And do you like the new header? Totally rocks! Created by the awesome Retro Zombie Jeremy - contact him if you'd like an interactive header as well. You the man, Jeremy!
Mark Koopmans is hosting his annual Got Green? Blog O’ Hop on March 15.
Hilde McQueen’s latest book is out, Where the Four Winds Collide. Congratulations, Hildie!
“It's stupid to fall for your brother's ex. It's even worse to enlist another's help to win the ex over…”
Find Becca Ann on Facebook
Find her book on Goodreads and purchase the eBook or paperback at Amazon.
And don’t forget to save the date for my next blogfest, March 18 – to be announced next month!
Mel has worked so long and hard on this book, and it’s finally available!
Two kingdoms, two goals.
The king of Relavia is determined to wipe out his warring neighbors in Paridzule, a worthy adversary for over five hundred years. News of an arranged marriage between his son and the daughter of his lifelong enemy has fueled the temper of Relavia's tyrannical king. What he doesn't realize is the true measure of his son's honor and how far he is willing to go to gain peace.
Purchase Adversarius Amazon or Smashwords.
Congratulations, Mel!!!
Movie Trivia Answers
1 – Check me if I’m wrong, Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they’re gonna lock me up and throw away the key. Caddyshack
2 – Who dumped a truckload of Fizzies into the swim meet, delivered school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween the trees are filled with underwear, every spring the toilets explode. Animal House
3 – He is so dumb. He thought the Gettysburg Address was where Lincoln lived, and when he heard your daughter’s name was Portia, he said “Why did they name her after a car?” A Fish Called Wanda
4 – Are you telling me I put an abnormal brain into a seven-and-a-half-foot-long, 54-inch-wide gorilla? Young Frankenstein
5 – Can I raise a practical question? Are we gonna do Stonehenge tomorrow? This is Spinal Tap
Hosted by the awesome LG Keltner, we are to post about our writing beginnings.
Want to know how CassaStar began?
There were many influences. I was always a Star Trek fan. Star Wars came along and redefined movies and space operas. I enjoyed the likes of Bradbury and Heinlein.
And then, a single image for an upcoming TV series caught my attention:
Frank Frazetta’s artwork for the series Battlestar Galactica.
What ignited my imagination was the setting – a rocky planet and a downed ship. The characters, stranded and ready to defend themselves, also caught my attention. (And in the central character, you can probably see the beginnings of Byron.) I imagined two people, a pilot and a navigator, their fighter shot down on a rocky planet and forced to make a sacrifice.
That scene, written when I was a teen, was the only part of the original story to survive. (And the scene changed some during the rewrite.) But that image ignited the story behind CassaStar, which eventually became my first published book. Now it’s an Amazon Best Seller and has spawned two sequels.
A picture really is worth a thousand words!
Excited about the new books and blogfests? Are you picking up Adversarius? Get any of the movie trivia right? And how did your writing begin?
Don’t forget to visit M. Pax’s Spacedock 19!
148 comments:
You had some great influences there. Thanks for participating in my blogfest! And your new header is awesome!
I enjoyed learning about the motivation for CassaStar! Your new header looks great Alex! Jeremy did a terrific job. Congrats to the authors, and I'll have to check out some of these blogfests.
Julie
Wow, your new header caught my attention right away - it's awesome!
Nice to find out where it all started. The new header is very eye catching - well done Jeremy!
I missed the last Got Green? blog hop, so I'll be taking part this time. Should be a blast!
Thanks for the shout out!
Love the header!
And yes, Frazetta is the man.
Mmm... I started writing "poetry" (i.e. silly long rhymes) when I was seven or eight.
First novel started when a character walked into my head while I was reading. I was thirteen. :-D
It's amazing that one picture can inspire so much, and that in itself is inspiring. :)
Cool new header!
Lots of great blog fests and links today. Jeremy is so talented! I'll hit M. Pax soon. I'm not surprised to see Battlestar Galactica being a major influence for Casastar. :)
Great to hear the beginnings of Cassastar! I think pictures can be really inspiring, too...I've frequently wished I could draw instead of write. :)
I love the header!
