Soul Screaming

A weekly newsletter about writing fun stories while the world gets weirder

America feels sort of like Charlie Brown right now, reluctant to run and kick that football that Government Lucy is holding the Epstein football in position. We know what happens. Every time we commit, she pulls the football away at the last minute.

Not this time. We’re not going to try kicking it while House Lucy is holding—

She passed it 272-1. We could have kicked it through the uprights! Darn!

Yeah, but Senate Lucy has it now. No way she’ll let Charlie America kick it. They’ll pull it away, stab it with a know, put a lit stick of dynamite in it—

They passed it with unanimous consent!

And now we’re facing that football again. Executive Lucy has it held perfectly. We could kick it through the uprights easily. We want to. We’re dying to. The Epstein football is so close, so ready, just waiting for our glorious kick.

But wait. Lucy’s hand is discolored, her ankles are swelling, her blue suit doesn’t seem to fit right…

And her face! It’s so…so orange!

Does that matter? Can Charlie America finally score? Despite how Lucy looks, we’re gonna have faith one more time. Here we go…

***

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, fiction and pop culture writing, as well as podcasting. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see whether I can get there.

***

Public appearance! Absolutely killer holiday sale prices!

I’ll be having an insane holiday sale and signing at The NYC Indie Horror Book Fair on Saturday, Nov. 22, 12-5 pm at Gottscheer Hall, 6-57 Fairview Avenue, Ridgewood, (Queens) NY.

Everything will be priced-reduced for the holidays:

All volumes of Soul Scream Antholozine usually $14.99, Book Fair price will be $10.

All novels usually $14.99, Book Fair price will be $10.

All short publications usually $9.99, Book Fair price will be $5.

All horror poetry collections, usually $11.25, Book Fair price $5.

Short stories usually $4.99, Book Fair price will be $1.

This crazy prices will be ONE DAY ONLY and exclusively at The NYC Indie Horror Book Fair.

See ye there!

***

The results are in! Respondents flood poll question! Tremendous success!

In last week’s newsletter I included a one-question poll of readers to see whether the features I am offering Sunday-Thursday are welcome, or if I should drop some.

The answer was unanimous, so hooray, right?

The number of respondents? Wellllllllll, at this stage, I’ll take what I can get.

Thank you all for not setting fire to this Substack. Here’s the poll results:

***

Soul Screaming Humor continues with Bob and Grace

Remember how Calvin & Hobbes would often use a boy and a tiger to humorously ponder the mysteries of life? I always loved that aspect of Bill Watterson’s perfect comic strip.

And while, I’ll never be able to even approach Watterson’s genius (not a cartoonist, for example) I’ve been experimenting with an older adult take on the thoughtful discussion trope he used. While Bob and Grace do not have the innate charm of either Calvin or Hobbes, their “sweet old people” appearance allows the innocent-looking Grace to adorably cut a bitch.

To check them out, hit the link: https://open.substack.com/pub/ryan2pop/p/soul-screaming-humor-f71?r=28xhw&utm_medium=ios

***

Tell The Damn Story answers more writers’ questions this week

The legendary Alex Simmons and I dive deep into a variety of questions that pester both emerging and more established writers, often with answers you might not expect. Fun and occasionally informative, come check out a podcast that has enjoyed a small core audience for 390 episodes!

***

Perfect holiday gift for that 70’s music fan is available on the ‘Zon

Another writing experiment this year was Soul Screaming Music: 1975, a collection of my memories and reactions to hearing over 135 hits from that amazing year for music. Not a history, chronology, behind-the-scenes tell-all, this is written to inspire 70’s music fans to remember how much they loved these songs and hopefully go enjoy them again. If new music fans find songs they love through this, all the better.

Here’s the link: https://a.co/d/1zW2Zte

***

Time for this handsome fella

Sonny Mehlman’s been binging TV with us. More in “Current Obsessions”.

And here’s a bonus throwback to the handsome fella’s younger days:

***

Current Obsessions

Music – The Rolling Stones Black and Blue Super Deluxe Edition

Yet another 50th anniversary remaster/reissue, this one gets the full Stones treatment, which means tons of extras.

First, the main album has been given a 2025 remix that renders the music slightly brighter and crisper (but still rough and dirty, we are talking the Stones here). Occasionally, the vocals sound like there being sung slightly further down a hallway than half a century ago, but all-in-all there is just more detail to love from this version of this lesser celebrated classic.

Disc 2 is full of songs that didn’t make the original album, including a delicious version of “Shame, Shame, Shame” and four different jams. We don’t really get to hear such delights from this band, and that truth makes the disc a must listen. Most successful are the Chuck Berry Style and the Blues jams. Most interesting is their take on “Freeway Jam” which any rock fans of the era will recognize as a Jeff Beck staple. Fascinating to hear what Keith and the boys do here.

Discs 3 and 4 offer The Stones live at Earls Court, London, UK, 1976. And they sound every bit as loose and powerful and in full power here as they were in the 70’s. Truly worth your time.

Highly recommended.

Books – The Struggle Continues

Honestly, I am going through a cold streak these days, not being able to click with books that should be home runs. For example, I just put down Cameron Crowe’s The Uncool, a memoir I was sure I’d devour. I’ll try again someday but it didn’t work this time,

Television – Rebinging Stranger Things offers near-continuous rewards

As hinted at during the “handsome fella” feature above, we’ve been re-watching this Netflix series in preparation for the soon-to-be released final season, and wow, we’ve been shocked and delighted at each turn.

Sure, we remember the basic plot, but the twists and turns, the depth of the character development, the wondrous way it was shot, the nostalgia, and the consistency of the scares have all been welcomed rewards for rewatching.

What a great series this is.

Most highly recommended.

***

Alright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.