garyfrank

You're gonna have to have them all pulled out after the Savoy Truffle

2008-05-15T17:43:03Z

Anyone ever try Dagoba Organic Chocolate: Conacado 73%? Forest grown organic cacao from the Conacado Cooperative, Dominican Republic.

After 75% it gets too bitter for me.

Dagoba has a number of delicious chocolates. Hand crafted by Yoda himself.

"Healthy and organic you will find these chocolates. Yes."

I'm walking on sunshine

2008-05-15T17:37:41Z

My book came yesterday! Institutional Memory arrived and...um...well...

Sort of.

The pdf proof file arrived via email for the last go over.

The cover flats arrived via mail.

As if the writing life isn't complicated enough, now books are coming with some assembly required!

Peace,
Gary . . .

P.S.: Note: the other day I said I was listening to Dan Murphy's Chasing Ghosts. His name is, in fact, Dave Murphy.

We've all got these feelings we can't leave unreconciled

2008-05-14T17:58:28Z

The wounded ego is born when we are told not to be who we are. We're either told to "stop that!" or through beliefs we're taught about ourselves that we're "not enough". The ego fractures into the healthy part that is the authentic us and the wounded part that is the part we believe we should be. If we come to believe that we're "not enough" (smart enough, tall enough, quiet enough, mature enough, creative enough, rational enough) then there's the great potential that we will subvert our authentic self and spend our lives trying to live up to being enough for our parents which means forcing ourselves to live a life hoping to gain our parents acceptance, approval, and support. It's possible to go through an entire lifetime never knowing the "not enough" belief is what's motivating us.

While we live from "not enough" we bury our authentic self. Who we truly are is looked at as wrong or inadequate or even in the way of creating the "right" life. We tell ourselves lies in order to sustain the wounded ego's quest for perfection. The wounded ego uses the 3 D's to survive: Deceptions, Distractions, and Diversions. There are many more like Denial, Delusion; feel free to add your own or make up your own list.

The point to all this is that since I started reading Deb Ford's book "Why Good People Do Bad Things" I've come face to face with my wounded ego. The belief that I'm not enough has taken over my life and has forced the submergence of my authentic self. Today I realized I've been telling myself that my imagination is (metaphorically) locked up in a box in a locked room and I can't get to it. The well's dried up and it ain't never gonna rain again.

But yesterday I started a new story and without thinking, some very imaginative bits came through which flies in the face of what I've been telling myself. Then I knew it was that part of me that doesn't want to be creative because it's not the "right" life. The truth is that whatever my parents want from me, they will never get. I can't seek their approval or support or acceptance for what I want, nor can I try to live the life they'll be happy with.

This all seems really simple. A "no kidding" moment. But it's not that particular truth that's difficult. It's that I'm still trying to deceive myself into giving up being creative, telling myself I don't write often enough or I'm not imaginative enough or whatever I'm not enough of to be what I dream. I'm sure none of you know what that's like!

Uncovering the truth of my own deception is enlightening. How many people do you know tell themselves they're not enough "X" so they can't do "Y" and live their lives defeated? I would venture to say many artistic types disqualify themselves from their own potential by telling themselves their not enough.

So what to do now? Recognize the deception and heal the wounded ego, acknowledging that I am enough to do whatever I want and not let the shame and guilt of the past guide my future. It's a work in progress.

Thanks for listening.

Peace,
Gary . . .

Just my imagination running away with me

2008-05-14T13:52:19Z

Do you see imagination and creativity as synonymous or as two separate things?

Is creativity the means of expressing your imagination?

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

Gary . . .

P.S.: Of course there's a post coming!

My eyes have just been opened and they're open very wide

2008-05-13T17:12:07Z

I have discovered the awareness to know what's wrong and the knowledge that for right now and the foreseeable future, there's nothing I can do about it. Is that really true?

It is what I think. What I think and what's true are not the same thing. How's that? I think based on what I believe and what I believe comes from way back and what I was taught about my self by my parental units. For those playing along at home, that was defined as "not enough."

