J. Travis Grundon Dot Com

Good News For Bad People

2012-02-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

I have finally finished the script for my rakishly clever zombie film, Wedding of the Living Dead, for Well Hung Pictures.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, WOTLD is slated to be directed Brandon S. Bennett, of Indie Film Revue fame. Bennett has worked on Steve Balderson's STUCK! He also worked on The 100 Years of Monster Movie production, in addition to his cameo role in Darkrider Studios contribution to The Collective Vol. 1, Meateater.

Bennett and I started brain storming movie ideas about two years ago, and this is the third thing I have written for WHP. Due to budget, equipment and casting problems, neither of those other projects made it off of the ground. This time is already different.

I am really excited about this script and I can't to get moving on this thing.

In other news I have seen the proof copies of Happy Hour Blues and I am really happy with them and I look forward to fans, friends and new readers enjoying this book. It is my best so far.

Happy Hour Blues will be released everywhere February 14th, and I will be posting information about the book release party as soon as everything is finalized!

Last, but not least, I am running two contest on my J. Travis Grundon – Author/Screenwriter Facebook page. All you have to do do to enter is go “Like” the page and I'm giving away a copy of Happy Hour Blues when I reach 101 “likes.”

http://www.facebook.com/pages/J-Travis-Grundon-AuthorScreenwriter/208233652548159

The other contest involves leaving a comment on the page, and I'm going to pick 3 people to be characters in one of my books or stories. It's that easy. Who wouldn't want to be immortalized in a work of crazy fiction.

I will have more information very soon!

- Travis

Nowhere Man

2012-01-31T02:41:00.000-08:00

One question I get asked the most is where I'm from. I've been told that it's hard to tell from the way I talk and I don't don't talk about where I live much either. It might be because I don't really live anywhere that cool, but it's also because I don't think everyone needs to know where I live.

I have moved around a lot in my life. I've lived in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and a couple other places. I've also traveled and been lucky enough to enjoy several places I'd like to live, like Austin, L.A., Pittsburgh, Bloomington, Illinois and Bloomington, Indiana.

The truth is that I live in the middle of nowhere and I don't claim any place as my hometown. My mailing address is a Vincennes address, but I don't call Vincennes home.

After my bookstore closed and I moved away, I decided that no city is my home. My home is truly where my heart is. As long as I have my daughter and the people I love around me, I'm happy and I'm at home.

At one stage in my life, I was proud to be called a local Vincennes author, but Vincennes has enough authors, like my friends B.C. Brown, Molly Daniels, Floyd Root, Benjamin Martinson and others. Unlike the "Author" and plagiarist, David Boyer, that Vincennes is noted for, these other authors are great people and have a fine mix of styles. They have a writing group, that I was once a member of, and they are people that the city can be proud of.

I am not someone the city can parade around and promote. We tried. It didn't work.

My style is too crass and I don't have a love for Vincennes.

Some people might think that I'm being an asshole with these statements, but if that is the case, I'm fine with that. Those people are either missing my point or only looking at the negative aspects of it. Nothing changes either way.

I'm not the best at anything. I'm not even that cool. I'm J. Travis Grundon. I'm from the middle of nowhere and I write stories full of bad words and bad people, but I love what I do and I'm happy.

I think having my heart broken, dealing with jerks and being an asshole at times has helped my writing. I am able to write from all sides of the friendship and romantic relationship spectrum with conviction. I know what it feels like to be the bad guy and the guy with a broken heart.

Not every character can be a brash bad-ass or a hopeless romantic. I have been told to write what I know, and I think it helps to write believable characters, even if the situations are unbelievable.

“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” ~ Gloria Steinem

*NOTE: This is not an anti Vincennes blog. I don't hate any city and I don't hate anybody. It's just an answer to a question. Vincennes has just as much good as it does bad. I just have a lot of bad memories and unhappy feelings when I think about it.

- Travis

I can't sleep...

2012-01-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

TERMS casting is moving along. Happy Hour Blues is about ready for its Valentines Day release and I am a happy guy. I don't really know what else to say.

I hope everyone will go check out the TERMSmovie Facebook page. We are giving out a lot of prizes and the buzz surrounding this film is just getting bigger and better. I really think people are going to be talking abut this movie.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TERMSmovie/230711477001693

I would also like to take this opportunity to suggest that all of you check out the movie Bellflower. This is the first movie to hit me with such impact since Fight Club or KIDS. It is unbelievably incredible. It has easily made my Top 10 and may break my Top 5 favorite films of all time.

Fans of my work will love this movie, and the other way around...I hope.

I should also mention that I am really enjoying this season of Californication, despite my previous trepidation about this season. It has had some really great lines and the characters are really evolving. I look for silly things like that in a television series.

One of my new favorite quotes:

"If you break my daughter's heart,being stomped on by a bunch of gangbangers is going to seem like a play-date compared to the can of rape-ass I will open up on your...ass." Hank Moody, Californication

I hope I get to announce some of the really great news I'm hording next week!

- Travis

Singing legend dies at 73

2012-01-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

Etta James
1938 - 2012

An incredible song by an incredible woman! She will be missed. The songs will last forever.

Blessings For Bri

2012-01-18T02:12:00.000-08:00

(Taken from the Facebook page Blessings for Bri)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blessings-for-Bri/265093196890379

Nine year old Brianna (Bri) Clouse was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Diffuse Anaplastic Wilms Tumor and has began treatment at Riley Hospital. This page is to offer our love and encouragement to Bri and her family, but also to help coordinate fund raising efforts. All funds collected through this page and its administrators will go directly to Bri's mother, Amy Nichole Stantz to use as she needs it. Currently, you may also send well wishes to Bri by sending them to:
Riley Childrens Hospital
702 Barnhill Dr.
Brianna Clouse Room 5122
Indianapolis, IN 46202

We are planning a silent auction to raise funds for Bri. We have decided that the best way to do this is online through this page. We are currently seeking and collecting donations for the auction. Watch for the album to appear in the next few days. If anyone has anything or knows of a business that would like to donate an auction item, please check out the Facebook page or contact me directly at j.travisgrundon@gmail.com. You can also "Like" the page and leave a comment or message event organizers, Stacy McCandless or Trissa Clark.

I will personally be donating copies of Eclectic Collection and Happy Hour Blues.

Bidding on these items is a simple way to buy cool stuff and help a family in need!

- Travis

Title and Cover

2012-01-16T04:01:00.000-08:00

It's officially Monday and that means it's time for a new blog and the announcement of the title for my new collection of short stories. Not everyone is going to like this title, and even I'll admit that the cover lacks that eye catching power Eclectic Collection had, but I wanted to keep it simple. I didn't want the cover to be too busy. I want this book to be about the words. I think the stories inside this book are what is important.

HAPPY HOUR BLUES

At this time Glorious Bastards Press and I are working to have this puppy ready for a Feb. 14th release date.

Stay tuned for more details and updates!

- Travis

TERMS Casting Call

2012-01-11T01:25:00.000-08:00

TERMS (2012)

Actress/Model, Taylor Cauley

CASTING CALL:
Arsonist Pictures (the production company behind the award winning zom-com BEVERLY LANE) is looking to cast 4 roles for their upcoming drama/slasher TERMS.

TERMS is a twisted tale of friendship & sacrifice that can be described as "Battle Royale meets The Breakfast Club". Plot details are currently being kept under wraps.

TERMS is written by critically acclaimed novelist/screenwriter J. Travis Grundon. Award winning Director Joshua Hull will direct. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3852825/)

The film is slated to film early June in Indiana. It is a low budget, non-union feature. Food/lodging will be taken care of for the cast. A DVD copy of the finished film will also be provided. The film has a strong, early buzz building already.

SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Production title: TERMS
Union / Non-Union: Non-Union
Production location: Indiana
Production Company: Arsonist Pictures
Company website: Insert website here
Director: Joshua Hull
Producer: Bryan Wilson, Joshua Hull, Matt Rich
Casting Director: Camille Hull
Audition Location: online
Email: arsonistpix@gmail.com
Paid/Non-Paid: Paid, Deferred

Other/Additional Compensation: Film Credit, DVD Copy
Meals/Lodging/Transportation Provided: Meals, Snacks and Beverages

KEY DATES

*Auditions: Video Audition only!
*Submission Period: Jan 13th - Feb 16th
*Submit your headshot, resume & video audition to Camille at arsonistpix@gmail.com. We are seeking a dramatic monologue/scene that will show how well you can handle a dramatic, tense situation.

Character BIOS

NICO [GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 16-18]
*Short hair is a must. Naturally pretty but damaged.

DARWIN [GENDER: MALE] [AGE: 15-18]
*Aspires to be the next John Carpenter. A horror movie buff.

RACHELLE [GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 16-18]
*Dreams of being an actress, long black hair.

SADIE [GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 16-18]
*Former cheerleader

*For more info on TERMS:
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TERMSmovie/230711477001693?ref=ts

Recent Interview with horrorsociety.com:
http://www.horrorsociety.com/2012/01/09/exclusive-joshua-hull-and-j-travis-grundon-talk-terms/

The cast already includes: Taylor Cauley (pictured above), Noah East (Beverly Lane), Raymond Kester (Scalene), and Angela Steele (Beverly Lane)

Don't forget to follow on Twitter @TERMSmovie.

The first TERMS interview and an update just for you!

2012-01-09T14:43:00.000-08:00

2012 is here and I have finished a couple projects already.

Edits are moving along on the next collection of short stories, and I have had to come up with a new title, since Guy Drinking Coffee #3 is still the title of the third book and because I am excluding my novella, Cloud 8, from the second collection. I've landed on a new title for the second book and I think I really like it. The new title will be revealed very soon and I'm working with Glorious Bastards Press for a possible Valentine's Day release date.

The script for WOTLD was finished, but I'm working on my first rewrite of it, because I didn't like how it jumped near the end. I think this and TERMS is some of the best writing I've produced. I can't wait for both of these movies to start filming.

Here is the recent exclusive interview Director Joshua Hull and I did with horrorsociety.com.

http://www.horrorsociety.com/2012/01/09/exclusive-joshua-hull-and-j-travis-grundon-talk-terms/

Don't forget to "like" the TERMSmovie and J. Travis Grundon - Author/Screenwriter Facebook pages for all kinds of updates, casting information, and contest. We are giving away a copy of Eclectic Collection, copies of The Collective Vol. 1 & 2, and a copy of Joshua Hull's first film Beverly Lane. Check it out and get in on the winning!

I have been asked to be a part of a couple more projects, that I'll be talking about later, but with the release of my second book, the TERMS book, Cloud 8: A Novella, the filming of TERMS, and the start of WOTLD, it's going to be a very busy year!

Stick around and check back often for updates!

- Travis

Locating TERMS

2011-12-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

Here is the first look at the location that will be the Miller Hill Medical Facility, in the movie TERMS.

I named this facility Miller Hill after Victor Miller (writer of the original Friday the 13th) and Debra Hill(co-writer of John Carpenter's Halloween.) I gave it this name as a nod to the slasher genre. There is your worthless trivia for the day.

I have seen more pictures of the inside of this location and it is going to be practically perfect. It's not the place I imagined when I was writing it, but it works out great. I actually imagined a place I use to work in Vincennes, Indiana, but this might even be better.

I'm still very excited about this project and I look forward to seeing the developments with cast, crew and production unfold.

You can stay up to date on all of this information by "Liking" the
TERMSmovie Facebook page.

- Travis

Yule Blog

2011-12-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!!!

This has not been a productive week for writing. I've been doing a lot of cooking, spending time with my daughter, and getting ready for the holidays.

I had a nice big blog ready for this week. I opted not to post it because it wasn't anything worth posting. I don't have any big news to report yet, but I will very soon.

I really just want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.

I also want to wish a big congratulations to TERMS director Joshua Hull for winning best Director-Feature Film in the Nerdremix best of 2011.

Nerdremix Best of 2011

-Travis

DARKRIDER STUDIOS PROUDLY PRESENTS...

2011-12-14T05:07:00.000-08:00

SLASHER
The First Installment of the Dark Worlds horror anthology.

For Immediate Release – Darkrider Studios (Lethal Obsession, Mother’s Blood) is breathing life into Zack Daggy & Allen Sales’s Dark Worlds, a horror anthology of interconnecting short tales in the vein of Trick r Treat, Creepshow and Twilight Zone: The Movie. Based on Daggy’s original novel, Dark Worlds: Project 31, Dark Worlds is ready to remind you why you should fear the dark!

The first short in the series, SLASHER, is directed by Chris Jay (Lethal Obsession) and stars Beau Yotty (Unlikely Prophets) and Michelle Shields (Frankenstein: Day of the Beast). The film has entered post-production, and now the first behind-the-scenes videos and images are hitting the Web!

Description

William Rosum is a bit of a celebrity. He's in the papers all the time. He's the talk of the town. Everyone is dying to know where he'll be, what he'll do and most of all WHO HE’LL KILL! After 55 slayings in 5 years William has earned himself a reputation as ”The Careview Slasher,” but as he will soon learn, sometimes the price of fame can be deadly.

About Darkrider Studios

Darkrider Studios is a full service media production and marketing company based in Bloomington, IN. They’re well known for producing such critically acclaimed films as Lethal Obsession, A Christmas Scream, Fear Fair: The Movie and Meateater. Darkrider’s experience includes but is not limited to; Television Commercials, Video Production, Still Imaging (Photography), Graphic Design, Logo Design, Internet Marketing, Social Network Marketing, Web site Design and Content Creation. Darkrider is headed up by Chris Jay, Kitsie Duncan, and Lawrence McAtee.

About Zack Daggy

Zack “The Mothman” Daggy is an Internet DJ and new media entrepreneur of wide acclaim and a cult fan base. A self-professed workaholic, Zack is the host and creator of a number of original programs including The Mothpod and Midnight Spookshow.

Born in 1985 with a rare genetic disorder, Zack’s boundless energy and irrepressible imagination led him to create fantastic worlds of suspense and horror, always shot through with humor. He wrote his first story at age seven, was nominated for a People’s Choice Podcast Award in 2008 and published his first novel Dark Worlds: Project 31 in 2009. Zack lives in Indianapolis, IN, where he dreams up twisted things for a living.

About Allen Sale

Allen Sale is the voice and creator behind Astral Audio Productions, a volunteer-based audio drama group and podcast creation engine. Entertaining people through engaging story lines, insightful interviews with many of today's creative artists, and an eclectic mix of music; he has been behind the mic since 2007.

Contacts:
Darkrider Studios - Kitsie@DarkRiderFilmworks.com
Zack Daggy - Zack@Mothpod.com
Allen Sale - Allen@AstralAudio.net

(The proceeding is a press release from my friends at Darkrider Studios. This is not a project I am attached to.)

Blind Update

2011-12-12T21:46:00.001-08:00

When I first got into writing I was stupid enough to think I could make a living at it from the beginning. I let my first publishing success go to my head and I made a lot of bad choices, but it didn't take long to be humbled.

To put it simply, I started drinking my coffee black because I couldn't afford sugar and I stopped smoking because I couldn't afford it.

Things have changed a lot from those days. I'm still not making a solid living on writing alone, but things have turned around and I'm building a body of work I'm proud of. I look forward to writing more books, and I actually want to write more movies.

The full first draft for TERMS is finished and approved. Director Joshua Hull loved it, and the buzz sounding this movie is growing at a fever pitch. I think people are really going to like this. I can also say that we have officially enter pre-production and casting should start around the first of the year, but I can say that Noah East (Beverly Lane) & Raymond Kester (Scalene) have already joined the cast!

Finishing NaNoWriMo is 20 days and finishing the script for TERMS in a week and a half, I have shown that I have a commitment to writing and that I can do anything I set my mind to.

My next project is rakishly clever zombie film for Well Hung Pictures, the production copy I co-founded with Brandon S. Bennett. We started brain storming movie ideas about two years ago, but this is the third thing I have written for WHP. Due to budget, equipment and casting problems, neither of those other projects made it off of the ground.

This time is already different. This time is also the first feature film. I am already1/4 of the way finished with this script.

Currently, this film will be directed Brandon S. Bennett, of Indie Film Revue fame. Bennett has worked on Steve Balderson's STUCK! He also worked on The 100 Years of Monster Movie production, in addition to his cameo role in Darkrider Studios contribution to The Collective, Meateater.

Meateater was based on my short story Contravention, from Eclectic Collection. I was lucky enough to write the first treatment of the script. That was my first dip into writing for film since my work on the movie/ TV series scripts I did for Evil Waise, in 2007/2008.

I am really enjoying working on these films. I have said before that I was ready to get out of horror and that I didn't have an interest in working in film again, but I have learned to shut up and just see what happens. I'm looking forward to a lot happening in the very near future. 2011 was productive, but I think 2012 is going to be an even better and more productive year.

Stay tuned!

-Travis

Who The #@*%! is Joshua Hull?

2011-12-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

This is Joshua Hull.

If you don't know who Joshua Hull is, you don't know how to use Google. There are countless links and websites for this guy. He's on Twitter (@JoshuaHull), Facebook, IMDB, YouTube and all over the world wide web.

Joshua is more than a white guy from Indiana. He's a loving husband and father, but if you're still not impressed, he's also a filmmaker. Hull is best known for being the brrraaaaiinsss behind the critically acclaimed, zombie comedy, Beverly Lane.

I have included the trailer at the bottom of this post.

Recently, Hull was faced with getting his next film Idiot Gore into production, but due to a series of mishaps and badness this film has been shelved for now. It was a decision he made with a heavy heart. You can read all about that misfortune on his blog posted below.

http://developmenthellmakinganindiefilmmaker.blogspot.com/2011/11/coming-to-terms-with-things.html

Don't think for a minute that he was to distraught to continue making films. In fact, He had already started talking to me about another great idea that I've blogged about previously, call TERMS.

At this time I'm over half finished with this script and planning to have it finished by the end of the week. The buzz surrounding this movie is already pretty big, and I'm personally VERY excited about it.

