CassaSeries Tour, Alien/Area 51 Conspiracy Movies, Carnival Row Review, and 100 Years of Time Travel

Robyn at Life by Chocolate and I were asked to step into the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Claus for some kinky counselling at Just the Cheese - check it out! (Beware – a little raunchy.)

CassaSeries Tour

It continues!
Silver Dagger Tours is hosting a month-long tour for me that includes a giveaway for an Amazon gift card and swag. Full list at their site.

Monday – Guest post at The OCD Nerd News and stops at Tara Tyler Talks, Rita's reading room, and Paranormal Palace of Pleasures

Tueday – Guest posts at The Magic Of Wor(l)ds, Always Love Me Some Books Blog, and Reviews and Promos by Nyx and a stop at Midnight Book Reader

Wednesday – Stops at nanasbookreviews, TrueYABookBlogger, and 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!

Thursday - Book-Lover, A Pinch of Bookdust, Book Corner News and Reviews, and Paranormal Romance Trance

Friday – Guest post at Tyrean's Writing Spot and stops at Bedazzled By Books, Bookriot and Sapphyria's Book Reviews

Interview with Authors from We Know the Truth, Do You?

An Anthology to Celebrate the Raid

QUESTION: What is your number one favorite alien/Area 51 conspiracy movie?

Annie Walls (Author of Lavish Lure) - Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Nothing scarier than a quiet invasion that you can’t do anything about until it’s too late.

Beverly Ovalle (Author of The Road to Eden) - My favorite is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. I love a good comedy and this is funny and the action is great.

Cass Alex (Author of Them Versus Us) - Alien Nation (movie and series). I love the idea of what could happen after possible alien integration on Earth, when separate species try and live together.

Chrys Fey (Author of Detective Heavenborn) - Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been freaked out by alien movies. But I’d say Independence Day because of the Area 51 scenes. Those scenes helped me with my story, Detective Heavenborn.

C.L. Roman (Author of Not Your Father’s Area 51) - My favorite has to be Men In Black. I loved the first one and enjoyed the others mainly because of the acting and the human reactions to advanced alien tech.

Harley Easton (Author of In the Air Tonight) - The World's End - A ton of awesome British actors play high-school friends going on a drinking weekend, but the movie takes the unexpected turn of aliens invading a tiny town.

Jennie L. Morris (Author of Galaxy Genetics Inc.) - My favorite alien conspiracy movie is Signs. I thought it was well written, and having it centered around one family with little information about the world at large, made it suspenseful.

Jennifer Wedmore (Author of What We Became) - The only movie I can think of is Independence Day. I love this movie because of the epic speech to get them pumped about fighting aliens.

Arthur M. Doweyko (Author of P'sall Senji) - Independence Day - Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum save the world. The scene where we enter Area 51 underground hanger and discover we've had a working alien saucer all along is way fun. Add to that that the President didn't even know.

Sherry Rentschler (Author of Mermurings) - My first conspiracy series/movie seduction happened during the mid-1960's Outer Limits TV series. I always got the shivers when the TV went to the little white dot and we heard the voice say, "Do not attempt to adjust your set..."

Valerie Puri (Author of Burner Phone) - My favorite alien conspiracy movie would have to be Independence Day. It has suspense, action, and a fantastic cast to bring to life a plausible first contact scenario, albeit one that doesn't have a great outlook for the human race.

Don't bother with the raid. Stay home and learn all about it in the comfort of your own home.

What’s in Area 51? Is the government hiding aliens? Elvis? Maybe the set of the Apollo moon landing? Do you know?
We do.
Join this multi-genre group as they explore the hidden recesses of Area 51, which up until now have only been whispered conspiracies. Don’t bother with the raid. Stay home, read these awesome stories and learn all you need to know.
The truth is just a page-flip away.

*All proceeds will go to US Veterans.

Visit their website and purchase the book at Universal Book Links.

Review – Carnival Row

From the IMDB:
A human detective and a fairy rekindle a dangerous affair in a Victorian fantasy world, where the city's uneasy peace collapses when a string of murders reveals an unimaginable monster.
Orlando Bloom stars as the main character, and he’s someone you can root for – he’s a good person. Cara Delevingne is also intriguing as the fairy.
The setting is great. Something about a Victorian setting that just exudes magic.
I like that it’s a detective story with supernatural twists.
The production values are great. The makeup and special effects are first class. What I don’t like – zero humor. (You see that in a lot of shows now.) It just makes the show joyless. I can’t recall one smile or laugh in the five episodes I’ve watched. It’s difficult to go back for more when each episode is more depressing than the last. (There are eight total.)
If dark, deadly, and joyless is your thing, you’ll enjoy it. On Amazon.

