They should be doing a film of Dave Zeltserman's Monster.
Media - Variety: Observers have described Davis' "Frankenstein" as a revisionist, sci-fi take on Mary Shelley's 19th century novel. Fox and Davis have kept details on the project quiet, no doubt in part because of competition from other Frankenstein-based projects at Ghost House Pictures and RT Features. Landis' version is said to focus on themes of friendship and redemption.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
FOX16.com Little Rock, AR: The former girlfriend of state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson was charged Wednesday with third-degree domestic battery after allegedly hitting the Republican with a preserved alligator head during a dispute.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
I can vouch for this one. If you like reading about how writers go about their jobs, check it out.
MAKING STORY: TWENTY-ONE WRITERS ON HOW THEY PLOT (TWENTY-ONE WRITERS #1) (THE TWENTY-ONE WRITERS PROJECT): Bill Crider,Meredith Cole,Jeremy Duns,Brett Battles,Cara Black,Lisa Brackmann,Rachel Brady,Rebecca Cantrell,Jeffrey Cohen,Timothy Hallinan: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: It's often said that everyone has a book inside him or her -- but how do you plot it? In MAKING STORY, edited by the Edgar- and Macavity-nominated author Timothy Hallinan, twenty-one novelists--who have written more than 100 books among them and sold hundreds of thousands of copies--talk about how they go about turning an idea into a plot, and a plot into a book. MAKING STORY offers practical, experience-based advice from people who have repeatedly sat down to write a good book and succeeded in doing just that. The writers who will help you to create your story are Michael Stanley, Kelli Stanley, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Jeffrey Siger, Zoe Sharp, Stephen Jay Schwartz, Mike Orenduff, Debbi Mack, Wendy Hornsby, Gar Anthony Haywood, Timothy Hallinan, Leighton Gage, Jeremy Duns, Bill Crider, Meredith Cole, Jeffrey Cohen, Rebecca Cantrell, Rachel Brady, Lisa Brackmann, Cara Black, and Brett Battles. This is an indispensable book for aspiring authors and the first in a series, each focusing on a different writing challenge.
In Time
Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) doesn't like the system, and when his mother dies on the same night that he comes into 100 years of time, he decides to take action. The rest of the film is a cat-and-mouse chase after Will kidnaps Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), the daughter of a guy who has millions of years and is apparently in some kind of control of who gets them. Will decides to steal some time and give it away to break the system. The more you think about the plot, the sillier it is, unless maybe you want to read it as a metaphor for the current divide in society based on hard currency. Probably better just to go with the flow and have a little fun. Not a lot, but enough for a lazy afternoon. You have the time to spare, don't you?
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No Comment Department
News from The Associated Press: NY COURT TO DECIDE IF LAP DANCE IS TAX-EXEMPT ART
Popular but Panned - Fanny Hurst
AbeBooks: Popular but Panned - Fanny Hurst: Fannie Hurst (1889 - 1968) was an American novelist who enjoyed her heyday during the post-World War 1 era. Although almost all of her titles are out-of-print and are not well remembered today, Hurst's books were translated into dozens of languages at the time and were considered bestsellers.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . . .
Chaos In Walmart: CBS Denver: BROOMFIELD, Colo. (CBS4) – Police in Broomfield have identified the man they say set a fire inside a Walmart and threatened customers inside with a knife.
Tapes by Ringo Starr's first band found
BBC News - Tapes by Ringo Starr's first band found: Recordings by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Ringo Starr's first band and one of the most popular groups of the early Merseybeat era, have been unearthed after more than 50 years.
The band were at the forefront of the Liverpool scene but never made it big.
The tapes were recorded in March 1960, two years before Starr was poached by Brian Epstein to join The Beatles.
Found in Storm's sister's cellar, the tapes will form the group's first and only album release later this month.
The band were at the forefront of the Liverpool scene but never made it big.
The tapes were recorded in March 1960, two years before Starr was poached by Brian Epstein to join The Beatles.
Found in Storm's sister's cellar, the tapes will form the group's first and only album release later this month.
Have I Mentioned that It's Also Available for Your Kindle?
Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen: A Dan Rhodes Mystery (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries): Bill Crider: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Dan Rhodes, sheriff of Blacklin County, Texas, is called to the Beauty Shack, where the young and pretty Lynn Ashton has been found dead, bashed over the head with a hairdryer. The owner said Lynn had gone to the salon late to meet an unknown client. There was a lot of gossip going on about Lynn before her death, but no one seems to really know much about her, or they’re not telling Rhodes. Lynn was known to flirt, and it’s possible an angry wife or jilted lover had something to do with her death. The salon owner suspects two outsiders who have been staying in an abandoned building across the street. While he investigates the murder, Rhodes must also deal with the theft of copper and car batteries, not to mention a pregnant nanny goat that is terrorizing the town.
Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen is a wonderful entry in this always delightful series by award-winning author Bill Crider.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
UPI.com: This all may be just a bunch of hot air, but a judge in Memphis, Dan Brown, ruled that a 33-year-old man, Michael Bridgewater, can be charged with assault for pointing a leaf blower at a woman.
Overlooked Movies: Bernie
Bernie is Bernie Tiede, an assistant funeral director in Carthage, Texas, and the movie's his story. It's all pretty much true. I read the original article about Bernie in Texas Monthly, and the movie follows it right along. Bernie befriends a wealthy widow, played by Shirley MacLaine, and things go downhill. If you haven't read about it, then that's all you need to know. It's like every noir story you've ever read, except it's not.
A lot of roles in the movie are filled by residents of Carthage, and they're all wonderful at just playing themselves in documentary-style interviews. They'd steal the show if it weren't for Jack Black, who's note perfect all the way through. (Another reason I liked this movie is that I know someone who's just exactly like Bernie. Exactly.) MacLaine is good, too, and so is Matthew McConaughey in a small role.
I recommend this highly, especially if you're from Texas.
Monday, September 03, 2012
Michael Clarke Duncan, R. I. P.
Michael Clarke Duncan dead, 'Green Mile' actor was 54: Michael Clarke Duncan, the hulking, prolific character actor whose dozens of films included an Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in "The Green Mile" and such other box office hits as "Armageddon," ''Planet of the Apes" and "Kung Fu Panda," is dead at age 54.
Sally Fellows, R. I. P.
Mystery Fanfare: Sally Fellows: R.I.P.: Sally Fellows, fan, reader, reviewer, and friend, passed away last night--peacefully in her sleep. She was a great supporter of everyone and everything in the mystery community.
I always tried to work in at least a short visit with Sally at Bouchercon each year. She'll be greatly missed.
I always tried to work in at least a short visit with Sally at Bouchercon each year. She'll be greatly missed.
Texas Association of Magicians Show
The Texas Association of Magicians had its annual convention in Houston this year, and for the first time the magic shows on Saturday and Sunday evenings were open to the public. Judy and I went to the one on Saturday. We had a great time, though it could've been better. The show was in a hotel ballroom, which mean that the seating was in chairs on the floor, and the first two sections of seats were reserved for the magicians. So it was hard to see the close-up magic. Easy enough to see the other illusions, though, and there were screens with video of everything. Since the performers were working in front of their peers, they wanted to be on top of their game, and they all did a great job.
Here's the lineup:
David Hira - Texas
Here's the lineup:
David Hira - Texas
Dallas Fort Worth based magician David Hira is a magician, comedian and motivational speaker. David has performed his magic internationally including such places as Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, on cruise ships in the Mediterranean, and on stage in London and in Sydney and has appeared on a total of 36 television shows in both the U.S. and Japan.
Joe Givan and Carol Massie - Colorado
Dream Masterz Award Winning Magic Team, Joe Givan and Carol Massie specialize in the art of magic, illusion and special effects. They have won 3 World championships in magic competitions. They had their own show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and have starred on Television Worldwide including the “Worlds Greatest Supermagicians” representing the United States, on T.V. in the U.S, Japan and in Canada. They have also performed on cruise ships everywhere.
Tony Clark - California
Tony was nominated for Stage Magician of the Year by the Magic Castle, as well as World’s best Sleight-of-hand Magician at the International Magic Awards. He was named World Class Stage Champion by the Society of American Magicians, and he is a recipient of the Bill Baird Award for Excellence in Manipulation. Tony is the executive producer and stars in his own full evening show, Phantasy, at the Horizon Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. In Addition to being a world-renowned performer, Tony has his own production company under which he manufactures a unique line of magic products, lectures on all areas of magic, consults, and produces shows.
