression that Winterhalder is either still a member, though he is reported to be out, or he is trying to curry favor with the club. Whichever it is, Out in Bad Standings will undoubtedly cash in on the recent rising interest in motorcycle clubs.

As a source of information about outlaw clubs, Out in Bad Standings also provides a wealth of knowledge about the organization and its dealings and politics with the outlaw world through the eyes of a well-placed ex-member. Winterhalder does not write in the traditional manner that is associated with subjects of this importance, but if one can get through the intricate first-person accounts, Out in Bad Standings is a good primary source. The book will contribute to our knowledge of the Bandidos and help fill in gaps in our knowledge of outlaw culture in general.

Oklahoma Author Invited To The 23rd Annual Love Ride In California As A Celebrity Guest

A Press Release from November 18, 2006:

Oklahoma based Edward Winterhalder, author of a best selling book on motorcycle gangs titled “Out In Bad Standings: Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club – The Making Of A Worldwide Dynasty”, has just returned from California where he was an invited celebrity guest for the 23rd annual Love Ride. The Love Ride is the largest one day event for motorcyclists in North America, this year attracting more than 20,000 registered motorcycle riders for a thirty-five mile motorcycle procession from Glendale Harley Davidson to Castaic Lake Park on November 12, 2006.

Along with such major stars like Robert Patrick (star of the current CBS show “TheUnit” and the Clint Eastwood movie “Flags Of Our Fathers”), Mickey Jones (“Home Improvement” star), Peter Fonda and late night talk show host Jay Leno, Winterhalder donated his name, presence, signature and copies of his book as a celebrity to encourage attendees to participate in the event. Although final figures were not available at the end of the event, the 23rd annual Love Ride reportedly raised more than $1,000,000 for the benefit of multiple charities that included Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cure Society of America and Operation Hope.

Winterhalder’s book, published by Blockhead City Press (ISBN 0977174700), details the establishment and recent growth of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in Canada, Europe and Oklahoma, and is one of the best selling, self-published hardcover books of 2006. This historical expose of the Bandidos organization gives the reader a rare look into the secret world of today’s 1%er motorcycle gangs, and is a must read for every Harley rider.

Self-Publishing Dreams Can Come True: Gang Book Sales On Fire

A Press Release from May 1, 2006:

It is not often that a self-published hardcover book sells a thousand copies, but a small press in Owasso, OK has done just that and more in less than six months.

Blockhead City Press today announced that their first title, “OUT IN BAD STANDINGS: Inside the Bandidos Motorcycle Club – The Making of a Worldwide Dynasty”, was recently ranked at # 41 on the Barnes & Noble bookstore’s website, indicating that the book was one of their best selling titles this month. Since its’ release in November 2005, “Out In Bad Standings” has now sold more than five thousand copies, to book readers in almost every country in the World.

When ex-motorcycle gang leader Edward Winterhalder set out to find a publisher for his memoirs, he thought that locating a literary agent and book publisher for his project would be a simple task. After all, it wasn’t as though hundreds of books had already been written on the subject. On the contrary, this was a subject on which less than twenty-five books had ever been written, and of those twenty-five books, most all of had been written by an outsider or journalist.

However, as many writers realize, finding a literary agent and/or publisher willing to work with a novice author is a daunting task. Failing in his quest to find an agent or publisher, but not willing to give up, Mr. Winterhalder established Blockhead City Press to facilitate his dream becoming reality. The result was a top quality, four hundred forty-eight page hardcover book that contains more than one hundred seventy thousand words and one hundred color photographs.

Detailing the establishment and growth of a motorcycle gang organization in Canada, Europe and Oklahoma, this expose of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club is arguably the finest history book ever written on the subject of the United States motorcycle gangs. A perfect compliment for the history section of any library worldwide, “OUT IN BAD STANDINGS” gives the reader a rare look into the world of today’s 1%er motorcycle clubs.

“OUT IN BAD STANDINGS” ($29.95 – ISBN 0977174700) is now available at all Barnes & Noble bookstores (United States), all B Dalton bookstores (United States), Amazon.com (worldwide), Ebay.com (worldwide), all Chapters bookstores (Canada) and all Coles bookstores (Canada).

