Process and a Podcast

There must be something in the air this week, because a good number of the writers I follow on Twitter had writing challenges. I did, too, but there is a solution.

On Thursday, Texan Jeff Abbott tweeted this:

“writing early this morning, i had been pondering since last night how to fix a chapter opening, had no good idea, sat down to the chapter, in desperation typed three sentences, character-driven solution presented itself to my weary brain, onward”

Later the same day, Bryon Quertermous had a short thread, the last of which contained this little nugget:

 “Writing can cause so many problems, but almost every time, the solution to a writing problem is to write through it. 5/5”

As for me, I’d been suffering a lazy streak. Part of it certainly had to do with how to craft the beginning of my next chapter. I had struggled to end the previous chapter in a satisfactory way, so I just ended it. The subconscious must’ve festered on my dissatisfaction with that ending because it kept hindering my forward progress.

Until this week. As a writer with a day job, I’m time locked with my writing time. I also hadn’t been doing my exercises as often as I needed to and it’s lack was catching up to me. So I did the most basic thing in the world: Gave myself no excuses. I compelled myself to wake at 5am, get on the rowing machine within five minutes of waking, and after a brisk ten-minute session, sat at my computer and wrote.

Guess what? The words came, fast and furious, until I had to stop and get ready for work. I didn’t mind, really. I had accomplished something. Two things, in fact. I had cleared my mind of the block that hampered my writing as well as the exercise. That was a great day.

No matter the writer, no matter how many stories the writer has completed, there will always be days in which the stuff just doesn’t happen. The brain might be wonky or filled up with life’s clutter. It’s going to happen, so it’s best not to get upset about it.

But there is a way to mitigate the hangups: Rely on the process. Don’t wait for inspiration. For nearly all of us, that means getting in front of our screens and doing the work. When we’re there, inspiration will come. It always does.

My First Podcast Interview

This process of always being available is part of my writing life on which I constantly rely. It’s one of the things Paul Bishop and I discuss in my first-ever podcast interview. It dropped this week and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Have a listen.

Or use this link to get the episode in your preferred podcast-listening app.

My Interview on the Six Gun Justice Podcast

I'm an avid podcast listener, so it thrills me to say that I'm actually on a podcast!

Paul Bishop of the Six Gun Justice podcast interviewed me recently and the episode dropped today. You can download the episode on the podcast app of your choice--I use Overcast--or listen in a browser at this link. 

In the conversation, Paul and I discuss westerns, how I came to write my first book, the writing process overall, and Cash Laramie and the Sundown Express, my first collaboration with Edward A. Grainger, featuring the teaming up of his characters and my own Calvin Carter, Railroad Detective.

Enjoy.

All Good Things...: 70s Trek podcast

Sometimes, things you love come to an end.

In 2017, I discovered one of my all-time favorite podcasts: 70s Trek. Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto created this podcast series that focused solely on "“The decade that built a franchise.” Their personable demeanors really made this show feel like Bob and Kelly and you, the listener, were just pals talking about Trek. It is a wonderful show. I wrote about it here.

But when you have a title like "70s Trek," there was always going to be an ending.

With the actual decade of the 1970s, the logical end is the December 1979 premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. With the podcast, it was soon after that subject as well. That last episode debuted on 16 August 2019.

I only got around to it this week.

Why the delay?

I didn't want the end to arrive.

For many things I enjoy, there is a finite number of entries. Take Sherlock Holmes for example. Despite the myriad of stories available, there is only sixty tales penned by creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I have purposefully not read all sixty because I want there always to be just one more original story. The same is true for Ian Fleming's James Bond novels.

With 70s Trek, however, there is already an additional Bonus Trek episode detailing the CBS and Paramount merger (or re-merger). Star Trek: Discovery has been out for a couple of years, but I haven't watched any of them. Yet. And tomorrow comes the Trek series I will pay for and watch: Picard.

So I thought it high time to listen to that final episode. I did this morning. It was, of course, bittersweet, but still joyful and wondrous. The episode was necessarily a reflection on the entire series and process of making the show. It's a great conclusion to a great podcast, one of the best I've ever heard.

Thanks Bob and Kelly for this show and the hours of entertainment y'all provided. And, from a guy who is probably the same age as y'all, thanks also for the time capsule and the memories not only of Star Trek, but life in the 1970s. It was a blast.

Year of an Indie Writer: Week 21

Boy are there a ton of anniversaries this week.

Thursday alone saw the 24th anniversary of Chicago's Night and Day album, the 35th anniversary of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and the 40th anniversary of KISS's Dynasty album. I reviewed the KISS album, but wanted to re-watch Temple of Doom before I review it. That post will be coming next week.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade's 30th anniversary was yesterday. Same thing: want to re-watch it and review it. This movie kicks of the Summer of 1989 at 30 series that'll run throughout the summer as I re-watch and revisit the incredible films of 1989.

Today is forty years since Alien was released.

Lots of fun to experience these things again and, in some cases, share them with the family for the first time.

Podcast of the Week

Same one: Blockbuster. The last of the six episodes dropped on Tuesday and it is incredible. I updated the review I wrote when I first heard twice, once to include Episode 5 and again for Episode 6. It is one of my favorite things of 2019. I listened to the last episode on Tuesday morning on the way to work and prompted donated money when I got there. Give it a listen and see what you think.

Later, when I tweeted how much I loved it, the folks a Blockbuster picked it up and included none other than Mark Hamill. That moment of thrill I experienced when I thought Hamill might actually read something I wrote was fantastic. He liked my separate tweet about it.

Made my day.

TV Show of the Week

Elementary returned for its last 13-episode season. I have loved this show from day one. If we can agree that Jeremy Brett is the epitome of the traditional Sherlock Holmes, then Johnny Lee Miller's Holmes is my favorite non-traditional version. He has been allowed to have Sherlock grow over these past seven years. That's made all the difference. I will sincerely miss this show when it goes for its final bow. (see what I did there?)

The Summer Writing Session Starts

Monday marks the opening of Summer 2019. Labor Day is 97 days later. This is perhaps my favorite writing time because of the clear bookends.

What are you going to write this summer?

I have to finish the proofing and editing for the fourth Calvin Carter story, Brides of Death, but I aim to try something new. Something different. I don't know what it is yet, but I intend to have fun writing.

Memorial Day

Lest we forget, here in the United States, Monday is Memorial Day, and it is dedicated to all the soldiers over our history who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country. They will forever have our gratitude.

Spielberg, Lucas, and Williams: The Blockbuster Podcast as Old Time Radio

Aural perfection.

That's what I think about Blockbuster, the six-part podcast that focuses on the friendship of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas in the 1970s. The third member of this revolutionary team was composer John Williams.

Look, I would have listened to a plain old podcast just reciting the events of these visionary directors in the 1970s as they created from whole cloth the blockbuster movie. I am part of the Star Wars generation. I never tire of hearing or watching World War II histories, so, too, do I never tire of hearing about 1970s film making.

But creator Matt Schrader went one better. He scripted this story as if it were an old time radio. Don't be fooled by this phrase. This movie-of-the-mind is utterly current, with the latest technology brought to the sound design, that makes me hopeful things like this might come around more often.

I can't even be sure how the podcast popped up on my radar in the last week or two, but it did. Five of the six episodes are available. Like I said, I'm a sucker for this stuff, but by the first few minutes of episode one and I was hooked. It is an excellent piece of craft, and the storytelling is rich and immersive.

