Well, I think I'm finally over the bout of pneumonia I've been battling since August 8... it's been trying but I'm finally starting to get some energy back.

I have managed to squeak out a couple of short stories, one in particular that is intended for a Carnival of Wicked Writer's anthology called Raw Meat. I'm crossing my fingers to get included in that one.

I've also taken this "down time" to brush the dust off of Autumn Moon and the Book of Shadows and have kicked out about 3000 additional words to that story. I anticipate it to be done by mid-September and I'll start shopping around in October.

Waiting now for the fallout from Katrina as storms are expected to roll in this afternoon. Mother Nature is a cruel mistress at times and I feel for the good folks of New Orleans, but in my heart of hearts, I love a good storm. I have always felt a preternatural connection with the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder and the pounding rain. It envigorates me and recharges my batteries...

Back to writing...

Be well and true...

Anticipation

Cairnwood Manor: Shadows over Somerset has had its release date bumped to January 2006. Advanced orders will continue to be accepted until that time of course. Sorry for the constant delays but the publisher has done the best they could under the circumstances and I'm not the only author that's been pinched by these delays. So please, be patient. The wolves of Ash Lawn are coming...and they are hungry for the blood of the undead.

~Bob

They don't make 'em like they used to (Part Deux)

By Erin GartnerAssociated Press WriterDENVER (AP)

Firework shells carrying the sealed ashes of "gonzo" journalist Hunter S. Thompson arrived in an armored truck at his mountain home as final preparations were being made for his star-studded farewell.

The shells were scheduled to be launched Saturday night from a 150-foot-tall monument erected behind Thompson's house in Woody Creek, just outside Aspen. The event will be private, open to about 250 invited guests including Thompson's longtime illustrator, Ralph Steadman, and actors Sean Penn and Johnny Depp.

"We haven't noticed a lot of curiosity seekers or pilgrims, but the buzz and the excitement is increasing every hour," family spokesman Matt Moseley said Friday. "People are coming into town, people invited to the event, and I've been getting calls from fans who'll say things like 'I'm coming in from Wisconsin with a case of Chivas.'"

The scotch whiskey was a favorite of Thompson's.

The counterculture writer fatally shot himself six months ago in his home at the age of 67. Friends and family have said Thompson was rundown by pain and physical problems including hip replacement surgery and a broken leg.

Thompson is credited with helping pioneer New Journalism - or, as he dubbed his version, "gonzo" journalism - in which the writer made himself an essential component of the story. His most famous work is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," a wild, sprawling satire featuring "Dr. Thompson," a snarling, drug- and alcohol-crazed observer and participant.

His widow, Anita Thompson, 32, has said she plans to publish at least three new books of her late husband's unpublished letters and stories and is looking for a permanent archive for his works.

Anita Thompson has said she doesn't want Saturday's farewell to be a solemn event. She said the memorial will include some reminiscence, readings from Thompson's work and performances by both Lyle Lovett and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

She said Depp, who grew close to Thompson after portraying him in the 1998 film version of "Fear and Loathing," funded much of the celebration.

"We had talked a couple of times about his last wishes to be shot out of a cannon of his own design," Depp told The Associated Press last month. "All I'm doing is trying to make sure his last wish comes true. I just want to send my pal out the way he wants to go out."

They don't make 'em like they used to

Read about Grimsson. They don't make men like this anymore.

Sanctum Sanctorum

Cross-genre novelist S.L. Veihl had an interesting blog about a writer's workspace this morning. I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss mine.

My "Den" is on the second floor and is roughly a 15 foot square with windows facing the north, south, and east.

The north wall contains bookcases filled with texts examining the occult, science, philosophy, psychology, mythology, and music. There is a Lord of the Rings dump, overflowing with all my Tolkien tomes, in the corner, a framed Frazetta over the window, a shelf that honors the works of Aleister Crowley, and another shelf with an array of Wizards curios.

