Insecure Writers Support Group, Deadpool and Wolverine Review, August Movie Releases, and New Books!

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 August 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen!

August 7 question - Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?

I have never used AI for anything that I know of. I do my own research. (So, I guess if Google is AI…?) I don’t use Grammarly. But ultimately, true AI doesn’t exist for the general public. The AI we have access to has restraints. It’s not true AI. (Real AI is a bit scary.)

We need two more co-hosts for September and then four co-hosts each month for the remainder of the year. Leave a comment or send me an email if you can help. If you have never co-hosted – it is a blast! Ask our regular co-hosts. You will get a ton of visitors and meet some new friends. Go ahead – give it a try!
And don’t take my word for it – this is what first-time co-host JS Pailly had to say last month:
I wanted to thank you for letting me co-host IWSG last week. I wasn't 100% sure what I was getting myself into, but it turned out to be way more fun than I expected.

Movie Review – Deadpool and Wolverine

It was a lot of fun to watch. I laughed a lot. Tons of funny lines, most of which I can’t remember now.
Tying it in with all the other Marvel properties was smart. And obviously the pairing of the two leads was brilliant. Wolverine is an A-list Marvel character and he really brought in the crowds to see the film.
The cameos and Easter eggs are overflowing.
Also the bloodiest Deadpool movie to date.
However, they broke the fourth wall so many times with references to 20th Century Fox, Disney, and Marvel that it kept reminding me it was just a movie and that pulled me out a lot. There might have been some plot holes as well. Nothing that ruined the movie though.
If you enjoyed the other two, you will enjoy this one.

New Releases!

Deep Curse: A Mermaid Romance (Cursed Waters Book 1) by Patricia Josephine
A thousand year curse.
A mythical creature of the deep.
Is true love enough to save a cursed mermaid?
Find it on Amazon

Because No One Noticed by C. Lee McKenzie
Five juniors at Las Animas High have a long history together. They love, dislike, or tolerate each other depending on the day. Occupied with class assignments, career choices, family disharmony, and the usual teen turbulence, none of them thinks seriously of the danger lurking in their near future or how fragile and temporary life is.
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Laya’s Vacation by Jean Davis
Short-tempered from the summer heat, Laya takes a vacation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, far away from her family and friends. She travels to Paradise, Whitefish Point, and Tahquamenon Falls to see what animals and sights exist beyond the chicken yard.
Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

The Trespassers by Steven Arellano Rose, Jr.
After crash-landing on a desert planet, astronaut and forensic anthropologist Gav Torres becomes separated from the rest of his expedition. He soon enough reunites with everybody except one person: his fiancé, Shelley Wu. Gav’s persistence to find Shelley will soon reveal to him the alien terror from beyond death that may be responsible for her disappearance, the previous expeditions’ disappearances and the likely annihilation of himself and the rest of the current expedition.
Find it here

August Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for August. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

8 –

RiffTrax Live – Point Break
The guys are riffing Point Break, the early nineties flick starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.
The only bummer is this isn’t actually live, as they have already recorded it and will broadcast it on August 8 and 13.

9 –

Borderlands
Director: Eli Roth
Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Haley Bennett, Gina Gershon
Based on the best-selling videogame, this all-star action-adventure follows a ragtag team of misfits on a mission to save a missing girl who holds the key to unimaginable power.
Do the video game to movie adaptations that suck also end up in the landfill with ET?

16 –

Alien: Romulus
Director: Fede Alverez
Stars: Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux
While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Stop me if you’ve heard this – a group of people go on a ship and encounter an alien…

23 –

The Crow
Director: Rupert Sanders
Stars: Bill Skarsgård, FKA twigs, Danny Huston
When soulmates Eric and Shelly are brutally murdered, Eric is given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself and sets out to seek revenge, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.
This is a cash grab! Skip it and watch the original brilliant and haunting version with Brandon Lee.

Do you use AI? Have you seen Deadpool and Wolverine? Picking up some new books? What movies catch your eye for August? And can you co-host the IWSG any month this year?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Plus November Movie Preview and Shattered.

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.

My awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

November 3 question - What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

Title!! Blurb is difficult, title darn near impossible for me.


The IWSG is looking for an admin to run our Instagram. Tyrean is stepping down at the end of the year. If you are comfortable with Instagram and would like to join the team, send an email to the IWSG.

Movies don’t always get it right. That applies to movies that include paraplegic characters. There are often two extremes—those who are helpless and miserable, and those who are depicted as heroic for simply doing what everybody does—make it through a day.

