All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"  - so it seems anyway.  I think it makes most of us dull.  I've been away from this blog too long and I'm going to do something about it and that is to start writing again.

Look for my first new post very soon.

Look What I just Picked Up Today

It is the premier hardcover edition. I can't wait to get into this 'graphic novel'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't these used to be called 'comic books'?

Regardless, I'm into it.

Who Would Have Thought? Me Writing More Than Just a Blog

O.K. here is perhaps the biggest reason why I haven't been posting here on a regular basis. I'm now actually getting paid to write - not a lot mind you - and I know it isn't fiction, but it is still a start. And more importantly, I'm still practicing the art of writing.

One of the main reasons they wanted me to write for them is because they liked my written voice, and now that I'm writing for them I've been having difficulty finding it. I'm sure sure once I'm more comfortable with this whole thing, and I'm thinking less about voice and more about writing it'll come back effortlessly.

I am now two articles in and I'm already looking forward to writing my next one.

I'm Still Standing

I've been really bad at keeping up with this site as of late. Sorry.

I've got a ton of excuses though; work, family, been sick, keeping up with my NASCAR blog, starting my new 1957 Chevy Black Widow Blog, coaching, and it goes on and on.

One good thing though, I've been writing in some form or another almost every day - something Stephen himself would surely appreciate anyway (see what I'm talking about in Stephen's book 'On Writing').

I haven't even had time to finish reading 'Blaze' yet. I've got about 75 pages left, but I've been struggling to get any 'pleasure' reading done as of late too. I've done a ton of work and blog related reading, but the personal stuff has fallen by the wayside.

It happens like that sometimes.

I did manage to see 'The Mist' recently though - the first movie I've rented since Christmas - and I'll be posting my review of it, along with my thoughts on The Dark Tower Series, soon.

Take Care.

Stephen King’s thrilling novella The Gingerbread Girl is available now!

I just got this email from Stephen King's Official Web Site:

Originally published in Esquire magazine (click here to read an excerpt from the story), The Gingerbread Girl is available exclusively as an audiobook on CD and for download.

Narrated to perfection by Academy Award nominee Mare Winningham, The Gingerbread Girl follows the story of Em, who after suffering a devastating loss, starts running.

Soon Em runs from her husband and her home all the way to the airport. Looking for solace, Em’s running takes her to the Florida Gulf where she settles into the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key. Once there Em keeps up her running until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences.

Will Em be next? Listen to The Gingerbread Girl - available exclusively on CD and for download - and find out!

Listen to an excerpt from The Gingerbread Girl, narrated by Mare Winningham

Buy the audiobook from Simon & Schuster

StephenKing.com Getting Major Overhaul

Here is an excerpt from an email I got from stephenking.com:

Big things are coming...

What to expect in 2008 on StephenKing.com

A fully redesigned and reengineered Official Web Site featuring:

- The Library - A brand new searchable database of Stephen King books, audio books, short stories, movies and more.

- Multimedia Section - Offering audio book samples, movie previews, exclusive video clips, fan art, downloads and more.

- Community Features - Tell the world what you think of Stephen's works with our new "my thoughts on this" comment system.

- Updated Message Board - Offering new themes and style guides.

- New Dark Tower Web Site coming in April - Combining the classic seven part epic with Marvel's Dark Tower series, the redesign is just what the doctor ordered for the constant Dark Tower reader.

- "Wally World" - Codename for a Dark Tower Interactive Flash Experience coming Summer 2008.

- The Office - Step inside Stephen's eclectic office and browse hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia in this Interactive Flash Experience coming Fall 2008.

Click here to see the new home page

I like the changes they've done, how about you?

Rock Bottom Remainders - You Tube Clip

Stephen King on vocals. Nothing more to say.

Stephen's Top 25 Best Rock n' Roll Songs of All Time

You must follow the link to get Stephen's video about the subject, as I can't put it up here.

But I can list the songs:

25. "Psychotic Reaction" - Count 5

24. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly (long version only)

23. "Dead Flowers" - Rolling Stones

22. "Needles and Pins" - The Searchers

21. "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys

20. "On The Dark Side" - John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band

19. "You Never Can Tell " - Chuck Berry

18. "I Want To Help You Ann" - The Lyres

17. "Long Cool Woman In a Black Dress" - The Hollies

16. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis

15. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Around To Be a Millionaire)" - AC/DC

14. "Sixty Minute Man" - The Dominoes

13. "Mass. Ave" - Willie Alexander

12. "The Girl Can't Help It" - Little Richard

11. "She Loves You" - The Beatles

10. "Big Hunk of Love" - Elvis

9. "Bip Bop Boom" - Mickey Hawks

8. "Let's Have a Party" - Wanda Jackson

7. "New Orleans" - Gary U.S. Bonds

6. "Ramrod" - Bruce Springsteen

5. "C'mon Everybody" - Eddie Cochran

4. "Stupid Cupid" - Connie Francis

3. "Mystery Dance" - Elvis Costello

2. "Burning Love" - Elvis

1. "Anarchy In the U.K." - The Sex Pistols

The Dark Tower

OK, I'm finished - finally!

I'll be back to write about it in a day or so, I have to collect my thoughts.

Take Care.

"Duma Key" Now In Book Stores

Stephen's newest book, "Duma Key", was released on Tues. Jan 22, 2008. If you go to stephenking.com you will be able to listen to Stephen's latest interview about the book (among other things) on The Today Show, as well as listen to an audio excerpt from "Duma Key". I'm getting my copy today!

Update:

Just got it today (Sunday) and will start reading it as soon as I'm done the Dark Tower Series. I have less than 70 pages left in book 7, so look for my review of the series sometime this week.