The Blogboard Jungle

How the NJ Horror Scene Helped Get My Second Book Done It took almost 10 years to get it done, but in 2024, I self-published my first book , “ Brush Fire: A Bow & Arrow Mystery .” It’s a work of fiction, what I consider to be the most fun writing, and what I write when I’m not writing about combat sports or the fight business. So, of course, since last year, I have been working on the latest Bow & Mystery, and I’m happy to announce that it’s out, up, and live on Kindle and Amazon for your reading pleasure. The Father of Evil: A Bow & Arrow Mystery You may recognize the face on the cover. Photo: Ed Carbajal That’s Father Evil , whom I have known since I was a kid. You can navigate this site to see that I’m a fan of Horror and have attended (and continue to attend) the NJ Horror-Con . Father Evil is an always-present and prominent figure at many Horror conventions, and every time I left one, I’d think, “I gotta write another story.” After a while, I wrote an outline and thou...

Mike Lombardo accepting an award from Tiffany Shepis Grinding your way to success can be a rough road, and Mike Lombardo winning two awards over the weekend for best film and best special effects are only proof of the pay off when one is persistent. Where the motivation comes from varies, but for Lombardo is was personal setbacks that drove him to filmmaking. First writing his story that became I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday to escape what he was going through would turn into a newfound pursuit. Listen to his story here: Lombardo is only getting started. Be sure and follow him over at www.reelsplatter.com to see where else his drive takes him. Photo: Ed Carbajal

Lombardo with the crew from I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday The thing that makes the NJ Horror-con and Film Festival unique is its award show for up and coming artists looking to get their work some exposure. Especially when the co-founder of the convention's film recently got featured on Amazon just before this last convention, it has to drive filmmakers to succeed. Michael Lombardo's drive was on full display at the Film award ceremony Saturday night when his film, I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday not only one best picture but also won for best special effects. I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday wins best film and best special effects. Speaking with The Blogboard Jungle, Lombardo talked about the long process of making the film and finding locations for the exterior shots in the film about a post-apocalyptic earth where a mother and son are trying to survive. With a budget of $11000 dollars, Lombardo put in a lot of effort to produce the award-winning ...

  Co-founder of the New Jersey Horror Con & Film Festival, Ryan Scott Weber's film is available on Amazon today. The film about a serial killing family in Bernardsville, New Jersey with extras that include Director commentary and cast interviews.  The New Jersey Horror Con & Film Festival is a great place to feature indie talent and horror fans in central New Jersey have found a home for their interests with every convention. To get inspired and meet like-minded folk like Weber check out information on for the convention and films on the official NJ Horror Con website . To support indie horror grab a copy of his film below:

Father Evil 2017/ Photo: Ed Carbajal As winter comes to a close, the New Jersey Horror Con & Film Festival returns in March to feature some of the best creative minds in Horror today while showcasing some of the icons fans know and love from Horror film history.  See the list of films to be featured during Spring 2018 NJ Horror Con & Film Festival weekend posted on their Facebook page: New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival!  Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Iselin, NJ  MARCH 2nd , 3rd and 4th 2018!  Tickets on sale NOW!  For all info got to: www.newjerseyhorrorcon.com

You would be hard presses to go to comic book expo like the New Jersey Comic Expo and not see the likes of Rob Bruce there. If you are not aware, he is the man behind the best horror convention in New Jersey so he wanted to pass on a message for horror fans in the area. First, the NJ Horror Con will be in March. Second, he wants to see you there!

Some of the best books are made into horror films and the authors at The NJ Horror-con and Film Festival are bringing the creativity in hordes. Zombie hordes according to Neil A. Cohen and his book Exit Zero. A zombie outbreak that starts in New Jersey. If ever there were one, New Jersey is a certainly a realistic place to set the scene for a story about the zombie apocalypse. At least that's what Cohen thought when he created his latest series. An outbreak, a battle down the parkway for survival all based in New Jersey. There's a lot more to see at the NJ Horror Con, check out Mr. Cohen's interview:

The Official Facebook page for the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival released the schedule for the upcoming event on September 22-24 at The Renaissance Hotel in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Please see the schedule for all three days and listed film times below: If you have not followed them yet, please do so by clicking the above image or visit the official site for ticket info. www.newjerseyhorrorcon.com

Father Evil from the last event. Photo: Ed Carbajal It's almost here! The New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival have put out a promotional video on their Facebook page for the upcoming second event on their Facebook page. If you missed any updates on guest announcements and reunions as well as the films on display the video gives you the most up to date info for the September 22-24 event. Check it out: For more info check out their official site . 

