2/3 done with second part of the "Goblin Tale"

After four months, three weeks and one day I am to pleased to see that the second part of my dark fantasy series is roughly 2/3 complete. I am astounded at the progress I have made considering that the first part of the series took twice as long. This is actually my first sequel and I was most pleased with the level of violence and the themes involved. I am also extremely please with my use of Elemental mythology, mainly borrowing from several tales of folklore to add to the story's narrative. I have used inspirations from Medieval and Ancient Greek mythologies and, in my honest opinion, they blended extremely well.
If all goes as smoothly as it has been, I should have this story completed in less than one months time!

2017 in retrospect

2017 was actually a very productive year. I completed two novellas and started the second part of my dark fantasy series 'The Goblin Tale' of which I'm roughly about a month removed from completing it. It felt like I was writing the whole year, and for a writer that is truly positive indeed. Plus, I had two absolutely fantastic trips abroad to both Italy and Greece. Halloween was rather memorable and I can honestly say that I'm so much closer to completing my life long goal of being world renown. I can only hope that next year can bring such positive tidings!

Venice was Beautiful!

My Venice trip went pretty much as expected! It was absolutely fantastic and reinforced my own personal belief that when all of us finally die the only actual things that we take with us are our memories. The sights were stupendous, the food excellent, and the wine was legendary. I also had the privilege of having the ultimate guide in my nephew who took me to every crevice the historic city had to offer. Considering that this is the second trip I've had this year and both of them were awesome(My whole trip to Venice cost me less than $1000.00) I'm very excited on any and all prospects that next year shall bring!

 

Venice in December!

The travel bug has bitten me yet again. On December 13th I will make my way to the historic city of Venice where, hopefully I can see some semblances of Ancient Rome as I not as interested in the renaissance as I should be. With any luck, I'll be able to give praise to any remaining statues of Juno(The Roman Equivalent of my Beloved Hera) aside from enjoying the usual food and wine. I consider myself rather fortunate to have and keep having these especially amazing experiences and look forward to having as many of them as chance will allow.

Lack of Strictures

Anyone who knows anything about our craft should know that certain writers have a different emphasis on what they consider priority. For instance, I don't consider it an emergency if punctuation takes a backseat to imagination. And believe me, I have been more than criticized for that prerogative. When one takes a close look at those who adhere to such strictures, you'll find their work to be lacking in the interest department. Honestly, I find most of them so redundant, I can barely stomach them. They seem to be focused on the attempt to impress readers with supposed sophistication but usually fail to do so. And most of them, fortunately for me, usually partake in genres outside of Horror. I feel it is the most important priority to command attention and, again most rewarding to me, depravity and imagination go hand in hand in doing so. Rigid conduct can be beneficial in other fields, but for writers it is most limiting.

2017 almost finished!

Well, the end of 2017 is just right around the corner. I felt this year was very productive. I started the year off working on my second novella 'Further Passage (Into Hell)', then wound up working on and completing my third one 'The Honors Amongst Vermin'. Now that the year is coming to a close, I'm working on part two of my dark fantasy series 'The Goblin Tale'. When I consider that I had virtually no cases of writers block all year round and I went to the beautiful and magical ruins of Olympia,Greece as well, I truly have no complaints about 2017 at all. Not to mention that this particular blog has now surpassed 20,000 views and more of my material has been viewed on sites such as Linkedin and Creepy Pasta, I feel that the sky is the limit. One thing is for sure, time passes by extremely quickly. This year amazed me with the speed of its passing. I literally blinked my proverbial eyes and it is now just about finished. As always, I can only hope that next year is just as, if not more, positive and productive.

