Insecure Writer’s Support Group; Reviews – Avatar 3, Stranger Things 5, and Frankenstein; and January Movie Preview

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!

January 7 question - Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

Maybe develop a desire to write again?

Some of you are distressed when the writing bug leaves you. Afraid you are burned out. Worried stories will never return.

Writing does not define you. You may think it does, but it doesn’t. What defines you is your character, what you stand for, what you believe in.

So, stop and think about that.

While I would like to write again, it’s not imperative. It’s not life-altering. I have other creative things in life that rate higher. (Like music.)

So, give yourself a break. Maybe you need a break. Maybe your interests have changed. Regardless, it’s okay!

And we need co-hosts for February 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6! If you can help out any of those days, leave a comment or send me an email.

Reviews

Avatar: Fire and Ash
Same basic story – Terrans are harvesting Pandora’s resources unchecked while hunting down Jake and his family. (And if there are more movies, there really needs to be a new plot.) What makes it work though is the scope, the effects, and the characters.
Worth it to see it in 3D as the effects are jaw dropping and it’s one of the biggest spectacle movies you will ever see. Cameron knows how to make an epic movie and continues to up the ante with each one.
Jake’s family – and Spider – are what really makes the movie memorable. The film begins a short time after the second one ends, throwing the characters into situations and decisions rippling from the previous film. I'd also like to note that the Ash tribe leader is actually quite sexy for an alien!
It’s long (3:17) but if you enjoyed the first two, you will greatly enjoy this one. Recommended!

Stranger Things: Season Five
While there are those grousing that half the characters didn’t die in the end (what is wrong with people – would they want half of their friends and family to die?) make no mistake the fifth and final season is as excellent as the others. Many revelations, some new characters, dozens of twists, and excellent effects add up to one great season. The show also sets an exhausting pace sometimes as it piles on problem after problem.
An excellent ending to a great show! Highly recommended!

Frankenstein
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, you just know it’s going to be stylish and good.
It’s visually amazing. The director knows how bring a setting to life.
It was also a bit gorier than I anticipated. It presented a few surprising twists and turns as well.
Ultimately though, it couldn’t escape the shadow of a story told many, many times.
Still recommended if you are a fan of either the director or the story!

January Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for January. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

9 –

Greenland 2: Migration
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Stars: Morena Baccarin, Gerard Butler, Sophie Thompson
The surviving Garrity family must leave the safety of the Greenland bunker and embark on a perilous journey across the decimated frozen wasteland of Europe to find a new home.
Stupid people making bad decisions. Slowly. Take two!

16 –

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Director: Nia DaCosta
Stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Emma Laird
As Spike is inducted into Jimmy Crystal's gang on the mainland, Dr. Kelson makes a discovery that could alter the world.
Probably better than Fifty Shades of Grey: The Bone Temple.

23 –

Return to Silent Hill
Director: Christophe Gans
Stars: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Robert Strange
When a man receives a mysterious letter from his lost love, he is drawn to Silent Hill, a once familiar town now consumed by darkness.
That place is terrifying. Why do people keep going back? Someone needs to put up a warning sign or something…

Mercy
Director: Timur Bekmambeto
Stars: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Michael C. Mahon
In the near future, a detective (Chris Pratt) stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, before it determines his fate.
Exact same ‘I didn’t kill my wife!’ plot as a hundred other movies. Only with AI…

What are you going to do differently this year? Can you co-host the IWSG? Seen either movie or fan of the show? And do any of January’s movies spark your interest?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Low Water Release, December Movie Preview

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the December 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

December 3 question - As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?

I really can’t think of any writing-related gifts. However, many, many years ago my wife got me an iPod. It only held three hundred songs or so, but just the ability to hold that many was awesome. It led to me finally getting an iPhone and holding even more music. And I picked that gift because music is such an important part of my inspiration and I listen to it when writing.

We have reopened the option for In-Person IWSG Writing Groups! Check it out here. Toi Thomas’ group is the first to join!

New Release!

Low Water by Jennifer Lane

Two lives marked by trauma. One chance to rediscover hope.
In the sun-drenched Lowcountry of South Carolina, a swim coach haunted by tragedy and a psychologist devoted to healing cross paths just as their lives unravel.
He once believed Olympic-sized dreams and awful dad jokes could get him through anything, but waves of grief threaten to pull him under. She has built a career navigating others through pain, yet she struggles to confront her own.
When their worlds collide, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD forces the question: is it possible to dive into the past without drowning? Neither expects the other to become a lifeline. But with connection and courage, they search for a way forward—one stroke at a time.
Striving, tender, and surprisingly funny, this is a story about resilience and learning that the best way out of the deep end is together.

Find it on Amazon or check out the Universal Book Link

December Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for December. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

12 –

Lone Samurai
Director: Josh C. Waller
Stars: Shogen, Yayan Ruhian, Rama Ramadhan
A shipwrecked 13th century samurai considers ritual suicide until captured by cannibals on a seemingly deserted island. His will to live awakens.
I knew a cannibal who ate a clown. He thought it tasted funny.

