The Best of 2013, New Books, Ninja News, and What Was Your Best Year?

The Best and Personal Favorites of 2013

It was another awesome year for movies, music, and everything in between. Here were some of the highlights for me, in no particular order.

Favorite Movies

Star Trek Into Darkness – non-stop and just a very good and solid movie
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – another great entry and roller coaster of a ride
Pacific Rim – giant robots versus giant monsters – need I say more?
Gravity – very intense and Oscar-worthy
Thor: The Dark World – even better than the first one
Man of Steel – liked it even more the second time

Favorite Music

Rush – Clockwork Angels Tour DVD/CD – great live show and the orchestra puts it over the top
Dream Theater CD – their best album since Awake
Ayreon – The Theory of Everything CD – another amazing concept album from Arjen

Favorite New Television Shows

The Blacklist – Spader makes it
Almost Human – great interaction between the leads
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – fun and expands the Marvel universe
Defiance – support your local good science fiction show!
House of Cards – you’ll need a shower afterwards but it’s fun

Favorite Game 

Rocksmith 2014 – a lot of fun and better designed



What were some of your favorites?

New Books!

Lydia Kang’s Control is now out – her first book!

Roland Yeomans’ Death in the House of Life is now available!


Another masterpiece from Roland...

EJ Wesley’s Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs Book 5 was unleashed.

Watcher of Worlds by Brinda Berry
Whispering Woods Book 3
ISBN: 978-1-941133-00-2

Senior year should bring fun, friends and happiness. Not portals, treachery, and murder.

Find it on Amazon

Anne R Allen’s The Lady of Lakewood Diner in now out!

Emilyann Girdner’s The Labyrinth Wall was released!

Kimberly Afe’s The Headhunter’s Race came out last week!

Ciara Knight’s Pendulum is out!





Congratulations to all!

Ninja News

Today at the A to Z Blog is an interview with the awesome Michael Di Gesu! He turned his theme into a lucrative endeavor – check it out.

Terri Rochenski announced an opportunity with her publisher, Roane Publishing. They have an open sub call for an upcoming fantasy anthology titled Portals. See her site for details.

Special thanks to Robyn Campbell and Edi’s Book LIghthouse who both placed CassaStorm at the top of their favorite books of 2013. You both rock!!

For those of you who write poetry, Bossy Betty had a really creative idea!

Pat Hatt created a special video for Christmas, and I’m proud to say I defeat Evil Santa with my guitar playing! (And not because I was playing badly either.)



The 2014 A to Z Challenge Team is coming together! We’ll announce them and open up the sign-up list on January 27. We’ll also be looking for Minions again. Any volunteers…?

2013 and Our Best Year

2013 was another good year for me, although 2012 seemed better. However, I did launch CassaStorm, the final book in my series. I made huge improvements in my guitar playing. And of course, the launch of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website was a major highlight.

We remember years that boast major accomplishments and happy occasions. I can remember living in England, marrying my wife, accepting Jesus, and the launch of my very first book. Those were all good years.

So I ask you – what was your best year and why?

See you Wednesday for Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day!

What were your favorite movies, shows, books, etc. in 2013? Picked up any of the new releases? Ready for the A to Z Challenge? (Want to be a Minion?) And what year shines in your memory – and why?

UNSTOPPABLE - A to Z Challenge

It’s the third A to Z Challenge! Blog the letters of the alphabet in order every day except Sundays The participation list is HERE – start with the blog after yours and visit at least five blogs a day. Mostly, make new friends and have fun!

My theme – I have selected a word for each day and will present to you blogger buddies who fit that description, along with movies, music, etc. My theme is to give back, highlight some awesome bloggers, and have fun in the process.

UNSTOPPABLE

Bossy Betty
This wonderful woman with a penchant for humor and eye for photography underwent a life-changing event last year, one that nearly wiped her out. However, she is not Bossy Betty for nothing! Struggling through the pain and sorrow, she bravely set out on the new path. I admire her strength and endurance and watch in awe as she tackles life renewed. Betty, you are truly unstoppable!

Leigh at Em-Musing
Her posts may be a wandering musings, but not her actions. Leigh is on the hunt, submitting her queries with determination. Add to her challenges a recent move to Mexico. But that won’t stop her either. And I know all of that unstoppable energy will one day meet with success.

Christopher Nolan
He certainly seems unstoppable with a string of one great film after another. Starting with Memento (from an earlier post) through Batman and Inception (also posted) he has a knack for hitting one home run after another. I can’t wait for the third of the Batman trilogy “The Dark Knight Rises.”

NINJA NEWS!

Wendy Tyler Ryan is putting together the Second Avenue Second Hand Anthology – see her site for details on how to submit.

Full details on the A to Z Reflections post May 7 are posted at the A to Z Blog

Don’t forget the First Loves Blogfest on May 14 – First loves of movies, music, books, and person.

NINJA CONTEST!

To celebrate 1500 followers, I’m holding a giveaway – a copy of CassaStar and CassaFire! This will be a little different though. The books will be donated to the winner’s choice of public or high school library, along with a selection of bookmarks. (The winner also gets bookmarks.)

How to enter: (and must be a follower)

Comment on my posts (just once) U-X (Tuesday through Friday) – one point

Ten extra points for the first comment (please don’t melt my blog)

Ten extra points if you blog about this contest (leave a link so I know)

Winner will be announced Monday during the Z post!