100 Years of Time Travel

Courtesy of Enlightened Digital!

Have you been following the CassaSeries tour? What is your favorite alien/Area 51 conspiracy movie? Have you seen Carnival Row? What do you think about time travel?

Don’t forget to visit Just the Cheese and the CassaSeries tour hosts today!

CassaSeries Tour, It: Chapter Two Review, And Superhero Love

CassaSeries Tour

Silver Dagger Tours is hosting a month-long tour for me that includes a giveaway for an Amazon gift card and swag.
A full list of the tour is posted at the Silver Dagger Tours site. Here are the stops this week:

Guest post last Saturday at Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor - Where Did the Character’s Names Come From?

Monday – Guest post about music at Writer's Gambit and stops at Just Jemi and The Story of a Writer

Tuesday – Guest posts at Mars Occupation Force - Press Office and Sandra Cox plus a stop at Blog of Author Jacey Holbrand

Wednesday - Guest posts at Elizabeth Seckman and Angela Brown plus stops at Keep on Booking and Authors and Readers Book Corner

Thursday – Guest post at Readeropolis and stops at Antrim Cycle and Java John Z’s

Friday – Stops at Book Review Virginia Lee, Literary Gold, and 2 Chicks and a Book

For the Love of Superheroes

Aquaman. I just love that movie! Have you watched it yet? If not, go watch it first and then come back and read this post. It will blow your mind.

I grew up with DC. The animated version of Superman, Batman and weird cross-overs where Green Arrow looked like Robin Hood and Wonder Woman didn’t look like she could do much. Honestly, I can only remember Superman and Batman as being the heroes whose stories I followed, even though I watched it all.

Which is why this new Aquaman movie is so awesome. He isn’t the last guy you call when you are in trouble…

Back to what I grew up with:

Superman was this goody-goody with only two weaknesses: kryptonite and Lois Lane. He had a best friend named Lex Luthor who wanted to thwart him at every opportunity. Batman was this weirdo obsessed with bats, Alfred and bad guys. He made friends with scary women like Poison Ivy and Cat Woman. Both of these heroes knew every hero that came along – like Green Arrow, the Flash, Hawk Man and every other DC hero. (Don’t get on your high horse: it’s how I saw it as a six-year-old.)

And if you break it down like that, you know exactly what the stories should be about, and what is important to the hero. They even call for help – from everyone except Aquaman.

Then Smallville came to TV and things became even weirder, though Aquaman did get a bit more credit for being a hero. Until they decided that he was only an environmentalist blowing things up… (I haven’t watched it in a while, so forgive me for remembering it like that.)

And until recently, I didn’t think that Green Arrow could do much more than be a glorified Robin Hood. (Blame the animation.) But then Arrow came to our screens along with Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. While things were good, I thought that they should make a series about Aquaman, too. And when everything except Legends fell apart, I was relieved they hadn’t.

As for the movies… The recent series is rather good. I’m not a fan of Man of Steel, I just didn’t relate to their Lois and Clark, and Batman versus Superman has too much politics – though the action scenes are really good. Wonder Woman is an amazing movie that will leave you in tears. Justice League is something you can watch over-and-over again just for fun (or when you are ill and have to stay in bed).

And Aquaman… The worldbuilding, the drama, the humour, the villains and antagonists, the blind spots of the main characters – it is absolutely amazing. Each time I watch it, I see something new to admire about how they have taken Aquaman from being the last guy the Justice League would call for help, to the first guy you’ll run to for safety.

These are characters and worlds we all know and love. Each time a new writer (or group of writers) takes on the challenge of recreating it for a modern audience, they have to keep the essence and add what the audience needs. Which is why, when the Flash asks Batman what his superpower is, he answers: “I’m rich”, and why the Flash and Cyborg believe that they are the accidents. Because a modern audience needs heroes – the accidental ones and those who take the resources they have and use it for good.

I did something similar with my latest book “Magic at Midnight”. I took a girl and put her in an impossible situation to save everyone she loves – and she finds her “superpowers” in the process. Some call it Cinderella meets Miss Congeniality. (DragonSpireUK) Some call it a Cinderella reboot with a twist on the reality show, The Bachelor. (Lee Lowery) Others call it a delightful mix of Pretty Woman and Cinderella. (Word Dreams) While others are in awe of the pegasi and her dedication to them. (Sandra Cox)

But truth be told, it was my love of DC that inspired a lot of what happens in this princess fantasy adventure.

Any stories that have been retold so many times that you know exactly what will happen, but you’re still surprised when the writers come up with something awesome? Do you love DC? Have you watched the new Justice League, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and other movies?

