Photo by Heather McComas
At the same time (March 2012) that Paul made his pilgrimage to California’s Point Dume Beach (where the final act of the original 1968 Planet of the Apes was filmed), news arrived of a second Honorable Mention (HM) for Unforgettable from a second national competition: the 2012 DIY Book Festival. (Unforgettable received an HM from the Halloween Book Festival back in October 2011.) “Sure, it’s better than nothin’,” allowed Paul while getting back to his feet and wiping the sand off his knees, “but may I please trade in these two HMs for a First Prize somewhere?”
Update: The almost-winning streak continues! On May 9, 2012, Paul and publisher Steve Sullivan were on hand at the Midwest Independent Publishers Association’s 22nd Annual Midwest Book Awards in Bloomington, MN, where Unforgettable took Second Prize in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror category. Paul extends hearty congratulations to Ruth Berman, author of the winning entry, Bradamant’s Quest (FTL Publications).
R.I.P., Richard LaValliere
Milwaukee Mourns
To read Paul’s tribute to his beloved friend, collaborator, and punk-rock role model, click here.
Paul Hits the Half-Century with “Halfway WHERE?”
Photos by Teresita de la Torre, Frank Rodriguez, and Brian King. Click the thumbnails for larger versions.
Oct. 12, 2011 found Paul turning 50 in style at Milwaukee’s Woodland Pattern Book Center (literary capitol of Wisconsin) with the 75-minute mid-career retrospective “Halfway WHERE?” (1) Paul’s mom Hazelyn and childhood best friend John Scott (co-author of “Project: Android” from Unforgettable) embraced before a show that (2) the birthday boy kicked off with a grim reminder that his 50th coincided with National Fossil Day. Paul then (3) presented his high school Modern Lit teacher and mentor, Jan Martin, with a plaque and a hug before (4) donning the Stetson and smart-assery of his quirky cowpoke character Pike for a performance of “Desert Slacks” from Twenty Questions. Joined by (5) Tim Buckingham on drums and Maya Kuper on backup vocal, Paul performed the Unplugged song “Hand Over Hand.” Once he’d (6) closed the show with his musky-fishing tall tale “The One that Got Away,” (7) the crowd of 50 (no kidding!) went wild — then (8) lined up for (9) a “Twenty Questions, Fifty Birthdays” cake designed by (10) Paul’s niece Joelle Taknint, seen here with “Meet the Author” TV host Heddy Keith. After (11 & 12) accepting a woodcut-print portrait by Milwaukee artist Steven L. Hopkins, Paul (13) posed with his writing student Mike Moran, then (14) hunkered down to sign books beside wife (and “Collies in Space” co-author) Heather, who (15) was all smiles. Afterward, at dinner, (16) Paul’s “big” sister Rachel Taknint (Joelle’s mom) delivered a toast for the ages before (17) a second (and dinosaur-laden!) niece-made cake materialized — only to be swiftly devoured by author, family, and friends. Happy birthday? And how!
Paul & Pierce Pose for Public (Radio)
Photo by Matt Glover
Paul could rightly paraphrase Saturday Night Live‘s Chico Escuela and note, “Public Radio been berry berry good to me,” including a 2007 appearance on The Tavis Smiley Show and numerous interviews with major-market NPR affiliates. Plus, his attendance at the Nov. 10, 2011 taping of Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me allowed him to meet one of his literary heroes, panelist Charles P. “Charlie” Pierce. Paul calls “Greetings from Idiot America” — Pierce’s award-winning 2005 Esquire Magazine article — “the single best piece of editorial journalism I’ve ever read” and has used it as a teaching aid in Master’s-level writing classes; he also heartily recommends Pierce’s subsequent bestselling book Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free. (Nov. 10 was a good night for Charlie, too: he bested fellow panelists Amy Dickinson and Tom Bodett in the news quiz!)
