News of the World -- Putting Summer Behind Me

To start off, I realize that my posting has been lax with summer. Honestly, even the past two weeks, I've been mostly just posting the "easy stuff" -- press releases, inspirational quotes from writers, interesting article links, that kind of thing. It's been a few months since I actually posted the "bread and butter" stuff like original articles, interviews, and (one of my favorite regulars) Movie Reviews for Writers. All of that will be returning. 

A Tohru-tastic Christmas memory.

But for me, I guess I just need to get this all off my chest in order to move on with more compelling content. 

My summer sucked. Probably the absolute worst summer of my life. I know I can be prone to exaggeration, but not this time. I'll reduce it to a bullet list:

• Week 1 -- My mom died unexpectedly.
• Week 2 -- My cat, Tohru, whom I had kept as a pet for 16 years, died.
• Two weeks ago  -- My dog, Boomer, my best fur buddy for 16 years, died. 

The thing about each of these is that any one of them would have driven me into grief. But the closeness of them to each other and the order in which they happened, only made the summer that much more painful. As much as I loved my cat and dog, their deaths only made the feelings of my mom's death start to swirl all over again -- this time combined with the memories of my sweet furbabies. 

Boomer, in repose,
and in my reading chair.

So, yeah, I spent pretty much the whole season more than a bit disengaged from the world around me. And that meant everything suffered, relationships, housework, responsibilities, all of it, but for the purpose of this blog, it meant my writing suffered. 

My actual stories.

My writing about writing (such as here on the blog).

My networking with other writers and publishers. 

All of it. 

My home is so quiet now that the sheer enormity of it makes it difficult to write. Gone are the skittering clicks from where Boomer would walk on the tile and linoleum on claws I had forgotten to trim. Gone also are the whining meows while Tohru wandered through the house wondering where her people were. Those things weren't distractions. They weren't annoyances. They were apparently the soundtrack of my life I needed in order to work. And now I have to get used to a new composition and learn how to work with it now. 

It still doesn't seem fair. But as long as I still want to be a writer, fair or not, it simply is what it is. (Though I have always hated that saying.) Que sera, sera. C'est la vie. 

MeMe's house, the best place on earth to write.

I'm still a living, dark-minded swirl of melancholy and memories, but I finally feel like maybe I can put the pen to the page again (at least figuratively, anyway -- I haven't written anything by hand other than a grocery list or a hall pass for one of my students in years). I even visited MeMe's house (where I go to focus when I need a writing retreat) and managed to finish two stories that I owed to my publishers. I didn't get the rest of the stories knocked out like I wanted to, but I considered those two stories a major tick mark in the win column considering my frame of mind. Now, I just need to finish the editing process on them both and send them off for publication. 

Anyway, I feel like words might be coming back to me. As such, I hope this month to finally give you a return to form for the blog. And that means interviews, original articles, movie reviews, the whole enchilada. At least, that's the plan. Hence this more personal post. It's a start. 

Now, we'll just have to see if I'm not misreading my own signals. 

Wouldn't be the first time. 

=============================================

My beautiful mom. whom
I miss very, very much. 

Back in the saddle again!

 

End of Year Testing

Sorry for the readio silence (See what I did there?). As a teacher, I've hit that end-of-the-course (and year) testing schedule for my students, and that is killing my blog time. I'll be back shortly though. Just hold tight. 

Spring Break 2020!

 Just a heads up that I'll be taking most
of the week off for Spring Break
to recharge the batteries. 

Pushing the cobwebs around -- (i.e., a housekeeping post)

Hello all you cool cats and hot dogs!

Jus wanted to apologize for the almost two-month lag in posting to the blog. It feels like a year to me. I really missed it. 

Still, there were family health issues that couldn't be avoided, not to mention a super busy holiday season -- and the best news -- my new long-term substitute teacher job in English Literature! I know. Right?!

Anyway, I think I've gotten things back on track and beginning this week, we should hopefully be back on our regular schedule again. I've got a new article about how the influences behind your writing changes as the wheel of history rolls ever onward and an interview with a good friend gone to soon. Oh, and a movie review of one of my favorite holiday films -- that also has something to teach us about this writing life. 

Strap in.

We're gonna get rolling again, kiddos!

