The New England Authors Expo Happens July 30 in Danvers, MA.

By Jason Harris

The 2013 New England Authors Expo. Photo by Jason Harris.

The 2013 New England Authors Expo. Photo by Jason Harris.

The New England Authors Expo will be attended by authors, artists, booksellers, publishers, and many more guests, companies and organizations, which makes it the perfect time for readers to meet and talk to authors and others in the publishing world about books and the written word. For an entire list of who will be there, click here.

Some of the authors and artists in attendance are Stacey Longo, Rob Watts, Dale T. Phillips, Vlad V., Michele McPhee, Nicholas Conley, Eric Dimbleby, Guntis Goncarovs, Edith Maxwell, Ursula Wong, A.J. Kane, and S.L. Johnson.

The bookseller, Books & Boos, will also be in attendance selling used and new books. There will be a few authors at its table. The authors are Longo, Michael Evans, and Kurt Newton.

The Expo operates from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and takes place in the Harborview Ballroom at the Danversport Yacht Club. The yacht club is located at 161 Elliott Street (Rt. 62) in Danvers, MA. There will be a free gift bag to the first 100 visitors. This event is FREE.

You can follow the Expo on its Facebook page here or on Twitter (@neauthorexpo).

Rock and Shock Starts Promoting Its 11th Show

Rock abd Shock 11

Rock & Shock is getting ready to turn it up to 11! In anticipation of the 11th anniversary of the horror and music convention that brings 3 days of monsters, music and mayhem to downtown Worcester, MA, Rock & Shock is giving the public an extra early sneak peak at this year’s attendees. While there are still plenty of big name acts yet to be divulged, Rock & Shock is pleased to announce that among this year’s guests will be Brad Dourif, John Ratzenberger, Jeffrey Combs, Nivek Ogre and Fiona Dourif. Meanwhile, King Diamond, Machine Head and Twiztid are among some of the convention’s scheduled performers.

Brad Dourif, the voice of everyone’s favorite flame-haired doll turned serial killer Chucky will be making a rare convention appearance at Rock & Shock 2014. Dourif is a legendary character actor who is best known for his appearances in Rob Zombie’s Halloween 1 & 2, The Exorcist III, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers & The Return of the King, Dune, TV’s Deadwood and his breakthrough role as Billy Bibbit in Milos Forman’s 1975 classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. To make the event a true family affair, Dourif will be joined by his real life daughter and True Blood star Fiona Dourif. Fiona’s other screen credits include Curse of Chucky, Deadwood and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Academy Award nominated film The Master.

He has danced with the stars, voiced some of your favorite cartoon characters and even fought for the Rebel Alliance and this October, Cheers‘ very own John Ratzenberger will be returning to the place where everybody knows his name. In addition to portraying Cliff Clavin, postal worker extraordinaire on the seminal Boston-based TV series Cheers, Ratzenberger has appeared in films such as Motel Hell and House 2: The Second Story, competed on Dancing With the Stars and has become the voice of Pixar. Ratzenberger is, in fact, the only actor to voice for a character in every Pixar film; most notably Hamm the Piggy Bank in the Toy Story series, The Abominable Snowman in Monsters, Inc. and Mack the Truck in the Cars.

A legend in both the horror and sci-fi communities, Jeffery Combs will be making his triumphant return to Rock & Shock this year. Combs first made his name as Herbert West, the main character in Re-Animator and it’s two subsequent sequels. He followed that up with appearances in several classic horror films including The Frighteners, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, House on Haunted Hill, FeardotCom and most recently, Would You Rather. However, science-fiction fans will best know Combs for his portrayals of several characters within the Star Trek universe, most notably the Vorta clone Weyoun on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Rounding out the early announcements is Skinny Puppy and ohGr frontman Nivek Ogre. Since forming Skinny Puppy in 1982, Ogre has wowed audiences as both a musician and an actor, appearing in films such as Repo! The Genetic Opera, 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams and The Devil’s Carnival.

Speaking of world renowned musicians, this year’s performers are set to include: King Diamond, who will kick-off the event’s pre-party on Thursday, October 16, Machine Head, Children of Bodom, Epica and Battlecross, who will be rocking the Palladium stage on Friday, October 17 and Twiztid, back by popular demand with their Fright Fest festivities and scheduled to close out the event on Sunday, October 18. A very special guest headliner for Saturday is set to be announced in August, so let the speculation begin!

