NY ComicCon - Artists and Costumes!

I absolutely love costumes and aside from all the Halloween events I attend, NY ComicCon is another great venue for people to show their creativity and ingenuity.  I saw lots of really young people in costume and while I wish I had a venue to encourage my creativity at their age, I'm so happy that there is a place for them to shine.  

Here are some pics of the trade show floor, costumes and artists.

Being a Halloween person, I tended to gravitate toward the zombie costumes. 

This was my favorite.  I met the creator in the baggage claim area.  He showed me how he made the pieces of this costume from sofa foam and air conditioner filters among other elements. 

I met R2-D2.  One of the nicest celebrities there!

Yay!  Another zombie!

You gotta' have a sense of humor!

Dusty Volumes Contest (November 2011)

I'm up to four Dusty Volumes!  Woohoo!  Okay, maybe not so impressive, but I'm a laid back blogger and this is a casual challenge.  There is enough pressure in life, so no pressure here!  There is still another month and a half to go so who knows how many Dusty Volumes we'll all be able to get to.

My most recent Dusty Volumes Challenge novel was Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, which I read in October. You can read my post HERE.

To celebrate my fourth Dusty Volume I'm having a contest!

Sorry, this contest is ONLY open to participants of the 2011 Dusty Volumes Challenge participants as of this post. (But don't be sad, you can always sign up to join in on future fun.  Just click on the Dusty Volumes button above or in the sidebar for rules.)

Please Note: There will be one more contest close to the New Year.  I will simply be drawing a winner from the reviews posted.  To increase your chances, post a Dusty Volumes review.

Contest:
I'm giving away a $10 gift e-certificate to the bookstore of your choice. (If the store of your choice charges for sending an e-certificate, the cost will be deducted from the $10.)

To Enter:
Leave a comment letting me know what you liked about the Dusty Volumes Challenge and/or what you would have liked to see more of.

Rules:
~See my contest policy HERE.
~Contest ends Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at midnight (EST).
~Please leave your e-mail address in your comment or make sure your name leads to an e-mail address. If I can't find an e-mail unfortunately, you will be disqualified.
~Winners will be chosen by Random.org.
~If I cannot contact the winner within 72 hours the next winner will be chosen.

NY Comic Con 2011 recap - Book and comic signings.

The book signings at ComicCon were fun!  It was like a mini BEA.  Although like BEA, I wasn't able to be in two places at once to get to all of the author signings I did bring home a nice haul.  Also, unlike BEA, some signings were like regular bookstore signings in which you needed to purchase the book.  (Just a head's up for next year's participants to remember to bring money!)

(Just a sidenote, I apologize for the wonky formatting on this post.  I worked on it for about an hour before I realized Blogger was just going to do what it wants!)

Jenny Frison and Tim Seeley creator of the comic The Occultist.

(l-r) Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky) and Tahere Mafi (Shatter Me.)



(l-r) Nate Piekos, Jon Schnepp and Jeremy Barlow, creators of the comic Dethlok.

Lia Habel, (Dearly Departed.) 

(l-r) Marcus Dunstand and Patrick Melton. (Two of the authors of Black Light.)

(l-r) Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Romano and Stephen Romano. (Black Light.)

I was walking along an outside aisle trying to avoid the crowd and I ran into Julie Kagawa's booth.

Ryan Buell. (Paranormal State: My Journey Into The Unknown.)

Author K.K. Ross. (Daughter of the Centaurs.)  
  
 

Ghost Night

Title/Author: Ghost Night (Bone Island Trilogy #2)  by Heather Graham.

Narrated by: Angela Dawe.

Genre: Supernatural romantic thriller.

Publisher: Brilliance Audio.

Source: Library.

Favorite character: Bartholomew.

All in all: It was okay.

Synopsis: A slasher movie turns real when two young actors are brutally murdered on a remote island film set. Their severed heads and arms are posed in macabre homage to a nineteenth-century pirate massacre.

Two years later, Vanessa Loren is drawn back to South Bimini by a documentary being made about the storied region. Filmmaker Sean O’Hara aches to see how the unsolved crime haunts her…and Sean knows more than a little about ghosts.

Lured by visions of a spectral figurehead, Vanessa discovers authentic pirate treasures that only deepen the mystery. Are the murders the work of modern-day marauders, the Bermuda Triangle or a deadly paranormal echo of the island’s violent history? As Vanessa and Sean grow closer, the killer prepares to resume the slaughter…unless the dead can intervene. ~Goodreads.com

My Thoughts:  I didn't love this book and I didn't hate it.  I thought it was entertaining as I drove around in my car and listened to it.  There are certain people I know who would like it and others who I know wouldn't.  What I like about this book is that there is a good amount of detail regarding the ocean and diving. It’s pretty interesting. I also really liked the setting of Key West Florida and the Bahamas. I have never been to the Keys, but I felt like I was there because of the way the climate, the neighborhood, and the people are described.  What I also really enjoyed was the pirate legend of Mad Miller, Dona Isabella and Kitty Cutlas.  I think their legend and even their names are cool. 