19 –

Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Sigorney Weaver
Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death, encountering a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
We’ve had earth, water, and fire – so is the last Avatar the Last Airbender?

25 –

Anaconda
Director: Tom Gormica
Stars: Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Hans Bauer
A group of friends are going through a mid-life crisis. They decide to remake a favorite movie from their youth but encounter unexpected events when they enter the jungle.
No Ice Cube? No Jon Voight’s terrible accent? No J-Lo’s butt? Pass!

Merry Christmas everyone! Christ is the reason for the season. I will be mostly offline the rest of the month as there are so many events and gatherings to attend. May you all be blessed and I will see you in January for the next IWSG post.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Movie Reviews, and November Movie Preview

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 5 posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!

November 5 question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

I certainly couldn’t have predicted any of this! I thought one book and not much would change. But multiple books (a couple best sellers) and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group? Not to mention all the friends I’ve made along the way? That completely surprised me. And in a very good way!

Speaking of friends, we lost Sue, Elephant’s Child, last month. There is so much I could say about Sue, but Hilary and Nils both said it better. I will miss Sue’s Sunday Selections of birds, kangaroos, and flowers and her Words for Wednesday.

Reviews

John Candy: I Like Me

I’d heard good things about this documentary and it didn’t disappoint. Through his friends, fellow actors, and family, we learn about his actor journey. He was also a genuine person who elevated his fellow actors’ performances and devoted husband and father. (And I learned that interviewers often asked the crappiest questions, especially about his weight.) Definitely recommend it.

Weapons

All but one kid in a classroom vanishes in the middle of the night and many suspect their teacher.
While I certainly did not see it going the direction it did, it wasn’t an original direction. (I recently reviewed a film with the same trope.) It’s also more drama than anything else. It kept me interested but there were a couple major plot holes. From the doorcams, they knew which way the kids went – the cops couldn’t draw a line to their likely location? They also couldn’t bring in dogs? (I watch On Patrol Live – police dogs can find anyone!) If you can ignore those items, it’s worth a watch.

November Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for November. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

7 –

Predator: Badlands
Director – Dan Trchtenberg
Stars - Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
A young Predator outcast from his clan finds an unlikely ally on his journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
The Reeces Peanut Butter Cup of cinema – Predator and Alien universes. (But PG-13? Come on, man!)

14 –

The Running Man
Director – Edgar Wright
Stars – Emilia Jones, Glen Powell, Colman Domingo
A man joins a game show where contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are pursued by "hunters" hired to kill them.
No Schwarzenegger? No Dawson? Color me skeptical.

21 –

Altered
Director - Timo Vuorensola
Stars – Tom Felton, Aggy K. Adams, Daniyar Alshinov, Richard Brake
In an alternate present, genetically enhanced humans dominate society. Outcasts Leon and Chloe fight for justice against corrupt politicians exploiting genetic disparity, risking everything to challenge the oppressive system.
Please stop giving away the entire plot in the trailer!

26 –

Zootopia 2
Directors – Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Stars – Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan
Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.
Mel Brooks put it best – The Search For More Money!

What did you imagine your author/writer career would look like? Did you know Sue? Seen either of the movies? And what movies catch your attention this month?
For those in the USA, have a great Thanksgiving!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Television Series Reviews, and October Movie Preview

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

Difficult to pick one, isn’t it? All five of my books have a special place in my heart. And the short stories / articles I have written otherwise. I mean, CassaStar was my first. With CassaFire, I got better. Then there’s Dragon of the Stars, a standalone I am very proud of. And finally, CassaDark, the finale I didn’t realize my series needed but I so enjoyed creating it.

That leaves CassaStorm, the middle child of my books. And probably still my best effort ever.

I thought I was wrapping up a trilogy (before CassDark came along) and so I threw the kitchen sink at it. Three points of view. The possible end of all races in the galaxy. Main character Byron stands to lose everything. And I think I pulled it all off and in a way that satisfies fans – and me! Crafting a novel is hard but I really think I managed to score a winner with CassaStorm.

What about you?

Series Reviews

Alien Earth
Enjoying the show despite the fact that occasionally the characters do things that are jaw-droppingly stupid. Come for the alien, stay for the eyeball creature.

Wednesday
This show is delightful. All the great elements of the Adams family and Tim Burton rolled into one. Quirky, fun, and Jenna Ortga nails the roll of Wednesday. Season two did not disappoint!

Mobland
Great cast especially Tom Hardy. While the show is compelling it’s hard to root for anyone when they are all so terrible. If you like gritty and violent with no redeemable characters, then you should enjoy it.

October Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for October. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

3 –

The Smashing Machine
Director: Benny Safdie
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader
The story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion, Mark Kerr.
A heavy film about drug addiction…welcome to the jungle.

10 –

Tron: Ares
Director: Joachim Rønning
Stars: Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Evan Peters
A highly sophisticated Program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.
Fingers, toes, and anything I can cross - really hoping this is good!

17 –

After the Hunt
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Stars: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri
A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light. The movie's tagline: Not everything is to make you comfortable. Mission accomplished!

What’s your favorite that you’ve written? Watched any of the series? What movie catches your interest this month?