Much love,

Sean

Back in the Saddle Again

It’s certainly been a while since I was able to show the love to this little blog, huh? Never fear, I’m back and soon enough you’ll see all those articles and interviews you’ve always loved about this site. I’ve even got a couple of specialty things coming to make it more like a min-series podcast from time to time.

And I also wanted to let you know about a new project I started with a few other writers to entertain readers/listeners during their social distancing—Indie Author’s Read! We’re also on YouTube and Facebook.

Feel free to drop by and check out folks like Bobby Nash, Van Allen Plexico, Jen Mulvihill, Robert Krog, James Palmer, and Matt Bieniek reading from their stories and novels. If you’re a writer who would like to take part, just email me at staylor104@aol.com.

And a great big welcome back to all you genre keyboard cowbo—cow personnel.

Taylorverse.com website updated and revamped!

Just a little housekeeping heads-up to let you all know that I've updated and revamped my core website, The Taylorverse, to version 6.0. Feel free to pop over and bookmark the site if you're not already a regular popper-overer.

A Quick Reminder About Our Schedule

If you're a long-time reader, you'll know that I like to stick to a schedule here on this blog. If you're one of the many new readers, you may have figured that out already.

Regardless, just so we're all on the same page, and all the readers can know when to tune in for their favorite posts, here's the schedule:

Monday: #MotivationalMonday 
(some type of infographic or visual article to help inspire writers to create or create better)

Tuesday: How-To Article or Author Interview 
(usually written especially for the blog, but occasionally something linked to another super-awesome writing blog)

Wednesday: Nuggets 
(tidbits of writerly wisdom -- okay, opinion -- from yours truly, accompanied by a hopefully equally inspiring photo or illustration)

Thursday: Writer Roundtables
(a group interview that features several writers discussing a topic that could range from cover images to avoiding cliches to mastering dialog, always informative and fun)

Friday: Press Release/Promotional Posts 
(usually reserved for a press release of new genre works published by friends of the blog)

Saturday: Interesting News and/or Opinions
(usually an article or post from a news site or writers blog that I feel would be of interest to genre writers)

Sunday: ?????
(Could be anything, a link to an interview, an article, a second press release, a bonus how-to article, there's really no telling -- this one changes all the time)

All posts hit at 11:00 a.m. EST each day. 

And now you know.

(And knowing is half the battle. GI Joe!)

Your Friendly Neighborhood Housekeeping Update

If you're a regular reader of the Bad Girls, Good Guys, and Two-Fisted Action blog, you'll notice that I haven't been around much during the past few weeks.

About a month ago, my family moved to a new house, and we've been in what seems a non-stop race of trying to get out of boxes and make the new place feel and look like home. Well, the good news is we're almost there, and with that accomplished, I can now return to my regularly scheduled blog posting.

After all, we can't make this the best damn writer's blog on the Internet if I don't do my part and actually put up some content, right?

Beginning Monday, we'll be back on schedule with a new #MotivationalMonday and all the rest of the good stuff like roundtables, tutorials, nuggets, submissions, new releases, The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now, and all those inspirational and informational links to keep us all on top of our game.

Oh, and just to show off the new place (and particularly the new "writer cave") here are some photos of the house and office.

The new homestead.

The desk of future best-sellers.
This is the same desk I used when I worked for the newspaper.
They let me buy it. It feels like "home" to me.

Pet installation complete. Yes, Boomer is wearing a diaper.

Movie stills... my favorite part of the office decor.

The promise I got from a fortune cookie right after the move.

Update Your Links

 

Bad Girls, Good Guys, and Two-Fisted Action now has a new, easy to remember, direct website address:

www.badgirlsgoodguys.com

Be sure to update your links accordingly.

It's good to be back!

Sorry for the radio silence lately, but I've been in "nose to the grindstone" mode to knock out a novel by deadline. But said novel is done, and I'll make announcements about it as soon as I am freed up to do so by the publisher. Suffice it to say, it'll be an action-packed supernatural romp with a final blowout on a train!

Anyway, lots of great stuff planned and programmed for the blog so thanks for sticking around and waiting for me.

You're the best!

Join the Taylorverse News Email List

Thank you for your interest in my writing career thus far and my work (including this blog) up to this point.

