The Mars Volta - Coming Soon to CONFRONT Magazine, And Other Ramblings

I've been busy of late, writing up the transcript of my interview with Cedric Bixler-Zavala, of The Mars Volta. I interviewed him back in January, and next month, the article that was born out of that interview will be published as the "Exhibit A" on Confront Magazine.

I don't want to give too much away, but suffice to say that I was impressed by Cedric's uncompromising artistic integrity and passion for his work. The interview was done to coincide with the release of The Mars Volta's latest CD, The Bedlam In Goliath, but we touched on many other subjects during the course of our talk. Those of you who click on links will notice I'm not linking to the sale page above; that's because although I encourage you to go out and buy the CD, I also encourage you to read the background info on this album; it's truly fascinating stuff!

We did discuss the paranormal aspects of The Bedlam In Goliath, but moreso as they relate to the creative process behind the CD than anything else, though Cedric and I did discuss some weighty philosophical issues. Out of all the interviews I've done for Confront, I have to say he has been my favourite. I hope you check out the magazine's next update in a week's time; that's when the article will be going up, I believe.

So much of my writing revolves around journalism, now. As prolific as the writing is, given weekly and monthly deadlines and such, I have to say I am saddened by the fact that I don't write as much fiction as I used to. It does seem, in a very real sense, that the well ran dry when I published The Unearthing.

However, in an effort to perhaps get the creative juices flowing, I've started in earnest the rewrite of Crossroads, and will soon be looking for volunteer test subjects to inflict it upon. Likewise, I'm researching how to create and market e-books, because I would like to sell (or distribute) The Unearthing and its yet-unpublished follow-up The Darkness and the Stars, as well as Crossroads and another one-off, Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind, as e-books. I'm toying with a pay-as-you-please type of deal through PayPal or just an out-and-out giveaway of the electronic format.

I'm hoping that involving myself with the novels I've already written might spur me to start writing fiction again. It's not that I gave it up, per se, as much as it gave me up; I've still not been able to get over my writer's block, and when I do have time to write (or rewrite) of late, I find myself singularly unmotivated.

While my career as a journalist is ramping up, it seems that my career as an author is winding down. I sincerely wish I knew what to do to inspire the writing again, because I do miss it; it's been a cosntant companion for nearly twenty-five years, and it's not something I want to lose. But, I've never gone this long without being to write anything [fiction]. That troubles me.

Not much of a place to leave off a post, but...