Brandon Ford reads an excerpt from his novel...

The Visit by William Butler (Me :D)

A touching story about a young man waiting for his mother to come visit him. A personal story about forgiveness and love.

NOW Available on Smashwords.com. Get your copy today.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/30370

This is a short story I wrote that is very dear to my heart.  The night after my mother died I had a dream about her.  She paid me a visit which brought peace to my sadness.  I immediately woke and wrote the dream down.  Now I want to share that dream with you.  I hope you enjoy this beautiful, touching story.  

Thank you.

W

Mark Allan Gunnells Interview

http://www.darkside-digital.com/dancing-in-the-dark-by-mark-allan-gunnells.html

Today I want to share with you an interview I did with Author Mark Allan Gunnells on his new short story "Dancing In The Dark".

WB: I want to introduce you to everyone and especially for those who do not know you yet. Where are you from?

MAG: Gaffney, South Carolina, where I still live.

WB: When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

MAG: A writer.  I've been writing from a very young age.

WB: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? And when did you start writing?

MAG: My first stories came around 10 years old, I guess.  Mostly little one-page Twilight Zone rip-offs.

WB: What genre do you write and why that genre?  Have you tried writing other genres?

MAG: I prefer the horror and fantasy genres.  There is a limitlessness to those genres that appeals to me.  Not    that I don't step outside those genres, I do, it's good to expand and stretch as a writer.  The only genres I haven't done much with are western and mystery.

WB: Who or what has influenced your writing?  What was it that influenced your story "Dancing In The Dark"?

MAG: Everything influences me.  I draw from my own experiences, things I overhear  Everything is up for grabs.  With "Dancing In The Dark" I was driving to work one morning listening to a song on the radio (Midnight Train to Georgia) when I had a tire blow out.  Two weeks later I was driving along and that song came on the radio, and I had a sudden sense of panic and realized I now associated that song with bad luck.  The story came from there.

WB: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

MAG: I am such a lover of the short story, longer pieces are a real challenge for me, particularly pacing them. It is something I'm working at, trying to improve.

WB: What are you currently reading?

MAG: Currently I am reading "Harvest of Changelings" by Warren Rochelle, a most excellent fantasy novel.  The author was actually my college Creative Writing professor.

WB: Who is your favorite author and why?

MAG: Lansdale.  There are many I love, but Joe R. Lansdale is my all time fav.  He is a gifted storyteller who creates vibrant characters, believable dialogue, and can paint such detailed pictures with real economy of words.  I also love that he dabbles in so many different kinds of stories, showing a real range.

WB: Now lets get into the short story you wrote entitled "Dancing in the Dark".  This is actually the title of the song Bruce Springsteen sung on his album "Born in the U.S.A.".  Each time the song was played in the story I couldn't help myself but sing it.  It was catchy.  So, in your short story "Dancing in the Dark", your character Hayden has a unique phobia, when you were writing this story did you draw from your own personal phobias?  

MAG: I don't have that particular phobia, but I certainly have my own fears and I drew from those.  I won't tell you specifically what they are lest you use them against me.

WB:  Haha, I would never do that.  I have to say "Dancing in the Dark" was a great story.  It had elements of bullying/revenge, what are your thoughts on that?

MAG: Bullying is something I know a little about because I was bullied as a kid.  Not so much in college, but in my Junior High and High School years.  I think it is a problem that seems to be passed down from generation to genration, and unfortunately people are just resigned to it, that's the way it has always been and always will be.  That's crap, in my opinion, and I'd like to have the issue addressed more seriously in schools.

WB: I agree with you on that.  Bullying is an issue and if we look at it, the ones who are doing the bullying are being bullied themselves--maybe from home or by other people.  There are real issues here for individuals who do this to others.  But without defending anyone, I'm sure there are a few out there who are just malicious.  Moving on, There was a graphic scene in "Dancing in the Dark", at the very end when the story climaxed, what are your thoughts on stories/movies with a graphic nature? Do you think graphic descriptions are necessary in writing to pull off a scene?