I am moving to an automated system with MailChimp. IIf you wish to continue to receive updates about my work (outside of this blog since I prefer not to spam the blog with "buy my book" posts and keep it focused on writing content instead, you will need to sign up at the following webpage:

http://taylorverse.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0593d2a743a10d6be97dd6a96&id=0227c5ddd4
All sign ups get a free e-copy of my collection, Gomer and Other Early Works.

There are lots of fun things in the pipeline, including some pretty big licensed properties I'll be writing for and the (finally) debut of my H.G. Wells-based comic sequel to Time Machine, War of the Worlds and Invisible Man.

Thanks for all your support in the past and for your continued support as I keep putting out work.

Want to join the blog's roundtable interviews?

Here's an open invitation to all writers, editors and publishers out there who'd like to take part in the roundtable interviews I conduct here on this blog.

I've created a new Facebook group called "Sean Taylor's Writer Roundtables" as a central place on the web to post the questions and responses for the interviews. That way I don't have to run all over various FB groups and YahooGroups, etc. to find everyone and track them down to let them know the questions are ready.

Feel free to recommend it to any other writers you know who would be interested. It's a completely open group for all writers, editors, and publishers who enjoying talking about writing.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/854917951235749/

This Week's Posts Are Brought To You By... Nuggets

Since several folks have mentioned to me how much they enjoy the short, inspirational "Nuggets" posts, I'm dedicating this entire week of posting to them. 

Enjoy!

The Down and Dirty Feature Article List

Geez. That's a bunch of articles. Maybe we need to compile some of this stuff into a book. It would certainly make one heck of a thick, heavy doorstop, that's for sure.

As always, if you're looking for an article about a particular topic, please feel free to use the handy-dandy tags running down the right side of the blog below the links.

Roundtable Interviews:

The OP Hero -- Balancing Plot and Character
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-op-hero-balancing-plot-and-character_3.html

Hot Lead and Dead Steel? What about Westerns?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/06/hot-lead-and-dead-steel-what-about.html

The Cover Story -- What Makes Book Covers Work?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-cover-story-what-makes-book-covers.html

The Butt End of the Book -- Ending a Story
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-butt-end-of-book-ending-story.html

What's My Motivation?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/whats-my-motivation.html

Violence and Gore -- Write Less or Write More?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/violence-and-gore-write-less-or-write.html

Fictional World Building in Action/Adventure Stories
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/fictional-world-building-in.html

Building Fantasy Worlds in Fiction
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/03/building-fantasy-worlds-in-fiction.html

The Opening Salvo -- Grabbing Readers from the First Sentence
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-opening-salvo-grabbing-readers-from.html

The Wayback Machine -- WWY(ou)D
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-wayback-machine-wwyoud.html

Mine or Yours: The Comic Book Edition
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/07/mine-or-yours-comic-book-edition.html

Mine or Yours: New Characters vs. Existing Characters
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/07/mine-or-yours-new-characters-vs.html

Pulps and Race -- A Writer's Roundtable
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/06/pulps-and-race-writers-roundtable.html

Filling Your Basket With Literary Easter Eggs
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/04/filling-your-basket-with-literary.html

Dream Up the Next DC JLA Event -- A Fan Roundtable
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/02/dream-up-next-dc-jla-event-fan.html

Going Public About the Public Domain
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/02/going-public-about-public-domain.html

Is Writing Really Re-Writing?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/02/is-writing-really-re-writing-roundtable.html

Plotting and Pantsing: A Writers' Roundtable
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/02/plotting-and-pantsing-writers-roundtable.html

Marrying Plot and Character
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/01/marrying-plot-and-character.html

Bibbity, Bloggity, Boo -- Writers Who Blog
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/12/bibbity-bloggity-boo-writers-who-blog.html

The Illusion of Change -- The Comics and Pulp Conundrun
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-illusion-of-change-comics-and-pulp.html

Bullets vs. Bonding -- Balancing action and characterization in pulp fiction
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/11/bullets-vs-bonding-balancing-action-and.html

Can White Men Jump? Writing Other Races and Genders Than Your Own
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/11/can-white-men-jump-writing-other-races.html

Tales to Keep You In... Suspense!
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/10/tales-to-keep-you-in-suspense.html

What makes a horror book scary?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-makes-horror-book-scary.html

Words and Art: Finding the Right Blend in Comic Book Scriptwriting
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/10/words-and-art-finding-right-blend-in.html