The south wall has two smaller bookshelves, one that holds my quick reference books and my vanity shelf, and one that has some Viking curios, books on Norse Lore, some Robert E. Howard, and (completly out of place) my Laurell K. Hamilton collection. The wall is decorated with my bastard sword, a framed print of the Malcolm MacGregor/Cairnwood Manor cover, a framed Freeman family crest, a framed Conan that my brother drew for me in '81, a cool framed Elmore print of a Norse Sorceress, and two whiskey tins celebrating Scots History.

The west wall is made up of a closet (filled with some of my wife's stuff), the stairway, my paperback spinnerrack, a bookshelf filled with my cherished hardcovers (Eco,Kurtz, King, Rice, etc), and a bookshelf that holds my graphic novel collection, my Hardy Boys collection, my Harry Potters (along with nik-naks and curios relating to the boy wizard), and a host of art books. Some original art and an awesome framed homage to my first comic book that saw print decorate the wall.

The east wall is the workhorse. My over-sized antique teachers desk holds my computer, pictures of my wife and I, and collects all the various curios that I could cram upon it... a pythora of boxes and pouches guarding tarot cards and rune stones and magickal trinkets and minature spell books... and there's a massive school desk along the wall with a bookshelf (containing history books) and a librarian's magazine rack upon it (with plenty of room left over to lay reference out upon it). The walls are adorned with my vanity diplomas and awards, two framed Waterhouse prints (the Lady of Shalott and the Lovers), a framed renaissance-era spellcasting sorceress print, a woodburning on bark of a stalking wolf my brother did for me, and of course, various swords, daggers, wands, and animal skulls, and more... Best of all, from my desk, I can see the Willow my wife and I planted and nursed to its now monstrous size.

As you can tell, I like clutter... If I get stuck for an idea, I just sit back and let my eyes wander, and one is quick to come... and there you have it: my sanctum... my lofty perch from which I write... I'll add pictures soon, for those that are interested.

But do they have a Sorting Hat?

A Hogwarts-style college in Austria says applications have gone through the roof since the release of the sixth Harry Potter book.

Students at the college in Klagenfurt take a six-semester course in "all things related to witchcraft and wizardry by scientific methods" to earn a Veneficus Certificate.

School headmaster and grand wizard Dakaneth, also known as Andreas Starchel, said: "The phone has been ringing all the time since the new book came out."

Sorcerers' apprentices, aged 17 and above, who attend the school are taught astrology, magic, history of magic, meditation and divination.

Later they put their theoretical studies into practice: preparing potions, making talismans and performing rituals.

The school's website offers courses over the internet as well as a host of study aides like protective charms, aura cleansing incense, talismans, amulets, tarot cards and rune stones.

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost!!!

Follow this link to The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places, featuring three entries by Bob Freeman and the Nighstalkers of Indiana.

Thrill to the chills at James Dean's graveside.

Hear the savage war cries of the undead that haunt the Mississinewa Battlefield.

Shiver to the icy sounds of the condemned that hover about Seven Pillars...

Book will be available August 28th through Wal-Mart...

Post Wizard Account

Alright, I'm sicker than two dogs, so this will be brief:

The Good.
Scott and Benita Story's Johnny Saturn. Best comic I saw all weekend. It's fun, old school, and Eisner/Kirby-esque. Definitely evokes the Spirit, the Shadow, early Batman and the best of the Silver Age team books, like All Star Squadron. This book deserves to be a big hit. For my money, it is hands down the best that the indie scene has to offer. Visit www.storystudios.com for more information.

The Bad.
There were more people selling comics than there were people buying them. The comic industry is dying and I feel like I've been beating a dead horse. I love comics, but they've been priced out of reach, and are mostly written in an immmature and sophomoric manner. My love affair with the indie scene may have officially died... I'm just not that excited about it anymore.

