Month: May 2012

Jon Land is the author of the Caitlin Strong series, [as well as the Blaine McCracken series (“Omicron Legion” and “The Omega Command”)]. He is a Brown graduate who lives in Providence, Rhode Island. His credits list over 25 books.

In “Strong at the Break,” Land took some of every topical news strand out there and jammed nearly all of them into an action-packed book, “Strong at the Break,” to be followed by an even newer Caitlin Strong book, “Strong Vengeance.” (July, 2012).

The man is a writing machine. The publication dates for his four Caitlin Strong novels: May 12, 2009; June 22, 2010; June 21, 2011, and July 17, 2012. Wow! As someone who labored three years on her first novel, I am impressed by Jon Land’s output! You’d think the man never left his house or his computer, but, instead, we learn that he is very active in martial arts.
Caitlin Strong, a 5^th generation Texas Ranger, has appeared in Land’s four most recent books (of 35): “Strong Justice,” “Strong Enough to Die,” and “Strong Vengeance: A Caitlin Strong Novel” (which followed “Strong at the Break,” my focus here).

“Strong at the Break: A Caitlin Strong Novel” derives its title from an Ernest Hemingway quote, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”

In an interview by Doug Cobb published in June of 2011 on the online blog “Boomtown,” Cobb asked Land questions about his Caitlin Strong series:

“Strong At the Break featuring Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong, the third book in your series, just may well be the best one yet! It has three–count ‘em, three–main plot lines that at first seem to be unrelated, but you brilliantly tie them all together. There’s the one involving Caitlin’s journey to Canada to assist the Mounties in their efforts to stem the tide of illegal drugs coming into America; then, there’s the one where she’s concerned about and active in stopping the sex slave trade based in Mexico; and, lastly, there’s the one where she attempts to shut down the militant quasi-religious group, the Patriot Sun, headed by Malcolm Arno, before he can start up a second Civil War.

Would you say there is any actual evidence that a portion of the $20 billion Bremer had at his disposal in Iraq may have found its way back to America to fund certain militant groups, or is this more of a very dramatic plausible deduction you have made?” (*Cobb forgot to mention the page-time devoted to Don Imus’ philanthropic gestures towards amputee veterans.)

Land gave great answers to Cobb’s questions, and revealed the scoop regarding his fourth Caitlin Strong novel (July 17, 2012).

The original series, said Land, came about when a need for strong female heroines was articulated to him by Tor/Forge books.

Jon Land Picture In the Cobb interview, Land also said, “But the best advice I’ve ever been given about writing actually came from my martial arts instructor who told me to get out of the way of the story and let the characters do the work. The book’s about them was his advice, not me.”

I agree with this assessment. It is why it has taken me so long to finish the third of the four Caitlin Strong books. I had trouble envisioning Caitlin Strong as “real.” Nor did I believe her “maybe-love-interest” Cort Wesley Masters was a real flesh-and-blood person. I’m not fit to hold Caitlin’s six-shooters, that much is for sure. What a rootin’ tootin’ heroine! And she has almost no sex or interest in same in “Strong at the Break.” One chaste kiss. Talk about denial of one’s basic urges!

A book clearly could be written about Land, an author of over 25 books who also has had a 25-year career in the martial arts. (He is an associate member of the U.S. Special Forces) Land is an affable fellow who also is Vice President of Marketing for ITW (International ThrillerWriters). In fact, the dedication of “Strong at the Break” says: “For International ThrillerWriters, keepers of the flame.” Land has written and produced one screenplay (“Dirty Deeds”) and sold the rights to his novel “The Seven Sins: The Tyrant Ascending” to be turned into a DC comic book series and eventual film franchise.

The uncorrected ARC advance copy I read did not have a cover. It opened with heroine Caitlin Strong helping stop drugs being smuggled in from Canada. This immediately made me think of Melissa Leo’s role in the 2008 film “Frozen River.” But “Strong at the Break” isn’t content to stop with a riveting story about Canadian drug dealers and the slavery of Chinese would-be immigrants and Hell’s Angels, it quickly jumps from Quebec and the LaChance brothers to San Antonio, and we are off to the (Ranger) races. [Texas Rangers, that is.]

I admire Jon Land’s ability to jump around within his novel(s) and keep his places and times straight, all things a writer has to do and difficult, at that. His Phi Beta Kappa/magna cum laude abilities definitely show up in the way he is able to reintegrate disparate plot elements, ranging from the Malcolm Arno quasi-religious group (read Waco), to an amputee veteran who blows the whistle on billions of dollars that went MIA in George W. Bush’s war (Bremer in Iraq), to the kidnapping in Mexico of Cort Wesley Masters’ son, Dylan, who functions as a quasi-son to the unmarried Caitlin.

