The Curse of Wolf Mountain is available for digital streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In horror movie news, here is a new movie available on digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV, and more. Directed by David Lipper, The Curse of Wolf Mountainis distributed by Uncork’d Entertainment and stars David Lipper, Tobin Bell, Danny Trejo, Keli Price, and Eddie McClintock. (October Coast, 2023)
The Curse of Wolf Mountain AJ begins having dreams of his parents death. He decides to go back to the spot where they were killed, accompanied by his brother and his brother’s family. Legend has it there is something mysterious roaming these woods.
Robert Earl Keen’s laid back opus Western Chill is accompanied by a play-along songbook, full album performance video, and a 92 page graphic novel. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Americana legend and model Texan Robert Earl Keen retired from touring in September of last year but his new release WesternChill finds the songwriter alive and well and, seemingly, very relaxed. While Keen is still making public appearances—he was just officially honored on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives and popped into Dallas’ newly reopened Longhorn Ballroom to play a tune with Old Crow Medicine Show—Western Chill makes it very apparent that retirement suits him. For most artists, dropping an album of fourteen new songs would be enough, but, proven time and time again, Keen is not most artists. (IVPR, 2023)
Currently, the only way to hear Western Chill is to purchase the entire box set. Thankfully, the box set has it all, including a 92-page graphic novel inspired by the album, a play-along/sing-along songbook for all fourteen songs, and a DVD of the Robert Earl Keen Band performing the entire new album at Keen’s Snake Barn studio space. The only thing “chill” about the release is the songs themselves. For the foreseeable future there will be no download or streaming links, so fans are encouraged to dive into the entirety of Western Chill the way it was intended: kick back, crack a cold one, sing along, and enjoy the vibe.
Pre-sales are over, but fans can now purchase Keen’s Western Chill package for immediate delivery and do not forget to stay up to date—rumor has it, REK has already finished another record.
Western Chill track list: Western Chill Blue Light (feat. Bill Whitbeck) Waves (feat. Brian Beken) Hello Stranger (feat. Kym Warner) The City (feat. Brian Beken) Let’s Valet Balmorhea Marfa Bone and Flowers (feat. Bill Whitbeck) Sweet Summer Rain Mister Mockingbird (feat. Bill Whitbeck) Mr. Blues on the Run Walking On Rippling Waters
The Western Chill vibe is packed with enough surprises to keep even the most seasoned fan guessing what is coming next. The opening title track—an instant Keen classic in the easy-loping vein of “The Front Porch Song,” “Gringo Honeymoon,” and “Feelin’ Good Again”—sets the mood for the whole album, followed by back-to-back original stunners sung and written by fiddle/guitar player Brian Beken and bassist Bill Whitbeck. If variety is the spice of life, Western Chill is the Silk Road to chill with more contributions are heard from Beken and Whitbeck, as well as compositions by the rest of the band. This has all been documented on the accompanying video because true to the “featuring” tag on the album cover, this really is a REK Band affair.
‘Liquid Shades of Blue’ is the debut novel by James Polkinghorn. Photo: Amazon
James Polkinghorn is a lawyer and partner in a national law firm specializing in labor and employment law. He has extensive trial and litigation experience accumulated in multiple jurisdictions throughout the country. A Pittsburgh native, Polkinghorn moved with his family to Florida in high school, where he has since stayed. He has a degree in political science as well as a law degree from the University of Florida. He now lives in Key West with his wife, Becki, and their dog, Major Tom. In “Liquid Shades of Blue,” his first novel, after the death of his brother and now his mother, Jack Girard searches for the truth behind his family’s tragedies. (Amazon, 2023)
“Liquid Shades of Blue” – When hungover ex-lawyer and Key West bar owner Jack Girard groggily wakes up one morning, he is greeted by a beautiful woman lying next to him and a shrill, ringing telephone. The call is from his father, Claude “The Duke” Girard, who tells him that his mother is dead in an apparent suicide. Jack then heads back to his childhood home in Miami to face his tyrannical father. His mother’s death brings up haunting memories from Jack’s past—memories of his brother Bobby’s suicide when they were in college together. Being back in Miami only continues to dredge up his family traumas, but things grow more complicated when The Duke suggests that his estranged wife’s alleged suicide may have been a murder. As Jack begins to uncover the truth about his mother’s death, including the secret she had revealed to only two people—the same secret Bobby had taken with him to his grave—he finds himself in imminent danger. Can Jack reveal the true story before it is too late? He has to act quickly, or he fears he may be the victim of the next Girard family tragedy.
