Vegetarian Werewolves, Blue Aliens, Evil Trees and Monster Men

I am way behind on posting Monster Men shows and we have had some great guest lately. We really cover a lot of the horror landscape with shows about horror for children, alien invasions and a cursed tree that drives people to murder. It's a ton of fun. Enjoy.

Monster Men Ep. 81: The Devil Tree w/ Keith Rommel and Lawrence Knorr

Monster Men Ep. 80: Aliens Invade Boom Town with Glenn Rolfe

Monster Men Ep. 79: Scary Stories for Kids- The Vegetarian Werewolf w/ Robert Holt

Belly Up to the Bar

My Monster Men partner Hunter Shea and I both had the chance to join our pal Jason Brant on Drinking with Jason, his new video podcast. Jason is a horror author and was a great guest on two recent episodes of our our show.

The premise of Drinking with Jason is simple. Jason and his guests choose a beverage and then have a chat online over a few drinks.

Hunter went first and it's a great show. Listening to two horror authors discuss the writing process and the business of writing is interesting enough, but with these two it turns into a hilarious and engaging conversation. Plus, Hunter has a bunch of great ghost stories that you won't want to miss.

Then I took a turn tipping pints with Jason and I had a blast. We covered a lot of ground, including my writing and podcasting work over the years. Highlights include The Purple Goldfish Project, my 24 blog, Dark Dossier magazine and the birth of the Monster Men.  We also talk about a lot of horror movies and I tell a few stories about some of the ghostly places I have explored, including infamous Danvers State Hospital and Lunatic Asylum. It's a pretty funny conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to Jason for having us on. Please check out Jason Brant's books and support his new show. 

Vampires Done Right

VAMPIRES! That's how the Monster men like to kick-off Halloween season. We are talking about some of our favorite vampire films and books with special guest Jonathan Janz, author of the western vampire novel, Dust Devils.

Monster Men Meet the Monster Writers: Keith Rommel & Jonathan Janz

Keith Rommel
Cursed Men, Fallen Angels and the ever present shadow of death. On this new Monster Men we welcome back our buddy Keith Rommel, author and screenwriter. The movie of his book The Cursed Man is coming soon, and you won't want to miss his other novels; The Lurking Man, The Sinful Man and Among the People. Keep up with Keith Rommel at his website or Facebook page. 

Jonathan Janz

Follow the Exorcist Road! We are very excited to present this new Monster Men with our guest, the amazing horror author Jonathan Janz. Check out his must-read books: House of Skin, The Sorrows, Savage Species, Dust Devils and his latest, Exorcist Road. And check out the Jonathan Janz blog for more. 

Monster Men Ep. 65: To Rent or Not To Rent?

New Monster Men! 

Here's a few horror movie reviews for you on VOD and Netflix including Fright Night 2, The Returned and Twixt. Plus, a great zombie book: The Way of All Flesh. 

Please enjoy and don't be afraid to share the link with your Monster friends.

Monster Men Live!

It's the MONSTER MEN show recorded live from the MONTAUK MONSTER book launch and signing event in Barnes & Noble, Yonkers, NY. We love doing the show in front of an audience and this event was a blast.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show and especially to all of you who have bought a copy of the book. Let us know what you thought.

Recommended Summer Reading: The Montauk Monster

If JAWS made you think twice about going in the water, The Montauk Monster will make you skip the entire trip to the beach.

This is one of Hunter Shea's best novels, if not his best to date. This book is not just a fantastic summer read, it's a ton of fun and non-stop action thriller from cover to cover.

You ever see pictures of those strange animal carcasses that occasionally wash up on the beach, and no one can identify what they are? They seem to be hideous conglomerations of several animals. Well, Shea takes this real life phenomena and spins a hell of a tale with it. One that involves ravenous creatures, deadly pathogens, conspiracies and tons of bullets and blood.

One of Shea's trademarks is the crazy, "all hell's breaking loose" kind of finales to his stories. This book is no exception... AND HOW! The story takes very little time to get cooking and never let's up once it gets going.

