Saturday, July 12, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tip the Blogger
Entries here are sparse, even when I'm not on vacation.
Perhaps I'd be more motivated if I demanded payment for blogging, like Tony Isabella.
On the other hand, I'd hate to financially inconvenience the two readers of this space. Besides, Mom needs that Social Security money for groceries.
Perhaps I'd be more motivated if I demanded payment for blogging, like Tony Isabella.
On the other hand, I'd hate to financially inconvenience the two readers of this space. Besides, Mom needs that Social Security money for groceries.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Happy Anniversary, Babeeee!
Norma and I were married 26 years ago. And they said it wouldn't last.
No, really, several pinheads I hung out with at the time said, "Man, it'll never last."
It's been a low-key day. We went out for breakfast, did some shopping, then came home to hang out with the cats and watch a movie.
I'm on vacation, and so far I've slept and tried to catch up on the movies I've missed. At the moment Gone Baby Gone leads the pack (so much so that after renting it, I bought a copy), with Juno a close second and No Country For Old Men solidly in third place (and for those who are bound to ask, Walk Hard and 10,000 B.C. round out the top 5).
I also picked up Robert B. Parker's new western, Resolution. It's a quick, satisfying read. Think Spenser in the old west, with no shrinks.
I've also got the new Robert Crais and new James Lee Burke on order. When you can read new releases from three of your favorite writers, that's a good vacation.
Tomorrow, back to the writing.
No, really, several pinheads I hung out with at the time said, "Man, it'll never last."
It's been a low-key day. We went out for breakfast, did some shopping, then came home to hang out with the cats and watch a movie.
I'm on vacation, and so far I've slept and tried to catch up on the movies I've missed. At the moment Gone Baby Gone leads the pack (so much so that after renting it, I bought a copy), with Juno a close second and No Country For Old Men solidly in third place (and for those who are bound to ask, Walk Hard and 10,000 B.C. round out the top 5).
I also picked up Robert B. Parker's new western, Resolution. It's a quick, satisfying read. Think Spenser in the old west, with no shrinks.
I've also got the new Robert Crais and new James Lee Burke on order. When you can read new releases from three of your favorite writers, that's a good vacation.
Tomorrow, back to the writing.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Pod of Horror #45: Laymon, Swierczynski, D'Auria
Is the horror bubble about to collapse? Find out on PoH #45 from the man in the know, Lesiure’s Don D’Auria (hint: we won’t be changing our name to Pod of Horticulture). Also, Richard Laymon’s early novel, THE WOODS ARE DARK, has been restored by his daughter Kelly, and she tells us about it. We talk to crime writer Duane Swierczynski about SEVERANCE PACKAGE and Marvel Comics. Nanci has the news in The Call of Kalanta. The Tomb of Trivia is loaded with free books. And we introduce the new PoH book reviewer. Pod of Horror is hosted and produced by Mark Justice.
Download it at I-Tunes or direct to your desktop.
Get Pod of Horror merchandise.
Visit our MySpace page.
Be sure to drop by the Justice & Wilbanks message board.
Mark’s MySpace page.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Ears Have It
You want to know which post on this blog gets the most hits? My witty radio anecdotes? Writing updates? Photos of my beautiful hairless scalp?
Nope. It's this one.
Nope. It's this one.
Monday, June 09, 2008
It's An Honor To Just be Nominated. Really.
