Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Upcoming Movie Releases, New Book Releases, and More!


It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.


The awesome co-hosts today are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

I’d want to go with someone who writes what I enjoy and who aspire to write like, so it would be either Timothy Zahn or Terry Brooks. Zahn’s Star Wars books are excellent and Sword of Shannara is the book that formed my love of fantasy.


Author Jacqui Murray read and loved CassaStar the feature is up now!. Please be sure to visit her!




Katherine’s Corner is hosting a Tell Me a Story series through September.

Every Tuesday is a new author and excerpt.

On September 8, she will be featuring me and Dragon of the Stars. And it's live now!

Please visit her site for my Tell Me a Story feature.




Don’t forget today, September 2, is the last day to enter the IWSG Anthology Contest!

Guidelines and rules:
Word count: 4500-6000
Genre: Science Fiction
Theme: Dark Matter
Submissions accepted: May 6 - September 2, 2020
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your full contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group. (MUST be a member to enter.)
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges.
Our judges: Dan Koboldt, Lynda R. Young, Colleen Oefelein, Damien Larkin, Ion Newcombe, Julie Gwinn, and David Powers King



The next #IWSGPit Twitter pitch event is January 20!
Will you be ready?



When’s the last time we had a blog hop outside of the IWSG? We need one!
Sherry Ellis is hosting the Latin Flavors blog hop September 14-18 in celebration of the release of her next book, Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure.
Join us!


New Releases



Love and Other Lies by MJ Fifield


For years, Lavinia Kelly has gone through the motions, content to let life pass her by…

Find it on Amazon



Wielder’s Storm trilogy by Lynda R. Young


The Wielder's Storm Trilogy is an action-packed epic fantasy that will sweep you across the high seas on a thrilling adventure full of exciting twists.
This complete box set contains Wielder’s Prize, Wielder’s Curse and Wielder’s Fire.


I’ve read the first book and it’s awesome!

Find it on Amazon



I Am a Quarantine Survivor by PJ Colando


All proceeds will be donated to a food bank that helps people survive despite the COVID-culture that surrounds us…

Find it on Amazon




Upcoming Movie Releases


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


September 3 -


Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki
Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.
Yes, this comes out tomorrow. No, I will not be able to see it because our theaters are still closed!!! I hate my state.



September 25 –


Ava
Ava is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.
Director: Tate Taylor
Stars: Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common
If more theaters are open, this one might have a chance.



October 2 –


Wonder Woman 1984
Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman's next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah.
Director: Patty Jenkins
Stars: Gal Gadot, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Chris Pine
Our theaters damn well better be open for this one! Or it’s road trip time.



What author would be your beta partner? Entering the IWSG Anthology Contest last minute? Joining the Latin Flavors Blog Hop? Picking up some new books? What movies will you miss in the theater over the next month?
Monday is Labor Day, so I will be offline. I will be back on September 14 with movie reviews (including Bill and Ted Face the Music) and more!

99 comments:

Ray Rousell said...

Tenet does look good, think its one of those films you really have to concentrate on, so no popcorn!

Debbie Johansson said...

I'm still waiting to see 'A Quiet Place II', now next year. ;-)

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you (and the authors) for the new releases. Lots of temptation there.

Sarah Foster said...

The movie theater I live above just reopened last week but it’ll probably take a movie I really want to see for me to go there.
I’m reading M.J.’s book right now!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - it's such a pain not being able to get out to films, music, theatre or museums - quite difficult to adjust to ... I feel for you, as I know films form a major role in your life!

Great to see Jacqui with your book ... I loved Byron's stories - I'll be over to visit her. I so enjoyed her Against All Odds novel. I also enjoyed Lynda's Wielder's Price and I'm sure the others are excellent reads. I wish Sherry well with her blog hop ...

Take care and stay safe - and yes perhaps a road trip will be required - can't see you not going to see a film soon! Hilary

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

I'm still reeling over the death of Chadwick Boseman, imagining all the iconic figures he might have played in the decades ahead. Of the films reviewed I'd be most interested in seeing W.W. '84.

Enjoy the rest of your week, good buddy Alex!

nashvillecats2 said...

Alex what a grand supply of reviews and news for us despite desparate times.
With theatres and cinemas not open it must be a great loss to those who frequent those place. Thanks for a very good read, always good to see what is going on.
Enjoy this month and take care.

Yvonne.

Michael Abayomi said...

Our theaters are still closed over here in Nigeria too, so I'm really bummed out I won't be seeing TENET tomorrow as well, after all these months of hype and anticipation.

