Monday, September 29, 2014

October Movie Preview, Survive and Thrive Bloghop, Movie Trivia Answers, Ninja News, and Writing Update

October Movie Preview!

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for October! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

10 –

Dracula Untold
Facing threats to his kingdom and his family, Vlad Tepes looks to make a deal with dangerous supernatural forces - without succumbing to the darkness himself.
Director: Gary Shore
Stars: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Art Parkinson
A sympathetic Dracula? As long as he doesn’t sparkle, I guess that’s all right.


17 –

Fury
April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.
Director: David Ayer
Stars: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña
Apparently there are still untold stories about WWII as well…

The Book of Life
Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
Director: Jorge R. Gutierrez
Stars: Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate
It looks unique, and with Del Toro’s name attached, there’s a good chance it will also be odd.


24 –

John Wick
When Russian mobsters kill his beloved dog, retired hit man John Wick returns to the game he played best - and brings bloody vengeance with him.
Director: Chad Stahelski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Bridget Moynahan, Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane
Yes, it’s Keanu Reeves, but don’t run! The film is actually getting a great buzz. 


Personal Update

Last Thursday, I finally finished all of my edits on my next manuscript! I’d been polishing and adding small scenes for weeks and almost to the point that I didn’t want to look at the story anymore. But I completed my task and sent it to my publisher Friday morning. Will talk more about it on Wednesday for my IWSG post.

I celebrated Friday night with pizza, beer, and Godzilla in 3D. (And the film was even better the second time. So was the 3D.)


Ninja News

Tree of Life now available!
All proceeds of the TREE OF LIFE ebook will benefit the Downey Education Fund set up for Tina’s children.
Buy it on Amazon

A Whisper of Rue by Decadent Kane

Death Knocks by Jay Noel and Miranda Hardy

Nicki Elson posted her Shelfie and look what book was just over her right shoulder. Thanks, Nicki!

Don’t forget this Wednesday is IWSG post day! If you are contributing to the anthology, IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond, be sure to either submit your work or post on October 1. (We’ve received a lot of writing pieces already and need more on publishing and marketing.)


Movie Trivia Answers

1 - Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer - Heat
2 - Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn – Reservoir Dogs
3 - Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci - Goodfellas
4 - Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin – The Usual Suspects
5 - John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis – Pulp Fiction
6 - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton – The Godfather
7 - Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro – The Untouchables

Survive and Thrive Bloghop


Monday, October 20, 2014
(Yes, Mark, I did just hyperlink myself…)

The blogfest is meant to bring awareness of disease prevention and early detection regarding medical conditions that may be averted or treated if caught in the early stages. Our desire is to motivate people to go in for early screening, and if a condition is caught early and treated, then our world just became a little better place to live.

The topics are wide open. You can post about a particular cause you support. Or you can share a personal or family experience that is near to your heart. What’s great about this Blogfest is you can inspire people to take care of themselves and their loved ones early enough to make a difference in their lives.

Sign up below and join us on October 20 –



Picking up some new books? Get the trivia right? Ready for IWSG post day? Joining us in the bloghop? And what movies catch your attention in October…?

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Movie Posters from Interstellar, Night at the Museum III, and The Hobbit! Plus Mob Movie Trivia, Follow Fest, and Ninja News

Cool Movie Posters

Awesome posters for upcoming movies -




And thought I’d throw in this Guardians image from HitFix:



Ninja News

At the IWSG Site today is the awesome Jennifer Hillier!


Thanks to everyone who participated in the Underrated Treasures Blogfest! All links go directly to the posts, so keep looking for more unknown treasures.




New Books -

Second Death by Gwen Gardner
Book I - The Afterlife Novella Series

A Pirate a Blockade Runner and a Cat by Beverly Stowe McClure

The Inner Sibling by GB Miller

Sherry Ellis is hosting the Bucket List Blog Hop on October 20 – see her site for details.

