COVER REVEAL!

Huzzah! So I've been waiting a bit to share this, and the time has finally arrived! I present to you, in all its 'outlaw' glory, the cover for my upcoming book, Can You Survive? Howard Pyle's Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. I'm so very excited for this book. It's part of a series of 'Choose Your Path' books by publisher Lake 7 Creative, where you are the main character in a work of classic literature. As you read the story, you get to make a number of choices. Decide correctly, and you'll survive until the final chapter. It was such a pleasure reading the ballads of Howard Pyle and adapting the story of the infamous outlaw of Sherwood Forest into an action-filled narrative for young readers.

So, without further ado, <drumroll please> I give you the gorgeous cover, illustrated by David Hemenway...

Golly. Ain't she a beaut? The book will be available in mid-January, so check back here for more info about where you can find it!

Happy holidays, all!
B

HOLY SMOKESTACKS! I THINK THERE'S A TRAIN (BOOK) COMING!

A train book coming? Why, it's already here! Hey gang. Been a while since I've dropped by with a nugget of info. Fear not, though. Things, they are a-happenin'. Aside from the aforementioned picture book that's out, I've been working hard on a variety of projects: writing episodes for The Choo Choo Bob Show, wrapping up the final volume in the Tony Hawk's 900 Revolution series, and putting the finishing touches on a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' style novel based on The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. So yeah, been a bit busy. But I digress. The main thing I wanted to share today was where you can pick up your very own, mint condition copy of the Choo Choo Bob picture book I wrote, Holy Smokestacks! Here Comes a Steam Engine! The book is based on the characters from the TV show, and on the wonderful, train-tastic town of Bobville. Currently, Smokestacks can be found at The Choo Choo Bob Train Store in Saint Paul, and on their WEBSITE. You can also find the book online, (at the usual book-related websites), or it can be ordered at your favorite book emporium. Our plan is to get it in as many local book stores as we can! Take care and all the best, B

CHOO CHOO DUDE

Hey there, Engineers! So, there's this super-cool model train store here in St. Paul that Alex and I frequent, a place called Choo Choo Bob's. I swear, my kid could watch their window display of moving model trains for hours. Well, the man behind the store, Bob Medcraft, is a local commercial producer. In fact, back in the ol' Production Assistant days, I worked a time or two with the guy. Swell fella. Anyway, a few years back, Bob decided to create a television show about trains, one similar in tone and content to Casey Jones and Captain Kangaroo. The show, aptly titled The Choo Choo Bob Show, produced six episodes, and starred some amazing local talent: Sam Heyn, Rich Kronfeld, Emily Fradenburgh, Dave Tufford, and Charlie Hubbell. Now, I have worked with each and every one of these talented individuals, on commercials, shorts, and even feature-length flicks. They're solid, hard-working peeps. Doubt me? Check the sidebar and marvel at Sam and Rich in two - count 'em TWO - of the 48 Hour Film Festival shorts I co-wrote/directed. Also, many of the crew are people I've worked with for years in the commercial world. So I took the first opportunity to snatch up the DVDs of the show and introduce Alex to the wonderful world of trains.

Okay, so long story longer, the gang is back again, producing an additional 46 episodes! The Choo Choo Bob Show will air locally beginning this June, so be on the lookout for this wacky gang of train-iacs. And I'll be sure to remind you. Why? Because I've become a part of this madcap production! I've currently written two episodes of the show, and I'm the author of the Choo Choo Bob picture book Holy Smokestacks! (coming soon) It's been a joy to work with this group again, and to be a part of a locally-produced children's television show (especially one that my son cherishes so much).

This Saturday, April 14th, from 9:30A.M. to 11:30A.M. the Choo Choo Bob gang are screening new episodes of the show at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. The cast will be on-hand, signing autographs, hanging with the kiddos, and performing live music. It's going to be a great event. Tickets are $2.00 apiece, and all of the proceeds are going to the Midway Food Shelf. So come on over and check out The Choo Choo Bob Show!

Here's the details again:
Saturday April 14th
The Riverview Theater
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Tickets: $2.00 apiece

Hope to see some of you there!

B

SIT REP

...tap tap..."Is this thing on?" ...tap tap...

So yeah...Hi everyone! Been a while. Remember me? Tall, lanky, prone to bad puns? Well, it seems as if whole seasons have gone by since my last post (June? Really, dude?), and for that I apologize. It's been a pretty busy 7 months or so, and I'm thankful for that. Had a few books released. Worked on a handful more. Watched my toddling little toddler turn into a 'big boy.' So yeah, it's enough to forget I've got this little corner of the Interweb to update.

Since 2012 kicked off, the kidlet has hit three pretty solid milestones: he's potty-trained, he sleeps in a bed and not a crib, and he started preschool. The Trinity of Toddlerhood. And he's taken to them all like a champ. Sure, the newfound freedom of bed life has made for some interesting evenings, as did the Defcon 1 scrambles to the bathroom. But he loves school, the social interaction has been great (for both father and son!), and it's created a new favorite moment to my day: asking what he did at school, and trying to decipher his answer. It's awesome.

