The Time Warriors and Beyond

TW talks to Enterprise’s Anthony Montgomery Pt 2

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

We know you’re a man of many talents, from acting, to musician to martial artist. What exactly is Miles Away?

– Miles Away is hip, edgy and fun new action adventure science fiction franchise I’m launching (beginning with an exciting graphic novel series) about a teen aged boy with a clouded past who discovers that he has superhuman abilities; he gets recruited by a shadowy government organization to battle evil; and he allies with alien refugees and falls into an interstellar war as he explores his family’s dark past. I plan for the epic scope of the franchise to ultimately span across three mass media outlets: graphic novels, animation and live-action feature films.

Has writing always been a passion for you?

No, I never had a passion for writing, my true passion is acting. But I learned that if I wanted to make my dream of Miles Away a reality, I couldn’t wait for others to make it happen for me. I learned how to write Hollywood quality feature films and then partnered with a talented writer named Brandon Easton (WB’s new Thundercats series), who is also a graphic novelist himself. I wouldn’t say I now have a passion for writing but I have definitely developed a new respect for writers and even though it’s a challenging process, I’m always motivated to see what I can create.

What comic books did you read growing up?

– I used to read a lot of different comics: Archie and Jughead, Richie Rich, Scoobie Doo; but the comics I loved the most were more action driven like The Uncanny X-Men, Power Man and Iron Fist, Fantastic Four, The Amazing Spiderman: all the ones that are movies now (or planned for movies in the future).

With the recession and television companies pulling in their purse strings was the graphic novel a suitable means for you in that there is literally no budget and anything can happen?

No, because I funded the Miles Away graphic novel out of my own pocket and it cost me a considerable amount to bring my vision to life. Now I do own everything since I paid for it all, but it was not free. You can only create a comic or graphic novel for nothing if you: 1) Have a solid idea, 2) Know how to write a quality graphic novel, 3) Do all the pencils and inks yourself, 4) Do all your own coloring and 5) Do all your own lettering. And you have to do them all at a professional level. I had a solid idea that I believed in but had to hire everyone else.

How did you go about getting it realized on paper?

It was a LONG process. It took twelve years. I actually created a “History” section in the back of the Miles Away graphic novel where I detailed the journey of bringing my vision to fruition. I don’t want to sound redundant, so I’d rather not go into the full story here (hopefully all the readers will buy their own copy and learn the full story). I can tell you that the most important component in the process was my collaboration with Brandon Easton. It was a blessing to meet and work with Brandon because he was able to help me effectively turn my source material into a compelling graphic novel that will be the foundation of my Miles Away franchise. I truly appreciate Phillip Boute, Jr. (Concept Artist), Jeff Stokely (Pencils/Inks), Dawnsen Chen (Colors), Jonathan Mullins (Pencils/Inks), Rashad Doucet (Colors), AdamPruett (Letters), Brian Denham (Cover Art and Logo) and everyone else who helped make the Miles Away graphic novel a reality.

Is your lead character an attempt to break the barriers so to speak?

I get asked that a lot. I assume you’re referring to the fact that my lead character (Maxwell Miles) is Black. Although there has been outcry for years from fans of the superhero action adventure genre to add more Black superheros to the ranks, and there is currently a growing trend of trying to answer the call (i.e. Rocket to the Young Justice team and Icon to Justice League, among others), I never created Miles Away so I could create a “Black superhero.” My dream was to create a superhero who happened to be Black, but who would be relatable to the masses. I have an amazing fan base with my core Star Trek fans and the most important part of Gene Roddenberry’s vision (to me) is that in his universe, color didn’t matter. And color doesn’t matter in my Miles Away universe. Both of Maxwell’s parents disappeared under mysterious circumstances and as he pieces together his past, I feel that readers will identify with him because everyone will be able to relate to Max’s desire to know where he comes from and know his own history. And they’ll have a lot of fun watching the birth of a superhero!

Where did you get your inspiration from?

I’ve always had a vivid imagination. I grew up in an abusive home and my imagination was the only way for me to escape the pain of my everyday life. I used to love to escape into the world of comics and all the different adventures they would take me on. As I got older and realized that science fiction was a wondrous way to escape, tell amazing stories and deliver powerful messages I decided that one day I would create something of my own in the science fiction genre. I didn’t know what that would be until the idea for Miles Away came into my head. Once the seed was planted in my mind, I let it grow until the universe was formed.

