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.
Pick Your Poison—Straight From The Garden
Consider this a sneak preview of a brief scene that will appear in my next book, which should be ready for public consumption before the end of the year. I just had to write about a place in the UK where all of the plants and trees are toxic, some downright deadly. Here’s the scoop on the aptly named POISON GARDEN.
Long John Silver And Moses…One And The Same?
Who knew? I sure as heck didn’t. Charlton Heston, a Hollywood mega-star throughout the second half of the 20th century, portrayed Robert Louis Stevenson’s infamous one-legged sea cook/pirate in a 1990 film version of his classic novel, TREASURE ISLAND? Well, shiver me timbers!
“My Grandfather’s Work Was Doodoo!”
I recently watched Mel Brooks’ comedy classic, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974), for the umpteenth time. (“Umpteenth” is a useful work that translates to I-don’t-know-how-many-times-but-it’s-a-hell-of-a-lot.) Whenever you find yourself in need of a laugh, there are no remedies much better than this, an homage to the 1931 horror classic.
The Witch Queen Of New Orleans
Witchcraft as an officially recognized religion? Yes, it happened, due to the efforts of a unique woman named Mary Oneida Toups.
Guilty Pleasures: BAD MOON
Does watching a “trashy werewolf movie” interest you? Then check out the 1996 horror flick, BAD MOON, a bonified Guilty Pleasure: a practically non-existent box office, and brutal reviews. I pulled the comment in the first sentence from one of the few decent reviews: “Bad Moon succeeds with what you want in a trashy werewolf movie.” Still, it has its moments.
Myths And Legends: The Willard Library
Incorporated in 1881 to serve the residents of Evansville, Indiana, the Willard Library contains the kind of publications one would expect to find in a typical storehouse of knowledge. It is also home to local and genealogical archives. But its most interesting feature: THE WILLARD LIBRARY IS HAUNTED.
History Via Horror
My horror novel, THE MODOC WELL (first published as THE WELL, Bantam Books, 1991), is creepy and gory enough to satisfy any aficionado of the genre. But in one chapter I deviate a bit to present a bit of fascinating—and heartbreaking—local history.
“It’s Weird And Pissed Off…” Quotes From A Horror Classic
Paranoia and claustrophobia: two defining elements of director John Carpenter’s 1982 film, THE THING. Initially panned by critics, it has long since evolved into one of the most respected movies of its genre. Here are some of its memorable lines.
Monstrous Malevolent Mollusks Manufacture Much Mayhem
By now I’ve made it clear that I’m a fan of those 1950s science fiction/horror “B” movies, aka “creature features.” A particular favorite is THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957). It doesn’t hurt that the setting for this film is practically in my neighborhood.
Ghosts Of The Inner City
In my comedy/sci-fi series, cosmic mountain bike rider Jack Miller finds himself in some weird and wonderful—and dangerous—worlds through the portals along the Ultimate Bike Path. This holds true in the latest entry, THE MAGIC OF THE BIKE PATH (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Six). He finds himself in a devastated inner-city neighborhood, one that he soon learns is inhabited by ghosts …
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