Killing or Kissing the Muse -- Writers on Finding Inspiration
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/09/killing-or-kissing-muse-writers-on.html

Breaking New Ground in New Pulp
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/09/breaking-new-ground-in-new-pulp-writers.html

We're Here To Pump Your Characters Up
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/09/were-here-to-pump-your-characters-up.html

The Hero's Journey -- To Campbell Or Not To Campbell
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-heros-journey-to-campbell-or-not-to.html

Getting Under the Hero's Skin -- Writers on Villains
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/08/getting-under-heros-skin-writers-on.html

Getting the First and Last Word -- Story Openings and Endings
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/07/getting-first-and-last-word-story.html

Re-Writing the Old Familiar
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-writing-old-familiar.html

The Horror of It All -- Writers on Being Scary with Words
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/05/horror-of-it-all-writers-on-being-scary.html

Science Fiction, Space Fantasy, and the World of Speculative Storytelling
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/05/science-fiction-space-fantasy-and-world.html

Making the Fantasy Fantastic
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/05/making-fantasy-fantastic.html

The Story Behind Urban Fantasy
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/05/story-behind-urban-fantasy.html

Why Do You Write... Pulp?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-do-you-write-pulp.html

Pulp with Pictures
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/pulp-with-pictures.html

Looking Out for Number One... or Is That Number Two? Writing for Yourself or For the Fans?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/looking-out-for-number-1-or-is-that.html

Hey You, Open the Book! -- What Makes an Effective Cover?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/hey-you-open-book-what-makes-effective.html

How Epic is Epic? -- Working with "Epic" Storylines
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-epic-is-epic-working-with-epic.html

Everything Old is New Again... Too New
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/everything-old-is-new-again-too-new.html

Childhood Books and Movies: When You Can't Go Home Again
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/childhood-books-and-movies-when-you.html

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

Comics to Prose: From Four Colors to Black Text
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/comics-to-prose-from-four-colors-to.html

Pulps to Comics: A Bridge or a Chasm?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/pulp-to-comics-bridge-or-chasm.html

Running on Feet of Clay -- How Bad Can a Hero Be and Still Be a Good Guy?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/01/running-on-feet-of-clay-how-bad-can.html

How Dangerous a Mask Can Be -- The Fascination with the Masked Hero in Pulps
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-dangerous-mask-can-be-fascination.html

A Walk on the Dark Side: Writing Believable Villains
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/01/walk-on-dark-side-writing-believable.html

The Pulp Writers and Fans Roundtable About Comic Books
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/pulp-writers-and-fans-roundtable-about.html

Genre-Bending: How Pure Should Pulp Fiction Be?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/genre-bending-how-pure-should-pulp.html

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow—In What Time Period Does Pulp Fit Best?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/yesterday-today-and-tomorrowin-what.html

Type. Type. (Stereo)Type: Taming the Familiar Beast
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/type-type-stereotype-taming-familiar.html

Bullets vs. Bonding -- Balancing action and characterization in pulp fiction
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/bullets-vs-bonding-balancing-action-and.html

Writing Pet Peeves: A Roundtable
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/writing-pet-peeves-roundtable.html

Individual Interviews:

Talking Westerns with Beau Smith
Link TK

John Durden: Throwing Words in Glass Castles
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/07/john-durden-throwing-words-in-glass.html

The Olympian Heights of Amy Strickland
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-olympian-heights-of-amy-strickland.html

Getting to Know... Ulysses King (and Mark Beauli
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/06/getting-to-know-ulysses-king-and-mark.html

John McGuire -- Following the Dark with John McGuire
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/06/john-mcguire-following-dark-with-john.html

David Wright -- Maybe His Brother's Keeper After All
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/05/david-white-maybe-his-brothers-keeper.html

Revisting Comic Book Arc Length -- Shane Berryhill
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/05/this-man-likes-michael-bay-josh-mason.html

This Man Likes Michael Bay -- The Josh Mason Story
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/05/this-man-likes-michael-bay-josh-mason.html

Imaginative Faith: The Works of H. David Blalock
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/imaginative-faith-works-of-h-david.html

Logan Masterson: "Springing" into New Ventures
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/logan-masterson-springing-into-new.html

L. Andrew Cooper: The Extreme Side of Horror
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/l-andrew-cooper-extreme-side-of-horror.html