How immersive? Well, when they get to late 1976 and early 1977 when each director faced massive challenges to complete their respective films, you're actually wondering if they'll get the movies done. In fact, in episode 4, there's a moment with the Star Wars production that actually made me swear under my breath...and I knew the end result!

The voice cast is stellar. I don't know their names, but the folks who bring Spielberg, Lucas to life, as well as their friends Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese are spot on. And don't get me started on the casting calls for Han Solo.

Heck, I even learned something about John Williams I never knew.

 I'm starting episode 4 later today on my home commute and I think episode six drops next week. It'll end up being a three-hour movie for your mind.

Just give it a listen. If you're even remotely interested in the stories of these two friends and rivals, you'll have a blast.

UPDATE:

Now, I've listened to episode five, the one where the characters first hear the music John Williams composed for Star Wars. At the time, Lucas was quite depressed. He didn't think his movie would be very good. It wasn't well received by his small group of peers. The executives at Fox, including champion Alan Ladd, Jr., had all but given up and expected a flop.

There, Lucas sat in the recording studio in London. There, Williams stood on the podium, ready for that initial baton drop.

And the music started.

I've always been an easy cry, but just hearing this famous music in this one scene, knowing the stakes, it was emotional. Goosebumps and some extra tears behind the lids.

It was a great moment in this incredible series and in the history of cinema. That the creators of Blockbuster nailed it as well as they did is yet more proof how good this podcast series is.

UPDATE 2:

Episode 6 dropped this morning and I couldn't wait for my morning commute.

And I was incredibly rewarded.

What makes Blockbuster so magical is the intimacy of the story. Now, in 2019, Lucas and Spielberg are legends, larger-than-life masters of film, but in the 1970s, they're just young directors trying to make things work despite uncountable challenges and setbacks. Matt Schrader wrote the scenes you wished you could have witnessed. Not the interviews or awards ceremonies, but the ones where George and Steve just talk. Brilliant.

The best thing about episode six, titled "May 25, 1977," is how the characters learn about the success of Star Wars. We know what happens, but George, Steve, and Marcia Lucas in Blockbuster don't. Wonderful. I actually had goosebumps ripple across my skin when Marcia looks across the street and realizes the line around the Chinese Theater is for "You're movie, George!"

A large part of this podcast series features the music of John Williams. Perhaps the best scene in the entire series was when George heard the Star Wars theme the first time. When you have Williams's music, I imagine it would be a difficult challenge to compose original music. But Ryan Taubert and Benjamin Botkin knocked it out of the park. There's a special magic when you watch movies like Star Wars, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, Superman, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter 1 when the visuals on the silver screen and the music you hear instantly transport you. Taubert and Botkin nailed the intimate vibe of this series. How good is the music? If I didn't know any better, I would have sworn John Williams himself wrote the score.

It's one thing to have content like this available for free. But it's another thing entirely when, upon completing the entire broadcast, I happily headed over to their site and donated money. It's one of the best investments you can make. I can't wait to hear what comes next.

How good is this nearly three-hour Blockbuster podcast series? It's one of the best films of the year. Never mind that it's audio only. In some ways, that makes it better.

Well done, everyone involved with Blockbuster. Very well done.

Podcast Review: The KISS Room

On the little bonus track from 1976's Destroyer, KISS singer Paul Stanley exhorts the crowd by saying "It looks like we're gonna have ourselves a rock and roll party!" That may be true, but that's just one night. Now, we now have a monthly rock and roll party with one of the most congenial hosts around.

Enter Matt Porter

If you read yesterday's review of PodKISSt, you'll see that one of my favorite aspects of that podcast was the album round tables. When I finally discovered PodKISSt in 2012ish, I was able to binge all the existing episodes. One recurring guest was noticeable because you could hear the giddy smile in his voice.

Matt Porter works at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania. He is my age so he was around for KISS' 1970s heyday. Like me, Matt scoured the newsstands for Circus or Hit Parader magazines, just hoping for an article with this awesome band. He never lost his enthusiasm for his favorite band. His is an infectious type of love for the band, and fellow listeners can't help but get swept away.

And, when the chance arrived, Matt took an opportunity to share the music of KISS with others.

Montco Radio: Where Music and Minds Meet

That I can quote, from memory, the slogan of a college radio station half a continent away is a testament to Matt Porter. If I remember the story correctly, Matt, who works at the college's radio station, noticed there was a dead block of air time that needed filling. Being the KISS fan he was, Matt simply played KISS. It proved so popular that he kept doing it. Soon, The KISS Room was born, with a recurring date: the second Friday of every month from 3-5 EST.

Yeah, that's today!

What is The KISS Room

Quite simply, The KISS Room is a party for fans of the band. If the PodKISSt podcast is the safe haven that celebrates all eras of the band, The KISS Room is the party version of that spirit.

Each month, live on the radio and on the internet, Matt serves as the ringleader for a ebullient two hours. He'll play some KISS songs, often throwing out deep cuts we fans love. The Facebook community is quite active and if you share the news on KISS Room Fridays, he'll read your name on the air. Still gives me a thrill every time.

With many years of episodes, the show has evolved into a certain format. There is almost always a monthly guest who calls in and has a discussion with Matt and his co-hosts. These guests run the gamut: from Bill Starkey (founder of the KISS Army) to Lydia Criss (former wife of KISS drummer Peter Criss) to great tribute bands like Klassic '78 and just about everything in between. And, because this is a celebration of KISS, all are welcome and all eras are represented.

I'm not sure how large the studio space is up there at Montco Radio (where music and minds meet; you see? I can't not think about the tagline), but it always sounds like it's jam-packed with KISS fans. Matt will exhort folks to come up to the microphone and talk about KISS. As always, a favorite question is how a person discovered KISS. For a band that's been around for 46 years, the answers are always fascinating.

The two hours always fly by, but in recent months, there's an added bonus.

The KISS Room House Band

I can't quite remember how it all started, but one month, there was a small group of musicians in studio. With acoustic guitars and percussion, they started performing KISS songs. And not just the main hits, either. They'll pull the deep cuts, the songs the band would never perform. It is a blast to hear these tunes played live and with reverence to the originals. We know all the little nuances of each KISS song. The KISS Room House Band does too, and they play it that way.

The KISS Room was already a raucous party. The presence of the House Band just took it up to eleven. It's the best two hours on the radio every single month.


Look, if you're a fan of KISS and you've never heard The KISS Room, you are missing out. Matt Porter is like the best friend you never knew who loves the same music you do. If you're having a bad day, find an old episode or listen live and you will be smiling after two hours.

Do yourself a favor and tune in today from 3-5 EST. I use the TuneIn Radio app to listen live (when the day job doesn't interfere). You can hear it on the main webpage. It is simulcast on Facebook. And if you miss the live broadcast, the replay is always available at the main website or via the PodKISSt podcast feed.

The KISS Room Mission Statement

I'm a writer so I'm supposed to have a way with words. Hopefully, I've turned you on to something you might not have known. But if I haven't, just read how Matt sees the beauty of music of KISS.