Paul Named Fiction Finalist in Chicago-Wide Contest
Paul’s Twenty Questions story “Viceroy Girls” was named a finalist (one of just three) by the prestigious Guild Literary Complex of Chicago in its 2011 Short Fiction Competition, giving him an opportunity to meet the other finalists and to perform the piece live at the Guild on the night of Nov. 2. Wrote contest judge Rosellen Brown (author of Street Scenes and other books) of the story, “This piece is a delightful evocation of a time and place, its language just right for the absurdity it chronicles. I felt, reading it, like Mad Men was actually set in a Chicago wreathed in cigarette smoke.”
“Viva” Las Vegas — or Just the Opposite?
Paul’s stage adaptation of his Unforgettable piece “The Most Terrifying Three-Word Dystopian/Dark-Fantasy/Horror Story Ever Written” was one of six short plays selected by Vegas’ Brave Theatrics (BT) company for their stage show “Fearophilia,” which ran on four weekend nights leading up to Halloween 2011. According to BT’s Dave Surratt, “The Most Terrifying. . .” was “a real crowd-pleaser each time it was performed.” Great — but what we want to know is, Did Headless-Girl-Playing-with-Toy-Triceratops make a live appearance? Sadly, Paul was not able to make it to Vegas for the show, so he can’t say.
Making it RAINN in DC
Photo by Suzie Friend-of-Stef
The July 19, 2011 “Writers Read for RAINN” benefit brought (from left) artist/illustrator Stefanie Sylvester (“Collies in Space”—see her and Paul’s T-shirts here), author Tim W. Brown (Second Acts), Paul (a RAINN Leadership Circle member), Chelsea Bowers of RAINN, and an enthusaistic crowd (not pictured) to The Potter’s House in Washington, D.C., staffed by event hostess Meade Jones Hanna (far right). Upwards of $220 (and counting) was raised for the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, and rape prevention/treatment and survivor counseling/-advocacy materials were distributed. RAINN is America’s top anti-sexual-violence organization—and one of its “100 Best Charities” (according to Worth Magazine)—in addition to being Paul’s favorite nonprofit.
To read Paul’s heartfelt introductory remarks, click here. Or, for those of you who’d rather listen . . . BAM!
“Winners From Wisconsin”: Four Authors, No Waiting!
Photo by Liz Ridley
Oconomowoc, WI contained just one fewer authors than it did letters “o” when (from left) Paul, Angela Woodward (End of the Fire Cult), Douglas Armstrong (Even Sunflowers Cast Shadows), and Marilyn Taylor (Going Wrong, WI Poet Laureate, 2008-10) presented a July 2011 group reading. “The new Fab Four” appeared at a fab store, Books & Company, having joined forces a month earlier at The Mighty Twig in Evanston, IL; they subsequently read and signed (sans Taylor) at Avol’s Books in Madison in August; and their joint mini-tour will wrapped up in September at Next Chapter Books in Mequon, WI.
How’d all this happen, anyway? Paul and Marilyn teach together annually at Lawrence University’s Bjorklunden retreat center; last fall, she recruited him to serve as the Book-Length Fiction judge for the Council for WI Writers; Paul, who hadn’t previously known Douglas (except as a film critic) or Angela, selected their books as the winners — and the rest is, well, “theirstory.”
Fantastical Fable-tellers Flank Bookstore Blackboard
Photo by John Christensen
It was Hers-And-His Hard-Hittin’ Allegories on August 29, 2011, as Angela Woodward and Paul wowed the crowd at Arcadia Books of Spring Green, WI, with readings from Her award-winning novella End of the Fire Cult and His (& co-author Eric Greene’s) “Strongest” from Unforgettable.
It’s easy to “Support Your Local Book Store” with venues as cool as Arcadia — and audiences as appreciative as theirs!
Milwaukee Media Men Meet
Movies (including Paul’s 2011 favorite, Another Earth), meta-culture, and more were discussed when (from left) Milwaukee native Paul, AE writer/producer/star Brit Marling (in poster form), Milwaukee Shepherd-Express Arts & Entertainment Editor Dave Luhrssen, and Even Sunflowers Cast Shadows author Douglas Armstrong (the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel film critic in the ’80s) all converged on the city’s East Side on Aug. 8, 2011 for a “catch-up lunch.” The two-dimensional image of Ms. Marling said little, but Paul was overheard remarking to his other colleagues (who happen to be two of his favorite writers): “I’m trying to get my Unplugged screenplay to her; she’d be a perfect fit for ‘Dayna Clay,’ and maybe to produce and/or direct, too. So, if anyone hears of a way to reach her, please, let me know!”