What's true is beyond me, it's much bigger. It's the unlimited potential of the human mind, spirit, and imagination, coupled with God's energy (we call it the power of faith). The mantra of the limited human is "I can't". I've done that when I didn't believe in myself and/or when I didn't believe in something greater than myself (God). Perhaps the correct phrase is: when I don't believe in myself and/or when I don't believe in God. Hey, this is an ongoing process.

I don't like surrendering my will to God. Things take too long. I'd rather fail quickly by my own control than wait around for God to work things out in God's time. It's like human ADD as opposed to accepting life on God's terms. Is it better to succeed in little ways right now or in positive life-altering ways over time? I leave that to you.

After several specific enlightening moments, I see how I've become this person and what my masks are that keep me hidden. I see what I can do if I choose to. But I look around and know this isn't where I want to be. I am more than this.

Let me clarify: This isn't about my marriage. This is about employment, self-worth, and my creativity. Though lately (since the Being Fearless conference), I've been unable to write. I've tried. I've sat down and stared at a story and given up. I don't know why. I've stated that I feel like I'm in mid-leap over a chasm between who I was and who I can be. In the meantime, I'm not sure who I am, but I've still got these threads tied to who I was and they keep pulling me back. Now, today, I'm in mid-leap, but starting to fall.

I can't go back; I'm too awake and too aware. But I'm not awake enough to move forward with a new sense of who I am, without giving into the fear and the rest of my baggage. I suppose letting go of all these Samsonites would allow me to keep leaping without the burden of the past dragging me down. Hm...something to consider.

Thanks for listening.

Peace,
Gary . . .

I read the news today, oh boy...

2008-05-13T03:47:56Z

Yeah, it's that lyric again, but it's so relevant.

I just read this bit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7397400.stm about our president ready to "strengthen" the Lebanese army against the "Iranian-backed" Hezbollah army. Exactly how does he plan to strengthen the army? Pulling troops out of Afghanistan? Out of Iraq? How about stop-lossing all of our troops. Done your tour in Iraq? Great, we'll fly you over to Lebanon so you can do a tour there supporting the Lebanese army.

And guess who the most destabilizing force is? Iran! How soon do we attack? Between now and October, right?

It's late. I'm off to sleep. I promise I'll stop the political discourse and return to mundane discussions like writing and life.

Gary . . .

The trench is dug within our hearts...(part 3)

2008-05-12T03:57:35Z

Human rights. I'm sure there must be a country on the face of this planet with an "outstanding" human rights record. I read an article about Mia Farrow protesting in Hong Kong the other day and there were some interesting comments from readers.

Someone wanted to know why Mia wasn't turning her attention to the human rights violations going on in this country. Some pointed to the Sean Bell murder as an example of a human rights violation. Others suggested Gauntanamo Bay, while others offered up the invasion of Iraq as a human rights violation. Some questioned how we can have our business dealings with Saudi Arabia and yet point our finger at China for their business dealings.

If only the finger pointing, the bureaucracy, name calling, pandering, gesturing, insinuating, political blaming, and the rhetoric would stop.

Imagine a world focused on solving human rights violations, solving humanitarian crises, and not letting political agendas get in the way. The point is, nothing is being accomplished so long as politics are being played out on the world stage like a 1st grade play.

It's always at times of humanitarian crises that the musicians and artists lead the charge for change, rarely the politicians. Example: if you haven't heard "Make Some Noise: The Campaign to Save Darfur", check it out. It's a double CD of John Lennon songs done by other artists to raise money for Amnesty International's work in Darfur.

As much as I considered just doing a entry here and there on Darfur, I've realized I'm too passionate about this. I don't expect everyone to jump on the bandwagon and get as passionate to help as I'm getting to be, but I need to talk about this, to bring awareness to those that don't what's going on. Heck, before I heard Mia Farrow, I didn't know where Darfur was. (It's the western part of Sudan that borders on Chad). Besides, talking about this keeps me from posting entries about my so-called writers life (and who wants to hear about that?)

