Brain Matter

 Get ready for one of the best anthologies you've read in a long time. Midnight in the Graveyard is a collection of ghostly stories that will keep you awake at night long after you finish the last story. This collection of 25 tales from some of today’s best-selling authors and brightest rising stars is just what the undertaker ordered for the Halloween season. From classics by Thomas Monteleone (“The Ring of Truth”) and Robert McCammon (“Haunted World”) to new frightmares by Catherine Cavendish, Elizabeth Massie, John Everson, Glenn Rolfe, Kelli Owen, Hunter Shea, and Kealan Patrick Burke, there is something for everyone here. The stories range from quietly chilling (“Cool for Cats” by William Meikle) to grab you by the throat horrifying (“Russian Dollhouse” by Jason Parent). Among my favorites from were “Devil’s Dip” by Shannon Felton, a revenge tale that starts the anthology off on a strong note, and “Join My Club” by Somer Canon and “Swamp Vengeance” by Brian Mo...

Captain Marvel Review (no spoilers that haven't been seen in trailers): Rating: Captain Marvel gets 5 out of 5 Power Blasters! Quite simply, Captain Marvel is Marvel-ous. Andrea and walked out of the theater and the first 2 things we said were "I can't believe people have been giving this movie average reviews." and "This was better than Wonder Woman." Now, for the details. This is non-stop action from beginning to end. Even the few part where they have the obligatory talking, such as when Marvel and Fury are driving or sitting and talking, or when Marvel is reunited with her old pilot friend, are kept to a minimum and the conversations are short. People have complained on line that the movie spends too much time on her backstory. Bull. It's done very effectively and it's just as exciting as the events that take place in real time. As always, there is just the right mix of humor in the movies, with all the characters, e...

Russell James has a new novel out, The Playing Card Killer , and it's deadly fun! I've had the opportunity to read it, and it's filled with twists, turns, and action right to the end. I recommend it highly, enough so that I'm letting Russell take over today's blog so he can talk about the book and his reasons for setting it in Tampa. Ruining a Nice City I love Tampa. You’d never know it by my novel. I’ve been on relaxing evening dinner cruises in the bay, walked the great riverfront trail, done several convention signings where I've met wonderful readers. There’s a great little library in Safety Harbor, and Big Cat Rescue is chock full of rescued bobcats, cougars, lions and tigers. The water is beautiful, the weather sublime. So what do I do to it in my new novel? Terrorize it with a serial killer. There goes my Key to the City Award.   In The Playing Card Killer , someone is killing women around Tampa Bay. The locations are always diff...