Rockin’ the Retirees!
Photo by Amy Kiley
Paul’s income derives not only from writing and teaching, but also from his work as a very-much-in-demand public speaker. Here, he provides largely superfluous backup vocals for Chicago keyboardist/singer/songwriter and rising star Maya Kuper (engineer of Paul’s Amateur charity 2-CD set). Maya sang and played her original song “Trivial Things” at St. John’s on the Lake in Milwaukee during the Aug. 8, 2011 premiere of Paul’s 14th stand-alone, one-hour live literary presentation, “Writers You May Never Have Heard Of — Till Now!”
“Twilight Empire” In The Limelight
Photo by Liz Ridley
Says Paul in his back-cover blurb of Stephen D. Sullivan’s recently released The Twilight Empire: Robinson’s War: “Handsome heroes and white-hot warriorettes; brutish baddies and menacing monsters; colorful combat and romantic romps; multi-dimensional mischief and shape-shifting shenanigans … plus a formidable yet uber-lovable GWA (griffon with attitude) named Bill! The characters are archetypal and the themes tried-and-true, but Sullivan and company toss in enough quirky twists to create something at once timeless and brand new. Fifty deftly wrought, three-page gems that, together, tell a tale to be treasured.”
Replies the book’s author: “Gee; thanks!”
Simian Cinema, Anyone?
Photo by Will Rodman
At 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 5, 2011, the trio of Gorilla (Paul), Klingon (Frank Rodriguez, left, seen here in human form), and SF SuperFan (Robert Kruck) converged upon an Evanston, IL movie house to catch the first area showing of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The Gorilla’s enthusiastic thumbs-up was seconded by his compatriots — as well as at the box office, where the seventh (and, to Paul’s mind, “second-best, edging out Escape and Conquest“) film in the series whomped the weekend competition, pulling in close to $60 million in North American receipts. “Hail, Caesar!”
Say it Five Times, Fast: “Sci Fi Fan Con, Sci Fi . . . !”
Photo by Juliette Swett
On Saturday, July 30, 2011, Paul “headlined” at Evanston (IL) Public Library’s first-ever SFFC. (Hey, that acronym sounds like “Suffolk!”). After an intro by EPL’s Juliette Swett and Paul’s “micro-keynote” address to the assembled Fan Nation, his friend/colleague (Martian Knights, etc.)/publisher (Unforgettable, etc.) Stephen D. Sulivan premiered a crowd-pleasing story, “A Sci-Ant-ific Problem,” and held a crowd Q&A. Then Paul re-took the podium for a trio of short pieces from Unforgettable, including the live-performance debut of “Icemare” from the upcoming McComas/Nolan collaborative novel Logan’s Journey. Paul closed by belting out his own lyrics to the Classic “Star Trek” theme (which words can be found in Unforgettable‘s “Maim that Tune” section). Mint Oreos and Tang were served, books were signed and sold, and an out-of-this-world time (-travel) was had by all!
“. . . And the World Will Live (& Write & Publish & Promote) as One”
Photo by la famille Joris
Photo by Charline Joris
Central Park’s sweltering Strawberry Fields was the site of an impromptu authors’ summit between Paul and noted Belgian historical writer Freddy Joris (Dying on the Scaffold: The Collective Sensibility About Death and Perceptions of Capital Punishment from the Early Middle Ages Till the Ancien Régime; Pierre Fluche and the Workers’ Movemement in Verviers Under Leopold II) and his jolie famille on July 22, 2011.
Conversing in “Pidgin Franglais,” the duo discussed The Beatles, then negotiated an Unplugged-for-Scaffold book swap. Can a deux-langue collaboration be far behind? Meeting a Belgian counterpart, says Paul, was like “looking into a glass onion.”
Lennon would be tres heureux!