I can see how that picture would inspire you. Neat beginning!
This is Spinal Tap is so awesome. Thanks for the heads up about the Overcoming Adversity blogfest.
Star Trek was the thing that inspired me to create stories as well :)
Love that echo of Battlestar G in your story - awesome!
LG, thanks for hosting!
Nick, you're welcome.
Ciara, you can probably see that really easily!
Hey there!
I love your new header. When it's time for a new look I think I'll contact Jeremy too! I'll treat myself when I hit a certain number of page views!
Your new header is AWESOME!!!!!!!! Really, really, really cool. It feels like a videogame in here now!
Congratulations to Mel and all the authors with new books. And Alex, nice to hear about your inspiration. I love hearing how books began.
Love the new header! And Frazetta has inspired a lot of folks, I think. You're in great company there.
Love the awesome header! Beautiful work, Jeremy.
Enjoyed your interview over at Spacedock 19 with Mary. Yes, please discuss cloning next. :)
Congrats on the new releases, Hilde, Becca, and Mel.
Frazetta is head and shoulders above everyone else when it comes to those sorts of paintings.
Like the new look!
I love that you've had the story all these years and finally acted on it to such success. Very inspiring for another late starter. Though only in my actual writing. My story premises are much more recent.
I should've known A Fish Called Wanda. I love that movie! And I love Frank Frazetta. He's one of the few artists I used to try to emulate.
I'm loving Frazetta's picture. It's mezmerizing. I think it's awesome, too, that you wrote a scene as a teen, with the picture as your inspiration for CS, Alex. Very cool.
Thanks as always for all the tasty bites of info. I'll be checking out the blogfests.
xoRobyn
As always-- great information. The new header looks fantastic.
I also liked Galactica. Never missed it. I think it was movies who inspired me to start writing too. Movies and way too much time alone.
Jolie, he does a great job.
Cathy, like a videogame - funny!
Laura, cloning is on the list.
Donna, it's never too late.
Robyn, that scene was just so powerful.
Great Battlestar Galactica picture! This series is one of my favourites.
Interesting to know how Cassastar came about. Great post.
Yvonne.,
I absolutely LOVE your new header. Wow. Cool. And the fact that that teaser picture for Battlestar Galactica was the impetus for CassaStar is fascinating. So amazing how inspiration strikes. And I am dying to read How I Fell for the Funny Fat Girl. So many books, so little time...
Whoa! That header is totally awesome!
Love to hear how CassaStar came into being.
Oh, hey, did you know that Indie Life thing I did today was inspired by you? Not my thing in it, but the people that put that together were inspired by you.
Love the new header, Alex! I'm heading over to Spacedock 19 now. :)
Wow! lots of news!
I enjoyed reading about the beginnings of your first book. Thanks for sharing. :)
How cool that an image got you started! It's one of my favorites, too. Sadly, I missed the signup for this blogfest, but I have other surprises in store for today. :)
Flashy new header!
And interesting to find out your novels were inspired by that artwork.
Definitely like the new banner for your blog and also some great info and links. Going to check them out!
Now I REALLY want to read Adversarius. I shall have to keep my eyes out for this one.
Thank you for sharing the story behind part of CassaStar, I love hearing back stories behind books!
Zoltan, it was a favorite of mine.
She'll, just one image started it all...
Andrew, I did!
David, sorry you missed it.
Love the header! Inspiration is everywhere if we are just alert and open to it.
That is a really cool image - I can see why it inspired your writing!
Frank Frazetta is an amazing artist. I'm going to his Website now and spend some time just looking at his images.
And good luck to all the writers and their new releases! 2013 is going to be a great year!
Love the pic and the story behind CassaStar! Pictures are inspiring. I'm saving the date for your fest and Mark's.
And my writing started with the story of a dancing hat . . .and then another about a pencil that escaped from school. (elementary school stories influenced by my love of tap dancing movies, and my strong dislike of school)
Congrats to ML!