1/2 of the 'The Goblin Tale' part 2 complete

2017 has been a busy year indeed for me as for writing. I completed two novella's(Further Passage, Honors Amongst Vermin), took a lovely trip to to Greece, and started the second part of my Dark Fantasy series 'The Goblin Tale'. The story, like so many of my others, has assumed a life of it's own and I'm very pleased to say that I've finished roughly about half of it. The direction of the story is very interesting as I had no idea the amount of twists and turns it would be taking. New characters as well have added to the narrative as well as enhancements of characters passed. Again, I'm very pleased with this story and that, I feel, is a major proponent of the writing process. One must always enjoy what one writes.

why I usually loathe diluting genres

Recently I went to the movies which was something I had not done in quite some time. The movie that I saw was a remake of a horror classic that I had never seen, yet by the time the film had ended I could understand why I had earlier avoided the original. Though I did not hate the film, it did remind me that I usually detest when the mixing of genre's occurs. Only a few times I have found this acceptable; for instance the story of 'Dracula' is, in essence, a Gothic love story. The later writings of H.P. Lovecraft are a splendid mix of horror and science-fiction, and even the great Edgar Allen Poe wrote what is probably the very first detective story. But, I found the particular work of the writer responsible for the film, as well as many of his earlier works, to be anything other than horror even though he has fancied himself under the horror banner his whole career. Many contemporary authors have indeed done the same. One thing is for certain, I feel that if you have a pull towards specific genre's, you should stick to labeling your works as such. If you are truly a horror writer, your passion should solely be on HORROR!! To deny horror it's purity indeed does the most magnificent genre a sad disservice.

Happy Halloween 2017!

How exciting! My favorite holiday is, once again, right around the corner! This year, so far, I have no immediate plans as to what I'm going to do for it but, if nothing else, it will be a perfect excuse to indulge in a marathon of horror movies! While I'm passing on the route most people take and refusing to decorate my house in festive attire, I'm keeping my love for the holiday alive by continuously staying active working on 'The Goblin Tale Part 2: A Rebellion in Fairyland'. The story is now 1/4th of the way done and I'm hoping it will be completed early next year.
Once again, I am thoroughly disappointed by a seemingly lack of new and high-quality horror movies for the month of October. The only ones that Hollywood seems to pay any attention to are either remakes or franchise regurgitation. Such a shallow approach is, by my standards, rather shameful indeed. If things keep up this way, I wonder what the future for the Horror genre will be. Such a sad fact makes my appreciation for the beloved classics even more astute!

Greece was awesome!!

I must say, though I regret it was a rather short trip, that my Greece trip was insanely satisfying. If I had only one word to describe it, it would have to be: Smooth. From getting off the plane and finding which bus to take to get to Olympia(where I stayed the whole time I was there), to the Hotels I stayed in(I had not made a previous reservation), to the restaurants and, finally, to the ancient attractions; it was outstanding! The Temple of Hera itself was worth the whole trip as I've never visited anywhere else in the world that had the same level of mystical sway on me. The museums were also fascinating as I learned facts especially from the Olympics that can considered most brutal indeed. The food was as good as anywhere in the world, though I'll admit I basically stuck to indulging in street foods, like Gyros and Souvlaki. Greek wine was a tad bit stronger than what I'm used to but it was so delicious it's actually difficult to describe.
It was also an extremely inexpensive trip, I spent $360.00 the whole time I was there. All in all, I have absolutely no regrets and would implore anyone interested in History, Mythology, and especially food and wine to give it a try.

Autumn has come once again!

With my Greece trip only days away, I still am excited that my favorite time of the year has once again arrived. Alas, I love the season of Autumn! With the obvious changes to the colors of trees and so forth I find it all most festive! Last year I celebrated Halloween in San Diego's Old Town amidst the imagery of the oncoming 'Dia de los Muertos' holiday and plenty of wine. With any luck, this year will be just as exciting if not more.Halloween has long been my favorite holiday as I celebrate it in more of a traditional pagan fashion. I actually detest the commercialism associated with it. The Jack'o' lantern itself I look upon with a certain relevance since when the concept of it was created, people were actually sincere in their efforts to ward off 'Evil' Spirits. If only the rest of the holidays were as gracious to the macabre!

Greece in Two Weeks!

Well, I have done it again! I have thrown caution to the proverbial winds and booked a flight two weeks from now to Athens, Greece. From Athens, I intend to take a four hour bus drive to Olympia where once and for all I will give homage at the Temple of Hera. I have been wanting to do this for what seems like ages and finally I get to scratch it off my 'Bucket list' if you will. Hopefully, there won't be too many tourists, believe it or not I never like to go to places where they run amok! I believe that life is far too short to be doing anything else than what stimulates your passions to the utmost degree and that being said, I can't imagine anything else in life right now that would equal the excitement I have knowing that this is finally going to occur!

