Posts
Dr. Wesley Britton of Bookpleasures.com has posted a nice review of The Green Hornet Chronicles.
There's a deserved nod to Richard Dean Starr's story and overall praise for what I agree is a a very nice anthology.
That's my opinion, at least, even if I am "just a fan."
;-)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
My Interview
I was recently interviewed by First Comics News about the Captain Action / Green Hornet crossover story I'm working on for Moonstone.
Fun Stuff!
BTW, the picture is the Green Hornet accessory kit to convert the Captain Action toy to the Hornet. I only ever had the Batman accessory kit, but this still brings back fond childhood memories.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Winter Special
I'm doing a short, but historic, prose story for Moonstone's Captain Action Winter Special.
"Reflections in Green" will feature the first ever crossover story of Captain Action and the Green Hornet.
The story is a lot of fun to write (though I keep wanting to make it longer than the format will allow). It's also nostalgic for me as I can remember when both characters came out in 1966. Captain Action was the original superhero action figure, and my favorite toy. The Green Hornet was right up there with Batman and Star Trek as my favorite TV show, though, sadly, it went away after one season.
There's another connection besides my childhood fandom. The Captain Action toy had a set of disguises you could buy to transform him into a whole variety of superheroes including The Green Hornet.
It's amazing the cool ways things come together sometimes.
The story is still in progress but here is the cover by the talented Reuben Procopio.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Titles
This is (for me at least) one of the hardest parts to a story. Sometimes inspiration strikes and the perfect title just pops into my head. When this happens, the title comes up as a part of the writing process.
Unfortunately those moments are rare (for me at least). I usually try to come up with a working title while I'm writing. It's usually not very good, but it serves as a place holder. If it's bad enough to grate on my nerves, it serves as a motive to come up with something better.
Usually there's a phrase or an image that comes up once the story is complete that makes a much better title than the place-holder. Sometimes the place-holder becomes the final title.
That was the case with "The Cwoss-Time Twavelew". It was a fairly ordinary time travel title written as if spoken by Elmer Fudd. There is a character in the story who uses Fuddspeak and one friend commented that she loved any story that used the word "ewectwical". Unfortunately, "Traveler" is not a word that comes trippingly to the tongue when bereft of the letter "r".
Lane Adamson liked the story but pointed out that the title was clumsy. He suggested a simpler and (to my mind) vastly superior alternative.
The upshoot of this is that, while I still struggle with titles, "Acwoss Time" has been accepted for the anthology TIMES OF TROUBLE!
HOOWAY!
Unfortunately those moments are rare (for me at least). I usually try to come up with a working title while I'm writing. It's usually not very good, but it serves as a place holder. If it's bad enough to grate on my nerves, it serves as a motive to come up with something better.
Usually there's a phrase or an image that comes up once the story is complete that makes a much better title than the place-holder. Sometimes the place-holder becomes the final title.
That was the case with "The Cwoss-Time Twavelew". It was a fairly ordinary time travel title written as if spoken by Elmer Fudd. There is a character in the story who uses Fuddspeak and one friend commented that she loved any story that used the word "ewectwical". Unfortunately, "Traveler" is not a word that comes trippingly to the tongue when bereft of the letter "r".
Lane Adamson liked the story but pointed out that the title was clumsy. He suggested a simpler and (to my mind) vastly superior alternative.
The upshoot of this is that, while I still struggle with titles, "Acwoss Time" has been accepted for the anthology TIMES OF TROUBLE!
HOOWAY!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Announcing Tales of the Shadowmen 7: Femmes Fatales, from Black Coat Press
US$22.95/GBP 14.99 - 6x9 tpb, 324 pages - ISBN-13: 978-1-935558-44-6
on sale: December 1, 2010 / cover by Phil Cohen
This seventh volume of the only international anthology devoted to paying homage to the world's most fantastic heroes from popular literature spotlights the females of the species: beautiful, deadly, tragic, accursed, enticing… all gathered here for an amazing collection of new adventures...
Tremble as Christine Daae meets Herbert West the Reanimator and Dr. Loveless Nurse Ratched! Experience thrills as Milady tries to outwit Captain Blood and Lady Blakeney the Black Coats! Watch in awe as Becky Sharp foils the designs of Sâr Dubnotal and Amelia Peabody those of mad King Tut! Wonder as the Bride of Frankenstein challenges the power of Dr. Omega and the vampire countess Marcian Gregoryi that of Victor Frankenstein and the Illuminati! Also starring Carmilla! Catherine Levendeur! Rosa Klebb! Fah Lo Suee! And the Eyes Without A Face!
With a foreword by Xavier Mauméjean and a portfolio by Matt Haley.