Header is awesome :) And that picture is awesome; definitely inspirational... hehee, so punny. Congrats on all the books!
A picture is worth a thousand words indeed. Will read your guest post and thanks for keeping us informed.
I love the new header! Thanks for the news. I'm totally gonna check out Nick's blogfest, and I can't wait to read REASONS.
Al, I do like your new header. Jeremy was done a very, very appropriate job. It evokes a very CassaNinja feel.
I am curious about your blogfest, and Mary Pax, Nicki Elson and I will be announcing one for March 1 this Friday, too.
As for the beginnings of CassaStar, I love that a picture was literally worth a thousand words. And I was also interested to know that the first scene was written in your adolescence! I like that detail very much, the idea of an entire world pulsing with promise since then.
That BSG picture is fantastic.
Love the new header. Signed up for Nick's blogfest. I can see Byron in that picture! I'm getting reallly frustrated. Choosing to read "CassaStar" to my kids was a wrong move. I read to them at bedtime, and at best get a chapter in before they zonk. Sometimes I sneak and read ahead...but don't tell them!
As an old school BSG fan, I'm amazed that I've never seen that picture before....very cool!
I always find it very interesting how just one spark can ignite something bigger.
Better writing through chemistry :)
Nice header, Jeremy!
I'm keeping away from blogfests until April--at least that's my plan. My last couple of weeks with illness and holidays have already set me a year behind in blogging. Please don't come up with any blogfests I can't refuse!
Lee
Tossing It Out
I do love your new header! It amazes me how much things happen every week. I feel so left behind.
So awesome to hear the story behind that! I've always wondered. Can't wait for your blogfest announcement :)
You new header rocks. Love the flash, Alex. Fits with your uniqueness!
Great looking header. It's good to hear how it all began for you too.
What a fun new header!
Great new header! and thanks for all the updates. Best :)
Lots of stuff going on. Always good to come over here to catch up, and find out yet another interesting fact.
Although I'm an avid Bradbury reader (and a couple of Heinlein), and loved BG, I write totally different stuff. Thank goodness for authors like you who feed my addiction to that genre.
Love the new header! Great job, Jeremy. That is cool that BSG inspired you, and that you wrote the first scene as a teen!
Yes I like your new header! Jeremy is really good at creating headers that capture the tone of the blog.
SO techi... so interesting, such fun! Both you and your header.
The cool factor on that banner is very high! One of my buddies approach to painting mini's is inspired by Frazetta.
Nice new banner! I love the golden-brown color scheme.
I've been writing since I was 4 years old, literally as long as I could write. It's just what I've always done, no special inspiration to have started.
I love the new header, Alex! I've been to Spacedock 19 - I'm on my way:)
Cool new header and interesting how one picture can spark an entire series!
Stephen, you could get lost at that site...
Tyrean, a dancing hat! That is definitely original.
Suze, excited to hear about your blogfest! Yes, there was a really crappy first draft of CassaStar written in my teen years, all stemming from that one scene.
Mark, I think the black and white version was in the old TV Guide magazine.
Lee, you might not be able to refuse mine...
Clarissa, it amazes me as well.
Joylene, thank you!
ML, I'm trying.
Carrie-Anne, that's a long time...
Off to visit M-Pax!
Liked to BG artwork :). Hadn't seen it before. Great seeing your inspiration for the start of the Cassa series.
Cool backstory on your book, Alex! And congrats to all the writers in today's post - there's a lot of exciting news swirling about the blogosphere.
Well, it was ST:TNG for me when I was in middle school, though I'd watched the original series and the original Battlestar Galactica in reruns with my dad. I also used to page through my dad's Frank Frazetta art book (though I think there was stuff in there young kids weren't supposed to see).
Very cool that your scene survived all those years (and revisions), Alex.
ML's cover looks awesome!
It was fun and enlightening to talk to you Alex. Glad you visited the Spacedock. Your clones are welcome any time.
