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.
Part One: Which Kong Is King?
Yes, this is going to be one of those IMHO posts, and you may or may not agree with which King Kong film is my favorite. No problem, we all know what we like. I might also add that I’m only talking about the three American-made films actually titled KING KONG, as well as the 2017 version, KONG: SKULL ISLAND.
Throwback Thursday: Long Live The Iowa Wave!
The Iowa Wave is still going strong! Performed by 70,000+ folks at every Iowa Hawkeye football game in the fall, the Wave honors children at a nearby hospital who are battling some devastating health issues. This post first ran in 2018.
Myths And Legends: The Troubled Spirits Of Colonial Park Cemetery
Some think of it as the most haunted place in the venerable Georgia city of Savannah. Others call it one of the most haunted sites in America. Whatever the case, Colonial Park Cemetery has a long and chilling history.
Throwback Thursday: Guilty Pleasures—RED PLANET
Aside from a noteworthy cast, RED PLANET met all of the criteria for a dud, therefore making it a Guilty Pleasure. This post first ran in 2018.
Even The Most Successful Authors Dealt With The Evil Rejection Slips
Many bestselling authors, from Stephen King To J.K. Rowling, garnered their share of rejections before making it big. Many of them blew me away. Here are just a few. The first, to a much beloved author, is one of my favorites.
Throwback Thursday: Another Cheer-Worthy Sports Movie That You Probably Missed
The 2009 film, THE PERFECT GAME, was one of those “came-and went” movies that most folks weren’t even aware of when it breezed through their local multi-plexes. That’s too bad, because this heartwarming baseball story, based on true events, is a gem, easily one of the fifty or sixty movies in my Top Ten.
Updating THE CONJURING Universe
Back in 2019 I wrote about the seven films (at the time) that comprised what is called THE CONJURING Universe. This is a multi-billion (with a “b”) franchise of horror movies “based on the true stories” of hauntings and demonic possession cases involving Lorraine and Ed Warren. Since then an eighth film, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT (2021) has been released, and there is more to come.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—Resurrection Mary, The Hitchhiking Ghost
Chicago and its environs are home to quite a few ghosts and spirits. I’ve already written about one of America’s most haunted places, the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, located in the Windy City’s suburbs. But the story of Resurrection Mary might be even creepier.
WEST SIDE STORY: “el Remake de 2021 es Magnífico”
As an old(er) guy I’m kind of a curmudgeon when it comes to change. I like the old Broadway musicals just the way they are, not remade, reimagined, rebooted, or whatever. A few years back, when I first heard that Steven Spielberg planned on producing and directing a reboot of the fabulous 1961 film version of WEST SIDE STORY, I had a WTF moment, despite my admiration for him and his works. Why remake such a gem?
Throwback Thursday: The Worms Keep Turning…But For How Long?
Well, apparently quite long, as there has already been a seventh entry in the series, TREMORS: SHRIEKER ISLAND, to hit the small screen. This post first ran in 2018.
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