It Ain’t Letterman, But…
Photo by Tim W. Brown
Photo by Gary McLouth
. . .the tapings did take place in New York. (Well, Albany.) Paul recently taped three consecutive episodes of Ion cable network’s “Today’s Authors” program. In the first (not pictured), he was interviewed by host Gary McLouth about Unforgettable; in the second, Paul donned Gary’s sportcoat, the “Macs” traded seats, and Paul interviewed G.M. about his books Natural Causes and the new story collection Do No Harm (featuring a Foreword by Paul). Finally, Paul — who apparently refused to depart from the host’s seat! — interviewed Tim W. Brown about Second Acts. All three episodes will air in late summer or early fall 2011; check your local listings (and/or this website) later for details.
“Aldo Vesper” Brings Da Heat to Already-Hot New York
Photo by Tim W. Brown
Photo by Tim W. Brown
What to do when Manhattan experiences record-setting heat (104 degrees F, with a 111 F heat index) the very night you’re set to perform? Go shirtless! Paul’s July 21, 2011 segment at KGB Bar’s infamous Drunken! Careening! Writers! series ended with his storied fishin’-guide monologue, “The One that Got Away.” What better time to draw upon one’s 13 years of nude-figure-model experience — well, halfway, anyway — and charge into the (duly startled) crowd? In the words of “Aldo Vesper” (pictured), “Ooo — yer gonna git it!” (The girl with the beautiful blonde head-back is Paige Neumann, daughter of Paul’s sometime co-author Ben.)
Live, at Castle Dracula!
Photo by Tim W. Brown
Photo by Renee Neumann
Actually, it’s the stately Ames Free Library in scenic North Easton, MA, where Paul and Tim W. Brown presented a July 20, 2011 author event.
Photo by Craig O'Connor
In the “action” shot, Paul and longtime friend and co-author (“Love Spores”) Ben Neumann read/perform the final line of their story “Big, Two-Fisted Jungle”: “Her eyes were light blue.”
Paul Wins a Bradbury for “Levitation”
Photo by Jennifer Dotson
Not the Bradbury — but a Bradbury nonetheless! Highland Park, IL Councilman Larry Silberman (at left) hands Paul the One Book, One Highland Park Fahrenheit 451/Bradbury Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story — specifically, the post-apocalyptic hot-air balloon tale “Levitation” from Unforgettable — at a presentation/reading event on May 4. (In related news, Paul then drove up to Milwaukee in record time — 70 minutes! — for a reading/signing at People’s Books. Lucky he found that wormhole on I-94! Kids, don’t try this at home.)
“SEWI” Ain’t A Pig Call!
Photo by Karen Barsamian
One year after meeting, co-paneling, and striking a deal for Unforgettable at June 2010′s first-ever Southeast Wisconsin Book Festival in Waukesha, Paul (far right) and publisher Steve Sullivan (far left) celebrate “the beginning (year) of a beautiful friendship” at SEWI II with Steve’s wife Kifflie Scott, publicist Liz Ridley (standing), and the unnamed “musky puppet” Paul uses during live performances of his piece “The One that Got Away.”
We’ll Take Manhattan
Photo by Elena Brown
The second date on Paul’s 12-stop (Brooklyn-Manhattan-Cleveland-St.Louis-Chicago x 2-Milwaukee-Evanston, IL-Washington, D.C.-Albany, NY-Boston-then back to Manhattan!) 2011 joint Unforgettable/Second Acts tour with longtime friend and colleague Tim W. Brown found the Two Tall Tale-Tellers at New York City’s Cornelia Street Cafe. Paul’s first, second, third, and fourth books all came out within a few months of Tim’s; this is the second time they’ve toured together, having shared ten dates in 2008 for their then-new releases (respectively) Planet of the Dates and Walking Man. Wa-a-a-ay back in the ’80s, Paul and Tim “came up” together in the Chicago performance-poetry scene, where — being fiction writers — they never quite fit in. Some of Paul’s short stories and prose poems of that era first appeared in Tomorrow, the literary magazine Tim edited and published from 1982-99.
