Among the many things the pandemic derailed was my comic book series Legend of the Ronin, which is adapted from my Ronin novels, with pencils and inks by Ramón Pérez, colors by João Rodri, and cover art by Wayne Tanaka. I feel so fortunate to have these amazing artists lend their talents to this project. Amazon just rolled out a cool new feature for Kindle users called Guided View, which makes comics way more readable on an electronic device, because it automatically zooms in on each panel so that you can read it easily. Previously the text on a full comic book page was too smallContinue readingLegend of the Ronin Issue #3 is LIVE

It’s done. All files are submitted to distributors and printers. Heart of the Ronin is now–twelve years after it’s first publication with Five Star, then E-Reads, then Open Road–back in print, but under the Bear Paw imprint. It seems like such a long road from that initial Five Star edition. It was such a beautiful book. But, oh how times have changed in the publishing industry, and what a tortuous path this book has trekked upon. I spiffed it up with new interior illustrations by Alan M. Clark, AND I put back in all the beautiful calligraphy that hachi-dan calligraphyContinue readingHEART OF THE RONIN Back in Print

It’s here. Putting together a crowdfunding campaign is a lot of hard work. And so is making a movie, I have discovered much to my delight. Put them both together and what do you have? A $#!+load of work. I’m writing, directing, and producing Demon for Hire, a horror-comedy short film that mashes up a mouthy puppet, live actors, and some cool creature effects. It’s been my dream to make a movie since I was about twelve, imagining how I might goof around with our old 8mm movie camera. I’ve been marching up that learning path for about the lastContinue readingDemon for Hire – LAUNCH DAY

At about the time when I started writing my first novel at age twelve (a 250-page single-spaced Barsoom-esque epic), I was also dreaming of making my own movies. My mom found an old, silent 8mm movie camera at a garage sale, so we took to making home movies. It came with a bank of blinding floodlights that were necessary for indoor shots, so whenever we used it indoors, everyone was constantly shielding their eyes. But I dreamed of making movies with it. I tried to do some stop-motion a couple of times, but it just didn’t have that capability. AndContinue readingAuthor to Screenwriter to Filmmaker

A lot has happened since my last post, the one about Ruminations on Time. Something must have clicked, because I’ve been in high gear pretty much ever since. In late February, I decided to make a movie, so I sat down and hammered out the first draft of a script that became Demon for Hire, a horror-comedy short about a fuzzy blue demon — a puppet — who helps mortals with their problems while he corrupts them to the Dark Side. I’m making my first short film, a horror-comedy called Demon for Hire. Rather than tell you about the projectContinue readingComing Soon – DEMON FOR HIRE!

Since the early days of science fiction, authors have explored the future of humanity and what other life might be out there among the stars. From cybernetics to spaceships to alien contact, future-focused sci-fi lets us explore complex issues while escaping from everyday life. Eighteen diverse visions of Expansive Futures have been gathered in a special collection curated by SFWA members, now available in a limited-time bundle. SFWA is an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting science fiction and fantasy writers in the United States and worldwide. Featuring award-winning authors and fresh new voices, the Expansive Futures StoryBundle is sureContinue readingExpansive Futures Scifi Bundle

Back when I was living in Japan, about 2003-2006, one of the foods that I fell in love with was nikuman ???, steamed pork buns. They could be found in any convenience store, and they made a great meal for someone who didn’t feel like cooking. They come with various fillings: pork, beef, chicken, shrimp, veggie, even sweet custard. They are particularly comforting when the weather turns chilly and they’re all steamy and warm. I was planning a vacation to Japan with the family in March 2020. We’d been planning it for years, and it would have been the firstContinue readingCooking with Cat – Steamed Pork Buns are the Food of the Gods

A cultivation urban fantasy full of action, ninjas, magic, and a wisecracking cat for fans of Bleach and Yakuza: Like a Dragon! Get it Here: https://geni.us/ShinjukuShadows1 Travis Heermann, author of the Ronin Trilogy, the Hammer Falls, and many other adventures introduces a whole new world of magic. Tokyo Blood Magic is the first book in the brand new cultivation series, Shinjuku Shadows! He’s never failed a witch hunt before. Until he must hunt the only woman he’s ever loved… When Django Wong, a modern-day ninja turned sorcerer, takes a job to track down a newly Awakened witch, he discovers thatContinue readingLAUNCH DAY – Tokyo Blood Magic