Ace Kilroy Kickstarter

Ace Kilroy is one of the coolest webcomics out there, let's keep it coming, folks! Get more details here. And don't forget to check out writer Rob Kelly's interview on Episode 11 of The GAR! Podcast.

Richard Matheson 1926-2013

We have truly lost one of the legends of the writing game. Celebrated multiple award-winning author Richard Matheson passed away this weekend, surrounded by family and friends. He was 87.

Even if you didn't know his name (shame on you!), you know his work. Here is just a sampler - the following movies are all based on his work - The Incredible Shrinking Man, Somewhere in Time, What Dreams May Come, Real Steel, Trilogy of Terror, The Box, Loose Cannons, The Legend of Hell House Burn Witch Burn, Jaws 3-D (hey, a paycheck is a paycheck), and the these last three, all based on the same novel, The Last Man on Earth, The Omega Man, and I Am Legend.

That's not all, all of the good "Twilight Zone" episodes that weren't written by Rod Serling, they're all Matheson too. He wrote hundreds of short stories and books, and countless hours of television in many different genres, including episodes for "Star Trek," "Combat!," "Have Gun Will Travel," "Thriller," and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour." Other than "The Twilight Zone," possibly his two greatest contributions to television were the Steven Spielberg-directed Duel and The Night Stalker, which became a fondly remembered cult TV series.

We have lost another legend.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ~ Based on the novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote the screenplay, this mash-up of the horror and historical genres is a lot better than it has a right to be, and yet, it should have been, and could have been a lot better.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a pretty good vampire slayer flick, and a half-decent horror flick. It tries very hard, sometimes almost desperately to make the historical part fit, and actually makes some pretty rational points about the philosophy of slavery throughout the history of mankind, and in the mind of man himself.

The problem is that the initial premise of the film, hell, the source material itself, is just ridiculous. Think about it. The idea that our celebrated sixteenth President had a secret identity hunting and killing vampires is just ludicrous - and it's played straight, deadly straight. What's missing is a sense of humor. Just a bit of whimsy or even a wink at the audience would go a long, long way toward improving this flick.

The movie is well done, as I said, and the fight scenes are pretty cool. The final train fight and the earlier stampede chase is especially dynamic. Benjamin Walker is excellent, and darned earnest, as the President, and I look forward to seeing him in other stuff. Turn your brain off, and just enjoy, and it's not a bad movie at all.

James Gandolfini Dead at 51

Actor James Gandolfini died today in Italy from a massive heart attack, he was 51. The three time Lead Actor in a Drama Emmy winner was best known for playing bipolar modern gangster and family man Tony Soprano in HBO's "The Sopranos." He was also a producer, and a star of stage and screen, besides his television work.

I first became aware of the man when he played a very evil piece of work in Tony Scott and Quentin Tarantino's True Romance. His menacing presence made him perfect for the complex character of Tony Soprano in my opinion.

"The Sopranos" first entered my wheelhouse during its second season. I had written a still unpublished novel with hyper-violent overtones. Two beta-readers told me I needed a balance between the violence and the drama of everyday life, and both, separately suggested that I had to see "The Sopranos" so I could see how it's supposed to be done. I got HBO, and was blown away. I quickly caught up, and was addicted to the show until its end.

Most of the reason the show was so successful was Gandolfini's talent and presence. If we did not believe Gandolfini as Tony, the show falls apart. He was the show in many ways.

The man was perhaps the best lead in perhaps the best show ever made for TV.   It is so sad to lose such a talent so young. Who knows what might have been in his future. James Gandolfini will be missed.

Blackmail 1929

While known alternately as both Great Britain's first and Alfred Hitchcock's first sound movie, Blackmail in truth was released simultaneously as a talkie and as a silent film. To make sure it was seen by as many people as possible, Hitch made two versions, the one silent to ensure theaters not yet equipped for sound in 1929 could still show it.

