This will go down as one of the most impactful years of my life, one beginning horridly and later turning magical.

We went through a bit of turmoil in the opening months, forced to move in light of deteriorating and frankly dangerous conditions. We were broken into three times in one week and robbed of possessions and money, the most heartbreaking at the time being our wedding rings. There were more than one teenage thieves, though all were interconnected with each other. Eventually one of the young culprits made a spectacle of himself in the public and social media to the point he was caught, and his family was forced to pay us restitution. 

By a miracle of the divine, our stolen rings were recovered and made extra special when fall came and I married my best friend, TJ. We cherish the rings as we do our love, all which felt harder fought for on a downpour of a wedding day. They say rain actually blesses a wedding and it was all we’d hoped for. That night in our honeymoon cottage, the rain continued, and two crickets chirped alllll night long outside our door. Crickets bringing further blessings, so we were informed.

TJ and I began finding success with our writing this year. She killed it in sales at a few book signings for The Healthy Witch and Four Little Witches, while I was thrilled to be at her side, first in a support role, then as a co-seller behind Coming of Rage. A wonderful learning experience at the hip of my true love. It was exquisite and a dream come true.

TJ landed The Healthy Witch, the book and accompanying oracle deck, inside a local Barnes and Noble, an achievement I’m as proud of her for as she is. Meanwhile, my new novel, Revolution Calling, has arrived and is gaining steam in the first couple weeks out with a lot of favorable reviews. I look forward to the new year going all out promoting the book and arranging signing events.

I wrote and submitted 17 short stories this year, 13 in the last four months alone. So far, one acceptance from Eternal Haunted Summer and one turndown. The rest, I remain waiting with bated breath, but any good writer knows it’s best to keep grinding on projects instead of obsessing for an answer over submissions. I feel optimistic for the upcoming year and feel my last three horror stories I wrote were amongst the best I’ve ever written. Hopefully the editors agree.

If one movie captured my heart in 2023 and summarized the knockdown and rise from the ashes theme of our year, it’s Godzilla: Minus One. I keep wanting to call it the greatest Godzilla film ever instead of the best since the original, it really is that passionate in its purpose to bring Godzilla back to his roots as a harbinger of terror instead of a silly kaiju hero of the earth. Better yet, you find yourselves rooting for the humans in Minus One for a change from a beautifully acted, emotionally driven story about survivor’s guilt in the remnants of World War II. Again, arigato, Toho.

I ran a few racing events this year and posted two personal best times, even coming in second amongst males and third overall in the Lock2Lock 10K along the C&O Canal in Maryland. At 53, I consider myself a slow and methodical runner with no worry where I finish in the field. To have such success here and a sixth-place overall finish in a 5K along the Maryland eastern shore, both gave me tremendous gratification.

Though I was forced to replace my car after running it to death with 120,000 miles in the past few years, the consolation prize of being stuck with a car payment I didn’t want means having Sirius XM back in my life. I’m addicted to Liquid Metal, Ozzy’s Boneyard, Hair Nation, Underground Garage, First Wave and Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Radio. Continuing in the theme of music, I got to two concerts only in 2023 Depeche Mode and Voivod, and grateful for those exquisite shows. The Mode marked my first show attended with TJ, even though I still shake my head at myself; while I was in the music industry, I was covering 10-12 shows a month. Sobering to think upon that.

I had the pleasure of making new friends in writing and across the board in my life. A tremendous thrill getting to meet fellow Marylander and horror master whose work I’ve long respected, Richard Chizmar. This was a year I was able to spend more time with family and friends than I have in a very long time, with many wanting to meet my new bride and the results have created stronger bonds. I look forward to more of this in the upcoming year.

For the upcoming year, I have a lot cooking. My mantra for 2024 is “Go balls out,” as I’m the hungriest I’ve ever been in my life to make my writing dreams come true. I have gained a lot of momentum in the past four months, and the story ideas keep rolling in. I have reunited with my collaborative artist partner, Dominic Valecillo, as we take another crack at re-launching our Metalheads comic.  I hope to lock in a freelancing spot with renowned magazine I would be honored to be a part of. 

