Why I Don't Lend My Crap

People who don't take care of things irritate the crap out of me. Not so much because of the fact that they mistreat their own stuff, but because they could not care less about others' possessions.

Maybe it's just me and the way I was brought up. We didn't have a lot and what I got I appreciated and took care of. Even at a very early age I handled LPs (and for those of you who don't know what those are pull the lollipop out of your mouth and Google it) from the edges and didn't drag the needle across the vinyl. I couldn't stand skipping records, anyway. I didn't abuse my toys, though some of them abused me (note to makers of bendies: sharp breakable wires that pop out of figures and send the kid to the hospital for a damn tetanus shot that makes your arm ache for days is NOT a great idea). Consequently my stuff either just wore out from loving use or was given away when I got too old for it...the latter not always being my choice, thanks, Mom.

Which is why I rarely, if ever, lend stuff. Almost never did. Except this one time in school, which was the seventh level of hell as far as I was concerned, as it was. I had my cherished Doc Savage paperbacks. I loved them like little paper children. I read them carefully, didn't pry them too far apart. Didn't nick up the covers or crinkle them in any way. I still have them, because of that. But there was this one kid in school who kept bugging the boogers out of me to borrow my copy of The Pirate's Ghost. I kept saying no. So he sweetened the pot by showing me one he was reading, one I did not own and could not find at the store, but wanted desperately to read. He promised if I would just let him read my Pirate's Ghost, he'd lend me his the moment he finished it.

Yeah, no kidding. But I was a naive little snot and fell for that line. So I lent it to him. Weeks went by. I kept asking for it back and for the promised book of his he surely had read by that time. This went on for months. I still recall the pinhead's name...though it is one I shall not speak. But it started with Dan.

Anyway, he never lent me his, perhaps because when he finally returned mine it looked as if it had been through a meat grinder. I seriously don't think I have ever seen that many creases and chips out of a single book. It's like he had slept with it every night and perspired heavily.

The unfortunate part of this, well, other unfortunate part besides my cherished copy being ruined, he was two times my size and chewing him out for it and demanding retribution was out of the question. So I suffered in silence. I still plot vengeance. A pox on you, Dan.

But it taught me never lend things to someone who does not respect others' possessions. People lend me things; I take care of them as if they were my own. I give them back. Well, except for this one girlfriend, but the guy never should have lent her in the first place. And I did keep her in real good condition...

Put Some Demon in your Day: The Chloe Files Comes to Nook

I'm pleased to announce the adventures of paranormal sleuth Chloe Everson are now available in Nook Book format from Barnes & Noble. The first book in The Chloe Files series, Ashes to Ashes, recently made its debut on Kindle and can now haunt Nook readers as well. For a limited time, the price has been set at what you'd pay for a comic book, just $3.99, making it affordable for new readers looking to sample a new author and series, and fans who might already own the print edition, but would like to carry it with them with their other electronic novels.

Reviewer Margaret Marr of Nights & Weekends has called Chloe "Ghost Whisperer on steroids," and readers of paranormal mystery and horror who appreciate a strong heroine not afraid to kick a little demon ass will enjoy walking the fog-shrouded streets of New Salem as Chloe follows a ghostly trail to her lost sister and confronts a demonic force seeking to start the coming war between Darkness and Light.

"If you like Buffy and Sookie, you'll love Chloe!" Look for the second novel in the series, Sliver of Darkness, soon.

Pick up The Chloe Files #1: Ashes to Ashes on Nook at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Chloe-Files-1/Howard-Hopkins/e/2940012513571

Writing Weirdness

Given the choice, there's nothing else I would rather be than a writer. Like the sea, it's in my blood. Well, ok, except maybe I'd rather be Hugh Hefner, but that's not gonna happen. Writing comes with so many things I love: the chance to create, to entertain others, move others, or maybe even annoy the hell of them.

But there's a dark underbelly to writing, one I seem to be seeing more and more as more writers vie for Internet marketing space and book sales in this godawful economy. It's always been there to an extent, because let's face it, we writers have egos. We want to be noticed and liked. We want our material read and adored. You have to have some sort of ego to risk putting your work out there to be seen by millions, or in my case the ten folks in my fanclub. Any writer who says they have no ego is lying or deluded. That said, that doesn't mean ego is a bad thing. It can be a force for confidence and drive, a reason to push ourselves further and excel.

Unfortunately for some it drives them in the opposite direction. I have seen it from authors and from those who failed as authors only to become "critics." From mild to despicable in its application. Working on both sides of the fence, as a writer and an editor, I see some forms of it from writers submitting work, those who think they need no editing because every word they pen is gold. Let me tell you, NO writer writes gold. At least 24 karat gold. Maybe they get 10 karat. But an experienced editor can always help polish it. And an experienced writer never stops learning. Don't want a single word of your work edited? You're missing an opportunity to grow and you're probably a swelled-headed idiot. Throw a fit when you don't want to work with an editor you don't even know? Grow up. You're not THAT good. No one is.

