Jim Antonini /author
JIM ANTONINI is an award-winning author from West Virginia who has written seven books published by PUMP FAKE PRESS.
All seven books and other Pump Fake Press merchandise are available here in our Bookstore shop.
Award News: Sometimes Orange Is Almost Gold won a Silver Award in Non-Fiction Humor at the 2025 Reader Views Literary Awards. >>>Publisher’s Post
Book Signing Party. Join Us! Thursday, Oct. 9th at 123 Pleasant Street for a night of books, beats, and bites! 🎶📚
As heartbreak gives way to suspicion and mayhem, friendships are tested and old loyalties begin to fracture. What once felt carefree becomes dangerous, and no one emerges unchanged.
Why read “CANDYLAND”? Because it blends noir fiction, music, nightlife, friendship and murder into a fast-moving story about the consequences of one violent moment. It is atmospheric, suspenseful and deeply rooted in the energy of 1990s Boston.
“CANDYLAND” is the long-awaited sequel to Jim Antonini’s award-winning thriller, “BULLETS FOR SILVERWARE,” set in the seedy backwoods of West Virginia.
📖 Now Available 🎉 Order your copy today and return to the dark, unpredictable world of Jim Antonini’s crime fiction.
STAY CONNECTED! Follow Jim Antonini on Facebook for book news, release updates, events and behind-the-scenes insights into the stories and characters.
Book Sale Deal! 2 for $30, 3 for $40!
(2026)
A noir thriller by Jim Antonini
A close-knit group of friends moves through the pool halls, nightclubs and thriving music scene of 1990s Boston—until a mysterious and sudden murder brings heartbreak, suspicion and mayhem.
What begins as music, mischief and late-night freedom becomes a darker story of fractured loyalties, irreversible choices and lives changed forever.
CANDYLAND is the long-awaited sequel to Jim Antonini’s award-winning thriller, BULLETS FOR SILVERWARE.
EARLY WORD FROM CANDYLAND
Official reviews are still making their way through the smoke, neon and last call. In the meantime, consider these fair warnings:
“Come for the music. Stay because somebody has been murdered.”
“A night out with old friends is rarely simple. In CANDYLAND, it may also be permanent.”
“Pool halls, rock clubs, bad decisions and one mystery nobody can outrun.”
“The 1990s Boston music scene has never looked more alive—or more dangerous.”
“Friendship brought them together. Murder made sure they would never be the same.”
“CANDYLAND picks up the darkness of BULLETS FOR SILVERWARE and turns up the volume.”
THE STORY CONTINUES
From the seedy backwoods of West Virginia in BULLETS FOR SILVERWARE to the clubs and pool halls of Boston, Jim Antonini returns with another story of loyalty, violence and people caught in circumstances larger than themselves.
CANDYLAND — now available from Pump Fake Press.
(2025) This book 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.
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…”
STARRED Book Review: Sometimes Orange Is Almost Gold by Jim Antonini and Suzanne Reynolds
INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW – Reviewed by Warren Maxwell, September 24, 2025
“…an amplified score card — two hundred pages of the highs and lows of the Bondsmen’s memorable games…”
“…more than a game: a story of community…”
“…Chico’s is different from other softball teams in that it was a team for those who wouldn’t ordinarily have a team — the misfits, bartenders and musicians — where winning isn’t always the most important outcome…”
Joy of the Game: When Losing Feels Like Winning for Morgantown Softball Legends | BookTrib.
BOOKTRIB REVIEW – Reviewed by Joanna Poncavage, October 20, 2025
(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.
“…a tale of regret, chaos, violence, alcohol, romance and redemption… moves incredibly swiftly… can easily imagine on the silver screen… suspense and a sense of foreboding that builds throughout until the very last page… engaged up until the last moment… a great ride…” – Amazon Review, 02/18/2025
(2024) A heartwarming and nostalgic read now available here! Discover the rich history of Gene’s Place, a beloved local hotspot known for its camaraderie, unforgettable stories, and mouth-watering hot dogs and beers over the past 80 years.
… an entertaining ode to the memorable characters, day-to-day hijinks, and special events that have made one Morgantown beer garden a home away for home …”
“… written in a clear, conversational voice, the book is yarn after yarn spun by great storytelling …”
“… anyone who’s enjoyed some time at Gene’s Beer Garden will wolf down The Hot Dog Diaries with great delight, and Morgantown history buffs will also find this book a rich source of local color and cultural information from the past eighty years …”
Independent Book Review – 05/23/2024
“…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 …”
(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 folk hero along the way.
