Death to the Brothers Grimm

Death to Brothers Grimm released!


Death to Brothers Grimm is a new anthology of Bizarro retellings of classic fairy tales, published by Omnium Gatherum Media.

Ranging from horrifically gory to whimsically twisted, featuring authors Garrett Cook, Jeremy Shipp, Jess Gulbranson, Eckhard Gerdes and more - including me!

My story "At the Shoe Shop of Madness" is a mashup of Brothers Grimm and H.P. Lovecraft. It's the darkly humorous tale of what happens when Schumacher the Shoemaker traps a foul tempered and foul mouthed elf, exacting an ill fated bargain.

You can order the book from Amazon here:

Death to the Brothers Grimm on Amazon



Or, if you would like a copy personally autographed to you, by me, along with your own Weirdsville Cartoon, all for just the cover price of the book plus $3.00 shipping, just email me at neverendingwonder _AT_ hotmail.com

Hypnotic Wanderings

Hello, my friends! Today we're going to have the very first guest post on the NeverEndingWonder Blog. Our guest will be horror author Anthony Rapino. His debut novel "Soundtrack to the End of the World" has just been released, and he's hosting a very cool virtual event to celebrate! YOU can win actual real prizes! Keep reading to learn all the details.The next voice you will read will be that of Anthony Rapino, our guest.

Hypnotic Wanderings

Thank you to today’s host, the Dark King of Weirdsville, Lee Widener. I have to also thank Lee for oodles of ooey gooey, bloody and chewy inspiration. Come autumn, Lee’s (now, unfortunately defunct) NeverEndingWonder Radio became the soundtrack to my writing, and has more than once carried my wandering mental vibrations to that plain writers often seek out. That place where nothing exists for us but our words. It’s a good place to be.

It’s like hypnosis. And if you’ve ever spoken to a hypnotist, you know that all hypnosis is self hypnosis. If you believe this, then it follows that we may hypnotize ourselves on a regular basis, without even knowing it.

This explains the “movie in your head” phenomenon. You may have noticed that when reading a book, sometimes it plays out like a movie in your head. I propose that only when you’ve reached deep involvement with the story, when you’ve really “gotten into it,” when you’ve reached a moment of self hypnosis, do you experience the novel as a movie your head.

This makes even more sense if you’ve ever reached the end of a reading session only to realize, I can’t believe I’ve been reading for three hours! It felt like only minutes! You were outside your body. You were floating free in the comforting waters of self-hypnosis. You were experiencing the novel rather than reading it.

Not convinced? I understand; it sounds like so much mumbo jumbo, not unlike the hippy dippy aura reading Naomi Santrel conducts in my novel Soundtrack to the End of the World. But like Naomi would say, there’s more to it than you can see.

Try this: Think back to a novel you read two or three years ago. Stop reading this, and really think back. Got it? Okay, now recall a favorite scene from that novel. Think about the scene for a minute, take your time.

When you’ve finished thinking about the novel in question, answer me this: In what way did you remember the novel? Did you remember the words on the page, the place you were sitting or reclining, the time of day, the weather? Or did you remember the novel as images? Did you see the characters or did you see the words?

Chances are good you remembered the novel as images. In fact, taking it one step further, I’ve often completely forgotten if a story I was thinking about was a novel at all. The images and characters so vivid in my mind, it could have been a movie.

Of course there will be times you remember the words themselves. Sometimes you love a turn of phrase so much that you commit the quote to memory. But I’m willing to bet many more times, you weren’t reading, you were experiencing.

 These are the times I live for. These are the experiences I hope to create for my readers. So what are you waiting for? Go forth and hypnotize thy self.

Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Collect all twelve game pieces (available from each blog stop during my tour), put the pieces together, and decipher the code. It will lead you to a secret website. If you’re the first person to comment on the site, you win!


Join us in the Insanity Rocket to discuss the contest.

 Stop by the blog tour page  for all upcoming dates and more contest info.

I am very proud to announce the launch of my debut novel, Soundtrack to the End of the World 

currently available in signed limited hardcover, trade paperback, and ebook editions.

Who knew the end could sound so good.

A suicidal nudist strolls into traffic.  An eccentric Buddhist claims he can occupy other people’s bodies.  All the while, whispers of a new form of entertainment blow through town.  Prompted by these strange occurrences, Marty Raft, a not-so-gentle giant, investigates and discovers underground clubs peddling music that induces an out-of-body experience.   Marty and a wannabe comedian, Corey, set out to prove these special frequencies are nothing more than a hoax, or at worst, a mass-drugging.  Instead, they uncover a secret with world-ending possibilities. If you can hear the music, it’s already too late.

