Jun 13 2012

Horror Writers to Invade Strawberry Fest (updated 6/13/12)

The New England Horror Writers’ Association (NEHW) will be appearing at the South Windsor Strawberry Festival & Craft Fair on Saturday, June 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Published writers and illustrators will be on hand to sell books, magazines, and prints.

Scheduled to appear at the event is Robert J. Duperre, author of The Gate and Dead of Winter, among other titles. This is Duperre’s first NEHW appearance. He will be available to sign books and answer questions throughout the day.

Also on hand will be Stacey Longo, who has had over 15 short stories published in anthologies and magazines, including Epitaphs, Malicious Deviance, Shroud, and Shock Totem. Other writers on hand will be Kristi Petersen Schoonover (Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole: Tales from Haunted Disney World, In Poe’s Shadow), Rob Watts (Huldufolk) and David Price (Tales from the Grave).

Also appearing will be illustrator Jesse Young. This is also Young’s first appearance at a NEHW event. He has illustrated the cover art for a number of DuPerre’s novels.

The festival and craft fair is being head at Nevers Road Park, which is across from the South Windsor Police Station. The admission is free. Check out the festival’s website, www.berryfest.org, for more information about entertainment and other vendors.

Jun 13 2012

‘Dallas’ Proves that Southfork Still Sizzles

By Stacey Longo

TNT is bringing Dallas back to viewers June 13. The original series, which enjoyed a 14-year run, still maintains a legion of fans, which may be why TNT decided to bring the residents of Southfork ranch back to television. The new series sets up a rivalry between a new generation of Ewings—J.R.’s son, John Ross (John Henderson) and Bobby’s adopted son, Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe).

Back to embrace the roles that made them household names, Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy are back as brothers J.R. and Bobby Ewing, still fighting for control of Miss Ellie’s ranch. Other original cast members include Linda Gray as Sue Ellen, J.R.’s ex-wife and now a candidate for governor; Charlene Tilton as Lucy, offering advice to her cousin John Ross; and Ken Kercheval as the still-vindictive Cliff Barnes.

The series, however, focuses on John Ross and Christopher, who both have very different plans for Southfork—John Ross wants to drill for oil, while Christopher dreams of using proceeds from the ranch to fund his alternative energy research. But getting in the way of both men’s ambitions are their fathers.

True to character, Bobby is still struggling to do the right thing in the face of adversity. And J.R. is still as deliciously devious as ever, not caring who he screws over to gain control of Southfork once and for all. One of the highlights of the new series is watching J.R. vow to his brother that he has turned over a new leaf, while backstabbing everyone around him behind the scenes. Larry Hagman is as formidable as ever, showing why J.R. Ewing’s name is known even to those who never watched the original show. Patrick Duffy slips in to the role of Bobby with easy familiarity, and while we are told Pamela Ewing “disappeared” years ago, Brenda Strong fills her shoes as Ann, Bobby’s new, but equally supportive and loyal, wife.

Fans of the original series will delight in seeing familiar faces (not all of whom are mentioned here,) as well as the winks throughout to the original show. (When Bobby’s wife Ann points a gun at J.R., he purrs “Bullets don’t seem to have an effect on me, darlin’.”) Plus, it’s fun to see little John Ross and Christopher all grown up, engaged in their own power struggle.

For those who never watched the original series, the dynamic trio of J.R., Bobby, and Sue Ellen, as well as the love triangle between John Ross, Christopher, and Elena (Jordana Brewster) will hook them quickly. Throw in a wife for Christopher (Rebecca, portrayed by Julie Gonzalo) and a bid for Southfork by Cliff Barnes, and you have a version of Dallas that’s sure to please.

Tune in to TNT tonight from 9-11 p.m. to watch the premiere of Dallas.

Editor’s Note:

To read an article with two of the cast members, click here.

Jun 12 2012

‘Dallas’ Stars Excited for New Series

By Jason Harris

Dallas stars Jordana Brewster and Julie Gonzalo. Photo by Jason Harris.

Dallas is set to return to television Wednesday night for a new generation to learn about the Ewing clan.

Jordana Brewster (The Fast and the Furious) and Julie Gonzalo (television series Veronica Mars), two of the stars of the new series, recently came to Boston to promote the show.

