Broad Sound: Volume Two - Part Two is here
And you can buy a copy right now
In December 2023, I came across a tweet from the writer Ethan Warren, who’s the editor of an arts and culture journal called Broad Sound. He was looking for pitches for the journal’s second volume. There were no stipulations on what to pitch; it just had to be an idea that you thought would never get picked up anywhere else.
That’s what Broad Sound is for: niche subject matter, written by passionate writers.
So, on New Year’s Eve, I pitched an essay about drawing connections between Joe Dante’s “Matinee” and Peter Jackson’s “Return of the King.”
My pitch got accepted, and I ended up writing nearly 3,000 words about those two movies and their place in horror cinema; growing up as a military brat; how movies have always been there for me as a way to prepare me to face my fears; and how the horror and fantasy genres can help everyone make sense of the world.
The editorial process for this piece was such a fun journey (thanks to Ethan and to copy/line editor Sydney Urbanek), and it’s the piece of writing I’m proudest of from the last year.
And you can read it, along with 11 other pieces from some of the most talented culture writers working today, in a paperback copy that costs just $12.
If you only want to pay to read my piece (but really, you should read the whole collection — I’ve only seen the titles and know they’re great), a $1 PDF version is coming soon at https://www.broadsoundmag.com/. Volume 1 and Volume 2 - Part 1 are also available for purchase on the site — I didn’t write anything for those, but they feature pieces so good, I wish I wrote ‘em.
I am also in the process of recording my essay for the Broad Sound podcast feed, so be on the lookout for that.
In the meantime, while you wait for your copy of Volume 2 Part 2 to arrive, I will leave you with this scene from “Matinee,” because if this doesn’t sell you on how great this movie is, nothing will.