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?
31 comments:
Love that you wrote with abandon for CasaStar and it worked. Tron: Ares is the only one that catches my eye.
I 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.
Hi, Alex!
I 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.
Hard to choose a favourite isn't it? Not going out to movies much but loved Thursday Night Murder Club. So fun.
It'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!
I 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.
I love Wednesday on Netflix, especially how they work in previous actors. Thing is amazing.
Your Cassa series was a delight. Hubby still asks if you've written anything else. :)
We 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!
Watched Wednesday. Great fun, love it.
I love Wednesday. =)
It'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.
You 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.
Big love for the middle child of your series!
I 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.
Shady, 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!
Thanks 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.
This 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!
I feel the same way about trying to choose a favorite among my book-children :-) @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
That tagline from After the Hunt got me, too. I might have to go see that one.
Love 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.
You had a challenge in making your choice. I think a series makes it more difficult to pick out a favorite, but you did it!
I, 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!
Choosing a favorite can be limiting. Like you, I have a lot of favorites too and all for different reasons.
My 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!
It is always hard to pick a favorite among your own creations.
After 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.
It's nice to see the middle child getting some love. 😁 I bet it was that wild abandon!
I'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.
Lee
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!
I 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!
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