I have an incredible guest today, but let me point out some important news first:
Voting for the A to Z Video Challenge is now open! Go HERE by Sunday to cast your vote. There were some awesome videos created!
I also have a guest post today at the A to Z Blog about making it easy for people to leave comments. If you are participating in the Challenge, be sure to read it.
Brinda Berry’s new book, Whisper of Memory (Whispering Woods #2), is available now! She’s throwing a party today at her BLOG with a giveaway - a Kindle Fire. You can purchase the book HERE and view the trailer HERE. Congratulations, Brinda!
Now, it is with great honor I turn over my blog to my good blogger buddy and master of words, Roland Yeomans. Some of you read his amusing tales of me being kidnapped by aliens, which I greatly appreciated. He is also holding a giveaway for a Spock bear. So without any further words from this simple writer, let me turn it over to the master…
Ghost of Mark Twain, here …
Roland was all set to guest post here at Alex’s electronic newspaper in honor of the man’s CassaFire, but I strolled by with the Borg Queen, and the two of them lit a shuck out of here.
And wouldn’t you know it? That dang fickle gal raced after them with the darndest come-on from a female I ever heard : “Resistance is futile.” For a bald filly she sure is certain of her sex appeal.
Guess I’ll have to fill in for Roland and tell you folks some facts about how to live that I learned from his dang sci fi films.
1.) If you find an ancient space ship trapped in the ice, children, you might just want to leave it there.
2.) If you're trapped in an Antarctic research station where things have gotten strange, and one of your colleagues keeps asking to see you privately. Bake him something. Like him … with a flamethrower.
3.) If your usual screaming mother-in-law becomes Valium Vickie, inviting you to her garden to see her crop of pods, shoot her. Even if she isn’t a pod person, you’ll still feel good about it.
4.) If you decide to cut open your tauntaun to keep yourself from turning into a man-sicle, it's probably best to keep that from the tauntaun until the very last minute.
5.) When you and other survivors stagger out of a spaceship of horrors, and the father says to his child “You’re safe now.” Duck.
6.) When the Super-Winter comes, and everyone else is burning books to stay warm? All that gloating you did about how awesome your Kindle is will come back to haunt you.
7.) Remember my advice about ancient space ships trapped in Antarctic ice? Goes double for pyramids.
Roland’s books are available on Amazon, including The Legend of Victor Standish, French Quarter Nocturne, and his latest, The Rival.
Know any of the movies he described? Want to win a stuffed Spock bear? (Sorry, matching Kirk bear sold separately.) Read any of Roland’s books? (They Call Me Tombs was cool!) Ready for the A to Z Challenge?And are you stoked for the iPad 3? Mine arrives today...
Don’t forget to visit the A to Z Blog today! Be a shame to work so hard on A to Z posts and no one comments…
118 comments:
A spock bear? I want one!!!!
No.4 sounds very very very very naughty!
:-)
Take care
x
a to z challenge is moving along nicely... roland is a cool cat. my eyes are taken in by the spock bear, does this mean i am one of those people? you know a cool person!
1. The Thing
2. The Thing again?
3. Invasion of the Bodysnatchers?
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Pitch Black?
6. The Day after Tomorrow.
7. Aliens vs Predator
Love your ghosts Roland! Even if the day after tomorrow comes I would never burn books---rather freeze to death!
What the Lurker said. Still, that's advice I live by every day.
Glad you're back,Alex, it was hard without you on Wednesday.
I will take Roland's advice seriously. :) Thanks for the shoutout on my new release! I now need to go vote on A - Z.
LMAO!! I loved these. Wise words for life, I say. ;)
The Thing From Outer Space
John Carpenter's The Thing
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Empire Strikes Back
Pitch Black
The Day After Tomorrow
Alien vs Predator
Roland's books are awesome. The Rival sounds intriguing.
Love, love, love Roland Yeomans! I already read one of his books, and I will be reading more in the future!
Kitty, you always make me laugh!
Jeremy, you are uber-cool.
Lurker, you'll find out for sure on Monday.
Thanks, Rusty!
Melissa, you are one sharp movie chick!
Kyra, he is amazing.
Tauntauns smell bad too. ;)
Only two more weeks until A to Z. Eek!