Jeremy Hicks: Cycling the Ages But Not Grinding it Out
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/04/jeremy-hicks-cycling-ages-but-not.html

Shane Berryhill and the Outlaws
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2014/03/shane-berryhill-and-outlaws.html

Aaron Smith -- Man of Midnight, Death, and Galaxies
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/07/aaron-smith-man-of-midnight-death-and.html

Meet Cam Crowder, the Runty Little Ginger
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/05/meet-cam-crowder-runty-little-ginger.html

The Wizard Finds His Path: An Interview with Richard Lee Byers
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-wizard-finds-his-path-interview.html

Mark Bousquet: The Dreamer of Kraken Moor
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/04/mark-bousquet-dreamer-of-kraken-moor.html

Heretical in Hindsight, The Work of Andrew Toy
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/03/heretical-in-hindsight-work-of-andrew.html

Meet K.S. Daniels
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/03/meet-ks-daniels.html

Getting To Know... Pamela Turner
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/08/getting-to-know-pamela-turner.html

Hunting Fate: Getting to Know Rachel Hunter
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/08/hunting-fate-getting-to-know-rachel.html

Scott Mallory and the Cupcake Monster
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/07/scott-mallory-and-cupcake-monster.html

Steven Cumming: "Cute that Kicks Butt"
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/07/steven-cumming-cute-that-kicks-butt.html

The Powerful Press of Lance Stahlberg
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/06/powerful-press-of-lance-stahlberg.html

The Queen of Blüd: The Devin Grayson Interview
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/05/queen-of-blud-devin-grayson-interview.html

Open the Storm Gates: Don Gates Talks Challenger Storm
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/05/open-storm-gates-don-gates-talks.html

Michael D'Ambrosio -- Fractured but Never Broken
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/michael-dambrosio-fractured-but-never.html

David Boop: Blinding Us with Brilliance
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/david-boop-blinding-us-with-brilliance.html

Exploring the Darkness with James A. Moore
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/exploring-darkness-with-james-moore.html

Oh the Horror... of Robert Freese
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/01/oh-horror-of-robert-freese.html

Getting to know the man behind the man in (no) tights -- Ian Watson
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/getting-to-know-man-behind-man-in-no.html

Digging Up the Deadly With Bobby Nash
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/01/digging-up-deadly-with-bobby-nash.html

It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's Van Allen Plexico!
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/its-bird-its-plane-its-van-allen.html

Cowboys, and Pirates, and Cannibals, Oh Ed Erdelac!
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/cowboys-and-pirates-and-cannibals-oh-ed.html

Getting to know the Air Chief... Ron Fortier!
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/getting-to-know-air-chief-ron-fortier.html

Prose and Bullets with Tommy Hancock!
seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/prose-and-bullets-with-tommy-hancock.html

Monsters and Bullets: Getting to Know Perry Constantine
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/monsters-and-bullets-getting-to-know.html

Houston, We Don't Have a Problem -- Catching Up with Lee Houston Jr.
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/houston-we-dont-have-problem-catching.html

Wheelin' and Dillon with Derrick Ferguson
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/wheelin-and-dillon-with-derrick.html

The Weird Tale of Michael Vance
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/weird-tale-of-michael-vance.html

Shelagh Watkins' Writing Machine
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/shelagh-watkins-writing-machine.html

Murder on Her Mind -- The World of Krystal Rollins
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/murder-on-her-mind-world-of-krystal.html

Reese's Pieces... The Fictional World of Barry Reese
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/reeses-pieces-fictional-world-of-barry.html

D. A. Adams and the (Lot More Than Seven) Dwarves
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/d-adams-and-lot-more-than-seven-dwarves.html

Visionary, Editor, Writer, Storyteller -- Allan Gilbreath
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/visionary-editor-writer-storyteller.html

Chuck Dixon: The Best Damn Comic Book Writer Ever
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/chuck-dixon-best-damn-comic-book-writer.html

Artfully Rendered -- Mike Henderson
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/artfully-rendered-mike-henderson.html

Nancy Hansen's Way
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/nancy-hansens-way.html

Alan Lewis' Bloody Garden
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/alan-lewis-bloody-garden.html

A Punch and a Jab with Paul Bishop
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/punch-and-jab-with-paul-bishop.html

Ed Crandell's Wild, Weird West
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/ed-crandells-wild-weird-west.html