Love the new header! And Congrats to ML!
That picture is very inspiring. I loved BSG - the original and the remake.
I thought something looked different over here ;) Thanks for the mention, too! You rock!
And I think the only images that have inspired me are ones of hot guys without their shirts on. That counts, right? :)
Congratulations!
Your new header is an inspiring eye-catcher.
A picture really is worth a thousand words!
I work together with people from different countries and I can't count how often we use pictures.
M Pepper, I bet there was a lot you shouldn't have seen! Oh well.
Emily, the only one that did.
Mary, thanks for having me.
Becca, you are welcome!
Thanks for the information; you are like the Blogger Times:D
I got my Writer's Creed badge, and am off to visit the Beginnings Blogfest, M. Pax, and all the other goodies you have lined up for us.
ooh! Fancy new header is fancy! Blinking lights and everything!
Love the new header.
I started writing back in the dark ages to amuse my friends. It was supposed to be a novel but everyone wanted to be a character, and everyone wanted their character to do this and that, so it ended up being a sprawling continuing story that was still going when my dad got transferred during my senior year (oh, the agony of it all) and we had to move.
Yes, exquisite headboard, love the dynamic light shows.
I love what Jeremy did for your blog header. Very cool--much like Jeremy himself.
I like the sound of Adversarius and the hero's code of honor. I'll be checking that out for sure!
Hope your week is going well, Alex!
Blessings, my friend.
The header is really neat!
I loved the old Battlestar. And had such a crush on Richard Hatch.
Alex,
I did like how the header came out as I described it as... Space battle in the Matrix... thank you for letting me be creative.
So many things going on today, I enjoyed the Battlestar... I as a kid had a cardboard Viper, that I sent in for from the back of cereal box... oh the memories.
Great Day!
Jeremy
The new header is awesome! I'm already signed up for Nick's blogfest, but I'll have to pass on Mark's for a very good reason. I'll be here! :D
Congratulations to Hildie, Becca Ann, and M.L.! I'm off to visit M. Pax now. :)
So interesting hearing your inspiration!
Finally some trivia I knew (well 2 questions anyway).
Not a big sci/fi fan, but I loved Battlestar Galacticia (the original TV)
I do like the new header! Thanks for all the news and notes. Appreciate you keeping us in the loop. I know I'd totally be out of that loop otherwise! :)
I love the header! I see animated pirate ships in my future. :D Thanks for the shout out, Alex!
And my writing started after I created Kayta for a D&D game. Geek to the core! XD
My first writing experience was when I was 8, but my real writing experience was probably when I joined my current writing group 10 years ago. Everything I write comes out twisty and dark no matter how I try the opposite. Horror it is! LOL.
Frank Frazetta’s artwork is amazing. I used to paw all over it when I was young. I get a lot of my writing inspiration from art as well.
There is so much to do and see that I'm not sure what I'm doing next! Love the new header Alex. A million thanks for my book shout out. Have a beautiful day!
Edi, hoping you'll enjoy those last thousand words.
Sarah, I know - it rocks!
LD, you should dig it up.
Sia, he IS cool.
Jeremy, that's funny. And the header rocks.
Carrie, yes, you will be my guest that day!
Mel, you're welcome. And you need to have him do that. Spruce up your header while keeping the ships and the feel.
Lynda, I pawed over it as well, but I'm sure for a different reason.
Hildie, you're welcome!
Thanks for the secret origin of the Cassan universe!
Dunno how you keep up Alex. Liked the sound of Adverstarius so bought it for my Kindle.
Love your new header. Very flash.
No good at movie trivia. Don't get to see too many movies.
Interesting how Cassa Star began.
Love that picture. I never missed an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica.
I believe I have some of his artwork on collector's cards. Fascinating artwork that really drew my eye. I found them in a little shop in a tiny town near the coast of Oregon (while looking for X-Files cards, haha). I do love inspiration in all forms. Wonderful to hear where CassaStar came from.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
Love the new header. Very cool. And I think it's amazing how your whole life was essentially changed by that picture. Think about it. The blog. All these people. How much would be the same if you'd never seen that and never decided to write Cassa Star? Maybe it all would've happened in some other way, but you never know.