Follow Fest

This is my entry for Melissa Maygrove's Follow Fest:

Name: Alex J. Cavanaugh

Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction

What genres do you write? Science fiction – space opera

Are you published? Yes, three books:
CassaStar – Amazon Best Seller
CassaFire – Pinnacle Book Award Winner, Amazon Best Seller
CassaStorm – eFestival of Books Award Winner, Pinnacle Book Award Winner, Amazon Best Seller
And putting final touches on my next manuscript before sending to my publisher.

Do you do anything in addition to writing? I’m the founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, and a A to Z Challenge co-host.

Tell us a little about yourself. I’m married, a Christian, a guitar player, movie lover, Ninja Captain, and all around geek.

What are you reading right now? Joe Abercrombie’s Before They Are Hanged

Which authors influenced you the most? Terry Brooks, Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Heinlein, Preston and Child, Timothy Zahn

Where can people connect with you? Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Twitter, Goodreads, and Google+


Movie Trivia

Mobster movies! Name the film from the actors listed.

1 - Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer

2 - Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn

3 - Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci

4 - Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin

5 - John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis

6 - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton

7 - Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro

Answers on Monday!

Excited about the movies featured in the posters? Discover some cool new things during the Underrated Treasures Blogfest? Participating in Follow Fest? And do you know any of the trivia…?

Monday, September 22, 2014

Underrated Treasures Blogfest! Plus Dragon and Ninja, BOTB Results, and Ninja News


Time for the Underrated Treasures Blogfest!

But first…


Ninja News

At the A to Z Blog today is Mina Burrows, who rocked the Challenge with her theme – classic monsters!


This Wednesday at the IWSG Site is the awesome Jennifer Hillier!

Don’t forget to either submit your work or post on October 1 for the IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond!
We’ve received a lot of writing pieces and need more publishing and marketing.
Also, please do not include quotes, as there may be a copyright issue with them.

How I Found the Write Path is available now!
Put together by Carrie Butler and PK Hrezo, many of us posted for the book blogfest earlier this year, and now the book is available.
It’s on Amazon and other sites – check it out!




Thanks to these two wonderful ladies for also featuring one of my books in their entry for the Shelfie Bloghop. (Tara, is there a prize for the most features?)

CD Coffelt



MJ Fifield









Battle of the Bands Results

It was really close!! Sadly, even with my vote, Stream of Passion did not win the Street Spirit battle. Shame, because the lead singer has what I call a voice of glass. But that’s all right, it’s still my favorite (the singer is amazing) and the inspiration for CassaStar.

Radiohead -20

Stream of Passion - 18

Dragon and Ninja

I’d like to share some images of a very special gift that is coming my way soon.
I am part of a special private blog group called Fellowship of the Dragon, founded by Father Dragon Al. He started creating the dragon (made in his own image) as a reward for the person who achieved their goals on a consistent basis.
I was honored to be named that person.
But even more, I was blown away by the talent and generosity of my friend, who not only spent countless hours making the dragon, but made a Ninja to go with him.
Al, I will treasure it always. You are an amazing Dragon friend.


Underrated Treasures Blogfest! 


Everyone has a favorite movie or band that no one else has ever heard about. For whatever reason, they remain undiscovered and underrated. Now is your chance to tell the world about this obscure treasure!

Today, September 22, post about your favorite unknown –

MOVIE – BAND/ARTIST – TV SHOW – BOOK

Post about one or all four – dealer’s choice!

Here are my recommendations of underrated treasures:

BOOK –
The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector
It’s been many years since I read this one, but it’s a really intense horror/suspense story. It follows vampire Rudy Pasko and the man who wants to kill him, Joseph Hunter. It was extreme back in the day (published almost thirty years ago) although a bit tamer now by today’s standards. But the vampire is nasty, as he should be! Was out of print for years, but now available as an eBook.

TV SHOW –
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Set in the Wild West, the show possessed the same humor as Firefly. It was a mix of Wild West, Indiana Jones, and James Bond. Bruce Campbell rocked in the title role and the show was a lot of fun. It only ran two seasons, 1993 to 1994, and unfortunately is not available on NetFlix yet, just DVD.