I don’t begrudge men writing about women, or women writing about men. I just need to be able to believe that the woman (or man) I’m reading about could really exist. They have to seem real. Despite some backstory about Caitlin’s having been present at the face-off outside Pearsley’s Tackle and Gun Shop in Midland, Texas in 1990 when her father shot down a religious wing nut in full view of his teen-aged son (who later becomes a bigger menace than the old man), I just could not get in to Caitlin Strong. I did not buy her cowgirl-who-can-kill with the best of them. I tried, but I just could not. I could believe that the slight Swedish heroine, Lisbeth Salander, could defend herself against far bigger opponents (and hack into their bank accounts, if necessary) but Caitlin just seemed unlikely and unrealistic. Maybe it was all the jumping around in time and place, from Canada to Mexico to Texas to wherever. I would like to see the talented Mr. Land concentrate on just ONE of his many storylines. I admire his dexterity in keeping them all straight, juggling all the balls in the air at once, and pulling them all together by the novel’s end (348 pages later) and I admire his prodigious output.

All I can say to Mr. Land’s rabid Caitlin Strong fans and to the fascinating author himself is that, sometimes, “less is more.” I’d love to see an in-depth investigation of just one of the (many) plot strands thrown out there in “Strong at the Break.” And I’d like to add, “Happy Mutual Birthday!” (with no mention of the year, of course) as my birthday, too, is July 23rd.

But, meanwhile, I salute Jon Land’s hard work and prodigious output.

And the Winner Is: Phillip Phillips on “American Idol” Season Eleven

By Connie Wilson

On May 24, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

Phillip Philips & Jessica Sanchez.

I didn’t need to stay home to watch “American Idol” live, because I already knew that Phillip Phillips had the fan base to pull out the win. It’s not “fair,” in that his vocal talent was not and is not as great as that of either Jessica Sanchez of third-place finisher Joshua Ledet, but it proves, once again, that the show is primarily a popularity contest. Singing is secondary to likeability. The selection of Scotty McReery last year proves that and it has been proven once again.

The selection of the boy rather than the girl proves the bias towards female singers, also. Yes, there have been some female winners, but they are the exception that proves the rule. It is harder for a girl to win this contest than for a boy; maybe in the Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood years, the men, as competition, weren’t as strong. Whatever the rationale you settle on, there is no doubt that young girls vote (repeatedly, it would seem) for their favorite male singer, and this year, that favorite was Phillip Phillips.

When the Top Three made their visits home, Phillip’s father and his relationship with him were a network’s dream. The pawn shop owner was packing a pistol and Phillip even picked up his favorite stuffed turkey and toted it around the store. In the parade sequence, Phillip seemed genuinely touched, and there could be no doubt that he was overcome with emotion at the finale, as he tried (unsuccessfully) to finish singing his song “Home.” I found it touching and rewound and replayed the finale moment(s) more than once.

I find Phillip charming, too. He reminds me so much of a young Dave Matthews, and we certainly can use a young(er) Dave Matthews on the music scene. He writes songs and plays guitar, and his acknowledgement of his brother-in-law’s contribution to his musical success was another sign of the close-knit family from which he comes.

Not that Jessica Sanchez had a family any less close-knit, but, in writing for www.Wikinut.com, I found the half-Filipino/half-Mexican singer being trashed on that international site. Why was she not being praised? The answer is that she was being criticized by a resident of the Philippines for not being “Filipino” enough! I had previously thought that Jessica’s ethnic background might be a plus for her, initially, but, as it turns out, that vote did not materialize.

Those who say, “Well, it isn’t fair. Jessica is a better singer” have a completely valid point. To them, I say, “Is life always fair?” It certainly hasn’t been to me, of late! Talent in any field is not an entree to success if you have to curry favor and win approval of massive numbers of people to cash in on that talent. In the case of “American Idol,” which I have been following since 2007, it has not escaped my attention that someone the audience “likes” (Scotty, last year), rather than someone who really has the pipes will win every time. Remember Adam Lambert’s year? Does anyone really believe that Chris Allen was a “better” singer than Adam Lambert, who had already been in Broadway productions?

I enjoyed the finale, although I found some of it to be sub-par. The Neil Diamond medley and the Bee Gees medley did not “gel” and someone should tell Chaka Khan not to wear a skin-tight catsuit when backed by young women easily 30 years younger and 30 pounds thinner than she is at this point in her career. Also, the “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” number seemed to consist primarily of screaming and weird faces on the part of Jennifer Holliday, so the less said about that, the better.
As for Aerosmith’s outing as a band: liked it. Can’t help myself, I enjoy watching Steven Tyler dance around. I enjoy watching Mick Jagger dance around. I’m sure I will enjoy watching Phillip Phillips dance around, in years to come.

I predict bright futures for both Jessica Sanchez and, even more so, for Joshua Ledet. I think these fantastic voices will “live well and prosper.” I think that Phillip Phillips will also be one of the Idol winners who will go on to success. He has that “Q” factor that makes you want to root for him, and he seems to know what he wants to sing and who he wants to be as an artist.