There are books (I'm currently reading Not On Our Watch by Cheadle & Prendergast), movies (Darfur Now is coming out on May 27), and I'm sure many other sources of information on what's happening there. I've also started a "Give a dollar for Darfur" campaign in hopes of donating money to www.savedarfur.org.

You know the drill. Thanks for reading (if you've been keeping up). And don't despair; I'll be returning to how much I "love" writing soon enough!

Peace alla y'all

Gary . . .

I can't close my eyes and make it go away...(part 2)

2008-05-12T03:32:27Z

In part 1 I talked about bringing awareness to the situation in Darfur, why I'm doing this and what I hope to accomplish. Part 2 is on intervention. Read on.

Intervention. This is a very timely issue as we wonder what to do in Myanmar when the junta refuses to let international and U.S. aid workers in to help people. If you go in to a sovereign nation without the government's permission, even if you're going in to save the very people the government purports to care about, it's called an invasion. It's true in Myanmar and it's true in Darfur. However, this site: http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org is the result of the U.N. World Summit in 2005. The basic gist is that if a government cannot or is unwilling to take care of the people it represents, the international community must step in. Doesn't seem like it's helping.

The question of U.S. intervention in Africa, Darfur specifically, is a tricky issue that must be dealt with carefully. We've seen the result of our "liberation" in other parts of the world (and in other parts of Africa) and it never turns out quite as we planned. I would never suggest marching any size U.S. force into Darfur as we don't belong there, we're not invited, and we don't have enough troops ready to go. Even sending troops to help the millions displaced is, in reality, an invasion, and until we're asked to step in, we shouldn't.

That sounds wrong; should we continue to let people die because we're afraid of offending the government? Wasn't a problem in Iraq. But I digress. The U.N. has been reluctant to take a firm stand against the Sudanese government and that's what needs to be done. Unfortunately, it's caught up in a bureaucratic disagreement on how to proceed in Darfur without overstepping its boundaries (invading a sovereign nation).

Does there come a point where "invasion" is acceptable to offer aid to people? What number of dead civilians has to be reached before a government says okay, come in and help?

What do you think?

Gary . . .

I can't believe the news today...(part 1)

2008-05-12T03:17:45Z

I was going to just respond to a friend's comments with a comment, but I thought it would be more interesting to respond with a three part post. So here's part 1 regarding Darfur.

Part 1.
When I set out to bring awareness of the crimes against humanity happening in Darfur (and the rest of the chaotic turmoil that is Africa), I figured somewhere along the line someone would question my reasons for doing so or even go so far as to say we have more important things to worry about. Why Darfur? Why now? My answer is simple: Because we're all human beings and no one on the face of this planet, Republican, Democrat, Conservative, or Liberal should accept a government's militia killing over 200,000 innocent people because of religious reasons.

The biggest problem with what happens in Africa is that here in the western world it's almost a non-event. When was the last time you heard anything on the news about the Janjaweed murdering civilians and burning villages? If you have heard recently, let me know where and when. But I can't imagine why it is a non-event when it is a major humanitarian crisis.

Did you know that during the Rwanda genocide 800,000 people were exterminated in 100 days*? Was that all over the news? Was there a national imperative to do something to save these people?

My goal is not to save every indigenous person in Darfur. It's to bring awareness to those unaware, to question those who support the Sudanese government, to speak to those who have the power to do something to help, and whatever else I can do in my small way. If this troubles someone, I would have to ask where there compassion is for their fellow human beings.

The notion of bringing spiritual leaders to Sudan to speak to the government was born out of the idea that our anger, rage, and hate come out of our fears. Perhaps, getting beyond the greed and religious persecution, there is a fear there that can be confronted and resolved before several hundred thousand more people die. Maybe there isn't, but isn't it better to try than not to?

Thank you.

Gary . . .

