While I was attending Lone Star Con last week someone asked me if I wrote the Haxan stories in chronological order. I had to admit I did not. I write the stories as they come to me. Sometimes they might be in order, often not. I usually have some idea, however, where they fit along …
Dark Secrets of Blood and Mythical Power in the Streets of Haxan
When I wrote "Alpenglow' I knew I was going to be pushing a boundary or two. Which is fine because that's how I write anyway and that sort of viewpoint always works well in Haxan. I've had several readers remark how this story creeped them out. I can see why and I'd be less than …
Continue reading "Dark Secrets of Blood and Mythical Power in the Streets of Haxan"
In Search of Bold Story Ideas…and settling on the warm safety of cliche.
I guess one of the things that surprises me most is how easy it is to come up with ideas for stories. I wrote about this before. I used to be worried I would never have enough story ideas when I began to write. Now I have too many. I suppose that's growth of a …
Continue reading "In Search of Bold Story Ideas…and settling on the warm safety of cliche."
Gepetto’s Orphans: The Emergence of the Lost People Comes to Haxan
My new Haxan story "Gepetto's Orphans" has a long lineage. You might say it's as old as the story of Pinocchio himself. Now, truth be told, many stories have been written about a wooden boy who becomes real. But being a dark fantasy writer it's my job to look beyond the ordinary and seek the …
Continue reading "Gepetto’s Orphans: The Emergence of the Lost People Comes to Haxan"
Little Big Man: A Classic Novel of Lies and Counter-Lies in the Old West
My review of the novel Little Big Man by Thomas Berger has been published by The Western Online. Here's the link, and I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say about this classic work. I tried to approach the review from the orientation of both an armchair historian and a writer working in …
Continue reading "Little Big Man: A Classic Novel of Lies and Counter-Lies in the Old West"
Lambshead and Daws Crossing on the Clear Fork Comanche Reservation (1855-1859)
This is Lambshead, one of the oldest ranches in the area. It was first built by J.A. Matthews. It lies south of the old Butterfield Stage Route. You could get from St. Louis, MO to San Francisco, CA in 25 days using this route. This is Daws Crossing where Robert E. Lee signed a peace …
Continue reading "Lambshead and Daws Crossing on the Clear Fork Comanche Reservation (1855-1859)"
On Magra Snowberry: Carried by the wings of blood and dust
I.     Magra’s braided hair shone like the wings of a raven in the morning light. Her face was like a sword. I am rarely surprised by a story. When I write I always feel I am in total control, sifting and judging words and sentences and actions as I move through it. I hold …
Continue reading "On Magra Snowberry: Carried by the wings of blood and dust"
Hell on Wheels – The Great Transcontinental Railroad on a TV Budget and a Slack Script
It's hard to tell a lot from a single episode of commercial television without becoming dependent upon generalities to describe what you've seen with Hell on Wheels. But since the episode was made of generalities then I don't feel so bad about it. First off, it looks good. The people look sufficiently grimy, the backgrounds …
The Long Red Light of the West
One of the things you learn when you research the Old West is how utterly violent it was. It is this long red light, the murderous plain of humanity if you will, that I want to talk about today. From genocide to rape to murder to shotgun blasts from an alleyway into someone's back to …
Return from Caprock Canyon
Got back from Caprock Canyon today. Had a good trip and it was very beneficial as far as doing preliminary work and story ideas for the novel, including seeing and walking over the land once inhabited by Native Americans. I'll talk more about it later, but I'm headed to bed now.
The Vanishing American (1925) movie review
The Vanishing American is a silent film from 1925 that explores the tragic plight of Native Americans trapped by history and fate, and who ultimately become crushed into non-existence by the grinding wheels of racism and modernity. The source material is the novel by the same name written by Zane Grey. The film was good …
Continue reading "The Vanishing American (1925) movie review"
Hoover's Corner 