Reviews of WILD BILL RIDES AGAIN are rolling in!
Greg Leatherman’s review of Wild Bill Rides Again, Good reads:
“…In his latest action-packed thriller, Antonini has perfected the exploration of place…”
“…The America of a fugitive is not televised, even if his pursuit is. Instead, it exists everywhere Bill Moreland hides. It exists in the dive bars, roadside lots, and hotels, too obscure to have corporate logos. This America is a fugitive’s fever dream populated by scruffy thieves, violent pimps, and vindictive cops…”
“…each click of a mile comes on like a ticking clock. We know Bill can’t go on forever, but we can’t help rooting for him to win, which in this book means to escape the American nightmare and find the American dream…”
“…This is no mere pulp fiction. It’s a study of what makes normal people take drastic action, whether planned or unplanned…”
“…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…”
Greg Leatherman’s full review on Good reads >> Full Review
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“…A striking story full of wit and emotion about individualism in America and how one can redefine a life when everything seems lost…”
“…a powerful story of goodness in America. It is a condemnation of greed and individualism that runs rampant throughout the country…”
“…a marvelous adventure story …written fluidly, keeping readers on the move…”
“…Antonini has given us much to think about — not in the sense of prompting us all to escape our current existence and step over boundaries to seek something better. But perhaps to cherish what we have and be grateful for it, even if this volatile world of ours will always plant seeds allowing us to contemplate the wild and crazy…”
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“…Antonini constructs an off-kilter, unremittingly compelling journey with a satisfying ending…”
“…One man’s midlife crisis becomes an unruly but positively diverting road trip…”
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“…Experience an unexpected adventure – get ready for the ride of your life! ” – Pump Fake Press Editing Staff, August 20, 2023
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“…Escape boredom and live life to the fullest! Join an awkward middle-aged family man as he steals a whopping one million dollars and embarks on an epic cross-country adventure. Stay one step ahead of the law and captivate the media while finding love and friendship. Get ready to root for our charming folk hero as he turns his ordinary existence into an extraordinary journey!…” Independent Editor – 08/25/2023
(2022) After a social misfit and small-time criminal unexpectedly falls in love with his successful brother’s sophisticated new bride, he sets out to prove his worth to her, changing their lives forever.
“…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 to read Like Falling from an Airplane… … a swirling storm of events in this quick literary fiction…” – Independent Book Review, April 8, 2022
“…great little tale full of shenanigans, the human condition, and characters so vivid you can smell them… the story sticks with you long after you put it down…” Amazon Review – 04/23/2022
“…vivid, detailed, nuanced scenes and dialogue… sympathetic treatment of the “down & out” as well as the “well-to-do”… a great story with a kind of wide-open ending… Highly recommend!” Amazon Review – 06/15/2022
“…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
(2020) A young pharmacist takes a job in a small rural town and is quickly introduced to a world of drugs, sex, guns, and deceit. Unexpectedly, he falls in love with the local ‘good-time girl’ and finds himself trying to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of the pharmacist he was hired to replace.
“…a dark, twisty thriller…fast-paced, hard-boiled, and edgy, where lies, corruption and horrific crimes lurk around every corner…an engrossing, gritty tale that ventures into the illicit underbelly of a tiny rural town with plenty of secrets to hide…” – BookTrib – 05/05/2021
“Jim Antonini’s Bullets for Silverware is a mystery that chills, titillates, and above all entertains…the scenes roll out smoothly, and it is easy to imagine this story as film noir…This novel has a Hitchcockian flavor…” – Independent Book Review – 07/28/2020
“This book was a great ride… a suspenseful story with lots of nods to the gritty but endearing underbelly or rural West Virginia’s “holler’s and backwoods towns…” – Amazon review – 07/07/2020
“…the characters were real… like I knew them personally… the prose itself was the real prize- gritty, sympathetic, with a Bukowski-from-Appalachia feel… READ THIS BOOK!” – Amazon review – 07/07/2020
“Song references create a soundtrack with a sonic juxtaposition of Husker Du meets Americana meets the Rolling Stones… Here’s to Caldwell, WV! Here’s to the jukebox at Frank’s Supper Club!” – Google review – 07/08/2020
“…the absolute jam. Strap in. It’s enticing, and pretty freaking horny.” – Instagram review – 09/10/2020
A finalist for Appodlachia 2020 Best Appalachian Book of the Year.
