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Ann T. Zeddies

March 27, 2003 by

Ann Tonsor Zeddies spent her first three summers on a mountain top in Idaho, and wanted to be a cowboy until she realized that the frontier had moved off the planet. Her interest in biology began at an early age, when she collected a bucket of assorted amphibians and turned them loose in the tent where she was living with her parents and younger brother. Her brother became the professional biologist. Ann chose to deal with strange life forms by writing science fiction.

While working on earlier novels, Typhon's Children and Riders of Leviathan (written as Toni Anzetti), she has swum in all of the Great Lakes, and snorkeled in the Pacific, between the Mariana Trench and the volcanic island of Pagan. She has camped in the Badlands, and ridden horses in the Huron National Forest and the vineyards of Quercy. Along with her husband and two of their four children, she earned a black belt in tae kwon do. After stays in Michigan, Kansas, and Texas, she now lives in Pennsylvania.

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Filed Under: Guests

Cover to Cover #55: Ann Tonsor Zeddies / Justin Hinks

March 27, 2003 by

Ann Tonsor Zeddies.
This week Ann Tonsor Zeddies joins us to talk about her book Steel Helix, a book about genetics and the future. We get into some great conversation about the future of genetics engineering and how science is unlocking the mysteries of our DNA.

Justin Hinks.
Justin Hinks is a new author who published a book called Talismans of Puissance. Justin is attending the University of Illinois, and tells us what it is like trying to write a book while working as a full time student. (Young and aspiring authors need to listen to this one!)

Dragon Bites:

  • Who's your most favorite character?

  • Spin-off movie from Daredevil? Don't we need a sequel first???
  • Mad Max movie on hold because of the war. Another reason to hate Saddam?
  • Breast to small? You may be considering suicide!
  • "The Wind in the Willows" coming in CG...
  • More on Angelina Jolie and Tomb Raider.
  • The encyclopedia of religions - which one are you practicing?

    Feed the Dragon:
    Barbie and Sponge Bob Square Pants. You'll have to listen to learn more!

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Filed Under: Cover to Cover

Stan Lee

March 20, 2003 by

Stan Lee's Marvel Comics, along with the Daunting Competition, defined the atomic age for Baby Boomers and my own Generation X. Always denied the credibility given to other Science Fiction writers, such as Harland Ellison or Ray Bradbury, Lee has plugged along regardless, guiding Marvel comics through the past four decades. In the pantheon of Post War writers Stan Lee stands apart as a truly American author, in a truly American medium. A true artist, Stan defined the format and the form of comic books, dominating the field as no one has dominated any other.

Stan the Man, a brief history:

Stan Lee joined, what was to become Marvel Comics, when he was 16 years old. Just one year later he was the youngest editor in the business. But when World War II came around, he joined the Army, serving in the Signal Corps. For three years, the Army had Lee write training films and manuals for all branches of military service. In addition, Stan Lee has the distinction of becoming one of only nine men, including William Saroyan, in the U.S. Army to be given the military classification "playwright."

Stan Lee, Chairman of Marvel Comics and Marvel Films, is known to millions as the man whose superheroes propelled Marvel to its preeminent position in the comicbook industry. Hundreds of legendary characters such as Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, The Avengers, Thor and Dr. Strange all grew out of his fertile imagination.

It was in the early '60s that Stan Lee ushered in what has come to be known as "The Marvel Age of Comics," creating major new superheroes while breathing life and style into such old favorites as Captain America, The Human Torch and The Sub Mariner.

During his first twenty-five years at Marvel's helm, as editor, art director and head writer, Stan scripted no fewer than two and as many as five complete comicbooks per week. His prodigious output may comprise the largest body of published work by any single writer. Additionally, Stan wrote newspaper features, radio and television scripts and screenplays.

By the time he was named publisher of Marvel Comics in 1972, Stan Lee's comics were the nation's biggest sellers. In 1977, Stan brought Spider-Man into the newspapers in the form of a syndicated strip. This seven-days-a-week feature which he has written and edited since its inception, is today the most successful of all syndicated adventure strips, appearing in more than 500 newspapers worldwide.