MUSIC –
7th Wonder – Mercy Falls
A progressive rock band, Mercy Falls is their best album and probably one of the greatest albums ever. It’s a concept album – a man in a coma is trying to escape and come back to reality. The music is so amazing and catchy. I highly recommend checking out all of their albums. (And the lead singer also now sings in Kamelot.)

MOVIE –
Edge of Tomorrow
I decided to select a film from this year because this movie just didn’t find an audience, especially in America. And it deserved one – the movie is brilliant, smart science fiction. Beyond that genre, it possesses incredible special effects, a clever storyline, solid acting, intense action and moving drama, and is a complete package. Despite what you may think of Tom Cruise, this film is awesome – watch it!

What underrated treasures would you recommend? And have you read/listened to/seen any of those?


Contributing to the IWSG book? Picking up How I Found the Write Path? BOTB results surprise you? Do you want your own Dragon and Ninja? And what are your underrated treasures…?

Monday, September 15, 2014

Writing Influences, Movie Reviews, Movie Trivia Answers, Battle of the Bands, and Ninja News

Film and TV Writing Influences with Chrys Fey

Hi, everyone! It’s Chrys Fey. My newest release, 30 Seconds, is now available! A big thank you to Alex for hosting me today so I can talk about my writing influences. My dreams spark the ideas for a lot of my stories, and music helps me through each scene, but movies and television shows aid me with many important details. Most of my characters tend to be cops and doctors, like with 30 Seconds. You wouldn’t be able to read my novella and notice similarities between it and my film/television influences though, because they helped me with small details. For example: The movie “Do You Know Me” impacted 30 Seconds because I imagined the actress, Rachelle Lefevre, as Dr. Dani Hart.

Top 10 Film and TV Influences for 30 Seconds:
1. SWAT
2. Third Watch (TV)
3. ER (TV)
4. Assault on Precinct 13
5. General Hospital (TV)
6. Grey’s Anatomy (TV)
7. Do you Know Me
8. The Mentalist (TV)
9. Death Sentence
10. Public Enemy

QUESTIONS: What are your favorite cop/doctor films/shows? Have you pictured an actor/actress as one of your characters?

When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs….
BUY LINKS: Amazon US / Amazon UK / Wild Rose Press

Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title. 30 Seconds is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.
Find Chrys Fey Here: Facebook / Blog / Goodreads


Ninja News

This Wednesday at the IWSG Site is none other than Jessica Bell!

The Tree of Life anthology will be out by the end of the month - they are delaying its release while an amazing book trailer is created for it.

Last week my publisher reduced the price of CassaStorm to $2.99.
If you have already purchased and read it, CassaStorm could use a few more reviews on Amazon.
Appreciate everyone who buys and reviews!

Just released - Carol Kilgore’s newest Crime Fiction with a Kiss novel, SECRETS OF HONOR.
Buy it on Amazon - Kindle or paperback.

Available now – INTO THE DARKEST FIRE by Juliana Haygert
Genre: YA/NA Fantasy
Price – free!




Special thanks to these ladies for including my books in their Shelfie Bloghop photos!

Tyrean Martinson


Heather Gardner






Western Movie Trivia Answers



1 – What was John Wayne’s last film? The Shootist
2 – Who directed Once Upon a Time in the West? Sergio Leone
3 – How does Doc Holiday die in Tombstone? Tuberculosis
4 – How many Oscars did Unforgiven win? Four
5 – Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, and Danny Glover starred in what Western? Silverado

Movie Reviews

After Earth
Not as bad as I’d heard, but still not good.
Plenty of plot contrivances. Special effects were all right.
Jaden Smith was the worst part of the film – kid can’t act his way out of a wet paper bag.
Not recommended.

The Raid 2
Sequel to The Raid: Redemption, it was hyped as better, but fell very short for me.
The pacing is glacial at times. Nice cinematography, but the emphasis was on style over substance. And the movie is way too long – two and a half hours.
Also not recommended.