Screenwriters ignore some of the most significant challenges for some of the disabled community. When I spoke with spinal cord doctors before writing this book, I discovered that often losing mobility wasn't the hardest part of life for paraplegics, but learning to take over some of their body’s automatic functions was. Many paraplegics must monitor their bladders and bowels, they have to be sure to shift positions frequently, they must exercise regularly—no excuses, and they have to stay on top of pain. A big change is that they have to allow a lot more time for just the basics, like getting up and getting dressed.

Some movies (Wheels, 2017 & Passion Fish, 1992) depict such a dark picture that I had a hard time watching to the end. From the reading and interviews I did, I learned that the trauma following such a life-altering event is devastating, but it doesn’t send everyone into suicidal despair or non-stop drinking. There are a lot of stories out there of people who have worked through the tough emotions and are happy and content with their lives. They’re doing what they used to before paraplegia. They’re falling in love, having children, skiing, playing basketball—the difference is in how they do it. It’s called adaptive living. 

One of the major things I learned while writing Shattered was to think differently about paraplegics (actually, about anyone living with a disability), to think of them as people first, and find ways in which we’re alike, not different. 

Available at Amazon . B&N . Kobo . Smashwords

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More About the Author and Her Books

Website . Goodreads . BookBub . Instagram . Twitter . Facebook . LinkedIn

I'm a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I write most of the time, hike and practice yoga a lot, and then travel whenever I can. 

In my young adult books, I take on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. My Evernight Teen Publication, Double Negative was voted as one of the best top ten Young Adult books, 2019. My other books, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Sliding on the Edge, Sudden Secrets and Not Guilty are out to four and five-star reviews.  

November Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for November. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

5 –

Eternals
The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.
Director: Chloé Zhao
Stars: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek
These guys make Ant Man seem like an A-lister.

12 –

Apex
Five elite hunters pay to hunt down a man on a deserted island, only to find themselves becoming the prey.
Director: Edward Drake
Stars: Bruce Willis, Neal McDonough, Lochlyn Munro, Alexia Fast
Bruce Willis is hunted for sport. What won’t this guy do for a paycheck?

19 –

Ghostbusters: Afterlife
When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
Director: Jason Reitman
Stars: Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Sigourney Weaver
If this doesn’t work, they’ll give the Ghostbusters a pet monkey and shoot them into outer space.

What’s more difficult for you – title or blurb? Interested in the Instagram IWSG Admin position? Picking up Lee’s new book? And what November movie strikes your fancy?

Ran out of room, so tune in next Monday for reviews of RiffTrax: Live – Amityville: The Evil Escapes and Dune, plus several music reviews and other updates. Then it’s off until December 1!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Terminator: Dark Fate Review, November Movie Preview, and Ninja News

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.


My awesome co-hosts today are Sadira Stone, Patricia Josephine, Lisa Buie-Collard, Erika Beebe, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Today’s question - What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

Easy! When I was researching my Kagrandes in Dragon of the Stars, I turned to the real life super-tough creature, the Tardigrade. That little sucker can actually live in space with no air or food. It’s the toughest animal on earth. And while my Kargrandes aren’t nearly that tough, it was fascinating to learn about these tiny animals.
And if you would like to fall down that rabbit hole - Wikipedia

Good luck to those participating in NaNo. I'm focusing on finishing my story this month and have been writing 300-1100 words every day.

And we are now good for co-hosts through March! Thanks to all who left a comment or emailed me. 

The Write…Edit…Publish challenge for December:

Here is November’s IWSG Instagram:

Movie Review – Terminator: Dark Fate

Taking place twenty-five-plus years after Terminator 2: Judgement Day (and replacing the last three Terminator movies) this one brings a new target, a new champion, a new breed of Terminator, and two familiar faces to the screen.
This movie does not break new ground. After six movies, they’ve covered most of the angles.
However, I enjoyed the heck out of this one!
With a possible reboot to the series, this movie, sanctioned by James Cameron, delivers all the essentials for a good Terminator movie. (SPOILER – And the fans might finally get the ‘John Connor’ resistance movie they always wanted.)
The action scenes are incredible. Some amazing stunt work.
Special effects – really impressive. Wait until you see the new Terminator. One scary, unstoppable creature.
And then there’s the great cast. Linda Hamilton reprises her role as Sarah Conner and Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as a Terminator, and both add new depth to their roles. Both are damaged people trying to do their best. Newcomers Mackenzie Davis and Natalia Reyes have great chemistry as two young women trying to stay alive and outrun the Terminator.
Some scenes feel a little familiar, but they are executed so well and with such passion that they work. And you’ll enjoy them so much, you won’t care!
You like the original Terminator movies? You’ll enjoy this one!
Highly recommended.

