John Everson's Blog, page 23
August 19, 2012
~ Meeting John Carpenter
I love movies almost as much as books. And actually, I really get to enjoy more movies these days than I do books, since it’s a lot easier for me to give up 90 or 100 minutes to a story than several hours. (I know, heresy from a writer, right?)
But as much as I love film, I don’t remember the names of directors that much. Hitchcock, Argento, del Torro, sure. But who directed Friday the 13th? Beats me. I have a few directors whose work I devotedly follow (like Jean Rollin) but mostly, I watch movies and don’t recall who was at the helm.
John Carpenter is one of those directors though that I have always been aware of. And I’m shocked when I say his name and people don’t instantly nod (this happened to me just this week. I said “John Carpenter,” and the woman looked back at me blankly and said “who?”)
When I was in high school, I saw Halloween and Escape from New York and The Thing. These were amazing movies, and I became a lifelong Carpenter fan thanks to them. When I was in college, and he enjoyed a “return” to his indie roots with Prince of Darkness, I reviewed the movie for my college newspaper (it remains one of my favorite Carpenter films).
So last weekend, when he was going to be here in the burbs of Chicago at Flashback Weekend, well… of course I HAD to go. I went to Flashback last year for the first time, and was thinking of going there this year as “an author” with a table of books… but instead, I decided to just go, kick back and be a fan for a day instead of “working it”. And my prime goal, of course, was to meet John Carpenter.
Not only did I meet him, but I ended up autographing a copy of my own book, The Pumpkin Man, to him. I wasn’t sure if he’d accept such a thing, but I asked him if he’d like a copy as he signed a DVD I had of his life story, and he said he would absolutely read it. So John Carpenter and I traded signatures! Will he ever read The Pumpkin Man? I dunno. But I was pretty excited to actually meet the man who has given me so much inspiration and entertainment over the years. And I have to say, I was pretty much a tongue-tied fanboy when I did actually stand there at the table near him. There were so many things I wanted to say to him… and all I got out was basically “I um love um your movies and um… would you like a copy of my book cuz, um… it has a pumpkin on it which is, um, kinda like that movie you made, er, Halloween.”
OK, I think I was a little better than that. But probably not much.
Anyway… it was a fun afternoon. I saw some interviews with various actors from Friday the 13th and Halloween movies (see pix below), as well as one with Tony Todd, the actor from Candyman, one of those films that can creep you out for life.
I also got to hang out with Gerald Chandler, half of the Synapse Films team, at their booth. Jerry started reading my novels after we talked last year at Flashback, so it was great to have some time to catch up again.
I’m looking forward to seeing him and the Synapse team again at Horrorfind Weekend in Gettysburg in a couple weeks. And next time, I’ll be sporting my OWN Synapse t-shirt 
After a day hanging out at media interviews and the dealer’s room, I went over to the new restaurant/nightclub area that has been building up behind the hotel where the convention was held. I’ve been waiting all summer for them to open the new Hofbrauhaus there (it was scheduled to open in July), since I’ve been to the one in Cincinnati as well as the original in Munich earlier this year. But as you can see… all that is finished so far is the shell and the HB.
So instead of eating there, I went to the Park Tavern, across the street, which promised “craft beer.” They had a good selection of taps, including one from Flossmoor Station, a brewpub down near my high school that I don’t get to very often these days, since they’re a good 45 minutes south of us.
I tried Flossmoor’s MCAison which was amazing — a summer Belgian ale with a slightly sour rhubarb finish. And Park Tavern had pretty good burgers too. I’ll be back!
After that, I headed over to the Muvico Theatre across the street, to enjoy some films, including a long-lost 30-minute film called The Evil Clergyman starring Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton from the late ’80s. It was intended to be part of a trilogy movie, but the master was lost 25 years ago, so this film was never released before. But recently a VHS edit copy was found and so the film has been restored from that. It was a gothic kind of ghost story, and afterwards, they interviewed some of the audience on camera to put together some extras for the DVD. (I did an interview, so who knows, I could end up on the DVD!)