One thought I had about 3 programs back is this: Whatever happened to the announcement that Tommy Hilfiger would be dressing the contestants and “advising” them regarding their fashion faux pas, this season? It seems he sank without a trace. Whover put Sklar Laine in her horrible outfit tonight, when she shared the stage with Reba McIntyre, should have their head examined. My God! What a horrific outfit for the poor thing to wear, given her particular figure flaws. Whose Big Bright idea was THAT?

I did think that Tommy Hilfiger’s “advice” seemed to consist primarily of showing the eager contestants a closet full of potential downfalls and letting them select whatever they wanted. That, to me, is not advice. It’s like taking your child to the candy store to instruct them on eating the right foods. None of the contestants seemed to look “better” after Hilfiger’s appearance on the scene. And then, like the Mad Hatter, he simply disappeared. It was weird. He didn’t ever help Jimmy Iovine to dress and look like an adult, nor did he save Randy from the embarassment of wearing a jacket that made him look like he owned a string of ice cream parlors.

The “group” numbers were weak, in general, and Fantasia, Chaka, Jordin, et. al. added little. On the other hand, it was fun watching Phillip sing with an icon and Joshua and Skylar seemed thrilled to be onstage with their idols (Fantasia and Reba, respectively). I also enjoyed the “live” onscreen proposal of Ace (from some long-forgotten season) to former contestant Diana DeGarmo. The comment he made about “taking Broadway” lends some support to the concept that these singers will go on to have careers in music. I know that I, personally, have seen Syesha Mercado and Constantine Maroulis onstage in Chicago in traveling Broadway productions:”Dream Girls” for Syesha and the upcoming Tom Cruise casting as Stacey Jax in the film version of the play is something to ponder.

I noticed Phillip Phillips, during his moments onstage when he was overcome by emotion and stopped singing, trying to spit out confetti that was raining down on the crowd. This confetti looked pretty substantial! It’s no wonder that Phillip gave up on singing the lyrics, given the emotion of the moment and the paper packing his mouth. It didn’t stop the drum major people in the background who kept marching back and forth as Phillip sang about “Home.” I think it was Phillip’s far superior song on the final night of competition that helped him win. Jessica’s song was shrieky and nonmelodic. She had done well up to that point, but song selection was never Jessica’s strong suit during her weeks on the show. She would go from superb, as with her Whitney Houston selections, to really stupid, as with the number she sang in sky-high heels that was her attempt at an “upbeat” number (“Set the night on fire…etc.). That little ditty really didn’t enhance her reputation on the show, and she has Gloria Estefan to thank for that particular miscue.

Phillip, on the other hand, seemed to select just the right song, even if it wasn’t a song any of us had ever heard. He was always interesting to watch and I enjoyed his awkward dance moves. I also thought that Joshua Ledet was the most “compleat” (British spelling) performer of the entire competition. And, for sheer spunky “Let’s get this show on the road” you had Skylar Laine.

Holly Cavanagh got some good moments during the finale, as well she should have. I enjoyed hearing her sing the perennial graduation favorite “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” I did not enjoy revisiting Colton Dixona and DeAndre Brackensick seemed unusually prominent during the men’s group numbers. I actually have forgotten the name of the chubby male singer that made it through primarily because Jennifer Lopez liked him. My spouse did not like Han whatever-his-name-was, the Asian singer, but it was nice to see Elise (Testone) again. This is one of the few “American Idol'” groups that I would potentially pay money to see, as a group. They were that good, in general. I’m still trying to remember the name of the 2 blondes (one with a new short hair-do, I think), because, like all of America, we forget our idols much too quickly.

Jessica Sanchez finishes 2nd on "American Idol."

NATO Protests End with a Whimper, Not A Bang!

By Connie Wilson

On May 22, 2012

In Interviews, Politics

Protesters gathered in Grant Park on Sunday, May 20th, 2012.

I’ve just spent the last four days following protesters through the streets of Chicago. My feet, despite wearing my good walking shoes, are like bloody stumps. The problem was the inability to use the ell or buses, because you could not carry a bag that was bigger than 14” or deeper than 4”. Since I don’t own a purse that small, I’ve been walking.

Later, I considered the fact that I have a bicycle here and could have used it. Usually, I am fearful of all the Chicago traffic. There has BEEN no Chicago traffic to speak of, as the city is like a ghost town. Many South Loop merchants actually boarded up their plate glass windows as though a hurricane were coming.

My new friend, Jonathan Morris, sitting in the middle of an empty Lake Shore Drive, looking south.

The hurricane did not materialize. It was more a rainy day. The protesters did come, but so did the cops. There were more police in the city of Chicago—-10,000, I was told—than at any time in history. The entire state of Illinois sent policemen with special training (3 months of special training) to assist Rahm Emanuel’s troops in quelling any riots. The last thing that was wanted was another black eye for the city of Chicago like that incurred during the Democratic National Convention of 1968.

I still remember watching the DNC on my hospital television set, having just given birth to my oldest child. It was unbelievable! On top of that, commentators Gore Vidal (liberal) and William F. Buckley (conservative) got into verbal fisticuffs that deteriorated into physical fisticuffs, with both men rolling around on the studio floor. (“Listen, you God-damned queer, you say that one more time and I’ll punch you in the face!” to which Vidal responded by calling Buckley a “crypto-Nazi” and they were off to the races.)