I really enjoyed this one. Go get it.

Vampires, Zombies and the Jokers Wild! Horror Movie and Comic Book Picks

A new Monster Men is up. This time we review three movies you can watch either on Netflix or VOD. AFFLICTED, for the vampire fans, CONTRACTED for the zombie crowd and NURSE 3D for the... um, sexy, homicidal nurse enthusiasts out there.

Then we review a Batman comic book that will please both horror fans and super hero fans. DEATH OF THE FAMILY features a Joker like you have never seen before. Scarier and more threatening than you've ever seen before.

Enjoy the show and don't forget to let us know what you think. Join the conversation on the Monster Men Facebook page.

The Story of the Montauk Monster

Hunter Shea, my good buddy and fellow Monster Man, has stopped by for a guest post about the awesome live event we held this past weekend to launch his new book, The Montauk Monster. You will love the story behind his thrilling new novel and it's a great primer for the next episode of Monster Men, when we will post the video from the show. Take it away Hunter...

In Search Of The Montauk Monster 

By Hunter Shea (Twitter @HunterShea1) 

Ah, the first day of summer. Here in New York it was 80 degrees and sunny with just a hint of clouds skimming across an azure sky.

What did the Monster Men do on this wonderful solstice? Were we at the beach, tanning our pasty flesh, choking on cold salt water as we dog paddled into the breakers? Did we take in a baseball game, stuffing our gullets with sausage and peppers, thrilling at the crack of the bat and the smell of a perfectly manicured outfield? Or maybe we went tandem-paragliding over rolling meadows.

Not a freakin’ chance.

Nope, we were in a bookstore kicking off The Montauk Monster book tour, talking about, you guessed it, monsters! I’m beginning to feel like the only author who comes to signings with more audio/video equipment than a roving news van. We brought it all this time: computers, large monitor, HD video camera and professional still photography. I don’t think I’ll ever be the guy who just comes with a pen and a bookmarked page in my book to read from. Monster love requires extra gear.

This time around, Jack and I went through how the book came to be, starting with the major influence Leonard Nimoy and In Search Of had on our impressionable little minds in the 70s. That led to a fascination with all things cryptid, ghostly and alien.

Being a beautiful summer day, I was concerned that we would be talking to each other in an empty bookstore. Thank you to my posse that came out as well as some new fans of monster madness. Even honorable Monster Man Tony Ventarola was there to give his support to a great cause – selling enough books and getting a movie deal so I can leave the 9-5 world behind and take my peeps with me to the Hunter Shea compound deep in the woods of an unnamed location. But I digress.

To prepare for the event, I threw a couple of dozen pics on a Powerpoint deck and didn’t reveal a thing to Jack. When you look up the definition of ‘winging it’ there’s a picture of Jack and I scribbling 2 lines on a piece of paper before filming an episode of the Monster Men. We’ve got mad skills, like Napoleon Dynamite with a bowstaff.

In the words of the great Borat, it was great success! Books were signed, pictures were taken, hugs and handshakes were doled out. And in the end, everyone there learned a lot about the scary truth behind my fictional book. Because let me tell you, the high strangeness that goes on in certain places of Long Island are far scarier than anything I can concoct.

Keep your eyes peeled when you’re on the beach this summer (hopefully reading The Montauk Monster while you tan). The waters are home to more than fish. Sometimes, things emerge from the salt water that just shouldn’t be. Pray you’re not around when they shake the sea off their fur, hungry for the day’s special – some unfortunate person on the beach!

 

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Follow Hunter Shea at www.huntershea.com and later this week look for the live Monster Men show we recorded at Barnes and Noble at www.themonstermen.net. 

Now go get a copy of The Montuak Monster!

This is the End! - Monster Men Ep. 61

On this episode of the Monster Men video podcast, we discuss and review two great movies that could not be more different. First we tackle the apocalyptic comedy "This is the End" starring Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and James Franco... and a ton of other stars playing themselves. The end of the world has never been funnier. (WARNING- SPOILERS in this episode.)