As for those books I mentioned...they're listed on the sidebar now, but my second graphic novel in the Sports Illustrated Kids line, Riptide Pride was released.

I was also asked to write for an exciting new series from Stone Arch Books, a collaboration with legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk. The series, Tony Hawk's 900 Revolution, follows a quartet of extreme sports enthusiasts tracking down the scattered pieces of a mystical skateboard once used by The Birdman himself. It's a healthy genre combo: equal parts action, mystery, sci-fi, and yes, even romance. I was fortunate enough to be asked to write volumes 6 and 7 (titled Tunnel Vision and Exiled, respectively), and continue on with the series. Four more volumes are on deck for Fall of 2012, three of which were written by yours truly. It's really been a great series to be a part of.

I've also been working on few other projects, but for now I won't say too much about them. They all vary so greatly from one another, in exciting and challenging ways. And when I can share, you bet your sweet bippy I won't wait another 7 months to spread the news!

Hope everything is well in your corner of the world, folks!

B

OLD SCHOOL: BLOOD MOON

Let's take a trip back to the early 90s. I know, it'll be scary. There's all sorts of things we'll probably see: pinned and rolled acid-washed jeans, Boyz II Men videos on MTV, maybe even a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or two. We're also apt to see a scrawny, gawky-looking teenage drama nerd with a penchant for mystery novels and big, swooping hair. Like, Jason Priestley, 90210 large hair. And as you may have guessed, the nerd with the comic books and Stephen King novels in his backpack, rushing off to play practice? Yeah, that's me.

In our basement, there are bins of old work from my childhood, from elementary school through the aforementioned awkward teen years. There are papers and stories and poems (yes, I wrote them for a girl. And yes, it did work, so lay off) written on my grandfather's old typewriter. There's childhood stories about Spider-Man, about werewolves, about The Hardy Boys. There's also a bunch of printed out emails from college, when my friends and I would spend our workstudy time sending one another lyrics for a fictional rap group (don't ask).

So I'm going to start sharing them with you. I thought it would be fun to see what that early work was like, and how it has - or hasn't - influenced my current work.

Up first? A little gem titled Blood Moon, a short story I wrote in '93 for my creative writing assignment. It's about a man who discovers his one true love has been kidnapped by an ancient vampire, and he and his chums rush off to rescue her. Yep. I was on to the whole vampire craze waaaay before that Stephenie Meyers lady.

Here's the opening paragraph:

He crouched there, quivering. Deep in the shadows of a far-away corner of the castle, he sat with his head between his knees and his arms wrapped around his legs. His body ached from the amount of time he had hidden there, in the abandoned room in a cobwebbed corner. His mind, filled with fear, ran back the dreadful events of the night so far, fearing the end of it.

Exciting, right? You want to read more, right? Well, if you do, God bless you. The whole story is just one click away.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE STORY.

Be on the lookout for more posts like this, where I start to share all kinds of quirky stories from and about my youth.

Until then,
B

*NOTE: How cool is that Photoshop art I whipped up?!

SUMMER READING

So, I've got a nice deck. Yeah, I know. "That's a weird thing to brag about, Brandon," you're saying. "What does that have to do with books?" But stick with me here. This deck? You'd almost say it's dang-near perfect. It's large, there's a great table and chairs and a wide umbrella, and it rests in the shade of a towering tree. It's the ideal spot to kick back in the summer, crack open something cold, and get acquainted with a good book. And nearly every spare minute I have, I'm doing just that. So now that summer has arrived, and that shady perch is once more a warm weather mainstay, I thought I'd share a few of the things on my reading list.

THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY by Suzanne Collins: I'll be the first to admit, some of the books on this list are ones I've been hankering to read for some time. This past Christmas, I received the set of all three hardcovers, and they've been patiently sitting on my shelf, waiting for me. I polished off the first book in no time, and plan to do the same with the other two soon. I can easily see why this is a popular and engaging series of books. And the fact that it reminds me of The Running Man (sans a flag-wearing Jesse Ventura and an evil Richard Dawson) makes it even more awesome.

THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin: Again, something I've been waiting to read for some time. Last summer, when I started my latest WIP, I purchased Passage as a reward for a completed manuscript. Two revised drafts later, the WIP is still just that. But I feel like I've earned some killer zombie action.

FUN AND GAMES by Duane Swierczynski: Reading a Swierczy book is like getting an adrenaline shot to the heart, Thurman-style. If you love fast-paced, smart action, definitely check him out. Games, about a group of hitmen who specialize in making deaths look like accidents, seems to be another jolt of action. It's almost like Eric Stoltz has already drawn an 'X' on my chest in Sharpie.