The Ugly.
Lion's Den is closing its doors. Pamplets are dead. We've had it. They win. I'm sick. I'm tired. And the fire is gone. Bret and I have decided that we will work with Doug to complete Loose Cannons and release it as a graphic novel and then that's it. We're done with the small press/independent comic world of cannabilism and bootstrapping. It was fun for a while, but eventually you have to quit beating your head against the wall. like I said in a previous post, I've had more success with my writing in the past six months than I'd had in six years of chasing the phantom that is comic books.


Now if you'll excuse me, I have a novel to work on.

Off to see the Wizard

Yep, it's that time again. Wizard World Chicago is once again upon us. In years past this was a time of great excitement for me. It was the one time a year when I got to rub elbows with the comic elite, to get my geek on and relish in the reckless abandonment of pure comicdom, and to pimp my comic wares. But this year comes and the excitement is dulled. Truth is, I've had more success in the past six months writing prose than I have had in six years of chasing the comic dream. Add to that the seperation anxiety I'm already beginning to feel leaving my wife and kid behind, well, it's hard for me to feel excited about it. In fact, all I feel is dread. I don't really want to go, but go I will. And I'll think about the two days I won't get to play with my boy... the two days I won't get to kiss my wife goodnight... two days away from a computer and books that cry to be written... But most of all it is two days of time that I won't get to play husband and father... and it already hurts.

I think this is it for me. After this weekend, Wizard and I will part company and ne'er again meet. I may miss it, but nowhere near the level that my bouncing baby-boy-man will be missed.

So Bret, Chris, and I will brave the Windy City and dodge Al-Qiada's Nuclear assault (for those of you who follow Conspiracy theories and Art Bell's Coast to Coast :)) as we ply our trade for one last hoorah. Wish us well, but reast assured... Sunday will not come soon enough.

Wicked Karnival's Twisted Fairy Tale Contest

Posted by Tom Moran on the Wicked Karnival Messageboard:

"This marks the end of the third Killer Kritique and I couldn't be happier with how it's going. I see familiar faces, which lends me to believe that we're doing something right. Consequently, people who have entered before always seem to be in the top three. As I'm learning about you guys as writers, I think that you all might be learning a bit about what we look for as editors. I also love that, although this is a competition, everyone is very complimentary other writers' work. The fact that people post a "hey man, I really liked your story" is wonderful. After all, we're all horror writers and we SHOULD be supportive of one another.

The main idea behind this contest is that writers get the chance to possibly improve their writing while submitting to the contest. To my knowledge, there isn’t another contest like it. Instead of submitting your tale and waiting a month or more to get a rejection, you get feedback the moment we read it. If your tale doesn’t win, chances are there are hints to why it didn’t win in the critiques. When the judges make their decisions, it’s based on those critiques. There are no secrets—you see the entire process.

Choosing a winner seems to get more difficult with each contest—likely due to the quality of the subs. This was one of the closest races yet. Although there were 5 stories that really stood out, two really screamed “Winner”. These stories not only exhibited quality writing, but also expertly took into account all aspects of the theme. After battling it out, the editors finally picked the one of the two that deserved to be called the winner.

The first place winner is:

"Seeing Red" by Bob Freeman.

Bob's tale was well written, entertaining, and took in to account all elements of the theme--including the all-important HORROR."

The Write Stuff (the monday musings of a troubled mind)

I'll have an announcement concerning my short story "Seeing Red" very soon. It's some very cool news, but I have been sworn to secrecy until a more official announcement is made.

I'm 90% done with my new "Writing Den" and so have begun the arduous task of writing again. I'm tackling two novels at once, one being the sequel to Shadows over Somerset and the other being the novelisation of Sangrael (first installment to be called Templar Nights).

I've joined the Shocklines Writer's Group and look forward to working with the talented folk that take part in that online community.

Let me add a special thank you to my wife Kim for being so supportive of my career and for being more than patient with me. I wouldn't be doing any of this without her. I love you, my sweet. Danke und guten abend.

And finally, a shout out to the Spirits of the Damned Messageboard, because to walk among the damned is sometimes better!

Her name should be Persephone