Western RPG

West vs West

Here at this blog, we're inclined to frame the crisis facing the West as a spiritual battle between Christendom and the totalizing Death Cult seeking to destroy it. But just yesterday, a reader pointed me to a post that examines our civilizational decline through the lens of video RPGs, which…
September 26, 202315 Comments
fingers crossed

Agreement Incapable

I regret to inform you that the motley gang of linear thinking helots and malfunctioning bots infesting Amazon are at it again. And now they've gotten back around to setting beloved Mil-Sci fi authors Jason Anspach and Nick Cole in their sights. Nick broke the news on Twitter. In case…
September 25, 202320 Comments
Mousetrap Murders Banner

The Mousetrap Murders

Today's newpub showcase features a crime thriller by one of my cherished clients. And it's no stretch to tell you that I would recommend this taut mystery novel even if I hadn't edited it. See for yourself what I mean: A man wakes up in his car, unaware of how…
September 22, 2023
Calling It Quits

How to Know When to Quit (And Start Over)

New authors often find themselves lost in the creative wilderness, wrestling with the decision of whether to keep wrestling with a problem manuscript or cut their losses and start over. Writing a book is a challenge. There's no shame in realizing that a project isn't working as planned. Let's look…
September 21, 20238 Comments
surrogate hamster

Surrogate Activities

A video posted last month by a mid-sized video game review channel issued a scathing indictment of current AAA gaming. It's worth a watch, despite some crude language. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8jC2KT481c The immediate reaction from anyone with the least bit of awareness is "He's right! Video games suck now!"…
September 20, 202319 Comments
It Was Over the Road

It Was Over the Road

An OG reader and Twitter mutual passes along this recent encounter with high strangeness: Big thanks to Anon for giving us the story of an orb to ponder. And this week, I review Tales from the Darkside: The Movie as a patron exclusive. Get access to your choice of recurring…
September 19, 2023
Creepshow 2

Creepshow 2

Creepshow 2, the sequel to the beloved 1982 original, certainly has its macabre storytelling moments. While it doesn't quite reach the same heights as its predecessor, it manages to deliver a decent dose of chills that should satisfy fans of anthology-style horror. One of the movie's standout segments is "The…
September 18, 2023
Neopatronage Rising

Neopatronage Rising

Innovation is a constant series of creative disruptions. When new ideas meet an established system that's no longer fit for purpose, the result is a shakeup of the order, followed by a new status quo. That's what happened over a decade ago when Amazon put a Kindle in everyone's hands,…
September 15, 20234 Comments
Bombardier

Combat Frame Data: YCF-156B Bombardier

Technical Data Model number: YCF-156B Code name: Bombardier Nickname: Horseshoe crab Classification: anti-ship, bunker buster combat frame Manufacturer: Astraea Operator: UCP First deployment: CY 99 Crew: 1 pilot in cockpit in chest Height: 19.2 meters, 21 meters with outboard generator lobes Weight: Dry weight 73 metric tons, full weight 125…
September 14, 2023
creepshow

Creepshow

Special Offer: All writing is persuasion. But knowing what approach works and when can be a challenge. Let best selling ghostwriter Joshua Lisec show you the best persuasive techniques to supercharge your writing. Check out his offer now. The anthology format is a woefully underused cinematic style, in particular when…
September 13, 20236 Comments