*Information taken from "Not On Our Watch" by Don Cheadle & John Prendergast

African Action Rally For Darfur in NYC

2008-05-09T03:17:29Z

Join Africa Action and Partners in a Rally to Stop Genocide in Darfur!

WHAT: A rally at the U.S. Mission at the United Nations to deliver thousands of handprints and messages from all over the country demanding decisive U.S. action to end genocide in Darfur.

WHEN: May 22, 2008; Noon - 2:00pm.

WHERE: U.S Mission to the United Nations in New York, 140 East 45th St, between 3rd and Lexington Avenues.

WHY NOW: The U.S. takes over the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on June 1, 2008. This is our opportunity to demand decisive action. Specifically, that the U.S. uses its influence in the U.N. to push for the deployment of well equipped peacekeepers in Darfur.

WHO: While Africa Action is the lead organizer, everyone is invited to co-sponsor and participate. To co-sponsor, you need to make a commitment to bring at least 5-10 people to the event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Briggs (briggs@africaaction.org) or Marie (marie@africaaction.org)

Africa Action
1634 Eye St, N.W., Suite 810
Washington, DC 20006
T: 202.546.7961
www.africaaction.org

Political Information

2008-05-05T16:20:15Z

www.factcheck.org

www.ontheissues.org

Feel free to share these sites with your friends. They're both very useful in getting some idea of where candidates stand on every issue and the truth of what they're saying.

Neither of these sites are partisan. Just in case you're wondering.

Have a gratifying, philanthropic day.

Gary . . .

Where's Darfur?

2008-04-29T00:32:27Z

For those out there who aren't sure where Darfur is, this is a link to a map of Africa. Darfur is located in Western Sudan near the border of Chad.

http://www.library.northwestern.edu/africana/map/

The Central Republic of Africa (right under Chad and Sudan) is also an area of conflict with Darfur refugees fleeing there.

Gary . . .

Radio, Radio

2008-04-28T17:58:13Z

(A little Elvis Costello (very little as a matter of fact))

We live in an age where we decide what we believe is true based on the information we're given. That information is funneled to us by people who pick and choose what they decide we should see, hear and read. If they deem something inappropriate, then we won't see it. It's secretive censorship at the highest level.

We are at the mercy of these corporate CEO's whims; we watch, read, listen and despair at what we're shown: the scandals, feuds, and the non-news that used to be relegated to entertainment shows like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. More people in this country know the name of Tom and Katie's child, Angelina's children, Jennifer Lopez's twins than have any idea where Darfur is.

Truth has been supplanted by entertainment because ratings (and dollars) have become more important than humanitarianism. And what's to be done? None of the politicians this election season has spoken on control of the airwaves. Since Reagan repealed the Fairness Act in 1987 that had been in place since 1949, we've had fewer and fewer options in this country to get the truth. Now I've got to seek out foreign sources to learn what's happening in my own country.

For more on the Fairness Act: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2053

Where's the outrage? It's focused on the judges of American Idol when they dispatch our favorite underdog. It's there when we frown at who got kicked off Survivor. It rears its ugly head when our favorite next top model or top chef is sent packing. No longer does the plight of the homeless, poor, hungry, disenfranchised, and refugee incite us to take action. If we even hear about it, we think, glad that's not me as we pick up the remote control and start surfing through hundreds of channels of mind-numbing drivel because we need to escape from reality.

What about those whose reality consists of begging for food, or wondering if they're going to survive the night because soldiers are burning their villages, or who wonder where they're going to live now that they had to foreclose on their home?

It's time to be outraged. It's time to start demanding all those supposed news stations start reporting the real news and leave Britney, Ashley, Jennifer, Tom, Brad, Paris, and all the rest of them to the entertainment infomercials where they belong.

The airwaves are ours; they belong to the American people. It's time to take them back.

Feel free to share this with everyone you know via copying, forwarding, or linking. Thanks.

Peace,
Gary . . .

I read the news today, oh boy

2008-04-28T17:17:18Z

Well, all right, I didn't read it, I heard it. But that's the way the song was written and who am I to change things?

