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 March 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!
March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?
First, my advice is find out what is working for book launches now. What worked for mine, most of which came out last decade, won’t work now. Everything is changing so fast and you’ll need to tap into the current trend. Check with authors such as Elizabeth S. Craig, Angela Ackerman, and Anne R. Allen. They post great tips on their sites and are happy to guide new authors.
We are good for April but need another one or two co-hosts for May. And hosts for the summer! Let me know when you can help in the comments or send me an email.
The Novelry is looking for writers to join The Big Idea Challenge for March! Lots of cool stuff, so check out their site.
We are also saying goodbye to Louise Barbour (Fundy Blue) as an admin. She was such a great addition to the team, bringing a breath of fresh air with her. Louise, you will be missed big time!
And finally, the A to Z Challenge kicks off April 1! Visit the site for details.
New Releases!
Plot Twist by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Something old, something new, something borrowed, someone's through.
Universal buy links here
Happy Birthday to Us! by Sherry Ellis (Official website)
Celebrate the joy of sharing a birthday with America!
Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and Bookshop
Balance of Nature, Book 3 of the prehistoric trilogy Savage Land by Jacqui Murray
A tribe haunted by the past. Lies that threaten the future. A reason to find the truth.
Available exclusively on Amazon as print or digital
Ruthless Kingdom by Cathrina Constantine
Two Kingdoms - Two Kings
One King Vows to Rule Them All
Find it on Amazon
Jewels of Darterra by J. Lenni Dorner
Do some people having more options impair the existence of others who were born with a distinct path and purpose?
Find it on Barnes and Noble and Smashwords
The Rebel's Redemption (Sagebrush Springs Book 2) by Melissa Maygrove
A Confederate past. A Union widow. One chance to make peace—with her and himself.
Release scheduled for March 31st – pre order on Amazon
March Movie Preview
Here are the theatrical releases for March. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
6 –
The Bride
Director – Maggie Gyllenhaal
Stars – Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Jale Gyllenhaal
In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as the Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change.
Looks like a dumpster fire. It will make us long for the Sting and Jennifer Beals version.
13 –
Undertone
Director – Ian Tuason
Stars – Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michele Duquet
The host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.
A24 Studio’s motto – Making sure you never get a good night’s sleep again!
20 –
Project Hail Mary
Directors – Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Stars – Ryan Gosling, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung
Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing the sun and save Earth. An unexpected friendship may be the key.
Does it have to take two and a half hours to save the world? Can’t he do it in ninety minutes?
27 –
They Will Kill You
Director – Kirill Sokolov
Stars – Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Myha’la
A woman takes a job as a housekeeper in a NYC high-rise, unaware of the building's history of disappearances. She soon realizes the community is shrouded in mystery.
It’s like a horror take on John Wick. Come for the blood and gore, stay for the blood and gore…
What advice do you have for those about to launch a book? Can you help co-host the IWSG? Picking up some new books? And what March movies capture your attention?
24 comments:
Thanks for the book mention! And the shoutout to A to Z.
Did you see "No Way Up"? Plane crash with sharks, but not as ridiculous as it sounds. I just saw it came to Hulu.
Will Project Hail Mary be as good as The Martian? (Movie-wise, comparing the books is a whole other thing.)
"What I say is, a town isn't a town without a bookstore." — Neil Gaiman
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
I've never cohosted before but could probably volunteer for May.
I'm looking forward to Project Hail Mary. And the new Scary Movie (7? I forget what they're up to.)
That's good advice, to research today's market.
I don't think any of the movies will be on my "to watch" list.
All the films look interesting, especially Project Hail Mary, anything with Jesse Buckley in is worth a watch too!
Thanks for the feature, Alex!
I read "Project Hail Mary" and am wondering exactly how that's made into a 2.5 hour film.
Congrats to everyone on their recent book releases! Yes, marketing books have changed in the last ten years, but we have lots of seasoned authors to share advice. I'm glad to co-host whenever you need me to.
Wahoo! So many awesome book releases!
I hear you about being out of the loop. I've been talking to marketing specialists the last month and whew! The ways they reach people these days? Man. It's overwhelming. So many avenues. So much work. But hey, that's why we build an audience and then can relax a little, eh?
I'm watching indie horror this week--got the virtual package for Nevermore film fest.
I enjoyed Project Hail Mary the book, but I'm kind of torn about seeing the movie, and the two and half hour length isn't helping with that....
Congrats to all authors and their new releases! And, thanks Alex for the mention!
Alex, good advice for writers working on book launches. You are so right, everything changes at a rapid pace these days.
Have a good month.
J Lenni, you're welcome. And not seen that movie. Project Hail Mary is getting good early buzz.
Jamie, that would be great!
Elizabeth, you're welcome!
Natalie, you are awesome.
Madeline, I know, they just can't make a movie under two hours anymore.
Cathrina, you're welcome!
You made an excellent point! What worked then, won't work now. It's changes so fast too, that for each book, we have to start out research all over again!
So many new releases to celebrate! Congratulations to Melissa, J. Lenni, Cathrina, Jacqui, Sherry, and Elizabeth! Thank you to Louise for all her work over the years. Looks like we agree on the need to stay current--maybe one reason we're not publishing these days!
That's a lot of new books. And yes, all I can think of for that first movie is The Bride with Sting.
Some interesting book releases. No new movies for March seem to interest me. I did go see Send Help last month. I actually went to the theater. I had a discounted pass so that always works for me. The movie was suspenseful horror and a bit twisted. Definitely, not my normal movie choice. But, it did keep me on the edge of my seat and I had to close my eyes a few times. Yikes....
Peace and light always....
Happy IWSG day. The books by fellow IWSG writers look like ones I would love to read. The movies not so much. I watched Wuthering Heights and it was an interesting take even if it wasn't true to the book. I will watch Hamnet tomorrow and am prepared with a large handkerchief. The book was sad enough.
Excellent idea, Alex! Keep up with the times and don't stick with what used to work for book launches.
Im here! I realized I forgot to write my comment last month. Im not going to do that again:)) my advice would be to check out those blogs you mentioned to help launch abook. I will see the Bride because we love Christian Bale but I love your sass! The others don't interest me.
Wow! Congratulations to all the authors of all the new books! And, I love your snarky movie previews. :) Also, I think some of the old ways of book launches still work, but yes, new ways abound...
"They Will Kill You" sounds like it will be fun :-)
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Like Herding Cats
Wow, I am so out of touch with the current movies. I used to know what was coming out. Not anymore.
I won't be watching any of those movies, but I read Project Hail Mary and it was a good book. As for book launches, you make a good point about seeing what's working these days. I'll check out those web sites you mention.
Congratulations to all the authors who had new releases! And thanks so much for mentioning Happy Birthday to US! Launching a book is tricky. Social media (especially TikTok) has worked well for me.
Gosh, my husband and I were so looking forward to seeing Project Hail Mary, but note its length... who can sit that long with only a single tub of popcorn! But, still... Ryan Gosling!
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