Then we turn our attention to a movie that has gotten a lot of critical acclaim, but you may have not seen yet. "We Are What We Are" is an American remake of a Mexican film with the same title. It's a dark film with a slow burn and a creepy premise involving a family of cannibals living in modern day society. 

Finally, we review "Redheads," a great horror novel by Jonathan Moore. This is a book you've got to check out. Here's the synopsis.

A killer far worse than insane.
Chris Wilcox has been searching for years, so he knows a few things about his wife's killer. Cheryl Wilcox wasn't the first. All the victims were redheads. All eaten alive and left within a mile of the ocean. The trail of death crosses the globe and spans decades.

Meet the Cursed Man

We Monster Men are proud to present our interview with Keith Rommel. This was one of our favorite episodes we've ever done. Keith is not only an interesting person, but he truly has the spirit of a Monster Man and we are happy to have a new friend.

 

Keith is the author of THE CURSED MAN, great book that is also in production as a movie. His Thanatology series also includes THE LURKING MAN and the THE SINFUL MAN. Thanatology is the study of death and dying, and each of his books features death, in some form, as a main character. 

Here’s the description for THE CURSED MAN: 

Alister Kunkle believes death is in love with him. A simple smile from friend or stranger is all it takes to encourage death to kill. 

With his family deceased and a path of destruction behind him, Alister sits inside a mental institution, sworn to silence and separated from the rest of the world, haunted by his inability to escape death's preferential treatment. 

But when a beautiful psychologist arrives at the institution and starts offering him care, Alister braces himself for more killings. When none follow, he tries to figure out whether he truly is insane or if death has finally come to him in the form of a woman. 

Keith is a fantastic author and a really great guy. You will love the stories behind his books as well as the process of making a book into a movie. To learn more about Keith Rommel, visit his website at http://keithrommel.weebly.com and buy his books on Amazon. 

In Search of the Beast of Boggy Creek

This is part two of our interview with Lyle Blackburn. We discuss his true passion, the legendary Fouke Monster of Boggy Creek. It all started when Lyle saw the movie “The Legend of Boggy Creek” as a kid. That movie captured his imagination and has never let go. Now Lyle is a leading authority on this topic. You will love hearing his stories.

We also discuss what it’s like to hang out with the guys from FINDING BIGFOOT. 

Be sure to watch part one of our interview with Lyle Blackburn where we discuss his newest book, “Lizard Man.”  For all things Lyle Blackburn, check out his website at www.lyleblackburn.com

  

Hunting the Lizard Man with Lyle Blackburn

The Monster Men have a big treat in store for you this time around. On this episode of the video podcast we interview author and real life monster hunter, Lyle Blackburn. Lyle's books THE BEAST OF BOGGY CREEK and LIZARD MAN are must reads for fans of cryptozoology, urban legends and monsters. In part one of our interview we focus on the events in Bishopville, NC surrounding the mysterious Lizard Man. Lyle has the full story and a lot of behind the scenes knowledge from his vast research into this case. 

Check out Part One and watch for Part Two coming soon. That's when the focus turns to the Beast of Boggy Creek.

THE WAITING is Over

We dedicate this episode of Monster Men to Hunter Shea's new novella, THE WAITING. It's a ghost story about a newlywed couple and a ghostly apparition of a young boy that appears in their home. Not only is it a fun and chilling read, but it's also inspired by actual events. Check out the show and and then get yourself a copy for your Kindle or eReader.

Netflix Horror Picks

On this episode of Monster Men we present our Netflix Horror Pix. With so many horror movies to choose from, it can be tough to find one that's actually worth watching. That's why Hunter and I are introducing this new segment to the show to help guide you to the good stuff.

So check out the show and then stream yourself a silly.

Top 13 Horror Movies of 2013 - Monster Men Ep. 55

Okay, the Academy Awards have come and gone. Oscars Shmoscars, that's what we have to say about that. On the new Monster Men we'll talk about movies you may actually want to see. 

Here you go, it's our favorite horror movies of 2013. 


The Monster Men Video Podcast: If you love things that go bump in the night, you’ll fit right in.  

