A little Night Music

Hey all! I know I have been away for a while..it's been crazy but I am back with a new interview that I hope you will really enjoy! ( ps..sorry for the weird white spot in the middle of the blog..can't make the little $%&&*** go away..)

So recently on Twitter I made the acquaintance of the enigmatic bassist for Crooked Fang Xan Marcelles. He's an interesting guy with plenty of secrets, who likes books, music and whiskey..A lethal combination and my personal kryptonite. He agreed to chat it up here on ye olde blog..so I hope we keep you amused..

S-Welcome Xan, before I get started with the questions why don't you tell us a little about yourself... Don't be shy. Oh and speaking of shy, how about a little bit about your writer Carrie too...

Right on, well my name is Xan Marcelles and I’m a bassist for a little band in Pinecliffe, Colorado called Crooked Fang. I live upstairs in a tavern called Pale Rider. Oh yeah, I’m also a vampire. Kind of always forget to mention that shit. Right now I’m featured in a short little teaser story written between Carrie and Nerine Dorman called Just My Blood Type, (download if you want, hell it’s free: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11810756-just-my-blood-type) but I got a real novel coming out next year where you get to come along with me on a crazy ride through my daily life.

Writer Carrie…oh yeah, Carrie Clevenger. She’s this weird woman that lives in Austin, Texas and came up with the early concept of me back in 2000. Yeah, I’ve been around for awhile, as you can see. Carrie has been featured in a few books and stuff, mostly short stories, and those are all listed up at GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3520560.Carrie_Clevenger She also has a site that has some of her old flash fiction back when she used to drop a new story every Friday: http://www.carrieclevengerstories.com/

Carrie cut her teeth on writing the hard way: By getting her ass handed to her in vicious critique groups. Since she didn’t finish high school, the art of writing was more like a grueling journey towards figuring out how to string words together that made sense and didn’t leave the reader asleep in their chair. Not to mention comma usage. She preferred horror writing but then she got stuck with me, and turns out I fall into the urban fantasy category (which sounds like suburban porn, by the way) so here we are.

S- ok more about you, when were you turned?

You make me sound like cheese. “So Xan, when did you go…bad.” Hush woman, and stop holding your nose. My expiration date isn’t for a long time. 1985 was the year of my demise. What can I say? Her ass looked good in red leather.

S-Your name...what nationality is it? Sounds slightly French...

It’s a stage name, can’t be walking around using my real name, else they’d ask why I wasn’t still back in the ground at the cemetery, you know? My real name is Gabriel Nez. I took my mom’s last name. Navajo, Diné however you want to say it.

S- mine is a stage name too. Luckily it's all legal now..

See, now you have to tell me someday.

S-doubtful

How long have you been a musician? Has it always been the bass?

Funny thing is, I used to work in commercial art. Sure, I fucked around on the bass, but nothing serious until I got dropped as a bloodsucker. Dad was trying to appease me (and keep me out of trouble) so he bought me a guitar. Only it was a bass guitar. I named her Betty. Old black Fender P-Bass. Anyway, after I turned, I was a little busy getting adjusted, for say, hell…twenty years or so? When I finally decided I’d had enough of the freaky business my kind likes dabbling in, I left and needed a job. I found an ad in the paper for a house band start-up. Playing the bass is like riding a bike, you might get rusty, but you’re not gonna forget two chords. Okay, I’m kidding. Anyway, I took that job, moved back to Colorado, (which was the state I died in by the way) moved into Pale Rider, and founded Crooked Fang, a cover band.

S-Ever thought about singing? Front man not your thing?

It’s been on the table once or twice. I don’t have the ego and the what’s it called? Charisma. I’m not flashy or sociable. And I might have a touch of stage fright on top of that. Besides. I love what I do now. I get to be on stage without facing the crowd so much. Focus on the frets and don’t fret.

S-Stage fright really... huh... have you ever looked in a mirror? You got nuthin to be shy about.

It’s not me I’m afraid of, just all those people. You know, getting hungry. Fucking up on stage. Even in a tinyburg like Pinecliffe…

S-Why Pinecliffe? How do you keep yourself busy? Isn't it kind of dull?

I like it dull. I’ve had enough of the fast lane life to last well, a lifetime! Being in a small town means nobody can sneak up on me because word gets around fast. It’s a sleepy place with a beating heart for rock there at Pale Rider. Plus, it’s fucking beautiful. I mean, really. Call it my retirement home.

S- Favorite bands? Why?

Let me give you a list:

Type O Negative – Why? Do you have to ask for these guys? Peter was a genius with music. The whole band had a tongue-in-cheek-and-fuck-you attitude that appeals to me immensely. They never took themselves seriously, never sold out, and neither should we.

Jimi Hendrix – He revolutionized rock and guitar methods and was gone far too soon to even realize his full potential. There’s a song for every mood in his discography. I love Hendrix’s music. Period.

Megadeth – I know, I know. Dave is a lunatic. But back in the day, they played great shit. An offshoot from Metallica, I’d say they stayed the same, whereas Metallica just kind of…got alternative.

Slayer – Duh. Tom Araya is amazing. The music is amazing. I’m amazed every time I spin their disc. Hard-hitting shit that is guaranteed to piss your woman off 90% of the time.

A Pale Horse Named Death – Sal Abruscato branched off from Life of Agony, and before that, Type O Negative (Bloody Kisses) and made an entire fucking album on his own. And it is fucking GOOD. Plus, he’s good to his fans. I’m won.

Nirvana – I arrived late on the Grunge scene, but when I first heard Nirvana, I wanted to know who the hell they were right away. So I get, “oh he’s dead, but yeah, it’s a Seattle band.” Seattle? Get out of here! But really man, Nirvana was dirty, garage band music that speaks right to your cerebral cortex. You’re riveted and buffeted by slashes of angst and self-loathing and loss. And the acoustic set took those songs and flipped them right back to digestible by common public. I bet the teenagers were pissed when Dad started jamming to “On a Plain”.

S- Even being here in Seattle, I never got Nirvana. I guess it's a Goth thing... Like other grunge bands; Alice in Chains and Soundgarden...Just couldn't fathom it...

(Probably because it was in your backyard. Local music has it harder I think.)