Ninja News

Not Guilty by C. Lee Mckenzie
A blood-smeared knife. One young man’s word against another. A lifetime dream crushed.
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords

Out of Dreams: Nightmares by Charles Gramlich
Find it on Amazon

Chrys Fey is host the Favorite Holiday Memory Blog Hop on November 15.
Sign up at her site.

October Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for October! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

8 -

Doctor Sleep
Years following the events of "The Shining," a now-adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: Rebecca Ferguson, Ewan McGregor, Carel Struycken, Jacob Tremblay
Here’s Ewan! Yeah, doesn’t have the same ring to it…

15 -

Ford vs. Ferrari 
American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Director: James Mangold
Stars: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal
Obviously, it’s the start of a franchise. Next up – Chevy vs. Bugatti, Kia vs. Lamborghini…

22 –

Frozen II
Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.
Directors: Chris Buck | Jennifer Lee
Stars: Jason Ritter, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Evan Rachel Wood
Frozen 2: Electric Olaf-loo!

29 –

Knives Out
A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.
Director: Rian Johnson
Stars: Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Edi Patterson, Toni Collette, Chris Evans, Christopher Plummer, Don Johnson, Frank Oz
I grew up in the 70’s. I see this many big names in a film, I’m expecting an earthquake or a ship to overturn…

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever researched? Did you catch the new Terminator film? And what movies catch your attention for this month?

Next Monday is a holiday and I'll be visiting family that week, so I will catch you again on November 18.

James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction, You Rock Awards, Movie News, Trivia Answers, and New Releases

James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction

Mondays on AMC.
This six-episode series is extremely fascinating!
Each show covers a specific area – aliens, space, monsters, dark futures, intelligent machines, and time travel.
James Cameron sit down with some other big names in the business and discusses each one as to how it has impacted science fiction movies today. Interspersed is commentary from dozens of other people, from major actors (Sigourney Weaver, Will Smith, etc.) to musicians, directors, artists, and others who played a part in the movies being discussed.
They discuss Cameron’s films of course, but also focus on the movies from the main guests. In the first episode, he discussed Close Encounters with Steven Spielberg, including its influences, behind the scenes tidbits, and its nods to earlier films and books.
I’m looking forward to episode three which features Guillermo del Toro (monsters) and episode four which features Christopher Nolan (dark futures).
If you are a science fiction geek, you must check it out!

Geek Movie News

No official reviews are allowed yet of Deadpool 2, but JoBlo posted a slew of Tweets from those who saw an early preview last week.

My Favorite:

Want to see Incredibles 2 two days before its release? Want to see it in IMAX? And as a double feature with the first movie?

Go to IMAX movies to see if it’s play in a theater near you on June 13!

The rumors are true!
From JoBlo:
After almost 30 years of waiting, it's time to throw up your horns and bust out your aggressive air guitar, because Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are set to reprise their roles as Theodore "Ted" Logan and "Bill" S. Preston Esq. for the much-anticipated sequel BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC! News of a third film in the franchise moving into production emerged from the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, along with the announcement that Dean Parisot (RED 2, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, GALAXY QUEST) would direct from a script penned by the original creators of the series, Chris Matheson(IMAGINE THAT) and Ed Solomon (MEN IN BLACK).

Grunge posted a list of movie trilogies that will never be completed.
On this list is Hellboy and Tron, plus a few that will surprise you. And a couple you’ll be grateful they quit when they did.

And do note - Black Panther comes out May 15, Tuesday!

New releases:

Both from IWSG Admins!

One out now -
The Raindrop that Wanted to Stop by Pat Hatt
Release number 120 I believe?
Pick it up on Amazon

And one on May 15 -
Some Very Messy Medieval Magic by C. Lee McKenzie

Pete’s stuck in medieval England!