A nastier form of it comes from some writers who are not only narcissistic, but bitter and riddled with envy. Granted, in this business it is far too easy to become bitter, to resent others' success. No denying that. Some people are just luckier than others, and it is not always based on talent. Sometimes contacts and being in the right place with the right submission at the right time win out. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

But lately, I've noticed a lot of folks, often anonymously, loving to criticize or belittle others' work or success. They paint their blogs and promotional efforts with negativity. Then hurl some F words and snide passive aggressive remarks at those whose work and often person they consider beneath them. They bypass the positive of any good news and pick out--or manufacture--a negative they can focus on.

It starts to look like a political campaign at times. I honestly don't see what belittling another author or his/her work nets them. Other than an unsavory look into their own insecure personality. Now, I am not talking about pointing out actual technical writing faults or analyzing writing or normal reviews. That's fine. I am speaking of the more personal attacks. You know the type. If you are a member of Goodreads you might have noticed trolls who have never read a book by an author going around giving one starred reviews and denigrating their work. They get off on it. Or you see it from some writers who think they lead their genre and need to tear down anyone else who might be chosen ahead of them.

I personally think we, as authors, should be happy for the success of our fellow scribes. Sure there are some terrible writers out there and some dreck published. Much opinion on that is subjective, though. One man's garbage is another's gold. So what? Do YOUR best, live up to your standards. Sit your ass in the chair and write and don't give in to negativity and envy of others.

Of course, those words are wasted on the types who engage in this practice. They don't think they are doing it or just don't give a damn. And tha's a shame, because they could channel that into their writing and promotion in positive ways. Be happy your fellow writer makes a sale, gets a contract. Support them. Pay it forward.

But what do I know? I think negativity is a waste of energy, but some people make a living off of it and seem to succeed with it. It's a strange world we live in, now. I only hope as writers we might make it a bit better one in the long run...

Foom

When I was a kid I got FOOMed. Totally FOOMed. Few times in my life was I as excited as the day--a month after moving into a new house in a town I did not want to be in--my FOOM packet arrived, a big ol' envelope with the Incredible Hulk drawn on the outside.

Oh, what is FOOM? Why, FOOM stands for Friends of ol' Marvel, a fanclub Marvel Comics put out in the early '70s. Designed originally by comics artist Jim Steranko, it came with a neat gold FOOM ID card, a subscription to FOOM magazine, some stickers and a Steranko drawn poster, which hung on my closet door for years. And for a twelve-year-old boy Steranko's rendition of the Black Widow gave me...er, nevermind.

Many are the times I wish I could recapture the thrill I got from things like that. The excitement of gently tearing open the envelope so I wouldn't ruin the picture on the outside, the anticipation of each new issue arriving in my mailbox and the string of cursing when my mail person so callously crumpled it.

It's unfortunate kids don't have that from Marvel nowadays, as comics have become for adult readers more, because it was something special. It was more thrilling than the Tuffy Tooth club I belonged to a few years previous--and THAT came with a cool plastic tooth container with a pop off head!--and almost as much fun as sneaking under my friend's porch to peruse his dad's Playboy subscription. I wonder if I should admit that...

No matter. For a while in the early to mid '70s, getting FOOMed was the thing and just seeing the poster still brings back a flood of fond memories.

Honey West Back in Action

I'm pleased to announce I will be editing and contributing to a brand new anthology of short stories dedicated to the '60s sexy PI chick Honey West.

Honey West began as a series of paperbacks in 1957 with This Girl For Hire, written by the husband and wife team of Gloria and Forest Fickling under the penname G.G. Fickling. The novels were a tad risque for their time and ran 10 novels through the '60s, with two more in an early '70s comeback. They became a cult favorite TV series in 1965-66, starring Anne Francis and running some 30 episodes, and while the toplessness might have been toned down for prime time, Anne was still allowed to be a slinky sexy investigator with a big pus--um, ocelot, named Bruce, at her side. She was one of the first female private eyes on television, given to quips and leopard print outfits, though the series made her a bit more like The Avengers' Emma Peel, with Judo expertise, exploding compacts and other gadgets. Unfortunately, that very tact helped contribute to her demise on TV because it was cheaper for the network to import The Avengers than to continue with the series.

Recently Moonstone began a new series of Honey West comic books, written by the much talented Trina Robbins, who is slated to pen a brand new tale for this anthology. A number of other talented scribes have been brought aboard as well, such as Elaine Lee, Will Murray, Mark Ellis, CJ Henderson and Mel Odom, along with some surprises.