Tickets for Rock & Shock 2014 go on sale this Friday, June 27th at 10am and may be purchased at ticketfly.com, FYE stores or at the Palladium box office. There are still plenty of celebrity guests, musical acts and events yet to be announced so make sure to follow Rock & Shock on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram and visitrockandshock.com.

WWE’s Kane Still On Fire

 

By Stacey Longo

 

WWE Wrestler Kane a.k.a. Glenn Jacobs

WWE Wrestler Kane a.k.a Glenn Jacobs

 

WWE superstar Kane was on hand at TerrorCon at the Rhode Island Convention Center on Sunday, June 8 to meet fans and participate in a Q & A session with a packed crowd in attendance. Glenn Jacobs, who is the man behind Kane’s mask, was friendly, personable, and humble as he answered questions from the audience.

The first question from the moderator was about a failed character from Jacobs’s past, the ill-fated Isaac Yankem, DDS. Notorious for not liking to discuss this past gimmick, Jacobs did admit that he felt the personality’s failure was “mostly my fault. I didn’t like [the character], and it showed.” Jacobs was next asked who his favorite opponents have been over the years. His response listed some of the most well-known faces in wrestling from the past two decades, including The Undertaker, Mick Foley, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Shawn Michaels.

One fan in the audience asked Jacobs about his reputation in the wrestling locker room as one of the “safest” opponents to face. Jacobs shrugged and explained “it’s mostly just about being a professional. You want to stay safe and keep your opponent safe.”

Jacobs was asked to reflect on his character’s evolution over the past 17 years. “Most guys go out to the ring doing the same thing night after night,” he said with a smile. “Kane’s different. He’s been able to evolve and develop as a character. I think it keeps him interesting.” He recalled different phases of Kane’s career, including a time when Kane had to use a voice box to communicate and when the Big Red Machine’s mask first came off. “It was hot under that mask,” he admitted. When asked who made the decision to unmask Kane, Jacobs said “two people: me and Vince [McMahon, WWE CEO].”

Jacobs fielded the questions from fans with good humor and grace. When one audience member asked him to comment on a current storyline about the Shield and Evolution, a storyline Kane is not involved in, he responded kindly: “I think it was a surprise, and that’s what you want, right?” Another fan asked about Kane’s experience getting Pete Rose in a Tombstone pile driver at WrestleMania 14 in 1998. “Pete Rose is like us,” Jacobs laughed. “He doesn’t take himself too seriously. I was just surprised when the crowd started cheering me.”

After the Q & A session, fans lingered to shake Jacobs’s hand and thank him for the opportunity to talk to him. “The best part about this business is you guys, the fans,” Jacobs said humbly, which is yet more evidence showing why Kane continues to be a fan favorite among wrestling patrons of all ages.

Pictures from Terror Con 2014, Part 3

 

By Jason Harris

 

2014-06-08 01.12.37

WWE Superstar Kane

Audrey II

Audrey II

Commercial Artist Roger Kastel

Commercial Artist Roger Kastel

2014-06-07 10.45.09

Carel Struycken (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Addams Family)

Carel Struycken (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Addams Family)

Calypso holding Davey Jones' heart.

Calypso holding Davey Jones’ heart.

These Captain Jack Sparrows are fighting each other.

These Captain Jack Sparrows are fighting each other.

The two Jack Sparrows getting along and hanging out.

The two Jack Sparrows getting along and hanging out.

Authors Stacey Longo, Vlad Vaslyn, Rob Watts, and Dale T. Phillips at the Books & Boos table.

Authors Stacey Longo, Vlad Vaslyn, Rob Watts, and Dale T. Phillips at the Books & Boos table.

Bobby Campo (The Final Destination)

Bobby Campo (The Final Destination)

2014-06-08 11.35.19

Model/Actress Sarah Michelle with a young Scream fan.

Model/Actress Sarah Michelle with a young Scream fan.