Paul and Partners Barnstorm the Big Apple
Photo by Tim W. Brown
Paul (center) and co-authors Richard LaValliere (“Class Reunion”) and Lisa Janis (“Maw”) smile for the camera and say ‘Ma-a-a-aw!’” after Paul’s reading at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY, April 2011.
And Greyhound Makes Three
Photo by Sheldon I. Miller
Just one day after adopting (in mid-December 2010) their retired race and rescue greyhound Sam (who raced—quite successfully—under the name “N.M.S. Underdawg”), Paul and Heather posed with him for this shot, which became their holiday card.
“Gorzak” Grabs the Gold
Paul, Heather, and "Gorzak" monster-puppet accept their award
July 2010 found the short film Gorzak’s Grab-Bag garnering Most Innovative Program at the Alliance for Community Media’s annual Hometown Video Festival. Paul (writer/director), Heather (“Gorzak” puppeteer and voice), and “The Big G” himself all made the trip to Pittsburgh to accept. Said the ever-gracious green star: “Gorzak DESERVE prize!”
Blood of the Wolfman Wins Best Short Film Prize at International Film Fest
Paul’s movie Blood of the Wolfman (1975/2007, 14 min., black & white & red) was awarded the prize for Best Short Film at the 2009 international Talking Pictures Independent Film Festival in May.
The movie is one of Paul’s “intergenerational self-collaborations.” In 1975, at 13, he scripted and shot (on Standard-8mm film) the original, silent version of this film; one-third of a century later, he wrote, shot (on Super-8), and inserted new footage with his nephew, Henry McComas (Crooked Lake Productions), and added sound with Dub Vox Studio Service’s Joshua Avila. Equal parts poignant, unsettling, and (due to the actors’ youth) kind of adorable, Blood of the Wolfman honors the Wolfman and voodoo films of the 1940′s while exploring – through familiar monster-movie tropes – the interplay between violence, guilt, forgiveness, empathy, faith and redemptive love. Of all his “resurrected/restored/updated” kid-flicks, this one is the closest to Paul’s heart. CAST: The late Julia Sackin (to whom the film is dedicated), Paul, John Scott, Leah Barnum, David Shareef, Rachel Taknint, Joelle Taknint, Hazelyn McComas, Bill Kestin, Dan McComas and Kelly Avila.
Says Paul, “This is a huge surprise. I was happy just to be included in the Fest; I never expected to get a prize. I know the film didn’t win for its prodution values! Maybe for industriousness…possibly for ‘heart.’ Would that I could go back to 1975 and tell my 13-year-old self — ‘auteur’ of the film’s original version — that this was going to happen!”
In related news, Paul and Brian Cox were honored in the Political Awareness category of the Alliance for Community Media’s 2008 Philo T. Farnsworth Awards competition for Beyond the Planet of the Apes (1976/2008, B&W, 22 min.), their scathing satirical indictment of George W. Bush, Abu Ghraib and the Iraq War. (Josh Avila did the sound for this film as well.)
Blood of the Wolfman, Beyond the Planet of the Apes and six other films of Paul’s (including prior award-winners Vader andShock Theatre) are available, all together, on the $10 charity-DVD “No-Budget Theatre: The Best (?) of P.C. Productions,” which so far has raised $700 for blood donation services. The “Store” section of this site will be restored soon with full details.
From Paul McComas’ film Blood of the Wolfman, which was screened May 1, 2009 at the Talking Pictures Festival in Evanston. From left to right: Real-life Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau (Rachel Taknint), Paul McComas as the Wolfman, and Priestess Evelyn Laveau (Joelle Taknint) at her voodoo altar.
