Tag: Writing

Unleash Your Creativity: Teen Night at Contemporary at Blue Star

Teen Night at Contemporary at Blue Star is this Friday March 21, 2025. Photo: Contemporary at Blue Star.

Join Contemporary at Blue Star for Teen Night on Friday March 21 from 6p.m. to 8p.m. Admission is free. Participants can view our exhibitions, enjoy artist-led art activities, perform at our open mic and mingle with other art-minded San Antonio teens. Teen Night is scheduled in conjunction with our exhibition, Mosh Now, Cry Later, reflecting on San Antonio’s love for sad rock music and its influence on visual culture and community building. Register for Teen Night here. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2025)

Teen night activities:

  • One aspect of alternative and independent rock genres, which you can also find in the artworks of Mosh Now, Cry Later, is the use of DIY aesthetics.

For Teen Night we’ll be exploring various methods of art making that align with this tendency. Some of the staff lead activities include creating zines, buttons, and screen printing.

  • Open Mic! Express yourself through poetry, music, and more. The stage is yours, literally. Bring your friends to cheer you on or come solo and make new connections with fellow creative teens. 
  • Make a collage with Christie Blizard!

Led by Mosh Now, Cry Later exhibiting artist Christie Blizard, teens will take magazines, paper scraps, and other materials to create a unique artwork.

  • Blackout Poetry with Lilith Tijerina and Sarah Tijerina

In this activity, led by artists and performers Lilith Tijerina and Sarah Tijerina, teens will create a poem by taking found writing (from books, articles, etc.) and use a marker to blackout some of the words on a page. The words that remain will create a finished poem. 

This event is exclusively for teenagers. In an effort to maintain a safe and relaxing environment for San Antonio teenagers, school IDs will be needed to enter. There will be Contemporary staff chaperoning, as well as two security officers for the duration of the event. Visiting hours during this time will also be exclusively for Teens.

More about Mosh Now, Cry Later: San Antonio’s love of sad rock and its impact on visual culture. It is on view through June 8, 2025.

Featured Artists: Christie Blizard, Justo Cisneros, Joe De La Cruz, Juan Flores, Angela Fox, Brian Gonzalez, Nick Hay, Dom Jimenez, Ashley Mireles, Charlie Morris, Theresa Newsome, Ashley Perez, Kristy Perez, Anthony Rundblade

Mosh Now, Cry Later is an exploration of alternative and independent rock genres—from punk and post-punk to new wave, emo, screamo, hardcore punk, goth, and more—and their effect on San Antonio’s visual culture.

“The exhibition pinpoints the shared sensibilities of a cultural undercurrent within the visual art and music scenes of San Antonio and explores parallels in emotional undertones.” – Curator and Exhibitions Director Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray

In this exhibition, fourteen San Antonio-connected artists work with an array of media to create artworks that echo these musical subgenres, either through their emotional undercurrents or aesthetic approaches.

Emerging from a rebellious response to mainstream music and practice, these subgenres embrace an ethos of DIY principles that challenge conventional methods of music-making. Similarly, the featured artists operate within counterculture, deviating from mainstream practices in subject or material.

This exhibition also examines how San Antonio’s Latinx youth are especially connected to these subcultures, drawing parallels between DIY aesthetics and rasquache, counterculture and machismo, and vocal techniques like screaming and the grito—a traditional emotional outcry in Mexican culture.

Central to this exhibition is the community archive and listening room or Mosh Pit, an interactive installation of photographs, ephemera, records, tapes, and more lining the walls. The Mosh Pit will highlight musicians from major and indie labels, local bands, and mixtapes and playlists contributed by the exhibiting artists. The inclusion of this installation serves to emphasize the dialogue and intersection of disciplines in San Antonio’s artistic community. 

Contemporary at Blue Star
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204
(210) 227-6960

From Green Beer to River Parades: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in San Antonio

La Panadería’s limited edition green conchas, available at all locations until Monday March 17. Photo: La Panadería, used with permission.

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17, is a vibrant holiday in the United States, honoring Irish heritage and culture. Cities across the country hold parades, with New York City and Chicago hosting some of the largest. People wear green, decorate with shamrocks, and enjoy Irish music, dance, and food. Many bars and restaurants serve traditional Irish fare like corned beef and cabbage, along with green beer. While rooted in Irish Catholic traditions, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a widely celebrated cultural event embracing fun and festivity.

