Monday, April 17, 2017

Fate of the Furious Review, MST3K Season Eleven, Last Jedi Trailer, Spacerguy and Star Trek, Mini-Alex, and New Releases

I’m Back! And I’m also posting at the IWSG today - Three Publishers Weigh in on Queries, Marketing, and the Publishing Model.

The Fate of the Furious Review

Dom turns on his team, performing jobs for a woman bent on world terrorism.
The fate? A whole lot of fun!
This was probably one of the funnest rides so far in the franchise. Crazy car stunts and action scenes galore. Plus a sub and a rainstorm of cars! And much of it manifested by some computer wizardry and hacking.
The gang is all back, including Jason Statham now working with the team. Great to see Kurt Russell and Scott Eastwood as Little Nobody was a great addition. Most of the characters had moments of humor, but Tyrese Gibson’s character wins for all out hilarious. Charlize Theron as the bad guy – she was chilling. I think she’s found her calling.
It’s probably just a little too long (runtime 2:16) but eighth instalment and first without Paul Walker is worth the prices of admission. The action is balanced out by human moments, including some sad one. The effects are stunning as always. And of course, they left it wide open for number nine.
The movie also broke the worldwide opening weekend record with $532.5 million dollars.
If you don’t like the series, this one won’t change your mind.
If you do, then highly recommended!

Star Wars – The Last Jedi Trailer

In case you missed it last week…


Plus Rogue One came out a couple weeks ago and we snagged our 3D Blueray right away.

MST3K – New Season

The full season of the new MST3K was unleashed by NetFlix on Friday – and it was all I could do not to binge-watch them all weekend!

Could the new team pull it off? Safe to say, they did!

Since Joel Robinson, the original founder, is in charge, it feels like the earlier seasons of the old MST3K. They’ve reintroduced the kids’ letters to MST3K (although I don’t think kids really get many of the jokes) and it has a lighter feel. The segments in between still need a little work, but they'll get it eventually.

While not as edgy or snarky as the later years, it was still hilariously funny. I laughed out loud many, many times. The highlight is still the movie.

Some of the other cast members will be making appearances this season, and the second episode featured Mary Jo, Bill, and Kevin as Pearl, Brain Guy, and Professor Bobo. It’s still odd hearing different voices for the robots, although Crow is fairly close.

If you’re a fan of the original series or RiffTrax, check it out!

Blogger Feature


Today I’d like to draw your attention to a special blogger friend, Spacerguy aka Kieran O'Toole. He runs the Star Trek Sci Fi blog and the first time I landed there, I knew I would keep coming back. He’ll throw out other science fiction stuff, but if you’re a Star Trek fan like me, you’ll be in seventh Heaven. He’s participating in the Challenge, so there’s lots to see this month!

Where are you located?
I beam down to Ireland, Dublin occasionally, hehe- which is terra incognita actually I enjoy the privacy my Pen-name gives me. "Blogger" universal URLs have I think kept my location extra secret/mysterious.

Why the passion for Star Trek?
I got bit by the space bug which got me infected on the original shows alien anomalies and stories.

When did it begin?
At an early age the futurism of "Star Trek" made me dream. At first I puzzled over why so many black scratches flickered over the tv set and then, Ahh Haa! I had an epiphany. Thecamera lens was getting dirty from space dust, so trek's producers were filming in earth's orbit, Star Trek was real!

How many Star Trek conventions have you been to?
Here you've got me. In 1995 I was thrilled to meet Leonard Nimoy under the glare of paparazzi lights and cameras at Easons. People took my photo with Leonard and I don't have any!!!
In 2011, I trekked with my friend Nova to the Star Wars Invasion at the RDS. It took Star Wars to be the first!!! I was lucky enough to meet Julian Glover himself aka General Veers and Danny Baker aka R2D2 with Nova getting snapshots.


Do you own a Bat'leth or other Klingon weapon?
No I don't, I do have a Klingon Warbird with amazing sound effects and it took me two weeks to construct Captain Kirk's Starship with Lights and sound effects for the AMT USS Enterprise NCC1701.

What is your favorite Star Trek movie?
That’s easy, I'm going to talk Prime Universe movies only. At No1: The Wrath of Khan is the obvious winner. However Star Trek IV is good fun, doesn't take itself seriously and because its good, people like it, which gets my vote haha. I'm a sucker for all the light hearted comedy and saving whales. God bless them all.


Live long and Prosper, Spacerguy aka Kieran

New Releases

Joylene Nowell Butler is stepping down as IWSG Admin due to real life taking over. We will miss her so much! She also had a health challenge last week that has put her out of commission for a while – so much that she is not able to enjoy her book’s release day on Tuesday, April 18. So, we need to help her spread the word!

Maski: Broken But Not Dead
By Joylene Nowell Butler
Psychological Thriller
$4.99 eBook ISBN 9781939844385
An IPPY Silver Medalist!

