Sci-Fi Sources

Two great science fiction sites:

 

SFX (United Kingdom) http://www.sfx.co.uk/

Science Fiction Bookstore (Sweden) http://www.sfbok.se/

  

 

(Eventually there will be a link station on this blog…)

NASTRAGULL; Hunted (Volume 2)

The downfall when writing a series with 10…or more volumes is that many readers tends to wait buying the books until all of them have been published. Having to wait a year for the next episode is a very long time to wait. I decided that part two will be released this fall almost a year after part one was released on kindle.  The reason is that I want to establish as many readers and followers as I possibly can. The rest of the volumes in this series will be released every 6 – 9 months. I will push myself and my “poor” editor ─ have no fear because he is a hard core Texan ─ and our best to have two volumes available every year.

Part 2, 3 and 4 are finished and need some proofing and editing by my editor since my spelling and grammar is terrible…as you might have noticed on this blog? (That won’t stop me for writing though.) The entire outline has been completed and it alone is approximate 1000 pages. Hopefully this will encourage readers to purchase my books when they are released and not to wait for all of them to be published.

Amazon Best Sellers # 1 NASTRAGULL

Amazon Best Sellers in Space Opera Science Fiction: # 1 NASTRAGULL
 

·         Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85 Free in Kindle Store

·        # 1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Space Opera

·        # 10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy

 

 

 

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

 

Elm Studios by Björn Elmart

There are as many opinions about what art is as there are people on the planet. In my opinion, real art is something you enjoy when looking at it—a feast for the eyes. There's the "art" made by poseurs, and then there's the real art shaped by true artists, those with the ability to create or re-create something astonishing.

Personally, I don't enjoy staring at a million-dollar canvas painted only one color, popular only because everyone else claims that it's the "in thing." What I do enjoy is art where I can make out what it's supposed to be. Painting or statue, it makes no difference to me.

Many modern artists create strange stuff and become icons because they're treated as fashion statements. The truth and the fact of the matter is that many of these successful artists have made their financial fortunes due to the right connections, not because of the actual art itself—art be damned!

But here's a real artist who, in my opinion, has the ability to create wonders with his hands. Björn Elmart makes the most beautiful and wonderful statues and busts. He doesn't mass produce, and his attention to detail is amazing.

 

 

 

 

Elmart is the owner of Elm Studios in Sweden, and his artwork focuses on life-size statues, busts, costumes, prop replicas, and similar arts. So if you want a life-size replica or perhaps a head trophy of your favorite star, then all you have to do is to contact Björn Elmart—and he'll make your dream come true.

 

 

For more information about Björn and his next public appearance (he often has displays at science-fiction conventions), visit https://sv-se.facebook.com/elmstudiosab/ . 

Pictures courtesy of Elms Studios.

Dick Smith Make-Up Artist

I got my eyes on some make-up sets in Famous Monsters Magazine in one of their issues when I was about 12 years old and several months later I had them in my possession.

Eventually, I ran around and scared my neighbors as the 12 year old little pest I was. I was either a monster with half my face burning off or a gorilla. These "toy's" were a kid’s dream for Halloween parties and I could use my “crazy” imagination with all kinds of cool make-up effects.

Me as a 12 year old Gorilla

Had there been more information on training and courses and make-up material available then it’s possible I would have entered a career as a make-up artist for the film and theater. To this day I’m amazed of how some of the make-up effects are made. There is a TV-Show called Face-Off and it’s one of the few reality shows I watch.

 

 

 

My old time favorite artist is Dick Smith whom many consider one of the fore fathers in the make-up world (also known as the God-Father of Make-Up). Some of his works in films were; Little Big man, The God Father, The exorcist etc.  

Linda Blair, 12 years old, before make-up

and after

For more information about Dick Smith; make-up and classes:  http://www.dicksmithmake-up.com/   

Famous Monsters Magazine

Famous Monsters of Filmland was an all-time favorite magazine of mine and extremely difficult to find in Sweden back in the 70’s and 80’s. The magazines were loaded with information about horror movies and make-up effects etc. Today they are great collectibles.