BBC News Today:

Bad Boys of Cricket. A Mr. Singh, after a cricket match, while shaking hands with other players, slapped a fellow player so hard, the other man started crying. What? Ah, the sport of gentlemen.

Jennifer Baumgarten (an activist in NYC) has created two T-shirt designs: I had an abortion and I've been raped. The idea is to break the taboo and give voice to the silence. I'm not sure how I feel about this but it seems really strange. That would sort of be like wearing a T-shirt that announces your darkest shame. Not something I would do. Heck, I'd sooner post it on the Internet than wear a...waitaminute. I have posted it on the Internet!

UN Peacekeeping forces from India and Pakistan are allegedly arming militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo in exchange from gold. The UN knows of the allegations, but says they've all been proven false except for a couple of individuals. In one case, the militia that the peacekeepers are "doing business" with were responsible for the genocide in Rwanda. The more I learn about Africa, the sadder I am. The country has to be one of the most hellish places on Earth. The brutality that goes on in almost every country is heartbreaking. I'm not joking when I think we need to send spiritual leaders in to speak with the commanders and military leaders and help them overcome their fears and ego.

Feel free to reply with any other interesting news bits you hear or read about.

Peace,
Gary . . .

Why isn't God doing anything?

2008-04-28T03:53:16Z

Ever hear that question? It's usually associated with tragedies. When you hear a story of a young girl who was "miraculously" cured, you hear people ask, "Why isn't God helping these people?" or "How could God let this happen?"

9/11, Rwanda, Darfur, the Holocaust. I'm sure we can all add our own tragedies to the list.

What if, instead of blaming God, or holding the Universe responsible for these events, we take responsibility as humans and help our fellow people? Why isn't God helping the people in Darfur? He is helping by inspiring people like Mia Farrow and many others to take action where governments and the UN get bogged down in bureaucracy.

The problem isn't God. It's us. It doesn't affect us so we turn away from the genocide and offer up a tiny prayer, thanking God that it's someone else and not us or our friends and family. But you know what? Those people over there in Africa are someone's family and someone's friends and they are dying by the hundreds.

I saw Mia Farrow and I've been inspired to act. I'm donating all the tips from my next shows to the cause. I'm going to write letters to helicopter manufacturers, olympic sponsors, congress people, and the IOC, asking for their help in stopping the killing. I've started a Dollar For Darfur program, asking people to give one dollar. Every 30 days, I'll take the accumulated dollars and send them to www.savedarfur.org.

If you're wanna contribute, email me at worldwhispers@yahoo.com. Ask your friends to donate. What's $1? Think of it like this: You can either buy that side order of fries, full of grease, oil, cholesterol (that eventually will force you to start taking Vytorin or Lipator for the rest of your life) and calories (that may never go away) or you can send that $1 to a worthy cause and get someone in Africa some food and medical assistance.

If you're feeling overly generous, you can send $5 (or more) and I'll send you a SaveDarfur.org green wristband as a thank you.

So the next time you wonder why God's not helping someone, look in the mirror and ask yourself what you can do to help. You may be one person, but sometimes, you're the only one who can hear the call and when you speak truth to power, you don't know who's listening and who will be inspired by you to act.

Peace,
Gary . . .

It's getting better all the time

2008-04-28T03:35:47Z

I did it! The text file and the cover file for the Garden State Horror Writers new anthology, Dark Territories (only $14.95) have been uploaded to lightning Source!

What's this mean?

It means that I'm done. Finished. Complete. Thank you contributors, thank you Mary (co-editor), thank you Nanci (text formatter), thank you Steve (cover artist), and thank you Neal (cover file formatter).

Next stage: the proof copy.

Next stage: Real Books!

There will be signings and such and ways to order this incredible anthology (12 new stories by GSHW members and 3 reprints by Kathy Ptacek, Charlie Grant and F. Paul Wilson).

More news to follow!

Gary . . .

