Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Teaser art for A STITCH IN TIME, my original sequel to H.G. Wells' THE INVISIBLE MAN and THE TIME MACHINE

This is one I've been talking about for a while now, and I'm thrilled to say this one is finally back on track and moving ahead to hopefully hit a release date for the end of 2012. Fingers crossed.

Even the rough concept art from new series artist, Martheus Wade, is simply a thing of beauty.



"What's the story?" you ask. Well, without giving too much away...

Revisit the fascinating world of H.G. Wells as the Time Traveler and an all-new Invisible Man return to the future in order to save Weena and the rest of the Eloi from the primitive, flesh-eating Morlocks. But who is the new Invisible Man, and what is his tie to the late Griffin, the crazed killer who was once known by that title?

How's that for a teaser?

RIP Al Rio Passes

It has been reported by Brazilian journalists that comic book artist Al Rio has recently died.

Known especially for his Gen 13 and DV8 work for Wildstorm, and more recently for his Zenescope covers, especially Grimm Fairy Tales. Al Rio had worked across the comics industry, both in Brazil and in the USA, including the likes of Grifter & The Mask, Alan Moore’s Voodoo, Avengylene for Avatar, World War Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man and New Mutants.

The respected Brazilian journalist Sidney Gusman, after talking to those close to the family reports that is was apparently suicide, but that no note had been left.

Our thoughts are with his family.

See original link: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/31/al-rio-passes/

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#66) -- Chapter Titles

What are you thoughts about chapter titles?

I tend to prefer chapter titles that are generic... Chapter One, Chapter Two, etc. Others come off as too "cutesy" to me, particularly when they're done like "Chapter Two, in Which Pooh Gets Himself in a Sticky Situation." They, for me anyway, work well in children's literature or in something that is a throwback to something older, for example the subtitles to Avengers episodes (that's Steed and Ms. Peel, for the record, not Captain America and the Wasp).

I know several writers who use the chapter titles to help them advance the plot or to offer clues, but for me, I'm more interested in having the story itself to that. And each chapter should have it's own sort of story arc to a degree, and while it may not necessarily stand alone, it should offer some movement all its own that contributes to the overall story, and not just the advancement of the plot.

I know that using chapter heading breaks in shorter fiction has fallen out of vogue, but I like the way novellas and novelettes used to use them, where they didn't actually start on a new page, just kept the flow of the text rolling and added an extra line break before the chapter heading. I liked it because it gave an aesthetic that (to me anyway) was a happy medium between novel chapter breaks (full page break) and something else that signified a narrative break but without having to waste pages on a full break. It's the next step up from a fancy scene break symbol, in my mind, at least in a novella or novelette.

Just my opinions, as always. You're mileage may vary.

Monday, January 30, 2012

FIRST VOLUME FROM PULP OBSCURA DEBUTS -- THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT!

FIRST VOLUME FROM PULP OBSCURA DEBUTS -- THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT!

Pro Se Productions, a leading Publisher in the New Pulp Movement, announces today the release of the first collection from its PULP OBSCURA line.  Pro Se, in conjunction with Altus Press, noted Publisher of Pulp reprints as well as the home of Will Murray’s new Doc Savage novels, developed the PULP OBSCURA line to spotlight characters from the classic days of Pulp Fiction that are considered unknown or rare in the modern era. 

“This concept,” stated Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se, “is really the brainchild of Altus Press’ founder and publisher, Matt Moring.  He saw the potential in many of the characters he plans to reprint the original adventures of via Altus Press to be used in new stories by modern day writers.  The characters he and I discussed are in the Public Domain and therefore free writers to tackle and publishers to print.  Out of that rose PULP OBSCURA, a name I’d come up with a year or so ago out of my own thoughts of one day focusing on rare characters that most people, even the hardcore Pulp fans, don’t know exist.”

The first PULP OBSCURA volume is THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT.   The title character originally appeared in FLYING ACES Magazine in the 1930s and was written by Donald E. Keyhoe, an author known later in his career for his writing on UFOs.   Appearing in numerous tales into the 1940s, Knight was considered a flying detective type, an agent of the government who used the cover of millionaire flyboy to investigate plots, usually those involving things such as lost valleys or other oddities, against America. 

As stated on the book itself:
From the past flies new tales of one of Pulp’s forgotten heroes!  Pro Se Productions in conjunction with Altus Press presents the first volume in its PULP OBSCURA line!  Bringing adventures and heroes lost in yesterday blazing to life in new pulp tales today!  Six high flying, wild and weird adventures from I.A. Watson, Barry Reese, Frank Schildiner, Joshua Reynolds, Terry Alexander, and Adam Lance Garcia!

Come fly with this hero of the airways as he battles threats to America from the common to the extraordinary! The first new stories since 1942!

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT is available now from Pro Se Press as a Kick Off Special for PULP OBSCURA.  Altus Press’ volume which this New Pulp book is a companion to, THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT, VOLUME ONE, will be out within days.  In the future, Hancock explained, Altus’ reprint volume and Pro Se’s New Pulp companion volume will be released on the same day.  “We did this,” Hancock said, “as a special gift to those who have been following the development of PULP OBSCURA and readers eager to see what we’re doing.  There’s been a lot of buzz about this project, which we all greatly appreciate, and we wanted to reward that.”

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT features a spectacular cover by Mike Fyles and the cover design work of Sean Ali.  Interior Format and Design is the work of Matt Moring and the ebook design is by Russ Anderson.  THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT is now available via Pro Se’s Createspace store at https://www.createspace.com/3783368 and will be available via Amazon in print within the week, $12.00 in print.  It is also available for $2.99 for the Kindle on Amazon and in various formats at www.smashwords.com and coming soon to Barnes & Noble for the Nook.

This first release from PULP OBSCURA is featured in the following trailer:


PULP OBSCURA-Bringing Heroes Lost in Yesterday Blazing to Life in New Pulp Tales Today!

Pro Se Press: www.prosepulp.com
Altus Press: www.altuspress.com

Sherlock Holmes - The Baron's Revenge

Following the overwhelming success of the second Robert Downey Jr. film blockbuster, Airship 27 Productions is pleased to present a brand new mystery suspense novel starring the Great Detective; Sherlock Holmes - The Baron's Revenge by Gary Lovisi, with interior illustrations by Rob Davis.

