BROTHER BONES - GRAVE TALES is now up at Amazon. It is Airship 27 Productions very first hardback and collects the first two Brother Bones anthologies; "Brother Bones - The Undead Avenger" and "Brother Bones - Tapestry of Blood." All 12 stories as illustrated by Rob Davis with a fantastic wrap-around cover by the amazing Adam Shaw.
Considering I usually have three to four things in the fire at the same time, that simple question could be overly long. So let’s Reader’s Digest it. Comics-wise, I’ve just finished writing a 108-pg Black Bat graphic novel which artist Mike Belcher is drawing and will self-publish when finished. Pulp-wise, I’m in the middle of a new novel that will be a prequel to my Brother Bones series. And I recently finished a short story for Tommy Hancock’s tribute book for our late dear friend, Derrick Ferguson.
Comics happened. My Dad started giving me comics when I was all of five years old. I couldn’t even read, but I sure could follow the pictures. From that I got a sense of narrative and then by the time I could read, it was all I ever wanted to do. Ergo, it only became natural for me to get the bug and want to tell my own stories.
The joy and pleasure I can give others, be they friends and families or total strangers. If my stories can entertain people in a positive way, that reward is priceless to me.
The standard good versus evil is at the core of anything I write. Whether it’s a comedy superhero like Mr. Jigsaw defeating bad guys in his own hilarious fashion, on the creepy undead Brother Bones blowing away gangsters. With that as a foundation, I can layer on other themes such as loyalty, courage and sacrifice. Often times doing the right thing requires lots of sacrifice and that is great drama.
Writing a graphic novel detailing the making of the 1938 movie KING KONG.
By the time I was 13, I was an avid reader and discovered Edgar Rice Burroughs, Edmond Hamilton, Richard Prather and Robert Heinlein. But the one writer who totally shaped my style was Evan Hunter writing his 87th Precinct mysterious under the pseudonym of Ed McBain. His economy of words and efficiency in using dialog was amazing and I marveled at it. Enough to try and emulate him every time I write…even to this day.
Of course it’s an art. It is nothing you put in a can or build in a machine shop, no matter what formula you envision. Whereas I consider all art spiritual, a gift from the Creator. All of us possess such a gift and have an obligation to use it for the betterment of mankind, be you a cook, auto mechanic, or singer. Writing is a gift, it is art.
The actual creating itself. As my old pal Derrick Ferguson always said, “You can’t correct it if it isn’t on the page.” I procrastinate way too much, always coming up with excuses to avoid that blank screen. But when I finally write something, the pump is primed and away we go.
All my writing colleagues inspire me. As I said before, I’m a lazy writer. When I see them producing so much work, it pushes me to do more. To join in the fun. I owe them all a great deal. People like Jim Beard, Barry Reese, Nancy Hansen, Fred Adams Jr., Tommy Hancock and so many others.
The words…THE END on a page.
Too many to remember them all. I’ve done a really different kind of Dracula story that will be coming from an Australian publisher later this year. And who knows, maybe those producers out in Hollywood pushing a Brother Bones TV series may get lucky. Time will tell.
Thus a Kickstarter Campaign has been launched at the link below. I would ask you to take a few minutes to look it over. The talented assembled for this movie is truly outstanding, including two veteran Hollywood film composers. Again, we need your help and note, even taking this letter and forwarding it to the other recipients in your e-mail files would be of tremendous assistance in helping to spread the word. So in the end, my heartfelt thanks.
Pro Se Productions, a leading New Pulp Publisher, proudly announces the latest issue of its award winning magazine, PRO SE PRESENTS #12!