Gonzalo said they were excited about the new series and shooting at Southfork.

“I don’t think it has set in that it’s such a big deal until now when the shows about to roll out,” Gonzalo said.

The original Dallas debuted in 1978 as a five-part mini-series and ran for fourteen seasons until 1991 on CBS.

Brewster and Gonzalo didn’t watch the original series until they got the job in the new one, they said. They have watched three seasons so far.

“We weren’t born when it came out,” Gonzalo said about the original Dallas.

They weren’t born until the third and fourth seasons came out. Brewster was born in 1980 and Gonzalo in 1981. Another obstacle to watching the show was the fact that they weren’t living in the United States.

“I grew up in a different country until 1990,” Gonzalo said.

Gonzalo and Brewster were living in Argentina and Brazil respectively.

The “beauty of the show” is the fact that you can see where these characters are 30 years later, which “no other show has ever done,” Gonzalo said.

The new show gives people a chance to see how the Ewings’ children turned out, Brewster said.

“Cynthia [Cidre] wrote an amazing script with great, well-crafted characters and many, many twists and turns so it was heavily plotted … ,” Brewster said.

Audiences will see for themselves tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on TNT. The first season has ten episodes. The pilot was shot in April 2011 while the rest of the season was shot between last October and this past February, Brewster said.

The shows’ stars are contracted for six seasons, which is standard for a television contract, Brewster said.

Gonzalo said it’s up to the audience and how it is received if the show continues past the first season. She said that after the season wrapped Patrick Duffy kept saying ‘only 13 more to go.’

Brewster said Duffy has “the Midas touch” when it comes to working on television.

Gonzalo thinks in Duffy’s entire television career he has only been unemployed for two months, one month between The Man from Atlantis and Dallas and another month between Dallas and Step by Step.

When asked about Duffy, Larry Hagman, and Linda Gray, the original stars of Dallas, Gonzalo said Duffy is like their dad, Gray like their mom, and Hagman is like a “funny uncle.”

Hagman, who “has had such a colorful life,” had the best and greatest stories, she said.

“We had a sense of family the minute we all met,” Gonzalo said.

Dallas starts Wednesday night with a two-hour episode airing on TNT at 9 p.m.

Editor’s note:

To read Stacey Longo’s review of the new series, click here.

May 23 2012

Passion Re-Kindle’d

by Stacey Longo

I love to read. I don’t think there’s anyone who has ever met me that isn’t aware of this. If I had a choice between bathing in chocolate, getting a hot stone massage from Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, or reading a really good book, I’d pick the massage with Vin and Rock, but it would be a really difficult decision. Maybe. How did I get off topic here?

As an avid reader, I have been quite vocal about my love for the book itself. I love the feel of a book in my hands, the smell of a new book or an old musty classic, and the ability to take a book anywhere with me. I have the Kindle app on my iPad, but I never use it. I blame this on the irresistible temptation that my ‘Plants vs. Zombies’ app dangles in front of me on the iPad, plus my unwillingness to take a $500 tablet to the beach or the bathroom.

My only teeny, tiny problem with books is that our house is rapidly running out of room to store them all. If I really like a book, I own a copy, and if I love it in an “if you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?” kind of way that makes you answer “okay,” like how I feel about Cider House Rules by John Irving, I buy it in hardcover. We have bookcases lining the walls of our office, and books in between the cases; towers of books precariously balanced in the spare room; novels crammed on the shelves and in the drawers of the hutch in our dining room. I can’t help it. It’s impossible for me to leave a library book sale without giving myself a hernia from my purchases.

While gushing about the joy that is reading with some co-workers this week, one of them (who shall, from this point forward, be known as my BFFandever Damian,) offered me his extra Kindle. Could I really go against everything I’ve ever ranted about, the changing publishing industry and the dying breed known as the book store…all of which I blamed on the Kindle? You bet I could. I accepted Damian’s offer before he even finished his sentence, because at my very core, I am a sell-out.