In 1902 Sir James Damery enlisted the aid of Sherlock Holmes to prevent the daughter of an old friend from marrying a womanizing Austrian named Adelbert Gruner who was suspected of murdering his first wife.  Dr.Watson chronicled the case as "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client."  By its conclusion, Gruner was exposed to the young lady when Holmes came into possession of an album listing his many amorous conquests.  Then a former prostitute mistress took her own revenge by throwing acid in his face and permanently disfiguring him.

Holmes believed the matter concluded. He is proven wrong when a hideous murder occurs rife with evidence indicating the Baron has returned.  Soon the Great Detective will learn he has been targeted for revenge in a cruel and sadistic fashion. Not only does the Baron wish his death but he is obsessed with causing Holmes emotional suffering.  He desires nothing less that the complete and utter destruction of the Great Detective in body and soul.

Now Gary Lovisi spins a fast paced tale of horror and intrigue that is both suspenseful and poignant, all the while remaining true to Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.  "The Baron's Revenge" is a thrilling sequel to a classic Holmes adventure fans will soon be applauding.

Airship 27 packages and publishes anthologies and novels in the pulp magazine tradition.

In the past, Airship 27 has released "Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective", a series of "Weird Horror Tales" novels, and more pulp fiction in "The Green Lama" and "Secret Agent X".  For more information on Airship 27, go to www.airship27.com.

Print version: www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6558

E-book version: http://www.robmdavis.com/OScommerce/product_info.php?products_id=76&osCsid=6b321d2bb2023b0c68b3dc8d4ee7f405

Coming soon to Amazon!

[Link] ECKERT TO PROVIDE BONUSES TO TITAN'S 'OTHER LOG OF PHILEAS FOGG' RELEASE!

ECKERT TO PROVIDE BONUSES TO TITAN'S 'OTHER LOG OF PHILEAS FOGG' RELEASE!



From Win Scott Eckert-

I'm very pleased to announce that I'll be contributing two bonus pieces to the Titan Books reissue of Philip José Farmer's "secret history" novel The Other Log of Phileas Fogg.

Other Log reveals the hidden events behind Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. First published in 1973, the book is considered to be one of the first examples of elder steampunk.

The Other Log of Phileas Fogg is currently scheduled for release in May 2012, and is available for pre-order at major outlets such as Amazon andBarnes & Noble. Editions include trade paperback and digital (Kindle & Nook).

Other Log kicks off Titan's series of Wold Newton novels, to be followed by Time's Last Gift in June 2012. More titles will follow, so stay tuned to Mr. Farmer's official website, and Facebook (Philip Jose Farmer | Win Scott Eckert) for more information.

As for the bonus materials, the new edition will contain the following pieces, exclusive to this edition:

  • a new afterword entitled "Only a Coincidence: Phileas Fogg, PhilipJosé Farmer, and the Wold Newton Family"
  • a timeline entitled "A Chronology of Major Events Pertinent to The Other Log of Phileas Fogg"
So get over to Amazon or Barnes & Noble and get your pre-order in now!

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#65) -- Working Up to Longer Word Counts

How does someone get into writing short stories and work his or her way up to novel-length books?

That's a very good question, and it also is a very revealing one. For starters, you don't have to work your way up from short pieces to long, particularly because they're really different kinds of animals, so to speak. Think of a short story as a small painting, as opposed to painting a house, i.e. a novel. That's not to say one is more or less artful than the other, just that one is a single image to be viewed in a sitting and meaning gleaned from it right then and there, and the other is something to be taken in total, as one part adds to the cumulative effect of a world that is indeed "lived in."

All that fancy, schmancy talk is just to say that they're different. It's not as though a novel is a grown-up short story, like a man is a grown-up boy. It's more like a man and a watermelon, or some other unrelated thing.

But, to specifically address the question, you can most definitely try your hand at shorter works first to exercise your writing muscles and find a sense of completion for a project. That sense of completion certainly can help a beginning writer build the confidence that "Yes, I can do this!"

Another option is to see your novel as a series of short tales, and take them one at a time.

Of course, if your goal is to build your confidence, nothing beats having a short story or two published in an anthology or magazine. That, more than just about anything else, will instill in you the confidence to keep going and have the guts to tackle a longer work.

Good luck and happy writing!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

500+ pages of stories for only $.99

500+ pages of stories for only $.99

Show Me a Hero e-book, by me, from New Babel Books
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/64391

But don't take my recommendation. Take it from this wonderful people!

"...More fully-rounded, more realistic and, as a direct result, more human than all but the best superhero comic book work."
—From the introducton by Dwayne McDuffie

“Sean Taylor’s stories focus less on the obvious trappings of the genre, instead homing in on the conflicted, flawed human beings for whom greater-than-mortal powers don’t convey greater-than-mortal morality.”
—Tom Brevoort, Executive Editor, Marvel Comics

“Show Me a Hero delivers a series of stories that are dangerous, intriguing, fun and lathered with that sense of character readers will be sure to love. Once you’re done reading, you’ll know you read a well-crafted, fully rounded piece of work.”
—Dan Jurgens, author of The Death of Superman

“Hitting a heavy beat on the ’human’ in superhuman, Taylor’s stories pulse with a visceral reality. The biggest villains his heroes face might be their own bad habits; their greatest challenges are working through relationships—not surviving the battle. Show Me a Hero lives in the place where modern fiction meets mythology.”
—Barbara Randall Kesel, author of Alien vs. Predator, WildC.A.T.s, Rogue Angel: Teller of Tall Tales

“’Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.’ Sean Taylor takes F. Scott Fitzgerald to heart in a selection of stories that reveal the high price even super heroes often pay to do the right thing. If there are any tears in these riveting tales— and, I’m afraid, there are—they do not diminish the courage of Taylor’s champions or the power of his writing. These are the quiet pains that stay with the readers and, hopefully, help them appreciate the heroes in their own lives.”
—Tony Isabella, author of 1000 Comic Books You Must Read, Star Trek: The Case of the Colonist’s Corpse

“I’ll sum it up as simply as I can: you’re going to care. That’s what Sean does with his characters and the stories they inhabit. He makes you care.”
—Erik Burnham, author of A-Team: War Stories, Ghostbusters Infestation, Nanover, Civil War Adventures

“Show Me a Hero is not about powers, costumes or catchy code names. It’s about heart and soul, and the choices that make heroes out of ordinary lives.”
—Bryan J.L. Glass, author of Mice Templar, Thor: First Thunder