I think that's the best thing about life. How even the most innocuous-seeming things (like a picture) can impact you for years to come. :)
Too much going on! AH!
It's all good though.
Nice getting a glimpse into 'the beginning'.
Thanks for sharing.
Heather
Jo, I just do my best.
Susan, I didn't either!
Shannon, that is very cool! I have a game with his artwork on it.
Tamara, none of it would've happened...
Very cool beginning. A picture or a piece of music an inspire a whole series. I'm off to the Spacedock now!
Alex, I think you are at the point now that you need this comment box at the top of the comment list instead of the bottom :) That is a very cool header and I like it a lot. I will throw some work Jeremy's way if I decide to go that route at some point.
Hey I got three of the four movies I named, right!! Amazing.
Lots going on this first week or so in 2013!
Nothing like starting with a BANG!!!!!!
I got one from the trivia! Yeah! Can't wait to stop by M.Pax's blog to check out the post. :)
Cool banner!
~Stephanie
Chuck, I'll see what I can do about the comment box, And I think one of Jeremy's headers would look awesome on your blog.
Stephanie, glad you got one right.
It was nice to read about your motivation for Cassa Star!
I'll go check out your interview with Pax.
Some really great blog hops coming up and I'm so stoked for Becca's book! :)
I love your header!!! Jeremy rocks, flashes and glows ;D
What the heck...a month? C'mon Captain...no fair-I need a hint!
Off to check out MPax-I miss her~
I'm so behind, but playing catch up is fun!
I love how fun and kind your blog is!
Congrats to all! Mel you rock ;D
Yeah, that image would catch my attention too.
......dhole
Franzetta's Battlestar Galactica is epic. Great inspiration Alex.
Love the new banner. I wondered if Retro Zombie was the creator.
Hard to beat Frazetta, and yes, I can see Byron in that center figure.
I love how the Cassa trilogy, and by extension this blog, came about because of that single image. It's a pretty awesome way to begin :)
Jamie
I'm not surprised that a powerful image you saw as kid helped to inspire your novel. The older I get, the more I'm amazed at how much the world we lived in when young still affect us.
One of these days, I swear I'm gonna answer all your trivia questions.
Hey, it's cool to know how you got started with CassaStar. I didn't realize you began writing it when you were a teen :)
Oh I read and reviewed Adversarius! It's a great book. Congratulations to Mel Chesley :))
Great header! It was interesting reading about what inspired CassaStar.
Dude. Your new banner looks awesome!
Ella, thank you. And I will give you a hint - it involves a top ten list.
DG, figured you would see Byron.
Jamie, it is wild when you think about it.
Helena, don't give up hope that you'll answer them.
Rachel, I did! Many, many years ago...
Michael, you're a speed reader.
Man I love those moments where inspiration strikes is right on down! :) Nice story for the blogfest. I have yet to read any of your books but they are all high up on my TBR!
and thousands of fans!
awesome picture! art is so inspirational!
fabulous new look! love it!
cant wait to see what you do next!
Great new banner! Loved Frazetta's artwork and all the newsy stuff!
Awesome banner!!! And so many blogfests to enter. Congratulations to all that have new books out.
I love the story behind the inspiration for CassaStar. That image can really stir some creativity, and I'm glad it caught your eye. I have a funny story about my inspiration for Forged by Greed :-)
I'm off to M Pax's blog to read the post.
I love the new banner! It's spectacular!
The new banner is AWESOME, Alex!!! Love it. =) Going to check out books. =)
Your new header is great!
So what should I do now, shut my blog down or change header?
I totally identify with using artwork for inspiration! I'm working on a high fantasy project, and I've developed a habit of finding scifi and fantasy pictures on pinterest to help me envision locals and characters and even events for my story. :D
Trisha, thank you!!