Two posts done and dusted for A-Z, 24 to go. Not panicking yet!
I like Roland's style. Definitely unique.
Is it wrong that I want to put a tail on Spock Bear and have him be Spock Kangaroo?
In space...no one can hear you comment! :)
Oo, let's give these a shot.
1. Alien Vs Predator
2. The Thing
3. Invasion of the body snatchers
4. Empire Strikes back
5. Umm .. Close Encounters of the Third Kind 2: Encounter this! (a little known low budget sequel that I just made up)
6. The Day after tomorrow
7. AVP : Requiem
Apart from Star Wars, I've not seen a single one of those... for shame.
Oh good I hope you mentioned the annoyance of word verifications... especially those new buggers. Oy.
off to check out the links ....
Love Roland. Definitely another one of the 'good guys'.
I want a Spock Bear.
I actually knew three of those.
The Thing
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Day After Tomorrow
I can't believe I got three of them. Some other ones sound like I watched them too, but can't place the titles.
Got: The Thing, The Empire Strikes Back and The Day After Tomorrow.
I know precisely nothing about sci-fi films.
That bear is so cute! Is there a Jean-Luc version?
Laura, I know!
Kimberlee, not at all!
DL, that's funny.
Jamie, for shame!!!
PK, I did!
Faraway, yes he is.
Annalisa, that would be cool.
I think I do know some of those movies! Yay me. Though I still have no idea what a tauntaun is. *slinks away*
This is brilliant. Saving for future reference. And don't worry, I still buy paper books even though I have a tablet :)
I knew a couple! Yay - that rarely happens!! :)
Welcome back!
Valium Vicki? Love that.
Got a good laugh about the Kindle.
Mark Twain and science fiction? I'm so confused. The Spock bear is cute though.
I think I recognized The Thing in there and maybe Alien and Stargate?
Interesting mash-up: Mark Twain and sci-fi? I guess that's probably where he'd be if he were still writing today. Huck Finn in space. I can see it.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Please vote for your favorite A to Z Video
I guess I need to brush up on my SciFi. I only recognized The Empire Strikes Back and Day After Tomorrow.
Looking forward to A-Z!
I'd love to see Mark Twain in a scifi story. He's my hero.
Cindy, it works in Roland's world.
Lee, I can also see it.
Congrats to Brinda!
Roland is one of a kind.
I love that Spock bear.
Good advice! I am afraid I have no guesses. Heading over to A to Z now.
1. The Thing from Another World
2. The Thing
3. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
4. Empire Strikes Back
5. Perhaps it's Pitch Black? Only saw it once, and not all the way through so I'm guessing the ending here. I almost thought Event Horizon, but there were no survivors on that one. It was also a better movie than Pitch Black, just saying, my opinion.
6. Never saw it, but given the ice age and the technology references, how about... The Day After Tomorrow?
7. Alien vs. Predator
Wow...your post today is really busy. You're over at A to Z
You're announcing Brinda's book
You're interviewing Roland.
The Ninja Captain is everywhere.
Dear Spock Bear,
You are adorable. Thanks for the advice. #5 made me laugh loudest. Tell that Roland he is the master and good luck with the bald Philly alien chick.
Thanks, Alex and Roland.
Have a good weekend.
xoRobyn
4. is Empire Strikes Back. And yeah, the Spock Bear is cute(ish.)
That line about the kindle made me laugh out loud. Too funny.
Great to have you back Alex! I am so looking forward to the A to Z Challenge next month, it's going to be so much fun. Love the Spock bear!
Have a great weekend! :)
#6 made me laugh out loud!
Great information, as usual, Alex.
Heather
Great advice, Alex.
I have tagged you. As yo are on the fourth page of your current MS, how about sharing few lines from your earlier book. We would love to read it.
Is that Victor Standish on the cover?
Emily, yes he is!
Joshua, you might be right. I liked both of those movies evenly, but nice to hear someone else say they dug Event Horizon. Everyone seems to hate on that film.
Michael, that's what happens when I take a day off!
Robyn, I hear Spock Bear is single...
Amy, the Challenge will be awesome!
Rachna, I might do that...
Christopher, Victor is a guy so I hope not!
