So we were twenty minutes away from the end of last night's Dateline mystery, just as the authorities were closing in on the real killer - we lost power. My initial instinctive writerly thought was: "He knows we're on to him!". The windstorm that had assailed Toronto earlier, blowing in store windows and tossing patio…
May 4, 2018: Nothing says Montreal like smoked meat! And friends. Especially going out for smoked meat with friends!
Back in the Stargate days, when I used to come into the office Monday mornings and people would ask me about my weekend, I would simply direct them to the blog. It's always been a fairly simple way to keep tabs on me. So it comes as no surprise that I had no less than…
May 3, 2018: I’m losing my marbles!
OUT OF THE RACE: Mocha Madness, Pollo Loco, H2-Blue, Black Knight, Olympia, Glassy, Tarantula and Reflektor CAUGHT UP ON THE OUTSIDE TRACK: Summer Sky TRAILING BADLY AND FADING: Wisp of Darkness, and Marbly McMarbleface IN THE HOME STRETCH: Deep Ocean, Comet, El Capitan, Snake's Tub, and Quicksilver. The question isn't "Who'll cross the finish line…
Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!
These were my favorites... Which were your favorites?
May 1, 2018: Montreal update!
This morning, I was up at 6:25 a.m. so that I could almost drop my mother off at the train station. I say "almost" because, as we were backing down the driveway, my mother noticed her neighbor across the street getting into her car. As it turned out, she was also headed to the train…
April 30, 2018: Montreal!
Well, I'm back in my hometown of Montreal for seven glorious days of writing, reading, and running occasional errands. I have two major projects to finish up while I'm here, the first that SF pilot rewrite that, if it goes, will probably take me back to Vancouver, and the second a horror pitch that, should…
April 29, 2018: Writer’s Retreat!
Tomorrow, I depart for a seven day writer's retreat. In reality, it's just a week in Montreal to assist mom while my sister is out of town, but given the fact that my mother doesn't have internet, I'm expecting it to be a highly productive getaway. There are two high-priority projects on the docket. The…
April 28, 2018: Best Books of 2018 to date!
In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day, I offer my Top Reads of 2018 (to date)! I dedicate this post to my favorite independent bookstore (nine months into my move to Toronto and still): The Book Warehouse, where the staff actually selects their own Staff Picks rather than fronting recommendations from head office. The Armored Saint…
April 27, 2018: You’ve Been Ghosted!
I came across an article a few years ago that explored the phenomenon of "ghosting". In a nutshell, ghosting refers to the act of abruptly breaking off a relationship and ceasing all communications, effectively banishing the other party to an intangible ghost-like existence. As I read the article, I was surprised - not by the…
April 26, 2018: Actor Andrew Moodie Answers Your Questions!
One of the many highlights of working on Dark Matter was the opportunity I got to collaborate with some truly gifted individuals, both in front and behind the camera. Actor Andrew Moodie, who played the role of Teku Fonsei, is one example. He's not only talented, poised, and professional, but one of the nicest guys…
April 25, 2018: Best Comic Book Covers of the Week!
A lot of beautiful artwork this week. These were my favorites... Avengers #690 (cover art by Mark Brooks) Babyteeth #10 (cover art by Garry Brown) Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, vol. 2 (cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli) Darth Vader #15 (cover art by Elia Bonetti and Giuseppe Camuncoli) Doom Patrol #11 (cover…
April 24, 2018: The Five Producers You Meet In Hell!
About a year ago, I touched on one of the most inscrutable aspects of film and television production: the mysterious producer credit. On any given movie or t.v. series, it's fairly easy to identify the respective roles of actors, directors, writers, camera persons, and crafts service personnel - but when it comes to identifying a…
April 23, 2018: Happy World Book Day!
Read these Fantastic 50(ish) Books and thank me later... A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin Affinity by Sarah Waters Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher Camp Concentration by Thomas M. Disch City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer City of Thieves by David Benioff Cutter and Bone by Newton Thornburg Dear…
April 22, 2018: Everybody wants to work with you!
Congratulations. You've just wrapped up your very first round of Hollywood meet-and-greets, sit-downs with production and broadcast executives all over town, and if there is one indisputable fact you can take away from the glorious experience it's this: Everyone wants to work with you! It's true! They said as much in their unbridled enthusiasm for…
April 21, 2018: There’s No Business Like Show Business! Unless You’re Somehow Involved In An Asylum’s Black Market Fried Wraps Operation!
Honestly, growing up, I never aspired to be in show business. From a very early age, my ambitions were relatively simple. I wanted to tell stories or investigate crimes or explore outerspace. Author, Detective, Astronaut - those were my top three choices. I didn't even consider scriptwriting until a friend suggested I give it a…