Johnny Cash, AKA, Man in Black – If I have to explain why, I’ll kick you myself.

Roy Orbison – I love listening to Orbison. His songs are like echoes of my own past experiences. He was a gentle man, with gentle songs of love and loss, and well I guess I’m showing a pattern here…

Concrete Blonde/Johnette Napolitano – Why do I love their music? It’s real. Johnette is a fucking goddess and she slings a big bass too. So hey, I might have a vested interest. Visually-oriented, great rock. Mankey…dude. He can fucking play.

And this is just a few bands that I love…hell I got a library of ten-thousand songs. Pick your poison. You should’ve specified a genre. Haha.
Just saying, I can go on and on and on and on…

S-Favorite book? Why?

Maya Angelou – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It deals with racism and the struggles that people of color in general all face. Plus, I really love her voice in that book. It’s unapologetic and gritty enough to jolt you. Some of the stuff that happens in that story is unbelievable. Everyone should read it, I think.

S-If you could sit down for a drink with five historical figures living or dead (and yes they can be musicians) who would they be and why?

Five historical figures, hmm.

1. Jimi Hendrix – Nope, I never met him or even saw a single show. Just to talk to him would reduce me to a jabbering puddle of fanboydom. Even the fucking Pope couldn’t elicit that kind of response from me.
2. Jim Morrison – I want to hear what really happened the night he died.
3. Peter Steele – I want to thank him for enriching so many lives and giving me inspiration in my work.
4. Robert Johnson – I want to know how that deal with the Devil worked out for him. You probably have no idea what I mean, so here’s a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend
5. Marilyn Monroe – Who the hell wouldn’t want to meet Norma Jean?

S-So tell us....what's next for Xan, what does the future hold?

Well, I got a book coming out in August 2012, (yes I know that’s like forever away, but hey, it’s before the scheduled end of the world) called Crooked Fang. It’s the story of how I figure out that maybe I’m not as dead inside as I think. A series of events stumble over my legs and land my ass in a lot of weird predicaments.

The sequel to Crooked Fang, called Pale Rider, is in production right now. It’s not quite done, but promises to be a little darker than Crooked Fang. Still, it’s a bunch of new lessons I gotta learn in order to make my way in the world. Being a vampire isn’t easy, I know that.

What I didn’t know was how hard it is to stay human.

S-it sure isn't is it?

Understatement of the year. Easier to just be one or the other, for reals.

S-Well Xan I just want to thank you for stopping by my little blog here. Next time I promise to come to Pinecliffe, so we can drink whiskey and talk music like proper folks.

Sure thing, remember we’re closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. And I’m always up for talking about music. Really appreciate the opportunity.

I highly suggest you all following Xan on twitter... @crookedfang....he is highly entertaining, and will school you on music and some other more questionable things. DO IT! You won't be sorry...

Oh yes and don't forget to download that free story, it's a fun read... here is the link again! http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3520560.Carrie_Clevenger

Carrie Clevenger and Nerine Dorman worked together on Just My Blood Type as you might know, but what you may not know, is there’s a new collaboration coming out soon, called Blood and Fire. X

*****************UPDATE***********************************
 you can buy Blood and Fire at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble .. Both Nook and Kindle formats available! It's one wild ride!

ALSO THE MOST EXCITING NEWS*******************************
COMING AUGUST 2012
Xan's book CROOKED FANG now has an awesome cover and blurb and I thought I would share it with you...




Sometimes a vampire's past can bite him in the ass.
 Xan Marcelles--bassist for Crooked Fang, vampire and full-time asshole, is content with his quiet existence in the backwoods of Pinecliffe, Colorado. But life at the Pale Rider tavern is set to become a little more complicated when he gets entangled with a feisty, blue-haired damsel and her abusive soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. To add to his woes, he’s gone from hunter to hunted, and his past returns to haunt him when a phone call draws him back to New Mexico. With the help of friends from his living past, he must get to the bottom of a murder, and figure out where he stands with his lover and his band, all while keeping one step ahead of his enemies. Hiding won’t be easy for him, especially with a mysterious woman dogging him every step of the way. 

Here is the e book cover~

 and here is Xan on the print cover... Nice eh???

Nerine Dorman’s author page: http://www.facebook.com/nerine

Crookedfang’s page: http://www.facebook.com/CrookedFang

Cake me Boyo

*** this is the recipe that you all asked for.. these are the things I changed. I used loaf pans to cook the cake. I also used an Irish whiskey..but you are supposed to use bourbon. I made a simple sugar and whiskey glaze to pour over it.. ask questions if you need to or improvise and post results...

Enjoy Synde

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1½ cups strong brewed coffee

• ½ cup whiskey

• 1½ sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

• 2 cups flour

• 1½ teaspoons baking soda

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

• 3 large eggs plus one egg white

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325°. Butter a 10-inch springform pan, dust with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and place on a baking sheet.

2. In a saucepan, whisk together the coffee, whiskey, butter and 3/4 cup cocoa powder over low heat. Whisk in the granulated and brown sugars. Let cool. In a small bowl, toss the chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon cocoa powder.

3. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, pepper and cloves. Whisk the eggs, egg white and vanilla into the cooled coffee-chocolate mixture. Whisk in the flour mixture. Fold the cocoa-dusted chocolate chips into the batter.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick comes out just slightly moist, about 1 hour. Let cool. Dust with the remaining 1 tablespoon cocoa powder before serving.

Heart Times with Eddie

I am not a huge fan of Grunge. Being from Southern California, it hit us late and I just didn't get it. After it was firmly seated in the annals of music I got into it, but if the truth be told still not a huge fan.

I live in Seattle now, the home of Grunge. I have played pool with Chris Cornell and Stone Gossard without really getting the significance of these two gentlemen.

There is one exception to this: Eddie Vedder. This man is a champion of the people. We aren't friends and I don't know him. I have met him in passing a handful of times, all during very significant times in my life, one more so than the others.

When I was a “youngun” I worked for the Ramones, they were fantastic and horrible times, but even more so horrible has been the passing of all but one of the original members. I attended Johnny Ramone's funeral in LA. It wasn't a shock and there was no love lost between Johnny and I. That however didn't make it any less sad. It was heartbreaking. I didn't cry, for some reason having so many of my previous bosses at the funeral made me uncomfortable, and so I held myself in check.

