Crazy Haste

The next interview will be up later today; naturally, I have all the interviews at home while I'm here on campus and running like mad today, because I plan to head down to Bard to hear Liz Hand read between my classes. I will be announcing a new writing gig later this week. I just got interviewed by the Schenectady Daily Gazette regarding Watchmen, which I suspect will NOT result in a quote because I can't seem to learn to talk in sound bytes (work on it, work on it). There's a new podcast interview with Moore by the folks at Disinformation. Gotta run --

UPDATE: Gaah -- too much snow. Didn't go to Bard, waah!

Upcoming Reading

The lovely Robyn Ringler has asked me to read at her store, East Line Books, on October 18th. I'll be there from about 1-4 pm and reading at 2pm. If all goes well, this will be the launch of Unikirja, the long awaited (by me anyway) collection of short stories based on Finnish folklore and mythology. Hurrah! Yes, too long in the making, but while scribbling away at academic publications in Texas trying to work my way north once more, short stories seemed to be all I could accomplish, and that only s-l-o-w-l-y. I was lucky enough to win the Eureka! Short Story Fellowship and a Finlandia Foundation grant for this collection. The first gave me a whole month at the lovely Dairy Hollow writer's colony (land of infinite turtles) and the latter gave me an amazing trip to Finland where I took all those beautiful pictures of rock paintings (one of which is going to be on the cover of the book).

Robyn has an Open House this Saturday from 1-4 pm to introduce folks to the store. Stop by and say hello, enjoy the food and music -- and buy a few books!

Buy this book!

It's says "essential" in the title! You know you need it (and if you use the above link, Gene actually gets paid). Will your favorite make the list (hint: is it in print and in English)? The suspense must be killing you -- buy it now!

New Book Store!

Always a reason to celebrate! There's a great new book store in the area, East Line Books. The proprietor, Robyn Ringler, is just a wonderful and enthusiastic woman -- and writer! You may remember her from my radio show, Prose at the Rose, where she talked about things like being Ronald Reagan's nurse when he was shot.

Robyn is determined not only to have a terrific and well-stocked store -- with determined book sleuthing skills as well -- but also to make the store a community gathering place. She's got books to suit all interests and tastes. There are comfy chairs scattered throughout the various rooms, coffee and tea, and best of all a meeting room for book clubs, writing groups, and writing classes. There's already a book club for the suddenly ubiquitous Twilight series. Getting kids to love reading is one of Robyn's chief aims.

She has ambitious plans for readings, including a program very much like Selected Shorts. Yes, she asked me if I was interested in doing a reading (didn't have to ask twice!), so I will probably be launching Unikirja there this fall. I finally got my copy of Lynda Barry's What it Is from East Line -- thanks, Robyn! Support the independent bookstores:

East Line Books
Old Village Plaza
1714 Route 9
Clifton Park, NY 12065
(Just north of Rt. 146 on Rt. 9 across from Snyder's Restaurant, between Clifton Park Pizza and Captain's Treasures -- Exit 9 off the Northway [87])

Hours:
Tues - Fri: 10AM - 5PM
Sat: 10AM - 4PM
Sun & Mon: Closed

On the walk this morning, new sightings: a wee turtle and a water rat (as opposed to my birth sign, the metal rat). City wildlife! And then there was the ABBA House of Prayer down the street which I never noticed before (mama mia!).

Scream for Phil

Check it out -- pal Phil Nutman has a fabulous new publication, Scream and Scream Again, his acclaimed critical history of the British horror film production company Amicus. Here's the scoop:

DR. TERROR’S HOUSE OF HORRORS, TORTURE GARDEN, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, ASYLUM, the original TALES FROM THE CRYPT film… classic British anthology horror movies made by Amicus Productions, who worked extensively with author Robert (PSYCHO) Bloch. Now the full story can be told…

In 1985, critically acclaimed, award-nominated writer and journalist Philip Nutman was commissioned to pen the definitive, illustrated history of Amicus Productions, the chief rival to Hammer Films in the British horror movie market of the1960s and ‘70s. Twenty-three years later, the manuscript – now expanded to over 80,000 words – will finally be published in a special issue of LITTLE SHOPPE of HORRORS magazine, one of the longest-running publications devoted to British horror films.

