New Bloggy Update 6/13/25

There it is! The newest creation to come out of my head… 🙂

In a Corner, Darkly: Volume 3 is my third (obviously) compilation of short stories which lean heavy into horror, suspense, dystopian, a tad of sci-fi, and the apocalyptic realm. If you dig short stories, like a NEW take on some retro themes, or just want to be entertained, please, grab a copy today! (check with your local indie bookstores or go to the ‘big A’ if need be)

The Chicago Steampunk was pretty darn cool, but if I’m honest, many folks I chatted with were looking for cyberpunk/fantasy/world-building reading material. My suspense/thrillers just didn’t cut it for them. That’s okay. It was still a good time and I did manage to sell some books, toad bags, and mugs. I’ll likely stick to the Steampunk Convention here in Bloomington-Normal, though, from here on out.

But…OTHER events are soon to rear their own heads. Grayslake Author Fest is fast approaching (Saturday, June 21), and The Painted Wraith Festival right here in town will be on Saturday, August 9. On Saturday, July 19th, I’ll be doing a book signing at Bobzbay in Bloomington. Check out this amazing banner they made! How awesome is that? 🙂 It’s mainly to showcase Volume 3, but I’ll have all of them with me.

Other than finally getting my 8th book out and lining up events, Charlie and I have been up to normal, summery things. Buying a new bird bath, playing with Biscuit and Monkey (an all season activity), trimming weeds, avoiding spooders…

We hope to schedule an overseas trip to Norway/Denmark, but that’s months away. I must say that with all the “friction” happening in the world right now, is traveling a wise move? This blog doesn’t get political in any direction (and still won’t), but I would imagine anyone alive right now can feel tension and upheaval, regardless of what side you come down on.

So, what the heck have we been watching?

Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) – Interviews, performances and never-before-seen footage provide insight into the origins of Led Zeppelin and their meteoric rise to musical stardom. (Google) You HAVE to understand, music is Charlie and Charlie is music. His former jobs, his lifetime interests…all music related. So, this was going to be on our list one way or another. 🙂 I actually thought it was pretty interesting. I can’t say I’m an L.D. fan, per se, but I know a few of their songs and like them. However, this movie goes back in time – before they were the band known as… I found THAT more intriguing than a general rehash of greatest hits or getting into the minutia about inter-relational band gossip. I gave it a 7.3 and Charlie swung in at an 8.8.

The Sand Castle (2025) – Stranded on a deserted island, a family of four scavenges for survival as their past unravels, sending them into a downward spiral. (Google) Don’t. Just, don’t. This “arthouse” movie is not what it thinks it is. I found this great quote from an IMDb page. Allow me to share this fantastic summary: The film is weighed down by weak dialogue, lacklustre acting, and a disjointed pace that makes it feel amateurish rather than profound. The score does little to improve the experience. Then there’s the storyline-or rather, the lack of one. Like I said, ’nuff said. I bravely sat through it and gave it a 3.7. Charlie knew better and gave it a 2.5.

The Last Breath (2025) – A group of college friends reunite on a Caribbean scuba diving trip exploring the wreckage of a WWII battleship and find themselves trapped inside the underwater labyrinth of rusted metal surrounded by great white sharks. (Google) Honestly? I think we watched the wrong movie. No. Really. There’s another movie (same year) with the exact same title and stars Woody Harrelson. I think that’s the one we MEANT to see. Instead, we were treated to this celluloid disaster about a lot of A.I. sharks, terrible acting, and superficial characters. Make sure you find the right film. (lol) I gave THIS one a 3.2. Charlie gave it an incomprehensible 6.1 for some reason.

Department Q (2025) – Carl, a former top-rated detective, is wracked with guilt following an attack that left his partner paralysed and another policeman dead. On his return to work, Carl is assigned to a cold case that will consume his life. (Google) (Season One) – I wasn’t sure about this during its first few episodes as the main character is SO unlikable. Even though he continues to be annoying and rubbed me the wrong way in almost every scene, I still managed to like it. The story was compelling and the other actors/characters made up for everything that he lacked. If you like detective stories that don’t lean heavy on “zingers” and “one liners”, you might dig this. I gave it a 7.8 and Charlie gave it an 8.2.

MasterChef (2024/2025) – Yeah, I know. We started watching the Generations season (Season 14, I think) and just kept going. It’s fun, easy to watch during dinner, and entertaining. If you like cooking at all or want to see what people come up with, it’s a decent way to spend a little time.

Okay, that’s a wrap. Stay cool. Crank the A/C. Keep hydrated.