Lair Lines ™

The Wraith: The Collected Editions #1-3 trade paperback now available to buy!

2012-01-23T15:25:00.000+11:00

That's right, finally, after years of waiting, the comic book issues The Wraith #1-3 have been collected together in one volume--The Wraith: The Collected Editions #1-3. Share in the excitement, the exhilaration of The Wraith's first adventures. See how the character is born, witnes his travails, and see him take on one of the deadliest villains you're ever likely to meet! All this and more!! Over 100 pages of action/adventure including some never-before-seen sketches and designs. All written by Frank Dirscherl and illustrated by a bevy of very talented artists, including Jeff Welborn, Jim Taylor, Roland Bird and more. Featuring a cover by comic book legend Bob McLeod (Superman, New Mutants, Spider-Man), you won't want to miss this one. Please click here to preview/buy this fantastic new release from Trinity Comics. An eBook release of this trade will be forthcoming.

Please note: the single issues The Wraith #1-3 are no longer available to buy. If you wish to read them, you'll need to pick up this new trade paperback release. The introductory issue The Wraith #0 will remain on sale as an individual comic book for those wanting to dip in to the murky world of the Dread Avenger of the Underworld. Visit the Comics section of the site to see what we have on offer.

End of Year Update!

2011-11-23T10:37:00.004+11:00

I know I don't post here nearly as often as I should (or used to), but I live a busy life. I guess we all do these days, really. Anyway, just to show you that I still exist and that I'm still working on my writing, I wanted to supply one (final?) update for the year and let you all know where the various projects I'm working on stands at present.

The Wraith comic book series has ended with this year's release of The Wraith #3. However, there will be (at least) one more release from me, and that is a graphic novel entitled The Wraith: Books of Judgment. It will feature two stories, the first illustrated by Jake Bilbao and featuring the never-before-told origin of the original Wraith/Paul Sanderson. See for the first time the events that led Sanderson to become The Wraith, how he met his arch-nemesis the Cobra and made his greatest ally in Max Horton. All will be revealed. Book Two features the never-before-told origin of the aforementioned villain the Cobra. Witness the startling occurrences that gave birth to this foremost of enemies and see how his life, and that of The Wraith, intertwine at key points. All will be revealed. Book Two will be illustrated by Roland Bird (The Wraith #3, Curse of the Cortes Stone) and Rusty Gilligan.

Speaking of Curse of the Cortes Stone (still available to buy from Arcana Comics by clicking here), in which The Wraith teamed up with fellow heroes Shadowflame and Johnny Saturn, Shadowflame's chronicler and creator Joe Martino and I have teamed up to pair our heroes together in yet another tale, Shadowflame/The Wraith: Bombed, to be illustrated by Roland Bird (ubiquitous ain't he?) and Peter Palmiotti. I'm also working on another teamup between The Wraith and another character, a story originally slated for some years back but then shelved and is now back on the frontburner. I don't want to reveal too much just yet, but we have a fantastic (and well credentialled) artist onboard and all appears to be moving along well. More on this soon (hopefully). Suffice to say, this project has me very excited.

Leaving comics behind, my prose work continues apace. My upcoming Wraith short story, Zombies Attack! should be coming out very soon now as part of the Metahumans vs. the Undead collection from Coscom Entertainment. It's an exciting little story, even if I do say so myself, and serves as a prequel to a future Wraith novel, Birds of the Living Dead. 'nuff said. The next novel in The Wraith Adventures series, Cry of the Werewolf, is finally on the editing table, and so we should have that released sometime during the first half of 2012 at a guess. A little later than anticipated, but that's how these things go sometimes. Oh, and another Wraith short story I wrote (with Adam Oravec), Sundown, will be appearing in an anthology of Wraith short stories, three of which will be written by writers other than myself. That's right, for the first time ever, The Wraith will be written by other people in the prose arena. Bobby Nash, Sean Taylor and Greg Gick will supply the other stories for The Wraith Dread Avenger of the Underworld, to be released by Airship27/Cornerstone Book Publishers. Look for that (hopefully) sometime in 2012. I also have more short stories to come from Airship/Cornerstone, including my Sherlock Holmes story, Sherlock Holmes and the County Killer. If I can ever get that finished, I'll be well pleased. Never enough time in the day!

That's about it. As you can see, there's some good stuff on the horizon, some of which not too far way. I hope you give them a chance and see what they're all about. You'll always get good, action-packed stories from me at a very decent price. You can't beat that. Take care and we'll talk again soon.

Curse of the Cortes Stone is finally available to buy!

2011-08-22T11:21:00.002+10:00

Our War of the Independents crossover one-shot comic book, Curse of the Cortes Stone, has finally been released by Arcana Comics and can be purchased online from them by clicking here. Featuring the characters of The Wraith, Shadowflame and Johnny Saturn, see these three amazing heroes up against the villainous Aztekoth and the demonic Orcus! Read the official synopsis below:

The Wraith, Shadowflame and Johnny Saturn spring forth from their own independent series' for an adventure only the three of them could possibly dare face. Battling against Aztekoth, The Wraith soon encounters an evil unlike any he has ever faced before--Orcus! An evil so pronounced, so powerful, that the fate of not only the world, but all existence is at stake. Soon joined by his fellow heroes, the trio battle as best they can against a galactic threat that will require the gathering of all Earth's champions to combat. Join our heroes in this rollicking adventure filled with drama, action and excitement in the best tradition of comic book storytelling. A War of the Independents crossover.

To buy this amazing comic book, please click here! You won't regret it.

Lance Star: Sky Ranger joins the iPulp Fiction Library

2011-06-21T09:49:00.001+10:00

Flying high in the pages of the Airship 27 Productions anthologies and eBooks, Lance Star: Sky Ranger’s writers and creators have partnered with iPulp Fiction to bring exciting pulp stories directly to your mobile device. The full story and artwork can be read at www.lance-star.com.

iPulp Fiction is releasing a story a day throughout June and July including tales featuring Lance Star: Sky Ranger. Frank Dirscherl’s story, "Attack of the Birdman" was released June 18th for the low price of $1.00. Visit iPulp at www.ipulpfiction.com for more information.

iPulpFiction is a cloud-based reading service that publishes classic and contemporary short stories that are accessible from any device with an up-to-date browser and an Internet connection. iPulp is on the cutting edge of a new generation of web apps. Beginning this week, look for new Lance Star: Sky Ranger based interviews with the writers, editors, and the crew at iPulp Fiction and airship 27 Productions at the official Lance Star website, www.lance-star.com.

Make sure you check out Frank Dirscherl’s Lance Star: Sky Ranger story, "Attack of the Birdman" for the low price of $1.00 at www.ipulpfiction.com, and keep an eye out for the other three stories in this superb anthology. Print and digital editions from Airship 27 are also available.

For more information on iPulp Fiction, please visit www.ipulpfiction.com
For more information on Airship 27 Productions, please visit www.gopulp.info
For more information on Lance Star: Sky Ranger, please visit www.lance-star.com and www.bobbynash.com

Cry of the Werewolf novel update! And more!!

2011-04-24T21:27:00.003+10:00

Just thought I'd share (finally) another update on the status of my fourth novel in The Wraith Adventures series, Cry of the Werewolf.

I can hereby report that I completed the novel early last month, handed it in to my publisher and I'm very happy with it. It hasn't yet gone through the myriad editing processes works like this always go through, but I'm already very happy with the overall story and tone of the book. It finished at 47,000 words, so in that 45,000-50,000 word ballpark that I always aim for.

I'll have more details (including a look at the cover) as the publishing date nears, but for now, suffice to say, if you're a fan of The Wraith (and have read the past books in the series), you won't be disappointed with this new story. In fact, I can guarantee you'll be thrilled!

Oh, and I've recently completed two new Wraith short stories as well. One, titled Sundown, I wrote in conjunction with upcoming new writer, Adam Oravec. He wrote the brilliant first draft of it, which I polished up a little, and I really think it's a super new story. A departure from the norm, but something that will shock and intrigue regular readers of The Wraith. This short story will be appearing in an upcoming Wraith anthology book to be published by Airship27/Cornerstone Book Publishers. The book will feature three other Wraith short stories by authors Bobby Nash, Sean Taylor and Greg Gick. A surefire smash! The second story, titled Zombies Attack!, will be appearing in an upcoming zombie anthology titled Zombies vs. Superheroes from Coscom Entertainment. This Wraith story will serve as a prelude to an upcoming Wraith novel called Birds of the Living Dead.

As you can see, there's plenty on the horizon for Wraith fans, especially this year and next. I'm also working on a new superhero, something more in the Superman vein, but more on that later.

Take care.

Happy New Year & update!

2011-01-03T11:38:00.002+11:00

Happy New Year to you all! I hope 2011 proves to be a super year, a better year for every one of you. I had a great festive season with the family, and now it's back to the grindstone.

Which brings me to the subject of my latest novel, Cry of the Werewolf. I'm hard at work on it as we speak. I'm deep into chapter 18 and things are coming along very well indeed. I've passed the 31,000 word mark, so I'm well over half way. 50,000 is always my aim, and I think around that figure is the perfect length for this type of novel (superhero/pulp hero). Anything too much more than that, and the novel becomes long-winded and boring. Too low, and the novel will lack substance and character depth. 45,000-55,000 words is, in my opinion, the perfect length for this type of novel. An action/adventure/fantasy novel like this needs to be fast paced and exciting, and I think many writers, particularly superhero/pulp hero writers, forget that. Anyway, I'm well on the way with this, my fourth novel, and I hope to have it ready around the middle of the year. Fingers crossed, eh?

Again, Happy New Year to all my readers (what few of you there are), and I hope to have more exciting Wraith news for you soon!

Curse of the Cortes Stone NOW AVAILABLE for pre-order!

2010-11-06T11:21:00.003+11:00

That's right, our amazing new graphic novel, Curse of the Cortes Stone, featuring the characters of The Wraith (mine), Shadowflame (Joe Martino) and Johnny Saturn (Scott Story) is now available in this month's Previews magazine to be ordered through Diamond. November 22 is the cut-off date, and the issue goes on sale in stores January 26 2011. Now is the time when we desperately need your help. We need you to help spread the word on this great comic (see the cover below and three pages of the interior art, handled by the same team of Roland Bird and Jeff Austin, for a preview of this amazing issue). For there to be more great Wraith, Shadowflame and Johnny Saturn comics, this needs to sell. So, order from your favourite comic store. Order from your favourite online store. Tell your friends. Tell everybody you meet to give this comic a go. Nobody will be disappointed, rest assured of that.

Here's a synopsis of the issue:

The Wraith, Shadowflame, and Johnny Saturn spring forth from their own independent series' for an adventure only the three of them could possibly dare face! Battling against Aztekoth, The Wraith soon encounters an evil unlike any he has ever witnessed before - Orcus! An evil so pronounced, so powerful, that the fate of not only the world, but all existence is at stake. Soon joined by his fellow heroes, the trio battle as best they can against a galactic threat that will require the gathering of all Earth's champions to combat.

Written by Frank Dirscherl (me), with Joe Martino & Scott Story and illustrated by Roland Bird & Jeff Austin, this issue will rock you to the core with thrills and entertainment aplenty! You dare not miss this issue! Pre-order NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Wraith #3 is finally here!

2010-09-14T18:12:00.003+10:00

Yes, the final issue in the ongoing series, The Wraith #3, is finally here. We certainly left the best 'til last as Roland Bird takes on the art chores for an issue you will have to see to believe, as The Wraith takes on his deadliest enemy yet - Aztekoth! You won't want to miss this.

Fear not, though, for this is not the end of The Wraith in comic book format. We have, coming at the end of the year, The Wraith/Shadowflame/Johnny Saturn: Curse of the Cortes Stone (from Arcana Comics), the Earth-shattering War of the Independents crossover one-shot--IN FULL COLOUR--and a graphic novel planned for next year, The Wraith: Books of Judgment. More on those soon.

In the meantime, you have The Wraith #3 and, indeed, the previous three issues in the series to whet your appetite. All can be purchased by heading on over to the Trinity Comics website and clicking on the Store link. Enjoy! :)

Cry of the Werewolf update!

2010-06-30T09:34:00.002+10:00

Not really much to report, but I thought I should chime in here all the same. It's been a while.

Cry of the Werewolf is coming along. Slower than I had hoped, but I'm still working on it. I'm pleased with what I've gotten down. I've changed the locale, we have new villains (one new nemesis I'm particularly happy with) and new excitement. I like to change things around a bit with each new novel in the series, while always maintaining the same flavour and tone that I've established from the beginning. I think I've been able to do that so far in this new piece. I'm currently working on chapter eight and know where I'm heading with the story. I'm also laying subplots for the next novel in the series as well as a future novel (the latter seeds were already started in the previous book, Cult of the Damned). If I can keep it up, this could well be the best of the series so far, which is always my intention--to keep improving and keep the excitement level high.

I don't know when this will be finished. I had originally intended to be done by now. I'm hoping to get it done by the end of the year, but I can't honestly say if I'll be able to pull that off. I'll try, but it's often hard to find the time these days with my other work commitments (gotta pay the bills after all). We shall see...

Cry of the Werewolf status update!

