This art/wood/literary project was fun and educational at the same time, teaching me some of my ancestral mythology. Check it out!
Lyle’s Sketch/Project of the Day: Fenrir-themed Viking Shield
My Dream Set List: Pink Floyd
Follow along our journey of dream set lists! This time, I take on the sonic psychedelic sounds of prog-rock super group Pink Floyd!
The World According to Me: To “Ma’am” Or Not To “Ma’am”. That, Sir, is the Question
Where do you fall in the debate on using sir and ma'am to address others?
My Dream Set List: RUSH
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!
Lyle’s Sketch of the Day! May the Fourth: Star Wars Edition
In honor of Star Wars Day! May the Fourth be with you.
Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part V
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!
Lyle’s Sketch of the Day! – April 11th – Heroic and Villainous
Feeling heroic and villainous today, so here's a little of both!
Rush Review – Clockwork Angels, The Band's Legacy, & Final Thoughts
The final review of Rush's 20th studio album is here! Check out the rock and roll legacy they leave behind here!
Lyle’s Sketch of the Day – Unfinished Sketches… Finished! – April 1st
I was thumbing through my sketchbook and was disappointed in myself for having a bunch of outlines with nothing finished. Tonight I decided to start trying to knock off some of my better starts and ink a couple. Sadly, there were too many to complete in one night, but here's three I'm pretty happy with... Continue Reading →
Lyle's Sketch of the Day – Judge Dredd – March 28th
The famous law man of Mega-City One. Judge Dredd has always been a favorite of mine.
Lyle's Sketch of the Day – Spider-Man – March 26th
Spider-Man By far, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is who I have drawn the most, and who I have the largest collection of comics from. He's had so many great artists through the years. My favorites are Todd McFarlane, John Romita (both Sr. and Jr.), John and Sal Buscema, J. Scott Campbell, and Erik Larsen. The... Continue Reading →
Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – Tomb Raider – March 24th
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider One of the rare times I colored a drawing! When I was struggling with drawing women, I practiced heavily on one of my favorite video game characters, Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series. I remember the sickest I ever have been was this one three-week period where I got... Continue Reading →
Rush Review – The 2k's: "Vapor Trails" & "Snakes and Arrows"
Author's Note: This article originally appeared on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, and appeared on March 23rd, 2020. Vapor Trails - 2002 Studio album number seventeen rolls in six years after their last one, and it took over a year to make. Vapor Trails would hit #6 on the Billboard 200 but... Continue Reading →
Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – The X-Men – March 22nd
The X-Men Ah, who doesn't love Marvel's elite team of mutants? Er,... I mean... students from Xavier's School of Gifted Youngsters? I'll admit, the movies had their hiccups. But the comics... those were always gold! I tap Jim Lee as my favorite X-Men artist and I love his drawing style. Here's a few of my... Continue Reading →
Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – Batman and his Villains – March 20th
Batman and his Villains My George Perez commissioned Batman sketch Batman comics have always been a favorite of mine. The Caped Crusader has lasted decades, and kept readers and artists enamored since day one. I met Justice League penciller George Perez at a Comic Convention several years ago and commissioned a Batman sketch from him.... Continue Reading →
Lyle’s Sketch of the Day! – March 18th
As promised, I dug around through my portfolio from back in the day and found a couple sketch-outs of a character I made up. She has no name or backstory, just happened to come to mind. Due to work schedules, I didn't draw anything new today, so you'll have to settle for another archive entry... Continue Reading →
Lyle's Sketch of the Day! – Dragons – March 17th
Instead of catch of the day. See what I did there? Once upon a time, I wanted to be a comic book artist, Ever since Middle School, I felt a draw to drawing. I'd like to think I'm pretty decent, but after visiting a few Comic Cons and meeting the people who do this for... Continue Reading →
Rush Review – The 90’s: “Counterparts” & “Test for Echo”
Counterparts - 1993 Riding the success of Roll the Bones, the boys got back in studio two years later for their 15th album, Counterparts. I mention Roll the Bones because it signaled the departure of the process-heavy synth sound, where Counterparts nearly cuts the ties altogether. Here, Rush returns to the simple sounds that three... Continue Reading →
Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part IV
Previously, in Star Wars: Lifeboat... In Lifeboat: Part III's flashback, then-Lieutenant Varon Seeda delivers a message to Darth Vader on Mustafar that begins a chain reaction of treason! They board a shuttle bound for Jedha to recover artifacts important to the Emperor, but will Vader discover the truth of them first and claim them for... Continue Reading →
‘The Man in Cell 41’ Book Trailer debut!
