Weston Ochse's Blog, page 50

Glittering Darkly About Zombies

Are Zombies the New Vampires?

I'm kind of getting tired of this comparison. I think it's derived from those who worship at the feet of vampires, glittering darkly into the night. The question comes from those people who were laughed at in high school and wanted desperately to be a cool kid. A recent NY Times article used some slap-dashed geek logic that did little to promote the scholarship of zombies any farther than a re-visitation of The Breakfast Club.

Sure, Vampires are cool. Hollywood ha...

Review in Shroud Magazine - Empire of Salt

Shroud Publishing  reviewed my novel Empire of Salt. So far everyone likes it. Isn't it odd that a bug guy like me can write a story with a 19 year old girl as the star?


[image error] In my first novel, Scarecrow Gods, I have a host of male characters, from a young teen boy, to an aged African-American, terribly disfigured Vietnam War vet, to a Roman Catholic Monk, to a homeless man who speaks only in palindromes and anagrams. Guys I can do. Guys are easy. Even my next three novels had strong male leads. So...

CopperCon 30 Report - No Porn Stars Injured

Double-breasted potato boobs, hot pad warmers for my jimmies, and master of ceremonies at the masquerade ball could confuse my dear reader into believing I attended a porn industry convention, or even the soon to be mentioned FroliCon. Although there were some moments of delightful sexual innuendo, let me assuage your fears and say that no porn stars were injured during the course of this convention; at least not in my presence.

Stephen R. Donaldson and Weston OchseFrom CopperCon 30
CopperCon b...

COPPERCON Schedule

Today through Monday I'll be up in Phoenix (Mesa) at a big regional convention called CopperCon. Stephen R. Donaldson, myself, Yvonne Navarro and David Summers are author Guests of Honor. When I'm not on panels, I intend to be outside at the edge of the giant heated pool. I think there may even be a cabana.  Anyway, you can see that I'll be pretty busy.

Fri 730p-8p, Breakfast Nook. FAN – Opening Ceremonies
Fri 8p-930p, Breakfast Nook. FAN – Meet the Pros
Sat 10a-1130a, Breakfast Nook. FAN...

Driving in the Land of Tra La La

Who do you think you are? They say it takes a village to raise a child, but does it take the universe to raise your ego? A motor vehicle is not a self realization device. You are not alone on this planet. The world doesn't revolve around you. So stop driving slow in the left lane!

Is it just me, or has driving changed over the past twenty years. There was a day when those who were going slower would drive in the right lane, and those who were driving faster drove in the left lane (reverse if y...

Ack! It's Murder Almost!

My publisher sent this picture to me. No words. No statement. Just a bloody knife. 



Could it mean that he's going to kill me if more copies of Empire of Salt aren't sold? Listen, if you've been waiting to do it later, please don't wait. Do it now. Reach out and get a copy. You could save a life.

A list of places you can purchase this book can be found on the Facebook Page or you can just blow on over to Amazon and order it there. Either way, my editor has a counter in his hand and unless i...

The Loup Garou Kid

First draft of The Loup Garou Kid is done. Now to let it rest for a few days, then do an edit, then find some readers to QC. A solid 23k novella to conclude the trilogy begun with Vampire Outlaw and seconded with Lord of the Lash and Our Lady of the Boogaloo.


The Artwork from Book II

Warning to all the children

I stole this from Elizabeth Srsic. She made this, as far as I know. All I can say is that the importance of sharing this outweighed the felony. If I can only save one girl from the Great Old Ones, the jail time is worth it.

-W

Literary Fiction Review 1

I've been reading a lot of literary fiction (LitFic) the last several years. I'm a dark fiction author and I love reading dark fiction, but I believe that reading the same thing you write without respite is akin to inbreeding. Sometimes the LitFic I read is great, sometimes so-so, and sometimes it just doesn't work for me. But isn't that the same with everything?

So what is LitFic? I suppose there are many definitions. If you are to believe Wikipedia, which in this case is as good as any sourc...

Message Board Alert!

I just wanted to point out that I have a message board. I know. It's so old school. But that's the way I roll. In this modern realm of social media where clicking links are like having multiple conversations at a party, the message board remains that single one on one conversation that can withstand the test of clicking. When you leave, we are still talking. And you can even come back and we'll still be talking.

Anyway, wanted everyone to realize that I have one place on the web where I regula...