Stan Lee has written more than a dozen best-selling books including The Origins of Marvel Comics, The Silver Surfer, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, Bring on the Bad Guys and The Superhero Women. Most recently, he wrote the introduction to the best-selling "coffee-table book," Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics.

In 1981, Marvel launched an animation studio on the west coast and Stan Lee moved to Los Angeles to become creative head of Marvel's cinematic adventures. He began to transform his Spider-Man and Hulk creations into Saturday morning television and paved the way for Marvel's entry into live-action feature films.

Recently Lee has been the co-executive producer of the syndicated Marvel Action Hour starring The Fantastic Four and Iron Man and the Saturday morning series The X-Men. He also acted as the Executive Producer of UPN's The Incredible Hulk.

He continues to write his weekly column "Stan's Soapbox" as well as the daily newspaper comicstrip Spider-Man. And from time to time he finds time to script the occasional comic. Recently Stan worked on an Iron Man screenplay with writer Jeff Avatar, although it seems that the script will not be used for the Shellhead film in the works now.

Stan Lee recently ended his exclusive agreement with Marvel Comics, and launched StanLee.Net, an on-line multimedia company dedicated to revolutionizing comics. He also suprised many by going to work for DC Comics for a limited engagement series, retelling some of the classic DC Super Heroes in his own dashing style.

Stan Lee defined the atomic age, simultaneously creating the myth of the atom while exploring the truth of the human condition. Lee's characters span the human spirit, dwelling in the darkness and weakness that is humanity, while showing the hero inside of all of us. Like all of us, Stan's heroes are plagued with weaknesses and flaws, but they persevere and triumph over evil--always doing what is right--sometimes at great cost to their personal relationships.

Only a handful of mythmakers achieve immortality--Stan Lee has achieved more.

http://asimplerway.com/tdp/Stan_Lee.m3u

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Filed Under: Guests, Major Guests

Cover to Cover #54: Stan Lee / Tee Morris

March 20, 2003 by

Stan Lee! (Yes, THE Stan Lee!)
This was a true treat for both of us, as like most kids of the 70's and 80's, we grew up on Spiderman and other Marvel comics.

If we've ever recorded a show you don't want to mis, it's this interview with Stan Lee. Lie, cheat, play hookey... do what ever you must, but do not miss this interview with the legend Stan "The Man" Lee.

Among other topics, Stan "spills the beans" on some upcoming Marvel comics properties that are headed for the big screen. Our heads were spinning after he revealed all this data, much to the chagrin of his agents we're sure!

Tee Morris
To get another perspective, we gave Tee Morris of Morevi fame a call to discuss our conversation with Stan Lee.

Dragon Bites (formerly "The News")

Feed the Dragon
Michael gets the honors today and tosses the oil companies into the Dragon's belly. That should be interesting!

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Filed Under: Cover to Cover

Cover to Cover #53: Scott Nicholson

March 13, 2003 by

Scott Nicholson.
Scott hails from North Carolina and weaves the legends and mysteries of the Appalachian mountains into his tales. His latest book, The Red Church, tells the story of a haunted church and a young man forced to question his faith. Scott shares with us the background behind the real church on which the story is based and the reaction of the townsfolk to his book.

For anyone who can recall their own town's urban legend, you're sure to find this talk with Scott intriguing. You'll also be happy to hear that Scott is continuing his work in the Appalachian Gothic genre. Look for more books (he's got three in the works) coming out very soon!

On air book review - The Briar King.
Mike's wife Lorrie read and loved the Briar King by Greg Keys. Greg was on the show with us on January 23. Find out why she liked it so much and why you should buy it!

The News!

Feed the Dragon
Hear Mike rip a crappy dragon movie to itty-bitty pieces and then bury them in the back yard for a year before feeding it to the dragon. Which one? Listen to find out!