Jeffrey and Barbara, as well as the Band brothers (producer/director and composer, respectively) all signed DVD jackets for the as-yet-unfinished DVD. I bought and had them sign #50, which should be mailed to me in a few weeks.
After that, I watched a couple movies from Rob Zombie’s Halloween actresses Kristina Klebe and Danielle Harris. Klebe offered a short film school exercise which was interesting, but Harris debuted a full feature film called Among Friends which was really strong. I hope this one gets a decent release, as I really enjoyed its damning commentary on friends who are really only friends “on the surface”. The movie followed a bunch of L.A. friends who go to a party only to find that they’re playing a game with the hostess. A game where she is judge and jury (thanks to some paralysis drugs and videotape) over their selfish actions against each other.
Overall, it was a great afternoon and night with fellow horror fans!
Here are some photos from the panels during the afternoon. Hover over them for a who’s who.
~ Stop by Writers Chatroom
Stop by The Writer’s Chatroom – I’m the guest there right now… from 7 p.m. Eastern til… I dunno. When everyone gets bored.
I’ve got my laptop and my Newcastle and am setup out on the patio. It’s a perfect night to kick back and shoot the breeze!
~ A Beach Vacation!
I’ve been working at the same dayjob for almost 20 years, so at this point, I’ve stacked up a pretty good bit of annual vacation time.
This year, for the first time ever, I decided to take two straight weeks off and do a driving vacation with the family. We toyed with doing the Grand Canyon, but decided Shaun might not be quite old enough at 7 to really remember that, so instead, given his newfound love for swimming, we decided to aim for the beach. Based on comments from some friends who’ve recently been there, we settled on Gulf Shores, AL, just on the Alabama side of the Florida panhandle.
Over the course of almost 10 days starting at the end of July, we had quite an adventure. We stayed the first night near Birmingham, AL (where I discovered that they still won’t serve beer in a restaurant on “the Lord’s Day”… c’mon people, what decade is this? Hell, what CENTURY is this?). The following day we crossed a giant bridge and ended up on the long finger in the Gulf of Mexico that is Gulf Shores. White sand, warm weather, and a seemingly endless series of resort hotels and condo developments.
We stayed at The Caribe Resort which was a really nice development a little off the beach, but with views of both the Gulf and the internal bays. And for the next six days, (in between a couple of storms) we explored their pools and nearby beach (where we managed to catch a jellyfish and a saltwater catfish in our sandcastle bucket!).
We also went on a dolphin cruise, visited an alligator farm, and enjoyed the area’s restaurants. It was a very relaxing trip.
On the way home, we decided to take a detour and spend the night in New Orleans, since Geri had never been, and I haven’t been there since before Katrina. So we got her to try her first Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane in the French Quarter, and had breakfast at the famous Mother’s before hitting I-55 for a 14.5 hour drive home (longest I’ve ever stayed in the car!)
We took hundreds of pictures, but here are a few selected ones from the trip.
