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.
My 2026 Halloween Playlist
As an old guy living in a gated senior 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.
Where Have You Gone, Annie Kinsella?
As I’ve mentioned one or two—or fifty—times since I started this blog, FIELD OF DREAMS (1989) is my all-time favorite movie. By extension, so are its stars, in particular Amy Madigan, who played Annie Kinsella, the upbeat, feisty wife of Ray Kinsella. To me, Ms. Madigan IS Annie Kinsella, and has been for decades. So I was hardly prepared for what went down earlier this year.
New Book: An Update
Well, things were going just dandy into September as I continued writing my latest opus, Mysteries of the Bike Path (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Seven). I had surpassed the halfway point and was on a roll. Then—unfortunately—the last three weeks happened.
Is This The Year?
At various times during my six-book (soon to be seven) comedy/sci-fi series featuring cosmic bike rider Jack Miller (my alter ego), I have him stating my own personal mantra. Neither of us intend to depart this plane of existence until the San Diego Padres have won a World Series.
“Mom, A Dinosaur Just Ate Our Neighbor”
Is the new “science fiction/survival” film, THE END OF OAK STREET, a fun, exciting 99 minutes with an old-time “creature feature” vibe? Absolutely. Is it—as some reviews stated—the best dinosaur movie of all time?
Myths And Legends: Poveglia, The Ghost Island
The small island of Poveglia is located in the Venetian Lagoon, between Venice and Lido in northern Italy. Some refer to it as the World’s Most Haunted Island, and with good reason, given the more than one hundred-thousand people who died there in so limited a space.
My Favorite MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Film Is…
Just to be clear, I totally enjoy all eight of the movies in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film franchise. I was even around for the TV series, which ran for seven seasons beginning in 1966, and two seasons in the 1980s. But hands down, my favorite film just happens to be…
Excuses, Excuses
Sorry, no post this week. Just been so busy. I’m about halfway through my new literary opus, MYSTERIES OF THE BIKE PATH (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Seven), and it should be ready for public consumption by the end of the year. And I’m totally invested in the San Diego Padres’ quest for a playoff spot. I even have a defibrillator next to my La-Z-Boy for those stressful moments.
I Kvetch For Dinosaurs
In case you don’t know, to KVETCH is “to complain, grumble, or whine about trivial matters.” So my kvetch today is about the mistreatment of a 33-year-old, classic, much-loved movie. I’m talking about JURASSIC PARK.
Good Neighborhood, Bad Neighbors
The British crime drama from Acorn TV, THE CHELSEA DETECTIVE, recently premiered its fourth season (I watch it on Prime Video), and I could not be happier. This excellent series just keeps getting better and better.
Latest Release