Remember when the only thing that mattered was the music?
​Remember sitting for hours spinning records, feeling the energy, playing your air guitar and covering your walls with posters of these rock and roll super heroes?
Remember talking to your friends about the mysterious, masked men who created the rock and roll that we all loved?
Do you remember wondering what they looked like without the trade mark make-up, drawing pictures of them and scribbling the logo on every text book cover, wall, and notebook?
Do you remember seeing them live for the first time? 
We remember.  And we still love it.
Are you ready to rock?
Welcome to THE KISS ROOM.
The bottom line:
This is a party.  If you are NOT a fan, or you are here to cause trouble....
....go away!
THE KISS ROOM is created by KISS fans, for KISS fans.
THE KISS ROOM is NOT sponsored by or associated with KISS or KISS Inc™.
THE KISS ROOM is a non-profit radio program.
We don't make a penny from this program.
We do it for the fun.
We do it because we love KISS. 

Podcast Review: PodKISSt

KISS is my first favorite band. They introduced me to rock and roll. I bought the trading cards and the comics and a few posters back in the 70s. I got a thrill when the put the make-up back on in 1996. They have brought me countless hours of joy and happiness despite some of the eye-rolling stuff the individual members or the band itself have done. They continue to provide me joy as I sing along to the songs with the windows of my car rolled down. I already have tickets to their Houston show in September.

Yet, there's a certain number of music fans out there who take pleasure in zeroing in on all that bad stuff, elevating it above all the good. There's enough bad in the world. Why spend the energy in the negative when you can revel in the positive?

Naturally, with the growth of podcasts, there emerged KISS-themed podcasts. Pod of Thunder examined every KISS studio track in detail per weekly episode. There is Podcast Rock City, KISS FAQ, and KISStory Science Theater to name but three more.

But there is one podcast that stands head and shoulders above all the rest. It was the first, and one of the members who was there at the beginning is now nicknamed the Podfather.

PodKISSt

By 2007, newer members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer had taken the place of Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, wearing the iconic make-up. That never sat well with some folks, and they often voiced their disapproval. Vocally and loudly, including on various podcasts.

Needing a haven for some positive comments combined with constructive criticism, Gary Shaller and James Hager started the PodKISSt,  with the tagline "The fanzine for your ears! We celebrate all." First and foremost, they are fans of the band. PodKISSt was intended to be a place where people can listen to various episodes, interact with fellow fans on Facebook and other places, and just revel in the broader KISS family.

Twelve years later, PodKISSt is still going strong. There have been a few personnel changes over the years. Now, Ken Mills, the Podfather, is the man behind the microphone, and he has maintained not only the high level of quality but reinforced the positive vibes PodKISSt promotes. His genial laughter always lightens the mood. His personality brings a calmness to the proceedings, making PodKISSt one of those places where you can listen and just smile.*

Everyone Has a KISS Origin Story

Whenever a new guest comes on the show, one of the first questions asked is how the person discovered KISS. There are quite a few of my age who first encountered the band in their 1970s heyday. Others arrived via the non-make-up years of the 1980s. Still others came on board in the 1990s. No matter the origin story, it was the music that brought people together, and it is a show like PodKISSt that celebrates all eras.

I particularly enjoy the origin stories from the 70s when then-young kids first heard about this dangerous band called KISS. Ken Mills has a particularly great story. I wasn't able to pinpoint the exact episode in which he delivers this fun story, so you'll just have to listen to all the episodes.

Album Spotlights

It's the music that brings everyone together, so naturally most episodes talk about that particular blend of rock and rock KISS produces. For these episodes, the hosts gather a round table of fans as they discuss albums track by track. They dive deep into what was going on at the time, and each person gives their takes on the songs.

Not everyone likes every song. Shocker, I know, but there is room for everyone here at PodKISSt.

I always learn something on these album spotlights. Sometimes the content is so in-your-face obvious that you wonder why you never noticed it yourself. This month is the fortieth anniversary of Dynasty. On some of the first pressings back in 1979, the songs were listed in a different order. In the latest episode, the PodKISSt folks listened to those same nine songs but in this other order. Viola! A whole new perspective. Who knew?

But there is one episode I've heard more than once.

The Album That Never Was

Episode 76 is one that makes the observation that 1978 is the only year KISS didn't release an album from 1973-1983. They released the four solo albums, containing 41 (?) songs. Each member of the round table took turns making their own KISS 1978 album from these songs, complete with marketing plans, album covers, and the like. It's a great episode. Not coincidentally, I think 6 or 7 of the same songs were picked. It would have made for a really good 1978 album. I even did it myself.

Celebrity Guests

This is not a podcast purely made up of folks talking about KISS. As the PodKISSt has grown and acquired a good reputation, various celebrities have been interviewed. It might be JR Smalling talking about touring with KISS in the 1970s or Adam Black discussing about KISS comics. There's something for everyone.


I love KISS. Maybe you do, too. If you love this band that's touring for the last time and you haven't discovered PodKISSt, then I highly encourage you to do.

Why? Well, you wanted the best...

Tune In Tomorrow...

...for the monthly KISS party!

*Ken has even opened my ears to the music of Cheap Trick, the subject of another podcast he hosts.

Podcast Review: Empire Film Podcast

Sometimes, it's a good idea to get a different perspective on something you love. Then again, it's also cool to know geekery knows no national boundaries.

Unlike The Ralph Report and Fatman on Batman which I reviewed the past two days, I'm not sure how I first discovered the Empire Film Podcast. Likely it was a referral from some other podcast or blog. Nevertheless, I found it and now it is definitely one of my go-to podcasts for film news.

What Makes It Different

The power of the main magazine, EMPIRE, can snag interviews with just about any celebrity promoting a film. I'm not if this is correct, but my sense is that EMPIRE is the biggest magazine in England about films. Probably like ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY is here in the US. What makes the podcast portion of EMPIRE really good is it goes beyond the standard piece you'd read and digs into the movie and the guests.

Host Chris Hewitt does many of the interviews, but not all. Like any good interviewer, he asks the guests about the movie and does the standard things you'd expect. But with a podcast, a conversation develops that can often go beyond simply promoting the latest action or superhero movie and uncover some nice aspects of the actor. A recent example was the interview with Zachary Levi of Shazam. In the interview, Levi was very open about how training for the role of the original Captain Marvel--or Captain Sparkle Fingers in the movie--helped turn his life around.

Engaging Group of Podcasters

If the main interview is the main part of any given episode, it's the review section that's just as entertaining. Hewett has a core group including Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis. They talk about the week's news, diving deep into the latest movie and reviewing it. They have a British perspective, which for all our commonalities, can be different. It's the differences that really make this podcast special.

In addition, I like their critical voices. Like Marc Bernardin, the Empire Film Podcast crew will pick apart things that didn't work for them, even if the overall film was entertaining, fun, and a joy. They always challenge me to see what they see, think about it, and come to my own conclusions. Often, I'm nodding my head while driving, smacking myself for not seeing it on my own.

Spoiler Specials

With their special access, Hewitt and crew will hold forth on all things spoilery in a film. Often this will include an in-depth interview with the creators of such film. Just this week, they have a nearly four-hour episode as they discuss Avengers: Endgame.

But what really capped off my love for spoiler specials was Hewitt's interview with director Christopher McQuarrie. Last year, McQuarrie and Hewitt sat down and discussed Mission Impossible: Fallout for over seven hours. Yes, you read that correctly. Seven hours.

And I wasn't bored in the least. Heck, I could have listened to more. But with that amount of time, McQuarrie would discuss the lighting for twenty minutes on just one scene. The experience was so much fun that I ended up seeing the film a second time in the theater, then knowing all the details.