In San Antonio, festivities include the city’s Dyeing the River Green and St. Patrick’s River Parades on Saturday March 15. There’s also San Antonio’s official St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl on Monday March 17, 2025.

Two restaurants on the River Walk are ready to join in on the festivities with their own Irish classics.

Four Brothers Southern Provisions, located inside the historic Omni La Mansión del Rio, is known for its fresh Latin approach to traditional Texan cuisine. Now, they’re aiming to maintain their flair for fusion by putting a San Antonio spin on the holiday’s cultural favorites.

Available this weekend, visitors can choose between the Iced Irish Espresso Martini, a whiskey-based rendition that’s been mixed with sweet Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur and a boldly rich espresso roast, and the Spiced Irishman, a multifaceted whiskey and club soda that adds elements of flavor by topping off with hot honey syrup and tangy lemon juice. Don’t forget to snack on a few (or all) of Four Brothers’ Leprechaun Loaded Potato Skins, a hearty and comforting shareable that incorporates corned beef, cabbage, and Guinness Beer Cheese with its slow-baked spud base. 

Located across the River Walk is the high-energy upscale eatery, Ostra. Connected to the award-winning Mokara Hotel & Spa, guests are invited to enjoy the destination’s limited-time St. Patrick’s Day offerings. Known for their crafted cocktails and fresh seafood, Ostra has partnered with Jameson Irish Whiskey to create three specialty items, only available this weekend.

For something fruity and refreshing, order the Jameson Orange Mule, a simple yet delicious drink made with Jameson Orange, ginger beer, and lime juice. For those in the mood for something crisp and tart, try the Celtic Spritz. The cocktail combines Jameson Triple Irish Whiskey, elderflower liqueur, limoncello, and sparkling water and is sure to help cool visitors off from the upcoming weekend heat. And because you can’t visit Ostra without experiencing their acclaimed Oyster Bar, pair either cocktail with a few savory chargrilled oysters, served with Jameson Whiskey Butter and warm-baked bread.

While the River Walk has plenty of options for the holiday celebrations, bar hoppers beginning to create the weekend’s itinerary should plan to add these two spots as necessary stops. (Four Brothers Southern Provisions, Ostra, 2025)

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, The Newstand, the now local favorite, has joined the holiday festivities by creating their own themed menu creations. Known for their unique and delicious offerings, The Newstand has done it again with the “Bella Loca Latte” and the “Grinch” cookie. 

The Bella Loca Latte is an iced matcha latte that mixes together creamy pistachio milk (DF/GF) before being topped off with a lightly sweetened matcha cold foam and a festively opportunistic green straw. And since it’s criminal to visit The Newstand without selecting one of their house-made pastries, make your order a greenified duo with a sweet treat. Named the Grinch, this matcha cookie is soft, chewy, and subtly sweet. Topped with a thin layer of matcha icing, pistachio crumbles, and sea salt flakes, it might be big enough to share, but you might not even want to.

These seasonal favorites are only available for the month of March. For customers aiming to potentially save a little green, they can purchase both together and receive 10% off their order. (The Newstand, 2025)

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day (3/17), La Panadería is adding a festive twist to their beloved conchas with a special Green Concha, available now through Monday, March 17. This vibrant concha features a green exterior, filled with a rich and creamy pistachio ganache that’s sure to delight your taste buds. 

Perfect for celebrating the season or adding a touch of color to your treat selection, this limited-time concha is priced at just $3.75 and can be purchased at any La Panadería location. (La Panadería, 2025)

From T.S. Eliot to Shakespeare: The Literary Inspirations Behind Ben Okri’s Latest Novel

“Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Brokenhearted” is Ben Okri’s latest novel. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Classic literature has remained relevant across generations due to its timeless themes, rich language, and deep exploration of human nature. Whether it’s the tragic fate of Hamlet, the star-crossed love in Romeo and Juliet, or the political intrigue of Macbeth, these stories resonate because they reflect universal emotions—love, ambition, betrayal, and redemption. These stories challenge, inspire, and allow readers to see themselves in characters from centuries past, proving that great storytelling transcends time.

