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.
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.
Yes, Jack Miller Will Definitely Ride Again!
An update: my alter ego, Del Mar, California bicyclist Jack Miller, is aging gracefully, and this young fart just can’t stop riding through the cosmic tunnel known as the Ultimate Bike Path. I am currently writing the next opus in my comedy/sci-fi series, MYSTERIES OF THE BIKE PATH (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Seven), and expect to have it ready for public consumption well before the end of the year. Stay tuned.
Pet Chimpanzee Goes Ape
Sorry, couldn’t resist. But in fact, those four words could serve as the entire synopsis for the 2025 “natural horror” film, PRIMATE, a surprisingly watchable film for its genre.
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