Joe Hill is an American author and comic book writer whose work includes the novels “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Horns,” “NOS4A2” and “The Fireman.” He has also written the short story collections “20th Century Ghosts” and “Strange Weather” as well as the comic book series Locke & Key, the latter which won the British Fantasy Awards in 2009 and 2012 and an Eisner Award in 2012. NOS4A2 focuses on a woman trying to save her son from a vicious, supernatural killer who has set his eyes on him. The television adaptation, consisting of ten episodes, will air on AMC starting on Sunday June 2 and stars Zachary Quinto as Charlie Manx and Ashleigh Cummings as Vic McQueen.
“NOS4A2” follows Victoria “Vic” McQueen, a young working-class artist who has a secret gift for finding things, like a misplace bracelet, a missing photograph or answers to unanswerable questions. She also discovers that she has a supernatural ability to track the seemingly immortal Charlie Manx. Manx feeds off the souls of children, then deposits what remains of them into Christmasland, a twisted Christmas Village of Manx’s imagination where everyday is Christmas Day and unhappiness is against the law. He drives a 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the vanity plate NOS4A2 which allows him to slip out of the everyday world and into the terrifying Christmasland. When Vic was young, she was the only girl to escape Manx’s evil grasp and now all grown up, she just wants to forget. But Manx has never forgotten Vic and now she must defeat Manx and rescue his victims, one being her own son, without losing her mind or falling victim to him herself.
Good Omens will be released on Amazon Prime on Friday May 31.
Neil Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, nonfiction, audio theater and films. He is best known for the comic book series The Sandman and the novels “Stardust,” “American Gods,” “Coraline” and “The Graveyard Book.” He collaborated with English author Terry Pratchett for the 1990 World Fantasy Award-nominated novel “Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch.” The book is a comedy about the birth of the son of Satan, the coming of the end of times and the attempts by the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley to sabotage it, having grown accustomed to their comfortable surroundings in England. It was adapted into a six-part series and will be released on Friday May 31 on Amazon Prime and stars David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
“Good Omens” is about the coming of the End Times; the Apocalypse is near and Final Judgement will soon descend upon humans. Aziraphale was the guardian of the Eastern Gate of Eden and Crowley was the serpent who tempted Eve to eat the apple and respectively, the representatives of Heaven and Hell on Earth. They have become good friends and have decided to work together and keep an eye on the Antichrist. He is destined to be the son of a prominent American diplomat stationed in Britain and their plan is to make sure he grows up unable to decide between Good and Evil, therefore postponing the end of the world.
‘The Night Window,’ the final novel in the Jane Hawk series by Dean Koontz was released this week.
Dean Koontz is an American author whose works are billed as suspense thrillers but can also include horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and satire. His first novel, “Star Quest” was published in 1968 and since then he has sold over 450 million copies of his books with many of them appearing on The New York Times’ Best Seller list. “The Night Window,” the final chapter in the Jane Hawk series, was released this week and finds the rogue FBI agent gambling everything against a terrifying conspiracy, for vengeance, for justice and for humanity’s freedom.
In “The Night Window,” Jane crosses paths with a visionary young filmmaker hunted for sport across a Colorado ranch by a billionaire who is the head of a cabal, a brilliant computer hacker who gathers facts to fight powerful perpetrators of mass murder, and, among others, a Vegas mob boss out to kidnap a boy to use as leverage against his fugitive mother. Filled with ingenious twists, spellbinding action and resonant themes, it follows the heroine to her long-sought objective, in stunning, unforgettable finale.
The other books in the series include: “The Silent Corner”– It all begins when Jane’s husband, and others with seemingly happy lives, kills himself. In her search to find the truth, she becomes the most wanted fugitive in America.
“The Whispering Room” – Jane picks up the trail of a secret cabal of powerful players who think themselves above the law and beyond punishment. That trail intersects with Cora Gundersun, who kills herself and others in a shocking act of carnage and appears to have been insane, but Jane knows better.
