Staci Layne Wilson's Blog, page 2

One Way to Make Life Simpler

Nope, no life-changing life-coach style advice here. Just a simple reminder for those who are short on time: listening to audiobooks is a great way to get your “reading” in!You can enjoy audiobooks in the most inconvenient situations—driving, traveling, cooking, housekeeping, getting ready for date-night. It certainly helps boost your productivity by allowing you to do two things simultaneously. How cool is that?I’m currently listening to Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew (all 18 hours of it) and it’s fantastic. That’s why I’m so happy that I made the decision to have my own books made into audio versions—and happier still that my autobiography So L.A. – A Hollywood Memoir has debuted on Audible.com and iTunes just in time for the weekend!https://tinyurl.com/SO-LA-AUDIOI’ll make things even simpler!If you’d like a free download for the book, please drop me a line between now and midnight Monday, September 17, 2018 – I will draw a winner at random. Simply go to my 'contact' page and make it happen.= = =Here are all of my books, available on audio:So L.A. – A Hollywood Memoir (non-fiction)“Staci Layne Wilson tells tales of bygone eras - she grew up with showbiz parents in LA in the '60s and '70s, had ponies in the backyard and a psychotic monkey in the house, mingled with the stars on the Sunset Strip rock scene in the '80s, partied at the Playboy Mansion, and nearly died (twice!). She ultimately found love, purpose, and success as an author, film director, screenwriter, pop culture pundit, and notable red carpet reporter who has interviewed the biggest celebs in the world.” –Read by Katherine Brannan - listen hereThe Tragedy Man (fiction)“When his boss was murdered, Cary Bouchard’s life began. For years, timid Cary toiled away in a cold cubicle. He had dreams, but not the courage to pursue them. That is, until he lost his job and found his fortune in a most unexpected way.” –Read by Andy Garrison - listen hereKeepsakes (short stories)“A creepy novella conceived as an interlocking triptych of tales focusing on the collectors of evil items. But which came first - the evil or the item?” –Read by various - listen hereLegends and Lipstick – My Scandalous Stories of Hollywood’s Golden Age (nonfiction) by Nancy Bacon (my mom!)“For the first time ever, Nancy Bacon, famed gossip columnist and editor of Confidential Magazine, is telling her whole story of what it was like to have love affairs with the likes of Paul Newman, Errol Flynn, Tommy Smothers, Rod Taylor, Vince Edwards, and Hugh O’Brian, plus exciting friendships with the Rat Pack, Judy Garland, Bobby Kennedy, Jay Sebring, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, and Marilyn Monroe (to name only a few!).” –Read by Jennifer Knighton - listen here

“When I was young, the Dead Sea was still alive.” -- George Burns

Hey, everyone! Just a quick note to let you know it’s my mom’s 79th birthday today, and it would be really awesome if you’d read or listen to her autobiography, LEGENDS AND LIPSTICK: MY SCANDALOUS STORIES OF HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN ERA (by Nancy Bacon)Five Star Review:Couldn't put this one downThis is a fascinating, unvarnished look at Hollywood in the ‘50s and ‘60s through the eyes of a (very) young woman as she rises through the ranks of pinup modeling and moviemaking while dating or simply going to bed with some of the most famous and famous-adjacent men of the age. But that’s only part of it. What sets this apart from your standard Hollywood memoir is Bacon’s writing – half-Edward Bunker/Ross MacDonald hardboiled crime-style whether animatedly relating the various cons and grifts her friends employ to get by (from crashing on sets to selling celebrity gossip to the highest bidder) to a grim retelling of encounters with and concerning the aftermath of the Manson killings. –Mark WheatonAudio BookPaperback / Kindle

Bird Says "Boo!"

Who's up for a little canary carnage? Don't worry -- it's only fiction! (that's what Alfred said...)My latest horror novel THE TRAGEDY MAN is out on audiobook -- listen to a short sample and click the link below to get the book FREE when you join Audible. https://tinyurl.com/TragedyManListen to a sample from the book here -- YouTube/TheTragedyMan

I am a writer. If I seem cold, it’s because I am surrounded by drafts.