Author bio

Anthony J. Rapino resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania, somewhere between the concrete of the city and the trees of the forest.  On occasion, you’ll find him moderating the feverish battles between the creatures of these two arenas.  Whose side he’s on is anyone’s guess.




His newest fiction can be found in Black Ink Horror, On Spec, Arcane Anthology, Electric Spec, A cappella Zoo, Space Squid, TQR Stories, and carved inside a variety of autumn gourds.  His short story collection, Welcome to Moon Hill  is currently available, as is his first novel Soundtrack to the End of the World .   Proof of his psychosis can be found on his website:  AnthonyRapino.com

Book Review: The Dick by Jimmy Pudge

The Dick by Jimmy Pudge on Amazon


So, Jimmy Pudge has a new book out, does he? Yes he does, and it's a book well worth buying.




The Dick gives us an unlikely hero, Jonny Sausage, who can jump out of a fifth story window, get up and run away, yet gets winded riding a bike up a hill. Jonny was a porn star, but he's just been given his walking papers. So what does he do? He becomes a private detective, of course. This being a Jimmy Pudge book, Jonny's only client is a sexy vampire who wants to find out who's killing off her clan.



Mr. Pudge has gone all in on this novel. Jimmy has always traveled the edge of good taste in his writing, and this time he floored the accelerator and sped past, never looking back. The Dick is violent, funny, and filthy, to a degree never seen in his writing before. The is your Adult Content Warning, my friends, and I do mean warning. If sexual content is going to bother you, you might want to skip this book. If you like fast paced, whacked out adventure that makes you laugh out loud, then brothers and sisters, pay out your money right now, because you're going to have a great time.



You won't learn great truths about humanity reading a Jimmy Pudge book, but you will find yourself enjoying the ride as you hold on for dear life. Jimmy Pudge's writing is the kind of writing that punches you in the gut, and when you're looking at it as if to say "What the heck?" it laughs in your face. When you come to something and you think, "Oh no, he's not going there.." - he goes there, and then he runs past there and shakes you up and down, just for the fun of it.



The Dick is fun, filthy and exciting. If you like writing that is one, two or three of those things, then you should buy this right away, because you'll have a great time. IMO the ending is a little weak, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. It's so strong in every other way, it doesn't matter.



Jimmy Pudge is an author with a growing body of work that is deserving of attention and support. His is a unique voice in fiction, and that really says something. There's a lot of dreck in the world of independent publishing, but this isn't it. This is the real deal, sealed and delivered. Buy it. Read it. Be happy.   The Dick by Jimmy Pudge on Amazon

I am Interviewed About My Weird Art, and Two New Books Worth Checking Out!

Lots of news to pass along today. First, a crafting blog interviews me about my weird art! Yay! The blogger, Geri, is a really nice person, and I'm so thankful to her very the chance to talk about my art. She did a great job on the interview. Check it out!

Dream Weaving Interview Series

In other news, two books worth checking out became available for kindle. Now, before you start whining about not having a kindle, let me tell you that you don't need a kindle to read kindle books. There's a great free app available, so you can read kindle books on your computer! Here's the link for the free app:

Kindle for PC

Now for the books. The first is a new book by author Jimmy Pudge. I'm a big fan of this guy. He's really out there. His writing has a unique style you won't find anywhere else, and he's always entertaining. This new book is no exception. It's called "The Dick" and it's about an ex-porn star who becomes a private detective. This being a Jimmy Pudge book, that's only the beginning. Where it goes, you'd never guess. It's violent, it's silly, it's heartbreaking, and it's filthy. I mean that. Adult content warning! If you're easily offended, don't bother, but if you like a good adventure that's unlike anything you've ever read, then this is for you. I'll do a full review soon. Check it out here:

The Dick, on Amazon

The other book worth checking out is a new anthology from daring publisher Omnium Gatherum Media. It's called "Fortune Lost and Found" and deals with "money and wealth and the potentially horrifying consequences of gaining or losing it." Edited by L.S. Murphy and Kate Jonez, it features some of my favorite authors: Brent Michael Kelley, Phil Hickes and Garrett Cook. This is certain to be a worthwhile read. Available for kindle now, and paperback soon. Check it out here:

Fortune Lost and Found, More Information

Buy Fortune Lost and Found on Amazon 

Two Writers Who Influenced Me

Many, many years ago, when I was a teenager and was starting to take the idea of becoming a writer seriously, there were a couple of writers who I admired more than others. I tried to read everything I could get by these two, and they came to have an influence on what and how I wrote.