I returned home to Seattle a few days later, still feeling sad and tense. I work in a bookstore in Seattle and both Eddie and Stone often stopped by to shop. About two weeks after the funeral, Ed came in with his daughter. They were going to see the Curious George movie. I asked him how he was doing and, he shrugged looked at the floor and said “remembering the good times.” You see he and Johnny were very, very close. Then he looked up at me with those penetrating eyes and said, “You were there too, how are you doing?”

I did the exact same thing, looked at the floor and shrugged. “I can't cry,” I whispered. “I want to but I can't”

He hugged me hard and said, “Don't be so hard on yourself.” Then the tears came . . . finally I was able to release the sadness. I didn't sob, in fact the tears ran in silence, but they ran.

He smiled and said, “See you soon,” and he was gone off to see a movie with his child.

I have seen him maybe 3 times since that day in October of 2004. He is always kind.

I owe Eddie a lot for that day.

Vodka and Genetic Engineering

I am pleased to welcome K. M. Ruiz to the blog! She writes fantastic traditional style Sci Fi.. Please welcome her..


bio:
K.M. Ruiz lives in California with a cat or two for company and the occasional earthquake. She earned a B.A. in English (concentration in Creative Writing) and a minor in American Indian Studies from San Francisco State University. She likes her movies loud, her music louder, and when not writing, can be found traveling, looking for new ideas.

Tell us a little about yourself.
Random facts? I can do that! To start with, my taste in movies rivals that of teenage boys—the more explosions and gun fights, the better. I am definitely not a romcom girl. I have five bookcases in my apartment and own more books than anything else, including booze. I’m little, but I’m kind of loud, which either amuses or horrifies my friends, depending on the situation. I used to have 15 piercings on my head; now I only have 12. I had to give up the ones on my face when I changed jobs. I’m currently obsessed with Hawaii Five-0 and White Collar. I have inflicted this obsession on many people in my life and turned them into converts.

Why science fiction?

I grew up reading and watching sci-fi. As much as I love fantasy in all its forms, I love sci-fi a little more. There’s something about the possibilities in that genre that could impact real life which always made me sit back and think, that’s so awesome. Also, spaceships are just cool. I still want one.

How did the idea come about?

Through a mix of my love for comics along with my personal experience with incurable disease, the stigma that comes with it, and the science within the medical field. Kind of a depressing mix, I know.

MIND STORM and TERMINAL POINT deal with the fallout of war and societal segregation based along genetic lines. The overall story has gone through several phases over the years, from super comic book-y in earlier incarnations to the more gritty version that got published. I wanted my characters to have biologically believable powers that had limits. Being a psion in my stories means you’ve got a disease that kills you young if the environment doesn’t kill you first.

Every disease affecting humans today has side-effects and a good many diseases end up killing us. I didn’t want to give any of the characters an easy way out with their powers because not every disease gets cured. In my stories, when a psion uses their powers, it eats away at their own lifespan. I thought it was better if there were severe consequences when it came to using what the disease gave them and what everyone was willing to give up or not give up for their personal goals. Or maybe I’ve just got a cruel streak a mile long when it comes to my characters.

Are you a dog or a cat person?

Cat person. Definitely a cat person. I’ve got two: a neurotic calico who lords over the apartment named Firefly and a sweet, gentle, part Maine Coon named Bones who basically rolls over in abject submission whenever Firefly demands it. Bones is bigger than Firefly but she is definitely the one in charge.

Favorite drink?

Ooooh. Are we talking alcoholic or regular? Because if it’s regular, I subscribe to the religion of coffee on a daily basis. If it’s alcohol, I’m a whiskey and vodka girl, but not at the same time. Give me a nice Irish whiskey any day and I am golden.

If you could sit down with 5 people living or dead who would they be?

If they’re dead, would they come back as zombies? I think I’d have to go with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (because I’m in love with all things space and I’d really love to hear from them in person about their impression of landing on the Moon), Michael Whelan (because I love his art), my grandmother (because I never got the chance to really know her since she died when I was so young), and finally J. J. Abrams (because I would kill for a look at the next Star Trek movie script).

What's next for K.M.?

I’m working on a new novel that I don’t want to say too much about because I don’t want to jinx myself or anything. So, uh, I’ll just say I am continuing my daily writing habit while mainlining coffee to spare everyone else’s sanity.

Thanks so much for letting me stop by!

We are glad to have you!

you can follow K.M on twitter @K.M.Ruiz.

Jupe's Midnite Spook Show

Cemetery Cat Designs is proud to announce an new jewelry line based on Jenn Bennett's
Arcadia Bell series.. here's a little about what Jenn had to say about Jupe and Arcadia.


In Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell urban fantasy series, the narrator, Arcadia "Cady" Bell, is a mage who slings drinks at a tiki bar, where the Earthbound demon patrons look like humans with halos (and aren't necessarily the monsters). Cady partners with a demon named Lon, and forges a relationship with his young teenage son, Jupe—a chatty, high-spirited boy who bonds with Cady over classic horror movies like Frankenstein and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

“Do you like classic movies?” Jupe asked me.

“Sure.”

“Ya know which one I’m talking about? Bride of Franken-
stein? Elsa Lanchester had her hair kinda like that. She was
really the Monster’s bride—Frankenstein was the doctor. People
always screw that up.”

--Kindling the Moon

to find out more about Jupe Butler and Kindling the Moon visit...http://www.jennbennett.net

You have your Mothers Eyes

I love the original Fright Night movie, in all it's campy glory, and although I am not going to out my age here on the blog, I may or may not have originally seen it in the theater. Let's for now be satisfied with the fact that it's a movie I own and watch frequently.

I was skeptical of a reboot! When I heard Colin Farrell was coming aboard as Vampire Jerry,I was downright heartbroken. I am no fan of his, and I find his acting skills minimal at best. Some consolation came in the news of David Tennant joining the cast, but didn't see him in the Roddy McDowell part. His manic humor had no place, in the calm footsteps of Roddy McDowells Peter Vincent.