“A lot of writers talk about trying to introduce superheroes into the real world, but Sean Taylor does it better than most. Perhaps because his stories don't just have plot, they have a point. They're not about a series of circumstances and events, but about how those circumstances and events make the people living through them feel. You may not like every story in Show Me A Hero, but I defy you to finish one and be indifferent. You may love them or hate them, be inspired or unsettled, but they're going to get inside your head and gut and make you think and feel.”
—Paul Storrie, author of Gotham Girls, Justice League Unlimited, Captain America: Red, White & Blue

“Sean Taylor’s work is gripping, sincere and relevant.”
—Dwight MacPherson, author of The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo, American McGee’s Grim

“Full of dynamic action and a range of intriguing characters, Sean Taylor gracefully delivers moments of dimension and depth in his stories that explore what being heroic is truly about.”
—Stephen Zimmer, author of the Rising Dawn Saga and Fires in Eden Series

“What will certainly surprise new readers of Sean Taylor’s work is how mature and entertaining the story lines are, not to mention the amount of realism he injects into each and every one of his characters. If you’re on the fence about super hero fiction—if you think it’s just kid stuff—then pick up Show Me A Hero and find out how glad you’ll be to learn you were wrong.”
—Tom Waltz, Editor, IDW Publishing; author of Silent Hill: Sinners Reward, Gene Simmons Zipper, TMNT

“Instead of the all-powerful visitor from another planet or the millionaire with crimefighting devices that cost more than my house, Taylor shows us a more human hero—and more often than not, a less than perfect one. Show Me A Hero reminds us that heroes come in all shapes and sizes as it takes us down the less traveled path to see just what defines a hero.
—Bobby Nash, author of Evil Ways, Lance Star: Sky Ranger, Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell

“Guaranteed to pull at your emotions—a must read!”
—Shane Moore, author of the Abyss Walker series

“Show Me a Hero is a great mix of super hero stories that appeal to every reader—dark, sweet, strong and funny, each story has a unique take on the super hero setting. Taylor has done a fantastic job, enticing me every step along the way to draw me into the worlds and become passionate about the characters.”
—Christina Barber, author of Seely’s Pond and Spirits of Georgia’s Southern Crescent

"Sean Taylor’s stories are in-your-face, emotional, and immediate. In this collection, he examines from all angles the odd yet undeniable impulse that drives some people to put on a costume and fight crime in the streets. No kid stuff here—this is serious, intelligent drama and deep, human introspection spiced with plenty of action and intensity (and often a nice twist along the way). Well worth your time."
—Van Allen Plexico, author of Assembled! and the Sentinels series

Also available in trade paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Show-Me-Hero-iHero-Omnibus/dp/0972019715/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_8

Airship 27 announces the new "Hangar" -- one stop shop for both e-book and printed editions!


NEW AIRSHIP 27 HANGAR

After months of hard work, Rob Davis, the Art Director has finished work on the new official Airship 27 Productions website.  Titled the Airship 27 Hangar, the site features two all important links.

The first brings visitors to the PDF store where all Airship 27 pulp titles are available for $3 dollars as PDF downloads for their PCs or various e-readers.

The second brings readers to the Airship 27 Print-On-Demand shop at Indy Planet.  Indy Planet is a division of Ka-Blam, one of the leading print-on-demand operations in the publishing world today.

“Now our fans can find all books with one click of their mouse button,” Airship 27 Managing Editor-in-Chief Ron Fortier announced.  “These new internet shops have allowed us to drop the prices of our product while maintaining the high standard of quality our readers have come to expect from Airship 27 Productions.  These steps insure our continued growth with dozens of great new titles now in the planning stages.”

“Expect our first title of 2012 to be released within the next week,” Fortier continued.  “Both Rob and I are very, very excited about the future of Airship 27 Productions.”

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#64) -- RPG Inspiration

Is it true that some of your characters have come from role playing games?

Yes. Next question.

Just kidding. And just to be sure we're on the same page, you are talking about table-top RPGs, right, not the weird stuff between consenting adults? (Because in that case, the answer would be no. *grins*)

A few examples, the entire cast of Last Chance School for Girls comes from characters created for the Cyber Age Adventures Role Playing Game. And the character Frique, from my short story, "Angels of Their Better Nature," (collected in Show Me a Hero, both in trade paperback and ebook) originated in one of three Play by Email (PBeM) RPGs I once ran for a year or so for iHero Entertainment.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

A Look Back in Wonder (i.e., the Interviews Archive)

Bad Girls
Wow. It's been only a little longer than two months, but we've really cranked out quite a few interviews and articles here at Bad Girls, Good Guys, and Two-Fisted Action.

And we're not stopping anytime soon.

Future interviews will feature Devin Grayson and Michael Baron, among others, and look for lots more roundtable discussions about various topics of interest for readers and writers of adventure fiction, both prose and comics.

As for the articles that are already at home on the blog,  here's a handy-dandy list to make your search for them a little easier. Enjoy!

Individual Interviews:

Oh the Horror... of Robert Freese

Getting to know the man behind the man in (no) tights -- Ian Watson

Digging Up the Deadly With Bobby Nash

It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's Van Allen Plexico!

Cowboys, and Pirates, and Cannibals, Oh Ed Erdelac!
Good Guys

Straight Talk About Origin Stories
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/straight-talk-about-origin-stories.html

An Issue Too Long? How Long Should a "Typical" Comic Book Arc Be?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/issue-too-long-how-long-should-typical.html

Pulps to Comics: A Bridge or a Chasm?

Running on Feet of Clay -- How Bad Can a Hero Be and Still Be a Good Guy?

How Dangerous a Mask Can Be -- The Fascination with the Masked Hero in Pulps

A Walk on the Dark Side: Writing Believable Villains

The Pulp Writers and Fans Roundtable About Comic Books

Genre-Bending: How Pure Should Pulp Fiction Be?

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow—In What Time Period Does Pulp Fit Best?

Type. Type. (Stereo)Type: Taming the Familiar Beast

Bullets vs. Bonding -- Balancing action and characterization in pulp fiction

Writing Pet Peeves: A Roundtable

Other Featured Articles:

Two-Fisted Action
Femme Fatales—An Obsession Dissected

The Cover Story -- Pulps Should Shock and Grab You!

How Bad Guys Die by I.A. Watson

The Twitter Writing Tips Sessions

On Heriones by I.A. Watson

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#63) -- Reading Horror

Which horror books are your favorites?