“The Crooked Staircase” – Knowing she may be living on borrowed time, Jane refuses to stop her one-woman crusade against those who threaten everyone’s freedom and free will. This time she goes after a cunning man with connections in high places, including an army of professional killers on call.
“The Forbidden Door” – Jane may be all that stands between a free nation and its enslavement by a powerful secret society’s terrifying mind control technology. Now that the number of brain-altered victims is growing and spreading, the war between her and her enemies will become a fight for all their lives against the lethal terror unleashed from behind the forbidden door.
For the first time, A Día del Nino celebration is coming to the Pearl this April. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.
April at Pearl is setting up to be a busy one with various activities planned for the whole family. Programming for the month includes Poetry at Pearl, a Mi Golondrina retail pop-up, the First Thursday Night Market, Bidi Bidi Party, a Battle of Flowers After Party and Día del Niño. Also, Gustav’s Geysers have reopened at Pearl Park, making it the perfect destination for spring time fun. (Pearl, 2019)
Poetry Month at Pearl in April – Various activations throughout Pearl Campus all month
In honor of National Poetry Month, Pearl will celebrate the art of the written word with various poetry-themed activations throughout the property. Pearl has commissioned local poets to create works in collaboration with select stores. Celebration of Things: Window Poems features the work of three San Antonio Poet Laureates and three Texas Poet Laureates; poems are installed on the storefronts of The Tiny Finch, Niche, Local Coffee, Bakery Lorraine, LeeLee, Vintage Bouquet Bar and The Twig. Typewriter Rodeo will also be at the First Thursday Night Market on Thursday, April 4, where Poem Wranglers will create free, custom poetry for visitors on their vintage typewriters. The Twig will have a book signing with Kari Anne Holt and Sean Petrie of the Typewriter Rodeo where they will sign copies their recent publication “Typewriter Rodeo: Real People, Real Stories, Custom Poems.” All events are free and open to the public.
Mi Golondrina Pop Up – March 5 – June 1 from 11a.m. to 5p.m.
Mi Golondrina, a collection of handcrafted high-end artisan clothing and accessories made in Mexico, returns to Pearl. Guests can shop the collection at the Pearl pop-up store, located next to Niche and The Sporting District.
First Thursday Night Market – Thursday April 4 from 4p.m. to 8p.m.
First Thursday Night Market returns to Pearl for the month of April. Visitors can shop with their favorite local Farmers Market vendors and artisans while enjoying music by regional performers. Mojo-Ramba will perform at Pearl Park from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. and. St. Duke’s in Pearl Parkito from 4p.m. to 8p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Bidi Bidi Party – Tuesday April 16 from 6p.m. to 9p.m.
Pearl will host a Bidi Bidi Party on Tuesday, April 16 from 6p.m. to 9p.m. at Pearl Park. DJ Manolo Black will spin the best of cumbia and Latin music to honor the Queen of Tejano. The event is free and open to the public with food and drinks for sale at the Bottling Department.
Battle of Flowers After Party at Pearl – Friday April 26 from 12:30p.m. to 5p.m.
Pearl will host its annual Battle of Flowers After Party at Pearl Park. Guests can enjoy specials from the Bottling Department while dancing along to Sound Cream and DJ Catwalk. The event is free and open to the public with food and drinks for sale at the Bottling Department and Southerleigh Oyster Bar.
Día del Niño – Tuesday April 30 from 4p.m. to 6p.m.
Since 1925, Día del Niño is an annual celebration in Mexico honoring children and this year, Pearl brings the celebration to Pearl Parkito. Pearl will honor this tradition by partnering with the Instituto Cultural de México (ICM) to bring an evening of bilingual storytelling, traditional Mexican games, face painting, and more. Día del Niño is free and open to the public with food and drinks available for purchase throughout Pearl property.