It promises to to be a Honey of a book.

Superhero Summer

As a huge fan of comic books and superheroes, I'm pretty excited about the spate of superhero movie offerings coming our way this summer. Forget the dreadful Green Hornet crapfest Seth Rogan delivered in January, because starting in May we get real superhero movies.

Starting with the Norse God of Thunder, Thor. From the clips I've seen so far, this looks to be a pretty good adaptation of the Marvel Comics Asgardian Avenger. I have been a Thor fan since 1972 when I picked up my first issue of The Mighty Thor and thrilled to Dr. Donald Blake banging his stick against the ground to summer the lightning that transformed him into the golden-haired god who carried a really big hammer and pounded the crap out of bad guys.

June brings us a new X-Men movie. While I am not a big fan of this particular group, the movie, which returns to the '60s origins of the group, looks pretty interesting.

Also in June is Green Lantern. I am a Green Lantern fan, but worry a bit about Ryan Reynolds as the Emerald Warrior and this movie turning into some sort of joke, like the Green Hornet. Not particularly thrilled with CGI generated suits and all, but I'll see it just the same and hope for the best.

July brings my all-time favorite superhero to the screen and it looks to be a great adaptation. Captain America, star-spangled Avenger. I read my first Cap comic back in 1968, issue 105, I believe, and even had the bendy doll. I got serious about him in '72 and have hundreds of Cap comics. I am one of the few who enjoyed the two '70s telefilms and even the Matt Salinger movie, but this one looks to be THE Captain America film.

Which reminds me, I really want a Captain America replica shield. They sell them on the Internet in aluminum. Much improved over the trash can lid I tried painting into one as a kid...

Which superhero movies are you looking forward to this summer?

The Chloe Files and Gray Nemesis Now in Kindle Editions

The first novel in my paranormal mystery series The Chloe Files is now available in Kindle edition. For the occasion, the book, Ashes to Ashes, has a brand spanking new cover. At $3.99 the price is, for a limited time, much lower than the print edition. I hope this will introduce a new audience to the gal who spends her nights kicking demon butt. Look for The Chloe Files #2: Sliver of Darkness to follow in the near future.

Also available now is my informal history of Richard Henry Benson--The Avenger. The Gray Nemesis is priced at an affordable @2.99 to coincide with the upcoming special release of both the hardcover and softcover editions of Moonstone Books' The Avenger: The Justice, Inc. Files short story anthology, to which I contributed a novelette, six vignettes, one for each of The Avenger's aides, and co-edited.

Kindle version of The Chloe Files #1 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WLCRYK

Kindle version of The Avenger: The Gray Nemesis http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WLOT1O

Major Matt Mason

Before I get out my toys, I'm happy to announce The Chloe Files #1: Ashes to Ashes, and my Avenger history, The Gray Nemesis should be available fairly soon in Kindle ebook editions. As well, a number of my other books, including Grimm, Night Demons, Dark Riders, and the first Nightmare Club will be available for ipad, iphone, etc. I'm not much of an ebook person myself, preferring the feel and smell of a paperback, but since it will open my work up to millions of digital readers, I'm pretty excited about it.

Time to take a peek into the retro toy box again with one of my favorites. I've got to admit Mattel made some really cool toys in the '60s and '70s. This was back in the good old days when we could ingest a bit of lead and poke or burn ourselves to our heart's content. Before the toy police took them all away from us and made stuff, you know, safe. Shudder.

The year was 1966 and the space race was in full swing. Astronauts were peachy keen and bendies were groovy, so why not combine the two? Mattel did and we got Major Matt Mason, a bendy in a space suit with a removable plastic helmet (and the yellow visor actually worked, too). His suit was white, with plastic accordion-like joints. The head was plastic, while the rest was rubber atop a wire skeleton. The Major came with three friends: Sergeant Storm in his red suit, Doug Davis in a yellow suit and Lieutenant Jeff Long, an African American in a blue suit. A bit later, two aliens, Callisto and Captain Lazer, were added to the mix.

There were also a bunch of cool accessories, such as a Moon Station and space sled. The early designs relied heavily on NASA stylings. There was even a Big Little Book (which I own) and an aborted DC comic attempt. The line ended in the mid '70s with the decline of interest in the space program, but if your Matt Masons survived you can get a pretty good buck for them nowadays. Alas, none of mine did. They had a distressing habit of popping wires and ended up tossed by parents who didn't see the fun in tetanus. Party poopers...

Western Wednesday: New Secret Western Clue & Change

Welcome to Western Wednesday—hope your spurs are jingle-jangling and you’re ready to ride.