Hull was also recently a guest on Brandon Bennett's mini-view blog, The Indie Film Revue. Check it out below to learn a little more about Hull.

http://indiefilmrevue.blogspot.com/2011/11/mini-view-featuring-joshua-hull.html

Now for a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT of my own related to Joshua Hull and TERMS:

Hull has given me permission to transform the script I'm writing for TERMS into a novel, giving me full book rights. I have already spoken with one publisher other that Glorious Bastards Press about the book vaguely, and I look forward to having that book out in time to coincide with the release of the film, but this only adds to my excitement about this project.

Stay tuned for more details on the book and movie a lot of people are going to be talking about, TERMS!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3852825/

http://beverlylanemovie.com/

-Travis

My Top 35 Albums of 2011

2011-12-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

Tom Waits get decked out for the holidays!

This top 35 list is based on the ones I made the effort to purchase and which ones I listened to the most. I'm sure I missed a few good ones though. This was a damn good year for music!

Paste Magazine posted a Top 50 I like, but I didn't agree with it completely. They excluded the new Death Cab For Cutie, Tori Amos and others I loved. Even if you don't agree, maybe there is something awesome on this list you might have overlooked.

Enjoy!

35 Face to Face - Laugh Now, Laugh Later
34 The Strokes - Angles
33 Noah and the Whales – Life is Life
32 Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
31 Gillian Welch – The Harrow And The Harvest
30 Flogging Molly – Speed of Darkness
29 Feist – Metals
28 The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines
27 J Mascis – Several Shades of Why
26 Bright Eyes – The People's Key
25 The Horrible Crowes – Elsie
24 TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light
23 The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade
22 Devotchka – 100 Lovers
21 Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams
20 If Birds Could Fly – No Place to Roam
19 City and Colour – Little Hell
18 Wye Oak – Civilian
17 Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire
16 Death Cab For Cutie – Codes and Keys
15 Deer Tick – Divine Providence
14 Adele – 21
13 My Morning Jacket – Circuital
12 Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
11 Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
10 James Vincent Morrow – Early in the Morning
09 Amos Lee – Mission Bell
08 Man Man – Life Fantastic
07 Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver
06 Tori Amos – Night of Hunters
05 The Black Key – El Camino
04 Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones
03 The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
02 Tom Waits – Bad As Me
01 The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

-Travis

Next time: I will shine some spotlight on just who the hell Joshua Hull is!

a vague attempt at an update

2011-11-29T17:14:00.000-08:00

With 2011 coming close to an end, I would say I had a pretty good year, but it's not finished yet. I still have a lot going on and a lot of new things in my life to be excited about. I have a new relationship, that I'm very excited about. I have several books finished, or near finished, that I look forward to releasing, and I have a chance to write a very interesting movie.

The table of contents is finalized for the currently untitled next book, and I'll be posting it soon. As planned it will be my favorite stories from Cloud 8 and Other Stories and Guy Drinking Coffee # 3. I have cut three stories and the novella, Cloud 8. I will be replacing them with seven stories I like better from Guy Drinking Coffee # 3. The seven new stories have been sent off for edits.

I am excluding Cloud 8 from any collections to release it as a stand alone novella. I will also be reworking the stories I cut and they will go with some new stuff and a few other stories to make up Guy Drinking Coffee # 3, some time in 2012.

While This 2nd book is going through the editing process and layout, I will be deciding on a new title, planning clever marketing ideas and working on the movie script. I stay busy.

The movie I keep mentioning is called TERMS and I'm really excited about this project! I will be announcing more details as soon as I can, but for now I can say that the whole thing came about when I got a Facebook message from Joshua Hull, director of Beverly Lane. He pitched me a very cool idea for a movie, that he thought might make a swell short. He said he thought I'd be the perfect guy to write it and after talking more it has been determined that it will be a feature length film. I can't say much more without giving too much away, but I can say that it will a dark, friendship slasher style film that will combine elements of The Breakfast Club, Girl Interrupted, Flatliners, and Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

Stay tuned!

- Travis

Next time: I'll post my top 35 albums of 2011. I love my music and I think it was a great year for music. You'll want to check that out!

NaNoWriMo Victory Blog

2011-11-20T22:14:00.000-08:00

I have officially hit 50,012 words on my NaNoWriMo project for this year, and I finished their goal with 10 days to spare. I still have work outlined I want to finish on this book, but for now I'm going to enjoy my victory with a cup of coffee.

I would like to thank my sister, Stacy, James M. Bowers, Benjamin Martinson, the Terre Haute, Indiana NaNoWriMo group, many of my Facebook friends, for their support, and Author Anya Breton, for keeping me on my toes!

This year, I didn't follow the Nation Novel Writers Month rules. I wrote a third collection of short stories, instead of a novel. This means I will not qualify for validation on my NaNo book, but I participated this year to prove to myself I could do it, and I did it.

Previously, I had made it to 30,000 words on a novel, but then life got in the way. I have finished that novel and sent it out a few times. I even had it in the hands of an agent that turned out to be a piece of crap, but now my focus in on getting my second collection out.

At this time I'm still waiting on the final cover art for Cloud 8 and Other Stories, and I'm really liking many of the stories I turned out for the new book. I'm thinking about just releasing Cloud 8 as a separate novella, like I originally planned.

If I do that I will take the best stories from my unpublished 2nd and 3rd collections and make one great book. This will give me time to polish the stories that are not as strong and get a 2nd collection out much faster. It will also give me a book that is exactly what I want to produce that I can be 100% proud of.

I love Eclectic Collection, but a few of those stories feel gimmicky to me. They were my first stories, and a couple of them were just written as experiments and writing exercises in horror. I'd rather write my thriller or transgressive fiction. I don't think I (or many people) can offer much to tradition horror that hasn't already been done and re-imagined. The world doesn't need me to rewrite the original Halloween, The Walking Dead, Session 9, Silence of the Lambs, or American Psycho. They are already awesome. I have my stories to tell. I just hope people find them as disturbing and interesting.

Stay tuned for more details on what I actually release and details on the movie I've been asked to write a script for!

-Travis

2011-11-08T04:33:00.000-08:00

“I never wrote so much as a line worth a nickel when I was under the influence of alcohol” - Raymond Carver

30 Days To Write: Redemption

2011-10-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation, I have decided to give National Novel Writers Month one more chance. I have decided that since I have never finished a NaNoWriMo book in 30 days, I have something to prove to myself, but I plan to do it my way.

I've asked several of my nearest and dearest, and it seems like the majority of them would like to see another collection of short stories, instead of a full novel. I have people asking for a novel also, but to those people I say "just wait."

I have finished my first NaNoWriMo book and it only took two years of the event. The problem is that it was being handled by a horrible agent and I would like to change a few more things before I release it.

The new NaNoWriMo project will be called: Guy Drinking Coffee #3, and it will be another short story collection.

This new book takes its title from my aspiring role in films, as a credited "Guy Drinking Coffee #3," in as many movies as possible. I have worked on and appeared in a few independent films, but I have yet to be cast in his dream role. Guy Drinking Coffee #3 will be my third collection of short stories, and I plan to do something with it I haven't done with the other two collections.Most if not all of the stories might just tie together somehow.

This title also ties the "3" from this role to the fact that this is my "3rd" collection of stories.

I hope by the time Guy Drinking Coffee #3 is finished, we will be moving forward and releasing my second collection, Cloud 8 and Other Stories. I don't like to make projections of what will happen, but the plan is to have #2 out by Christmas or New Years and have the 3rd ready by spring.

Fingers crossed people, and best of luck to my fellow NaNoWriMo authors!

- Travis

The Devil Is In The Rejection

2011-10-19T15:56:00.001-07:00

I only really started writing and trying to be an author in 2005. In the past six years I've had several published articles, interviews, and short stories. I have also been the driving force behind two very well received anthologies and had my first collection of short fiction published. I have also been fortunate enough to travel all over the United States and do several signings. I've been able to sell my books and see amazing places. These signings have also allowed me to meet some great people and make wonderful friends, I will have for the rest of my life. Over all I would say I've been pretty lucky.

Over the years I've also dealt with backstabbers, plagiarist, liars and bullshit publishers, but none of that pulls on my heart strings like a good old fashion rejection letter.

Almost every writer or author gets rejections. I've received my share of rejection letters in the last few years. I've been told that rejections make us better at what we do. I've also been told it's not always because the story is bad. It's sometimes because it just isn't what the publisher or publication is looking for, but it could be that it's just not good enough.

After some rejection letters I stopped submitting stories for a while. I even took a year off from submitting things. It was a combination of working on Fracas and frustration with rejection. I'm not afraid of the rejection. If I was I'd never send anything out in the first place. I just take every rejection hard and tend to spend a little time feeling like I'm wasting my time and maybe I'd be better served spending my time cross stitching or watching sports, but that's just not who I am. I have to eventually remind myself, or have a friend remind me, that I write because I have to. I write because the stories come to me. I write the stories I want to read and I don't write to be published or for any publication.

Sometimes bringing myself out of this rejection funk is easier than other.

In recent history I have had stories accepted into books I'm really excited about. I've also have stories rejected by a nifty online lit journal, an interesting online magazine, and the Esquire Short Fiction Contest. I didn't get upset about being rejected by the online magazine or the lit journal, but not making the cut on the short fiction contest stings a bunch.

I went into the contest with a great deal of confidence. I thought I had submitted a very strong story. I'm even sure I will find a publishing outlet for the story I submitted to Esquire, but it doesn't change the fact that something I thought was good wasn't good enough. That is a hard pill to swallow.

People who know me know that I admire Chuck Palahniuk and Charles Bukowski. Both of these guys have seen their share of rejections. They have been criticized and rejected, but they have also developed a ravenous fan base of people that devour everything published by them.

Palahniuk even had Fight Club rejected by a publisher and we all know the success that book has seen now. I try to keep this in mind every time I get a rejection letter. I'll keep writing but tonight I'll pour a glass of wine and decide if and where I will submit next.

Cheers!

- Travis

A Neon Sign Of Things To Come

2011-10-06T23:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek at cover art for my next book,by Mr. Alexander Hamilton.

The new book is coming together well. I won't say too much about it. I will only say that is will be another collection. It may include a novella focusing on a heavy drinker who aspires to be an author.

The collection will not have any traditional horror stories, but it will have a couple very personal pieces, and one of my stories that can be found in Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction.

I'm not going to announce the official title yet. I also don't want to mention a release date until the book is ready and the proof has been approved. I'm very proud of the stories in this book and I want it to be the very best that it can be out of the gate.

I hope you like the sneak preview and you all pick up Fracas and Eclectic Collection to wet your appetite.

- Travis

Update on a Fuck-bag

2011-10-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted about some jerk, David Boyer, stealing stories from myself and several friends for a book that has since been pulled from Amazon. I was professional and handle it like an adult, as much as I didn't want to.

The jerk has struck again and again and it doesn't look like he plans on stopping soon.

I would like to direct everyone to the page of one Brian Keene, Boyer's latest victim. While Boyer not only stole Keene's story, but he blatantly plagiarized it.Plagiary is Boyer's usual game, but Mr. Keene puts it all out there on his website in a piece called David Boyer is a Bag of Fuck.

http://www.briankeene.com/?p=9232

For more on David "I'm the biggest dumb-ass to ever claim to have written a book" Boyer check out the link below.

http://b-thoughtful.blogspot.com/

It really makes me sick.

-Travis

Chuck Talks Workshop

2011-09-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Chuck Palahniuk talks to us about the power a writer’s workshop has on the writer and the craft: support, accountability, community, growth.

Reposted from http://litreactor.tumblr.com/

It's Pretty Scary!!!

2011-09-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

With Samhain/Halloween just around the corner I decided to talk a little about what it means to me and a few of things associated with one of my favorite holidays.

Surprisingly, Samhain/ Halloween is not my favorite holiday. My favorite is actually Yule. I think both holidays are fun, but to me Samhain is about remembering lost loved ones. Halloween to me is a commercial holiday, much like Valentines Day. Modern Halloween is more about kids in costumes begging for candy, or women in bars dressed like slutty versions of popular character begging for drinks.

Now I get to enjoy Halloween as a dad. I get to see my daughter dress up and have fun. That is good enough for me. I still get the candy she doesn't like and I'll still light my candles for lost loved ones.

It may also be surprising to some people that I am not a fan of haunted houses. I remember going to a few when I was a small child and being ejected from the attraction for kicking one of the characters in the head, because he slid across the floor toward me brandishing a chainsaw. The kick was a product of built up anxiety that started from the first scare. I had asked to leave several times, but my grandmother insisted that we go all the way through, since she had already paid for it.

I didn't go back into a haunted house until I was 15. That time I pushed my way through it as fast as I could. This is twice as funny since I knew 99% of the people in the costumes. It still make me incredibly uncomfortable.
The only time since then I tried to do a haunted house was at Universal Studios Hollywood. I wasn't that bad, but I was warned several times to put my hands down. I finally hide behind two girls and my friend Jason. I didn't enjoy it and I'm sadly not going to try it again.

I've come to terms with the fact that haunted house, and other haunted attractions are not for me. As a general rule I don't like the feeling of being scared. That is why I don't watch movies that are actually scary and I don't go to haunted house. I prefer to stay calm, cool, and in control. That is hard to do when you have people yelling and threatening you, even if they are just actors.

To take it one step further, I am also not a fan of “real haunted” stuff either. I'm not a ghost hunter and I don't feel the need to check out “haunted” or “paranormal” places. It's also just not for me.

I write a lot of weird and crazy stuff, but I don't consider anything I write scary. I think scary changed a lot for me when my little girl came into the world. Haunted houses, paranormal stuff, and other things make me uncomfortable, but nothing terrifies a parent more than the idea of someone invading their home or something happening to their child. I have written about these things, because they freak me out, but when I write it I have control of the situation and I know it's just fiction. I think scary things need to stay in fiction and I'll just avoid the ones that make me uncomfortable.

With all of this in mind I hope everyone has a happy Halloween and blessed Samhain. May we put on our mask, party to remember the ones we've lost, and gorge ourselves on candy and drink!!!

-Travis

Let's Not Be Idiots

2011-09-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

A few people have asked me what I think of Soulja Boy saying "F*** the troops." Honestly, I don't think of Soulja Boy...ever.

To clue a few in: Soulja Boy "wrote" and rap "song," where he rambles on for a very long time, in a mumbled, tone-def fashion about all sorts of shit. In this "song" he uses the line, "F*** the FBI and F*** all the troops." It's so stupid I won't even post it here, and I don't want this mental midget getting anymore hits on Youtube, but what do I think?

I'm not sure why people would ask me. I'm not a big rap guy. I'm not a Soulja Boy fan. I'm not even Justin Bieber,who collaborated with Soulja. I hope the Bieber is taking this controversy well...no, wait I don't give a shit about him either!

Some people asked me because I love music and I am a huge freedom of speech guy. I don't have a big boner for the government or any war, but what I do have is a blog, the ability to convey my opinions and respect for the men and women, who serve our country.

I bitch about politics and war. I don't agree with it, but I don't say a cross word about the troops, who are doing what they (and our government)think is right. I'm not an idiot.

In his "song" Solja Bitch questions what the troops are fighting for. This is a serious topic, and a question I'm personally perplexed about, but at least these troops, that Soulja is insulting, are not shooting each other in the streets of our own country, over drugs, women, or wearing the wrong color. Yet Soulja is mentally inept enough to use the line "fighting for what," in his verbal diarrhea he calls Let's Be Real. The real soldiers are also not bragging about paying people to kill for them or shooting up funerals, like Soulless Boy raps about also.

The real issue is the line "F*** the Troops," a line so stupid I won't even type it, and I love the word fuck.

Soulja Boy,

I say, your opinion is shit. Your frustration is misguided, but you live in a country where you have freedom of speech. In America, even stupidity is protected, unfortunately. You can spout off about whatever you want, even if it makes you look like an ignorant thug.

Congratulations, on getting people to talk about you, trending on Twitter, and getting hits on YouTube. Stupid impressionable 14 year old boys everywhere, who might be able to understand your mumbling ass, must love you. I guess if you are into little boys, that's another dumb judgment issue I have with you.

Way to commit career suicide, you fucking know-nothing skid mark.

This is all of my time and thought I'm putting into this. The moral of the story is "Don't be a fucking idiot, and even if you can say whatever you want, it's not always the best idea. Oh, and you should probably educate yourself and direct you inner-city angst in the right direction." Lesson over.

Peace out, yo!

- Travis

Talk of Transgression

2011-08-31T00:18:00.000-07:00

Garrett Calcaterra has a great new article up on his website about transgressive fiction and Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction.

The article clues people in on a genre of fiction we all love, but don't all admit we love. It also goes on to talk about what the authors of Fracas recommend. I really enjoyed reading it and you can check it out here.

I look forward to trading guest blog spots with Garrett very soon!!!

http://www.garrettcalcaterra.com/
http://garrettcalcaterra.blogspot.com/

- Travis

WTFracas!!!

2011-08-28T17:23:00.001-07:00

The early (book)worm gets the book...or something like that.

Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction is already available on Amazon.

After we announced that Fracas would be out on September 1st, several authors posted links to the book on Facebook, bringing to my attention that it is already available. It's not the way I had it planned, but it works. I'm very excited about this book and I hope everyone loves it!

I will admit this book is smaller than I anticipated, for the amount of stories in it, but every story is great.i think the cover is very eye catching (for various reasons,) and even the fact that the book is white, with such dirty stories inside makes it very different, but another thing that stands out is the blank spine.

The printer was unable to print all of the information on the spine, but I think it works. It adds to the literary journal or pulp digest style of the book.

The $8 price tag is nice and these unforgettable stories and captivating cover make it worth every penny!

Don't miss this bad-ass book!!!

- Travis

We have a date!!!

2011-08-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 1st a new collection of transgressive short stories will be unleashed on the world. We want everyone to order a copy and see what all the fracas is about. It's going to be awesome!

The book is only$8 and it includes a very talented roster of authors like:
Joe Schwartz
Garrette Calcaterra
J. Travis Grundon
Chance Chambers
Todd Theroff
Leslee Marie Schaffer
B.C. Brown
James M. Bowers
John F.D. Taff
Scott Lefebvre
Edited by Stacy Bowers and J. Travis Grundon

These are some of the authors people are buzzing about, and will be talking about in the very near future. The buzz is huge and we want everyone to check out this book. We know you won't be able to forget it!!!!

Brought to you by Glorious Bastards Press & Create Space.