Asi Wind - New York
Asi Wind is globally hailed by magicians as being one of the few performers in the world to constantly innovate, develop, and perform entirely original material. Indeed, when a magician wants to be fooled, he attends Asi’s show. No surprise then that a committee of his peers recently presented him with the International Merlin Award for “Most Innovative Show” – an award previously given to David Copperfield, Criss Angel, and Penn & Teller.
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B-Movie Legends Troma Entertainment Releases 150 Films On YouTube
B-Movie Legends Troma Entertainment Releases 150 Films On YouTube | Techdirt: Troma Entertainment is a giant in the B-movie world, creating and releasing tons of movies, including its most famous film, The Toxic Avenger. Company founder and film director Lloyd Kaufman (who has written a guest post for us in the past), recently alerted us to the fact that Troma has recently released 150 of its movies for free on YouTube, including some older films which they just distribute.
So, if you want to watch the 1952 classic, Abbot and Costello: Jack and the Beanstalk, or Bela Lugosi in The Corpse Vanishes or The Invisible Ghost you can. Or you can go for more modern fare like Zombie Werewolves Attack! and Blood, Boobs & Beast... starring JJ Abrams (in case you're wondering, that's actually a documentary about Don Dohler, another B-movie creator).
So, if you want to watch the 1952 classic, Abbot and Costello: Jack and the Beanstalk, or Bela Lugosi in The Corpse Vanishes or The Invisible Ghost you can. Or you can go for more modern fare like Zombie Werewolves Attack! and Blood, Boobs & Beast... starring JJ Abrams (in case you're wondering, that's actually a documentary about Don Dohler, another B-movie creator).
Sunday, September 02, 2012
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Bluff City Brawler (Fight Card): Heath Lowrance,Jack Tunney,Mel Odom,Paul Bishop: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: "Tom Riley makes a meager living in the ring in Detroit, but it’s good enough for him. He ain’t ambitious. A few bucks and a rather high opinion of himself are all he needs. But when he accidentally kills a connected mobster, he’s forced on the lam and winds up in Memphis—the Bluff City. He struggles to make a new life for himself there. But his past mistakes are about to catch up to him, in spades. The Detroit Mob is closing in, and Tom’s future is about to be decided in blood—and in the ring."
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
THUGLIT Issue One: Johnny Shaw,Mike Wilkerson,Jason Duke,Jordan Harper,Matthew Funk,Terrence McCauley,Hilary Davidson,Court Merrigan,Todd Robinson: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: The worlds greatest multi-award winning crime fiction magazine is BACK after a two-year hiatus with eight hardcore short stories to rock your literary world.
IN THIS ISSUE OF THUGLIT:
LUCY IN THE PIT by Jordan Harper
BASTARDS OF APATHYby Jason Duke
THE GLEANER'S UNION by Court Merrigan
MAGPIE by Hilary Davidson
LADY MADELINE'S DIVE by Terrence P. McCauley
SPILL SITE by Matthew C. Funk
A CLEAN WHITE SUN by Mike Wilkerson
LUCK by Johnny Shaw
PLUS: an exclusive first look at Tyrus Books upcoming novel from Todd Robinson, THE HARD BOUNCE
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Wolf Creek: Bloody Trail: Clay More,James J. Griffin,Troy D. Smith,James Reasoner,L.J. Martin,Cheryl Pierson,Ford Fargo: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Welcome to Wolf Creek. Here you will find many of your favorite authors, working together as Ford Fargo to weave a complex and textured series of Old West adventures like no one has ever seen. Each author writes from the perspective of his or her own unique character, blended together into a single novel. In our first adventure, the town of Wolf Creek is assaulted by a small army of former Confederate guerrillas, who rob the bank and leave dead innocents in their wake. Sheriff G.W. Satterlee and his posse must overtake the outlaws before they reach Indian Territory—but the chase is complicated by the secret pasts of several posse members…
Appearing as Ford Fargo in this volume: Clay More James J. Griffin Troy D. Smith James Reasoner L. J. Martin Cheryl Pierson
About the author: Beneath the mask, Ford Fargo is not one but a posse of America's leading western authors who have pooled their talents to create a series of rip-snortin', old fashioned sagebrush sagas. Saddle up. Read ‘em Cowboy! These are the legends of Wolf Creek.