Contents:
* Matt Haley: My Femmes Fatales (portfolio)
* Xavier Mauméjean: My Femmes Fatales (foreword)
* Roberto Lionel Barreiro: Secrets
* Matthew Baugh: What Rough Beast
* Thom Brannan: What Doesn't Die
* Matthew Dennion: Faces of Fear
* Win Scott Eckert: Nadine's Invitation
* Emmanuel Gorlier: Fiat Lux!
* Micah Harris: Slouching Towards Camulodunum
* Travis Hiltz: The Robots of Metropolis
* Paul Hugli: Death to the Heretic!
* Rick Lai: Will There Be Sunlight?
* Jean-Marc Lofficier: The Sincerest Form of Flattery
* David McDonnell: Big Little Man
* Brad Mengel: The Apprentice
* Sharan Newman: The Beast Without
* Neil Penswick: Legacy of Evil
* Pete Rawlik: The Masquerade in Exile
* Frank Schildiner: The Tiny Destroyer
* Stuart Shiffman: Grim Days
* Bradley H. Sinor: The Screeching of Two Ravens
* Michel Stéphan: The Three Lives of Maddalena
* David L. Vineyard: The Mysterious Island of Dr. Antekirtt
* Brian Stableford: The Necromancers of London
US$22.95/GBP 14.99 - 6x9 tpb, 324 pages - ISBN-13: 978-1-935558-44-6
on sale: December 1, 2010 / cover by Phil Cohen
This seventh volume of the only international anthology devoted to paying homage to the world's most fantastic heroes from popular literature spotlights the females of the species: beautiful, deadly, tragic, accursed, enticing… all gathered here for an amazing collection of new adventures...
Tremble as Christine Daae meets Herbert West the Reanimator and Dr. Loveless Nurse Ratched! Experience thrills as Milady tries to outwit Captain Blood and Lady Blakeney the Black Coats! Watch in awe as Becky Sharp foils the designs of Sâr Dubnotal and Amelia Peabody those of mad King Tut! Wonder as the Bride of Frankenstein challenges the power of Dr. Omega and the vampire countess Marcian Gregoryi that of Victor Frankenstein and the Illuminati! Also starring Carmilla! Catherine Levendeur! Rosa Klebb! Fah Lo Suee! And the Eyes Without A Face!
With a foreword by Xavier Mauméjean and a portfolio by Matt Haley.
Contents:
* Matt Haley: My Femmes Fatales (portfolio)
* Xavier Mauméjean: My Femmes Fatales (foreword)
* Roberto Lionel Barreiro: Secrets
* Matthew Baugh: What Rough Beast
* Thom Brannan: What Doesn't Die
* Matthew Dennion: Faces of Fear
* Win Scott Eckert: Nadine's Invitation
* Emmanuel Gorlier: Fiat Lux!
* Micah Harris: Slouching Towards Camulodunum
* Travis Hiltz: The Robots of Metropolis
* Paul Hugli: Death to the Heretic!
* Rick Lai: Will There Be Sunlight?
* Jean-Marc Lofficier: The Sincerest Form of Flattery
* David McDonnell: Big Little Man
* Brad Mengel: The Apprentice
* Sharan Newman: The Beast Without
* Neil Penswick: Legacy of Evil
* Pete Rawlik: The Masquerade in Exile
* Frank Schildiner: The Tiny Destroyer
* Stuart Shiffman: Grim Days
* Bradley H. Sinor: The Screeching of Two Ravens
* Michel Stéphan: The Three Lives of Maddalena
* David L. Vineyard: The Mysterious Island of Dr. Antekirtt
* Brian Stableford: The Necromancers of London
Monday, September 27, 2010
Invasion of the Spambots
This is not the title of a new story.
Recently many of the comments I've received for blog posts have been spam. That's not entirely new, but their numbers are increasing, and they're getting smarter.
I remember the day when spam was easy to spot because it didn't pretend to be anything other than what it was. The message would pop up offering WAYS TO MAKE THOUSANDS FROM HOME, or NAKED PICTURES OF BRITNEY SPEARS, or REGROW HAIR, RESTORE POTENCY AND LOST FAT, ALL WITH ONE HERBAL SECRET. Then these wonderful benefactors of mankind would add a link so you could go directly to their product and/or service.
In the very early days it was human beings on the other end of the spam, but they swiftly discovered how to make spam-bots. These programs would troll the internet seeking new life and new potential markets, then they would drop their messages on unsuspecting websites and forums.
Now the spam is getting smarter. Instead of promising LONELY UKRAINIAN BRIDES up front they show up with comments like: "I really liked your last post, the insights were very helpful" or "This is a great site! I've loved this subject for years and was glad to find a community that shares my interests." Some even offer halfway coherent computer generated comments on the last post. Often the only way I can tell it's spam is the clickable link in the signature file that routes me to WALTER BRENNAN, PICTURES OF THE ACTOR NAKED.
