Redbeard Comics honcho Austin Rogers shows off his goods.

By our count, nearly a dozen writers, artists and organizations will represent the Alamo City at the Wizard World Austin Comic Con, which runs today through Sunday at the Austin [Read it all...]]]>

Redbeard Comics honcho Austin Rogers shows off his goods.

By our count, nearly a dozen writers, artists and organizations will represent the Alamo City at the Wizard World Austin Comic Con, which runs today through Sunday at the Austin Convention Center. They range from novelist and Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive writer David Liss to the folks behind booming manga publisher Antarctic Press.

Among the other attendees with San Antonio ties:

• Matt Frank, Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters cover artist;

• Austin Rogers, Redbeard Comics owner and artist/writer of Bouncer the Destroyer and Bad Dreams;

• C.S. Moore Studio, the sculpture company headed by San Antonio’s Clayburn Moore.

• A.J. Moore, artist, writer and animator of Super Newts;

• Sam de la Rosa, freelance artist and former inker for Marvel Comics;

• Sherry “Sherlock” Watson, Hugo-nominated sf and fantasy artist;

• Chris Elizardo, freelance model sculptor and E. Studios owner;

• Sith Shadow Council of Texas, San Antonio-based Star Wars fan club;

And while you’re there, you might as well bask in the non-S.A. star power, which includes Aliens star Michael Biehn, numerous award-winning comics creators and cast members from programs including Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Walking Dead and Firefly.

Rhiannon Frater's Fighting to Survive brings the zombie horde to small-town Texas.

Austin-based author Rhiannon Frater will be signing there from 2-4 p.m. to celebrate the release of Fighting to Survive (Tor Books), the second book [Read it all...]]]>

Rhiannon Frater's Fighting to Survive brings the zombie horde to small-town Texas.

Austin-based author Rhiannon Frater will be signing there from 2-4 p.m. to celebrate the release of Fighting to Survive (Tor Books), the second book in her “As the World Dies” zombie trilogy. Copies of the first book, The First Days, also will be on hand.

Frater’s trilogy follows a pair of ass-kicking female protagonists as they join other survivors of the zombie plague inside the walled-off center of a Texas small town. Together, the group must forage for food, build shelter and set up a new social order — all while battling flesh-eating undead and ruthless bandits.

Fighting to Survive won the Dead Letter Award for Best Novel from website Mail Order Zombie. The First Days also won the Dead Letter Award and was named one of the Best Zombie Books of the Decade by the Harrisburg Book Examiner.

Frater is author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters.

The La Cantera Barnes & Noble is located at 15900 La Cantera Parkway.

Bet that stings: The Bad Moon Books edition of Joe McKinney's The Red Empire.

Now he’s unleashing fire ants on them.

A new trade paperback edition of McKinney’s The Red Empire — a novella about inch-long, super-intelligent fire ants [Read it all...]]]>

Bet that stings: The Bad Moon Books edition of Joe McKinney's The Red Empire.

Now he’s unleashing fire ants on them.

A new trade paperback edition of McKinney’s The Red Empire — a novella about inch-long, super-intelligent fire ants loosed on an unsuspecting South Texas — will hit the shelves January 2012 from fledgling publisher Redrum Horror.

The book also will include seven McKinney short stories, including two specifically penned for this edition. But don’t expect any of the shambling undead creatures McKinney built the early part of his career on.

“There won’t be any zombies, so folks are going to get a taste of my other interests in the horror genre,” he says. “I’m doing this new version of the book because I was eager to branch out to other kinds of horror. Readers will find stories merging science fiction and horror, Lovecraftian horror and of course some psychological horror.”

The limited first edition of The Red Empire came out earlier this year from Bad Moon Books. Most, if not all, of those 1,000 books have sold out, McKinney adds.

And just in case you just can’t get enough of Joe, head on over to author Kealan Patrick Burke’s blog, where he does a guest shot writing about the virtues of creepy old buildings.

Rob Perez and his partners, Anthony Trinidad and Steve Balser, are the brains and brushes behind ArtSlam!, a bi-monthly event that invites local visual artists to create work based around a common theme while local bands and D.J.’s fuel their [Read it all...]]]>

Local visual artists have a drink with Rob Perez (Center) following another successful ArtSlam!