Jack Girard has not had an easy life. He comes from a well off family, but his brother committed suicide, his mother is now dead, and he is not in the best of terms with his father who refers to himself in the third person: ‘the Duke.’ This is a clear indication that his father is a strong willed person who demands respect and that what he says is not up for debate. Jack has tried to make a life for himself even after his career derails but when his mom dies, he has to return home. When his father asks him to look into his mother’s death, what he discovers comes as a big surprise. The plot twist at the end will take readers by surprise too. The characters are well developed and relatable. For a first novel, it certainly is impressive; the language is poetic at times: “the kaleidoscopic azure and green surface of Biscayne Bay glistening in the winter sun behind me” and as a whole, it reads like a fine work of literature. It is narrated in the first person point of view as experienced through Jack’s eyes. Even though it is a small book and an easy read, it is packed with action and is destined to become a classic. With interesting characters and beautiful prose, “Liquid Shades of Blue” is this year’s beach read and is recommended for readers who enjoy a good mystery novel. It is perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Harlan Coben.
“By the time I passed the airport, the familiar orange and yellow disk had emerged from the sea, casting magnificent white and yellow reflections across the water to the sand. Four brown pelicans flying at my approximate pace were silhouetted against the sun as they began their morning search for baitfish near the ocean’s surface.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘Indiscernible Elements: Calcium’ will be released on May 30, 2023. Photo: Google
Korynn Newville is an artist, designer, and environmental activist. She received a master’s degree in architecture from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Design from the University of Minnesota. She is currently an architectural designer studying to become a licensed architect. She strives to utilize sustainable building practices in her professional projects and has a passion for creating artwork through the common materials used to construct her buildings projects. Korynn believes in the use of our imagination to offer new solutions to problems, and her artwork is her voice to tell the story. Her drawings and passion for the environment are the catalysts that led to her writing. Her first book, “Indiscernible Elements: Calcium,” explores the vital role of calcium not only in the body but also in architecture and human relationships. It is available for pre-order now. (Black Château, 2023)
“Indiscernible Elements: Calcium”– Calcium is a vital element that plays a fundamental role in various physiological processes in the body. As an architectural designer, Newville tells us how this element connects all of us, beyond our bodies. With a focus on practical advice and evidence-based research, her new book provides readers a new perspective of this element, and helps readers look at the world differently.
“A lot of building materials are made of pieces of calcium. My teeth are made of the same things as dry wall. Buildings are made of bones. These structures are just like us.” – Korynn Newville
Her book stems from her thesis work on how architecture needs to practice with living and dying. Newville envisions a series of future books focusing on more elements, and is embarking on a journey of sharing her art through events, media, and other vehicles.
“This book is just the beginning of what could be. By breaking us down to our core elements, we can understand the importance of our connection to the planet. And maybe that will help prepare us to live in a world that is rapidly evolving and changing.” – Korynn Newville
The Dead Hour is a 12 episode horror series available for streaming now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
There is a new horror series available now on Tubi, Amazon, and the YouTube channel Kings of Horror. Terror Films is getting into the horror television business, premiering a new 12-episode horror series titled The Dead Hour on digital platforms. (October Coast, 2023)
Creators Daniel B. Iske and Scott Coleman say classic The Twilight Zone was their key inspiration for the limited series, which premieres May 12 globally. It is an anthology series featuring a creepy tale each episode bookended by a twisted radio announcer (Melissa Holder) introducing each episode.
