Crysta Coburn
Bio
Crysta K. Coburn has been writing award-winning stories her whole life. She is a journalist, fiction writer, blogger, poet, editor, podcast co-host, and one-time rock lyrics writer.
Stories (77/0)
4 Steampunk Graphic Novels Every Fan Should Read
I have learned from talking with fellow fans of the steampunk genre that the first title to spring to most minds when steampunk comics are brought up is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen co-created by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. There are undeniable steampunk elements in this series as well as several references to Victorian literature, which I find personally entertaining. It is, however, far from the only comic in the steampunk arena. If you are a fan of steampunk and graphic novels, check out these titles. It is by no means an exhaustive list, but I think of it as a good place to start, and these are some of my faves.
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: 'King of the Road' by R.S. Belcher
Wow, my friends. It took me a while to get this review of R.S. Belcher's second installment of the Brotherhood of the Wheel series, and I do apologize, but here it is. To paraphrase a couple of lovable hillbillies, it's a doozy of a book! So let's dive right in, shall we?
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Horror
How to Celebrate Michigan in the Winter
Michigan wears winter well. Our roads are among the worst in the nation, but dang is that snow pretty when it glistens in the sunlight. Snowmen, snow forts, snow angels, snow fights, snow and ice festivals...so many activities to enjoy!
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Wander
Book Review: 'Brotherhood of the Wheel' by R.S. Belcher
If you are a fan of modern urban fantasy/horror and don’t know the name R.S. Belcher, allow me to introduce you. If you do know Belcher, congratulations on being one of the cool kids. But don’t worry, we can all be cool kids together in our enjoyment of some very fine lit. Brotherhood of the Wheel is one of my absolute favorite urban fantasy novels for several nuanced reasons.
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Horror
10 Songs That Celebrate Winter
Once upon a time, some people believed that winter was caused by the vegetation goddess Persephone, also known as Kore and Proserpina, returns to the Underworld, taking the ability to grow crops with her. Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, was the source of all the cold winds. People later spoke of Old Man Winter and Jack Frost, the personifications of ice, snow, and the freezing cold of winter. (Remember the 1979 stop-motion animated TV Christmas special?)
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Beat
6 Punk Rock Christmas Songs
I worked in retail during every holiday season for the past 20 years. (My first job was a seasonal gig at a clothing store endlessly folding clothes.) What do all retail places have in common during most of November and December? Christmas music.
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Beat
Happily Ever After?
I love fairytales. Reading, writing. Love. I'm such a fairytale nerd that I persuaded some fellow writers to go in on a book with me of fairytale retellings, The Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales. I've been reading fairytales and fairytale retellings for years. The great thing about fairytales is that they are so versatile! And they tell relatable, human stories.
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Geeks
Perfect Gifts for Book Lovers
In On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King wrote, "Books are a uniquely portable magic." And books have cast their spells on many hearts and minds. I, myself, am such a victim, and I could not be happier. Both reading and writing books transports me to places far away, introducing me to different experiences that I could never hope to live myself.Chances are, if you aren't a book lover yourself, you know a book lover, and you may be at a loss as to what to buy them—aside from more books, of course, and buying another person a book that you hope they will enjoy can be a daunting task. Or maybe you are a book lover and you want to show the world!
By Crysta Coburn5 years ago in Geeks
Interview With Rose Sinister
Originally from Los Angeles, Rose Sinister is a professional tour guide in New Orlean's French Quarter specializing in haunts, mysteries, and - most especially - vampires. Rose has a singular, elegant personal aesthetic that has been likened to a "Gothic Mary Poppins." My kind of gal!
By Crysta Coburn6 years ago in Horror
40 More Songs for Your Halloween Playlist
If you are hosting a party (even if it is a party of one, rocking out in your car on the way to work or gearing up for some serious trick or treating), you want the music to flow flawlessly with few interruptions and repeats, right? And there are so many great spooky songs out there that it is just so hard to pare them down!
By Crysta Coburn6 years ago in Beat
50 Songs to Add to Your Halloween Playlist
One of the first heralds of the Christmas season, for better or worse, is the switch over of music from normal, everyday popular songs to reindeers and Santas and snow. It surrounds you in shopping malls and in grocery stores. Why don’t other holidays have their own soundtracks? Why can’t we switch over our radios and listen to those other holidays’ music?
By Crysta Coburn6 years ago in Beat
5 Kids Halloween Movies from the 80s That Still Rock (And One Honorable Mention)
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. My house is basically always decorated for Halloween (inside, at least), and I think nothing of wearing spooky clothing any day of the year. Luckily, I found a partner who feels the same way I do! And we celebrate Halloween in a big way. One of our favorite things to do is watch Halloween-themed movies.
By Crysta Coburn6 years ago in Horror