To say I love my Kindle is an understatement. I downloaded a ton of books for free and some for a couple of bucks each, and I haven’t let it out of my hands since. (Jason knows there’s a Kindle in the house, but I haven’t even let him breathe on it yet.) I take it everywhere I go, and use it when I’m brushing my teeth, cooking dinner, or even painting my toenails. The red polish and my lack of attention made my toes look like an autopsy, but I didn’t care, because my Kindle was there with me. Now I know what’s been missing all of my life—more books, without the storage problem. I don’t bother conversing with people anymore, because I don’t have to. My nose is buried in my Kindle. In fact, I’d love to tell you more about it, but writing this blog has already taken up too much precious reading time.

The only place the Kindle can’t go with me is the shower. But really, how important is good hygiene, anyway?This entry originally appeared on Stacey Longo’s blog. Click on here to read other entries by the Co-chair of the NEHW.

May 20 2012

Pictures of the NEHW at the Foxboro Jaycees Craft Fair

The NEHW banner strung between our two tents. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo writing out all the names of the authors appearing at the craft show. Photo by Jason Harris.

Epitaphs and The Soul Collector displayed at the Foxboro craft show. Photo by Jason Harris.

Authors Scott Goudsward, Morven Westfield, and Tracy L. Carbone. Photo by Jason Harris.

NEHW member Sarah Gomes checking her cellphone during the craft fair. Photo by Jason Harris.

Shock Totem magazine displayed at the Foxboro craft fair. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Scott Goudsward chokes author David Price after his latest book sale while author Tracy L. Carbone looks on. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo is mad that Scott got to David first. Photo by Jason Harris.

May 17 2012

NEHW at the Foxboro Jaycees Spring Fair this Saturday

The weather is going to be perfect this Saturday for the Foxboro Jaycees Spring Fair on the Common.

According to the forecast, it will be in the 70s and what better way then to come check out the New England Horror Writers, who will be selling and signing books, at an outdoor craft fair. Along with our books, there will be other vendors selling items like handcrafted jewelry, original artwork, doll cloths, handbags, and many other gifts.

If you are a reader and love meeting authors, you will want to stop by the NEHW tents. Yes, you read that right. We will have two tents right next to each other where you can meet authors, Tracy L. Carbone, Scott Goudsward, Stacey Longo, David Price, Rob Watts, Morven Westfield, and K. Allen Wood.

At this event, there will be three authors with stories in Epitaphs and the anthology’s editor. Epitaphs is the New England Horror Writers’ first anthology. Goudsward, Longo, and Wood all have stories in this collection while Carbone was its editor. The anthology is $12 and the authors’ signatures are free.

Along with Epitaphs, these writers will have other books on hand that they have written or it contains a story written by them.

If a story collection is not want you are into, but folklore is then Watt’s book, Huldufolk, may be your cup of tea. His book is based on Icelandic folklore. Along with the book, he is giving away a copy of The Traffic Lights CD, the fictional band in Watts’ book, with each book purchase. Watts composed the music himself.

Wood will have copies of his magazine, Shock Totem, on hand. Each issue contains stories, interviews, and reviews.

In you love vampires, Westfield will be the person to talk to since she will have two vampire books on hand, Darksome Thirst and Old Power Returns, which take place in Framingham, Massachusetts.

You can also find out about Price’s first published story in Tales from the Grave, which will be on hand.

The Spring Fair happens from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Foxboro Common.

May 8 2012

A Day at the ‘Dirt Mall’ in New Haven

This entry is from NEHW member Rob Watts’ LiveJournal site.

A Day at the ‘Dirt Mall’ in New Haven

by Rob Watts

It was a slow start, but the day improved as it moved forth. I hit the road from Boston at 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning to be in New Haven, CT. by 8:30a.m.

The author signing event was held at the Trolley Square Mall in downtown New Haven. When I pulled up in front of the building, all I could think about was the Dirt Mall from Mallrats. Funny enough, NEHW event coordinator Jason Harris told me he had that same impression as he arrived. As I was expecting to see a booth for topless fortune-telling by a woman with a third nipple, I was pleasantly surprised to enter a cool looking converted old factory, which was slowly taking shape in the form of a shopping mall.

