LAND OF THE GIANTS & AMERICAN WITCHCRAFT: ASSIGNMENTS COMPLETED

I'm pleased to report that I've completed two writing assignments so far this month, one for Main Enterprises' The Screening Room #2 and the other for Raffaele Pezzella/Eighth Tower Publishing's next-up, Dark Fiction curation, Tales of American Witchcraft (the subtitle may change, but it's a sufficient enough place holder for now.) 

For The Screening Room, my contribution covers Irwin Allen's Land of the Giants. (Jim Main is steering the second issue toward 1960s, science-fiction, television shows, which should make for a nice, nostalgic read.) My article will not only delve into Giants' characters and colossal scenarios, but the collectibles it spawned.

For Pezzella's Dark Fiction volume, I've composed a Bradbury-esque story, entitled "Wicca's Apples," which depicts the plight of a love-starved teen and his encounter with a redheaded witch, whose age is as difficult to pinpoint as the intent of her spells. Though such spells aren't exclusive to American turf, the events surrounding them are drenched in Americana, including the wide-range name-dropping of homegrown, horror movies. There's also an unapologetic nod to The Greatest American Hero, in particular its leading lady, Connie Sellecca. 

Oh, and on Main's more-or-less, immediate backburner is *PPFSZT! #51 and with it, my short story, "Devil 13," aka "Star Devils," which will be illustrated by the super-versatile Troy Boyle. As I stated in my June post, the story is categorized as science-fiction, but it holds a smidgeon of horror, since it caters to a renowned, mythological monster. Venture a guess? 

More details on these exciting projects are forthcoming. Revisit Bizarrechats for all the scoops. 

THE SCREENING ROOM COMETH

Main Enterprises has a new title readied: The Screening Room.  

Its initial issue will feature a jungle-exotica theme, including articles on one of my all-time favorite movies, King Kong 1933, by Frank Oviatt; one of my all-time anime-adventures, Kimba, The White Lion, by Will Murray; and one of my all-time favorite television-extensions, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, by yours truly. 

Per Jim Main's gracious request, I recently selected photos for my Lost World entry, though Kevin Dale Duncan's striking painting (stationed above) more than captures the series' metaphysical rambunctiousness in its own epic right. 

Writing the article was tons of fun, but at the same time, it proved quite an undertaking, in that I had to re-watch all three seasons within a constricted timeline to meet Mr. Main's deadline. Despite that challenging curtailment, I'm confident fans will appreciate the fruits of my labor. 

Visit Bizarrechats for updates on The Screening Room's big release date, which (if all goes according to grand plan) should be far sooner than later.