2010-03-26T12:06:00.003+11:00

It's been a long time since I updated this blog. I guess regularly talking with you, my readers, isn't a primary concern for me these days. I know, that doesn't sound good, and for that, I apologise. Life takes us in different directions, and currently, I don't feel the overwhelming need to bare my soul to the public as I once did prior to my marriage. After all, I now talk with her, so why with anyone else? Nevertheless, I really do need to re-connect with my readers, who have blessed me with their patronage of my books (and comics) over these last few years and I really do appreciate that. Thank you.

Which brings us to the subject at hand...the fourth novel in The Wraith Adventure Series, Cry of the Werewolf. I've been working on it furiously during the latter stages of 2009, and a little less so during the early parts of 2010. Be that as it may, I'm pleased with the overall progress of this novel, and I feel it could very well be my best story yet. I can't go too far into any story specifics just yet, but suffice to say, I'm trying to infuse every new novel with an identity all its own. This one will be no different. And yes, as the title states, there will be a werewolf...maybe even more than one ;) New characters, a country locale, an exciting new heinous villain. And more...

I will try to update this blog more regularly from now on (I know, I know, I've promised that before), and of course, there will be more news on Cry of the Werewolf forthcoming.

2009-07-01T10:56:00.003+10:00

Cult of the Damned is HERE!

Yes, my third book is finally now available to buy from all leading online booksellers or your favourite book store (they may have to order it in for you). I worked really hard (and long) on this one, and I think it's pretty good, hopefully my best book yet. I hope you all agree and decide to try it out for yourselves. I'd greatly apreciate it. The following is the official sales blurb as well as links to buy online:

Cult of the Damned (The Wraith Adventure Series, Book 3) by Frank Dirscherl is now available at the following on-line retailers:

Paperback:

Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1897217994/themaniworlof-20
Amazon.ca - http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1897217994/theoffisiteof-20
Amazon.co.uk - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1897217994?ie=UTF8&tag=thofsiofauapf-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1897217994
Barnes and Noble - http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cult-Of-The-Damned/Frank-Dirscherl/e/9781897217993/?itm=1
Other On-line Retailers - http://www.bestwebbuys.com/9781897217993
eBook:
Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002BVLQHW/themaniworlof-20

The story:

The Wraith returns, as does the master of his world, Frank Dirscherl, in this amazing tale of heroism, deadly evil and horror.

With the city back firmly in his grasp, crime lord and entrepreneur Robert Latham is celebrating by bankrolling Metro City’s 200th anniversary gala year, which includes the unveiling of a never-before-seen ancient Aztec stone carving—the Cortes Stone—at the City Gallery. A carving that has thrilled the scientific and artistic communities, but infuriated the monstrous Aztekoth, a creature so vile, so heinous; and whose cult of primeval, revenge-minded Aztec warriors are capable of any atrocity in their aim to retrieve the carving, seek retribution upon its desecrators, and reform their long-dead empire with the flesh of the population of Metro City!

Cult of the Damned is another thrilling adventure in The Wraith series, and is proof again of Dirscherl’s unmatched ability to entertain in the pulp-style for a modern audience.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T11:50:00.002+11:00

Happy New Year everyone! Once again, I apologise for my tardiness in posting here, but it really has been an awfully busy year. A good year in many respects, not so good in others, but that's really the same as most years when you think about it. Still, I always have high hopes for the future at this time of year, and this NY is no exception. I hope 2009 is your best year yet, and I wish you all the very best.

2009 will be another busy year for me. Now working two jobs, I rarely get time to think, let alone to write. Still, my wife and I are making very good money now and we're saving for the future, so we're heading in the right direction. Nevertheless, I do have several projects in the offing this year. As you no doubt know (and you do if you read this blog) my next Wraith novel, Cult of the Damned, will be out in the first half of this year. I think (hope) it's the best yet in the series. More on this as we near the release date. But I think readers are going to be very pleased with the end result. I also have a short story in the upcoming anthology No Such Thing As a Free Ride coming out in February from IP Publishing. This is the Australasian edition of a worldwide series of hitchhiking anecdotes, and I contributed one such anecdote for this local edition. Look for it soon.

I'm also working on two short stories for Cornerstone Books, one for the Secret Agent X anthology, another for a Sherlock Holmes anthology. I was thinking of re-packaging my intended Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes & the County Killer as a short story for the latter book. I think that might work out rather well. I can also reveal for the very first time that, as of today, I have started work on my long-awaited (by me at least) novel Deadly Owl. This is intended to be the start of a whole new pulp novel series, this time set in the 30s, the best milleau for the genre. I have high hopes for this book and character, so hopefully everything will come out just as I want it. Here's hoping.

Anyway, it's nice to get a quick post in here for 2009. I'll try and be more regular back here like I used to be. I'll keep you posted.

My good friend AP Fuchs!

2008-07-31T09:07:00.003+10:00

Hi all. I know I don't update here as regularly as I would like and had originally intended. Life just has a way of taking one away from such things. My life at the moment is both busy and rather complex...I won't go into all that right now. That's not the point of this particular blog update. No, this update is about something else, someone else. My good friend Mr AP Fuchs.

AP is both my friend and my publisher (his publishing firm, Coscom Entertainment, publishes my series of Wraith adventure novels). I have much to thank him for. He took my little (and first) novel and turned it into something more than it was. He saw something in me and gave me the confidence and belief in myself that I could keep going with my writing. He has given me his friendship and sage advice at any and all times. He is a Christian (as I and my wife are too) and a very fine author in his own right. In fact, I cannot recommend his work enough, especially his series of Axiom-man novels, novellas and comic books. His superhero character Axiom-man resonates with us all--he is someone we both empathise with and can look up to, as the hero we would most want to have but perhaps don't quite deserve. His latest work has seen him delve into the world of the undead, the zombie. Bits of the Dead is an anthology, featuring the work of 38 authors, including renowned sci-fi novelist Piers Anthony. Blood of the Dead is AP's own zombie novel, and outrageously horrific it is too. If you're a fan of horror, if you're a fan of zombies and carnage, then you dare not miss either of these two new masterpieces. Please use the above two links to take you to where you can find the above mentioned superb works of fiction and more. You won't be disappointed, I can assure you.

I should have a new update again soon, as I have recently completed work on my own new novel, the third in The Wraith Adventure Series, entitled Cult of the Damned (see the mockup cover sample below). I think (hope) it's a good addition to the series, and will be released early in 2009. As 2008 progresses, I will talk more and more about this new novel. Suffice to say, apart from the busy real life events taking up much of my time right now, I am also working on a variety of written material. I have started work on the fourth Wraith novel, Cry of the Werewolf, and am also trying to finish a short story for a new, Australiasian edition of the anthology No Such Thing As a Free Ride, as well as trying to get started on Deadly Owl and my pastiche, Sherlock Holmes and the County Killer. As the old saying goes, so much to do, so little time. Until next time...

Lance Star Returns!

2008-06-18T08:57:00.006+10:00

Buy Lance Star - Sky Ranger at 20% off!

I am proud to announce that the mass market bookstore edition of Lance Star: Sky Ranger pulp anthology vol. 1 is now available.

Barnes & Noble on-line has the new edition of Lance Star - Sky Ranger available at 20% off cover. B&N members can save even more.

Or, if you prefer the traditional bookstore route, just give your local bookseller the ISBN # [ISBN: 1-934935-01-8] and tell them you want Lance Star: Sky Ranger in your store.

LANCE STAR: SKY RANGER
Edited by Ron Fortier
Introduction by Norman Hamilton
"Attack of the Bird Man" by Frank Dirscherl
"Where the Sea Meets The Sky" by Bobby Nash
"Shadows over Kunlun" by Win Scott Eckert
"Talons of the Red Condors" by Bill Spangler
"Pulp Aviation Heroes & the Rise of the Model Aviation Press" by Larry Marshall
Afterword 2008 by Ron Fortier
"Runner" by Bobby Nash
Cover and interior illustrations copyright © 2008 by Rich Woodall
Lance Star logo design by Matt Talbot
Production and design by Rob Davis
ISBN: 1-934935-01-8
Produced by Airship 27
Published by Cornerstone Book Publishers [www.cornerstonepublishers.com]
Retail Price: $24.95

(The above taken from the Pulp Factory blog, written by Bobby Nash).

The Wraith #2 Now Available to Buy!

2008-03-29T23:17:00.001+11:00

Yep, finally after years and recent (slight) delays, the long-awaited conclusion to our opening saga is now available for you to buy from our online store. The Wraith #2 features not one but two, count 'em TWO stories. The first, the conclusion to the opening saga, with art by Craig Shepard and Eric Lebow, while the second is a 10-page thriller, with art by Jeff Welborn and Jeff Austin. Added to that, we have not one but two, count 'em TWO covers for you to choose from (as seen above)--the standard cover by Jim Taylor, Cesar Feliciano & Splash! or the special edition cover by Jeff Welborn, Jeff Austin & Splash! Buy either, buy both. You can check them both out in the store right NOW! You won't want to miss this, our best comic book release thus far--GUARANTEED!
Buy/preview here NOW!! http://www.the-wraith.com/wraith2.html

The Wraith #2 Slightly Delayed!

2008-03-20T16:18:00.001+11:00

Unfortunately, there will be a slight delay in the release of The Wraith #2 comic book. Everything is ready to go, I'm just waiting for my proof copies to arrive in the mail first, so I can check on how everything came together in the printing process before I make the issue available for the public to buy. I need to check that everything printed perfectly before I expose the issue to the public, and unfortunately, the speed of the international mail service has let me down a little here. The delay should only be a few extra days or so, so that's not too bad, but I wanted to let everyone know of the status of this issue, as I'd previously announced it would be available to buy on March 18. My apologies for this delay. It was unexpected and unfortunate, though could not be helped. Everything should be up-and-running in a few short days with the release of #2 then. I appreciate everyone's understanding in this matter.

The Wraith Shockini!

2008-02-25T10:54:00.002+11:00

Looks like The Year of The Wraith (or Frank Dirscherl) has well and truly begun with the unveiling last weekend of The Wraith Shockini at the New York Toy Fair by Shocker Toys. You can see the little fella in the pictures above, and I'm sure you'll agree with me that he's a beauty. I've waited such a long time to see my hard work realised in action figure form, and now that dream is finally starting to come true. The Wraith Shockini will be but the first of a series of Shockinis released based on a variety of characters appearing in The Wraith universe of comics and novels. Packaged in a 2-pack along with the Lone Ranger, the 'kini should be released (roughly) around the middle of the year. The Wraith characters will also be realised as 6" lifelike action figures as well, though they won't be released until possibly 2009 and beyond. Still, they are on the way too, never fear.

Like I said, 2008 is shaping up to be an important year in The Wraith and Trinity Comics. This is but the start...

Images for the New Year!

2008-02-05T11:27:00.000+11:00

Hey all, nothing much new to report. I'm still working on finishing my third (Wraith) novel, Cult of the Damned, but am finally making excellent progress. I hope to have the first draft finished within the next few weeks, and then we move into the editing and re-writing process. Fun. I'm up to 21,000 as I write this, and hope to double that over the course of the next two weeks. My final aim is to achieve a word count of 50,000 words, but that's just an estimate. The story goes where the story goes, and if it's more or less, I just have to go where the story takes me. But, for right now, those are my hopes. I'm also planning to finally start a new novel in an intended series, the Deadly Owl. I've planning this for some time now, but with everything else going on in our busy lives, it's been hard to take the time to get this started. But, once I'm finished with CotD, I'll hurtle headlong into Deadly Owl. I want more credits to my name, and 2007 was a lacklustre year for me. I want 2008 to be different. The Year of The Wraith (or Frank Dirscherl) as I call it lol With more issues of The Wraith comic book series, and the first of The Wraith action figures set to finally be released this year, my (half) joking title could be more apt than I initially realised.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a few photos with you. The next time I update this blog, I'm hoping I'll be able to report the successful conclusion of CotD. So, while we wait, a few nice photos of my family and I in our new home. Hope you enjoy them. See you all back here soon...

Sitting in the library. This pic will be my new bio pic used in my novels

Showing off my Wraith X-Mas present (as well as my new cap from my wife) in the library, X-Mas 2007

My wife Jennifer and I celebrating X-Mas 2007 in our library

Display shelf in the study. Note The Wraith bust and Wraith action figure

Another angle of the display shelf in the study

The Wraith #0 comic book now available for FREE download on WOWIO!

2008-01-31T20:43:00.000+11:00

Yep, you read that right, our breakout first comic book issue--The Wraith #0--is now available for FREE download on WOWIO. For those that have always wanted to check out The Wraith but never had a chance, or didn't want to buy stuff online, now's your chance to read this fantastic introductory issue at no risk to you. Find out just who and what The Wraith is, see where the saga begins. Just click the below link and have a ball!

http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=3391

For those that may wish to preview the issue first, please click here. There you'll see the fantastic cover by industry vet Matt Haley (Firestorm, Birds of Prey, Batgirl, GI Spy), as well as the first six pages by the stupendous art team of Jim Taylor (penciller) and Jeff Austin (inker). Written by yours truly and lettered by Dave Rothe, this issue was nominated for several prestigious Ledger Awards, so why not see what everyone has been talking about. Go back and see where it all started. And if you've seen it before, why not check it out again. It's totally FREE, so what have you got to lose?

Trinity Comics and Christmas/New Year wishes!