Oh I gotta check your post out, but had to comment on these movies :)
1. The Thing
2. The Thing again?
3. Body Snatchers
4. Empire Strikes Back (I totally know that one for sure!)
5. Pitch Black (though isn't it really a girl? but they don't find that out till like the end? I don't remember really cuz that movie scared the pee out of me.)
6. The Day After Tomorrow. (Ya, this is on FX like every weekend, lol)
7. Alien vs Predator
Roland, you made this challenging ;) I hope I got at least one right, lol
I don't feel qualified to take the challenge seeing as I barely understood the post :P I do really want a Spock bear, though.
Well, I recognize the scenarios of several.
Your comment on burning books cracked me up.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
I know #6, since I saw that movie on the plane as I was flying home from Atlanta in 2004, with Hurricane Ivan at my back.
After rushing around, changing flights, having an anxiety attack when the connecting flight was late, missing the flight and getting on my booked plane that had come back for repair, (like in the twilight zone) I get seated and look at what movie was showing. I soon found out. The Day after Tomorrow. Of course once I landed, I was glad things hadn't frozen in Canada yet.
Hi Alex, Hi Roland
That was so cool. I knew several of those movies.
Nancy
the fun thing about humans, they cant leave well enough alone!
i knew a few, but wont embarrass myself by being wrong!
have a great weekend, fellas!
I remember seeing the one with the pods and maybe a few others, but what are they called, hmm! That bear is so cute :)
As usual, I'm very bad at this stuff. The only one I'm sure I know is the one about burning books. Hilarious about the kindle. Guess it won't keep me warm.
Can't wait to read the answers and sort of in love with Spock Bear.
Cassie, think you got quite a few right!
DG, that doesn't seem like proper in-flight viewing to me.
Thanks everyone!
Patsy:
Just send me an email of the Amazon confirmation of your purchase of THE RIVAL and when 20 more copies are sold, I will draw the names from those 20! You could be the winner.
Kitty:
The tauntaun thought so on the ice planet of Hoth!
Retro-Zombie:
Hey, you visit Alex's blog. How could you not be cool?
Angry Lurker:
Mark's not telling til Monday. He's such a rascal.
Siv:
I thank you for liking my books. Victor and Alice like you back!
Brinda:
Great luck on your new release!!
Melissa:
Try the free sample on Amazon. Victor is sure you will love him. Hubris is his middle name!
Kyra:
Thanks so much for the kind words and reading one of my books. I wrote THE RIVAL so that it can be Victor's last battle if the sales are not high.
Nick:
Thanks for the great compliment!
Kimberlee:
Luckily Spock Bear had a firm grip on his emotions when he read your comment!
farawayeyes:
And you're one of the people I look for in my comments section. Alas, my blood courier job has become a time drainer. Just send me an Amazon confirmation of the purchase of THE RIVAL by email, and you will be entered for the drawing. Just 18 more have to send me that email before Sandra, my best friend, selects the happy winner!!
Annalisa:
Actually, there is! I just do not have one. :-(
L.G.
One tauntaun wishes Han Solo hadn't known him!!
That is some seriously good advice. I always learn my lessons from watching any horror or sci-fi films. You never know when something will crash into your backyard and you're the one nominated to go investigate it. If you're really lucky, it'll be the Tardis, but since I'm not in London, chances are highly unlikely it will be!
Tasha:
You can download the free sample to see if Victor tickles your funny bone. Alice, his ghoul friend, mutters, "That is all he better tickle!" Don't worry. Victor runs fast.
Liz:
Since your compliment, Mark will be more of a pain to live with! :-)
L. Diane:
Mark chortled about that one himself!!
Cindy:
How could a man whose birth and death coincided with Haley's Comet in the sky not be sci fi. Besides, he did write a time travel book, A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT, too.
Thank you, Arlee!
Cate:
You can read the chapter, THE DEAD DO NOT DREAM, in my GHOST WRITERS IN THE SKY to see Mark Twain in a sci fi tale.
Emily:
You don't how much I needed to hear that today. Thanks.
Rawknrobin:
Spock Bear blushed. You made his Vulcan teddy bear day. Mine, too.
MJ:
Now, Mark Twain will be impossible to live with.
Christopher Hudson:
Now, you made Victor Standish blush! No mean feat. That is Becca, Alice's rival for Victor's heart. And you can see why she would be!!