The Monster Men take on all things horror and paranormal with their special brand of graveyard humor. If you're into vampires, zombies, UFOs, werewolves, ghosts, movies, scary books, movie reviews, the supernatural or just about anything dark and monstrous, welcome home.

Find more episodes of Monster Men at:

www.themonstermen.net

Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13

Horror author Hunter Shea at www.huntershea.com

I See a Bad Moon Rising

Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors.

Beware the moon, lads. 

Truer words have never been spoken… at least in the English countryside. That of course was the warning that Jack and David received shortly before they wandered off the road and on to the moors… during the full moon. We all know how that ended.

It ended up being An American Werewolf in London, one of the greatest werewolf movies of all time.

On this episode of Monster Men, Hunter Shea and I sat down and off the tops of our heads try to think of as many werewolf movies as we could, and comment on each as we went along. How did that end? I’d say pretty well… but see for yourself.  And while you are at it, let us know what we missed, which werewolf movies are your favorites and which are for the dogs.

Cue the Wolf Man, he’s on in five. It’s time for Monster Men!

An Interview with Robert Stava, Horror Author: Monster Men Ep. 53

A new Monster Men is up! Our guest this time is horror author Robert Stava. Robert is a great writer and a good friend of the show.

We discuss his great new book, The Feast of Saint Anne, which is a clection of four short, inter-related stories. It's the second book in his Hudson Valley Horror series, following up his first book, At Van Eyckmann's Request. You'll also learn about the mysterious town of Wyvern Falls, the epicenter of Stava's Hudson Valley horror stories. 

We also cover a variety of other spooky topics like Sleepy Hollow, creepy carnivals, the haunted Hudson Valley, ventriloquist dummies and the Red Baron's Daughter. 

You are not gonna want to miss this one. And after the show, head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of the book!



The Monster Men Video Podcast: If you love things that go bump in the night, you'll fit right in.

• Find more episodes of Monster Men at: www.themonstermen.net 
• Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13
• Horror author Hunter Shea at www.huntershea.com

Monster Men #52: Talking and Touring THE WALKING DEAD

I am very excited about this episode of Monster Men. There is a lot going on. First of all, we have our buddy, Anthony Ventarola back on as a guest. Since the topic is The Walking Dead, we ask him to join us. Not only does he love the show and have a great perspective on it, but he has actually been to Georgia and visited many of the locations used in the show. He knows his stuff and is always fun to talk to.

Ant, Hunter and I discuss the state of The Walking Dead here at the season four hiatus. How have we liked the season so far? How does it compare to last season? What did we think of the big mid-season finale? What were some of our favorite moments… and favorite kills? What do we think will happen next to Rick, Carl, Daryl, Michonne, Carol, Tyreese, Maggie, Glen and the rest of the group?

 If you want to get your Walking Dead “Geek On”, you’ve come to the right place.

Anthony Ventarola's selfie in Woodbury.

After our discussion we have a very special treat for you. Anthony was kind enough to share video footage from his recent trip to Georgia where he visited several locations from season three of The Walking Dead, including Woodbury, the town where Morgan lived and the restaurant where Carl and Michonne risked their lives to recover a certain item that was important to Carl. It is very interesting and very cool. Be sure to stick around to the end of the show to see this segment.

One of the new things you’ll notice in this show is that we recorded it remotely rather than together in the same room. In the spirit of expanding what we do on Monster Men, we plan to have more guests on and this format makes it possible for us to schedule people at most any time and from most any location. It really will extend our reach and enable us to take the show to new heights. This was our first run at it and we are very excited to bring you an array of very interesting guests in the New Year.

What did you think of The Walking Dead this year? What do you think is coming next? Let us know!

  

Blumhouse Productions: Masters of Modern Horror

It's a new Monster Men video podcast! This time we discuss modern horror favorites like Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Sinister and The Purge. Most of the most popular and important horror movies of the past decade came from Blumhouse Productions. You may not love every movie they have released, but you have to applaud them for keeping horror relevant in the 21st Century.