I'm now waiting for the spoiler special with the directors of Endgame. I want to listen to it before I see the movie again.

If you are a fan of movies, you owe it to yourself to check out The Empire Film Podcast.

Tune in Tomorrow...

...for a first KISS.

Podcast Review: Fatman Beyond (AKA FatMan on Batman)

"Our Batman, who art in Gotham, cowl be thy mane."

Those were the first words I heard from podcaster Kevin Smith back in 2012. You might note I used the word "podcaster" to describe him. Well, for me, that's the more accurate description. The irony of my relationship with Kevin Smith is I've never seen one of his films, yet I listen eagerly to all his podcasts. Heck, I've even gone and seen him live in a truly inspirational show.

But it all began with Batman

The Origin Story

If you read yesterday's post about how I discovered The Ralph Report, then you know I discovered Kevin Smith because of a podcast interview he had with Mark Hamill back in 2012. That podcast was the original "Fat Man on Batman." When I first learned of this podcast, I was ecstatic. A whole podcast just on Batman? And with a celebrity who could snag interviews with other celebrities? How fun would this be?

Turns out, way more fun than you could possibly imagine.

On the original incarnation, Smith would interview his guests, paying particular attention to how that person arrived in the Bat-universe. To be honest, those are my favorite parts. How did Mark Hamill become the voice of the Joker? But not the audition part. All the other stuff he experienced growing up, loving the things we all love, and making his way to acting, Star Wars, and finally auditioning for the part. Ditto for other guests those early episodes: Tara Strong, Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and others. I remember recovering from a stomach bug on a vacation in 2012 listening to Batman himself, Kevin Conroy, talk about his early acting days. As soon as I discovered Fat Man on Batman, it shot to the top of my favorite podcast list.

What makes Smith a great interviewer is his fandom. He's not even two years younger than I am, so his life with Batman and comics mirrors my own. He asks the questions I want answered because we're both Bronze Age Boys. His optimistic enthusiasm for all things geek is infectious. He puts good back into the world.

One episode in particular was really special. Episode 51 had Paul Dini as a guest. Along the way, the pair stumble on what they bill as the greatest Batman TV series you never saw. It was spectacular. I've listened at least a half dozen times, partly to soak in all the details of this would-have-been-awesome TV show, but also to get a glimpse of two writers creating on the spot. I'm always fascinated about how writers create their stories and this discussion was spectacular.

Change Is Inevitable

Over the years, Smith expanded the types of interviews he did. Not content with just Batman, he interviewed Marvel's Kevin Feige, Andrew Kreisberg from The Flash TV show, Geoff Johns, and Brad Meltzer among others.

One guest, however, stayed.

Enter Marc Bernardin

Writer Marc Bernardin is another name I didn't recognize when he showed up on the podcast, but I should have. As a subscriber of Entertainment Weekly since forever, I never put two and two together to realize he wrote for the magazine. By the time he landed on the podcast, he wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. As Smith constantly says, Marc's the one who brings gravitas to the show.

From a one-man show, the podcast evolved to a two-man show not limited to Gotham City. It became a look at many things geek related, be it movies, TV, or comic books. The chemistry between the two soon developed. Kevin follows a guideline I tend to adhere to: if you love it, talk about it. If you don't, either say nothing or not a lot. Marc is more critical, but he has a phenomenal way of drilling down a story to its core, usually in a way I or Kevin or however many listeners never before saw. He tells you what a story is "about" in such a way that is at once so obvious yet it makes you wonder why you didn't see it on your own. He also has a way of weaving together say, pieces of a trailer, into an predicted story about a movie coming out. I remember quite clearly his vision of Rogue One before the film's premier. As good as Rogue One ended up being, the story Marc wove would have been awesome.

The Name Change

Somewhere along the way, DC Comics finally forced Kevin to change the name of his podcast. Plus Kevin had a heart attack, forcing him to change his diet. He got thin, and even if the corporate giant didn't mandate the change, he might've changed the name anyway. Still keeping with the Batman theme, it is now called Fatman Beyond.

But whatever name it goes by, this podcast by Kevin Smith and Marc Barnardin is a must-listen experience. It's one of my favorites, and whenever there's a new episode, that installment vaults to the top of the list. Just last week, they spent nearly 2.5 hours talking about Endgame, Game of Thrones, and other awesome content in the world of geek culture.

Highly recommended.

Tune in Tomorrow...

...for a go-to podcast for film-related interviews.

Podcast Review: The Ralph Report

If it wasn't for Luke Skywalker, I would never have discovered Ralph Garman.

How I Got There

Seven years ago, I was listening to an episode of the SF Signal podcast about Batman when one of the panelists referred to a then-recent interview with Mark Hamill on a separate podcast. I wrote down the name of that other podcast: "Fat Man on Batman" by a guy named Kevin Smith. Didn't have a clue about Smith, but I headed over and downloaded the Mark Hamill episode. Over two episodes, I listened enthralled to Hamill talk about his life and origin story, mixed in with Smith's questions about Batman. When I finished those episodes, I was hooked on this new-to-me podcast devoted entirely to Batman. It was awesome.

I binged all the available episodes including episode 9 when the guest was a friend of Smith's, Ralph Garman. In Ralph's discussion of his origin story, he talked about how huge a Batman '66 fan he was. What sold me was him telling the story of his mom making not only a Batman Halloween costume but a better-than-you-could-buy Batcave playset for his Mego action figures. The humor and relationship between Smith and Garman was palpable and that led me to the show they do together, Hollywood Babble On. It is profane, irreverent, and hilarious.

After Garman was unceremoniously fired from his twenty-year radio gig in November 2017, Smith convinced Garman to create his own show and work on his own terms. At the same time, I was also in a tenuous employment situation and, being a dad, I understood Garman's predicament. So, when he announced he would be creating a new podcast show available on Patreon, and having enjoyed Hollywood Babble On for years, I easily made the decision to subscribe to The Ralph Report.

And I've enjoyed every episode.

What Is The Ralph Report

Monday through Friday, Garman produces an hour-long show every day. The episodes are available around 5:00 a.m. PST so his long-time Los Angeles radio fans can continue to have his voice in their cars during the morning commutes. For me, he is the voice I hear on my drive home in the afternoons. I am usually not even out my office door before the opening notes of his theme song are bursting from my iPhone. He is appointment listening every single weekday.

At the beginning of the series, Garman was the sole host of the show except for when he would have in-depth interviews. He would look at the day's entertainment news and provide his own brand of acerbic commentary. Without the filter of live radio, Garman freely uses all the adult words you can think of, and probably a few more.

His devoted listeners, dubbed the Garmy, actively participate by leaving voice messages or sending emails. He reads them or plays excerpts on the show, reacting to them along the way. It was the listeners who suggested Garman find a co-host with whom he can chat and to which he can respond. Enter stand-up comedian Eddie Pence. With these two in place, The Ralph Report went to eleven.

Highlights of Any Given Episode

Holiday or Holi-nay - Where Ralph and Eddie take a look at certain holidays associated with a particular day and discuss whether it's bogus or not. Of particular interest are all the food-related holidays because Eddie has an interesting taste palette and you just never know what Eddie will or won't eat.

TV Tunes Tuesday - Where Ralph and Eddie play an old TV theme song, usually suggested by the Garmy, and talk about it. Here, Ralph does some background research, often uncovering some interesting nugget for the next trivia night.