To the Breaking Point...
When Brendell Meshango resigns from her university professor position and retreats to her isolated cabin to repair her psyche, she is confronted by a masked intruder. His racial comments lead her to believe she is the solitary victim of a hate crime.
However, is all as it appears? After two bizarre days, the intruder mysteriously disappears but continues to play mind games with her. Taught by her mother to distrust the mainstream-based power structures, and with her stalker possibly linked to a high level of government, Brendell conceals the incident from the police. But will her silence keep her safe?
Then her beloved daughter, Zoë, is threatened and Brendell takes matters into her own hands. To save Zoë, Brendell searches for the stalker and confronts not just a depraved madman but her own fears and prejudices.

Find it at Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and Amazon

Learn A Word in 100 Words by Patricia Josephine
A collection of flash fiction inspired by unusual words. Each tiny tale is crafted around a word that is unique or no longer in use. Read them while waiting in line or before bed. They range from sweet and lighthearted to dark and disturbing. Look out for the supernatural, but don’t turn your back on the average human. A killer might be lurking underneath. Expand your vocabulary, and get some inspiration of your own.
Find it at Smashwords, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble




For those of you who celebrate Easter and the Resurrection, I hope you had a blessed Sunday.

Mini-Alex was hanging with his peeps of course.

I think a few of those peeps have since gone missing…



Anyone else see the Furious movie? Stoked for the next Star Wars film? Watched any of the new MST3K season? Following Spacerguy? Can you help Joylene spread the word? And did you have a good Easter?
I’m taking another break next week – catch you May 3 for the IWSG post, May movie preview, and the release of the IWSG anthology - Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life!


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, MST3K, April Movie Preview, and Ninja News

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

My awesome co-hosts today are Chris D. Votey, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Fundy Blue, and Chrys Fey!


April Question:
Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

My fourth book, Dragon of the Stars, was given a release date of April 7, 2015. Right in the middle of the Challenge. While it was a great opportunity to place the book in front of a lot of people, it was a really crap time for promotions or a blog tour. Everyone was participating in the Challenge (2000+ - the largest year ever.) How was I going to promote it effectively?

I started asking around for blog tour stops, offering to work into the letter of the day for the Challenge. To my surprise, people said yes. I set the whole week of the release with stops and three per week for the rest of the month, followed by every Monday for the two months after that. I also created a scavenger hunt, and on the day of release, twenty-five bloggers posted a picture of Mini-Alex with the book in a new location – commenters had to guess where.

The launch was successful and Dragon climbed the science fiction charts on Amazon. The continued exposure helped the book to continue to sell.

Would it work as effectively today? I’d really rather not find out…


Last month we launched the IWSG Goodreads Book Club and we’ve had a stellar turnout of members. The book for April-May is Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication & Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams. Not too late to join and start reading!


MST3K!

The new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 debuts on NetFlix on April 14!

Set your DVRs.

And turn down the lights. (Where applicable.)


Ninja News

Dan Koboldt, author and founder of #SFFpit, will be visiting the IWSG on Monday. You don’t want to miss it!

CassaDawn, the prequel to my Cassa series, is now free!

You can download this short story at iTunes, Barnes and Nobel, Amazon Kobo, and Amazon UK


SIX STRINGS Season 2 Issue 3 is available now!
This free magazine is put together by Jeremy Hawkins and is packed with top-notch interviews. The site will continue, but the magazine might be ending. Time to get yours while you can and support this awesome venture! Download it for free here.

Available now!
Piper Morgan Makes a Splash by Stephanie Faris
Piper’s mom is helping out at a local pool shop, and the owner wants to shoot a commercial for his store. Piper thinks it’s the PERFECT opportunity to get in front of the camera and experience a little bit of showbiz. But will Piper’s contribution to the TV commercial make a splash—or will it go belly-up?
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indie Bound.

WEP challenge for April! 

See Denise Covey for details.

The challenge is coinciding with the A to Z Challenge letter of the day to make it easy on participants.


Prayers for a Fellow Blogger

Michael sent me an email and posted about a fellow blogger.

Many of you remember Melissa Bradley and her blog, Melissa’s Imaginarium. She has been fighting cancer for the past few years and just recently went into hospice care. You can read the details at Michael’s blog.

Please send prayers for Melissa. Let her know she is loved.

April Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for April! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

7 –

Going in Style
Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, three lifelong pals risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.
Director: Zach Braff
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Joey King, Ann-Margret, Michael Caine
George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg…crap, wait! That was the original 1979 film. Never mind.

The Void
Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.
Directors: Jeremy Gillespie | Steven Kostanski
Stars: Ellen Wong, Kathleen Munroe, Kenneth Welsh, Aaron Poole
If you don’t enjoy the movie, a full refund is available. Offer void in Utah.




14 –

The Fate of the Furious
When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.
Director: F. Gary Gray
Stars: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Scott Eastwood, Charlize Theron
I hope by Furious 20 they aren’t driving around in NOS-powered wheelchairs.



Have you used the A to Z Challenge for marketing? Joined the IWSG Book Club? Ready for the new MST3K? Downloaded CassaDawn and Six Strings for free? And what movies catch your attention this month? (I’m guessing not too many…)
Be sure to catch Dan Koboldt at the IWSG on Monday.
I will be offline the week of Good Friday but be back on April 17.