BLOODY CRIMES by James Swanson: Swanson penned one of my favorite non-fiction reads, the amazing Manhunt, which follows two parallel storylines: the death of Abraham Lincoln, and the search for his elusive killer, John Wilkes Booth. Crimes, the story of Jefferson Davis and the funeral pageant of Lincoln's body, continues his captivating, heavily-researched narrative.

BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey: Let's go back five years or so. NBC was producing 2 shows about late night sketch shows. One had the name Aaron Sorkin attached to it; one was a sitcom with, of all people, The Shadow..I mean, Alec Baldwin. I'll admit, I thought the Sorkin/Matthew Perry drama had the legs to make it, and didn't put much faith in 30 Rock. Damn, I'm glad I was wrong. Tina Fey is like the prettiest girl in band class, the one you totally have a crush on, the one you know is not only way smarter than you, but that she wouldn't have time for Indiana Jones references. She's too busy being amazing. Nerd crush? You bet.

KILLING KATE by Julie Kramer: The fourth book in the witty and entertaining Riley Spartz series. Set in the good ol' Twin Cities, with the backdrop of local television reporting, the Spartz series is always smart, funny, and filled with twists.

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs: Sometimes, a book comes out of nowhere and you can't stop thinking about it. Last week, I had no clue what Home even was. Now, I'm obsessed with reading it. Weaving a story around existing...um, peculiar...photographs is an ingenious idea. Must. Get. Hands. On. This. Book.

THE LEFTOVERS by Tom Perrotta: Perrotta excels at making the craft of writing effortless, and his natural tone made Little Children one of the best books I've read in a while, and cemented him as one of my favorite authors.


The fun doesn't end when summer does, though. Fall is looking pretty mint as well, with a number of great books (many by talented Minnesota authors) hitting the shelves.

NORTHWEST ANGLE by William Kent Krueger: I've been a fan of Kent's since he visited the Barnes and Noble I worked at and graciously signed and chatted with me for my entire 15 (plus) minute break. The arrival of a new Cork O'Connor mystery is always met with eager anticipation in the Terrell home, and this is no exception.

BROOKLYN, BURNING by Steve Brezenoff: I feel pretty lucky to have befriended a number of talented writers courtesy of the Interwebs, and Steve tops that list. His previous work, The Absolute Value of -1, is a fantastic book told from the perspective of each of the three main characters. Steve's ability of weave character and voice through out the narrative is an enviable trait. Be prepared, people. From what I've read, Burning is going to knock your proverbial socks off.

THE TANGLEWOOD TERROR by Kurtis Scaletta: You know how they say never judge a book by its cover? Well, they haven't seen this damn cover. How could you not pick up this book? The fact that Kurtis (another Minnesotan I've been fortunate enough to speak to on the Internet, where we grumble about the Twins or make fun of Steve's love of the Yankees) is a great storyteller. And if you love baseball, check out Mudville, Scaletta's novel about family, and the longest baseball game in history.

THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK by Kelly Barnhill: Yet another MN author I've been fortunate enough to discover online. Jack is Kelly's debut novel, about a boy who visits his family in Iowa, and discovers the townsfolk have been waiting a long time for him. I can't wait to get my hands on this magical, whimsical book.

BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX by Laurel Synder: Speaking of magic...I've only recently discovered Snyder's work, but I'm thankful I have. Her novel Penny Dreadful was a charming book, and Breadbox - about a magical breadbox that delivers your wish, so long as it fits inside said box - is earning rave reviews.

Last but not least...it's been about a year and a half (oh how time flies) since one of my favorite publishers, Hard Case Crime, has released a book. And this October, they're back with a vengeance. Included in the line-up of books by authors like Max Allan Collins, Donald Westlake, and Lawrence Block is this killer little novel called CHOKE HOLD by Christa Faust.






So there you have it. That's what I'll be reading on my deck this summer and fall. Care to join me? There's enough shade for everyone!

B

SPRINGCON THIS WEEKEND!

Happy Friday, everyone! Well, it seems like we had to arm wrestle Mother Nature for spring this year, but after turning our hat around backward and going 'Over the Top', we finally won. It's been a pretty beautiful stretch here in MN (until today, of course. As I write this, it's dark and rumbly and glum-lookin' outside. Almost like the Rapture approaches...)

Of course, this isn't just a post about the weather, because really, how boring would that be? I wanted to remind all of you comic book fans and lovers of all things nerdy that this weekend is the annual SPRINGCON comic convention hosted by the Midwest Comic Book Association at the State Fairgrounds. This is the big 2-day event, held in the large Grandstand building. If you haven't attended the show, it's a great venue, filled to the brim with talented folks - artists, writers, vendors, panels, etc. - and I'm proud to say I'll be there at a table, once more selling copies of Horrorwood & Drake Bacula.

So if you're in the area - hell, even if you're not! - come on over and check it out. The show runs 10AM - 5PM both days (Sat. and Sun., barring earthquakes, zombie uprisings, or Kirk Cameron sightings).