Jesse Jackson, preparing to speak at the Petrillo Band Shell on Sunday, May 20th.

No such excitement this time around in Chicago. I muse on the demonstrations of my youth and my misspent adulthood, and I wonder what the difference is. I have some theories, which I will share here:

1) Back in the 60s, the demonstrators were primarily college-aged youth. Why? The draft, of course. Not many of my male classmates were too thrilled about the concept of going off to Southeast Asia to fight the Vietnam War. I couldn’t have agreed with them more, so I, too, drew blood, signed my name on a long roll in protest, and marched to the steps of Old Capitol in Iowa City to “protest.” However, the REAL City of Protests was Berkeley, where I attended in 1965, the hey-day of Mario Savio. I had to smile when I revisited the campus a few years back to find a statue of Mario, who is now deceased. Back in the day, they were hauling Mario off to jail with great regularity. Both campuses (Iowa City and Berkeley) learned that it is too easy to break out bookstore windows during a riot. The Republicans learned this during the Republican National Convention of 2008 when demonstrators, despite heavy security, ran through the streets breaking out windows. So, is it any wonder that some local South Loop merchants just closed up shop, boarded up their windows, and stayed home?

2) In the days of my youth, there was ONE thing being protested: i.e., the war in Vietnam. How many of us remember the chants of “Hey! Hey! LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?” and the “Hell, no! We won’t go!” sentiments? In Chicago in 2012, it’s hard to tell who is protesting what. Of course, there are those who simply don’t like NATO. Then there are signs that declare “Bring ‘Em Home!” (anti-war). Then there was a woman protesting evictions. Another woman, clad all in pink, was trying to secure signatures to run on the Green Party ticket.

The Storm Troopers Await.

Yet another country heard from: veterans of both the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, who were out in force and planning on returning medals earned during a dramatic set-to with the police that took place on Sunday about 4 p.m. at the juncture of Michigan and Cermak Streets, a 2 and ½ mile walk from Grant Park’s Petrillo Band Shell, where the festivities kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with Tom Morello (lead guitarist of “Rage Against the Machine”) playing. It was too bad that the sound system was defective, because Morello was recently voted the 26^thbest guitarist of all time by “Rolling Stone” magazine, but only played for about 20 minutes. I enjoyed the time in the park, as Haskell Wexler, Oscar-winning cinematographer (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”) was in the park with a female camerawoman, whom he introduced as being a “very good filmmaker.” Haskell should know! It was a thrill to meet this icon, the last cinematographer to receive an Oscar for a black-and-white film and still going strong at 90 years young. (I was beginning to feel sorry for myself for being so old until I ran into Haskell.)

Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, age 90, was in Grant Park interviewing protesters. Haskell was the last person to win an Oscar for black-and-white cinematography. He was the cinematographer for both "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

I struck up a conversation with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. There were three men present who showed me the map of the protest march route: the bespectacled Billy Kelly; the bearded Ron Arm, who served in ‘Nam in ’68 and ’69; and Bill Homans, aka “Watermelon Slim.”

Left to right: Billy Kelly, Bill Homans (aka "Watermelon Slim") and Ron Arm ('Nam, 68-69).

Bill, who was leaning heavily on a cane, told me he grew up North Carolina and Oklahoma and Mississippi, but now lives in Clarksville, about 75 miles southwest of Memphis. He has recorded 12 records, singing the blues, as Watermelon Slim, and his plan this night was to sing at Simone’s on 18^th Street around 6 p.m. The veterans shared with me that the city had provided them with a stage set up in the back of a flat-bed truck. This would be their impromptu stage where medals from veterans who fought in our nation’s wars would be returned in protest. Some of the medals were coming from expatriates who fled the Afghanistan War. (Obviously, they would not be there in person.) When asked how many medals, in all, would be returned, the answer was 35.

Slim said, “I’m 63 and I’m breaking down. I enlisted. My dad fought the Nazis and I knew it was not a matter of if, but of when I’d go (to Vietnam). I enlisted as a truck driver, because I really didn’t want to kill anyone. When I came back, I had a lot of survivor guilt, but I’m not going to take any money from the government. There are young people with their whole lives ahead of them that are coming back in worse shape than I’m in now. I’ve finally got a little house of my own and a woman…although we don’t live together. I’m doing all right.”

When I shared with Slim that I was older than he is, he gallantly declared that to be impossible.

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Observers.

Next, I caught sight of a sign that declared that we should all “Rise Up!” Yet the bearer of this sign, Taylor Nimey from Seattle who had come with 10 other Occupy Seattle people, was sitting on the grass smoking a cigarette, which struck me as ironic. I sat down next to him and a young (18 years old, a sophomore at DePaul) journalism student asked if she could speak with us about what we were there protesting. I quickly told her I was not really a protester (although I have been), but was a journalist, as she is training to be. (I spent a fair amount of time telling her she needed a “Plan B” in order to survive financially).

