I found out this morning who the other participants are going to be in a book project that will be announced shortly. Since the publisher and the editor haven’t made a public announement about it, I’ll remain mum for the moment, but it’s a pretty cool project and I’m thrilled to find out more. I’ve been working pretty intensively with the editor for a few months now.
We’re getting closer to World Horror 2010 in Brighton. It’s going to be a busy show! The Evolve authors have a three-hour block for readings on the Thursday afternoon, which will be just a couple of hours after I get into town. Reminds me of the panel I moderated at WHC in New York a few years ago. I got out of the taxi from La Guardia and went straight to the room to make it in time. In addition to this reading, I have two book launch events, a panel that I’m moderating, the Stoker banquet and everything else that I can possibly cram into the four days.
Last night’s Fringe threw me for a loop. I almost didn’t realize that there was going to be a new episode on that night and then there’s Charlie, walking around as if he hasn’t been,well, if you’ve been following Fringe you will know why just seeing him was a bit of a surprise. Turns out this was an unaired episode from the first season that was unearthed, which also happened to be the episode’s title. Unearthed. Not quite sure of the turn of events that got it buried in the first place. House was fun, especially the subplot with NCIS alumna Sasha Alexander as the new neighbor who thinks House and Wilson are gay.
Men of a Certain Age was like a shaggy dog story and I was going to be really mad if the explanation of how Joe ended up with a black eye was lame. For a while it looked like the story was going to peter out (pun intended) and in fact that’s sort of what happened, except in the funniest possible way. Andre Braugher’s character’s reactions and commentary were priceless. I wonder if we’ll see more of Dori. As geeky and awkward as Romano’s Joe can be at times, he actually handled the date as well as possible, under the circumstances.
I received a copy of Horns, the new Joe Hill novel, last night. Didn’t have much time to read but I managed the first few pages. The tone is light and jaunty, almost cheeky, and the concept is captivating — guy wakes up after a bender to find that he’s devilish horns growing from his forehead. Whoa! Looking forward to spending some time with the novel.
Speaking of books, I posted my review of Sleepless by Charlie Huston last night, and I started a thread on my message board that lists the books I’ve read in 2010. I’ll keep it updated throughout the year, assuming I remember to do so. Any of the books that I review will have links to Onyx Review or any other place the review appears. I currently have three books in progress — a short story collection, the book I’m reading to my wife, and Horns.
This morning I got a rough first new draft of the short story I picked up for revision yesterday. The story has been in a discombobulated state for a long time, now, and there’s finally a new throughline to it. Beginning, middle and end. The original version of this tale, which had a different title, was exactly 1000 words long and was inspired by a photograph prompt in a contest. When it didn’t place in the contest, I rewrote it and got it up to 2000 words or so. Then I retackled it sometime last year with a new vision and that’s where I’m at now. It’s up to around 2700 words now. The first 2/3 of it has been extensively revised and should be in decent shape, so it might be finished by the end of the week.
Of course, I still have to write a Storytellers Unplugged essay by Sunday morning and I don’t have any ideas at the moment. Suggestions, anyone?