- Travis

Email from the wasteland

2011-08-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Here is another email from David Boyer, and the last thing I plan to ever post about this guy. I'm not even responding to this. Some people are just ridiculous!

You are just as unprofessional as the rest of these assholes, and then some. Mister "visionary" and "an unstoppable force." You are an unstoppable asshole.
No wonder you had to close down the book store; your partner had an idiot for a partner.

--
David B. Boyer
http://authordavidboyer.webs.com
Contact hours:
Monday to Friday: 8 am to 2 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 2 pm

I'm exhausted and exasperated with this dramatic garbage.

- Travis

An email response from David Boyer...

2011-08-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

An email response from David Boyer, about the book of stolen stories. This was a mass email to all of the authors in this book.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have been getting a lot of bullshit over this book being on Amazon, and NONE of you have any reason to be harrassing me, because I have full permissions from you in my email archives to use these stories, and the email attachment versions of the stories as well. I am sick of all of this harassment and defmatory comments and lies being spread about me, and if you don't want your story in there, you should have not sent it to begin with.
But since you are going to be assholes about this, I will gladly contact Amazon to have them take it down.

Want some friendly advice? Next time you call yourselves "professional writers," take a better look in the mirror first, okay?

--
David Boyer
http://forrybook.webs.com
http://bearmanormedia.bizland.com/id402.html
On line hours: 8 am to 2 pm Monday to Friday
Saturday - 9 am to 2 pm

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My reponse...

David,

I find your response to be insulting, since I told you in person that I did not want my story in this book. I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and you told me the book wasn't coming out and that you were getting out of Scit-Fi/Horror. I had zero reason to think this book would still be released, but upon it's release the thing to do would have been to contact the authors and inform us, or maybe even offer some form of contract, compensation or payment for the use of these stories. Doing this might have seemed less sneaky and I would have let it go.

Without informing the authors or having a contract, these are not your stories to publish. At least I know mine isn't. We talked about this.

I don't want to be a part of any project you are doing. Yout can say there is a conspiracy against you, but I never done anything to you. It is not my concern how your reputation looks, I just don't want to be a part of it, or any book you do. I would like my story out of this book. That is all I"m asking, in the most professional way possible.

Please do not contact me further. I have been advised to not have any contact with you, other than the possible removal of my story.

J. Travis Grundon

j.travisgrundon@gmail.com
http://jtravisgrundon.blogspot.com/

Sometimes it's hard to be professional.

This book is now currently listed as temporarily unavailable on Amazon.

- Travis

The return of J.Trav Radio and a piece of my mind...

2011-08-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Listen to internet radio with J.TravisGrundon on Blog Talk Radio

Don't buy this book of stolen stories!!!

2011-08-05T00:44:00.000-07:00

Please don't buy this book. David Boyer (also known as many other fake names) has printed and published these stories including ones from John F.D. Taff, myself and others, without legal rights or permission. These stories are stolen!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1463649436/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

David Boyer has a serious history of stealing other authors work. Google his name and see what I mean. It's awful!

Here is a link that really points it all out...here.

What a piece of shit!!!

Furiously yours,

- Travis

All Things Considered...

2011-08-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

This also applies to writers. I strongly feel writers are artist.

- Travis

Fracas is covered!!!

2011-07-19T20:27:00.001-07:00

I give you the official cover and final table of contents for Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction!!!

Table of Contents:
Joe Schwartz - The Champion
Garrette Calcaterra - Mr. Silverman
J. Travis Grundon - Hell Worthy Trespass
Chance Chambers - Cowboy Masquerade
Todd Theroff - Jelly Doughnut
Leslee Marie Schaffer - The Walker
B.C. Brown - Killing Innocents
James M. Bowers - Dental Work
J. Travis Grundon - Revisited
John F.D. Taff - The Forgetting
Scott Lefebvre - Where werewolves Come From

Edited by Stacy Bowers and J. Travis Grundon

We will announce the release date as soon as the final edits are complete. I honestly can't wait. I just keep getting more and more excited about this book!!!

- Travis

A Word with J. Travis Grundon...

2011-07-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

There is a new interview with J. Travis Grundon posted on A Word Please.

Check it out to get the scoop on Glorious Bastards Press and future projects.

Quick & Dirty Updates!!!

2011-07-14T15:56:00.001-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that my last blog was condescending and unfair. I agree and I am sorry, to anyone trying to work with me, or anyone who has delivered a story. I'm also sorry if I am not always the easiest person to get a hold of.
Having three email addresses, a Twitter and Facebook accounts make it easy to network, but I have forgotten to get back to some people, and I'm really sorry.
In a way I am really not much better than the people who are not coming through for me. That realization is humbling and disappointing. I need to remember not everyone talks to me in person or reads this blog every time I post something. I will try harder to be easier to communicate with.

There is news on 1000 Words, Fracas and Call of Lovecraft though...

1000 Words is not dead. It's just in a coma until I get enough stories.

The word is out and the buzz is growing about Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction.
Replacing certain authors was not a problem, when I had a lot of friends come out of left field, with some great stories. Since my last blog we have added B.C. Brown (author of Touch of Darkness and Sister Light, Todd Theroff, as seen in the Christina Ricci film, Pumpkin (& Nashville Roller Derby's The Bishop), and Leslee Marie Schaffer, as seen on Facebook. All three of these people are good friends and have contributed incredible stories that fit the book. I think fans of my work will enjoy their pieces too.
Fracas is shaping up to be a project I am already very proud of. I thinks it's great to be able to collaborate with so many friend, in a book full of so many cool stories. I have enjoyed reading everything we have so far and I can't wait for everyone to have a chance to get their hands on this one!

Call of Lovecraft is ALIVE! Despite any efforts I made to find a new home, I have come up short, but Author Greg L. Norris didn't. Norris has found a publisher of Call of Lovecraft and has been named the new editor. I can't name the publisher until they make their official announcement. What happens from here is a mystery. I have been asked to still be a part of this reincarnated creation, and I'm reworking one of my stories I wrote for this project.
I will keep everyone posted on developments on this as I get them.

I promised this was my year and it looks like things are looking up!

That's all for now. Until next time don't forget to check out Eclectic Collection in print and on the Kindle.

- Travis

Calling Bullshit

2011-06-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

I get a little tired of posting about projects that are moving forward, or that have all of the potential in the world. It seems like I have spent more time trying to build anthologies, than I have focusing on my own work. It also seems like of all the people I try to include in these projects, only about half of them care enough to follow through on what they say they'll deliver.

When things don't work out, it looks like I can't do what I say I'm trying to do. The problem with collections and anthologies is that they only work if everyone comes through. I can't do it by myself and I'm getting sick of trying. It hurts me and and it's unfair to the other authors in the books who can have a story or multiple stories submitted by the deadline, or a short extension.

This leads me to my biggest annoyance, people who talk and talk and never produce anything. I know a lot of talented individuals doing some really great thing, and I know some really talented people who talk about what they are going to do and all of these fantastic ideas, that will most likely never see the light of day.
I am one of those people who produce things. I am sitting on three finished novel and laptop full of unpublished short stories,that will be published. I guess I would rather try and maybe fail, than never take a chance and fail anyway. I wanted to produce a collection a year to collaborate with my friends, but I'm sick of people I want to work with becoming stumbling blocks or dead weight.

It's unfair for “friends” or more “established authors” to assume they can hold production.

I can't finish the 1,000 Words anthology without enough quality stories that fit the concept the book was based on. I have the cover and the layout set, but I only have 4 stories that fit the picture, and that are exactly 1,000 words. It will take a lot more stories to fill a book.

I can't pay the money out of my pocket to produce Call of Lovecraft. The cost of the anchor story, cover artist, production cost and individual author payment is too much. This book was designed to be a team effort, from Papercut Books. That company is dead and that book will not happen.

Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction will ready soon. The deadline has already come and gone, but I am already working on replacing the people who have not submitted their piece yet. I'm not waiting anymore.

The stories I have for Fracas already are phenomenal, and this is going to be a great collection. I will not be posting anything else about this anthology, until all submissions are in and the author list is final.
It gets old changing it all the time.

As far as future collections go...we will see. I sort of doubt it.If a horror anthology just happens to fall together I'll let everyone know. It could happen, right?

That's all for now. Until next time don't forget to check out Eclectic Collection in print and on the Kindle.

- Travis

J. Trav and friends on Amazon!!!

2011-06-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Valley Falls by Justin Brock- Jones

Valley Falls was once a proud mining town, but journalism student Keira Schere finds one thing odd with this claim: there is no mine. As part of her thesis research she sets out to locate the old mine and discover why it's been hidden. The reason is something that neither she nor anyone else at the college is prepared for: vampires. For the past century they have been using the old mine as a home - one they viciously protect. After she is attacked and nearly killed, her life, and that of the three passersby who came to her aid, spirals down a dark road the leads to the supernatural.

Justin was previously featured in Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead and will also be a part of my next horror collection, to be named later.

Also available on Amazon...

A Touch of Darkness: An Abigail St. Michael Novel by B.C. Brown

Abigail St. Michael, a former cop, has joined the recently growing ranks of metaphysicals, individuals with abilities outside that of normal human nature. When a murderer stalks her town killing children, Abbey uses her ability of touch clairvoyancy to hunt him down. Her only roadblock is that her murderer seems to have his own unique talent, the ability to 'wipe' his victims and their surroundings of any metaphysical energy. With little physical evidence and no supernatural evidence, Abbey is forced to rely on instinct and luck to solve the case. However both Abbey's luck and instinct seem to have taken a permanent vacation as the victims keep piling up with the killer's escalating bloodlust.

B.C. Brown lives and works on the southern Indiana/Illinois border. She divides her time between writing and running her bookstore. Her first novel, Sister Light, Book One: Of Shadows, a fantasy adventure and published under the pen name B.B. Walter, is available online and in brick and mortar stores. Her non-fiction work can be found online and in various magazines. Look for B.C. online at her blog: www.bcbrownbooks.blogspot.com.

And don't forget my book, Eclectic Collection

Log on to Amazon and start reading the books and authors people will be talking about!!!

- Travis

Con-tamination 2011 The Sequel

2011-06-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

Attention St. Louis: Come get contaminated with J. Travis Grundon, and get your copy of Eclectic Collection at Contamination 2011

St. Louis' only Horror, Sci-Fi & Pop-culture convention under one roof! June 24-26 at the Sheraton Chalet in Westport Plaza.

Eric Roberts & The Boondock Saints are headlining. Other celebrities listed on the website & more announcements yet to come!

Join us for celebs, movies, concerts, parties & more!

Discounted tickets now available online as well as special Contamination room rates at the Sheraton Chalet.

Visit our website for more information: http://www.con-tamination.com/

Check out the author's page here.

"electric" Collection

2011-05-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

The cover of the Kindle version of Eclectic Collection

That's right after over a year of people mispronouncing the name of this book, I'm going to screw everyone up again. The new Glorious Bastards Press edition of Eclectic Collection has gone electric, in ebook form. Now you can get my first collection of short stories, including my story from Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead, for only $5.00 on Kindle.

Get it here

If you don't have a Kindle, don't worry. You can also get his version of the book on your smart phone, using the Kindle app.

If you don't have a Kindle or a smart phone, be patient. The new Eclectic Collection will be available on Amazon and other retailers very soon!

This small victory is brought to you in part by the letters E and C, the number 3 and readers like you!!!

- Travis

Eclectic Conundrum???

2011-05-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

Those Glorious Bastards

The Papercut Books version of my book, Eclectic Collection, is no longer available for sale. A new version will be released soon, with much needed changes and an additional story.

Some of these changes include a tighter editing job, reformatting and an updated Stories of Stories. The new version will also have my story, Committed. This story was previously published in Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead, from Black Bed Sheet Books.

The new version will be released through Create Space,under the imprint Glorious Bastards Press.

Who are these Bastards?

Glorious Bastards Press, is a transgressive fiction imprint, designed and fitted for Joe Schwartz and myself. This is not a publishing company, or a vanity press, this is putting control back in the hands of the artist. This is making our work available to the public. This is what happens when two very motivated and talented people combine their efforts.

Joe will also be releasing his first book, Joe's Black T-Shirt, under this imprint, but that is just the beginning. There will be more books and more Bastards soon.

Another book on the menu, from us Bastards is Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction, featuring new stories from Joe Schwartz, John F.D. Taff, Brandon S. Bennett, Jade Haggard, plus another Dominick Mason mystery collectively by Scott Lefebvre and myself. I will have at least one other story story in Fracas, in addition to my editorial tasks, that I will be sharing with my sister, Stacy Bowers.

So far this book is looking pretty damn awesome.

I hope to have more details and a release date for everything soon!!!

- Travis

The Write Stuff

2011-04-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago I came up with the idea to build an anthology where every story is based on the same picture, and the idea that a picture is worth 1000 words. The collection was going to be cleverly titled 1000 Words. I eventually included my 1000 word story, Topless, in my book Eclectic Collection.

Sadly, Papercut Books went out of business, and the book was not released last spring. Since the death of Papercut, I have received a lot of messages and emails about this book. Apparently there is still an interest in the project and that makes me pretty happy.

I am willing to take on this project by myself. I really enjoyed the challenge of creating an unforgettable story from Michael Mullen's interesting photo. The down side to it all was that I only received 10 submissions for this collection that are really good and demonstrate the feel and quality I want this book to have. The other problem is that only one of the 10 stories is exactly 1000 Words.

Mr. Mullen's photo provides a great cover for an interesting and challenging project, I invite anyone who thinks that they are up to the challenge, to write an exactly 1000 word story based on the featured picture and email it to me at j.travisgrundon@gmail.com. I would also invite everyone who has already submitted stories to revisit their work and bring them up to where they need to be, for this book.

Speaking of anthologies, after the before mentioned death of Papercut, Call of Lovecraft also stopped moving in the the direction of being published. I was sad that this book didn't make it to print, but when it was canceled, it left a void in my existence. In typical “me” fashion, I need to fill my plate with a lot of projects. I love to stay busy, work with fellow artist and authors and keep creating.

It was this frustration and drive that lead to a conversation with a friend, and the idea for a new anthology. The idea was to collect all of my author friends into one book and to give them the chance to take the gloves off and write some real, raw stories. The idea is to build an anthology of transgressive fiction.

I plan to call this new book Fracas: A Collection Of Short Friction

I also plan to have it available to order on Amazon or to buy directly from me at Contamination 2011, in June. This plan hinges a lot on if everyone gets their stories in by the end of April.

At this time Fracas is scheduled to include:
Joe Schwartz
Scott Lefebvre
John F.D. Taff
Jade Haggard
Sean Douglas
&
more authors to be named later.

Fracas will also include 2 news stories from me and a collaboration story by Scott Lefebvre and myself.

I'm really excited! This thing is going to be pretty awesome!!!

- Travis

An Unpublished Interview

2011-03-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

J. Travis Grundon with Joe Schwartz at the 4th Annual Author Shout Out, in St. Louis

An Interview w/ Author J. Travis Grundon

First of all, let me say that I am in total agreement with you as far as the ebook format is concerned. Do you think the ebook format is one of the main reasons that print book sales have dropped?

I wish ebooks were the main reason, but I can’t even tell you how many people I meet who don’t read. It breaks my heart. It seems like you’re not cool if you read. I may be resistant to the electronic books trend, but at least if people are reading ebooks they are still reading.

I, myself, believe that print media is in big trouble. I mean, why would anyone want to read a novel on a tiny little screen, when they could have a brand new hard copy in their hands?

I think people have to always be on the go. The biggest argument I hear for ereaders, is that it is about accessibility and discover-ability. It might be cool to carry around every book I own and show people my work with the click of a button.

Speaking of print media, what was the inspiration for the book Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead?

The idea came from being a member of zombiefriends.com. I noticed that there were a lot of authors and writers on there, and we all loved zombies. I thought it would be a cool idea to collect all of those storytellers into one book and use the book to promote zombiefriends.com, but that never happened.

I had my first zombie story War and Pieces ready to go, several authors lined up, a great Daniel Serra cover and a publisher ready to go with the title The Anthology of the Living Dead. Sadly nothing happened with the idea for a long time. The publisher went out of business and never contacted anyone. Some authors dropped out. The book was dead.

It wasn’t until Joe Moe called and said Uncle Forry wanted to be a part of it, that is was reanimated to spread a collection of infectious fiction. We picked up new authors like Robert Freese, Del Howison and Axelle Carolyn. We also had a better book and an new publisher.

Did Uncle Forry ever get a chance to see it before his untimely passing?

Joe read Forry most of the final selected stories including Joe’s, Cassandra’s and mine, but he unfortunately did not get to see the finished book.

Did you ever get a chance to meet him in person?

I never got to meet Forry in person or see the fabulous Akermansion. Living in Indiana, with a fear of flying, it was hard to get to Horrorwood, Karloffornia. I didn’t make it to the West coast until I attended Forry’s Memorial Tribute at the Egyptian Theatre.

It was a sad, but incredible event. I was given a chance to really get to know him though the people who knew him best. It was a real honor to be there.

You strike me as a big fan of pop culture. Does it seem to you that pop culture changes with each new decade, and mainstream literature and film right along with it?

I like pop culture in the same way I like watching people at Wal-Mart or the mall. I think it’s funny. It may not be a popular opinion, but I think pop culture is degenerating with each generation. I think books like I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, movies like Not Another Teen Movie and TV like Jersey Shore, Sponge Bob Squarepants and Bad Girl’s Club are distracting people from quality entertainment.

At some point stupid became funny, “reality” drama took over and movies with big stars, product placement and explosions replaced movies with a plot. I don’t really see a lot out here that make me want to watch TV, read a new book or watch new movies.

I like to be challenged to think. I’ll stick to reading Kerouac, Vonnegut and Palahniuk. I’ll be watching Castle and Californication and save my big screen dollars for the type of movie with a limited release.

What decade was your favorite as far as film and fiction are concerned? 70s? 80s?

My favorite films are from every decade. I really like Guy Richie and the Cohen Brothers, but I have the biggest crush on Lauren Bacall. I also think that as cool as Johnny Depp is nobody will ever be as cool as Humphrey Bogart.