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Tony Ruggiero

March 6, 2003 by

Tony Ruggiero has been publishing fiction since 1998. His science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories have appeared in both print and electronic mediums.

In many of his stories, Tony writes about people and their internal struggle making choices when faced with diverse and moralistic issues, along with alternative lifestyles such as vampires, aliens, and other creatures. In many cases, he places the alternate life form center stage of the humans and avoids concluding his novels with the proverbial happy ending.
In dealing with these diverse issues, Tony draws on his recently completed twenty-three years experience as a United States Naval Officer, where making tough decisions, especially in dealing with people of various ethnic and racial backgrounds, was a constant occurrence.

He retired October 2001 and spends the majority of his time now writing and assisting his wife Katie with her Naval career, and raising their daughter Alexandra.

His published and upcoming novels include. Team of Darkness, (March 2002) a horror novel published by Hard Shell Word Factory. Get Out of My Mind (April 2003), Mind Trap (June 2003), both science fiction novels, and Aliens and Satanic Creatures Wanted: Humans Need Not Apply, (August 2003), a collection of science fiction, horror, and fantasy stories, all three to be published by Amber Quill Press.

Team of Darkness received a reviewer's choice award from Scribes World Reviews. Mind Trap has been nominated for an EPPIE award for best science fiction novel. Mind Trap was also nominated for best science fiction novel by SimeGen Book Reviews

Other novels currently being marketed to publishers include: Freddy, a suspense novel about a stone gargoyle on top of a Norfolk, Virginia hotel, whose power corrupts individuals who fall under its guise of promised wealth. Endangered Species, a science fiction thriller about an alien consciousness passed down through the generations of a family, and is now ready to make its move to change the human genetic makeup in favor of its own. Dragon's Breath; is a suspense novel about witches and their control over a town in Connecticut and a plan of revenge for a murder twenty years ago.

Tony was born in Irvington, New Jersey and attended college at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, where he received his bachelor's degree in Economics. He then joined the United States Navy in 1978. Having spent a large portion of his naval career in the Tidewater area of Virginia, he currently resides in Suffolk, Virginia, with his wife Katie, daughter Alexandra, and Snickers, their chocolate Labrador retriever.

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Filed Under: Guests

Cover to Cover #52: Tony Ruggiero

March 6, 2003 by

Tony Ruggiero
Tony joins us to talk about his latest book, Get Out of My Mind, a political book with a slight science fiction twist. Set around the presidential election of 2000, we get a glimpse of both human as well as alien politics.

Tony spent many years with the Navy Seals before retiring and draws on his long experiences to reflect on the human condition and thoughts of what may be. We detect some slight (tongue placed firmly in cheek) undertones of modern US foreign policy in his novel. Perhaps this will give us another perspective on the things affecting the world today?

Tony also talks about his previous book, Team of Darkness. This dark fantasy thriller puts captured vampires into a regiment of Navy Seals. More political undertones here, as they vampire enhanced teams are pitted against the drug lords in Central America. Interesting!

Evo reviews DareDevil
CAUTION! Spoilers are in the third segment! If you haven't seen the movie yet, rush out and see it before this show airs, 'cuz Evo is telling all. And believe it or not... he liked it!

The News

  • Steven King not quite in retiring just yet...

  • Cartoon Network to run Star Wars animated features
  • We talked about this way back on the December 12th show, where we were interviewing Dave Reinberg. Face transplants. Now they've got someone scheduled for it!
  • HBO buys Attack of the Clone rights to air for $15 million dollars
  • Stan Lee's Iron Man headed to the big screen?
  • Who will be the next Cat Woman in "The Misadventures of Adam and Burt?"
  • The Borg - The Ride in 3D coming to a theme park near you!
  • Ky. Bible College Gets 666 Prefix Removed

Feed the Dragon
Who gets it this week? Well, we're not telling... but if you're into science you'll probably get a kick out of it! Tune in to find out who it is this time around...

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Filed Under: Cover to Cover