Rob Perez and his partners, Anthony Trinidad and Steve Balser, are the brains and brushes behind ArtSlam!, a bi-monthly event that invites local visual artists to create work based around a common theme while local bands and D.J.’s fuel their creativity. Those themes quite often center around sf, fantasy and horror — zombies, superheroes and Star Wars, for example, have provided inspiration for past ArtSlam! events.

Long impressed with ArtSLam!’s diverse crowds and continued success — the event recently celebrated its five-year anniversary — we asked Rob to fill us in on how he’s kept the event rolling and why sf, fantasy and horror continue to inspire its participants.

The next ArtSlam! takes place Saturday, Sept. 24, at the White Rabbit, 2410 N. St. Mary’s. Forty artists are expected to create works based around the theme of Martial Arts. Education and The Hawks of Holy Rosary Great will provide musical entertainment, and DJ Louie Dollars will provide Wu-Tang Clan karaoke.

How did ArtSlam! Get started? How many have you held so far?

I am a big comic geek. Back in 2005 I went to Wizard World in Dallas and met two of my favorite artists, Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland. After the con I went to their live art after party at some nearby bar. It was the first time I had ever seen art as entertainment! I knew at that moment that I needed to start something like this in San Antonio. At the time, I only knew a handful of artists and all were close friends. After a lot of over planning and stress, ARTSLAM! was created. January 26, 2006. We had one DJ and five artists, including me. Maybe 20 people showed up, and it was one of the best nights of my life. On a side note, it was also the first night I kissed my future wife. I have no idea how many shows we have held.

What’s the driving force behind ArtSlam!? What are you hoping to generate by bringing together artists, bands and spectators?

I think the “driving force” really is the artists. We all love getting together to create and learn things from each other. I do my best to make every show a challenge to the artists involved. I basically modeled the show after high school art class! These events have already surpassed my hopes. Its overwhelming to me that the San Antonio artistic community would embrace ARTSLAM! this much. It’s really up to them and the spectators as to how far we go with this.

Each ArtSlam! has a theme, and many seem to center around science fiction, fantasy and horror. So far, you’ve had zombies, superheroes, Star Wars, and now martial arts. What’s the appeal of these genres?

We try to use themes that the artists, bands and spectators can really get excited about. For that one night, we do our best to bring these themes to life, and give you a chance to take some of that home with you by having all the art created that night up for silent auction!

What’s been your most-successful ArtSlam!?

So far, without a doubt, our five-year anniversary show. I was able to fly in my two biggest inspirations for the event (and my art) Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland! It will be extremely hard for us to top the energy and excitement of that show, but we will continue to try.

Speaking of your five-year anniversary, what’s the secret to the longevity?

The first two years of the event were extremely fun and a learning experience. I was doing all the booking, planning, fliers, gathering of artists, everything myself. Then I ran into Anthony Trinidad of Drunken Monkey Promotions and he jumped on to help me book new bands and venues for the show. That was a huge boost for the show because I was able to concentrate on other aspects of the event. Then, about a year later, Steve Balser (Scuba Gooding Sr.) joined, and the trinity was complete! The show thrived and survived because it was fueled by three determined and creative people who really believed in this event. I had always told myself that as long as people wanted to paint live or see live art, they would keep us going.

San Antonio has a growing rep as a visual art town. What do you think it’s doing right and wrong as it builds its art scene?

I have seen many different types of live art shows come and go over the years. It’s great because it give artists more opportunity to show their skills other then just art an ARTSLAM!. I believe, as an artist, you have to take almost every chance you can get to display your art in public. I say almost because some times you know that a particular show may not be worth your time. San Antonio is defiantly heading in the right direction. One thing I would like to see is more different types of live art style shows. Instead of rehashing what others are doing or have done, why not a collaborated art battle, or a vinyl toy art party, something new?

Who are some of the bands and musicians that have graced your stage over the years? What’s the importance of having music as a component to the event?

There have been hundreds of local bands and DJs that have participated in our shows over the years, all of them great. One band that sticks out in my mind is Wholesale Piracy. The lead singer of the band has been painting in ARTSLAM! since day one. His band officially broke up years ago, but they play only one show a year and it’s at ARTSLAM! That’s always a treat. Music is a natural addition to the events. I like to jam some tunes while I paint, so it was only fitting to have live music helping inspire the artists throughout the night. It’s a perfect marriage of two types of art!