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - Same concept, but for songs. Sometimes, he'll get his celebrity guests to namedrop their favorite one-hit wonder.

Eddie's Drunk Thoughts - By happenstance, one listener observed that when the podcast is slowed down to half speed, non-drinker Eddie sounds like a drunk at the end of the bar, talking to no one and anyone. It's true, and it's one of the funniest bits on the show. Heck, even the jingle associated with the segment makes me laugh.

A Shared Community

For these bits and more, members of the Garmy write little musical jingles that Ralph tacks on at the beginning or ending of the segments. These jingles even have passionate fans. Heck, even some of the frequent callers have fans. It's really a community.

There's a camaraderie and respect between Ralph and Eddie that comes through the speakers. And that respect is extended to the listeners and supporters of the show. Everyone may joke about Eddie's particular eating habits, but recently, the Garmy came out and supported Eddie in his bid to record his act and prepare it to make a show.

Moreover, when there's a cause near and dear to their hearts, all joking vanishes and sincerity prevails. Lots of the content may come at you wrapped in profanity, but underneath, The Ralph Report's real gift is in its big-hearted host.

The Art of the Hustle

Ralph is a few years older than I am. As many of us grow older and near the proverbial retirement age, we fantasize about taking it easy. Even in our day jobs, we may not want to do as much hard work as we did in our thirties or forties. We want the cushy position where you can do half the work but get all the perks.

That hand wasn't dealt to Ralph. Imagine yourself at age fifty-three being fired from your long-time gig and having a wife and child to support to say nothing about the usual bills. What would you do?

The answer is whatever it takes. Ralph Garman picked himself up after having been knocked down and carved out a place for himself amid all the options we have to consume. It wasn't easy. It never is. He hustled, learning whatever he needed to learn, to create, from scratch, this daily podcast we listeners can enjoy. He might even work longer hours than he did on the radio, but he did whatever it took to get The Ralph Report up and running and into the small, independent business is to support his family.

As a indie writer who created a business to publish my own books, Ralph Garman's story is inspirational, and I happily support The Ralph Report.

Highly recommended.

Tune In Tomorrow...

...for a little Batman talk.

Shazam Spoiler Special from Empire Podcast

Yet another entry in the improptu Shazam group of posts all resulting from the new Shazam movie that debuted earlier this month. For this one, however, you need to have seen the movie because all sorts of stuff is revealed.

The Empire podcast have an excellent run of interviews for the genre movies it covers. In the latest, host Chris Hewett gets director David F. Sandberg and producer Peter Safran behind a microphone and dives deep into the Shazam movie. No, not nearly as deep as the seven hours--yes, seven hours--Hewett and director Christopher McQuarrie spent discussion last year's Mission Impossible: Fallout (my review) but it still gets to the good stuff.

The highlights for me was the discussion about 1980s movies like Ghostbusters and how it influenced the 2019 Shazam film. Also they discuss that fabulous last scene of the movie and how a scheduling conflict actually created a better final shot of the movie. It makes what I wanted to see not as good or meaningful as what was actually filmed.

See what I did there? Told you what I wanted to tell you while revealing nothing.

It's a great interview. Then the usual Empire panel discuss the film in spoilerific detail.

If you enjoyed the Shazam movie and are interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, check out this week's Empire podcast.

Oh, and star Zachery Levi sat down with the podcast a few episodes back. If you don't already love this guy, this episode might win you over.

The Power of Shazam by Jerry Ordway

Movie review? Check.
Treasury comic? Check.
Movie serial? Check.
TV show? Check.
All that's left are the comics. And what better place to start than 1994's graphic novel by Jerry Ordway?

Yet Another Revision to the Origin

The original of Captain Marvel was pretty solid for a large chunk of the character's history up to the early 1950s when Fawcett Comics stopped publication. After DC Comics brought Shazam into the DC universe in 1973, the origin was unchanged. Roy Thomas revamped the origin a bit in 1987, but Jerry Ordway updated the origin again in 1994.

Here's the funny thing: In our modern world of comic book movies trying to live and breathe in the real world, Ordway manages to straddle both the expectations of contemporary 1990s comic readers without jettisoning the sense of wonder from the 1940s. That is to say, he gives some cool backstory to some of the Marvel tropes we know and love while presenting said tropes in a fresh, new way.

Billy Batson's Parents Are Alive...

The story opens with archaeologists C.C. Batson and his wife, Marilyn, are exploring a heretofore hidden Egyptian temple. With them is Theo Adam. What's fascinating is C.C. looks like the future Captain Marvel so much that I had to double back and re-read the opening pages to verify it wasn't the actual Shazam outside his costume. Nope, it was Billy's dad. Already new stuff.

As you can imagine, when the trio uncover the secret tomb of Shazam, Adam gets a tad greedy. He steals a scarab from the crypt, kills C.C., then turns around and hunts down the wife. She's gone, too. Lastly, he kidnaps Billy's sister, Mary.

...And Now He's an Orphan

Billy's living on the streets of Fawcett City, a town that seems to draw its retro-future vibe from Batman: The Animated Series. You've got art deco buildings and cars seemingly from the 40s yet there's also a car with similar markings of a Ford Mustang. Either way, the city looks great in a timeless sort of way.

Hearkening back to the character's earliest days, Billy's earning meager wages selling papers. A stranger beckons him to follow him into the subway system. This, at least, is a consistent thread through all permutations of the Billy's origins. Surprisingly, the stranger, clad in trench coat and fedora pulled low on the forehead, looks an awfully lot like the deceased C. C.

In the magical caverns, Billy meets the aged wizard Shazam. We get a little backstory, filling in the  gap between his parents deaths and Billy's present living situation. Still, despite everything, Billy says the magic word and boom!

Captain Marvel's Still a Kid Inside

Like the current movie, when young Billy becomes the adult Captain Marvel, he's still got his kid brain inside. And he's really confused. He starts wrecking Shazam's cavern, attacking the old man as the wizard tries desperately to explain everything. He finally gets through, and we move onto the next act.

Sivanna as a Businessman

To jump to a different hero's story for a moment, when John Byrne revamped Superman's story and made Lex Luthor a businessman, it made perfect sense. Perhaps Ordway saw how well that worked for Superman and did the same for Sivanna. He's still the small, scrawny type, but he's like an evil Disney, wanting to use his money to put on a World's Fair. Naturally, we learn Theo Adam is on his bankroll, and, well, things don't go well from there.

A Smart Villain in Black Adam

When Shazam finally makes his appearance, Theo Adam recognizes him as C. C. Batson. And he puts two and two together, especially when he sees the big yellow lightening bolt on the uniform's chest. He returns to his lair and, wearing the scarab amulet stolen from Egypt, actually becomes Black Adam.

This is what I'm talking about when I say Ordway brings a modern sensibility to this story. In an actual 1940s comic, the villain would just be a villain. Here, Adam, an adult, figures things out. He's not just a bad guy trying to do bad guy things.

The Big Fight Feels Familiar

If you've seen the new movie, you realize the villain, Mark Strong's Sivanna, figures out Captain Marvel is really a child inside. He wants the power. Same here. But in 1994, Jerry Ordway did it first. And it's during this fight Billy finally realizes his true potential.

