Halloween Roundup

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Halloweenebration at the Saint Mary's College Library (you can catch some pictures here). I had fun reading from Dark Harvest on the day itself. Biggest surprise -- how quiet it got in the building while I was behind the podium. I figured it was going to be pretty crazy reading in the lobby of a busy library as patrons wandered in and out, but you could have heard a pin drop. Or maybe I should say you could have heard small town badass Mitch Crenshaw drop when the October Boy nailed him with a pitchfork out there on the Black Road, because that's the part of the story I read.

My little girl Nevie Rose must have been inspired, because she came up with her own Halloween story, which I'm posting here for posterity: "Suddenly, the ghost heard a strange sound... and it was the KITTY! He was waiting for the ghost. Then they danced and danced! But the pumpkin was sad. Why was he sad? Because he lost his pumpkin slippers. But then he found them, and he was happy!"

Nevie's only two, but with a pair of writers for parents, I think she might just turn out to be a writer, too.

Could be it's the family curse.

Happy Halloween!

The big day has arrived. I'm dropping in with fistful of candy corn for all of you, plus an appropriately seasonal illustration whipped up by my buddy Kevin Nordstrom. Thanks, Kevin!

Also up for grabs: I'm the guest blogger over at October Country today, so check out my pick for Halloween reading. Enjoy!

Anyway, I hope one and all have a great holiday. And while I'm at it, I'll shovel one last reminder your way about my reading today at Saint Mary's College. Hope to see you there.

Last but certainly not least: To all our friends on the East Coast, we're hoping you're safe and sound in the shadow of Hurricane Sandy. Hang in there, and be safe.

Oh, the Horror!

Along with webslingin' librarian Sarah Vital, I've posted a Pinterest page with some cool horror stuff over at the Saint Mary's College Library website. If you want to catch my particular take on an oft-overlooked novel by Stephen King, plus standout work by Laird Barron, John Langan, and Glen Hirshberg, click on over to Oh, the Horror!.

And remember: Info on my Halloween reading (like: it's tomorrow!) can be found in the post below, so take a stroll and scroll on down the page for details or click here.

While I'm at it: Major thanks to my writing brothers-in-arms who've mentioned Dark Harvest as a Halloween favorite over at Blu Gilliand's October Country blog. I'm gratified that authors as fine as John Skipp, Kealan Patrick Burke, and Nate Southard gave props to the book. Gracias, gents! Tomorrow I will raise a pint of Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale and toast all three of you.

Halloween Hootenanny!

I'll be reading from Dark Harvest at the Saint Mary's College Library on October 31st (the day itself!) at 2 p.m. (not quite the witching hour, but I'll do my best to channel some appropriate vibes). There's a frightful feast of additional action on the library's menu that day, including a triple-play of movies* and a reading by my compadre Mike Jung, who has just published a knockout debut novel for young readers.

So come one, come all. Directions to campus can be found here. Hope to see you on the 31st... and since I work the night shift as a Circulation Supervisor at the aforementioned establishment, I might even tell you a ghost story or two about the library. It's haunted.


*Yes. We're showing Carnival of Souls at 9 a.m. We're serious horror fans around here, and we'll scramble your brains before breakfast.

The Horror in the Library

A co-worker left a watermelon on his desk last night. Innocent, unsuspecting... all alone in the dark.

This is what happened during the night shift.

Of course, I wouldn't do this for just anyone. But hey, this is Mike Jung, a fellow keyboard rattler and author of the forthcoming Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities.* Which, if it's as cool as Mike is, will definitely be frosty.

*And, no... Mike's book won't be available in February. It's an October release, but you can go ahead and preorder it now. Why wait?

Sunday Supplement 11/27/11

After that Thanksgiving Day Silver Age Marvel-fest with Tom Pic, I pulled down my copy of The Incredible Hulk Omnibus, the big fat hardcover with ol' Greenskin's original six issue run and all the Tales to Astonish Hulk stories. Had a lot of fun rereading those. Of course, the Jack Kirby Hulk is the best, and I especially love issues #4 and #5... but I have to admit I've got a soft spot for the Bill Everett Hulk in TtA, and Marie Severin's version, too (though Severin's is definitely the pretty-boy Hulk -- sometimes he looks like Tony Curtis with muscles).

While we're upgrading my knowledge on the Marvel Universe, can someone explain to me the whole "Red Hulk" deal? I get the Planet: Hulk thing, and enjoyed that series... but I missed the boat on this big red guy.

Fantastic essay on 1) Peter Straub's Ghost Story and 2) becoming a writer over at Christopher Shearer's A Pulp Solemnity blog. This one's got sharp insights into Straub's novel, an engaging personal story, and (for my library compadres) it notches pretty high on the lib-sci serendipity-meter, too. Love it when I read about someone's game getting change because they stumbled across a book in the stacks -- that's happened to me more than once, and just knowing that it does happen is one of the very best parts about working in a library.

More serendipity. Stumbled across this Cruzados tune while listening to an old (wait for it) mix tape. Yes. On my Sony Walkman. Haven't heard it in twenty years or so, and it still resonates (as some ghosts from the eighties do). Shoulda been a hit, too... but then again, I'm a sucker for any song with a guitar break that sounds like it belongs in an old spy movie.