2014-06-08 09.19.07

Author Stacey Longo with John Altamura (a.k.a. the Toxic Avenger)

Author Stacey Longo with John Altamura (a.k.a. the Toxic Avenger)

 

These are the final pictures from Terror Con.

Pictures from Terror Con, Part 2

 

By Jason Harris

 

Musician Cherie Currie.

Musician Cherie Currie.

Jim Dyer of Fenham Publishing.

Jim Dyer of Fenham Publishing.

2014-06-07 14.35.20

Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story)

Naomi Grossman (An American Horror Story)

2014-06-07 15.08.13

Michael Jai-White (Arrow, Spawn)

Michael Jai-White (Arrow, Spawn)

Author Stacey Longo with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Author Stacey Longo with Captain Jack Sparrow.

The fun-loving Dee Wallace (E.T., Critters)

The fun-loving Dee Wallace (E.T., Critters)

2014-06-07 12.49.19

Me and Kane Hodder.

Me and Kane Hodder.

Frankenberry

Frankenberry

Musician Lita Ford

Musician Lita Ford

2014-06-07 18.07.32

Butch Patrick (The Munsters)

Butch Patrick (The Munsters)

Pat Priest (The Munsters)

Pat Priest (The Munsters)

2014-06-08 14.18.02

Author Stacey Longo having a scream at Terror Con.

Author Stacey Longo having a scream at Terror Con.

A scorpion at Terror Con.

A scorpion at Terror Con.

 

There will be one more entry with pictures from Terror Con tomorrow.

Pictures from Terror Con 2014

 

By Jason Harris

Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn)

Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn)

2014-06-07 10.21.18

Erin Murphy of Bewitched.

Erin Murphy (Bewitched)

2014-06-07 12.18.52

Dee Wallace of E.T., Cujo, and Critters.

Dee Wallace of E.T., Cujo, and Critters.

An alligator on the loose at Terror Con.

An alligator on the loose at Terror Con.

2014-06-08 09.56.25

Lisa Loring a.k.a Wednesday Addams on The Addams Family.

Lisa Loring a.k.a Wednesday Addams on The Addams Family.

Musician Richie Scarlett and author Rob Watts.

Musician Richie Scarlett and author Rob Watts.

2014-06-08 16.34.59

Nicholas Brendon ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Criminal Minds)

Nicholas Brendon ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Criminal Minds)

Author Stacey Longo with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Author Stacey Longo with Captain Jack Sparrow.

 

Martin Wright a.k.a WWE's The Boogeyman.

Martin Wright a.k.a WWE’s The Boogeyman.

The Boogeyman

The Boogeyman

Jigsaw

Jigsaw

 

2014-06-07 13.55.38

Jason Vorhees

Jason Voorhees

Jason Voorhees without the hockey mask.

Jason Voorhees without the hockey mask.

There will be a couple more entries with pictures from Terror Con coming on Monday and Tuesday.

How a Horror Fan became Miss Terror Con

 

By Jason Harris

Sarah Michelle. Photo courtesy of Sarah Michelle.

Sarah Michelle. Photo courtesy of Sarah Michelle.

 

Sarah Michelle is a model, actress, and wrestler. She has also been named Miss Terror Con. When she first heard about the newest horror convention in New England, it was as “a fan of horror,” she said.

“I was very excited that there was something like this going to happen in my hometown because it’s the first one,” Sarah said. “This is exactly what Rhode Island needs.”

She wanted to be involve in some capacity whether as a spokesmodel, helping out with flyers, or anything else she could do to help out the horror convention.

“I knew I could be beneficial to them.”

She sent the organizers an email and they responded with the idea of Miss Terror Con.

This isn’t Sarah’s first time in the spotlight. She started modeling about seven years ago when she was helping out a friend who was going to school for photography.

“I was really tomboyish. I still am at heart so the whole fashion, glamour thing was really new to me.”

After Sarah started her modeling career, she liked what she doing and was having fun doing it. Within the last few years, she started taking it seriously, she said. Since she loved horror, she started to wonder if there was anyone who would be interested in taking horror photos.

“I found out that there were a lot of people interested in that.”

Through her horror work, she started doing fetish work. When she started, she didn’t realize it was fetish work. She was working with the production company, Damsels in Distress Visual Productions. During the production, there were a lot of close-ups being taken of her legs, which were stuck in the mud. All she was thinking at the time was that it was a job and that it would give her a chance to practice her acting. After being told it was a fetish work, she was fine with it.