The event started at 10:00 a.m., but things really didn’t start to pick up until noon. In the meantime, there were friends to be made around us, as there were so many nice people selling their handmade crafts from all over New England as well as New York and New Jersey. Shortly after noon, Stacey Longo, myself and Kristi Petersen-Schoonover took center stage to entertain the mall-goers with live readings from our books, Epitaphs, Huldufolk and Skeletons in the Swimming’ Hole. It went very well and attracted more people over to our booth, in which the three of us made some nice book sales after that. The best sale of the day was the woman who asked Kristi about the topic of her book. When she told her it was Disney ghost stories, the woman in a split-second reaction shouted “SOLD!” I myself appreciated the death metal fan girl for purchasing my book so she could check out The Traffic Lights soundtrack that came with it.

Rob Watts signing his book for the death metal fan. Photo by Stacey Longo.

Later in the day, we were joined by authors Nathan Wrann and Kasey Shoemaker.

New England Horror Writers’ Members

The event itself was great, but the fun part is having the chance to just hang out with our friends and fellow writers. Also worth mentioning is the fact that the coordinators of the craft show were really awesome and accommodating towards us throughout the day so many thanks to those fine women who made it happen. And thanks to Jason Harris and Stacey Longo of the NEHW for setting up yet another stella signing event.

See ya’ll in Foxboro.

Check out Rob’s website, http://www.robwattsonline.com.

May 7 2012

Pictures from the East Coast Craft Fair

The NEHW Banner in a window at the East Coast Craft Fair. Photo by Jason Harris.

Baby Kraken by artist Nina l. Szot. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Rob Watts reading from his book, Huldufork. Photo by Jason Harris.

Martial Arts Instructor Sifu Sidney G. Martin. Photo by Jason.

Nina l. Szot’s Zombies. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo reading her story in the anthology, Epitaphs. Photo by Jason Harris.

Sign announcing authors’ appearances. Photo by Jason Harris.

Martin and his student show a martial arts move to the craft fair attendees. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Kristi Petersen Schoonover reading from her book, Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole. Photo by Jason Harris.

Nina l. Szot’s Steampunk mask. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo reading a copy of Hell Hath No Fury, an all-female zombie anthology. Photo by Jason Harris.

Art by Nina l. Szot. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo taking a reading break. Photo by Jason Harris.

Part of one of the NEHW tables at the craft show. Photo by Jason Harris.

Thank you Stacey Longo, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Rob Watts, Nathan Wrann, Kasey Shoemaker, and Kimberly Dalton for participating in this NEHW event.

May 1 2012

NEHW at New Haven Craft Show Sunday

The New England Horror Writers and craft shows are becoming synonymous. This trend continues this Sunday when the NEHW participates in the East Coast Craft Fair in New Haven.

The craft show will be held at the Trolley Square Mall on Saturday and Sunday, but the NEHW will only be there Sunday.

NEHW members Kimberly Dalton, Stacey Longo, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Kasey Shoemaker, Rob Watts, and Nathan Wrann will be there selling and signing their works.

You can purchase Epitaphs, the first anthology created by the NEHW, which includes only stories by members. Longo’s story, “Private Beach,” which is reminiscent of Stephen King’s story, “The Raft,” is in this inaugural collection. This anthology also includes a story by Christopher Golden, who has written a number of Buffy the Vampire Slayer books, and Rick Hautala, the recent recipient of the Horror Writers Association’s 2012 Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.

If you saw The Raven starring John Cusack last weekend and are still craving Poe, you could purchase a copy of In Poe’s Shadow, a collection of short stories inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Schoonover’s piece, “VanityVanity,” which was inspired by Poe’s “The Oval Portrait,” is in this anthology.

If Poe is not your style, maybe you’d like a trip to Iceland with newlyweds Jeffrey and Susie Hill in Huldufolk, which is based on Icelandic folklore, written by Watts. Along with the book, he is giving away a copy of The Traffic Lights CD, the band in Watts’ book, with each book purchase. Watts composed the music for his fictional band.

If you are a New Haven resident or work in the city, then Silver Vengeance, by Kasey Shoemaker, whose main character is an ambitious chef in one of New Haven’s trendiest restaurants in her urban fantasy novel featuring werewolves, witches, romance, and bloodshed, might be for you.