2007-12-20T13:33:00.000+11:00

Well, this is the final blog update for the year, so my wife and I just want to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas and the most wonderful of New Year's. 2007 has been an up-and-down year in my family, with some of the highest of highs and some pretty low lows. But, we've come through the year together, and are all the richer and happier for our shared experiences. 2008 is sure to be another emazing year, and I can't wait to head into it and share everything Trinity Comics with you all.

Which brings me to the subject of Trinity Comics. I started the company around 4/5 years ago now along with artists John Jett and Craig Shepard. The 'Trinity' referred to was a play on words, meant to signify the three of us banding together (after the collapse of Impulse Studios/Alliance Comics, where The Wraith was originally set to be published & released) and also our shared belief in God (the Trinity there being, of course, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). Since then, both Jett and Shepard have gone their own ways in their careers (Shepard recently came back to the fold to pencil The Wraith #2, which will be out very soon now), leaving me to run Trinity Comics on my own, which I have done so for several years now (with reasonable success, under the circumstances). Well, today when I refer to Trinity Comics, the company is both me and my wife Jennifer. She is my partner in the business every step of the way, as she is my partner in life. Trinity is more than just us, however. We employ several fine creative talent, such as Joel Danford, Jeff Austin, Roland Bird, Jeff Welborn, Dave Rothe and more, but the core heart of Trinity Comics is always--will always be--myself and my wife.

As stated above, The Wraith #2 will be out very soon now, though I cannot give an exact date as yet. Hopefully within the next few weeks, but keep an eye out on this blog (and The Wraith's Lair website) for further details as we get nearer the release time. It's a fantastic issue, if I do say so myself, which will conclude the opening story arc started in The Wraith #0 so long ago now. Not only that, it also features a backup story which will feed into future issues of The Wraith series, so make sure to keep an eye out for this issue's availability...you won't regret it, I assure you :)

Once again, all the best wishes for the holidays and the New Year, from everyone here at Trinity Comics (particularly my wife and I). We'll see you early in 2008, after a short holiday, rested and ready to get back to work. I have, after all, still to complete work on my third Wraith novel, Cult of the Damned, and I'm very eager to get back to that full force.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Cancer!

2007-11-17T12:01:00.000+11:00

It's an insidious disease. My dad had it. It killed him. I've had it too, most recently skin cancer on my forehead. Luckily for me it was the non-dangerous variety, a basal cell carcinoma, but it was no less frightening. It was located just above my left eyebrow and due to its tricky location, its removal became a tricky thing. The best course of action was to have it cut out, an approach I readily opted for. The sooner it was taken out the better I thought, mostly because I'd had the darn thing for quite awhile (around a year!) before seeking treatment. It was my wife that finally got me to get off my butt and see the doctor. Thankfully, my intransigence didn't cost me dearly, as it so easily could have. *phew* God bless my dearest Jennifer for her caring soul.

Anyway, all's well that ends well. The tumour was removed, nothing of the carcinoma was left extant, and I'm in the clear. I do have a rather hefty scar on my forehead (as you can see below), but my doctor assures me that it will fade significantly over time and the continued application of vitamin e cream. All I care about is that I'm healthy once again :)

With these following photos you can see what I looked like with the 28 stitches in place (*ouch*), the day my stitches were removed and how I appear today over a month later. While the scar is still very visible, you can see the distinct improvement over this short period of time.

I'll be back soon with further updates on my writing career. Cheerio for now.

The Wraith #1 now available from new, better printer!

2007-10-16T12:09:00.000+10:00

Yep, that's right, I've secured a new printer for the entire series of comics in The Wraith series, including The Wraith #1 and the previously published The Wraith #0. So, why not give either/both issues a chance and check them out. You won't be disappointed. Both issues are rollicking good fun, and feature superb art from a variety of very talented artists. The Wraith #0 serves as a background story, introducing the various main characters, readying them for the beginning of the storyline proper in The Wraith #1. Here are the official synopses for both issues:

The Wraith #0

The Wraith Dread Avenger of the Underworld ®, sallies forth in his very first adventure. The Wraith #0 acts as an introductory tale, setting the scene, to allow readers to delve into who these characters are and the kind of world they live in, readying them for the beginning of the storyline-proper in The Wraith #1.

Learn the background of Paul Sanderson aka The Wraith, his life and experiences, see his associates in action, and witness how Michael Reeve and Leena Patterson fit into all this. Drama and action at its best! 24 pages, B&W. SRP $2.25USD/$3.30AUD. Now available!

The Wraith #1

The Wraith Dread Avenger of the Underworld ® is dead...long live The Wraith?! In this fantastic oversized one-shot, we are re-introduced to the characters brought to life in The Wraith #0. Learn the fates of Paul Sanderson (aka The Wraith), Michael Reeve, Leena Patterson and others, and embark with them on their new journey into adventure, love, heinous evil and tragedy. Witness the beginning of a whole new era for The Wraith, brought to you by the stellar team of Dirscherl, Taylor, Welborn, Jett, Greene, Welch, Vanderwolff, Ross, Traditi & Danford. 44 pages, B&W. SRP $4.25USD/$5.50AUD. NOW AVAILABLE!

As you can see above, there is plenty of quality on show with both issues. So, I urge you, why not try The Wraith out and join the many others who are thrilling to the adventures of the Dread Avenger of the Underworld. I guarantee you, you won't regret it.

Just as a FYI, The Wraith #2 will be out by the end of this year. Featuring two stories, the conclusion to the opening storyline started in #1, and a 10-page backup thriller, The Wraith #2 will thrill and entertain like no other. Keep an eye out on this blog, and The Wraith's Lair website, for further information re: it's release. In the meantime, for those wishing to preview/buy The Wraith #0 and/or The Wraith #1, please click here.

I'm back where I belong!

2007-08-26T14:29:00.000+10:00

Hey there, it's been a long time between blog updates, I know. The reason has been a combination of things. As you all know, I recently got married, which of course takes up a lot of time and energy, as does the honeymoon and our immediate lives post this wonderful event. I've also been extremely busy working at my job (a librarian in Sydney, Australia), and add to that, my computer died, which took a long time to fix and re-establish back to its pre-dud state.

All is now fine, though, and my wife and I are as happy as ever. The Wraith's Lair website has been updated and will be again very soon. And, naturally, this blog will be updated again soon as well. My apologies at my absence, but as you can see from the above, it was unavoidable. I'll talk to you all again very soon though.

More wedding photos!

2007-06-12T11:10:00.000+10:00

Just thought I'd share a few more photos from my recent wedding. It was such a wonderful day, both my wife and I are still basking in the glow of our special day. Enjoy the photos :)

My wedding!

2007-05-15T01:42:00.000+10:00

Hi ho folks. I'm writing this from sunny California, to which I travelled to marry my beautiful Jennifer, which I did last Sunday, May 6, making her Mrs Jennifer Marie Dirscherl. The wedding itself was like a fairytale, absolutely perfect, and we're both so very happy with how everything happened. Our honeymoon was throughout California and Disneyland, and we're due to head back home to Australia later this evening. Anyway, I thought I might share some photos of the big day with you, which you can see and click on above. Hope you like them :)

The Wraith #1 is finally available to buy!

2007-04-15T17:04:00.001+10:00

Yep, you read that right, the next chapter in the continuing adventures of The Wraith is finally here - The Wraith #1, which can now be purchased by clicking here or on the below URL:

www.the-wraith.com/wraith1.html

Please help a poor sod out by buying this comic :) I can assure you, this 44-page extravaganza is well worth it, and the stories will only get better (ie. featuring complete art teams) from here on out. The superb cover to #1, by Jeff Welborn, Jeff Austin & Splash!, can also be purchased as a poster, sans lettering, from the above link. A lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears went into the making of this comic book. I hope people give it a chance as a result. Thank you.

The Wraith/Shadowflame/Johnny Saturn - a War of the Independents crossover!

2007-03-15T11:13:00.000+11:00

Apologies for the delay in new updates, but while there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes, there hasn't been a great deal to talk about...until now.

Allow me to introduce the subject of War of the Independents! You may have already heard about it at various places online. It's an upcoming 6-issue comic book mini-series from Arcana Studios in the vein of DC's Infinite Crisis or Marvel's Civil War, but featuring only independent characters. Some prominent (eg. Shadowhawk, Savage Dragon, Cerebus, Zhen the Intergalactic Ninja), some less so (my own The Wraith, Fist of Justice, Bluewing, Shadowflame, Axiom-man, Johnny Saturn, etc.) All these myriad characters are banding together to fight a galactic threat that can only be defeated by the heroes working together for the common good. WotI will premiere in July 2008 and will be written by Scott Lobdell (X-Men), pencilled by Dave Ryan and inked by Peter Palmiotti.

As stupendous as all that sounds (and it is stupendous, a chance for indie creators to really showcase their work and creations, and a chance for readers to discover new worlds of quality storytelling), what is just as exciting is that there will be several crossover issues linking to the main WotI series, just in the way DC & Marvel do with their series'. And, in my case, that crossover will also be a team-up with two other great indie characters. Hence, we have The Wraith/Shadowflame/Johnny Saturn: Curse of the Cortes Stone. This 28-page one shot will lead directly into WotI #1 and feature The Wraith, Shadowflame and Johnny Saturn teaming up to fight Wraith villain Aztekoth and WotI demon Orcus. Action, adventure and excitement the way you remember from comics growing up.

The Wraith/Shadowflame/Johnny Saturn: Curse of the Cortes Stone will premiere in June/July 2008 and is written by Frank Dirscherl (with Joe Martino & Scott Story), pencilled by Roland Bird, inked by Jeff Austin, lettered by Johnny Lowe and coloured by Ian Sokoliwski. The above promo image was pencilled by Roland Bird and inked by Jeff Austin. Doesn't it just whet the appetite for what's to come? :)

New-look The Wraith's Lair!

2007-01-11T13:44:00.000+11:00

Just a quick message to let everyone know that the new-look The Wraith's Lair website is now up and running. It's pretty basic and simple, but I wanted to make it easier on the eye, easier to navigate and find exactly what you're looking for. And to put a few more Wraith images throughout the site. I think it looks pretty good now. I hope everyone else agrees.

Valley of Evil paperback is now available!

2007-01-02T08:36:00.000+11:00

The breakout new Wraith novel--VALLEY OF EVIL--is now available in affordable paperback. Published by Canadian publisher of speculative and superhero fiction, Coscom Entertainment, Valley of Evil can now be purchased direct from them and/or from leading stores (links below). So don't miss out on what has been described as "...a whole lot of superheroic pulp fun." Here's the blurb:

Undoubtedly the inheritor of master pulp novelist Norvell Page's skill and proficiency, Frank Dirscherl returns to spin another thrilling tale of The Wraithand his world. After the horror the Cobra unleashed upon Metro City, Paul Sanderson has recuperated, regained his strength and focus, and the city has been rebuilt; while its citizens have slowly started to regroup and move forward. Into this relative calm marches Ma Tzi, the Hong Kong drug lord, who senses a weakness in resident crime lord Robert Latham's hold on the city, and intends to exploit that, in any way necessary. At any cost. In the midst of their vicious gang war, a new terror envelopes the city - a virulent plague wipes out thousands, a plague that The Wraith soon discovers to be man-made. With no end in sight, and his assistant Max Horton missing, can The Wraith stop Latham and Tzi from further carnage, save countless lives and find those responsible for the heinous slaughter of untold innocents? Valley of Evil has it all - heroism, romance, action, thrills, tragedy, and is surely Dirscherl at the height of his storytelling powers.

Please purchase Valley of Evil from your choice of quality online store:

Thanks, and Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2006-12-24T10:40:00.000+11:00

Just want to extend to everyone the warmest of Christmases wishes and I hope your 2007 will be the best year ever. Next year promises to be a BIG year for myself and The Wraith. We have comics, books, short stories, toys and a new-look website, all on the horizon. So, make sure to come back here for all the goodies in 2007.

The Wraith #1 is almost here!

2006-12-16T22:40:00.001+11:00

Yes, you read that right, finally, for real, the long-awaited next issue of The Wraith comic book series, The Wraith #1, is almost ready for release. The pages have now been fully pencilled and inked and the last few are now being lettered as we speak. I'm hoping to get this out in late February, certainly by the end of March at the latest. It's been a loooong time coming, a damn rough journey, but we're finally just about there. Thank goodness...

Oh, and I'm sure you've noticed the new-look cover (shown above) for this issue. I've loved this piece since its creation (see my earlier post about it further down this blog), and realised it would be the perfect image to grace a #1 issue. I think you'll agree, it makes a super cover, and it's by Jeff Welborn, Jeff Austin & Splash!

The Wraith #1 is a 44-page, b&w comic, written by Frank Dirscherl, pencilled by Jim Taylor, Jeff Welborn, John Jett, Phillip Greene, Rick Welch, Jason Bostick and Vanderwolff, inked by Loren Ross, Marco Traditi, Rick Welch and John Jett, lettered by Joel Danford, and will be released February/March 2007.

Valley of Evil paperback novel can now be pre-ordered!

