history – DreadPennies: The Mind of Graham Bradley

Fresh Meat, Not Reboots: Aleksander and Deryn

Like me, you’re probably tired of every new movie franchise really just being a retread, reboot, sheboot, or genderbend of an old classic.

There are plenty of other characters out there who deserve to make it to the screen besides Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, King Arthur, and so on. I could list a million more.

We’ve seen every damn iteration we should see. Studios will just milk a property that has no trademark but enjoys high brand recognition.

Here are some book series that you should jump into so that we increase the chances of seeing them on screen someday.

Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy is an alternate World War One story. The Allies have genetically altered animals and the Germanic powers have heavy iron machinery. “Darwinists” vs “Clankers.”

Aleksander is the fictional only child of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and Deryn is pulling a Scottish Mulan so that she can be an aviator. Their paths cross after the Archduke is assassinated, and a British airship crashes near an Austrian safehouse in the Alps.

Excellent series that plays with history in a fun way. Strong story, strong characters, great illustrations. Go read it.

Geronimo and Bass Reeves: Tell the Story Right

https://anchor.fm/radcracker/episodes/Geronimo-and-Bass-Reeves-Tell-the-Story-Right-e1e6a59

Right there is a link to my podcast wherein I briefly review two books about lesser-known American figures. Geronimo was an Apache leader, and Bass Reeves was a marshal in the late 1800s. Incredible reads.

You can find the Radcracker Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more.

The 1619 Project is a bad joke.

90 minutes well-spent, put together by the Claremont Institute in California.

Short version, the 1619 Project is a political tool disguised as a history project that is trying to establish institutional racism in America–the thing they claim to be fighting against.

This is the kind of thing that happens when people mistake “Hamilton” for actual history. We’re better than this, don’t fall for it.

March 2020: State of the Dread

Hey there, DreadHeads! 2 down, 10 to go. Here’s what happened in February and what’s going down in March.

The Podcast

3 more episodes last month, and there will be another 3 this month. I’m still organizing content for the eventual DP StoryTime podcast, that one isn’t in production until I have my current book farther along. Find the podcast wherever you subscribe, and follow along!

The Artwork

Myles and Rose Standish, *With Answerable Courage*

29 pieces done in February, including 3 for my next big release. I’m using AutoDesk Sketchbook to do digital art for that book, and I love how it is all coming together. I am also drawing the cover for this one, it is going to be fantastic. Can’t wait to share it with you!

The Writing

Blogging is all but dead, I only keep this page going as a placeholder for an eventually larger, sexier, more powerful website.

I did finish a draft of WAC, it’s rough but very workable, and once I finish the art I will polish the text.

I also picked at a story called HOMEWORLD which will be one of the first DP StoryTime adventures once that gets underway. Having a few ideas in process helps me to keep the wheels turning in case I stall on one.

Once this thing gets moving it’s going to be a ton of fun.

The Unfattening

Yeah I lost zero weight in February. Well, maybe a pound or two, but life was just a kick in the pants. We had a baby last month so we’re still in adjustment-and-new-sleep-schedule mode at House Dread.

I’m going all-out tyrannical on it for March and I will weigh 205 pounds by the end of the month. Mark it.

Whatever Else

During my art sessions I either listen to podcasts or watch B-minus programming on Amazon, and this show has been pretty interesting so far. It’s about Prohibition in the south and the lasting impact it has had on the region.

It’s good research for a future project I have. 🙂

That’s all, folks. Get back to work. 👍