Author: Craig W. Chenery

One of my earliest memories is walking out of The Regal Theatre auditorium, a single screen movie theatre in Stowmarket, England and into the lobby and seeing the place full of Star Wars action figures, vehicles and playsets, thanks to  Simpsons, our local toy store. I had just come out of the theatre after watching Star Wars (before it was known as “A New Hope”) I was six and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.   Just like almost anyone born in the seventies, Star Wars played a huge part of my childhood, indeed my entire life. I consider myself very fortunate to have grown up when I did. I very clearly remember playing on the playground with the few figures I had. A childhood friend bought me a Luke Skywalker in X-Wing Pilot Gear action figure for my fifth birthday.  It was a love affair that has continued to this day.

I have sat through the original trilogy as a triple bill three times at movie theaters and seen each movie countless of times on individual viewings.  That doesn’t even count the hundreds of times I have watching them on tv, beta, VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray. I was at the midnight showings of each of the prequels.  I get to take my daughter to the new trilogy that begins next year and I get to share my love with a whole new generation.

One of the topics I talk about a lot is inspiration. Star Wars is a huge inspiration for me.  George Lucas created an amazing sand box where dozens of authors and artists have gone to play. There are hundreds of books and comics that have helped broaden the world to amazing levels.  One of my long term career aspirations has been to be involved with Star Wars in one way or another.  Maybe one day, I will get to join some great talent in the sand box. I can’t think of no greater honor than to be able to leave my mark on a galaxy far, far away

May the force be with you

CWC

Next Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of the release of Blood Spatter.  One of the most popular questions I get at book signings is “what’s next?”  

That’s a very loaded question.   In the two years since the launch, I’ve released the first three books in the Butch G. Cat series.  We’re going to be promoting these books in the media heavily in the coming months. My original plan had been to go immediately into “The Definitive Zombie Movie Encyclopedia”, but after having watched over 350 zombie films during the research for Blood Splatter, I needed a bit of a break from the zombie genre.  “Don’t Make Me Come Down There” is a story I have been toying with few a few years and will be the next project I leap into.

Yours writingly,

CWC

I am very pleased to announce that I have been invited back to present at Phoenix Comicon in June 2014.  I will be preparing a brand new presentation for zombie movie fans.

Phoenix Comicon has experienced a massive growth in attendance in recent years and this year was in the top six attended pop culture events in the US with over 55,000 attendees.  Record breaking attendance is expected this year.  I am very excited to be a part of it.  This will be my third year appearing at the event.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwaznza and happy humpday to everyone out there.  Have a safe and fun holiday season and if one of my books ended up under your tree or in your stocking, I hope you enjoy it and thank you for your support.  See you in 2014!

This beautiful picture was taken of our Christmas tree by my wife, Tera.  One of our family traditions is to add a new “C” and photo to our tree every year.  It has become a living, breathing scrapbook of our life together.  

This past weekend, I was a guest at the Rapture Horror Expo in Tempe, AZ. I’ve done a lot of book signings over the past couple of years with varying degrees of success, but without a doubt this has been my most successful to date.  While I’m not surprised that my most successful and highest attended signing for Blood Splatter was right on my front door, what is interesting is that it was almost two years after it was released.  It’s really satisfying that there is still plenty of mileage left in the book.

Another high point of the weekend was hosting the Ladies of the Living Dead panel with Judith Ridley and Judith O’Dea who played Judy and Barbra respectively in George A. Romero’s seminal classic “Night of the Living Dead”.  After the event, which I might add was extremely insightful, I was able to talk with both Judith’s in depth about their careers.  Needless to say, it was a huge honor and definitely a high point of my career so far.  

Beaming

CWC