Tony Laplume said...

Zahn was almost singularly responsible for keeping Star Wars fans engaged in the ‘90s. He’s a legend.

You list Ava but not Colin Farrell as one of the stars???

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I do really like Christopher Nolan's stuff. Guess I'll be watching once it hits pay-per-view!

Liza said...

I wouldn't dare go to the movies at this point...but totally get your frustration!

kaykuala said...

Thanks, Alex for the reviews. Given trying times we are restricted in our desires for the movies. We can only depend on the array of Netflix offered
Keep safe!

Hank

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Lots of great news for writers. Thank you for being there for writers.

Covid is the nightmare that should have stayed in nightmares. I would LOVE sitting in a theater again to watch a movie or shop until I drop. But at least there is and will be lots fodder for writers come out of it.

Teresa C.

Joanne said...

I agree with the comment made about Chadwick Boseman - such a loss for movies and more. He was so talented. Tenet - come to Texas. Theaters are open. I'm torn, but might sacrifice my body and soul and go. Crazy times.

Jemi Fraser said...

Terry Brooks would be a great partner! Love Shannara!
So many great books! I've loved yours, MJ's, Lynda/Elle's, & Sherry's so far!

Lynn La Vita said...

Covid has shattered so many activities we take for granted; theaters, sports, school, medical, more. Gotta spawn marvelous plots for fantasy writers. The world could use a Super Hero right now.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I love Terry Brooks too! Great choice.

Our theaters are still closed in Michigan, and there was just an article in the newspaper that the owners are upset. It's hard not being able to do the things we once enjoyed, but we have to stay safe. I doubt I'll go inside any theater until I'm vaccinated.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Hilary, thanks!

Shady, that was a shock to read that he had passed.

Michael, I know!

Tony, sorry, I just copy from IMDB.

Elizabeth, so will I!

Joanne, wear a mask, distance, and go enjoy!

Natalie, since a vaccine will likely not be that effective, I'm not waiting. Wouldn't get one anyway.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

We've had bad luck with movies in our house lately. We're at the point where we might have to let the tortoises pick our next one. :)

Chemist Ken said...

Our theaters are closed in Michigan too, but one of the chains have converted into a drive-in using the sides of their buildings as the screen, so we may yet get to see some of these movies.

Toi Thomas said...

While Tenet and WW84 both look good, I have a feeling I'll be waiting to see these on streaming, even with theaters in my area being open.

Angela Brown said...

Stoked about the upcoming WW movie and you give a couple of good author choices for consideration.

I would love to get your take on the new Bill and Ted movie. I'm having a hard time seeing Keanu as anything other than Neo or John Wick lol! So I haven't checked it out just yet.

Erika Beebe said...

Happy Hop Day Alex. Beta Reader? My favorite author right now is Brigid Kemmerer who writes what I love too so she’s my pick. Movies? I love Wonder Woman!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I'm going to be so upset if I don't get to see WW84 in the theaters.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I thought my September was going to be slow in visiting blogs but filling in my calendar with dates that other writers are appearing on different blogs is keeping me busy and happy.
I'll see you on the 8th of September.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Stacy McKitrick said...

Had to really think about that beta partner. I have a LOT of favorite authors! But I think I would choose Robert Gregory Browne. He's written romance. He's written speculative. And I like his books. In fact, I'd hire him as a content editor if I could afford him!

Our movie theatres are open, but at a limited capacity. Still, it'll be awhile before I'm comfortable going into one (when they can prove that they actually CLEAN the theatre between shows).

Tamara Narayan said...

In an alternate universe, I would have gone to the theater to see the new Mulan. In this one? Eh. I'm not paying 30 bucks. Hopefully, they'll make it available to all Disney plus subscribers in a year or two.

Jennifer Hawes said...

Um, not to brag, but our great state of Missouri is looking better everyday! Our theater is open!! Can't wait to watch a movie soon. In the meantime, I'll be re-watching Cobra Kai.

Patsy said...

It makes a lot of sense for us to pick beta partners whose work we enjoy – perhaps even more so when we do it for real and not as a fantasy exercise.

Nancy Gideon said...

I always find great suggestions on your site, Alex. I'm bumming with you on Tenet. I need a Chris Nolan fix!!

Chrys Fey said...

Congratulations to M.J., Lynda, and PJ!

Suzanne Furness said...

So much has changed in life these past months. I hope you get to see the movies.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I'm looking forward to all sorts of theaters and venues opening soon! I'd like to see the next Wonder Woman. Wouldn't that be a treat as the first movie you see after the lock down!

