Kevin A. Ranson's Blog, page 12

Hear me on Z-talk Radio this Friday, October 11, 2013 from 10-11p Eastern Time!

Hey all! I’ll be on Z-talk radio – http://ztalkradio.com/ – Friday, October 11, 2013 between 10-11pm Eastern, 9-10pm Central time. I’ll be talking about my short story called “Tendrils Never Lie” appearing in the October 15th release of “The Best of the Horror Society 2013,” my new Spooky Chronicles book called “Greene Square Middle,” and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the elderly residents trapped within Cedarcrest Sanctum in central West Virginia.

Horror host Grim D. Reaper – http://moviecrypt.com – may make a rare live and audible appearance! Stop by and listen or call in and say hi!

Filed under: Existentialism Tagged: Halloween, interview, Kevin A. Ranson, radio show, Ztalk Radio

What is the Secret of Cedarcrest Sanctum?

Things that go on like this shouldn’t be ignored.

Cedarcrest Sanctum bills itself as “a modern rest home nestled in the mountains of central West Virginia.”

The residents who are accepted have no family, no money, and nowhere else to go. In spite of these facts, the administrator of the facility still takes them in. If accepted into “the program,” they are removed from the public eye and are no longer permitted outside visitors.

To date, no one in “the program” has ever left Cedarcrest Sanctum and no deaths have been reported – not a single one in over ten years. No one seems to know what happens to the elderly who reside there and no one seems to care.

My attempts to contact anyone on the inside of their gated, secure facility have all failed. Their website, CedarcrestSanctum.com, claims that the phones are unlisted (for privacy reasons) and that emails go unanswered because they “cannot reply to every correspondent.”

There was a recent story concerning a college student named Janiss Connelly who used to volunteer there before “suddenly” being offered a job. Immediately thereafter, she withdrew from college only a semester before her graduation and became unreachable by phone or email. Like the residents, no one has reported seeing or talking to her since.

If you know anything about what is going on at this facility, DO NOT keep it to yourself.

Someone has to stop this.

Filed under: Conspiracies, Creativity, Existentialism, Literarian Tagged: Cedarcrest Sanctum, deaths, elderly, Janiss Connelly, program, West Virginia

Eternal Nightmare of the Scruffy Mind: Organizing a Brainstorm

I have ideas – too many, perhaps. Sometimes these ideas are specific and enhance existing work, while other times they are flights of fancy limited to a word, a scene, or even a line of dialogue for an unwritten work.

In my Navy days, PDAs were cost-prohibitive and smartphones didn’t exist, but my trusty green notebook was always at the ready. If I was near one of my full-size college notebooks, I would take the time to elaborate on these ideas and go so far as to sketch out relevant objects, locations, or symbols. A lot of the time spent was for roleplaying games, but it helped me learn to organize and develop ideas from conception to creation.

Nowadays, everything I do is digital, which also helps to pre-organize my scruffy thoughts; only in the rarest cases do I break out the old notebook method. Such a task requires the requisite window shopping and purchase of said notebook to empower the pages for their sacred purpose: to be the vessel through which creation will take place until it is fully formed – well, at least until the editing phase.

For the writers and creators out there: what habits have you developed or rituals do you follow to get the ideas flowing, organized and prepared for their day in the starlight?

Filed under: Creativity, Existentialism, Literarian Tagged: Brainstorm, Eternal, ideas, Nightmare, Organizing, Scruffy Mind

“Tendrils Never Lie” to Appear in The Best of the Horror Society 2013 Anthology!

My short story “Tendrils Never Lie” is slated appear in The Best of the Horror Society 2013 anthology for a mid-October release. It’s chock-full of horrific goodness; check out this Table of Contents!

FOREWORD – Scott M. Goriscak

INTRODUCTION – Carson Buckingham

CEREMONY – William F. Nolan

TENDRILS NEVER LIE – Kevin A. Ranson

THE MASK – Lisamarie Lamb

LEMMINAID – Carson Buckingham

THE CENTRAL COAST – Jason V. Brock

WHITE HELL, WISCONSIN – Weldon Burge

VICTIMIZED – Richard Thomas

NORMAL IS RELATIVE – Dan Dillard

THE PROCEDURE – Doug Lamoreux

THE LITTLE CHURCH OF SAFE CROSSING – Joe McKinney

MADELEINE – Julianne Snow

IT HAS TEETH – Christian A. Larsen

MASQUERADE – Dave Jeffery

BLACK BIRD – Rose Blackthorn

ADJOINING ROOMS – Scott M. Goriscak

THE INSPIRATION & HORROR OF GEORGE & HUGH – Nicholas Grabowsky

THE CLOWN – Henry Snider

MOVING DAY – Mark Onspaugh

ELLEN – Lee Pletzers

DADDY – Aaron Warwick Dries

SOFT LIKE HER – Charles Colyott

VENUS – L.L. Soares

THE LUMINOUS VEIL – Ian Rogers

BEER AND WORMS – T.E. Grau

BLACK MARY – Mercedes M. Yardley

THE BOY IN THE ELEVATOR – Robert S. Wilson

WEIRD – Dean M. Drinkel

HOTTIES – Mort Castle

Filed under: Creativity, Horrificus, Literarian Tagged: 2013, Best, Kevin A. Ranson, tendrils never lie, The Horror Society