Battle of the Bands

I finally get to rejoin the Battle of the Bands, hosted by Stephen T. McCarthy and Farawayeyes.
Other participants today include Arlee Bird, Robin at Your Daily Dose, Chris Fries, and DiscConnected.

This song has special meaning for me, as the second version of Street Spirit was an inspiration for my first book, CassaStar.

The song was originally recorded by Radiohead and this is their version -


It was redone by Stream of Passion – the video Is concert footage mixed with the studio version -


Which would you pick and why?

What movie and TV shows have influenced your writing? Have you picked up CassaStorm or reviewed it? Get the movie trivia right? Had the misfortune to see either movie? And what version of Street Spirit do you like best…? (Results next Monday.)

I will be off the grid later this week for a three day weekend getaway, so no Wednesday post. Be back Monday with the Underrated Treasures Blogfest - hope you can join us!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Audiomachine’s Tree of Life, Snarky Critique Partners, Western Movie Trivia, Shelfie Blog Hop, and Ninja News!

Tree of Life

On the heels of the wonderful turnout for Sunflowers for Tina on Monday, Samantha Redstreake Geary made this announcement:

“As a lasting tribute to Tina, I, along with 25 amazing authors, are publishing audiomachine‘s TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative story in ebook format on Amazon, launching Sept. 12th! Stunning book cover designed by gifted graphic artist and composer, Ryo Ishido. All proceeds of the TREE OF LIFE ebook will benefit the Downey Education Fund set up for Tina’s two boys.”

Tina also contributed to this anthology - look for it Friday! I will include a direct link in my Monday post as well.

Shelfie Blog Hop

This is my contribution to the Shelfie Blog Hop, hosted by Tara Tyler, Heather Gardner, Christine Rains, Elizabeth Sechman, CD Coffelt, MJ Fifield, Vikki Biram, and Rena Rocford:



Ninja News

Today at the IWSG Site we have none other than the awesome Elana Johnson! So head on over and make a wish.

Yesterday was Jeremy Hawkins’ birthday! We celebrated with the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Go wish him a belated happy birthday.

PK Hrezo has been asked to write the story of an amazing young lady by the name of Queena. Six years ago, she was strangled, beaten, raped, and left for dead. She suffered multiple brain injuries and lost a lot of her mobility. PK has started a Kickstarter fund for this project. Help her by either donating or spreading the word. See her site for details.

Out now - The Test of Time by Nicole Zoltak

Just released – The Trouble with Flirting by Rachel Morgan


Don’t forget – Underrated Treasures Blogfest
On Monday, September 22, post about your favorite unknown –
MOVIE – BAND/ARTIST – TV SHOW – BOOK
Post about one or all four – dealer’s choice!
Sign up HERE


Movie Trivia

Westerns!

1 – What was John Wayne’s last film?

2 – Who directed Once Upon a Time in the West?

3 – How does Doc Holiday die in Tombstone?

4 – How many Oscars did Unforgiven win?

5 – Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, and Danny Glover starred in what Western?

Critique Partners


My post at the IWSG this week was about what to look for in a good critique partner.
One of the items I mentioned was a sense of humor. I’m blessed to have critique partners who excel at snarky humor.
So for those of you who dread critiques and worry they might upset or anger, let me show you why I chuckle my way through them:

Heather, who also had some funny visuals I wish I could include –

We might be gone for a while, he thought.
Aden is always thinking.

And I can’t win if I can’t play.
You have an ‘and’ at the beginning of your sentence addiction.

Damn, what have I done?
WHAT? I thought you were kidding!

Rusty and his ongoing issue with eyebrows –

…his scowl pulling his brows into one.
Hey!!!! I remember this discussion. I like how you married to the two into a sorta compromise (although I still contend we only have one brow anyway).

…his brows together.
Still bugs me.

The com officer’s brows…
Knife in my heart

Vardy’s drawn brows…
You’re rubbing my face in it, aren’t you?