MAG: I don't think graphic descriptions and "gore" are necessary for a successful horror story, but I also don't think a writer should shy away from them if a story calls for it.  It's all about the story to me, and the writer should be as graphic or as non-graphic as a specific tale requires.

WB: Awesome! I agree with that as well.  Thank you. Let's move on to other projects you have in the works, can you tell us about that?

MAG: I have three projects that should--fingers crossed, knock on wood--be out by years end.  Two are with Sideshow Press: Whisonant, which collects my two novellas "Whisonant" and Creatures of the Light".  The book has a cool design as a "flip book".  You hold it and you are looking at one cover that contains one story, then you turn it upside down and flip it over and get a separate cover and the second story.  They will also be releasing my first short story collection, Tales from the Midnight Shift Vol. 1.  Apex publications will also be releasing my zombie novella Asylum through their The Zombie Feed imprint.  I have a few more things planned with Sideshow for the next year, but it's a little early to be discussing them.

WB:  Wow! I am excited for you and I can't wait to read more of your work.  Thank you, sir for sharing this with us and I wish you the best of luck with all your future projects. 

MAG:  You're welcome and thank you.

Well again this was a great interview and very exciting to actually talk with a fellow writer.  Mark Allan Gunnells short story "Dancing in the Dark" is available  at Darkside Digital for only $1.50 and it comes in various formats.  Please go check it out and be on the look out for more from Mark Allan Gunnells!

http://www.darkside-digital.com/dancing-in-the-dark-by-mark-allan-gunnells.html

Shortbus-Movie review

A movie directed by John Cameron Mitchell.  If you are not aware who John Cameron Mitchell is then you should find out.  He is the next big thing in Hollywood.  Some of you may know him as Hedwig and the angry inch. I heard about this movie when he was looking for actors who would be willing to show it all--and I mean all.  The thing about this movie is the fact that it is about relationships and sexual dysfunction.

Shortbus is not about a bus--no--it's the name of a sex club in New York.  The movie starts off with a series of explicit sex scenes, which sets up the relationships of the characters.  There is a gay couple--Jamie and James. Jamie is a little suicidal while James just wants what is best for his beloved.  Jamie has been making a documentary of his love for James--a film he plans on revealing to him after he kills himself, but James doesn't know this.

They both go and see a sex therapist--Sophia, who is having problems obtaining the big O with her husband Rob.  So they all decide to go to the sex club--Shortbus.  Along the way they meet up with a dominatrix named Severin--whose real name is Jennifer Aniston (haha very funny).  Severin helps Sophia have an orgasm, but fails, because Sophia needs to learn how to let go (I suppose--this to me will always be a mystery).  I like how Mitchell weaves the use of power surges as a means for Sophia not able to have an orgasm.

As each character's plot complicates, the viewer sees a similar melancholy bulldozing its way into these seemingly disparate lives. The depression is repeatedly used in comedic scenes, such as when James is asked on a date while still hospitalized for his attempted suicide. 

Shortbus isn't porn like a few people I know say it is.  It is a story that connects with its viewers.  It shows the viewer that they are not alone in the relationship department and that all complications can be worked through.  Its a very good movie and you should go and check it out.

"Shortbus" - Trailer (full)

