Dark Discoveries #8

It's always a good day when the latest DD arrives, as this one did this morning, but dig this: On the last page, Jonathan Reitan reviews Damned Nation and says, "Mark Justice is an an author who got it right in his 'Das Hollenfeuer', a well crafted story set in Kentucky, in a time when Nazis, demons and necromancers have taken over the world and ends in an all out battle between good and evil."

Man, that'll shake the suckage right outta your Monday.

Hey Now!

I just saw that “Hole in the Sky” is still up over at Horrorfind and it has a lot of hits, comparatively speaking. And despite Norman Prentiss’ joking accusations, those hits aren’t from me or mine.

Anyway, I’m not sure how long this will stay up, so if you haven’t read it, and would like to make Norman mad, then click here.

p.s. Norman Prentiss is a great writer and a fine guy, and won’t really get mad, damn it.

Lose the Fish

From Cracked.Com

I Find This Soothing

This is like Valium for my eyeballs.

Horrorfind 2006

This year's con was another blast. Thanks to everybody who sought me out to talk about Pod of Horror.

I'm not going to list everybody I hung out with, because I'll forget a ton of people, but as always I found Erik and Luarie Alk to be the nicest people to spend time with, and I appreciate Laurie being my personal bartender all weekend. She made sure my cup was always filled with her home-brewed concoctions.

It was also great talking to John Skipp. Back in the 80s, his novels with Craig Spector were the cutting edge of horror. I just started Skipp's solo novel, The Long Last Call, and it's amazing.

I read "Deadnecks" Friday night. I'd give my performance a C. Here's a pic from Deena Warner:

Mr. Excitement at work.

I shared the hour with novelist Deborah LeBlanc, who gave a great performance. Erik Alk captured the post-reading pose:

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. I spent way too much on books and DVDs, just like every year. The bar service sucked and the toilet was screwed up in our room, but I'm ready to go back next year.

Pod of Horror #19

It’s the 19th edition of Pod of Horror and we deliver the State of the Horror address from the man who knows: Don D’Auria of Leisure Books. Don also tells us what he looks for in a novel and he breaks some great news for Richard Laymon fans. Plus:

* Top 10 lists of essential horror books from Dave, Mark and PoH listeners.

* Matthew Warner invites you all to the Horrorfind launch party for his novel EYES EVERYWHERE

* Advice Demon Grim Rictus bashes Mel Gibson.

* Scott Bradley reviews Richard Laymon’s THE LAKE.

* Poop? Oh, we’ve got the poop.

* And, finally, we have a winner for Tomb of Trivia. Thank you, Sweet Baby Jesus.

Pod of Horror is waiting on you now, hosted by Mark Justice and David T. Wilbanks. Download it at I-Tunes or direct to your desktop here.

And be sure to drop by the Justice & Wilbanks message board.

(Oh, you can ignore the part where we talk about how happy we are to be at our new home. Just forget we said it. Until next month.)

Work, Work, Work

Nothing but work lately.

Yesterday, we put together Pod of Horror #19. I think it's one of our best shows. Tomorrow, you can tell us what you think.

Today was devoted to writing (with a brief break for a road rage incident. Oddly enough, the rage wasn't on my part. Dave Wilbanks will be so disappointed in me.) I'm trying to finish a project that was due a long time ago, but has been interrupted by an extended illness, the job and health problems on the part of other family members. Hopefully, I'll type THE END tomorrow.

Friday evening at 6:30 I'll be reading "Deadnecks" at Horrorfind Weekend in Baltimore. If you're planning on being at the con, please drop by and pretend to laugh at the funny parts.

Flaming Fist of Fury

Iron Fist, one of the beloved characters from my kung fu-drenched teen years, is returning in a new comic series by Ed Brubaker, arguably the best writer in the biz. You can read more about it at Newsarama.

I Just Watched...

...the excellent pilot episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a new fall series on NBC, created by Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme, the guys behind Sports Night and the best years of The West Wing. It is hilarious, provocative and touching, and it gives a big tip of the beanie to the the classic film Network.

Sorkin is the best writer in TV, period. Nobody is better at dialogue or finding the back door to delivering an emotional payoff that blindsides the viewer.

It premieres September 18 at 10:00, but you may be able to catch it here, if NBC Legal hasn't ordered it removed.

If it's gone, make plans to watch Studio 60 on Monday Nights this fall. It's going to kick ten kinds of ass.

Does He Only Hug Gentiles?