Stephen King compares writing to crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a bathtub, because in both, “there's plenty of opportunity for self-doubt.” Not only will you doubt yourself, but other people will doubt you, too. “If you write (or paint or dance or sculpt or sing), someone will try to make you feel lousy about it,” writes King in his book “On Writing”. His first published novel was rejected so many times that King collected the accompanying notes on first a nail, then a spike, on the wall of his room.Negative reviews go with the territory. I have been writing for more years than I care to count—I sold my first article to a national magazine when I was 12 years old and have been in print (and pixels) ever since. Over time I have, of course, become less sensitive to harsh feedback. But when it comes to my memoir, “So L.A.”, I’ll admit that mean reviews do sting a bit more because it’s so much more personal than, say, a fiction tale or one of my books on film. When somebody doesn’t like my book and they say so in no uncertain terms with a public 1-star dis on Amazon, they don’t like me (or so it seems).I have few friends who are also authors, and so when I took out a rare moment to whine about a specific bad review I recently got, Stacey Keith (“Sweet Dreams”) dropped me a line. I thought I’d share it because it makes so much sense—and it might help you, too. Whether you’re a writer or a wrestler, you’re bound to get booed. So remember this:“[I read a book called “Bulletproof Writer” by Michael Alvear] and his contention was this: our brains haven't significantly evolved in over five thousand years. Different circumstances, same brain. Back in the forest primeval, if we were expelled from our small, roving band of tribespeople, that was tantamount to death. If the tribe didn't like us? Death. If we were caught doing something unacceptable? Death.“Bad reviews act our brains the same way. If someone writes a bad review, our brains make no distinction between a bad review and expulsion from the tribe. We're on the outside looking in. We're outliers. OTHER WRITERS get glowing reviews, but not us. We're left to die out in the cold.“Personally, I think the higher up the food chain you go, the more of these kinds of reviews you get by bitter wannabes who don't have the stones to learn their craft and write a book. Have YOU ever left a one-star review? I doubt it. I know that I haven't. In fact, I rarely leave reviews at all. Maybe two reviews in all the time I've bought books on Amazon and both of them were five stars.So my hard-earned advice here is: don't sweat this. At all. Not even a little.”Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with mostly good reviews. And I am grateful for each and every one! I don’t take them for granted. Not many people find the time to write something nice (it’s the haters who seem to live online) so I do genuinely appreciate any positive feedback I get.“Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” - Gene FowlerI have some good news to share: I just got a five-book publishing deal from Third Street Press. It’s for a series of paranormal romance novels spanning two centuries. I can’t wait to dive into all that glorious research and get to writing (and writing, and writing, and writing…). This is my first foray into a continuing franchise of books and I am pretty thrilled about it!“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening.” – Ernest HemingwayIf you’ve been thinking about joining Audible.com and listening to some audiobooks on your commute or jog—or if turning pages has just become too much of a chore—now’s the time. There is no cost for your first book if you choose one of mine and you can cancel your membership at any time (and still keep the audiobook). Such a deal, amiright?The Tragedy Man (horror novel)Keepsakes(three short stories)Legends and Lipstick (my mom’s Hollywood memoir)

Attack of the Killer Beach Umbrellas!

Watch Out for Impaling Beach Umbrellas of DeathSummer is hazardous. If it’s not cyclones full of Great Whites ala SHARKNADO, then it’s impaling beach umbrellas of death.In case you have not seen the stories on the news—it seems there’s a perfect storm of wind and hot weather, which is causing an “attack of the killer beach umbrellas”—two sunbathers were pierced by airborne canopies at beaches in Michigan and New Jersey in the past week. (Here’s a safety video on how to properly secure your shade.) Fortunately, no one has been killed.While I am sure some savvy screenwriter is pitching an “Attack of the Killer Beach Umbrellas!” project as we speak, I have the next best thing: a splash of terror set in Malibu called “Tasty Waves” in my new anthology CITY OF DEVILS. You’ll never guess what happens when surfer Bjorn meets a malicious mermaid just off the coast of Zuma.In a 5-star review, Traci York writes, “Imagine the Brothers Grimm got together with Stephen King and had a literary baby. This spooky seaside tale has an awesome old school fairytale vibe, combined with a healthy toke of modern horror.”Duke Days of SummerCITY OF DEVILS is only available in paperback and kindle right now, but if you prefer audiobooks I suggest my mom Nancy Bacon’s memoir, LEGENDS AND LIPSTICK. Of the many celebrities she talks about knowing and working with, is John “Duke” Wayne.Here’s a short snippet from the chapter “Satyr”—Mom talks about her boyfriend, the screenwriting and gossip columnist Jim Henaghan, playing a prank on Duke and Laurence Harvey on the set of THE ALAMO.If you’d like to listen to the whole book, check it out at Audible.com – LEGENDS AND LIPSTICK.

