It’s my end of the world post
Dec 21st
Well folks, it’s been a good ride on this planet Earth. But, according to the Mayans, this bitch is coming to an end in a few hours. If that’s the case, why bother posting something here on the Jackverse? Well, I have to say ‘goodbye’ to everyone who was so kind to hang around my world — even if only for a fragment of their lives. So as you now wander free, among the rubble strewn about the wasteland, I thought you might want to know, the Zombie King is out there looking for fellow travelers.
Where does it go from here?
Dec 19th
The human animal can be one of the cruelest of all in the kingdom. For reasons we may never know, humans dive deep into dark depths before anyone around them gets a chance to prevent the plunge. When the plunge is made — bad things happen, very bad things.
Take for instance the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut. A man with a personality disorder, and immediate access to guns, guns down a room full of children. Innocent lives were destroyed. This tragedy has brought many a voice together in discussion on the why, how, and what next of this issue. The truth is… we don’t know the answers.
Free! Free, I say Free Holiday Fiction!
Dec 14th
UPDATE: Friday and Saturday (December 14 and 15), Let It Snow: Seasons Readings will be free!!!!
The holidays are here! The holidays are here!
Oh, you already know that? Of course you do. You watch TV or you shop so you’ve already been inundated and glonged over the head with commercialism and capitalism. Well, let me add to that falderal and tomfoolery with a bit of commercialism of my own.
Ladies and gents, I give you “Let It Snow: Seasons Readings for a Cool Yule!”
Christmas for misfits
Dec 12th
I once wrote a piece for a Theatre for Young Audiences called “Misfit Christmas”. The story was loosely based on the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. In that piece, a young boy discovers his disability (he’s in a wheelchair) doesn’t actually define him and, in turn, helps him to see that everyone has their place and their purpose. I’ve been thinking about that script and the holidays lately.
They say, the holidays are about family. Though heartfelt, that sentiment falls short for a lot of people. I’m talking about the people with no family or with highly dysfunctional families. For those, the holidays serve as little more than a reminder of how painful life’s tragedy can be. So when you sing the song of “Happy holidays”, you never know if that tune is stinging the listener or not.
I Zombie I Audio Book: Chapter 1
Dec 9th
The first chapter of I Zombie I, by Jack Wallen
Narration by: Jack Wallen
Twelve days of Christmas: Zombie Style
Dec 7th
Ho Ho Hello! It’s the holidays and even the Jackverse isn’t immune. And when you think of the holidays, the first thing to come to mind is the Twelve Days of Christmas. Granted I always hear Bob and Doug McKenzie singing their version of the song. But! It’s time for a version of that song to go along with the I Zombie series. And so, my lovely lords and lordesses of leaping… let’s on with song! Drink, and be Mary. Oh shoo…
Unleashing the beast
Dec 5th
Here at the Jackverse, there is always some mischief brewing. And right now… the mischief is dark, twitchy, and oh so delicious. I have plenty of fabtastic to drop on you, so I’m just going to cut to le chase and get to the big funky… drop me a beat.
The NEXT next big thing
Nov 30th
It seems I’ve had the mark of the beast slapped upon my forehead once again (this time by Danielle Blanchard). That mark? The next big thing. But since this is the second time I’ve been tagged as the ‘Next big thing’, I’m calling this the NEXT next big thing. What’s really great about this is that I get to share with you my current work in progress — which just happens to be another entry in the I Zombie series!
Warning — you must “MUHAHA” before continuing on.
Here’s where the story… begins!
Nov 23rd
Ladies and gentlegiants of the Jackverse, Hell’s Muse has been shipped to edit! That means but one thing — a new project! But what to begin? I’ve bounced back and forth between ideas so much my head is swimming with possibility. But, in the end, I must make a choice and begin the beguine again.
So… just what happens next? Read on to find out.
Ten different things to be thankful for
Nov 21st
The holidays are almost upon us. That time of year when everyone’s stress levels reach epic heights and family becomes a central and contentious theme. That’s right — we all love our families while at the same time we want to strangle them!
I kid! I kid with handfuls of thankful, tryptophan love. So, what does a horror author have to be thankful for? Puhlenty! Let’s dig into the sweet meats and find out.
Emma Jameson gets Jack’d
Nov 19th
It’s that time again in the Jackverse where some rouser of rabble winds up on the hot seat hoping the temperature doesn’t get turned up so much their panties get singed.
And then… there’s Emma Jameson. She’s the writer of cozy mysteries that’ll have you curled up under many a blanket, your cat purring loudly on your lap, and a cuppa something nearby. Ah, isn’t like idyllic?
The art of writing lyrics
Nov 16th
Many of you probably know by now, I am working with the metal band Unsun. What started out to be a one-off effort has turned into much, much more. I have now submitted to them lyrics for four songs and am now working on a fifth. I’d worked in the form years ago with a band that I was in, so the process wasn’t altogether unfamiliar. So… I thought it would be a fun distraction to chat about my process (along with some tips and tricks) on writing lyrics for bands.
Is television jumping it’s own shark?
Nov 14th
Welcome back to the Jackverse, where the power is always on and the soda pop is free flowing! Today’s topic might well be near and dear to you all — television! That’s right TV’s TV! And here in the Jackverse, there’s a theory building up that television itself has jumped the shark.
For those that don’t understand the phrase “jumping the shark”, let me explain. There once was a show called “Happy Days” that enjoyed quite a long, successful run. It wasn’t until the show aired an episode of it’s main character (Fonzy) jumping a nest of sharks on water skies. After that episode it all went to Hell. The show officially tanked and shortly after it was done. Hence the term “Jumping the shark”.
How Dungeons & Dragons taught me to survive the apocalypse
Nov 9th
Yes, I am openly admitting that I spent countless hours of my youth (eh hem…) sitting at a table, dice in hand, battling ogres, demons, and dragons. It’s a badge I wear with pride because all of those D&D (AD&D, Vampire: The Masquerade, Heroes, and more) campaigns taught me how to survive the inevitable — the apocalypse.
“How?” you say? Let me explain, before you pants me and label me more of a nerd than I already am.
The television show called “life”
Nov 7th
When I was in high school I had this little “thing” that got me through troubling times. I would imagine that everything around me was nothing more than a television show and all I had to do to rid myself of whatever was going on was flip a switch. It’s no secret that we artistic types are an odd bunch; so it should be no surprise that that strange delusion followed me into adulthood — only it evolved… and became snarky.
