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 April 1 posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!
April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?
I listen to metal and prog rock, so my playlists feature artists in those categories – Rush, Dream Theater, Amorphis, Ayeron, Omnium Gathering, Insomnium, Symphony X, Megadeth, Haken, Voyager, Dynazty, etc. Anything with a pounding beat, intricate music, and high energy.
We would like to welcome Cathrina Constantine as our new IWSG Admin! Please visit her site (she is also co-hosting today) and say hello.
After Appomattox: The Stories That Begin When the War Ends by Melissa Maygrove
On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. The brutal war that had divided the country for four long years was finally over. For the soldiers who laid down their weapons that day, however, the story was only beginning. They still had to go home.
Weary, wounded men returned to farms that had fallen into ruin and towns that had changed in ways they never expected. Not only did families grieve lost husbands, fathers, and sons, former enemies had to learn how to live in the same communities again. Those are the kinds of stories that inspired my Sagebrush Springs series.
In the latest book, The Rebel’s Redemption, Union widow Rosalie Reed loses her husband at Appomattox and is left to run their Nebraska farm alone. She’s aided by Major Charles Avendon—the former Confederate surgeon who operated on her husband when he died. Once Rosalie discovers Charles’s real identity, she must decide whether to forgive him and whether to risk love again.
The Rebel’s Redemption is a poignant tale of second chances. History highlights the battles, but the rebuilding was just as powerful. And those are the stories that make the best romances.
Alex loves movies, so here’s a list:
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Glory (1989)
Gettysburg (1993)
Shane (1953)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Thank you for hosting me on your blog!
The series is currently available on Amazon in e-book, paperback, and via Kindle Unlimited. Sagebrush Springs series: universal link
Book 2, The Rebel’s Redemption, is available now here
Book 3, The Widower’s Heart, is available for pre-order here
Hannah Keegan travels west to marry widower Eli Owens and become the mother to his children, only to discover his dying wife is the one who summoned her—and is still very much alive. When a young suitor offers Hannah the future of her dreams, she must choose whether to walk away or stay and risk loving a man who might never love her in return.
Zootopia 2 Review
Picking up after the first film ended, Judy and Nick try to crack a case and everything goes awry.
The film is both fun and funny with laugh-out-loud moments. The regulars return with several new characters including Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), Mayor Winddancer (Patrick Warburton), and Jesus (Danny Trejo).
This is light entertainment the whole family will enjoy. You’ll have fun until the movie ends, after which you really won’t remember much of it.
Recommended.
April Movie Preview
Here are the theatrical releases for April. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
10 –
The Beast
Director: Tyler Atkins
Stars: Daniel MacPherson, Luke Helmsworth, Russell Crowe
MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he commits to one final fight in ONE Championship against its brutal champion Xavier Grau.
Remember when Crowe actually was the fighter in the movie?
17 –
Lee Cronin’s the Mummy
Director: Lee Cronin
Stars: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, Natalie Grace
The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
Trailer looks interesting, but…who the heck is Lee Cronin?
Do you make playlists? Do you like after war stories? Seen Zootopia 2? Any movies catch your interest for April?
Happy April Fool’s Day, happy Easter, and good luck to all doing the A to Z Challenge this month!
Happy April Fool’s Day, happy Easter, and good luck to all doing the A to Z Challenge this month!
42 comments:
Hi, Alex!
As someone with eclectic taste in music, my playlists change often. Lately, while writing, I've been getting a kick out of listening to 60+ minute long DJ shows on YouTube featuring disco and post-disco club sounds. Between sets, I cleanse the palate with 1980s hair metal, glam metal, sleaze metal and hard rock.
Mrs. Shady and I follow a July 4 tradition. We watch the Gettysburg film you listed, an epic production with too many great spectacles and acting performances to count. "See you in hell, Johnny Reb. See you in hell, Billy Yank." I would be willing to give the latest iteration of The Mummy a try.
Happy April Fools' Day, good buddy Alex!
Some cool groups listed there. I mainly use playlists for inspiration but not when actually writing. I've tried but always get distracted!
Congrats to Melissa.
Zootopia 2 was good. Apex looks good (coming to Netflix). So does Everest.
April is the ideal time to refresh goals and turn small daily actions into major wins, utilizing the season's new energy for growth.
“Every day is a chance to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with positive thoughts and expectations.” ― Catherine Pulsifer
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
Thanks to Cathrina for being a co-administrator of our group. And congrats to Melissa on her new book and cover. It's interesting that you can listen to those music genres and write. I need total silence.
I can't even remember the last time I listened to music, let alone made a playlist! :o I wouldn't even know where to start anymore. Sigh.
The Mummy movie sounds kind of interesting. Might check it out.
I hung out with Megadeath's drummer once. Good night.
Zootopia 2 was a fun film.
Have a fun April Fools day!
Jamie of UniquelyMaladjustedButFun
Congratulations to Melissa--The Rebel's Redemption sounds great. And thank you to Cathrina for taking over! I only recognized two bands on your list, Alex (Rush and Megadeath) ha ha.
I don't know any of those bands. (I'm a 70's soft rock girl with a smattering of metal - Van Halen, Scorpions, Whitesnake...). Thanks again for hosting me on your blog!
Congrats to Melissa! My music tastes are all over the place. I recently discovered Florence and the Machine, and I still listen to a lot of Lindsey Stirling. I think The Mummy looks interesting too. I only know Lee Cronin from the recent Evil Dead Rising film, but supposedly he's very good with horror and twists. Have a happy Easter weekend!
Thank you Alex! Congratulations to Melissa!! Love her books!
Yay for Cathrina joining the team!