Botanist said...

I really enjoy Timothy Zahn's writing too. Good choice.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Ah, the movies. It's been so long. Maybe someday. Congratulations on the new books. It would be nice to see people again, instead of just the dog and cat. Have a good day, all.

Tyrean Martinson said...

I read your post and realized I forgot to mention the contest or all the new books on mine ... oy. Well, I will edit and do a separate post for authors.
The movies look good, but our theaters aren't open either, at least not in my county in Washington state. If they aren't open for Wonder Woman, we may have to combine visiting our daughters at college and seeing the movie - a win-win all around. :)

cleemckenzie said...

Any movies I see are still streamed. No theaters open here! I'll have to pop over and see Jacqui's post about Cassa Fire!

Jennifer Lane said...

I think I've read a Star Wars novel by Zahn. Bummer about theaters being closed!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Madeline, that might work.

Joylene, good to know!

Angela, it was good. Not great, but a lot of fun. And Keanu is a bit rusty. His daughter made a better Ted.

Stacy, it's not the surfaces they need to clean though. It's the air.

Tamara, I'm not paying that either!

Jennifer, lucky you.

Mary, it probably will be.

Tyrean, there you go!

Sadira Stone said...

As always, thanks for all you do for all of us--and for the movie recs!

Loni Townsend said...

I considered Terry Brooks for my post, but opted to go with a different choice.

I really want to watch WW84. Our theaters have been open since we only have assigned seating theaters now and they can properly space people and they have an assigned cleaner ready to decontaminate each seat after the show. But they haven't really been playing anything worth going out to see. WW84 would definitely be the exception to that.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Alex, I'm going to look up both the authors : Timothy Zahn and Terry Brooks. I'm sure I'm going to love them.

Carrie-Anne said...

At this rate, I don't think lockdown will ever end. I'm shocked but not that surprised that certain people are happily cheering on the idea of at least another year of this. At least I'm not currently in a city with an indie theatre, since I'd miss moviegoing even more then. My old city has two of them, with cheap tickets and lots of great events like film festivals. One of those theatres finally reopened, after a long period of renovations, just a few months before lockdown started.

Sherry Ellis said...

Thanks for the shout-out for the blog hop! I know - we used to have blog hops all the time. Now they're few and far between!

mshatch said...

Definitely want to see Tenet and Wonder Woman but probably won't see them on the big screen *sigh* I don't even know if our theaters are open but I probably wouldn't go now anyway at this point.

The Sword of Shannara was a fabulous book and Terry Brooks is an excellent choice :)

Jemima Pett said...

You pack so much into your post, I thought of half a dozen comments, and now I've forgotten them all. Thanks for all that wondrous news, Alex!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I agree, Alex. Theaters around here better damn well open for WW84. Otherwise, let's meet up in Kansas and find it there.
Congratulations to all the new and renewed authors.

Be well and safe, Alex.

diedre Knight said...

Howdy, Captain!

Between this post and your last one, I've got some catching up to do ;-)
Love the reviews of books and movies. I plan to sign up (again?) to make sure I'm getting notified.
Not much of a movie-goer, but the idea of drive-in movies at the lake sounds awesome - long as "Jaws" isn't playing.
Heading over to Jacqui Murray's - how wonderful that she's featuring you! Katherine's Corner sounds like a delightfully busy site ;-)
Happy September!

Anonymous said...

Sword of Shannara - there's a blast from the past. As I recall, it was one of the "trilogies", like Dune, that morphed into more than three books.

Our theaters are just now opening, but I won't be going to one anytime soon.

Carol Kilgore said...

Congrats to all those with new and upcoming books!
Happy September to all :)

Olga Godim said...

I want to see WW84. I really want to see it. Thanks for the heads-up.

Sandra Cox said...

Heading over to read Jacqui's review.

S.E. White Books said...

Oooh, Terry Brooks. Good choice! His experience, at the very least, would be an amazing resource to have. I'm always astonished at how much "telling" he gets away with. Somehow I don't even care, I devour his Shannara books regardless. He's living proof that not all writing advice should be considered gospel.

Fundy Blue said...

Oops! I wonder which post of yours I left a comment on earlier! Perhaps I forgot to click publish. I must read Terry Brooks. He's been on my list for years! Sounds like a great Beta reader. I hope that you are having a great day!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Carrie-Anne, I can't imagine anyone wanting this to go into next year.

Sherry, which is why we were due for one.

Thanks, Marcy.

Robyn, hit the halfway point, huh?

Lee, yes it did!

SE, exactly.

Gwen Gardner said...

