The oceans and the age of sail is a fascinating time that captured my young imagination on the first pages of Stevenson’s Treasure Island, and the first time I read Melville’s opening words, “Call me Ishmael.” Continue reading The Call of the Sea: An Essay
Rejoin the Imperial refugees aboard Emperor Palpatine’s shuttle for Part Six as they fend off a bounty hunter and prepare to attack the Stargazer! Continue reading Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part VI
The universe is smart. It knows things and has an uncanny sense of timing. It knew I needed a kick in the pants, and delivered it wrapped in twenty-seven typed words from a good friend. Continue reading The Day I Became a “Rocket Boy”
I’m going to brag on myself for a moment and say that I am pretty damn good at my day job. But now, let me tell you how that all comes crashing down. Continue reading What Happens When You Run Up Against a “Box-Checker”?
While doing my Sunday morning workout and listening to my rock playlist (which consists of 316 songs), It occurred to me there are really only about ten of those tracks that really get me moving. There are many lists out there, but this one is mine. Get ready to rock! Continue reading The Top Ten List of My Favorite Rock and Roll Songs of All Time
Cat-owner problems are expounded when you’re a writer. Meet Fitz. Continue reading Writing with Fitz
If you could know the appointed date and time of your demise, would you want to? And if you knew it for a loved one, would you tell them? Continue reading Would You Want to Know When it’s Your Time to Die?
I’ve always loved Peter Gabriel’s song, San Jacinto. The lyrics rolled around in my head long enough to create a short story based on the Apache ceremony he refers to in the song. This is in no way accurate to any Apache ceremony. It’s just my interpretation of what the lyrics conjured up for me. Enjoy! Continue reading San Jacinto
Political commentary is a dangerous minefield these days, but art does imitate life. This song is no different and was a prophecy before its time. Continue reading What Rush’s Song, Cygnus X-1, Can Teach Us About The Current Political Climate in America
This is an article I wrote for That Hashtag Show, originally published in August 2019. I felt it relevant to bring back into the light during the troubled and divisive times we find ourselves in today. Keep in mind, this was written before the release of Episode IX. Continue reading Chewbacca: The Best Friend We All Wish We Had
The beginning of a supernatural short story based on the lyrics of “Reverend Wrinkle” by Black Stone Cherry. Enjoy! Continue reading Reverend Wrinkle
This art/wood/literary project was fun and educational at the same time, teaching me some of my ancestral mythology. Check it out! Continue reading Lyle’s Sketch/Project of the Day: Fenrir-themed Viking Shield
Follow along our journey of dream set lists! This time, I take on the sonic psychedelic sounds of prog-rock super group Pink Floyd! Continue reading My Dream Set List: Pink Floyd
Where do you fall in the debate on using sir and ma’am to address others? Continue reading The World According to Me: To “Ma’am” Or Not To “Ma’am”. That, Sir, is the Question
The R40 Tour in 2015 was their last, and it featured songs from across their catalog, but it needed more oomph in my opinion. So now, let’s turn their final set list on it’s ear and speculate on what it should have been! Continue reading My Dream Set List: RUSH
In honor of Star Wars Day! May the Fourth be with you. Continue reading Lyle’s Sketch of the Day! May the Fourth: Star Wars Edition
Now, in Part V, we flash back a final time to join Darth Vader and Lieutenant Seeda at The Temple of the Kyber on the ancient moon of Jedha. The Emperor has ordered his apprentice to restart the stalled Kyber crystal excavation and retrieve two artifacts from the temple. While the crystal mining gets back underway, a rebel faction on Jedha, led by the outlaw Saw Gerrera, learns of Vader’s arrival at the temple and attempts to take him out! Continue reading Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part V
Feeling heroic and villainous today, so here’s a little of both! Continue reading Lyle’s Sketch of the Day! – April 11th – Heroic and Villainous
