John W. Wells III

  Interview with John W. Wells IIIAuthor ofThe Kalib Andrews Chronicles Please tell me a little about your current work in progress. I am currently working on The Invisible City, the third book in The Kalib Andrews Chronic...

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Feb 17, 2025
The Haunted Mesa

This week I finished reading Louis L'Amour's The Haunted Mesa for the first time. It's a tale set in the Navajo Mountain area--San Juan County, Utah. I have some passing familiarity with the region and a bit of the history, particularly regarding Moa...

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Feb 10, 2025
Hamlet -  Mel Style

  Who knew Mad Max made an appearance in Hamlet?It's Franco Zeffirelli's 1991 adaptation of Shakespeare's moody prince, starring Mad Mel as the perturbed prince, crazy Glenn as Queen Gertrude, Helen Bonham Carter as the tormented Op...

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Jan 27, 2025
Tea, Coercion, and Conciliatory Acts

 Fun Fact:Frederick Lord North was 38 when he became prime minister in 1770. Corpulent with large features and a bulbous head, he was famous for his wit, literary anecdotes, and historical references. Prior to becoming PM, he had supported t...

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Jan 20, 2025
Writing Buddies

 The characters and items pictured above have been my writing companions for a few years now. On the left is what may be an Aztec death whistle. It makes a sound like rumbling wind or growling jaguar. There are two stone dice from Texas, som...

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Jan 13, 2025
Jeff Chapman

 Interview with Jeff ChapmanAuthor ofThe Great Contagion, The Sniggard's Revenge, Last Request: Victorian Gothic, and more Please tell me a little about your current work in progress. I’m working on a novel in my Merliss Tales fantasy seri...

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Jan 06, 2025
Little Omnibus battle

 Let's return to the Omnibus bill of 1850. Stephen Douglas succeeded where Daniel Webster had failed and brought the provisions through the Senate in small bites instead of at a single gulp. Getting the provisions through the House would be...

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Dec 30, 2024
See How They Run

 See How They Run, 2022, directed by Tom George and written by Mark Chappell, stars Sam Rockwell as Detective Stoppard and Saoirse Ronan as Constable Stalker. This parody of the murder mystery genre is actually funny. We've recently watched...

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Dec 23, 2024
There she is

 "There she is!" Christmas and New Years are visible through the Mutara Nebula. I'm doing my part to help you navigate the holidays without functioning sensors. Don't get caught in two-dimensional thinking.The first three books in...

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Dec 16, 2024
I object

 The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! -- The Merchant of Venice, Act I, Scene...

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Dec 09, 2024