At Gulf Shores:
At the Gator Farm:
In New Orleans:
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-08-19
At last, PETEYBOO AND THE WORM is available from Barnes & Noble for kids – for just $0.99. http://t.co/wuuAIdhc #bnbuzz #nook #kids #ebook #
PETEYBOO AND THE WORM, my short book for 1st and 2nd graders, is now available on the Kobo site too: http://t.co/fOM5r5t0 #kobo #kids #ebook #
August 12, 2012
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-08-12
John Everson writes a story with morals for kids? It's true
Check out the new review of PETEYBOO & THE WORM: http://t.co/lgUkf2i3 #kids #"For a fan of erotic horror and pushing boundaries into the extreme [NIGHTWHERE] is the ultimate novel." http://t.co/7qGqPvbQ #kindle horror #
There's a new interview with me talking about the erotic horror of NIGHTWHERE at @sumikoska 's website: http://t.co/P12goeJ6 #horror #kindle #
August 5, 2012
~ Tweets for August 2012
http://t.co/6mMgC96k #kindle #
BD on NIGHTWHERE: “At times NightWhere is very scary…because this is a novel that can go anywhere.And it does.” http://t.co/HMzGosr4 #scary #
Today I’m a guest on @JanetSquires blog talking about writing PETEYBOO & THE WORM for kids. Check it out http://t.co/51bYzFLl #kids #kindle #
NIGHTWHERE, my new @samhainpub novel is the August read in The Mortuary’s Book of the Month Club: http://t.co/eBdCWQvn #kindle #bnbuzz #
Just saw a reader review at B&N that called NIGHTWHERE: “one of the best horror novels I have ever read”: http://t.co/MPi0DUTf #nook #bnbuzz #
Have you read NIGHTWHERE? Are reading it? Want to? Join the Book of the Month discussion of NIGHTWHERE at The Mortuary: http://t.co/eBdCWQvn #
John Everson writes a story with morals for kids? It’s true
Check out the new review of PETEYBOO & THE WORM: http://t.co/lgUkf2i3 #kids #“For a fan of erotic horror and pushing boundaries into the extreme [NIGHTWHERE] is the ultimate novel.” http://t.co/7qGqPvbQ #kindle horror #
There’s a new interview with me talking about the erotic horror of NIGHTWHERE at @sumikoska ‘s website: http://t.co/P12goeJ6 #horror #kindle #
Don’t wait too long: NIGHTWHERE is a “Waiting On Wednesday” pick today: http://t.co/R2r6MWlJ #kindle #horror #book #
At last, PETEYBOO AND THE WORM is available from Barnes & Noble for kids – for just $0.99. http://t.co/wuuAIdhc #bnbuzz #nook #kids #ebook #
PETEYBOO AND THE WORM, my short book for 1st and 2nd graders, is now available on the Kobo site too: http://t.co/fOM5r5t0 #kobo #kids #ebook #
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-08-05
http://t.co/6mMgC96k #kindle #
BD on NIGHTWHERE: "At times NightWhere is very scary…because this is a novel that can go anywhere.And it does." http://t.co/HMzGosr4 #scary #
Today I'm a guest on @JanetSquires blog talking about writing PETEYBOO & THE WORM for kids. Check it out http://t.co/51bYzFLl #kids #kindle #
NIGHTWHERE, my new @samhainpub novel is the August read in The Mortuary's Book of the Month Club: http://t.co/eBdCWQvn #kindle #bnbuzz #
Just saw a reader review at B&N that called NIGHTWHERE: "one of the best horror novels I have ever read": http://t.co/MPi0DUTf #nook #bnbuzz #
July 29, 2012
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-07-29
Just saw a Goodreads review of NIGHTWHERE that concluded: "Please let there be a sequel!" http://t.co/ImDEbN8R #kindle #ebook #erotica #sf #
July 22, 2012
~ NightWhere reviews and interviews
It’s been six weeks since NightWhere hit the e-book shelves (and will be another 10 weeks still before the trade paperback is out in stores) but already there have been a bunch of great reviews that have turned up. And I’ve been interviewed about the book on Internet radio and online magazines as well. Here are some of the things that have turned up about the novel:
INTERVIEWS:
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR SHOW (audio):
http://electricchairshow.com/2012/07/the-electric-chair-013-danny-isnt-here/
SUSPENSE RADIO (audio):
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/suspensemagazine/2012/07/21/suspense-radio–inside-edition-july-21st-2012
HORROR NOVEL REVIEW (text):
http://horrornovelreviews.com/2012/07/22/exclusive-interview-john-everson-talks-nightwhere-and-kink/
LONG INTERVALS OF HORRIBLE SANITY (text):
http://georgewilhite.blogspot.com/2012/06/bram-stoker-award-winning-author-john.html
BLOGS:
What Music Do You Listen To For XXX:
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/2012/07/what-music-do-you-listen-to-for-xxx/
Lured By Lust, Seduced by the Dark. How Far Would You Go?