The book is released in April 2013, what’s the response been so far?

Yes, Miles Away released April 24, 2013 and the response has been amazing! I’ve gotten excellent feedback from everyone regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or any other factors. So far the support for Miles Away has been overwhelming and people are eager to see the next book, the animated series and where the adventure goes from here!

As a writer myself, I plot the story arc and find that it changes as I go to some degree. Did you find that?

Being an actor first and knowing how the Hollywood structure works, I took the approach of planning for Miles Away to be revealed over multiple years. I have the story arc planned but I realize things will alter slightly once I’m working with my development team. With that in mind, I have laid the foundation but keep myself open to my amazing team adding wonderful story points that will enhance the experience for the project and the audience. Eric Vale and Brandon Easton are the two writers I have collaborated with so far (Eric for the pilot episode for the animated series and Brandon for the graphic novel and pilot episode), and my original story did adjust a little, but for the most part everything has stayed on the course I’ve laid out. However, they have each added excellent ideas that have made the story better.

With the reveal of the aliens and their secret organization, do you have further stories in mind in that you already have their back stories in your head?

Yes, I definitely have back stories and other story directions for all the characters I created. I actually created a “Characters” section in the back of the Miles Away graphic novel where I put all twenty of the original characters that I created who will be the main and recurring characters over the franchise’s history and each of their back stories. I thought it would be a fun way for the audience to get to know them by having their biographies in writing.

Will there be more volumes in the series?

Yes, I do plan to do more graphic novels down the road. I was only going to do this initial book and then just do the animated series, but after talking to many comic collectors, I learned that true comic/graphic novel enthusiasts like to acquire their material in sets, if at all possible. So I’m going to launch the animated series and it will pick up immediately after the first book, and then pick a point to do the next graphic novel (which will continue the story from the animation), and then do more animation, and then another graphic novel, and so on, until it’s time to do the first live-action feature film. By the time I’m done, I will have created a fun trans media roller coaster that the fans will have ridden to the franchise’s inevitable end. And yes, I do have the end in mind.

What can we expect from them?

The first year of Miles Away will establish the exodus of the RO-TWYLAN royal family to Future Earth, Maxwell learning more about his super power (Max has SUPER PHOTOGRAPHIC REFLEXES: he can mimic any physical feat he sees regardless of the complexity or danger, BUT he has to wait 5 minutes before his ability “kicks in” and he never knows when his ability will fail.), the unveiling of MADAME INIQUITY and VILAMAN, the revelation of the BUREAU OF ULTIMATE UNDERGROUND TECHNOLOGY and their forces and the strange, twisted family background of the Miles clan.

Each episode of the animated series can stand alone but will definitely reveal another aspect of Max’s world; either he learns more about his ability, or he meets another ally/villain, or the ever-present danger of an alien invasion becomes more apparent. Every episode will revolve around a moral issue (study harder, be yourself and believe in yourself, understanding different cultures and lifestyles, try to get more exercise, eat balanced meals, trust your friends, etc.) but will not be overtly stated. As we approach the end of the first season, all the clues and various “background events” will coalesce into the unmasking of the grand plan of the villains and leave the audience breathless for more information about the plan and more adventures of Max and his crew.

Where can people buy it from?

People can order a copy of the Miles Away graphic novel from BarnesandNoble.com (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miles-away-anthony-montgomery/1115241192?ean=9780930655037) or Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Miles-Away-GN-Anthony-Montgomery/dp/0930655036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367265750&sr=8-1&keywords=miles+away+graphic+novel) or you can still order a signed and numbered Limited Edition copy directly fromAntarcticPress.com: http://www.antarctic-press.com/html/version_01/store.php?id=Miles+Away.

Anyone who wants more information about Miles Away, I’d love for you to follow me on Twitter: @MrAMontgomery and “Like” me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anthony-Montgomery/33244826628?ref=hl (my Anthony Montgomery Fan Page); I’d also love for everyone to “Like” the Miles Away Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEMILESAWAY?ref=hl. Also, I’ll always post updates on TheMilesAway.com.

Please help spread the word for me so together we can make Miles Away a global phenomenon. Thank you!! And welcome to the Miles Away universe!!!And thank you again Owen! I appreciate your help spreading the word about Miles Away.

Anthony thank you very much!