If you could have any three bands play your next ArtSlam! who would they be?

Well only because the next theme is Martial Arts, I thought it would have been cool to have Peelander Z play! Another band that I liked growing up was Audio Karate, that would have been a perfect fit. Or of course the Wu-Tang Clan would have killed it, but the next best thing is we’re having Wu-Tang karaoke at the show from Louie Dollars! We will also be giving away a free limited edition Martial ARTSLAM! shirt to people who participate in the karaoke. It’s going to be nuts!

Thanks for doing the interview. To close it out, what are your five favorite sf, fantasy and/or horror comics, novels and 
movies?

My five comics would be The Walking Dead, Transmetropolitan, Y the Last Man, The Preacher and Sin City.

My five movies are They Live, Evil Dead 1 and 2, Star Wars, Ghostbusters and Back to the Future.

Austin’s Scott A. Johnson is the author of Cold Spots: The Ghosts of San Antonio, a book chronicling the varied and interesting spirits haunting our fair city. His book isn’t the only tome attempting to chronicle San Antonio’s creepy side, but with a 2008 [Read it all...]]]>

Author and paranormal researcher Scott A. Johnson shops for headstones.

Austin’s Scott A. Johnson is the author of Cold Spots: The Ghosts of San Antonio, a book chronicling the varied and interesting spirits haunting our fair city. His book isn’t the only tome attempting to chronicle San Antonio’s creepy side, but with a 2008 publication date, it’s the most recent we’ve found — and has the attraction of being penned by a real-life ghost hunter.

That’s right, in addition to being an author of nonfiction books on ghosts and numerous horror novels, Johnson is a paranormal investigator. He also is a regular contributor to the website Dread Central, chronicling his encounters with things that go bump in the night.

We caught up with Scott recently to find out what attracted him to San Antonio ghosts and how he manages to juggle the writing profession and his supernatural obsession.

As an Alamo City-based blog, we were thrilled to stumble across Cold Spots: The Ghosts of San Antonio. Tell us how that book came about. What was it about San Antonio’s ghosts that attracted you to write and research the book?

San Antonio is the birthplace of so many Texas legends that it seemed like a great place to start. Everyone knows the Alamo ghost stories and the train tracks story, and I’m always interested in finding out the truth behind stories like those. So that got me interested in finding out about some of the lesser known stories like the Emily Morgan Hotel, the Black Swan Inn, and other haunted hotspots.

Tell us about some of your favorite San Antonio ghosts and haunted sites.

The Menger Hotel is probably my favorite, but the Witte Museum and the Institute for Texan Cultures have to be right up there at the top of the list. The Menger, simply for the sheer number of hauntings, and the weirdness of a few of them. The Witte because of who is haunting it, and the fact that it’s just such a fascinating place. And the Institute for the same reasons.

Cold Spots also has an Austin companion tome. Which of those two Texas cities is more haunted? Which has more interesting ghosts?

San Antonio is more haunted, but they’re on an even playing field with “most interesting” ghosts. I mean, on one hand you have the most famous massacre in the history of Texas, and on the other you have the United States’ first serial killer. You’ve got haunted hotels in both cities and haunted theaters in both. You really can’t pick one over the other.

What is the San Antonio ghost story you absolutely believe is true?

I believe, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the stories (ALL of them) about the Menger are true, including the stories about Teddy Roosevelt’s rough riders haunting the bar.

What San Antonio ghost story are you convinced is absolutely not true?

The “Ghost Tracks.” See, the story that everyone’s heard never happened. Go back as far as you like, but you’ll never find an incident of a bus full of kids getting hit on those tracks. The names of the streets? They’re the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of the guy who laid out that part of the city. Put a carpenter’s level on the tracks and you’ll see that your car is actually rolling downhill. It’s an optical illusion.

Scott A. Johnson's book on San Antonio ghosts.

Who would win a fight between the Donkey Lady and the Railroad Track Kids?

Santa Clause. The person that people should be most concerned about is La Llorona. She’s one that could be real. The other two…not so much.

You’re a part-time ghost hunter and the paranormal editor for Dread Central. How did you get into researching and writing about the paranormal?

I grew up around it. My home town is covered in ghost stories, a few of which are about my own family. I was always that creepy kid, and those things always fascinated me.

You obviously believe in ghosts. Has your field work reinforced that belief or made you more skeptical?

