Monday, March 13, 2023

Western Movies, Haken – Fauna Album Review, RiffTrax Live 2023: RAD, and Horror Holiday Movie Trivia Answers

Western Movies and a Puzzle!



Greetings everyone. Thanks for hosting me, Alex, and helping me get the word out about Return to Silverhills.

Western movies have had a major impact on my writing. The two that influenced me the most were BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID and THE COMANCHEROS. See if you can find these titles in the puzzle below:

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Return to Silverhills by Sandra Cox
A trail boss with a fast gun. A damaged woman. A cattle drive fraught with danger. And a combustible attraction.
Find it on Amazon

Sandra, who also writes as S. Cox, is a vegetarian, animal lover and avid gardener. She lives with her husband, their dog and cats in sunny North Carolina. An award-winning author, her stories consist of all things Western and more.


Foodie Facts:

She spent a number of years in the Midwest chasing down good Southern BBQ. By the time she moved to North Carolina where Southern BBQ is practically a staple, she’d become a vegetarian.
Pineapple is a must-have on pizza, along with black olives and onions.
She loves pumpkin waffles. Pumpkin cream cheese, not so much.

You can find her at: Website, Cowboy Trivia, Blog, and Twitter

Haken – Fauna Album Review


One of my favorite bands and the flag bearer of modern progressive metal.
The last two albums were extremely heavy but this album takes a decidedly different turn and goes back to their more traditional progressive roots.
It’s one of my favorite Haken albums of all time. Every song is great and contains so many amazing standout moments that I love so much about progressive music.
There are hints of their prog root throughout the album, including hints of Yes and other prog bands.
It’s a true joy to listen to music that gets better and better every time you listen to it. Like opening up a present and there are a thousand more presents inside. The musicianship is stellar, the vocals by Ross Jennings are amazing.
My highest recommendation!

RiffTrax Live!


From their Kickstarter page:

RiffTrax Live 2023: RAD -- the Classic 1986 BMX Movie!
We're riffing RAD starring Lori Loughlin & Bart Conner - LIVE from Nashville and simulcast to 700+ cinemas nationwide August 17, 2023!


They have already soared over their goal and are now offering stretch goals, including an eBook – Nick Nolte: PI – and tons of shorts.

You can still back them on Kickstarter at various levels and get some cool stuff.

Like this:

Either way, mark your calendar – August 17!

Horror Holiday Movie Trivia Answers

Last week I asked: from the blurb, name the movie and the holiday.

The Answers:

1 – A young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town. 1984 – Gremlins, Christmas
2 – Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion. 1993 – The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween
3 – In a small town, brutal killings start to plague the close knit community. Marty Coslaw, a paraplegic boy, is convinced the murders are the doings of a werewolf. 1985 – Silver Bullet, Fourth of July
4 – Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf. 2000 – Ginger Snaps, Halloween
5 – A private investigator is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cyphre to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite. But the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn. 1987 – Angel Heart, New Year’s Eve
6 - Chaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs. 2012 – The Bay, Fourth of July



How did you do on the puzzle? Fan of Westerns? Hear the new Haken? Excited about a new RiffTrax? Ever backed a show or seen one in the theater? How did you do on the horror movie trivia?
See you April 5 for the next IWSG day!


40 comments:

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

I'm definitely going to check out some of the new Haken songs. In boyhood, I watched hundreds of Westerns, but I am not a fan of the genre in adulthood either in books or on the screen. You stumped me on several of those horror holiday trivia questions because the only ones I have seen are Gremlins (as a Phoebe Cates completist) and Silver Bullet with Gary Busey.

Have a great week, good buddy Alex!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on your book, Sandra. I like Butch Cassisdy. My late husband was a fan of western movies, and we watched lots of his favorites together.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Best of luck to Sandra! I need to get my copy.

There are a lot of seasonal movies I have never even heard of.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Congrats to Sandra.

That's a lot of RiffTrax movies.

PT Dilloway said...

I found the Comancheros and "Butch" and "Cassidy"

No wonder I didn't know most of those from last week; I only watched the first two movies.

I was thinking a while back they should make a Nick Nolte book based on their riffs but I was thinking more of a picture book kind of thing. A hard-boiled PI novel would be good too. I hope this is one that will be on the app later so I can watch (and rewatch) it.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I found "Cassidy"!

The cover for the Fauna Album is really cool!

Birgit said...

Somehow I missed your last post:) I would have known 3 of the answers. You know me and heavy metal....that's a pass for moi:). So glad you are showcasing Sandra's book.

Computer Tutor said...

Hearty congrats to Sandra and her latest, long-awaited book. I wasted 10 minutes looking for those titles in the puzzle. Sigh. Fun times...

Question for you, Alex: Any review on Jesus Revolution coming up? It's getting a lot of press. Wondering if I should seek it out.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Shady, it's their best album ever.

PT, they have so much Nolte fodder to use.

Elizabeth, yes it is.

Jacqui, haven't seen it but it's gotten great reviews. Just go see it.

Sandra Cox said...

Alex, Thanks so much for hosting me. You're the Captain....
Natalie, Oh yeah, on Butch Cassidy. Robert Redford at his peak.
Thanks, Elizabeth;)
Thanks, Di:)
Yay, P.T.
Birgit, Alex is wonderful about supporting us all, isn't he?
Elizabeth, Congrats on finding Cassidy.
Thanks, Jacqui. You are so funny:)

Joanne said...

