DARK DAYS AHEAD AND BEHIND

The spring 2011 issue of DARK VALENTINE MAGAZINE is up, containing an illustration of mine and stories by Paul Brazill and others. My first time being published with them:

DARK VALENTINE SPRING 2011

I was asked to do this, after I had a piece go up at A TWIST OF NOIR. Aspects of the drawing surprised me upon seeing it again--surprised, as in, I don't remember doing that--although I just drew it a month or two ago.

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I now have the photographer, guest introducer and full line-up of writers in place for FLASHDRIVE 2. Three stories already. On track for the May 1 publication date.

I have a list of writers I want for FLASHDRIVE 3, which I'm hoping will be kind of a Scary Twilight Zone Edition.

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Sent off a few things the other day. I'm going to have another story at IN BETWEEN ALTERED STATES and a poem up next week. I should have a comic up soon. I'm also waiting to hear back on whether a new Candy Sangria tale will be posted.

This weekend, I wrote a poem about a night I spent at a Long Beach oil refinery and the bulk of a short crime story inspired by a trip I'll take to Wyoming next month. By the prospect of it. Not the trip itself, since I haven't taken it yet. I'm driving someone out, then flying back solo. I don't mind the traveling--looking forward to the drive and I'm fine with flying--but there are lots of loose ends and details to be worked out and a certain amount of dread involved. I would like to get some road trip pics, jot down a couple story ideas. And I've never been to Wyoming before.

This morning. I may work on the crime story and type up a few poems. I want to do a pen-and-ink portrait today, but am undecided on the subject.

Coffee pot, come to me....

I REMEMBER FALLING....

I have a new poem entitled "the fall" at The Camel Saloon. My first appearance there. It's also archived at their annex site, The Second Hump, which you can link to from the homepage....

THE FALL

I just began to submit written work again, after quite a layoff. I'll have another poem in a small press mag soon. About to email a short story.

The list of contributors for FLASHDRIVE 2 (being released internationally as SON OF FLASHDRIVE) is coming together. Very excited about this. People I haven't published or worked with before. Plus, I'm asking about half of them to do what they ordinarily would not, which almost always leads to innovation.

FLASHDRIVE

FLASHDRIVE, the first disenthralled E-book, is up at issuu. Photos by Sarah Bloom. Flash Fiction by Peggy McFarland, Robert Crisman, Laurita Miller, Carrie Clevenger, Quin Browne and Me (I included the story that gave me the idea, which was inspired by the work of Nicole Hirschi).

FLASHDRIVE: Flash Fiction and Images from the Road

My first time dealing with issuu. I found out the hard way you can't edit what is posted there. There are a few typos/brainslips/format glitches, but the material is strong. Read the Foreword, if you must, at a skim.

I found it much easier to layout the file prior to uploading it than dick around with it for hours on end, like I've been doing at the main Wordpress site (http://disenthralled.net). The e-zine/website version consumed far too much of my life. Issuu offers a way for me to continue disenthralled without it becoming a full-time job again.

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Sarah Bloom, who provided all of the photographs, has a Kickstarter campaign, "Totally Exposed," that you should check out. If you like the work she has contributed to disenthralled and my other projects, please consider supporting her:

TOTALLY EXPOSED

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Opened the windows in the office today. It's beautiful out. The wind is gusting, but not nearly as bad as yesterday. Belle, one of our Siamese kittens, hopped right up to watch the birdies.

"Look at the little birdie...."

Pop!

WINTERKILL

Did a new piece for A TWIST OF NOIR yesterday:

SNOW'S NOT COLD TO A DEAD MAN

That was the working title. I don't really give my drawings titles. Call it whatever you want. "Nice Job Backing Out of the Driveway in Fresh Snow" would do.

I sketched the clouds and lower half in pencil, then started inking from the top with micron pens. The skylines were done freehand. My favorite part, I think, is the mailbox.

Yesterday, I picked up some ink and an India ink brush-pen to try on large blacked-out spaces. I've been eating up the micron pens; I love them for inking these small pieces, but they don't give the kind of flat, opaque coverage I want.

Next, I'm going to work on a new comic for PULP METAL. I have a few things ready, but need something different before I post the Quin Browne short story I adapted.

I'm also finishing up a little e-book called "Flashdrive" (Sarah Bloom photography and various writers). Should be up soon. Today, if I can place the photos and upload it to the site correctly.

And with my free time, unless something comes up, I'll be either be watching bad Horror or 70's Crime movies.

BAD BLACK HEART

New Valentine's Day story, "Mine," by Rizzy Rodham at YOU WOULD SAY THAT, WOULDN'T YOU?

MINE

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Working on some new crimescene artwork and a stippled portrait of Charlie Patton today.

Wrote a poem last night, for the first time in months.

I'm sliding back towards music and martial arts training and have no idea how this year is going to play out.

BACK IN BLACK (LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS RE-MIX)

BLACK BETWEEN THE FRAMES #2 is up at Pulp Metal Magazine. Lots to read. So go read it....

BBTF #2

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Submitted a poem last week that will be appearing in a print microzine this spring. I have a slew of poems from last year that I never sent out. May get on it this week.

Finished the pencils on a new version of the Quin Browne story I adapted for BBTF.

There are a few things I could work on, but I think I'd rather draw a picture of Lightnin' Hopkins today.

NOT THE COFFEE, DAMMIT

New drawing, "Why you should always sit at a table, rather than a booth, with a clear view of the door," at Twist:

A TWIST OF NOIR

Sakura micron pens on a sketchpad. I almost painted it, but decided to go with lines and heavy blacks. Still undecided whether I should do greyscale or straight B&W on this kind of image. Black and white, I think, if I can pull it off. There are an infinite variety of effects you can achieve with straight B&W. Not always logical or accurate--often stylized, suggestive, even surreal--but my primary concern is eliciting a reaction, not winning a prize for photo-realism.

I'm reminded of Cornell Woolrich, one of the progenitors of Noir. His stories were often contrived, overwrought, at times nonsensical, but he dragged you into the heart of his existential nightmare and didn't let up until you almost couldn't stand it.

Finishing up a new BBTF today. Have another ready. Keeping an eye out, while I wait for details on an upcoming illustration.