Sunday, February 26, 2012

Stoker Award



People are posting about this year's here, here, and here (for example). And here is a full list of past winners.


I won mine for nonfiction, which makes sense, since I've written way more nonfiction than fiction, so I've had way more practice at it. And practice makes you better at things. I did (and do) feel mine was validation of what I do by peers. And college professors aren't very good at giving validation, or at buying books, so I could've gone my whole life w/o my writing ever being recognized in a concrete, tangible, "Way to go!" sort of way. So I definitely appreciate it for that. Getting to present the award at the following year's ceremony was pretty nice, too.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Bricks of the Dead

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Seminar on Horror Film


It overlaps with me on so many levels - horror, from a Christian perspective, and even being held at the Western campus of my alma mater. Their description follows.

Scott Derrickson, director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and the upcoming Sinister and Two Eyes Staring, is a connoisseur of the horror genre’s spiritual resonances. This summer he will be leading “Transcendent Darkness,” a seminar at the Glen Workshop West, a weeklong arts workshop held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from July 29-August 5, 2012.

Scott’s seminar and the accompanying discussions will confront the grotesque in the context of grace, in the grand tradition of Flannery O’Connor. In the end, Derrickson believes, confronting the darkness in us is often not only a prelude to understanding hope, but can itself be an experience of the divine. The selection of films, from horror to film noir and more, will be a guided tour through the films that have provided the most transcendent experiences for Derrickson as a Christian and as a filmmaker.

The Glen Workshops (Glen West in New Mexico, and Glen East in Massachusetts) have been hosted by the literary journal IMAGE since 1995, and are geared towards providing a space for artists and inquirers to create and investigate art in conversation with faith. Glen attendees of many religious backgrounds, allegiances, and practices have found an openhearted community that doesn’t shy away from different understandings. The Glen also offers a rich extracurricular menu of readings, discussions, opportunities to share your work with others, ecumenical evening worship services, and a free day to explore the surrounding area and spend time with new friends. Visit www.glenworkshop.org, email glenworkshop@imagejournal.org or call the staff at 206.281.2988 for more details about Scott’s course or the workshops in general.



Monday, February 13, 2012

Walking Dead Essay

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Kickstarter

As previously announced, John W. Morhead and I are editing a collection of (GREAT!) essays on THE UNDEAD AND THEOLOGY (Wipf and Stock). Essays on zombies, various types of vampires (whether romantic or otherwise), the Golem, Goth culture, cenobites - Oh my!

Well, this being an academic volume, there's the pesky matter of the subvention fee (paying for typesetting, in other words). I got most of it covered by grants from Iona College and St. Thomas University (special thanks to them for supporting scholarship on pop culture). But there's still a big chunk (a little less than half) to go.

So we decided on the unorthodox route of a Kickstarter campaign. Please consider supporting it! We have some nice rewards (though I feel like NPR or PBS, saying that) and you'll be doing your part for academia, the horror genre, me, John - just lots of folks! Thanks!!

And in the Nonfiction World

We have a glowing review of TRIUMPH OF THE WALKING DEAD. I'm always glad when people respond to thoughtful analyses of pop culture.

And in big and ongoing news - I am now the Editor of GOLEM: JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND MONSTERS. We're looking for submissions, so please spread the word!


Masken





Triumph of The Walking Dead