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/2012/06/lured-by-lust-seduced-by-the-dark-how-far-would-you-go/
NIGHTWHERE debuts today!
http://www.johneverson.com/wordplay/?p=2350
REVIEWS:
THE HORROR REVIEW:
“[NightWhere] is extremely well written, providing the kind of reading experience you get from Cormac McCarthy The Road or Scott Smith’s The Ruins — relentless in both realism and emotional impact.
If you can endure the extreme horror of writers like Edward Lee, I highly recommend this risky venture by John Everson. He takes the reader into the bleak darkness of addiction and obsession, but rather than relying on gore and shock, it is his emotionally charged depictions of the damned characters at its core that keep you hooked.”
- George Wilhite
Read the full review: http://www.horrorreview.com/2012/gwjenightwhere2012.html
SIZZLING HOT BOOKS:
“NightWhere is not a fluffy or light read, it will suck you and probably never let you go… NightWhere is not for the faint of heart. It may even give you nightmares. If you like a good story, with a complex plot, and complex characters I think you will enjoy NightWhere. While it is bloody, a bit gory, very shocking, and might give you unusual dreams – NightWhere is also very gripping. I can’t seem to get a lot of scenes out of my head and that’s not just the gory ones that made me gasp. I do highly recommend NightWhere.
-Stacey
Read the full review: http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2012/07/nightwhere-by-john-everson.html
HORROR NOVEL REVIEWS:
“Seedy sex clubs, whips, chains, floggers. NightWhere. John Everson’s latest trek into a world of utter blackness proves to be a deeply grim journey that provides a cruel commentary on society, all the while merging a supernatural presence that chills beyond the bone…
As a whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this wild ride of over-the-top S&M… One round of NightWhere should teach anyone with a fully functional brain that open relationships are synonymous with disaster, and that those dark, sleazy looking sex clubs you spot from time to time may be far more dangerous than they seem.”
-Matt Molgaard
Read the full review:http://horrornovelreviews.com/2012/07/20/john-everson-nightwhere-review/
CHICKS DIG BOOKS:
NightWhere has all the themes I love in a good story: good v. evil, sin and redemption, and (believe it or not) love. Mark’s love for Rae is pure, and it causes him to risk everything to try and save her. Rae’s love for Mark is empty, and she seeks to fill the void within her with pain and acceptance by the people of NightWhere. As Rae falls deeper under the seductive power of The Red, she struggles with the last remaining traces of her humanity. There’s a lot to this book that make it more than a typical “torture porn.”
This is the third John Everson book I’ve read. Last year I read (and loved) The Pumpkin Man and Siren. And like these other novels, NightWhere combines reality with supernatural elements and creates a truly scary and unforgettable story. If you’re anything like me, it’ll freak you out, but it’ll also make you come back to find out what happens next. If you’re a horror fan and you can handle more graphic content, definitely read this book. But afterward if you find a red invitation slipped under your door, do yourself a favor and don’t open it!
-Jen
Read the full review: http://chicksdigbooks.com/2012/06/17/book-review-nightwhere/
DREADFUL TALES:
“[John Everson] is to erotic horror what Jeff Strand is to comedic horror; a master. Everson paints gruesome imagery in his stories, often involving naked bodies writhing in viscera, but he is also a diehard romantic. Ultimately, it is love driving the plot of every Everson horror story. That’s also the case with his latest Samhain release NightWhere, but with more blood, guts, and torture than I’ve ever read in anything he’s done previously…
NightWhere is a batshit crazy, hot, wet ride into hell!”
-Meli Denton
Read the full review: http://dreadfultales.com/2012/07/02/nightwhere-by-john-everson/
FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND (also posted on LITERARY MAYHEM):
“John took the gloves off on this one, and delivers a book about the darker side of sexual obsession. This book is not for the feint of heart, be warned, this book is violent as all hell, with graphic scenes of sexual torture, pain and depravity…and I loved every word of it….