Ben Okri’s new novel blends mysticism, literary homage, and exploration of human relationships. The story revolves around Viv, who organizes a festival for the brokenhearted in a sacred French forest, drawing inspiration from T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Ben Okri is a playwright, poet, novelist, essayist, short-story writer, anthologist, and aphorist. He has also written film scripts. His works have won numerous national and international prizes, including the Booker Prize for Fiction. His books include the eco-fable “Every Leaf a Hallelujah,” the play Changing Destiny, the genre-bending climate fiction “Tiger Work,” the poetry collections “A Fire in My Head,” “Wild, Mental Fight,” and “An African Elegy,” and the novels “Astonishing the Gods,” “The Last Gift of the Master Artists,” “The Age of Magic,” and “Dangerous Love.” In 2023 he received a knighthood for services to literature. (Other Press, 2024)

His new novel “Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Brokenhearted” from Other Press offers a wise, enchanting novel about love, power, and our many selves—past and future, public and private. It will be released on March 18 and is available for pre-order.

There are organizations for people who grieve, for alcoholics and other kinds of addicts. But if you’ve been devastated by the love of your life walking out on you, where the hell do you go?

In this modern fable with the impish magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a masked ball makes two upper-class British couples see each other in a new light.

On the 20th anniversary of the day her first husband left her, Viv decides to host an unconventional party for those burned by love. She successfully ropes in her reluctant second husband, Alan, and their friends Beatrice and Stephen, and when she meets the famed fortuneteller Madame Sosostris—last seen in T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, and rumored to be the secret to success of 5 prime ministers—she believes she’s found the perfect act to headline her masquerade.

In a sacred wood in the south of France, the partygoers disguise themselves and wait eagerly for the great clairvoyant, who might be able to mend their broken pasts and brighten their futures. But the night soon goes awry, in a comically revealing way that causes our couples to question their relationships and the direction of their lives.

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Mike Papantonio’s ‘The Middleman’: A Legal Thriller That Hits Close to Home

‘The Middleman’ is Mike Papantonio’s latest legal thriller. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Legal thrillers blend courtroom drama, high-stakes legal battles, and moral dilemmas. They often feature sharp-witted attorneys, complex cases, and unexpected twists that keep readers on edge. I like that they provide a behind-the-scenes look at the legal system, showcasing both its strengths and flaws. With elements of crime, suspense, and ethical conflicts, legal thrillers challenge readers to question justice and truth. The first legal thriller I read was John Grisham’s “The Client” and I was instantly hooked on the genre. Authors like John Grisham and Scott Turow write stories that combine legal intricacies with human drama, making the genre both intellectually stimulating and emotionally gripping.

Mike Papantonio is another excellent author worth reading. I have read and reviewed several of his legal thrillers, the most recent one being “Inhuman Trafficking.” His newest one, “The Middleman,” will be out this week and promises another thrilling and suspenseful thriller involving Big Pharma.

Mike Papantonio is a senior partner of Levin Papantonio, one of the country’s largest plaintiffs’ law firms, and was one of the youngest inductees into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He has aggressively taken on Big Pharma, tobacco, weapon manufacturers, human trafficking, and the automobile industry, among other strongholds of corporate greed, and uses his own cases as springboards for his novels. He was a lead lawyer in the national opioid litigation and the national PFAS litigation.

Papantonio is also a well-known media presence as host of America’s Lawyer, and founder and former co-host of the syndicated radio show Ring of Fire. His new legal thriller is “The Middleman” is an epic drama of whistleblowers, murder, thrills, and legal combat—torn from today’s headlines. It will be released on March 4, 2025. (Wunderkind PR, 2025)

“The Middleman” – Nicholas “Deke” Deketomis and his law firm take on America’s Big Pharma when Deke’s college pal, Matt Redmond, presents him with a case of criminal fraud involving EirePharma, a powerful Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). PBMs serve as the “middlemen” between drug manufacturers and insurance companies. The Deketomis firm unravels the details about how governmental graft enables PBMs like EirePharma to create America’s catastrophic price gouging crisis.