However, the detail of the ocean, salvaging and diving is so abundant that it sometimes bogs down the story. I appreciate the amount of research the author did but it treads into the "telling" territory.  I also felt that most of the book was the preparation of the film crew to actually go out on the boat and re-visit the island that the murders took place on.  I know that in real life there is a lot of prep before a shoot, but it almost felt like false starts.  Just when I thought something was going to happen there was research and background checks.  I'm wondering if this book could have been edited down a lot.

The two leads, Vanessa and Sean, were honest, mature and likeable. That being said, some people may complain that they have no flaws and are “too” good. This didn’t bother me one way or the other. I felt kind of neutral. To me, they are there to serve the story. One thing I do like about the characters is their romantic relationship. Although when they first met there was a misunderstanding, they were both mature and honest, like the characters themselves. They didn’t play games or act coy or talk about being hurt before. They were like, “Hey I’m attracted to you, let’s get together and see where this goes.” It was kind of refreshing and surprising.

After I read this, I realized it is part of a trilogy and there are some questions about other characters that sound intriguing. The first book is about those characters. However, it didn’t ruin the experience of reading this book and I didn’t feel lost. I just thought, “Hmm, wonder what happened there.”

***SPOILER ALERT: There is a paranormal element throughout, in which the main character Sean has a ghost friend, Bartholomew, who helps him out and Vanessa is led by ghostly visions to discover certain things. They helped to move the plot along, but I kind of wish they had been spookier. Also, there is a nice scary scene at the beginning and then one at the end. I think that it may have been more interesting to put more of those elements within the middle of the story, this may have made it more interesting for me and more dangerous for the characters themselves.  The ending...well it wasn't much of a surprise, because the killers could have been anyone.  There is no suspicion cast on them more than anyone else.  This could serve the story or hinder it for some people.  :END SPOILER ALERT***

The narrator did an excellent job. I actually recognized her voice from the audio book of Wild Ride. She has a real gift for doing a lot of different voices that are distinguishable from each other.

Although I don’t think I’ll be going back to read the first book or will continue with this trilogy, I enjoyed visiting Key West with the author and learning about diving.  If you are interested in a light read thriller with a dash of paranormal and some romance you may like Ghost Night.

Contest Winner Announcements! (11/3/2011)

~Spooktacular Giveaway Hop $10 Gift Card winner: Ash M.

~Lesser by M.T. Murphy winners: Karen from For What It's Worth and Missie B. from The Unread Reader.

Congrats to all and please stay tuned for more contests!

Comic Con 2011 Recap - The Panels.

 

ZOMBIES, FALLEN ANGELS, AND OTHER PARANORMALS:

With authors Bob Fingerman, Veronica Rossi, Stefan Petrucca, Nancy Holzner, Tahere Mafi and Tom Sniegoski. Moderated by Drew Magary.

This panel was an in depth discussion regarding paranormal characters and stories of the above authors.  When asked why they write about paranormal creatures, the reasons were varied.  Bob says he likes to take people and put them in tough situations and likes to "de-glamourize" the situation. He writes about what he wouldn't want to happen. For example he feels that being a vampire may be pretty lousy.  Nancy Holzer, who is a Medievalist (how cool is that?) said that paranormal elements were viewed as real in Medieval Times, so why not write about them as if they are real?  Tahere said that even though her character is paranormal, she wants to be accepted for who she is, just like any other teen.

 

Another question I thought was interesting was if they invented their worlds to communicate something in real life.  Veronica explained that she liked to explore where we could be going with technology and playing with the opposite.

After the discussion, the panel took questions from the audience.   When asked about original material, Nancy Holzner said that it isn't "...the idea, it's the execution that makes it yours." "It's how you twist it."  advised Tom.  Tahere stated, "Emotions are universal, whether you're a shapeshifter or not.  People recognize emotions."

The panel.

Regarding their influences, Nancy Holzner told us that being a Medievalist, the Mabinogian is hers.  For Stephan it is Dashiell Hammott and Joss Whedon, for Bob, Phillip K. Dick and Phillip Roth.  Veronica had a very unique answer.  She said it was the book, Natural History of the Senses, and that it makes you think our senses are otherworldy.  "Magic is going on every day."  She said.   

Aaron Sagers.

CELEBRITY GHOST STORIES: FACT, FICTION AND PREVIOUSLY UNTOLD TALES IN PARANORMAL POP CULTURE.

