professional science fiction and dark fantasy writer
When I was thirteen I used to listen to a black and white transistor radio tucked under my pillow. One night I found a Chicago station and heard The CBS Radio Mystery Theater hosted by E.G. Marshall. Just like that I was hooked. I fell in love with radio dramas and wanted to hear more. …
Continue reading "Well, Guys, Theater 13 Radio is Off the Air"
Theater 13 Radio comes to you from a desolate graveyard surrounded by thick oak and dead pecan trees. Surrounding this ancient family cemetery is a rusty wrought-iron fence without a gate. Inside the fence stands a lone gray marble mausoleum with a single word carved in the lintel: ZARELLA It is the last resting …
Continue reading "The History and Location of Theater 13 Radio (for those who might wonder!)"
There are lots of ways to get better at writing. Sitting down and writing more is one of the more obvious. Another helpful way is to read a lot, and read often. That is also obvious. If you write science fiction you should read a lot of science fiction. If you write romance you should …
Continue reading "Reading Outside Your Genre Even if it Kills You"
Theater 13 Radio is running an Old Time Radio marathon of The Whistler. This classic radio show was based on horror, mystery, suspense and other genres. The main thing about this show is you get to follow the story through the eyes of the murderer, and yet the story always takes an unexpected twist in …
Continue reading "“The Whistler” is being aired on Theater 13 Radio!"
Yesterday at the coffee shop I sat and listened to some old Gunsmoke radio episodes. These are always good for recharging my batteries, so to speak. Especially when I am deeply involved in writing western stories...or stories in general. The dialog is fantastic and the pacing and structure of the old time radio stories are …
Continue reading "Stuck on a Haxan Story for a Year…and I’m Glad"
I really am. Now I can concentrate on the 1000 other things that need attention. I have short stories lined up for publication through Argo Navis along with: 1.) New Haxan novel to work on. And research. 2. Other short stories clamoring to be written. 3.) Outside work. 4.) Keeping up with Theater 13 Radio. …
Continue reading "I am glad the holidays are at an end. Now the hard work begins."
Theater 13 Radio is ringing in the New Year by running a CBS Radio Mystery Theater marathon. This was the classic radio show hosted by E.G. Marshall. I just love listening to Old Time Radio because the emphasis is on dialog, an important aspect of fiction. It's always a learning experience for me. Hope you …
Continue reading "Theater 13 Radio Marathon: CBS Radio Mystery Theater"
My new Haxan story is out in the newly published February 2012 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. This is breaking news since I got the contributor copies a week or so ago. I think the magazine itself is out on the stands, however. If you pick up the magazine I hope you like the …
Continue reading "New Story in EQMM, Theater 13 Radio and Health Update"
Forget everything you know, or think you know, about Matt Dillon and Kitty and Doc. This radio series which ran for nine years was meant to be an adult-oriented western that broke the mold and challenged the archetypal Western hero. The creators, Norman MacDonnell and John Meston wanted to shatter all Western stereotypes. They were …
Continue reading "Gunsmoke: “I will not tolerate a disturbance. You know me.”"
I am always amazed at how "adult" OTR is compared to the sanitized candycorn of TV from the same era. Or even compared to many commercial television programs slopping their sugar water today. One such example is Dragnet. The old radio programs are very brutal and violent, very different from the watered down television programs …
Continue reading "Dragnet – Old Time Radio that delivers stark violence and murder for adults"
Theater 13 Radio has upgraded. We are now broadcasting Old Time Radio programming on 100 channels. We hope this will alleviate any bottlenecking issues listeners experienced when they tried to log on with our old 50 channel system. We are still broadcasting at 24K and are considering an upgrade there as well. Do you like …
Continue reading "Theater 13 Radio Broadcasting OTR Horror, Mystery, and Suspense on 100 Channels!"
It's difficult bringing me into the modern age. I admit that. And those who are committed to bringing me up to speed with technology have their work cut out for them. The fools. I have a cell phone. I rarely turn it on (as people in my personal life can attest) because when I do it often …
Continue reading "Audiobooks, Futurism, and the Mythical Power of Storytelling"
When I was thirteen I used to listen to a black and white transistor radio tucked under my pillow. One night I found a Chicago station and heard The CBS Radio Mystery Theater hosted by E.G. Marshall. Just like that I was hooked. I fell in love with radio dramas and wanted to hear more. …
Hoover's Corner 