“We created our setup, a delightful yet twisted radio DJ in a dark booth late at night telling her audience creepy tales. We would start each episode with her opening setup monologue and then we’d jump into the story as it plays out on screen. For over a year we would come up with hundreds of short story ideas before finally narrowing it down to the dozen or so that we wanted to do first. Each episode has a different cast which gave us an opportunity to work with a vast array of talent. Our stories definitely are rooted in our commentary on today’s world and culture. We have our external monsters but also, we delve into the monsters inside us as well.”
Iske and Coleman wrote and directed the low budget horror film Fields of the Dead which enjoyed a run-on Redbox and OnDemand before turning their sights to the episodic realm.
Tommy Prine’s upcoming debut album This Far Suth will be out June 23 via Thirty Tigers. Photo: Google
Tommy Prine’s debut album This Far South, coming June 23, 2023, is not only a long-awaited introduction but a testimony to Prine’s 20s and the loss, love, and growth that has defined them. Co-produced by a close friend and kindred musical spirit, Ruston Kelly, and beloved Nashville engineer and producer, Gena Johnson, the album is rich and dynamic from cathartic jams to nostalgic storytelling. This year, alongside his own runs of headline shows, Prine opened for Tyler Childers on his Send In The Hounds Tour in London. He was also named one of Amazon Music’s 2023 Breakthrough Artists to Watch. (IVPR, 2023)
Like the rest of the songs from Prine’s upcoming debut This Far South, “Reach The Sun” feels very personal; a journal entry observation set to music. The theme does not end there. More often than not, Prine spins his narrative with positivity and hope, no matter how distant those feelings seem at the start. “‘Reach The Sun’ is about learning to ground yourself and doing something that you love is part of the brighter things of life,” he says.
An emotionally complex but universally accessible debut, This Far South—co-produced by Ruston Kelly and Gena Johnson—brings together a sonic patchwork of musical influences to help tell the story of each song. Inspirations from groups like Outkast or The Strokes or Bon Iver sneak into This Far South as well, but Prine always sounds like Prine; honest in his emotions and impactful with his message.
This Far South track list: Elohim Crashing Again This Far South Reach The Sun By The Way Mirror and a Kitchen Sink Boyhood Some Things Letter to My Brother Cash Carter Hill I Love You, Always
‘Escaping the Dashia’ is Rebecca Inch-Partridge’s new YA science fiction novel. Photo: Amazon
Rebecca Inch-Partridge is an author, an editor, and an avid science fiction fan who grew up imagining a more inclusive world for women in SFF. Today, she is helping to shape that reality. Her first novel, “Escaping the Dashia,” is a YA science fantasy published by Black Rose Writing. Rebecca is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Broad Universe and frequently speaks at writers’ conferences and science fiction conventions. Her short stories and articles have appeared in several magazines, and she has won Honorable Mention in both Writer’s Digest and Writers of the Future contests. “Escaping the Dashia” is the first book in The Paradox Star Cluster series and invites readers to root for the main character, young telepath Twyla, as she runs from one of the most notorious crime families in the Universe – the one led by her mother. (Black Château, 2023)
“Escaping the Dashia” is a meticulously crafted, immersive young adult (YA) science fiction (SF) novel that explores the complexities of family, betrayal, and the painful feelings of being an outsider. It follows young telepath Twyla, who is abducted by her mother and forced into her family’s criminal enterprise. Now, Twyla must navigate the blurred lines between right and wrong, good and evil, and the precarious position her family has put her in. Rebecca Inch-Partridge, a longtime SF fan, writer and speaker at science fiction conventions, uses her world-building skills to craft a richly detailed universe.
“I believe science fiction and fantasy has the power to challenge us and to inspire change. With ‘Escaping the Dashia,’ I hope to engage readers in a thrilling adventure while exploring important issues such as family dynamics, morality, and justice, all within a universe that I hope readers will enjoy exploring as much as I enjoyed creating it.” – Rebecca Inch-Partridge
Rebecca Inch-Partridge is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Broad Universe. As someone who grew up imagining a more inclusive world for women in SFF, today she is a strong supporter of women in SFF as well as women in STEM.
