In 1896, H.G. Wells wrote a brilliant novel about a scientist who retreats to an uncharted tropical island in order to conduct forbidden experiments. “The Island of Dr. Moreau” is a great read and still evokes pertinent questions: what is ‘human’? Can science take the place of nature in the…

I like to write short stories and novels and Flash Fiction felt like the Twitter of literature to me, the ultimate consequence of our collective short attention spans in this ever-devolving digital age. But maybe my prejudice was a mere rationalization? Telling a story in 1,000 words or less is…

This is your only warning. Beyond this point are SPOILERS. For decades, I’d meant to read Charles Portis’ “True Grit,” and here I am in the Year of Our Lord 2023 having finally done so, and I am glad I did. While it hits many of the tried-and-true tropes of…

This is your only warning. Beyond this point be SPOILERS. If you have not seen Stanely Kubrick’s film, “The Shining” or read the source novel by Stephen King, STOP, and go watch or read them. If you don’t care about spoilers, then by all means… read on! One of my…

I had a dream last night where an old man whispered a phrase in my ear over and over, “Persistence of Memory”. I woke this morning and Google brought up Salvador Dali’s famous melting clocks painting but I don’t think that’s what the dream was about. …

The cape, the fiery eyes, that sinister laugh, and when those fangs pop out — it’s dying time. I’ve known him all my life. He’s simply The Count — the Undead -the blood-sucking freak they call Dracula. When I was a l kid, I had a model of Dracula rising…

This is your only warning. Beyond this point there be SPOILERS. If you have not seen The Wicker Man (1973) or Midsommar (2019), PLEASE STOP, and go watch them! If you don’t carry about spoilers, then by all means… read on! As a newly-minted teenager way back in 1973, I…

I first read Richard Matheson’s 1954 classic dystopian novel, “I Am Legend” when I was a teenager and I loved it. Three cinematic versions have been made from the book and I’ve seen them all multiple times. Each takes a different approach exploring the themes of loneliness, isolation, and despair…

Fiction writers have long held a special place in society. They have the ability to transport readers to places that feel real, create characters and stories that capture the imagination and create a riveting narrative that can last for generations. …