Our bright-eyed bushy-tailed young interviewer asked Taylor some questions and he declared that the protest was, “Definitely a great gathering of people around the world.”

Tom Morrell, lead guitarist for "Rage Against the Machine," who lives in the Chicago suburbs and was named the 26th best guitarist of all time by "Rolling Stone" magazine.

The young interviewer asked, “What do they represent?”

Taylor actually started to make some sense, pontificating about how “money doesn’t do anything but feed greed’ and that the government “Should listen to the people and start making changes to their policies.”

Taylor’s answers prompted me to ask him if he had gone to college, and he had, in fact, attended a junior college in Washington state.

“What do you do for a living?” I asked him.

“I work for the post office,” he shared.

I wondered if Taylor was aware that he was working FOR the very government he was protesting AGAINST. And then he came out with his Big Bright Idea: “anarchist communes.” O………….K……….

Moving on, I spoke with Kenneth Justus, who had been on Michigan Avenue the night before in a strange get-up. There he was again, only this time dressed as a court jester. I began to think that Kenneth is or was a professional protester.

Protester Kenneth Justus.

As someone who attended Berkeley back when Mario Savio was leading protests (now, he’s dead and there’s a statue dedicated to him on campus) and the Free Speech movement was just getting started (1965), I’ve seen some protests.

As someone who ran alongside the protesters in St. Paul as they broke out windows (despite the George W. Bush attempts to heavily fortify the city and also staff it with storm troopers), I did not find the NATO

Kenneth Justus on Sunday, May 20th.

demonstrations to be very intense, very well-organized or very effective. Some of the people leading certain groups were from out-of-town and would take wrong turns. The police were not letting the protesters cross the bridge and disrupt the Miracle Mile (one protester whose first name was “Taylor” was arrested for pushing a bicycle policeman’s bike against his chest, and I wondered if it was the “Rise Up” Seattle Taylor). I also witnessed demonstrations in Denver at the DNC in 2008 and also at rallies for George W. Bush and John McCain, and there was none of the enthusiastic vigor or over-the-top violence. This was undoubtedly viewed as a good thing by the PTB. Nobody wanted Chicago to come off as a town full of over-zealous storm troopers who would just as soon bash your head in as look at you, as they did in 1968. I am among that number, so I am not upset that there were so few real “moments” during the past 3 days of the NATO summit.

Grant Park, May 20th, 2012.

The only problem was that my reports from the front made everything sound so tame and well-behaved that the world, watching the few who were arrested or carted away (the technique being to cut the trouble-maker from the pack and get them away quickly, in a surgical strike), especially my very nice editor in Denver for Yahoo, couldn’t quite figure out how it was that I was seeing such a very different series of events.

I can’t figure it out, either. I think that more mature people do not take the risks that

Lawyer observers.

young people took in the 60’s, when it was their life on the line. I think that the “mix” of causes contributed to the disorganization and the failure to have an overriding cause. Yes, people are angry that the policies of our government seem to be widening the gap between the rich and the poor, and the poor are definitely paramount amongst the Occupiers. If you were to see how they must exist to occupy, you would understand that Occupying is not a pursuit for sissies (like me) who love their creature comforts. How many among us would willingly go without a shower or a bath or washed hair or brushed teeth for days on end? Not many, I’m sure.

The one “big news” story that came out of the NATO summit was the plot to use Molotov cocktails on Obama’s headquarters and to shoot an arrow through Rahm Emanuel’s house window. The 3 brainiacs who thought this up were not from Chicago.

They were also not students. One was 27; one was 25; one was 20. Only the 20-year-old sounds like he fell in with the wrong crowd. The others sounded like professional trouble-makers. One, in fact, quit his job as a cook to “occupy” in a variety of cities. There was also talk of a 37-year-old unemployed social worker who was arrested and of a Wisconsin man who was driving around Canal Street with rounds of live ammunition on the back seat of his car.

This group of young people was excited to have their picture taken on the closed down Columbus Drive.

Tomorrow, it’s all over and the city will return to normal. So much for my strolls through Grant Park after dark, alone. It was truly safe there this past 3 days because most of the police on duty were lolling around there. I saw a uniformed officer using his cell phone to take pictures of a man walking his 2 little dogs (terriers). I said, to my companion: “There ya’ go. Your tax dollars at work!”

“Show Me” State Native Peter Giglio Answers 10 Questions Re His Writing Career

By Connie Wilson

On May 17, 2012

In Books, Interviews, Pop Culture

Peter Giglio, Missouri native & genre author.

Peter Giglio is a Pushcart Prize nominee, as well as a screenwriter, novelist, and anthologist. He has contributed short stories to several anthologies and edited “Help! Wanted: Tales of On-the-Job Terror.” As Executive Editor of Evil Jester Press and a member of HWA (Horror Writers’ Association), he is a new voice on the rise in the genre. He is the author of three long works of fiction: Anon, Beyond Anon, novellas, and the novel The Dark (with Scott Bradley).