The Tell-Tale Heart (1912) by
Martin van Maële,
engraved by Eugène Dété.
All of my favorite horror stories are the ones I read in my teenage years, much like most of my favorite music is what I loved growing up as a teen. Maybe that makes me different, or maybe we all tend to run back in nostalgia to re-embrace the stuff that helped to form our loves.

Regardless, my favorite short horror remains that of Poe. He just still creeps me out. Something about the way his writing style comes across like a drug-induced trip (or so I'm guessing, mom). In more recent years, I (finally) discovered Lovecraft, but his stuff doesn't scare me as much as it makes me ponder. And Algernon Blackwood is quickly rising up the ranks as well.

For contemporary authors, nobody gives me the heebie-jeebies like Robert Freese. His  images aren't gory as much as they are disturbing. There have been several times I've had to put his book down and rattle the images from my fevered brain lest I ponder the unthinkable. And that's (in my mind anyway) the mark of a gifted horror writer.

Can I eat your
little boy, ma'am?
For novels, it's still a tie between King's Christine, Cujo, and Pet Semetary. Of his works, those are the ones that really make me check under the bed, or around the corner, or take a second look inside the car beside me at the traffic light. It probably didn't help that I read Cujo a few years after my younger brother got a permanent scar from a dog bite on his upper lip. Go figure.

I have also rediscovered King's short fiction through my son, Jack, who is greedily devouring every King book he can get his hands on. The story "N," in particular, gave ADD-OCD me no end of freaky dreams and read like a trip inside my brain. No lie. The idea of good numbers and bad number. I SO GET THAT. Just ask me to tell you about it some time when we meet at a convention. Then have a seat. It could take a while.

Friday, January 27, 2012

The Watson Report: How Bad Guys Die

How Bad Guys Die
by I.A. Watson 
 
I’ve been giving some thought to how master villains tend to meet their ends. Some common ways much beloved of adventure fiction are:

Desperate Last Struggle: The hero and villain slug it out one last time, for all the marbles. This often takes place in a significant location, such as the lip of a volcano or on a high girder over the city, or while a countdown clock ticks away to destruction. The hero seems outmatched – the villain cheats – but there’s one final heroic push…

A Duel With His Opposite: “We’re not so different, you and I.” Hero and villain finally duel to discover who is superior with the weapon/technique/skill of their choice in an honourable clash to the death. Turns out our hero was just that tiny bit better after all.

One Slim Chance: The villain is getting away or is about to launch his doomsday device or something else. “Nothing can stop me now!” Our hero has one long shot and he takes it. Mid-gloat, the villain’s brains are splattered across the control console.

Delayed Retribution: The villain begs for his life. The hero spares him. Then, as soon as the hero turns away, the villain pulls his hidden dagger. But the hero is ready for him, swings round, and shoots him dead. Hey, the villain had a last chance and he wasted it!

No Escape From Justice: Our hero is free. He lurks in the shadows, implacable, unstoppable. The villain loses his nerve, flees… but the henchmen he left behind to cover his trail are quickly taken down and terrible vengeance looms out of the darkness to bring the villain screaming to his final end.

Defeat at a Terrible Cost: To destroy the villain, the hero or someone close to him must also sacrifice his or her life! Common symptoms are lunging for the aircraft controls to force a power-dive, shooting into the reactor core, and grabbing the baddie then leaping into the volcano.

Victim’s Revenge: That girl he done wrong, that kid who’s father he murdered, that dog whose puppies he slaughtered get their final, unexpected moment of triumph. The villain faces karmic reprisal. Natural justice is restored.

Villain’s Own Hubris: He was warned not to open that casket, or to try and use that artefact, or to try and usurp the power of the gods. He didn’t listen. Now nature/terrible monster/the gods have turned on him to accomplish his doom.

The Minion Snaps: Faced with one abuse too many, the villain’s henchman finally turns on his master. The girl was the only one who was ever kind to him! And there the minion stands, right next to the lever that released the mind-squids!

Killed By Irony: The villain’s greatest weapon is turned against him. With the all-powerful death-cannon strapped to his arms he can’t reach the cancel destruct button in time. That useless peasant he killed in chapter three was the only one who knows where the antidote is hidden. It’s a bad idea to discharge your taser disruptor into an enemy when you’re both standing in the sewage. Common variants of this include The Briar Patch Trick - Goaded into some action which seems clever or evil, the villain in fact accomplishes his own doom, and The Past Catches Up – Some early part of the villain’s history, usually linked to his origin, comes back to haunt him and bring about downfall.

The Price of Failure: The villain allowed the hero to get away. His plans are ruined. Now his dark master/demon he sold his soul to/angry subordinates turn on the villain and punish him for his defeat.

An Unexpected Moment of Heroism: Hero and villain must team up to defeat an even greater menace. The villain makes a final noble act of atonement for his wickedness.

The Villain’s Death Is Part of the Plan: Now nobody can input the lost launch codes and stop the end of the world. The villain dies to accomplish his goals and has one final laugh at his heroic enemy. A variant of this is Mutual Assured Destruction – the villain triggers the explosion that destroys him and his adversary together.

Definitely Dead Till Next Time: And a special mention goes to all those “assumed” deaths where the body vanishes. Falls over cliffs or huge base-destroying explosions are best for this, but there are plenty of elaborate scenarios where the villain seems to be gone for good but isn’t. They come in two flavours: 1. The villain planned it all along, and 2. The villain wouldn’t have survived except for a lucky coincidence; in the second version he may also return horribly scarred.

Points are awarded for anyone who can suggest another category and for anyone who can cite a movie or book where each of these endings applies.

FANTASY DONE ‘HANSEN’S WAY’-- NEW IMPRINT AND NEW BOOK FROM PRO SE!

Pro Se Productions
Press Release for Immediate Release

FANTASY DONE ‘HANSEN’S WAY’-NEW IMPRINT AND NEW BOOK FROM PRO SE!

Pro Se Productions, a leading Publisher in the New Pulp Movement, announced its latest release today!  A three story collection entitled ‘Tales of the Vagabond Bards’ written by Nancy Hansen is now available.   Hansen, a prolific author in Pulp Fantasy, follows up her first novel, “Fortune’s Pawn” with this trio of tales set in the same world as the novel, but looking at events through a different set of eyes.

