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.
“They’re Coming To Get You, Barbara”—Horror Movie Quotes
Ah, scary flicks…no surprise that I love the genre. (What does that say about me?) Here are a few lines from some of my favorites.
Films About Writers: Humor Me
I can’t say that the 2018 comedy, HUMOR ME, did poorly at the box office. That’s because it did almost NO box office. It just sort of came and went, and we all missed it…and that’s a shame, as it definitely is funny, and at times even poignant.
Sally Forth With Don Quixote In THE 22ND GEAR
Once again the trilogy is complete. My revised comedy/sci-fi story, THE 22ND GEAR (A Retro Ride: Book Three) joins BICYCLING THROUGH SPACE AND TIME and THE ULTIMATE BIKE PATH to chronicle bicyclist Jack Miller’s weird and wonderful adventures in some pretty strange places.
A Ginormous Hoax: The Cardiff Giant
“There’s a sucker born every minute,” someone once declared. No, it wasn’t P.T. Barnum, the great showman, as many believe. But Barnum did have a role to play in the story of the CARDIFF GIANT—the greatest hoax of the nineteenth century.
Inconceivable: A Star Wars Film That Flopped?
I don’t get it; I just don’t. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, the second spinoff after ROGUE ONE, has been around over a month—long enough for it to be considered a box office bomb. Jacqueline and I totally enjoyed the film, and from what I learned, so did critics and audiences alike.
A Couple Of Thoughts On A Dark And Stormy Night
Okay, first of all I’m writing this on a sunny Southern California afternoon, and the next storm is not expected here till at least November. But hey, I am a purveyor of fiction, and as my dear bride can confirm, I tend to exaggerate upon occasion. Just a little bit though. So here are some thoughts and updates about this and that.
Guilty Pleasures: Next
Through the years, it seems as if many of my Guilty Pleasures—films that bombed at the box office and/or with the reviewers—involve Nicolas Cage. The same is true of the 2007 sci-fi thriller, NEXT, based on a story by legendary author Philip K. Dick.
Where Was #MeToo Back In The Day?
Recently, I discovered something about myself that, quite honestly, I did not like. It has to do with a fictional character: Dirk Pitt, the ubiquitous creation of bestselling author Clive Cussler.
Myths And Legends: The Ghosts Of Alcatraz
If you’ve been to San Francisco (who hasn’t), you probably rode the ferry across the bay to Alcatraz Island. You took the tour of the old federal prison, stood inside one of the 4’ x 8’ claustrophobic cells (I lasted ten seconds), gawked at the Who’s Who of former inmates. But in the daytime, with so many people around, you likely did not encounter one of the many spirits that inhabit its creepy corridors.
Native American Film Gems: Hostiles
The 2017 Western drama, HOSTILES, will take most viewers out of their “comfort zone.” At times it is difficult to watch, but its overall message of tolerance and inclusion is evident. The excellent performances by its stars, Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, and Wes Studi, make this an exceptional and necessary film.
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