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.
Preventing A Touchdown—The Supernatural Way
By way of self-evaluation, THE MODOC WELL (originally published as THE WELL by Bantam Books) is the goriest of my four horror novels. This particular shocker of a scene will illustrate that.
“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.
Curious Possessions
With seven-plus decades in the rearview mirror, I’ve had plenty of time to collect my share of “stuff.” I thought it might be fun to have a look at some of the more interesting things, so consider “Curious Possessions” the first of a new, occasional series for my blog.
Guilty Pleasures: 47 Ronin
By my own checklist the 2003 historical adventure-fantasy film, 47 RONIN, is the perfect Guilty Pleasure. It bombed at the box office: check. Critics hated it: check. Yours truly loved it: double check.
“Suppose You Were An Idiot…”—Quotes From Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), known by his pen name of Mark Twain, is considered this country’s greatest humorist. William Faulkner even went as far as calling him “the father of American literature.” Here are some of his best and most meaningful quotes.
Myths And Legends: The Island Of The Dolls
There is an otherworldly place not far from the heart of the sprawling Mexico City called La Isla de las Muñecas—the Island of the Dolls. It is located in one of the channels off Lake Xochimilco. For those of us creeped out by the “true” stories of Annabelle and Robert the Doll, or the fictional Chucky, this island can be a waking nightmare.
Is It TERMINATOR 3 Or TERMINATOR 6?
Wherever you want to slot it in the Terminator universe, TERMINATOR: DARK FATE has me guardedly excited in advance of its November 1 release date. Maybe that has to do with the fact that James Cameron, who wrote and directed the first two films—THE TERMINATOR (1984) and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)—is once again involved.
“B” Movies: Burial Grounds For Old Actors?
The 2008 made-for-TV (SyFy Channel) horror/sci-fi film, BONE EATER, which appears on many “Worst” lists, is notable for one thing. Its cast consists of a bunch of long-in-tooth actors that we knew from long-ago television shows. I guess it’s good to know that they’re still picking up a paycheck.
“The Obsolete Man”—A Warning
I recently got the chills—not in a good way, either—watching a nearly six decades-old episode of the original “Twilight Zone” titled, “The Obsolete Man.” Given the current disturbing state of politics in this country, if not the world, I think you’ll understand why.
Manilow Wasn’t Singing About THIS Mandy
I could have written about the 2018 “psychedelic drama action horror” film, MANDY, as a Guilty Pleasure, given its almost non-existent box office. But “pleasure” is not a word I would use after watching it, though I did find it fascinating in an oddly disturbing sort of way. And critics loved it, as indicated by its 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, especially the compelling performance of its star, Nicolas Cage.
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