According to Pro Se, “In a time of upheaval, where magick and religion often collide, those who keep the old ways are increasingly shunned and ridiculed. The Vagabond Bards, a dedicated group of musicians, singers, actors, poets, and teachers of the unwritten oral folklore of the Terran Worlds, are finding themselves coming under pressure to disband or face probable imprisonment—even death. For generations these roving men and women have spread throughout the population, dedicating their lives to educating and assisting their fellow Humans while recording and preserving their knowledge and experiences, making sure the tales of the past are kept alive throughout the mostly illiterate masses. Sworn to Understand, Love, and Keep the Truth, they now face strong opposition from the upstart religion of Helios the Sun God, whose belief is sweeping the countryside, rewriting history and changing views of the past in the most alarming manner. These are the tales of those heroic troubadours, who fight for justice not with weapons, but with words.”

This exciting collection of fantasy fiction from one of New Pulp’s brightest stars in the genre not only debuts a whole new cast of characters and tales from Hansen, but is also the first volume in Pro Se’s latest author focused imprint-Hansen’s Way!

There are times when it is mindboggling,” commented Hansen concerning her work leading to her own imprint, “and I’m surprised I can keep the details straight. When I was approached about having my own imprint—which is an honor for someone who previous to 2010 was an unknown writer—I immediately thought about all those Terran World (the home of the Vagabond Bards) short stories, and bringing them in under one banner. I have 5 different series amongst those right now; each series with its own unique setting and recurring characters, and there have been some crossover characters and settings between them. It just makes more sense to keep them under one flagship imprint than scattering them hither and yon in other publications.”

“Nancy is a hit,” stated Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se, “both with the company and readers eager to follow her work.  “Fortune’s Pawn” had a great showing as a debut novel and Nancy has so many stories bubbling and ready to boil over, stories that appeal to all sorts of readers-Pulp fans, fantasy followers, and more!  And now they can all easily find her work by following ‘Hansen’s Way.’”

Hansen’s Way is the latest Pro Se imprint.  Following the announcement mid 2010 of Reese Unlimited, the first Pro Se imprint, Hansen’s Way is the second Author Focused Imprint from the publisher.  “When an author,” Hancock commented, “presents not only with a large, but a solid body of work, such as the imaginative worlds of fantasy whirling around in Nancy’s mind, it makes sense to put them in a package, in a sense.  Especially when the stories hit a vein with fans as Nancy’s obviously have.”

“Tales of the Vagabond Bards” is available via Amazon as well as via Pro Se Pulp’s CreateSpace store (https://www.createspace.com/3778916) in print and will be available via Smashwords and Amazon as an ebook within the next week!  With an excellent cover by David Russell and formatting for the print version by Sean Ali and for the ebook by Russ Anderson, this is truly a Pro Se Book to add to your collection!

For more information on this title or any Pro Se publication, email Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net and check out Pro Se at www.prosepulp.com!

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#62) -- Why Horror?

Why do you like horror films so much?

To answer that, I'll have to adapt the question into two new questions (because I'm a writer, and I need the space for words).

Why did I like them as a kid?

Because I could stay up late and watch something "forbidden," of course. That was the start of it. But from there I stuck around because of the scary moments (the adrenaline rush), the cute scream queens, and the monsters themselves. It was only later that I discovered the more gory and "sexy" horror films of the Eurotrash market and the Italian "sleaze" (many or which are quite tame by today's standards) flicks.

Why do I still love them? Or to put it a way that perhaps some of you are thinking... Why haven't I outgrown them?

Because the writer and the adult and the literature major in me has found in good horror flicks all the stuff that made me fall in love with stories in the first place. Good vs. Evil, the existential search for meaning beyond mere survival, redemption for initially selfish characters, reaping what you sow, the sins of the fathers visited upon the sons -- it's all there. No, not in every film, and particularly not in the films that cater to the lowest common denominator (but you'll find that in ALL genres, not just horror). Because of the immediacy of the possibility of death, characters in horror films must face the kinds of questions the rest of us prefer to push to the backburner. However, with Jason chasing through the woods with a machete, you don't have that luxury. You find out quickly whether you want to really live or not, whether you regret your choices, and whether you choose to fight for the safety of others or turn tail and run away to save your own skin above all others.

Good horror films go where other movies often don't dare. Bad horror films do too, just not as well.

And they still can sometimes scare the bejeckles out of the 8-year-old kid who still lives inside me.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

A Quick and Easy Shopping Guide to My Pulp Ark Award Nominated Works

I was lucky enough to receive several nominations in the 2012 Pulp Ark Awards and here is a list of links so you can purchase those books. I’m very proud to be part of these projects.

So please feel free to add them to your must-read list.

Best Collection/Anthology Nominees

Lance Star: Sky Ranger Volume 3 by Various-Airship 27 Productions
Containing my story, "A Dance With the Devil"
To purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Lance-Star-Sky-Ranger-Vol/dp/1613420153/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327464979&sr=8-2







Blackthorn: Thunder on Mars by Various- White Rocket Books
Containing my story, "City of Relics"
To purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Thunder-Van-Allen-Plexico/dp/0984139265/ref=tmm_pap_title_0


Dreams of Steam II: Brass and Bolts by Various-Kerlak Publishing
Containing my story, "Death With a Glint of Bronze"
To purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Steam-II-Brass-Bolts/dp/1937035077/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1327465130&sr=1-2








Best Short Story Nominee

"Death with a Glint of Bronze" by Sean Taylor from Dreams of Steam II: Brass and Bolts-Kerlak Publishing
To purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Steam-II-Brass-Bolts/dp/1937035077/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1327465130&sr=1-2








Best Pulp Related Comic Nominee

All-Star Pulp Comics #1-Airship 27 Productions
Containing the story I did with artist James Ritchey III, "A Slave to No Man," featuring the Golden Age Blue Lady
To purchase: http://www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6195

 
 




Best Pulp Magazine Nominee

Pro Se Presents-Pro Se Productions
Issue #1 contained my story, "Art Imitates Death"
To purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Se-Presents-1-Productions/dp/1463787448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312767654&sr=8-1








Thanks to everyone who nominated these projects! And thank you for your continued support. You enable the writing dream to live on!

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#61) -- Learn While Creating

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your comic books?

I learned how to letter digitally.

