Avon Players’ ‘Misery’ Highlights the High Price of Fame

There is a well-known adage advising people not to meet their heroes because they’ll only end up disappointed. And nowhere is this sentiment truer than in the story of Avon Players’ latest production, Misery running now through March 25, 2023, in Rochester Hills, MI. Misery is a best-selling book by famed horror novelist Stephen King, which went on to become an iconic film starring Kathy Bates and the late James Caan. The Broadway play is written by William Goldman and starred Laurie Metcalf … [Read more...]

Avon Players Presents Psychological Suspense with Stephen King’s ‘Misery’

A quaint country cabin becomes a terrifying prison for one unlucky accident victim. A writer discovers the dark side of fandom when he finds himself at the mercy of an unhinged stranger as Avon Players presents Misery running March 10 through 25 in Rochester, MI. Based on the bestselling novel by the master of horror Stephen King that became the iconic film, Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon (Jeff Stillman), who is rescued from a car crash by his number one fan, Annie … [Read more...]

Author’s Corner: Questions to Ask your Characters

The most important part of your novel is the part that will never be seen by the reader. The part’s just for you … the part that only you know. Well, you and your characters. The Character Study There are so many ways to do a character study – a letter your character writes to a friend, a confession your character makes to his therapist, or a list of things you want to know about him. However, you cannot write a good novel without knowing who your characters are, inside out. Author … [Read more...]

Dear Crabby, Do You Watch Scary Movies?

Dear Crabby, Every October, the Freeform channel does ’31 Nights of Halloween.’ The movies shown are pretty tame: The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, you get the idea. Do you watch Halloween movies? And if you do are they the really scary ones like Nightmare on Elm Street? Thanks! Gwen Gothic Dear Gwen Gothic, Last year a reader asked what I thought about haunted houses. I told this person that I find daily life scary enough and I don’t need to fork over my hard-earned … [Read more...]

Author’s Corner: The Power of Earned Media

The Power of Earned Media So, you’ve just written and indie-published your book. Now all you have to do is find fans, right? You’re probably going to be disappointed in what I say next, because I’m not going to offer a magic way to get a ton more readers. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Anyone who tells you different is either trying to sell you something, or scamming you. Readers are only gained a few at a time, even if you experience a sudden and serendipitous burst of exposure. … [Read more...]

Dear Crabby, Where Did All These Clowns Come From?

Dear Crabby, Is it just me or is it every time I turn on the news, there’s another clown incident? It’s creepy. I mean, what’s the point? Thanks, Phil Payaso Dear Mr. Payaso, When I first read your question, I thought you meant the other clowns on the nightly news. Ya know, the presidential candidates—ha! But after I reread the question, I figured out what you’re referring to. All those people dressing up like clowns and scaring people all over the country. And I don’t think there … [Read more...]