First Chapter of the Goblin Tale Part 2 finished!

Just as expected, the first chapter of my new story "Rebellion in Fairyland: The Goblin Tale part 2" is finished. Just as the original story before it, it's taken a few unexpected turns that follow perfectly well with the theme behind the story. And, just as all my stories, the story is taking on a life of it's own. I can only hope that the rest of the story, and the following books as well, comes as easily and frequently. I must say that so far 2017 has been a very productive year and those are the kinds of years that I look forward to the most! I started the year working on a project, and it looks that I'm going to end it on one as well!

Of Myth and Majesty...

Being a writer for most of my life, I handily admit that mythology has interested me almost more than any other subject. There's so many Gods and Goddesses that I find it perplexing to narrow it down to which ones I've taken a virtual obsession with. But, if I was to be pressed on which one was my absolute favorite and which one I would could easily spend the rest of my life praising, it would be the Ancient Grecian Queen of the Gods, Hera. I can't remember when my fascination with Hera began but I've always considered her the most fair and beautiful of all the Gods. So beautiful I consider Hera, I would find it impossible to find any semblance of her beauty with any and all of human women. It's this undying fascination that propels me to one day visit Greece and give homage at one of the many temples there that honored her. It's also the reason why I gave her a small but commanding part in the first book of the 'Goblin Tale' and why I'm sure she will be in the books that follow!

Going to start part 2 of 'The Goblin Tale'

It's only been two weeks and two days since I've completed my third novella and yet again the demon of ambition has again crossed my path. I have decided to work on the second part of my dark fantasy series 'The Goblin Tale'. The series follows Gnellroth the Goblin in his quest for primordial glory. Several recurring characters will also be having appearances including: Mullaek the Mystic, Tundra the Witch, and the Dark Goddess Hecate. I really can't say as of now how many stories the series will consist of, as always my books take on a life of their own each and every time I start a new project. Yet, the excitement of keeping the creative process going is ecstatic!

R.I.P George Romero and Martin Landau

It's only been a few days since two icons in the Horror film genre passed away. George Romero and Martin Landau were both giants in a genre that is almost always plagued by oblivion. Looking around at the greats that are left, I am regretful to declare that there aren't too many of them. It makes me feel fortunate that I grew up in the 80's when Horror movies were based more on style and substance than sheer volume and repetition. I sometimes contemplate if my beloved genre will ever make a comeback and if such timeless legends of the past, there are so many of them, can ever truly be replaced.
Which brings me to another subject altogether; time. One truly has no idea of the time allotted them in this life. So, with that in mind, I feel it is best to always strive for the completion of one's aspirations. I honestly can't imagine a deeper Hell than striving one's whole life to achieve just that and still remaining in the confines of an unending obscurity. Maybe one doesn't exist.

Third Novella Complete!

I'm extremely excited to declare that after three months and five days, my third novella 'The Honors Amongst Vermin' is finally complete. Only those who have dedicated their life to the concepts of passion and creation could possibly understand the level of ecstasy I currently feel. Within the past five years I have completed three novellas, four novels, and five short stories and I must say that each of those projects was truly a blessing in disguise. I'm very grateful that after each projected completed that I kept busy with new ideas and adding new elements to my beloved genre. So, now the question begs, as it always does after each completed goal, 'What happens now?' and just as each time before, I can't really provide an answer. Perhaps one shall be provided for me.

2/3 complete with new novella!

It's almost been three months to the day and I'm happy to say that I'm almost 2/3 complete with my new novella 'The Honors Amongst Vermin'. I am very pleased with the level of consistency I've had with this work. One really never knows any twists or turns life has in store for you when you decide to begin a story, any kind of story. So, when you're focus is as unwavering as your passion, you become extraordinarily grateful. When I take a look at the last three novellas' I have completed, in theme they couldn't be more different from each other. Yet, in the process of writing them, they couldn't be more similar. Once the signature concept is grasped, they all seem to take on a life of their own. And quite honestly, I couldn't be more excited for such a process!

Almost 20,000 views on my blog!