For more info about the con, check out the MCBA's website HERE.

Hope to see you there!

B
.

WINONA OR BUST!

Hey all! Well, May is shaping up to be one heck of a busy month, on both the professional and personal front. But hey, as my Pops used to say, "Make hay while the sun shines."

So, on top of two contracted books (an exciting project that I'll discuss more of later), my lovely wife's birthday, Mother's Day, my son's second birthday - and subsequent birthday party, a much-needed and highly anticipated visit from my sister in Colorado, SpringCon (check back for more deets soon), and meetings with a fantastic writer's group, I've been asked to speak at the Hiawatha Valley Education District's Young Writer's Conference tomorrow and Friday in Winona.

I'm very much looking forward to the opportunity to speak with kids who are passionate about writing, and who are eager to learn more about it. My session, entitled "And...ACTION!" discusses the similarities and differences in novel writing and screenwriting, and the elements needed to write a screenplay. So yeah, I get to talk about scripts, films, and filmmaking with a bunch of kids over the next couple of days. Super. Cool.

Hope everything's right as rain in your neck of the Interwebs!

B

MS WALK MAY 1ST

Greetings, everyone! This Sunday, I will be participating in the annual National MS Society's Walk MS in the Twin Cities. This will be the 5th (or 6th) time Jen and myself have strapped on our walkin' shoes and got down to business. And for good reason, too. My cousin Chad has been battling MS for some time now, and even though it sometimes feels like there is little I can do to help, this annual walk is a great reminder that there is hope. For change. For a cure. For a chance. So it's an honor and a privilege to be able to walk alongside Chad and our family to support the efforts of the National MS Society.

That said, I am hoping you will consider sponsoring me in my efforts. A donation of any size will go a long way to support a great cause.

If you'd like to make a donation, CLICK HERE.


This will take you to a search engine. Simply type in my name (adding the appropriate state will winnow down your search) and you will taken to my page.

Thank you so much.

All the best,
B

A SHORT(S) POST

Hey y'all! See, that's my new way of saying hi, seeing as how Netflix has the first four seasons of Friday Night Lights available to stream instantly, and I'm neck deep in Dillon Panthers football. But seriously, this post isn't to update you on my television viewing habits (I'll do that at another time). Nope, the 2011 Minneapolis / St. Paul International Film Festival is underway right now (April 14 - May 5), showcasing flicks from around the globe.

Part of the fest is a wonderful night of highlighting locally-shot short narrative films. The screening is taking place tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 19th) at the Saint Anthony Main theater (a frequently-visited theater back in my college days. Ah, the 90s).

Among the mini-flicks screening - and making it's premiere - is Patrick Coyle's The Comeback. If you recall, Patrick is the uber-talented director behind the feature Into Temptation, on which I was fortunate enough to work as the First Assistant Director. Well, same goes for The Comeback. Patrick, myself, and a dedicated and talented cast and crew shot much of the film in a single day. It's a touching flick about a man going back to work after suffering a terrible loss.

Of the other films screening Tuesday, I can proudly say I am good friends with two other talented filmmakers showing their work. Local producer/director Todd Cobery will be screening his powerful, heart-wrenching piece Good Morning, Beautiful. It's a deeply emotional story about a man facing a great loss, and it features a quietly affecting performance by a fantastic actor named Dave Tufford.

On the lighter side, there's Sarah Jean Kruchowski's Jerry Schwingle and the Happiness Well, a bright, cheerful story about a guy having the worst luck imaginable, and the magical well that just may be able to grant him a bit of happiness.

So if you're in the neighborhood Tuesday evening, come check them out. There's a slew of talented folks making movies in the Twin Cities. Come out and support them!

For more info on the MSPIFF, click HERE.

Remember: Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!
B

BLOOMINGTON WRITER'S FESTIVAL

Hey gang. Yep, I've gone and done it again. I've strayed away from my blog for months on end, only to show up at your doorstep, on my knees, begging for your forgiveness. You're wary, you don't want to trust me again. Heck, you've probably already started seeing other blogs. I get it. I don't blame you. But I've got some pretty cool things to share in the near future, so I hope we can still be friends.

Tomorrow (Saturday, March 19), I will be participating in the annual Bloomington Writer's Festival & Book Fair. It's my first time at the event, which guarantees to be a day filled with literary conversations, exciting and fresh new books, and plenty of networking. I'll be seated at a table with publisher Tom Keyes, whose company Third Child Press has published such wonderful books as This Sold House and Dart.

The book fair is free to the public, so if you're interested, come on down. There are workshops about writing and publishing all day, but I believe you need to pre-register for those. For more info on the event, and a schedule of workshops and authors, check out their website HERE.

Here's a few more details...

Where: Bloomington Center for the Arts (1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington)
When: Saturday, March 19th
Time: Book Fair is from 11AM-3:30PM (registered events begin earlier, however)
Cost:

Hope to see you there!