Makes Sense to Me
Shropshire Star: Imagine: The economy’s in a slump. Youth unemployment is soaring. You’ve no idea where your next job will come from. In times like these, there can only be one solution – buy a crocodile.
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Hal David, R. I. P.
Iconic songwriter Hal David dies at 91 in Los Angeles | Fox News: Hal David, who along with partner Burt Bacharach penned dozens of timeless songs for movies, television and a variety of recording artists in the 1960s and beyond, has died. He was 91.
David died of complications from a stroke Saturday morning in Los Angeles, according to Jim Steinblatt, spokesman for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. David was a longtime member and former president of ASCAP.
Bacharach and David wrote many top 40 hits including "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "Close to You" and "That's What Friends Are For."
David died of complications from a stroke Saturday morning in Los Angeles, according to Jim Steinblatt, spokesman for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. David was a longtime member and former president of ASCAP.
Bacharach and David wrote many top 40 hits including "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "Close to You" and "That's What Friends Are For."
I Wonder How They Taste . . .
. . . with maple syrup.
Silobreaker: A group of thieves worked hard for its haul this week in eastern Austria, picking a plantation's entire crop of elderberries without the owner noticing. The smooth robbers made off with an estimated 11 tonnes of berries, worth about 6,000 euros ($7,500).
Silobreaker: A group of thieves worked hard for its haul this week in eastern Austria, picking a plantation's entire crop of elderberries without the owner noticing. The smooth robbers made off with an estimated 11 tonnes of berries, worth about 6,000 euros ($7,500).
And Keep Off Her Lawn!
CBS Los Angeles: An 82-year-old woman with a rap sheet dating back to 1955 has been arrested on suspicion of burglarizing at least eight doctors’ offices throughout Torrance.
Hey, I Can Quit Any Time I Want To
Addicted to the internet? It could be all in your genes - Telegraph: Dr Montag said that, biologically speaking, internet addiction had the same genetic cause as smoking addiction.
It's a Sticky Situation
Police investigate massive maple syrup theft
Hat tip to Art Scott, who's not to blame for the blog post headline.
Hat tip to Art Scott, who's not to blame for the blog post headline.
Texas Leads the Way?
Three Big Apple boroughs among the 10 most expensive places to live in America while Texas towns are the cheapest
Hat tip to Brooklynite Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Brooklynite Jeff Meyerson.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Detroit Breakdown -- D. E. Johnson
Detroit Breakdown is a historical mystery set exactly 100 years in our past. The city is Detroit, naturally, but a big portion of the novel is set in Eloise, a sanitarium or, less politely, an insane asylum. Inside the asylum there's a serial killer who's patterning the murders on those in The Phantom of the Opera. The story is told in alternating first-person sections by Will Anderson and Elizabeth Hume, who have considerable history from the first two volumes of this series. Don't worry if you haven't read the others. I hadn't, and I found that history adroitly filled in as the novel progressed.
Elizabeth has a special interest in stopping the murders because one of the inmates at Eloise is her brother. Will comes up with the idea of having himself committed to the sanitarium to investigate from the inside. As you probably know, that never seems to work out so well.
The horrors of the asylum are depicted very well, and some of the "cures" Will is subjected to are frightening. Elizabeth turns out to be as kick-ass as you could hope for, and Detroit Breakdown turns out to be a fast-moving and entertaining book.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Amazon.com: Revenge: A Mick Murphy Mystery (9781463578091): Michael Haskins: Books: Journalist Mick Murphy is walking across Harvard Yard when his name is called out. He turns and sees the woman of all his sexual fantasies. Under the spell of the pretty Filipina, Murphy is led into her search for the men that abused her brother while he was at Harvard. On the flight back to Los Angeles area, Murphy agrees to put her in contact with some of his old Harvard classmates and they soon begin showing up brutally murdered. His desire for his fantasy girls has him in jeopardy of losing close friends - including his on again/off again romantic interest. When he finally confronts his Filipina about the murders she admits her family is involved in the killings to revenge her brother's suicide. Before it's over Murphy's life is threatened and he learns that his fantasy is more of a nightmare. In the climatic ending Murphy faces the possibity of losing more than friends and a fantasy love.
I Thought This Was Legal In Texas
myFOXdfw.com: A 21-year-old man from southeast Texas is behind bars after police spotted him carrying a loaded AK-47 in downtown Dallas.
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