Pete is pushing the horror envelope. Witness his two novellas: “A Spark in the Darkness” and “Balance.” The first novella deals with vampires; “Balance,” just out, focuses on zombies.

Pete’s first novella, “A Spark in the Darkness,” was a lyrically-written vampire tale from Etopia Press that profiled Edie Novak, a lost woman on a picaresque journey. Divorced from Colin Novak, on a cross-country hike she meets her destiny in the person of Randy Facinelli, a kind truck driver who gives her a lift at a roadside cafe. As the plot progresses, we learn that Randy is a vampire, turned in 1921 during the Prohibition era. His bite transforms Edie into a goddess of sorts—although goddesses are near-prisoners in this new world. Edie tries to escape from Randy and is also affected by her separation from her young daughter, Gail.

In “Balance,” by contrast, the balance of the entire world seems to be shifting as a virus known as the Blast Flu lays waste to humanity and zombies attack humans. The basement scenes will satisfy those with a taste for the gruesome, with horrifying scenes like the one where Giglio tells us about creatures with “eyes milky white, maw lined with serrated teeth, skin ashen gray…”

Here are 10 questions answered by this new rising voice in horror fiction:

Q1) You worked at other jobs for 15 years in what you refer to as “corporate America.” Tell us about some of them.

A1) “I worked mostly in the financial sector as a mid-level sales manager. I worked out my feelings of corporate America in ‘Anon.’ Now I’ve moved on.”

Q2) Your father is also a writer and has published a new book. His focus, however, is different from your own. Give Dad a free plug. Tell us about him and his new book.

A2) “Dad’s latest book is ‘Call Me Tom: The Life of Thomas F. Eagleton.’ Dad is a respected historian, and his other books include ‘The Presidency of John F. Kennedy,’ ‘Musial: From Stash to Stan the Man,’ and ‘Truman in Cartoon and Caricature’”

Q3) In “Balance,” your newest novella, you ask the question, “Does love have to die? If it’s strong enough, does it have to die when we die?” Can you expand on that thought? What made you include it as a dominant theme in this zombie novel?

A3) “Geoff is consumed, to the point of obsession, by feelings of love. We’ve all probably been there before, right? Well, I have. It was a matter of channeling the intensity of that feeling into a character who thinks he’s noble when, for the most part, he’s really being an idiot. His words in that scene are less important that Cass’s actions. She’s really the hero of ‘Balance’. To expand on those lines of dialogue: Geoff is in pain and doesn’t want his pain to end. If his pain endures, his love endures. If his love endures, he’s validated. Cass is the embodiment of his validation, a corpse who still loves. But it’s Geoff’s situation that makes her realize how wrong she is to continue loving someone who doesn’t love her. Balance is the theme of the novella: The balance of love; the balance of nature; the balance of the psyche; and the balance of POV in a zombie story. My mission was to tie these four things together, and to do it in a novella rather than a novel.”

Q4) Missouri is one of the settings for Balance. Tell us about your Missouri roots

A4) “I was born in Springfield, Missouri, and I lived in Kansas City and Saint Louis for a few years apiece. Missouri is an interesting state, half-south, half-north. Springfield is in the southern half, that which is commonly referred to as ‘Missour-ah’ by natives. Several other residents refer to the Show-Me State as ‘Misery.’ Love it or hate it, Missouri is a strange place, the center of the United States, a conglomeration of our best and worst angels.”

Q5) When you were in school, like all of us, you had good teachers and bad teachers, no doubt. Tell us, in particular, about one specific example (no names necessary) of a teacher who influenced you, either for better or for worse.

A5) “I had a high school English teacher who was very mean. She was the type of teacher who shot down her student’s ideas and interpretations with anger. She frequently made me feel stupid, even though I loved reading and writing more than anything. She never found my opinions interesting, never encouraged me, never had a nice word to say, never gave me a grade greater than ‘C.’ My first English professor in college handed my first story back with a big red ‘A’ on it, and several comments like ‘Yes!’ and ‘Brilliant!’ I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”

Q6) You work with time in your novellas in unusual ways….ways different from other writers like Stephen King, who spell out the day of the week, the month, the year, even the time of day. Explain your method of placing a story in time (always a chore for a novelist). Was this a conscious decision, or is it a somewhat new, experimental technique you are attempting to bring into the mainstream?

A6) “Novellas are different than novels. I’m more traditional when it comes to novels. ‘The Dark,’ for instance, spells out time of day at the beginning of each chapter, and the book takes place entirely over one night. With ‘A Spark in the Darkness’ and ‘Balance,’ I thought I could tell the story more effectively if I lost the adornments of a novel. I took out all the working parts that, in my estimation, were prosaic and had little impact. My goal was to tell a novel size story in about 20K words. I think I succeeded both times out. Both books are pure story with no filler. Dates and times can be important to a story, they certainly are in ‘The Dark,’ but they aren’t in ‘Spark’ or ‘Balance.’ I went with a cinematic structure for both. ‘Spark’ has a non-linear, Tarantinoesque delivery system, which makes it punctuate effectively. ‘Balance’ is far more linear—a true exercise in concision.