B

HUT HUT HIKE!

Hey there! Happy 2011, everyone! The year kind of snuck in under the radar. While at a friend's party, we took a break from a riveting game to ring in the new year, pouring glasses of bubbly and clicking on the radio, only to hear the last lingering notes of Auld Lang Syne. To quote Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much." Well, we counted down and toasted anyway, because that's what Dick Clark would have wanted us to do. So sure, I may have missed its introduction, but I have no doubt that 2011 is going to be one heck of a good year. I've got big plan for the next 365 days - well, 361, to be exact.

To that effect, sound the horns, because the year is already off to a great start. The first of my two graphic novels, each published by the fine folks at Stone Arch Books, will be released in their Spring line of books. The book, part of their Sports Illustrated Kids series of graphic novels, is titled Quarterback Scramble. It's an action-packed, eye-popping football story, with gorgeous art by Gerardo Sandoval and Benny Fuentes.

Here's the rundown:

As the backup quarterback for the Hawks, Ben Paulson is happy to ride the bench and hang out with his teammates on the sidelines. But everything changes when the Hawks' star quarterback, Wes Blake, gets suspended for pulling poor grades in math. With Ben at the helm, the offense starts to stall, and his teammates place the blame squarely on his shoulders. Soon after, a possible solution to Ben's passing problems reveals itself -- but he's not so sure it's the right answer.

Sounds good, right? For more info about the other books in the series, click the magical button HERE.

That's it for now. But get ready, 2011. You're about to get sacked (see what I did there?).

More soon,
B

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, Y'ALL!

Post number 2! And you thought it would never happen! IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!! Well, most of the work on this one is courtesy of my two good friends, Copy and Paste. Much like last year, I spent some time jotting down a recap of our year, highlighting some of the shenanigans you may find interesting. And much like last year, I'm about to post that letter in all its glory.

So Happy Holidays everyone!


Ho ho ho and happy holidays! It’s the most wonderful time of the year again. As I write this, Old Man Winter has blanketed much of Minnesota with over a foot of the fluffy white stuff, forcing many of us to either tunnel our way out of our homes or to fire up the ol’ snowblower. So there certainly won’t be any dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Mr. Crosby. No indeed. But before you sit on Santa’s lap and rattle off your holiday wishes, or fill yourself with a healthy dose of eggnog or Tom & Jerry’s, allow me a few moments to fill you in on what’s been happening in our little corner of this snow-covered globe.

My beautiful better half continues to amaze this humble guy every day. Alex is pretty lucky to have such a wonderful, loving mother. And boy does the kid know it. Even when she’s not around, he’ll walk around the house shouting, “Mom? MOM!” looking for her. Jen continues her work as Lead Photographer for Chicago-based VHT. Each day, she travels the construction-filled or ice-coated highways of the Twin Cities photographing a wide variety of real estate for over a hundred different realtors throughout the metro area. She also visits various offices, speaking to large groups of realtors about photography. Boy, to be a fly on the wall during one of those meetings! Despite this busy and demanding schedule, we were able to travel this past winter (another of Jen’s loves), taking a long weekend and introducing Alex to the oceanic shores of beautiful Naples, Florida. He was a little terrified of the water, but he enjoyed the feel of warm sand in his toes (and yes, he sampled a small taste of it, as well. He did not like it). Through it all, Jen has documented our adventures with that trusty camera of hers, filling many an album with memories we will forever cherish…and a few we will use to embarrass Alex in the future.

As a stay-at-home Dad, I have been able to share quite a bit of time with Alex. From story time at the Red Balloon bookshop to summer trips to the water park with friends to frequent library visits, our days are chock full of activities. I’ve also been able to spend time with my laptop, writing two children’s graphic novels for local publisher Stone Arch Books. Both titles are a part of their collaboration with Sports Illustrated for Kids, and both will be available in 2011. The first is a football story titled Quarterback Scramble, and the other a surfing – yes, you read that right – story whose title is yet to be determined. This year also saw me braving one of the most dangerous places known to man: elementary schools! I visited a number of schools, both in Mankato and around the state, speaking about writing and sharing my book Drake Bacula: MonSTAR! with students. Kids are an imaginative and energetic group, and I had a blast creating stories with them. On the film front, I was able to participate in a couple of great short films this year, and even dabbled a bit in the commercial world again, as an Assistant Director. All in all, I’m a pretty lucky fella, and I count my blessings each day.

