Dead Earth: The Green Dawn--Update

My buddy Dave Wilbanks just clued me in to the new PS Publishing newsletter, which says our horror/sf novella Dead Earth: The Green Dawn is slated for release in March 2007. If it happens, that would be a few months earlier than anticipated. We all know that delays can happen, especially in the small press. But it would be cool if this really shows up in six or seven months.

For a description and a chance to pre-order, here are the links at Shocklines.com for the hardcover and trade paperback. And the same for Clarkesworld Books, trade and hardcover.

No cover art yet. When there is, you can bet you'll see it right here.

Dave and I appreciate your support. Next time we see you we'll buy you a drink. Or give you a shoulder rub. Whichever is cheaper.

Pod of Horror #22

It’s snake eyes. Double Deuce. Pod of Horror #22 has erupted from the Internet like naughty e-mails from a congressman’s computer. This time out:

* BUFFY and ANGEL star Charisma Carpenter chats about her new movie.

* Nate Southard tells us about writing BRIAN KEENE’S FEAR.

* Dave has so much Poop, you’ll think he’d chowed down on tainted spinach.

* Nanci Kalanta launches a book on tour.

* Advice Demon Grim Rictus dispenses homespun homilies with his usual warmth.

* The Tomb of Trivia is chock full of killer books and a DVD.

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

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

p.s. Webmaster Nanci says that due to a recent technical glitch, you may have to reset your I-Tunes subscription.

X Appeal

Wildcat Book's revival of the classic pulp hero is now available. I had a ton of fun with my entry, so if you like action, adventure, good guys and monstrous menace, order it now.

Here's the description:

SECRET AGENT "X": Volume One... Presenting "The Man Of A Thousand Faces" in 4 Brand-New tales of Adventure & Intrigue! This great Pulp Hero returns in this first collection of startling stories that will thrill everyone who enjoys a rollicking tale where danger lurks around every corner, and only the Master Spy, "X", can hope to stem the tides of evil! Includes: "Skeleton-Men of Calcutta" by Kevin Noel Olson... "The Cult of the Walking Dead" by Mark Justice... "The Cold Touch of Death" by Brian Meredith... and "The Red Mercy" by Steven Atkins... Covers and Interior Art by Rob Davis, with "The Agent X-Files" by Norman Hamilton that gives an in-depth background of the character, and an Afterword by Ron Fortier, who is bringing the pulp genre back to life with his new line of Pulp Hero Anthologies. Anthony Schiavino again provides the wonderful production design that will make this book really stand out on your shelves... along with the future volumes in our on-going series starring... SECRET AGENT "X"!

By The Way...

My review of Douglas Clegg's Isis is up now at Horror World. Go here and scroll down toward the bottom of the page.

Happy Halloween

I know it's only the first, but I'm giving you the official okey-dokey to celebrate all month along.

Over at Horror Web, they're really into the spirit of things. They're featuring a different horror story every day this month. My entry, "Halloween Everlasting", will appear on the 15th. I mention this now because I'll be in the Caribbean on that date.

So head over now and get into the spirit of the season.

Sunday Pulp

Just Two More Weeks

Christ, I need this. My Moron Tolerance Meter is off the scale. October 14th can't get here soon enough.

The Coolest Halloween Costume Ever

I didn't say the scariest. Just the coolest. I'm just imagining all the fun I could have with this on Halloween night. Hehehehehe.

The Pulp Renaissance Continues

I picked this up at the comics shop this week after a few months of eager anticipation.

Congrats to Anthony Tollin and crew for a fine product at an affordable price. Two Shadow novels a month? That boggles my mind.

As excited I am about the Doc Savage reprints, that's a series I've read. Aside from the Shadow paperbacks, I only own a couple of the original pulps, so most of the Shadow stories will be new to me. And Tollin has started out with a great combination. "Crime, Insured" is one of Gibson's best, with a criminal mastermind offering insurance to crooks to protect them against The Shadow, while "The Golden Vulture" is a legendary novel, in that it was Lester Dent's audition for Street & Smith which led to his Doc Savage gig.

With this new series of reprints, the Wild Cat Books stuff, and reprints from Adventure House, Girasol and Wildside, we are living in the second Golden Age of pulp fiction.

Saturday Pulp

Friday Pulp

Thursday Pulp

Wednesday Pulp

Tuesday Pulp

Pod of Horror #21

Pod of Horror #21 is here and the show is filled with fun, frights and lame bandwidth-wasting attempts at humor, ‘cause that’s how we roll. This time around:

* Larry Roberts talks to us about Bloodletting Press.

* Cullen Bunn previews his new comic, The Damned.

* Chinese Dracula is back, with a little whiiiiiiine!

* Nanci Kalanta fills us in on Horror World’s second anniversary plans.

* Dave covers the latest Poop.

* Bobby Sammy Justice warbles an ode to PoH.

* Scott Bradley goes Bizarro with JESUS FREAKS.

* Grim Rictus wants to call the White House.

* And in The Tomb of Trivia, we give away VESSELS and DARK HARVEST.

Pod of Horror hosted by Mark Justice and David T. Wilbanks. Download it at I-Tunes or direct to your desktop.

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

Monday Pulp

Bengals 28 Steelers 20

Who Dey, indeed.

Sunday Pulp

Saturday Pulp

The State of Mark

The skies are gray and the rain has been drizzling down for about four hours. I have a bunch of projects I should be working on, but it’s been a long week and I’m taking a breather. Here come streams from my addled consciousness.

One of the signs that the end is near: Marvel comes is doing a crossover with tv soap The Guiding Light. Read about it, if you dare.

On Monday, I did something to my knee so now when I walk, it feels like the knee is bending the wrong way. As a result, I’ve been walking like Festus on Gunsmoke.

I’ve been on a bit of a pulp frenzy (like you couldn’t tell from the past few entries). Now I have to get back into horror, as I have a pile of books waiting to be reviewed. The problem I have with reading pulps is that – for me – they’re like Lay’s Potato Chips or Chik-Fil-A nuggets. Or crack. Once I read one, I can’t stop.

Speaking of pulps, I’m made a good dent in another long pulp story for Wildcat Books. As soon as it’s finished, I have to work on two horror stories, then I’m finishing up Mad Reign of the Plague Master. Then it’s two more pulp stories for WCB. Busy busy.

All of the above will be periodically interrupted by work on the novel I’m writing with Dave Wilbanks, the sequel to Dead Earth: The Green Dawn. I’m behind on it now, and I’d better start typing this evening or else I’ll face the wrath of Dastardly Dave.

I just watched an incredible DVD.


Steve Earle is a phenomenal performer. A poet, playwright and activist, his songs of poor boys fighting rich men’s wars are the soundtrack for America in 2006. At least the America I live in. And “Conid, Condi” is the funniest song in years.

We’re putting a new podcast together tomorrow. Look for more on Monday.

A while back I put together a proposal for a comic book series. I shopped it around with less than spectacular results. But now an interesting development could make it a viable property. When there’s something to talk about, I’ll spill the beans.

In three weeks we leave on a seven day Caribbean cruise. As on past cruises, I’ll be the palest white man on the ship.

Okay. On to the tape of My Name is Earl. Have a good weekend. Go Bengals.