So I'm thinking of getting an e-book reader. The front runners are the Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader and the Barnes and Noble Nook. Any opinions?
  Excited that a new, limited edition Stephen King novella is shipping to me next week. Blockade Billy is a limited print from Cemetery Dance. Only 10,000 copies and I have one coming. Of course, I'll have to hermetically seal it and store it in the vault. Will have to buy the Scribner reprint that comes out in May to actually read  it. Also happy that a Stephen King collection is coming out soon. Four stories in a book titled Full Dark, No Stars.

  I was asked, again, the other day, "Where do you come up with your ideas?" It's a question that many writers cringe at, but I don't mind it at all. For one, it suggests that whomever is asking the question finds my story ideas imaginative, original and (hopefully) entertaining. Second, it allows me to talk about myself and my writing and while I sometimes feign humility, I really do enjoy talking about myself. Third, it usually gets me to reminisce about some of my stories which helps to keep them fresh and fun in my mind.
  Unfortunately, like most writers, I very rarely have a good answer. I can usually point to a particular moment or occurrence that was the little speck of inspiration for a story, but I don't have a pat answer as to why that "thing" made me think about it the way that I do. The closest I can come is to reference my wife, who regularly reminds me that I am a warped individual, and say that sometimes the mundane takes a sharp left into the bizarre as it travels through my brain.
  I imagine most artists are predisposed to look at things a bit differently than other people. And when I say artists I mean writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, actors, etc. Artists have a need to express themselves and, usually, to entertain. I think it is the same desire, or necessity if you rather, in all artists and goes to my theory of why you often see so many cross over entertainers (you know, actors who are singers, writers who play in bands, etc).
  Anyway, back to the ideas. As I said, most of my stories come from some little speck of influence that gets all jumbled and bounced around in my head and pooped (yes, I like the word) out as a story idea. Here's an example I like to share with people:
  The wife and I were driving down the road one day (preferable, I would say to driving on the sidewalk or through parks) and passed a cemetery. On the wrought iron fence of the cemetery hung a banner that said something to the effect of "Grave Sites on Sale." This reminded me of something you might see at a used car lot and I said as much to the wife.
  A few seconds later I commented that it would be funny if they sold used sites. Then I said it would be interesting if the sellers of the used sites were the previous occupants.
  At this point, Laurie said something about me being mentally FUBAR.
  But imagine the benefit, I continued. What if you weren't the typical, brain munching zombie. What if you wanted to fit in. You'd need a hot shower, some new duds to replace your ragged grave clothes and probably a decent haircut and some makeup. You'd need a little walking around cash.
  Fortunately, my wife is used to me. After nearly 20 years together as a couple, there is not a lot that surprises her about me. So she didn't insist that I pull over and let her walk.
  This thought, about grave site selling zombies, ended up sparking a little story that I am currently working on. It's a novel and only in the beginning stages. The grave selling stuff isn't exactly like my first thoughts of it, but it is in the story in a manner and was the catalyst for the larger plot. So you can kind of see how these things come to me.
  On occasion, I will write a story based on some submission request I see. These are usually pretty vague. One, is my story Traveling Music, which was printed in The Monsters Next Door: Road Trip Issue (available at Amazon, links on the website www.mikekozlowski.com  Thank you very much). The submission request simply stated to write a horror story that involved traveling or modes of transportation.
  When I read the request I thought, "That's not really how I work. My stories just pop out of the brain anus and are what they are." (Yes, I am sticking to the poop metaphor).
  At that point, however, the seed had been planted (like a extra sloppy, Taco Bell burrito) and it was only a matter of time until it made its way through the intestinal tubes of my brain, through the cortex bowel and out in to the light of day (okay...that may be taking the metaphor a bit far). Anyhoo, the story presented itself and I was quite pleased with the outcome.
  So what's it all mean? Where does a writer come up with the ideas for stories?
  Everywhere. A good writer, at least a good fiction writer, sees stories in everything. Not all of these stories are worth writing down but the ideas are filed away and may just develop into something. It probably helps to be a little...well...off.