Citywide Blackout

Ben Chou at the 2024 PAX East

As PAX East returns this weekend, we’re sharing some interviews done at the 2024 PAX East by Ben Chou.

In this episode, Ben talks with Jim Fitzpatrick for his first game, Mission to Planet Hexx! Ben speaks with Jim about his path as a game creator and journey of developing his game, Mission to Planet Hexx!

Following this, Ben chats with Scott "Doeboy" Doe, local Twitch streamer, musician, Esports commentator and retro game enthusiast. Doeboy talks about the passions and experience of the gaming and entertainment industry as well as his experience at PAX as an attendee and a presenter during PAX's 20th anniversary. 

In the final interview for the 2024 PAX East, Ben talks with Brandon "IamBPala," local Twitch streamer, YouTuber from New Hampshire and professional video tech specialist. Ben talks with Brandon about the game industry, gaming and experiences at PAX over the years, in particular at Pax East as PAX celebrates its 20 years of existence. 

Writer brings military life into debut novel

Jeremy D. Baker is a former US Army counterintelligence agent and combat veteran. He’s served alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan and is a PTSD survivor. Over the past 20 years, his work in national security has focused on intelligence, counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, climate risk and resilience, and cybersecurity.

That experience was an integral part in the writing of his debut novel, “The Guilty Sleep,” out in print, e-book and audiobook this May. Here’s a look at the story:

Afghanistan vet Dexter Grant is broke, reeling from PTSD, and on the verge of divorce when he's approached by his old Army buddies to help rescue their former interpreter, the man who once saved Dex's life. It means ripping off a vicious queenpin's drug proceeds — but not to worry, they have it all worked out. And if anyone can pull it off, it’s Dex’s former team lead, Staff Sgt. Saenz. 

Tempted by an easy score that could make his own problems disappear and imbued with new purpose, Dex agrees to play his part. But just as in combat, the best-laid plans don’t survive first contact with the enemy. When the heist goes off the rails, Dex’s wife and daughter become targets for bloody revenge. Dex must face down his spiraling inner darkness and call on all his strength and training to save his girls. In his quest, he'll learn there was much more to this heist than he ever imagined. 

Jeremy holds nothing back as he talks about how his time in the Army and working with the government helped shape his protagonist and the story itself. He talks about the elements he sought to avoid, so as to keep the story more authentic. He also goes into how writing helped him deal with the challenges he faces today.

His book has received a lot of advance praise, including Lee Child, who called it “A terrific debut—fast, tough and hard, shot through with hard-won authenticity and deep humanity.” Jeremy shares his reaction to this and how, as an author, it feels to receive such high praise.

Jeremy is an avid reader and name-drops quite a bit, which of course leads us to ask about his favorite authors and dream collaborations. He’s a big horror fan and we go into a potential shift to this genre and the type of book he’d like to write. And naturally, we talk about a potential future for Dexter Grant in other stories.   

Citywide Bytes—Josh Mendoza crosses genres, dimensions in new book

Writer/director Josh Mendoza is already well known in the world of film, and he’s used those skills to create his debut novel, “Shadow of the Eternal Watcher.” Here’s a look at the story:

Lately, Duster Raines has started seeing an alternate version of reality where he leads a life of importance, wealth, and power. Visions so vivid they seem more real than the life he lives as a PI, scrounging the gutters of Los Angeles for an easy buck. It’s enough to drive anyone insane.

Pulled into a missing persons case he never wanted, Raines finds himself framed and hunted by the government. But as he searches for answers to clear his name, he discovers a truth he never could have imagined. He possesses the ability to bend spacetime to accomplish incredible feats. With these powers, maybe he’s got a shot at the life he deserves. There’s only one problem standing in his way—the other Duster Raines.

Josh and I talk about what inspired this blend of science fiction and LA film noir and how the two sides came together. He shares the background of Duster Raines and how he adapts from being a down-on-his-luck PI to a reality-crossing being with reality-warping powers.

Mendoza is the founder of Strike the Sun Entertainment, and we talk about going from the realm of script writing—where brevity is key—to the wide-open spaces of novels. He shares the revision process, plans for a sequel and maybe, just maybe, a film adaptation.

Falsely Accused walks new ground with “Unbroken”

From playing shows to being recognized by WBUR, the Boston trio Falsely Accused has been on the move, and with their new EP, “Unbroken,” they pack a lot into five songs. Band members Mike Azzolino, Matt Tavano and Mark Young talk about the new elements from their last release, “Compression,” and how their music has grown since the 2021 album.

We go into the different places the band has played at and what’s on their musical bucket list. Mike, Matt and Mark give us the band’s history, and their time working with Kennedy Studios in Burlington, Massachusetts. We talk about being on WBUR’s “14 NE musicians to listen to this winter” list, how they’ve grown the band since they first formed and what we can expect down the road.

Closing out this episode is “Witches” from the new EP, and you should definitely check it out.

Citywide Bytes—Explore the dark depths with “Fear of the Deep”

Let’s face it—the ocean is a damn nightmare and our next guest gives us one more reason to stick to shore. Joining us is Julie Hiner for her new book, “Fear of the Deep” out through Torrid Waters, an imprint of Crystal Lake Publishing. Here’s a look at what’s in store:

Bailey, a lifeguard with a heavy metal heart and a Jack Daniel's addiction, has long avoided the deep sea since a haunting accident. San Diego's sunny shores provide a facade of normalcy, where her nights are drowned in music and whiskey, and her days are spent keeping a safe distance from the ocean's grasp. 