I am a fan of classic horror like Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I don’t really get into reading or watching much modern horror. I have enjoyed films like trick R treat, or Red Velvet, but I think Hollywood had it right when it was black and white.

What do you see for the future of horror fiction or film? Some critics say it is in a slump.

I think “in a slump” puts it mildly. I see a whole generation of horror authors that want to be the next Stephen King, instead of trying to be the first at anything. I see Stephen King selling a ton of books, but I haven’t read a good King story since the late 80’s or early 90’s.

I see the same thing in film. The creative well is tapped and we are reduced to bloody stool samples and the few good, original horror films out there are being over looked.

Any new books on the horizon?

I found out I was included in Toe Tags 2, the sequel to the book that went head to head with Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead in the Preditors and Editors Reader Poll. I’m really excited about that.

I'm working with a few friends like Joe Schwatrz, Scott Lefebvre and Brandon Bennett to put together a collection of transgressive short fiction we are calling Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction. It looks like it's going to be pretty cool.

I hope to have that and another manuscript out in time for Contamination 2011: The Sequel. That should be in June, but I'd like to keep the details to myself until they are more developed.

There are also two other short story collections I’ve been asked to join, but I don’t have much information on them.

I stay busy.

Any last words for our readers?

Thanks for asking me to do this interview. I look forward meeting everyone that likes my work, and maybe even a few that don’t.

Check out my website http://jtravisgrundon.blogspot.com/ to stay posted on all things J. Travis Grundon.

This interview was conducted for a book of interviews, with “the future of books, film and music.” The author/ publisher of this book has recently been charged with plagiarism, allegedly stealing nearly his entire body of work and plagiarizing such wordsmiths as Dean Koontz, and the great William S. Burroughs.

It is the belief of this author, that the book will never see the light of day, but now my interview has been posted for my friends and fans to read.

- Travis

Muse-ic

2011-02-21T02:05:00.000-08:00

To put it simple...I love music!

I was watching the movie Pirate Radio (for the 2nd time, in as many weeks) and it occurred to me; the reason I like the movie so much was because of the music. Not only do they play some really great music in the movie, but the movie is all about the love of Rock N Roll. The more I thought about it the more I realized how much I really love music. I wouldn't want to imagine my life without it and I think it's my love of music that helped my love for books/authors like High Fidelity by Nick Hornby, Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho and even the Jack Kerouac classic On The Road.

I listen to music when I drive, when I sleep and most of all when I write. I listen to music all the time and I have a pretty eclectic taste in what I listen to. My music is my muse. I have playlists on my Winamp for every different project and mood in my life. These lists serve as soundtracks to my work and my life.

I like to buy movie soundtracks with bands I like on them. It's really easy to learn about other great bands that way. It's not unheard of for me to spend hours (and entirely too much money) in a record store, and if they are having any kind of sale, I could be in there all day.

My favorite places to buy music are in St. Louis. I like to shop Vintage Vinyl (on Delmar) FYE (on Hampton) and APOP Records (Cherokee St.) I also buy a lot of music from Record Cellar in Vincennes, but I won't hesitate to get used CDs from Amazon. The last three albums I picked up were Strawfoot: How We Prospered, Iron and Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean and The Decemberist: The King Is Dead. I'm enjoying all three of them and It looks like 2011 is off to a great start musically.

I know I keep using the word album to describe a new CD, to be honest, I miss the days when I had a record player. My taste in music hadn't matured enough yet and I took my turntable for granted. Some days when I'm sitting around listening to CDs or MP3s working on a new story, I wish that it had the old record sound. The only good thing about the digital music revolution is that people are ditching their CD and vinyl collections. That is great for junk store vultures like my friends and I. I've been lucky enough lately to find some really cool stuff like Bad Religion and Badly Drawn Boy in pawn shops and used racks at the record store. It doesn't matter if the album is new or used, if the music is classic or an instant favorite, as long as I have my Muse-ic I'll be just fine.

Some people say they love music, but what they really mean is they like a few bands or that they like music society feeds them. I'm not going to say that just because I call myself a music lover, I love everything. I personally can't stand Insane Clown Posse, Nickelback or Toby Kieth. Their music just seems fake or generic to me, but they are packaged and market to the masses. It's just not for me.

If I had to list my favorite bands I'll say...

Johnny Cash
Tom Waits
Elvis Costello
Bob Dylan
B.B. King
Eric Clapton
Elton John
All things Nick Cave
Leonard Cohen
The Ramones
The Velvet Underground
PJ Harvey
Tori Amos
Billie Holiday
Death Cab For Cutie
All things Mike Patton
Snow Patrol
Modest Mouse
Man Man
Murder By Death
Medeski, Martin & Wood
John Prine
John Coltrane
Joe Cocker
Amos Lee
Ben Folds
Harry Manfredini
Muddy Waters
Diana Krall
Portishead
The Modern Lover
Dum Dum Girls
Face to Face
The Violent Femmes
All things Jack White
The Rolling Stones
Patsy Cline
Hank Williams Sr.
Hank III
Zoe Bokebinder
The Decemberist
Iron and Wine
City and Colour
The Broderick
Wu Tang Clan
Run DMC
2 Pac
Drake
A Perfect Circle
Grande Ole Party
Cibo Matto
7 Shot Screamer
Mumford and Sons
Cake
Doves
The Strokes
The Devil Makes Three
The Doors
The Turtles
& The Beatles...just to name a few.

I feel bad because I'm sure I missed a band I love, but this is just the first 60 I could think of. Some of the people on this list are more well known than others, but if you have not heard of my friends The Broderick or Harry Manfredini you need to do yourself a favor and check them out.

The Broderick is a band from Bloomington, Indiana. The influnces ranging from Bob Dylan and Josh Ritter to Modest Mouse and The Whigs. They have played some pretty cool gigs like SXSW and The Forecastle Music Festival. The Broderick is a perfect example of REAL good music!

Harry Manfredini is best know for his score work on the movie Swamp Thing and Friday The 13th. Manfredini is the man responsible for the chilling theme everyone thinks of when they think of a killer stalking through the woods, but he has done some other really phenomenal music too. My person favorite album he gave me is the music from a film called A Gun, A Car, A Blonde. I listen to it a lot when I'm working on a story that involves a dark place in a city, or humanity.

I hope everyone with check these guys out and if you see me out (or at a book signing) remember I'm not interested in any drama or bullshit, but I will be very interested in what music you've been listening to and any CDs you want to burn for me!!!

- Travis

It's Kind Of A Funny Rejection Story

2011-02-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, my friend Robert Freese contacted me about a Bigfoot anthology, that was looking for stories. I wrote a story, called Contravention. Once I was finished it, I emailed it to the appropriate people and crossed my little fingers they would pick me. I really liked the story and I wanted it to have a good home. It wasn't like anything else I had done. There was just something about it. It wasn't the best thing I'd ever came up with, but I had a feeling it was a story destined for good things.

I just knew it would be picked up for the Mondo Sasquatch Anthology.

Fast forward to almost a year later, I haven't heard anything on if my story was going to be used, or even if the book was was still going to happen. I didn't even care anymore. I was busy working on my third version of Eclectic Collection, but after much editing and admitting things to myself, I was a couple stories short.

It was an easy fix. I had other stories, but when I wanted to add some newer stuff I came across the Sasquatch story. I remembered how much my editor and I liked it, but I didn't want to risk putting it out there, before the Mondo book was out. I might have had a little hope it would still happen.

I made one more attempt to contact the Bigfoot people, but I never got a response. In my experiences, that means the project is over and the publisher has fallen off of the face of the earth. I didn't really know if that was the case, but I felt a lot better about including Contravention in Eclectic Collection.

Fast forward again, to the Dark Carnival Film Festival. Eclectic Collection is already out and I have been shamelessly promoting it everywhere. Then Brandon Bennett and I were lucky enough to get to enjoy Dark Carnival and spend time with our friends from Dark Rider Studios. Actress/Model/ Producer/ My Awesome Friend Kitsie Duncan and I had already talked about a trade. She'd give me a copy of their movie Lethal Obsession and I'd give her copy of my book.

We were both happy with the trade, but I didn't expect an email from her less than a week later. As it turns out, Dark Rider was offered a spot in a film project called The Collective, and they were looking for a ideas, or a hairy monster story to adapt to film, for this project.

The funny thing is that Contravention was not only included in Eclectic Collection, but it was also the first story. Once Kitsie read it, she and Chris Jay agreed it was exactly what they were looking for. The rest, as they say is history.

If you follow this blog, or you have you finger on the pulse of what's cool, you know Contravention has been adapted into Dark Rider Studio's movie MEATEATER!

THE END...? NO!

After the story is published, the film is shot and there have been no Sasquatch book sightings, I get an email from the publisher of the book. The email quickly sends me into a fit a laughter, when I read that they have chosen to reject the story, making for one of the best rejection stories ever!

J. Travis Grundon's Contravention will not be in the book Mondo Sasquatch, but you can read it in Eclectic Collection (now available on Amazon and at other fine stores) and watch for a version of it this Spring, from Dark Rider Studios(as a part of The Collective), called MEATEATER!!!

- Travis

Out Of Hibernation and Into The Fire

2011-02-14T21:29:00.000-08:00

It has been too long since my last update, but like many people, the cold weather, snow and ice has kept me tucked away in my cave. A lot has happened in that time and a few things have changed. Other changes are still on the way, but officially announcing things and adapting to them needs to happen first.

Papercuts Hurt

Due to financial restraints and creative differences, Papercut Books has shut down for good. This announcement is twice as disappointing, because of the time and work that went into Call of Lovecraft. CoL was ready to go to print, with a great collection of talent, but the inability to pay that talent has killed that project.

I spent a lot of time and energy on this book and I was really looking forward to seeing how successful if could be. As the editor and a contributor on this book, this recent fall of Papercut Books reminds me of my struggles with Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead. That book went through several vanishing publishers and a lot of misfortune before it was picked up by Black Bed Sheet Books. It was my drive to get that book published, and Forrest J Ackerman getting involved, that got it published.

If Call of Lovecraft is ever going to see a publishing day, I will have to apply that same tenacity.

It is heartbreaking that Papercut was only able to publish two titles before going the way of the dodo. Things seemed to be turning around after the stumbling block, of a founding member leaving the company. A new benefactor joined the company, but do to another series of unfortunate events, he was forced to leave as quickly as he joined.

All of this left me holding the bag and bills for the entire company. We had ttwo books out, three books ready for release, a plethora of ideas, technical/ layout support and an art team, but zero ways to pay everyone. It's not a big secret, but I'm not a publisher. My job at Papercut was author/creative director. All that means is that I got to write books and come of with crazy ideas, then see if the group could flesh them out.

Like my other experiences in the publishing world, this has been an educational experience for me. I will keep doing what I'm doing an hope my agent can land me a real deal. I am focused on being a writer and not spreading myself as thin. This has also led to other reflections and changes...

They Killed A Mockingbird

When Papercut went out of business I felt like it was kind of a waste of time and energy. That was a familiar feeling to me because the bookstore, I opened in September, was also beginning to feel like that too. After only being open 6 months, it was clear that Vincennes was not the place to own a bookstore.

The first month was great, but it only took one month for the “new” to wear off and the customers became fewer and fewer. The rent on the building was reasonable, but when you put money a business everybody says “it takes time to start making money.” That is all well and good, but when we went nearly a week without a single customer and we didn't make a months rent in 4 month, it became a labor of love.

My frustration with the Papercut situation and other personal issues, were already twisting my nerves and the bookstore became just another headache. Almost overnight I didn't like the place. I didn't want to be there. I didn't want to put more money into it and I was pissed off that a city can support 11 bars, 5 liquor stores and 4 tattoo shops, but not ONE bookstore.

So many people said “Oh we really needed a bookstore” or “This is really a great place, I'll have to come back,” but they never did. I'm not ungrateful for a few loyal regulars, the awesome events we had or to our volunteer help, but when it came time to focus on what really mattered I noticed that the store was on my list of what mattered.

My partner, B.C. Brown was feeling this same burden. She was the other Papercut author suddenly without a publisher, and the bookstore was a financial drain on her life too. On top of these pains, Brown was also trying to juggle full time school and work, plus time at the store.

To make a long story short, it just isn't worth it.

I understand there is a level or personal accountability here with the failure of Papercut and The Mockingbird. I may have been able to pour more money into both, but I'm not a publisher and I'm not stupid enough to go down a sinking ship.

I am a dad and author. That is where my focus is. I am a good dad and I'm already 117 pages into writing a new book. I've also already finished 3 short stories and outlined 4 more since the start of the new year.

These problems with Papercut and The Mockingbird could have held me down, but I'm not going to let them. I'm getting back on the road with Eclectic Collection and I'm planning to have a new publisher and at least two more books out in 2011.

The Goddamn Eclectic tour picks back up March 12th, when I join my friend Joe Schwartz for the St. Louis Public Library 4th Annual Author Shout Out!

Stay tuned there will be more dates, good news and announcements as early as next week. I'm working with a few people on some groovy projects and I have two leads on a new publisher. I still believe 2011 is my year and I plan to prove it!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Eclectic-Collection-J-Travis-Grundon/dp/1453663126/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_

- Travis

Previously Viewed

2011-01-04T02:01:00.000-08:00

The picture above is from the film Meateater, from Darkrider Studios, based on my shot story Contravention.

I am really excited about this project and I look forward to seeing the finished product. I wasn't able to be on set for the filming of this movie, but I have faith in my friends at Darkrider Studios. It means a lot to me to see one of my stories turned into a movie. It also means a lot to me that my good friend Brandon Bennett has a cameo role too.

Stay tuned for more details on this film and future film projects, and if you want to check out the story that inspired this movie, it can be found in my book Eclectic Collection.

http://www.amazon.com/Eclectic-Collection-J-Travis-Grundon/dp/1453663126/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2

Speaking of movies...I have seen a lot of Top 10 Movies and Worst 10 Movies of 2010 lists. I didn't really have a chance to watch very many new movies this past year, but I made my lists, from the films I did watch!

J. Travis Grundon's Top 10 movies of 2010

1. Social Network
2. Inception
3. El Monstro Del Mar
4. Stuck (Steve Balderson)
5. Edge of Darkness
6. Toy Story 3
7. Due Date
8. Iron Man 2
9. Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day
10. The Heavy

Honorable Mention:
Devil

Movies I wanted to see in 2010:
True Grit
Black Swan
The Town
Enter The Void
&
Love and Other Drugs

Worst 5 Movies of 2010
1. Survival of the Dead
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Daybreakers
4. Predators
5. Birdemic: Shock and Terror' (I didn't actually see all of this movie, but what I have seen makes it look like a pathetic joke. The saddest part is that the guy who made Birdemic, made it as a serious film.)

Dishonorable Mention: Every movie that looked too stupid to watch.

That's all for now!!!

- Travis

Good Riddance! Fresh Start!

2011-01-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

This past year has personally been one of the worst, and most fucked up, years of my life. It was a year of horrible loss, bad health, pain and serious personal and professional issues. The end of this past year only means the end of some of it, but it means the start of a new positive attitude.

I am happy to see 2011 and I look forward to a much better year. I've never been one for New Years Resolutions or fresh starts, just because it's a new year, but I see this year as a great time to rid my life of excessive drinking and unwelcome chaos.

My head is clear for the first time in a long time. I have found a new focus and a determination to create change and opportunity for myself. 2011 is going to be my year!

Happy New Year to everyone and I wish you all the best!!!

- Travis

Lights! Camera! Brandon!

2010-12-13T17:07:00.000-08:00

This month filmmaker, and my good friend Brandon Bennett are trading places. I am the guest blogger on Indie Film Revue and I have turned the tables on Brandon, and subjected him to a Mini-view. Here are some interesting questions I had for Brandon and his incredible answers!!!

A Mini-View w/ Brandon S. Bennett

1. I know you enjoyed your time working on Steve Balderson's film Stuck, and I think it was a great movie. Is there a project that you would like to see Mr. Balderson shoot or an idea, book or character you want to work on with him.

Steve is such a talented director, and an amazing person all around. I think the thing I love about his films is that each one has its own feel. Even though they are all so different, there is just something about them that when watching you go “This is a Balderson film”. He talked to me before about how he would love to do a classic themed horror film, very much in the style of the Hammer Films. I know that he also has a sweet spot for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. So I guess I would love to see him peruse something along those lines. Perhaps a mix of The House on Haunted Hill, The Changeling, The Legend of Hell House, and The Innocents. Each of those films have ‘that something’ about them that you never forget, which is what makes Steve’s films stand out.

2. In an industry full of remakes and re-imaginings, what remake would you be unable to turn doing, if it was offered to you, or name a remake you would love to do. (Feel free to cast it too)

There are a couple films that I would love to see remade, if staying true to the source material.

The first would be Something Wicked This Way Comes, directed by Jack Clayton (The Innocents, The Great Gatsby) which Ray Bradbury adapted from his own book. The film still holds up quite well, but I would love to see Steve Balderson’s touch on the carnival scenes after watching his film Firecracker.

Second would be the 1976 film Burnt Offerings directed by Dan Curtis, based on the book of the same name by Robert Marasco. Curtis is well known for directing, writing, and being executive producer on the series Dark Shadows (the original, the movies, and the reboot) and directed both of the Trilogy of Terror Films. After seeing Nicole Kidman in The Others, I think she would be perfect in Karen Blacks role in a remake. The beautiful and talented Bette Davis played Aunt Elizabeth, and I think casting Karen Black as that character would be a great tribute to the original.

Lastly, I have always wanted to see an updated version of the 1973 film Don’t Look in the Basement, also known as The Forgotten or Death Ward #13. It was directed by S.F. Brownrigg who also directed Scum of the Earth, Keep My Grave Open, and Don’t Open the Door. All of these films had a certain dirty, gritty, and bleak feeling to them. There was always a certain bit of nail biting and sweaty palms when watching them. Luckily, this is a remake that will be seeing the light of day. Directors Alan Rowe Kelly and Anthony G. Sumner have decided to put their own twist on this story. These are two people that I feel understand the atmosphere in the original. I know my friends Marv Blauvelt and Jeff Dylan Graham are attached to this project along with Debbie Rochon, Deneen Melody, Carl Burrows, and Caroline Williams. This seems like a cast of people who fit a kind of grindhouse feel. It’s a film that I have had a small obsession with since I was young. There is a jealousy in me for everyone working on this. (laughs)

3. As a fan of all kinds of horror films what scares the shit out of you, in real life?

I have two very distinct fears. Strange, but distinct.

