J.P. Mac's Blog

May 1, 2026

Substack Explained in Brief

 Intriguing place, this Substack, alive with many facets. A social media replacement? A platform for fiction? Go here to discover more: https://tinyurl.com/mw6dx8k9. I have and don't regret it.

freepik.com
 
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Published on May 01, 2026 04:00

April 20, 2026

Hero Boy Anime Parody Celebrated in Song

Up in the Skies, He Flies Around





Yes, he does, that Hero Boy. Alas, upon landing he stinks at battling oversized monsters and is laughed at by all. This minor character from the animated series Freakazoid! was recently gifted with his own song, courtesy of Suno AI. A parody of Astro Boy, young Hero Boy rates a tune. Listen and decide.  Listen on Suno
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Published on April 20, 2026 04:00

Hero Boy Anime Celebrated in Song

Up in the Skies, He Flies Around





Yes, he does, that Hero Boy. Alas, upon landing he stinks at battling oversized monsters and is laughed at by all. This minor character from the animated series Freakazoid! was recently gifted with his own song, courtesy of Suno AI. A parody of Astro Boy, young Hero Boy rates a tune. Listen and decide.  Listen on Suno
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Published on April 20, 2026 04:00

April 16, 2026

50 Publishers Not Requiring Agency Submissions

dreamstime.comWriters! You Are Free!Submit That Manuscript Today!Get that fantasy novel off the computer and out the door without someone else's approval. This can be good and bad, but if you lack representation or can't get any movement out of your agent then these 50 + spots await your pages. In a stunning binary move, some publishers also accept non-fiction. Hence, all tales are free to seek a home.  Penning Short Stories Absorbs MeSo I haven't queried any of these publishers just yet. But experience dictates that their slush piles are  immense, equaling long response times. But that could be just what you need to start your next book, finishing around the time the first publisher responds. (That's why many authors self-publish, but less on that today.) They are all free-of-charge. Beware publishers that ask for money.

So go-do-experience.

  

 

 

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Published on April 16, 2026 07:58

April 14, 2026

Markets Galore at Publishing . . . And Other Forms of Insanity

Are These Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry Markets? By the Fulsome Beard of St. Crispin, They Are Indeed!   dreamstime.comA pause in writing as I prepare to send out a brace of short stories. Naturally, I visited Erica Verrillo's Publishing . . .And Other Forms of Insanity. A dense blog stuffed with literary markets of all kinds, primarily paying ones, as well as agents and book publishers open to submissions, and literary contests of all varieties. There's more, but go-see-discover.  This is my first stop when lining up a market. If you're a writer, give it a go. NOTE: I've been informed that the image is not that of St. Crispin, but jolly old St. Nick. In any case, the beard remains fulsome. 
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Published on April 14, 2026 04:00

April 5, 2026

Happy Easter!

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Published on April 05, 2026 04:00

April 4, 2026

Up From Indolence: Down with Runnng

People Magazine
 Here's a runner who is 100 years old and still going. I'm much younger, but I have the strength and endurance of a 200 year old man. I read my notebooks from years past and find the same issues: erratic training pattern, weight gain, ignoring core and stretching. 

So far, I've been striving for consistency, running and walking 3x a week. Today will mark the third week in a row that I've been hitting the pavement. l travel a bit over two miles each outing and that's good enough for now. 

Nothing noticeably amiss with my heart. My next goal is to run three miles an outing before aging up to the century mark. 

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Published on April 04, 2026 10:31

March 23, 2026

Talking Armenian Bobble Heads

Armenian Bobble Heads 

 

 

 

 

I was in a car wash the other day, owned and staffed by Armenians. They had this merch for sale. Fascinating. I say no more, for what is there to add?
 

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Published on March 23, 2026 04:00

March 18, 2026

Focus Group Fun with an Intergalactic Bounty Hunter

 Lobo at His Most Charming

looper.com What the Children SawAs I understand it, they were pleased. For more info on the ups and downs of a Lobo animated TV series, check out my 3-part blog post.


 

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Published on March 18, 2026 04:00

March 16, 2026

Lobo Promo for Animated TV Series

 

Lobo at His Most Charming

looper.com
 Found in a Box in VHS Format This brief promo was created to spark interest in D.C.'s Lobo debuting as a animated TV series on the WB Network in the fall of 1999. So close it came. On Wednesday, I'll post the focus group tape.  A written version of Lobo's rise and demise is contained in my 3-part blog post.  
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Published on March 16, 2026 04:00