Being Fearless

2008-04-21T02:54:48Z

Last weekend, Nancy and I were in NYC for a conference hosted by the Omega Institute, a wellness center up in Rhinebeck, NY. The conference, Being Fearless, started five years ago as more people discovered they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of 9/11. The truth was, if you lived in New York, you had a real good cause for being fearful.

The conference combined two facets of life: the macro, such as climate change, genocide (Darfur), political truth, and similar topics with the micro, such as personal growth, overcoming personal fears, living life, and that sort of thing.

What an amazing experience. We heard keynote speakers such as Mia Farrow (Darfur), Robert Kennedy Jr. (how the news has been consolidated and hijacked by five corporations), Valerie Plame (her personal story), Zev Kedem (holocaust survivor (talk about fearless)), Carolyn Myss (spiritual recovery), Reverend Michael Beckwith (self actualization), and Anne Lamott (living life).

Andrew Harvey, Noah BenShea, and Seane Corn spoke as well, leading the attendees in meditations.

The workshops (I sat in a sessions with Debbie Ford and Tara Brach) were really good and informative.

Seems I've had this issue with never being "enough". Smart enough, imaginative enough, a good enough musician, a good enough writer. This lead me to compare myself to everyone and (oddly) I always wound up at the bottom of the comparison. Just never enough.

Debbie's Book, Why Good People Do Bad Things has given me great insight into why I do this and how to move passed it. If you're interested in hearing more on that, drop me a line at Worldwhispers@yahoo.com.

I came away from the conference with a need to do something about Darfur (hence my last post), a decision to not let fear and low self-esteem stop me from doing what I dream to do, and a realization that I have a greater purpose here than I've admitted to myself.

Fear of failure, criticism, shame, and embarrassment have all been factors in me living a half-hearted, and hesitant life. But when it comes to endeavors like raising awareness of what's happening in Africa, my fear is an obstacle to helping people in dire need. There's no benefit in living like that.

So, one day at a time, I move forward, keeping vigilant so as to not let my fear stop me from living and soon, I'll be enough.

The truth is we cannot live without fear, but we must learn to keep our fear from running our lives and paralyzing us.

Peace,
Gary . . .

"If you lived in your heart, you'd be home now."

Save Darfur

2008-04-15T01:52:12Z

Over the weekend, I had the chance to hear Mia Farrow talk about the genocide going on in Darfur and was appalled at what's happening and the lack of news coverage this is getting. This individual has been to Darfur a number of times and experienced first hand the horrors that are being perpetrated by the government and the Janjaweed (translated from Arabic as "A man with a gun on horseback") on the Darfuri people.

If you have a moment, stop over at: http://www.savedarfur.org and http://www.miafarrow.org/

For information on the Sudan Divestment Task Force (an organization created to help people in divestment campaigns to get monies out of stocks and such that support the Sudanese government), go here: http://www.sudandivestment.org/home.asp

Who are the Janjaweed? Here's a link to a Slate article: http://www.slate.com/id/2104210/

If you've heard the phrase Genocide Olympics it is due to China's support of the Sudanese government in regard to trade and export and how China's more interested in making money than human rights. Then again, we've all known China's position on human rights, so this shouldn't be a surprise.

Even worse, the aids workers and UN troops need logistical air support and so they went out and asked for a (one, single) helicopter. 24 countries declined. WTF? Have we really come to the point in civilization where, if there's no financial incentive, governments turn their backs? Oddly, when Olympic sponsors wrote to China, threatening to pull out, China suddenly reassessed their dealings with Darfur. In the end, it did very little.

But there are still so many sponsors that don't feel the same way.

And as far as political leaders? The German chancellor, as well as several others, aren't going to the opening ceremonies in protest. But George? He's going because to him, this is only a sporting event.

I'm well aware that Darfur has become one of the most dangerous places on earth as police are beaten and aids workers kidnapped and killed, but should that keep countries from sending enough aid and money to stop the murders?

If you can donate, take action, or just sign petitions that would help. Don't forget to tell your friends.

