Many thanks to my friend Zack, who shared this wonderful quote on his Facebook page today. It's a perfect concept to remember on the days when my brain gets too caught up in the mundane. "The dark dangerous forest is still there, my friends. Beyond the space of the astronauts and the astronomers, beyond the dark, tangled regions of Freudian and Jungian psychiatry, beyond the dubious psi-realms of Dr. Rhine, beyond the areas policed by the commissars and priests and motivations-research men, … [Read more...] about About the Utterly Unknown
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Pens to Lens Brings the Hollywood Vibe to Downtown Champaign
A beloved toy turned into a carrot-chomping monster. A superhero fighting a different kind of battle. A young girl on an unusual mission. A sanitized Satan battling over burgers. Miners, monkeys, dinner parties, and even a tunnel to the other side of the globe. Those were some of the cinematic treats devoured by a very enthusiastic packed house at the Art Theater last night. The unexpected part? The scripts were all written by kids. It was the gala celebration for a new and exciting program … [Read more...] about Pens to Lens Brings the Hollywood Vibe to Downtown Champaign
Tuesday Teaser: A Review of My Contribution to HerStory
Happy Tuesday, everyone! I think it pretty much goes without saying that anytime I read a good review of HerStory, I get happy. There are a bunch of wonderful stories in there, and I'm in great company in terms of quality writers. But I just had to share a review I read today that not only included a brief teaser of my story, "In the Company of Spirits", but gave it a bit of limelight all to itself as well. I'm pretty sure this is the first time someone I don't know has referred to my writing … [Read more...] about Tuesday Teaser: A Review of My Contribution to HerStory
RIP Roger Ebert
Just yesterday I was reading Roger Ebert's latest blog post, about some new projects, some in-progress developments...and about his recurring cancer. He was scaling back, taking what he called "a leave of presence" while tackling his illness yet again. Today, he passed away. My love of movies has been lifelong, fueled quite handily by the minds of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Every week I would watch them on television, discussing the movies of the day and arguing over their value. From early … [Read more...] about RIP Roger Ebert
A Local Exploration of the Magic of Movies
Recently I was invited to appear with Jason Pankoke and Luke Boyce on UPTV's series, Art Now!, to discuss preparations for an upcoming annual film festival, the New Art Film Festival. There is such a flourishing culture of locally-produced cinema in my area, and it was only natural that I wanted to help spread the word about this special event. When I arrived at the taping, I learned that I was also going to have the opportunity to talk about my company, Psychic Joker Entertainment, whose goal … [Read more...] about A Local Exploration of the Magic of Movies
HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month
I'm so pleased to announce that my short story "In the Company of Spirits" was selected to be part of this wonderful anthology celebrating women writing about women. I've had a chance to read some of the other stories in this collection, and I know you'll really enjoy them. Read below for more information about the book, and about some special giveaways! And pick up the book starting Friday, March 8! In ancient times, women were regarded as sacred. They were thought to hold the … [Read more...] about HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month