“I have always been very curious about different fetishes and things like that.”

After that first experience, she found out about different types of fetishes like bondage and vore, “which is essentially someone being eaten by something.”

She focuses mainly on fetish and horror photos and videos now. She handles her own business. She gets projects through Facebook, Twitter, and email. She has a shoot coming up in New Hampshire, which she got after the photographer saw some of her work on Twitter, she said.

“I enjoy doing it,” she said about fetish work. “It’s a lot of fun. I get to travel.”

Her work has taken to different states and overseas to England where she filmed a quicksand fetish for Damsels in Distress Visual Productions.

“I never thought in a million years I would be going to England especially not for fetish work.”

You can find Sarah’s work by clicking here.

You can meet her in person this weekend at Terror Con, which runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pictures from Hartford Comic Con, Part 3

 

By Jason Harris

 

Larry Thomas, the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld.

Larry Thomas, the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld.

The man on the Office Space movie poster.

The man on the Office Space movie poster.

Poison Ivy, Batman, and the Joker.

Poison Ivy, Batman, and the Joker.

Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jones.

Green Arrow

Green Arrow.

Catwoman.

Catwoman.

2014-05-31 13.05.32

2014-05-31 11.51.07

Man in the Moon.

Man in the Moon.

Mr. T

Mr. T.

Nick Fury and Pepper Potts.

Nick Fury and Pepper Potts.

2014-05-31 12.00.57

2014-05-31 12.32.34

2014-05-31 13.09.33

2014-05-31 12.28.19

Iron Patriot with a convention-goer.

Iron Patriot with a convention-goer.

2014-05-31 13.33.10

The Batcycle.

The Batcycle.

This is the final post of pictures from Hartford Comic Con. I hope you enjoyed them.

Pictures from Hartford Comic Con, Part 2

 

By Jason Harris

 

Deadpool.

Deadpool.

Author Estevan Vega.

Author Estevan Vega.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.

Frozen's Elsa the Snow Queen.

Frozen’s Elsa the Snow Queen.

Green Goblin.

Green Goblin.

Brando Eaton (Cabin Fever 3)

Brando Eaton (Cabin Fever 3).

The woodcarvings of  Christopher Letarte.

The woodcarvings of Christopher Letarte.

Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman.

Merida from Brave.

Merida from Brave.

The Green Hornet's Black Beauty.

The Green Hornet’s Black Beauty.

2014-05-31 12.22.12

She-Hulk.

She-Hulk.

J & S Collectibles.

J & S Collectibles.

Gotham City residents.

Gotham City residents.

Artist Mark Morales.

Artist Mark Morales.

Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

2014-05-31 13.01.54

Pictures from Hartford Comic Con

 

By Jason Harris

 

This past weekend Hartford experienced the debut of Hartford Comic Con at the XL Center. There were long lines before the doors opened at 10 a.m. From what I saw, this convention will be coming back to Connecticut.

2014-05-30 23.05.47

Batman, Poison Ivy and Donatello.

2014-05-30 23.29.20

Michael Massee of The Amazing Spider-man

The crowds at Hartford Comic Con.

The crowds at Hartford Comic Con.

2014-05-31 10.47.44

Chronic and Bluntman

Chronic and Bluntman

Brighton Sharbino and Kyla Kenedy of The Walking Dead.

Brighton Sharbino and Kyla Kenedy of The Walking Dead.

2014-05-31 10.48.26

Michael Myers

Michael Myers

Beaker

Beaker

Spider-man

Spider-man

Disney Princesses

Disney Princesses

Maleficent and Anakin Skywalker

Maleficent and Anakin Skywalker.

Katrina Law of Arrow and Spartacus.

Katrina Law of Arrow and Spartacus.

An Umbrella corporation soldier.

An Umbrella corporation soldier.

2014-05-31 13.37.37

Ghost Rider.

Ghost Rider.

Jim Dyer of Fenham Publishing.

Jim Dyer of Fenham Publishing.

Marvel superheroes.

Marvel superheroes.

There will be a few more entries with pictures coming in the next few days.