The first one is ladybugs. Weird huh? It all stems from when I was a teenager. My family had moved into a new home, I had a basement bedroom, and we had only been living there a few days. I woke in the middle of the night feeling my face itch, I reached over to turn on my touch lamp and found my face was covered in the little bastards! Not just my face, but they were crawling in and out of my mouth as well. It was traumatizing.

It’s funny you mentioned this, because the day you sent these questions I was faced with my second fear: NUTCRACKERS. Holy shit do they terrify me! I was riding in the car with my girlfriend the other day and we made a turn at a stoplight, when to my right there were two four foot tall nutcrackers on each side of a set of stairs. I believe the conversation that followed went something like this, “What the fuck! Oh my god! Are you kidding me? That’s just not even cool! Why would someone do something like that?” About that time my girlfriend, Melissa, tried apologizing saying she didn’t mean to drive by them on purpose. “No. It’s not your fault. What the hell are those people thinking?! That’s fucking terrifying! I don’t even know why the hell they scare me so much but they do! I think it’s those big fucking teeth. I mean come on! What other reason do they need them but to bite your damn nuts off! Look at them! They’re huge! What’s not to be terrified of?” I know I rambled on for at least 10 minutes. Of course my lack of sleep did not help the severity of the problem. Poor Melissa was just about crying she was laughing so hard. So, yeh. Fuck nutcrackers!

4. Besides film making, you are also really into music, but the two go hand and hand a lot...so name your top 5 Movie Soundtracks/Scores

This is a really great question. Tough, but great.

5. Judgement Night (1993)
4. Spawn: The Album (1997)
3. The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1994)
2. Lost Highway (1997)
1. SLC Punk: Original Soundtrack (1999)

A couple other notable soundtracks are:
The Soundtrack to Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond by Fabio Frizzi is just nightmarish.
And also, Mike Patton’s side project Fantamos’ 2000 release Delirium Cordia. This album is like listening to a horror film. The first time I heard it I was alone in my car driving from where I was living in Evansville, IN to my parents place in Petersburg. It was about midnight and pitch black outside. The album is 1 hour and 14 minutes long. I slept with the lights on that night!

5.You have a blowup doll, a copy of Purple Rain, a hammer and a bottle of whiskey...what are your plans for the night?

Hmmm.. Let’s see. I’ll be downing the whiskey like it’s Kool Aid, beating the blowup doll in its orifices with the hammer, while watching Purple Rain.

Check out more about Brandon, more Mini-views and my guest blogspot @ http://indiefilmrevue.blogspot.com/

Goodbye NaNoWriMo, it's the December to Deliver!

2010-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

It’s finally December a lot has happened over the month of November. As you might have guessed…I didn’t finish NaNoWriMo. I was busy on the road and working on other projects. It just wasn’t in the cards this year and I’m 99% sure I won’t even sign up for next year. Some people sign up for NaNo as a tool to motivate themselves to write. I don’t need that. I’m sure I wrote well over 50,000 words during the month of November.

During November I had a couple book signings, one in St. Louis, Missouri and the other in Bloomington, Indiana. Both had small, but attentive crowds. I’d personally rather have a small crowd of good people than a big crowd of people who don’t really care to be there. Of course the main goal is to get a large crowd of loyal fans that really want to be there, but as time goes on and I continue to get my work and my name out there, good things will happen.

Something I think that will help me achieve my goals is signing a new deal with an agent. I know I’ve always said I don’t need an agent to do the foot and mouth work I can do myself, but I have spread myself very thin and was given a very interesting offer at the same time. After turning down two agents, one has found me (thanks impart by the recommendation of two good friends) and it was too good of an offer to pass up.

A bad/good thing about the whole deal is that my book, Between The Lines, I was going to attempt to self publish in Febuary, won’t be out until it finds a publisher or the year contract runs out.

One of the many reasons I agreed to work with an agent is because it will allow me more time to work on my many film projects. My friend Brandon Bennett and I have recently worked on a bit for James Hawley’s film Jesus of Nebula. Brandon and I have also joined forces to create a production company called Well Hung Pictures. I have finished to first script we plan to shoot, which is an adaptation of Ernest Hemmingway’s A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. The next project we are already putting together is a mockumentary about the cult following of Scooby Doo, called Where are You? Both films should be out by the end of 2011.

I will also be working with Brandon Bennett and James Hawley in some capacity on a film project called Tales from the Tomb of Terror. So far everything I’ve heard about this project sounds awesome. I’ll have more details on this soon.

In other film related news. Darkrider Studios have optioned my story Contravention, from Eclectic Collection, for a short film that will be a part of a 10 production company horror anthology DVD. I have been asked to write the first draft of the script and I should have that finished and out to them by the end of this week. I hope to have more details on this project as it develops.

I was also lucky enough to get to hang out with some of my film making friends and meet a few new ones, this past November at The Dark Carnival Film Festival. It was great to see the monsters from Atomic Age Cinema, the good people of Clockwerk Picture, Muscle Wolf Productions, and Darkrider Studios. It was also cool to see my friend Tiffany Shepis, as well as new friends Deneen Melody, Jessica Cameron and the amazing Patrick Rea.

It was a great time and I saw some really awesome movies like: El Mostro Del Mar, Get off My Porch, Do Not Disturb, Now That You’re Dead, Slices of Life, Roses, House of Hope, Hypochondriac, Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer and more. I can’t wait for next year!!!

I think that is enough of an update for now. I need to get back to work on the scripts, a couple more short stories I have in my head and work on edits for Foreign Objects.

Check back often. This guy is busy and I’ll have more stuff to post very, very soon!!!

- Travis

The Goddamn Eclectic Tour

2010-11-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

It's finally here!

After almost of year of edits and multiple publisher issues Eclectic Collection is out. The only way to celebrate is to tour the cities that have been asking for this book and bring it to the people who want it. The Goddamn Eclectic Tour is designed to do just that.

Check out these dates and awesome bookstores!!!

Nov. 12th Subterranean Book - St. Louis, MO.

Nov. 20th The Mockingbird Book Emporium - Vincennes, IN.

Nov. 27th Boxcar Books - Bloomington, IN.

Mar. 25th - 27th HorrorHound Weekend - Indianapolis , IN.

More dates will be announced soon. All dates are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.

It would be great to bring this tour to great cities like Nashville, Austin Dayton, Pittsburgh and Burbank. If you know any great conventions or independent bookstores looking for author events help us make this happen!

It's NaNoWriMo time again...

2010-10-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Just like last year, I will not be posting any new blog articles until after November. I plan to make it to 50k words. I came close last year and eneded up with Between The Lines.

This year I have a new idea and my outline and play lists are ready!

Good luck to all of my friends and everyone who are participating in NaNoWriMo.

See you on the other side!!!

- Travis

Hallowen Fidelity

2010-10-27T17:34:00.001-07:00

Every year for Samhain and Halloween I post my current top five horror books or movies on my blog. I am going to have to do something a little different this year since I have not read or watched much horror in this last year.

Life has been horrific enough.

This year I would like to offer my Top 5 Halloween Soundtrack songs.
1. The Halloween Theme By John Carpenter or Celldweller
2. Pet Cemetery By the Ramones
3. Transylvanian Concubine By Rasputina
4. The Black Rider By Tom Waits
5. People Are Strange By The Doors

There it is like it, or not.

Sorry, Rob Zombie, Ozzy and Manson didn’t make the list this year. I would like to mention that anything by Los Straightjackets and Famous Monsters (former White Zombie bassist, Sean Yseult’s band) are all great spooky party greats.

If you are looking for a groovy, ghoulish party to attend The Mockingbird Book Emporium will be hosting a costume party on Friday the 29th. Costumes are a must, but if you bring a snack or a cover dish of some kind…you get a FREE BOOK!

If you are looking for horror this year from your friendly neighborhood J. Trav…I suggest my new book, Eclectic Collection. Eclectic Collection and my story in Toe Tags 2 will be the last horror I produce. E. C. only has 6 out of 15 that are horror, but it should still give you a good Halloween read and introduce you to my other work.

Until next…Remember: You can pick your friends and if they piss you off…you can pick where to bury them too.

- Travis

WTFuck: A Rant by J. Travis Grundon

2010-10-16T00:05:00.001-07:00

I was recently asked to talk to a group of high school kids about the importance of reading and promote the book store, for “Teen Read Week.”

I was instantly excited and interested in turning these young minds onto some great books. The theme of the first event was “Books with Beat.” As a fan of Kerouac and Burroughs I agreed with the "Books with Beat" theme and I had a few ideas.

This pipe dream of a neat presentation was quickly shat upon when I was told we should probably avoid "The Beats." The person I talked to told me “The Beats” may be "too much" for the high school. It was at this point I was ready to duck out of the event all together.

There isn't anything covered in their books that isn’t shown in an episode of Jersey Shore or an Eminem music video. The Beats were about self discovery and expression. Isn't that what high school is all about? Most of these kids are already experimenting with most of these ideas, and pretending they're not is only ignoring the elephant in the room and making the problem worse.

I could go on and on about Burroughs, but Kerouac is one of my top five authors and to keep me from talking about them surely means I would be expected to avoid Mark Twain, Chuck Palahniuk and any other controversial or formerly banned author. Surely if I went through with the presentation I would have all the freedom in the world to talk about Twilight or Dan Brown…fuck that!

The moral of the story is: a) It great if people are reading almost anything, but if people don’t open their minds they are only closing their eyes
b) Learn a little about who you invite to talk at your school. If you don’t want a free thinker with an opinion don’t invite me.

Wake up!

We have a lot to learn about society and life from those who came before us. The Beats were the literary voices of a generation in the same way Twain and Thoreau were for their generation.

*note
Speaking of Twilight… I have tried to like this franchise and I’m happy it has kids reading, but I just can’t get into it. It may not be your thing, my thing or some other person’s thing, but I am sick of people bashing it for “turning vampires gay.”

i.e stupid Facebook groups like “When I was a kid vampires sucked blood, not cock.”

If anyone turned vampires gay it was Anne Rice. The Vampire Chronicles are filled with young boy “love” and living forever. That is gay and pretty fucked up. Being gay is fine with me, but the young boy thing is crazy shit. No thanks.

At least Edward and Jacob are trying to get in a girl/woman’s pants…until the last book when Jacob turns into a creepy pedo too, but I digress. Anne Rice sucks just as much as Stephanie Myer. If you want a cool vampire book pick up The Strain by Del Toror and Hogan or just read Dracula.

I’ve wondered WAY off the beaten path so I will bring this rant to a close.

Open your mind and most vampire books SUCK!!!

- Travis

It's Goddamn Eclectic!!!

2010-10-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

Eclectic Collection is now available to order on Amazon.com.

Get your copy today and have it in time for the 10/10/10 Ten author event at The Mockingbird Book Emporium!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

- Travis

Fuck global. Shop Local…when you can!!!

2010-09-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

As previously posted my friend B.C. Brown and I have opened a book store, in Vincennes, Indiana.

The store and other responsibilities have been very time consuming. The thing that seems to be suffering the most has been my writing. I have only turned out two short stories since I returned to Indiana, but I have started another novel and began to out line a short film adoption of a Ernest Hemingway story.

It’s good to be back in a smaller city. It is nice to walk down sidewalk and recognize folks, even if I don’t know them on a personal level. There is a certain level of safe feeling that comes with that.

A lot of people complain that many small towns and cities are boring, but I think that anywhere you live is what you make of it. If there isn’t anything that appeals to your interests, the smart idea is to find like minded people and start something. The way to make a difference is to stop talking make things happen. That was the idea behind opening The Mockingbird Book Emporium.

I can’t even remember the last time I was bored. If anything, I wish there were more hours in the day

The only downside to living back in this area is that most downtown and locally owned businesses close at 5pm. That makes it hard to shop local and avoid corporate giant beast like Wal-Mart and other national chain stores, which run “mom and pop shops” out of business.

I once say a bumper sticker that read “Wal-Mart: Providing minimum wage for an entire community.”

Living back in this area I think another appropriate bumper sticker would be. “Family Video: We have the best selection, because we run everyone else out of business.”

Even if I could find time to rent a movie and sit down to watch it, if our local Family Video doesn’t have it, I’m shit out of luck. My other options are to spend a few more dollars, wit a few more days and order it from Amazon, or just settle for another movie.

I guess it’s time to stop bitching and get back to it.

Fuck global. Shop Local…when you can!!!

- Travis

A+Musings

2010-09-17T01:56:00.000-07:00

I would love everyone out there in book land to check out my friend Molly's Musings.

Molly has recently posted and pictures from the grand opening of The Mockingbird Book Emporium and a blog about 'Publishers Behaving Badly.'

To all PUBLISHERS BEHAVING BADLY: Make time for your authors and pay them what you can...they are the ones making money for you!!!

To Build A Mockingbird

2010-08-28T02:34:00.000-07:00

J. Travis Grundon and long time friend B.C. Brown have decided that the one thing an author can bring to a community is books. The two have decided to bring books to Vincennes, Indiana, not just their own. Brown and Grundon have joined forces to create The Mockingbird Book Emporium.

The Mockingbird is designed to be a new and used bookstore with a focus on local and bestselling authors of all genres.

“We wanted to be a part of the downtown business district and really make Vincennes a cool place,” Brown told one source.

The grand opening of the store will be on September 11th at 10am, with St. Louis author Joe Schwartz signing and reading from his book Joe’s Black T-Shirt. The opening will also feature refreshments, door prizes and several local authors in attendance. One door prize mentioned for the event is a signed copy of Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict. Other prizes will include more books signed by local authors and a gift certificate. The amount of the certificate will be announced at the opening.

Vincennes Chamber of Commerce President Marc McNeece was thrilled to tell the local newspaper, “A bookstore has been one of those things that’s been missing for a while.”

Brown and Grundon have several events and fun already planned for the store from a 10/10/10 ten author signing to a Mark twain tribute, that will coincide with the release of Twain’s highly anticipated biography.

The Mockingbird will also be having local play actors reading to children, one Saturday a month.

“This is something I have wanted to do for a very long time and I’m ecstatic to have so much support from the city,” Grundon said.

The published co-owners of the store have been very hard at work getting ready and the buzz about the store in Indiana’s first city is already huge.

Upcoming Events:

Sept. 11th, 2010 - Grand Opening with Author Joe Schwartz

Sept. 25th, 2010 - Children’s Author/Vincennes Lincoln Alumni Dr. Ed Yosowitz Signing with profits going to the Ronald McDonald House.

Oct. 10th, 2010 – Ten Author Signing Event featuring: Co-Owners B.C. Brown and J. Travis Grundon, along with Thriller Author Jay Zimmer, Local Woman’s Fiction Author Molly Daniels, Non-Fiction Author David Boyer, Horror Author Brian Barnett, and several more!

Call Answered

2010-08-26T01:16:00.000-07:00

The list is here for Papercut Books' tribute to H.P. Lovecraft anthology, Call of Lovecraft.

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” - H.P. Lovecraft

Ramsey Campbell- Cold Print
John F.D. Taff – The Tentacle
William Meikle – The Colour of the Deep
John B. Rosenman – I LUV RT
Carol MacAllister – Red Pine
J. Travis Grundon – Idol
Jacqueline Seewald - Legend
Lee Clark Zumpe – Izothaugnol Ascending
Brian Barnett – In the Mouth of the Chasm
Gregory L. Norris – The Green Dream
H. David Blalock - Shed
Scott Lefebvre – And in the Darkness I Waited
and
H.P. Lovecraft – Pickman’s Model

Cover by Billy Tackett

Look for this book sometime around Halloween from Papercut Books

- Travis

James Hawley of Nebula

2010-08-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

On August 15th, actor, writer, director James Hawley will be crash landing on J.Trav Radio, to talk to Travis and Ali about film making, sewer monsters and Jesus.

Call-in Number: (347) 826-7633

Check out more about James here:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0370322/

Tune into the show 08/15/10 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jtravisgrundon/2010/08/16/james-hawley-of-nebula

J. Trav Radio is Back!!!

2010-07-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

The T&A Show with Author Joe Schwartz 08/01/10

J. Trav radio is back with a new guest co-host, Ali Vlahos. Travis and Ali will be interviewing Joe Schwartz, the awesome author of Joe's Black T-Shirt:Short Stories
About St. Louis.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jtravisgrundon
Call-in Number: (347) 826-7633

Work Is For Suckers: I Want To Write!