From the future Historical-Fiction/Horror novel The Man in Cell 41 by Lyle S. Russell. Follow this blog for updates!
Listen To Music While You Write? I Say Yes, You Can!
Struggling with your writing? Open your mind with a little bit of music.
Rush Review – 80’s-90’s: “Presto” and “Roll the Bones”
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.
Rush Review – the 80’s: “Power Windows” & “Hold Your Fire”
Author's Note: This review was originally published on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, and was published on February 17, 2020. Power Windows, 1985 Rush traveled back across the pond in 1985 for Power Windows, their 11th studio album. Three studios shared duties on this LP; The Manor in Oxfordshire, SARM East Studios... Continue Reading →
Legend of Zelda: The Blood Moon Fan Film Goes Above and Beyond Epic
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.
Rush Review – The 80’s: “Signals” and “Grace Under Pressure”
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!
Rush Review – The 80’s: “Permanent Waves” & “Moving Pictures”
Author's Note: This article originally appeared on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, on January 30th, 2020 Permanent Waves – Released in 1980 Rush smashed into the next decade with a new radio-friendly concept on the 1980 release Permanent Waves. This album, and the one behind it, are in this writer’s opinion, peak... Continue Reading →
Rush Review – The 70’s: “A Farewell to Kings” & “Hemispheres”
Author's note: This article originally ppeared on another website I write for, That Hashtag Show, on January 24th, 2020 A Farewell to Kings – released in 1977 Riding the wave of commercial success from 2112, Rush released their fifth LP, A Farewell to Kings, in 1977. Only a year after releasing their first multi-platinum album,... Continue Reading →
Rush Review – The 70’s: “2112”
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.
Rush Review – The 70’s: “Caress of Steel”
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.
Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part III
In part III, we pick up Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction with a flashback, and follow a young Imperial Lieutenant with a message from The Emperor for the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader!
Rush Review– The 70’s: “Rush” and “Fly by Night”
Author’s note: This article originally appeared on another website I write for, http://www.thathashtagshow.com. This, and my Rush articles that follow are done in memory of Neil Peart, 1952-2020. Rush, self-titled debut– 1974 Rush, 1974 debut album cover Perhaps it’s destiny, but Rush debuted their first album the same month and year I was born. Being... Continue Reading →
Rush – 40 Years of Geek Rock-n-Roll
A look back at Rush's 40 years of Geek Rock & Roll. Join me through four decades of the highs and lows of the Canadian progressive-rock super-group!
Code Name: Augustine Book Trailer debut!
Check out the book trailer video for Code Name: Augustine! https://videopress.com/v/pBXPdPOI?preloadContent=metadata Due to an editing delay, the release is looking more like early Spring 2021 instead of Christmas as stated at the end. I am so excited to see this finally go to print! Stay tuned for details on where you can pick up your... Continue Reading →
Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part II
In Lifeboat, Part II, the Imperial survivors learn a terrible truth about Darth Vader, and discover a traitor in their midst aboard the shuttle...
Lifeboat: A Star Wars Fan Fiction, Part I
Set at the fall of the Empire, Lifeboat tells the story of a band of Imperial survivors from the Battle of Endor in 4ABY, and the secrets they still carry...
I walked one 1 mile on the Appalachian Trail (and why it matters, too) Part II
29 Dec 18 - Not long ago, I met a lady that summited Lobuche in Nepal. Lobuche is a mountain on the Everest Base Camp trek. Yes, that Everest. Mount Everest... the Roof of the World. She, along with her cousin and some climbing friends made the long trip halfway around the world to take... Continue Reading →
I walked 100 yards on the Appalachian Trail (and why it matters), Part I
My first steps on the Appalachian Trail.
Old books can be the best books
If you've read my other posts, you might already know I have an affinity for books over other mediums for story-telling. I particularly like hardcovers, but it's not a requirement for me to read it. The allure is simply having the paper in my hands. I'm not much of a collector of anything anymore, but... Continue Reading →
Researching your book when you don’t realize you’re researching your book.
Research can be a daunting task, no matter the subject. Whether it's 16th century art or whitewater rafting or current political climate, every subject requires some knowledge and occasionally putting your boots on the ground to get dirty doing it. A couple years ago, an idea for a fantasy story came to me when I... Continue Reading →
Second Novel is Underway! The Man in Cell 41
Some folks will call it a creative slowdown, or a loss of inspiration. Maybe the educated among us refer to it as a psychological inability to write or produce new work. Call it what you like, but I call it writer's block, and it is a terrible thing. Everyone has experienced it at some point,... Continue Reading →
Lyle S. Russell 