A Dissection of Thin Skin: Failed Perception of Intent

Pop quiz, hot shot.

Someone asks you a clarifying question or offers a suggestion.

Do you assume that…

they require more information or see a possible issue, or…
they’re only asking or saying so just to piss you off?

Too many folks seem to fall into the latter category, and there’s a reason – but not an excuse.

I used to have “thin skin” in middle school (who didn’t, right?) If someone was laughing when I entered the room, obviously it was at me. I outgrew this because I realized that everyone is most concerned with themselves, and that isn’t a bad thing. Even doing something for another person is essentially giving yourself the satisfaction that you made someone else’s day. It’s a wonderful feeling, the knowledge that you were able to do or think of something that they didn’t or couldn’t.

By nature, I’m a problem solver/organizer: an ADHD-fueled jack-of-all-trades with a Master’s Degree in Google Fu and a lifetime’s experience in trial-by-fire. I’m also an extroverted pessimist, among the rarest of social creatures: I observe projects, discern potential problems, and think up solutions. If the glass is half empty – and it usually is, dammit – I will figure out a way to either fill it up or use the glass for something better since it isn’t doing much good here.

Now for the phrase that repeatedly gets me into trouble: “Does anyone have any questions?”

As a matter of fact, YES… I do.

Why wouldn’t you want to hear it since you asked? More to the point, why does anyone become angry or upset that something was inquired or suggested? I can only guess it’s due to perception of intent, that the only reason to ask or offer (other than a lack of understanding or the aforementioned helpful solution) must be to undermine one’s supreme authority or cause a perceived loss-of-face by publicly offering a solution to an unanticipated problem.

EPIC FAIL, my friend.

I DIDN’T ask or offer my suggestion to piss you off; I have far better weapons at my disposal for that.

Captains, coworkers, moderators, managers, coaches, generals, petty officers, drill sergeants… c’mon, guys: aren’t we on the same team? Sure, it’s a competitive world out there, but we choose to feel slighted or unappreciated for our efforts when an obvious question or solution comes up. Wouldn’t it be simpler to put all that aside, fix the frakking problem and move on?

Charles Edward Montague, John Wooden and Harry S. Truman have all been credited with variations on the quote, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” Personally, however, I prefer Larry the Cable Guy: “Git-R-Done!”

Filed under: Conspiracies, Creativity, Existentialism, Politicking Tagged: ADHD, clarifying question, Google Fu, perception of intent, piss you off, suggestion, Thin Skin

The Matriarch (Teaser Book Trailer)

How about a book trailer? As you wish.

Filed under: Existentialism Tagged: book, ghost, Glenville State College, novel, the matriarch, trailer, vampire, video, West Virginia, YouTube

4 Out of 5 Star Review for “Greene Square Middle!”

First review – 4/5 stars!

The Spooky Chronicles: Greene Square Middle

“Though there are moments of laugh-out-loud humor, this is a darker, more mature Spooky. Author Kevin A. Ranson captures the fears, drama, and intimidation of adolescent transitioning with clever aplomb.” ~ Dark Media

Book 4 in the series. It’s the start of a new school year (and a new school) for both “Spooky” Spencer and his buddy Donny as they begin the sixth grade. While Spooky’s suspicions of something supernatural pits him against a diabolical new adversary, trying to convince a crusading vice principal that he’s not a troublemaker may be his biggest challenge yet.

Get it NOW on

Smashwords! (mobi, epub, pdf)

More formats coming soon. Enjoy!




Filed under: Existentialism Tagged: book, boy, chronicles, horror, middle school, mystery, novella, Occult, Paranormal, Series, spooky, undead, YA, zombie

Get the all-new Spooky Book: Greene Square Middle!

Looking for a brand-new double-sized Spooky book? “Spooky” Spencer Lawson finds new friends and new trouble starting middle school; isn’t the sixth grade hard enough without the supernatural?

Download eBook: Smashwords (mobi, epub, pdf)

The Spooky Chronicles: Greene Square Middle

Book 4 in the series.