H.P. Lovecraft

It's become a cliche' today to be influenced by Lovecraft, but back in the 70s he was not nearly so well known as he is now. The only editions of his writings were the Arkham House paperbacks, which I read as soon as each one came out.

What appealed to me was the atmosphere Lovecraft created, and the overwhelming sense of dread of the world around you. His imagination created the most unusual creatures, alien beings from galaxies far away, creatures that sounded absurd and just a bit comical if you took the descriptions out of context, but by the sheer power of his writing, made them terrifying- so terrifying they could drive you mad, which often happened in his stories.

What was also so unique about his writing was his concept of a cosmically indifferent universe. These bizarre creatures weren't evil, they just were. They didn't care about humankind one way or another, but if humanity happened to get in their way- oh well! They weren't gods who demanded obedience, but in humankind's limited perception, that's how they were seen.

These concepts boggled my mind. Today, Lovecraft is more popular than he's ever been. There are websites, publications, even conventions celebrating his work. I'm glad he's getting the recognition he's due, but I'm also jealous that he's not my secret discovery any more.

I'm working on a Lovecraftian story of my own, one set in my adopted city of Portland, Oregon, in the present day. I hope one day I'll be able to give you notice of it's publication!


Ray Bradbury

I related to Bradbury not only as a writer, but as a person. He grew up in the Midwest United States in a time he considered simpler, easier, more magical, more honest, and so did I. In "Something Wicked This Way Comes," a young boy, who looks at his father as a failed man, wants to run away and join the circus. How I related to that scenario! In his short story "The Murderer" he writes of a man who rebels against the control that increasing mechanization has on his life by murdering his house. Again, how I related!

In much of Bradbury's writing there's a dread of what the future brings- a loss of freedom, a loss of choice. This speaks to me on a personal level. Bradbury also created vivid characters with a strong sense of themselves, strong feelings, passions. All this spoke to me.

I recently had my writing described as similar to Bradbury's, and that couldn't please me more. Personally, I know I'll never reach his level of storytelling, but to have his influence recognized, is gratifying.

If you're not familiar with these writers, or only know a few of their works, I highly recommend seeking out more. It'll be a journey well worth taking.

Positive Reinforcement

Just a few days ago I had a poem rejected by a magazine. That's not an unusual occurrence- in fact I pretty much expect everything I submit to be rejected. I'm not getting down on myself- it's just the reality of the situation. However, this rejection had an interesting personal observation. This wasn't the standard "we enjoyed reading your work and hope you will consider us in the future." She actually said something about the poem itself. She called it "a ferocious pop-culture collage." I was sincerely touched. That was a very kind thing to say about my poem, and it was an accurate observation. I wrote back and asked her if I could use that description when the poem was eventually published. She gave me permission!

This simple comment, which is more than most editors will give, was enough to keep me going.  Thank you, poetry editor! I guess I'll keep on with this writing stuff.

Zombies Helping to Make the World a Better Place

Zombies never get a break. Seems like everywhere they go, people try to kill them. I say let's give them another chance, because sometimes zombies even zombies have the right idea. Today a horde of zombies took to the streets to protest a protest by the execrable Westboro Baptist Church, as reported by the Huffington Post.

Zombie Protest 

To quote the article, in part:

A Westboro Baptist Church protest was overshadowed Friday when demonstrators dressed as zombies gathered at a DuPont, Wash. military base to counter the radical group's efforts.



After members of the controversial Kansas-based church announced plans to picket Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a military base south of Seattle, 27-year-old Melissa Neace decided to organize a counter-protest, launching a Facebook group titled "Zombie'ing Westboro Baptist Church AWAY from Fort Lewis!"



"We wanted to turn something negative around, into something people could laugh at and poke fun at," Neace told the News Tribune. "It was the easiest way to divert attention from something so hateful."

I think this is a fabulous idea! Someone should seriously organize this into a regular movement. Any time word gets out that the WBC will be protesting anything, they should be met by a horde of zombies who paw at them frantically crying "No brains!! No brains!!"