Blackmail is a tale of passion, betrayal, murder, and yes, blackmail, based on a play by Charles Bennett, who also helped Hitch adapt it for the screen. Bennett would end up working with the director in this capacity many times over the years, on films like Secret Agent, Sabotage, The 39 Steps, Foreign Correspondent, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. On his own he would also go on to adapt the TV version of "Casino Royale" and Curse of the Demon.

While originally a stage bound story, Hitch, and Bennett, do a wonderful job of opening the story up to many locations and sets. Many adaptations like this of the time were limiting and almost claustrophobic. The film's climax is an edgy mad chase through the British Museum, similar to scenes Hitch would continue to construct throughout his career.

Lead actress Anny Ondra, primarily a Czech and German actress is stunning as an early Hitchcock blonde. All the other roles are played with precision but Ondra is the standout by miles. She was so well liked that the studio refused to let Hitch do the ending he wanted. The studio insisted Ondra walk free at the end, rather than pay for her crimes.

Hitch's directing and storytelling skills are at their height here, and seriously, when aren't they? Even before he was the master of suspense, he was always a master filmmaker. As with all Hitchcock films it is key you pay attention at all times, the devil is in the details. Simple yet complex, the dynamic storytelling style that would make Hitch one of our era's greatest directors is evident and already honed here at the end of the 1920s decade.

I recently caught the rarely seen silent version on "Silent Sunday Nights" on TCM, and it was stunning. Must see for any Hitchcock fan or student of the medium, recommended.

The South Jersey Writers' Group 2014 Anthology

Welcome to the South Jersey Writers' Group!

About the Group

The South Jersey Writers' Group, founded in 2006, provides networking and development opportunities for local writers in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area. The group meets regularly several times during the month for topic-based discussion about the craft of writing and the publishing industry.

The group welcomes writers of all ages, backgrounds, genres, and experience levels. Among the events offered by the group are Write-Ins, Topic Discussions, Critique Sessions, Book Signings, Author Appearances, and Blogfests. For more information on the group, visit the website, Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.

The Next Big Adventure

In December 2012, the group published their first short story anthology, Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey, which is available in paperback on Amazon, select local coffee shops, and other vendors. The book was a labor of love, but it's highly entertaining and showcases the diversity of our writers. It turned out to be a neat little book, and for being such a hyper-local focus, sales are still going really well, and it has generated a lot of interest in the literary community of South Jersey.

Now we're planning the next one, taking the lessons learned and building on success. The 2014 Anthology will feature longer, more intricate stories, aligned along a theme or within a genre. With the support of our backers, we'll be able to pay the authors and designers for their talents and skills.

We are doing this through Kickstarter, a terrific way to raise money for creative projects and also offer great incentives to those who donate. We are trying to raise $3000 by June 23. The details are here, along with the many incentives available depending on the amount of your donation.



Upcoming Book Signings

July 13 at Book Asylum in Blackwood NJ, 12-3 PM

September 14 at Authors on the Greene in Smithville NJ 11 AM - 5 PM

October 5 at the Collingswood Book Festival in Collingswood, look for our table.

November 2 at Bogart's Books & Cafe in Millville NJ 10:30 AM - 2 PM

Please see our schedule for added events and details.

Now Accepting New Members

The South Jersey Writers' Group is accepting new members through the end of June. The special discounted fee for half-year membership is $15, and then will be closed until October. Act now!

Contact Info

Amy Hollinger

Marie Gilbert

southjerseywriters@gmail.com

www.southjerseywriters.com

The New Mouse

Black Sabbath's 13

This is the first collaboration of original Black Sabbath members Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi, and Geezer Butler in years, and the first studio album from the band in almost two decades. To say there has been much anticipation would be redundant. The trio was joined by Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk when original Sabbath drummer Bill Ward declined to participate.

I got a chance to listen to the album recently in an iTunes sneak peek. "13" by Black Sabbath, produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, will be released on June 10th in Europe, and on June 11th in America. Here are my first thoughts on hearing the album.

"End of the Beginning" The album's opening track is very heavy, but without being too retro, a sound new rather than old. The sinister quality is like a blast from the past, a reminder of what Black Sabbath once was. Ozzy is the star and yet also a cog in this product. When it kicks in, it does go down the retro road, but it also gets a bit more comfortable. However, when it does kick in, it becomes more Ozzy than Sabbath. Despite all that, I dig this.

