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.
Throwback Thursday: “I’m Still Here, Chief”
That line comes from my second-favorite movie of all time, FREQUENCY. Released in 2000, this fantasy/baseball/serial killer/father & son relationship flick, starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel, has just about everything I could want in a story. But for my wife Jacqueline and me, it has given us even more.
Demons In…The Bronx?
The 2014 supernatural horror movie, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, is “inspired by” the actual experiences of a New York City cop named Ralph Sarchie. I like to think that “inspired by” gives the filmmakers even more creative license than “based on a true story,” and I’m sure that’s the case with this film. Still, true or not, DELIVER US FROM EVIL has more than its share of disturbing moments.
Throwback Thursday: Guilty Pleasures—Lake Placid
LAKE PLACID (1999), which garnered its share of crappy reviews, is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. And I’m not alone, as the film did well at the box office and spawned three made-for-TV sequels. The original had a solid cast, all of whom managed to keep a straight face throughout the comedy and the terror.
Homicidal Maniacs In…Iowa?
The Hawkeye state, birthplace of my bride, isn’t usually in the forefront when it comes to horror movies. But in THE CRAZIES (2010), a remake of George Romero’s 1973 film, Iowa is where we find ourselves, and yeah, the maniacs are all over the cornfields.
Throwback Thursday: Opening Lines—Part Three
I suppose I’m fascinated, if not obsessed, with the bad opening lines that have been submitted to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest over the past thirty years. What the heck, they are so entertaining. Here are some more award-winning gems from the past. Enjoy!
Mr. Mankind Still Creeps Me Out
Growing up in the 1950s I got to experience first-hand the new wave of science fiction movies that defined the era. One of my absolute favorites, Invaders from Mars (1953), had the distinction of being the first film to present aliens and their spacecraft in color (that’s SuperCinecolor, to be specific), beating out the classic War of the Worlds by a few months.
Throwback Thursday: Transitions—From Scene To Scene, Part Two
In my last post I promised to share some more transitions from my novel, FREEDOM’S HAND, to show how this necessary device can strengthen a writer’s story. It’s time to pay off.
Please!—Write Well, Not Fast
It’s novel-writing month or some such thing again, so I’m going to post my annual rebuttal on the matter, as I will likely do for a long time to come.
Throwback Thursday: Transitions—From Scene To Scene, Part One
Transitions can make or break a narrative. I first presented this post in 2013, and it will be just as relevant in 2023.
My 2017 Halloween Playlist
Last year I mentioned that as an old guy living in a gated 55+ community, I no longer have to hand out Halloween candy at the front door, since no one does trick-or-treating. In addition to eating the last two Reese’s peanut butter cups, I get all the ones that come before them! Pretty cool.
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