EirePharma was recently taken over by the charismatic CEO, Connor Devlin, who has a Rasputin-like influence over the company’s president. Devlin utilizes racketeering practices—and perhaps murder—to raise the prices of insulin and other drugs for his own profit and to the detriment of consumers.

Amy, the president of EirePharma, decides— at great peril—to become her company’s whistleblower and provide evidence to Deke and his team. When key witnesses and even Redmond family members meet mysterious and violent deaths, Amy finds herself a pawn caught in the center of a frightening and deadly game of wills between a formidable mobster, who in the eyes of the public is a respected businessman, and a law firm that is determined to put an end to the Middleman’s crimes.

‘Two Truths and a Lie’: The Mind-Bending New Science Fiction Novel by Cory O’Brien

‘Two Truths and a Lie’ will be out on March 4, 2025. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Science fiction books captivate readers by offering thrilling escapes into worlds of limitless possibilities. They ignite imaginations with futuristic technologies, interstellar voyages, and encounters with alien civilizations.Beyond mere escapism, sci-fi often serves as a mirror to our own society, exploring complex themes like technological advancement, social justice, and the human condition. Readers are drawn to the genre’s ability to pose “what if” questions, prompting reflection on our present and potential futures. From dystopian warnings to utopian dreams, science fiction offers a unique lens through which to examine humanity’s place in the cosmos. Its enduring appeal lies in its power to both entertain and provoke thought.

Coming out next month is the new cyber punk science fiction novel by beloved internet humorist Cory O’Brien.

Cory O’Brien is the author of “Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes” and “George Washington Is Cash Money.” He has written for numerous award-winning video games, including Monster Prom and Holovista, and designed multiple tabletop games, including Inhuman Conditions and Hand to Hand Wombat. His new novel “Two Truths and a Lie” introduces an unforgettable investigator to the drowned streets of L.A. in a hugely imaginative and heartfelt blend of noir and cyberpunk. It will be released on March 4, 2025 and is available for pre-order. (Penguin Random House, 2025)

“Two Truths and a Lie” – In a mostly underwater near-future Los Angeles, aging combat-drone veteran Orr Vue now lives a simple and small life, trading snippets of what’s become the most valuable currency: information. So when the cops show up at his door looking for data on a murder he’s not even aware has happened, things get interesting for the first time in 25 years.

At first, Orr is happy to exchange whatever he knows about the demise of InfoDrip’s top exec to buy booze and pay rent on his memory storage, but that plan goes to hell when Orr’s old boyfriend, Auggie Wolf, shows up as the number one suspect. Forced to stretch his atrophied spy skills and take his illegal horde of drones out of retirement alongside his busted knees, Orr finds himself in the crosshairs of the militarized police, a family of megarich corporate heirs, a clan of emancipated AIs, and a cult. Barely avoiding getting killed with every clue he collects, Orr realizes he’s uncovered not just a murder, but a conspiracy that threatens Auggie’s very existence. Ahh, the things we do for love…

But in a world where memories can be bought and sold, how can you truly know who anyone is—or what you yourself are capable of? Fast paced, funny, and shockingly romantic, “Two Truths and a Lie” is Raymond Chandler reinvented for the 22nd century.

EARLY GLOWING REVIEWS

“O’Brien’s (George Washington Is Cash Money) fiction debut is a highly intriguing vision of the near future that examines the role of memory in a functional aspect, which also underscores the utility of forgetting: Funes the Memorious by Jorge Luis Borges meets Total Recall by Philip K. Dick, with a wry narration that balances the grim reality.”- Library Journal’s December Debut of the Month Pick & Starred Review

“A stunning achievement, Two Truths and a Lie is many things at once: a hilarious satire, a gripping thriller, a meditation on memory and identity, and a love story that will have you wiping tears from your eyes, all set in a carnivalesque future where the darkest dreams of capitalism have come true. Like other great comic novelists—Thomas Pynchon, Rachel Yoder, Charles Yu—Cory O’Brien balances humor and pathos to marvelous effect, a literary magician who can do almost anything on the page.” – Scott Guild, author of ‘Plastic’

CORY O’BRIEN AUTHOR TOUR

Tuesday, March 4 – 7p.m. PT:
Mysterious Galaxy | San Diego, CA
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore | 3555 Rosecrans St | Suite 107 | San Diego, CA 92110