A Great Re-Introduction of Shazam to the DC Universe

In The Power of Shazam, Jerry Ordway gives a modern take on the origin of the first Captain Marvel. He brings modern sensibilities to the  storytelling while laying the groundwork for future stories. His art is, as always, instantly recognizable and gorgeous. He has a way of capturing the true emotions behind the characters at certain times. It can be sadness or, like this panel, remind you Billy is nothing more than a ten-year old kid.

Plus, like the new movie, this story makes you feel like a kid again, with all the whiz-bang verve of a classic comic. As a historian, I also really dug all the nods to the original time period, including the movie serial. Captain Marvel is basically a pulp character come to glorious life in the pages of comic books. Look again at the cover. It's a pulp magazine painting. The interior title page also just rings with a 1940s vibe. It looks like it could have been the title card for the movie serial.

With Houston's Comicpalooza arriving in a month, I'll be on the lookout for issues of The Power of Shazam. My guess is I won't be the only one.

Jerry Ordway Interviewed

Not coincidentally (considering the big movie debuted), Jerry Ordway sat down with Ralph Garman on Garman's The Ralph Report this week. Garman and Ordway chatted not only about The Power of Shazam, but other milestones in comic book history in which Ordway played a role. Great peek behind the curtain with a legendary creator.

The Ralph Report is a subscription-based podcast about which I'll write a full-review in the near future. I listen every day on my commute home. It is a funny, acerbic view of entertainment news, complete with recurring bits. It's not your standard podcast. It's a show, with high production values, and constant interactions between the hosts and the listeners. The podcast is definitely adult in tone, but Ralph and Vice Host, Eddie Pence, deliver every episode with humor and heart.

Year of an Indie Writer: Week 13

Well, let's call this Bat-Week, shall we?

Yeah, I know I posted four blogs last week about a 1976 four-issue run called Batman's Underworld Olympics, but this was the true Bat-Week.

The Caped  Crusader is now eighty years old, and man, if he doesn't look a day over twenty-nine. I wrote my Gen-X life with Batman and me, while I reviewed Detective Comics 1000 on Thursday.

A Podcast Worth Your Time

Not sure how many Generation Xers we have in the audience, but yesterday, I wrote a piece about one of my favorite podcasts. TechnoRetro Dads is a clean, positive ray of sunshine celebrating the glory days of our Gen-X childhood, a reminder of how good we had it back then, and how awesome we Earbuds have it today.

And they've inspired me to  eat some sugary cereal. How? Read the review.

Book Descriptions

Back in Week 9, I discussed the challenges of writing the book description of HELL DRAGON, the second Calvin Carter adventure. Well, this coming week, I'll be publishing "Amber Alert," a short crime story set in the modern day, and it's just as difficult.

But I tried something different this time, and it proved to make the process just a little bit easier.

Without thinking too hard or too long, I let my fingers fly over the keyboard and, before I knew it, I had crafted five descriptions. Each were slightly different. With each new variation, new light began to shine. I started to hone in on the best words to convey the character and the plot.

Then, I started cherry picking sentences. A bit like the technique of writing songs using cut-up pieces of paper like David Bowie or Bob Dylan.

When you write a book description and the focus is on a character, one method is to show the character as he is, present the problem, and leave with a choice that should compel the reader to keep reading. That's the format I chose for this description.

I ended up with the "As He Is" from the third, the "Problem" from the fourth, and the "Choice" also from the fourth.

Thus, we ended up with the following:

Griffin Lynne had locked away his old life and thrown away the key. He used to be an enforcer, hurting people and enjoying it. Now, he holds down an honest job as a carpenter. He rides a motorcycle, reveling in its freedom. He even found God. 

In short, Griffin's life is about as perfect as could be for an ex-con.

Until he sees the Amber Alert sign. Kidnapped child was bad. Worse, based on the license plate number, he knows the kidnapper and where to find him.

Griffin knows what he has to do. But to find the little girl, he'll have to find that old key and unlock the evil. 

But when his old life reemerges and takes hold of him, will Griffin Lynne be strong enough to hold them back?

The title of this little tale is "Amber Alert" and I'll have an excerpt later next week.

New Month. New Story

Monday starts a new month and a new quarter. I plan on completing at least one novel and one novella this quarter. It might only take me one month, but I'll allow myself at least six weeks to get those things wrapped.

What are your plans for the month of April?

Podcast Review: TechnoRetro Dads

I have eaten more sugary cereal since I started listening to this podcast than I have for the past decade.

And I love it.

All Things Retro

Podcasters Shazbazzar and JediShua are a few years younger than my fifty, but together, we are brethren. We grew up in the 1970s and 1980s when Saturday morning meant only one thing--cartoons!--there was only a single Star Wars film, and only three networks. It was the age of toys, toys, toys, and awesome cereal aimed precisely at kids. It was a great time to be a kid, and these dads share the love with each other, their families, and all the Earbuds (their affectionate nickname for fans of the show).

A Typical Episode is a Mini Variety Show

I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled onto this show, but it took only one episode for me to become hooked. Shazbazzar hails from Alabama while JediShua lives "a mile high in the sky" in Colorado. New episodes drop on Monday morning. Each week is themed and they focus on a particular aspect of something we Gen Xers remembered. This week was Batman (since nearly everything this week was Bat-themed). Almost always, the main focus marks some sort of anniversary, like this week with Batman's 80th birthday.

But before they reach the meat of the show, there is news. Some of it is of the personal variety. They are, after all, dads. It's right there in the title. They talk about their kids or some other neat little retro item. Then, as they segue to the geek news of the week, they have what I've come to really enjoy: back and forth jokes. Again, just like a variety show, one of them will provide the setup and the other the punchline. And, these jokes are almost always relating to the week's theme. Each week, my own family has learned I come home at the end of my workday with my phone in hand, ready to play the joke segment.

The Awesomeness of Cereal

In just about every episode, there is some sort of news about cereal, be it a new flavor of a legacy cereal, a new cereal to stand alongside all the brands we've come to love, or just a memory. Leading into this segment is a particular theme song. Not sure if they made it or if an Earbud did, but it always brings a smile to my face.

Like I wrote at the top, I've started buying cereal again. I'm pretty strict with my diet during the weekdays--I avoid sugar crashes at work by not having any--but as this year rolled around, I've been bringing home boxes of Captain Crunch or the smaller single varieties of Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops. Why? Specifically because of the joy Shazbazzar and JediShua share in their love of cereal. Heck, I even went out and bought the new Hostess Honey Bun cereal just to taste it.

Now, I'm actually slowing down on the cereal aisle, looking at all the boxes I so recently glazed over.

Saturday Mornings Were Nirvana

Speaking of theme songs, the tune that leads into the Saturday morning cartoon segment could have easily been pulled from season 2 of Scooby Doo. Remember the times when the crazy monster would chase the Scooby Gang and a song would break out? That's what I'm talking about. The vibe is spot on.

In this segment, Shazbazzar and JediShua chat about various Saturday morning cartoons they loved. Being a few years younger than me, their Saturday mornings went into the 80s, but it's still fun to hear them wax nostalgic. What have I done as a direct result of this segment? Spent some Saturday mornings watching cartoons. Eating cereal. Yeah, it's great.

High Quality Each Week

I'm not too sure how much time it takes for these two to record and produce a 77-minute podcast every week, but the production level is high. Background music, canned laughter, and great sound make listening to each episode a happy one. And there's new banner art every week, also keyed with the week's theme. It's a lot of work, but you can tell it's work they love.