You see... After paying out of pocket for the art on my first comic book story, "Power" in Shooting Star Comics #1, I had no money left in the budget to pay someone to letter it. (For the non-comicsians among you, lettering is putting the text captions and word balloons in place on the page.)

So, I hunkered down and researched Blambot, Comicraft, and other font sites and took the crash course, and did an amazingly bad job of lettering my first comic book story. But it was a start, and my second one was much, much better... mostly likely due to the fact that I ended up buying a copy of Illustrator so I could do it right.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Big Bad Anthology calls for submissions!

From: http://johnhartness.com/big-bad-anthology/

Big Bad Anthology


Here’s an idea – because I don’t have enough to do, I’ll publish an anthology. This year. With an exclusive short story.

Yeah, I’m not too bright. But I want to write a story about a bad vampire. You know, the kind of guy who just does what he wants and damn the consequences. No angst, just fangs. Since I want to write this story, I of course think people will want to read it. Since I think people want to read one story about a bad guy, I think they might want to read a whole anthology of stories about bad guys.

So here it comes – The Big Bad – an anthology of evil

Send me your best short story (6,000 words max, if it has to be longer contact me first) that features a bad guy or evil character as the protagonist. It can be fantasy, urban fantasy, superhero, horror, whatever. Just send me your best bad guy story. I’m taking twenty.

I’m paying $50 for one year’s exclusive electronic and print rights plus two contributor’s copies. After that we retain rights to publish electronically in the anthology only, and in print in this anthology only, but you can take it and sell it somewhere else, or sell it yourself as a standalone.

Deadline is July 31,2012.

-- John Hartness

New Convention Announcement! I'll be at Anime Blues Con!

Anime Blues Con
June 15-17, 2012
Memphis, TN
http://animeblues.com/

Anime Blues Con will be holding an Anime convention in Memphis. This event is the first of its kind to come to the Bluff City. The convention is made up of games, guests and different ways to immerse yourself in Asian culture.

The convention will feature five different tracks:
  • The Art track will showcase local artists from the Memphis Comic Book Club including featured artist Martheus Wade.
  • The Culture Track will highlight different aspects of Asian culture and include a Street Fashion Show.
  • At the Gaming Track guests will be able to participate in all kinds of games from D&D to Street Fighter.
  • The Otaku Track is the main event which showcases all things Anime.  With special guests Vic Mignogna from Full Metal Alchemist, Tsubasa, and Ouran High School Host Club; Maile Flanagan from Naruto and Transformers 3 ; Kyle Herbert from Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter IV, Naruto, Bleach; Maria Vu from  Dragon Ball Z;  and Jon Crumpton, a local voice actor who is the voice of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars toys.
  • There is even an Adult track for guests that are 18+ that have a taste for the racier side of con life.
During the convention there will be charity events to raise money for the Red Cross and the Kids Wish Network. Anime Blues Con is a non-profit organization designed to promote Asian cultural awareness in the Mid-South.

The event will take place at the Hilton East July 8-10.

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#60) -- Biggest Editing Peeve

What's your biggest editing/proofreading peeve?

A few of them are really annoying, such as the overuse of "of" with another preposition, for example. But the one that really drives me up the wall is the misuse of THAT and WHICH.

For the curious, however, the relative pronoun that is restrictive, which means it tells you a necessary piece of information about its antecedent: for example, “The word processor that is used most often is WordPerfect.” Here the that phrase answers an important question: which of the many word processors are we talking about? And the answer is the one that is used most often.

Which is non-restrictive: it does not limit the word it refers to. An example is “Penn's ID center, which is called CUPID, has been successful so far.” Here that is unnecessary: the which does not tell us which of Penn's many ID centers we're considering; it simply provides an extra piece of information about the plan we're already discussing. “Penn's ID Center” tells us all we really need to know to identify it.

It boils down to this: if you can tell which thing is being discussed without the which or that clause, use which; if you can't, use that.

There are two rules of thumb you can keep in mind. First, if the phrase needs a comma, you probably mean which. Since “Penn's ID center” calls for a comma, we would not say “Penn's ID Center, that is called CUPID.”

Another way to keep them straight is to imagine by the way following every which: “Penn's ID center, which (by the way) is called CUPID. . . .” The which adds a useful, but not grammatically necessary, piece of information. On the other hand, we wouldn't say “The word processor which (by the way) is used most often is WordPerfect,” because the word processor on its own isn't enough information — which word processor?
 From: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/t.html#that

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

My Connooga Schedule Announced!

Here’s my convention schedule for Connooga this year (February 17-19):

Meet and Greet, 7:00 PM, Friday
Steampunk, 10:00 PM, Friday
Writing Hooks, 10:00 AM, Saturday
The Writing Life, 1:00 PM, Saturday
Adding Imagery, 11:00 AM, Sunday

For more information about Connooga, visit http://www.connooga.com.

I look forward to meeting you there.

Also, if you're interested in scheduling an interview for a podcast, please email me directly. Thanks.

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#59) -- Writing Short Stories

Which do you prefer to write, novels or short stories?

Well, based on yesterday, you now know that I prefer to read short stories. But what about writing?

Surprise, it's short stories again. (Or maybe not surprise.)

Why? Several reasons.

1. Novels take a long time, and I'm lazy.
2. Short stories to me are more of an art form, and require more focus from me as a writer.
3. I believe what a writing professor told me once: Writing a novel is like throwing words at a wall and seeing what sticks. Writing a short story requires words placed with precision and intention.
4. I just like short stories better. A quick bit into a character's life and then out again to meet someone new.


That said, once I tackle a few novels, my viewpoint may change. That certainly has happened with my novellas and novelettes. And the more I write those, the longer my short stories continue to become.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Uchronic Press Announces the Release of Uchronic Tales: The Zeppelin

The Uchronic Press is proud to announce "Uchronic Tales: The Zeppelin," our debut release. This action-packed 18,000 word novella by W. Peter Miller with a cover by Mike Fyles features the premiere appearance of Clark Tyler, a man that trouble seems to find. Or perhaps he is just good at finding it. This story is available now on Kindle, with Nook and all other formats to follow.

The Uchronic Press is here to serve all readers that crave action, excitement, and a bit of an edge in their pulp adventure fiction. Our stories take place in an alternate past, a uchronic world greatly like our own, but with a dash more mystery, danger, and the macabre. Here you will find heroic adventures, outlandish science, ferocious alchemy, mystic forces, and an alternate history just slightly larger than our own.