Dead Earth: The Green Dawn has been nominated for a British Fantasy Society Award in the novella category. Here are all the novella nominees:
- Deadbeat: The Dogs of Waugh, Guy Adams, Humdrumming
- Starship Summer, Eric Brown, PS Publishing
- The Mermaids, Robert Edric, PS Publishing
- The Lees of Laughter’s End, Steven Erickson, PS Publishing
- The City Beyond Play, Philip Jose Farmer and Danny Adams, PS Publishing
- The Helper and his Hero, Matthew Hughes, F&SF, Feb-March 2007
- The Crystal Cosmos, Rhys Hughes, PS Publishing
- Dead Earth: The Green Dawn, Mark Justice and David T Wilbanks, PS Publishing
- The Lazarus Condition, Paul Kane, The Lazarus Condition, Tasmaniac Publications
- Dalton Quayle Rides Out, Paul Kane, Dalton Quayle Rides Out, Pendragon Press
- After The War (Double Novella), Tim Lebbon, Subterranean Press
- The Master Miller’s Tale, Ian MacLeod, F&SF, May 2007
- Under My Roof, Nick Mamatas, Soft Skull Press
- Time Hunter 11: Child Of Time, George Mann and David J Howe, Telos Publishing
- All Your Gods Are Dead, Gary McMahon, Humdrumming
- Hereafter and After, Richard Parks, PS Publishing
- The Palace, Barbara Roden, At Ease with the Dead, Ash-Tress Press
- Strawberry Man, Eric Shapiro, Insidious Publications
- Stars Seen Through Stone, Lucius Shepard, F&SF, July 2007 & Dagger Key & Other Stories
- Dead Money, Lucius Shepard, Asimov’s, April 2007 & Dagger Key & Other Stories
- Black Tide, Del Stone Jr, Telos Publishing
- Rain, Conrad Williams, Gray Friar Press
- The Scalding Rooms, Conrad Williams, PS Publishing
- Twelve Collections and the Teashop, Zoran Zivkovic, PS Publishing
Here's a link to all the nominees in every category.
UPDATE:
New Writings in the Fantastic, the anthology I didn't know I was in (see post below), has been nominated in the Anthology category.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
The Forgotten Story
In 2003 I wrote a quiet horror story called “Martin’s Walk” about an old man who loses his wife, then tries to hold on to part of her by continuing the long hikes they used to take in the woods behind their home.
It was rejected a few times for being too sentimental or for an ending that was hopeful. I couldn’t argue with either of those assessments. Despite my best efforts, a certain percentage of my horror output seems to offer up the possibility that there may be something in life worth celebrating or that the universe occasionally doesn’t loathe us.. That’s probably a big reason I haven’t been more successful.
Finally in late 2004/early 2005, the story sold to a magazine called Strange Pleasures. After a year or so it had not appeared in print, and I contacted the editor, who told me – well, honestly, I can’t remember what he told me. The publisher was having money problems or the magazine was switching publishers. But he assured me the story would appear.
I moved on, and ultimately forgot about “Martin’s Walk”.
Until a few days ago.
I received in the mail a book called New Writings in the Fantastic, edited by John Grant. I assumed this was a book someone wanted me to review for Pod of Horror. But, folded up inside, was a letter from the editor who had accepted “Martin’s Walk” for Strange Pleasures, the real guy behind the John Grant pseudonym (or, as an old friend on mine calls it, “pseudo-name”, which I kind of like).
The letter apologized for the delay in getting the book from The United Kingdom to Kentucky. Apparently it was published in 2007. Sure enough, “Martin’s Walk” was included in the book. How it went from a magazine to anthology I can’t really say. I’m also not very happy with the lack of communication regarding the story’s eventual publication. But I read “Martin’s Walk” again and I liked it.
It has its rough patches. I would loved to have had the opportunity to polish it up and cut about 700 words from it. Still, it came from the heart, and the characters still feel as alive to me as they did when I wrote it. It remains one of my wife’s favorites among my stories.
If I ever have another collection of my short fiction I’ll probably give the story a wash and wax before including it. For now, I’m fairly happy with it, even if I didn’t know it had been published.
It was rejected a few times for being too sentimental or for an ending that was hopeful. I couldn’t argue with either of those assessments. Despite my best efforts, a certain percentage of my horror output seems to offer up the possibility that there may be something in life worth celebrating or that the universe occasionally doesn’t loathe us.. That’s probably a big reason I haven’t been more successful.
Finally in late 2004/early 2005, the story sold to a magazine called Strange Pleasures. After a year or so it had not appeared in print, and I contacted the editor, who told me – well, honestly, I can’t remember what he told me. The publisher was having money problems or the magazine was switching publishers. But he assured me the story would appear.
I moved on, and ultimately forgot about “Martin’s Walk”.
Until a few days ago.