Once upon a time we as said: Never Again. Well it's now. And it's happening again.

Peace,
Gary . . .

Kiss of the Mudman

2008-04-07T01:53:10Z

Do yourself a huge favor. Go to a bookstore and pick up Gary Braunbeck's Mr. Hands, put out by Leisure Books. Read it. Marvel at the man's ability to get you to feel for the characters as if they were your close friends.

When you're done with Mr. Hands, take a break.

Then return and read Kiss of the Mudman. The novella won the International Horror Guild award and it rightfully deserved it. This is one of the most chilling yet beautifully written stories I've ever read. Gary's one of those authors that can bring you to tears with his stores. Keepers does that as well.

As a musician, I related to Mudman in ways most people won't, but you'll get it, you'll feel it. You won't be disappointed.

Peace,
Gary . . .

Stop-Loss

2008-04-07T01:48:13Z

Go see the movie Stop-Loss before it's not out any more. It's about two friends who have finished their tour of Iraq. They're both stop-lossed, meaning they're sent back to Iraq after completing their required tours. Each has a different reaction to being stop-lossed.

The film is a look at what our soldiers go through over in Iraq and what they have to deal with when they come home and they think they're finished.

The doesn't seem to be any interest in treating the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder they come home with. One day in a killzone, the next on a plane home, and the next, Welcome Home, Son. Where's the debriefing? Where's the tests to make sure these guys aren't going to pick up guns and start shooting friends, family or themselves?

This is not a pro or anti anything movie. It is not political. It's a movie about a soldier's struggle to get out of being sent back to Iraq because he failed to get all of his men out of an ambush alive and he knows he probably won't make it out alive.

Go see the movie. Bring your pro-war friends and see if they're still gung-ho afterward.

Gary . . .

New Garden State Horror Writers Anthology: Dark Territories

2008-04-06T21:54:51Z

We are within weeks of the new GSHW anthology, Dark Territories, coming out. It's edited by myself and Mary SanGiovanni with great cover art by Steve Gilberts. The book is $14.95 and we're working on getting it orderable through www.gshw.net. It will also be available through major retail chains. As soon as it's out, I'll let y'all know. The Table of Contents is:

DREAM GIRL ~ John R. Platt
FORTY-NINE ~ Dan Foley
DOC JOHNSON ~ F. Paul Wilson (reprint)
HUNGER ~ Meghan Knierim
SCOPOPHILIA ~ Peter Gutierrez
FAMILY FIRST ~ J.G. Faherty
SHRED ~ Brian Pedersen
TEMPERATURE DAYS ON HAWTHORNE STREET ~ Charles Grant (reprint)
SUCKER KISS ~ Edward Greaves
EXCERPTS FROM THE DIARY OF JARED HAFLER ~ Neil Morris
CAT & MOUSE ~ William Mingin
PICKY ~ Hildy Silverman
POPPET ~ Kathy Ptacek (reprint)
MAN OF PRINCIPLE ~ Michael Penncavage
ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND ~ Harrison Howe

And I'll leave it up to you

2008-03-27T17:19:02Z

So here's this article on Clinton's faith from Mother Jones. I find it a little unsettling, coming from the more "liberal" side of life. But make of it what you will or skip it. 'Sup to you.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer.html

Peace,
Gary . . .

Is this the real life...

2008-03-19T02:06:58Z

News: Arthur C. Clarke passed away. He was 90. The last of the three greats of science fiction: Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. The Star is one of my favorite stories and was one of the first things I read of his. What an amazingly talented writer. He will be missed.

In other news: So I'm co-editor of the new GSHW anthology, Dark Territories. We've got some great stories including three reprints by Charles Grant, Kathy Ptacek, and F. Paul Wilson. Other contributing members are Brian Pedersen, Mike Penncavage, Harrison Howe, Ed Greaves, Peter Gutierrez, Hildy Silverman (yes, the same one that owns Space & Time magazine), Dan Foley, Meghan Knierim, Bill Mingin, Neil Morris, John Platt, and JG Faherty. These are some great writers and the stories are top notch.