2010-07-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

by

Joe Schwartz

A writer’s job is to dream, to conceptualize ideas no matter how fantastic or sublime in mere words alone that others may read them, be entertained, and even possibly become enlightened. There is no harder artistic discipline available. You, as a writer, can only be enjoyed with severe commitment. No one is entertained by watching your book. Nobody is fully engaged by listening to your stories despite the popularity of recorded books. Words have a rhythm and cadence the mind alone speaks with to the reader.
When I was a young man I was a stupid reader. It was upon my discovery of acting that I was first trained to observe language, to hear the authors’ intention within the words. Even though at age sixteen I had been a full-time reader for more than a decade, I was but a word glutton. I consumed words with no more discretion or appreciation than a pig at a trough. My training as an actor taught me to read with purpose. I, however, am the exception to the rule.
In this modern age people are busy. If you expect to get someone’s attention and keep it, then you better be damn good. You are in competition with TV, iPhones, the Internet, DVDs, video games, and ten other gadgets yet to be invented that will devour time, precious spare moments somebody could be using to read your work. Towards that, all I can say is thank you God for the Kindle.
The first question writers must pose to themselves is what are they writing for? If the answer is money or glory, then do yourself a favor and stop. These are sidebars to the craft. The person, the audience if you will, should be yourself first and possibly alone. You should be your own worst critic, never your best cheerleader. Perhaps the worst writing I have ever read was by those in love with their work. Criticism is not a friend to them, but an enemy that will destroy the vain. A good writer has no illusions as to perfection. A tenacious writer will always complain in the face of praise that they always could've done better, but simply ran out of time.
Let's assume though you are a good writer. Now what? The second question that then must be asked is if there’s an audience out there who will find your work credible. Maybe. The best writers have doubts. This pressure can be overwhelming. Nobody is an instant success. Your first novel may get published, but probably will flop. Along with your second and third. The tenacity to continue in spite of such disappointments separates the men from the boys.
I have friends, authors who are tremendous writers published by big houses, that still work forty hours a week at brick-and-mortar companies for a paycheck and health benefits. They get up hours earlier than necessary to prepare for work so they may write. After a long day at work, while their families sleep, they write.
The bottom line, the unspoken mantra that drives them all is this: A writer without readers is worthless. I presume it is the same with any discipline. If you wanted to be an Olympic athlete, would you train when it was convenient or would you give it all you could everyday of your life? It's raining, I'm tired, I've got school or work or both today are excuses champions never speak.
That leads to the most important, final thing every writer must ask of themselves when they sit down to write. Whether it is a sentence or a string of words that stretches into the thousands.
How bad do you really want this?
At this moment, I too am still waiting form my "big break." I have one book to my credit, but it is self-published. Notwithstanding this fact, I have been shameless in its promotion. Book signings, interviews on public radio, Facebook and reviews on-line have been but a handful of methods I've used to expose my work. To date, it has been a little over a year, and although I have received remarkable praise by complete strangers, I do not have a publisher to my credit, much less an agent. However, by November I will have completed two more novels that I will furiously submit until either I have exhausted all resources to publish or I can basically accept what I have written is not all that interesting…right now. If that isn't self-righteous overconfidence, I don't know what is.
The thing to remember is that despite all the unhappy moments, the anxiety, the doubt, and the outright self-loathing, you wrote a book. Time will tell if you’ve written something worth reading. Until then, write everyday.
Life is short. Stories are forever.

Download ‘Joe’s Black T-Shirt: Short Stories About St. Louis’ for free at Scribd.com or purchase a real copy at Lulu.com. Look for Joe Schwartz and J. Travis Grundon the special first issue of .insidious.

Guest Who???

2010-07-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

If you want to know what authors Janet Evanovich, J. Travis Grundon and Charles Bukowski's common tip for an aspiring writer is...check out my guest blog spot on www.bcbrownbooks.blogspot.com

Stay tuned for more tips and tricks here on J. Travis Grundon Dot Com soon!!!

- Travis

It’s Goddamn Electric

2010-07-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

Ebooks piss me all the way off.

Like many people I love the smell of a book and the feeling of holding a REAL book. Even when I read submissions for Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology and the upcoming Call of Lovecraft, I would much rather read a hard copy, instead of staring at a monitor for hours.

The internet is an amazing thing for a writer. Sites like Facebook, Myspce, Twitter, and Goodreads are great networking tools and ways for authors to pimp their work. Even authors like me, that don’t support epublishing can benefit from these resources.

I have been called everything from a technophobe to just plain stubborn, but despite my frustrations the ebook shockwave is sweeping the world. It is moving ahead with or without me. Amazon has the Kindle, Apple has released their iPad and Barnes and Noble (and soon Best Buy) offer The Nook. I had always thought these ways to eread were killing print media, but I have a feeling it is not going to die completely.

My books HELP: An Anthology to Benefit Preditors and Editors, Concrete Blood and Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead are available through Amazon. I have to admit that Black Bed Sheet Books even offers The Anthology of the Living Dead on the Kindle.

Some libraries are even offering ebooks to their patrons. The concept of a temporary ebook feels weird to me, but then I found out about B & N offering Nook owners a free “Bestseller” ebook for visiting their stores. The only catch is that you only get it for 3 days, but you have to go into the stores to get the free ebooks.

The whole e-conundrum was weighing very heavy on my head and heart when I learned about a writers workshop with Jane Friedman(of Writer's Digest Magazine) via Twitter. Like a good e-monkey I posted the event on Facebook and had the nearly the entire Midwest Writers Guild of Vincennes accompany me to Evansville, Indiana, for Jane Friedman’s Online Publishing and Social Media Workshop.

The event was hosted by the Midwest Writers Guild of Evansville and was well worth the drive. Everyone from the Red Bank Public Library and Jane were very nice and informative. During this workshop Jane talked about social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. She had a very convincing argument for electronic media. She even made me think about my own electronic future.

The base of the e-defense is not about ebooks or ireaders it is more about discoverability and accessibility. If someone really wants to write something and get it out to as many people as they can then why not offer it on every platform and option available?

It made me wonder if people had the same issues with plays being transformed into television shows and movies. Maybe there are still people who choose theatre over television or the big screen.

Maybe…there is enough room in the world for print and electronic media.

Maybe…just maybe…we will see Eclectic Collection on the Kindle…maybe some day very soon…

-Travis

Your Vote Counts!

2010-06-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce that I have been nominated for the Goodreads’ New Author to Watch!

Goodreads is a fun social networking site, much like Facebook, for books nerds. This site gives you a chance to learn about new book, inventory books you have read, books you own and books you want to read, as well as swap books with people from around the world. Some authors even run their own profile page to connect with friends and fans.

This poll is for authors that have been recently published who write good books that have yet to be noticed. Voters will be given the chance to pick 5 book/authors they want to vote for. I am asking everyone to please sign up for Goodreads and vote.

Please go on and vote for me and if you have any trouble picking your other 4, I suggest Markus Zusak (The Book Thief), B.B. Walter (Sister Light), Brian Barnett (Toe Tags) and P.M. Russell (The Wormhole Adventures)…just to name a few.

Vote here:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1950.New_Authors_to_Watch_For?page=1

At this time I am up to #6!!!

- Travis

What’s Tom Reading?

2010-06-21T22:06:00.001-07:00

The July 2010 issue of MOJO Magazine features one of my all time favorite singers, songwriters and actors, Tom Waits, as guest editor. Waits is all over the place with 3 Tom’s picks lists, a wild Hank III interview, and two of Tom’s Buried Treasures pieces. This magazine is a must have for any Waits fan, or anyone that loves great music.

The following is a list of Tom Waits’ current favorite reading matter according to the July 2010 issue of MOJO Magazine. Tom’s Picks: Books

1.) Breece D’J Pancake - The Stories Of Breece D’J Pancake (Little Brown and Company, 1983)
2.) Frank Stanford – The Light the Dead See: Selected poems of Frank Stanford (University Of Arkansas Press, 1991)
3.) Robert Frank – the Americans (Grove Press, 1959)
4.) Paul Trachtman - The Old West: The Gun Slingers (Time/Life, 1974)
5.) Charles Wolfe and Kip Lornell – The Life and Legacy of Leadbelly (Da Capo, 1992)
6.) Jack Kerouac – Pic (Grove Press, 1971)
7.) Charles Bukowski – The Last Night On Earth Poems (Black Sparrow Press, 1992)
8.) Tennessee Williams – Hard Candy (New Directions, 1954)
9.) J. D. Salinger – Nine Stories (Little, Brown and Company, 1953)

10.) Michael Ondaat Je – The Collected Works of Billy the Kid: Left Handed Poems (Anansi, 1970)

11.) Charles Bukowski – It Catches my Heart in Its Hands: New and Selected Poems 1955- 1963 (Loujon Press, 1963)

To answer a few MORE questions: A Rant

2010-06-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask what the J stands for in J. Travis Grundon.

The J has nothing to do Forrest J Ackerman, though I did consider dropping the period after my J in tribute to him. I’ve since decided to stay the way I’ve already been published. With my work straying away from horror and Sci Fi the nod to Uncle Forry would be lost on my target audience.

Some people thought the J was “uncanny syllabic coincidence” with J. Elvis Weinstein, but I hadn’t even heard of the man until the name thing was pointed out. If anyone gets credit for putting the idea in my head, it isn’t a writer; it would be artist J. Scott Campbell. I had been a fan of Campbell’s comics for a long time and when I decided not to write as just Travis, J. Travis Grundon just popped in there…like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.*

So, what does the J stand for? It stands for John.

I have gone by Travis my whole life since my dad is named John it was less confusing. When I started writing I kept the J in my name, because many of my professors knew me as John. I knew my last name was not common, but I wanted everyone to know I was the same person. J. Travis Grundon also had, and still has, a good sound to it.

The next question I want to tackle is: Why is the 5 year old wearing a diaper in my Anthology of the Living Dead story Committed.

I have even been told that this is something that has pulled a reader completely out of the story.

I can understand how it would be had for some parents to wrap their head around, if their child mastered potty training, but not every kid gets it as fast as others. Some kids take to walking, talking, counting and other thing much easier. Many parenting books and magazine say it is natural and that most children who have problems potty training learn mental things faster than what is going on with their body.

The child that knows that they are wearing a diaper will keep playing and not feel the need to get up from playing to try to use the potty. It’s actually smart. Why get up to use the bathroom if you don’t have to. I know a lot of people who would love to just as soon mess their pants than have to find a bathroom and stop what they are doing.

I didn’t think the age of the child through very well. I just went with the age my daughter was when I wrote the story. I know she’ll love me sharing, but she was a late potty trainee, but she had it by five. She is also quick as a whip, with wicked smarts and talent to charm to beat the band!

Speaking of smart…I have a problem with people who continue to degenerate the English language with “text talk.” Allow me to rant about it.

It’s called “text talk” because it makes texting easier. It is not designed or even cool when used in a REAL conversation. We are grown ups, I hope. Let’s use our big boy and girl words. I mean, we didn’t spend all of the time in grammar/ grade school to stifle our words by turning them into cute little acronyms, which not everyone understands.

If you are one of the fortunate few people on Earth who has no idea what I’m talking about, lucky you!

What I’m referring to is crap like LOL, OMG, OMFG, BRB, WTF, BFF, ROTFLMAO, BF, GF, YMCA and M&Ms. OK, I just threw those last two in, and I don’t claim to be a master of language, but I think we are doing a major disservice to ourselves and our kids if we keep this valley girl, baby talk, bullshit up.

The same could be said for my potty mouth and the use of curse words. It has been said, and I agree, that people who use dirty words are not smart enough to express themselves in an intellectual way. The catch to that IS that there is no such thing as a “dirty word” or a “bad word.” The only thing that gives words any stigma is the intent of the person speaking them.

With all of that said, if I use a “bad word” the intent is very clear. If something makes me mad or excited enough to pull out the Book of DILLIGAF*, I’m not trying to sound intelligent. Sometime we need to forget ourselves and let it go, but it’s the every day, every word nonsense that makes us seem uneducated.

More “Text talk” slag. There is so much of this virus that it has its own dictionary. What is next?

http://www.noslang.com/dictionary.php

End rant.

That’s all, for now.

- Travis

* Do I Look Like I Give A F@%#

*If you don’t get this, or find it funny, it’s time to watch Ghostbusters again.

Today's Horoscope

2010-06-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

LIBRA September 24 ~ October

You need to make sure that you're keeping track of all your current tasks and projects -- don't let anyone pin you down to taking anything else on! It's a good idea to shut your door, if possible.

Up Close and Personal with B.C. Brown

2010-06-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

*looks left, looks right* Psssssst, we’re alone now, I think. Time for a little self exposure.
Not like THAT, you perv!
I was talking about an in depth and personal glimpse into the mind of B.C. Brown - um, me. My buddy here, J.Travis Grundon, has offered us the platform to get, personally, acquainted, and I plan to seize the opportunity in a very hands-on way.
Again with the perviness? Cut it out, will ya?
In actuality, there isn’t a whole lot to get to know about me. Other than the fact that I have a whole slew of super talented friends ( like J.Trav, Molly Daniels, P.M. Russell, Cindy Bauer, and Brandon Bennett, to name a few) who are faaaaar better at marketing and promotion than I am. What is she good at? you ask. (Or, at least, you ask inside of my head.)
Writing.
Don’t look at me like that. I’m not some squeamish, simpering little chick who can’t tell you that I know I look good, I know I can dance, and I know I’m a good writer. It’s not conceit; it’s called self esteem. If I have two things in my arsenal, they are: self esteem and a pen.
Um, keyboard.
Ok, keyboard.
The great thing about both of the items I’m good at is that I can inspire with both.
Short stroll down Memory Lane...
There once was a woman named...um, Kenzie*, who had this great romance/women’s lit. novel. A random occurrence that, um, Kenzie* was scheduled to share a book signing with moi, master of chat and awesome fantasy author. The lighting was optimal; our tables artfully displayed; and the positioning ideal to score peoples’ attentions as they came through the doors of one large Barnes N Noble store a beautiful March afternoon. I, not knowing, um, Kenzie* well, decided to feel out her approach to shoving her novel down people’s throats - you know, my approach. To my dismay, I learned that, um, Kenzie* was considerably more-
What word do I want to use? Considerate, tactful....nah...
-timid than I.
Shall we say door mouse to lioness approach, folks.
Never being shy on self esteem, I zeroed in on everyone who strolled through the front door by nearly getting in their business as soon as they passed the threshold. And, once I’d caught the perspective buyer’s attention, I artfully manuevered them back to both mine and, um, Kenzie’s* table, segueing an opportunity for her to talk about her novel. The pitch of my novel always wound down with...”And, if you’re not into kings, queens, wizards, and war, my friend, um, Kenzie*, offers something completely different you’ll love!”
How does this inspire? you ask inside my head. Well, with a little prompting on my end and a heaping dose of being shown how some serious self esteem works, um, Kenzie* is far more-
What works here? Blatant, artful...nah...
-domineering in her approach to the perspective reader/consumer.
Slightly longer stroll down Memory Lane here...
There once was a man named...um, John* who lived for art - sketching, painting, inking, etc. And, um, John* was a good artist and fancied himself happy with that particular career choice. Enter one dashing, stylish, and creative writer-
meeeeee!
-who called her good buddy of long standing to tell him her awesome news: She’d been published! Such was her exuberance that, um, John*, who had been secretly writing and squirreling away stories for some time, decided to lay down his art pencils-
And the graphic comic and tattooing worlds wept!
and pick up a writer’s pen.
While this intrusion (although unbeknownst to me) and diversion from his previous path was completely unintentional, um, John* has published three books and countless short stories and has set himself on a successful (if fledgling for now) career in the publishing industry.
Both of these jogs down Memory Lane are shining example of the two things B.C. Brown-
moi
-does well. I’m not going to say that these are the only two things I do well-
Hey, watch that gutter mind there, all right. This is a PG rated blog.
-but, as far as talents that inspire others and are used for the good of mankind, they are the most noteworthy for the purpose of this article.
And, while I don’t need the justification of knowing I’m a good writer, I can understand that many people are on a “Judge as I see fit” basis. So, if you would like to see for yourself that I am what I say I am - a good writer - feel free to visit my blog where I’ve posted articles pertaining to writing/being a writer http://bcbrownbooks.blogpsot.com or visit my website for some examples of my writing http://www.bcbrown.webs.com . Oh, and in case you are wondering what I might have “in the works”, so to speak, as an author, I am polishing a full length paranormal/mystery novel, A Touch of Darkness, for submission to Papercut Books, and I am busy working on adding to my inventory of short fiction, and working on my fantasy masterpiece, Of Shadows. I have several more projects in the works, also, but, since I am a multi-tasker, they are too many to enumerate.
Hope you’ve enjoy this forray into the mind of B.C. Brown - um, me. Won’t you stop by again?

(All names included with an * have been changed - and changed poorly - to be used without permission of the owner. Mainly, I’m covering covering my happy behind should these individuals not wish to be named outright!)

To answer a few questions…

2010-05-16T18:37:00.001-07:00

The first book I wrote was Werewolf: A Love Story. It was a poorly written waist of paper, but it got made me see that I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to tell stories instead of drawing picture for tattoos and comics like I had thought. Werewolf: A Love Story opened the door for a flood of short stories.

Nothing ever happened with this book.

My second book was The Bartender’s Guide to Killing Monsters. This was a book of 12 short stories about Jackson Reed. Reed is the main character in my first published short story Femme Fatale. This story was the first chapter of the book and included 11 other stories. I was talking to an agent and other published authors that convinced me to sign a publisher I can’t name here.

This unnamed publisher took the book and wanted to put it out unedited and with a stupid, cheap cover.

After a bit of me vs. them, it was determined that I would not publish the book for the duration of our seven year contract, and they would not publish it either. It sounds stupid, but they have the rights, and I have picked 90% of the good ideas out of it for other stories.

Since writing these two books I have had many stories published and have started other book.

Eclectic Collection is the one stop shop for all of my published work and a handful of new stuff. This book has been on the back burner for a long time, while I focused on Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead. E.C. is ready and will be out very soon.

In order to keep myself busy and honest, I would like to post…

“Books to Come from J. Travis Grundon”

Eclectic Collection - Spring/Summer 2010

Call of Lovecraft (collection) - Fall 2010

Foreign Objects - Winter 2010

1,000 Words (collection) – TBA

knockdowndragout – TBA
Between the Lines – TBA

Cloud 8 – TBA

Stay tuned and I’ll keep working on it!!!

- Travis

This and That

2010-05-14T23:10:00.001-07:00

It’s been a couple weeks since Con-tamination 2010 and my last update.

We had a good show. Most of all, it was great to see friends like Harry Manfredini, Joel Robinson, Billy Tackett, Scott Lefebvre, Justin Brock-Jones and Robert Freese.

I served double duty at this show, promoting Eclectic Collection with Papercut Books and representing Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead.

Friday night also included a tribute for the late, great Uncle Forry. Scott Ford spoke about Forry’s influence on the likes of John Landis and Joe Dante to Ray Bradbury and many more. Mr. Ford also introduced me to talk about The Egyptian Theatre Tribute and the Anthology of the Living Dead. After I said my piece we all enjoyed the Famous Monster documentary.

Other developments over the weekend include selecting Billy Tackett as the cover artist for Papercut Books’ H.P. Lovecraft inspired collection…Call of Lovecraft. I will serve as the main editor on this book in the capacity I did of the A.o.t.L.D.

Submissions will be open until July 15th, but contributors already include a story by H.P. Lovecraft, the living legend Ramsey Campbell, John F.D. Taff (KILL/OFF), Brian Barnett (Toe Tags) and Scott Lefebvre, of The Anthology of the Living Dead. More names will be announced after the deadline and the final selection has been made.