Zombies have a social conscience too!

And while we're on the subject of zombies, I have a fabulous gift suggestion for any zombie or zombie obsessed friends! Frozen Brain Slushie Notecards!

What delicious drink do zombie boy and girlfriends share on a date? Frozen brain slushies, of course! These elegant notecards depict a cute zombie couple sharing a frozen brain slushie.

Each card comes with a handy envelope and is only $2.50 plus 75 cents postage. You can order them here:

Welcome to Weirdsville

I Have a Book Coming Out!

Spectacular Productions is slated to publish a book by me! It's part of their "Mass Transit Readers" series, meant to be read in one or two settings. That means it's pretty short- about 18,000 words- just right for a trip to work or home, or a spooky evening's reading before bed.

The title is "Dark Roads: Two Modern Murderous Myths." It will include two stories- one brand new, and one that took me over thirty years to write. It's due out sometime this summer. That's as specific as I can get about the publication date.

That's all I'm going to tell you right now- stay tuned for further information! I will give you a look at this amazing cover, from phenomenal artist and designer, Neil Jackson.

Changing Times

I guess I should make this official- the purpose of this blog has changed. My computer crashed a few months ago and I lost all my music, so I no longer run an Internet radio station. I've had a few generous offers to help me get NeverEndingWonder Radio back online, but it's a hopeless cause. My hard drive that had all the music on it died, and to recover it would cost hundreds, even over a thousands of dollars.

The computer tech I had helping me diagnose what was going on reduced my computer to a pile of parts, so I don't even have a desktop computer anymore. I'm now using a crappy laptop, which I HATE (can somebody please shoot the touchpad??).

I also lost my job earlier this year, so any kind of major expenditures like this are out of the question. I appreciate the kind words I've had from the few listeners I had. I truly created a one of a kind station that nobody even comes close to matching. I miss it myself! One revelation I've had since the station went down, is the total lack of comment from he independent artists I had the extreme pleasure of presenting over the past eleven years. A sizable percentage came to me, asking if I would play their music, and if it was something I liked, I was more than happy to. To this day, ONE... I repeat, ONE of these artists (many of whom promote their work to me on a daily basis on Facebook)... just ONE has made any kind of comment on the passing of NeverEndingWonder Radio.

So, I'm moving forward, and with me, so will this blog. I've taken up writing and drawing again, after giving up creating my own output for decades. I'm having a bit of success, and by bit, I really do mean a little bit. I'll be using this blog to track the progress of my creative endeavors. Love to have you join me.

Here's one place of interest:

Welcome To Weirdsville

Featured Artwork at Zibbet!

Hey, one of my crazy pictures was featured in this week's blog at Zibbet. You can check out the blog post here:

Fantastic Five at Zibbet

Also, I'm now on Pinterest! You can find me here:

Lee Widener on Pinterest

So far I have boards about my artwork, but I'll be adding boards to do with the radio stations as well!

Nightmares in Weirdsville!

I've been doing a lot of artwork lately, on a new series I call "Nightmares in Weirdsville - Original Psychedelic Underground Outsider Art." Those of you who know me will expect these images to be a bit strange... You won't be disappointed! Here's an example:

Frank the Demon and His Little Friend.
Original 5" X 7" marker drawing on sturdy art paper.
You could own it! Here's another example:

Norman the Psycho Fish.
Original 5" X 7" marker drawing on sturdy art paper.
You could own it!

My new artwork can be viewed and purchased at a number of sites on the internet.
Direct from me at: Nightmares in Weirdsville

OR:
ETSY
Zibbit
Bonanza

Check out the whole series and let me know what you think!

Update

Yes, this blog has been pretty barren lately. So, what's been up with Uncle Ozma?

First and formost on my mind is my recent termination from my job of six and a half years. This had me panicing for a while, but I will be receiving Unemployment, so things are not as dire as I first thought.

Still, I need a job. Anyone want to hire me? Seriously.

News item No. 2: I've become a published author. I have a story included in a horror anthology from Omnium Gatherum Media. You can buy a copy on Amazon:



Detritus

It features horror stories that deal with collections, and collecting gone wrong. Styles run from gently odd to brutally violent. It's quite good, if I do say so myself.

And let me put in one more plug for my website Welcome to Weirdsville where I post my silly Welcome to Weirdsville Adventures, and sell Welcome to Weirdsville original cartoon art. I could use the money!

Take care everyone!