Find it at Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, Amazon, and Foyles

You Rock Award

Every year, I give out the You Rock award. This is for special people who have made an impact on me.
Except for last year. For whatever reason, I failed to do the awards. Maybe because I always give them out right after the A to Z Challenge, and last year I didn’t participate.
Which means I have some making up to do!
First, I’d like to honor these fellow and former bloggers who received it in the past: Arlee, Yvonne, RaShelle, Hannah, Jeffrey, Gail, Rusty, Chuck, George, Jeremy, Matthew, Old Kitty, Ella, M Pax, Roland, Melissa, Robyn, Lynda, Michael, Heather, Stephen, Father Dragon Al, the late Tina, Damyanti, Edi, Karen, Elizabeth, Suze, Susan, Pat, Jo, Michelle, Brandon and Bryan, Christine, Truedessa, Rachna Chhabria, Fundy Blue, Hank Kaykuala, JH Moncrieff, Nilanjana Bos, Liza, and Yolanda Renee.

Despite missing last year, I’m going to keep it short and simple, despite the fact I had over a dozen people on the list.

Spacer Guy
A fellow Star Trek fanatic, Spacer Guy has been with me for years. He knows so much about Trek, which allows me to geek out right along with him. But he’s also been so supportive and always willing to help a buddy out. I feel privileged to know his real name! Spacer Guy, you rock!

Elsie Amata
Do not let the title of her blog deter you! Doesn’t matter if you’ve never dealt with sex addiction. Elsie is about being real. She’s about baring your soul. You will come away changed. And she has a really great sense of humor. Elsie, I really admire you. You rock!

L. Diane Wolfe
This one has been a long time coming, but I’ve held off for professional reasons. (She’s the senior editor and owner of my publisher’s company.) But had it not been for that yes and her faith in my first book, I never would’ve embarked on this journey. Plus she knows so much about book marketing, which she shares often on her blog. Diane, a million thanks, and you rock!

Natalie Aguirre
Many years ago, a blogging friend asked me about helping her find other writers and growing her blog. Now Natalie’s Literary Rambles has twice the followers I do, and I couldn’t be happier for her! She focuses on middle grade/young adult authors and agents, but she was ever so gracious to let me visit her blog when CassaStorm was released. Natalie, I’ve watched so much happen in your life as if I was right there with you. In spirit, I was. You rock!

Sandra Cox
It’s been so long, I’m not sure how I met Sandra. Probably during a Challenge. She keeps it light and upbeat and very real. We’ve never met although I think we only live a few hours apart, but I know we’d get along just great if we did. Her themed posts will make you smile. And she always checks back with you. Sandra, you rock!

C. Lee McKenzie 
Lee’s been a long time author friend and joined the IWSG Admin team last year, handling publicity relations. Watching her in action behind the scenes – Lee is ambitious and not afraid to try! She’s so professional and together and I really admire that. Lee, I appreciate you as a friend, a fellow author, and a damned good IWSG admin! You rock.

Trivia Answers

Name the television series from the author and lead actor:
1 – Author Laura Ingalls Wilder, starring Michael Landon – Little House on the Prairie
2 – Author Craig Johnson, starring Robert Taylor - Longmire
3 - Authors Richard Hooker & W. C. Heinz and starring Alan Alda - M*A*S*H
4 – Author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and starring Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock
5 - Author Stephen King, starring Mike Vogel – Under the Dome
6 - Author James S. A. Corey and starring Thomas Jane – The Expanse

Have you seen James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction? Ready for Incredibles 2 or another Bill and Ted movie? Picking up Pat or Lee’s new book? Get any of the trivia correct? And are you following those rocking bloggers?

I will be offline on Friday. I’m taking a personal day, sleeping in, then spending the day with my wife which will include seeing Deadpool 2. It will feel so wrong and yet I will laugh so hard…

Television App War, Jessica K. McKendry’s Lies and Truth, Sports Movie Trivia, and Ninja News

Jessica Therrien has a special feature called My Publishing Journey. Today, I am the guest of honor. If you’ve ever wondered how someone with no desire to become an author ended up with four books, numerous anthologies, and audio books, not to mention starting the IWSG, then visit Jessica.

The Television App War – No More Free

There’s no more free television. You’ll need an app for that. As a matter of fact, you’ll need many, many apps…

If you subscribe to cable or satellite, you still have access to most of the channels either online or through the app. With Direct TV, you can still access most of the content your paid package provides. Most. Not all.

CBS now has CBS All Access. If you want to see the new Star Trek series, you’ll have to get the CBS All Access app. By getting, I mean pay for it. Ten bucks a month.

Now, ten bucks a month isn’t bad. NetFlix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are all about that much. Each one has its own original content as well, so it’s worth the price.

But what happens when each station or channel wants a slice of the pie and its own app like CBS All Access? What happens when they start pulling their content from other apps and starting their own – like Disney, who will pull everything including Marvel movies from NetFlix next year?