I can guarantee once you start NightWhere you will not be able to put it down, it sinks it’s hooks into you and you just have to turn the next page to see what will happen next. I have to admit that I am not usually a fan these types of stories but in John’s most capable hands NightWhere works on many levels and was one hell of a ride.
It is a definite read for any horror fiction lover and I highly recommend it.”
-Peter Schwotzer
Read the full review: http://famousmonstersoffilmland.com/2012/06/25/book-review-nightwhere-by-john-everson/
~ Tweets for July 2012
My erotic horror novel NightWhere made today’s DAILY DEAD: http://t.co/LAqmLh59 #kindle #horror #ebook#
Famous Monsters of Filmland just posted a review that calls NIGHTWHERE “…one hell of a ride.” http://t.co/7OL03SDn #kindle #horror #ebook#
Today I have a blog posted over on my publisher’s site @SamhainPub about the lure of the forbidden. Read if you dare! http://t.co/eelzBJw0#
Ever stayed home from work sick, when you weren’t? Ever thought about doin’ your neighbor? Read: http://t.co/eelzBJw0 #lust #desire #ebook#
Lured by Lust. Seduced by the Dark. How far would you go, if you could indulge in your darkest fantasy? http://t.co/eelzBJw0 #desire #erotic #
NIGHTWHERE review: “the kind of experience you get from Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or Scott Smith’s Ruins–relentless.” http://t.co/UUThdRWB#
Dreadful Tales calls my new erotic horror novel NIGHTWHERE: “a batshit crazy, hot, wet ride into hell!” http://t.co/UjUceqXw #horror #ebook #
NIGHTWHERE just entered the Horror Bestsellers List for the month over @samhainpub! http://t.co/ImDEbN8R #erotic horror #ebook#
Want some summer Fireworks? How about a visit to the dark world of NIGHTWHERE this week? http://t.co/7qGqPvbQ #fireworks #erotic horror #
NIGHTWHERE has been in the Samhain Bestsellers list all week… and today is at #1 See the list on the right column: http://t.co/CmtAVCPu#
A new “Sizzling Hot” review of NightWhere that calls it “very gripping” but “not for the faint of heart”: http://t.co/jBcRk6On @samhainpub#
What music do you listen to for XXX? Read about & listen to my picks at the @samhainpub website & then show me yours! http://t.co/Z8HRGfhI#
What’s your favorite music for XXX? NIN? Rob Zombie? Ke$ha? Melody Gardot? Join the conversation after my post at: http://t.co/Z8HRGfhI#
AmazonUK reader: If you read a lot of horror, it becomes a tad mundane, a here we go again feeling. Not with this book: http://t.co/7qGqPvbQ#
Today I finally decided to weed my vegetable garden. Too bad there were no vegetables hiding amid the weeds. #WheresMy Jalapeno? #
It’s Friday the 13th so I have to ask… Do you have YOUR copy of… THE 13TH? http://t.co/9dOqsHO8 #horror #fridaythe13th #
To celebrate Friday the 13th, visit the micro-website devoted to exploring THE 13TH! http://t.co/a5J2omKM #fridaythe13th #scary #horror#
What music do you listen to for XXX? Read about and listen to my picks at the @samhainpub website & then show me yours! http://t.co/fpQ2DGhB#
The night’s here. How far could you be seduced by the dark? How deep could you be lured by lust? http://t.co/E3450meR #seduction #erotic #
To celebrate my son Shaun’s birthday, the book I wrote for him, PETEYBOO AND THE WORM, is free on Amazon all weekend! http://t.co/SEE2IehQ#
Do you have kids aged 5-8? Download PETEYBOO AND THE WORM for them — it’s free on Amazon all weekend! http://t.co/LxfQKuot #kids #ebook #