I suspect it's only a matter of time before they become as charming and insightful as human beings. What happens then? Will there be blogs where the only commenters will be smart spambots? Will bloggers form close friendships and even on-line romances with charming programs that only want to use them to sell HOUSEWIFE'S AMAZING TECHNIQUE TO WHITEN TEETH.
Hmm... Maybe this should be a story.
Recently many of the comments I've received for blog posts have been spam. That's not entirely new, but their numbers are increasing, and they're getting smarter.
I remember the day when spam was easy to spot because it didn't pretend to be anything other than what it was. The message would pop up offering WAYS TO MAKE THOUSANDS FROM HOME, or NAKED PICTURES OF BRITNEY SPEARS, or REGROW HAIR, RESTORE POTENCY AND LOST FAT, ALL WITH ONE HERBAL SECRET. Then these wonderful benefactors of mankind would add a link so you could go directly to their product and/or service.
In the very early days it was human beings on the other end of the spam, but they swiftly discovered how to make spam-bots. These programs would troll the internet seeking new life and new potential markets, then they would drop their messages on unsuspecting websites and forums.
Now the spam is getting smarter. Instead of promising LONELY UKRAINIAN BRIDES up front they show up with comments like: "I really liked your last post, the insights were very helpful" or "This is a great site! I've loved this subject for years and was glad to find a community that shares my interests." Some even offer halfway coherent computer generated comments on the last post. Often the only way I can tell it's spam is the clickable link in the signature file that routes me to WALTER BRENNAN, PICTURES OF THE ACTOR NAKED.
I suspect it's only a matter of time before they become as charming and insightful as human beings. What happens then? Will there be blogs where the only commenters will be smart spambots? Will bloggers form close friendships and even on-line romances with charming programs that only want to use them to sell HOUSEWIFE'S AMAZING TECHNIQUE TO WHITEN TEETH.
Hmm... Maybe this should be a story.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men...
This has been my most successful year so far for short stories, which is ironic because I'd decided to set aside all by short fiction writing and focus on a novel.
My best laid plans have gang oft aglay. (Now I know how the mice feel.)
Anyway, I heard back from jean-Marc Lofficier last night. It looks like "What Rough Beast" will be a part of vol 7 of TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN. I say "looks like" because there are enough good submissions that he may have to push a story back to the next volume.
Anyway, the year to date looks like this:
Acceptances
"The Inside Man" - THE GREEN HORNET CHRONICLES
"Decently and Quietly Dead" - SIX GUNS STRAIGHT FROM HELL
"Zorro and the Bruja" - MORE TALES OF ZORRO
"Just Like Magic" (with Richard Dean Starr) - MORE TALES OF ZORRO
"What Rough Beast" - TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN: VOLUME 7
"Invisible Empire" - THE AVENGER CHRONICLES II
Submissions I Haven't Heard Back on Yet
"Adrift on Other Seas" - HIGH SEAS CTHULHU II
"The Cwoss-Time Twaveller" - TIMES OF TROUBLE
"The Adventure of the Ethical Assassin" - SHERLOCK HOLMES ANTHOLOGY
"Kumiho" - KOLCHAK, THE NIGHT STALKER ANTHOLOGY
"The Un-Kosher Golem" - BACONOLOGY
I suppose a little ganging aglay never hurt anyone, but 2011 will be the year of the novel!
My best laid plans have gang oft aglay. (Now I know how the mice feel.)
Anyway, I heard back from jean-Marc Lofficier last night. It looks like "What Rough Beast" will be a part of vol 7 of TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN. I say "looks like" because there are enough good submissions that he may have to push a story back to the next volume.
Anyway, the year to date looks like this:
Acceptances
"The Inside Man" - THE GREEN HORNET CHRONICLES
"Decently and Quietly Dead" - SIX GUNS STRAIGHT FROM HELL
"Zorro and the Bruja" - MORE TALES OF ZORRO
"Just Like Magic" (with Richard Dean Starr) - MORE TALES OF ZORRO
"What Rough Beast" - TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN: VOLUME 7
"Invisible Empire" - THE AVENGER CHRONICLES II
Submissions I Haven't Heard Back on Yet
"Adrift on Other Seas" - HIGH SEAS CTHULHU II
"The Cwoss-Time Twaveller" - TIMES OF TROUBLE
"The Adventure of the Ethical Assassin" - SHERLOCK HOLMES ANTHOLOGY
"Kumiho" - KOLCHAK, THE NIGHT STALKER ANTHOLOGY
"The Un-Kosher Golem" - BACONOLOGY
I suppose a little ganging aglay never hurt anyone, but 2011 will be the year of the novel!
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