The first part of my extensive Writing the West interview is up at Book Life Now. Mosey on over and take a peek when you get the chance. It’s a great site and an honor to talk Wetserns with them. http://booklifenow.com/2011/04/limitless-vista-of-character-story-howard-hopkins-on-writing-the-west-part-1/

And Part 2 of my Writing the West interview delves into some of the mechanics and tribulations of writing. http://booklifenow.com/2011/04/make-it-move-the-story-howard-hopkins-on-writing-the-west-part-2/

Take a gander at the photo to the left of this blog and you’ll see the 2nd clue for my upcoming secret Western. Did you put together last week’s? This week’s clue reads: “Through the canyon of Death they ride/guns blasting to either side/bullets burning through blood and bone/all will die yet one will live alone...”

Make sense now? Perhaps not…I can tell you these licensed characters have benefited from some truly classic and great adaptations, as well as some dreadful ones. And their future in some mediums looks very bright, while in others a bit bleak, at least for long-time fans. Who are they?

Mosey on over to fellow Western writer Charlie Whipple’s (who writes under the name Chuck Tyrell) blog. The Outlaw Trail, when you get the time. Charlie lives in Japan, a country recently devastated by earthquakes and tsunamis, and is selling his .99 cent book in an effort to raise money for the victims of the disasters. Help Charlie out if you can. http://chucktyrell-outlawjournal.blogspot.com/

Western Wednesday: Updates

Or should I say Yee Haw Wednesday? Nah, just doesn't have the same alliteration to it.

So, have been working on edits to the "secret Western" today, minor things, getting pretty excited about its reveal coming up soon. The drawing to the left is a hint to the special project, the first of three or four I will be posting. The clue that goes with it reads: "The Keepers of the Fire now chase their dreams across the sky/on ghostly thundering horses that vanish in the blink of an eye/for the days he once knew will never be again/but the days riding proud won't ever end..."

Next week, another clue with a photo...

In other Western news, my latest is now finished after a bit of fussiness with a couple of chapters. It's tentatively titled Twilight Trail and will be on it's way in a day or two. This one came a bit hard, and is a bit more psychologically driven than the previous, less bleak, and the springboard is how our poor decisions might cause tragedy. Each day we face choices, some meaningless in the grand scheme of things, others life-changing. It's how we deal with the results of those decisions that define us, and in the book a man named Teel Barsom is defined by his...until a mysterious woman steps into his life and offers him the chance to redeem himself. But of course that attracts the wrong parties...parties hell-bent on getting even for perceived slights.

And coming soon, look for a two-part comprehensive interview from me on Booklifenow. Book Life Now is running a month-long series of Western interivews, the first of which, an interview with Western writer pard Ian Parnham now up. Ian offers some excellent insights into the Black Horse Western world.

Peanuts is Back...

With the death of Charlie Brown creator Charles Schultz, I feared we'd seen the end of the magic that was the Charlie Brown specials. But, thankfully, those fears were alleviated with the DVD release of an all new original Peanuts special this past week called, Happiness is a Warm Blanket.

The story, culled from hundreds of panels of original Schultz strips, concerns Linus trying to break his blanket addiction, on his own and with the unwelcome help of big sis Lucy van Pelt. We all know Lucy is not the most delicate of sorts--and really, who will be surprised when her body washes up in a barrel one of these days and our two suspects, Charlie Brown and Linus, are taken into custody? Arrrgggghhh! indeed--and she first turns his blanket into a kite, which she lets fly to the wind, and later buries. Linus' grandmother, who is none-too-pleased with her grandchild having a security blanket, also poses a threat.

So how does this direct to DVD special hold up? In a word: authentic. One of the nice things about Charlie Brown is he remains controlled by family, who made absolutely sure the character, themes, and magic of Peanuts was not mucked with by Hollywood types and marketers trying to jam in the latest clique phrases or flavor of the month pop actors looking just to sell a product into the mix. Not a single "OMG!" in the special and backgrounds were hand-painted instead of computer animated. Die hard fans were employed to write and animate, direct and produce, and they painstaking and lovingly spent thousands of hours poring over old strips and techniques, making this authentic in feel and tone. Much time was spent picking the perfect voices of actual children for the roles, most of them incredibly close to original Christmas and Halloween specials voices.

Charles Schultz was a genius. What he created endures and will ever endure, and this special proves when something works, don't rewrite it, don't redraw it, don't screw with it. It also points out the serious lack of craft going into many of today's cookie cutter, extended commercials called animated series that are shoved down kids' throats. This is something that children and adults can enjoy, and enjoy together. Great pains were taken to preserve everything the Charlie Brown specials were and are, and it shows. I wish more of that happened today...

Note: The special is also being released as a grpahic novel. A great way to introduce your child to the marvels of comic books.