I'm a Poet and I DO Know It

The clock is ticking, gang. It's only three months until the release of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, after which I will either become (A) an unbearable egomaniac drunk on my own success or (B) an embittered failure drunk on Colt 45. So you've only got one more chance to meet the old, lovable me. And there's an added inducement: You'll get to hear the old, lovable me recite poetry!

On second thought, I'm not sure that is an inducement, except to stay away. I've never claimed to be a great poet. But the fine folks at the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Cleveland-ish, Ohio, have invited me to take my beret and black turtleneck out of mothballs and beat the ol' bongos, so how could I say no? Here's the deal.

Tuesday, Dec. 29, I will be appearing at the Chagrin Falls Branch from 7 to 8:30 p.m. I actually make appearances at that branch every Christmas, since it's a mile from my in-laws' house and inevitably I end up in the Children's Room reading The Berenstain Bears Go to the Moon over and over again. The difference being the audience: This time, you're invited, not just my kids. Oh, and I won't be reading The Berenstain Bears Go to the Moon.

I will be reading from The Crack in the Lens, Dawn of the Dreadfuls and (as part of the library's Poem of the Month program) my extensive collection of blank verse poesy. One caveat before you pull up in the bus you've chartered for all your friends and relatives: The library wants everyone who plans on attending to register in advance. It's still free! Don't worry about that! But if you think you can make it, go here and click on "Register."

You'll be glad you did. Or not. But I know I'll be glad. Because if no one shows up, it's back to the Berenstain Bears.

Steve Hockensmith
December 14, 2009

An Instant Collector's Item! (As the Cover Blurbs Say)

Hey, y'all! I know it's been pretty quiet around here lately. Sorry about that. All my irons in the fire got hot at the same time, so I had to put blogging and Twittering and such on the back burner. (I know I just mixed metaphors there, but seeing as they're both heating-related I thought maybe I could get away with it.)

There's news to share today, though, so here I am. The scoop: my kinda-sorta comic book debut is finally available in stores. Some stores, anyway. Comic book stores, for instance. Victoria's Secret, not so much.

I say "kinda-sorta comic book debut" because it's not a full-on comic: It's more of an illustrated short story. And I say "debut" because...geez, you know what a debut is, don't you?

My story, in case you're interested, is called "Hellfire" and it's about this guy called "the Phantom" who likes to beat up pirates. There's a little more to it than that, I suppose, but why bother with a plot synopsis when I've got Scott Brooks' brilliant, brilliant art to tease you with instead?