American Way of Doing Things!

I love stories like this one:  a woman lost her house to the bank after losing her job in the recession we're currently going through.  So to get it back at auction, she's baking and selling cornbread.

This is the American spirit.  If you see something you need/want, figure out a way to get it.  Somehow that's been lost along the way.  I hope she makes it.

I donated at her site (here) and encourage those of you who can to do the same.  We get through life with each other, even if we never learn other people's names.

New Ebook Publisher

This book cover sold me on the story.  Little did I know that I'd find a straight to ebook publisher in the process.  Ebooks are getting huge.  Check out Carina Press here.  This is a division of Harlequin Books and works differently than the main publisher.  They provide editing and covers, and I really like this one.

I can't wait for this new comic and for the new movie coming next year.  John Carter remains one of my dearest and most cherished heroes.  He was a warrior and an honorable man who was totally confounded by women.  I loved these books and lately read the first one to Chandler, my twelve year old, and he totally got the whole thing.

One of the most memorable lines in the book is when Dejah Thoris tells John Carter that she can't tell where his heart truly lies, and he tells her, "There at your feet where it has lain since the day I laid eyes upon you."  Or words to that effect.

My wife was lying in bed with us while I was reading to Chandler.  She made fun of both of us.  Girls!

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

I have to admit that I'm a big fan of B-horror movies that are so bad you laugh till you cry.  I love the campiness and the weak special effects, the cardboard characters and the cheesy dialogue.  There's just something about those movies that get me every time.

Of course, I also love a good horror flick that leaves you with your hair on end and checking your bed and closet before you lay down.

Cassandra Petersen is another love.  She played Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and was hostess to a lot of B-horror movies.  She had an acerbic wit, cutting commentary that was dead on and didn't pull any punches or talk down to her fans, and she is gorgeous to look at.

I just found out she's going to be hosting again, and I'm really looking forward to that as well.  She's gonna be on the THIS! Television channel starting September 25th.

One of the things I always intended to get but never did was one of those Elvira stand-up posters for Coors Light.  I wonder if they're still around...

Pulp Art

As I was growing up, I read a lot of old pulps that were reissued as paperbacks.  Some of these were about the Rio Kid, featured above.  Others were about the Masked Rider (kind of a Lone Ranger character) and his faithful Indian companion, Blue Hawk.

I didn't really know what pulps were back then, but I loved the action-oriented stories and larger-than-life characters.  And I enjoyed the cowboy adventures.  Of course, after I discovered Louis L'Amour's books and the authenticity he brought to the genre, I mostly read those.  Interestingly enough, L'Amour was one of the big pulp writers too.

Today's kids don't quite grasp the concept of the cowboy hero, but the stories aren't far removed from many of the fantasy novels they read these days.  Fantasy focuses on magic sometimes, but you always have the two-fisted adventurer like Conan that refuses to die out.  And Conan wasn't that far removed from the wandering saddletramp riding for the brand.

A Dead Squirrel Cozy? Unbelievable!

I just read about Scottish brewery BrewDog and couldn't believe it.  I'd thought at my age I just couldn't be shocked by anything STRANGE again.  People hurting people still shocks me, but this is different.

A cozy made from a squirrel's body?  And it sells for $750 a bottle?  It's supposed to be 55 percent alcohol, so I suppose you could get a buzz from it, but still...

Squirrels just want to be free, to ride Harleys and explore the wide open roads.  They don't want to be cozies.

One day soon squirrels are going to get angry over this treatment.  They're tough little critters.  Keep it up and one day a dead one will slither right on up the bottle you're drinking and bite your lips off!

Chandler Meets Bambi!

At one of the parks Sherry and Chandler visited, he found deer that would come up to him and eat out of his hand.  He thought it was really cool.

Two of my favorite Chandler quotes:

When presented with an opportunity to go golfing (the day was really hot), Chandler said, "I don't want to go golfing.  I can't do mini-golf on a cloudy day."

And when we got back to Moore, "I feel better about going to the correct McDonalds."

My son.  *sigh*

Chandler Finds New Anti-Zombie Weapons!

At a recent visit to the USS Batfish in Muskogee, OK, my twelve year old found anti-zombie weapons he'd need to survive an invasion of the undead.

He says, "Bring 'em on.  Let me introduce you to my leetle frien'."

Spy Movie To Die For!

Coming out this Friday, and I'm gonna have a ticket in my hot little hand.  I've been looking forward to a chic thriller with a lethal lady, and Angelina Jolie looks like she's gonna deliver in this one.

My Current Favorite Tough Guy On Television

Hands down, Christian Kane as Eliot Spencer from Leverage. The fight choreographer is amazing. Leverage is absolutely some of the best popcorn tv out there right now. I don't miss an episode.

Needle Magazine

And we have another magazine out there!  A tough economy and writers are still plugging away.  :)

This one is all about crime, hardboiled and noir.  Check it out here.

This One Is Hilarious For Writers, Agents, and Writing Professors!

Thanks to http://www.pubrants.com/ for the lead on this one.  Go here.

Summer Reading Recommendation

One of my favorite authors has a new book out this week, and I think it's his best ever.  Read my review at Bookhound.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Update

Saw it yesterday with Sherry and Chandler.  Not deep, but fun.  Special effects were good.  The plot was decent and developed, and the pacing was practically nonstop.