And I'm so stoked for Melissa but I bet her tongue is hanging out.
I've never been able to listen to music while I write. It distracts me too much. Usually I write in silence or with a gaming let's play on Youtube as background noise.
Happy IWSG Day! I love this months questions. I use music in my writing process all the time. Congrats to Cathrina Constantine.
My playlist whenever I write is classical music, turned down low. I can't abide music with words to it. I may end up singing. And nobody wants to hear that.
Melissa's new book sounds good! I will have to check it out. My playlist would consists of Sia songs like Titanium and Unstoppable. Music to pump me up and keep me motivated.
Congrats to Melissa! I loved hearing the background of her stories. We're going to see The Great Awakening this week, and I'm also excited to see Hail Mary, but I am still waiting for it to come to our small-town theater.
Natalie, I guess most people can't listen to music judging by the responses today.
Jamie, that is cool!
Melissa, you're welcome.
Cathrina, glad to have you on board!
Congrats to Melissa.
I thought Zootopia 2 was very funny. The lizard running across the water cracked me up.
I don't know any of the bands you mentioned, but you probably don't know any on mine ether, and... ha, ha....I had to look up prog rock and thought it was a new genre but saw that's if progressive rock. I guess I'm not with it yet when it comes to using abbreviations. Congrats to Melissa on her new book.
Hi Alex! That's quite a playlist! I love music but find it (mostly) too distracting to listen while I'm trying to write.
Zootopia sounds fun. I want to watch it.
Howdy Captain! The Mummy does sound interesting. Your playlist must be fantastic, considering the list of artists you provided ;-) I have a playlist but, there's usually a handfull of songs that run in my head with any given project I'm on. Congratulations on your books, Melissa! I want to read them both!
Happy April!
I saw about a half hour of Zootopia 2 when I showed it to a class (as a brain break after they spent the rest of the period preparing for a standardized test). I agree with your review. No, I don't make playlists. When I need to focus, I need silence.
I love finding out more about my favorite people. I learned your music preferences and they sound like pretty wild and loud vibes.
Hi Alex! Some interesting muscail groups there. I just can't do anything with lyrics...I'll end up singing or getting lost in the words or remembering some concert from long ago...but pink noise or classical (especially baroque) can keep me thinking clearly. It's nice to see Melissa's release here, too. As always, thanks for this tremendous group and all the effort that takes that we never see! Happy Writing!
I'm thinkin' your choice in music inspires creativity in multiple ways. Happy Easter!
I appreciate Cathrina coming onboard!
As to music while writing...I prefer it to be quiet. I have enough character chatter going on in my head as it is. However, when I'm not writing, I love music of almost any kind in the background.
Happy IWSG DAY, Alex!
One of my Favorite western is Shane and I bought a digital copy of it over iTunes..
Have a lovely Day.
Shalom shalom
Attempting to comment from my phone and hoping it goes well... But here goes... Love your post, as always. I think it's interesting to find out about everyone's music choices (or quiet choices). I would love to see Zootopia 2. We just watched Hail Mary a few days ago and enjoyed it - found physics problems, but enjoyed it anyway. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing what they do with the new Hamlet, but I'm not sure I'll see it in the theater. Currently watching the old Falling Skies tv show on Netflix this month, one episode at a time.
Thanks to everyone for all the kind comments. It feels so good to be writing and publishing again.
I live high-energy music!
Wow, that's a heavy playlist, either for writing or for life's other moments, whatever they are! Thanks, as always, for your movie recommendations.
I listen to all kinds of music, but I love the 80's hair bands still. Europe, Ratt, Scorpions, Dokken, Cinderella.
Now a days I like all kinds of music. But I still mainly listen to hard rock and symphonic metal.
The Beast and The Mummy both look good.
You introduced me to Ayeron, Alex, and I really enjoy them. Congrats to Melissa on her latest book, and welcome to our newest admin Cathrina! I am enjoying learning about everyone's music choices. Happy Easter!
Alex, I am going to see Hail Mary this week. I watched the lift off today and it was amazing to see the rocket blast off into space. I admire the astronauts that take that journey into space.
As a poet, I enjoy a glass of wine and listening to music when writing. My playlist would probably change based on my mood.
Hope your Easter is filled with joy, hope and light.
Leigh, progressive rock has been around for decades now.
Miffie, thank you!
Tyrean, I do want to see Hail Mary but will wait for streaming.
Mary, you rock!
Louise, glad you enjoy them.
Truedessa,, we watched it as well.
Sometime I'll have to introduce you to Richard Dansky, a writer friend from HWA. Y'all have the same taste in music!
Congrats to Melissa for a very interesting book. I'm certain it will do well. I know you love Rush, I livevon the city where one of them is born. As you know..not a lover of the band. They are very talented I just cant sta d his voice. It's like fingers on a blackboard. Do you like King Crimson?
I listened to classical, blues, old Hollywood standards, love 80s music but also the 60s and 70s rock like the Eagles, The Kinks, ELO and, yes, ABBA. Almost any music except country twang...no Minnie Pearl for me. Nor rap crap there are a few songs I like, but very few.
I have not seen any of these films...im so behind I modern films but I did like Sinners.
These sounds like my kinds of books. I just can't listen to music when I write!
Those are some stonking bands. I'd probably have to go for a walk and listen to them before writing because if I write to music with lyrics, it never goes well.
I listen to genre inspired instrumentals, electronic, movie and TV scores. For fantasy, my go-to is Audiomachine and Two Steps from Hell. For romance, I listen to slow jams, soul, R&B and sometimes Pop.
I'm currently listening to metal songs turned full instrumental with a violin lead; very cool :-)
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Find Your Unicorn Space
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