Pearl
303 Pearl Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 212-7260
The San Antonio Book Festival takes place this Saturday April 6. Photo: San Antonio Book Festival, used with permission.
The San Antonio Book Festival (SABF), the free and family-friendly literary-themed event, is taking place this Saturday April 6, along with The Moth. In the age-old tradition of true stories told live, The Moth is an international storytelling show that features five storytellers on stage sharing an authentic experience from their own personal lives. The Moth shows are renowned for the great range of human experience they showcase and the performances dance between documentary and theater, creating a unique, intimate, and often enlightening experience for the audience. (San Antonio Book Festival, 2019)
This year’s lineup has just been revealed and includes:
Visual artist from the Eastern Shawnee Nation of Oklahoma Alistair Bane
Bestselling author Kate Braestrup
Mexico native and bestselling author Reyna Grande
Acclaimed novelist Ernesto Quiñonez
Award-winning designer Lori Weitzner of Lori Weitzner Design
The Moth will be at The Majestic Theatre on Friday, April 5 at 7p.m. and will showcase five authors as they share their own personal story. General Admission tickets range from $25-$45 and are available online. VIP tickets are $100 and include admission to the exclusive afterparty with The Moth storytellers and producers, San Antonio Book Festival authors, and complimentary food and beverages.
The mission of the San Antonio Book Festival is to unite readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries and literary culture. The signature program of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation, SABF was first presented in April 2013. Founding Partners are the Texas Book Festival, the San Antonio Public Library and Southwest School of Art. Through active partnerships with school districts and community organizations focused on literacy, education and culture, the Festival connects with educators, parents and students, pre-K through college. SABF reaches out to those who are well read and those who love to read well.
The Moth is a non-profit group based in New York City dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes.
Moth shows are renowned for the great range of human experience they showcase. Each show starts with a theme, and the storytellers explore it, often in unexpected ways. Since each story is true and every voice authentic, the shows dance between documentary and theater, creating a unique, intimate, and often enlightening experience for the audience.
The Majestic Theatre
224 East Houston Street
San Antonio, TX, 78205
This year’s San Antonio Book Festival will take place on Saturday April 6. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The San Antonio Book Festival is a family friendly event that brings over 20,000 festival-goers to downtown San Antonio for free fun activities suitable for all ages. Set for Saturday April 6 from 9a.m. to 5p.m. at the Central Library and Southwest School of Art, the 2019 schedule features over 100 renowned authors participating in panels, book signings, book sales, children and teen activities, ghost story telling and more. The festival showcases first-time novelists and established writers while introducing attendees to new literary talents and connecting them with their favorite authors. (San Antonio Book Festival, 2019)
Events worth noting include the Stories of the Ghosts of the Rio Grande Valley with David Bowles for teenagers and adults looking for a thrill, a performance of Dr.Krashundbang! presented by The Magik Theatre for the kiddos, a book signing and discussion with Cristela Alonzo, Oscar Cásares and Fernando Flores about their new books, talks with New York Times bestseller Tayari Jones about her novel ‘An American Marriage’ and much more. The complete schedule is available online.
San Antonio Central Library
600 Soledad St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 207-2500
Southwest School of Art
300 Augusta St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 200-8200
First presented in 2013, the mission of the San Antonio Book Festival is to unite readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries and literary culture. Founding Partners are the Texas Book Festival, the San Antonio Public Library and Southwest School of Art. Through active partnerships with school districts and community organizations focused on literacy, education and culture, the Festival connects with educators, parents and students, pre-K through college and reaches out to those who are well read and those who love to read well.
