Category: Character Development

TSJ Talks Inspirations for The War Beneath

TSJ Talks Inspirations for The War Beneath

When I was a teenager, I read a lot of 1950s Science Fiction. It was the tail end of the “Golden Age of Science Fiction.” Asimov, Pohl, Heinlein, del Rey and more. I fell in love with the genre because of those books. They sparked my imagination and took me to fascinating locations in futuristic settings. The stakes were always huge. It’s those books that really taught me how important YA Science Fiction is. Readers get hooked on the genre early; it’s what happened to me.

Horror/Sci-Fi/Suspense Influences on TSJ Before the Age of Ten

Horror/Sci-Fi/Suspense Influences on TSJ Before the Age of Ten

I recently published a blog piece celebrating my fiftieth year on the planet. In the article, I wrote about the books I read as a child under the age of ten. The intention was twofold: to inform people about the books that inspired a young boy to take on the monumental goal of writing science fiction thrillers (a task which took decades to achieve), and to implore parents to always buy books for their children.

TSJ Reviews THE FLY

TSJ on THE FLY Starring Vincent Price

Movie: THE FLY (1958)
Starring:  Vincent Price, David Hedison, Patricia Owens
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Sequels: RETURN OF THE FLY, CURSE OF THE FLY, THE FLY, THE FLY II
Writer:  George Langelaan (original story in Playboy)
Screenplay:  James Clavell! (THE FLY was his first filmed screenplay)

During this Coronavirus outbreak, I took the opportunity to watch the original film THE FLY with my 12 year old daughter.  We’re shuttered inside, and while I spend a great deal of my time writing, we’re also watching a lot of movies, streaming shows, and playing games.  THE FLY is a wonderful “horror” film from the 1950’s, part of my new BluRay package of FLY films, and has an important message for all content creators and creative writers.

TV Interview on THE WAR BENEATH with TSJ

Yesterday, Rogers TV in London, Ontario began airing a spot featuring yours truly speaking about THE WAR BENEATH, my motivations, inspirations, and the meaning of the term “technothriller.”

TSJ Reviews Father Sweet by J.J. Martin

TSJ Reviews FATHER SWEET by J.J. Martin

FATHER SWEET is the debut novel by Canadian writer J.J. Martin. It centers around a boy’s life in a small hamlet near Ottawa in Northern Ontario and his intersecting path with not only the local predatory priest, but also his father’s mysterious occupation and reasons behind the cold-hearted manner in which he raises his children. The two stories converge near the book’s conclusion, and the novel is a riveting tale of abuse, strength, revenge, and redemption.

TSJ Reviews Video Game THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON ONE by Telltale Games

TSJ Reviews Video Game THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON ONE by Telltale Games

I subscribe to Game Pass through my Microsoft Xbox account. Each month, Microsoft posts games that subscribers are free to download. I’ve tried numerous properties there, such as RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER, and it’s a good way to experience different types of games that I might not have purchased otherwise. The monthly fee isn’t bad, and there are just enough exciting options to keep me enrolled. One such game I attempted recently was Season 1 of THE WALKING DEAD by Telltale Games.

The result was

New Interview with TSJ about The War Beneath! Win Swag!

 

New Interview with TSJ about The War Beneath!  Win Swag!

Over at The Qwillery today you can find an interview with me on my thought process and the planning that went into writing THE WAR BENEATH, including a discussion of one of the novel’s major themes: Fathers and Sons. We also spoke about my process and why I enjoy writing books set in hostile (dangerous) environments!

Link

 

John Carpenter’s Contribution to Speculative and Science Fiction Film

 

This week, speculative fiction blog Aurelia Leo published an article I wrote on legendary SF director John Carpenter.  Over the decades I’ve searched out any property I could find that Carpenter has directed.  Find my thoughts on many of his SF films at the link, including THEY LIVE, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, THE THING, and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.

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