Photo: Ed Carbajal Per their Facebook page, the New Jersey Horror Con & Film Festival announced the film selections for the upcoming convention on September 22-24. Screenings and schedules will be announced next week but take a look at the long list of films for this Fall. See anything you like?  Remember, last Spring's convention had a few that even won some awards . As always, we'll keep you posted and see you at NJ Horror-Con.

Photo: Ed Carbajal If you weren't already excited about the two announced reunions happening this September at the New Jersey Horror-con and Film Festival, maybe one more will get you excited. The cast of Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) will also be getting together at the best Horror themed convention in central New Jersey. Summer is almost over and once the leaves start changing color you will be in the mood for Horror. See the show hours and prices for admission here . The event takes place September 22-24 at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Woodbridge, NJ. SHOW HOURS: Friday Night Screenings and Celebs and a few Vendors: 5pm-11pm Saturday and Sunday 150 Vendors, Celebs and Film Festival Sat: 11am-8pm  Sunday 10am-5pm General Admission: Pre Sale: $25 Door $30 3-Day Pass: $65 Children: 11 and under free with paying adult

The People Under the Stairs cast reunion The New Jersey Horror-con and Film Festival returns this Fall at a bigger and better location after their successful inaugural event last Spring. The upcoming event will feature two reunions of classic horror films fans won't want to miss. The People Under the Stairs (1991) and Night of the Demons (1988) are reuniting at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel the weekend of September 22. Night of the Demons cast reunion Night of the Demons built a fan base and following over the years in a film that showed what happens when teens party in an abandoned funeral home. Scream Queen Linnea Quigley has a memorable performance in the film, which spawned two sequels and a 2009 remake. Quigley's memorable performance from Return of the Living Dead (1985) won her a lot of fans and they surely won't want to pass up the opportunity to meet her at the event. The People Under the Stairs was especially fun when it came out, another film fr...

Announced on the official Facebook page for the NJ Horror Con and Film Festival given the success of the last event , they have booked a bigger and better location for the September return . We always mention how strong the culture for horror fans is in New Jersey and this con filled a void in central New Jersey for a long time. Father Evil, who is a Jersey-based presence at many horror conventions and comic-cons commented on how popular it was on the very first night of the last event. Father Evil pointing to where he was spawned. Make sure you click the above image for info on booking a room and changing reservations if you already did so.

Photo: Ed Carbajal After a successful three-day event the New Jersey Horror-Con and Film Festival has already announced their dates for September. Having been the first convention of its kind in central New Jersey the crowd that came in made this a no brainer. The hotel sold out, the films on display were all great and of course, the cosplay for horror fans was the best to date. Their official Facebook page announced the dates for vendors and sponsor for the event coming this fall. That's just before October and a good time to get your scare on. Make sure you give them, and us a follow for more info.

The conventions we go to feature so many things that readers enjoy and chances are if you enjoy them you're probably pretty knowledgeable about those things. The recent NJ Horror Con and Film Festival had everything a horror film buff would love, including the "Movie Buff" card game . According to a recent article in AdWeek , board game sales are seeing a big spike as they make a comeback in popularity. It is welcome news in an age where more people engage through their devices over social interactions. The convention had a lot of fans and celebrities interact but a game like "Movie Buff" will definitely keep it going with like minded individuals. “More people are binge watching and cooking at home, and they’re also playing board games at home, rather than going for an expensive night out. Instead of Snapchat or texting, it gives people an opportunity to come together face to face and have fun.” - Juli Lennett, toy industry analyst at NPD Group. The th...