But the sea has a way of claiming what it wants. The discovery of a woman's body, marked by peculiar and familiar blue marks, washes up on the beach, forcing Bailey to confront the fears she's been running from. Deep beneath the waves, something sinister lurks, a nightmare born from genetic engineering gone awry. As Bailey delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself entangled in a web of horror and science fiction, where sea creatures of the darkest depths become terrifyingly real.

Sounds terrifying, right? Well, Julie has a lot to talk about, as we explore Bailey’s character and just what happened to keep her on land as much as possible, and what brings her back to the deep. We talk monsters and other works that helped inspire “Fear of the Deep.”

Julie shares what it was like working with Torrid Waters and Crystal Lake Publishing and creepy-as-hell cover that was made for the book. We also explore what’s next and if this deep sea horror story is one Julie will return to someday.

Boston band Tell explores isolation with new music

When it comes to sharing their message, Boston alt-rock band Tell has rarely held back. In fact, as David Wildman tells it, one of his new releases is an honest “fuck you” to the internet. Yep, this is not one for the kiddos.

In this episode, David talks about the story behind the band’s March release, “Sweet Proximity” their forthcoming single, “Boiling the Ocean.” David talks about being a musician in the digital age and how this changes the game, both for good and bad.

“Sweet Proximity” underwent a lot of changes along the way and David shares its evolution from a slower song to something more rocking and the ways it pairs with “Boiling the Ocean.” We also talk about cool cover art and how it expresses the music. And of course, we share details about their upcoming show and what else we can expect.

Wrapping up this episode is “Sweet Proximity.”

Nate Perry & Ragged Company give us a Boston Calling Preview

This May, the Boston-based Nate Perry & Ragged Company will join some of the best musicians today when they take the stage at Boston Calling.

Band members Nate Perry (singer), Connor Milligan (bass player) and Mike Chandler (lead guitarist) join us to talk about what being part of BC means to them, the bands they’re looking forward to seeing and what we can expect from their set.

In 2024, they released their debut EP, "The Otherside of Everything," and we go into the stories behind the music and how the name of the album came to be. We also get a history lesson on the band and learn what they have planned for down the road.

Closing out the episode is “All I Need,” one of the amazing tracks from the album.

Thomas Jane dives into the dark world of “The Lycan”

Fifteen years ago, actor Thomas Jane and David James Kelly co-wrote the script for “The Lycan.” Different attempts to bring it to life fell by the wayside, but the time has come and the first issue is now available through Comixology. Here’s a look at the story:

The story takes place in 1777. After a successful expedition in Africa, a hardened band of international big game hunters set out to return home with their bounty when their voyage takes a turn and the men are shipwrecked off a small British island. 

Under the tutelage of Absalom Coffin, the men make a deal with Lord Ludgate, ruler of the island. In exchange for fresh supplies and the repair of their good ship The Calydonian, the men are assigned a task they are particularly well suited for: find the Berserking Beasts that have been eating his subjects, including a group of young Benedictine Nuns, and destroy them. But the men encounter more sinister and dangerous beasts than anyone expected.

In this interview, Thomas gives us the history behind “The Lycan” and how we’ve come to issue #1. He talks about working with write Mike Carey and artist Diego Yapur and the amazing talent they brought to the project. He gives a glimpse of what’s to come over this six-issue series.

We take a look at some of the characters, including Absalom and Sister Trent and what inspired them. Thomas also gives his take on the look of the comic and how he got into comics in his youth. 

Citywide Bytes-Back in the studio with Lorenza Wildcard

It was August of 2023 and Lorenza Wildcard was on the show to talk about the beginning of her musical journey. Today, she has appeared on multiple podcasts and shows, performed all over and received a slew of awards.

In this episode, we look at some of the highlights of her career and what keeps her going. She shares some performance milestones, including the famous Dublin Castle in London. She talks about the lessons learned, both on stage and in the studio and how she views her time as an artist after a couple years.

Lorenza released “My Worth” in January, and she talks about the story behind the song and gives us a glimpse into what she has planned next.

Closing out the interview is the newest single, “My Worth.”

Maggie Giles keeps the mystery going with “Wicked”

Our next guest was last on the show in October 2023 for her mystery thriller “Twisted” and now, Maggie Giles is back with “Wicked,” the new title in the series, out on April 22.

While the mystery behind the robbery and murders in “Twisted” was uncovered a few months back, there is still a very large loose thread that Detective Ryan Boone desperately wishes to tie up. He convinces his superiors to allow him to travel to Ottawa, where he’s uncovered a lead into a conspiracy that hints what happened in Toronto has nationwide and horrific implications. 

Meanwhile, former detective Cora Porter has moved to forensics, but when a strange case involving a murder, a runaway and a case of mistaken identity hits close to home, she squeezes her way into the investigation. It also doesn’t help that a certain visiting detective has caught her eye, and is also willing to work with her on the case.

Maggie talks about the ‘loose thread’ that ties the two books together and what sends Boone to Ottawa. We go into the new mystery of “Wicked” and learn about antagonist Blaine Roche and how they’re able to keep ahead of the detectives. Maggie shares how she devised the crimes of the new book and how she gets into the head of a criminal mastermind.