I just had to see this for myself..so thanks to a a very kind good friend I had the funds to go see this movie..(movies are expensive, I usually wait til they make their way to DVD)

So.. let me say Marti Noxon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) did a brilliant job with the screenplay adaption. She kept it current but didn't lose anything from Tom Holland's original story. It's a much more graphic film than the 1985 version, but not gratuitously thankfully. I fucking loved this film.. Yep I said it...LOVED THE SHIT OUT OF IT!!

It didn't lose one bit of it's campiness! Nope nothin...It's all there...in all it's cheese-ball glory.

Colin Farrell got it, he was sultry, hot and evil, completely over the top. When he sniffs the air for human scent..it made me both chuckle and sigh. He really got it, without trying to add all these layers to Vampire Jerry. Jerry is just a bastard killing machine, nuff said.

Anton Yelchin was OK as Charley Brewster, I didn't find him and captivating as William Ragsdale was in the original. Yelchin tried to act too much with his eyes. Camp doesn't translate well that way.

So who stole the show? Yep you got it, DAVID FUCKING TENNANT that's who.

The reboot makes Peter Vincent a Criss Angel (ugh) wanna be, and Tennant does it flawlessly. He's so hilarious, I could not stop laughing. I don't want to give too much away, but the addiction to Midori, aw well as the leather rashes were amazingly awesome touches.

Both Lisa Loeb and original vamp Jerry, Chris Sarandon have great cameo's. I might have giggled when Chris showed up and got his due..

My bottom line...go see this, spend the money, it's worth it. TRUE THING..

Every time I think of you

Around the heyday of John Waite's "Missing You," I worked with him at Magic Mountain. Like David Lee Roth (see earlier entry), Waite had a completely overinflated ego. Before his big hit, he was in an English glam pop group called The Babys. They were fairly successful. One of their big hits was "Isn't it Time."

Anyway, first Mr. Waite refused to ride in our covered golf cart, he wanted the actual limo to drive through the narrow streets of Magic Mountain's backstage area. Don't get me wrong: He chatted me up quite nicely, asking if I would go on some roller coasters with him. We never got to the rides, though. He went from meh to douche in twenty minutes.

When we got to the his dressing room, he told me the drinks and food were "unacceptable." Oddly I had a highlighted copy of his rider (contract) in my briefcase. Everything he'd requested was iced and artfully displayed. I pointed all this out, only to hear him say, "Oh, I know, I just don't like it! I would like a steak instead." Hmm … Silently I talked myself out of giving him a major bitch slap and called the Mountain's Steakhouse, requesting they send over a nice steak dinner. (Which, incidentally, he never touched.)

The theater was full to capacity with some overflow in front of the backstage door, Every so often John would peek out the door just to get the girls to scream. He was getting on my last nerve. Just as he was about to go on stage, he turned to me and said, "Make sure those girls stay quiet."

Umm, rriiiiight jerkface.

Now I know what I did next was uncool on so many levels, but honestly I just couldn't think of anything else fast enough …

I leaned out the backstage door and shouted, "Hey, ladies—can I get your attention?" They all looked up at me. "Well, you see, it's like this … um, actually, Mr Waite is GAY … so you all are wasting your time. Might as well go home." Most of them boo'd me, but a few actually started to cry. I just didn't realize they would take it so hard. I felt bad for about ten seconds, til I saw his manager cracking up. Even he enjoyed it.

The rest of the evening went on with only minor douchebaggery.

However, when I was driving him out of the park, he looked at me and said, "I'm not gay, you know. I would be happy to prove it to you." I smiled sweetly, letting him out of the car. I looked up at his face and said, "John, I ain't missing you, no matter what I might say."
"Touché," he replied and walked off to his car and into the night.…

Drinking with Juliet Blackwell

Recently I added a new jewelry line to the Cemetery Cat family , and I am really excited about it. The inspiration came from a softer side of myself, and truthfully I was pretty surprised when it showed itself. I have had the pleasure of meeting Juliet a time or two and she is fantastic.

PS- she can hold her liquor too! you know that's a prerequisite...;)

So Juliet, I want to thank you for coming by. I am so excited to launch this line. My designs have taken a whole new direction because of your books.. It's pretty awesome.. Let's just dive into some questions shall we?

Who is Juliet Blackwell exactly?

Juliet Blackwell is an enigma. Actually an enigma wrapped in a conundrum, covered with chocolate sauce. Something like that.

Why mysteries? and what is a cozy mystery?

Mysteries are fun, that’s why. They give you a basic plot: someone’s dead, figure out how/why/who did it. But add the paranormal…? Then they get really juicy. They’re all about our deepest, darkest motivations, and the search for justice, and trying to put the world right again. To me, all those ideas work great with a witchcraft theme.

A “cozy” or traditional mystery is something you cuddle up with and read with a cup of tea at your side, a cat on your lap, a crocheted blanket around your shoulders. Or at a bar with a bottle of Jack at your elbow and a Marlboro hanging from your mouth. It’s, like, a book. Some are good, some bad. Mine’s good. Seriously, a “cozy” mystery is the kind of book that won’t make your mother keel over in disgust – there might be sex and violence, but it’s considered mild and/or takes place off-page.

How did the idea of incorporating occult ideas come about?

I’ve always been fascinated by witches. Unlike vampires or werewolves, witches are real people. Whether or not you believe in the actual magic of what they do, *they* believe it. That’s really fun. As a novelist, it means I get to go off and play with the ideas of the supernatural, but keep them grounded in reality. Plus, I get to hang around witches and hoodoo practitioners and folk healers all day, and call it work.

Tell us a little bit about Lily Ivory.

Lily is a natural born witch from a small West Texas town. She was rejected by her mother at an early age, went to live with the local curandera (a kind of Mexican folkhealer/witch) and then is finally run out of town at the age of seventeen. She’s been wandering the world for years, looking for a safe place to land, and finally finds it in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, where she opens a vintage clothing store. Because if you’re a witch, you just might fit in down in the Haight. And if you want vintage clothing, that’s the neighborhood to visit.

Vodka or Gin?

Gin. Unless it’s a vodka night. Throw in a little single-malt scotch, maybe some tequila, and I’m all yours.

Do you write in silence or with music?