What happens is a giant mess. And as it fractures more and more, it will cost more. Even if you cut the cord on cable, you’ll still need an app. Or two or three or four…

Anyone else concerned where this is going? And where it might end…?

Jessica K. McKendry and Two Lies and a Truth

Hello lovely people!

The past few days have been incredibly exciting, because first, I turned 21 on Friday! And secondly, my second novel The Inferiors (From the Ashes #2) is being released TODAY! In honor of The Inferiors release, I’m hosting a lil blog hop that you can sign up for on my blog here.

In honor of my book release and my blog hop called LIES, I’m going to give you two lies and one truth about a character in my book. (If you sign up, you can write two lies and one truth about you, about a character you’ve written about, or a character in your favorite story.) So here goes.

CHARACTER: Liam Rodan
AGE: 17

1. I used to be best friends with my worst enemy
2. I’m a player, I live for the game
3. I’m a hopeless romantic

Now you get to guess :)

Add From the Ashes and The Inferiors on Goodreads, and you can buy both on Amazon as a paperback or an eBook! (Direct link - The Inferiors)

Everyone who takes a guess and gets it right will have a chance to win a free copy of your choice of From the Ashes (#1) or The Inferiors (#2).

Have a lovely day everyone!

–Jess

Ninja News

Anne R. Allen had a great article on Sunday - Want to Increase Your Blog Readership? Kill that Popup! If you use popups on your site, or you’re thinking about it, you definitely want to read this.

C. Lee McKenzie’s young adult book, Double Negative, is up for the Readers Choice Awards. Voting is now through December 10. Find Double Negative on page 12/16.

The IWSG is partnered with Reedsy, as site that offers great content and great services. What you might not know is that IWSG members get a discount! To qualify, register with the site HERE and you’ll be eligible to get twenty-five percent off of their services. A great deal!

Don’t forget the deadline for the annual IWSG Anthology Contest is November 1 and the IWSG Show Your Writer Insecurity Contest is October 4!

New Releases!

Long time blogger buddy Helena Soister has two new releases!

Charity MacCay and the Almighty Dollar
Charity MacCay persists, and resists, and she's scheming to pull herself up by her high-heeled bootstraps while helping the people she loves.
Find it on Amazon

Charity MacCay and the Saintly Wives
In this sequel to the Almighty Dollar, Charity MacCay knows how to get into trouble, and how to be trouble for anyone who tries to hurt her or her man.
Find it on Amazon

Sports Movie Trivia

Soon we will hit the great sports overlap – football, hockey, basketball, and baseball all at the same time.

To celebrate, here is some sports movie trivia for you. Some are easy, some you’ll have to think about. But name the movie from the year released, sport, and star of the film:

1 - 2000’s, football, Sandra Bullock
2 - 80’s, baseball, Tom Berenger
3 - 90’s, golf, Kevin Costner
4 - 2000’s, horse racing, Viggo Mortensen
5 - 90’s, hockey, Russell Crowe
6 - 70’s, boxing, Sylvester Stallone
7 - 90’s, football, Sean Astin
8 - 2000’s, football, Mark Wahlberg
9 - 70’s, running, Susan Anton
10 - 80’s, baseball, Kevin Costner
11 - 90’s, bobsledding, John Candy
12 - 2000’s, jousting, Heath Ledger
13 - 80’s, rowing, Nicolas Cage
14 - 2000’s, skating, Will Ferrell

Answers on Monday!

What’s your thoughts on the app war? Can you guess Jessica’s truth and lies? Checked out Reedsy? And do you know any of the trivia?

Don’t forget to visit Jessica Therrien!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group #IWSG and Insecurity Contest! Plus Dunkirk Review, August Movie Preview, and Ninja News

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.


My awesome co-hosts today are Christine Rains, Dolarah @ Book Lover, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Yvonne Ventresca, and LG Keltner!

August question - What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

My answer – too much description! I have an imagination. Let me use it.

#IWSGPit was amazing! Beyond my expectations.
We had about 2300 Tweets and we were a trending topic on Twitter.
Thanks to everyone who participated or spread the word. And big thanks to the IWSG admins who spent the whole day monitoring the feed.
Our next one will be in January, 2018. And my pledge to participating writers – there will be five times the amount of publishers and agents watching the feed.

We need co-hosts for the rest of the year! September 6 is the announcement of the next IWSG Anthology Contest, so co-hosts get the inside scoop a few days early. October 4 will be Show Your Writer Insecurity Day. We also need co-hosts for November 1 and December 6. Let me know in the comments what days you can co-host. Remember – co-hosts have more fun!