Largely, I’ll be pimping the crap out of Revolution Calling with upcoming interviews I’ve been booked for and hopefully the wonderful jump from the gate translates into something special.

2024 is mine. 2024 is also TJ’s. We flipped the script on a disastrous opening to 2023, proving we are a force together. We look forward to seeing you all while making our passions and hopes as writers come alive.

A most happy and prosperous New Year to you all. See you on the flipside.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

A mega THANK YOU and double horns up to Jack Mangan from Metal Asylum for this incredible review of Revolution Calling! I never expected to see the revered names of John Hughes and Stephen King mentioned in a review of my work. Yet both are huge influences in my life and writing and I am bouncing all over the joint.

http://www.metalasylum.net/reviews/2023/mr23004revolutioncalling.php?fbclid=IwAR0gPQlFvgQCPSWzSE9430yjBmvV_EeNUyiOQBnecmjcZNnn4Y4EAf0tF2o

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

You might already know, but my short story collection, Coming of Rage and my new novel, Revolution Calling, were nominated for the 2022 and ’23 Pushcart Prize respectively. Coming of Rage is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Kindle and Lulu. Revolution Calling at Lulu, with the aforementioned outlets arriving in early 2024.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

You probably have one of these in your own town somewhere, at a mall (assuming you have one left to go to), a library or firehouse. I’m seeing them growing in popularity and listening to people recount their delight in the time-honored tradition of train gardens, in particular during the holiday season. In most cases, a free show of throwback enchantment hailing simpler, if more painstakingly crafted modes of entertainment.

In northwest Baltimore City, on the cusp of Pikesville region, a firehouse has been putting on a 12 by 40-foot railroad spectacle every Christmas season, now in its 66th run. Baltimore County Engine 45 on 2700 Glen Avenue in Baltimore draws lookee-loos and families to its clickety-clack treasure trove. Always with a nod to the city’s roots, always with amusing roasts of kid-based pop culture.  Akwats something different that hasn’t been there in years prior.

My father in life was a diehard HO scale train aficionado. Having done a handful of professional custom builds for private clients including train buff Rod Stewart, my dad had worked on, for most of his adult life, his own train garden stationed in Cripple Creek, Colorado, circa the Old West. I got to know the term “roundhouse” as intimate as any word I knew in the English lexicon, since he was so proud of his own, which had a shifting track inside.

For most of my own life, my father used to take me, without fail, each December to Engine 45’s garden of goofery, which changes intermittently, every minute or so, between full and dark illumination schemes. Suffice it to say, the lighting schemes are so masterful, each mode is pure wonderment.

My father is now three years passed and before his death, he’d missed out on his beloved Baltimore train garden four years prior, as health and mobility became more of an issue. I’ve kept our tradition going with my own family, now my son and TJ. My kid’s been to Engine 45 each of his 16 years and it tickled me to end this year, he insisted we go to the garden on Christmas Eve at a precise time before beginning our family festivities. Just as I have in years past. I know my dad was thrilled to pieces and he was there in our presence around the garden.

Here’s to you, 45, and here’s to many more holiday visits to come…

–Photos by Ray Van Horn, Jr.

Christmas is nearly upon us, and I’m doing the best I can to get festive around here. Even my son said it just doesn’t feel like the holidays right now, and I know the reasons and agree with many of them. Feels like it just turned December and it’s been a rapid-fire, sometimes hostile work season, banging through gift shopping and party prepping, even doing much of it online. We threw a joint Channukah-Christmas party with our dear friends last Sunday as we’ve done for decades, sharing faiths and spirits (many spirits, lol) and warm laughter. 