I don't read fantasy, but I have a feeling I'm missing out. I will have to look of Sword of Shannara.

Twitter pitch sounds fun, I'll have to go check out the rules.

Have a great week, Alex!

Liz A. said...

I was rarely going to movies before, so I'm not really missing out. Although, I do want to see Wonder Woman. I don't know if I'd trust being in an enclosed space with strangers, though. Not sure if I want to risk it even if theaters open.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Timothy Zahn and Terry Brooks are great choices for beta readers.

Oh! Thank you for sharing my box set. I really appreciate the love. :)

XmasDolly said...

Dude of Dudes, How the neck are you? I've decided to work on some more of my book. Now you know you'll be the first to know when it's finished! ~hehehe~ Who luvs ya babess??? ~hehehe~ So I've had a good run with my girls... they let me do my blog under their company they lease from (guess that's what it's called), and my ride is over. :( Bummer! So at this time I cannot afford to get my own .com so I guess I'll have to go figure out blogspot.com That one is free. Nothing like having your own .com though. Anyways glad you like my Post today! Have a great day and you & your family please be healthy, wash dem hands for 20 seconds and don't forget the masks!!! Faraway hugs for all!!! Have a great day!

Jenni said...

Ooh, Wonder Woman 1984 sounds good. I'm sorry that movie theaters aren't open where you are. Our state has gone by county. I'm in a fairly rural county, theaters are open, but they are mostly showing old movies. We saw Empire Strikes Back this summer, but Tenet is coming to our drive in. Now that I know what it's about, maybe I will check it out.
And congrats to all the new releases!

A Hundred Quills said...

Looks like an interesting list of releases Alex. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes for the feature on Tell Me a Story.
Sonia from https://soniadogra.com

Fundy Blue said...

Mystery solved ~ I replied to your IWSG site post today. Like I said in my email ~ classic ADHD! LOL!

Elizabeth Mueller said...

I went to check out Colando's "I am Quarantine Survivor" and it's temporarily out of stock. :(

I look forward to Corner's Tell Me a Story of you! xD

Now onto your feature!

Sylvia Ney said...

I'm ashamed to say I don't know either author, but now I'm interested. Thanks for always stopping by our blogs and keeping us motivated!

J Lenni Dorner said...

Terry Brooks is a great choice!
Yes, I want to see all of those movies. (From home, where I won't get my popcorn coughed on. Ha ha.)
Looks like some good books coming out too. Awesome stuff.
Thanks for having me as a cohost this month at IWSG.

kimlajevardi.com said...

Terry Books is a good choice.

Denise Covey said...

Tenet is getting a lot of promo. Thanks for promoting the current batch of authors with new books out!

Lidy said...

You know I've seen both seasons of The Shannara Chronicles but haven't read the books. Definitely looking forward to Wonder Woman 1984. Ava piqued my interest too.

Annalisa Crawford said...

My husband and son saw Tenet at the weekend, and said it's very good. I was going to go too, but had a slight wobble about being in the (albeit socially distanced) cinema.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Lynda, you're welcome!

Marie, that's great! Keep writing. I hope to join Monday's Music on September 14.

Jenni, wish we could go by counties but our governor is too controlling.

Elizabeth, I guess that's a good thing.

J Lenni, thanks for co-hosting.

Lidy, read the books!! So much better. The series veered off in a weird direction.

Anonymous said...

I love what PJ is doing with her book proceeds. Beautiful!

Best of luck to MJ and Lynda. They are both so talented!

Geez, I feel so out of the loop. I had no idea these movies were coming out. I must confess, I won't be headed out to the movies right now. Will you?

Click link below for my new domain. Warmly,
Elsie

Anonymous said...

Oops, just read that your theatres are closed like ours.

Murees Dupè said...

Can't wait for Wonder Woman 1984. It looks promising. I would say J.R.R Tolkien, but I don't like using beta readers anymore, plus I'd be too star struck to let him read my work😁. Enjoy your time off.

Tonja Drecker said...

Terry Brooks would be amazing! I'll have to pop in on the story time...what a great idea. And I'm heading over to pick up Young's series. I'm looking forward to diving into that one. Have a great September!

John Wiswell said...

I'd love to see Tenet but there is no way I'm going to a movie theater until there is a COVID vaccine.

Sandra Cox said...

Good choice of Beta readers.
Have a productive, pleasant day.

Pat Hatt said...

Good picks indeed for beta partners.

None of the movies will make much, but they should be good if one is able to find a spot to watch them. At this point they'd probably make more just releasing digital.

Truedessa said...