Uchronic Tales: The Zeppelin features a young Clark Tyler, an American airman caught up in a conspiracy that threatens to turn the tide of the Great War. Reich Zeppelins have been bombing London mercilessly, but the night one of them takes a strange detour could turn the tide of the war. The Germans have kidnapped a mysterious passenger and it is up to Clark Tyler and a band of elite commandos to stop the massive airship Eisern Feist from returning her secrets to the Fatherland.

In the months ahead, danger will put Clark in a number of Uchronic Tales. Look for stories featuring the classic days of Hollywood, earth-shattering danger, lost civilizations, and bizarre visitors from the unknown aether.

Welcome to Uchronic Tales.

For more information visit: docsavagetales.blogspot.com

Oh the Horror... of Robert Freese

Robert Freese is one of the guys you only have to meet once, and you'll immediately know about all he holds dear. Give him a few minutes more, and you'll know not only the name of his favorite books and movies, but also why they're his favorites and what he was doing and whom he was with when he first read or watched them.

I met Rob during a two-day traveling comic book and horror convention in Alabama a few years back and we really hit it off. He's not only a fantastic horror author, but also a walking encyclopedia of all things horror, from mainstream to indie to b-movie to schlock. (Verify the dates listed below in the interview if you don't believe me.)

I hadn't heard about his new work in a few months, and I thought it was a good time to get back in touch and share my love of all things Rob Freese with you.

Tell us a little about yourself and where readers can find out more about you and your work?

L-R: Bobby Nash, Rob Freese, Sean Taylor
I've been writing for- wow!- eighteen years. Time flies! My first published article appeared in Femme Fatales Magazine, which was a successful sister publication of the late Cinefantastique, which was one of the all time great genre film magazines. I don't know that my contribution was all that fantastic, but it was a very exciting time.

To be honest, it was amazing. The dream of writing, of being published - when that came true I felt like I was ten feet taller and that I could accomplish anything. It gave me confidence I never had before. In fact, the week I received my copies I was so flushed with confidence and success that I asked my girlfriend to marry me. (She said yes!)

Soon after I had my first piece of short fiction published in Scream Queens Illustrated. When I read that story today my stomach flops and I feel sick. It is horrible. But that's good. You should be able to look back and say your first story is horrible. That means you've grown as a writer. It was an important step if only because the magazine was edited by John Russo, who is one of my all time favorite horror authors, having penned one of the greatest zombie novels ever written, Return of the Living Dead (1978), as well as the co-scripting the greatest zombie movie ever made, Night of the Living Dead (1968). This was another huge confidence booster.

Since then I've never looked back. I've contributed to dozens of film magazines in various capacities. I've written well over a hundred short stories that have appeared in different print and on-line magazines and anthologies. There have been a couple short story collections of my work published, as well as my novella The Santa Thing and my first novel, Bijou of the Dead. The novella and novel, as well as the paranormal book I co-wrote with Paul Cagle, Paranormal Journeys, my short story collection Shivers and many recent anthologies are available through Amazon in print and Kindle editions. I have a very good publisher, StoneGarden.net, and they make my books available in print and electronic editions. This year they will be releasing my horror collection 13 Frights. I also contribute regularly to The Phantom of the Movies' Videoscope Magazine, where I write reviews and interviews, and Scary Monsters Magazine, where I keep the drive-in alive with my regular column "The Cosmic Drive-in". Although it has not been updated in a while, readers can visit me at my website www.robertfreese.com. 

What started your fascination with horror and with writing horror in particular?

Growing up I loved watching horror movies. One of the first big scares in my life came from that classic Steve McQueen flick The Blob. I saw it on Shock Theater and was utterly terrified by it. Later, VCRs became the rage and we would rent five or six movies over the weekend and I overdosed on horror flicks. This was the early eighties, so the video shelves were full of slasher movies, Italian zombie flicks and all those great American International Pictures movies from the 60's and 70's. I watched as many as I could get my hands on.

Subsequently, I was always a reader. I read a lot of comics then moved on to Fangoria Magazine and the like. Fangoria turned me on to many writers. When I was a teenager I picked up a copy of Robert Bloch's Psycho II, which is an awesome book and has nothing to do with the movie. It was the first book that kept me up all night reading. I couldn't put it down until I got to the end. When I was finished with it I was exhausted. Not just from lack of sleep but from the emotional roller coaster ride I'd been on while reading it. It was that influence that would eventually put me on the path of writing horror fiction.

Why the fascination with zombies? What makes them such fertile story ground for you?

Well, I don't find zombies themselves all that fascinating. Yes, the idea of your loved ones coming back to life as mindless eating machines is chilling, but it's a cliche now.

What I find fascinating is that zombies can be used as a force of nature, like a tornado or flood.

When I was writing Bijou of the Dead, friends would tell me that if I wasn't making it "Romero-esque" it wouldn't work. "You've got to shoot the zombies in the head. You have to have guns. They have to eat people." My setting is an old grindhouse movie theater. Who would have guns there? It's ridiculous. Also, why do zombies always "die" when they're shot in the head? They're already dead. I subscribe to Dan O'Bannon's notion from his film Return of the Living Dead (1985), which was entirely different from Russo's novel, that once you're dead, you're dead. You have to destroy the living dead completely, and fire works.

Also, I wanted to make my zombies something different. My zombies are used in a revenge plot, they are resurrected by an ancient rite, almost like in that old AIP drive-in movie Sugar Hill (1974). The zombies in my story have a purpose. They are awakened to destroy. They use tools. They are the ones using weapons. They will use their hands and teeth to tear someone to pieces, but they are not eating their victims. Every part of them is alive. My zombies are on a mission and you're not going to survive their attack. Period. I have them doing all kinds of crazy things and by the novel's end the reader should know that no "Zombie Survival Guide" is going to help them. I tried to make my story different, yet, I think, it is very "Romero-esque."

I think many fans miss the point of Romero's zombie films. They are not about the zombies, they are about the human beings dealing with the zombies. The zombies in his films are a force of nature. You can take them out of the story and substitute them with a flood and the characters would still accelerate the story. I put everything into creating real characters the reader can care about and for the most part I think I succeeded.

I've heard from many readers around the world that really connected with Bijou and that makes me very happy. Many women connect with the main female character and have commented that they like reading strong female characters. (That character was easy to write because I based her on my wife.) One reader said I basically "ruined" the book once I introduced the zombies. He said he was just enjoying the characters and following them on their journey to this old movie theater. That might sound like a put-down but I thought it was the highest compliment that could be paid.

