Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Disclosure Day and Project Hail Mary Reviews, and July 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 July 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

July 1 question - Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

I wish there was an easier way to get reviews. Outside of begging fans and book bloggers. It’s just so difficult to get one’s book in front of readers who actually write reviews.

Movie Reviews

Disclosure Day

Two people connect on their journey to find their place and disclose the truth about aliens.
I went into this movie with hope. I will say the special effects are better than I was led to believe. Although the CGI fox was a bit iffy.
I had two big issues with the film. First, it was too long. Many slow, contemplative scenes that could’ve been shaved. Second, Disclosure Day comes long before you see the film – way too much is revealed in the trailer, including the ending.
I really wanted to like this film. But the more I thought about it, the more issues I noticed and the less I liked it. Spielberg is so good with human connections and yet that was so absent from this film. Not that some of the actors don’t try – Emily Blunt is great in her role. And the stakes never seemed that big. (Especially since I already knew how it ended from the trailers.)
Spielberg still has a thing for aliens. But if you’re seeking that special encounter, watch Close Encounters again. Almost fifty years old and it’s still amazing.
Not recommended

Project Hail Mary

A microbe is killing our star and others. Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) comes up with a theory and is sent (unwillingly) to the one star not affected. It’s a one way trip and he arrives alone. Or is he?
Gosling is mostly the sole character of the movie except for the CGI alien he encounters. (Who is also there to study this one star.)
And there is the key component of this movie – their evolving relationship. For all the great special effects and solid plot, it is the moments spent with ‘Rocky’ that gives the story depth.
It also has some very humorous moments. It’s quirky and offbeat, which adds to the film’s charm.
A solid, well-executed science fiction adventure that didn’t feel over long. Highly recommended!

July Movie Preview

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

1 –

Minions and Monsters
Directors: Pierre Coffin, Patrick Delage
Stars: Zoey Deutch, Allison Janney, Bobby Moynihan
Follows the Minions in 1920s Hollywood as they search for frightening creatures for their monster movie, partner with a green creature, and must save the planet after unleashing monsters.
You had me at Minions. You really had me at Monsters. But baby Cthulhu puts it over the top!

10 –

Moana
Director: Thomas Kail
Stars: Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui
Live-action adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film 'Moana.'
Call me when Toy Story becomes live action.

17 –

The Odyssey
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya
After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.
Jason Bourne battles sparkly vampires with the help of Spider-Man.

31 –

Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Director:Destin Daniel Cretton
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink
A forgotten Peter Parker lives alone as a full-time Spider-Man until mounting pressure triggers a dangerous change and a powerful new enemy emerges.
Brand new day? Then Spider-Man uses Lysol to clean the streets of NY.

What changes would you like to see? Have you seen Project Hail Mary or Disclosure Day? And what movies coming out this month catch your interest?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Story Ideas, June 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 June 3 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

And co-host/IWSG Admin C. Lee McKenzie has a new book out - That Moonwater Witch! Find it here.

June 3 question - Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

A lot of my story ideas come from shows and movies. My Cassa series was inspired by the original 1970’s Battlestar Galactica series. With a hint of Star Wars and Star Trek thrown in. The Frank Frazetta drawing for Battlestar Galactica stuck with me and formed the basis of the story.

Dragon of the Stars came from a song by Ayreon, Dragon on the Sea. I took the lyrics to heart – what if the queen sends out with her finest man not a sailing ship but a star ship?

Where do your ideas come from?

June Movie Preview

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

5 –

Masters of the Universe
Director: Travis Knight
Stars: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba

A young man on Earth discovers a fabulous secret legacy as the prince of an alien planet, and must recover a magic sword and return home to protect his kingdom.
I HAVE THE POWER…to skip this movie!

Signal One
Director: Jonathan Sobol
Stars: Isabelle Fuhrman, Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis, Josh Hutcherson
It tells the story of a computer scientist who is recruited by a tech billionaire to work on a project that could change humanity's place in the universe.
Sports a good, solid cast…oh, and that kid from The Hunger Games.

12 –

Disclosure Day
Director: Steven Spielberg Stars: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Eve Hewson
If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?
A movie about Spielberg’s tax audit.


19 –

Toy Story 5
Directors: McKenna Harris, Andrew Stanton
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Tom Hanks, Annie Potts, Tim Allen
Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs are challenged when they're introduced to electronics, a new threat to playtime.
Didn’t the toys all grow old and die in the fourth movie? Or am I thinking of another film?

The Death of Robin Hood
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård
Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.
It’s Robin Hood minus all the fun…

26 –

Supergirl
Director: Craig Gillespie
Stars: Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Momoa
Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, joins forces with an unlikely companion on an interstellar journey of vengeance and justice when an unexpected adversary strikes too close to home.
Helen Slater looks great for her age!

Do your story ideas come from mostly one place? Anyone else get ideas from movies or music? And what movies coming to theaters catch your attention this month?
Catch you next on July 1!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, What to Watch, and May 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 May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

May 6 question - What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

I’ve received feedback both positive and negative over the years and most of it has faded with time. Edi of Edi’s Book Lighthouse (no longer blogging) loved my Cassa series. And then there is Trudessa’s love of Dragon of the Stars - she has continued the story on her own. Plus countless others – Tyrean, Elizabeth, Rusty, etc. Sometimes the simplest line of praise is more than enough to keep us going.

