HOME IMPROVEMENT: Undead Edition

I'm pretty excited. Home Improvement: Undead Edition hits the world on August 2, and I happen to have a story in there. I can't tell you how grateful I am to editors Toni L.P. Kelner and Charlaine Harris for inviting me to submit a story.

In fact, I've already begun a fantasy novel based on the characters in the story. So double cool for Gischler.

Anyway, this blog post was spurred by the fact I got my contributor's copy today. Lucky me!

BIG THICK WAD OF PUNISHER MAX

Bring money.

Calling All Nerds ...

I need your help.

First, some background: Every Tuesday evening is "No tech night" at Casa de Gischler. We unplug all video games, TV and computers in order to force ourselves to behave like a family and interact with one another. It's actually kinda cool. Anyway ... we also often have some kind of theme dinner and put a little extra effort into preparations.

This Tuesday, we're attempting a Lord of the Rings themed meal. My wife proposed this (she's re-reading Fellowship right now), and after I agreed, I found out that the idea was inspired by that hippie meal Tom Bombadil serves the hobbits in the Old Forest. I reminded my wife that Gimli mentions roast pork and "meat on the bone" at least once in the trilogy. We also talked about Googling a recipe for Waybread.

Anyway, I need Lord of the Rings suggestions for this meal. The suggestions can be inspired by a particular scene from the books or films, by a particular race, a theme, anything at all. If you can recall a scene in which Legolas eats ribeyes that would be especially helpful.

I'm counting on you, people.

The Clockwork Woman

The cover for Emerson LaSalle's 1928 debut novel The Clockwork Woman! Thank you, Tony Lewis for the cool artwork.

X-Men

Bring Money.

Neato

Too much? Not Enough? How many hours in a day?

Lately I seem to find myself wanting to get a bunch of projects going at once. Even more than usual. I'm deep into a crime novel. And also deep into a very pulpy sci-fi novel. There is a fantasy novel I want to get back to. Now I'm starting to think about sequels to books I've written. I almost never think about sequels. But I have a couple of good ideas, and when my brain won't let an idea slip away, when it sticks in there and keeps picking at me like a big scab, that's when I know an idea is a good one.

Oh, and screenplays. And a non-fiction proposal. And funny books for Marvel.

I think if you're going to write for a living, it's good to have a lot of things going. A LOT. On the other hand, I find myself starting lots of projects and not finishing anything. The exception is my work for Marvel. Missing deadlines would be BAD and since that's one of the primary ways I pay my mortgage, I'm not going to lose focus on those.

We'll see what happens. Who knows? Six months from now I might look up and find multiple completed manuscripts on my desk. All I need is enough coffee.