My first published short story is coming out this week. Feels a little odd but in the good way. Hopefully, this will be an ongoing trend of short story sales which progresses into "Best of..." anthologies then to acquiring an agent for my novel work. So I better get busy stockpiling short stories to send out and develop a novel worthy of publishing. Step one: Get published. Check.

Movies and comic books are two forms of media close to my heart. So when you combine them like peanut butter and chocolate, how can you mess up. They did. Comic books are not bibles and strictly filming a comic book to film wouldn't work most times. But Hollywood drop's the ball on most adaptations. So I try not to get hyped up for comic book films. I went into Ghostrider expecting a high-budget "B" movie and that's what I got. Don't invest too much in this film and you will enjoy it. Start nitpicking and wave bye bye to enjoyment.

Apex posted the cover art for Issue Nine coming this March. My story "Don't Show Your Teeth" will be published inside. Most of the covers have been very provocative, however I dig this classic image of the castle overlooking the village on a stormy night. Plus my Mom won't freak out too much. I always ask her how she will handle it if I ever get published in Playboy and she said, "How much do they pay again?" Ah principles.

Just finished "The Blonde" by Duane Swierczynski. I had wanted a sequel to "The Wheelman" but Duane scorches earth in his books and sometimes not all the characters make it out. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a character from "The Wheelman" in his new book. Duane writes cinematic scenes that should be in Bruckheimer films. Although with his Philly settings, maybe M. Night will option these books . It's simplistic to call this book a page turner so how about page burner. Go out and buy it!

"Hard-boiled is about toughness and Noir is about pain." I can't remember where I read this quote but I have it taped up in my writing area. It's said that, "in Noir, doom rules the mood." This quote comes from the Oxford American's Issue 55, that deals with all things noir. Doom and pain don't exactly sound like anyone's idea of a laugh riot but I found comfort in the dark humor of noir. Cause if you can't laugh in the face of doom or get the joke while you're in pain, what good are you?