Stick To Your Guns

For those of you – I know you’re out there – who bought my book, Stone Cold Magic, when I first released it in 2002, you will recognize this title.

More recently, those of you who have purchased my DVD Stone Cold Magic, you’ll know this effect by its accurate title, The Target Card.

When I released the book, David Winkler gave me permission to publish his effect, however, I neglected to find out the official name, and so I came up with my own name, Stick to Your Guns.

Of course, when the book published, David saw the discrepancy and notified me. The problem is that I had already written the short story to go with the “wrong” title, and Jason had already created the drawing you see to the left as the official drawing for this effect.

I made this mistake with all five effects that David generously contributed to the book. Because of this, I pulled the book, and never reprinted it, so if you can get your hands on one, it’s a collector. Since then, I’ve reassigned the drawing to be the official drawing for Jackson Hole, a two-card transpo effect on my DVD.

What you have below is the original short essay from the original publication of the wrongfully named Stick to Your Guns that should have been titled The Target Card . . . This Month’s Saga:

The air was thick with dust and heat as a tumblecard quietly rolled by the Bicycle Back Saloon. The tension was so thick you could double under cut it to the bottom. The infamous Billy the Spot stared down his opponent Wild Bill Peacock (known as Ace of Hearts in his hometown).

The moment seemed to linger in the air for hours, yet less than 30 seconds had passed. Suddenly, the card box flap of the saloon swung open. It was none other than the legendary Clint Beastwood (known as the Queen of Diamonds in his hometown).

Nobody knew it, but the underdog, Billy the Spot, had been under the tutelage of Beastwood for many years. It was time for the moment of truth. As Beastwood stared at his infamous student, from the sidelines, he wondered to himself, “Will he remember what I taught him?”

Meanwhile, Billy the Spot was wondering, “What did he teach me?” Was it ticks on my buns? Or was it pick on the nuns? “Nuns? How does that help me?” he thought as the bullet suddenly entered his cardboard like chest. Then as he fell to the dusty earth below, he remembered, “Stick to Your Guns… Stick To Your Guns… He always said, ‘Stick to your Guns.'” – GASP! – COUGH! – GASP!