There will also be young adult novels by Nathan Wrann and a children’s book by Kimberly Dalton available. Wrann will have his first two books in the paranormal thriller Dark Matter Heart trilogy at the NEHW table. In Good Night Fright, Dalton rhyming children’s book, John is afraid to go to sleep so he asks his friends how they handle the monsters in the closet. She also illustrated the book.

The show’s organizers will also have readings by Longo, Schoonover, and Watts in the middle of the mall at different times of the day.

Come hear the readings and stop by the NEHW table where there will be plenty of other books available to buy from these authors in addition to the ones mentioned above.

The craft show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Trolley Square Mall is located at 1175 State Street in New Haven.

Apr 16 2012

A Frog-Lover’s Dream

by Stacey Longo

Why do I love the B-movie Frogs (1972) so much? Is it because it makes me nostalgic for my years on the farm, catching toads and lizards, only to release them in my sister’s bed? Or is it because a young Sam Elliot spends part of this movie shirtless in wet jeans, making insightful comments in his sexy voice that percolates like fresh-ground coffee in the morning? The truth is I never was very nostalgic about the farm. Hello, half-naked young Sam Elliott!

"Half-naked young Sam Elliott" in Frogs.

This fabulous film opens with Pickett Smith (Sam) canoeing on the lake, only to be swamped by a powerboat owned by the Crockett family. Clint and Karen Crockett (Adam Roarke and Joan Van Ark) fish Pickett out of the lake and tow his canoe back to their family’s island. Karen Crockett takes one look at Pickett and starts throwing herself at him like a cheap tart, proving that Joan Van Ark is a slut.

On the island, we’re introduced to Jason Crockett, portrayed by a cranky Ray Milland, who is probably wondering how he wound up in this movie. My guess is since he was wheelchair-bound, his agent just rolled him on to the set and ran like hell. Nevertheless, Milland portrays the monstrous patriarchal grandfather perfectly. His anger at the relentless noise of the bullfrogs without so much as a wink of irony at the fact that the family made their fortune on toxic pesticides had me so moved that I began to root for the frogs. That’s fine acting, folks.

The members of the family begin to disappear one by one, leaving Jason, Karen, and the rest of the Crocketts stumped. The only one who has an inkling of what might be going on is Pickett, because besides being sexy as hell, he’s a brilliant ecologist, too. He quickly deduces that the frogs are psychically controlling all of the reptiles and amphibians on the island and ordering them to kill everyone.

Reptile and amphibian (and even tarantula) fans will not be disappointed. Bad luck for the Crocketts, who found the only island in the world on which ball pythons, Burmese pythons, alligators, bearded lizards, monitor lizards, American snapping turtles, caimans, and what I presume to be cottonmouths but what suspiciously resembled Northern water snakes all live together in harmony. Crockett cousins, in-laws, and caretakers all die horrible deaths due to these vicious creatures (I never knew the chameleon had it in him) and to the amusement of the viewer.

Ironically, all of the black characters (the maid, the butler, and a model) make it safely back to the mainland, which is practically unheard of in a horror movie. There’s a possibility that they were attacked by seagulls as they ran to their car, but since I saw no eyeballs being swallowed nor any brain matter leakage, I like to think they made it. Eventually, the only characters left are Jason, Karen, Pickett, and two whiny Crockett kids. Jason demands that everyone stay because he wants to celebrate his birthday, frogs be damned. But Pickett and Karen take one look at the bullfrogs licking their slimy little lips as they press their beady eyes against the window and decide to make a run for it. They hop in the canoe, paddle to shore, and hooray! Sam Elliott takes his shirt off again! Miserly, miserable Ray Milland is left, wheelchair-bound and surrounded by frogs. He promptly falls face-first in to a pile of murderous amphibians. But he was such a wretched old coot, who cares, really?

This movie is fun, slightly ridiculous, and one of my all-time favorites. Why? Not because I’m a sucker for bearded lizards, though they are awfully cute. It’s because Sam Elliott is a bona-fide slab of hunky ecologist meat in this fine, fine production. Did I mention he goes shirtless?

Jason Harris Promotions

Tag Archives: Stacey Longo

Horror Writers to Invade Strawberry Fest (updated 6/13/12)

‘Dallas’ Proves that Southfork Still Sizzles