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 more to it than that, which is why I included “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.
What’s Old Is New Again
In order to introduce my latest re-release, Warlord of Maldrinium (World After Death: Book One), I have to go way back in time. I’m talking 1978, just about when humankind discovered fire. At least movable type had been invented by then, because in that year I published the first couple of my two dozen-plus novels, The Prisoner of Reglathium and The Conquerors of Reglathium.
Romantic Horror: An Oxymoron?
My ghost story/horror novel, The Burning Ground, contains enough juicy, gory, creepy scenes to satisfy the horror purist. But the story is also about relationships—in particular the relationship between three seriously diverse characters: a former major league ballplayer, a woman with a tortured past, and a lonely ten-year-old boy. More about them shortly.
Films About Writers: Joan Wilder Rocks!
For many movie lovers—my bride included—Romancing the Stone (1984) and Jewel of the Nile (1985) are the perfect films. Action and adventure, outrageous comedy, romance, great cast—what more can you ask for from a fun flick? And even better, from my perspective: the main character is a bestselling romance writer!
Two Hundred Posts!
My blog dashboard informed me that last week’s post was number 199. Being the math whiz that I am, it didn’t take me long to figure out that this week’s post would be a monumental number two hundred! Yes, three-and-a-half years, and I’m still at it. That’s because—as I always like to say—I’m still here, chief!
Yo, Mama Is One Scary Movie
I, for one, am glad that in recent years, horror filmmakers have decided that scaring the crap out of people is more important than grossing them out by spilling buckets of blood. The 2013 gem titled Mama, starring Jessica Chastain—a talented actress—is a prime example of this.
Writing Tips: Writing Novels For Fun And—Fun?
Did you expect to see the word “profit” in that title? Not likely. Let me share some thoughts from what I’ve experienced over the past gazillion years and nearly thirty novels written.
Guilty Pleasures: Van Helsing
I guess the 2004 monster/horror film, Van Helsing, qualifies as a Guilty Pleasure because not a whole lot of folks liked it—especially the reviewers. (Fie on them!) It grossed over $300 million, so no problem there. This fun flick is an homage by director Stephen Sommers to the wonderful Universal horror movies of the 1930s and ’40s. It is easily one of the fifty (sixty?) movies in my personal Top Ten.
Zeus’s Butthole…More Unforgettable Movie Lines
My favorite movies—of which there are many—contain countless memorable lines that retain a permanent place in my brain and even haunt my sleeping hours. Here are some more of them.
“How in the name of Zeus’s butthole did you get out of your cell?”
Guest Post: Between Now And When
Dr. Richard House approached me via a referral a little over a year ago—just about the time I teetered on the cusp of full retirement. He had a non-fiction manuscript that needed a ton of work—his assessment—a true story that was kind of “out there,” he said.
This And That
A good friend of mine, who died a long time ago, has written a new book.
Say what!? Are you kidding, Mike? Actually, I’m not. Today (5/18/15) is the release date for a non-fiction book titled, Between Now and When: How My Death Made My Life Worth Living, by Richard House, MD. This is a fascinating life journey, one that I helped Richard shape in order to get it ready for publication.
Latest Release