I received in the mail a book called New Writings in the Fantastic, edited by John Grant. I assumed this was a book someone wanted me to review for Pod of Horror. But, folded up inside, was a letter from the editor who had accepted “Martin’s Walk” for Strange Pleasures, the real guy behind the John Grant pseudonym (or, as an old friend on mine calls it, “pseudo-name”, which I kind of like).
The letter apologized for the delay in getting the book from The United Kingdom to Kentucky. Apparently it was published in 2007. Sure enough, “Martin’s Walk” was included in the book. How it went from a magazine to anthology I can’t really say. I’m also not very happy with the lack of communication regarding the story’s eventual publication. But I read “Martin’s Walk” again and I liked it.
It has its rough patches. I would loved to have had the opportunity to polish it up and cut about 700 words from it. Still, it came from the heart, and the characters still feel as alive to me as they did when I wrote it. It remains one of my wife’s favorites among my stories.
If I ever have another collection of my short fiction I’ll probably give the story a wash and wax before including it. For now, I’m fairly happy with it, even if I didn’t know it had been published.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Bill and Me, Part Two
Seeing Hillary suspend her campaign today and eloquently endorse Obama reminded me that I never got around to telling you about talking to Bill Clinton.
Clinton’s people set up a telephone interview for the day of the Kentucky Primary, less than a week after I almost-but-not-really met the former president.
The staffer told me I had five minutes on the air with Bill, and she would call my cell to let me know when time was up. But as soon as Clinton began to speak the schedule went out the window.
Clinton was charming, funny, persuasive. Everything you would expect. And did I mention long-winded?
His answer to my first question took six minutes. Right after the second question, my cell phone rang. Time was up.
Before he paused long enough for me to cut in another six minutes passed.
When he took a breath, I said, “Mr. President, I know your time with us is over. I want to thank you for coming on the show.”
“Wait!” he said. “I haven’t told you why Hillary is the candidate for Kentucky.”
And he told me for four more minutes. My five minute interview went almost fifteen.
It was probably the biggest “get” of my career, and I would have been excited had it been Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush or the current occupant of the White House.
Which brings me back to this afternoon, and Hillary’s speech. While watching it I was struck with a feeling – and I think I can be objective enough to say that this feeling was non-partisan and non-political, for that matter.
Here was a woman who had garnered roughly half the votes and delegates in her party, and she was endorsing a black man who stands a very good chance of being elected to the highest office in the land.
That feeling I had was pride in our people and our country.
Yeah, it will pass and I will soon be back to my good ol’ cynical self.
But for now it’s nice.
Clinton’s people set up a telephone interview for the day of the Kentucky Primary, less than a week after I almost-but-not-really met the former president.
The staffer told me I had five minutes on the air with Bill, and she would call my cell to let me know when time was up. But as soon as Clinton began to speak the schedule went out the window.
Clinton was charming, funny, persuasive. Everything you would expect. And did I mention long-winded?
His answer to my first question took six minutes. Right after the second question, my cell phone rang. Time was up.
Before he paused long enough for me to cut in another six minutes passed.
When he took a breath, I said, “Mr. President, I know your time with us is over. I want to thank you for coming on the show.”
“Wait!” he said. “I haven’t told you why Hillary is the candidate for Kentucky.”
And he told me for four more minutes. My five minute interview went almost fifteen.
It was probably the biggest “get” of my career, and I would have been excited had it been Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush or the current occupant of the White House.
Which brings me back to this afternoon, and Hillary’s speech. While watching it I was struck with a feeling – and I think I can be objective enough to say that this feeling was non-partisan and non-political, for that matter.
Here was a woman who had garnered roughly half the votes and delegates in her party, and she was endorsing a black man who stands a very good chance of being elected to the highest office in the land.
That feeling I had was pride in our people and our country.
Yeah, it will pass and I will soon be back to my good ol’ cynical self.
But for now it’s nice.
Spirituality
Ran across a quote today that I liked:
"Religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been there."
Sounds about right.
Secret Agent X Returns
Pulpmaster General Ron Fortier’s Airship 27 Productions has reprinted the first volume of Secret Agent X, which includes a long story from me. Folks, this is pure pulp fun at it’s finest. Good guys, bad guys and non-stop action. Here’s the official press release. There’s a link for ordering at the end.
Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Book Publishers are happy to announce the reprinting of SECRET AGENT X – Volume One. The greatest pulp spy of them all, the Man of a Thousand Faces, is featured in this thrilling collection by four modern day masters of action adventure writing. “We’re very excited about having the book available again,” said Airship 27 Prod. Editor, Ron Fortier, who was responsible for creating this series of all “new” pulp stories featuring classic heroes from the 1930s.
This new edition also features a brand new Agent X thriller, The Icarus Terror by Andrew Salmon. “Our plan for these reprint editions was to enhance them with new features,” Fortier explained. Artist Rob Davis’ cover has also been beautifully modified with digital colors by Shane Evans.
Edited by Ron Fortier
“Secret Agent “X” and the Skeleton-Men of
“Secret Agent “X” and The Cult of the Walking Dead” by Mark Justice
“Secret Agent “X” and The Cold Touch of Death” by Brian Meredith
“Secret Agent “X” and The Icarus Terror” by Andrew Salmon
Cover and original artwork by Rob Davis
Cover computer colors by Shane Evans
Production and design by Anthony Schiavino, update by Rob Davis
ISBN: 1-934935-16-6
Produced by Airship 27
Published by Cornerstone Book Publishers
Retail Price: $24.95
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Bill and Me, Part One
A couple of weeks ago I got a call from a friend of mine who has deep ties to the Kentucky Democratic party.
“Do you want to meet Bill Clinton?” she said.
“When?”
“Now. At Hillary’s campaign headquarters.”
Two days earlier Chelsea Clinton came to town to open a campaign HQ for her mother in a, ah, less than ritzy part of town.
As part of my job I have to be reasonably well informed about events in and around this area, so I expressed surprise that Bill would be able – or even want – to slip into town unheralded.
“It’s very low-key,” my friend said.
“So where did you hear about it?”
She named her source, a well-known political wife in Kentucky who also happens to be a former Miss America.
Since Hillary’s HQ was about six minutes away I told her I’d be there. After all, it was a chance, albeit slim, to meet a former president.
(Digression: my point in telling you this story is not to influence your vote, but to simply entertain. I would be happy for the chance to meet any president, past or present. And so would you. So shut up.
Having said that, before you vote in November look around at the state of the nation. If you’re happy with the way things are going, you know who to vote for.
By the way, if you honestly think things are going well you probably need a check-up from the neck up...in my opinion, of course.)
My coworker Jim was in the office, so I asked him if he wanted to go meet Bill Clinton. He did, and we headed for the big event.
As we pulled onto the parking lot of the Hillary Headquarters – strategically located next to a Dollar General store for your shopping convenience – Jim noted the lack of any security or police presence.
There were maybe a dozen people standing in front of the building, including my friend and three really, really old guys.
As soon as we got out of the car we were approached by a young man in a suit who acted like he had just power-chugged a dozen Red Bulls.
He shook my hand and said, “If the media talks to you, stick to the talking points.”
Wow, I thought, the media might be talking to me. Excited beyond words, I decided not to tell him that Jim and I were the media.
“Okay, I said.
“Do you have the talking points?” he said.
“Nope.”
He sighed. “Hang on.”
He ducked into headquarters, returning in a minute with a couple of Hillary For President posters and some stapled papers. He passed the campaign materials to us, then disappeared in a blur, like The Flash.
So we stood there for a few minutes, Hillary posters at our sides, while we waited for Bill. Eventually I glanced at the talking points and discovered that today’s event was the kickoff to a statewide salute to veterans.
About that time Speedy returned.
“We’re gonna take a picture,” he said, “so I need you and the other veterans to come over here and wave your Hillary signs.”
Other veterans?
Jim and I looked at each other, then at the three really, really old men who were looking back at us.
I have nothing but the highest respect for our nation's veterans. I didn't want to impersonate one.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Is Bill coming?”
“Bill?” Speedy scrunched up his face in a way that made it clear that I was interfering with his carefully prepared plans. “Bill’s not going to be here. Where did you hear that?”
“Oh, it was just a rumor.” I turned to Jim. “Bill’s not coming.”
Jim pondered this nugget of information for maybe 1/50th of a second. “I’m ready to go. You ready?”
