Citywide Blackout

Legends and myths tie together a three-story horror collection

It’s that time of year, so what better to talk about than a three-story release form Crystal Lake Publishing? “Dark Tide 9: An Unholy Triquetera,” features new works by William Meikle, Curtis M. Lawson, and Jason Parent.

 

Jason joins us to talk about his story, “A Knot Within a Knot,” in which the survivor of a plane crash finds himself going from bad to worse. Meanwhile, an elderly woman faces off against a god of night and his steed from the confines of her airplane seat, while another hides from night and storm in the hope of a new dawn.

 

Jason, Curtis and I talk about how this book got its start and the different stories done by Parent, Lawson and Meikle as well as the different myths and legends that each writer utilizes.

Father-daughter writing duo pen extensive fantasy series

I love a good fantasy story, so it was a real pleasure to speak with Dr. Michael Nelson and his daughter Isabelle for their “Annie Abbot” series, now two books in with “Annie Abbott and the Druid Stones,” and “Annie Abbott and the Race to the Red Queen.” The story’s got a real-life inspiration, as some of the people and locations are based on Michael and Isabelle’s own adventures around the world.

 

It was great to talk about the writing process and how these two decided to pen a fantasy story. Michael has his own writing background as the name behind the Emmett Casey Chronicles trilogy and talks about the challenges and fun of pivoting to this new genre. Isabelle shares her own experiences as a writer and how it’s been crafting the worlds, creatures and magic of these books.

 

Recently, the two took part in CastleChaos MultiCon, which took place in an actual castle! This sounds like a blast and Michael and Isabelle share some stories from the event.  

Two comics for the price of one!

The name Scott Hoffman (AKA Babydaddy) is well known in the world of music as co-founder of the disco glam band Scissor Sisters. And now we can add “comic writer” to his resume with the release of his two series, “Nostalgia” and “Wag,” both available through Comixology Originals.

 

Scott and I talk about how both these series came to be. “Nostalgia” is about a reclusive rock star in a dystopian future, and you can bet Scott channeled some of his time in the music industry into this title. We also go into the sick artwork, which is some of the dreamiest, trippiest drawings I have seen.

 

Next is “Wag,” also in a dystopian future, but that is where the similarities end. Wag is the story of a loner in a post-apocalyptic world, who hears voices in his head. We talk about the legwork that went into creating the character and the world he lives in.

George Franklin takes us into the hallways of Washington in his new book

Let’s face it: politics is pretty nuts. And who better to capture that wild, sometimes insane nature than George Franklin, a longtime lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Congressional candidate, and author. In his new book, “A Feeding Frenzy in Washington,” this former Fortune 500 corporate executive and Capitol Hill staffer pokes fun at DC and the politicians who comprise the circus we call Congress.

 

But don’t let the characters fool you—this is entirely a work of fiction. No, really, it is.

 

In this episode, Curtis and I talk with George about what went into writing this book, his fourth to date. He talks about the characters and some real-life inspiration that worked its way into their creation.

 

George has worked in Washington longer than some of us have been alive, and shares some of the people that he’s met that resonated with him. He defines just what a lobbyist is (surprisingly, the movies and shows have it wrong!) and the work he did over the years.

 

Of course, this interview wouldn’t be complete without asking George the all-important question. When it comes to democracy in 2023, are we going to be OK?

Meeting the creative minds at MICE

Recently, Ben Chou and I went to the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE). For me, it’s been many years since I went there, and remember what a great collection of comics they had, many of which I still have today.

 

Well, this year did not disappoint. Held at Boston University’s Fuller Building, the event featured dozens of comics creators, some at the start of their careers and others with a slew of titles to their names.

 

In this episode, Ben and I talked with a some of artists and one of the minds behind the event (who is also an artist, so remember that!). First up is Savannah Strodder. This was her first MICE and we talk about the experience, the people she met and some important lessons for her artistic career.

Savannah has a comic out, “Mundae,” with beautiful illustrations and absolutely no text, so the reader can make their own story. I really like the concept and yes, I purchased a copy. I wonder how my story will go…..

 

Hannah Templer may be a familiar name—she’s worked on titles like Doctor Who, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many more. Hannah also has a great series called “Cosmoknights.” It’s all about a ragtag group of space gays out to save princesses from the patriarchy. Needless to say, I bought both volumes shortly thereafter.

We go into the origins of the series, how it’s grown over the years, and what we can expect in the forthcoming third volume. Hannah also shares some of her times at MICE and what she likes about the expo.

 

Tak Toyoshima is perhaps best known for his Secret Asian Man comic, and for years he was an exhibitor at MICE. Well, he’s also one of the organizers as the Art Director, and let me tell you, that’s no cake walk. Ben took the lead here, and the two talk about what led to Tak taking on this new role and what it’s been like.

Tak gives us some history on Secret Asian Man as well as some other projects he’s working on (hint: think Choose Your Own Adventure). He and Ben talk about the state of the comics industry and the pros and cons of the recent changes that it’s seen.

