For the first time ever, Jim Silke, the man who gave you Bettie Page: Queen of Hearts, shares his hilarious first-person account of life as a pin-upÂ’ artist! From the comic-strip vixens that influenced his youth to his real-life adventures photographing HollywoodÂ’s most beautiful starlets and models to his slaving over the magical images of Bettie Page, Brigitte Bardot and a host of other beauties, Silke reveals all in this celebration of the female form.

Lavishly illustrated with over 100 new images by Silke along with classic ‘girl artists’ George Petty, Coby Whitmore, Enoch Bolles, Al Parker, Rolf Armstrong, and others, Pin-Up: The Illegitimate Art is a delightful, sharp, insightful look at the ‘bedtime babies,’ ‘devil women,’ and ‘bare-naked ladies’ that grace the walls—and hearts—of red-blooded lady lovers the world over.

Silke is one of the few artists who could write this story. From his Grammy Award-winning stint as a music industry art director to his years as a magazine publisher, glamour photographer, screenwriter, and comic book artist, Silke’s sensual artistic vision has made a distinct and lasting impact on contemporary culture. Throughout his varied career, one constant force of nature has served as his muse—the allure of the power, mystery, and beauty of the female and her boundless, intoxicating spirit. Here in Pin-up: The Illegitimate Art, he serves that female as few have.

Even if Jim Silke’s name is not familiar to you, you’re probably aware of the work generated from his extraordinarily full and diverse career. He wrote all four of Tor’s Death Dealer novels to complement Frank Frazetta’s famous character. He was also executive art director at Capital Records, in charge of all album packaging. “I also was a glamour photographer,” said Silke. “For ten or twelve years I shot actresses, primarily, for magazines all over this world.” That certainly shows in Jim’s various book projects!

Pinup: The Illegitimate Art, the first release from Dark HorseÂ’s new imprint, DH Press, arrives late October with a retail price of $19.95.