The final review of Rush’s 20th studio album is here! Check out the rock and roll legacy they leave behind here! Continue reading Rush Review – Clockwork Angels, The Band's Legacy, & Final Thoughts
I was thumbing through my sketchbook and was disappointed in myself for having a bunch of outlines with nothing finished. … Continue reading Lyle’s Sketch of the Day – Unfinished Sketches… Finished! – April 1st
The famous law man of Mega-City One. Judge Dredd has always been a favorite of mine. Continue reading Lyle's Sketch of the Day – Judge Dredd – March 28th
Spider-Man By far, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is who I have drawn the most, and who I have the largest … Continue reading Lyle's Sketch of the Day – Spider-Man – March 26th
Lara Croft – Tomb Raider When I was struggling with drawing women, I practiced heavily on one of my favorite … Continue reading Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – Tomb Raider – March 24th
Author‘s Note: This article originally appeared on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, and appeared on March 23rd, … Continue reading Rush Review – The 2k's: "Vapor Trails" & "Snakes and Arrows"
The X-Men Ah, who doesn’t love Marvel’s elite team of mutants? Er,… I mean… students from Xavier’s School of Gifted … Continue reading Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – The X-Men – March 22nd
Batman and his Villains Batman comics have always been a favorite of mine. The Caped Crusader has lasted decades, and … Continue reading Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – Batman and his Villains – March 20th
As promised, I dug around through my portfolio from back in the day and found a couple sketch-outs of a … Continue reading Lyle’s Sketch of the Day! – March 18th
Instead of catch of the day. See what I did there? Once upon a time, I wanted to be a … Continue reading Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – Dragons – March 17th
Counterparts – 1993 Riding the success of Roll the Bones, the boys got back in studio two years later for … Continue reading Rush Review – The 90’s: “Counterparts” & “Test for Echo”
Previously, in Star Wars: Lifeboat… In Lifeboat: Part III’s flashback, then-Lieutenant Varon Seeda delivers a message to Darth Vader on … Continue reading Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part IV
From the future Historical-Fiction/Horror novel The Man in Cell 41 by Lyle S. Russell. Follow this blog for updates! Continue reading ‘The Man in Cell 41’ Book Trailer debut!
Struggling with your writing? Open your mind with a little bit of music. Continue reading Listen To Music While You Write? I Say Yes, You Can!
The Rush Review details two albums in the discography; 1989’s Presto and 1991’s Roll The Bones. Read on to see why these albums are so special to me. Continue reading Rush Review – 80’s-90’s: “Presto” and “Roll the Bones”
Author’s Note: This review was originally published on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, and was published on … Continue reading Rush Review – the 80’s: “Power Windows” & “Hold Your Fire”
Being a fan fiction writer myself, I appreciate projects like this more than most. When you love a project as a fan, it always bleeds through the work. This Zelda film does that and more. Continue reading Legend of Zelda: The Blood Moon Fan Film Goes Above and Beyond Epic
In the next installment, the Rush Review covers two early 80s albums: 1982’s Signals and 1984’s Grace Under Pressure! Check it out here! Continue reading Rush Review – The 80’s: “Signals” and “Grace Under Pressure”
Author’s Note: This article originally appeared on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, on January 30th, 2020 Permanent … Continue reading Rush Review – The 80’s: “Permanent Waves” & “Moving Pictures”
Author’s note: This article originally ppeared on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, on January 24th, 2020 A … Continue reading Rush Review – The 70’s: “A Farewell to Kings” & “Hemispheres”
The Rush Review rolls on with 1975’s 2112! This one is in my top-3 best Rush albums list and it was so much fun to review. Continue reading Rush Review – The 70’s: “2112”
As far as their recording label is concerned, 1975’s Caress of Steel was not a success. The highest it got to on the Billboard 200 is 148th, However, mega-fans love it and often refer to it as Rush’s most underrated triumph. Continue reading Rush Review – The 70’s: “Caress of Steel”