Should You Listen to Those Little Voices in Your Head?

People with psychotic disorders hear voices that are not their own… but so do folks who listen to audiobooks.If you’re not riding the Audible bandwagon yet, and you’re a member of Prime, now is the time.This is pretty cool: If you’re signed up with Amazon Prime, Audible is giving you early access to Prime Day savings!Prime Day starts July 16, 2018 but as an Amazon Prime Member you can save now. Here’s what you’ll get when you sign up for Audible:• 3 months for $4.95/month—that’s 66% off• 1 credit a month, good for any book regardless of price• Your own amazing library—keep your audiobooks forever• Easy exchanges. Don't love a book? Swap it for free• No commitment, cancel anytime.Now here’s where it gets even better.If you order one of my books – “The Tragedy Man” or “Keepsakes” – as your first listen, I will send you an autographed paperback of “Sex Death Rock N Roll” for FREE (I’ll even pay postage).Prime Members click here for Audible.All you have to do is email me a screencap of your order for “The Tragedy Man” or “Keepsakes” on Audible, and your mailing address. Offer good for 10 days only! (Through July 17, 2018)ALSO:Look for my mom Nancy Bacon’s sizzling tell-all memoir “Legends and Lipstick: My Scandalous Stories from Hollywood’s Golden Era” … at the time of this writing it’s in the cue to be published to Audible.com so... it should be there any time now. The reading is fantastic—you won’t believe your ears!

.99 on the 4th of July

Toto had a hit with a song called 99, and so did Nena with 99 Luftballoons. Jay-Z’s got 99 Problems. And don’t even get me started on 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall… I mean, what are bottles of beer doing on a wall, anyway? No wonder they’re falling.According to the book Life’s Little Mysteries: Answers to Fascinating Questions About the World Around You, price-tags ending in 9 are what’s known as “charm pricing” and that consumers are far more likely to purchase things for $9.99 over $10 and definitely $.99 over a dollar.Let's put this to the test. My new book CITY OF DEVILS is on sale for 4th of July week in the Kindle store at… yes, you guessed it: .99 cents. If you’ve been on the fence about reading it, now’s the time. That's 95% off. Sale ends in two days! Get it here= = =And in complete;y unrelated news: My interview with rock music legend Randy Bachman (of The Guess Who [American Woman] and BTO [Taking Care of Business]) has just been posted to We Live Entertainment. Check it out here

He's in the Encyclopedia Britannica between Ellis Island and Ralph Ellison

Saddened to learn of the passing of Harlan Ellison today. He had a good, long run though! I have a funny story about him in my memoir (So L.A.), but to tell it briefly here: he and my mom (Nancy Bacon) dated briefly in the '60s. I didn't meet him until 2001 at the Los Angeles Times Book Fair. When I mentioned my mom's name, his eyes lit right up--she made quite an impression! (He proposed, she laughed it off... she was quite the wild, free spirit back then.) Anyway, he asked for her phone number and they reconnected.Harlan and I kept in touch intermittently over the years, and when I worked for the SyFy Channel as their West Coast correspondent, I interviewed him on-camera a few times. He was such a bright, quick-witted, sarcastic and brilliant man! He was bristly, but he had many, many friends and he was loyal.I love the documentary about him, DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH. You should watch it (and if you've already seen it -- watch it again)! He was a true and deserving legend.He was also a very vocal advocate for writers' rights. Check him out in this clip, "Pay the Writer!" (When I find out where he's buried, I will pay my respects... literally. I'd love to see his gravestone decked with coins and cash!)Sadly, none of my interviews with him survived the closings of the SyFy.com and Horror.com websites, so -- here's the next best thing (better, probably), a 2013 interview with Harlan published in The Guardian.