The bottom line is this: if you make interesting characters the reader cares about, you can do whatever you want with your zombies. But they should always be secondary to the characters. 

Which horror (and other) writers inspire you the most?

The two gentlemen I've already mentioned, Robert Bloch and John Russo, have been huge influences. Also to that list you can add Richard Matheson, Joe R. Lansdale, Gary Brandner, Ray Bradbury, Charles Beaumont, Richard Laymon, Shaun Hutson and Jack Ketchum. I've been reading a lot of Hard Case Crime novels the last couple years and guys like Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins and Donald Westlake are also inspiring the direction some of my current writings are taking.

Also, because I write for film magazines, guys like Chas. Balun, Tim Ferrante, John McCarty, John Stanley, Joe Kane and Joe Bob Briggs have also had big influences on me. Whenever I read their magazine articles or film reviews, I knew they were going to take me on a ride that other journalists and reviewers couldn't take me on.

The first movie reviews I ever read with explicit language used to describe the films (usually the bad ones) were written by Chas. Balun. Balun had a style all his own and he got away with what he wrote beautifully. Today, with the Internet, you've got literally hundreds- if not thousands- of film "reviewers" using all kinds of foul language and it just comes across as ignorant and sloppy. (Proving there will only ever be one Chas. Balun!) McCarty's Splatter Movies tome and Stanley's Creature Feature Movie Guide were invaluable movie references decades before the Internet. And nobody writes a film review like Joe Bob. His classic reviews, where he would tell a little story before the review, and that little story would upset hundreds of people because they 'didn't get it' and they would in turn cancel their newspaper subscriptions- nobody does that anymore. That kind of writing has gone from satire to plain and simple shock for shock's sake. So, all these writers, and so many more, inspire every word I write.
  
Which horror films inspire you to write?

The good ones. There are so many. I'm inspired by everyone from Al Adamson to Roger Corman. Romero, obviously. Flicks by William Castle, Lloyd Kaufman, Jack Starrett, H.G. Lewis, John Landis, Jeff Leiberman, Ted Mikels, Frank Henenlotter, David Friedman, there are dozens of these guys who get my creative juices flowing. Movies written by Dan O'Bannon (like Alien and Dead & Buried - one of the most underrated zombie films in history) and Charles Edward Pogue (Psycho III, The Fly '86) get me excited to sit down and write. In fact, Psycho III had a big influence on Bijou. I loved how Pogue had all his characters intermingle in the film's early scenes, before they all come together at The Bates Motel. I did that in Bijou, connecting all these different characters until they all came together at the Bradbury Theater. I love Tarantino movies - he's a film geek like me, so I know I'm going to get most of the in-jokes in his films and I do a lot of that in my writing. I love movies by John Carpenter, Joe Dante and Fred Dekker, who made the ultimate horror geek flick, Night of the Creeps.

Weird movies inspire me too. I love old kung fu movies and biker flicks and sometimes I'll get a nugget of an idea from watching one of those flicks, even though it's not obvious from the story that is finally written that that is where the inspiration came from. Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Joe D'Amato, Michele Soavi, Antonio Margheriti, Mario Bava, Lamberto Bava- I could do this all day. I also find inspiration in the marketing of these films. I love the the Sam Sherman trailers for stuff like Horror of the Blood Monsters and Mad Doctor of Blood Island and all the old drive-in gimmicks like Up-Chuck Cups and Rasputin beards. When I put out my novella The Drive-in that Dripped Blood, on the back I put the line "To avoid fainting, keep repeating, 'It's only a book! It's only a book! It's only a book!'" Obviously, that's taken from the classic ad for the Wes Craven flick The Last House on the Left. I am greatly influenced by cinema and I think my writing reflects that. I've always believed books create a "movie" in the mind of the reader, and I want to give my readers all the visuals they need to enjoy my stories.

What would be your dream project?

Every project I work on is my dream project. My dream was to write and to be published and to have people read and enjoy my work. I have accomplished that. Every short story I write, every movie review I write, every interview I conduct with someone who has made a movie I've enjoyed, it's all part of the dream. How many people can say that? Sure, I would love to write that book that clicks and sells millions of copies and is made into a horrible Hollywood film - heck, I'd just like to make a living from writing - but the satisfaction I derive from my writing is greater than the paycheck. Yes, it's easier to pay the rent with actual money than satisfaction, but I have a job that enables me to write what I want without having to take on projects I don't want to work on just to pay the bills.

Beyond that, though, I would really like to write something different as a memorial to my late wife, Frances. We had a mutual love for everything 80's. I would like to write a John Hughes kind of love story in her memory. It would be funny and sweet like the best of his 80's films that we both loved. I've got the basic story idea. It will take place in a video rental emporium, as that is where we first met so many years ago. I would love to write this story - no horror, no zombies, no slashers - just simple and sweet, for the woman who had such an impact on my life and was, and still is, such an inspiration to me.

If you have any former project to do over to make it better, which one would it be, and what would you do?

I'd love to re-write everything I've written. I'm a better writer today than I was yesterday. I'll be even better tomorrow. But you can't live in the past and, basically, you can't make anything perfect. When I compile short story collections I go back and try to give all the stories a nice shine before sending the manuscript off to the editor and publisher. I originally self-published Bijou of the Dead and, obviously, there were a lot of mistakes in it. I was thrilled when StoneGarden.net picked it up because it gave me a chance to work with an editor and correct many of them. Unfortunately, a couple still slipped by and they drive me crazy. But readers seem to be forgiving when they enjoy the story. I just try to do the best job I can and then I release the material out into the world. Once it is available it is not really mine anymore, it belongs to the reader.

Any other upcoming projects you would like to plug?

Halloween 2012 will see the release of 13 Frights. That will be available in print and Kindle editions. I'm excited about that. I have an open invitation from one publisher to collect my VideoScope interviews in one book and I've gotten enough now that I am slowly putting that together. I continue to work for the magazines, trying to unearth the video gems for readers and interviewing the people who make the films I enjoy. I am working with co-writers on two projects: with Paul Cagle on another Paranormal Journeys book and with Paul Mcvay on a film-related book. I am also working on various shorts to submit to different anthologies - just trying to keep busy.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us, Rob. Continued success in your endeavors, my friend!