Most Improved

Unless it's your birthday, the second-to-last day of the year has all the qualities of a Most Improved trophy. So here's to you, December 30, 2009, at least you're not the most depressing day of the year.I am constantly reminded that we live in a world where winning is a battle of me versus you, us versus them, or, more specifically, the groups we belong to versus every other group that does not let us in. I'm reminded of this every time I get...

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Apocalypse Fiction

If you've been coming around here over the past--gasp!-- year, you've probably noticed some changes. For one, the layout is new and improved. For two, I've changed the name of the blog to Shades of Gray. While the site is still a work in progress, I think it's coming along swimmingly. So let me know what you think, Dear Reader.I mentioned a few posts ago that I began a new story. This latest is a YA apocalyptic novel about a young group of people...

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Another Decade Nearly Gone ... Whatever the Hell Its Name Is.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, the decade is coming to a close, and I still have no idea what to call it. I will miss the 80's, 90's and the ... Ones and Zeroes? The 0's? And while I'm brooding over this decade, what about the next decade? Is it the Mostly Teens? The 11's? It's like the whole he and she business; a very confusing mess that will never have a solid support system.I demoed the nook over...

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The Chronicles of Commuting

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, welcome once again to another installment of complete nonsense from your pal Robert Gray.When I left for work this morning it was pouring rain and the wind was banging my little car around the road. By the time I got to work the sky was cloudless, the sun warm, and I was pretty sure at some point the storm had carried me away to an alternate world. Though I'm fairly certain...

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Happy Turkey Day

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, while you're all getting fat and happy off your turkey feasts this Thanksgiving just remember: sometimes they come back!Image courtesy of Kidchuckle.comLater Fien...

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Kris Kuksi's Beast Anthology

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, today I saw a dead turkey on the side of the road. I think it was a suicide.Kris Kuksi's sculptures are like arriving upon an alien world, traveling through the various atmospheric layers, discovering unique and amazing caverns and oceans, some new and unusual forms. And you can visit these worlds too. Kuksi will be exhibiting from November 21 to December 19 at the Joshua...

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Publishing Extravaganza

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, grip your ankles and say your prayers 'cause the shows about to get started. Prepared to be mystified and delighted by this publishing extravaganza.Based on the PW article called What Do Teens Want?, it seems an overwhelming majority of teen readers want books that don't suck. Wonder who they had to pay for that insider knowledge?<<<<>>>>I spoke briefly...

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Under the Leviathan's Malice

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, the holidays are fast approaching--I know this because the news has started carrying stories about the evil atheists and tyrannical Jews trying to eradicate all things Christmas with whip-cracking laws that further separate church and state--so bring on the cheer!I just got my copy of Stephen King's Under the Dome. It's been 30+ years in the making, and the early reviews have...

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Sunsets & Urinals

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, welcome to the Fabulous World of Robert Gray. Okay, so it's not that fabulous ... and it's really not a world, just a bunch of ones and zeroes on a hard drive, probably stored in some horribly poor village in India, but welcome anyway.Last week I got the chance to visit Pismo Beach in the great state of California. I'm an east coaster, so the trip, which included three layovers,...

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Latest Projects

I finished the first draft of my second novel, a middle grade story about a family of monsters stuck in the suburbs. You can see the original post here if wish: New Middle Grade Fiction Story. I actually finished the draft in a little over a month. It's the fastest I ever wrote a first draft. The story came almost entirely to me, which is a very rare thing indeed. Usually I'm brooding for days over particular scenes, but I managed to somehow...

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A Nook, a Kindle and a Tablet Walk into a Bar ...

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, pokol; vurderlak; eyalik. Image courtesy of wired.com Some interesting debates over e-books since the news broke of Barnes & Noble's new nook e-reader. I think the pros and cons between the Kindle and nook have been exhausted, so I'll try to avoid who has the bigger--um--set of features. My take is quite simple: demand for e-readers will taper off if they continue...

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Garbage, Inc. Is Here!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, today's the day. Garbage, Inc. has arrived!WARNING: This story contains crude language, excessive violence and disturbing images that are not suitable for children or those that are easily offended ... Happy Halloween!Garbage Inc ...

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Top 13 Horror Writers

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, today's list is all about writers. And remember folks: Tomorrow is the release of my short story Garbage, Inc. Top 13 Horror Writers 13. Brian Keene - Favorite Books: Ghoul, City of the Dead, The Conqueror Worms 12 . Ramsey Campbell - Favorite Books: The Darkest Part of the Woods, Hungry Moon, The Doll Who Ate His Mother 11. Dean Koontz - Favorite Books: Strangers,...

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Top 13 Phantom Flicks

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, animals both domesticated and wild, today's theme is about the ghosts in the screen.Top 13 Phantom Flicks 13. 13 Ghosts (2001) - A fitting number 13 ... I preferred the updated version to the 1960 version, but that's just me. 12 . Event Horizon - While the movie falls short of being a classic, the mesh between sci-fi and ghost story was well structured. If you go in thinking B movie, you'll probably like it....

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