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  • Nathaniel Hawthorne admits to ruining the lives of high schoolers on Family Guy

    Nathaniel Hawthorne admits to ruining the lives of high schoolers on Family Guy

    (part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series)

    Nathaniel Hawthorne makes an appearance in the Season 11, Episode 10 Family Guy titled “Space Cadet.”

    From FamilyGuy.Wikia.com: When Chris presents a poorly written presentation for class in “Space Cadet“, he complains of not being Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne is seen chuckling over ruining ninth grade for everyone as he writes a story.

    Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. His works include The House of the Seven Gablesand The Scarlett Letter.

    Nathaniel_Hawthorne

    Here’s the clip:

  • Channel Update – Get Ready for a 500 Subscriber Giveaway

    Channel Update – Get Ready for a 500 Subscriber Giveaway

    Click the image above to watch the video
    Click the image above to watch the video

    I’m fast approaching 500 subscribers. This means nothing but good things for you.

  • Hipster Rationale: Does it Make Sense to Avoid Popular Culture? (Video Blog ep 053)

    Hipster Rationale: Does it Make Sense to Avoid Popular Culture? (Video Blog ep 053)

    Click the image above to view the video
    Click the image above to view the video

    Why dislike something that you’ve previously liked, once it becomes popular? Is there any logic to avoiding something once it becomes popular?

    I explore my thoughts on this topic, from the perspective of someone who has hipster tendencies, but is at least willing to admit to it.

  • FREE copy of my “new” novel, Stranger Will, to willing readers

    FREE copy of my “new” novel, Stranger Will, to willing readers

    Click the image above to view the video
    Click the image above to view the video

    My first novel, Stranger Will, is being re-released this January 25th, 2013 through Perfect Edge Books. However, I have a stack of unedited proof copies from the previous publication that I need to get rid of. Here’s where you come in.

    I will send a free copy (until my limited supply runs out) to anyone willing to read the book and provide a video review. The review doesn’t even have to be positive. Just provide your honest response.

    What’s the catch? No catch. I’ll even pay for shipping the book to you.

    Because the book will be released on January 25th, 2013, I’m hoping for reviews to be uploaded as soon as possible. However, if you can’t meet the 25th deadline, anytime soon after is quite cool by me.

    If you have questions, just ask in the comments at the YouTube video page.

  • Writer’s Block is Just an Excuse for Broken Storytelling (Video Blog ep 052)

    Click the image to view the video
    Click the image to view the video

    Writer’s block is just an excuse for broken storytelling. That’s the name of an article I wrote a while back for a site called Slothrop.com. The article, in so many words, says that the reason a writer gets stuck is not a spontaneous drain of energy or a mysterious lack of motivation. Writer’s block is simply a symptom of denial. Writer’s block is the writer’s intuition declaring that the story sucks and you need to fix it.

    Share in the comments below: what has been your hardest bout of writer’s block and what did you do to cure it?

  • The Art of the Domestic Grotesque: An Interview with Caleb J. Ross in the newest issue of Surreal Grotesque

    The Art of the Domestic Grotesque: An Interview with Caleb J. Ross in the newest issue of Surreal Grotesque

    I'm not sure why I received this error message (I could read the issue just fine) but the language seems strangely apropo.
    I’m not sure why I received this error message (I could read the issue just fine) but the language seems strangely apropo.

    I’m honored to have been able to spout off a bit for the newest issue of Surreal Grotesque magazine.

    Here’s a taste:

    Your work doesn’t really resemble a genre in any way, which is nice, although people try to pigeonhole certain writers as being Chuck Palahniuk-esque or in the vein of “urban noir”. If you had to describe your writing style of work to someone who has never read you before, how would you describe your writing?

    I use the term Domestic Grotesque a lot, which basically means family dynamic meets visceral irrationality. The best example I can think of—though this book came out after I coined the term Domestic Grotesque—is Matt Bell’s Cataclysm Baby. A lot of Brian Evenson’s work would also fit. I love the imagery I can get away with when I write the grotesque, and I love the inherent tension when dealing with a family and their inborn troubles.

    I’m not against being compared or pigeonholed. In a way, it’s validating to know that I, as an author, belong to something greater than myself. Wow, that sentence makes me seem like my own anti-hero.

    Head over to the Surreal Grotesque Issuu site to read the rest of the interview. Stick around for an interview with Richard Thomas and work from Chris Deal among others. You won’t be sorry.

  • How to Write Christmas Thank You Letters for Crappy Books (Video Blog ep 051)

    Click the image above to watch the video
    Click the image above to watch the video

    Now that Christmas is over, we must begin the long process of thanking each of the kind people to have given us gifts this holiday. I know how arduous this can be, so I’ve taken it upon myself to offer some of my own thank yous as examples that you may wish to follow. Fair warning: don’t follow these examples.