Neil Peart’s Passing

Just heard the sad news today that Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for the band Rush, has passed away.

I heard the news about Neil on the radio (quite fitting), listening to Neil’s hometown station, no less; there was lots of commentary and playing of Rush songs, and people calling in with memories to share. So, that helped to take out the sting a little, knowing many of us were going through this together, even if physically distant.

I grew up in suburbs and it meant a lot to hear Rush at the time with their song “Subdivisions.” That there was someone out there who could put words and music to my teenage feelings was pure magic and friendship over the airwaves. “The Spirit of Radio,” indeed.

I had the good fortune to see Rush live several times, and it was always an incredible experience! I got to meet Geddy and Alex, and they signed some of my albums, but the Professor remained elusive, as was his way. I did read most of his books, and they gave further insight into what he went through as a public figure (beyond the lyrics of “Limelight”), so it was understandable.

Thanks, Neil, for all the great music and words, you and your work will not be forgotten.

RIP Ghost Rider/Professor

My Public Speaking in Front of Millions on the Radio! Coast To Coast AM March 27, 2016

I’ve heard that public speaking is the biggest fear of many people. It does make me a bit nervous too, but I’ve been getting over it by putting myself out there in front of millions of people, live on the air! I’ve done radio interviews about my books in the past, but the other day I called into the talk show Coast To Coast AM that has millions of listeners–and I got on the air!

Coast To Coast AM (or Coast, or just C2C), is the largest overnight talk show in its time slot. It deals with paranormal subjects and the unexplained, “things that go bump in the night”, reaching hundreds of affiliate stations (600 and more) from its home base in L.A., and also the world via online streaming. The number of listeners is into the multiple millions. So, when you call into this show, and you are able to get on the air, the heart starts racing and the adrenaline begins to flow!

c2c newC2C was started in 1984 by Art Bell, broadcasting to the world live from his home studio in a small town in the Nevada desert, not all that far from Area 51. Art’s show was the first I had ever known to discuss topics like aliens, UFOs, Bigfoot, ghosts, spirituality, prophesies, astral projection, secret military bases, remote viewing, life after death, bottomless holes in the Earth, and all sorts of other strange and wonderful things!

He was carrying on the tradition of a small number of talk radio hosts of the past who dealt with such subjects (though they were few and unknown to me at the time), but he took the subjects and the medium much further in his masterful style. Not only was he a pioneer in the use of technology in having his home studio, but his show was one of the first with a Web site, and it was often updated with pictures and links from guests and listeners while he was on the air. Sometimes his site even had a live video feed of him in his studio! Also, he had audio steaming when most had never heard of that, never mind video streaming!

art bell studio

The “Art” of talk – Art Bell, the radio host master in his home studio.

The reason I called into C2C late at night on March 27, 2016 was to ask the guest a couple of questions. He was Tom DeLonge of the bands Blink 182 and Angels and Airwaves, being interview by the esteemed George Knapp. Tom’s new projects involve books and movies, both fiction and non-fiction on the subjects of aliens, UFOs, and secret high-technology. Once I heard what he was talking about I knew I had to call in, as my novel series on D.U.M.B.s (Deep Underground Military Bases, Book 1 Greyland, Book 2 Oceandeep, Book 3 Rescueplan, and Book 4 Moonbase – more coming soon) touches on a lot of the same factual information Tom was mentioning. I weave the information that has been made public about these topics into a fictional story that goes off in new directions, producing novels that might not be all that fictional…

I had to wait on hold for nearly an hour to have my call taken on the air. This wasn’t so bad, as I was listening to the show on my phone. I had to shut my radio off as it was getting picked up in the background, the caller screener told me. Also, live radio is on a delay of several seconds to give a safety buffer in case anyone needs to get bleeped for swearing or saying something that shouldn’t go out over the air. I would have turned my radio off as soon as my call was on air, but since they had the show coming through my phone there was no need to keep it on. It’s safer that way, as the last thing you want to hear while on C2C is to “turn your radio off!”, as Art often had to scold callers.

c2c oldI was the last caller on the show, and Tom gave some of the most interesting answers to my questions! You can hear the entire show at this link, and I appear at the 2:34:34 time mark: https://youtu.be/vkQHSO-T9hk

My D.U.M.B.s series on Amazon for Kindle or in paperback: http://amzn.to/1IUmZTw
The ebook direct from me via Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/wls
Also on iTunes, Google Play, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and many more.

dumbs-box-set-CROPPED

Book 5 in the D.U.M.B.s series is now on pre-order in most online bookstores.

Sign up to my Reader’s List and get informed about discounts on new books: http://eepurl.com/PH44z

“Me, the Mob, and the Music” book win! Support community radio CIUT!

Here is my video update, and I’m talking about the book “Me, the Mob, and the Music” by Tommy James that I won in a contest from the radio show Vinyl from the CIUT Crypt!

Tommy James and The Shondells were one of the biggest groups of the 1960’s and their music is used today in many films and TV shows. Famous for such hits as “Mony Mony” and “Crimson and Clover,” Tommy James remains an active force in music today, and is an inspiration of all that was good about the Sixties. “Crimson and Clover” is one of my favourite songs of all time, and it still gives me chills to hear it! Fantastic music and timeless, innovative sounds that still are fresh!

Tommy was kind enough to offer a copy of his book as a prize to the radio show, and even autographed it to me! I can’t wait to read it, and will make another video with my thoughts about the book, so check back for that.

Here is a link to an archive of the stellar interview of Tommy James by DJ nico from Vinyl from the CIUT Crypt on September 17, 2011 in Toronto on 89.5FM (www.CIUT.fm): http://soundcloud.com/nicochelseagirl/tommy-james-interview

You can watch my video update now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZhVgdiwlb4
Support community radio! CIUT is having their funding drive right now. Please support them if you can: http://www.CIUT.fm

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! It’s almost here!!!

Jack Pierce, make up artist on Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and others

The excellent radio show Cinephobia, broadcast out of CKLN in Toronto,  just ran a contest to give away some tickets to a screening of a 35mm print of  the 1931 FRANKENSTEIN! I didn’t win the contest, but in answering their contest question, I was reminded of the incredible work of Jack Pierce who did the make up for Boris Karloff in Frankenstein, and Lon Chaney, Jr. in The Wolf Man, among other films. There’s an interesting read about Pierce at Wikipedia.

I directed a short film/commercial a little while back which featured our own “Frankenstein” and you can watch it below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Yn2LwmFp8
See the credits for the film here: http://www.vimeo.com/8430163

That make up is not easy! We could have used his help on the set! Jack Pierce, RIP.

Viddy well!