Don't You Know There Ain't No Devil?

The great songwriter Tom Waits once said, "Don't you know there ain't no devil? That's just God when he's drunk."I think it's a duality of "the devil" that fascinates us all. Which is part of the reason I named my newest book CITY OF DEVILS... pretty much the perfect title for horror and dark comedy, set in L.A.The reviews are starting to come in, and they're good (whew!)... so, I thought I'd share them here:Killer QueensStaci Layne Wilson occupies a unique niche in horror fiction. She was born into celebrity but didn’t take long to blaze her own trail to success in Hollywood as a writer, filmmaker and interviewer. I can’t think of another writer in the genre with her background and experience. She is also a woman, of course, a gender woefully underrepresented in horror. If you are naive enough to believe that women can’t deliver the goods when it comes to scaring the daylights out of you, I invite you to read Staci’s magnificent new anthology, “City of Devils: 13 Tales of the Uncanny, Unlucky & Unholy.”The first tale, “He Was Asking For It,” gets its hooks in you immediately, and is one of the very few times that the phrase “ripped from the headlines” will make you enjoy the story even more. Staci is to be applauded for that reason alone, but she also imbues the yarn with enough power that it will still resonate years from now. Yes, this riff on the #MeToo movement is a topical story for the second decade of the 21st century, but its underlying theme is (sadly) timeless. And no man, not even the master, Stephen King, could write this story better than Staci. She knows what makes these characters tick, and they are all the more real as a result.Lest you think every story in “City of Devils” portrays women as saintly victims of scummy men, read on to the next tale, “Based on a True Story,” where a Hollywood actress goes to obscene lengths to research a career-defining role. The plot is so believable that one is left wondering if something similar hasn’t already happened in Tinseltown.I’ve only mentioned the first two stories so far. There’s 11 more just as good as these. All of these mini-epics take place in or around Hollywood, but as you already guessed, it’s not all glitz and glamour. “The Case of the Butchered Bombshell” is a detective story that takes place in the gritty 1970s. Maybe I’m biased because the 70s was my favorite era in horror fiction and cinema, so I loved it. However, I would wager many horror fans share my opinion and will cherish this too. “Tasty Waves” is a nautical tale that will give you goosebumps, even underwater. The ending is deliciously disgusting and based on a (hopefully!) exaggerated real life denizen of the deep. And not to bring up Stephen King again, but in “Ankle Biters,” Staci proves that he isn’t the only writer who can create a memorable – and frightening – dog.Sexy and scary, these stories could only be written by Staci. She is both a master of horror and a Hollywood insider and completely unlike any other writer you’ve ever read.– Guest Review by Jason BodakBanshee Irish Horror BlogCity of Devils is deliciously dark fun!* Starred / Best ReadThis devilish book is perfect to read by the pool this Summer or in your garden imagining that you’re in LA.My Thoughts on the BookCity of Devils is weird, twisty and funny, I loved it! Each story is scary and a tiny bit crazy in its’ own way.The imagery of the setting of Los Angeles is just how I imagine it, I could see it as clearly as watching a movie. The descriptions made me feel like I was in LA and Hollywood.City of Devils is a collection of well-written, weird and humorous horror. It contains a concoction of stories filled with egocentric characters who all experience their own horrendous adventure.My favourite is ‘Abracadaver’ – An invite to a haunted mansion on Halloween night is something I’ve always dreamed of! The tale twists and turns for the host of invited guests.‘He Was Asking for It’, scarily reminiscent of real Hollywood stories with a most satisfying ending. ‘Ankle Biters’ was clever and hilarious, while ‘Based on a True Story’ was chilling and gory.‘Tasty Waves’ is a surreal and beautiful, oceanic story while also being horrific. ‘Depraved Indifference’ was disturbing, one that made me think. ‘My Mother the Carcass’ features trickster Carlson, a supposed psychic who sees more than he expected. Those are only a few of the excellent stories in the collection, each one is unique and impactful.To conclude, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this great collection!-- The Corpse BrideRed River HorrorWhen I was offered the opportunity to review Staci’s latest literary offering City of Devils, I think I said, “YES!” before the question was fully formed. I’ve been a fan of Ms. Wilson’s work since “Ghost Writer” (wowsers, has it really been 14 years since it came out?), and she has continued to amaze and astound me with each new publication.It was hard to pick favorites out of all the wonderful offerings, but I decided for the purpose of this review to just focus on a trio of tremendous tidbits out of the thirteen.Depraved IndifferenceIt’s my favorite because from the very first sentence I was hooked. The conversational tone immediately drew me in, then as more details were revealed, my brain started going crazy, imagining all sorts of reasons behind this clandestine clubhouse. I was torn between the urge to read it as fast as possible to see how it all fell out, but wanting to savor it slowly, enjoying all the little nuances along the way. I compromised by tearing through the first read, then taking my time through a second.It’s also my least favorite because when I got to the end (both times), while it was completely satisfying as far as story resolution goes, I was wicked disappointed – I wanted more!My next favorite is –Tasty WavesImagine the Brothers Grimm got together with Stephen King and had a literary baby. This spooky seaside tale has an awesome old school fairy tale vibe, combined with a healthy toke of modern horror.Rounding out the trio is –The Case of the Butchered BombshellThis hardboiled, neo-noir-ish tale is a gorgeous bit of a classic hard talking detective, but instead of a femme fatale, we are given a medium Mellie. Set at some point in the 70s, it’s a wonderful, atmospheric bit of murder mystery with a healthy dollop of horror.All thirteen tales share that uniquely Hollywood hometown atmosphere that Staci imbues with such skill. From the character of Howard Wexler (who reveals himself to be the fictional twin of a real life scumbag), to Alice (representing the bazillion of young girls who move to Hollywood to be discovered), there is that common Hollywood insider thread that weaves them all together.If you like your horror smart, sexy, and savage, this is definitely the anthology for you!-- Traci York