“The Daves” Celebrate Their Silver Punk-versary
Paul’s college punk band The Daves — so-called because nobody in the group was or is named “Dave” — played a 25-year reunion gig back at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, on June 21, 2008. During a 50-minute, 15-song concert, members (group photo, from left) “Paul Velcro” (bass, vocal), Ross Wydeven (a teenage “ringer” on guitar, from Madison, WI), Kim Hah (lead vocal) and “Tiny Dr. Tim” Buckingham (drums) played covers by Gang of Four, the Cramps, X, Nirvana, the Pretenders & Soft Cell, as well as Paul’s “Dayna Clay” songs “Give Me Oblivion” and “Virtual Virtue,” plus such Daves originals as “(You Killed My) Goldfish,” “Sacrifice,” “A Song (Cecilia)” and the thrash-classic “In the Hospital” (hence, Paul’s scrubs in the accompanying photo). Present in spirit were Daves members Tommy “Feedback” Schroeder, “Amy L. Nitrate” (Amy Smith) and Robyn “Roulette” Hoyt. “Ka-RAR!”
photos: Lee Salawitch
Paul Got Hitched!
On Sept. 27, Paul married Heather Jo Swartz – a fellow fiction writer, Obama-backer, long-distance runner, prehistoric-mammal enthusiast, Wonder Woman fan and committed simiophile (that’s someone who digs apes) – outdoors at sunset in the South Dakota Badlands, with a reception that evening in Wall, S.D.
[click photos for larger versions - all photos by Sheldon I. Miller]
Floyd Hand, Buffalo Chief for the Oglala Sioux, instructs Paul before the service.
Hon. David Hahn, Mayor of Wall, S.D.,
Heather's uncle Sandy White and Paul's mother Hazelyn assist Chief Hand with the star quilt ceremony.
The happy couple!
Further Persons Imperfect Story Does Perfectly Well in Competition
“What You’re Looking At,” a gripping short story by Heather Swartz (Paul’s fiancee) that appears in the Paul-edited 2007 anthology Further Persons Imperfect, recently won the Leo Love Merit Scholarship for best prose piece (encompassing both fiction and nonfiction) submitted in advance of this year’s Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Heather will be attending the conference — for free, thanks to the Love Scholarship — in July and studying with the outstanding short story writer Pam Houston (Cowboys Are My Weakness). Says Heather, “I’m thrilled and honored; this recognition means a lot to me.”
Collaboration with Bill Nolan on “Logan” Novel A Childhood Dream-Come-True
Paul with Bill Nolan at the 2002 World HorrorCon in Chicago (photo by Radisson O’Hare desk clerk)
The first new book in the seminal dystopian-s.f. series since 1980′s Logan’s Search, Journey is currently planned for publication in 2010, to coincide with the projected release of Warner Bros.’ big-budget cinematic remake of Logan’s Run. The new book comprises three linked novellas: “The Mission,” co-written by Bill and Paul; “The Challenge,” written by Bill and revised/expanded by Paul; and “The Gun,” written by Paul and revised by Bill. Said Paul in late July 2008: “‘The Mission’ is done, and ‘The Challenge’ is nearly done, so we’re about 2/3 finished. It’s going to be the longest Logan so far…and, honestly, one of the best; Bill and I co-write very smoothly and very well.”
Previously, Paul wrote the Foreword for Nolan’s 2005 multi-genre short story collection, Ships in the Night [ISBN #1-59266-020-7], and Bill wrote a killer back-cover blurb for Unplugged.
Unplugged Screenplay Garners National Prize
The feature-length screenplay that Paul adapted from his 2002 “critics’ darling” of a novel, Unplugged, recently took Third Prize (out of some 400 entries) in national competition through the New York City-based The Writer’s Place. Says Paul, “This was some of the hardest writing I’ve ever done: getting a 92,000-word novel down to the length of a two-hour screenplay, without losing the heart and soul of the material. It took me six ever-shorter drafts; the first one was a freakin’ mini-series! But it was worth it, and I’m hoping that Planet — now that it’s been optioned — might open a door or two for an eventual movie version of Unplugged.”
No Budget Needed To Win Movie Prizes!
[2008 Update: Paul's collaboration with Brian Cox and Joshua Avila, the scathing anti-Bush, anti-Iraq-War, scifi/political satire Beyond the Planet of the Apes, took an award in the "Political Awareness" Division of the 2008 ACM Awards. Takethat, Dubya!]
Paul’s & Brian Cox’s comedic cable-TV series “No-Budget Theatre” was awarded First Place in the “Best Original Teleplay” category by the Alliance for Community Media. Paul went to Fort Wayne, IN, in November 2007 to accept the award.