When last I wrote one of these, Alex was a mere seven months old, just barely sitting up and eating solid food. What a difference a year makes! Our inert baby has transformed into a raucous toddler with only two settings: Sleep and Perpetual Motion. He goes from zero to one hundred faster than a European sports car. Now nearly nineteen months old, Alex is changing everyday, and is a true marvel to watch. Here’s a rundown of just a few antics the energetic lad is up to now:

- He runs everywhere
- He dances to any and all music (thankfully, he has his Dad’s stylish moves)
- He loves to help us cook
- He’s quite proficient at animal sounds. Ask him what a lion says, and cower at his mighty roar
- Included in his animal noises are sounds for ghosts, dinosaurs, and Santa
- His every-growing vocabulary includes words like Mom, Daddy, yes, no, ball, book, ding-dong (for bell, not an affectionate nickname for anyone), yummy, clock, and star
- Our nightly dinner routine includes Alex holding his cup in the air, shouting “Cheers!” and waiting for each of us to clink it
- He loves to color and draw, and appreciates his parents’ art school expertise (stick figures and smiley faces)
- There is nothing cooler in this world than a curious monkey named George
- He loves the library, bookstore, and comic shop, and will sit in his chair and flip through books. Like Papa, like son.
- He makes us – and himself – laugh every day
- His camera smile and his stink face look suspiciously similar
- He talks up a storm. True, he speaks his own language most of the time, but he seems to understand what he’s saying, even if we don’t

When you’re young, time finds a way to slow down. Christmas seems ages away, and you feel like those prettily wrapped packages sitting under your tree are never going to be opened. But as you get older, time finds a way to do the exact opposite: it slips by without you even noticing. The holidays are the perfect reason to slow down, to enjoy the presence of family and friends, and to tell them how very special they are to you. We have been blessed to watch our little baby grow into a tiny man this past year. Even though he’s only nineteen months old, we know that before too long, he’ll be asking for our car keys and applying to colleges. So amidst your hectic schedule of holiday programs, last-minute shopping, and repeat viewings of Frosty the Snowman, take a moment to show friends and family that you love them, because, as the residents of Whoville reminded the Grinch, “Christmas day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp.”

We love you all dearly, and wish you and your family nothing but hope, love, and happiness this holiday season.

All our love,
Brandon, Jen, and Alex Terrell

HORRORWOOD GOES MOBILE

Happy winter, all! Yeah, I know what you're saying, because I'm saying it too: where the hell were you this fall? Nay, this summer? Well, long story short, I was trying hard to balance the duties of a full-time stay at home Dad with that of a freelance writer/artist. Yeah, it's not the best excuse, but it's the one I offer to you now as a form of apology. I promise, one of my New Year's resolutions (aside from finally training to be a ninja and joining a flash mob) is to be a more frequent blogger. And I think that's indeed possible. After all, I have an inkling 2011 has great potential.

In my time away from this blog, I've watched my little baby turn into a full-fledged toddler. It's a wonder to behold, seeing the squirt running full-tilt at everything, laughing at any and everything, and spouting more and more words each day. The summer saw us hanging out with friends weekly, a trio of fellow stay at homers, and their kids. We visited an array of parks and water parks, and it was truly an amazing experience. My wife and I are blessed to be able to share this time of our lives with friends whose children are all roughly the same age, and who all get along so splendidly. I'll post more about all this later. Like, tomorrow.

"Two posts in one week? I'll believe it when I see it, Terrell!"

Fair enough.

The other reason I neglected this blog (and this has the potential to be quite an exciting reason) is that, in my spare time - nap time, bed time, etc. - I wrote the first draft of a young adult novel! It took longer than I anticipated, but it is there, and it is currently going through the initial stages of revision. Writing a novel-length piece can be a daunting proposition, but I came up with a solid metaphor when starting: "The first draft is like a lump of clay. You have to have the clay on the table, if you want to create a sculpture." So...that's my way of saying, the manuscript needs a bunch of work. But the clay is there. Now it's time to sculpt.

Enough about that (for now). What does any of this have to do with Horrorwood? Well, nothing at all! But there is exciting news to report regarding that killer comic from a few years back. The great gang over at Graphic.ly, an online comic reader, now has the book available for download. What makes Graphic.ly unique is that it is not just a mobile application, but it also offers the ability to view comics on a desktop or online using Adobe Air.

So if you're curiously looking for the ideal thing to download onto that fancy new mobile device St. Nick is about to leave in your stocking, search no further. You can find the free - FREE - preview, and all four issues of Horrorwood by clicking HERE. You will have to create a free account with them, and the books are $1.99 an issue. Graphic.ly also features a slew of other comics, too, so it's totally worth it.

We're really excited to offer Horrorwood on Graphic.ly. We hope you give it a read!

More soon,
B

FALLCON COMIC BOOK PARTY!

First off, I know I’ve been away for what feels like an eternity. A whole summer with zero contact. I know I owe an explanation for my absence. And I promise I will tell you all about it. Sure, it’ll be filled with more soiled diapers and playdates than exciting, life-altering adventures, but I’ll share it nonetheless.