“I’m ready.”
We beat feet to the car. As I climbed in, Speedy shot me a nasty glance. Understandable, since two-fifths of his complement of veterans just walked away.
As we pulled out of the lot, I waved my Hillary sign in solidarity.
That poster is now hanging in my mother’s window.
Next time: How I finally talked to Bill.
“Do you want to meet Bill Clinton?” she said.
“When?”
“Now. At Hillary’s campaign headquarters.”
Two days earlier Chelsea Clinton came to town to open a campaign HQ for her mother in a, ah, less than ritzy part of town.
As part of my job I have to be reasonably well informed about events in and around this area, so I expressed surprise that Bill would be able – or even want – to slip into town unheralded.
“It’s very low-key,” my friend said.
“So where did you hear about it?”
She named her source, a well-known political wife in Kentucky who also happens to be a former Miss America.
Since Hillary’s HQ was about six minutes away I told her I’d be there. After all, it was a chance, albeit slim, to meet a former president.
(Digression: my point in telling you this story is not to influence your vote, but to simply entertain. I would be happy for the chance to meet any president, past or present. And so would you. So shut up.
Having said that, before you vote in November look around at the state of the nation. If you’re happy with the way things are going, you know who to vote for.
By the way, if you honestly think things are going well you probably need a check-up from the neck up...in my opinion, of course.)
My coworker Jim was in the office, so I asked him if he wanted to go meet Bill Clinton. He did, and we headed for the big event.
As we pulled onto the parking lot of the Hillary Headquarters – strategically located next to a Dollar General store for your shopping convenience – Jim noted the lack of any security or police presence.
There were maybe a dozen people standing in front of the building, including my friend and three really, really old guys.
As soon as we got out of the car we were approached by a young man in a suit who acted like he had just power-chugged a dozen Red Bulls.
He shook my hand and said, “If the media talks to you, stick to the talking points.”
Wow, I thought, the media might be talking to me. Excited beyond words, I decided not to tell him that Jim and I were the media.
“Okay, I said.
“Do you have the talking points?” he said.
“Nope.”
He sighed. “Hang on.”
He ducked into headquarters, returning in a minute with a couple of Hillary For President posters and some stapled papers. He passed the campaign materials to us, then disappeared in a blur, like The Flash.
So we stood there for a few minutes, Hillary posters at our sides, while we waited for Bill. Eventually I glanced at the talking points and discovered that today’s event was the kickoff to a statewide salute to veterans.
About that time Speedy returned.
“We’re gonna take a picture,” he said, “so I need you and the other veterans to come over here and wave your Hillary signs.”
Other veterans?
Jim and I looked at each other, then at the three really, really old men who were looking back at us.
I have nothing but the highest respect for our nation's veterans. I didn't want to impersonate one.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Is Bill coming?”
“Bill?” Speedy scrunched up his face in a way that made it clear that I was interfering with his carefully prepared plans. “Bill’s not going to be here. Where did you hear that?”
“Oh, it was just a rumor.” I turned to Jim. “Bill’s not coming.”
Jim pondered this nugget of information for maybe 1/50th of a second. “I’m ready to go. You ready?”
“I’m ready.”
We beat feet to the car. As I climbed in, Speedy shot me a nasty glance. Understandable, since two-fifths of his complement of veterans just walked away.
As we pulled out of the lot, I waved my Hillary sign in solidarity.
That poster is now hanging in my mother’s window.
Next time: How I finally talked to Bill.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Bone Songs Downsized
Because of the tough economy, Delirium Books is dramatically downsizing their publishing schedule. One of the casualties of the cuts is the trade paperback edition of my collection Bone Songs. Delirium will still publish the limited edition hardcover of the book, which has been pushed back to April 2009.
I’m free to shop the trade paperback to other publishers, but I imagine it will be a tough sell because 1) I’m not a big name and 2) collections generally, I’m told, don’t sell as well as novels.
However, if I do find a publisher for the Bone Songs paperback it will be a different book than the hardcover.
I plan to use the two stories that made up the sold-out Deadneck Hootenanny to bookend the collection. I’ll also add a few other pieces that weren’t written when Bone Songs sold to Delirium.