In silence, unless I’m copyediting. Then it’s Edith Piaf. Or Billy Idol. I’m moody.

What's next for Juliet?

More Witchcraft mysteries! The fourth, In a Witch’s Wardrobe, comes out June 2012. And in the meantime, Dead Bolt, second in my Haunted Home Renovation series will be released December 6 of this year.

Synde, thank you for having me! I looooove your jewelry designs! I don’t really believe in marriage, but I might want to marry them ;-) I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to have jewelry inspired by my books and characters. You’re my hero!

About Juliet!~

Nationally bestselling author Juliet Blackwell writes the Witchcraft Mystery series (Secondhand Spirits, 2009; A Cast-off Coven, 2010; Hexes and Hemlines, June 2011; Obsidian). If Walls Could Talk launched the Haunted Home Renovation series in 2010; Dead Bolt, the second in the series, comes out in December. As one-half of the sister duo dubbed Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Art Lover’s Mystery Series--including Agatha-nominated Feint of Art and the most recent, Arsenic and Old Paint (September; Perseverance Press). A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France, and is now a painter in Oakland, California. She served two terms as president of NorCal Sisters in Crime.

You can visit Juliet at www.julietblackwell.net or on Twitter and Facebook!

Beer Break With Atticus O'Sullivan

In a completely unanticipated chain of events I recently was invited to sit down and have a beer with our favorite 2100 year old druid. We talked about a variety of subjects and enjoyed some fine drink.. As always it's wonderful to see him..

S: Hey Atticus..Thanks for the invite.

A: Happy to be here. The fish and chips are outstanding, by the way. Ever tried a Snakebite? That's Guinness and cider. The Guinness floats on top.

S- um no...that sounds er...interesting.
So first off how is having an apprentice after all these years without one?

Right now it's easy. Until she learns some languages there's not much else for me to do. Of course I'm nervous as all hell because I have to protect her until she can defend herself properly, so this will be twelve years of extreme paranoia.

S:Do you play a musical instrument? Sing?

I do both, actually. They're fallback positions for me when I'm on the run. If I need to disappear into a city and not use any magic for a while, then one of the best things you can do to blend in right away is join the music scene. It's fairly easy to get a gig at a bar when you know what you're doing. Just give them a name, audition, print up some flyers, and there you go. I'm an accomplished guitarist and I've played rhythm and lead in a few bands. Mostly I like playing small venues where it's just me. If I got into a band that became too popular I'd just have to leave again, so I always keep it local and short term.

S:What is your favorite location in the world? ( on this plane) why?

I will always love places that have been untouched by the industrial revolution. Places of wilderness you have to hike into, where there are no roads, the elementals are strong, and the earth sings of health. It's getting difficult to find those places anymore. There are a few lovely stretches like that in the Australian outback, though, and right now I'd say those are my favorites.

S: If you could sit down to dinner with 5 historical figures, living or dead who would they be.? Why...(and yes they can be ones you knew)

Ben Franklin. His image has been cleaned up by history, but damn, that guy knew how to party. Neil Gaiman, because, you know, I'm kind of a fanboy. Augustus Caesar—I have some pointed questions to ask him about his role in the systemic slaughter of the Druids and whether there were any vampires behind it. Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire, because he was clever and ambitious and therefore extremely dangerous. And then I'd like a ninja. Any ninja. Still haven't laid my eyes on one of them, and I'd like to know where they've been hiding.

S:what are you up to these days?

Getting ready to disappear off the map. Too many people know where to find me now. Granuaile needs a safe place to complete her training.

S:How is Oberon? I have been meaning to ask..how did you acquire him?

Oberon is just dandy. I found him on a rescue ranch in Massachusetts. His previous owners couldn't handle the responsibility that a big hound like him entails. And they didn't "get" him—he needed to go out and hunt, and they never let him do that, so he pretended their tan loveseat was a doe and tore it up, and you can imagine how pleased they were with that. Lots of Irish wolfhounds these days aren't as active as Oberon, and I could see how he'd be trouble if you couldn't talk to him.

S:Well Atticus thanks for inviting me to dinner.. It's been lovely.. I think I will have another whiskey and then toddle off..

~You can purchase Hounded, Hexed, and Hammered at the following~
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

and you can find Kevin here and Atticus here~
twitter- @Kevin Hearne
www.kevinhearne.com

Over the Moon with Jenn Bennett

Hey all-

I’m really excited to welcome debut Jenn Bennett to my Blog. Her debut novel KINDLING THE MOON is the bomb. Not kidding, I got to read this last year and it is a very different twist on Urban Fantasy. Here is a little blurb about it...

Meet Arcadia Bell: bartender, renegade magician, fugitive from the law. . . .

Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

Sounds awesome doesn't it? It is! Go get it now.

Hey Jenn, thanks for coming round, especially since the tables get turned this time. You see I am so lucky to have Jenn as my blog editor. She gets to read all the stories first, and make them readable for you guys. She does a fantastic job, and is a pretty damn awesome person too. So lets just get started shall we?

How did the original idea come about?

JB: First I'd just like to say how cool it is to be interviewed after Bono! But seriously, thank you for having me, and everyone should know how much I adore you and all of your incredible stories. I remember when I first started following you on Twitter, I had no idea about your past lives or your multi-talented nature. I just thought you were
an awesome jewelry maker (and I still wear the badass necklace I bought from you, just for the record). You are probably the coolest bookseller on the planet—you know that, right?

Ok I swear I didn't pay her to say that! Hugs to you, my dear and backatcha...(blushes )

JB: But to answer your question, almost two years ago, I was watching some random TV show about serial killers. I wondered what it would be like to have a serial killer in your family. Talk about the ultimate black sheep, right? So, in KINDLING THE MOON, I decided to place my protagonist, Arcadia Bell, in a similar dicey situation. Arcadia's parents were accused of killing several leaders of rival occult organizations. Even though Arcadia knows that they're innocent, it doesn't matter—the evidence points to them. They've also been the subject of countless true crime shows on TV, and have had books written about them, etc. So in the public's eye, they are killers. Pretty grim stuff, but I think it's a unique premise for a urban fantasy novel.

How many books are you planning on in the series?