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TW talks to V’s June Chadwick

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

How did first get into the acting industry?

I started out wanting to do musicals when i was 9 years old! I went to the Royal Academy of Music in London for 4 years to train as a singer and afterwards trained as a dancer and actress. I was working in England on stage and film. My agent wanted me to do commercials (which had never occurred to me) and I did over a 100 in 2 years!! Great training for TV actually. I was going to check out the New York scene but someone told me to go to LA first, since I’d freeze in N.Y. in February! I landed a 3 week commercial and 2 movie leads within that year so just stayed. My agent was good obviously and they are always looking for “fresh” faces so I lucked out. Certainly my accent helped but it also was a hindrance since I lost out on some major roles too.

What was your first big break?

My first big breakthrough – “This is Spinal Tap”

How aware were you of the V universe when you auditioned for the show?

I had not seen “V” when I auditioned.

What do you recall from your first day on set?

1st day on set is always a bit nerve racking!! Jane Badler was great though. She helped me be at ease and we had a lot of fun! We still see each other when she visits from Australia.

What were you given about the character of Lydia?

I think I was only given a small break down for the series & role of Lydia – don’t remember now really. I do remember that it was a small role and I did a lot of walking down the corridor saying : “The leader won’t be pleased” !!

They expanded the role thankfully:-) In fact, I was upset to read a script one night saying Lydia’s ship had been blown up. They were reducing the size of the cast at the time so I called a producer in a panic! He told me they were taking me out in order to bring me back in with a larger part. Just before the show was cancelled, they had 6 script outlined with Lydia a lead in the story line – outside of the spaceship. it was such a shock when it was cancelled and later the head of NBC said he made a big mistake:-(

What defines V for you?

I’m not sure what defines “V” necessarily for me. I did base Lydia on being tremendously passionate and loyal to her race/planet, so anything that was a threat to that survival had to be eliminated! Certainly looking at earth from an alternate angle!

How did you handle the fight scenes?

I think we did all the fight scenes ourselves.

Voiceovers versus television?

I loved doing voice overs. I did a lot when making films in South Africa.

How did you find meeting the fans?

We were always traveling to do charity events and conventions. it was often very eye opening to see how much compassion is needed out there. Some of us live in incredibly fortunate circumstances. I always believed any notoriety I received, was so that I could give back in some way. I’m always surprised by the Facebook fans. I get friend requests everyday. I think “V” rung a bell with a lot of people that maybe no other show has done in quite the same way. Interestingly, I am now giving back in a different way to how I might have suspected. I trained for 3 years to teach the Alexander Technique, which I first came across in London at the Royal Academy. It’s a life changing process of learning how to change negative mind/body patterns. It’s incredibly fascinating how our brains work and our bodies feed off them! It’s very useful to enable performers to have ease and helps enormously with most kinds of pain. Of course, i think everyone needs to experience it:-)) The way I look is very much due to the technique since it’s a learned process of youthful movement. It also teaches ‘being in the present’ which eliminates fear and worry. Mental and physical processes are the same thing i.e. they react simultaneously off each other.

What is life for you these days?

I’m very active with my work and my husband, 3 horses, Rhodesian ridgeback dog and 3 cats. I ride, go for walks and scuba dive & swim. At the end of the day, I read, watch TV!!

Owen Quinn <timewarriorsoq@gmail.com>	7/20/14
to June

Thanks June,where do I send the envelope to.

June Chadwick <june.chadwick@gmail.com>	7/21/14
to me

TW talks to Enterprise’s Anthony Montgomery Pt 1

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

What made you want to go into acting?

– I started acting my first year of college. I auditioned for a children’s theater play, got the part and toured the Indiana area for over 3 months. I declared my major in Performance Theater and Drama and have been acting ever since. I fell in love with the craft of acting and never looked back. It’s in my blood.

I know music was a big part of your life growing up and your grandfather is musician Wes Montgomery. Our house was filled with music when I was growing up; was yours the same?

– Actually, no, not like people would think. My grandfather was legendary, but I didn’t realize his true contribution to music and the world until I was an adult. Of course we listened to music, but around our house my grandfather was just “Daddy” or “Wes” (from my grandmother).

And you’ve released CDs of your music too haven’t you? Was that an ambition of yours?