For now, though, I want to make sure you’re all aware of the upcoming FallCon comic celebration at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Every year, the MCBA hosts a killer show, and this year is no exception. A slew of talented local artists and writers will be there, sharing their work, and there will be many a longbox filled with 50 cent treasures just waiting to be found. Like this one, plucked from a bargain bin by yours truly last year:

So if you're in the neighborhood, please come check it out. Support the local comic book community. They're a swell bunch of folks, and a group of which I'm proud to count myself a member.



For more info on the show, either listen to Batman there or click HERE.

More adventures soon. SOON!

Much love,
B

ATTACK OF THE MOM!

So earlier in the week, we purchased a FlipCam. We'd been using a camera loaned to us by a good friend, and as of now, I have 3 DV tapes chronicling Alex's first 11 months next to me on the desk, waiting to be digitized. While I'm very appreciative of the camera, it was time to get something that afforded us a better opportunity to upload videos of the little dude and share them with family and friends.

Here's the first video we shot (I promise I won't clog the site up too much with adorableness).

Have a great weekend, all. Remember to check out SpringCon at the State Fairgrounds.

B

SPRINGCON THIS WEEKEND

Usually around this time of year, Minnesota comic fans are gearing up for a one-day dose of comic tomfoolery called MicroCon. Well, after 20 years, the MCBA is pulling a switcheroo. They're supersizing the spring convention, making it a whole weekend of fun, while turning October's 'FallCon' into a one day event.

Thus, I give you...SpringCon 2010.

There's a really great line-up of artists and writers. Buffy Season Eight artist Georges Jeanty and Superman II's villainous vixen Ursa, the actress Sarah Douglas, are just a couple of exciting new talent at the show. It's a pretty impressive group, so it'll totally be worth it to come check it out.

I will be there as well, serving up copies of Horrorwood and Drake Bacula:MonSTAR! alongside artist Brent Schoonover and Drake publisher Ryan Jacobson. Also, this will be the first year Nicole Schoonover, Brent's wife, will be selling her handmade comic-inspired greeting cards.

Here are the details for the show:



Hope to see you this weekend!
B

MS WALK THIS SUNDAY

My cousin Chad is just a couple years older than me. As kids, I was always one step behind him, whether it was playing ball in the backyard (where his wicked curve ball not only tore the laces from my dad's mitt, but it taught me to step out of the batter's box if the ball breaks toward your thigh), revving up the three-wheeler through my grandfather's pasture (our paths are now the site of Chad's parent's home), or rollerblading feverishly through the streets of Eagle Lake (his ice hockey skills made him a pro. Me? I looked like a baby deer learning to walk. I'm quite graceful).

Needless to say, I have always looked up to Chad. And I still do. Now more than ever.

Six years ago, Chad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that disrupts the communication between your brain and body, creating immense pain and making movement difficult. He's been bravely battling the disease ever since, proving to everyone around him how strong he truly is.

It's times like these that you wish for superhuman powers, for some ability to affect the fight, but that's only in the funny books. One of the greatest ways to support my family and the fight against MS is to participate in the annual MS Walk, a winding trek through Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis (the walk also occurs in cities through the country, so if you would like to participate, it's quite easy).

The walk is this Sunday (May 2), and Jen and myself will be once more showing our support. This will be the first time our 'little walker' will be joining us, and I'm sure Alex will be waddling away with the rest of the crew.

I understand that in this current financial climate, finding the funds to support even the best causes has become increasing difficult. So I'll just throw it out there. If you'd like to donate, any amount is greatly appreciated.

To make a secure, online payment, all you have to do is CLICK HERE.

Thanks, everyone.

All the best,
B

'DAWINING' HITS MANKATO!

Okay, how cool is this gonna be? Dawning, the frightening flick I worked on a couple of falls ago, will be screening for 3 WEEKS in Mankato!

Premiering April 16th, the feature - shot on a shoestring budget by local director Gregg Holtgrewe, with a small, dedicated crew and cast - will be showing at the recently renovated Spectrum Cinema (formerly the Mall 4 theaters, for those 80s Kato kids). The theater, currently playing second-run flicks, offers discounted tickets and concession prices. I mean, $3.00 to see Dawning? Now that's a deal.

The folks at Spectrum will be hosting a premiere event for the flick on the evening of April 16th, with director Holtgrewe and other cast and crew present. Now here's some bummer news: I will not be able to make the event. It breaks my heart. Jen, Alex, and I will be whisking away to Naples, Florida that weekend to visit our good friend Sam, and to introduce Alex to the ocean.

The good news? The film is screening for 3 WEEKS, remember?! So while I cannot make the premiere, I will definitely be making the trip to Mankato to see the film, hopefully with a number of friends and family in tow.

So if you're in Mankato, and you want to see a solid, gripping horror movie that relies on the strength of its characters and situation, and not on the number of buckets of fake blood poured on its actors, then please check out Dawning. You will not be disappointed!

THE CASE OF THE MISSING BLOGGER

Oh. Hey! How's it going?