JB: I'm contracted for two, with an option for more. I've planned out a total of four to complete a major story arc, and I'd love to write a young adult spin-off from Jupe's point of view, a teenage character in the series (and my personal favorite character).

Ohhh yes... that would be a great perspective.. Do eeeeet!

Tiki Bars? Are you a fan of the Tiki Bar?

JB: Absolutely. Writing a tiki bar into Arcadia's world was definitely a "write what you know" thing for me. Tiki culture, for those who may be unaware, was a phenomenon that bloomed in the US from the 1930s-60s. My husband and I are huge midcentury aficionados, and lovers of all things tiki. We've collected over a hundred tiki mugs, many of them rare or vintage, along with a lot of other miscellaneous things (like a carved Moai from the now-defunct Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills, which was open for 50 years). If it's tiki, we collect it: swizzle sticks, drink menus, puffer fish lamps, sculptures. We used to have a small tiki bar in our house, and have plans to build a bigger one in the basement in the near future.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so what is your playlist like?

JB: I write in complete silence. I'm talking pin-drop quiet—I can't stand to hear a TV in another room. Music is a huge part of my life, don't get me wrong. My tastes are wildly eclectic (I like everything from The Shins to The Damned to Thin Lizzy to jazz and opera). My love for music definitely spills over into my fiction, but only if it works for the character. Arcadia wears an Iron Maiden T-shirt, which is the best metal band in the world, natch. Lon listens to a lot of classic rock, and in Book 2 we find out that he was into Black Sabbath when he was a teenager. His son, Jupe, who is monster-movie fan and a comic book geek, likes 80s music and Funkadelic.

Dogs or Cats?

JB: Cat lovers who read KINDLING THE MOON might be upset to learn that Arcadia has a small issue with cats. But she has her reasons, and there's a humorous showdown between Arcadia, a fat cat, and an imp. She owns a pet pygmy hedgehog named Mr. Piggy, and Lon and Jupe have a black lab named Foxglove. Personally, I've had cats as pets in the past, and my favorite thing about them is that they couldn't care less if you leave them alone in the house for hours. As long as they have food, water, and clean litter, they are totally cool. Independence is a good thing. Dogs, on the other hand, will die inside if you leave them alone for too long. They need companionship. This is a blessing and a curse. My husband and I own two purebred pugs. They are like children, and require constant attention and care. They are also enormous pains in the ass. No joke, I have seriously wept in frustration because I couldn't handle them. WEPT. But at the end of the day, they give you so much unconditional love that it erases all the bad behavior. That's a long-winded way of saying that I'm a dog lover, by the way—a dog lover who appreciates the independent nature of cats!

If you could sit down to dinner with 5 historical figures living or
dead who would they be?

JB: Oh! I like this question. Let's see . . . this doesn't have to be one big dinner party, right? Because I'd love to have an afternoon alone in the 1930s with Anaïs Nin and Henry Miller. (I'm waggling my eyebrows in a lusty manner, just for the record; we could totally skip dinner.) I'd also like an afternoon alone with Franklin D. Roosevelt. I recently visited the FDR museum in Georgia, and my sister-in-law and I were remarking how surprisingly hot he was when he was younger. (I think my classy comment was, "Yeah, I'd hit that.") For my fourth person, I'd choose Ella Fitzgerald, who is a huge, huge idol of mine. I adore many classic jazz vocalists like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, but no one compares to Ella, in my opinion. Sheer brilliance. I can't even imagine how incredible it would be to hear her sing live, so I'd like that to happen in my time-machine fantasy. And I suppose that leaves me with one more historical figure, so I'll choose Vincent Price. He was an accomplished cook, so I'd definitely like him to cook me dinner. And because I can't keep my head out of the gutter, I'd totally hit that as well.

What's next for Jennifer?

JB: Book 2 in the Arcadia Bell series, SUMMONING THE NIGHT, comes out April 2012. I just finished a young adult paranormal that my agent is reading, and I'm about to begin writing another young adult (a supernatural thriller/horror title). Later this summer, I hope to start writing an adult paranormal romance. I'm ambitiously (read: stupidly) giving myself two years to hit the New York Times bestseller list. So two years from now, you can interview me again and we'll see if I managed that. If I fail, I'll totally buy you dinner . . . we can put up a cardboard standee of Vincent Price at the head of the table.

Thanks for coming by! Love you, love the book!

I am so excited for this book guys! Seriously! It's so different, gritty, funny, and it doesn't go over the top with taking itself too seriously. It moves fast and is one hell of a ride. Get this one NOW!! You can find Jenn at the following places....

http://www.jennbennett.net

http://www.twitter.com/jenn_benn

http://www.facebook.com/jennbennettauthor

http://authors.simonandschuster.net/Jenn-Bennett/77827513/books

The Writing on the wall

So, with U2 recently in Seattle once again, I must admit many stories
came to mind. Bono and I reminisced about some of the stupider things

we have done. Like getting arrested with Greenpeace. (Yes, they were

all fun.)

When I was in Dublin in the 80's, U2 was already pretty big (not like
now mind you, but huge enough) and the wall outside Windmill Lane was
a tourist destination. Many a pilgrim would scrawl, paint or doodle a
message to the lads. They painted over it once a year to make room for
others, but I can assure you that everyone read every year. I am
honestly not sure if it's still there; I forgot to ask when I saw
them.

Anyway back to the story. One day while I was over there we were

watching a bunch of American students taking pictures in front of the

wall, giggling and posing. I thought it would be funny if we just
wandered out. In those days it was easier, and of course Bono was
game, The Edge too.

So we wandered around the corner . . . tapped the American students on

the shoulder and asked what all the fuss was about. It took them a

minute to comprehend, then the the squeeing started. Believe me, it

was the squee heard round the world. Pictures were taken. Then all
parties wandered away giggling.

The next day I returned to the Windmill Lane offices to work only to
find the boys outside surprising fans. It was pretty awesome. They
only did it a couple of times that day, then I think the buzz wore
off. The boys went back into the office, and everything went back to normal.

Still ....you never know who you will meet at the Graffiti wall at Windmill lane.

Are you ready to be Hexed?