Only then did it feel like the holiday season, as it will gathering with friends at a local pub tonight. I love holiday music, but my son loves it more, starting his barrages in July, then as early as November 1st. That kind of enthusiasm warms my heart, if pushes me sooner than I’m ready. Yet, I find myself eager to slap on Vince Guaraldi’s jazzterpiece soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas, rock ‘n roll Christmas albums from Brian Setzer and The Reverend Horton Heat, soul music Christmas cuts, even the solemn symphonics of traditional spiritual holiday music.

Normally Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph” would lead off my Christmas Jukebox edition of Five Things Friday, as my favorite Christmas cut ever. As ever, I love music from most walks of life and wish I could expand this into a mega Christmas playlist, but here are five yule time classics striking my immediate fancy.

Jingle ’em if you have ’em…

The Ventures – “Sleigh Ride”

Or is it a surf ride down the pipeline with red and green plaid-patterned baggies and jingle bells taped the head of the board? The Ronettes win the day with their version of “Sleigh Ride,” yet The Ventures ran, not walked (heh heh) with this palatable twanger. A gem of its time which still holds up.

The Carpenters – “Merry Christmas, Darling”

As a child, I was enchanted by this song as I was Karen Carpenter’s voice. If you were around during the 1970s, how could you not be? So so sad this poor woman had all the vocal gift in the world, yet suffered from an eating disorder which robbed us of her talents, long-term. I get far more sentimental when I hear this somber song over any other on the radio.

The Ramones – “Merry Christmas” (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”

Ramones, need I say more? 1-2-3-4!!!

Mavis Staples – “Christmas Vacation”

Always a mandatory Christmas movie pick for me and my son. It took Prince to expose me to the spectacular gospel stylings of The Staples Singers, and what delight it’s Mavis herself spreading one of the most cheerful holiday tunes ever to all the shenanigans surrounding her opening theme for Christmas Vacation. I still chuckle every year at the animated Santa getting the toy cannonball shot into his chubby nose!

Reverend Horton Heat – “We Three Kings”

A snazzy live rendition of RHH’s bossa nova-rockabilly take on the Christian hymn with some funky organ, to-boot. In my opinion, the Rev’s We Three Kings is the most underrated Christmas album of all-time.  Swing it!

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

–Photo courtesy of the public domain

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

@rvanhornjr

♬ original sound – rvanhornjr

Today is the release of Revolution Calling, whoop whoop!

Now available through Lulu in paperback and Ebook formats. Amazon and Barnes and Noble to follow. 

I will have signed copies of the novel available for purchase soon and will announce those accordingly. Upcoming book signing events to be announced, as well.

Get yours today through the following links. From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful for your support.

Paperback: Lulu

Ebook: Lulu

Praise for Revolution Calling:

“Ray Van Horn grew up during the 80s metal upheaval and associated culture wars and was clearly paying attention. Revolution Calling captures what it was like to be a metal fan when the music was still dangerous. The book has a vibe that will remind readers of Joe Lansdale and Robert R. McCammon. If you ever wanted a novel that mapped Stranger Things favorite Eddie Munson’s inner life, this is it. Die posers!”

–Justin M. Norton, Decibel Magazine

“A story of everyday heavy metal folk and how their everyday pain is real.”

–Joel McIver, author of To Live is to Die:  The Life & Death of Metallica’s Cliff Burton

“It’s obvious Ray knows his metal, but it’s also obvious he knows his wider pop culture, history, politics and world events, as Van Horn, Jr. snaps us right back to life as a goofy metalhead in the pressure-cooker that was the late ‘80s—or as Morrissey called it, the haties. As well, he delivers action events, concepts and plot in a rock-solid writing style that shines with clarity. Dialogue is mapped-out with similar confidence, allowing Jason and his exquisitely-drawn buddy Rob, as well as the tale’s other characters, to take shape quickly. Completing the circuit and keeping the tale fizzy and effervescent are endless flashes of place names, band names and brand names.”

–Martin Popoff, heavy metal journalist and author

“A passionate howl from the heart of the 80s.”

–Charles Addai, Editor, Producer and Writer, Hard Case Crime books and comics