Phil Giunta's Blog, page 32

May 27, 2019

Memorial Day

Wishing everyone a relaxing Memorial Day and hope you will, in fact, take at least a moment to remember those who gave their lives in the service of our country.


USA - written in the sand at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware USA – written in the sand at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware
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Published on May 27, 2019 10:21

Happy Birthday, Harlan Ellison

Today would have been Harlan Ellison’s 85th birthday… It’s been almost a year since the grand master left us, but his work will last forever.


Legendary writer, Harlan Ellison Harlan Ellison

Night and the Enemy by Harlan Ellison      Harlan Ellison's Deathbird Stories


No Doors, No Windows by Harlan Ellison


Phoenix Without Ashes by Harlan Ellison and Edward Bryant


Partners in Wonder by Harlan EllisonEllison Wonderland by Harlan Ellison  Harlan Ellison at Typewriter


With Harlan at I-CON in Long Island, NY.  April 1999. With Harlan at I-CON in Long Island, NY.  April 1999.
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Published on May 27, 2019 09:57

May 26, 2019

Getting Outside…

As an outdoorsman, I’m always grateful for beautiful weather, especially since my new day job has me tucked away in a basement office for roughly 40 hours per week.


Unfortunately, life has been so hectic and fraught with stress, anxiety, and depression this year that it took weeks longer than unusual for my first fishing trip. This morning, I drove up to Beltzville State Park in Lehighton, PA for several hours of fishing followed by an hour of just kicking back and enjoying clear skies and sunshine.


My first catch of the day was a sizable black crappie. This was followed by an enormous largemouth bass that threw my hook just as I was about to pull it out of the water. I was disappointed, but only for about an hour. Near the end of my day, I hauled in one of the biggest bass I’ve ever caught from any lake in Pennsylvania.


All told, it was a fantastic start to my fishing season!



Beltzville State Park Beltzville State Park Beltzville State Park Beltzville State Park Beltzville State Park Beltzville State Park

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Published on May 26, 2019 19:10

May 24, 2019

One Fine Day in June…

On Saturday, June 22, I’ll have a table in Creator Alley at the Lehigh Valley Comic Con from 10AM to 4PM at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schecksville, PA.


Other guests include Michele Knotz, Ken Hunt, Will Torres, Richard Laslo, John Allemand, Brittany Brubaker, Felicia Faulkner, Troy Vevasis, Jack Hillman, and many more!



Meanwhile, Firebringer Press publisher and writer pal Steven H. Wilson will speak at the Carroll County Public Library in Eldersburg, MD from 1PM to 2PM on the topic of…


Boomers, GenX-ers, and the Final Frontier

The generation that grew up after television but before the Internet saw the birth of a whole new kind of popular culture; tales of other worlds, possible futures, and strange alien life forms captured the imaginations of many. From math club nerds to geek chic, from hiding comics in our textbooks to Marvel movies dominating the box office, fans of the fantastic have come a long way. Steven Howell Wilson, author, publisher, science fiction convention promoter, fanfiction writer, blogger, podcaster, and Star Trek comics scribe will lead you on a journey through the history of an amazing era. Millennials and GenZ-ers welcome if you promise not to make fun of our flip phones!

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Published on May 24, 2019 18:49

May 15, 2019

“Author of Murder” by Jean Rabe on The Infinite Bard

This week, The Infinite Bard brings you another fantastic–and FREE–short story. Click here to read Jean Rabe’s “Author of Murder.”


A title like that deserves to be followed by a hearty “muahahahahahaha…”


Enjoy!


Author of Murder by Jean Rabe

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Published on May 15, 2019 15:35

May 5, 2019

Book Review: Strange Stories of the Supernatural

When I was in high school, mumble-mumble years ago, the Scholastic Book Club was known for selling inexpensive reprints of classic novels and anthologies published by Watermill Press. You can still find these old paperbacks online and in used book shops.


In October, I reviewed two of them on this blog—The Legend of Sleepy Hollow/Rip Van Winkle and Great Ghost Stories. I recently discovered Strange Stories of the Supernatural tucked away in one of our bookcases at home. It is a thin anthology consisting of only five tales, the best of which is the “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs. A military veteran returns home from India with a mummified monkey’s paw, which grants its owner three wishes—at a terrible cost. While visiting a friend, the soldier tosses the trinket into the fire, but his friend hastily retrieves it and insists on trying it, despite the soldier’s warning…


The remaining four stories range from mildly enjoyable (“The Upper Berth” and “The Ghost Ship”) to disappointing (“The Mortal Immortal” and “The Dream Woman”).


In “The Upper Berth” by F. Marion Crawford, an Englishman named Brisbane recounts a ghostly encounter while crossing the Atlantic aboard a ship where six previous passengers threw themselves overboard during previous voyages. As it happens, every one of them slept in the same stateroom as Mr. Brisbane…


While spending the night at a secluded inn, Isaac Scatchard dreams that a young woman with a knife tries to murder him in his bed. Upon arriving home, Isaac describes the dream to his mother, who takes detailed notes. Years later, he meets an attractive woman and eventually arranges for her to meet his mother, who recognizes her instantly from Isaac’s description of “The Dream Woman.” This story by Wilkie Collins is among the better ones in the book.