Wednesday, March 5 – 4p.m. ET:
WORD | Brooklyn, NY
In-Person Stock Signing
Address: WORD | 126 Franklin St | Brooklyn, NY 11222

Wednesday, March 5 – 7p.m. ET:
POWERHOUSE Arena | Brooklyn, NY
In-Person In Conversation with Mattie Lubchansky, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: POWERHOUSE Arena | 28 Adams St | Brooklyn, NY 11201

Thursday, March 6 – 6:30p.m. ET:
Literati Bookstore | Ann Arbor, MI
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Literati Bookstore | 124 E Washington St | Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Friday, March 7 – 6:30p.m. CT:
The Book Cellar | Chicago, IL
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: The Book Cellar | 4736 N Lincoln Ave | Chicago, IL 60625

Sunday, March 9 – 4p.m. CT:
Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records | Chicago, IL
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records | 3182 N Elston Ave | Chicago, IL 60618

Wednesday, March 12 – Time TK:
Union League Club of Chicago | Chicago, IL
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Union League Club of Chicago | 65 W. Jackson Blvd. | Chicago, IL 60604

Saturday, March 15 – 1p.m. CT:
Highland Park Public Library Author Fest X Secret World Books | Highland Park, IL
In-Person Author Fest Event Participation
Address: Highland Park Public Library | 494 Laurel Avenue | Highland Park, IL 60035

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‘Son of Birmingham’: Randall Woodfin’s Powerful New Release

‘Son of Birmingham: A Memoir’ by Mayor Randall Woodfin. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Birmingham, AL – “Son of Birmingham,” the highly anticipated memoir by Birmingham’s youngest modern-day mayor, Randall Woodfin, is available now. This gripping narrative weaves together Mayor Woodfin’s life story with his bold vision for a more equitable future, offering an intimate look at the man reshaping the urban South. (Iron City Communications, 2025)

Through candid storytelling, Woodfin shares how his roots in Birmingham, the lessons from Morehouse College, and the beats of Southern hip-hop shaped his journey. From bagging groceries as a teenager to addressing systemic challenges as mayor, “Son of Birmingham” is a call-to-action for servant leadership, resilience, and unity.

Randall Woodfin was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After earning his degree at Morehouse College and later his law degree at Samford University, he returned home to serve his community. Elected mayor in 2017, Woodfin has been nationally recognized for his progressive leadership, including a keynote speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Key Topics in the Book

  • The journey from grocery store clerk to mayor
  • Southern hip-hop’s influence on leadership and grit
  • Declaring gun violence a public health crisis
  • Building unity across Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods
  • Leading Birmingham through pivotal moments in history

Don’t miss this unforgettable story of hope, resilience, and the power of leadership.

Praise for Son of Birmingham

“Being from the South, I know the power of legacy and tradition. Mayor Randall Woodfin embodies that. Son of Birmingham is a love letter to Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and I’m honored he accredits inspiration to Outkast.” – Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, Grammy-winning member of Outkast

“A love letter to Birmingham and the resilience of its people. Woodfin combines modern hope with timeless wisdom.” – Geoffrey Canada, President of the Harlem Children’s Zone

“Woodfin’s journey fills my heart with hope. His leadership is a blueprint for justice and inclusion.” – Medaria Arradondo, former Minneapolis Police Chief

“Son of Birmingham captures the story of a city in transformation and the leader guiding its evolution. This memoir is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of change.” – Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland

“If Alabama has a chance to overcome its past and reach its potential, it will be because of leaders like Randall Woodfin. Son of Birmingham is a moving memoir of perseverance and progress.” – Roy Wood Jr., Comedian and Journalist

First Word on Horror: A Deep Look into the Minds of Today’s Finest Horror Writers

Etch Pictures announces Philip Gelatt’s First Word on Horror. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

New York – ETCH has announced the upcoming release of their documentary series First Word on Horror, which will be available exclusively via Substack on February 7, 2025. This will be the first project from the independent animation and production company run by the award-winning trio of Philip Gelatt, Will Battersby, and Morgan Galen King. (EG PR, 2025)

First Word on Horror is a fifteen-part documentary series that profiles five of the finest horror writers working today. 

