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.
Throwback Thursday: Conjuring Up A Scary Universe—Part Three
The Conjuring Universe marched on through 2019 with a couple of creepy new entries. This post first ran in…well of course, 2019!
Myths And Legends: Haunted Bathrooms Around The World
You may recall Moaning Myrtle, a rather whiny ghost, who haunted one of the bathrooms at Hogwarts. But Myrtle was a fictional character, not one of the real ghosts that haunt toilets, loos, and lavatories all around the globe, effectively scaring the shit out of unsuspecting users. (Okay, you had to know THAT was coming.) 😊 Let’s take a peek inside a few of them.
Throwback Thursday: Conjuring Up A Scary Universe—Part Two
With the financial success of the first two films in the Conjuring Universe, sequels were inevitable. This time around the filmmakers doubled down on the links that they inserted in THE CONJURING 2, a clear indication that this franchise had a lot more to offer in the future.
Guilty Pleasures: THE RITE
I suppose you could say that any movie, including the 2011 supernatural horror film, THE RITE, will benefit from having the great Anthony Hopkins as its star. While the critics praised his performance as a dedicated exorcist, they hated just about everything else about the flick.
Throwback Thursday: Conjuring Up A Scary Universe—Part One
May the Fourth be with you! For those who enjoy having the crap scared out of them, this “universe” is for you. I first presented this post in 2019.
Mr. Spock Had To Start Somewhere
The late, ultra-great Leonard Nimoy (a distant relative of mine) began his acting career in 1951, fifteen years before he achieved well-deserved fame as Mr. Spock, the Vulcan science officer in the original series of STAR TREK. Among his early (and mostly uncredited) roles was that of a Martian invader…
Throwback Thursday: Preventing A Touchdown—The Supernatural Way
Sometimes I cringe when I read some of the bloody scenes that I wrote in THE MODOC WELL, my second horror novel. I first presented this post in 2019.
“I’ll Be Right Here”—Memorable Final Movie Lines
The last lines of dialogue in any film should leave viewers with something to remember. Here are a few notable ones.
Throwback Thursday: “I Love My Rejection Slips…”—Writing Quotes From Writers
Thoughts about writing from successful writers can inspire—or perhaps deflate, depending how they are taken. Here are a few gems from a 2019 post.
Guilty Pleasures: DEATH SHIP
“Those who survive the ghost ship are better off dead.” Such is the tagline for the 1980 nautical horror film—and cult classic—DEATH SHIP. I have to admit to teetering on the fence about calling it a guilty pleasure or a guilty displeasure. But ultimately its many laughs—totally unintentional—won me over.
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