“The Ghost Ship” by Richard Middleton. In the English town of Fairfax, ghosts are a common sight and are, in fact, taken for granted. However, it is unusual for a tall ship to materialize in the middle of a turnip field after a violent storm. The ghost ship’s captain assures the town that he will return to sea in a few days—after taking on new recruits.


In Mary Shelley’s “The Mortal Immortal,” an alchemist’s young apprentice drinks a solution that might have made him immortal, for his outward appearance never changes throughout his decades-long marriage. Yet, he drank only half the bottle, so is he truly immortal or merely aging slowly?

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Published on May 05, 2019 06:19

May 4, 2019

May the Fourth Be With You!

Although saddened by the loss of Peter Mayhew earlier this week, I nevertheless wish you a Happy Star Wars Day!












Star Wars Cast Members


 

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Published on May 04, 2019 05:18

May 1, 2019

The Infinite Bard is On the Air!

As announced last week, THE INFINITE BARD is an international collection of authors joining forces to offer FREE fiction from epic adventure and spine-tingling action to thrills, chills, romance, humor, and mystery.


We begin with not one, not two, but three stories:



“Diamond of the Sky” by Azure Avians

“Blind Spot” by Donald J. Bingle

“First Command” by Chris A. Jackson


A brand new tale will follow every two weeks, so keep checking back. We hope you enjoy what you read. Please share the link and spread the word. We appreciate your support.


The Infinite Bard

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Published on May 01, 2019 17:24

April 28, 2019

After-Action Report: Beach Pulp Book Signing

Another wonderful book signing has come to an end. I had a blast with my fellow Beach Pulp authors at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach earlier today. Special thanks to Cat & Mouse Press owner and editor, Nancy Day Sakaduski, for publishing another fun anthology and for bringing us together at the beach!


From giant creatures to ghostly specters and from heroic superheroes to hard-boiled detectives, our beach towns are in for a shock. Beach Pulp is a collection of nineteen stories in the style of the old Amazing Stories pulp magazines set in Rehoboth, Bethany, Cape May, Lewes, Ocean City, and other beach towns that covers a range of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and noir.


My Copies of Beach Pulp! My Copies of Beach Pulp!

 


Maria Masington at the Beach Pulp Signing Author Maria Masington at the Beach Pulp signing.
Beach Pulp contributors David Cooper (left) and D.M. Domosea (right) chatting with readers.
David Cooper and James Gallahan signing copies of Beach Pulp for customers.
D.M. Domosea chats with Maria Masington while Steve Myers signs a copy of Beach Pulp.
D.M. Domosea and Linda Chambers (foreground). Steve Myers, Patrick Conlon (Beach Pulp associate editor), and Jacob Jones-Goldstein share the center table.
Jim Gallahan and I autograph each other’s copies of Beach Pulp while my tablemates, Chris Jacobsen and Maria Masington talk shop.
Background to foreground: Beach Pulp contributors David Cooper, Jim Gallahan, Linda Chambers, Nancy Powichroski Sherman, D.M. Domosea, Steve Myers.

Prior to the book signing, my wife and I enjoyed walking the boardwalk and eating lunch at the Green Turtle.  Overcast skies in the morning cleared by the afternoon and the welcome sunshine quickly raised the temperature to 73F.  We look forward to returning for vacation this summer!




The view from our table at the Green Turtle.
The view from our table at the Green Turtle.
The view from our table at the Green Turtle.
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Published on April 28, 2019 19:47

April 24, 2019

The Infinite Bard

Ladies and gents, prepare yourselves for a new website of timeless tales and boundless imagination—THE INFINITE BARD!


 


What is THE INFINITE BARD, you ask? It’s an international collection of authors joining forces to offer free fiction: epic adventure, spine-tingling action, thrills, chills, romance, humor, mystery.


 


THE INFINITE BARD launches on Wednesday, May 1 with three exciting stories. A brand new story will follow every two weeks. I was honored to be invited to participate.


 


Click here to visit the hub and see what’s new, then visit each author’s website to enjoy each new story as it’s released. Contributing authors include: 



Rigel Ailur

Reid Alan

A. B. Alvarez

Lorraine Anderson

Dereck Attico

Azure Avians

Jess Barry

Ilsa Bick

Donald J. Bingle

Lauryn Christopher

Michele Dean

Leigh Dragoon

Felicia Fredlund

Dana Fredsti

Barbara G. Tarn

Phil Giunta

Jason Hardy

Chris A. Jackson

Tony Jones

Kris Katzen

Kari Kilgore

Michael Kingswood

Amy Laurens

Frazer Lee

Debbie Mumford

Mel Odom

Liz Pierce

Jean Rabe

Ben H. Rome

Aaron Rosenberg

Carolyn Rowland

Leigh Saunders

Bryan Thomas Schmidt

Wanda Shaner

Sarah Stegall

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Published on April 24, 2019 19:35