Following Betty and Em-Musing? Think Christopher Nolan rocks? Ready to share your thoughts about the Challenge on May 7? Entering the giveaway? And who do you know who is unstoppable?

Thanks again everyone for making 1500+ followers a reality. And despite the cool suggestions yesterday, I’m sticking with Ninja Captain. After all, Jean Luc Picard was an awesome captain!

Anniversary, Award, Challenge Book, and oh Crap...

I'll get to the oh crap part in a minute...

I received an award from Maurice at The Geek Twins - The Pied Piper Award. (And I’m the first recipient – too cool!)

Here are the rules:
List three of your favorite followers and why. 
Pass the award onto three bloggers you feel deserve their followers the most. 

You are all my favorite! All right, just three awesome bloggers…
Bossy Betty
Karen at Coming Down the Mountain
L.G. at Bards and Prophets

The Campaigner Challenges 2011 book is now available! And one of my stories is included. (You remember the one about the twitching little freaks?) The book is on sale for $2.99USD, and all proceeds will be donated to "Help Harry Help Others," a fund-raising organization of eleven year old Harry who recently died of his inoperable brain tumor. Full details on Rachael’s BLOG Purchase it on Amazon or Smashwords



In other news…

My book is still bouncing around in the top science fiction titles on Amazon. It’s mind-boggling to think how many people have downloaded my book! Several new reviews have appeared as well. And of course, it was bound to happen – someone zapped CassaStar with a lame two-star review. (This is the oh crap part.) So a big thanks to those of you who’ve posted four and five star reviews to balance it all out!

Don’t forget my Catch Fire Blog Party on February 28, 2012! Many thanks to those who’ve already signed up. Full details HERE

Finally…

I totally missed the two-year anniversary of this blog! It was November 9. Can’t believe I’ve been doing this for two years now. Never envisioned I’d be where I’m at now, but I’m really grateful for all of you and to be a part of this community. You guys rock!

Any other news? Ordering the Campaign book? Thoughts on crappy reviews? Hit any milestones? Wonder why on earth you’re still following me…?

Science Fiction-Fantasy News and My Odd Answers

First, a little science/fantasy fiction news for you…

During a recent interview with Jewel Staite (Serenity, Stargate:Atlantis) she revealed she’s working with former S:A castmember, David Hewlett, on a secret project. She also revealed that if given the choice between Simon and Mal, she’d select Inara. Crap, I guess I know where I stand...

From the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly: “Skip I Am Number Four, see Starman instead. They’re both about hunky aliens, so why bother with the cruddy one?” (Sorry, found that rather funny!)

And Jason Momoa is already talking about Conan 2 and 3. Let’s hope 1 lives up to the hype!

And my odd answers?

Summer Ross at My Inner Fairy tagged me with this meme, and I decided to have some fun with it…

Do you think you're hot?

Is molten lava hot? Is the center of the sun hot? Is the middle of an inferno hot?
Eh, I’m all right.

Upload a picture or wall paper you are using at the moment


Kate...!
Okay, not really. This is my wallpaper, because it motivates me to finish the damn sequel!

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?

I like to start off my day with a protein based breakfast consisting of Cocoa Puffs and BBQ chicken. Oh, and a sliced banana.

The Song(s) you listened to recently?

The entire new While Heaven Wept CD
Amon Amarth’s song, “War of the Gods”
Oh, and, the J.G. Wentworth 877-CASHNOW jingle (Someone please help me get it out of my head!)

What were you thinking as you were doing this?

Maybe I’ll add Hot Tamales to my Cocoa Puffs…

Do you have nicknames? What are they?

Captain Ninja Alex!

Tag eight Blogger friends

Eight? I don’t know if I could find eight who haven’t already been tagged. Damn, I don’t want to be responsible for a dead rabbit. So, I shall tag Bossy Betty and let the rabbit die with her!

I know - that's not right!

Heard any odd news lately?

A to Z Challenge - B (and a movie review!)

For the A to Z Challenge, I am featuring some awesome bloggers, many of whom are participating in the Challenge. These individuals have offered so much support of my book, CassaStar, and on my blogger journey. Of course, I’ll be keeping up with the world of movies, music, and pop culture stuff as well! Ninjas are just talented that way...

Bossy Betty
Sassy attitude and a great sense of humor, Betty never fails to deliver a laugh. Her blog button is a duck’s behind, so that’s a good indication of what lies ahead. She’s devoted to her followers and commenters, though. Just don’t give her any awards – they’ll turn into dead rabbits!

Breakfast Every Hour
Alex uses his blog to process his thoughts and experiences, so the posts are both personal and quirky. He’s a talented dude who doesn’t give himself enough credit, though. With some encouragement, I know this fellow writer will produce something great!

And I slipped out last night to see a movie...

Source Code

The premise (government program sends man back into another’s body for eight minutes to discover who bombed a train) sounded like it borrowed from many films before it. However, I was surprised by its originality and plot direction. It harkens back to a time of solid storytelling without elaborate special effects. The eight minutes is fresh every time, and while a few of the clues are played early, I really enjoyed the ride. Gyllenhaal was well cast in the role, and there’s real chemistry between him and Monaghan. If you like films about paradoxes or with a bit of a Twilight Zone feel to them, you will really dig Source Code. Excellent film!