Monday, October 2, 2023

Monday, June 26, 2023

Book Alert: The Stone, the Cipher, and the Shadows

Open Road Media will publish the 2022 Johnny Dixon title The Stone, the Cipher, and the Shadows in paperback on Aug. 8, 2023.

It began life as an e-book, was published as an audiobook earlier this year, and now will become a paperback. My how the times have changed.

Why not buy an extra copy and make your own hardcover?  Ha.

Monday, June 19, 2023

Researching Mary Zimmerman Yet Again

It wouldn't be a year ending in 3 (like 2003 or 2013) without a note about Mary Zimerman. Zimerman was a poet, playwright, and a one-time resident of Wisconsin, where John Bellairs met her when he came to town for a friend's wedding. She reportedly was a big fan of all things purple. Bellairs was intrigued and inspired to create a similarly-named character, Mrs. Florence Zimermann.

Monday, June 12, 2023

Monday, May 29, 2023

570th Anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople

This year - and indeed today - is the 570th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople. May 29, 1453, also marks one of the rare times when we can pinpoint an exact date of the events of one of John Bellairs's novels - namely, The Trolley to Yesterday (1989).

Monday, May 22, 2023

Interview Again: Derek Piotr

We met musician Derek Piotr in 2018, and now we hear he's researching and recording traditional folk music. We had to know more; he was nice enough to share his answers again. He's sharing his archive online, too, and the best thing is you can contribute to it. But first - a few words on how he got started.