2006-11-22T12:13:00.000+11:00

The breakout new Wraith novel--VALLEY OF EVIL--can now be pre-ordered in affordable paperback from the Shocklines online store. The date of release is December 29 2006. And better yet, they'll toss in FREE SHIPPING for all US orders. This is a fantastic offer, so don't miss out on what has been described as "...a whole lot of superheroic pulp fun." Here's the blurb:

Undoubtedly the inheritor of master pulp novelist Norvell Page's skill and proficiency, Frank Dirscherl returns to spin another thrilling tale of The Wraithand his world.

After the horror the Cobra unleashed upon Metro City, Paul Sanderson has recuperated, regained his strength and focus, and the city has been rebuilt; while its citizens have slowly started to regroup and move forward. Into this relative calm marches Ma Tzi, the Hong Kong drug lord, who senses a weakness in resident crime lord Robert Latham's hold on the city, and intends to exploit that, in any way necessary. At any cost.

In the midst of their vicious gang war, a new terror envelopes the city - a virulent plague wipes out thousands, a plague that The Wraith soon discovers to be man-made. With no end in sight, and his assistant Max Horton missing, can The Wraith stop Latham and Tzi from further carnage, save countless lives and find those responsible for the heinous slaughter of untold innocents?

Valley of Evil has it all - heroism, romance, action, thrills, tragedy, and is surely Dirscherl at the height of his storytelling powers.

Pre-order now - http://shocklines.stores.yahoo.net/vaofevnobfrd.html

Feast Your Eyes on This!

2006-11-21T11:00:00.000+11:00

I love the above image. It's beautiful. To me, it totally captures the heart, soul and feeling of the character of The Wraith. The heroic pose and look of the character. The foreboding sense that the surrounding city and weather give off, giving us a feeling of the dangerous world The Wraith inhabits. Wonderfully evocative stuff from Jeff Welborn, Jeff Austin & Splash!

I'm going to use this as a poster for the next con I attend (in 2007), and maybe even as a future cover (trade paperback comic book release perhaps?). Artist Jeff Welborn is such a class act, he never fails to impress me with his Wraith work (the same goes for Jeff Austin's masterful inking, and Splash's peerless colouring). He's already back to the grindstone working on the cover for my next Wraith novel, Cult of the Damned, which will again be inked by Austin and coloured by Splash! I've seen his rough sketch - it's brilliant. A real pulp creeper, which is just what the book will be. I'll share that with you all soon. You'll be impressed for sure.

I'm getting married!

2006-11-10T21:20:00.000+11:00

Yep, it's true, I found a gal who's the kindest, sweetest, funniest, most gorgeous person on the planet, and she doesn't care that I'm a poor schmuck LOL Needless to say, I had to make her mine ;) So, after a romantic weekend getaway, I asked Jennifer to marry me last Saturday night, and she said yes. We intend getting married around May next year.

Above is a photo of the two of us taken last Wednesday when we went sandboarding and dolphin watching. Isn't she stunningly beautiful? :) I'm so blessed.

Cult of the Damned

2006-10-29T13:45:00.000+11:00

My apologies at the sparsity of blog updates of late, but it's been a rather hectic time. I've been busier than ever at my day job in the library, working more days (which has been good for the wallet mind you), and planning certain aspects of my personal life (more on that at a later date), as well as working hard behind the scenes on the various comics in The Wraith series. I haven't gotten enough new material completed to attend this weekend's spectacular Supanova con in Sydney (next year's event will be a big one for Trinity Comics though), which has been a bummer, but working on the comics and the various prose material I have on the front burner is keeping me plenty busy.

So, I'd like to take this opportunity to briefly talk about the work I'm currently doing on my next Wraith novel, Cult of the Damned. While I haven't been able to focus on it as much as I would have liked in recent times, I've nevertheless made some minor progress. I've reached the 10,000 word mark, and I'm hoping to reach at least 45,000 words when all is said and done. I want this one to be the best and longest Wraith novel thus far. So far, in going through what I've written, I'm actually rather pleased with what I've gotten down. This will certainly be the scariest and moodiest novel I've written. The villain, Aztekoth, is a vicious and hideous creature, and the horror elements of the story include human sacrifices. The Wraith, his alter ego Paul Sanderson, and his crew of Leena Patterson (also the love of his life) and Max Horton are, again, front and centre, but in saying that, The Wraith himself (ie. in costume) hasn't even appeared in the story yet. That's been a change in tack. I think it's important to make each book in the series as different, as unique, as possible while also maintaining a consistent voice and tone. This is a pulp novel after all. That's what I am at least attempting to do with this series of pulp novels.

I can't yet say when Cult of the Damned will be released. Sometime in 2007. I'm not even 100% sure which publisher will take it on, Coscom Entertainment (which published the first two novels in the series, The Wraith and Valley of Evil) or Wild Cat Books. I suspect the latter. Regardless, I intend having the book done by early next year and published sometime later in the year. I also need to work on my collection of short stories I have due from Wild Cat Books. I'm due to write short stories for upcoming antologies of Secret Agent X, Doctor Satan and the Black Bat. I also have ideas for new pulp & superhero character creations of my own, the Owl and the Southern Sentinel, both of which will see print at some future point. And there's also my Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and the County Killer, which I mentioned in my last blog update, and which I'm also quite pleased with thus far (though it's only about 1,000 words completed at present, very early in the process). But I'll talk more about those other projects in due course. For the moment, I'm trying to make some more progress on Cult before having to dive full-force into my Wild Cat short stories. I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Sherlock Holmes!

2006-10-12T09:23:00.000+10:00

It would be an understatement to say that I am a Sherlock Holmes fan. I'm a mega-fan. I LOVE Holmes, I think he's the best literary creation the world has ever seen. He's certainly the most popular, as documented by Guiness World Records. Created and written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the character has transcended the written word, being made into radio plays, movies, TV shows, stage plays, pastiche novels, and has infiltrated every known form of mass marketing there is. For those who think the likes of Star Wars, Star Trek or Batman are the champs of mass marketing--you ain't seen nuthin'. As for myself, I've got all the original novels and short stories written by Conan Doyle, hundreds of pastiche novels and short stories (my favourite book shop, Abbeys in Sydney, has a seperate Holmesiana section, perfect :) ), and I'm trying to find as many of the Holmes movies and TV shows on video or (preferably) DVD that I can. I also have a Holmes-style pipe and walking stick (the latter almost identical to the one used by actor Jeremy Brett in the 80s/90s TV series).

Now, all that may/may not be of interest to you, but what am I actually trying to get at here? Well...I've started writing a Holmes pastiche novel, entitled Sherlock Holmes and the County Killer. And that's all I can really say about it at this early stage. I've only written a small portion of chapter 1, I've really only just started, but in going through it, I'm quite pleased with what I've thus far written. Being the mega-Holmes fan that I am, I've always wanted to write a pastiche. There are literally thousands out there on the market (and there is a market for them, Holmes is still big business), some fantastic, some ordinary. But I felt sure I could come up with a decent story, being as familiar with the character as I am, but at the same time, have felt trepidation enough to prevent me from even attempting to start, thinking myself not good enough to try. I don't know if that was ever true, but I think it's healthy to have a modest view of one's own talents. What it was, in truth, is that I hadn't been able to come up with what I thought was a decent idea, a premise, to write the book in the first place. But I believe I have now, and thus have made a start.

It won't be the next book/story I finish, though, as I have two short stories for Wild Cat Books (Secret Agent X and the Black Bat) that require attention first, and there's also my third Wraith novel, Cult of the Damned, but that's okay, as I want to take my time with County Killer. If it all turns out as I hope/expect, I'd like to try and shop it around to some bigger publishers, some known for their existing Holmes publications. I'd like to think it may have a chance at being accepted, but even if not, there's plenty of options out there. One way or another, Sherlock Holmes and the County Killer will be coming your way...in a couple years or so probably. Thanks for your interest...

The Wraith #3 cover!

2006-10-08T10:22:00.000+10:00

Ah...these are the moments I, as a writer/creator/publisher, live for--the receipt of finished art. And this one's a beauty, the cover to The Wraith #3 comic book (seen above). I've had the pencilled version (by issue penciller Fernando Granea) for a little while, and then series inker Jim Kyle delivered the inked version, which really blew me away. I immediately sent it to Trinity Comics cover colourist Splash! And he delivered the goods in a BIG way, as you can see above.

As a heads-up, The Wraith #3 is a story showing us a typical day in the life of The Wraith's love Leena Patterson. Just how typical is it? Well, if you count robbery, kidnapping, car crashes, trudging around in sewers and subways and fights galore...well, it's not what you or I would call typical. Underpinning all that, "A Day in the Life..." is a tale of great love and of the strength of family. Look for it online and in select stores in 2007.

The Wraith #0 comic book now available as an eBook!

2006-10-06T06:54:00.000+10:00

You heard that right, the breakout (and Ledger nominated) The Wraith #0 has now been released as an eBook, so now we're covering both the traditional comic book media as well as the burgening new arena of eBooks. Of course, novels and even non-fiction have been out as eBooks for some years now, and there are a plethora of webcomics on the internet, but there are very few comic books released as eBooks. So, while we're not the first, we're certainly launching into this untapped market with gusto, and I think fans will appreciate that, especially when they see the price.

If you'd like to check this debut issue out, in either format, please click the above link to learn more about the issue, see preview images, read reviews of it, and to make your purchases. I don't think you'll be disappointed. By myself, Jim Taylor, Phillip Greene & Jeff Austin, with a cover by comics pro Matt Haley (seen above), you won't want to miss this introductory tale of The Wraith and his world.

New podcast coming soon (apologies for the delay).

Podcast #2

2006-08-21T12:44:00.000+10:00

Here is my (long awaited?) second podcast, detailing how The Wraith comics developed, how the novels came to be and how all of that lead to the movie The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment. Click below if any of that sounds of interest to you. The first podcast was very well received, so I hope you enjoy this second one. I had a devil of a time uploading it (hence the delay in getting it up here), but I think it turned out all right. Podcast #3 soon...

View this Podcast at www.clickcaster.com

Ideas!

2006-08-20T11:20:00.000+10:00

We all get them, we all deal with them and use them in different ways. As a writer, as creative people, ideas are what keeps us going, what drives us to jot them down, to create novels, short stories, poems, screenplays etc. But what about when you have too many ideas?

The idea behind this blog entry came from reading my publisher's (and good friend) AP Fuch's latest blog entry re: having too many ideas, and how he deals with that. I know exactly how he feels. My head is bursting with ideas, and it sometimes can be a little overwhelming trying to keep them all in order, and not to forget those which I deem to be really good or important. Yes, I try to write them down where and when I can, but sometimes that's not possible, and ideas can appear at any moment. I have ideas for several more Wraith novels (I'm currently, slowly, working on the third, Cult of the Damned), for a new character called the Owl (the novel and/or comic of which would be titled Deadly Owl), as well as for several new short stories I'm scheduled to write for pulp publisher Wild Cat Books (I've already written one for their Lance Star - Sky Ranger anthology - I highly recommend you check that one out). And I'd like to get a feature film screenplay written with Stephen Semones for a Wraith feature film. So you can see, there are lots of irons in the fire.

The point of all this? Well, I don't have all the answers, I'm basically only starting my writing career really. But I guess what I can say is, while you're juggling multiple ideas in your mind, try and stick to actually working on one project at a time, if at all possible. I find, for myself (and everyone's different I realise), that I do my best work when I'm totally focussed on the one project. When I eat, sleep, drink, live that one project. That's really the best way to produce your best results. Once that's done, then move on to the next project. That's basically how I work...or should be how I work. Yes, I have tackled multiple projects at once, but I'm going to try--try--to do one project at a time from now on. That's the plan...an idea to shoot for.

Valley of Evil hardcover novel now on sale!

2006-08-09T11:33:00.000+10:00

Yep, that's right, the second Wraith novel--Valley of Evil--in an intended series is now available to buy, in hardcover, from Coscom Entertainment, and can be bought by clicking here. Here's the blurb describing the book:

Undoubtedly the inheritor of master pulp novelist Norvell Page's skill and proficiency, Frank Dirscherl returns to spin another thrilling tale of The Wraith and his world.

After the horror the Cobra unleashed upon Metro City, Paul Sanderson has recuperated, regained his strength and focus, and the city has been rebuilt; while its citizens have slowly started to regroup and move forward. Into this relative calm marches Ma Tzi, the Hong Kong drug lord, who senses a weakness in resident crime lord Robert Latham's hold on the city, and intends to exploit that, in any way necessary. At any cost.

In the midst of their vicious gang war, a new terror envelopes the city - a virulent plague wipes out thousands, a plague that The Wraith soon discovers to be man-made. With no end in sight, and his assistant Max Horton missing, can The Wraith stop Latham and Tzi from further carnage, save countless lives and find those responsible for the heinous slaughter of untold innocents?

Valley of Evil has it all - heroism, romance, action, thrills, tragedy, and is surely Dirscherl at the height of his storytelling powers.

Lance Star - Sky Ranger now available to buy!

2006-08-04T19:18:00.000+10:00

LANCE STAR - SKY RANGER ... Now Available from Wild Cat Books!