Q7) Your first novella, “A Spark in the Dark” was about vampires. “Balance,” on the other hand, is about zombies. Pete’s personal preference: Vampires or zombies? Why?

A7) “Vampires have cognitive reasoning; therefore, they are evil. Zombies, most of the time, are things with no choice, generally obstacles rather than forces of true malice. I have no preference, but I do take issue with the rampant lack of originality in much zombie and vampire fiction. With ‘Spark’ and ‘Balance’ I wanted to stir the pot, take vamps back to monster status and humanize the zombies a bit. But I also wanted to respect both subgenres.”

Q8) You and your frequent collaborator Scott Bradley are shopping a screenplay, “The Night They Missed The Horror Show.” Writing a screenplay is quite a bit different from writing “long,” as with a novel like “The Dark” that you are currently working on with Scott Bradley or your somewhat shorter novellas “A Spark in the Dark” and “Balance.” (January, 2012). Which format do you prefer and why?

A8) “I have no preference. The processes are different, sure. But writing is writing. You work with what you have until it works. Screenwriting is very freeing because you don’t have to worry about prose. Movie scripts are pure story. That energizes me. But I love, love, love prose. Painting a picture with words really turns me on.”

9Q) You like cats. Scott likes cats. I like cats. Why do you like cats, and do you prefer them, as pets, to dogs or other animals? Do you have a cat now?

9A) “I have three cats. I prefer them to other animals—hell, I prefer them to humans most of the time! But I love dogs. I even love humans most of the time.”

Q10) Tell us about your next project and your longer-term goals and aspirations.

A10) “I have two novels coming out in June: ‘Beyond Anon’ (the sequel to my first novel) and ‘The Dark’ (with Scott Bradley). Several short stories that Scott and I wrote are coming out soon: ‘Angela & the Angel’ in Trent Zelazny’s ‘A Splintered Mirage’; ‘Eyeballs and Assholes in El Paso’ in Alvaro Rodriguez’s ‘Border Noir’; and ‘Straycation’ in John Skipp’s ‘Psychos’ I’m currently in development on several things with Scott Bradley, Eric Shapiro, as well as a multitude of solo projects. I work 60-70 hours a week. My goal is to be a ‘New York Times’ Bestselling novelist and a respected, go-to screenwriter. I’m not shooting for the mid-list, but if I end up there I’ll be happy.”

Ten Questions for True Crime Author R. Barri Flowers

By Connie Wilson

On May 12, 2012

In Books, Interviews, Pop Culture

Writer/Criminologist R. Barri Flowers.

R. Barri Flowers, Michigan State criminology grad who has written both true crime stories and fiction, has co-edited a new anthology of short stories entitled Murder Here, Murder There. Flowers is an award-winning bestselling author of mystery/thriller fiction, with titles including Murder in Honolulu, Murder in Maui, Dark Streets of Whitechapel and The Sex Slave Murders.

Flowers has edited two American Crime Writers’ League anthologies, as well as a true crime anthology, Masters of True Crime, and has been interviewed on the Biography Channel, Investigation Discovery, and ABC television.

Co-editor of Murder Here, Murder There is Jan Grape, who is also the author of novels such as Austin City Blue and Dark Blue Death, featuring Austin policewoman Zoe Barrow. Her most recent non-series novel is What Doesn’t Kill You. A finalist for the Edgar, Agatha, Shamus, she won a McCavity for co-editing the nonfiction book Deadly Women.

I asked R. Barri Flowers to respond to 10 questions about his work, his life, and the new anthology Murder Here, Murder There (Twilight Times books) and here are his responses:

Q1) What author or books have greatly influenced your own writing?

A1) “Many great authors come to mind, including Robert Ludlum, Dashiell Hammett, Mickey Spillane, Daphne du Maurier, Thomas Hardy, Sidney Sheldon, Barbara Taylor Bradford. With respect to books in particular: Celebrity by Thomas Thompson; 84 Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff; Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy; and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.”

Q2) You have several recent murder mystery titles set in Hawaii (Murder in Honolulu, Murder in Maui). Do you ever feel that Hawaii, as a general rule, has far fewer murders that are less heinous than, say, the state of Michigan where you went to college? I could phrase this as: “Detroit vs. Honolulu. Compare.

A2) “There are far fewer murders in Hawaii than in Michigan. For example, in 2010, there were 24 murders in Hawaii compared to 558 murders in Michigan. In Detroit alone there were 308 homicides in 2010. Because murders are not an everyday occurrence in Hawaii, it makes the setting that much more intriguing for murder mystery and thriller novels.

Q3) What do you most want readers to know about Murder Here, Murder There?

