HOGDOGGIN' IT TOMORROW

Quick post tonight. Tomorrow, the cool cats at Once Upon a Crime are hosting a book signing for Anthony Neil Smith's new book, Hogdoggin'. The book is a pseudo-sequel to Smith's dirty gem Yellow Medicine (which I read and loved. You can read my thoughts on the book HERE). I'm pretty damned stoked to pick this up. I'll post a run-down of the signing afterwards.

That is, of course, unless a certain child decides tomorrow would be a great time to finally meet everyone who have been asking about his arrival. We'll see, I suppose. Today was the official due date and, aside from a few sporadic contractions, he's still pretty cozy where he's at.

B

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...?

Every so often, you come across something you haven't seen or thought about in ages, and a wave of nostalgia floods over you. You remember a specific moment, a place, a smell. It reminds you of something your gray matter has decided to set aside in place of other information - long division, or the original cast of Charles in Charge for example.

Recently, three books I've re-discovered have had that effect on me. Wandering the shelves of Barnes and Noble, in the children's section, I found a few gems I had forgotten about.

Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman:

Growing up in the Midwest, tornadoes are a common fear. I've seen firsthand their destruction, traversing fields of farmland in search of twisted pieces of metal that were once secured to my grandparents' farm. Yet there's something alluring about stormy weather, too, something about lightning and dark skies and listening to the radio as sirens wail their warning and rain pelts the hot asphalt. Night was the first book I read that I immediately identified with. It didn't matter that the action took place in Nebraska. The town in the book was my hometown of Eagle Lake. The main character, roughly my age, was me. I was the hero of the story.

Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe:

In second grade, I had a student teacher. Her name escapes me now (replaced, most likely, by the lyrics to Ice Ice Baby). But one thing I distinctly recall was her enthusiastic reading of Bunnicula to the class. It was one of the first times I discovered the relationship between horror and humor. And come on, a bunny that sucks carrots dry? Genius!


The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop:

This is the purest example of what I mentioned above. I don't remember too much about the book itself (tiny knights defending a toy castle in a young boy's attic), but it reminds me fondly of my old bed growing up. I had a raised bed, with two drawers built into the frame. One day, I discovered that by sliding out the bottom drawer, I could slither under the bed. By replacing the drawer after me, my location was hidden from everyone. There was enough space under there for me to sit and read, and a strategically placed outlet provided the perfect spot for a life-saving (or eyesight-saving) night light. Castle was one of the many books I read in my Fortress of Solitude. And I had forgotten about it completely under I saw the cover on the book store shelf.

So that's my trip down memory lane. My posts have been sporadic (life, and impending fatherhood, are getting in the way). I'm trying mightily to post, and there are things to share. So check back!

B

MS WALK THIS SUNDAY

For five years, my cousin Chad has been bravely battling Multiple Sclerosis. Through many trials and setbacks, he has retained his sense of humor, and deep love for his family and friends. This Sunday (May 3rd), myself and many of my family members, will be walking to support Chad in his fight against MS. It is just one small thing I can do to help him with his journey.

You can donate in my name by clicking on the following LINK. I know we live in very difficult times, and many of us are hard pressed for money. A donation of any size is greatly appreciated.

To learn more about the MS Society, click HERE.

To learn more about the Minnesota chapter, and the walk itself, click HERE.

Thank you all!

On a lighter note, last week's MicroCon was a rousing success. Brent Schoonover and I created the cleverly titled 'Horrorwood Stimulus Package', selling the single issues of the book for a discounted rate. Anything we can do to entertain readers whose pockets are a little more empty nowadays. The weather was trying its hardest to hamper our good mood (moments after arriving to set up our table, the sky opened and it poured), but the lines outside were steady, and the convention was busy all day long. Not too shabby.

This photo was taken by Michael May. Apparently, we really like Doritos.

So thank you to everyone who popped over to our table and gave Horrorwood a shot. We hope you were entertained.

Oh, and remember how I said Superman would be there? Well, Iron Man himself decided to fly the ole Mach 1 past our table! Take that, Man of Steel!

All the best,
B

CONVENTION TIME!

Hey gang! I feel like every time I begin writing a post, I have to start by apologizing. Apparently, I'm not doing a very good job of retaining a captivated audience.

This weekend, the fine folks at the MCBA are throwing a little shindig called MicroCon. I have had the honor of being a guest at MicroCon since before Horrorwood's release, and will once more be sitting side by side with its co-creator and illustrator Brent Schoonover. MicroCon is a great chance to check out some talented local guys and gals, and to support their creative endeavors. Who knows? You may even see Superman there!