Julie:
Now, Mark is pouting. But I told him that genius is never understood. He perked right on up!
Sia:
Your laughing at Mark's burning books joke filled his ego's sail again. Thanks.
Johanna:
Spock Bear can be yours if you are the lucky one of the 20 who email me an Amazon confirmation of buying THE RIVAL.
Susan:
Yes, Mark was a winner about the one with the Kindle! Have a great day, Roland
The Spock bear is adorable!
Congrats on your newest release, Roland!
Number 5 made me laugh. I totally visualized that one.
Lots of stuff here. I think I just stumbled off a Ninja Carousel.
Happy Weekend!
You've sold me on Roland, Alex...first off to A to Z and then to Amazon :-) (those facts are hilarious)
(Spacerguy picks up Spock bear and pats it on the back.)
Most curious creature captain Alex. Spock bears logic seems to have a strangely mesmerizing effect on my human nervous system, fortunately of course, I am immune to its effects.
Man, what is with sci-fi people and having things in frozen and icy conditions?
#5 & 6 made me giggle! And thanks for the A to Z advice. I just changed to a comment pop-up box. Have a great weekend Alex!
Christine, maybe it will be Muppets from space or something.
Carol, head spinning?
Susan, awesome!
Spacerguy, I think he still got to you.
DWei, maybe it's the chilly personality?
I'm lousy at guessing games, but I knew a couple before I read some of the responses. Actually, I believe I've seen all those movies, several times :) Except the last one. Can't bring myself to watch it. It just looked dumb.
But my kids loved it :)
.......dhole
Alex, that comments post is excellent reading.
Roland, from Alien Vs. Predator to Stargate pyramids are nothing but trouble. Your book Riven has a great line in the opening "I don't too many scars." It really paints a picture.
The Geek Twins
@thegeektwins
@mauricem1972
The Spock bear is extremely cute, but unfortunately I cannot think of any titles. Thanks for the great advice though. I'll try to remember it if I'm ever stuck in a sci-fi movie.
Beautiful cover on the new release, Roland.
1.) The Thing--one creepy ass movie
2.) Same?
3.) Invasion of the Body Snatchers -- I suspect there are many pod people around
4.) Empire Strikes Back [my favorite Star Wars movie]
7.) Star gate?
Have fun with your iPad 3, Alex.
This post was so great! I agree with Jessica above about the bear! Your post on the A to Z blog was great too, it helped me a lot, so thank you :)
Donna, sometimes dumb is all right.
Maurice, thanks! I should've mentioned Disqus, as that's a better solution than most embedded comment boxes.
Mary the new iPad is AWESOME!!!
Nicki, glad it helped.
I think those are definitely rules to live by.
1) The Thing?
2) The Thing
3) Invasion of the Body Snatchers
4) Empire Strikes Back
5) Erm, not sure
6) Day After Tomorrow
7) Stargate? Fifth Element?
Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
The only movie I recognized was Invasion of The Body Snatchers. I loved that and I will never forget the pod people. Congrats and best of luck to Roland. I am off to read your A to Z post. I need all the help I can get.
Great guest, guest post...I think that's right. I would take a Spock bear for sure.
Just a couple of weeks til the Challenge!!
Oh who wouldn't want a spoke bear... how adorable...
I'm heading over to A to Z right now! Roland, your Mark Twain story with Alex is a classic! Julie
Hi Alex and Roland .. I was more worried about the husband - the mother-in-law was alright! I have no idea on those films .. I obviously mix with the wrong sort of people - they live on this earth and nearer the warmer equator .. well one of the tropics ..
Cheers Hilary
Sadly I know none of the movies which should be no surprise but I totally love that bear.
I always enjoy ,my visits to Rolands blog. Hugs and Happy Weekend Wishes. P.S.Happy Saint Patty's Day too P.S. you know I want that Spock bear, giggle
Shannon, you'll find out Monday!
Chuck, it's coming!
Katherine, everyone wants the Spock bear.
I'm reading The Legend of Victor Standish (thanks for the copy, Victor!), and it is fantastic. I'm hooked.
Brinda, congratulations on the new release. I'm promptly adding it to my TBR list :-)
Hopping over (no, strolling - Alex taught me that, haha) to A to Z Blog.