‘Felix and Eagle Imagine’ is the new children’s book out by Willie Thomas. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Willie Thomas is an American author born in Birmingham, AL and currently resides in North Carolina. Storytelling and writing books have always been his passion and goal. By the time he reaches the century mark, he would like to have well over a hundred different books out, each with its own unique voice and tale. “Felix and Eagle Imagine” and “Rodowell Sky: Miracles Come to Life” are the first of these books. Follow Willie Thomas on his journey as he makes what he has imagined come to life. (Willie Thomas, 2023)
His goal is not to be a knight. His goal is not to fly a kite. In his bones Felix feels he just might become a great superhero on this night.
Felix is a young boy seeking to become a great superhero. Eagle, his cat, wishes for the ability of flight. After drifting off to sleep, they embark on a shared dream where they Imagine wondrous things only found in ones imagination.
Author Willie Thomas. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
‘Hold On To Your Lady Or Hold On To Your Coat’ is the new book by Terrance Tamon. Photo: Google
Terrance Tamon was born in Spartanburg SC the oldest of three boys and raised in a single-parent household with his mother. He has four daughters and one son, but the oldest passed away in 2018. Writing is something he loves to do and most of the time he does it to take his mind away from the world. In his first adult book, “Hold On to Your Lady or Hold On to Your Coat,” a chance encounter with a woman catches Robert off guard and leaves him confused and unsure of himself. It is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Lulu. (Terrance Tamon, 2023)
“Hold On to Your Lady or Hold On to Your Coat” – Robert had been through it all when it came to relationships. At 30 years old, he knew all too well the heartache of breakups and the pain of a broken heart. It had left him feeling regretful and unable to trust. As a result, he had developed a cold heart and was no longer interested in pursuing any romantic relationships.
On one particular day, Robert was getting ready to leave his apartment when his friend and partner, Damian, urged him to come out and enjoy life. Damian was the type of friend everyone wished they had – caring, supportive, and always pushing his friends to be the best version of themselves, but when it came to women, Robert was not interested in listening to Damian. His experiences with relationships had left him with a deep sense of cynicism, and he saw no reason to put himself through the pain and heartbreak again. He grabbed his coat and prepared to leave, a physical reminder to himself that life was cold and that he needed to protect himself from the inevitable disappointments that come with relationships.
Despite his reservations, fate had other plans for Robert. After a chance encounter with a woman, he did not know if he should hold on to her or keep holding on to his coat. She had a way of making him feel alive again, like he was capable of experiencing happiness once more but at the same time, he was scared. He did not know if he was ready to open up and let someone in again.
Robert’s experiences are all too familiar to many of us. The pain of a broken heart can be so deep and profound that it can leave us feeling cynical and unwilling to open ourselves up to love again. Sometimes, life has a way of surprising us. Even when we are not looking for love, it can find us in unexpected ways.
Perhaps the lesson that Robert learned is that, no matter how much we try to protect ourselves, life will always find a way to surprise us. It is up to us to decide whether we are willing to take the risk and open ourselves up to the possibility of love, or continue to hold on to our coats, protecting ourselves from the unknown.
In the end, Robert’s story is a reminder that even when we think we have everything figured out, life can still surprise us. It is up to us to be open to those surprises and to take a chance on love, even when it seems scary or uncertain because in the end, the rewards of love are always worth the risk.
Strain 100 is now available for streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
If zombie movies are your thing, there is a new one out now. Jemma Dallender stars in Strain 100, infecting audiences everywhere from Uncork’d Entertainment. (October Coast, 2023)
Strain 100 – After surviving a terrifying car crash, a young woman discovers that aggressive, flesh-eating zombies have overtaken the entire area. She must figure out what is happening and why in hopes of escaping her horrifying circumstances. Co-written and directed by Hassan Hussein, the chilling horror-adventure also stars Matt Carriker and Alex Rogers and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, and Vudu.
Scene from Strain 100. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
SA Examiner 