Once I read Kevin Hearne's fantastic book Hounded, it reawakened my love for Arizona and all deserts high and low.( I lived in Northern Arizona for a time)When connecting with Kevin on Twitter we compared notes on where to get the best coffee, ale and fish & chips. Now with Hexed out( book 2) Kevin has introduced us to more of the adventures of Atticus O'Sullivan. Luckily for me, as well as YOU, Kevin has introduced me to Atticus hisself, and he has agreed to do a interview with yours truly.
A little back story if you will allow, Atticus is a 2100 yr old Druid living in the body of a 21 year old man..yeah you heard me! He runs a metaphysical bookstore in Mesa, Arizona, and between drinking the occasional ale or shot of whiskey, he fights off just about everyone. Excitement or trouble is his middle name..

So Atticus thanks for stopping by~

It's my pleasure, Synde. Thanks for the beer.

So tell me, over the ages what Musicians have you really favored?

Well, quite recently I've been enamored with Rodrigo y Gabriela. Before that, there was an underground punk band in California in the 90s called Chewbacca's Sister that I used to dig. I was talking backstage with their drummer after one of their shows, his name was Wauuugh! or something like that, and he told me about this crazy cyberpunk band called Hiro Protagonist and the Nam-Shubs. They came on stage wearing swords and when the show was over they'd hack apart their instruments with them. But you're probably wondering about really old acts, right? I have to say Mozart was probably the best ever. He was a true genius and wanted to party all the time and get stupid because that was the only way he could stand to be around other people. They bored the shit out of him otherwise. He was the only guy who ever beat me at memory games. Before him, well, my own bias runs to individual bards, guys that history has forgotten because performers weren't the celebrities then that they are now. I could tell you their names, but what would be the point? They're unpronounceable to modern English tongues and the Internet doesn't accurately represent the fadas over the vowels anyway. But they still live on in me.

Why a metaphysical bookstore? What do you enjoy most about owning/running one?

It's a way for me to hide my own rare books in plain sight. At night, when everyone's gone, I sometimes take 'em out and pull a Gollum, muttering "Yesssss, Precious," and other terms of endearment. Besides that, I sort of feel it's my duty to give people somewhere to go if they're looking for something outside the mainstream. And people who are willing to think independently, well, those are the kinds of people I'd like to meet anyway, so the store gives me a way to do that.

What God/ Tuatha De Dannan is the biggest pain in the butt?

The universal answer to that, no matter who you ask, is probably going to be Thor. He's let that prophecy about Ragnarok go to his head; if he can only die at the fangs of the world serpent, then nothing else can touch him, and he can do whatever he pleases. I think Leif might have a legitimate beef with him.

It seems you are always getting "entangled" with witches, why?

Well, it might seem that way recently, but that hasn't always been the case. During those witch-hunting years, you know, they stayed out of everyone's hair and let the random burnings and dunkings take out their innocent neighbors. The only reason they're so bold now is because this age of science is so skeptical of their existence.

coffee or tea?

I'm a tea kind of fella. There are some interesting compounds in coffee, mind you, but I was a tea guy for seventeen centuries before I had my first cup of coffee.

cider or ale?

Ale, for sure. But there's a great compromise if you can't decide. In Arizona they call it a Snakebite. It's half Guinness and half cider. The Guinness sits on top and it looks like a potion.

So why Kevin, what made you tell your story to him?

Eh. He's an Irish guy who likes baseball and dogs and comic books, so why not? I met him down at Rula Bula and we got to talking, and I found out he knew how to spell and everything. It's not much more complicated than that.

What's next for Atticus and company..what do you have up your sleeves besides tattoos?

Well, I have an apprentice to train, and that's my number one priority. Granuaile is brilliant and I think she'll be a magnificent Druid if I can just make sure we both live that long.

Thanks so much for stopping by..we all really appreciate it..
say hi to Oberon for us..!

I will give him a belly rub on your behalf. I was grateful to receive your invitation, Synde. May harmony find you.




~You can purchase Hounded and Hexed at the following~
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

and you can find Kevin here and Atticus here~
twitter- @Kevin Hearne
www.kevinhearne.com

Ale, Sausage and a visit from Kevin Hearne

Hey all!
I have found another book I must let you all know about, it's both AWESOME and unusual. Here is a little blurb about it-

Atticus O’Sullivan has been running for two thousand years and he’s a bit tired of it. After he stole a magical sword from the Tuatha Dé Danann (those who became the Sidhe or the Fae) in a first century battle, some of them were furious and gave chase, and some were secretly amused that a Druid had the cheek to defy them. As the centuries passed and Atticus remained an annoyingly long-lived fugitive, those who were furious only grew more so, while others began to aid him in secret.

Now he’s living in Tempe, Arizona, the very last of the Druids, far from where the Fae can easily find him. It’s a place where many paranormals have decided to hide from the troubles of the Old World—from an Icelandic vampire holding a grudge against Thor to a coven of Polish witches who ran from the German Blitzkrieg.

Unfortunately, the very angry Celtic god who wants that sword has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power, plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good, old-fashioned luck of the Irish to kick some arse and deliver himself from evil.

Uh huh...yes.. Kevin doesn't mess around with the Tuatha De' Dannan, no shiny fuzzy warm winged creatures are they, rather the strange, twisted, amoral beings that mythology tells us about. I couldn't read this book fast enough! It's the beginning of a trilogy with the second book Hexed coming out on June 7th and the third book Hammered coming out on July 5th. I asked Kevin to stop by for a quick interview, in between signing books and grading tests.( Kevin teaches high school English.)

Well lets just jump into things-

What triggered the original idea?

It started out as a comic book I was going to call American Druid. It was just supposed to be a project to keep me busy while my epic fantasy was out on submission, and I basically wanted a magic user who could talk to his dog since I've always wished I could talk to mine. After finishing six pages of the comic, I realized it would be better suited to an urban fantasy novel and took a step back to reevaluate everything. The story got bigger from there as I got into the background research.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I read parts of The Annals of the Four Masters and the Fenian Cycle, as well as a Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by James MacKillop and some old accounts by Julius Caesar. Though of course I took some liberties here n' there, I tried to stick to the myth n' history as much as possible, because I'm tired of seeing the original Irish stuff being watered down and corrupted by other traditions.