Tara, I hope I have that many fans.
Angela, you need to post that story.
Jay, or contact Jeremy to do a new one!
Liesel, smart idea.
Oy! Totally forgot it was Wednesday yesterday. Better late than never. Good thing I dropped by. I'd miss all the news without your posts. So many blogfest! And so little time. I loved the BG from the late 70's early 80's. had big crushes in Apollo & Starbuck. Not surprised you'd find it inspiring. Funny where we find that nugget of inspiration.
That's so cool to learn the inspiration behind Cassa Star! I remember when that picture came out! :)
It's amazing what can come from a simple picture. I know I've had my fair share of image-based muses. Love the new header. Absolutely gorge!!!
Alex, the new header is jazzy. I like it.
It boggles my mind when I come here and see all these blog posts I want to visit and all these new books I want to read. I need more hours in my day.
Yes, interesting CassaStar roots.
I love the new header! Awesome lightning effects... very atmospheric!
I enjoyed the Cassastar beginnings...
It seems like the blogfests never end... there are so many new ones...
Nancy, it was a cheesy show, but I dug it.
DL, glad someone else remembered!
Patricia, I am here to boggle...
I love the new header!! Great job, Jeremy!
Alex, lucky you, yes it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!
You are having another blogfest? We will check that out. We do so hope you join our "Groundblog Day" blogfest. That's "Groundblog", not "Groundhog". Clever, eh?
You are having another blogfest? We will check that out. We do so hope you join our "Groundblog Day" blogfest. That's "Groundblog", not "Groundhog". Clever, eh?
Went by Nick's blog. I'm in. Working on a story tonight. You've got a hear of gold, Alex.
And thanks for the spam info. Followed all. So far, so good. :)))
I'm a very visually-oriented gal, so I can see how this image would've jump started your creativity!
It's truly amazing what can spark a story idea!
As always I can count on you to keep me busy...LOL, Not that I need it, But nice to know what needs checing out :)
Gary, I won't have to listen to I Got You Babe, will I? Gary, I won't have to listen to I Got You Babe, will I?
Thanks, Kittie! And glad that nixed the spam.
Gotta learn outlining...heading over there now. And it turns out that by sheer luck that I DID know the first trivia answer (it just popped into my brain) even though it's been YEARS since I slept through the movie...
Tina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Thanks for providing these links and all this info. Lots to go through. I especially love the rebel writer's creed.
YES, I love the header! It's perfect for this blog!
I also loved Sheri's writer's creed. It's full of great reminders.
Thanks for sharing all the great news. It's so exiting.
That's a cool story of how you came up with your novel concept!
GOT GREEN!!!!! You know, I'm the reigning champion for that blogfest, I've got to really step it up this year if I'm to win again...
And LOVING the new look...
I'm commenting just ahead of a new post. LOL I'm so far behind, I can't even see what's behind be me anymore.
LOVE the new banner. Jeremy is major-league talented.
Frank Frazetta is one of my all time favorite artists. His Wolfman is on my wall here at home.
What wonderful news all around the blogosphere. I love hearing all this great news.
I love Star Trek too and Star Wars! Though some of my guy friends make fun of me for it since they are "guy movies/shows" but I'm a geek. :)
I'm excited for all of the new blogfests!
That header is FANTASTIC!! I love it!
Thanks for the links and news. I love the new header.
Tina, good for you!
Morgan, the pressure is on.
Melissa, Jeremy did an awesome job.
Krista, no, you are an uber-cool chick in my book!
Hi Alex - so pleased you highlighted Nick's blogfest for his son - raising funds via an anthology - it will be great.
I have to catch up - so much happening - how does anyone keep up ..
Cheers and I love the header - talented bloggers around .. let alone writers! Have a great year - Hilary
I was wondering where you got that great new header! It's awesome!
Jai
Aloha,
I'm about as late as late can be, but wanted to say Cheers for the O'shout out and may your eyes not glaze over if I add to the "Wow, dude, cool new header" gang :)
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