During the course of my field work, I’ve captured voices on recorders from empty rooms. My wife’s been scratched by hands that weren’t there. I’ve seen objects move unassisted… I guess you could say it’s made me more of a willing believer. I’m still skeptical about EVERY haunting, mainly because there’s usually something that’s the cause for the supposed phenomena. What one person hears as breathing, I hear as the air-conditioning coming on. What one person senses as a threatening presence, I find is actually the vapors from noxious chemicals they keep in their closet. But occasionally something happens for which there’s no explanation. That’s when things get interesting.

In addition to nonfiction work, you write horror. Tell us about some of your recent publications.

I’m currently working on book three of the Stanley Cooper Chronicles, which is about a fellow who died for three minutes and was brought back, only to discover that his untimely demise lets him now see ghosts and energy patterns. This is what I like to call “horror-noir,” and it’s got a bit of dark urban fantasy thrown in for good measure. I’ve actually had eleven books to date published, and only three of them are non-fiction. The other eight deal with serial killers, zombies, and, of course, ghosts. My agent currently has two novels of mine that are also ghost stories.

Does it help or hinder your imagination as a horror writer to have a background in paranormal investigation?

I find it helps because I want my fiction to be as real as possible. I want people to be sucked into that creepy moment without being pulled out by a Hollywood ghost story. I want them to hear creaking footsteps and breathing from under their beds. And being in some genuinely creepy situations has really helped me convey that.

What is it about ghosts and ghosts stories that continues to capture our imaginations?

Ghost stories are modern-day parables. They teach lessons, remind us of our humanity, and remind us why we’re afraid of the dark. People say they don’t believe in ghosts, but you show me the strongest man in the world, put him in the right creepy setting, and let him lay in bed with the blankets pulled up tight while the sound of footsteps cross the room and the sound of breathing comes from beneath his bed, and you discover something. In the dark, everyone believes.

And now the request with which we conclude most of our interviews: Name your five favorite books, movies and comic books.

Comic Books:
The Crow
Thirty Days of Night
Kingdom Come
Watchmen
Secret Wars (the original, not the crappy sequel!)

Books:
Hell House by Richard Matheson
The Damnation Game by Clive Barker
The Shining by Stephen King
The Collected Works of H.P. Lovecraft
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Movies:
The Exorcist
Hellraiser
In the Mouth of Madness
Trick-R-Treat
Friday 13th

The Australian popular science magazine Cosmos serialized an earlier version of the novel on its website, where it got some 100,000 hits. Broderick was founding science fiction editor of the [Read it all...]]]> The near-future science fiction novel Post Mortal Syndrome, by San Antonio’s Damien Broderick and his wife Barbara Lamar is now available in trade paperback print.

The Australian popular science magazine Cosmos serialized an earlier version of the novel on its website, where it got some 100,000 hits. Broderick was founding science fiction editor of the magazine, serving in that position until late 2010.

Wildside Press’ Borgo imprint released the book version of Post Mortal Syndrome earlier this month.

“We tried to do the impossible thing for a thriller aimed at the mass market: depict scientific developments and paradigm change in a (cautiously) positive light and the enemies of life extension and human enhancement as the deathists they are,” Broderick says.

There’s none we can suggest more highly than the 33rd annual ArmadilloCon, where variety of well-known sf, fantasy and horror writers will read works, sign books and debate weighty subjects ranging from what books belong on a college-level sf reading list and why people just can’t get [Read it all...]]]> Looking for a geeky diversion this weekend?

There’s none we can suggest more highly than the 33rd annual ArmadilloCon, where variety of well-known sf, fantasy and horror writers will read works, sign books and debate weighty subjects ranging from what books belong on a college-level sf reading list and why people just can’t get enough of those wacky flesh-eating zombies.

Guests at the venerable Austin convention include Guest of Honor Paolo Bacigalupi, author of The Windup Girl, which has won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and just about every other award you can think of; Artist Guest Vincent Villafranca, known for his vibrantly imaginative bronzes; Editor Guest Lou Anders, award-winning editorial director for Pyr Books; Fan Guest Fred Duarte Jr.; Toastmaster Mark Finn; and Special Guests Emma Bull and Will Shetterly.

I counted nearly 100 participants, including horror giant Joe R. Lansdale, off-the-wall short story writer Howard Waldrop and fellow Alamo City residents David Liss, Scott A. Cupp and myself. (Cupp, I believe, has attended every Armadillocon since the con was established.)