Show Us Your Writer Insecurity!

Are you proud to be an insecure writer?

Then show us!

On Wednesday, October 4 (IWSG Day), post a photo of yourself (or your alter ego) with any of the IWSG swag or with the IWSG logo. Then leave a comment that day at either the IWSG website’s post or the IWSG Facebook post directing us to your photo. (All blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and newsletter members welcome, but photo must be posted on a blog or Facebook to qualify.)

The IWSG site admins will visit each one and pick the top three. Why? Because there are cool prizes involved:

Third place – EBook of A Change of Mind and Other Stories by Nick Wilford, eBook of The Remnant by William Michael Davidson, eBook of Cling to God by Lynda R. Young, eBook of Already Home by Heather M. Gardner, and eBook of Dragon of the Stars by Alex. J. Cavanaugh.

Second place – The entire eBook collection of the Totem series by Christine Rains, eBooks of Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie, audio book of CassaSeries by Alex J. Cavanaugh, eBook of Black and White by Nick Wilford, and your choice eBook from J.L. Campbell.

Grand prize winner - IWSG website interview, IWSG newsletter spotlight, IWSG pinned tweet for one week, C. Lee McKenzie's Featured Follower for the month, the IWSG Goodreads book club eBook for October/November, a short chapter critique, and a pair of IWSG erasers.

We have some great IWSG swag – pens, mugs, magnets, erasers, etc. Proceeds go to fund the upkeep of the IWSG site.

You have two months to prepare – show us your best insecurity!

Movie Review – Dunkirk

Allied soldiers are surrounded by the German army and trapped on the beach outside of Dunkirk – with little chance of rescue or survival.
An incredible film. This movie is a masterpiece from front to start.
It’s also the most unique way I’ve ever seen a war film – or any film – told. It’s revealed in non-linear fashion, so you have to pay attention. Nolan starts with strong tension and keeps it tense for the whole film.
It’s not a blood and guts war film. There’s also not a lot of talking or exposition. In most instances, the imagery speaks for itself. And wow, will that imagery stick with you.
The special effects and sound effects are incredible. The sound of the planes and the dogfights – almost chilling. Often you weren’t watching – you were part of the action.
The movie is about desperation and survival – and about hope. There are no major heroes. It’s just people doing what they need to stay alive or to do what is right.
And as great as it is as a war film, Dunkirk is even more so a work of art.
Highly recommended!

Ninja News

On August 24th at 2:00 pm EST, Chrys Fey will be participating in a LIVE YouTube interview with Evan Carmichael, an entrepreneur who she'll be interviewing about his book Your One Word and getting some great advice for IWSG members. You'll be able to watch the interview live HERE. You can set a reminder if you click on the link, or you can watch it later. The video will be uploaded in the August 30th IWSG newsletter issue.

We are also sadly saying goodbye to Chrys as an IWSG Admin. Christine Rains is taking over the newsletter next month. However, Chrys will still be partnered with us and running the IWSG Goodreads Book Club. If you haven’t checked it out, you should, as there are Q&A sessions with the authors of the books being read. Chrys will continue to rock the club!

Get Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie for free and with new cover art!
Find it on Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble

Available now!
Character Astrology Profiles by Christopher D. Votey
This is the first of four that use Astrology and MBTI to map out possible characters from early life to retirement, to help inspire writers on how to create a more complicated character.
Find it on Amazon

Patricia Stoltey is giving away five advance review copies August 1st-15th of her December release from Five Star, the historical mystery Wishing Caswell Dead on Goodreads.

August Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for August! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

4 –

The Dark Tower
The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim, also known as the Man in Black, determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Stars: Katheryn Winnick, Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, Jackie Earle Haley
All of King’s stories in a blender! Dig the cast and hope it’s great.

11 –

Annabelle: Creation
Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle.
Director: David F. Sandberg
Stars: Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Talitha Bateman, Alicia Vela-Bailey
Loved The Conjuring, but you my dear are no Conjuring…

18 –

The Hitman’s Bodyguard
The world's top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
Director: Patrick Hughes
Stars: Gary Oldman, Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek
Take every generic 80’s buddy film, mix in a blender, and serve…

What are your pet peeves? Did you participate in #IWSGPit? Ready to show your writer insecurity? Have you seen Dunkirk? Any movie strike your fancy in August?

Be sure to let me know if you can co-host the IWSG!