Going Further!
As of mid-October 2007, Further Persons Imperfect was, according to Amazon.com, its 15th-best-selling current anthology title! And on October 20th, Further Persons Imperfect received an Honorable Mention in national competition at the 2007 DIY Book Festival in Los Angeles!
Paul Wins (faux) Academy Award!
Following a recent public screening of his 11-minute Star Wars sequel, Vader (which Paul made in 1977 at the age of 15), the “auteur” was presented with a cardboard Oscar for Best No-Budget Special Effects. After doing his best Adrien Brody impression, a visibly flummoxed Paul thanked his cast, his crew…and, oh yes, George Lucas.
Not bad for a movie in which the “spaceships” were modified ping pong balls!
Ivana award……two, in fact!
On October 8th, 2004 in Troy, Michigan, Shock Theatre – a short film adapted from the “Ivana Viktimm” subplot of Paul’s novel Unplugged – received two first prizes from the Alliance for Community Media-Central States Region. The piece, an affectionate homage to low-budget UHF horror-movie shows, was written by Paul and co-produced with Brian Cox; it took top honors in both the Entertainment and Original Teleplay categories. This marked the second time in as many years that an Unplugged-derived video by Brian and Paul took two first prizes in ACM-CS competition.
Bill Nolan’s Ships in the Night
William F. Nolan – award-winning author of the best-selling novel Logan’s Run, of 70-odd other books and of a most gracious blurb on the back of Unplugged – recently asked me to write the Introduction for his new, multi-genre short story collection. It was my great honor to accept!
Ships in the Night is an engaging, eclectic story cycle – highly recommended. For more information or to order a copy [ISBN#1-59266-020-7], go to www.caprapress.com.< “Characters defined through their actions; storylines that unfurl with alacrity and grace; expository description as concise as it is complete…This is an ambitious book, for in Ships in the Night Nolan tackles no less a topic than humanity itself.” – Paul McComas, from his Foreword.
Bookstore Events!
Erin Walsh, Paul and Heather Mell (pictured here left to right) performed Dayna’s songs at most of the bookstore events for Unplugged.
At most Chicago-area performances for Unplugged, Heather Mell and Paul were joined by drummer David Rothenberg (at right).
(photo by Laurie Starrett)
Rockin’ the Rockies
Kyla Baruch and Michael Whiting join Paul at Fact & Fiction Books in Missoula, MT, Sept.12, 2003.
(photo by Elwyn Otter-Raven)
Another Interview with Paul
Here’s a link to an interview conducted by Charles Shaw (editor-in-chief of Newtopia Magazine) that appeared in 3am Magazine….
Paul & Jake
During a December 2003 retreat to the Badlands (where he wrote Chapter 11 of Planet of the Dates), Paul visited Jake Sharp, owner of Badlands Ranch & Resort and partial inspiration for the character “Drake” in Unplugged. The closest you can come to riding horseback on Drake’s land is to do so on Jake’s — and he has the horses to make it happen! For info, go to www.badlandsranchandresort.com.
(photo by Judy Sharp)
RAINN-ing in D.C.
At a November 2002 Washington, D.C. event presented in cooperation with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, (left to right) RAINN Projects Coordinator Kerry Naughton and D.C. vocalist Nikole Yinger helped drummer Chris Kozlowski and Paul present a rousing bookstore performace (the tour’s inflatable mascot was in attendance as well).
(photo by Lee Salawitch)
Symmetry
At the 2003 Alliance for Community Media/Central States conference in Akron, OH, Paul and video producer Brian Cox accepted First Prizes in the Inspirational and Performing Arts categories for their short-form video “Symmetry,” adapted from pp.132-133 of Unplugged. The video was also a Finalist for Original Teleplay.
(photo by Christine Cox)
Together again
The cast and crew of Paul’s 1994 movie Desert Slacks reunited for a 10th anniversary screening at CapriCon 2004 (an international science fiction and fantasy convention). From left: Neal Katz, Eric Diekhans, Pattie MacKenzie, Paul, Mark Mallchok and Bernadette Burke.