"God Is Dead" - This is the single everyone has been talking about for weeks now. It's amazing to me that music still travels by word of mouth in this internet age. Ozzy seems to take a backseat to the music, and let the guitars and bass, and especially here, the lyrics, lead the song. I love the conflicting and self-arguing words of the tune. Ozzy's sing-song style here is like a trip through time back to the golden age of Sabbath.



This single and the above track were featured in the season finale of "C.S.I." whetting the appetite of many a fan and non-fan. These two tunes prove relentlessly that not only was Black Sabbath back, but that they easily hold a place in today's music world. There is evolution and relevance here that is not present in other comebacks of the era.

The quality continues as the tracks run down. "Loner" is better than average with thought provoking lyrics. "Zeitgeist" is uncharacteristically gentle and caressing in its softness. This is another new sound in a sea of noise from the past. I like it.

"Age of Reason" - Speaking of new. This reminds me of "End of the Beginning" in its dual past and present groove. Ozzy again takes backseat to the guitars of Iommi and Butler, and the lyrics take precedence over his voice. All that and the power of his voice never waivers.

Not all of the songs are hits out of the ballpark however. "Live Forever," "Damaged Soul," and even the vindictive rocker "Dear Father" are good, but pale with the rest of the album in my opinion. The deluxe version of "13" also includes the tracks "Methademic," "Peace of Mind," "Pariah," and "Naivete in Black." These were sadly not included in the special iTunes sneak peek.

This is superior music from superior musicians. Black Sabbath started heavy metal, and "13" proves without a doubt that they still rule it from high atop the mountain.

The South Jersey Writers Present Nicole Wolverton

The South Jersey Writers' Group brings debut novelist, Nicole Wolverton, to the William G. Rohrer memorial Library in Haddon Township, NJ.

On June 4, 2013, Tuesday, at 7:00 pm, the South Jersey Writers' Group will present Nicole Wolverton, for a special discussion about her acclaimed debut novel, The Trajectory of Dreams, and her journey to publication. Learn more about her writing process and a secret or two about managing on-going projects and the writing life. Ms. Wolverton and the South Jersey Writers Group will be at the William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, 15 MacArthur Boulevard, Haddon Township, NJ for this special event.

The Trajectory of Dreams, a psychological thriller about the downward spiral of Lela White, a sleep lab technician who believes she is on a secret mission to save the revitalized U. S. space program from fatal accidents. The Trajectory of Dreams addresses the themes of family dysfunction and mental illness, sparks serious questions about how much anyone can know about the interior life of coworkers, friends, and significant others. Told from the point of view of Lela, who suffers from insomnia and delusions, it is impossible to tell what is real and what is not.

Publisher’s Weekly calls it “a skillful mainstream examination of a psychotic woman’s final descent into insanity.”

The Trajectory of Dreams is available in paperback and e-book versions on Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com, and local independent bookstores. Published by Bitingduck Press, LLC in March 2013.

Nicole’s short stories and flash fiction have appeared in Black Heart Magazine, The Molotov Cocktail, and Penduline, among others. In addition to writing fiction, she is founder and managing editor of Farm to Philly, a website devoted to locally grown foods and sustainable living. She resides in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area with her husband and small cadre of pets. For more information on The Trajectory of Dreams and Ms. Wolverton, visit her website.

The South Jersey Writers' Group, founded in 2007 provides networking and development opportunities for local writers. The group meets regularly during the month for topic-based discussion about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. The group welcomes writers of all ages, background, genre, and experience level. For more information on the group and when the next membership enrollment will be, visit their website or follow them on Twitter.

In December 2012, the group published their first short story anthology, Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey, which is available in paperback on Amazon, select local coffee shops, and other vendors.

Press release written by Mieke Zamora-Mackay, please check out her blog here.

And be sure to check out the Kickstart for the next South Jersey Writers' anthology here.