Across multiple episodes, each author discusses their life, their inspirations, their philosophies, and their writing techniques while reading one of their short stories. As fact and fiction blend, secrets are revealed and the delicate alchemy that turns human experience into creative expression begins to emerge. 

The series is a love letter to writers of all ilk, to the primacy of the human experience, and to the simple act of reading a damned good story. 

The authors profiled are New York Times bestsellers, multi-award winners, and cult favorites. In this first season, they are Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Elizabeth Hand, Laird Barron, and Mariana Enriquez. 

Through the authors’ lives the series takes viewers from a harrowing Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska to the lurking terror of growing up under the Argentinian dictatorship; from the unbridled energy of the early DC punk scene to an ill-fated hunting expedition on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. 

First Word on Horror is directed by Emmy and WGA winning writer and filmmaker Philip Gelatt, whose credits include: The Spine Of Night, Europa Report, They Remain, The Bleeding House, and Love Death + Robots. The project is produced by Will Battersby (The Spine Of Night, They Remain, Trumbo) and other key crew include Director of Photography Sean Kirby, Composer Peter Scartabello, Editor April Merl, and Sound Designer Ben Cheah.

ETCH Director Philip Gelatt commented on the upcoming series: “Before I loved film or video games or comics, I loved books and writers. In particular, Horror writers were seminal to how I viewed the world. I was raised on King and Rice, on Barker and Lovecraft. As with so many other people, their work made me. 

First Word on Horror is about getting lost in writing and we wanted to bring it directly to fans via Substack. Substack is such an exciting driver of culture and commentary. We want this series to live in and be a part of that conversation. 

The series is purposefully human-forward, designed to remind us of the humanity at the core of creativity. Especially now, in the current moment of technological advancement and uncertainty, with the future so unknown, it’s important to remember that it’s human beings who give us our dreams and our nightmares; that it’s as human to hope as it is to fear; and that it’s human to want to find someone there in the dark with you.” 

Etch is an independent animation and production company run by the award-winning trio of Philip Gelatt, Will Battersby, and Morgan Galen King. Specializing in the provocative, intelligent and innovative, as well as fantastical and horrific, Etch seeks to put the dark magic back into moving images. 

Etch has expertise in animation, documentary and feature production and a core philosophy of maintaining ownership and creative control through novel approaches to production and distribution. 

Courtesy photos, used with permission.

Stephen Graham Jones
Paul Tremblay
Elizabeth Hand
Laird Barron
Mariana Enriquez

‘Before the End’: The Search for Jim Morrison’s True Story Beyond the Legend

The global release of Z-Machine’s independent 3-part docuseries ‘Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison’ is set for January 13, 2025. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Jim Morrison, the enigmatic lead singer and lyricist of The Doors, remains one of rock music’s most iconic figures. Born in 1943, Morrison’s blend of poetic, often mystical lyrics and raw, charismatic stage presence helped define the counterculture of the 1960s. His exploration of existential themes, love, and rebellion resonated with a generation grappling with societal upheaval. Though his life was tragically short—he died in 1971 at just 27—his influence endures through songs like “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm.” Morrison’s legacy as a rock legend and cultural symbol continues to captivate new generations of listeners.

(LOS ANGELES, CA) Z-Machine has announced release details for its independent 3-part docuseries, Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison. The first of its kind “documystery” series clocks in at a total of 3.5-hours and will make its global TVOD/Digital release on January 13, 2025, following Morrison’s 81st birthday, available on all the major platforms of Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, and YouTube TV, with more to follow. (Cinematic Red PR, 2024)

A dozen years in the making, Before the End’s cryptic tagline encapsulates its investigative approach: “One Man. Countless Myths. And in between lies the truth.” Z-Machine founder, Jeff Finn, drew from 38 years of personal research into the gray areas of Jim Morrison’s humanity to distinguish between persona and person. Finn’s extraordinary detail work breaks the decades long closed seal on the traumatic formative years that forged a brief hellacious life, through Morrison’s controversial career as lead singer of legendary 1960s rock band, The Doors, to his reported 1971 death by “heart failure” in Paris at age 27. Morrison’s ostensible demise, technically an unsolved cold case, formed its own rabbit hole of reasonable doubt, which inspired Finn to consult with private investigators and forensic analysts.

