ballad of pilsner beer
Music

The Ballad of Pilsner Beer: approved by dirtbag royalty

If Calgary dirtbag bangerdom has a royal family, Dean Murdoch is definitely part of its lineage. Having one foot firmly rooted in dirtbag bangerdom myself, I do not mean this as a disparaging comment. I was quite flattered when “The Deaner” (actor Paul Spence), co-creator of the classic indie movie Fubar released a cover of one of my songs complete with video. And, as a … Continue reading The Ballad of Pilsner Beer: approved by dirtbag royalty

Rick Overwater
Words

How music and chemical warfare led to my latest short story

I was most pleased to be accepted into the Q3, 2021 edition of Abyss & Apex Magazine, a US publication that is quite well known in sci-fi circles. This time, I have a horror/alt-history/sci-fi story entitled Vestigial Organs. It was inspired by the Kimball Organ in Canada’s National Music Centre (Studio Bell), a documentary I saw on mustard gas warfare, and Holst’s The Planets. Nice … Continue reading How music and chemical warfare led to my latest short story

Rick Overwater
Comics

Accolades for Futility & other comic news

Futility has a new home! Our pals at The Seventh Terrace are now the proud (we hope) purveyors of Futility. Our latest, Orange Planet Horror was not only our (us being artist Cam Hayden and myself) first full-length graphic novel, it also earned us an Aurora nomination for Best Graphic Novel by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association. This is kinda old news but, … Continue reading Accolades for Futility & other comic news

Rick Overwater
Words

Comic-making resources

  Here are a bunch of places to get things you need and learn about making comics. Questions? Hit me up anytime via social media or email rick@overwater.ca Dead links? Let me know!  BASICS OF WRITING AND SCRIPTING http://channel101.wikia.com/wiki/Story_Structure_101:_Super_Basic_Shit https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/downloads/story-circle-template/ Glossary of comic terms: http://www.balloontales.com/articles/glossary/index.html Sample scripts from brand-name writers (also has a downloadable template): http://www.comicsexperience.com/scripts/ Fred VanLente script templates: http://www.fredvanlente.com/comix.html Strongly consider purchasing: Drawing Words … Continue reading Comic-making resources

Rick Overwater
Words

New short story available, misc. news

When Words Collide 2016 was my fave conference so far. I had a productive pitch session with a publisher, met some fantastic people, attended some great seminars and got excellent advice from veterans like Hayden Trenholm and Eve Silver. I also managed to sneak in a few drinks… A major highlight was the launch of the new anthology Enigma Front: Burnt, which contains my new short story “The Dim … Continue reading New short story available, misc. news

Rick Overwater
Rick Overwater
Words

New short fiction, upcoming scriptwriting panel!

August/September (2015) News about the new short story anthology I appear in, a reading at its launch party, and my upcoming When Words Collide comic scriptwriting panel with James Davidge and GMB Chomichuck. I’m most pleased that Coffin Hop Press has published a new short story by yer ‘ol pal Rick. My new noir (ish) piece, a violent, drug-fuelled  bit of depravity titled Butch’s Last Lesson is … Continue reading New short fiction, upcoming scriptwriting panel!

Rick Overwater
Stuff

Rick Overwater is a longtime Calgary-based writer, musician, and all-around n’er-do-well. He’s been a journalist, publicist, corporate copywriter and has seen much of Canada in a rusty van—one bar at a time.  Born and raised in farming country, now faking it as a sophisticated urbanite, he is, eternally, the quintessential square peg in a round hole. He measures once and cuts twice, can see into the infrared spectrum, … Continue reading

Rick Overwater