Creative Inspirations – Cartoons
Once at a horror convention, I watched a live Q&A with director Joe Dante where the interviewer asked what inspired him to make movies. His answer was unorthodox but unsurprising:
Category: Arts and Entertainment
Posts about books, book, movie, music, and TV reviews. Also, arts and entertainment essays, pop culture, and pieces I’ve written for other sites.
Celebrating Christmas with the Ingalls Family
Can you be nostalgic for a time you never lived in? I feel like you can, especially when you grow up devouring content that paints such a clear picture of
My Top 10 Books Read in 2025
Another year has gone by, and I’ve added dozens of new titles to my Goodreads list. I read less than I have in previous years, and my “did not finish
Celebrating Halloween with Monsters
When I think of horror, the first thing that pops up for me is the Universal Monsters. They were my introduction to horror, and they continue to be reborn and
Visiting The VAMPA Museum
Scrolling through social media can be mind-numbing, but once in awhile it throws you a gem of information that can lead to a great experience. One such moment was finding
US Ghost Adventures Chicago Ghost Tour + Discount Code
Most people like to learn about a city’s history via their museums, tours, and bronze plaques that dot its landscape. However, I do it through ghost tours. When it comes
Summer Screenings with The Whistling Kettle Summer Iced Teas
I consume content, particularly screen content, seasonally. Each season has certain shows, movies, and vlogs that I love to watch to match the weather outside and the general atmosphere at
US Ghost Adventures – Cincinnati Ghost Tour + Discount Code
American Halloween fans love to say that the start of the Halloween season is now July 5th. Once the last Fourth of July firework goes off, people are eager to
Why I Sent My Heroine to Hell And Why She Didn’t Wait for a Savior by Vanessa Smith, author of Fate’s Last Melody
Not all heroes wear capes—some wear burned-through flats When I first sat down to write Fate’s Last Melody, I didn’t plan to send my heroine to Hell. I just knew I
8 Great Things About Mad Scientists
In my classic horror character series, I’ve written about a lot of monsters and undead creatures, some of whom are purely evil while others are misunderstood or driven to do
Hosting a Holiday Party for the Authors on my Bookshelf
This year, I decided to go all out and invite all of the authors from my bookshelf to a holiday party. The authors arrived in groups according to their genre,
US Ghost Adventures – Pittsburgh Ghosts Tour Review
If you look through my back catalog of blog posts, you will find that I love ghost stories. I’m fascinated by their ambiguous nature and the many forms that they
8 Great Things About Werewolves
There are funny memes that circulate on the Internet these days about the dark content that kids consumed in the 1980s. As one of those kids, I can vouch for
Creative Inspirations – Judy Blume
The thing about the people who inspire us is that they just get us. They don’t necessarily have to know us personally, but the things that they create connect us
“Ada” Short Film Review and Filmmaker Interviews
Stories about creative and inventive individuals are often reserved for the triumphant. It’s not only satisfying but inspiring to see someone beat the odds and see the fulfillment of their