It’s the start of a new school year (and a new school) for both “Spooky” Spencer and his buddy Donny as they begin the sixth grade. While Spooky’s suspicions of something supernatural pits him against a diabolical new adversary, trying to convince a crusading vice principal that he’s not a troublemaker may be his biggest challenge yet.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-3013-3031-7



Download eBook:

Smashwords (mobi, epub, pdf)

More formats coming soon. Enjoy!

Filed under: Existentialism

What If Anakin MADE Amidala Love Him?

… but George Lucas pulled the final punch?

The anticipation for the Star Wars prequels was the stuff of legend: a built-in audience rabid with fandom and shaking fistfuls of dollars. The Clone Wars, a young Obi-Wan, and the fall of the man who became Darth Vader. If Luke and Leia were the destined offspring, procreation was a must and Anakin’s doom would have to be intricately linked to some poor woman and seal her fate.

So where did it go horribly wrong?

Maybe it didn’t. Maybe… it was simply never taken as far as intended.

Stay with me on this.

“She will be mine… oh yes, she will be mine.”

Let’s say that the apparent lack of chemistry between Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman was intentional; after all, weren’t there rumors of every late-tween actor in Hollywood was being screen tested with Ms. Portman? Let’s say that from the first time Anakin “dreamed” about Amidala, he was secretly entering her thoughts, like the slow thrall of a vampire, draining a little of her soul and stealing her will each time he was in her presence… and that was when he was ONLY ten years old. The worst part? He didn’t know; he just wanted her to love him.

Fast forward to Episode II. When Anakin is away, Amidala isn’t so enamored with him, even if he is never far from her thoughts. Her personality changes abruptly when he appears – from a determined and idealistic politician dedicated to preserving the sovereignty of her people and planet to a plaything reminiscent of the royalty-raised concubine from Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America who was so fond of saying “Whatever you like.” In the secret wedding scene, Anakin doesn’t look happy so much as he looks lovesick; Amidala looks like she just completed her final treatment to become one of The Stepford Wives.

“Operation Mindcrime.”

In Episode III, Amidala finally realizes who and what Anakin really is. Could that be because, in his guilt, he allowed her to know at that moment? Falling into depression and despair, she dies giving birth to the twins. Whether the Emperor truly lied about Darth Vader killing Amidala or not, what if the scene with Anakin, Obi-Wan and Amidala had gone differently? What if Amidala realized that she NEVER knew the real Anakin, an epiphany manifested from his own fears of losing her because of the truth he had hidden even from himself?

Amidala: “I could never see it until now. You made me want to be with you. How could you do something like that? It was all a lie, all the secrets… you took away my life! I never had a choice.” (coldly) “I never loved you, Anakin Skywalker. How could anyone?“

Cue Force choke.

Dark as all get out? Yep, but it carries weight. Was George Lucas actually building up to something like this and changed it at the last minute, deciding that “mind rape” wasn’t exactly in the spirit of Star Wars? Who knows. Of course, slavery, war and genocide are just fine for kids of all ages, so there you are.

Filed under: Existentialism Tagged: Amidala, Anakin, Episode III, George Lucas, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Revenge of the Sith, Skywalker, star wars

Conservation of Mass: Shouldn’t Shifters Make More Sense?

Several paranormal and supernatural series have “shifters” now, humans that can turn into other creatures, animals or otherwise. Unlike weres – werewolves, werecats and werecoyotes that can only shift into one form and often are affected by moon phases – shifters can take on multiple forms.

My question, however is this: conservation of mass. To make this example simple, the modern Avengers Hulk (“Son, you gotta condition”) doesn’t make sense whereas the old Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno tv “Hulk” did. Why? Because you can imagine something getting a little bigger, but where does the mass of something ten times larger come from? How is all that energy stored, and where does it go when it isn’t in use?

Both “True Blood” and the Twilight movies make use of shifters. In Twilight, the wolves appear four times larger than their human counterparts. In “True Blood,” Sam can shift into a fly! Where does 160 pounds (wringing wet) disappear to unless that’s going to be a HUGE fly? Just as incredible is Sam’s ability to find jeans that fit him perfectly every time he shifts back to human form no matter where he is, but I digress.

So, does it strain credibility when a character shifts shape into a creature too large or too small to be believable? Yes, its magic or mysticism or whatever, but does it help suspend disbelief when the shifting is done into something of approximately the same size and perhaps relative shape?

Filed under: Conspiracies, Creativity, Existentialism, Satire Tagged: Bill Bixby, Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, Paranormal, Sam, shifters, supernatural, True Blood, Twilight, werewolves