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.
The Body Snatchers: The Novel That Spawned Four Film Versions
During my many decades—or is that centuries?—living on this planet I have encountered a number of people who’ve shared the same childhood nightmare. In it, they awaken one morning to discover that their mother is not their mother, or their favorite uncle is no longer their uncle…or sister, or father, or whomever. More than likely these folks, as kids, saw the same movie—the 1956 version of the classic sci-fi thriller, Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
“My Blue Blanket!”—Gene Wilder Movie Lines
A comedic genius has left us. Gene Wilder passed away last week. But he left us a great legacy of humor in his many films. Here is a small sampling of his best lines.
Quotes From Writers—About Writing
Writers have never shied away from sharing thoughts about their craft, among other topics. In this occasional series we will have a look at some of their insights. I’ll begin with one of my favorite quotes EVER.
Righting Old Wrongs: Almost Done
With the recent publication of my Sword & Planet novel, Slaves of Maldrinium, I am close to fulfilling a promise that I made to myself a few years ago. The catalyst for this occurred during the start of my writing career, when I was fortunate—or maybe unfortunate—enough to publish thirteen novels in only four years.
Is “Outstanding Remake” An Oxymoron?
With so many folks pissed off about the remake of Ghostbusters, I got to thinking: has anyone ever referred to the remake of any much-loved movie as outstanding? More than likely the response is “meh” or “why bother?” or “what the heck were they thinking?” Did we really need remakes of Psycho, or Clash of the Titans, or Poltergeist, or Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or…well, I’m sure you can come up with your own list.
Myths And Legends: The Angry Ghosts Of Japan’s Suicide Forest
Who knew? Until I saw a film titled The Forest earlier this year, I had not heard of Aokigahara. Research revealed something shocking: this vast forest, located near the base of Japan’s sacred Mt. Fuji, is a place where thousands of people have come to take their own lives. Even more shocking: their spirits, the yūrei, continue to haunt the Sea of Trees.
Films About Books: You’ve Got Mail
This 1998 romantic comedy stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, one of the most popular couples in that genre. But You’ve Got Mail offers another sobering reality from that era: the Big Box discount store pushing out the Ma and Pa shop of days gone by. In this story we’re talking about bookstores.
“I Play Hockey And I Fornicate…” – More Memorable Movie Lines
Wow, did I get too serious in some of my recent posts? Let’s remedy that with notable quotes from a few of my favorite flicks.
Films About Writers: The Words
Actually, I could have categorized the 2012 romantic drama, The Words, as a film about a writer writing about a writer—who’s writing about another writer. With a top-notch cast that includes Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Dennis Quaid, and Jeremy Irons, among others, I figured it was worth checking out.
The Ongoing History Of THE SHINING: Part Three
In 1977, when Stephen King hit the bestseller lists in hardcover for the first time with his classic, The Shining, it became evident that he was on his way. Still, he wasn’t about to call all the shots when his story was optioned for film by the renowned director, Stanley Kubrick. So the movie version, while a classic in its own right, differed in a number of significant ways from the novel, and King fumed over it for many years.
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