For the record: I’m doing a great job of keeping busy, other than the Lovecraft book.

I have been working on several new short stories for Alfred Hitchcock Magazine, Mondo Sasquatch, and The First Line. I’ve also been putting a lot of time into revising my novel Foreign Objects, for a possible Winter release. I can’t even remember the last time I was bored.

Hopefully it won’t be as long until my next update on this site. Check out http://papercutbooks.com for more information on Call of Lovecraft, Eclectic Collection and future information on Foreign Objects.

-Travis

Sad News

2010-04-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like not that long ago the release of Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead was postponed due to the untimely passing of Uncle Forry and my grandmother on the same day. A little more than a year later I find myself in the same situation.

As many people are aware my mother passed away on April 1st. It’s just like my mom to die on April Fools day. I only wish it would have been a horrible joke. The truth is the loss of my mom has hit me harder than anything I have had to deal with thus far in my life. Her death comes at an even more horrid time, as I was working on the final steps of releasing Eclectic Collection.

Eclectic Collection has been a year in the making and it was set to be dropped on the masses on May 1st, at Con-tamination 2010. Due to these recent unfortunate events Papercut Books and I have decided to push back that date until I am fully ready to celebrate and commit myself to this release.

I promise to bring this book out soon. I just need a little more time to confront some very serious personal issues. While there my not be panic in the streets and a sea of disappointed fans, I do want to be honest and upfront with everyone who is actually wait for EC.

Papercut Books editor and my fellow author John F.D. Taff have agreed that this time is important. All parties have also agreed to hold the release of John’s book KILL/OFF, until we are all ready.

I will post more news and updates soon.

- Travis

Papercut Books brings you...Eclectic Collection

2010-03-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

Some people may have noticed the Papercut Books logo at the bottom of this page. The reason that logo is on my page is because I am working with a collected group of magazine publishers, movie producers, artists and other authors to bring the world a publishing company that is focused on producing interesting, original fine quality books. We are bringing readers Papercut Books.

There are many great books scheduled to come out this year from Papercut, but I am excited to announce that one of the first two books to be released will be John F.D. Taff’s thriller KILL/OFF, and the other will be my long awaited book Eclectic Collection!

Eclectic Collection has been a work in progress for a very long time. This book includes most of my previously published work from The Silven Trumpeter, Help: An anthology to Benefit Preditors and Editors, Twisted Dreams Magazine, Concrete Blood and The Monsters Next Door. EC will be released with KILL/OFF at Con-tamination 2010, in St. Louis. At this convention John and I will be there to talk about Papercut Books and the other projects readers can look forward to.

One of those great projects will be the 1000 Words anthology; I had posted about in the past. More information will be available about this collection and an H.P. Lovecraft inspired anthology, on papercutbooks.com and here on J. Travis Grundon Dot Com, soon.

There are some amazing things to look forward to from Papercut Books and J. Travis Grundon…stay tuned…the future is NOW!!!

- Travis

2010-03-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

My fellow author Molly Daniels has invited me to be interviewed on her website for the month of April. I had a lot of fun doing this interview and I wanted to share a sample of it, before the it's published in its entirety, on April 20th.

Enjoy!

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

I want to give the reader the same experience I look for when I read a book. I want to change the way they look at something.

Even for people who've never read Psycho (or seen the movie), Robert Bloch changed the way we think about taking a shower, just like Stephen King made us change the ways we look at the death of a pet. Then Thomas Harris changed the way we think about fava beans and a nice Chianti. The author of Choke and Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk, even changed the way many of us looked at things like soap, a foot massage, and people we've know our whole life.

In my opinion a great story teller can change the way we think about everything. I want to be one of those authors.

I try to work in subliminal messages, about my work being as great as Chuck Palahniuk. It would be nice if readers caught that. Please, note: I probably only joking.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

Every story I write takes on a life of it's own. 99.9% of the time I don't control what I write. If I need to finish one story, or start something with set guidelines, my mind will produce something on the other side of the fence. This is why I have so many “Work In Progress” files on my computer.

I also talk about my characters like they are real people. I'll hear their voices feeding me dialog, at the strangest moments. I'm sure a lot of people think I'm crazy, but I think you have to be a little crazy to write fiction. An author really needs a certain level of schizophrenia to write convincing dialog.

Check out Molly's page and bookmark it, for the April 20th, 2010.

http://mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

- Travis

RONDO creeps again for Forrest J Ackerman and Joe Moe!!!

2010-02-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

If there's one most prestigious, genre-specific award in the world, it's gotta be the RONDOS! Every year, fans and pros alike vote for their favorite artists, products, publications and events. The awards are a treasured validation to all those folks working hard to keep Horror and Sci-Fi ALIVE!

This year marks the 8th annual RONDO HATTON AWARDS! And this year marks the nomination of: THE FORREST J ACKERMAN TRIBUTE as THE BEST FAN EVENT! If you were at the Tribute, I know you felt the profound impact of the experience. If not, you can read my account of the event at DREADCENTRAL.COM by clicking here: Forry Tribute

At the end of that article you'll have a chance to hear Forry's final farewell once more. Sad but sweet.

The competition is tough, but I believe the Forry Tribute is well worthy of this year's honor. The Tribute purely captured the spirit that lives within our genre and the incredible hand Forry played in perpetuating it and maintaining it over his 92 years. Thanks to The Egyptian Theater, Tim Sullivan, Dan Madigan and many others, this event not only honored the memory of our late hero, FJA. It also demonstrated how Forry's love of all things fantastical could live beyond him. Inspiring future generations of Monster GrandKids!

Please vote for:

17. Best Fan Event of 2008
- Tribute to Forrest J Ackerman, Grauman's Egyptian Theater, Hollywood, organized by Joe Moe

Vote at Classic Horror Film Boards by clicking here: Rondo Awards Ballot

Help me bring this one home to Horrorwood, Karloffornia for Uncle Forry!

Joe Moe is an authentic renaissance artist: a third generation Polynesian entertainer, studio vocalist (look for his solo CD: MAINLAND), screenwriter, FX artist and designer of dark-rides for international theme parks. Random trivia: Joe sculpted a monster mask for Don Post Studios (“Schizoid”), once operated the front half of beloved Muppet, Snuffleupagus, and swam with a 7-foot Tiger Shark (not intentionally)! Joe lived for many years in "Horrorwood, Karloffornia" where he cared for the late 92-year-old genre legend Forrest J Ackerman in the Ackerminimansion of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror movie memorabilia. Joe Moe's day job is as Creative Director for 3MAC STUDIOS where he's gleefully occupied in development, writing, design and direction of intriguing movies like RED VELVET, WASTED SPACE and other existing and "coming soon!" Indie-gems.

Scream Queens and Beyond: Reflections on Women in Horror (Month)

2010-02-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

Posted in Art & Society, Events, Gender, Horror, Movies, Sexuality and Culture, Women in Horror by Pam Keesey on February 7, 2010

It is women who love horror. Gloat over it. Feed on it. Are nourished by it. Shudder and cling and cry out — and come back for more.

~ Bela Lugosi

I still remember watching my first horror film at the age of 5. I can’t remember exactly which film it was, although I’ve narrowed it down to two*. What I can tell you is that it scared the living daylights out of me, and I had nightmares for weeks. But I loved it. Even when I woke up in a cold sweat, there was an electricity, a joy, that I hadn’t experienced before. I was scared, yes, but I was safe. And excited. Thrilled, even. I started looking forward to the next one, then the next one, and then the next one.

I was hooked, and have been ever since.

People are still surprised to discover my love of horror films. Even other women who love horror films. “There are so few of us,” one told me. “You’re the first other woman I’ve met who loves them as much as I do. I thought I was the only one.”

If the internet has taught us anything, it’s that we’re not alone. And when it comes to women who love horror, Women in Horror month has brought us to the fore and helped us to find each other like never before.

Hannah Neurotica, editrix of the awesome feminist horror ‘zine Ax Wound, proposed Women in Horror Recognition month to bring attention to women in horror. “We are writers, directors, producers, artists, eery musicians, creepy doll makers, FX artists. We are audience!” she writes. “If you are not deep in the underground with publications like Ax Wound, Pretty/Scary, Chainsaw Mafia, etc you might not even know women are out there doing these things.”

When I first started writing feminist perspectives on horror, there were a lot of women who were far from shy when it came to letting me know that I was a part of the problem, that embracing horror as an art form was tantamount to “perpetuating violence against women.”

Granted, there are many films where women are, as Hannah puts it, “bloody babes and soon-to-be gut piles in peril.” But there are plenty more where women are quick-witted, resourceful, self-reliant, resilient, and — perhaps above all else — brave.

In all the horror films that I have done, all of those women were strong women. I don’t feel I ever played the victim, although I was always in jeopardy.

~ Adrienne Barbeau

Scream queens. The genre is what it is, in part, because of women who made their careers screaming at the top of their lungs. These women were most assuredly women in peril. But they were not women who sat idly by while their men were out having adventures. No, they were in the midst of it all, deep in the fray.

In the beginning, there was Fay Wray. In film after film, Wray made good use of not only her looks and her talent, but also her lungs. And in doing so, she paved the way for the many scream queens who followed in her footsteps. While Fay Wray may have found herself in peril, she also played characters who thrived on adventure, whether as Joan Xavier in Doctor X, the young women who lures the maniacal killer to his eventual capture, or as Ann Darrow, the starving actress turned adventurer in King Kong, who not only endures the great ape’s attentions, but is also instrumental in bringing Kong, the eighth wonder, to New York.

Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein may not have had much choice in the matter when she was created by Victor Frankenstein to be the creature’s mate, but she certainly let her disdain for the idea be known through a blood-curdling (and now famous) scream.

Like the Bride before her, Julia Adams was less than thrilled with her paramour, the Creature from the Black Lagoon. While certainly in peril, she was also something more: a marine biologist, a strong (and strong-willed), intelligent, and resourceful professional woman at a time when women were expected to stay home and look after the house and children.

And these are just to name a very, very few of the now famous Queens of Scream.

Women aren’t always in front of the camera, screaming to high heaven. More and more, women are in behind the camera, too, as writers, directors, and more.

When I watched movies like The Goonies and E.T., it was boys having adventures. When I watched Nightmare on Elm Street, it was Nancy beating up Freddy. It was that simple.

~ Diablo Cody

With the release of Diablo Cody’s Jennifer’s Body last year, it seems the mainstream press discovered that women love horror films. Michelle Orange of The New York Times (“Taking Back the Knife: Girls Gone Gory”), in grappling with the seemingly contradictory reality that “box office receipts show that women have an even bigger appetite for these films than men” comes to the conclusion that “[a]udiences love a woman who can take back the knife.”

“Some of us just like that stuff,” Diablo Cody says in response to Orange’s questions about women and horror. “We like suspense, we like to be scared, we like to have visceral reaction in the theater.”

In “Horror Films…And the Women Who Love Them!,” Entertainment Weekly’s Christine Spines notes the ever increasing box office returns from women who love horror. Spines talks to women and men, producers, directors, and actresses, all of whom come back to the feminist theme of empowerment in horror.

“Horror films tap into the most primal fears,” says Orphan producer Susan Downey. “And when we put a woman through this mythological journey and have her come out at the end kicking ass, the guys get the eye candy they want and the girls get the sense of ‘I can face my demon.’”

It may be that it’s only now that the studios are discovering women as something other than woman in peril in the horror genre. Bela Lugosi knew it long before Jennifer’s Body or even Nightmare on Elm Street graced the Silver Screen. Whether it’s looking at the roots of modern horror by way of the gothic novel — consider The Castle of Otranto and The Mysteries of Udolpho, examples of a genre which was dismissed as the 18th century equivalent of “chick lit”) — or placing Frankenstein — an extraordinary tale written by a young Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and the true progenitor of the modern horror story — at the very beginning of the Women in Horror timeline, the truth is women have been at the center of the horror genre since the beginning.

Pam Keesey is well known for her writing on women in horror, including her books Daughters of Darkness, Dark Angels, Women Who Run with the Werewolves, and Vamps: An Illustrated History of the Femme Fatale. She is the editor and publisher of MonsterZine, an online horror movie magazine that, in the words of Dr. Frank C. Baxter of The Mole People (1956), explores the meaning and significance of horror movies in the 21st century. In addition to editing horror fiction and writing non-fiction about horror, Pam has also worked as a technical writer, a news editor, and as an editor of occult books in Spanish.

Check her out @

http://pamkeesey.com/

Goodbye Parker

2010-01-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

The book world was blasted with major loss when Robert B. Parker, passed away on Monday, Jan. 19^th, at age 77. Parker transcended genres with his superior writing, but it was his Jesse Stone and Spenser series, that left a distinct mark on the crime novels, in the same way Raymond Chandler or Mickey Spillane had in the past.

With over 60 books to his credit, Parker earned the title “The Dean of Crime Fiction.” He loved to write, and touched countless people with his characters, and the work he did with Chandler's classic character Phillip Marlowe. New York Times Best Selling Author, Laurell K. Hamilton, credits Parker's detective character Spenser as Anita Blake's literary father. It seemed as if nothing short of death would stop this legend from writing. His final moments were spent sitting at his desk, working on his next novel.

According to the Los Angeles Times; “He didn't concern himself with looking back. Instead, he wrote, and in the process irrevocably altered American detective fiction, forging a link between classic depictions and more contemporary approaches to the form.”

On a personal note: I was first exposed to Robert B. Parker, after watching Tom Selleck's portrayal of Jesse Stone in the film adaption to Night Passage. From there I picked up every Jesse Stone movie and novel I could get my hands on. Parker was a strong influence on my currently unpublished crime fiction.

Guest Blog Movie Tips

2010-01-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

Hello there fans of the J. Travis Grundon way of living. This is the first time that I’ve ever been a guest on someone else’s blog but I was especially excited to be asked by J. because I know that he is mostly known as an “editor” which makes me believe that he is too lazy to finish anything on his own. I only recently met Mr. Travis but I can see why you like him. Besides being an excellent writer and an amazing father he also is very willing to let me use my fame to elevate his status, so for that I thank him. Hopefully by using me and other pseudo celebrities Mr. Grundon can get enough unearned recognition that this very website makes it to the front page of Digg every week and he can actually get some advertisers and publishers to throw money at him so that he can finally be a provider to his lovely woman like he promised many many years ago. Also, if he can build up enough of a fan base he might actually be able to sell some of those “i hate J. Travis Grundon” T Shirts that have been sitting on Zazzle.com forever.

I think a better slogan would be “I’m a Travestite”. The fanatics would finally have a name for themselves and it would remind everyone just how pretty of a man Mr. Grundon is.

As for what I will write about, I felt that I needed to stick with what I’m known for so as not to alienate you on our first formal date. If you haven’t figured it out already I am a ceWEBrity. Online I go by the handle Joey_Vee and I’m known for making snarky comments about terrible movies that no one will remember in a year. Just about every week I am featured on The Rotten Tomatoes Show, a weekly half hour video compendium to the most popular movie review website in THE ENTIRE WORLD, and even though I get paid less than the critic in your local newspaper, I am on T.V. which means people actually know I exist. It was by fate that I came into this gig. I was already seeing 100 or so movies a year in the theater and it was getting really expensive and I was desperate to find a way to pay for my habit. The Rotten Tomatoes show premiered about a year ago but it wasn’t until around May of ‘09 that they decided to pay people to submit their reviews and ever since I ripped X-Men Origins: Wolverine a new one, I have been on almost every week. Because of my love of movies and the need to review a new one every week I tried even harder to find ways to see them for free and over the course of the past year I have picked up quite a few tips that have helped me save a ton of money. I rarely like to share these secrets with people for the sake of not liking competition but I doubt your addiction to movies is as severe as mine so if I see you on my turf I will stab you with a whittled down toothbrush wrapped in duct tape. Just sayin’.

Probably the most popular way to see movies in the theater for free is to go to radio station or movie review websites and try to win passes to advance screenings but those are a real hassle. You have to show up an hour before the movie starts on a predetermined date and listen to old people bitch about their ankles swelling just so you can sit 5 feet away from the screen and give yourself permanent neck damage from looking straight up for two hours. I love going to the theater but I want to go on my own time. One thing I have always noticed is that theaters literally employ retards. I’m not trying to be rude, this just a fact ( I think they get a tax credit or something). Basically the only line of defense a theater has is the ticket ripper who is usually a drooling 17year old with his fly down... They have no power and they know it, so all really have to do is walk past them with some confidence, preferably while holding up a movie stub you found in the parking lot, and mumble something while giving them direct eye contact.

They will not stop you I guarantee it. In case they are a little pansy and feel like ratting you out in hopes of getting a promotion you can duck into the bathroom for 5 minutes and wait them out. It’s impossible to yell at a guy with possible diarrhea from the other side of a bathroom door. It’s embarrassing for everyone involved. If you feel guilty about stealing something that isn’t tangible then you can go buy a kid’s ticket from the automated booth outside the box office. This method will leave your conscious feeling especially clean because the money saved is the exact same amount as using their rewards card which entitles you to a free ticket after so many visits, except now you won’t feel like an idiot because you forget the damn card every time you go. As for theater techniques that have failed miserably, I once left the back door propped open but when I came back a week later the door was closed and I was out a pet rock.

Apparently stuff like “make sure doors are closed” is on the nightly closing checklist.

Also, I once payed to go to college because they always have free advance screenings but the tuition actually put me $15,000 in debt before I figured out that it was a terrible idea.

Next up is how to get DVD’s for free. At this point certain DVD’s are practically free already. Wal-Mart has these huge bins right when you walk in where they will pay you $5 just to take one, but since I’m a modest guy who is grateful for what Wal-Mart has done to enrich the lives of low income families everywhere, I don’t bother with taking their money. I even bring my own canvas tote bags so as not to raise suspicions. One time I was chased by a slow (in more ways than one) greeter but I was in a rush and didn’t have time to respectfully decline his money. A similar thing happened when I was cutting the box tops off of a bunch of Kellogg’s brand breakfast cereal boxes at my local grocer. Can you believe that they will mail you a copy of Mighty Ducks 2 if you send them 8 of those things? And speaking of getting DVD’s by mail, if you know anyone who has a Netflix or a Blockbuster By Mail account then you can wait for the post man to drop off their queue.