I am pleased to say that I have almost reached 20,000 views on this blog!! I remember like it was yesterday when I started this blog to spread the word of my deepest passion; Gothic Horror Literature. For those of you who have contributed to this spectacular number of views, words fail to deliver the level of elation you have given me. I can only hope that together we can double, if not triple the number within a short time and spread the gospel of horror throughout the chasm's of eternity forever! Today makes approximately 17 years two months and four days that I have been living by my quest and with your support I expect to double that time with the greatest of ease! Hail Horrors now and Forever!

Becoming your own driving force

A long time ago I read an article that I found rather disappointing and enlightening at the same time. It was about a woman who had written a novel and because she had generated very little interest in it, she then decided to not only bury her whole career as a writer but also to bury her novel as well. What I found so interesting about the article is that it summed up the levels of both persistence and attention span of most people. I feel that writing, like everything else, is essentially a trial by error process. So, with that in mind, if you don't find immediate results in your work, you have to become the necessary driving force behind it. I, myself, have been involved with this process for over sixteen years and while the results are currently less than I prefer, I believe the process itself has been extremely rewarding in it's own way. There is definitely a certain magic to the creative process, a magic that those who are not associated with it could possibly understand. It's that magic that continues my journey as a writer. And one day who knows, maybe my works will be an influential factor in someone else who chooses the same path.

Different approach for new story

My new story takes yet again an approach that differs from any of my previous works in the sense that each of the four main characters involved delve into their own narrative. So, I must develop each of their personalities just as astutely as I would if only one character was involved. Each of the characters represents an aspect of society that I, myself, find somewhat reprehensible. You have a Mercenary who answers only to the rich and powerful, A political statesman who has an high degree of legal leverage simply as result of his station, A Bishop who is in essence an extreme hedonist, and a shady Count who is involved in every sort of shadow-like intrigue. I must say that given the time that I have worked on it, my new story is coming along quite fruitfully. And, as usual, though I have no idea what direction this story will take, I am extremely interested in finding out.

Fascination with 'Libertines'

As is usual in every one of my works, I'm reading up on several historical concepts and figures to provide imagery that fits well in my story's narrative. Because my work deals heavily with sexual sadism, corruption, and aristocracy I am rediscovering several past figures that fancied themselves as 'Libertines'. A Libertine is someone who in unrestrained by sexual and societal taboos and lives a life of indulgence and excess. One of the most famous Libertines that ever lived is the Marquis DeSade and it is his work that has heavily influenced my decision to write this particular story. Other famous Libertines include The American Statesman Benjamin Franklin, English Black Magician Aleister Crowley, and famed adventurer Lord Byron. I must admit that the more I study such individuals the narrative of their lifestyles and philosophies, the more mesmerized I become. It's almost as if they are a breed completely foreign to most mere humans and transcend any form of social constraint. Whether morally right or wrong, one cannot deny the fascinations associated with the likes of them.

A new story to be made!

As I'm finishing typing out my second novella, the familiar imagery present before every one of my works has again come. I didn't expect it so soon after completing a story but none-the-less, its something worth paying attention to. My next story is going to shift a focus from demons and ghouls to the most vile villains in all of history; namely human beings. For it is my exact opinion that people have by far committed the very worst sorts of crimes so it is only natural for me to start paying that fact a little credence.
Because the story is only in it's brooding stages, I expect a lot of changes to be made in regards to the outcome of it as a whole. But, I'm expecting this particular story to be one of my most ambitious. I've decided to name it 'Honors Among Vermin'.

Second Novella 'Further Passage(into Hell)' Complete!

Alas, after a little over three months I have finally completed my second novella "Further Passage (into Hell)". I must say that I'm rather pleased with the pace this particular piece of work exhumed. It was Furious! Any writer will tell you that interruptions are plentiful when one tries to complete a task, so the less that one has, the better. I really can't remember any of my previous stories flowing as smoothly as this one. Every time I thought I felt a spat of writer's block coming along, creativity would instantly replace it. With this story, I definitely went back to my roots. This story is one of the most graphic and gory I have written, and I must admit, It made me fall deeply in love with my chosen genre even more, if that's even possible! So, now the question once again abates me; What comes next?

The Return of E'ferries!

