Monday, December 16, 2013

Science Fiction Guitars and The Hobbit Movie Review! Plus What Works Online Marketing Symposium, CassaStorm News, Tis More Blessed Giveaway, and Ninja News

‘Twas the last post before Christmas Eve and it threatened to explode…

Science Fiction Guitars!

Yes, you read that right! I found an article on Blastr with some AWESOME science fiction guitars. Prepare to drool…





Movie Review

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The journey continues as the party travels through Mirkwood and finally reaches Lonely Mountain.
As with LOTR, there is no saggy middle here. This instalment is a roller coaster ride, with the party encountering orcs, spiders, wood elves, men, and finally, Smaug. The best scenes include escaping the elves in barrels (also the funniest) and the encounter with Smaug, which is just stunning. We meet some new characters and are reunited with Legolas.
Jackson weaves in many things that will eventually lead to LOTR sixty years later, including a whole subplot with Gandolf that reveals the real evil behind what is happening.
And (warning/spoiler) the ending is a BIG cliffhanger! My wife literally cried out NO! when it ended.
Highly recommended!

There were also several previews – Nolan’s Interstellar, Edge of Tomorrow, 300: Rise of an Empire, and Godzilla.
While watching them, I realized that the Internet is a big negative sometimes. Online, we knew it was the teaser for Godzilla. But sitting in that theater, there was no clue until the end. People who hadn’t seen it online got the full impact, the big Wow, it’s Godzilla!! It’s a shame the Internet has ruined the surprise for us now.
That said, seeing that teaser on the big screen was SO much better than online!

Special CassaStorm Update

Last spring, Kimberly Gabriel at Art of Infiltration asked if her middle school classes could interview me. It was a lot of fun, and we just did it again for her current classes with CassaStorm. The students’ questions were really thoughtful and genuine, and I tried to respond in kind. This is the email I got from Kimberly:

They LOVED your interview. They said you seemed very genuine. Both of my classes said they "felt like they knew you" after reading your answers. We had a great discussion about your answer regarding themes and symbolism in books and whether authors deliberately create them. We also talked quite a bit about reading outside of your genre.

I can't thank you enough for answering their questions!! They also loved the bookmarks! Thank you for those too!

My writers really liked your advice to write what you want to read too.

Kimberly

Thanks again, Kimberly!

Tis More Blessed

Hosted by Milo James Fowler at In Media Res! Check out his site for other participants.

It’s every Friday in December, but I am being a rebel and participating today.

I’m giving away a physical copy of CassaStorm, along with some swag. (If you live outside the USA, you win all three of my books in eBook.) Comment to win.

Open through December 20!


Ninja News

The Fussy Librarian featured CassaStorm on Sunday in their recommendation email. If you haven’t signed up for their service yet, visit their website.

LG Keltner is celebrating two years of blogging by hosting the Endings Blogfest on January 9 – see her site for details.

Susan Oloier’s Haunted comes out December 17 – congratulations, Susan!

Michael Abayomi’s The Morning Star, a prelude to Guardians and The Lost Paradise, is available at Amazon now. Congratulations, Michael!

The second book in Jack Lewis Baillot’s series is out – Abolished Impracticality. Congratulations, Jack!












Ali Cross revealed the cover for her upcoming book, Blood Crown.

Can’t wait to read it, Ali!





What Works – Online Marketing Symposium

The first ever "Online Marketing Symposium" Monday, January 20, 2014. A blogfest with information you can use!

Hosted by Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee, Jeremy Hawkins, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Do you ever wonder why some books become bestsellers while others can barely be given away? Why some businesses succeed and others fail? How does a blog post or a YouTube video manage to go viral? Is it a matter of luck or is there some magic formula for success?

Well, now maybe we can latch on to some of the secrets and tricks that make success happen or what we might want to avoid. We want you to tell us your stories of success (or not so successful) as we present a blogging event that will help us learn.

On event day you tell us about a marketing idea that you've used and what worked or didn't work. Your post could describe a campaign that succeeded in a big or small way or one that failed drastically. Tell us about a business campaign, an organizational event, a fundraiser – anything where a bit of promotion was necessary!

The What Works.. Marketing Symposium is not limited to authors but also to anyone in a business that has a promotional aspect – online or otherwise!

It's possible the blogging community can help you make that next project a viral success or that next book a best seller!

Join our first ever Online Marketing Symposium – sign up below!



Want one of those guitars? Did you see The Hobbit? Want to win a book? And what marketing tip can you offer…?

My last post this year will be for Mark Koopman’s Fifty States of Pray on Christmas Eve. Mini-Alex might even be part of the celebrations…

213 comments:

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T.F. Walsh said...

Merry Christmas and enjoy the holidays:) Can't wait to watch the Hobbit on Boxing day:)

Kevyn Knox said...

If I could play more than three cords, I would so want the Millennium Falcon guitar.

I wasn't a big fan of the first Hobbit, but I liked this one much more, and once the dragon came on the screen, it got way way way cooler.

As for that ending? I kinda new something along those lines was coming, but even in cliffhanger mode, I expected a little more wrapping up, a la Empire Strikes Back. Great ending. Great indeed.

jaybird said...

Hey Alex. I'm so super excited to go see The Hobbit with my daughter. Unfortunately, I haven't been well enough yet to go. But praying this week will bring good health and we can go. Sounds amazing! Wishing you and your wife a wonderful, blessed Merry Christmas. God Bless!

mshatch said...

ooh, love the cover of Susan's new book, and that blogfest sounds fabulous! What a great idea!

JJ said...

Have a terrific holiday season!!

Brandon Ax said...

Okay I want the alien guitar in me hands now.

Hobbit: DoS was so good I liked the first one but this blew it out of the water.

Angela Brown said...

I really enjoyed your review of The Hobbit II. I hope to catch in the theater since I've missed so much be waiting and waiting with other movies.

Those guitars are just straight wicked!!

And the symposium is something I almost didn't sign up for. I sat here thinking why bother. Then I answered with why not? After all, the only thing that can happen is that I learn something helpful :-)

Toi Thomas said...

I have been so crazy busy, but I have to find time to see the Hobbit movie.
That Alien guitar is sweet!
The book MorningStar seems like my kinds of read.
I'm participating in 50 States of Prey, and even if I don't participate in the Marketing Symposium, I will deffinitely check it out. I'm always up for learning something.

Stina said...

I would love to participate in the marketing day event, but that's my book release day. At that point I really won't have any advice. I mean I know what I'm doing, but I won't know at that point if it was successful. But at least if I have a chance, I can check out the other posts and learn something. :)

kjmckendry said...

Wow, I never knew guitars could even be made like that, cool. My son would love the Dr. who one! Congrats on the school interview , sounds like that was lots of fun.

The marketing blogfest sounds awesome, I'll definitely be reading them. I don't think I have anything to post for it though.

Unknown said...

Hey Alex,

I know this is an old post, but I'm coming back from being "off" (well, I'm always a little off) and saw a pic of the Alien guitar on my reader. Awesome. And the rest, too. I couldn't tell what the acoustic was, though.

I guess I'll have to go watch Hobbit. If your wife yells out NO!, then it must be two thumbs up. Hope you had a great holiday.

M.L. Swift, Writer: The Best is Yet to Come

Jai Joshi said...

I wanted the millennium falcon guitar.

I still haven't seen The Hobbit! I wanna see it so bad!!!

Jai

Jai Joshi said...

That's so great that the kids loved your interview too! I think that's something about this job that's so special, connecting with minds that are so inquisitive and curious and creative. I bet you made their year.

Jai

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