‘The Ultimate Droodles Compendium’ is now available everywhere. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Roger Price was an American humorist, author and publisher who created Droodles in the 1950s and later collaborated with Leonard B. Stern on the Mad Libs series. His Droodles books sold more than 1 million copies between their debut in 1953 and his death in 1990. His Mad Libs have sold more than 150 million copies, and counting, since he co-created them with Leonard Stern in 1958. On March 6, what would have been Roger Price’s 101st birthday, Tallfellow Press will release ‘The Ultimate Droodles Compendium: The Absurdly Complete Collection of All the Classic Zany Creations of Roger Price.’ It is arranged and annotated by Emmy-winning writer Fritz Holznagel and features a foreword by America’s best-known film historian, critic and author, Leonard Maltin. Always funny and often provocative, Price was one of America’s most original comic voices. (Smith Publicity, 2019)
Before he delighted fans with Mad Libs, comedian Roger Price invented Droodles – absurdly funny drawings that joined hula hoops and UFOs as one of the biggest fads of the 1950s. At the peak of their popularity, Droodles had their own TV show, daily newspaper column, bestselling books and even cocktail napkins. Until now, Droodles, and the remarkable legacy of Roger Price, have been forgotten by all but a few diehard fans. Featuring over 350 hilarious Droodles, from the most popular to the wonderfully obscure and even “Kinda Croodles” that are more than a bit insensitive from today’s modern viewpoint, ‘The Ultimate Droodles Compendium’ is the first and only full retrospective of Price and his creations.
In ‘The Ultimate Droodles Compendium,’ longtime fans and newbies alike will be captivated by this forgotten genius of American comedy. This is a one-of-a-kind collection of humor and history and Millennials and Baby Boomers alike are in for a treat. It is now available in paperback wherever books are sold.
Lorenzo Gomez, author of ‘The Cilantro Diaries’ will be the keynote speaker at the 2019 Lit ‘n Lunch on Tuesday, March 5.
Assistance League of San Antonio will be hosting its 2019 Lit ‘n Lunch on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at The Witte Museum’s Mays Family Center. Lorenzo Gomez, III will keynote the event. (Assistance League of San Antonio, 2019)
Lorenzo Gomez is a San Antonio native and author of the celebrated book, ‘The Cilantro Diaries: Business Lessons From the Most Unlikely Places,’ which provides practical and entertaining advice for business-starters young and old. A local celebrity known for thinking outside the box and keeping it real, he is the Chairman of the Board of Geekdom and the 80/20 Foundation and co-founder of Techbloc. He is also an expert in ecosystems development, a public speaker, an author, a podcast host and a compelling storyteller. Now the Chairman of the Board for both Geekdom and The 80/20 Foundation, Mr. Gomez has had a notably positive impact on the tech industry in San Antonio, the city’s economic growth and its tremendous revitalization. ‘The Cilantro Diaries’ is the story of how Mr. Gomez went from a grocery stockroom to the boardrooms of two private companies, and beyond, without a college degree. He is a dynamic speaker and eager supporter of Assistance League of San Antonio.
Lit ‘n Lunch provides a wonderful opportunity for corporations and individuals to support Assistance League of San Antonio’s charitable programs while enjoying a local author-focused lunch. In addition to the keynote speaker, the event will also include a Wall of Wine raffle, a decadently themed basket auction and a Clothe A Child Auction conducted by KENS 5 Evening Weather Anchor, Bill Taylor. The auction will provide an opportunity for guests to raise their bid card and donate to Assistance League of San Antonio’s key programs, Togs For Tots and Operation School Bell®. Togs For Tots provides new clothes for infants to 4-year-olds, while Operation School Bell provides new school clothes to kindergarten through fifth graders. Nearly 500 guests attended Lit ‘n Lunch in 2018, raising almost one-quarter of Assistance League of San Antonio’s annual program budget. Each year at Lit ‘n Lunch, Assistance League of San Antonio grants the Rising Star Award to a high school student who has shown great literary potential. A student from Judson Independent School District is the recipient of the 2019 Rising Star Award.
