Mike Sirota's Blog – Swords, Specters, & Stuff
Welcome to My World
I started this blog in January 2012 for one simple reason: I love to write. I named it “Swords, Specters, & Stuff” because I especially love to write about writing, about books and movies in my favorite genres, about authors that mean a great deal to me. But there’s so much more than that, hence the all-inclusive “Stuff” in the title. It is “Stuff” that gives me carte blanche to write about anything, which is why you’ll see stories about special trips to Cooperstown, Sedona, and other places; about getting older; about baseball; about the otherworldly way in which I met my soul mate; about the loss of good friends, and so much more. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
A Magical Story: When Art Creates Life
Today (November 29th) my bride and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. (Jacqueline and I actually met on November 26th, 31 years ago.) I’ve been blessed to have this remarkable woman in my life for over three decades, and I know we’ll be together through the coming millennia. The story of HOW we met is right out of an improbable fantasy novel. I’ve told it before, and I do so again at this special time.
Throwback Thursday: Earth-Shaking News—Graboids, Ass Blasters, And Shriekers Are Still Around
Happy Thanksgiving! Well, it was earth-shaking news three years ago, when the Tremors franchise added TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES. But since then we’ve seen two more hit the (small) screen!
“I Ate His Liver…”—More Horror Movie Quotes
Gather ’round the campfire, kiddies, and let’s see if we can gross one another out with some juicy lines from a few creepy movies. The first three sets are from films that feature cannibals. Yum!
Throwback Thursday: Jack Miller And Me—One And The Same?
Authors put a little bit of themselves in most of their characters, but I included nearly all of myself in cosmic bike rider Jack Miller.
This Soggy Sequel Should’ve Been Deep-Sixed
Like so many sequels before it, did the direct-to-video DEEP BLUE SEA 2 really need to be made? As a big fan of its predecessor, DEEP BLUE SEA, I of course had to watch it. Wow, what a downer. I should’ve taken its Rotten Tomatoes score of 0% (yes, zero!) as a warning.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—The Dancing Plague
Over the years I’ve written about many weird occurrences, but this particular one ranks way high on the Weird-O-Meter, I kid you not. It is called, among other names, the Dancing Plague of 1518.
I Knew The Time To Retire Had Come When…
To be honest, I had planned on working into my seventies—where I am now. As a writing coach, editor, and teacher I totally enjoyed what I did, especially when I saw so many of my students and clients find success as published authors. So what changed? I’ll get to that. First, the backstory.
Throwback Thursday: Films About Books—STRANGER THAN FICTION
Writers can definitely relate to what goes through this “character’s” head. I first presented this post in 2018.
Yes, I’m Repeating Myself, But…WRITE WELL, NOT FAST
November is now upon us, and for many writers that means NaNoWriMo—or how many words can you write TODAY, or THIS WEEK, or THIS MONTH? The point I attempt to hammer home to ALL writers, novice and otherwise, remains valid in any month or year, and is contained in the above title. So once again here are my thoughts, as expressed in this annual post.
Throwback Thursday: Harry Potter In The Bolivian Rainforest?
In 1981 a young Israeli man, Yossi Ghinsberg, went backpacking around the globe in search of adventure. During a trek through a minimally explored jungle in Bolivia, he found more adventure than he ever bargained for—and it nearly cost him his life.
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