My friend and owner of the site Horror World, Nanci Kalanta, is helping with the interior layouts.

Steve Gilberts is the cover artist and Neal Levin is helping me get the cover files in to a Lightning Source friendly format.

All in all it should be a fine looking book when it comes out. When's it coming out? End of March, first week in April. As I know you're all itching for copies, I will let you know when it comes out and how to get copies.

In other news: I'm back to edits for Institutional Memory (which I should be doing instead of writing this). This should be the final run through. If you want to get a glimpse of the cover, you can either go here: http://www.authorgaryfrank.com or you can go here to get the cover and blurb: http://www.medallionpress.com/genres/horror/index.html

I'm off to edit.

Enjoy!

Gary . . .

I've got a fear of the dark

2008-03-18T00:01:06Z

Friday night. Izod Center. Me and Mary and 18,000+ metal heads. It was like reliving the eighties again as we went in to see Iron Maiden. The last time I saw Maiden was back in the early eighties when they opened for Judas Priest on the Screaming For Vengeance tour. So it's been a while. Also, after Somewhere in Time, the next disc I have (I was going to write lp (silly me!)) is Dance of Death, which I thought was newer than it was. But I digress.

This was the Somewhere Back in Time Tour. Almost everything they did came from Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave (the tour's theme), and Somewhere in Time. They did Fear of the Dark, Iron Maiden, and Can I Play With Madness as well.

This was an awesome show. The stage was done up like an Egyptian landscape with changing screens behind the stage that featured the Powerslave cover, The Trooper, the deck of a ship (when they performed Rime of the Ancient Mariner) and a few other Eddie oriented images.

The music was tight with the 3-guitar attack, Steve Harris's machine-gun bass playing and Mr. McBrain's drumming. Bruce Dickinson's voice was awesome as well. I could see him on Broadway after the Maiden gig is over. If that ever happens. These guys have been around since 1980.

In case you're disappointed that you missed them, take heart, they're coming to the PNC Art Center and MSG in NYC in June. If you're into Maiden, go see them; you'll be glad you did.

Now I just pray that Van Halen makes it to May 13th so I can see them! In the meantime, I've got Asia in April. Remember them? John Wetton (King Crimson), Geoff Downes (The Buggles), Carl Palmer (ELP), and Steve Howe (Yes) together again. It's like the year if the 80's!

Did I mention that you need to see Gandalf Murphy?

Peace,
Gary . . .

I'd run away with the Circus of Dreams

2008-03-17T21:45:23Z

Nancy, Jim, and I got in our cars and drove to the outskirts of Slambovia where there was a little church and it was there that the Circus of Dreams came. And to our delight the Circus played all night. We met Alice somewhere out in space and we learned everyone has a broken heart to mend and then we learned about the great unravel.

Later we met the circus (Tony, Chen, Tink, Sharkey) and their leader, Joziah. I told him we'd follow the circus anywhere because they sang songs that touched our hearts and tickled our souls. He said thank you and bless you and we left the little church on the edge of Slambovia with their music in our hands to take home and remember.

Then the three of us went to a diner and ate fried food and sugary delights and it was okay because the Circus had come to town and our hearts ran away with them.

If you have never heard Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, do yourself a favor and do so. Their website is: www.slambovia.com. You can find them on at least iTunes, Yahoo Music. Their own website has music under Radio Free Slambovia.

If you like fun folk/pop/rock/Americana/hillbilly/alt-country/(you get the idea) with echoes of Bob Dylan and David Bowie that gets your feet moving, these folks are worth checking out. Their live shows are a real treat. We've been to two and plan on hitting a few more soon, including Dylanfest up at Warwick Winery (www.wvwinery.com). The band is really accessible after the shows to sign CDs.

I'm usually not so up on a band, but any band that leaves me signing their songs two days after a show is worth the attention!

Check out the Circus of Dreams. You'll find yourself running away with them, too.

Peace,
Gary . . .