The Latest from Dan O'Brien

Well, the time has come to announce Dan O’Brien’s latest project: Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis: a collaboration between Dan O’Brien and Steve Ferchaud, who illustrated Conspirators of the Lost Sock Army and the Loose Change Collection Agency. What I am revealing today is the sketches for some of the interior illustrations (which will be black and white) of the first issue. It will be released as six issues (eBooks) starting on Halloween. It is influenced by film noir, pulp comics, and an abiding love of Lovecraft. It is now available for pre-order and Dan will be promoting it heavily starting in the month of October. He would love to hear what you think of it so far! Visit him at: http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter, @AuthorDanOBrien

For Those Who Thought It Would Be Gone By Now...

No, it's still here.

Unwinding After A Long Day

In Remembrance Of My Father

My father, Edward Frank Manuel Sr., passed away this past September 11, 2014 after 91 years of a full and varied life. He grew up on a farm during the depression, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and in the Army, put himself through college and became an accountant, and raised four children with my mother. He and I didn't always see eye-to-eye, but he taught me about as much as a father can teach. I don't believe I can actually write something that would honor him as touchingly as the following poem by my niece's daughter, his great-granddaughter.



The Great Man

I saw a great man once, walking all alone.
I asked where he was going and if I could come along.
He said, "I am going where you cannot follow;
Indeed, I am leaving, searching for tomorrow."
I asked him where tomorrow is and how we would get there.
He said, "I will walk, so long as I get there,
As for where it is, it's never really far,
It's always nearby, close to our hearts.
I hope that I find it, I really, truly do,
For when I find tomorrow, I'll be happy."
And then he turned and left, and
Never since then have I seen that great man, 
Searching for tomorrow.

We are gathered here to celebrate this great man
Who never again will have to go looking for tomorrow,
For he has found it, and now he is happy.

          Mikaela Curtis


Obituary - Edward Frank Manuel Sr.

Rest in peace, Dad.

Home Improvement?

So the house directly behind ours has been undergoing "renovation" now for more than a year. About the first thing they did in March 2013 was place this dumpster directly behind us, changing our view from one of trees and grass to this. It looks like this most of the time, since emptying a full dumpster is obviously extremely difficult and costly for a construction company. We've complained to the county, of course, but I am pretty sure that county government exists for the sake of real estate agents, developers, and construction companies, not for the people who unfortunately just live there. Anyway, since this is obviously now going to be a permanent part of our existence, we're thinking of naming it. Suggestions welcome.

Lucky Seven Game of Tag

I've been tagged in the Lucky Seven Game by the excellent and prolific writer Debbie McGowan.

How does it work?

• Go to page 7 or 77 in your current WIP.
• Go to line 7
• Post on your blog the next 7 sentences or 7 lines—as they are!
• Tag 7 people to do the same.  

My current WIP is a project called A Feast of Famine. Here are the lines from page 77.

“What is this threat to stop the food deliveries?”

“It’s not really a threat.  It’s a practicality.  We aren’t getting any food delivered to the interior.  What we bring ashore is being looted immediately.  That is unacceptable and must be stopped.  We’re not running this program to see criminals fed while the needy continue to starve.”

“You must bring more.  When there is plenty of food, the looting will stop, because the food will have no value.”

So far I'm tagging J.P. Lane and Phillip Thurlby.

Congratulations Susan!

Think dogs are hard to train? Try working with chickens!

Way to go, Susan!