LANCE STAR - SKY RANGER... In the summer of 1936, a new flying hero magazine was created called LANCE STAR – SKY RANGER. It was produced by the small time Canadian publisher, Dutton Press, out of Ontario. Managing Editor, Saul Kingman, wanted a title to compete with the flying titles that were popping up all over the U.S. He wanted a title that would join the ranks of such pulp heroes as G-8, DUSTY AYRES and BILL BARNES... Wild Cat Books is proud to announce the return of this classic pulp hero! This new collection of stories features pulse-pounding prose by Frank Dirscherl, Bobby Nash, Win Scott Eckert, and Bill Spangler and is produced by pulp fiction wordsmith Ron Fortier. Artwork by Rich Woodall... Stories include: "Attack Of The Bird Man", "Where The Sea Meets The Sky", "Shadows Over Kunlun", and "Talons Of The Red Condors"... plus the special feature article "Pulp Aviation Heroes and the Rise of the Model Aviation Press" by Larry Marshall...
152 pages, 6"x9" Trade Paperback... $15.00

Available at Wild Cat Books - www.lulu.com/wildcatbooks

Podcasts!

2006-08-02T18:44:00.000+10:00

Well, as everyone else no doubt has noticed, podcasts have become the "in thing" online, in the same way that blogs were just a year or two ago. Being sometimes slow to cotton on to new technology (I only started this blog late last year), so I have been with podcasts...until now. Hell, I didn't even know what they were until a short time ago.

Better late than never, as the saying goes. And so, I've recorded my first in a (hopeful) series of podcasts. The first three will be purely about The Wraith - how he came to be (the first), how he developed into comics, novels and film (the second) and where he currently stands and where the future lies (the third). After that...I'm not really sure. I may discontinue them, or talk about other things. Who knows? The options are limitless.

Anyway, without further delay, here is my very first podcast :) You can listen to it directly below, or if you wish to save it, please click here and do so. Thanks.

View this Podcast at www.clickcaster.com

Superman Returns!

2006-07-04T08:14:00.000+10:00

Veering a little from what this blog is normally about (a presentation of myself and my work), but I felt this was something important to broach.

Has everyone here seen Superman Returns yet? If not, I strongly urge you to do so. It's a fantastic film, supremely entertaining, well written and acted, expertly directed and featuring truly outstanding visual effects. It's so far opened to an impressive $84.2 million since Wednesday, and has thus far received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the majority of critics and fans. So what's the point of this blog then? I'll tell you in one word. Negativity.

There are those (mostly) online who have hated this project right from the start, insanely so. Where there was no legitimate reason for this hatred, they would then invent reasons. The story was all wrong (without knowing anything about it for the most part), the costume was wrong, Brandon Routh didn't look right (rubbish!) etc. etc. None of these "complaints" were based on anything bordering on reality, this came from an inbred, inherent negativity, a hatred toward this film, and Superman in general. How can anyone proclaiming to be a Superman fan act in such a fashion which Superman, were he to be real, would find abhorrent? It beggars belief that these people really don't get it. Then when the reviews for the film started coming out, the vast majority of which were overwhelmingly positive, these sad sacks would point out the two reviews that were less positive, as if they totally overrode the dozens of glowing reviews. Again, these people just don't seem to get it.

And now we have the box office results for the film, and they're very good indeed, although you wouldn't know it if you listened to those negative idiots, who have proclaimed the box office figures a failure. Wrong! While the figures are not in the record breaking field, they are still very good. No-one with any knowledge of the situation (or the studio) expected the film to break records. Superman just isn't new or original enough for such an opening weekend anymore (confirmed by Box Office Mojo). Despite this, the film's opening 5 days were the biggest in Warner Bros.' history...how that can be declared a failure is beyond my comprehension. Again, it's a sign that those with negative minds, with hatred filled vision, will spin anything in their favour. It's sad, but I think people need to be aware of such, as the internet seems to attract such idiots like a moth to a flame.

Superman Returns is an excellent film, entertaining in every way. It isn't Shakespeare, but since when was it meant to be? Just go see it and let yourselves be taken away on a magical journey for a couple hours. It doesn't deserve criticism or the hatred vented its way by those with some kind of mental problem, for I can think of no other excuse for these negative people. Just enjoy the film for what it is, an entertaining popcorn flick, and don't allow yourselves to be swayed by those with a hidden agenda against the film. It's a fun film, nothing more, nothing less.

The Wraith comic book/toy details!

2006-06-29T11:00:00.000+10:00

Okay, I wanted to give out further info re: The Wraith comic book series, particularly in relation to the toy deal I recently signed with Shocker Toys. There will be 16 figures in total - 8 three inch kinis and 8 six inch life-like figures. Shipping with the life-like figures will be 8 full-size The Wraith comic books, and here is a list of which comic will ship with which figure:

The Wraith 6" figure - The Wraith #0.
Robert Latham 6" figure - The Wraith #1.
Max Horton 6" figure - The Wraith #2.
Leena Patterson 6" figure - The Wraith #3.
The Cobra 6" figure - The Wraith: City of Fear #1.
Magnus Khan 6" figure - The Wraith: City of Fear #2.
Natalya Blackova 6" figure - The Wraith #4.
Aztekoth 6" figure - The Wraith #5.

For further info on the individual comics listed above, please click here for further details. But here are some cover images from the new comics (The Wraith #3, The Wraith #5 and The Wraith: City of Fear #1) I've commissioned recently to fill the toy deal. Enjoy :)

Lance Star - Sky Ranger!

2006-06-27T19:22:00.000+10:00

While I've been incredibly busy behind the scenes preparing my teams and the issues of The Wraith comic book series they'll each be working on (more on that very soon), I can now make another announcement, one I'm immensely proud of. My short story for the Lance Star - Sky Ranger pulp anthology (logo shown above, cover shown below) should be on sale very soon, within the next month or so. Featuring the return of the long gone (but not forgotten) pulp character of ace aviator Lance Star, the anthology features 4 short stories (with corresponding spot illustrations by Rich Woodall) by myself, Bobby Nash, Win Eckert and Bill Spangler--all top writers and pulp experts. Sheparded by pulp legend, the veteran Ron Fortier and Ron Hanna, this is a must-have book for all pulp and adventure enthusiasts.

As for my story...it's entitled Attack of the Birdman, and features Lance and his team investigating the mysterious attacks on a coastal town by flocks of birds, apparently controlled by someone--or something--that appears to be it's leader...a man-size bird creature!

All this and more coming soon from Wildcat Books!

More Wraith comics on the horizon!

2006-06-01T18:55:00.000+10:00

Well, it's been a busy time here at Wraith central, what with the recent signing of a major deal with Shocker Toys for a series of Wraith action figures (see the previous entry on this blog for more info). With this deal, we need to create some extra Wraith comic books for each of the eight toy packs, so I've gone out there and hired new artists to give us several new, excellent issues for the audience. So, while I can't divulge too many details just yet, I can announce that artists Fernando Granea, Roland Bird, Joel Danford, Blake Wilkie, Jim Taylor & Jim Kyle have joined the team to bring you some really great stories of action, adventure, suspense, horror and a touch of romance too.

More info soon, but I will say this...it's time to get excited :)

The Wraith action figures!

2006-05-05T18:38:00.000+10:00

Today, I can formally announce that I have signed a contract with Shocker Toys to produce a series of action figures based on my characters appearing in the series of The Wraith comics books and novels, starting later this year. Here's the announcement that The Wraith will be joining their line-up of indy comic figure releases, courtesy Action-Figure.com and Shocker Toys:

Shocker Toys Heralds In The Age of the Independent Comic!

Shocker Toys Announces 6" Figure Line Based on Indie Comic Characters

Buffalo NY, May 12th 2006- Shocker Toys recently burst into the fully articulated action figure game with the announcement of a 7 inch line based on the cult music phenomenon GWAR. Now, Shocker takes a crack at a line including heroes, fiends, monsters, robots and other characters created by some truly unique minds. Welcome to INDIE SPOTLIGHT! Focusing on classic characters as well as underground favorites and new arrivals to the panels, INDIE SPOTLIGHT will bring these icons of the Independent Comic Universe to comic shops all over the world and into the homes of the fans who have come to love them. For the first time ever, the likes of Witchblade and Grim Jack will stand toe to toe with Scud the Disposable Assassin and Dick Tracy!

Companies who have signed onto Indie Spotlight, pitching some of their characters into the line include Top Cow, Classic Media, Image, Troma, AAApop, Blue Water Productions and King Features. Some characters in the Indie Spotlight include Solar:Man of the Atom, Magnus Robot Fighter, Dick Tracy, Lone Ranger, Jack Staff, Madman, The Atomics, Witchblade, Darkness, Nexus, Shark-Man, The Moth, Retro Rocket, The New Toxic Avenger, The Phantom, Sachs & Violens, The Wraith, Scud the Disposable Assassin, Isis, Victoria Secret Service, Judo-Girl, Shadowhawk, OZF5, Grim Jack, Fallen Angel, Badger, Cyberforce, Jetcat, Atomic City, Smoke & Mirror and God of Thunder, Strangers in Paridise, Zapt, Imaginaries, Wildguard, Deadworld, Realm, 2000ad, Judge Dredd, Earthboy Jacobus, Unit Primes, Demonslayer, Forces, The Venger, Nina-X, Buzzboy, Gimoles, Lions Tigers & Bears, UTF, Jack the Lantern, Zoomsuit, Lullaby, Liberty Girl, Flare.

Indie Spotlight will feature 20+ pts of articulation in every 6 inch scaled figure. President of Shocker Toys, Geoff Beckett stated ”We want you to be able to recreate classic moments from your favorite comics so posability and accessories are key. Shocker Toys wants to have as close a relationship with the creators of each character as you have come to have over the years of reading their books, so our figures will reflect that. We also realize that Indy Spotlight will create it's own universe as it grows, so look for scale to play a big part in expressing the diversity from character to character with giant robots staring down super powered vixens and over muscled supermen going toe to toe with sickly creatures..we'll have it all!"

About Shocker Toys LLP:

New York, Buffalo based Shocker Toys LLP, founded by Geoff Beckett in 1999 as a creative new product developer in the toy industry. This company is transforming itself into a fully functioning new force in the action figure business. The company’s current roster includes such lines as Licensed Shockinis, Indie Spotlight 6-7” sculpted Indie Comic action figures, GWAR music group 7” sculpted action figures and their own new brands of customizable Shockinis. For more info visit: www.shockertoys.com.

Okay, now that you've read the press release, here are the specifics in relation to The Wraith himself...there will be 16 action figures in total featuring 8 characters - The Wraith, Leena Patterson, Max Horton, Robert Latham, The Cobra, Magnus Khan, Natalya Blackova & Aztekoth. Each of these characters will be produced as a 3" kini figure (see the above image for your first look at the 3" kini designs) and 6" life-like figure - each on sale seperately. So basically, each character's 6" life-like figure will be released first (completed with original Wraith comic book), closely followed by the corrsponding 3" kini. How cool is that? Each life-like figure will be released every 1-2 waves (ie. one figure every 2-4 months or so), starting in roughly September/October with the release of The Wraith himself, with The Wraith kini following closely behind, and the further 6" and kini figures following on from there.

Great news, huh? I'm absolutely thrilled and honoured to be a part of the Shocker Toys lineup, and I cannot wait for the first figure to be released later this year. This is a dream come true for me, so get set for some major greatness come September/October! :)

A little update...

2006-04-19T10:12:00.000+10:00

Well, I wanted to post another update, as they've been pretty few and far between of late. Comes from having such a busy schedule. I was able to finish my Lance Star short story slightly ahead of schedule (*phew*), and I'm delighted (and relieved) to say it was very well received. I'm not sure when this fantastic new pulp anthology will be out (mid year I think), or even what it's exact title will be, but for all of you who love pulp novels, and writing with that pulp flair, you won't want to miss this, I guarantee it! Four great Lance Star stories by four wonderful talents...doesn't get much better than that. Coming soon from Wild Cat Books.

My second Wraith novel, Valley of Evil is coming along very well. Final edits have been completed, now we just have to sit back and wait for release. I don't have a specific date yet, but I know it will be coming out as a hardcover in September. I'll hopefully be able to share the final cover for the book long before then, however. If you loved the first novel, The Wraith, you'll plotz for this one. If you thought I put The Wraith through the wringer before, you truly ain't seen nuthin' yet. This one has ten times the action of the first, all in that engaging pulp/Wraith style that you know and love :) Look for it in September, only from Coscom Entertainment. Now I can get back to plunging headlong into my various Wraith projects, most notably a new Wraith short story that will be published solely as an e-Book, and Cult of the Damned, the third novel in the series.

Speaking of The Wraith...have any of you checked out the really cool merchandising we have for the character? I'm sure you're all aware of the wonderful comics, books and even a movie that we have on sale in our Store, but have you checked the merchandise? You really should. There's something for everyone in our two online stores, something for every interest and every budget. There are t-shirts, sweaters, mugs, posters, stickers, notebooks, caps, even a teddy bear! And much more. Why not check out the Trinity Comics Online Store and The Wraith's Lair Store, and I'm sure you'll be very happy you did :)

The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment DVD NOW ON SALE!

2006-03-28T21:59:00.000+11:00

Yep, you read the headline right, the time has finally come - The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment 2-disc DVD has finally been released for sale on DVD. Available to buy online from Customflix for $US19.99, please click here to secure your copy. And here is the press release accompanying the film's release:

BRISTOL-TN.

Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics would like to proudly announce the 2-disc Special Edition DVD of The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment is now available for purchase. You can purchase the film directly through www.sirreelfilms.net, www.the-wraith.com and the film's official site: www.the-wraith.com/movie.

The Wraith film was conceived in August of 2003 when Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics joined forces to bring the comic book hero, The Wraith, to life through film. The Wraith is based on the Trinity Comics comic and novel, written and created by Frank Dirscherl. Dirscherl and Stephen J. Semones, head of Sir Reel Films, combined efforts for two years to keep this film in production.

Obtaining the assistance of a mix of enthusiastic amateurs and seasoned Hollywood professionals, the Sir Reel/Trinity team delivered a top notch short film for only $15,000. With contributions from Emmy Award winning composer Larry Groupé, to Academy Award winning stunt specialist Scott Leva, The Wraith film delivers on all aspects of technical filmmaking and achievement. Featuring special CGI effects from Marc Kimball of The Troupe and a 5.1 digital surround sound mix, The Wraith film pleases all senses.

After a two year production, The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment premiered at the world famous Abingdon Cinemall (www.cinemall.com) in August of 2005 garnering rave reviews and making it an instant local success. Since then, the film played to thousands in New York and Los Angeles at video and film festivals.

The film has been hailed as "... a visually stunning triumph of creativity over budget" by William J. Wright, accredited journalist for Film Threat, Sirens of Cinema, Pennyblood, and The Horror Post. After more than two years of hard work, the film has grown into much more than originally planned. Also in August of 2005, Coscom Entertainment (www.coscomentertainment.com) published the master companion to The Wraith film in The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment Official Scriptbook & Movieguide. From books to comics to novels to movies, Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics have totally encompassed all aspects of independent media.

Please click here to buy this film.

The Wraith/Night Star team-up on hold!

2006-03-26T09:11:00.000+11:00

Bad news, I'm afraid. Penciller Gary Lister, through no fault of his own, has been forced to pull out of pencilling duties for this story, intended as a future submission to Digital Webbing Presents (page samples shown further down this blog). I'm honestly not sure where that leaves the proposed story - I've yet to discuss the matter with my co-writer Mike Exner. We may yet move forward with another penciller in place. I hope so, the story is a damn good one, and I'd like to see it make it in print at some stage. I know Mike has a lot of story irons in the fire at present (I have a few myself), but I'll keep you all informed as to the progress of this as I find out more myself.

On The Wraith comic book series front...we're still finishing up the last few pages of The Wraith #1. It's a damn long process, we've hit just about every problem you could possibly imagine over the years, but we're still pushing forward. I'm determined to get both #1 and #2 finished and released. After that, I'm taking a long sabbatical from comics. I may/may not publish any further Wraith issues in the future. I'm still debating that, but the likelihood is I'll give away comics publishing to focus on my prose work. There will plenty of further instalments in The Wraith novel series. That's my true joy, and I intend writing many more adventures featuring The Wraith for many years to come :) I also intend branching out to write other things, other stories. My contribution to the new pulp anthology, announced yesterday on the blog, is but the first of these. I hope to be involved in that series for as long as I'm wanted (Bill Barnes is the focus of the first instalment, but there'll be more, with each focused on another classic pulp character). I also would like to try my hand at a Sherlock Holmes story. I am a HUGE Holmes fan. I have most of the character's film/TV appearances on video or DVD, I have a complete collection of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, and so many pastiches I've lost count (and room in my home). I feel I may be able to create a pretty decent Holmes story, but that will take time. It has to be good, so it will take me a long time to find the right angle, and also to hone and craft it to my own satisfaction. But, it's something I'd like to try, and I'm hoping sometime during 2006 I'll be able to do so.

More soon...

Wild Cat Books to produce NEW Pulp anthologies!

2006-03-25T15:27:00.000+11:00

I can now, finally formally announce my involvement in the following:

Wild Cat Books has announced it will soon begin a series of pulp anthologies made up of all new stories focusing on one specific, classic pulp hero. The brainstrom of editor, Ron Fortier, the first volume will star LANCE STAR - SKY RANGER in four brand new tales by Bobby Nash, Bill Spangler, Frank Dirscherl and Win Eckert. The book will sport lots of black and white spot illustrations and a brand new cover painting by graphic artist, Rich Woodall. It is due early Summer. Within a few weeks will see the release of Ron Fortier's rewrite of CAPTAIN HAZZARD, and this will begin a whole brand new series of adventures featuring this great pulp hero. Illustrated by Rob Davis, with Cover Art by Tom Floyd, it will also include as a special bonus: The first two chapters of the next Captain Hazzard novel "The Citadel Of Fear" by Ron Fortier & Martin Powell,a few pages from the upcoming Captain Hazzard comic book, an Introduction by Chris Mills, and an Afterword and Interview with the author by editor Ron Hanna.

I'm really excited to be a part of this, and humbled and honoured to be asked to contribute. I shall do my very best to create the best, most exciting Lance Star story possible. I'm not quite finished yet, but so far, so good. More soon...

The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment DVD to go on sale March 28!

2006-03-08T10:54:00.000+11:00

We can now finally announce the date of release for the 2-disc The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment DVD - March 28 2006! Above is the DVD cover artwork and below the artwork that will appear on the DVD disc-face. The DVD can be bought online (via Customflix) from The Wraith Online, The Wraith movie website and the Sir Reel Films website, not-to-mention a link right here on the blog, from March 28 onwards.

I'm so proud of this film. Over 2 years in the making, and based on my comics and first novel, the film details the origin of The Wraith (David Cooper) and his battle with archenemies Robert Latham (Rick McVey) and the Cobra (Ryan Basham). The DVD will retail for $US19.99.

The Wraith/Night Star teamup progress report!

2006-02-25T20:24:00.000+11:00

Penciller Gary Lister has supplied page 3 for the first issue of Mike Exner and my teamup submission for Digital Webbing Presents. Gary really captured the look and presence of The Wraith, and just how others perceive the Dread Avenger of the Underworld. Great stuff.

I should have a new update for you all soon. Until then, thanks.

Progress report on Cult of the Damned!

2006-02-05T09:07:00.000+11:00

With my second novel Valley of Evil done and in the editing process, I've since gotten a head-start on my third, Cult of the Damned. I hadn't intended to start so soon on the next one as I have, but I found the ideas were bubbling so close to the surface that I just had to let them out. I've currently written over 8,000 words of Cult, and I'm so far pleased with the results. I think I've created the most evil, hideous villain for The Wraith to combat yet in Aztekoth, and Cult of the Damned will (hopefully) be the most exciting, action-packed yarn in the series.

Speaking of series' - I fully intend The Wraith book series to be a long and fruitful one. I see this as my way to help bring the pulp genre back to some kind of prominence. Pulp novels were the supreme form of entertainment back in the 30s & 40s, and reading one today, the entertainment value they provide is almost unparalleled. Those writers back then knew how to spin a thrilling yarn, and I really want to try and re-capture that feeling with my books. The Wraith was born from that milleau, as my homage to classic pulp character the Spider, so The Wraith is kind of my way of giving something back to the genre that gave so much to me. Pulp expert/veteran Ron Fortier has said he sees a renaissance in the genre starting to build, and I see what he's saying. I want to be a part of that, and The Wraith is my avenue for that. So, as long as I have stories in me to tell, The Wraith will be there, fighting the good fight. I already have several further adventures in the pipeline. After Cult we'll have Curse of the Werewolf, then Swamp Witch of Satan's Forest, and then Birds of the Living Dead (tentative title). And more after that. With my writing, I find that finding the right title goes a long way to determining that book's plot in my mind. If I have that tag, that basic plot (ie. Paul and Leena are on holiday, they come across a small town terrorised by a mysterious beast, The Wraith takes action), then everything else comes together quite easily during the actual writing process. Once I have that title that really clicks for me, everything else starts to fall into place.

So, that's where things stand on the novel front. But what of the comics? Well, not much has changed since the last update. The Wraith #1 & 2 are still in the working stages (slower than I would like, particularly #1), and I hope to have more word on those soon. Watch this space. My Digital Webbing Presents 10-page story submission, "Terror Stalks the Night", has been completely pencilled (superbly by Jeff Welborn), and those pages have now been sent to our inker, Jeff Austin, for his work. More on that soon, hopefully, as well. I have to once again say how pleased I am with this project. Jeff Welborn was such a pleasure to work with. He's an amazing talent, and efficient in his work practices to boot, a trait I cannot speak highly enough of. I intend working with Jeff again on further Wraith projects (posters, book covers etc.) I think this is my best comic work to date, and that's even before we see the inks and colours start coming through. The project still has to be approved by the staff at DWP, but if it is, I hope to see its publication sometime this year or next. Finger's crossed.

Until next time, thanks...

The Wraith/Night Star - the team-up!

2006-01-20T07:51:00.000+11:00

Yeah, I know. I know I said after The Wraith #1 & 2, as well as my 10-page Digital Webbing Presents submission, I'd be giving away the comics, at least for a couple years or so, but this was an opportunity too hard to ignore. And too much fun. My good friend Mike Exner III and I decided to team our characters up in the great tradition of Marvel Team-Up and The Brave & The Bold for a two-part DWP story submission. Wonderful artist Gary Lister has been commissioned to pencil the pages, and his sketches for both Night Star (below, inked by V. Shane) and The Wraith (left), really capture each character's aura. The script for this story, by Mike and myself, is already nearly completed, and Gary is hard at work on part 1 of it. I'll keep everyone here updated with this project's progress, including some page samples, as they come in, but so far, it's been an exciting project to work on. Mike has an excellent feel for The Wraith, and we both worked extremely well together. The characters come together seamlessly, and I think the quality will show on the finished pages. Something definitely to look forward to :)

Speaking of DWP...penciller Jeff Welborn has really blown me away with the quality of his art for my 10-page submission (page 7 shown below). He's already completed 8 of the 10 pages, and I have to say, I am very impressed, both with his speed and his professionalism. It's been an absolute pleasure, Jeff, and I can't wait to see our team effort in print in a future issue of DWP.

So, in the end, there really is a tonne of Wraith material coming up for all you Wraith-heads - comic stories galore, a newly finished prose novel (with the third now being worked on)...and of course, the short film on DVD (very soon now). Lots to look forward to. Thanks...

Now on to the next one - Cult of the Damned!

2006-01-16T20:02:00.000+11:00

Valley of Evil is now complete...for the time being. I've completed it through three drafts and have handed it in to my publisher, who will now edit it, before handing the manuscript back to me for a final looking over, and then it'll be ready to print. It should be coming out in March or April (on a date still to be fixed). I'm proud with what I achieved with it. I think it's better than my first novel, The Wraith; certainly more action packed, more exciting. I hope people like it when it comes out...

I took about a week off, and today started on the third novel in the series, Cult of the Damned. I originally thought to take more time off between novels, but I enjoyed writing Valley so much, and really found myself in the writing groove, that I decided to get started on Cult right away. I'm already nearly through the first chapter, so we'll see how that goes. I'm aiming for this one to be the longest and best one yet. Again, we'll see how that goes. I'll definitely keep you updated as to my progress with this one here on the blog, including what Cult is actually about. See you next time...

Valley of Evil - it's finished!

2006-01-01T21:42:00.000+11:00

Well, the first draft anyway. Now comes weeks of refining, changing, editing in preparation for my second novel's publication (date to be announced), but I'm thrilled to say, the first draft is complete, and I'm satisfied with what I've achieved with the book overall. It's longer than the first, entitled simply The Wraith; I've amped up the action, the drama, the horror. I think (hope) it's a good piece of work. Once a publication date has been arrived at, I'll let everyone know. In the meantime, I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year celebration, and I hope 2006 brings everyone what they wished for. Now it's time I got back to work...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2005-12-22T12:33:00.000+11:00

All the best to everyone for the festive season, and may 2006 bring everything you dream of :) I'll be back in the new year with further updates on my various projects. See you then. Thanks...

Progress...finally!

2005-12-20T10:58:00.000+11:00

Well, well, well...finally progress I can see on The Wraith comics, and right before Christmas. I tell you, as a writer/publisher, there's nothing like seeing art come in for your work, and it's something I've seen all too rarely during 2005 (which was a fairly troubled year on the comic front for me). But, what a way to end the year, receiving art for two, seperate projects on the same day :)

First off, penciller and Trinity Comics co-founder (along with myself and artist John Jett) Craig Shepard has delivered his finished pencils for page 1 of The Wraith #2 (due late next year). You can see the page to the right and above. Craig's such a talented artist, and a great guy, and I'm so happy he was able to come back to the fold for this issue, which will be the last new comic book issue of The Wraith, for the time being at least. The Wraith #1 & 2 details the origin of The Wraith - or our Wraith I should say. The story follows on from the introductory tale set out in The Wraith #0, and those three issues read together really tell the full story of who these people are and where they're heading. There will be a trade paperback released in 2006 or 2007 collecting the issues The Wraith #0, 1 & 2 (with a killer cover from pro Matt Haley), but apart from those upcoming issues, the only other new Wraith comic book story on the horizon is my 10-page story submission for Digital Webbing Presents, which most likely won't see print (if accepted, and I'm supremely confident it will be) until 2007.