Lynda felt sorry for the com buttons –

Aden mashed the com button…
These com buttons get a beating ;)

…mashing a final button.
Looks like the Balkan's buttons are going to get a beating too ;)

He mashed the com button.
You know all the com buttons are going to unite in protest for better treatment of buttons... they might even revolt. Better watch your back ;)

…her short stature a hindrance.
Hey! Short people can run fast too!! :P
Short people and buttons unite!! ;)

Downloading Tree of Life on Friday? Have you posted your Shelfie yet? Ready for my next blogfest? Know any of the trivia? And do your critique partners make snarky fun comments…?

Monday, September 8, 2014

Sunflowers for Tina, Giant Spider Dog, Monsters: Dark Continent, IWSG, and Nina News

Today I have a special interview over at EE Giorgi’s blog!

I’m also posting at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group - what to look for in a good critique partner.

Sunflowers for Tina

Today is also the day we honor Tina Downey. She loved sunflowers and her motto was ‘Life is Good.’ It’s not so good without her, but we can still see her in the sunflowers. I will miss you, Tina. I'm just going to let Mini-Alex express my thoughts.
For a list of participants, visit the A to Z Challenge Blog - Sunflowers for Tina.


There is also a Downey Education Fund set up for her two boys that you can donate to.



Ninja News

Today’s Themes that Rocked the Challenge features Jo Wake from Jo on Food, My Travels, and a Scent of Chocolate who posted animals and recipes from around the world. Check it out at the A to Z Blog.

Thanks to all who celebrated three years of posting for the IWSG! All members are welcome to submit to our upcoming anthology – see the IWSG site for details!

The Guardians of the Galaxy was number one at the box office again, making its run four out of five weekends at number one. That is more than any other Marvel film! One more week and it’s more than any comic book film. So, if you haven’t seen it, why not???

Milo James Fowler’s book, Immaterial Evidence, is just .99 cents for a limited time.

New Books!

Released today:
MOSAICS, book 2 in the Track Presius mystery series, a hard-boiled detective series with a genetic twist.
By EE Giorgi
Find it on Amazon

The Rifters by M Pax 

The Rifters is available at an introductory price. The second book in the series, The Initiate, will be available October 20, 2014. It’s up for preorder for a special price at iTunes, Amazon, and B&N. Check HERE for links. Giveaways and events are ongoing through October 31, 2014. Check HERE for details.
Links: Amazon / AmazonUK / B&N / Smashwords /Googleplay / iTunes / Other Outlets
Visit M Pax at her SITE

Induction Day by PK Hrezo
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IBookstore, and Goodreads

Erron by Melanie Schulz
Get your copy at Amazon

Old Women Waxing Poetic
Compiled by Julie Kemp Pick and Susan Flett Swiderski, it features work from Liza Salerno and Robyn Alana Engel, with an awesome cover by Michael Di Gesu. All proceeds go to CARE International. They are all hosting an Old Broad Fest and you can win a copy of the book by commenting on their post by Friday, September 12.



Shadow Warrior by Jay Noel
Find it at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

My Only Escape: Book One in the Hiding Out Series
By Jaycee DeLorenzo





Monsters: Dark Continent Trailer

Jocelyn Rish alerted me to the new trailer for the sequel to Gareth Edwards’ brilliant film, Monsters. He’s producing rather than directing this time, and while the film looks very different from the first one, the trailer is still really cool. The monsters are a little different as well. Check it out:



Giant Mutant Spider Dog

How funny would it be if you dressed up your dog as a tarantula? While the setups might be staged a little bit, they are still funny.



Did you post sunflowers today for Tina? See some good new books? Contributing to the IWSG anthology? What did you think of the Monsters trailer? And do you want your own spider dog now?

Back to posting on Wednesdays again, so I’ll be back then with my Shelfie, some trivia, movie reviews, and other fun stuff. Maybe even a peak at my hilarious critique partners’ suggestions…

Be sure to visit EE Giorgi and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group!