Before the End transcends “rock doc” in the same sense that Jim Morrison was more than a rock star. A 1965 graduate of UCLA’s film school, he achieved much beyond music during his abbreviated time in the spotlight, including self-publication of three books of poetry, producing, directing, and acting in an experimental film, and enduring a railroaded obscenity trial in defense of artistic freedom of expression. Morrison’s legacy has since been muddled by a half-century of PR spin, character assassination, urban legend, and crass commercialism, all of which have defanged his once-fierce anti-authoritarian stance.

Jim Morrison was many things: cult figure, teen idol, goth/punk forebear, and political fugitive. Living the role of haunted visionary, he said, “When you make your peace with authority, you become authority.” Given the US’s current zeitgeist of threatened dictatorship and crumbling democracy, Finn believes the timeless message of the young poet who infamously killed his navy admiral father in song is even more vital in toxic-masculine 2024 than in free-love 1967, and he hopes Gen Z will unlock an empathic connection to the complex Morrison, like it has with the Menendez Brothers. “There’s the ‘truth,’” Finn says, “and there’s the real truth. Before the End is for Morrison fans, like me, who are tired of the ‘official’ story.’” He quotes a meme aimed at self-appointed experts and closed-minded gaslighters: “Conspiracy Theorist: Nothing more than a derogatory title used to dismiss a Critical Thinker.”

Featuring unprecedented content, from shocking corroboration about Morrison’s early life, to harrowing revelations about his stardom, and fresh evidence that contradicts his professed death, Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison is proudly unauthorized because it “seeks the unvarnished truth.” The documystery reverse-engineers long-controlled narratives while it explores the notion of Morrison the nonconformist as neurodivergent, and deconstructs – through on-camera interviews with family, friends, lovers, classmates, and associates – key distinctions between Jim Morrison, “rock god,” and James Douglas Morrison, introverted outsider.

Among those interviewed and/or featured are Morrison’s cousins, Ellen Edwards and David Backer, lovers, Anne Moore, Gayle Enochs, Judy Huddleston, and Suzanne Roady-Ross, friends, Mirandi Babitz and Salli Stevenson, Elektra Records founder, Jac Holzman, The Doors booking agent, Todd Schiffman, The Doors roadie, Gareth Blyth, screenwriter, Randall Jahnson, rock critics, Ellen Sander and Richard Meltzer, UCLA classmates, Philip Oleno and Richard Blackburn, UCLA roommate, Ron Cohen, UCLA professor, Dick Adams, Florida State University roommates, Bryan Gates and John McQueen, FSU professor, Ralph Turner, Alameda High School swim coach, Ash Jones, childhood friend, Jeff Morehouse, Paris-era acquaintances, Philippe Dalecky and Gilles Yepremian, and exclusives via Jim’s brother, Andy Morrison, Robyn Wurtele, Morrison’s enigmatic Paris-era assistant, and “Mr. X,” a mind-blowing anonymous source.

Z-Machine is a truly independent production company helmed by writer and filmmaker, Jeff Finn, whose tie-in book, “127 Fascination: Jim Morrison Decoded,” is forthcoming.

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Exploring the Final Frontier of Crime: The Risks and Realities of Criminal Activity Beyond Earth

‘Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit’ by Marc Feldman and Hugh Taylor. Photo: Amazon

Space exploration offers tremendous opportunities for scientific discovery and technological advancements, but it also brings potential risks. As nations and private corporations compete for control over space resources, the possibility of space-related crime and corruption increases. The privatization of space may lead to monopolies, enabling unethical practices. Piracy in space, including the hijacking of satellites or spacecraft, could emerge as new threats. Furthermore, the militarization of space might escalate tensions between countries, potentially leading to conflicts or even war. While space exploration holds vast promise, these negative consequences must be carefully managed to prevent harm to humanity.