Aaron Sagers gave a humorous and interesting presentation on the topic of celebrity ghost stories. (He is not affiliated with the show.) "The first thing is you need to be able to do is trace the story," explains Sagers.  The rumor that Michelle Williams saw Heath Ledger after his death has not been substantiated by Michelle herself.  There are, however, many other celebrities who have documented a ghost story. 

I'm not really sure I believe in "ghosts" per-se, but during the talk, I realized that supernatural stories are more prevalent than I realized.  Sagers pointed out that there are even ghosts in the Bible. Mark Twain studied parapsychology and had foreseen his brother's death a month before it occurred.  Emily Dickenson wrote down her ghost story and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a big believer in the afterlife.  There are even many presidents who claim they have seen ghosts in the White House. 

Apparently author R.L. Stine never had an experience but he is always looking.  When he travels to schools, he encounters many students who believe in ghosts and they tell him their stories.  Sagers said when doing his own research he encounters celebrities who explain, "I don't really believe, BUT..." and they go on to tell him of their unexplainable experiences.

So, if you have had a paranormal experience, you can say you are not only in good company but in famous company.

(l-r) Miriam Parker, Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton & Stephen Romano.

ARCHITECTS OF SCARE: BLACK LIGHT

Here is a little story.  I used to love the show Project Greenlight.  I read all the scripts online and waited to see which one was picked.  I remember specifically reading Feast by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton and had my fingers crossed that was the script they would pick and I was so excited that they did.  I watched the show religiously and the ups and downs of bringing this film to life.  When I finally viewed the finished movie, I loved it.  It's a movie that just stuck with me.  The characters, the plot, the simplicity of the story.  My favorite scene was when a handsome man runs into the bar and announces, "I'm the guy who's gonna save your ass!"  Then Bam!  The monster grabs him.  Ha! I didn't see that coming!  So, when I saw that Marcus and Patrick were going to be on a panel at ComicCon I was very excited.

(l-r) Marcus, Stephen and Patrick.

Marcus, Patrick and Stephen Romano wrote Black Light together and their panel was moderated by Mulholland Books Marketing Directer Miriam Parker.  She was very enthusiastic and did an amazing job with relevant and unique questions. 

One of the things they liked about writing a book was that they didn't feel as constrained as with a movie script.  "In a book," they explained, "you can make anything happen.  In a script, you have to make sure it can be executed and is in within budget."  They all have a horror background, but they pointed out that Black Light is a ghost story.  They wanted to tap into something different besides horror.  My favorite quote of the discussion is by when he said "...everyone has that quiet moment when they believe in a ghost.  It comes from an intimate place." 

The authors discussed their childhood.  The funniest stories came from Marcus and they are where he draws a lot of terror from.  One was when he went ice fishing with his dad and fell in.  Another is the "Hawk" story when his dad had to rehabilitate the bird and one of the feeding times took a turn south.  And the last was a story about when his dad took him to check some traps and had to put down an animal that was still alive. 

When writing for the Saw movies, they said they "...tapped into a twist of anger." and they have a "reservoir of stuff to use, from paper cut stories to 'what if's'."  They discussed their kill scenes and how they figured out what would work and what wouldn't.  They liked to write together because they could brainstorm and get feedback.  Talking helps get your mind going and apparently your darker side too. 

VERTIGO: SCARY SHIT!:

A Panel of artists and writers from the Vertigo line assembled and the audience was able to look at new comics coming out.  We got sneak peeks at Voodoo Child, IZombie and Sweet Tooth.  The comic I am looking forward to is American Vampire.  It takes place in the 50's and is about a young, rockabilly vampire hunter who puts in fake teeth and rips the throats out of vampires when he catches them.  Payback!  The mystery is he doesn't remember his life before he is seven years old and his parents are dead.  Sounds like a very cool premise!

DARK SHADOWS

In this panel we skyped with Lara Parker who talked about her visit to the set of the new Tim Burton version of the movie.  She said the experience was "dizzying."  Everyone was very kind to Jonathan Frid and told him they wouldn't be there if it weren't for him.  Parker was thrilled to meet Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and even Alice Cooper who was on set one day.  She also was able to watch a scene with Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham-Carter, but she couldn't discuss it for legal reasons. 

Lara is almost finished with her third novel about Quenten and his werewolf curse.  Tor suggested she print her book in red ink to go with the whole vampire thing.  She asked the audience what they thought and the concensus was a big "no." "I thought it was a little silly myself." She revealed.

Lara earned a degree in Creative Writing in 2004 and has written two books that are Dark Shadows-centric, Dark Shadows: Angelique's Descent and the sequel Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch.  Click HERE for more information.





 







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