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things--Review

This is Asia Argento's adaptation of J. T. Leroy's book of the same name.  But don't be fooled by the title--there is no deception here, just a very bad mother.  Jeremiah (the abused and neglected son of Sarah) should know that he is not truly loved in this film.
This film, when watching it, should illicit an emotion from you.  You should feel angry! Upset! even ready to call the producers up and ask why this was made!  Well it was made because it is suppose to make you feel this way.  You should realize that children are treated like this around the world.  Not every child, but those unfortunate ones are.
Here is a little about the story:
Jeremiah is brought back into the world he was taken from by social workers.  Sarah, Jeremiah's mother, doesn't seem too excited over having him, but has some how managed to get him back from his foster parents.  I have a friend who automatically thinks that Sarah looks and acts like Courtney Love.  I think she believes that is how Courtney Love is toward her children.  Anyways...
Sarah, after a failed attempt to feed Jeremiah spaghetti-O's for lunch (which I might add was the only can she had in the cabinet, and that there was no other food, also the Spaghetti-O's ended up all over the wall), Jeremiah runs away to where she has to come and get him.  After that she gathers his stuff up into a trash bag and they leave.  Sarah proceeds to get Jeremiah high so she could control him better.
Well there are a string of men and most of the time Jeremiah would sleep in the car.  There are other times Sarah would make Jeremiah act like a girl, but she never truly called him her kid.  She had always said he was her sister.
Well to cut this short--There is drug use, a rape, lot lizards, truck stops, religion, more abuse, and finally the crazy tweaked out ending.
Did I like this movie--yes.
Why?--because I am glad I didn't live this way and when I think I have it bad I watch this and realize I don't.  Also I like to see others reactions when they watch the movie, because they can't believe I actually watch this stuff.  I'm not the monster here--Sarah is.



The book is equally graphic, but not in order like the movie.  I say that you should read the book and then watch the movie to get the full effect of what you are seeing.  Plus there are a few scenes in the movie that don't explain what it means--like the birds--but it does explain it in the book.

Both of these items the book by J. T. Leroy and the movie are available on Amazon.com.

The Killer Inside Me--Review

The Killer Inside Me was a very good movie (I have to say).  It is based on Jim Thompson's book of the same name, which was written in 1953.  The movie stars Casey Affleck as the gentleman, yet brutal, Lou Ford.  Lou Ford has a dark past which is awaken when he meets prostitute Joyce (Jessica Alba), where the two have lots of sex (and when I say sex I mean its a lot of sex and masochistic as well, hence when he spanks her with his belt and in one scene strangles her with it-nice).  Lou is supposed to run Joyce out of town because she is having sex with a union leader's son, whom Lou hates with a passion over what they did to his brother some years ago.  Can we say revenge!  

Well the set up is done and Lou has his own plan, even though he has made Joyce believe that they are going to run off together.  I shy away from giving you more details but this is actually an excellent movie.  I was surprised at Casey Affleck's performance.  He pulled off the part so well.  He had a great combination for sounding and acting like a sweet Texas gentleman, and then suddenly display this violent dark side, which made him come off as creepy.

Jessica Alba was good as well, showing more skin than I am use to seeing from her in any of her other films.  But her character was so naive and accepted the fact that she was a victim, unlike women now who would fight back.  

As for Kate Hudson's character Amy, the typical good girl--who wants a husband and loves Lou a lot.  Her character was smart and knew about Lou's dark side, but didn't care--because she loved him and wanted to be with him regardless.

This is typical Hard-boiled Noir! Great in all areas.  The ending was fantastic (well only if you understand what noir is and how movies or books like that end).  I will give you a brief example of a noir-film/book: The characters in a noir hate their surroundings.  They long to escape the trapping of their life and will do whatever it takes to get out.  They will also do whatever it takes to not go back to that old way of life as well. This may result in the character killing themselves and whomever is with them.  They also don't think what they have done is wrong.  They feel justified with the results--so a few people have to die for me to survive, so-be-it-kind-of-attitude. Nihilistic all the way.  

I suggest you keep an open mind when watching the movie and explore your dark side a little.  If you are a film student this is a great example of noir.  I am glad this movie was made in this year, because if it was made in the fifties then there would be a lot cut out.  I am also glad they didn't try to adapt it for modern times.  It would have become possibly silly and dry.  They would have to have a great director to modernize this movie or any other noir film.  They have tried but without success.

I hope you like this review and feel free to go to Amazon.com where both the book by Jim Thompson and the movie are available for purchase.  Thank you.