Congrats to Sandra - hope her book hits the trails and ropes in plenty of readers. Butch Cassidy makes me think of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head". I'm afraid last night's Oscars did not have tunes I'll be humming in years to come. Have a good week, Alex!

J E Oneil said...

I still think that guy must be a terrible PI if he didn't crack the code of "Louis Cyphhre".

Rhonda Albom said...

Congrats to Sandra, and a fun twist with the puzzle. I couldn't find "kid" - lol Honestly, I didn't spend too much time looking.

Susan Kane said...

I found Comanche! Then my brain told me that was just fine.

I love the RiffTrax live. August 17? Could you post something to remind me?

Cathrina Constantine said...

Congratulations to Sandra on her new book!!

Alex, have a great week!

Mary Kirkland said...

I'll have to check out Haken.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sandra, you're welcome!

Joanne, didn't even bother with the Oscars.

Susan, I will!!

Cathrina, you as well!

Annalisa Crawford said...

Congratulations to Sandra on her new release, but - huh! - NO pineapple on pizza!!

Melissa said...

I love anything western. Best of luck!

(Sorry I missed making return visits for IWSG. My internet went out for over 40 hours.)

diedre Knight said...

Howdy Captain!

I only guessed (the first) three of the movies from last week, but I found the names in the puzzle in under 15 seconds. Love those kinds of puzzles.

Congratulations to Sandra! And thanks for reminding me to check on my copy.

Looking forward to checking out Haken - thanks!

Carrie-Anne said...

That is an awesome album cover! It would look great on vinyl.

My paternal grandpap loved reading Western novels, though my grandma didn't see their appeal, and planned to sell them all after he died.

Victoria Marie Lees said...

Bravo, Sandra, on your new release. All the luck with this novel. Always something intriguing on your blog, Alex. All best to you!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Melissa, no worries!

Carrie-Anne, it would be easier to see the details with the album cover that large as well.

Sandra Cox said...

Joanne, From your mouth to readers ears:)
Thanks and good job, Rhonda:)
Good job, Susan:)
Thanks, Cathrina:)
Thanks, Annalisa:) You don't know what your missing leaving the pineapple off your pizza. Hehe.
Yay, Melissa. Good to hear.
Diedre, Thanks so much for the well wishes and the support:) Appreciate ya.
'Lo, Alex.

Theresa Milstein said...

Pumpkin cream cheese sounds like it would be weird. I haven't seen that for sale!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Congrats to Sandra!

Truedessa said...

Congratulations to Sandra! I do enjoy search and find word puzzles so that was fun.

Alex I finally caught up on The Mandalorian. Still enjoying this series.

Hope you had a good week.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Truedessa, it has its issues, but we're also enjoying it.

Fundy Blue said...

Hi, Alex! I missed your post last Monday. I couldn't get wifi in the hotel we were staying in that night. Congratulations to Sandra! I've enjoyed the books of hers that I have read very much. I love pineapple on pizza, as well as olives and onions. But no mushrooms ever! Morer music I need to check out! I solved the entire puzzle in no time. I love these puzzles. Have a great week!

Sandra Cox said...

Theresa, It's usually out around Thanksgiving.
Thanks, Weaver.
Thanks, True. Glad you enjoyed the word search.
'Lo, Alex;)

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Sorry for my delayed visit, Alex.
I love all the fun quizzes you've been adding here, just wish I knew this stuff. I did get the Gremlins one.

Have a great weekend!

mail4rosey said...

I looked up Hagen on YouTube. They have a nice sound. They look like they're enjoying themselves too! Happy to meet your guest author (Hi Sandra!).

Virtual Assistant in the City said...

Wow, congrats, Sandra! That sounds exciting. Pumpkin waffles made me hungry though. BRB Lol https://www.aboutlifeandlove.com/

J Lenni Dorner said...

Pumpkin waffles or pancakes are delicious. Especially with butter pecan syrup.

Alex, you're over at Operation Awesome today. ✨

It's April, so I'm focused on the #AtoZChallenge.
Proof of Existence, book two in my dark urban fantasy series, is out this month. Very exciting.

J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge

Al Penwasser said...

My favorite Western, by far, is "The Searchers." In fact, it is the ONLY movie I've seen which is better than the book. And that never happens.

The Happy Whisk said...

I found the second movie quickly, not the first one. Neato fun!

Christine Rains said...

I like any genre as long as the story is good. My father watched a ton of Westerns, so I watched a lot growing up. Yay for new RiffTrax!

XmasDolly said...

So my friend (and yes I'm still up - It's only about 11 p.m., but we don't go to bed until 1 or 2. Old habits are hard to break I guess. Ever since my hubby decided to take care of me by himself there's no more band. I felt really bad about that, but as soon as I can take care of me fully he's staying home. I already fell down the basement stairs (bummer). Anyway, Dave had a band called, "Designated Riders", and it's late... he sang, and so did I, but only harmony & I had 3 other songs. Anyway, it's late... I'm sorry if I bored you. Goodnight my friend... hope to hear from you next time and have a great rest of your week & weekend with the family! Goodnight! Thanks for letting an old fan feel glad that I came back because of nice people like you.

DMS said...

I have only seen a couple Westerns in my life. I enjoyed the horror movie trivia. Love Gremlins and The Nightmare Before Christmas!
~Jess

Computer Tutor said...

Sandra Cox's westerns are on auto-order. I wish she'd write faster.