 

Wrapping this episode up is Shaina Lu. Like Savannah, this is her first time at MICE and she shares the great memories made over the weekend. Shaina is in the process of releasing a new comic, “Noodle & Bao,” all about a food cart that stands against a hip new café and gentrification.

Shaina said the series takes a cue from what she has seen in Boston’s Chinatown and we go into that as a theme. Shaina is also an art teacher for elementary students and we look at her teaching style and how she helps guide the next generation of creatives.

Boston Asian American Film Festival celebrates 15 years

The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) is an event that will always have a special place in my heart. It was among the first events that we covered on this show, and I loved the diverse assortment of films that were shown.

 

From its early days hauling the films in a box from venue to venue, BAAFF has grown a lot over the years, showcasing films from around the globe by some of the best in the business. Now, in 2023, it’s entering the 15-year mark, and doing so with works in every genre, from Oct. 12-22. Festival Director Susan Chinsen joins me for a rundown of the event, which will include both in-person and virtual screenings.

 

Susan and I talk about some of the names you’ll see at the festival, as well as its growth over the last decade and a half. She shares some of the early memories as well as what she sees as BAAFF’s impact on the film world after all this time. 

A haunted mask and ancient evil take the stage in Kevin Lucia’s new book

It’s that time of year and we’re kicking it off with one hell of a horror story! Friend of the show Kevin Lucia joins us to talk about his debut novel, “The Horror at Pleasant Brook,” out on Oct. 13 through Crystal Lake Publishing.

 

This Halloween, a malevolent, creeping horror invades a small, isolated town nestled deep in the Adirondacks. It cares nothing for this town’s secrets, prejudices, or flaws. Its only desires are to consume everything in its path and spread, until nothing else remains.

 

A small group of people stand in its way. They are the leftovers, the ignored, the excluded, and the dismissed. However, as the evil grows, they prove to be the only ones strong enough to stand and fight.

 

Cool synopsis, huh? Kevin, Curtis and I talk about the menacing force that we’re introduced to in the first chapter and the real-life origin that happened during his day job as a teacher. Kevin’s a familiar name in the horror publishing industry through his work at Cemetery Dance, and he shares how this helped him in the writing process.

 

We’re introduced to some of the heroes of the story and what makes them stand out, and discuss some of the character types that reflect life in 2023. We look at some of the tropes in horror and the ones he hoped to avoid in this story.

Michael Eon holds back nothing in “These Things Happen”

In his recently-released book, “These Things Happen,” writer Michael Eon weaves his own battles with substance abuse and a challenging childhood into the story of Daniel Zimmer. I loved this book from the first page and was drawn into the story of Daniel’s early life, which we see transposed with his later years. This book is available through Girl Friday Books.

 

The characters are really amazing, from Daniel’s brother Max—whose struggles with mental health frame much of his life—to love interests Jill and Brie, to his father. Michael and I talk all about the many people in the book, some of whom came right from Michael’s own life, and the different roles they play. Music from bands like The Ramones and Black Sabbath plays a strong part in Daniel’s upbringing, and of course we take the time to nerd out about favorite bands and songs.

 

Michael also talks about his childhood and his battles with substance abuse. The author shares a lot of details, and we go into who the theme of substance abuse and the message for the readers. 

William Sterling shows us why puppets are just terrifying

I think we can all agree on that one, right? So of course these creepy dolls would find themselves into the pages of William Sterling’s soon-to-be-released book, “String Them Up,” out on Sept. 22 through Crystal Lake Publishing.

 

In this interview, William takes us through the town of Hollow Hills, which is plagued by a series of brutal murders. We meet the toymaker, once a beloved member of the community, now the prime suspect in the killings. William talks about Sinclair Redman, a man with a dark and haunted past who must unearth the truth behind the killings as the bodies continue to pile up.

 

William talks about the concept of toys in horror and why it appealed to him for his new book. We look at his first time working with a publisher and his own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to promoting his work. Plus, there’s a great giveaway for those that pre-order the book!

Jonathan Panetta talks mental health and music

As it says in his bio, Jonathan Panetta is “trying to heal the world with a hard rock brain and a punk rock heart.”

 

In this episode, we talk about how songs like “Inner Demons” deal with mental health and what he hopes people take from listening to them. Jonathan shares the creation process behind his new EP and the different avenues he goes down when it comes to sound and style.

 

Jonathan’s done some collaborating, particularly with friend of the show Dany Horovitz on the single “Make Use of Your Time,” which was inspired by the “Life is Strange” video game series. We talk about working with Dany, how this happened, and other artists he’s worked with. Jonathan and I do a little nerding out over the game, the amazing soundtrack and some of the takeaways from the story.

 

“Inner Demons” also has its own music video, and Panetta worked with Nesskaf Productions and we look at the planning process and cool visuals seen throughout. 

 

Opening this episode is an excerpt from “Make Use of Your Time” and closing things out is the full track, “Inner Demons.”