If you want this plan to work for a long time then you will have to watch the movies pretty quickly and put them back in the mailbox fairly undamaged. Any place where you can rent DVD’s is a great to go to because it is insanely easy to stake out the return box. Blockbuster, stand alone rental kiosks like RedBox, and even libraries have an outside drop box where vulnerable old ladies hobble out of their still running cars without a care in the world and can be easily tackled for a night of home theater enjoyment. It is a little silly to do it at a library though since the movies are free to rent in the first place, but library patrons are usually quite frail and put up the least amount of struggle.

If you are reading this there is a good chance that you either have a computer or haven’t had your library card revoked for looking at porn so that means you have almost instantaneous access to movies through the internet. There are legitimate ways to watch movies online through websites like HULU or paying for a Netflix membership but it can be hard to watch every movie in the world whenever you want it, especially when they are still in the theater. What I recommend is going to a site like OVGuide and find a site that streams movies using a very sketchy set of rules that makes them seem like they could be legal. I always try to stream movies from these sites while on my aunt’s computer just in case they do gunk up things. I mean come on, computers are expensive.

If things get really bad and you are completely out of options then I might recommend following a mini van with a flip down DVD player and adding your own soundtrack, or if you are brave, pull up alongside and ask them to leave their windows rolled down and turn up the volume for everyone to enjoy. This can also be applied to houses with windows.

There are also a couple of ways that I like to make money while watching movies. I have gotten into the habit of bringing a tiny digital camcorder and a tripod and leaving them in the back of the theater recording one movie while going to enjoy another one in a separate theater. I usually go early in the afternoon and pick the least crowded ones. You see the thing is that when the ushers do check to see if anyone is recording the feature they are looking for people with camcorders up on their shoulders like the news people have. You then take that shitty CGI kids movie and make a thousand or so copies and sell them at your local flea market or gas station. And finally, you could also decide to review movies yourself but I would strongly advise you against that unless you are ready to get involved in the most devastating toothbrush fight ever.

- Joey Vosevich

check out Joey on the interweb @

http://myspace.com/7143980

and/or

twitter.com/joey_vee

Joey is also a regular reviewer on the Current's Rotten Tomatoes Show

The Story Thus Far...

2010-01-12T22:01:00.000-08:00

Starting soon J. Travis Grundon Dot Com will be opening for special guest bloggers. I have already talked to several good folks about gracing us with their words. I'm very excited to have these people drop knowledge on my small, but loyal fiends!

I'm really trying to kick off 2010, with a big boot, as I team with my friends Justin Brock-Jones and Robert Freese for a B&N Book Signing. The guys and I will be in my old stomping ground of Evansville, Indiana with copies of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead and news on our next collaboration, new publisher and upcoming solo projects.

Speaking of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead...
The Preditors and Editors Readers Poll is in full swing and I'm extremely pleased to announce that I have been nominated for the Best Book Editor of 2009, for my work on this book.

I admit I did not do the bulk of the technical editing on this book, but the book was my idea and I am the one who pulled this interesting collection of authors together. I'm not implying that I am in any way more important than anyone else in this book. Most of the stories are even better than mine, in my opinion.

If you want to know why you should vote for me or the book in the readers poll, it's because the story of this book is just as crazy as many of the tales held within.
The Anthology of the Living Dead was spawned from zombiefriends.com and their sea of aspiring authors. I thought it would be a swell idea to combine these authors into a book, to promote zombiefriends. My idea for funding the production of this book was to offer horror stores (i.e. Fear Werks, Scars Magazine, Horrormerch) an ad in the book, for a small fee, designed to go toward the publishing cost.

Due to a struggling economy, and other tough times, even the people who wanted to contribute couldn't. The book remained in limbo, but I refused to give up on the idea, and continued to collect new authors and zombie tales. Eventually one version of the book was picked up by Triad Book, and later Hidden Gate Books. Both companies left us high and dry on a cloud of lies. This is something that made me look like a liar and made some people think the book was never going to be published. Some authors even pulled their stories and we lost two different editors

With much loss, two failed publishers, and two bullshit release dates, I sat at conventions and book signings where people were looking for this book, and were promised to see it. I can even admit that I was brought to tears, when the book didn't come out on the first scheduled date. At this point a lot of editors would have given up, but I felt good about the title and the 7 stories we still had. The only thing I could do was enlist new authors and find us a new publisher, but it wasn't until Joe Moe informed me that Forrest J Ackerman wanted to be attached to this book, that it really all fell in place.

We had new life and new stories from Robert Freese, Del Howison, Axelle Carolyn and our new co-editor L. B. Goddard.

Things really picked up when Black Bed Sheet Books agreed to publish us and we hit store in late 2009. Since then the weight of advertising and getting the word out on this book has fallen on myself and the other authors. Out of the 15 authors in the collection only a handful have really shared my excitement, and done the foot work to promote it. I understand that in most cases it's the publisher who does the bulk of the promotion, but that is not the way BBS Books works. It is a small company that doesn't have the resources, a larger publisher has.

This is not a jab at BBS, any of the other editors or any of the authors in the anthology. It is just the way it is.

With the story told, I have made it my personal goal to get the word out and make this book the most successful book it can be. That is why you should vote for me. Not to feed the ego of one guy, but more to vote for the guy who put countless hours, tears and sleepless nights into making sure this book saw print.

Please vote for J. Travis Grundon Best Book Editor or 2009

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/bookeditor.shtml

Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead for Best Anthology of 2009

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml

&

Matty by Cassandra Lee for Best Horror Short Story of 2009

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryh.shtml

If Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead wins, one lucky voter will win a FREE signed copy of the book!!!

Fingers crossed, and appreciative for all of the support
- Travis

Please vote Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead

2010-01-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

The Preditors & Editors Readers Poll

As part of our overall effort to assist and promote writers, we are proud to conduct the annual Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. We hope that this small effort helps all publishers and writers on the Internet to thrive in what is still viewed as a highly experimental and strongly competitive environment.

Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead has been nominated for the best Anthology of 2009 in the Readers Poll. I served as an editor and contributor on this book, and I know all the blood and tears that went into it. If any book deserves to win it is Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead!

Cassandra Lee's story, Matty, from the anthology is also nominated for Best Horror Short Story. This is definitely one of my favorite stories in the collection, and I I wish her the best of luck, but it's the entry with the most votes in each category that will receive a beautiful customized GIF award.

Please go vote for Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead and Cassandra's Story!!!

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/

Still need more of a reason to vote?

Prizes for randomly selected voters may consist of small cash prizes, books, subscriptions, t-shirts, and so forth. Please visit the sponsors to see what each offers. This is subject to change as more sponsors join in.

Do it for me. Do it for Cassie. Do it for Uncle Forry, or just do it for the fun and prizes...but please vote for us!!!

Forrest J Ackerman shall not die!

- Travis

1000 Words

2009-12-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

1,000 Words is based on the idea that a picture is worth 1,000 words. The Picture has been selected by photographer Michael Mullen, and it will be used as the cover of the book too.

The idea is to see how different types of writers create a story with so few words and from using the same image. It will also be hard to write a story that isn't like anyone else would write, but that is the challenge.

This concept will cause many headaches, but it should result in a one of a kind short story collection for the masses.

There is still talk with a lot of other authors and several strong names that might serve as anchors for this book, but if an member of this group knows of anyone let me know. This collection will take a large amount of writers to fill a book, based on the limited word count.

We are looking for hungry writers, who want to continue into the publishing world and well established scribes, to bring notability to the collection, but the main idea is to have fun and bring in more writers that can meet the challenge.

It should also be noted that not every story will be selected for this book. To avoid publishing two similar pieces, the editors will chose the best of any two stories that are alike. We will also not print a thoughtless stream of 1000 words, or boring submission, that would want to make reader put the book down.

Please make these stories as twisted and interesting, as the image will let your mind create. Are you up to the task?

Send all submissions to j_travis_grundon@yahoo.com

-Travis

2009-12-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

2009 A Life Odyssey

As 2009 comes to an end, I'm reflecting on the good and the bad. There has been a lot of both, but I'd like to think the great things make us happy and adversity builds character. The idea is to learn and become better people.

This past year I have discover amazing books, movies and music. I do my best to share what I love with the people I care about, but since I love to make list I've included my High Fidelity style top5 movies, albums and books (I discovered) of 2009

Top 5 Movies of 2009

1.Precious
2.(500) Days of Summer
3.The Proposal
4. The Informers
5.Watchmen and Gigantic

Top 5 Albums I Discovered In 2009

1. Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard-One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur 2009
2.Norah Jones-The Fall 2009
3. The New Moon Soundtrack 2009 and (500) Days of Summer 2009
4. Man Man-Rabbit Habbits 2008
5.Peeping Tom-Peeping Tom 2006

Top 5 book I Read In 2009

1.the perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
2.The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God by Etgar Keret
3.Speaking With The Angels collected by Nick Hornby
4.IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas by Chuck Klosterman
5.Breathers by S.G. Brown

As a whole this was not a bad year. The major events include a good trip to L.A., moving to St. Louis, the release of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead, a pretty successful NaNoWriMo, meeting my girlfriend, and starting a new collection of short fiction.

I am looking forward to a very busy, and productive 2010. I am always thinking and dreaming, but I've learned, that it's never good idea to write a bunch of big plans or goals that may, or may not work out. I will say that in 2010 I am looking forward to finally releasing Eclectic Collection and finishing my 2009 NaNoWri novel.

The best is yet to come!!!

- Travis

What's NEWs?!

2009-12-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my good friend, Brandon Bennett, there is a new J. Travis Grundon fan page on Facebook. I'm not really sure if I warrant a fan page, but I would hope that everyone who checks out this website would join. Brandon has committed his time to this, and I would like to see it be successful.

In other news, there has been a little progress on the new (NaNoWriMo) book. I have deconstructed a great deal of it, but I think it is coming along well, after the addition of a some new content. It is still untitled, but I look forward to that changing as soon as it's finished. I have few names rolling around in my head. Something has to click soon.

The funniest thing about the new book, Eclectic Collection and this website, is my lack of quality time each of these projects require. It seems like a lack of free time has been the plague that has impacted writing and editing time. I have been told more time than I can count that I need to stop taking on so much, but I can't stop the flux of creativity or drive to produce all of my ideas. One day soon they will all three be available, and I'll fill my plate with more ideas.

The one thing I keep getting emails and messages about the most is, the next anthology. People are already asking if there will be an Anthology of the Living Dead 2, or another great horror collection, coming out soon. I have to admit that I had a long hard road on Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead, but I also made some great friends and a quality book. So is there another collection coming down the pipe?

Yes..there are 4.

Things are coming together with a new publisher, to produce 4 short story collections in 2010. The catch is that only 2 of them will be horror. I will be working with Joe Moe, John Taff and a few new authors to build these new books. I would like to offer another great cast of writers that were not featured in the Anthology of the Living Dead, but I'm open to submissions from anyone, once I post the guidelines. I would never ignore a brilliant author or a great offering.

As I've said numerous time, I have cut my teeth on horror, but I'm looking forward to biting into other genres. Other than the few non-horror tales in Eclectic Collection, my next attempt will be the next anthology. Each author will be asked to look at the selected Michael Mullen photo and write a 1000 word short inspired by the picture. The book will be called 1000 Words and it will be a collection of short stories of all genres from romance and mystery to horror and general fiction. Stay tuned for more details.

For more information please email me at j_travis_grundon@yahoo.com

- Travis

A Quick Update

2009-12-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

National Novel Writers Month is over and I ended it with 38597 words. That puts me 11403 behind the NaNoWriMo goal, and 21403 behind my personal goal.

I would like to congratulate all of the winners this year, and wish them the greatest success with their books. I love the motivational idea behind NaNoWriMo, and I look forward being a part of it next year. I accomplished a hell of a lot more than the 2500 words, I contributed last year.

This year I started a good book, but I am feeling a wave of defeat. The book is coming along very well, and I owe it to myself, and everyone who has supported me to finish this it. I have the entire thing mapped out. The only bad thing is that I kept getting distracted by everything from mindless television and Facebook to other work and life in general. It's kind of funny how life gets in the way of living.

As soon as I have a title and a organized synopsis, I'll post them here first. I will also keep plugging away at this book, as I work on rewrites for Eclectic Collection and Cloud 8. I hope to have more information on these books, a new publishers, anthologies and other projects coming soon.

- Travis

NaNoWriMo

2009-11-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Due to Nation Novel Writers Month, there will not be any updates until December. See you then with all kinds of good news and fun stuff!!!

- Travis

Time Well Spent

2009-10-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

I would have to say Nashville Comic and Horror Fest 2009 was a success. Several people picked up a copy of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead, I had a chance to watch roller derby and see old friends.

The show kicked off Saturday morning with a good vibe and good people. It didn't seem like a lot of folks were there to buy stuff, as much as they were to look around and see what was going on. This gave many of the guest a chance to do the same. Many of us talk (or bought stuff we didn't need) and even made a few new friends.

Saturday night included Nashville Rollergirls action. This was my first live derby bout experience. I have watched a lot of stuff on the internet and I loved the old Roller Jam show, but now I have a better understanding and maybe even a new obsession. I'm very excited to see more live derby and the Ellen Page, Drew Berrymore movie, Whip It. I wanted to see the movie based on the people involved, but now I can't wait. I may even find a way to work my love of derby into a story or two.

Another great part of this trip was that I got to see good friends like Justin Brock Jones, Joel Robinson, Brian O'Halloran, Jason Craig, and Robert Freese. I have posted several new picture of the trip on my MySpace page, including several folks with their copy of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead.

I also had the chance to meet Bryan Smith and have him sign my copy of Depraved. He was a very nice guy and I look forward to reading more of his work. I just hope he enjoys his copy of the Anthology he got.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something awesome that happened, but I will do my best to keep everyone posted on future signings and events. For now, it is time to get ready for Nation Novel Writers Month.

NaNoWriMo is where authors and writers from all over the globe agree to try to finish one novel during the month of November. All authors have from the 1st to the 30th of the month to write as much as possible, and hopefully finish a book. I am already signed up and almost ready to go...wish me luck!!!

- Travis

Season of the Witch

2009-10-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

As we fall into the Halloween season many people are watching a lot of horror films. I have added a list of my top ten Halloween/Horror movies, but I had to drop one to make room for Trick r' Treat. I'm sure this movie will move up my list with each time I watch it.

Writer/Director Michael Daugherty has created a timeless film, about the traditions of my favorite holiday. This movie flows much like reading a stack of old Tales from the Crypt comics, with a few modern twists. There is zero doubt in my mind that Trick r' Treat will become a staple Halloween movie for most people who watch it. I know it will for me.

Fear comes in more than one package. Aside from costumes, candy, jack o lanterns, candles and scary movies spooktacular terror also includes reading a nightmare inducing novel or story. Some of these stories as are old as campfire tales, but others are an innovation of fright. No matter what ghouls or bad guys get your ghost, this is the perfect time of year for a dark and twisted tale.

Here is another top ten list. It may come as a surprise to some folks, but I don't really read a lot of horror fiction. I don't really want other people's ideas running around on my head and I find life to be more scary than monsters in a book, but there are still a few I consider great ghastly reads. This is just ten of them.

My Top Ten Hollowreads!!!

1 Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead
2 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
3 Call of Cthulhu and other stories by H.P. Lovecraft
4 The Silence of The Lambs by Thomas Harris
5 American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
6 The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks
7 Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite
8 Beasts by Joyce Carol Oates
9 Dark Delicacies Edited by Del Howison and Jeff Gelb
10 Voice of the Night by Dean Koontz

Enjoy!

- Travis

Nashville Comic and Horror Fest 2009

2009-10-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

I will be a guest at the Nashville Comic and Horror Festival, with other Anthology of the Living Dead contributors Robert Freese, Justin Brock-Jones and Joe Moe. This show also features guest like Joel Robinson(Vincent Price Presents, Eclectic Collection Cover Artist), Jason Craig (Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash), Brian O'Halleron(cLeRks), Chris Claremont (Wolverine, X-Men) and Eric Powell (The Goon).

The show will take place on October 17th and 18th. Admission is only $10 a day, but you can save $2 admission by bringing three canned goods for the Nashville Rescue Mission. This is a great chance to have fun and help a good cause.

There will also be a silent auction on Sunday that will feature a copy of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead signed by several of the contributors.

While you are at the show, stop by the my table and pick up your copy of the book (have it signed), then go to the Anthology of the Living Dead Facebook fan page to post your picture with it. For every fan the post their picture with the book, we are donating $1 to the Childrens Miracle Network.

Buy a great zombie collection, post your picture and help a Monster Kid!

See you in Nashville!!!

- Travis

More Anthology of the Living Dead News

2009-09-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a great book to get you ready for Halloween, may we suggest Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead. This is a
great collection that has been a long time coming and it includes some of the best zombie fiction, from very imaginative and dedicated authors.

The Anthology includes great zombie tales by: Axelle Carolyn, Del Howison, Joe Moe, Eric Enck, Joe Knetter, Cassandra Lee, Justin Brock-Jones, Dave Lounsbury, LB Goddard, Sean Douglas, Andrea Dead Van Scoyoc, Scott Lefebvre, Jeremy Boland, Robert Freese, and J. Travis Grundon...if you have not heard of some of these authors you are missing out!

I finally had the chance to re-read this awesome collection and I can say that I love it even more than I ever thought I could. I would encourage everyone who picks up the book to email or message me with your reviews and opinions.

Now, Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead will donate a dollar to The Children's Miracle Network for every picture posted of a fan with their copy of Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead. Buy the book. Post your picture. Help a good cause. Help future “Monster Kids and grand kids” and we all win!

Forrest J Ackerman will now die!!!

-Travis

It's Here!!!

2009-09-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Forrest J Ackerman's Anthology of the Living Dead is now available on Amazon and through any Barnes and Noble book store!!!

The incredible collection features many great authors including: Stoker award winner Del Howison, Axelle Carolyn, Cassandra Lee, Joe Knetter, Eric Enck, Joe Moe and many, many more.Don't miss out on the best zombie collection of it's kind. Get your copy today and come see me and other anthology contributors in Nashville, for the Nashville Comic and Horror Fest.

-Travis