RetroZap Network

The TechnoRetro Dads podcast is part of the RetroZap Network. I could summarize what they have to offer, but that would be an entirely new blog post. Better you just head over there yourself and see if any of the podcasts and articles strike your fancy. If you love the stuff I write about and Shazbazzar and JediShua talk about each week, you'll find something to love.

A Weekly Habit

I've enjoyed this podcast from the day I listened to my first episode. It is my favorite weekly podcast, and a Monday just isn't a Monday without Shazbazzar and JediShua.

TechnoRetro Dads is a clean, positive ray of sunshine celebrating the glory days of our Gen-X childhood, a reminder of how good we had it back then, and how awesome we Earbuds have it today.

I highly recommend this podcast.

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100 Things Batman Fan Should Know and Do Before They Die by Joseph McCabe

Billed as "Your unauthorized guide to the comics, the movies, and beyond," author Joseph McCabe has written a fun encyclopedia of Bat-Things that span the decades. The publication date is 2017, so the last entry is the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie.

I first learned about McCabe's book on the Holy Batcast podcast when host Andy Digenova interviewed the author. The episode was a great one, getting me home one afternoon on my then hour-long commute. I ordered the book the same week, and it's been on my bookshelf ever since.

McCabe list is pretty good, too. Sprinkled throughout various entries are interviews with particular creators and actors. I remember quickly scanning the table of contents to see if some of my favorites made the list. Imagine my glee when I noted two of my all-time favorite Bat-Things were included: the tabloid story of Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk and the animated TV series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Not only that, but McCabe includes two interviews, one with Diedrich Bader, the voice of Batman for the series, and producer James Tucker. Look, I know and agree that The Animated Series is arguably the best version of Batman on screen, but you can't deny the sheer joy of the Brave and Bold series. If B:TAS is the best, then Brave and Bold is my favorite. Plus, it's named after my favorite Bat-Title.

I suppose you could read this book cover to cover, but it's more fun to pick up and just open the book and read whatever entry on which you happen to land. I have enjoyed the book for over a year now, and I recommend it for every Bat-Fan.

Need another reason to buy it? Paul Dini, one of the creators of Batman: The Animated Series and noted Bat-Author writes the introduction. With that stamp of approval, what more do you need?

Podcasts I Like: 70s Trek

They had me at the title: “70s Trek.” 

Heck, they had me at "70s"!

I listened to the first episode, then promptly downloaded all episodes up to that point (29 at the time). I binge-listened to all of them in a week’s time, loving every minute of each episode.

I was born during Star Trek’s third season so I grew up with Star Trek. Now, I’ll admit that my memory is a tad hazy and I only came to Trek after Star Wars debuted, but that’s where this podcast comes in.

Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto are a delightful pair, easy on the ears, with a warm comradery and shared love of Trek in the 70s. In each episode that averages around 30 minutes, Bob and Kelly examine some aspect of Trek. While you don’t have to listen in order, it’s not a bad idea as you’ll get a good overview of how Trek came to be and the influences that went into its creation.

The main focus, however, is the 1970s, as the tagline reads, “The decade that built a franchise.” For us, over 50 years on, Trek permeates our daily lives, from cell phones to tablet computers to speaking to our computers. But Bob and Kelly take us back and remind us what it was like to be a fan of Trek in the 70s. Fans in the 70s didn’t know a lot. They had only a few books. They had a cartoon. Heck, they never even knew if there’d be any more live-action Trek. After all, Trek was actually a cancelled TV show, but it proved to be much more than that.

One of the aspects of this podcast that remains joyful is Bob and Kelly’s sense of wonder. Often one of them will take the lead on a particular subject, leaving the other co-host the first listener. Many times, new facts will be revealed, and cries of “I didn’t know that!” are great fun. What’s also fun is their clear joy at the subject and other things in Trek’s orbit.

So far (remember: I’m still catching up) a particular favorite episode is #3 (What We Knew in 1970), #13 (the Richard Arnold interview), and #9 (Star Trek in Syndication).

This is a love letter to Star Trek, the people behind it, the fans that kept it alive in the 1970s, and everything in between.
70s Trek has now firmly ensconced itself in my weekly podcast schedule. Utterly and completely enjoyable.

Oh, they have a Facebook presence and respond personally to comments. So after you subscribe to the podcast, head over there and join the conversation.

iTunes

Is James Patterson the KISS of the Publishing World?

Ever since James Patterson announced his Bookshots initiative, I was curious. For those that don't know. the world's #1 bestselling author wants to provoke folks who might not normally read longer books to try out shorter books. As the slogan goes, "Under 150 pages. Under $5." I've read exactly zero Patterson books, but I own a few. In fact, I had picked up Private: India the other day at the grocery store because I wanted to see what that series was like. Last night, I picked up the first two Bookshots books: Crosskill and Zoo 2. I started Crosskill, and dang it if I didn't blow through five chapters. I had to get to sleep, but I can see this kind of thing catching on.

What I'd really like to see is is these books available at Starbucks, drug stores, or grocery stores at the checkout lines. Make them impulse buys.

This Patterson talk had me remembering a post I wrote back in January 2015 for DoSomeDamage entitled "Is James Patterson the KISS of the Publishing World?" Some of my comments can apply to Bookshots today. Anything that gets people reading is fine by me. And, as an author of a book (WADING INTO WAR) that easily fits in a Bookshots format (Under 150 pages. Under $5), I welcome shorter books. In fact, I'm writing one now...

If you're here reading this, chances are good you're already a reader. You don't mind reading giant tomes like the Outlander books or short stories or anything else in between. We can enjoy Bookshots, but, I suspect, they're not aimed at us. Just imagine the person who says "I stopped reading after high school" and then picks up a Bookshots book and sees how fun reading can be. There. Patterson's just made a new reader, and that helps everyone.

Here's the older article. I welcome y'all's comments.

I discovered some new friends this week. I'm a big fan of the rock band KISS and there are a good number of podcasts out there. Up until now, my two favorites have been PodKISSt and Kisstory Science Theater. To quote Yoda, there is another.

 

Pods and Sods is technically a music podcast (a podcast for the musically obsessed...) but Craig Smith and Eric Miller are avid KISS fans. As such, a good chunk of the 82 episodes involve KISS. A fun thing they did last month during the “12 Days of KISSmas,” was cover, in detail, the first 12 KISS LPs, one a day and one an episode. They know their stuff and I found myself nodding to points they made and disagreeing with others.

 

But what utterly surprised me was how funny they are. The key to their humor comes with the intimate knowledge of the subject matter. With that knowledge comes the ability to look at the absurd nature of some of the antics the members of KISS have foisted on the public in their forty years. Craig's impersonations of Gene Simmons is hilarious! Some fans, you can imagine, take lots of umbrage with any humor at the expense of their rock heroes. Not so Smith and Miller. They see the absurdity for what it is and laugh at it *while still being fans.*

 

Now, I understand that being fans of a rock band like KISS and being fans of authors are different realms but I couldn’t help think about the similarities of the two this week while devouring 21 of the 22 KISS-centric episodes (that’s about 20 hours of listening, by the way) and reading about the latest news from James Patterson. Evidently, he’s trying to garner interest in his new book with his so-called “self-destructing book.” According to his website, 1,000 fans get a code to download an advance copy of his latest PRIVATE book and have 24 hours to read the story before “the book self-destructs in a spectacular fashion.” You can follow readers’ progress. Three readers here in Houston got the novel. The website claims it’s a revolutionary reading experience.

