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 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!
October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?
Difficult to pick one, isn’t it? All five of my books have a special place in my heart. And the short stories / articles I have written otherwise. I mean, CassaStar was my first. With CassaFire, I got better. Then there’s Dragon of the Stars, a standalone I am very proud of. And finally, CassaDark, the finale I didn’t realize my series needed but I so enjoyed creating it.
That leaves CassaStorm, the middle child of my books. And probably still my best effort ever.
I thought I was wrapping up a trilogy (before CassDark came along) and so I threw the kitchen sink at it. Three points of view. The possible end of all races in the galaxy. Main character Byron stands to lose everything. And I think I pulled it all off and in a way that satisfies fans – and me! Crafting a novel is hard but I really think I managed to score a winner with CassaStorm.
What about you?
Series Reviews
Alien Earth
Enjoying the show despite the fact that occasionally the characters do things that are jaw-droppingly stupid. Come for the alien, stay for the eyeball creature.
Wednesday
This show is delightful. All the great elements of the Adams family and Tim Burton rolled into one. Quirky, fun, and Jenna Ortga nails the roll of Wednesday. Season two did not disappoint!
Mobland
Great cast especially Tom Hardy. While the show is compelling it’s hard to root for anyone when they are all so terrible. If you like gritty and violent with no redeemable characters, then you should enjoy it.
October Movie Preview
Here are the theatrical releases for October. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
3 –
The Smashing Machine
Director: Benny Safdie
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader
The story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion, Mark Kerr.
A heavy film about drug addiction…welcome to the jungle.
10 –
Tron: Ares
Director: Joachim Rønning
Stars: Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Evan Peters
A highly sophisticated Program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.
Fingers, toes, and anything I can cross - really hoping this is good!
17 –
After the Hunt
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Stars: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri
A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light. The movie's tagline: Not everything is to make you comfortable. Mission accomplished!
What’s your favorite that you’ve written? Watched any of the series? What movie catches your interest this month?
Love that you wrote with abandon for CasaStar and it worked. Tron: Ares is the only one that catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteI love reading that you enjoyed creating the last finale. That's very cool, Alex. My answer will be ... maybe this is cheating but will be the bake book now that it's in motion with the oven working and all that good stuff.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
ReplyDeleteI like Eric Roberts more than sister Julia but, based on your description, I would be interested in watching Julia's new film After the Hunt. For my movie recommendation, I would like to mention an older one. With Halloween season in full swing, I'm plugging Hitchcock (2012), a film Mrs. Shady and I recently watched for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed. In the title role of Hitch is Anthony Hopkins with great performances by Helen Mirren as his wife and Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh. Spoiler alert: Scarlett gets stabbed in the shower at Bates Motel.
Have a great October, good buddy Alex!
Some great looking films coming up, Alex. Mobland is a great show, so many great actors in the cast.
ReplyDeleteHard to choose a favourite isn't it? Not going out to movies much but loved Thursday Night Murder Club. So fun.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to pick a favorite of our book babies, isn't it? I thought the 2nd season of Wednesday started slow, but the 2nd half was amazing. Really enjoyed it. Loved gritty Mobland, great actors that are also in Thursday Night Murder Club, which was good!
ReplyDeleteI think all our books have a special place in our heart, too. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I didn't enjoy Wednesday. Maybe I should try it again.
ReplyDeleteI love Wednesday on Netflix, especially how they work in previous actors. Thing is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour Cassa series was a delight. Hubby still asks if you've written anything else. :)
ReplyDeleteWe might have favourites but I think there's something in every book we've written to be proud of. Even ones that end in the drawer!
ReplyDeleteWatched Wednesday. Great fun, love it.
I love Wednesday. =)
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to have many, many favorite works, right? Because I think we pour so much of ourselves into them that they all become a huge part of our lives. Here's to awesome books!
I loved Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteYou should be proud of all of your books. They still sell well.
Happy Wednesday Alex! I watched a few episodes of Alien Earth but, sadly I lost interest. I think all your books were amazing.
ReplyDeleteBig love for the middle child of your series!