– Yes, in 2008 I released my own Hip Hop album called, “A.T.” And not long ago I released a single called “STIMULATION.” It’s a club banger if you haven’t heard it (check it out on iTunes). I even did a video for it that premiered on VH1.com (it’s on YouTube now). Music wasn’t an ambition for me as much as it was finding a passion for another art. I used to mess around and rhyme with my buddies back in my hometown (Indianapolis) when I was younger, we would “dream” about what it would be like to be big rap stars, but I never really thought I’d have an album. But I love Hip Hop, definitely not all the negativity that’s connected with it, but I love the art form. When I got the opportunity to do an album I went for it. I’ll probably do music for the rest of my life. I’ve already got 14 songs written that I just need to make the time to record.

People may not know you are also a keen martial artist and Hapkido in particular, can you tell people how you find Hapkido beneficial?

– Hap Ki Do, means Coordination (Hap) Energy (Ki) Art form Do), and involves complete integration of body, mind and spirit. Hapkido techniques are made powerful through the coordinated efforts of the physical body being directed by the concentrated mind and infused with the energy of the spirit. Hapkido is beneficial to everyone who wants to infuse their entire being into an martial discipline.

You also did some stand up comedy after graduating from Ball State University, is that a quality to try to being to a role?

– As an actor you need as many tools in your utility belt as possible. You never know when there will be a role that calls for a particular talent. I had a blast doing stand up. It’s hard but very rewarding. Comedy is a craft that you have to practice. A LOT. It’s a muscle that has to be worked. If not, it atrophies. Ha!

Your first starring role was Leprechaun: In the Hood; they were slightly tongue in cheek movies. What are your memories of that?

– Yeah, the Leprechaun movies were always campy, but I figured it didn’t hurt Jennifer Aniston’s career. (laughing) I remember I was broke and took that job to pay bills. I also remember Ice-T being cool as…well, ice. He gave a lot of advice about the industry and pitfalls to look out for. I even wrote a Hip Hop song with my best friend, Elimu Nelson, but production only used the hook. I actually wrote a lot of my characters songs for the movie, and that was before I even knew how to write a song.

After Popular, you landed the role of Travis Mayweather in Star Trek Enterprise. Was that a long audition process?

– It was about a 3 year process. I auditioned for a role on Star Trek: Voyager but didn’t get the part. But that started a great relationship with the casting director, Ron Surma. Ron brought me back in to read for the part of Tuvok’s son on another Voyager episode but I didn’t get that part either. Third times the charm, right? Ron brought me back again to read for Star Trek: Enterprise. I got the role and my life changed forever.

As some one that has never been on a Star Trek set, can you describe what it was like the first day you stepped onto the bridge and took your seat?

– It was one of the most exhilarating and humbling experiences of my life. I answered this question in a lot of detail in the autobiography I’m writing, so I can’t give a more in-depth answer. Sorry. Hopefully your readers will want my autobiography when it comes out to learn the full answer. Hint hint. (smiling)

Having watched the blooper reels, it looked like you guys had a lot of fun making the show?

– We had a great time making Star Trek: Enterprise. When you work so long and hard with people they become like a family and our Enterprise family is wonderful!

Broken Bow still stands as an amazing piece of drama; were you pleased at the initial reaction?

– It was fantastic to be part of the launch of such a recognized project. We had over 15.1 million viewers for our pilot episode (which was the second highest watched pilot in the franchise history. That’s a phenomenal accomplishment given all of the compelling storytelling that has gone on for the decades of the Star Trek history.

I have to ask, what is Scott Bakula like to work with; were you a fan of Quantum Leap?

– Scott is one of the greatest, nicest and most genuine people I’ve ever worked with in Hollywood. He isn’t just like an older brother to me, he became a mentor to some degree while we were filming our series. I wasn’t an avid watcher of Quantum Leap but I did know what the show was and already had immense respect for Scott as an actor. Because of his time on Quantum Leap, Scott was able to provide me with guidance as to what my life would possibly become (starting out on my first sci-fi series). I will always love and appreciate Scott for his tutelage and being the consummate professional and amazing man he is.

Fortunate Son saw Travis’ background emerge as being raised on a ship in space rather than a home planet and this was further examined in Horizon when we visit his home ship and explore his background as a Boomer. I found this a wonderful departure from the usual lived on a planet and joined Starfleet scenario. It set the characters aside from the norm as real frontiersmen. How did like Travis’s back story?

