Claire and I attended the World Premiere of the new 3-D version of “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas” at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on Monday night, October 16. We got to meet and chat with Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Paul Reubens, production genius Rick Heinrichs (check out his work on “Pirates of the Carribean II” — he’s the star of that movie, sez I), director Henry Selick and, yes, even Marilyn Manson. Pretty amazing night and the movie was even more fun than usual in 3-D. I found out this evening that my panel event on Thursday, October 19, 2006 is completely sold out — both shows — and has been for more than a month. That should make for a terrific evening. Details on exactly who will be on the panel are still a bit vague but I do know one thing that’s going to happen — I’m sworn to secrecy — that the “Nightmare” fans are going to go nuts over. This movie has been in my life for thirteen years now, as odd as that seems, and it still offers me really fun and interesting experiences at least once a year. Someday, remind me to tell you how my interest in the Alamo led to my writing the making of book about “Nightmare.” Yes, all roads lead to the Alamo…

On Sunday, November 12, 2006, I’ll be appearing on a panel at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. The panel will discuss how violence has been a preoccupation of Western films from “The Virginian” to “Unforgiven.” Why they’re starting and stopping there will be revealed on the day, I guess, but it should make for a good discussion. My fellow panelists will be John Mack Faragher, Professor of History and Director of the Howard Lamar Center, Yale University, Clyde Derrick, Kennedy/Marshall executive and former Autry media producer and my pal Paul Andrew Hutton, Professor of History, University of New Mexico. The panel lasts from 3-4:30 pm. For more information call 323-667-2000 or go to www.autrynationalcenter.org.

People frequently — although not as frequently as I’d like! — ask if they can buy my books directly from me. As a general rule, the answer is no, but I do have some extra copies of the following (all prices include postage; if you have special shipping requests, please contact me):

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