ReplyDeleteI agree about Wednesday being a delightful series. I haven't finished season two since I've been busy writing, but the scene where the other group of boys at the camp who overhear Enid explaining why she ghosted her ex-boyfriend (so poignant!), thus endearing Enid to them despite their enemy status, was adorable.
Ivy, I can't see you picking anything else.
ReplyDeleteShady, I will have to look for Hitchcock!
Ray, yes it.
Donna, thanks!
Crystal, well said.
Diane, good to know!
Jennifer, you will enjoy the ending then.
I tried Alien Earth but couldn't stay in it for more than a few episodes. Making a note of After the Hunt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for another great hop, Alex! I adore the Cassa series, especially CassaStorm, but Dragon of the Stars is my favorite. As usual, I enjoyed your TV and movie assessments. I too am praying that Tron: Ares will be good.
ReplyDeleteThis is my bad, I forgot to add. The video recording part of the camera works so I'll keep this one in the kitchen. Then if by chance the shutter gets fixed, then I'll keep it as a backup camera. I'm at the stage now where I need two cameras running at once. Pretty cool. Thanks, Alex!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about trying to choose a favorite among my book-children :-) @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
That tagline from After the Hunt got me, too. I might have to go see that one.
ReplyDeleteLove that line--"Come for the alien, stay for the eyeball creature." I've done that often. Not into movies with no redeemable characters, so will skip that one. Julie Roberts--I used to love everything she was in. Not so sure anymore.
ReplyDeleteYou had a challenge in making your choice. I think a series makes it more difficult to pick out a favorite, but you did it!
ReplyDeleteI, too, gobbled up Wednesday. Loved that series.
https://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/
Ah, yes. Wednesday. Jenna Ortega is so amazing in this. These movies are on my watch list. Happy October!
ReplyDeleteChoosing a favorite can be limiting. Like you, I have a lot of favorites too and all for different reasons.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and sons love the Wednesday series. Haven't watched it yet. Guess Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Riverdale series has made me hesitant.
Love that you wrote your heart out for #3–and then realized you needed another to REALLY tie it all up!
ReplyDeleteIt is always hard to pick a favorite among your own creations.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Hunt sounds interesting. To tell the truth, I'm tired of special effect movies, and it seems that is all that comes out of Hollywood this days. A Julia Roberts drama feels like a delightful deviation from their hit-and-blast current norm.
I finally got through all of Wednesday last week. They did well with it.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see the middle child getting some love. 😁 I bet it was that wild abandon!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it can be hard to pick a favorite. Sometimes I like what one of my kids are doing better than others, but I love them all the same no matter what.
ReplyDeleteLee
It's been interesting to browse around and learn how people answered this month's optional question. I have to admit that the topic confounded me... I seldom choose favorites in any area, so it's not a process I engage in. I just like to write!
ReplyDeleteI loved all of your books, Alex! I wish you would write more! And I loved the Wednesday series. I'll have to look for Season 2. All the best to you!
ReplyDeleteI love that you enjoyed writing those books AND they pleased your fans. That is such an accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteThrowing everything in sure makes it fun indeed, until whoops, next idea haha still fun nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a growing trend these days with shows. All characters are crap people.
Your wait was worth it; the book was great. And thanks for stopping by my blog. I was just thinking this morning that it's been forever since I popped by here...and you read my mind :)
ReplyDeleteToi, thanks, and you and Truedessa are my biggest fans of that book.
ReplyDeleteIvy, glad some of it still works!
Jacqui, that one with her just looks creepy.
Rebecca, I know! It just wasn't done.
Holly, it was! I thought it would also be the last book I wrote.
Louise, thanks!
Tonja, great minds!
I'm hoping to watch the second season of Wednesday soon.
ReplyDeleteI loved Wednesday and enjoy it with my granddaughter. She's trying to learn Enid's dance number. I'm hoping for Tron also.
ReplyDeleteI've been in love with the Addams ever since I've watched the animated movie when I was little. Jenna Ortega is a perfect Wednesday. Season 2 did not dissapoint at all!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how a story you thought ended got a whole another book!