It's always exciting when one of your most beloved characters continuously makes appearances in any of your works. With the progression I've been making with my second novella 'Further Passage', out of nowhere came the inclusion of one of my most signature characters; E'ferries the demon. Every time I use him, he seems to get more and more animated and evil, if that's even possible. It makes the story that much more interesting and fulfilling to write. It also adds credence to the fact that my stories essentially write themselves. So far, I've been working on the story for a little over two months now, and, I must say, I am rather pleased with it's direction yet I have no idea which direction it will be going until it's completed!

The Scariest villains of them all

In both the worlds of fiction and nonfiction there are several personas of villains. Some are very easy to recognize with the appearance of extreme sadism and depravity. Some, even more so as they hide all human traits with the use of fear-provoking masks. And then, at least for myself, come the ones who are definitely the scariest of them all. These are the ones who no one would be paying attention to had it not been for them receiving

penance for their crimes. These predatory types could literally be anyone and the facade of normalcy hides demons more grotesque than all in Hell. The type of people I am describing all have similar mental characteristics; The need for Egotistical and physical gratification, a supreme lack of empathy, and a proclivity for causing harm. While these types are indeed rare in Horror fiction as they make for a terribly dull narrative, in the real world the numbers of them are staggering. And its this fact that can assist one in equating any horror film villain with any face in the crowd.

R.I.P John Hurt

One of the most prolific British actors has sadly died today. I first remember seeing John Hurt in the Alan Parker film 'Midnight Express'. I felt his performance in that film as well as countless other ones was completely underrated. The saddest part of losing someone who was so unequally talented is the fact that they are nearly impossible to replace. I challenge anyone to find a modern day actor with the same range or passion as Hurt. And that sad fact brings me to another issue; Standards. Are the entertainers of today even partially equipped with the same fortitude or integrity of the forlorn faces of the past? I leave their bodies of work to speak for themselves.

Usual 'Unusual' inspirations for new story

As usual, the inspirations I'm drawing for my new novella 'Further Passage' are anything but ordinary. I find it both amusing and completely bizarre how the imagery that forms in my thoughts comes to me with barely an effort and doesn't give a moments peace until said project is completed. 'Brujeria' also known as Mexican Witchcraft, is one of the subjects I have been studying for this particular work as one of the characters is, in fact, a witch. And also the Magical Ritual known as the Abra Melin has also found its way into the story. It has been a month since I've started this story and just like all the others before it, it has indeed taken a life of its own. I find that both mesmerizing and frustrating because when I think the main story line is one certain way, It starts to assume many tricks and turns making me yearn both for a clear theme and a story that fits my standards of entertainment. Needless to say, I am very excited with how the story is at the moment and I can only hope that it stays that way!

R.I.P William Peter Blatty

I was saddened to hear that the author of the one of the best horror films ever, 'The Exorcist', has died. William Peter Blatty was a definite pioneer during the time when one could definitely argue that the genre of Horror had reached a certain peak. He was able to produce a movie that has stood on it's own among a slew of other greats, including 'Halloween', 'Rosemary's Baby', and 'The Omen'. Though achieving initial success with the Exorcist, and, in my own opinion, again with the 'The Exorcist 3', I was quite surprised when he didn't replicate such success with other films. But, maybe that's how fickle success can be. When one reaches the usually unattainable, sometimes it's not greatness that is the reward, but obscurity. When I really think about it, perhaps that is what William Peter Blatty actually did.

 

Progressing on my second Novella

I've been fortunate to have a continuous output since I decided to become a writer so many years ago. Recently I took a look at the patterns of starting and completing my many projects and found many similarities that I would probably never notice while I was working on them. I feel it is very important for writers to stay busy, regardless of what is happening in their personal lives. I also feel it is a necessity to acknowledge, as a writer, one's preferred genre. Too many times I have seen writers jump from one genre to another and while sometimes it works, most often it can have setbacks. I have stated several times that as a Horror writer, I am an absolute purist, even though I have branched outside of it a small handful of times. I would never think of including a genre that didn't fit my chosen one, such as comedy. Lately, I have kept myself more than busy while working on my second Novella 'Further Passage'. And again, as with so many of my works, its as if the other side commands my hand. I really don't know why, if it is in fact true, such a supernatural act occurs, but believe me, I'm not complaining. I feel such assistance is more or less an advantage. Everything that comes my way in life, be it a certain movie, a conversation, music and so forth, inspires my progression to the story and I really can't say if it's mere coincidence. If it is, I hope it continues...