It's almost the end of 2007, and I'm spending my few days off entertaining, researching and cleaning the house after the Christmas excitement. Fortunately, I have some time to read the stories that really interest me, and use that as something to chew on as I develop and improve my own writing.

So what is Cat reading these days? First up is the second Jeff Lindsay novel, Dearly Devoted Dexter". Since someone bought me the first book (and I devoured it on the plane to Vegas), I have really grown into a fan of Lindsay's whimsical (yet horrific) style, and the titular serial killer. The second book is even better than the first, IMHO. The Showtime series based on the character does a remarkable job of expanding the happenings from Dexter to his team and his family. Two thumbs up...as they say.

The second book I've been digging through is an anthology titled "Gratia Placenti : For the Sake of Pleasing". It's warped. It's nicely, disgusting, gagging, shaking your head warped. GP is a collection of short stories by some very talented authors, including Jim Reilly, my editor-in-chief at Horrorview.com. I had no idea the bastard could actually write. haha! J.A. Konrath also has a short in there, written with a perfect mix of comedy and gag reflex.

After those, I'll be pouring over "Dexter in the Dark", "These Guns for Hire" and a new Harold Schechter book. I do enjoy his work, especially his serial killer stuff, since it's all historical. I based my last paper on Albert Fish, the nasty old bastard I read about in Schechter's "Deranged".

That's about it. Time to drink about New Year's resolutions...I mean think. Ahem. Tomorrow night is another "get out and research" night, so I'm sure I'll be in touch soon. Cheers!

One Love,

nK

Labels: Albert Fish, Christmas, Dexter, Gratia Placenti, Horrorview, J.A. Konrath, Jeff Lindsay, Jim Reilly, New Year

Posted by Nick Kelly at 9:38 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I felt it only fitting for a view into Catwalk's life at this holiday season. Let's just say his view on the holidays isn't the same as mine!! One Love - nK

It was cold, bitter cold, in the dangerous depths of Downtown Nitro City. Winter always seemed to bring out the desperation in the less-fortunate inhabitants. Burglaries increased, as did the counts of missing persons, arsons, and robberies. The fight for survival was easily quantified in the number of cases recorded by local law enforcement. Catwalk had seen firsthand how many cases went unrecorded. Usually, they resulted in a job and a paycheck for the so-called “killer with a conscience”.

Several stories below, the people shuffled about, in greater numbers than usual. Cat knew the reason; he’d seen the fliers drifting in the cold winter air. There was a chorale concert, a voluntary gathering of singers, of all things, to be held in the spot which used to be Peterson Memorial Park.

The sun has just set, or at least fallen into obscurity behind the skyscrapers that clawed their way toward the heavens. Uptown was where the real money existed; home to the celebrities and the wealthy. Down here, Downtown, the remainder of society existed; outcasts, renegades and those never given a chance.

Cat preferred it here. As a former orphan, a former invalid, and a member of the police force back east who never seemed to fit in, he could understand those who lived Downtown. He had accepted this place, and it had welcomed him. Once he’d grown accustomed to life in the bowels of the city, he couldn’t picture living anywhere else.

Cat gazed upward for just a moment. He’d finished a number of jobs that had gained him respect and notoriety Uptown. None of them had provided him the ability to balance and center as this place had. He felt himself chuckle and scoff at those labeled “better off”. He pulled his collar up against the spiraling winter breeze as he directed his attention to the gathering people below.

The fascination grew within him as we watched from his perch. The carolers lined up in uniform fashion, armed bodyguards taking their places on each side. The small crowd gathered in the makeshift park, the grounds painstakingly cleaned up and picked over by the singers over the past three hours. As they began their song, he could see the faces of some of the onlookers mouthing the words.

To Cat, Christmas was a curious event. He’d been taught the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and how he was born in a manger to a loving father and virgin mother. He’d learned that Jesus grew up, gathered his apostles, was persecuted, crucified and rose from the dead. Anyone who believed in him could gain eternal peace, and their sins would be absolved.

He exhaled sharply, the steam from his breath forming in the cold air. Eternal Peace. The promise of that was reward enough. He didn’t need pure angels with trumpets and wings, or contentment for all eternity. He didn’t need blinding lights, festivals and food on which only the divine could feed. Peace itself would be a welcome change from the chaotic life he’d played out so far.

As much as he’d like to think the Bible stories were truth, he had grown too calloused…or too much of a realist…to believe they were anything more than fairy tales. God had created Man in his own image, and yet, everyday in Nitro City, there were thousands of people paying fortunes to remake that image, preferring their own take on creation. Most of them did so willingly. Others, like him, weren’t really given a choice.

Try as he may, there was still something sympathetic in the heart of the hitman. Instead of watching in fascination or feeling the so-called “spirit of Christmas”, he scanned the crowd, his hand gracing the palm of his pistol. While he may not join in the caroling, he caught himself protecting the carolers from anyone who might destroy their special moment. His spirit might be weak, but his flesh was willing.

In that moment, he envied them; the singers…the hopeful…the believers. Had the lessons of his past not been what they were, who knew…he might even be among their number today. Though he couldn’t find it in his heart to believe, something within him respected their hope, and that something was willing to protect them.

-In our own special way, Merry Christmas from Catwalk and myself, and a very special “I Miss You” to Criss Oliva (1963-1993)

“I am the Way, I am the Light,

I am the dark inside the night,

I feel you hope, I feel your dreams,

And in the dark, I hear your screams,

Don’t turn away, just take my hand,

And when you make your final stand,

I’ll be right there…I’ll never leave,

All I ask of you is Believe.”

-Savatage, “Believe” (1991)

Labels: Catwalk, Christmas, Criss Oliva, nK, Savatage

Posted by Nick Kelly at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

As usual, there's a ton on my plate. This week includes some recording of the new full-band demo from Just Wanna Play, instead of the acoustic demo we put together a few months ago. Looks like we'll have some fun tunes on there, which will of course be on the obligatory MySpace page.

Christmas was fun, if something of a marathon. We visited my parents on Christmas Eve and I spent far too long fighting with their computer, but they always love seeing their grandson so it was ok. Christmas morning started off a bit rough cause he was sick but he was better by noon, must have just been a bug. He's a resilient little dude.

Then we had eleven of us, two cats and a dog in the house for about 13 hours. Brunch was delicious, dinner was WAY too much food, and the gin-tasting event in the middle of the afternoon was a definite highlight.

Alright, off to the gym.

AND..it's 127 days till Spider Man 3. I'm such a geek. haha.


One Love!
nK

Labels: Christmas, gin, music

Posted by Nick Kelly at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post