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!

New Myths

There are a plethora of ezines online offering free fiction, poetry and artwork. I would like to recommend one of superior quality: New Myths.

NEW MYTHS

The current issue features fiction by Victory Crayne, Lindsey Duncan, Monica Friedman, Bruce Golden and Jaelithe Ingold. Poetry by Shannon Connor Winward, Mary A. Turzillo, Marge Simon and Michael Fosburg, a non-fiction article on the placement of space stations by Nancy Fulda, and an atmospheric illustration by Eleanor Leonne Bennett. There's also an interview with poet S. Bradley O'Blenis.

Check it out!

Ritual at the Pillar of Tears

Ritual at the Pillar of Tears is the latest Welcome to Weirdsville Adventure posted at Welcome To Weirdsville.

Go check it out!

Announcing the debut of WelcomeToWeirdsville.com - the home of Welcome to Weirdsville original cartoon art and stories! For decades I've been traveling to the strange world of Weirdsville and hanging out with the Weirdos that live there. It's finally time to tell their stories!

Approximately every week I'll be posting a new Weirdsville Adventure as well as a picture that illustrates the story. You can even BUY the original art! This would be a perfect gift for that slightly off kilter friend you have... or maybe yourself.

So, check out the website, read the stories, marvel at the weirdness! The first Weirdsville Adventure is titled "The Magic Bubbleman Transports Some Friends to the Moon."

WelcomeToWeirdsville.com