A3) Good question. What I want readers to know most is that the ACWL’s Murder Here, Murder There mystery anthology has 19 really good tales of murder, mystery, suspense and thrills that are every bit as captivating as the ITW and MWA anthologies on the market. An excellent introduction is done by John Lutz, an Edgar winning, bestselling mystery novelist who has seen some of his material, such as the erotic thriller Single White Female, adapted to the screen. John contribute a wonderful story to the collection and other excellent contributors include Edgar nominee Bill Crider, Jay Brandon, Noreen Ayres, Agatha and Anthony-nominated Kris Neri, Shamus nominated (and co-founder of ACWL) Robert Randisi, and fellow ITW members Twist Phelan, Taffy Cannon and Dakota Banks.

Q4) What has replaced “Prison Break,” which you said was one of your favorite TV shows, in your television watching? Recent favorite series?

A4) Another great question. These days, I am enjoying “Criminal Minds,” “Once Upon A time,” “The Killing,” “Missing,” Army Wives,” “Awake” and “Hell on Wheels.” Other recent favorites include “Luther,” “McLeod’s Daughters,” “Bad Girls,” “CSI,” “Ringer,” and “Cold Case.”

Q5) What is the most heinous crime you’ve personally written about?

A5) “The most heinous true crime I have written about is the horrific tale of serial killers Gerald and Charlene Gallego in my international bestseller, The Sex Slave Murders. The husband-wife couple murdered 11 people, including an unborn child, as part of sex slave fantasies. It was difficult to write about, but as a professional, I had to distance myself from as much of it as possible and focus on telling a story that needed to be told.”

Q6) What is your next solo writing project?

A6) “My next published solo work comes out in August, 2012, as the aforementioned true crime anthology, Masters of True Crime: Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre, which features 17 chilling true stories by some fantastic true crime writers such as Harold Schechter, Carol Ann Davis, Katherine Ramsland, Robert Scott, Michele McPhee and Burl Barer.

Q7) What recent movies or TV series have impressed you with their accuracy in detailing crime scenes, if any?

A7) “Most movies and television series stretch credibility in their accuracy with respect to crime scenes and investigations, given the confines of Hollywood and the fact that the crime and its resolution usually is wrapped up in less than 2 hours, where in real life it can take weeks, months, or even years to solve a crime. Movies that have impressed me include: “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Kiss the Girls,” and “In Cold Blood.” Television series that have done a pretty good job with crime scenes and investigating murders include “The Killing,” “Midsomer Murders,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Prime Suspect,” and “Criminal Minds.”

Q8) Tell me about your education?

A8) “I am a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. and M.S in criminology. My thesis was entitled “Criminal Jurisdiction Allocation in Indian Country.” It explored the types of crimes on Native American land and who has jurisdiction over criminal matters between the federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. I also am a recipient of the prestigious Wall of Fame Award from Michigan State University’s renowned School of Criminal Justice.”

Q 9) Who are the writers represented in the anthology Murder Here, Murder There?

A9) ” The authors represented include Bill Crider, Margaret Coel, Edward Marston, Twist Phelan, Jay Brandon, Dakota Banks, Robert Randisi, R. Barri Flowers, Joanne Rochester, Meg Chittenden, John Lutz, Kris Neri, Claire Carmichael, Taffy Cannon, Lauren Haney, Valerie Malmont, Jim Ingraham, Marlys Millhiser, Noreen Ayres and co-editor Jan Grape. The book is available from Barnes & Noble and is published in all formats by Twilight Times Books.”

Q10) Any last words? Anything you’d like to add to the interview?

A10) “I enjoyed the interview, and I thought you gave me some great questions to ponder. As a writer with a broad range of fiction and nonfiction books on the market, in print, E-book and audio book, I encourage readers to explore them and see what captures their fancy.”

Hollie Cavanagh Eliminated from “American Idol” on Thursday, May 10th

By Connie Wilson

On May 10, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

Jessica Sanchez

The inevitable occurred tonight on the elimination night of “American Idol.” Hollie Cavanagh, who had been in the bottom three so many times previously, was finally kicked off. Just before the announcement was made, you could see in her eyes that she knew she was being cut from the competition.

The remaining three contestants are Phillip Phillips, Jason Ledet and Jessica Sanchez. The Big Question of this year’s competition is whether it is going to be an All-Male Final Two, as one steady watcher thinks it will be, or if it will be the two strongest voices, Jessica Sanchez and Jason Ledet.

Phillip Phillips has all the teeny boppers on his side, and he is, indeed, charming. His vocals are not as strong as either Joshua’s or Jessica’s, but he is certainly an original, interesting, unique performer, and he seems to resonate with the voting public, much as Scotty did last year with his bass country-and-western vocals.

I don’t honestly have a horse in this race. I could live with any of the three winning, for a variety of reasons. The raw emotion registering on the faces of fellow contestants (especially Joshua) and judges, alike, (Jennifer Lopez) was touching as Hollie sang her final song. She did a great job with the lyric and melody that talked about how there are always other mountains to climb.

Carry on, contestants!