Do you have a favorite member of the Tuatha De' Dannan?

Oh, heck yes. Brighid is a tall shot of whiskey. Poetry, Fire & the Forge in one package? That's hotness.

Is some of Atticus' "modern lingo" channeled from your students?

Yeah, a bit of it. But I don't think I'm going to have him start calling things "sick." I don't wish to contribute to that confusion. What a bizarre development in modern slang that is. The other term that's popular right now is to call cool things "legit." Atticus might use that one. Apparently, being legit is even better than being sick. When I was in high school, sick things were rad and legit things were balls rad. Slang was so much simpler back then.

Let's talk play-list, what did you listen to when writing this book?

Depends on what I'm writing at the time. I'm a fan of Rodrigo y Gabriela( THIS BAND IS GREAT FOLKS!) and Six Parts Seven for most things—instrumentals, basically. But when Atticus has to throw down, I put on some heavy stuff. Megadeth, DragonForce, Yngwie Malmsteen, that sort of thing. Angry music that makes you all stabbity, you know, like you want to hunt down all the spiders in your house and mount their heads on toothpicks as a warning to all other creatures with exoskeletons that they'd better not disturb THIS guy while he's writing. That's nothing special, though; I'm sure everybody does that.

Since you love the wolfhounds, what kind of pets do you have?

I live in a rather wee place and don't have enough room for a noble hound, so I have a pug and a Boston Terrier. The pug's name is Manley (after the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins) and the Boston's name is Sophie (after the novel Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder). I also have two cats that my wife adopted.

If you could sit down and dine with 5 deities who would they be and why?

1. Manannan Mac Lir, Irish god o' the sea. I want to know what's lurking in his domain that we haven't seen yet and I want to check out his cloak o' mists.

2. Vainamoinen from Finnish tradition, because I have to hear him play something on his kantele. If you've never heard of it, that's an instrument made from the lower jaw of a pike and the hairs of a blond woman. That has to have a rather unique sound, don't you think?

3. Brighid, for reasons mentioned above. I want to hear a ballad or something from her.

4. Coyote from Native American tradition. He's gotta have some great stories to tell.

5. Athena, Greek goddess o' wisdom. I'd like her advice on how to solve a few of the world's problems.

I love a good pint, actually I am predisposed to cider, so what is your favorite beer?

The Bramble Berry Brew at Beaver Street Brewery in Flagstaff, Arizona. Best beer EVAR. It finishes really clean and has just a hint of raspberry freshness to it. Only "fruit" beer I can stand, actually; all other fruity beers taste artificial or over-sweetened somehow. When I first tried it I wasn't expecting much, so I was astounded by its quality; to my palate it's the most refreshing drink on the planet. But I'm REALLY looking forward to trying this beer called Chocolate Oaked Yeti. It might be crap, but I want to be able to say I tried it.

Yeah I can't wait to try that one either...anything with chocolate and Yeti in it wins in my book..
Thank you so much for stopping by...

you can buy Kevin's book here-
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

You can find Kevin here-
Kevin Hearne website
Twitter

Facebook

Run, Run , Run , Run, Runaway....

This blog post has been a long time coming. Lots of strange goings on in real life, forcing me into a writing distraction.

Anyroad, this tale takes place many (MANY) years ago, when a young Synde was still in high school (19XX, heh heh). There was a club in
Los Angeles (about 30 minutes from my home in Orange County) called Rodney's English Disco. Rodney Bingenheimer was a short gnomish kind
of guy who was completely beloved by the music industry, especially the British Glam musicians. Many of said musicians hung out at
Rodney's club—the holy grail of hangouts. I won't go on about how a
bunch of underage teens could get into a club that had free running
drank, because of course that would be illegal. WE KNOW I don't go in
for that illegal kind of stuff.

So we would dress in our Glam finery and go out to Hollywood to see
who we could see. It is there I met Joan and Cherie. Joan was outgoing
and driven with a very ballsy sense of humor, and Cherie was a quiet
watcher. When I first met them both, they had only just come to know
each other, so often the three of us would hang out and star watch.
Joan had no problems talking to Jimmy Page, but Cherie and I would
just hang back and watch. One night outside of Rodney's they told me
about the band they had been putting together. Joan had met a guy
named Kim Fowley and he had wanted to put an all girl rock band
together. It turns out that had been how Joan met Cherie. All this
time they had been rehearsing and now they were going to play live.
They wanted me to come and see them play at the Whiskey. I was both
excited and jealous. At that age I secretly wanted to be in a band
myself, however my singing voice...um NO! ( I even had a band name:
Sweet Revenge.)

So a week later, I went to the Whiskey to hear Joanie's band. The
audience was full of underage kids. (The fake ID business must have
been booming in LA that week!!) When they took the stage, Joan was
wearing her trademark leathers, and Cherie in her now infamous blue
spandex jumpsuit. The other girls—Sandy, Jackie and Lita—I didn't know
at the time, so I don't remember what they were wearing.

Finally they started playing. Let me tell you, TRAIN WRECK! Missed
chords, slow starts, awful vocals...and yet there was a seed
germinating. A tiny spark that told me something special was
happening. I remember that first time I heard Cherry Bomb, I knew it
was a hit! As bad as it was, the audience was singing along by the
end. No one could get that hook out of their heads. I didn't get to
talk to them after the show. Kim swept them away to talk to the press
and such.

Little by little I lost touch with them. A few years later I was
standing in line to see Blade Runner in San Diego down the street from
a concert venue. I walked to the street to have a cigarette just as a
huge tour bus went by. I heard a voice shout "Hey Synde" and when I
looked up to the window, Joan was hanging out of it flipping me off
(her way of saying "hi"). She pointed down the street and said, "Come
see us." I didn't though...

Cut to 2 years later when I am in college and working at Magic
Mountain. I get my list of acts for the summer and there is Joan Jett
and the Blackhearts. The day came, and Joan was nice, but her manager
(I won't mention his name) was like the worst stage mother ever...
hovering over her like a demented moth. But the show was fantastic.
Her band was tight. And I loved every second.

I haven't seen her since that night, but she continues to inspire. I
wish her all the best.

**I love Rock n Roll
so put another dime
in the jukebox baby******************