‘Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home’ is now available everywhere. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Gary Sweeney, a San Antonio-established artist known for his humorous text-based work and art installations throughout the United States, debuts his new book, ‘Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home,’ based on his most popular art installation, A Manhattan Beach Memoir: 1945-2015. (Gary Sweeney, 2019)
‘Manhattan Beach Memoir’ documents the installation at 320 35th Street in Manhattan Beach, California, made as a tribute to his family as they owned and occupied the home for over 70 years. The site-specific installation pays homage to his upbringing, family and the Manhattan Beach of the past. The photography exhibit consisted of 112 large-scale graphics of personal family photos, which were printed on MDO plywood and covered the entire outside of the artist’s childhood home. The installation was featured in national and international publications, including the Daily Mail UK, People.com, ABC News, Dwell, Architecture Lab, and more.
The project was on display to the public during the entire month of February 2015, after which the photos were removed and the home was replaced by a new development. The collection of photographs were originally taken by Mike Sweeney, Gary’s father. He took hundreds of pictures documenting family events and even built a dark room located in the upstairs of the home where he developed most of the photos. Gary selected images that tell a story of a family and a home across 70 years.
Writers of the book, Wendy Weil Atwell and Neil Fauerso, also discuss the social and economic factors that shaped Sweeny’s childhood, the astronomical increase in real estate values, the meaning of home, photography’s role in society and the Southern California art movements that inspired and influenced Sweeney’s art. ‘Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home’ is available for purchase on Amazon and on the publisher’s website, Material Media.
Gary Sweeney is an artist who works in many forms—from photography to painting to sculpting, resulting in a body of work ranging from neon signs, billboards and murals to wooden furniture, books and flower arrangements. Born into the fertile artistic climate of 1950s Southern California, Sweeney was surrounded by art and artists. He has become known for his appealingly nostalgic and humorous artwork and gained notability for his project Post-Obsessive, where he mailed more than 20,000 personalized, handwritten postcards that were altered with witty images, clippings and quotes taken from newspapers around the country. He also has permanent collections on view including America, Why I Love Her at the Denver International Airport, which is inspired by family road trips and bizarre monuments and roadside attractions, and Nostalgia, Texas at the San Antonio International Airport, where Sweeney designed neo-retro tourist posters with tongue-in-cheek slogans.
The television adaptation of Justin Cronin’s ‘The Passage’ premieres on Fox this month.
Justin Cronin is an American author who has written five novels: ‘Mary and O’Neil,’ ‘The Summer Guest’ and the vampire trilogy consisting of ‘The Passage,’ ‘The Twelve’ and ‘City of Mirrors.’ He has won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, the Stephen Crane Prize and a Whiting Award. ‘The Passage’ is the story of Amy who was abandoned by her mother at age six and is now being pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. The television adaption will premiere on Fox on Monday January 14 and stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Brad Wolgast and Saniyya Sidney as Amy Bellafonte.
‘The Passage’ focuses on Project Noah, a secret medical facility where scientists are experimenting with a dangerous virus that at best is a cure-all for all diseases and at worst has the potential to wipe out humanity. When Amy Bellafonte is chosen as a test subject, Federal Agent Brad Wolgast has to bring her in to Project Noah but instead bonds with her as a surrogate father and vows to protect her at any cost. Their journey will force them to confront Project Noah’s lead scientist, Major Nichole Skyes and the hardened ex-CIA operative in charge of operations Clark Richards, whom Brad trained. It also brings them face-to-face with a dangerous new race of beings within the walls of Project Noah.
Joe Hill is an American author and comic book writer whose work includes the novels “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Horns,” “NOS4A2” and “The Fireman.” He has also written the short story collections “20th Century Ghosts” and “Strange Weather” as well as the comic book series Locke & Key, the latter which won the British Fantasy Awards in 2009 and 2012 and an Eisner Award in 2012. NOS4A2 focuses on a woman trying to save her son from a vicious, supernatural killer who has set his eyes on him. The television adaptation, consisting of ten episodes, will air on AMC starting on Sunday June 2 and stars Zachary Quinto as Charlie Manx and Ashleigh Cummings as Vic McQueen.
SA Examiner 