Joe Lansdale Pens DREAD ISLAND

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn versus monsters?

Yup.  This story is being released at ComicCon in San Diego and is part of a prose anthology that will be out in October.  I gotta admit, I'm looking forward to this one.  Strange to think that most people who are reading these mash-ups have never read the original material and are still enjoying the stories.

Rock Me Gently

Okay, I'm probably admitting my age, but I don't care. This song still gets to me too. After I looked up Whitesnake, I had to look for Andy Kim.

Enjoy, retch, or look at my post in disbelief. I don't care. I still like this song and the voice. The dancing leaves a lot to be desired, but I feel Kim's heart was in the music.

Inception in Theaters Friday

This one is going to be absolutely brilliant, or it's going to be a big fat dud.  Either way, the special effects are going to be the awesome, so I'm going to see it.

Hawaii 5.0

Gotta admit: this new series is seriously looking sweet! Alec Loughlin has been climbing the charts, and I love Scott Caan. Caan's role in this series looks fantastic.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Gotta admit, I'm totally stoked for this one and can not wait.  The special effects are going to be worth the ticket price.

Covert Affairs Debuts Tonight on USA 10/9 Central

This show looks intriguing and like a lot of fun. I hope it lives up to the hype because I'm looking forward to it. A kind of gentler, more innocent ALIAS maybe?

The Glades Was Great

Really had fun with this one and am looking forward to more.  Read my review at Blogcritics here.

I Pull My Blue Jeans On

Yeah, I've got a mini-theme going. Touching my teen years. These songs fill me with a bittersweet emotion. Loved this song then.

The Glades Premieres On A&E Tonight

A Chicago cop, hard-nosed and brilliant, moves to the Florida Glades to set up shop and work on his golf game?  Sounds like a perfect mix to me.  The trailers look interesting and I'm taking an evening to watch this one.  This has been a great summer season so far, and I have hopes it will continue.

You can even get a copy of the screenplay for the first show here at Barnes & Noble.  How cool is that?

New SyFy Series Haven

So far I'm loving this show. For my review of the first episode, go here.

Whitesnake Here I Go Again

I ended up watching American Dad with my kid last night.  I'm not as into the show as he is.  But one of the songs in the show was Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again."  He didn't get the references till I showed him this video.

And to be honest, this is one of those songs that speaks to me.  It has from the very first time I heard it.  As it turns out, it's one of my wife's favorite songs too.  It's one of those we sing in the car when no one can hear us -- except the kids.  Yeah, parental punishment has reached new levels at our house.  :)

Author Parnell Hall Tickles The Funny Bone With Murder!

New Fantasy Writer's Handbook

My buddy and editor Phil Athans has a new fantasy writer's handbook out.  And he should know fantasy.  He's worked at Wizards of the Coast for years, and edited several of my books.

In addition to a great reference book, you also get an original story by Drizzt author, R. A. Salvatore.  That's bonus!

Buy it at Amazon!

For Phil's blog, go here.

Ray Palmer, The Atom Is Back!

I just found out that Ray Palmer is going to be back as the Atom and I can't wait.  When I was a kid, Ray Palmer was one of the coolest characters I read about.  Most of his adventures were written by Gardner F. Fox and usually had a bunch of science facts strung through the stories.  I learned a lot and the adventures (especially the Time Pool stories) were a lot of fun.

After the one-shot special, the Atom is going to be one of the staples in the newly revamped Adventure Comics.

Covers That Made Me Take Books Home

Bernie Wrightson and Steve Niles's New Project

A teenage genius that hunts monsters?  I'm in!

More info here.

Just found out about this new imprint and am looking forward to it. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love crime fiction/noir.

Bill Crider's Medicine Show

My buddy Bill Crider has a new e-book out, a Western that's sure to please.  I've been reading Bill's stuff for years and got the opportunity to meet him at a convention.  Western readers, and people curious about Westerns who haven't yet taken the plunge, will be pleased with this one.

You can purchase it here.

Thanks, Amy!

Who knew they did video book reviews of my stuff?  This is the first time I've seen one.  And, yeah, I'll admit that I found it by entering my name on YouTube.com.  :)

Tess Gerritsen Ice Cold Giveaway!

Just to prove that sometimes it's better to be luck than to be good, I've got a copy of Ice Cold, Tess Gerritsen's new novel, hot off the presses to give away to one lucky reader.  I'll put the names of all interested parties into a hat and draw out the winner the night of July 12, when the Rizzoli and Isles television show debuts on TNT.

Good luck!

And here's a sample of the upcoming television show.

The Last Airbender in Theaters Today!

Since I have a 12 year old boy, I've got more than a passing acquaintance with The Last Airbender.  He watched all three seasons on television unfailingly, and I ended up watching a fair amount of the series as well.

The animated stories (see how I cleverly avoided calling them cartoons?) were deep, well thought out, and humorous.  Gotta wonder if M. Night Shyamalan can hold a candle to the original (and if you've seen the trailers, you get the joke).

We're taking Chandler to see the film today, and it's a dream come true for him.  It's really cool watching a kid as he sees his hero come to life on the Big Screen.  Of course, he probably saw the same look on my face during both Iron Man movies.  :)