RED KNIGHT #1

Well, it's coming.

In the spring of 1990, I got interested in creating my own super hero. I had just gotten back into comics at the time. I had stopped when I was 12 and when I became 18, I couldn't help but notice all the cool shit I had missed out on.

I was hooked and hooked forever.

Soon, came the day I wanted to give back. It came in the form of Todd McClain. His first name was THE DESERT KNIGHT. He was a young hero in Texas doing his best to learn on the job. I very soon realized that I knew nothing about Texas and pulled a Marvel, I used my own hometown as the backdrop for his adventures. After a couple of name changes, Todd fights crime as Red Knight.

I'm proud of the fact that the details may have changed over time, but the character hasn't. The series is my love letter to super hero comics and all the crazy shit that can happen in their universe. This truly is MY UNIVERSE.

RED KNIGHT #1 is currently at the printers and is on target for a July 20th release. I want to thank JC Grande. His art is incredible. It's the way I've always pictured this series looking. I also wish to thank Mike Federali for showing me how easy self publishing comics has become. I mainly want to thank my amazing girlfriend, Lindsay Mays. You put up with so much. You edit, you letter, you understand how to deal with printers, you are perfect and I love you. Thanks.

I hope everyone reading this buys RED KNIGHT. It's a longtime goal realized and I have so much to say with this character. With your help, I could write this character for the rest of my life.

CAPRICE on the big screen

Well, it finally happened. I got the chance to watch a film I wrote in a real theater. In the words of FAMILY GUY'S Stewie, "I feel right, Brian. I feel right!"

CAPRICE was shown last night at a women's film festival called, THE REEL DAME FILM FESTIVAL in Richmond Virginia. It was the Grace Street Theater, in the VCU area. CAPRICE's appearance was a last minute entry from what I understand. The director, Jack Bennett had called me a couple of weeks ago with the news.

Naturally, I had to work. It never fails. Every time something last minute occurs, I have to work. However, I was going to do this. Thankfully, Mary at work traded shifts with me. I am forever in her debt. I told her that I owe her a kidney. Considering what a partier she is, I may have to pay up sooner than I'd like. Oh well, fuck it. It was worth it.

Anyway, let's cut to the chase. Lindsay and I got there two hours early. There was time to grab something to eat and check out the films before ours.

I have dreamed for years of being a real writer. To see my work on screen or in print some days felt an impossibility. I have seen the CAPRICE trailer shown at the Chesapeake Library's FANTASMO. This was different. Seeing the entire film with people who don't know me or would barely give a shit about protecting my feelings. Was it scary? Actually, no. It was exciting. For some reason, I wasn't as nervous as I thought I was.

It was a small audience. The film was shown at the end of the night, 10:30, so maybe one could suggest that was it. I still don't think so. Even when I thought there would be a bigger crowd, I was still cooler than I'd thought I'd be. I sat there actually on the edge of my seat. I was a kid on Christmas morning.

I was convinced of how good this movie is. The performances of actors, John, Brandon, and Renee are badass. They're even more so on the big screen. They're all three wonderful actors and we were damn lucky to get them.

Jack Bennett took my decent script and made it a hundred times better. I've worked with a number of talented people over the years, but he is truly the best creative partner I've ever had. Bless his bald head.

I have to say that ever since I started writing back in high school, I've always prided my female characters. I grew up during the 70's and I've always had strong women in my life. I'm always confused that others can't write strong and complex women. Even some female writers have had trouble doing this. I generally feel it's second nature in my work. Having CAPRICE play at a women's film festival was an honor and felt like a natural fit.

I want to thank the good people at THE REEL DAME FILM FESTIVAL for having us there. It'll be an experience I'll remember for the rest of my days.

Writing and Titles

E-Publishing?

I saw a report this morning of a young writer, named Amanda Hocking. She has done something over the past year that I have been dreaming about for a long fucking time. She has made a career out of writing.

I have a wonderful little novel that has been sitting around on my thumb drive. I've been writing literary agents, but I haven't been able to jump that hurdle.

With the CAPRICE film and the RED KNIGHT comic coming out, I really need to think about what I'm going to do with this window of opportunity that fate has given me.

Whatever, I do...it's time to stop fucking around.