Why do difficult times have me hightailing it back to the writing desk? Ideas have been flowing for the last couple of weeks -the Portrait of Dracula popped back into my head and lead to brainwaves. The problem is the lack of time to get those ideas down on paper. I’m thinking a Freewrite might be a good idea. Then I don’t have to be at my computer to fit in the writing part. As much as I love a good all day writing session at the computer, it’s not always possible.
Heart of Stone
Just landed on Netflix, Heart of Stone didn’t let on the fun it was going to be in the blurb. With a few familiar faces, a lot of action, and interesting locations, the film felt like a futuristic Bond movie with a hint of Mission Impossible.
An intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable and dangerous weapon.
–Heart of Stone, IMDb–
Starring Jing Lusi (SAS: Red Notice, Lucky Man), Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shade of Grey, Robin Hood), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Red Notice), Paul Ready (The Terror, The Tunnel), Sophie Okonedo (Ratched, The Wheel of Time), and Alia Bhatt (Highway, Raazi).
And I really enjoyed it, a couple of unexpected twists, action that kept you close to the edge of your seat. A brilliant mix of characters and actors playing them, but not quite amping up the tension to where it could have been. I will definitely be watching it again (and any more they might care to make).
Portrait of Dracula
Do you remember those missing pages from the original Dracula script? In the missing scene from the script, they hired an artist to paint Dracula’s portrait, but they cannot capture his image on canvas. I have searched and searched for it. I’m sure it was on one of the horror websites, but I cannot find it (if you know where it is, please let me know!). The idea of a painting of Dracula in this manner has lived in my brain ever since I saw the missing pages. And there are many pieces of art featuring Dracula but none that I have found that have matched this idea. I would love one for my gallery wall, but I’m not certain I have the skill to paint it myself. But if I’m going to attempt it, I’d like to know if there was something in the pages that indicated the setting.
This painting features in the unfinished modern day Dracula script I’ve written (Long Undead). And in the novel that stemmed from it (also unfinished -it really likes to fight back). But it’s given me another idea, another part of the world I’ve been building, that might fight a little less than the Long Undead.
So if you know where I can find those missing pages, please, please, let me know. I’m pretty sure I didn’t dream it.
The Fall of the House of Usher
I’m intrigued by this series based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Especially since that’s all they give away on IMDb. It premiers on Netflix on October 12th, so there’s a bit of a wait and I’m sure more details will spill out between now and then. The show features a fantastic cast, including Mark Hamill, Willa Fitzgerald, Bruce Greenwood, Malcolm Goodwin, Kate Siegel and more.
Sounds like this show will be so engrossing, you won’t even remember your snacks or drinks.
Mike Flanagan is the creator of The Fall of the House of Usher (I don’t think I’ve seen the term creator on IMDb before). And looking through his creations, I’m realising I watch a lot of his stuff. I mean a lot a lot! Things like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, Doctor Sleep, Gerald’s Game, and so many more.
I have no idea what this show is going to be, but I’m already excited about it!
Horror and Fantasy Author – Also writing as K.T. McQueen. Love Western Horror, cowboy boots, my cactus Collin, & my Demon Cat.
Moths – I hate moths, the way they flutter at your face!