PETEYBOO & THE WORM is free on Amazon Sat-Sun. to celebrate my son’s birthday. Download it and spread the word! http://t.co/eq74zBFt #kids#
If you haven’t seen (or heard) it yet check out “What music do you listen to for XXX?” I’ll show you mine, if you’ll… http://t.co/NU8CcpMY#
Peteyboo was just a hungry bug with 18 legs and 37 eyes who needed a friend. Download PETEYBOO for your kids FREE today http://t.co/mHCo6A1R#
Tomorrow is my son’s birthday, so the book I wrote for him is FREE for kids via Amazon! Download PETEYBOO & THE WORM: http://t.co/PxBxRJrv#
PETEYBOO AND THE WORM has cracked the Amazon Top 10 in the Kids Short Story Book category today! http://t.co/4XxAhOor #kids #free #ebook#
Download PETEYBOO AND THE WORM for your kids for FREE! One review said: My daughter was enthralled from start to finish http://t.co/el69aXUF#
“I literally couldn’t put it down and finished the last third in one sitting.” Get into NIGHTWHERE on Amazon: http://t.co/IdVnaiw6 #kindle#
PETEYBOO & THE WORM has hit #6 on Amazon in Kids Short Story books today! Download a copy while it’s free: http://t.co/khbDmRBK #kids #free #
Today is my son Shaun’s birthday and to celebrate PETEYBOO AND THE WORM is free to kids on Amazon: http://t.co/7zBjo3YI #kids #free #
Today is my son Shaun’s birthday and to celebrate PETEYBOO AND THE WORM is free to kids on Amazon: http://t.co/9KLf79Jw #kids #free #
It’s Sunday. You could go to church with your spouse, or you could go to NIGHTWHERE with Sin-D. Explore The Red today: http://t.co/QIZ4Eo4y #
Help send PETEYBOO to #1 today on my son Shaun’s birthday! Please post the link to this FREE kids ebook: http://t.co/FzkoU1Q8 #kids #free #
Today is Shaun’s birthday! To celebrate, the book I wrote for him is FREE all day. Download PETEYBOO & THE WORM! http://t.co/uTCsEJde #kids #
Today is my son Shaun’s birthday and to celebrate PETEYBOO AND THE WORM is free to kids on Amazon: http://t.co/HnYUlqXK #kindle #free #kids #
Download the ebook PETEYBOO AND THE WORM for your kids today, while it’s FREE on Amazon! http://t.co/tQf4wg5x #free #ebook #kids #parents #
Please help promote PETEYBOO today on Shaun’s birthday! Download a FREE copy & click the LIKE button at Amazon? Thanks! http://t.co/tVVymDFR #
Download the ebook PETEYBOO AND THE WORM for your kids today, while it’s FREE on Amazon! http://t.co/lHif4xYE #free #ebook #kids #
Know a 1st Grader? Download PETEYBOO AND THE WORM for them today while it’s FREE on Amazon! http://t.co/whVeYKhy #free #ebook #kids #
Shaun had an awesome birthday weekend! Thanks to all who downloaded PETEYBOO & THE WORM! You can still get a FREE copy: http://t.co/XOsRs6ST #
Last chance to download PETEYBOO for your kids for FREE from Amazon! Grab one by midnight! http://t.co/4XxAhOor #kids #free #ebook #kindle #
Awesome review (“incredible climax”) of my 3rd novel, THE 13TH, just went up at Cutis Anserina today: http://t.co/GNEuB6xg #kindle #horror #
Take a walk on the wild side this weekend. Visit the dark erotic world of NIGHTWHERE: http://t.co/7qGqPvbQ #ebook #erotichorror #kindle #
Tune in to Suspense Radio tomorrow @ 1pm Central. I’ll be in the interview hotseat for my @samhainpub novel NIGHTWHERE! http://t.co/K8bj8SWp #
I was interviewed today on Suspense Radio about my new @samhainpub novel NIGHTWHERE. Catch the recording here: http://t.co/uT3hx0Nd #horror #
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