Theaters are closed here with no sign of re-opening. I look forward to your review of "Bill and Ted Face the Music" Have a wonderful labor day weekend. I am off tomorrow and Monday. Yay for me.

Be Safe!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elsie, they are closed, but I will go back the moment they are open.

John, might be a long wait for one that's effective.

Pat, hopefully some do come out On Demand at the same time.

James Pailly said...

Oh, Timothy Zahn is an excellent choice! I should've thought of that one. Have you read any of the Cobra books? Seriously some great Sci-Fi writing.

Victoria Marie Lees said...

Great new releases, Alex. Lots to choose from. Thanks for sharing these with your followers. Bravo to all the authors! Sorry, every time I think of Wonder Woman, I think of Lynda Carter from the television show. Boy! Am I showing my age. All best to you, sir. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Mary Kirkland said...

I'm looking forward to Wonder Woman 1984.

Birgit said...

Sorry to hear your theatres are not open yet but the COVID19 has been beating you all up and some, not all, don’t want to listen...sorry for being vocal but my friend saw Tenet and she said it was good but confusing. I’d like to see the Jessica Chastain film and Wonder Woman. I am really looking forward to the new James Bond film so I hope there is no second outbreak. If I could summon up a writer, I think I would choose Dorothy Parker...or Oscar Wilde.

Damyanti Biswas said...

Terry Brooks would be an epic beta reader to have.

Liesbet said...

I'm happy to see you do the rounds being featured on a couple of blogs, Alex! Very different than leaving comments everywhere. :-) I loved the five star review Jacqui wrote about CassaStar. One day I'll get to your series! Sorry about the theaters being closed in your state. That must be frustrating! Where would you have to drive to to see Wonder woman 1984??

Juneta key said...

Timothy Zahn was one of my picks but decided to go with L M Montgomery, but yeah, love his Thrawn stuff. Best villain ever.

mail4rosey said...

I always like the superhero movies. I didn't know a new Wonder Woman had been in the works. I don't write, but if I did, I'd like to partner up with SE Hinton, Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary (the favorites from my youth). Their books are what encouraged the voracious reading habits that I still have today (and I'm 50, so even though I've moved on from their work, reading has been a lasting love). :)

SpacerGuy said...

Kim Stanley Robinson who's already written an article about Isaac Asimovs 1964 predictions on 2014. Fascinating reading really.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Auden would be my first choice. I'd love to be able to take one of his poetry classes too.

Cinemas are closed also where I am, and no signs of opening anytime soon. No indoors public venues at all, in fact. Tough times. Waiting for 2021 and hoping things will be better in the new year for all of us.

Susan Kane said...

All the ads for movies that would be treat for us will be waiting until another time for us. Dang.

Steven Arellano Rose Jr. said...

Most of the movies out right now don't really appeal that much to me, so I'm not really missing any of them. I'm just now finishing up reading the novel Lovecraft Country and so far it's been good, a bit exaggerated in some parts but that should be expected because it"s paying tribute to pulp fiction; I like it. I just started reading Asimov's The Naked Sun which has been good so far.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

James, mostly a fan of his Star Wars books.

Victoria, I remember her as well.

Liesbet, thanks for reading it! We'd have to hit South Carolina to see WW84.

Deniz Bevan said...

Oh! How embarrassing! I even have a couple of Terry Brooks books at home, and still haven't read them! Must get on that soon.

Sandra Cox said...

Just hopped over to Katherine's. Thumbs up.

Andrew Leon said...

More of the movies coming out need to be available for immediate streaming.
We don't have theaters, either.

Mark Koopmans said...

Amen to wishing we could all come together as a country...

Sandra Cox said...

Great movie trivia from Sherry.
Hope everyone's day is productive and pleasant.

PJ Colando said...

thanks, as always, for the movie reviews, Alex - and let's hope that movie theaters survive. The giant, nation-wide corp, Regal, has shuttered... COVID has been awful on many levels.

I readily, heartily volunteer to co-host the IWSG blog hop in November. I adore reading other writers' response to the question. There will be much to be thankful for in November... not the least of which will be that political ads will be gone -

I volunteer to co-host in November.

PJ Colando said...

This is my fourth attempt - more layers of security seem to exist.

Thanks for the movie reviews, as always, Alex. Let's hope that movie theaters survive COVID. The giant, nation-wide chain, Regal, has shuttered...

I readily, heartily volunteer to co-host the IWSG blog hop in November. I adore reading other writers' response to the question.

There will be much to be thankful for next month - not the least of which will be that political ads will be GONE