Award-winning author Ronel Janse van Vuuren mainly writes for teens and tweens, though she is known to write mythology-filled short stories for anthologies aimed at older readers. Her dark fantasy works, usually full of folklore, can be viewed on her website and on Goodreads. All of her books are available for purchase from major online retailers.
Sign up to be notified of new releases, giveaways and pre-release specials – plus get a free eBook – when you join Ronel’s newsletter.
Connect with Ronel online - Website, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Instagram, and Amazon

It: Chapter Two Review

Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.
You do need to see the first chapter before seeing this one and I wish we’d rewatched it to refresh our memories. They reference a lot from the first movie that I didn’t remember.
The cast is excellent – they found great actors not only for the roles but who had good chemistry together. They also interspersed the adult versions with the kid versions. (Which helped to figure out who was who.)
I’ve not read the book, so not sure how closely the movie follow it, but overall the storyline was very familiar horror trope. When the film worked, it was effective – when it didn’t, it was derivative of other horror films.
It’s also close to three hours long. While I never felt bored or looked at the time, it could have been trimmed a bit more.
There’s a direct line from John Carpenter’s The Thing in relation to a similar creature. (Not sure if it’s a nod or if King stole it.) Speaking of whom, Stephen King also has a cameo role in the film.
I will say Pennywise’s origins was a bit disappointing.
Overall I liked it but not as much as the first one.


We also watched Godzilla: King of the Monsters again this past weekend. Even better the second time!

Anyone else catch It: Chapter Two? Who’s your favorite DC superhero?

Hope you get to visit some of the tour sites this week and sign up to win the giveaway!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and September Movie Preview

I have an interview up at NFReads - if you have time, check it out!

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 Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantine!


Last day to enter the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest! Don't miss the deadline.

We need co-hosts! If you can co-host October 2, November 6, December 4, or January 8, please let us know. Leave a comment or send an email to either me or the IWSG email.

September 4 question - If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?

There’s a show called The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes on NetFlix. The homes are pure works of art. One episode featured a coastal forest home in New Zealand, sitting hidden in a bay and built within the woods. (The photo doesn’t do it justice.) Not only was it beautiful and all hardwoods, but it looked very lived in and inviting – plus the view was incredible.
That is where I would love to write and play my guitar for a week or month or more!

Here is September’s IWSG Instagram:

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

This NetFlix series takes place many years before the events in the 1982 movie, The Dark Crystal.
From IMDB:
Returns to the world of Thra, where three Gelfling discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis' power, and set out to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.

First off, the film is stunningly beautiful. The scenes, set pieces, and creatures are pure works of art. Live sets and CGI blend well and create a lush and beautiful world.
The series also stays true to the original film in tone, style, and concept. With more time to explore, they fill out a complex world, giving it depth and detail. It also sets up the events leading up to the destruction of the Gelflings as well as explaining how the Skeksis gained power over the Crystal.

In following three main characters, we are set on a grand adventure – think Game of Thrones with milder violence, no sex or language, and Muppets!
The voice cast is stunning – Simon Pegg (as the Chamberlain), Eddie Izzard, Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Headey, Benedict Wong, Mark Hamill, Sigourney Weaver – and the list goes on and on and on…
The series dropped August 30 on NetFlix and I’ve been spacing out the episodes so I can enjoy it for at least a week. (So I haven’t reached the end yet.) But if you enjoyed the movie, dig fantasy and adventure, or just want something different in your Muppets, then definitely check it out.
Highly recommended!

September Movie Preview

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

6 -

It Chapter Two
Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.
Director: Andy Muschietti
Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Finn Wolfhard, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy
Worth the price of admission for the clown spider alone – combining two phobias in on!



13 -

Freaks
A bold girl discovers a bizarre, threatening, and mysterious new world beyond her front door after she escapes her father's protective and paranoid control.
Directors: Zach Lipovsky | Adam B. Stein
Stars: Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Lexy Kolker, Amanda Crew
No conjoined twins, bearded lady, or wolfboy – what would Tod Browning say?



20 -

Rambo: Last Blood
Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission.
Director: Adrian Grunberg
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Yvette Monreal, Óscar Jaenada
The next film will feature Rambo in a nursing home, battling it out for the last green Jello on the buffet.



27 -

Abominable
A magical Yeti must return to his family.
Directors: Jill Culton | Todd Wilderman
Stars: Albert Tsai, Chloe Bennet, Sarah Paulson, Eddie Izzard
I thought I saw this already…oh wait, that was Smallfoot. Or was it Missing Link…?

Where in the world would you like to write? Can you co-host in the coming months? Have you been watching The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance? And what movies interest you this month?

And if you can, check out my interview at NFReads.

#RiffTrax Live – Invasion of the Giant Spiders, Top 15 #MST3K Episodes, Missing Link Review, and Ninja News

I have a post at the IWSG site today - Ten Ways to Support Other Authors.

