Happy Birthday, #BradStrickland!

"Coming from the South, I grew up in a family of storytellers. My aunts, uncles, and grandparents told tales of enchantment and terror involving vanishing hitchhikers, spirits of the dead wandering graveyards in the form of flickering flames, buried Confederate gold, indelible bloodstains at the site of murders … topics to make a child’s flesh creep. However, I always wanted more and never failed to listen.

"The reading audience is very special and it’s always pleasant to discover these stores’ appeal to others. I hope the young people who read my work will enjoy it half as much as I enjoy writing it, and its good to hope that perhaps some of them will go on to become tellers of tales, masters of terror, workers of wonder."

Thanks for listening, Brad, and thanks for writing. Happy Birthday from your friends and fans at Bellairsia.

Quote from Something About the Author vol. 83. © 1996.

RecordedBooks: Lewis Barnavelt and Voices I Desire Aloud

While you're waiting to see The House with a Clock in its Walls, you can also listen to House - and soon, other titles from the Lewis Barnavelt series via RecordedBooks. RecordedBooks originally released House in the mid-1990s (along with four other titles) and now it is being re-released (with some great Gorey-esque artwork, too).

You'll be able to listen to the further adventures of Lewis and Rose Rita in the months ahead.  Listen up and mark your calendars.  (Or tell Siri to do it for you.)

Film News: A Journey, Sir, To Newnan

If this was the autumn season you finally decided you were going to visit Newnan, Georgia, then we have a few tips as far as getting around.  More so, the Newnan Times Herald reports on downtown traffic delays and detours that can be expected because of the filming of The House with a Clock in its Walls (and/or other projects).

Film News: Thy School-Days Frightful, Desperate, Wild, and Furious

Backstage.com reports that the upcoming House adaptation needs background actors for school scenes:

Film News: 'House' Release Date & Full Cast Revealed

MovieWeb reports September 21 ,2018, as the release date of the forthcoming The House with a Clock in its Walls adaptation:

Film News: Owen Vaccaro to Star in ‘House'

Variety reports that the forthcoming adaptation of The House With a Clock in Its Walls may have just found its Lewis:

Film News: MacLachlan To Enter 'House'

Deadline Hollywood reports Kyle MacLachlan will join the cast of The House With A Clock in its Walls:

Film News: A Little 'House' Music (with Nathan Barr)

MoviePilot.com talks with musician Nathan Barr - mostly about 'Flatliners' - but his working with director Eli Roth (and a recently-purchased theater organ):

Film News: This Old 'House' ... And Candy Store

The Newnan Times-Herald reports two locations in Newnan, Georgia, are in the the pre-production phase, preparing to film soon for the upcoming film, The House with a Clock in its Walls:

Film News: Casting and Crew News...in Georgia

If you're Atlanta (perhaps looking for the fabled magician), enjoy this bit of news from Backstage.com:

Film News: Cate Blanchett in Talks to Enter 'House'

Work on the film adaptation of The House with a Clock in its Walls continues. Variety reports Cate Blanchett is in early talks to co-star with Jack Black in Amblin Entertainment and Mythology Entertainment’s adaptation of the 1973 John Bellairs book illustrated by Edward Gorey.

Marshall Counts Down to a Movie

Andy Fitzpatrick of the Battle Creek Enquirer discusses how John Bellairs's home town is preparing for the big-screen adaptation of The House with a Clock in its Walls:

Film News: Casting 'The House...'

Work on the film adaptation of The House with a Clock in its Walls continues. Backstage.com reports McCarthy/Abellera Casting is looking for actors for the feature film by Eric Kripke based on the book series by John Bellairs. The call expires August 25, with shooting to begin October 9.

Gettin' #FidgetSpinner Wit It

As you're celebrating the feast day of Saint Barhadbesciabas today (get ahead of others and look him up), you might find yourself a little irritable, a bit restless. And you might find yourself twitching in mass. And you might find yourself jittery during the Eucharist. And you may ask yourself, well, how did you get this fidgety?

Houses, Clocks, and...eh...Walls

For your reading pleasure today, three uniquely-different stories, tied together thanks to John Bellairs. Or something like that.