I’ll let you know when and if anything develops. Now back to the novel in progress.
I’m free to shop the trade paperback to other publishers, but I imagine it will be a tough sell because 1) I’m not a big name and 2) collections generally, I’m told, don’t sell as well as novels.
However, if I do find a publisher for the Bone Songs paperback it will be a different book than the hardcover.
I plan to use the two stories that made up the sold-out Deadneck Hootenanny to bookend the collection. I’ll also add a few other pieces that weren’t written when Bone Songs sold to Delirium.
I’ll let you know when and if anything develops. Now back to the novel in progress.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Pod of Horror #44: Piccirilli, Braunbeck...and Clinton???
Pod of Horror #44 brings you two titans of terror! Tom Piccirilli takes us down the dark, mean streets of Noir as he discusses THE COLD SPOT and crime fiction. Gary A. Bruanbeck talks about COFFIN COUNTY and the future of Cedar Hill. Nanci puts on her best PJs for The Call of Kalanta, and the pile of prizes grows larger in The Tomb of Trivia (plus a special guest appearance by Bill Clinton. No, really). Pod of Horror is hosted and produced by Mark Justice.
Download it at I-Tunes or direct to your desktop .
Get Pod of Horror merchandise .
Visit our MySpace page.
Be sure to drop by the Justice & Wilbanks message board.
and Mark's MySpace page.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
PoH Stuff
There's a new Pod of Horror coming this weekend with a solid lineup. Meanwhile, here's a nice plug for the show. Thanks to the mysterious Mr. Allard.
Bonus points for anyone who knows where the name "Kent Allard' originated.
Bonus points for anyone who knows where the name "Kent Allard' originated.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
There's No Reason To Post This
But I'm doing it anyway.
That's right, it's the opening credits for BJ and the Bear.
That's right, it's the opening credits for BJ and the Bear.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Flash Fiction
You Can't Always Get What You Want
By Mark Justice
By Mark Justice
Pinwheels of light in his eyes. Snakes crawling through his head.
So it had been when he was killed, so it remained as he stumbled, shucked and hopped across America, a rotting, flaking marionette whose strings were controlled by vengeance and an indifferent universe.
Indifferent, though not without a wicked sense of humor. Resurrection, with an eternal chaser of the meth he had swallowed in the car before the show and the gun.
The gun...did that come before the jangling electric caress hit his nerves?
Didn’t matter. For nearly twenty years only one thing did.
When the good, clear thoughts hit, he remembered a leather vest and eyes deader than his own, while words pounded into his skull: asiamesecatsquirmingdogthesweetestpet
He had tried to kill the dancing devil, the slithering beast, that much he knew, then came the sharp thing over and over and the bludgeoning and he was done. They dumped him in the ground, where he stayed until that beat slammed into his brain again, and he woke up still cranked, digging out of the grave and dancing across the desert, the words scorching his torpid thoughts:
asiamesecatsquirmingdogthesweetestpet
Searching for the leather vest and dead eyes.
Legends sprang up around him. He felt the whispers and knew the names they called him: The Dust Man, Easu, Lonely Boy. They felt him in their dreams as he passed. The dark light of his craving casted shadows on their souls. Some had seen the leather vest, and those memories guided him from one side of the country and back again. He walked between thoughts, his feet never touching earth, until it ended back where it had began.
The leather vest was gone, the dead eyes replaced by first recognition, then fear. Words sputtered forth in a cacophony of desperation. They might have said I’m sorry or don’t hurt me or under my thumb. It didn’t matter. Nothing did.
Soon enough it was done. As his murderer floated away, he fell to his knees, waiting for the rhythmic babel to finally end, to free him. To end him. But as the moonlight spiraled comet trails of colors, the words
asiamesecatsquirmingdogthesweetestpet
grew louder, and he could not scream.
A tall thing detached itself from the surrounding darkness. A hidden observer.
It was Him. The Beast.
A hand was extended, and a crimson tongue caressed ruby lips.
“Please to meet you,” the Beast said to him. “Hope you guess my name.”
And he knew, The Dust Man knew, he wasn’t finished yet.
© 2008 Mark Justice
Monday, May 05, 2008
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