Please check it out!

RiffTrax: Live – Invasion of the Giant Spiders

Another great show!

First there was a 60’s short with marionettes about phone lines and etiquette. The main marionette’s name was Handy, so the jokes took a bit of a dirty turn.

Then came the main feature, staring Alan Hale from Gilligan’s Island. And yes, his very first line was ‘Hey, little buddy!’

The story of a meteor crashing, creating a black hole, and releasing spiders from another dimension as barely thought out. (The giant spider was a VW with legs!) However, that just gave the guys full reign to make fun of its Wisconsin location and scream ‘Packers!’ often.

At one point, Alan Hale (as the sheriff who never left his office) got a phone call, and Mike said ‘You want me to bend over at a forty-five degree angle?’ It continued, but the funniest part was Bill and Kevin both cracking up at Mike’s deadpan delivery.

This was originally a Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie and props to the guys for not repeating any jokes.

Overall hilarious and the only way to watch the film! If you missed it, the encore is August 20.

Now enjoy some of the preshow slides:

Top Fifteen Mystery Science Theater 3000 Episodes

Why fifteen? Because there were too many for ten!

Spanning almost thirty years and three hosts, here are the funniest MST3K episodes ever:

#15 – Lost Continent – Rock climbing, guys, rock climbing…
#14 – Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders – Stories about artifacts taken from Merlin’s shop, or as I like to call it – ‘Ernest Borgnine Has Bills to Pay’
#13 – Space Mutiny – So bad, they did it twice - it was also a RiffTrax: Live
#12 – Cry Wilderness - The touching story of a boy and his Sasquatch
#11 – Laserblast – one alien weapon, one rock embedded in a goofy kid’s chest, and one Roddy McDowall gleefully going off a cliff to avoid being in the rest of the movie…

#10 – The Creeping Terror – Victims actually have to crawl into its mouth to be eaten. And watch out for the band number – it’ll be stuck in your brain forever.
#9 – Mac and Me – You’ll believe a boy in a wheelchair can fly – and roll down a hill and off a cliff.
#8 – Pod People – Watch Trumpy do stupid things!

#7 – Prince of Space – aka, Attack of the Chicken People.
#6 – Wild Rebels – bikers, drugs, the 60’s, and Ross Hagan – Google him! He did a lot of bad, bad movies.
#5 – Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues – No one puts Boggy Creek Baby in a corner!
#4 – Time of the Apes – no one stays long in Johnny’s world – would you?

#3 – Cave Dwellers – It’s got O’Keefe. How much? Miles…
#2 – Parts: The Clonus Horror – Hi, I’m Peter Graves. Tonight on Biography – I star in a really bad film about clones.

And the number one MST3K episode – 

Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster 

Now shag on out there beanie-boy and fix that whoop-whoop noise!


Honorable mention goes to The Phantom Planet and Invasion of the Neptune Men.


How many of those episodes have you seen? (How many of the films have you had the misfortune of seeing without MST3K’s help?) Many are available on DVD, from NetFlix and Amazon, from the MST3K site, and on the MST3K Pluto TV channel. Sadly, you won’t be able to find Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster as they only leased it for five years. Unless you find someone like me who recorded almost every episode and now has them all on DVD!

Movie Review

Missing Link
A British ‘big and unusual game hunter’ travels to the USA to find Sasquatch.
First, I do want to note that the stop motion is amazing. There is also some computer animation blended in the background, and it all looks incredible.
However, the story was rather blah. Plus it was a very uneven film, with sprinkles of humor spread way too thin. It went for cheap, easy laughs. And missed. You want to see a movie about Yeti, go watch Smallfoot instead.
I’m not sure what the message of the film even was. Your dreams will be dashed – just be happy where you are? That’s what I got out of it anyway.
It was made by the studio that brought us Kobo and the Two Strings, which is a far superior film. Kobo was much more expressive, moving, and a complete story.
Unless you just really have to hear Hugh Jackman’s voice (also includes Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, David Walliams, Timothy Olyphant, and Stephen Fry), I’d skip this one.
Not recommended

Ninja News

Just two weeks left to enter the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest!
Genre is middle grade historical – either adventure or fantasy – and the theme is voyagers.
See the site for full details.

The WEP Challenge for August is Red Wheelbarrow.
Post your entry this week and then add you link to the WEP site.

Anyone else catch the RiffTrax show? What are your favorite MST3K episodes? Seen Missing Link? And are you entering the IWSG Anthology Contest or WEP competition?

See you all September 4 for the next IWSG post day – and the deadline for entering the contest!

And be sure to check out Ten Ways to Support Other Authors.