– I loved Travis’ back story because I thought it was interesting that our series had a human character that had more space exploration history than even the captain did. I wish they would have written more for my character and delved into Travis’ history more, but I was definitely excited about the direction they took my character.

A lot of people thought Travis was underused and indeed he saved the ship from destruction off screen at one point? Was that disappointing for you?

– Yes, it was very disappointing because I felt like there was so much potential for us to tell some compelling stories that hadn’t previously been told. That said, I also understood that they were writing for seven main characters and since our show was much like The Original Series with the trifector of the captain, the Vulcan and the doctor (on Enterprise it was the captain, the Vulcan and the engineer). I realized that the bulk of the stories would focus on the those three and the rest of the cast stories would be incorporated as they could, so I maintained a positive attitude and continued to give my best to the show regardless of whether my character was in the spotlight or not.

I have to say Dead Stop must have been a highlight for you. A high concept story with Travis at the centre.

– I don’t remember exactly what episode Dead Stop was. Sorry. I’ve got 98 episodes in my head. 🙂 If you can tell me a little about it, I’m sure I’ll be able to talk about it. What I can say is that because I wasn’t used very often, it was always an exhilarating time to step front and center and help navigate the NX-01 through the many adventures.

And again, the Borg story really showed what the show could do. As an actor, did you find the Borg menacing in real life?

– The Borg story arc was a fantastic addition to our series. I had seen them on the few episodes of TNG that I had watched and thought they were a terrific (and terrifying) nemesis for the series. I was excited when I found out our team would encounter them. No, they weren’t menacing in real life, but the make-up effects were outstanding and the actors playing the Borg were really remarkable.

But in the fourth season Travis really came to the fore especially in the Mirror Universe story and being attacked by the World War 2 planes in Storm Front. He could kick ass with the best of them. I bet you were delighted to get even meatier stuff?

– I LOVED the Mirror Universe episodes. I typically play a “nice guy” in most of my work, so it was a welcome departure to play such a bad ass. Because of my martial arts training, I live for opportunities to incorporate my passion for acting with my passion for martial arts.

The cancellation of the show was a surprise and shock to many especially as the superb third and fourth season showed how ballsy the series was. Was there a sense of disappointment that you guys were churning out such great stories only to be cancelled?

– It was very disheartening to know that we had finally found our “space legs” if you will, only to be told we weren’t coming back for seasons 5, 6 and 7. We were told that each series took 3-4 years to really gel and we believed we had finally found our place in space, so it was definitely bittersweet when the show was cancelled.

For me, I’d rather have the last two seasons of Enterprise rather than the majority of other shows and the fact it is still talked about must be a good feeling.

– We all worked really hard to make Star Trek: Enterprise the best entertainment possible. I’m extremely proud of the work we did and that people remember it fondly.

Archer seemed to be a fatherly figure to Travis in the show. There was a real emotion there when they were together.

– Because of the wonderful relationship that Scott and I had personally, that dynamic was transferred to the screen. Even though Travis had extensive space history, he was still young and growing in life so the guidance from the captain was a beautiful story piece that we had fun carving out.

What projects are you working on now?

– I recently filmed an independent feature film called, “Chariot,” about seven strangers who wake up aboard a commercial airline, in flight, with no idea how they got there and no idea of their destination. They discover the world they know is under attack and they may be the only survivors. I play the lead character, Cole Weathers, a truck driver from Beaumont, Texas. I was also a producer of the film, which is currently in post-production. People can view the official trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK_AD1mSYVo and learn more about the project at our website: www.ChariotMovie.com.

I’m also extremely excited to be launching my own superhero, sci-fi series called, MILES AWAY. Miles Away is about a teen aged boy named Maxwell Miles who develops an amazing super-ability, teams up with alien refugees and falls into an interstellar war connected to his family’s dark past. The franchise launches with the release of the first graphic novel (illustrated novel), which released April 24, 2013 and the plan is to do an animated television series and in 3-4 years, launch the first live-action feature film. The Miles Away graphic novel is available on Amazon.com and BanesandNoble.com:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miles-away-jeff-stokely/1115241192?ean=9780930655037

I need the help of all the wonderful fans in Ireland to make Miles Away a world-wide phenomenon.

Fear The Walking Dead 6b Trailer

Posted by Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

“So you’re the king of the crazies.”