We need a couple more co-hosts for July and three to four for August. Let me know if you can volunteer. You’ll have fun and receive a lot more visitors!

What to Watch

From
Season four just kicked off and just as weird as ever. Streaming on MGM+
Every answer gets ten more questions. Enjoy!

The Beauty
Streaming on FX. Some of it works well and some doesn’t.
Sometimes it feels like an excuse to show butts.
Science fiction/horror premise is interesting but wish they would stick to the FBI agents.
Very similar to The Substance.

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
Every aspect is unsettling and meant to throw you off balance and question what is happening. If you enjoy having your brain messed with, go for it.

May Movie Preview

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

1 -

Deep Water
Director – Renny Harlin
Stars - Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Angus Sampson
A group of international passengers en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes to overcome the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.
Every 70’s disaster film rolled into one…

8 –

Mortal Combat II
Director – Simon McQuoid
Stars - Karl Urban, Ludi Lin, Jessica McNamee
The fan favorite champions -- now joined by Johnny Cage himself -- are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Having Urban as Cage is brilliant. I’ve already got my quarter up and waiting to play.

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition
Director – David Teague
Stars – Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Nicko McBrain
Spanning five decades, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition charts their iconic rise to become one of the biggest bands in music history.
What band doesn’t have a documentary these days? I dig Iron Maiden but come on!

15 –

In the Grey
Director – Guy Ritchie
Stars – Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, Eiza Gonzalez
A covert team of elite operatives are living in the shadows. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, they're sent to take it back-an impossible heist that erupts into a deadly game of strategy, deception and survival.
It’s Guy Ritchie doing a Guy Ritchie film so you know you are going to get…Guy Ritchie.

22 –

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Director – Jon Favreau
Stars - Martin Scorsese, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver
Once a lone bounty hunter, Mandalorian Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure.
This is not tracking well – where’s the love for Baby Yoda?

What’s the most inspiring feedback you’ve ever received? Can you co-host? What are you watching these days? And what movie catches your attention in May?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, After Appomattox by Melissa Maygrove, Zootopia 2 Review, and April 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 April 1 posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

I listen to metal and prog rock, so my playlists feature artists in those categories – Rush, Dream Theater, Amorphis, Ayeron, Omnium Gathering, Insomnium, Symphony X, Megadeth, Haken, Voyager, Dynazty, etc. Anything with a pounding beat, intricate music, and high energy.

We would like to welcome Cathrina Constantine as our new IWSG Admin! Please visit her site (she is also co-hosting today) and say hello.

After Appomattox: The Stories That Begin When the War Ends by Melissa Maygrove

On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. The brutal war that had divided the country for four long years was finally over. For the soldiers who laid down their weapons that day, however, the story was only beginning. They still had to go home.

Weary, wounded men returned to farms that had fallen into ruin and towns that had changed in ways they never expected. Not only did families grieve lost husbands, fathers, and sons, former enemies had to learn how to live in the same communities again. Those are the kinds of stories that inspired my Sagebrush Springs series.

In the latest book, The Rebel’s Redemption, Union widow Rosalie Reed loses her husband at Appomattox and is left to run their Nebraska farm alone. She’s aided by Major Charles Avendon—the former Confederate surgeon who operated on her husband when he died. Once Rosalie discovers Charles’s real identity, she must decide whether to forgive him and whether to risk love again.

The Rebel’s Redemption is a poignant tale of second chances. History highlights the battles, but the rebuilding was just as powerful. And those are the stories that make the best romances.

Alex loves movies, so here’s a list:
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Glory (1989)
Gettysburg (1993)
Shane (1953)
Gone with the Wind (1939)

Thank you for hosting me on your blog!

The series is currently available on Amazon in e-book, paperback, and via Kindle Unlimited. Sagebrush Springs series: universal link
Book 2, The Rebel’s Redemption, is available now here
Book 3, The Widower’s Heart, is available for pre-order here

Hannah Keegan travels west to marry widower Eli Owens and become the mother to his children, only to discover his dying wife is the one who summoned her—and is still very much alive. When a young suitor offers Hannah the future of her dreams, she must choose whether to walk away or stay and risk loving a man who might never love her in return.

Zootopia 2 Review

Picking up after the first film ended, Judy and Nick try to crack a case and everything goes awry.
The film is both fun and funny with laugh-out-loud moments. The regulars return with several new characters including Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), Mayor Winddancer (Patrick Warburton), and Jesus (Danny Trejo).
This is light entertainment the whole family will enjoy. You’ll have fun until the movie ends, after which you really won’t remember much of it.
Recommended.

April Movie Preview

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

10 –

The Beast
Director: Tyler Atkins
Stars: Daniel MacPherson, Luke Helmsworth, Russell Crowe
MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he commits to one final fight in ONE Championship against its brutal champion Xavier Grau.
Remember when Crowe actually was the fighter in the movie?

17 –

Lee Cronin’s the Mummy
Director: Lee Cronin
Stars: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, Natalie Grace
The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
Trailer looks interesting, but…who the heck is Lee Cronin?

Do you make playlists? Do you like after war stories? Seen Zootopia 2? Any movies catch your interest for April?
Happy April Fool’s Day, happy Easter, and good luck to all doing the A to Z Challenge this month!