So come on down to the Progress Center building on the State Fairgrounds. The show runs Sunday, April 26th from 10AM - 4PM. Belinda's forecast hints at a little precipitation on Sunday, so what better way to spend a gloomy day than with a gaggle of comic book fans!

For more info on MicroCon, check out the mini-site HERE.

Until next time (soon, I promise),
B

WHY'D IT HAVE TO BE SNAKES?!

I'm not a snake guy. Never have been. And I'm pretty sure I have Raiders of the Lost Ark to blame. I'm cool with that. I feel the same way about bugs (thanks, Temple of Doom). Come to think of it, Indiana Jones' phobias really did a number on me. Damn you, Spielberg!

Now, while I may not adore cuddly reptilians, there are a number of folks who do. They're called 'Herpers'. My friend and 13 Hours director Dav Kaufman is one, and he recently completed a documentary on the subject, aptly titled Herpers. The doc features interviews with reptile lovers and collectors around the country, including G 'n R guitar legend Slash. Pretty sweet.

Check out their new website HERE. You can watch the trailer, learn more info about herpers, and pre-order the DVD.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to save Sean Connery from a tank.

B

GEEK CRED!

I've never been a Star Trek fan. In the grand 'Wars/Trek' debate, I side with Star Wars every time. For a summer, my friend Todd tried to convert me, convincing me to join him in watching Jean Luc Picard flex his sweaty muscles in First Contact and watching as he spent his entire high school graduation money on Star Trek books. It didn't work.

Well, I think J.J. Abrams has done what Todd could never do. I'm more excited about this movie than I have been about any other flick this year. Here's the most recent trailer.

Now, if Todd had created Lost...

READ THIS!! TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN

Damn! Two books reviews in a row? What's up with that?

Every so often, I’ve had ‘The Dream.’ No, not the dream of flying. Or of being kidnapped by aliens. Or even the one where I’m one of the Hardy Boys and I’ve been dropped into the middle of Jurassic Park and have to fight my way out with a lightsaber. I’m talking about...'The High School' dream.

You know, those bizarre dreams where you're back in the angst-ridden halls of high school, and you can’t remember your locker combo, or where your next class is, or why the principal suddenly suggests having a Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat revival show in the gymnasium with the original cast, and no one remembers the lyrics. Those dreams.

In Too Cool to be Forgotten, Andy Wicks is a forty-something year old trying to kick his addiction to cigarettes. He’s tried it all: patches, gum, cold turkey, etc. Finally, he goes in for a little hypnosis. There’s a little side effect, however, and before Andy knows it, he’s suddenly back in high school, circa 1985, complete with braces, glasses, and a full head of hair. Andy soon realizes his arrival coincides with his first attempt at smoking (to impress a girl, natch), and vows not to cave in to peer pressure.

So begins Andy’s days back in high school, remembering old friends, old crushes, and the occasional ‘Randi Whatshername.’ It’s a hilarious notion, considering the popularity of Facebook, where friend requests come from old classmates who you didn’t even really speak to in high school, but can’t help re-connecting with out of curiosity. “Whatever happened to Randi Whatshername anyway?” you ask. By accepting her friend request, you can see what her ‘status’ is anytime you want!

The notion at the heart of Too Cool is, of course, the idea that each small action forms a person into who they will ultimately become. Will abstaining from that cigarette, that one time, change Andy’s future? It’s hard to say. And haven’t we all faced that question. What if I had kissed that girl at the prom? What if I had decked that guy in the face for making fun of Randi Whatshername? What if I hadn’t dressed up in KISS make-up?

At one point, facing the possibility of re-living his formative years over again, Andy panics, wondering if he will have to endure the heartbreaks and agonizing choices he faced in his life, and whether they will lead him back to his wife and children. It’s a heartbreaking notion. I mean, the guy just wanted to kick a little nicotine.

Like all good episodes of Quantum Leap (yeah, I said it), Andy's assumption about his actual purpose in 1985 is misleading. The ending (no spoilers here) is a bit convenient, as Andy comes to a sudden realization about his family. Given my own life experiences, though, I felt a personal connection to the ending, and to its heartfelt, tender, and poignant moments.

Too Cool was my introduction to author and artist Alex Robinson’s work (which includes the graphic novels Tricked and Box Office Poison). It’s a unique book that reminds you what it was like to be in the war zone of high school, and how your choices define you. It does not, however, remind you about your locker combination.

Oh, and kids? Don’t smoke. It’ll kill ya.