Given unprecedented access to over 600 pages of confidential company documents, memos, faxes, treatments, screenplays and production information, SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN: THE UNCENSORED HISTORY OF AMICUS PRODUCTIONS is the definitive critical history of one of the most beloved British film companies during the golden era of horror films when the names Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Vincent Price guaranteed chilling suspense and shocking scares from quality low budget movies.

Buy yourself a copy now!

House of Black Wings Trailer

Check out the awesome trailer for writer/director David Schmidt's House of Black Wings. I have read the script which was just amazing -- the film looks like it will live up to it nicely. David has made other terrific films like Sword of Hearts, Grave Invitations and The Lovecraft Syndrome, all of which I have loved.

Here's the skinny:

After a tragic act of violence cuts short her music career, Kate Stone is returning to a city full of ex-fans and ex-friends. Taking shelter with her last friend, a struggling artist named Robyn Huck, the two women work to restore the aging courtyard apartment building Robyn has inherited. But a terrible secret infests the venerable structure, and soon Kate will be haunted by horrific dreams, sinister apparitions, and the sounds of something moving in the walls. She will be dragged into a confrontation not only with her own dark past, but the unspeakable nightmare that lurks beyond the walls!

Coming this Halloween -- spread the word!

Another Plug!

Christopher over at What is Witchcraft?, a terrific blog on current as well as historical charges of witchcraft (like this one on a "demon headmaster"), has a nice post up on Jane Quiet with the cover. Thanks a bunch!

He also mentioned the big sale at Spilled Candy Books, publisher of my novel Pelzmantel, which is now going out of print. How does it work? It's all luck:

For $5.00 for shipping and handling expenses, you get a book from the local warehouse we're closing (explained below). Which book? That'll be a surprise.

The Chronicle Bump

No, not that Chronicle; the Saint Rose Chronicle. One of my good students told me about there being a piece which featured members of the English Department -- including me. It's too late to get a print edition, but there's an on line version of the story. No quotes from me because, well, I didn't know about it.

They did publish the link for my personal website, about which I feel a bit uncomfortable. In academic email or on Facebook, I always list my Saint Rose website (although there is a hidden link to my regular website). I have tried, perhaps artificially, to keep a wall between my personal writing and my professional. That's one of the reasons I don't link this blog to Facebook. Maybe it's foolish, maybe it's an endeavour that will inevitably fail, but for some reason, I have felt the need to maintain that barrier.

Maybe I should give up...

Hangin' out with The Girl Next Door

Check out today's episode of Movie Geeks United! On board will be pal Phil Nutman, who will be sharing the mic with his co-scripter Daniel Farrands and director Gregory Wilson as they talk about their film Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door. The story is based on Ketchum's novel of the same name which is loosely based on the Sylvia Likens murder. Phil says the interview will happen live today: Sunday 12/2 at 3:30 PM Pacific/6:30 PM Eastern/11:30 PM GMT.

This is part of the media blitz to ramp up interest for the DVD release Tuesday. The film received only limited distribution, mostly at festivals, so this will be the chance for most folks to finally see it. It has been highly praised for its intense and involving narrative. But don't take my word for it:

"The first authentically shocking American film I've seen since Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer over 20 years ago. If you are easily disturbed, you should not watch this movie. If, on the other hand, you are prepared for a long look into hell, suburban style, The Girl Next Door will not disappoint. This is the dark-side-of-the-moon version of Stand By Me." - Stephen King

Beowulf: PG-13

Money talks! Violence is okay after all, but no sex! That would be bad. Prehensile hair, computer enhanced breasts and stiletto heels: the lure of sex without the actual act, apparently. They paid a lot of money for Jolie: gotta get their dollar's worth!

Plug: House of Black Wings

Cool Chicago filmmaker David Schmidt gives a scoop to Unfilmable.com, the Lovecraftian horror film site. Scroll down this page to see exclusive photos from his latest production, the eerily creepy House of Black Wings. Because I had a peek at the script prior to filming, I can let slip that it's a fantastically suspenseful story with great characters (there's a novelty!) and all kinds of spooky happenings.