 

Yup, it is. And I’m totally cool with it. Why the heck not? Is it a stunt? Absolutely. It is unique? Unquestionably. It is fun? Yessiree bob. It it for everyone? Nope.

 

Neither is KISS. I know many who discount KISS because of their make-up, over-the-top shows (“They only do that because their music isn’t good”--to which I say just listen to some of their songs), and their unabashed salesmanship. That’s all true, but I’m one who learned about rock and roll through their antics. They are my first favorite rock band. Sure, I’ve come to love Chicago, Bowie, Springsteen, Genesis, Sting, and others, but KISS will forever have a special place in my heart. And they have a particular outlook on music and their role in it. They are entertainers, pure and simple. As the guys from Pods and Sods point out, there’s a whole lot of positive messages laced in KISS songs...if you can get past the clunky lyrics and debauchery.

 

Might Patterson be the KISS of the publishing industry? He’s unapologetically commercial. So what? It helps him get product out that the public enjoys. He's not the #1 best-selling author for nothing. He uses co-writers. So what? As the December issue of Vanity Fair points out, he has such a heavy hand in the writing that’s it’s basically his work by the time the books are published. As I’ve piled up manuscripts, I’ve often thought it would be nice for someone to take my first draft and clean it up -- while I write a first draft of a new novel and then come back around to revise the cleaned-up draft later. But that’s just me.

 

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts for this week. I’ve also been working on my new website and I’m close to being done with it. News will be coming soon on that front.

 

What are y’all’s thoughts on Patterson’s stunt? And if y’all like KISS or just in-depth music talk, I wholeheartedly recommend Pods and Sods

Brad Meltzer is My New Favorite Author Interviewee!

The best thing I heard this week were two interviews Brad Meltzer gave via podcasts. The first was the latest installment of Kevin Smith’s Fat Man on Batman. I think I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: when Smith interviews a creator and deep dives into what makes that creator tick, it is some of the most inspirational things I’ve ever listened to. I had already gone back and re-listened to the Mark Hamill episodes before the Meltzer episode dropped. What’s great about Smith and Meltzer talking is that they’re me. They are about a year or two younger than I am so they lived the geek life I lived. But the material, the life experiences they discuss are wonderfully profound. Just listen to Meltzer’s comment about a ‘parent’s love in bottled form.’ I'm not ashamed to say that some of the discussion moved me, even sitting at my desk at the day job. Brilliant.

Throughout the podcast, Smith kept referencing “Hardwick” and needing to get Meltzer out in under an hour. It turns out that Meltzer was going on The Nerdist podcast with Chris Hardwick. Never heard of it but, in the high I felt right after the Fat Man episode, I immediately downloaded the Meltzer interview at the Nerdist. Holy moley! Even more Meltzer goodness. There was only about 5-10% of common material between the two episodes. What comes across is that Meltzer is a genuinely nice guy, the kind of person who’d invite you to sit down and talk with him even if he didn’t know you. I was eagerly awaiting the release of The President’s Shadow, his third Beecher White novel, and I snatched up the audiobook on release day (narrated by audio superstar Scott Brick). After hearing both of these episodes, I went home, pulled my copy of Identity Crisis from my bookshelf for a re-read (it’s been seven or eight years). I got the issue numbers he wrote for Green Arrow and Justice League and plan on getting those trade paperbacks soon.  I even checked my local listings on when Meltzer’s TV shows come on. 

Houston wasn’t on Meltzer’s tour schedule this year. That’s a shame, but these two podcasts make up for not seeing him in person. In a way, however, these two podcasts actually let you get to know the man more than a book event. That won’t stop me from hoping that his next project brings him to Houston. I want tell him thanks for being my inspiration this week.

BTW, The Nerdist podcast is awesome! I’ve already and listened to episodes featuring Tom Bergeron, William Shatner, Grant Morrison, and Mark Hamill. And there are something like 600 episodes. It's like Christmas...in July!


I'm a history major so I wouldn't be myself if I didn't acknowledge that today is Independence Day in the United States. Here is how John Adams predicted the great day (in his mind, 2 July) would be celebrated:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

I think he pretty much nailed it.

Inspiration from Unlikely Sources

A common writerly thing we tell ourselves is that inspiration for a story can come from just about any place and at any time. You know what else can come from those same mysterious places? The desire, the push you might need to get one's butt in a chair and write.

I don't know if y'all ever experience this, but, at times, watching my current favorite TV programs (Castle, Elementary, Grimm, Body of Proof), at some point during the broadcast, two things usually happen. One, the realization that I should probably be writing. I let that one slide, typically, because we can't be a writer and/or writing all the time. Two, I get inspired to go write. I enjoy those shows for their creativity, their structure, and their characters that it can prompt me to take notes about my characters or stories or dash to the keyboard and fire out some pages of my own characters because I enjoy them coming to life as much as I enjoy watching Castle, Beckett, Holmes, or Nick Burkhardt come to life and do their thing.

That kind of inspiration is, I think, typical of all of us writers. What may not be typical is getting inspiration from as unlikely as source as a podcast about Batman. Kevin Smith has, since last year, created a podcast devoted to his love of the Dark Knight. Naming it "Fat Man on Batman," each week (more or less) is an episode devoted to one or another aspect of Batman's history. With this venture being an audio-only podcast, naturally, the only thing we have is the interview itself, the voices of Smith and his guests for that has been the way Smith talks about Batman. His guest list has run out pretty wide, even though it is probably more Batman: The Animated Series heavy. 

For any Batman fan out there, I cannot recommend this show enough. It has been the weekly thing that I most look forward to. I download and put on my iPod as quickly as possible. The depth and breadth Smith and his guests take the adventures of Batman is inspiring. It will confirm things you already knew, reassess things you thought in a different way, and make the entire experience of watching and reading Batman fun again.

But that's not all. What comes across in your ears is passion. There is a passion for the material, certainly. How can you even think to have a podcast if you hated something, right? It's become something of a joke now, but many of Smith's interviewees bring the big man to tears. If it's not tears that are forming in Smith's eyes (and voice), then it's awe. All too often, the guests--who have ranged from Mark Hamill, Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Kevin Conroy (Batman: TAS) to Kyle Higgins, Geoff Johns, and Grant Morrison (comics)--convey their thought process behind a certain episode or issue or way of thinking about Bruce Wayne and his rather odd outlet for his childhood tragedy. Each time, Smith just sits in stunned amazement, comprehending something he thought he knew and seeing it in a new way. The same for us listeners, too.

Just like the old days when you were limited by the number of comics you could put in a box and take with you on vacation and you read those same issues over and over, these podcasts are like that. I've listened to most of them twice, so enjoyable are the conversation and the topics. But each time, I am prompted, nee I'm pushed by an uncompromising force to get to my Mac or pen/paper and *create*. It is the strangest thing. You'd think that I would start writing my own Batman story or jump back to an episode or an issue and re-read. I do that, but not initially. What I end up doing is want to create my own beings and put them through the motions of their lives. I want to bring the passion for my own material that others bring to Batman. I already have the passion for my projects--why else would I be writing them?--but sometimes, this podcast is like icing on the cake. It is a wonderfully unexpected consequence to listening to theses podcasts.

Is there something you do that brings unexpected creativity to your writing?