After The Hunt Sounds interesting. I haven't seen any of the series but I added Wednesday to my watchlist this evening. The best piece I ever wrote was a newspaper column--my first. It was about my son growing up and becoming independent. He had just gotten married. It gave me my 15 minutes of fame, with people stopping me in public to say how they loved it. People at work even said they had cut it out and mailed it to friends. I felt so honored.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Hello Alex, I'm River and off topic have a question about your scheduled Words for Wednesday in November. Our Host Sue, (Elephant's Child) has passed away suddenly, and if you wish I can post your words on my blog. email them to me :
ReplyDeleteelsieathome@y7mail.com
If you don't wish to continue participating please let me know.
Happy October Alex! You should be proud of everything you have written. I used to write a lot of poems and stories and did well in school. I kept writing short stories and, when my dad was dying from brain cancer, I wrote the short story about what his dad witnessed when living in Chicago in the late 1800s. It was a story about a woman, who was beautiful, but knew it who loved a dropped every man she met. When they went to a local dance, she was asked to dance by a very handsome man and she willingly accepted. While dancing, the music turned into a devilish tune and the woman became frightened but the man smiled as the people noticed his one leg turned into a hoof and they aw a tail.. she was dancing with the devil and died right on the dance floor as the man just disappeared. My dad was home, paralyzed on his right side but making headway in movement. When I read him the story, that he told me many times before, he had tears in his eyes and was visibly moved. He then, critiqued where I need to improve the story but it was a moment I will never forget. My love for my dad just enveloped my whole being.
ReplyDeleteAs for films, I’d like to see Julia Roberts film and The Rock’s as well.
I'm a day late! Lost track of time this week. It's fascinating that your "middle child" your favorite. And great how the last book snuck in on you!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching Wednesday. The rest don't look appealing; I'd rather read a good book.
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Spring Cleaning: Composting Old Manuscripts
So often, the middle child is over looked. As usual, you make everyone feel cared for and special. CassaStorm is a great read.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading CassaStorm! The previews of Tron: Ares look pretty good!
ReplyDeleteSusan, tell her good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteJanie, that's cool! Sometimes fifteen minutes is all we get.
River, oh no!!!
Birgit, what a story!
Tron: Ares catches my interest and I'm also crossing fingers that it will do good. I really need to do that since i dont like with the Disney Co. gone in the past decade.
ReplyDeleteI want to check out Alien:Earth, I have FX so I think it comes out on that one. I do t like sitting through watching characters do nothing but stupid things so I probably would watch it for the aliens a d definitely the eye ball creature! I dig those eyeball creatures in science fiction and horror!
You've written a good number of books in your series!
Howdy Captain! Yep, hands down, You nailed it with your middle child! I love the feeling that comes through in your heartfelt description of your journey.
ReplyDeleteI'll watch anything Julia Roberts is in ;-)
Happy October!
Hey Alex, I'm a going to Kindle, can I find your book there I trust?
ReplyDeleteAnd I love me Wednesday, long story but TheAddamsFamily lives happily in my memories
Steven, I usually don't watch Disney for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteShadow, yes! You can find all of my books there.
Volunteering for February to co-host.
ReplyDeleteI hear Uncle Lester is getting a spin-off of Wednesday.
Hopefully Jared Leto does better in this movie, I didn't care for his last big role.
The first Friday in October is World Smile Day, a day dedicated to spreading smiles and performing acts of kindness. 😊
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
Always wonderful to love our writing, our stories, even after they have been out for a while. Bravo, Alex! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about After the Hunt and I'll probably see Smashing Machine, even though it's not really my area of interest. Love the director.
ReplyDeleteYou did indeed score a winner, Alex.
ReplyDeleteWednesday was good, I liked it.
ReplyDeleteNeat how you thought you were writing the last book, then came up with one more. I love how our stories go their own way sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I just published my October post. Sorry so late--work has been crazy busy. Any chance I can have my spot back on the roll call?
Wednesday is definitely a fun series! I like the music in it! :) Your Cassa series is terrific. Are you writing anything else?
ReplyDeleteThe favorite thing I've written is the story of my stepfather's funeral, "Funerals By George." While you'd wonder why a funeral could be humorous, it was (my stepfather was exactly the type of man who'd find humor in it!).
ReplyDelete