The convention is being held Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Renaissance Hotel Austin, 9721 Arboretum Blvd. Three-day memberships are $50. Individual daily passes are available for $20 (Friday and Sunday) and $35 (Saturday).

I have enjoyed every Armadillocon I have attended, and I appreciate the organizers’ continued focus on sf, fantasy and horror literature. Yes, folks, good old-fashioned books. That’s not to say no one dresses up in costume, bitches that Firefly was cancelled or huddles in a corner playing GURPS while nibbling on Cheetos, just that media and gaming are not the sole reasons for the con’s existence.

If you’re a reader, a writer or aspire to be either, it’s a con not to miss. Especially since it’s just an hour’s drive from the Alamo City.

For a full rundown, including a list of all the panels and participants, check out the Armadillocon website.

The book, Liss’s first full-length foray into speculative fiction, hit the shelves earlier this week. Although Liss has penned a number [Read it all...]]]> San Antonio author David Liss will appear Friday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. at the San Pedro Ave. Barnes & Noble to discuss and sign copies of his new supernatural novel, The Twelfth Enchantment.

The book, Liss’s first full-length foray into speculative fiction, hit the shelves earlier this week. Although Liss has penned a number of comic titles for Marvel lately — not to mention a zombie story or two — his prior novels have been historical thrillers, including the critically acclaimed The Coffee Trader.

The Twelfth Enchantment (Random House) tells the story of Lucy Derrick, a young woman of good breeding and poor finances whose life takes an unexpected turn when the rakish poet Lord Byron arrives at her house with a cryptic message. As a result, she is pulled into a dangerous conspiracy in which her life and England’s future are in the balance. Aided by ancient powers and menaced by powerful enemies, Lucy must draw on her newfound magical skills to prevent catastrophe and preserve humanity’s future. Along the way, she also must decide between two exceptional men after a place in her heart.

The book already is earning high praise from the spec-fic crowd. Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches, praised Liss for his “deft touch with historical subject matter and his ability to craft tremendously appealing characters.”

Warriors of the Tao collects 16 essays of sf criticism.

Broderick [Read it all...]]]>

Warriors of the Tao collects 16 essays of sf criticism.

Broderick and Ikin penned separate introductions, and the volume also includes 16 essays examining, among other things, Cordwainer Smith as an ethical pragmatist, the non-sf novels of Philip K. Dick, Samuel R. Delany’s “Driftglass,” and sex and sexuality in sf.

“It’s quite a beautiful trade paperback, with a very cool cover by my polymathic neuroscientist pal Anders Sandberg,” Damien says. “I hope a few people are intrigued enough to take a look and even (gasp!) buy a copy.”

And, he points out, it’s also available “dirt cheap” on Nook, Kindle and other e-book formats.

San Japan, South Texas’ premiere Japanese culture and anime convention, is almost upon us.

The annual event, which draws thousands of attendees, will take place Aug. 5-7 at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. This year’s guests include a bevy of artists, voice actors, musicians and [Read it all...]]]>

Cosplayers show off their fancy duds at San Japan 2010.

San Japan, South Texas’ premiere Japanese culture and anime convention, is almost upon us.

The annual event, which draws thousands of attendees, will take place Aug. 5-7 at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. This year’s guests include a bevy of artists, voice actors, musicians and cosplayers, including Shinichi “Nabeshin” Watanabe, the anime director behind “Bonobono,” “Excel Saga,” “The Wallflower,” “Tenchi Muyo! GXP” and “Nerima Daikon Brothers.”

As with years past, San Japan 2011 will include a dealer’s room, a formal dance masquerade, cosplay events, art shows, screenings, panels, live-action role playing and an Ani-Idol singing contest. New this year are Poke-Battle Live!, a Pokemon play fight, and the Hetalia World Summit cosplay event.

Pre-registration is available via San Japan’s website. Three-day passes cost $45, and San Japan also offers less expensive single-day passes and pricier Gold and Silver passes that grant attendees special privileges.

If you’ve visited San Antonio’s Alamo Drafthouse locations lately, you may have seen a new San Japan 2011 commercial created by Bryan Ortiz (of “Doctor S Battles the Sex-Crazed Reefer Zombies” fame). You can watch the commercial after the jump…