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.
Is Anyone Watching Pandemic Movies?
Given the current state of affairs, you’d think people would be avoiding pandemic films like the plague. Curiously, my research revealed the opposite to be true. Folks just can’t seem to get enough of them…
Throwback Thursday: The Ongoing History Of THE SHINING—Part Two
In last week’s post I talked about Stephen King’s 1977 novel, THE SHINING. I have to believe that it initially thrilled the author to learn the film rights had been acquired by renowned director Stanley Kubrick. But ultimately, he did not like the end result.
A March Miracle: The Texas Western Basketball Team
I believe it is significant that I’m writing this post on April 15th, which happens to be Jackie Robinson Day. The great baseball player—and even greater human being—broke the color barrier in what up until then had been a racially segregated sport, when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Throwback Thursday: The Ongoing History Of THE SHINING—Part One
This series is about one of the scariest, most famous horror stories of all time. The post first ran in 2016.
Myths And Legends: The Vanishing Riverboat
The SS IRON MOUNTAIN, a stern-wheel paddle steamer, proudly sailed the waters of the mighty Mississippi River following its launch in 1872. Its owners foresaw a long and prosperous run for the vessel. How could they know that its run would end in barely a decade under mysterious circumstances, to become the stuff of legend?
Throwback Thursday: The Village (2004)—A Polarizing Film?
What was the deal with what should have been a hit movie? I first presented this post in 2016.
James Bond Meets Han Solo?
Well, not exactly, but we do have Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford co-starring in the 2011 sci-fi/western film, Cowboys & Aliens. With that kind of star power, and some decent reviews, you’d think this movie was a blockbuster hit, but not so fast. It did poorly at...
Throwback Thursday: Writing Serves To Soothe The Savage Beast—Part Two
At the beginning of last week’s post I mentioned that I was a real weenie. People who know me often ask, “How can you write that stuff!” Like I said, the best (worst?) of it often comes out when I’m angry or frustrated about something. The cathartic effect of writing can be significant.
Safe At Home
I’m writing this on what should have been Opening Day for Major League Baseball in general, and my San Diego Padres in particular. (Not to mention the start of the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA basketball tournament. Crap!)
Throwback Thursday: Writing Serves To Soothe The Savage Beast—Part One
My self-assessment is that I’m one of the most passive guys on the planet. That’s why, when I go back and read one of the (many) violent, bloody scenes that I’ve written in my novels over the decades, I wonder, “Where the hell did that come from?”
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