Speaking of my Digital Webbing Presents story...penciller Jeff Welborn has supplied the layouts for all 10 pages (the full pencils for page 1 are shown to the left), and he's done a superb job. Even in these rough layouts, he's captured the mood of the piece to perfection, also the pace of it. The script to this 10-page story is, I think, the best comic book writing I've yet done, so I really want the end product to reflect that. This will be my comic book swan song (at least for the next couple years or so), and quite possibly the only Wraith comic story in full colour, so I want it to be good. Really good.

I'll post a few more pages from The Wraith #2 as they come in (also #1 as they come in), but maybe not too much more from the DWP story. It's a lot shorter in length, and I want people to get behind this story by buying the issue. DWP has much wider distribution than The Wraith comic book series (and is probably the best comic title out there currently), so there should be no excuse for not getting the issue containing my story once it becomes available.

I may not have another blog entry before Christmas (only five days away now), so if not, I want to thank everyone for making my new blog the enjoyable success it is, and to wish you all the very merriest of Christmases, and a safe, happy new year. I really think 2006 is going to be my year...I hope it is yours too. Thanks.

Writing!

2005-12-18T15:48:00.000+11:00

I have to say, I love writing. I have my whole life. I've been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember, and have written stories just for the fun of it. I remember when I was really young being excited to get to school on the days we were doing creative writing tests. I remember writing a Daredevil story for school as a youngster. I wrote less during my high school and college years (though there were plenty of assignments and essays during those years), but picked things up again when I started work as a librarian in the mid-90s. Back then it was movie screenplays that fired my imagination. It was actually the lamentable film Batman & Robin that got me back into writing, as it was. That film was universally derided by fan and critic alike, with almost everyone saying they could write a better Batman film than that. There were so many fan scripts written at that time, appearing online, most of which were just as bad, if not worse, than the film the writers hated. I thought to myself, what a challenge it would be to write a script that was a direct sequel to B&R, featuring the same characters, but transferred back into the dark, mysterious, action-packed atmosphere that works best for Batman today. It was a challenge, and based on the myriad comments I received at the time from so many people, I must have done a decent enough job of it. Being the lifelong Batman fan that I am helped (my comic collection is so vast that it made research very easy), but what helped me even more was the in-depth input and tutoring I received from screenwriter Alex Ford. He wrote a very well received Superman film script on spec (but which Warner Bros. bought), and I was extremely lucky enough to have received some help and advice from him. I'll never forget his kind assistance. I wrote several Batman fan scripts, and while they were no doubt rough if viewed today, I'm proud of what I achieved there.

That led, inadvertently, to my writing comic books, and now to writing prose, which I have to say, has become my greatest creative joy. I dipped back into screenwriting with the script for The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment film (which I co-wrote with the film's director Stephen J. Semones), and will do so again when we get The Wraith feature film going. I had originally hoped to have been able to publish more Wraith comic books, but the troubles I've had over the last nearly four years with artists has just left a sour taste in my mouth (a lot of hard work over the years with not much resultant work to show for it), not-to-mention being a drain on my wallet. What really satisfies my creative urges currently is my prose work, which I'm thoroughly enjoying, and which I will continue for as long as I'm able to.

As everyone who reads my blog will know, I'm currently finishing up the first draft of my second novel, another Wraith adventure entitled Valley of Evil. That should be published, from Coscom Entertainment, in early-to-mid 2006. I already have some rough plot points established for my third novel, Cult of the Damned. Once I finish work on Valley (first draft, edits, possible re-writes etc.), I'm going to take a short break, and then move straight into Cult. I've found I'm enjoying my writing much more with Valley than I ever have before, and I want to capitalize on this with Cult, and just get stuck straight into it. If I start early with it, I can then take it relatively easy throughout the year in getting it completed. This year, work, relationships and my various other Wraith commitments took me away from much of my prose work, but 2006 will be a different year. I won't have comic books to worry about for most of the year (The Wraith #1 will be completed early in the year, The Wraith #2 isn't due till much later in the year, and my DWP submission isn't likely to be published before 2007), my relationship went kaput this year...so I can focus much more on my novels next year than ever before. The thought of it pleases me greatly, and I for one cannot wait for 2006! Thanks...

The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment film!

2005-12-13T09:15:00.000+11:00

I've just realised that I've never really talked about the film, based on my character, here on my blog. Which is quite remiss of me, because it's something I'm extremely proud of.

The 48 minute short film, based on the first half of my novel The Wraith, came about when I met the director, Stephen J. Semones, on a film message board two years ago. I'd always thought a film based on my character would be a good investment, so I thought perhaps a 5-10 minute short film created by a film student might be the way to go to both promote the character and the filmmaker's skills. When I met and spoke with Stephen, however, I knew I'd found a kindred spirit. Not only was he a comic book fan; not only was he a skilled filmmaker (his previous low budget films were raw, but his talent was evident); but he proved to truly understand The Wraith. I cannot say that point too much. He got the material, truly got it. How many filmmakers don't? You've all seen the results yourself infinite times, with such films as Daredevil, Elektra, Catwoman, and the list goes on. This is where The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment was born...

What was first intended as a production of only a few, short minutes became a 45 (later 48) minute extravaganza. Stephen promised a short film with the feel of a feature film, and so we both felt we should splash out as much as was possible. I'd established a few filmic connection myself on a past (ultimately unproduced) Batman fan film, so while Stephen worked on the script, that's where I headed. It was important to me that The Wraith character look as real to the comic as possible onscreen. So, I contacted my friend Lance Coulter of Xtreme Design FX, and he and his partner Jeremy Colyer got to work on The Wraith costume. I then contacted my good friend Marc Kimball, from fx house The Troupe, to see if he would be interested in creating the film's intricate visual fx, including several cgi sequences. He was. Now we were assured we would have a professional looking production for a film of such a low budget (roughly only $US15,000). Stephen completed a first draft of the script, which I polished and we were set. Stephen cast the film with a mix of his usual team and some new members - a good mix of amateur and professional. And the really cool thing is, even the amateur actors often look like the characters they're playing, which is a big plus.

When shooting began, I started to see the potential of this enterprise...I thought, why not see who else I could get on this production? I contacted Larry Groupé, an experienced and skilled composer who has worked on such myriad productions as The Contender, Line of Fire, Commander In Chief and many, many more. He was delighted to supply our film with a killer opening theme, and once you hear it, you'll go nuts over it. I was able to get Scott Leva onboard as our fight choreographer/stunt co-ordinator. He gave us such great advice, I don't think our fight scenes would have been as good as they are without him. He's worked on such productions as Police Academy, Ecks vs Sever, X-Men, Red Eye, Lois & Clark, Star Trek and many more. We were able to secure the services of an expert sound effects team, Voodoo Studios out of Florida, which gave us Dolby stereo and the best sound mix you will ever likely hear on a low budget production.

So, what are my thoughts of the film? I have seen it, yes, and I can hereby reveal my immense pride in it. Yes, it's low budget; yes, some of the acting isn't as good as some of the other acting. But you know what? It works, it really does. Stephen did an incredible job, working with next to nothing, and I cannot thank him enough for all he's done. Believe me, I've tried. The camera work is very good, the acting ranging from very good to servicable, the costumes superb, as are the visual fx, sound fx, and music score (from Adam DiTroia, working off Groupé's theme). This definitely doesn't look like a $15,000 production, I can assure you of that. Emerging pop star Mandi Leigh also supplied a love song for the film's end credits (which Stephen wrote), and it caps the whole thing off nicely.

The film had a brief cinema release in Abingdon, Virginia (playing to sell-out houses) and screened at the New York International Independent Film Festival in New York in November, again to full houses. That's incredibly satisfying. The DVD will be released early next year, and it's filled to the brim with quality extras (commentaries, documentaries etc.)

Stephen's currently working on his next film, a horror film, which I can't really talk about, but it's gonna be big. Even bigger will be The Wraith feature film we hope to get to right after his current film. More on that when the time comes...

On the Range With...Me!

2005-12-09T18:55:00.000+11:00

Hey everyone, Joshua Sage recently interviewed me for Silver Bullet Comics, and you can read it by clicking here. I had a good time participating, and give a good account of my work (The Wraith in comics, books and the film). I hope people enjoy it and perhaps are enticed to maybe give my work a go. I'm sure you'll find it entertaining.

I'll be working 4 days next week at the library, as well as trying to squeeze in work on Valley of Evil, so I may not have a new blog entry until the end of next week, but we'll see how we go. In the meantime, buy some Wraith material...you know you want to. What a fantastic X-Mas gift too...

Valley of Evil Update!

2005-12-08T21:53:00.000+11:00

Just a short, quick update today…I have to get back to work after all. I’m still hard at work on my second novel, Valley of Evil, but I’m making excellent progress. I started work on it a little later than I would have liked (a combination of my library work getting in the way, my 4 year relationship ending and other things causing me to not want to write), so I was just a tiny bit apprehensive when I started really getting into it in late October, but my progress since then has been so good, I feel a lot better about the schedule now.

I can hereby report that I should have my first draft finished in (roughly) 10-14 days, after which I’ll take a short break to re-charge the batteries, before diving into edits, re-writes etc. honing the manuscript through another two drafts or so, ready for delivery to the publisher on schedule. I think I’ve improved as a writer, due in large part to my editor/publisher’s quality input, but also due to the fact that I’ve stuck at my writing. The best way to improve one’s skills is to actually do the work. As Charlton Heston says (re: acting), there's only so much you can learn without actually doing it, the work itself. I understand that. It's a matter of focus as much as anything else. I think I’ve managed this. I also think Valley of Evil will be a more exciting read than it’s predecessor The Wraith. More action, more tragedy, more heroism. Large parts of the novel also take place outside the confines of Metro City, which I felt was important to show The Wraith as a hero for the people, not just his city. I think I’ve really managed to imbue the work with that special, pulp novel feel. As anyone familiar with The Wraith knows, the character is a homage of characters such as the Shadow and the Spider (though set in the present, not the 30s/40s as those stories are), borne from that melodramatic, highly charged pulp world.

As we progress through the editing process over the coming weeks/months, hopefully I’ll be able to nail down a release date at some point to share with you all. Also the complete hardback cover, once it’s ready. There are few more things Wraith on the book front coming in 2006, very exciting things, but I’m not able to talk about those just yet. But soon…

Supanova Con Pics!

2005-12-05T10:00:00.000+11:00

The Supanova Pop Culture Expo was nearly two months ago in mid-October, and these pics have already been posted on my website The Wraith Online, but I wanted to share them with my blog audience as well, as there may well be people that visit here that don't visit the site. Besides, I had a great time there, and I'm eager to show off these great pics - I'm proud of being able to show off my work.

The first pic (above) is me posing with my swag at my Trinity Comics table in Artist's Alley. Even in such a short space of time, I've built up a decent amount of quality work, so I'm proud of that. 2006 will see more work coming to the fore - the release of my second novel, Valley of Evil and two more comic book issues, the aptly titled The Wraith #1 & 2.

This next pic (right) is a closer shot of my table, so you can get a better view of the work - which is really what my presence at the show was all about - to present the work. You can just make out the cowl at the far right - The Wraith cowl used in the live-action short film, which btw will be released very soon on DVD :)

This next one is my favourite shot - of me and superstar actor John Rhys-Davies (below). I've been a fan of his for years, and just a few months ago, The Wraith movie team actually met him at a con in the US, showing him the film's trailer and presenting him with a copy of The Wraith #0 comic book. He gave the film guys some great advice re: their trade, and really loved his comic, so when I found out he was coming to Supanova, I had to present him with a copy of The Wraith #1 Special Preview Edition to help keep his collection up to date. We're seriously going to go after him to play Commissioner George Harrison in The Wraith feature film we have in the planning stages. More on that much later though...

There are a few more photos on The Wraith Online if you want to check those out. I may be heading to a con in Canberra in 2006, that one would be to really promote my prose work, but I'm not 100% sure of that one yet. I doubt I'll present at next year's Supanova in Sydney. The Aussie indy comic community is a strange one, and they seem to snipe at someone who has achieved a small modicum of success outside their own local area. Weird...

In the meantime, I better get back to my writing. More on the progress of Valley of Evil very soon...

The Wraith comics!

2005-12-02T21:33:00.000+11:00

Well, I promised an update on the status of The Wraith comic books, so for what it's worth, here it is. We're still working on The Wraith #1. I know, I know, it's taken forever to get it finished, and it's still not quite there yet, but we're getting close. The problem's been, getting artists to stick through the project from start-to-finish. There isn't much money in indy comics, and while there are several artists who are gung-ho to start a project (particularly one as good as The Wraith), but funnily enough, most of them aren't as enthusiastic once they realise creating a comic actually takes some work, despite being fully apprised of the exactness of the situation right from the start. Let's face it, we're all starting our careers here, and working from the bottom up, one has to realise you're not going to get big bucks without some sort of effort to build some kind of a reputation for yourself. Everyone starts at the bottom, everyone starts working for very little. That's the nature of many businesses in the creative arts, but some expect big bucks right from the start, without working to achieve that...