To the Point -- A Quick Chat with William D. Prystauk
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/to-point-quick-chat-with-william-d.html

Chuck Miller's One Hundred Legs of Death
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/chuck-millers-one-hundred-legs-of-death.html

James R. Tuck -- The Man Behind the Deacon
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/james-r-tuck-man-behind-deacon.html

James Palmer and the Love for the Stories
seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/04/james-palmer-and-love-for-stories.html

Other Featured Articles:

The Watson Report: Magic Swords and Their Makers
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-watson-report-magic-swords-and.html

The Watson Report: Behind Every Good Man -- Thoughts on Pulp Heroines
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/06/behind-every-good-man-thoughts-on-pulp.html

The Watson Report: Change and Growth for Characters in Pulp and Comics
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/11/change-and-growth-for-characters-in.html

The Watson Report: The First Whodunnit? (Part Two)
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-first-whodunnit-part-two.html

The Watson Report: The First Whodunnit? (Part One)
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-first-whodunnit.html

The Watson Report: Getting to know Aria, a Princess of Mars (no relation to that Thoris woman)
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/07/getting-to-know-aria-princess-of-mars.html

The Watson Report: The Baffling Story of Spring-Heeled Jack
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/07/baffling-story-of-spring-heeled-jack.html

The Watson Report: Starting a Story
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/07/ia-watson-on-starting-story.html

Remembering Ray Bradbury
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/06/remembering-ray.html

Plotting in the Context of a Series
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/06/plotting-in-context-of-series.html

How to Evoke a Feeling of Dread in Writing Horror
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-evoke-feeling-of-dread-in.html

The 30 Best Graphic Novels Ever (Final Collected Version)
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-30-best-graphic-novels-ever-final_24.html

The Iron Man Cometh?
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-iron-man-cometh.html

The Grandchildren of Pulp (Or, How I Learned That Pulp Never Really Died) -- part 2
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-grandchildren-of-pulp-or-how-i_28.html

The Grandchildren of Pulp (Or, How I Learned That Pulp Never Really Died) -- part 1
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-grandchildren-of-pulp-or-how-i.html

Femme Fatales—An Obsession Dissected
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/femme-fatalesan-obsession-dissected.html

The Cover Story -- Pulps Should Shock and Grab You!
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/cover-story-pulps-should-shock-you.html

How Bad Guys Die by I.A. Watson
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-bad-guys-die-by-ia-watson.html

The Twitter Writing Tips Sessions
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2011/12/twitter-writing-tips-sessions.html

On Heriones by I.A. Watson
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-heroines.html

There’s No Place Like Home – When Being Likeable Was Enough by Selah Janel
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/03/theres-no-place-like-home-when-being.html

A little scheduling and calendaring, if you will forgive the intrusion...

First of all, hi, and thanks for being a regular or new reader of the Bad Girls, Good Guys, and Two-Fisted Action writing blog.

No doubt you've noticed that after a fairly lengthy hiatus I'm back and posting regularly again. Because of that, I just wanted to let everyone know what the current proposed schedule of content is so you can tune in to the stuff that really matters to you. (Of course, I'd prefer that you still check out the blog "every damn day" as Samuel Jackson put it so eloquently before Capital One re-edited the commercial.)

• Monday: The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (each week a new question)
• Tuesday: an interview with a writer in my network or someone I've gone out on a limb to track down
• Wednesday: Nuggets (little blurbs about writing -- think of them as the text versions of the motivational posters with cats hanging onto stuff or butterflies fluttering above a field)
• Thursday: a new roundtable interview on a writing-focused topic
• Friday-Sunday: helpful links, writing tips from other sites, and press releases for books I think you'll enjoy

Hope this helps.

Keep reading and thanks again for following the blog. You rock mightily. I mean it. Each and every one of you. Well, except for that one guy. You know who you are. Nah. Just kidding. You rock too.

The 30 Best Graphic Novels Ever -- Recap

As we get ready for tomorrow's revelation of my choice for the number one graphic novel, let's take today to recap the previous 29 best-worthy books -- a little something old, something new, something mainstream, something you've probably never heard of...