Geez, I have Victor on my mind! You see what you did, Roland?! :-))))
Hahahahahaha sorry, still laughing myself silly. :-D
my biggest fantasy in science fiction since I was little was to teleports. A real dream.
Thanks Roland for this sound advice. I feel safer, and wiser, and can leave my front door with confidence! But what if I come across a wormhole frozen in ice? Should I leave it alone and walk away?
What? There's such a thing as a Spock Bear. I'm hopping on my tauntaun and heading to the mall.
Angela, unless you are a rabbit, no hopping! Glad you are enjoying Roland's book.
Stephen, if you don't leave it alone, you know there's only one way it can end...
LOL.
Sometimes you have to wonder why characters keep doing things that have been done so many times before--and which sent them into rather serious trouble.
Everything I know about sci-fi I learned from Stargate and Wesley Crusher...hmm and Data.
I thought I commented on this already. I know I've read it. I'm losing my mind. Ugh. See what happens in old age?
I didn't know about the Spock bear. Where have I been hiding?
Golden, you think they'd learn!
Clarissa, that made me laugh! I learned so much from Stargate.
Miranda, it's happening to all of us!
I'll check out the A to Z blog.
I'm not good with the guessing. :(
Awww, that Spock bear is cute.
Fun post Roland! I'm loving the Spock bear~ Alex, I'm jealous IPAD 3 looks amazing...
Congrats Brinda :D
The Legend of Victor Standish sounds über cool. Oh and the Spock bear rules,
Only ones I knew were The Thing #1 & #2, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers #3.
I thought Twain's CY in K.A.'s Court was a super story! I read it for a bit of research for my own YA time travel book. :)
Oh, and Victor is one damn strong protag! Alice is saint for putting up with the bloke, plus she's beautiful. :)) Folks, you must check out Roland's The Legend of Victor Standish and The Rival!!!
The thought of a Spock Bear is making me laugh! I want one!
Great post, Roland.
Oh this is just amazing. And thanks for the reminder to go read Roland. My reader keeps kicking him off my list :-(
I don't know much about movies, but I think I'll duck when I hear "you're safe now".
I pass on the Spock bear offer...my nephews already think I am just a big, fat kid myself what with my teddy collection.
Thanks for the A-Z video shout outs.
I remember two, oh yeh...doing a happy dance.
6. The Day after Tomorrow.
7. Aliens vs Predator
Ella, iPad 3 IS amazing!
Candy, I have it on my iPad and hope to read soon.
Oceangirl, wise choice.
Rek, do you have Teddy Bears?
Spock Bear rocks!
Love your seven point list, Alex!
Hi, Al. I hope you enjoyed your weekend! I just wanted to let you know that I'd tagged you in a blogging game.
How have I lived without that list before!
Thanks for dropping by today, Alex!
I just love fact 6!
Milo, yes he does!
Rick, all the credit goes to Mark Twain and Roland.
Suze, no - not the tag!
Always happy to see you, Betty.
haha these are great. The only ones I recognize are Empire Strikes Back and The Day After Tomorrow though. How are you liking your iPad 3? I just wouldn't use an iPad enough to warrant the purchase.
Allison (Geek Banter)
Yes, very suggestive book cover of Roland. Greetings.
I'm bad with movies but with spock bear and Ninja captain captured, that sounds like a good sci fi already.
Steamy Darcy
I don't think you have to worry about anyone NOT commenting Alex... You have a much deserved loyal following.
Hi,Roland,
Very amusing guest post. Mark Twain certainly has a delicious sense of humor.
Thanks for all the news Alex!
Roland rocks ;)
Go Brinda!
And *waves to the awesome Alex*
Keep up the great work, everyone :D
#6 has me terrified. I'm gonna freeze.
I know I'm late to the party but I had to stop by for Brinda. She is super awesome writer, a good friend, and giving person. I loved her first book, The Waiting Booth, and I look forward to the second. Go, Brinda!
I know! You're so right, Candy. And oh, I want to read The Rival - love that cover!
Allison, it is awesome, and you'd be surprised...
Michael, no I don't!
Ciara, Brinda is so dedicated and supportive!
You have been tagged for the Lucky 7 MeMe. : )
Post a Comment