The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and the Governance’s new book “Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit” is a comprehensive exploration of humanity’s potential for criminal activities in outer space. It will be released on February 11, 2025. (Center for the Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and Governance, 2024)

“Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit” is a forward-thinking resource that considers, analyzes, and provides solutions to the influence of the dishonorable side of humanity in the realm of outer space, where potential for crime, corruption, piracy, and war increases as the exploitation of space as a commercial resource continues to develop. This book blends the authors’ knowledge with that of subject matter experts to deliver a holistic understanding of criminality in space and help readers broaden their horizons beyond their own area of specialization.

Some of the topics explored in this insightful book include:

  • Space hacking, from software, data, network, and hardware risks to existing cybersecurity standards and practices in space
  • Criminal organizations that might pursue criminal activities in space, including cartels, kidnappers and devicenappers, and governments
  • Laws and treaties relevant to space crime, such as the Communications Satellite Act and the Outer Space Treaty of 1967

Filled with practical, thought-provoking knowledge and guidance, “Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit” earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of professionals working in the best of humanity’s institutions, including law and intelligence services, finance, insurance and risk management, corporations, and the sciences, who seek to combat what the worst of us may be dreaming up.

“This is a serious meditation on a space future that is all too plausible. Anyone concerned with building a safe and robust space economy―lawmakers, policymakers, law enforcement, CEOs, space – security officers, and the USSPACECOM and US Space Force commanders―should read this book. A well-researched and fascinating synthesis of the history and current-day piracy, privateering, organized crime and syndicates, cyber-crime, private security companies―and how and why they might plausibly move to space.” – PETER GARRETSON, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies, American Foreign Policy Council and Author of “Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space” and “The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy”

The publication of the book is part of the launch of the Center for the Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and Governance (CSCPG). The Center is an independent, nonpartisan think tank whose purpose is to serve as a policy resource for government officials and business executives on issues related to space governance, sovereignty, commerce, law, crime, and piracy. 

CSCPG was recently featured in Space War in reference to its paper on the potential for a hostage crisis in space. 

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Whataburger Announces Book and Puzzle Collection for the Whole Family

The nationally distributed collection features coloring books, puzzles, and drawing lessons. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

San Antonio –– Whataburger® lovers can now display their passion for the iconic brand on their bookshelves with the release of the fast food chain’s first-ever nationally distributed book and puzzle collection. The books launch on October 22 and the puzzle drops on November 12. Both will be available for purchase wherever books are sold and online. (Whataburger, 2024)

This one-of-a-kind collection offers Fans of all ages the opportunity to savor Whataburger’s charm long after their meal.

  • “Whatababy”: A first-word board book designed for the smallest fries in the family.
  • “How to Draw Everything Whataburger”: Budding artists can follow 40-plus drawing lessons designed by Texas-based artist Alli Koch of Alli K Design, bringing Whataburger’s iconic imagery to life.
  • “WhataWorld”: A coloring book where nostalgia meets futurism, perfect for adults looking to unwind. Koch also designed this dazzling book.
  • “Whataburger Fancy Ketchup Puzzle”: A San Antonio-inspired puzzle creatively packaged in an oversized version of the brand’s famous ketchup container.

This unique collection celebrates Whataburger’s long-standing tradition of inspiring creativity, as seen in the Whataburger Museum of Art (WMOA). It extends that love to superfans who can now sketch, color and puzzle their way through their favorite burger chain’s culture.

With Penguin Random House’s industry-leading distribution and Blue Star Press’ innovative publishing approach, Whataburger’s first book and puzzle collection should be a holiday hit and a permanent fixture in homes coast to coast.

Whataburger serves up Goodness 24/7. Our original recipes are made to order, just like you like it, and we pride ourselves on extraordinary hospitality and meaningful connections in our communities. That’s what’s led fans to Whataburger since Harmon Dobson served our first customer in 1950. Headquartered in San Antonio, we’ve stayed close to our roots while building systemwide revenue of more than $4 billion annually across our 16-state footprint and over 1,050 restaurants. Shop Whataburger-branded merchandise and selected sauces, including our famous Fancy and Spicy Ketchup, online. Find Whataburger original-recipe products in grocery stores.

Blue Star Press is an award-winning independent publisher based in Bend, Oregon. Established in 2015, Blue Star Press is a team of industry outsiders who love to think creatively, push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible with books, games and gift products.

Whataburger Fancy Ketchup Puzzle. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.