Best Selling Book Takes You Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Gang

A Press Release from March 1, 2006:

Written by leading motorcycle gang expert Edward “Connecticut Ed” Winterhalder, “Out In Bad Standings: Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club – The Making Of A Worldwide Dynasty” is the first book ever written on the world’s second largest international biker gang. Commonly known as hard core 1%ers, the lives of the members of motorcycle gangs such as the Bandidos, Hells Angels, Outlaws, Pagans, Sons of Silence and the Mongols have until now been a closely guarded secret.

Rapidly rising through the ranks of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in the late 90’s, Winterhalder was one of the most powerful Bandidos in the world at the end of the twentieth century. During the apex of his club career, “Connecticut Ed” was regularly assigned important projects, like organizing and establishing new Bandido chapters worldwide, by the international leader of the Bandidos, George Wegers.

In June of 2005 Mr. Wegers was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington State on Racketeering, Violent Crimes In Aid Of Racketeering, Possessing Stolen Motorcycle Parts, Conspiracy To Murder and Intimidation Of Witness charges. Arrested with more than 20 other Bandidos members (including two chapter Presidents, two National Enforcers, and one National Vice President), Mr. Wegers’ has recently plead guilty and will be sentenced in September 2006.

One of the larger projects Winterhalder oversaw was the establishment of the organization in Canada in 2001. The politics surrounding such an event would rival any government election and would test all the skills that Winterhalder had acquired in his civilian life as a business entrepreneur. In June of 2002 “Connecticut Ed” designated as the Canadian National President for the Bandidos, Ontario member John “Boxer” Muscedere, who was murdered in April of 2006 along with seven other members of the Bandidos Toronto chapter.

Detailing the establishment and recent growth of the Bandidos organization in Canada, Europe and Oklahoma, this historical expose of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club gives the reader a rare look into the secret world of today’s 1%er motorcycle clubs, allowing the reader a unique opportunity to ride along as the Bandidos become the dominant international force they are today.

Published by Blockhead City Press ($29.95 – ISBN 0977174700), this 448 page hardcover book contains more than 170,000 words and is a must read for every Harley rider on the planet. “Out In Bad Standings” is now available through Barnes

& Noble, Barnes & Noble College, Borders, B. Dalton or Baker & Taylor (in the United States); Amazon.com or Ebay.com (worldwide); Chapters, Coles or WhiteHots (in Canada); and can be ordered through most other bookstores in North America.

Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club, The Largest Biker Gang In The World

A Press Release from January 1, 2006:

Rapidly rising through the ranks of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in the late 90’s, Edward “Connecticut Ed” Winterhalder was one of the most powerful Bandidos in the world at the end of the twentieth century.

Since founding the Oklahoma chapter of the Bandidos in early 1997, “Connecticut Ed” had been regularly assigned important projects by the worldwide leader of the Bandidos, George Wegers. It was not unusual for Winterhalder to organize and establish new Bandido chapters, as well as Bandidos support club chapters, all over the world.

But when assigned the unwanted responsibility of overseeing the Bandidos’ assimilation of a Canadian motorcycle gang known as the Rock Machine in early 2001, “Connecticut Ed” found himself caught between a rock and a hard place.

Teaching ex-Rock Machine members how to be Bandidos was one thing, but doing so while dodging bullets and bombs was another. The new Canadian Bandidos, as members of the Rock Machine, had been embroiled in a deadly war with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in which 168 people had died since 1994.

Commonly known as hard core biker gangs, the inner workings of motorcycle clubs such as the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the Outlaws, the Pagans, the Sons of Silence, and the Mongols have until now been a closely guarded secret.

Determined to set the record straight after leaving the club in late 2003 and as a form of therapy, Winterhalder spent almost two years transcribing the memories of his life. Ultimately, his memoirs evolved into a dynamic book called “OUT IN BAD STANDINGS: Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club – The Making Of A Worldwide Dynasty”.

Detailing the establishment and growth of the Bandidos organization in Canada, Europe and Oklahoma, this historical expose of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club gives the reader a rare look into the world of today’s 1%er motorcycle gangs, allowing the reader a unique opportunity to ride along as the Bandidos become the dominant international force they are today.

Published by Blockhead City Press ($29.95), this 448 page hardcover book contains more than 150 color photographs and sports a dynamic dust cover jacket. “Out In Bad Standings” is available through Barnes & Noble bookstores in the United States, Amazon.com worldwide, Ebay.com worldwide & some Chapters bookstores in Canada, and is a must read for every Harley rider on the planet.