Just thought of something cool as a writing experiment. But I have to leave in half an hour to go to a family cookout. Why do you hate me, Writer Brain? (Note, Writer Brain hates everyone.)

Con sketch by Dave Sim from way back. I asked for Superman and Cerebus, but told Sim I didn't want them fighting. He said, "How about as drinking buddies?" Then we discussed how an invulnerable Kyrptonian could get drunk and finally decided the bar had Red Sun lamps.

Happy 4TH of July! Art by Jack Kirby, natch. How is this 50 years old?

This Bruce Pennington cover is awesome.

The Cartwright sisters. Now I want to write ALIEN VS Lost in Space. The pain, the pain.

Something I always appreciated about fellow martial artist Rafael Kayanan, was he drew Conan using a 'warding hand' with his bladework, which would be familiar to anyone who'd studied Filipino knife fighting styles.

Out this month. I have the comics, but a collection will be handy.

They've killed Fritz.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

Just watched this surprisingly well done short Lovecraftian Horror film. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti23...

Woke up with Pellucidar on the brain. 'Core" memories, one might say.

Speaking of Clark Gable, namesake of Clarks Kent and Savage, watching today's movie I could see why he was such a big deal. He had presence, the kind that means when he's on the screen you can't look at anyone else. Great voice too.

A free taster of my work. This is who I am. These short stories, all previously published in magazines or anthologies, contain magic, monsters, ghosts, history, beer, Scotland, scifi, fantasy, horror, singing, more beer and more singing. www.amazon.com/Green-Grow-R...

Today's movie was 1934's FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, a romantic comedy that Amanda and I decided is marred by ANYONE thinking Joan Crawford's character would prefer Robert Montgomery to CLARK GABLE. Helloooooooooo? Have you seen Clark Gable?

Buy with Confidence from @leannareneehieber.bsky.social . She does great work.

Mail call!

Only one comic this week. A facsimile. So just the fac, ma'am.

This place needs some Jack Kirby.

Seeing so many self-pub writers using A.I. covers, ads, book trailers, etc, here. I will tell you I will never buy anything from you. If you're really a writer, you're an artist and you should respect human made art. Otherwise you're lazy and without talent at best, and a soul-less thief at worst.

Dang Honkers.

Cashier at grocery store. "Wow these 20s are crisp. Did you make these this morning?" Me. "No, if I'd made them I'd have put them in a tub of water with a few drops of India ink, then dried them so they would look circulated." Cashier.....

I'm not saying it's hot, but if I owned Hell and Georgia, I'd rent Georgia out and go live in Hell.

Ther wulf. Ther castle. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmjp...

Looks like another fantastic issue of Cryptology. All you Monster Kids should be reading this magazine.

In the meantime, what's next? I'm leaning toward THE MIDNIGHT BELL, which is one of the 'horrid' Gothic novels Jane Austen referenced in Northanger Abbey. I've read two other Gothics by Francis Lathom and liked them.

Finished up THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK TOWER, and enjoyed it so much I have ordered the same author's first novel THE HAUNTED CAVERN, plus another Gothic,THE STRANGER KNIGHT by a new to me author. Both from the fine folks at @valancourtbooks.bsky.social

Really enjoying 'The Mystery of the Black Tower', and it just occurred to me, this book is 230 years old. Author John Palmer, back in 1796 can't conceive of the future I live in, yet we are united, me reading his thoughts more than two centuries later, and grinning at his characters. Magic.

Moonlight Landscape, ca. 1835 by Lorenzo Scarabelotto

What's it like inside your head?

Now reading THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK TOWER, a Gothic novel from 1796, which in addition to strange happenings in dark castles also has knights and derring-do. Much mystery! Such action!

Horror story prompt. Cthulhu larpers accidentally summon a Great Old One. Hilarity and horrible deaths ensue.

Got asked again this morning if I teach at the local state college. Apparently I have 'resting professor' face.

The Shadow over Waffle House. Which really should be an anthology.

Tonight's entertainment is Vol 1 of the new House of Hammer series, a multi-media presentation of short films, documentaries, and a nifty color booklet. The in-depth doc about AIP horror films is worth the price of admission alone, but there's a ton of stuff on here, and the booklet is great.

I've never written an official Dark Shadows story, but if you want to read a pastiche where a 200 year old Vampire in New England is faced with some of his past victims and teams up with a 12,000 year old Barbarian, check out my story 'All My Sins' in this Castle of Horror anthology.

Today marks 60 years since the debut of DARK SHADOWS on ABC Television. It would be difficult to express the influence the show has been on me as a writer. It is part of my Gothic DNA.

Hey! I know that guy!

So anyway, the research has, as usual, gotten out of hand.

Now if the DARK SHADOWS owners would just start hiring current horror writers to do new fiction books. And by 'current horror writers' I mean me.

It’s #FridayReads time! Repost this and let us know what to repost for you. This multi-award-losing novel is still only $12! I hate Bezos, but not everyone can pay $20+ and with no contract/my editor gone from Mulholland, every copy matters. Go on, share what you love! www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...

My first encounter with the work of HP Lovecraft has a Whelan cover. I bought this after reading @stephenking.bsky.social 's Danse Macabre.

Doing some Lovecraftian research this morning, and I was already talking about artist Michael Whelan, so...

Hurm... www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/w...

I also have the slipcased 'Vanishing Tower' with this Whelan painting. Bonus bookplate Mike sent me.

Often, when emailing my author friend Amanda DeWees, I inexplicably start talking like Mr. Darcy. "I am glad the hairpin shortage has been properly addressed and that you were spared the necessity of entering the fray."

My original DAW Elric books. I didn't find a copy of 'Elric of Melnibone' until much later.

People often talk about the importance of Frank Frazetta to the sales of the Lancer/Ace Conan books, and they're right. I think Michael Whelan's covers for the DAW Elrics were equally important. I certainly bough them initially for the covers.

A favorite painting and a favorite book cover.

3 Years since this one came out. James A. Moore and I were super proud to be a part of it with our story, 'The Castle of Dr. Frankensaur'. Big thanks to @briankeene.bsky.social @cgolden.bsky.social and @joerlansdale.bsky.social

Thought I'd share a page where you can get direct-from-the-author digital copies of my books. Click the title of each one and it will take you to Paypal. scottoden.wordpress.com/books-by-sco...