The battle continues as Morgan and the others fight against the evil Virginia.

Zombie Blues: Kidney Transplant Zombie

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

I’m putting a tube up your penis for two days and it ain’t coming out until then is not any what any man wants to hear. The penis should be an exit for two things not an open door like a twenty four seven supermarket.

They say writers should write about what they know. In the case of Kidney Transplant Zombie, it is very personal. Out of the blue a few years ago I found out that I had kidney disease which was in the ‘You need a transplant now to save your life’ category. It was a shocker but a wake up call as well. I learned exactly what is in our food even the ones we are told are healthy and quickly changed. The good news is it has helped a lot to the point my body doesn’t want junk food any more.

Another part of me in how I deal with life is to try to find the humour in everything. With Kidney Transplant Zombie I wanted to raise the subject to audiences. My point was that life can change in an instant and how you deal with it determines how you cope. In a way it’s therapy for me in acknowledging and living with the fact someone made the ultimate gift of love to keep me around for a while longer. Trust me this time I’m living to the full even more than before but looking after myself. I touch upon things like the survivor guilt no one told me about. I feel guilty because a living donor gave up one of their kidneys to save my life for the sake of my family. I wanted to make the most painful part of the post transplant the fun part of the story; the dreaded catheter. I kid you not when they finally removed it I asked the nurse if it was a boy or a girl. The catheter pain was that intense. I’m putting a tube up your penis for two days and it ain’t coming out until then is not any what any man wants to hear. The penis should be an exit for two things not an open door like a twenty four seven supermarket. However it is just one of unexpected things you endure for a second chance at life. While it is therapy of sorts for me, it’s a way to deal with what happened and share in a comedic way. Maybe someone else out there facing the operation will find something in my story to help them through or it may simply give you a laugh. I suppose that is life really. Things happen so you can learn from them and move forward with a new understanding of life itself. There will be more from other Transplant Zombies in volume three. Enjoy!

To read the Kidney Transplant Zombie and more get your copy today at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zombie-Blues-Owen-Quinn/dp/1717802257/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=zombie+blues+owen+quinn&qid=1613853275&sr=8-1

Heroes of the Time Warriors: Michael

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

There’s no easy answer to bullying but what I can do is share how it made me feel through the story The Survivor. I needed to show others that bullying doesn’t end in your head. Even when you physically move beyond the circle of bullies to somewhere they can’t reach you, those scars stay with you shaping you in ways you don’t even realise.

Every writer will put something of themselves in a character or characters by using their own life experiences or those of friends and family to enhance their characters and the story. In my case Michael McManus, the other male lead character that makes up the Time Warriors is me.

Others have commented on the similarity in stuff he says to me but every character has some aspect of me in there. Michael was the most defined when I first put the idea together. I didn’t want him to be the Xander character but I needed that slight nerd aspect to him. He would be the one who often put his foot in it and say the wrong thing at the most inappropriate time. He is the dreamer just as I was looking up at the far horizon and dreaming of something else all the while knowing the world was much bigger than the place I grew up in. I was fascinated by tales of flying saucers and monsters like Sasquatch and sea monsters. Like Michael I screwed up my A levels and worked in a supermarket. It was fun and a great lesson in life and social interaction but it was repressing too. You got used to the money and the desire to go back to education faded with every paycheck and bit of promotion. I found my adventure in my stories and travelled to places in my head. For Michael, his life changing adventure came the day he was swept up in Varran’s life.

When I first wrote the first seventeen stories Michael was always going to be the poster boy for the victim of bullies, the ultimate survivor which impacted him in every way. The Survivor was one of the first stories I ever wrote and features in The Time Warriors book 2 The Voalox Horror. There’s no easy answer to bullying but what I can do is share how it made me feel through the story The Survivor. I needed to show others that bullying doesn’t end in your head. Even when you physically move beyond the circle of bullies to somewhere they can’t reach you, those bullying scars stay with you shaping you in ways you don’t even realise. They hold you back in a lot of cases and ways but you must learn to rise above them and live life to the best of your ability. You own the scars of bullying and use them to empower you to be the better person as best you can. It is through his time with Jacke, Varran and Tyran that Michael learns to be a better man. His adventures give him the platform to truly show the man he really is.

