Christmastime has landed like a fat guy dropping from a chimney. Scrooge is at the multiplex, Santa's at the mall, and Mannheim Steamroller is crushing everything in its path. Christmas lights are shining, carols are playing, good cheer is cheering, warmth is warmthing, all is merry and bright. And it's...

1. "This book is perfect for Oprah." A line that is still used occasionally by editors when presenting books to the sales department, often in reference to a book that is, in fact, imperfect for Oprah. It puts the publicity department at an early and significant disadvantage by setting up...

A little more than six months ago I started a blog called Classics Rock! That exclamation point doesn't imply that this is earth-shattering news--it's part of the blog's name. I added it because the concept was so darned exciting. Once you hear it, you'll probably want me to add...

A partial ceiling collapse at the Emily Dickinson Homestead in Amherst has damaged some historical artifacts and forced a temporary closure of the museum. Executive Director Jane Wald says plaster from a ceiling in the parlor area fell on Sunday, damaging a teapot, sofa and set of chairs. . ....

Dracula has turned into many things in his time -- a bat, a wolf, a mist. Exactly when did he turn into a wuss?

There was a time when no other figure so fully personified Gothic horror, and that includes my horrid teenage neighbor Stigmata. Unfortunately the Count's image...