30. The Lump
by Chris Wisnia
Published Salt Peter Press

29. Harpe
by Chad Crawford Kinkle and Adam Shaw
Published by Cave in Rock

28. Children of the Grave
by Tom Waltz and Casey Maloney
Published by IDW Publishing

27. Earth X
by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger
Published by Marvel Comics

26. Legion of Super-Heroes: The Greak Darkness Saga
by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen
Published by DC Comics

25. I Am Legend
by Richard Matheson, adapted by Steven Niles and Elman Brown
Published by IDW Publishing

24. Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
by Neil Gaiman and Sam Keith
Published by DC Comics

23. Batman: The Killing Joke
by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
Published by DC Comics

22. The Infinity Gauntlet
by Jim Starlin, George Perez and Ron Lim
Published by Marvel Comics

21.Astro City: Life in the Big City
by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
Published by Wildstorm

20. Punk Rock Jesus
by Sean Murphy
Published by Vertigo Comics

19. Minor Miracles
by Will Eisner
Published by DC Comics

18. Crisis on Infinite Earths
by Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Published by DC Comics

17. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill
Published by Vertigo Comics

16. Fables: Legends in Exile
by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina
Published by Vertigo Comics

15. Sin City: That Yellow Bastard
by Frank Miller
Published by Dark Horse Comics

14. The Crusades
by Steve Seagle and Kelley Jones
Published by Vertigo Comics

13. Blankets
by Craig Thompson
Published by Top Shelf Productions

12. The Building
by Will Eisner
Published by W. W. Norton & Company

11. The Complete Bone
by Jeff Smith
Published by Cartoon Books

10. Maus
by Art Spiegelman
Published by Pantheon

9. V for Vendetta
by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
Published by Vertigo Comics

8. The Dark Knight Returns
by Frank Miller
Published by DC Comics

7. Sandman: A Doll's House
by Neil Gaiman and various artists
Published by Vertigo Comics

6. Watchmen
by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Published by DC Comics

5. X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson
Published by Marvel Comics

4. A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories
by Will Eisner
Published by W. W. Norton & Company

3. From Hell
by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
Published by Top Shelf Productions

2. Squadron Supreme
by Mark Gruenwald and various artists
Published by Marvel Comics

And now, with so many great titles already accounted for, what, oh what could be #1? Find out tomorrow. Same Bat-Time. Same Bat-Station.

Bad Girls, Good Guys, and Two-Fisted Action is looking for guest bloggers!

If you're a writer who likes to write (or talk) about writing as much as actually write, then I'm looking for you.

As you probably know, maintaining a writer's blog and keeping fresh, interesting, practical and helpful content constantly updated is no small chore -- and quite a time-consuming one. So... I need your help.

What I'm looking for are short articles on the craft or spirit of writing, reading, creating, and/or balancing the creative and everyday life. Articles that are genre-specific, such as "Writing Steampunk" or "Keeping Suspense in Romance" are perfectly acceptable and oh so welcome. Articles that ignore genre altogether such as "Falling in Love with Sounds -- The Poetry of Prose" are equally perfect for what I'm looking for.

If you've got a nugget you want to share, please email me at staylor104@aol.com and I'll add you to the schedule. Please be sure to include a bio and links to your web presence.

Thanks.

New Schedule for Posting!

As deadlines loom and my life continues to spiral out of control (the mark of a busy writer, I'm hoping), in an effort to help you find what you're looking for here on the blog (and keep me somewhat sane), I've put together a new schedule of what posts will come out when.

Monday
On Mondays, I'll continue my "best of" series. Currently we're looking at the 30 best graphic novels. Future "best of" lists will include genre books, endings, etc.

Tuesday
Tuesdays will be the day for the week's installment of "The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now," in which I'll respond to your questions about my writing itself or my writing habits or my inspirations, etc.

Thursdays
Thursdays will continue to be the day I post the Writer Roundtable interviews. As these tend to be the favorite and most visited segments on the blog, trust me, they're not going anywhere.

The Rest of the Week
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be the best days to find all those helpful links about publishing and/or writing and the targeted press releases about upcoming/available books, etc. available from the Heavy hitters (see list on the right).

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#161) -- Where Have You Been?

Told you we were ready.

Hey, where'd you go? What happened to the blog?

Sorry. Life dictated a rare week off from posting while I took care of a few "housekeeping" items (from auto repairs to writing and publishing deadlines). But we'll have the newest roundtable interview posted today, so things will be kicking back up to normal again.

Thanks for your patience.