In Experiment Four he is the comedy value and the big brother to Jacke and Tyran. He is especially close to Tyran but it is his falling in love with Rachel that makes him grow up. He and Tyran form a comedy duo as they explore an insane asylum in Victorian London pretending they are undercover agents for a secret organisation inspired by the real life television programme, Torchwood. Over the course of the first four books culminating in Tempest we see Michael grow as a person from a frightened bullied boy to a man ready to give his life for those he loves. When Michael gives up Rachel and their daughter to save the Ganti species it causes friction between Michael and Varran to the point Jacke has to separate them when they row.

My characters need to have something to make the reader identify with them so they see no only a real person but something of themselves in that character also. This allows a writer to draw a reader into the story much more. We paint pictures with words but words defined by all of our common life experiences. That was why Michael was never going to be a muscle bound character and never will be. He is also body conscious so like millions of others and for me the trick is to make him see he is beautiful as a person through the character around him. For example when he is surrounded by the perfectly body sculpted Mordans in Soul Scream he feels a little self conscious and annoyed that Tyran looks at them differently than she does him.

Despite being the one character who never feels worthy enough in the eyes of others, Michael has a fierce optimism that everything will turn out alright in the end. Fuelled by the Xereban mantra that everything happens for a reason, Michael inspires Rachel that they will be reunited some day which rubs off on the others too. It is Michael who goes after the family hardest of all when they use Rachel and Sarah as part of their attack on the Time Warriors. He has an intense dislike of bullies and especially tyran’s brother, Robert who is everything Michael isn’t; rich, parents, popular with the girls and a confidence that can break stone. We see the softer more grown up side of Michael in The Gift when life tears Robert down when in the beginning he would have left the rich playboy in the gutter.

In Venom we see Michael has found true happiness but is waiting for the other shoe to fall. In Spooklight he is possessed by the titular Spooklights. Raised by his grandmother, Maisy, named in honour of my late granny, Michael is put through his paces in Homecoming when he saves a kid from a house fire and faces an old bully. He has a one night stand with an old flame and commits the ultimate sin while in bed with her by calling out someone else’s name- Rachel’s. His parents having been killed in a car ancient years ago, Michael only wants to have a family of his own and to be more than he is. This he does through his adventures with Varran and the others. But happiness has a habit of being taken away in a heartbeat so will the honeymoon last for Michael? Time as they say will tell…..

Pet Sematary 2019: What went wrong?

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

True Evil is when parents can no longer sing their children to sleep in the comforting cradle of a lullaby leaving cold fearful silence in its place.

Remakes are ten to a penny. Some you roll your eyes at while others intrigue us. When I heard that they were planning a remake of Stephen King’s Pet Semetary it was one where I wondered how could they do something different with such a simple story. The whole point of a remake is to improve on the original story and bring something new without losing any of the core essence of the story that people loved the first time round. So what they could possibly do with Pet Semetary? Once I saw the movie I knew exactly what they brought to it to expand the original.

Nothing.

What a screw up of a story if ever I saw one. John Carpenter brilliantly improved on the Thing From Another World while Gus Van Sant did nothing for Norman Bates in Psycho. Directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer and written by Jeff Buhler his movie adaption of the horror story left a lot to be desired. One critic said the movie felt like it had been exhumed rather than a revival which I have to agree with. When you exhume something parts of it are no longer there which made the original complete and this applies perfectly to the Pet Semetary remake.

The original movie was not perfect but at least it grabbed the essence of the book and ran with it.

The Creed family consisting of Louis, Rachel, Ellie and two year old Gage are shattered when Gage is killed by a lorry on the road near to their new house. Grief rips them apart. Young Ellie has visions which terrify her and it is all linked to the mysterious Pet Semetary, an ancient burial site that has a habit of bringing the dead back to life. Their elderly neighbour Jud Crandall tells Louis about it when Ellie’s pet cat, Church, is killed on the same road that would later claim Gage’s life. To spare his daughter any more grief Jud brings Louis to bury the cat. It isn’t long before Church returns but it is clear he’s not the loving cat he once was. Once Gage is killed then Louis decides that the Pet Semetary can bring him back too. Despite Jud’s warning of what happened the last time someone tried to bring a human back, Louis does it anyway.