We Are the Champions (of casting)

Sascha Baron Cohen was originally cast to play Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic, but when the deal fell through, Dominic Cooper was slated to step in. That didn’t happen either.Sasha Baron Cohen almost played Freddie Mercury (above) andDominic Cooper (below) missed it by thiiiis much!But now the film is in the can (or on the drive as the case may be) and it’s definitely, no-doubt-about it, absolutely Rami Malek who’s playing the legendary rock star. The film’s called Bohemian Rhapsody and if you haven’t seen the trailer, you should definitely check it out:Meanwhile, I’m still dream-casting a Led Zeppelin biopic. [see my choices here!]It’s always a slippery slope when casting someone to play an iconic person everyone knows. For instance, I have always thought the casting of Jamie Lee Curtis to play Marilyn Monroe was appallingly bad. But just recently, James Franco (who has believably portrayed James Dean) 100% nailed it as cult film director Tommy Wiseau in The Disaster Artist.In my case, I was lucky enough to be able to cast my own “me” for the audiobook reading of my autobiography, So L.A. – A Hollywood Memoir.Contrary to a visual performance, and because I am not a celebrity, I chose someone who actually doesn’t sound or talk like me. I know I’m not the most dynamic speaker. So that is why I chose Katherine Brannan – her reading of my book is upbeat, funny, and enthusiastic. I love it! (And yes, I listened to *a lot* of auditions.)So L.A. – A Hollywood Memoir will be on Audible.com very soon, but I have a sneak peek (um, listen) just for you.Click here to download an MP3 of the introduction and first chapter. (You’ll find another goodie in the folder too, as my way of saying thanks for sticking with me!)If you’re more of a page-turning (or screen-swiping) type, the book is currently available in paperbackand Kindle. = = =The Tragedy Man: A Serial Killer Thriller is on Audible.com nowPsycho Therapy short film is available to rent now at 13HorrorAs always, thank you for reading - I know and appreciate how valuable your time is.