Okay, I know I need to start this with an apology. Here I am, promising to keep the handful of you abreast of what's happening in my life, and then I go and vanish from the Interwebs. Where'd ya go? you're asking. Did you witness a murder, and were you then forced to enter the Witness Protection Program and hide out as a high school student like Jon Cryer in the movie...um, Hiding Out?

As cool and hilarious as that sounds...it's far from the truth. I've just been away.

And it's not like there haven't been exciting things to share. The last couple of months have been full of milestones. Since I've last posted, Alex has gone from tentative crawling to stumble-stepping on his own. Sure, he looks like he's failing a field sobriety test and his progress is often thwarted by a pesky rug, but he's walking. And it's damn adorable. He also decided one day that he wanted to climb the steps. Never showed an inkling that he cared about them. Then all of the sudden, a knee went up. He pulled himself onto the first step. Realized it was aces. And went the rest of the way. He loves books, enjoys flipping through the pages and warbling in his newfound half-babble, half-yodel language. His book-loving pops can't get enough of that!

So yeah, there are things I could be sharing. And I know a number of superhuman folks who find the energy and stick-to-it-tiveness to blog on a near daily basis about their child's activities. Nary a tooth goes uncut without a photo posted online to commemorate the occasion. And I commend them. I wish I could do it. When I find the extra hour (and by that I mean summer television season), I'll try harder to update you on the wonderful world of Alex. But I'm trying to keep this blog a respectable combination of my personal and my professional worlds.

So in keeping with that...

I've been fortunate enough to visit a couple of elementary schools this spring to talk about my chapter book Drake Bacula: MonSTAR! (available on this website...cough...cough...shameless...) I go into a school, talk to the kids a little about the elements of storytelling, and then we do a fun little interactive project where we write a movie for the book's titular character, Drake Bacula (Movie star! Vampire!) to star in. The results are always hilarious. From stories involving an accountant named Frank N. Stein to Drake fighting a giant, evil newt named Dr. Figg, it's easy to see the kids are brimming with creativity.

My first visit was quite surreal, as I stepped into the hallowed halls of Washington Elementary School in Mankato. From grades 4-6, I pestered the teachers of Washington with my loud mouth and obsession with the Hardy Boys. So I was honored to come back, to walk the halls again, and recall some wonderful, fond memories (though I'm thinking the time I was kneed in the groin in 6th grade, sent to the nurse's office with an ice pack, only to have my teacher send down the girl I had a crush on to check on me doesn't necessarily fall under the 'fond memories' category). And considering I spent so much of my time in the library, it was all the more special to present there as well.

Now, funny story about the Hardy Boys. During the presentation, I ask the students about their favorite books, and when I rattle off my faves, I make sure to include Frank and Joe (if you don't believe my obsession, ask my wife to show you the giant container currently holding over 150 HB books in our basement). After the first presentation, I notice the librarian scouring the shelves. I ask her what she's looking for.

"The Hardy Boys," is her response.

Sure enough, she discovers five hardcover mysteries, the old tattered single-colored library editions on the shelves. The ones that use words like 'chum' and 'jalopy' and 'neato.' The ones where Frank and Joe search for clues behind old grandfather clocks, or track down the door to door leather goods salesman who robbed them (The Criss Cross Shadow, I kid you not). The books looked the same as they did when I was a small lad, save for one change: they all had bar codes on them now.

Well, the librarian opens a couple of them up, looking in the back for the old-fashioned check-out cards. And lo and behold, a couple of them still had them.

And whose name just happened to be scribbled at the top of both cards in well-practiced cursive?

This guy's!!

I couldn't believe it. So very amazing. The media specialists were so gracious, offering one of them to me as a keepsake, while keeping the other for posterity. So I am now the proud owner of the library card for The Sinister Signpost, featuring my name, my good friend Brad's name, and the name of the aforementioned groin-kneeing story perpetrator.

Conclusion: Best. Bookmark. Ever.

I was also asked to visit the astute kids down at Byron Elementary School, down by Rochester. I was a little nervous, having no knowledge of the school, and no friends teaching there (I neglected to mention my friend Eric - I mean, Mr. Miller - now teaches at Washington, in my old 5th grade teacher's room, no less!). But I was immediately put at ease, speaking to some razor sharp students with vivid imaginations. They were quite excited about the book, and I had a really great time speaking with them.

Later this week, I'll be traveling to Kato once more to speak to the students at Hoover Elementary, where my nephew Kaleb will start kindergarten next year. An old family friend teaches there, and she was gracious enough to help set up the visit. I'm looking forward to catching up with her, and introducing the kids to the wacky world of Drake Bacula. Should be a lot of fun.

So I suppose, in the end, I guess I have been hiding out in schools. And here, the only thing I thought I had in common with Jon Cryer was our mutual annoyance toward Charlie Sheen.

Well, looking at the length of this post, I'm starting to feel like I'm compensating for something here. So I'll leave you alone soon enough, with the promise of fun news in the near future. I swear.

So until then,
B