What made it so horrific for me was the revived toddler Gage is truly terrifying. The very notion of one of our kids being possessed and twisted from the perfect picture of innocence scares every parent under the sun. All we want is a happy childhood but most parents spend their time trying to do that. Those shots of Gage running in the shadows wielding a scalpel are horrific. This was long before Chucky did the same thing and the impact remains. His deft slicing the back of Jud Crandall’s heels from the dark make us wince even to this day. Add to that his demonic expression as the killing spree begins are a credit to director Mary Lambert for capturing it on film. When Gage switches from monster to innocent little toddler calling for his mummy it triggers something in us as parents making the horror more tangible and sickening to us. Even when dad Louis Creed (played by Dale Midkiff) is forced to inject Gage with drugs to kill him walk the line between horror and parental concern. Gage’s cries when Louis injects him as good memories of his short life flash before his dad’s eyes. The toddler’s look of absolute shocked hurt thrown at his father before walking off muttering ‘No fair’ is beautiful. Gage walking down the corridor stumbling, slumping against the wall before slipping away in that little toddler voice are gut wrenching. We as an audience see Gage is once again a little kid who doesn’t understand why his dad has hurt him as he slumps against the wall to die. It rips us up as parents who are torn between the horror of knowing this is not a little toddler but a demon and the urge to grab him in our arms and love him just as we would if it were our own child. Those scenes are the essence of the book and the true horror of it all. Tied with the real grief tearing a family apart which we have all experienced, this is what Pet Semetary is all about. True horror is when evil takes normality and all we love and turns it into everything that turns normality into something sick and twisted. Evil is when parents can no longer sing their children to sleep in the comforting cradle of a lullaby leaving cold fearful silence in its place.

But what we get in the 2019 version is the opposite. This time they kill Ellie rather than Gage which fundamentally changes the tone of the story and horror dynamic. While the actors give it their all, the pacing and hook is not there anymore. So much of the horror is diluted because the writer wants to retain the homage to the original but put his own stamp on it. Sadly it doesn’t work like the dancing children in animal masks. Well, that’s not exactly true; the death and return of Church still works.

In the original movie Jud’s tale of the death and resurrection of Timmy Baterman is a beautifully shot and atmospheric scene between Jud and Louis. It foreshadows what is to come. The Munsters Fred Gwynne who played Jud in the original is hypnotic. You can see his story through his words but this is largely ignored in the remake. This tale is central to Louis’ decision to bring his baby boy back from the dead. Jud’s description of how Timmy was brought back by his father and how his son was nothing more than vessel for a demon is chilling. Interestingly Timmy was more of a tell your dark secrets demon rather than a killer but given the Pet Semetary is some sort of focal point for a Wendigo, could it be the Wendigo is a conglomerate of different demons?

While this dilution was bad enough, the portrayal of back from the dead Ellie is nothing more than clichéd and pedestrian. Plus the fact Ellie is older and more articulate does not intensify the horror but weakens it. There is a special relationship between most fathers and their daughters which may be what the writer was thinking could be a god angle but it falls flat on its face.

When Ellie comes back from the dead it is clear she is not herself at all. There is no surprise or tension in that. What would have been better would have been when Ellie came back she acted completely normal. For me she would have embraced her dad just as she did when she was alive with no seeming obvious difference in her personality at all. This would have lured us as an audience just as it would Louis and Rachel into a false sense of security where the Timmy Baterman story was probably a one off. It would only be when Rachel had her doubts about her daughter that the demon that now inhabited Ellie would be revealed. What we get instead is a freaky deadpanning Ellie so cliched it’s no surprise when she kills.

In the bath scene where Louis cleans her once she has been resurrected should have been the moment the difference became clear. The staples in her head are a harsh reminder of the accident that took her life but Louis chooses to ignore them. If Ellie had been acting normally before this point the staple scene would have had more of an impact on the audience’s hearts as parents. Instead there’s nothing; just a countdown to see how they are going to finish this movie. Even when she has gotten dressed the image reminds me of the girls from The Shining or the Ring. She is clearly just a little girl inhabited by something dead. There’s no attempt to trick the audience or keep them guessing. Given the audience already knows the story the assumption seems to be exactly that; the audience already know what Ellie now is so why make an effort to inject some tension.

The destruction of the entire family as they are absorbed into Pet Semetary is new but seems flat. Some of Stephen King’s endings are less than stellar to say the least (Cell, Thinner, The Stand and It come to mind) but credit has to be given for at least attempting something new. Ultimately the execution doesn’t work which is a pity because this could have been something quite stellar.