Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Family Ghost Movies, and October Movie Preview


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 for the October 5 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Victoria Marie Lees, Mary Aalgaard, and Sandra Cox!

First thing – we need co-hosts for the next three months! If you can co-host November 2, December 7, or January 4, please leave a comment or send me an email. (Natalie, I have you down for December.) Thanks!

October 5 question - What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre?

Ability to do anything and go anywhere. Science fiction gives authors the chance to explore new places, new races, new technology, and yet still use real life situations to tell the tale. And most science fiction shows that we are still thriving, still hopeful. I like that a lot.


The IWSG Goodreads Book Club selections for October are:


Sign of the Green Dragon by C Lee McKenzie


Business for Authors by Joanna Penn




Top 10 Family Ghost Movies by H. R. Sinclair


I love a good spooky story. When ghosts are involved, I’m hooked. Below are my top ten favorite ghost stories to watch with the family. I listed the years for the films as some have remakes, and I don’t think they were done as well. Most of these are comedies, and with kids that’s usually a good idea.

Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) G, comedy, old-fashioned Disney fun
Blackbeard’s ghost walks the earth until he can do one good deed.


The Canterville Ghost
(1944) NR, comedy, sweet and charming
Sir Simon de Canterville’s ghost is doomed until a descendant performs an act of courage on his behalf.

The Time of Their Lives (1946) NR, comedy, Abbott & Costello
Two ghosts from the Revolutionary War haunt a house until they can clear their names of treason.

Topper (1937) NR, comedy, fun with Cary Grant
A fun-loving dead couple is determined to loosen up their living friend.

Ghost Town (2008) PG-13, comedy, romance, moving
A crabby dentist gains the ability to see dead people, and they annoy him.

R.I.P.D. (2013) PG-13, comedy, action/adventure, plain fun
A recently slain cop joins the undead police force and tries to find the man who murdered him.

Child of Glass (1978) NR, mystery, charming
A boy must help a ghost solve a riddle to release her from a doomed afterlife on earth.


Lady in White
(1988) PG-13, horror, scary, haunting
A boy befriends a ghost and attempts to discover who murdered her before he becomes the latest victim.

Odd Thomas (2013) PG-13, horror, entertaining
A clairvoyant cook, his sweetheart, and the town sheriff try to prevent an otherworldly catastrophe from coming.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) NR, romance, sweet
A woman becomes friends with the ghost of a sea captain who's been haunting her house, then agrees to write his salty life story.


My own ghost story for children is out now!

Oscar, the Apprehensive Apparition
Chapter book for ages 5-8
Oscar the ghost dwells happily in his cozy cottage, where he hides from creatures that lurk in the dark. After a mysterious message arrives, he must find the courage to go out and discover what's waiting for him. Will he be brave enough or will the monsters send him rushing back home?

Amazon, iTunes, Nook, and MORE Want to know more about H. R.? Visit her website.


October Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for October. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.


7 –


Amsterdam
Set in the '30s, it follows three friends who witness a murder, become suspects themselves, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
Director - David O. Russell
Stars - Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington
Bale has become a chameleon - you can't find him in a good movie anywhere.


14 –


Halloween Ends
The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode comes to a spine-chilling climax in this final installment of the franchise.
Director - David Gordon Green
Stars - Jamie Lee Curtis, Kyle Richards, Will Patton
For the love of Pete! Shove him in a wood chipper, collect the pieces, and shoot them into space. We’re done!


21 –


Black Adam
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods-and imprisoned just as quickly-Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Director - Jaume Collet-Serra
Stars - Viola Davis, Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Shahiv
I got four words for you - Justice Society of America! Too cool to see them in this film.

What’s the best part of your genre? What are your favorite family ghost films? Picking up Oscar? What movies strike your interest this month?
And can you co-host in the next three months?
See you for the November IWSG!