So, that's the reason for the delays belittling the comics - a revolving door of artists starting but not completing their work. Subsequently, The Wraith #1 will feature the work of several artists, all of a similar style, all of a very high quality. Super talent Vanderwolff is working on the final few pages, and once they start coming in, I'll share some with you here. So, despite our many setbacks, once the issue is ready and released, you'll still be getting a very high standard of comic issue indeed. And, thankfully, we'll have just one artist - the very talented Craig Shepard - working on The Wraith #2, which will be the final original issue of The Wraith we publish for the foreseeable future (I am planning, though, a trade paperback which will collect The Wraith #0, #1 & #2 plus another story, possibly, in one handy volume, with a new cover by Matt Haley). Trust me, that issue will be well worth it :)

Apart from those two issues of The Wraith my Trinity Comics will be publishing, which will be seeing release in 2006, I'm planning a 10-page story for publication in the excellent anthology comic Digital Webbing Presents (if accepted, of course). My original plan was for this story to feature art by a seasoned pro (and one of my favourite artists) like Haley or Bob McLeod. While both were available, and agreeable to the job (Haley provided incredible story input for me as well), unfortunately, they just proved impossible for me to afford at this point in time. However, I've decided to move ahead with the submission, with artist extraordinaire Jeff Welborn supplying the pencils. You can see how talented he is by the supplied pinup he did for me (above). With Welborn joining my already established inker and colourist team, this story can still go ahead and potentially become the published comic book story I'm most proud of. Finger's crossed. If accepted, that will be the first (and only?) Wraith story published in colour, and would be published in 2007 maybe. More on that as the project develops...

I should have another update on the progress with my second novel, Valley of Evil soon. I can say now I'm about 3/4 through it, and I'm very happy with the results so far. More soon...

Life!

2005-11-23T20:48:00.001+11:00

I've had pause to really think about life in the last few weeks or so. I took a couple weeks off work to enable me to get some substantial work done on my second novel, Valley of Evil (now well over half finished), but also to get my head straight about a variety of things. I went through a very sad relationship break-up some months back, with that BIMBO Lisa Barnfield, but soldiered on, with the help of friends and family. In hindsight, there were aspects to the relationship that troubled me, and had for some time. She had changed, and some aspects of her behaviour re: certain things...well, bothered me. For example, she rarely ever travelled down to see me, so I always travelled up to see her (a nearly 2 hour train trip). If we then ever drove anywhere, it wasn't very far, as she was deathly afraid to drive anywhere too far from her home (how crazy is that?!), but then when we broke up she had the audacity to complain that I never paid for her petrol! Hello!! I never once asked her to pay for my thousands of dollars of train tickets spent over the years of our relationship. I was always a true gentleman. In the end, she was a brainless bimbo. There were many other such little aspects of stupidity that came over her as soon as she moved into her own (bought) apartment, which seemed to give her airs and graces above her station, an apartment which she never would have been able to afford if not for daddy's help, I might add.

Still, after four years, when the end came, it hurt. So, taking time off work gave me the time to relax, get more sleep (I spend 4 hours on the train each day I work getting to-and-from my workplace), and do something I really love - write. It was a healing time, both physically and mentally (my legs cause me a bit of trouble the more I travel on the train to work - over 11 years of wear-and-tear on a cramped, often overcrowded train).

But you know what? Life rocks. It truly does. I wouldn't trade it in for anything. And it usually has a way of coming round for you. It did for me in 2001 when I was in a pretty low place, and it's doing it again right now. While I'm not working full time, I love my job at the library, the staff there are the best I've ever worked with in over 13 years on the job. I usually get around 2-4 days a week at the library, and although I could do with the money and security of a full time job, my current job enables me the freedom to fully explore my writing and other activities. After a lifetime of denying myself any kind of creative fulfillment in this area, I'm loathe to give it up now.

I have a great feeling about the future though. I honestly think 2006 will be my year :) And hey, Australia qualified for the football World Cup...what a way to end an interesting year :)

I'll see if I can give an update on The Wraith comic book series with my next blog entry.

We've done it!

2005-11-17T07:28:00.000+11:00

This is one of those rare blog entries that isn't about my work. But who cares, I don't think I've ever been this happy - Australia has finally qualified for the football (soccer for you Americans out there) World Cup, to be held in Germany in 2006, after 31 years of trying. The last time we qualified I was only one year old. I grew up revering "Captain Socceroo" Johnny Warren, who for many years was the only one promoting the game in this country. He sadly passed away last year after a valiant battle with cancer...I wish he had lived to see our country's glory. I wish my dad had lived to see it as well...

Australia has always been given the short end of the stick when it came to qualifying for the World Cup. More often than not, we were drawn to play a strong South American nation in the final match to qualify for the Cup. Our previous matches would be against incredibly weak opposition in the Oceania region, so our preparation was always poor, and we'd stumble, naturally so for the most part, against such football powerhouses as Argentina and Uruguay. Four years ago, we lost to Uruguay in the two-way tie, and this time we had to play Uruguay again. The first game was last Saturday in Montevideo, and we lost that 1-0. We failed to gain that all-important away goal, so we needed to win the second tie last night by at least two goals. A draw would see Uruguay qualify, a 1-0 win for us would send the the match into extra time. Which is what happened. Marco Bresciano scored a brilliant goal for us, supplied to him by Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, and the score stayed that way right to the end. We played exceptionally well. Ever since master coach Guus Hiddink took over at the helm of the team, we've played like a champion team. There were a few scary moments last night, but overall we played extremely well.

After the 30 minutes extra time, the score was still deadlocked. Which meant a penalty shootout. As anyone familiar with the game knows, that's about the most stressful outcome anyone could think of. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was the hero of the match, saving two penalties, so even though we missed one ourselves, we made it through, winning the match 4-2 on penalties. There's been partying in the streets here in Australia all night long and into this morning. The rapturous happiness has been on television all last night and this morning. It's indescribable what this means to the entire country. We've come together like we haven't since Sydney won the right to hold the 2000 Olympic Games twelve years ago. For football fans (like myself), this is a dream come true. I only wish my words could really capture all that, but they fall sadly short. You really had to be there I guess...

On to Germany 2006...I reckon it's gonna be my year :) Thanks.

Valley of Evil cover!

2005-11-13T09:28:00.000+11:00

Here's a super sneak peek at the cover to my next novel, Valley of Evil, which I wanted to share with you all. I've had this fantastic piece, pencilled by Al Rio and inked by Jeff Austin, for quite awhile now, and my colourist Splash! has just handed in his work on it, and you can see it here for the first time. This will be the cover to the dust jacket hardcover, which will be released by Coscom Entertainment around the middle of 2006 (date to be determined). I'm so happy with how this turned out. It's a real winner of a cover I think, will look stupendous on the shelf.

I'll be spending most of the upcoming week hunkered down, hammering Valley of Evil out ready for its release date in 2006. I'm back at work at the library this week, but I'm only working two days (so far) this week, so I should be able to make good progres on the novel. Like I said in a previous update, I'm happy with what I've come up with so far, but the last few days have been pretty slow going for me. Some days I can really get on a roll and churn some good material out. Other days...I don't know, the spark sometimes isn't quite there, and not much flows on such days. Still, I make sure to at least write a couple pages or so even on those days, but sometimes it's a chore. However, I have the book's plot and ideas gurgling away in my mind, so it's just a matter of transferring those into the actual manuscript itself. I've done well so far, and I think the novel will (hopefully) be my best yet. Thanks.

Bricks & Mortar!

2005-11-09T22:21:00.000+11:00

I went into Sydney last Saturday, to do a bit of sightseeing (checking out some of the Christmas decorations - yeah, I know it's early, but I love the season), some shopping (need a new collection of books, I'm a voracious reader), but mostly to go to the Kinokuniya book store (I think Sydney's largest book store, but anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) to see my two books - The Wraith novel (in hardcover) and The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment - The Official Script Book & Movie Guide there on the shelves of the store. As their catalogue system was down, it took a little hunting to find them (the novel in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section, the movie guide in the Film section), but find them I did, and I took photos to prove it (as you can see) :)

You know, I feel incredibly proud and pleased to be a working author. Just the fact I'm able to do the work I love, it's just an incredible thrill. To see my books on sale at places such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, that's incredibly satisfying. But to see my work in an actual bricks & mortar store, there on the shelf along with other, amazing titles such as the works of CJ Cherryh, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick and more...that's a feeling I can't really describe. My thanks goes to Steve Jones, the manager of Kinokuniya, for stocking my books. I hope other stores will follow suit. I'm working on it. Thanks.

Writing Valley of Evil!

2005-11-08T11:30:00.000+11:00

I'm currently hard at work writing my second novel, another adventure of The Wraith, entitled Valley of Evil. I've taken two weeks off work to be able to really get stuck into it, and I'm making excellent progress. More than that, I'm liking what I'm getting on paper so far. My writing skills have developed well under the tutelage of my publisher AP Fuchs, and I hope to have a longer story this time around (The Wraith was 176 pages in hardcover and 192 in paperback). Valley of Evil will have more action/adventure (in the classic pulp magazine style), and more villainy. Oh what I put the heroes through in this one :) And just wait until you see the brilliant Al Rio/Jeff Austin/Splash! cover for the hardcover - it'll take your breath away.

Anyway, I better get back to my writing. Valley of Evil is scheduled for release (if I remember correctly) in mid-to-late 2006 as a hardcover, again published by Coscom Entertainment. I'm planning to write an entire series of Wraith novels, but whether or not that series will be published by Coscom (I hope it will be), only the future can tell. Thanks.

The Wraith novel released in paperback!

2005-11-07T11:34:00.000+11:00

The Wraith (pictured) was just released in paperback, by Coscom Entertainment, after a successful season (in its own, small way) in hardcover, and I'm thrilled with the results. It's been such a pleasure working with Coscom and my publisher/editor AP Fuchs. He really has brought the best out of me, and I really feel like I've developed as a writer due to his belief and input. The hardcover has sold on Amazon (among other places), and here in Australia to libraries, the biggest book store in Sydney (Kinokuniya) is stocking both my novel and my non-fiction book (The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment - The Official Script Book & Movie Guide), and I'm currently dealing with some local stores to see if they'll stock my books as well.

For those not familiar with The Wraith (and shame on you if you're not - head on over to The Wraith Online website immediately), the character is my homage to classic pulp novel characters such as the Shadow and (especially) the Spider. I've been a lifelong fan of the Spider, and I wanted to create a character along those lines, with some added touches of my own. For The Wraith comics, I also wanted to bring back the quality I remember reading in comics when I was growing up. I'm a big Batman fan, and I remember those classic stories in the 70s and 80s written and illustrated by the likes of Steve Englehart & Marshall Rogers, Dennis O'Neil & Neal Adams, Gerry Conway & Irv Novick/Michael Golden/Don Newton/Gene Colon et al, and I wanted to try and to bring those kinds of stories back with The Wraith. So, with my comics, he's a mix of pulp adventure and classic comic book storytelling. The Wraith novels are pure pulp, just how I love them. So, if you're at all familiar with the Spider, you can see the parables - The Wraith is the Spider, Paul Sanderson is Richard Wentworth; Leena Patterson is Nita van Sloan; Max Horton is a mix of Ram Singh and Jackson; Simpson the butler is Jenkyns; Commissioner Harrison is Commissioner Kirkpatrick. So, there really is no direct similarity to Batman whatsoever. What similarity there is comes from the fact that a large portion of Batman was taken from the Shadow (the millionaire playboy secret identity, the dark avenger at night with a cloak etc.), and a large portion of the Spider was taken from the Shadow. The Wraith is happy in his personal life (he actually has one and a long-term relationship). He's driven by his life's crusade, but not at the expense of everything else. He has friends, and he gets on with them. He doesn't drive a fantastic, gadget-laden car (or bike, plane, boat, sub etc.), and he rarely uses gadgets at all, only every so often, and all are small-scale and realistic (eg. gas pellets, gas masks etc.) He has a super power (the ability to cause evil doers to feel the combined pain and anguish of each and every one of their victims by forcing them to stare into the energy force emanating from his chest, which he calls the Eyes of Judgment). The Wraith is pure pulp adventure, so he not only tackles legitimate, realistic crimes (eg. gangsters, bank robbers, rapists etc.); but also zombies, sinister & supernatural cults, creatures, mass poisonings, hypnotism, viruses etc. etc. So, I hope all that helps educate you as to who these characters are, where they came from, and who they are not like. Some people just love to make judgments based on the various Wraith comic and novel covers, and think they're 'oh so clever' in doing so...actually read the work, you'll see those initial judgments are often very misplaced.

Anyway, I'm really proud of this, my very first novel, and the print quality is of a very high standard indeed. Anyone interested in perhaps purchasing a copy, please click here for the hardcover or here for the paperback. Each of those links takes you to my website, where you can choose to buy online in any number of ways - either direct from the publisher, or from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Shocklines (Yahoo), Project Pulp and more, all at very excellent prices. Thanks.

Welcome!

2005-11-07T10:03:00.000+11:00

Hey all, welcome to my humble blog. Why Lair Lines? Well, the secret headquarters my character The Wraith keeps is called his Lair, so Lair Lines sounded like an apt description for this blog (and editorial column in The Wraith comics for that matter). I thought this might be a good place to share my thoughts, feelings and updates on my various upcoming projects. I already have a detailed website, The Wraith Online, which has everything to do with the aforementioned projects, but the focus there is really the work, and the characters, not so much the creators, so perhaps the focus here will be a little different, a little more intimate.

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled here for further updates. I'm just getting into the swing of this blog concept...