Retro A to Z Challenge: T – Terminator II 1991 (plus some Awesome Challenge Themes)

Terminator II: Judgment Day – 1991

Released seven years after the first movie, this sequel was bigger than life. It was the first movie to cost over $100,000 million to make, and the budget showed in its amazing special effects, most notably the T-1000 made of liquid metal. Ground breaking effects snagged four Oscars for this film. Hasta la vista, baby!

1991 fun facts –
*Cost of a new house - $120,000.
*Average income - $29,430.
*Cost of gas - $1.12
*The Soviet Union ceased to exist when Gorbachev resigned
*The Internet was made available for unrestricted commercial use. At that time, one million computers were online

Movies released –
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Silence of the Lambs
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey
City Slickers
Backdraft

Music released –
Nirvana – Nevermind (launching the Grunge era)
Dangerous Toys – Hellacious Acres
Guns ‘n’ Roses – Use Your Illusion 1 & 2

Games released –
Sonic the Hedgehog
Neverwinter Nights

And why is 1991 special?
It’s the year Edi married his wife, his daughter was born, he got a new job, and they moved to a new home!

Edi was the first book blogger I found online, and since then has become devoted friend and fan. If I ever venture to Germany, we are definitely sitting down over a brew and discussing books and movies! Edi reports on books, films, and interesting things around the web every weekend, and what he finds is often amazing. One of my best friends and an awesome guy. Edi blogs at Edi’s Book Lighthouse.

Great A to Z Challenge Themes

We’ve less than a week to go, and I’m sure you’ve all been following bloggers with some really great themes. I will be highlighting some of these themes this coming year at the A to Z Challenge Blog. (So let me know if there’s someone I must feature.) Some themes that have worked really well, and the ones below might give you ideas for next year.

Unique locations
Lexa Cain has been posting about haunted places and Andrew Leon has been posting about abandoned locations. Coupled with photos and facts, both have been fascinating.

Blogging about one’s book
This one is tricky, because it could come off as really promotional. Plus it might cater mostly to fans or be a book someone doesn’t want to read. However, Julie Flanders has done an outstanding job, as she’s focused on the location of her book, Martha’s Vineyard. Several others are also doing a similar style theme.

Excerpts
Another tricky topic, as it might not catch those who don’t start from the beginning. Quite a few of you have been blogging really great excerpts though! I’ll just give two examples. Loni Townsend has posted snippets from a serial, Murder Most Fowl, and her voice and sense of humor have made these a great read. Equally riveting has been CM Brown’s short teasers from her upcoming title, Forces of Mist.

And I’m sure you’ve found many more awesome themes!

Fan of Terminator II? Following the amazing Edi? What themes have you seen that were interesting and made you come back for more? And what do you remember best about 1991…?

Iron Man III Review, Rush Clockwork Angels Concert, Ninja News, Wednesday Movie Quote, and Bloglovin’ Question

Iron Man III Review

Another great entry in the series.
It’s less of an Iron Man movie and more of a Tony Stark film. Downey reprises his role with ease, firing off witty and hilarious comments left and right.
The special effects are great. What really shines are the action sequences, especially the ending. (The director wrote the Lethal Weapon series, so he knows his action.) We get multiple Iron Man suits this time as well. (Although the constant breaking down of the prototype began to grow old.)
Die hard fans of the Marvel comics will be disappointed with the villain, The Mandarin. I’m a DC guy so I had no history with the character.
It doesn’t pack the same emotional punch as the first two, but as a superhero action film, it delivers. Highly recommended.

Rush Concert Review

Last Friday night – and well worth missing Iron Man’s opening!
Rush is probably the oldest band that is still relevant, producing albums, and touring. They have twenty-four gold and fourteen platinum albums, for an estimated forty million albums sold worldwide. And they still put on an amazing show.
This was the second leg of their Clockwork Angels tour. For those of you who are steampunk fans, you’d dig the album – and you’d really like the stage setup and animation. They performed nine songs from the album, complete with a small accompanying orchestra. They also played a unique set of old favorites.
What continues to amaze me about this band is quality of both the music and the performance. Geddy, Alex, and Neil are three of the best musicians in the world and are truly a sight to behold in concert.
And I won’t even scare you with how many times I have seen this band in concert….

Mini-Alex didn’t get to go, but he did get a cool t-shirt!

Ninja News

First, I have to say thanks to you guys! Author CM Brown featured a poll during the A-Z Challenge, asking people to vote to Appreciate a Fellow Blogger – and I won! Thanks, everyone. That really means a lot, because I’m sure during the month there were many bloggers nominated.

Michael Pierce’s next book is now available – Susy Asylum.

In SUSY Asylum, there is no release. There is no escape. No hope…

This is the sequel to Provex City, which is receiving a new cover – second edition should be available soon.

Congratulations, Michael!

The Post A to Z Road Trip kicks off today, hosted by Tina Downey, Shannon Lawrence, and Nicole. If you’d like to join them as they continue visiting those on the Challenge list, sign up at the A to Z Blog.

Talli Roland has a new book coming out November 2013 – The No-Kids Club.

Almost-forty Clare Donahue is living child-free and loving it – except for her shrinking social circle…

Congratulations, Tallie! And funny, since you no longer belong to that club.

And Katherine at Katherine’s Corner had her photo selected for the cover of Ruby For Women Magazine.

Congratulations, Katherine!

Wednesday Movie Quote

Post your favorite here or play along on your own blog.

Today’s genre is psychological thriller.

My choice is from Manhunter:

Will Graham: I know that I'm not smarter than you.
Doctor Hannibal Lecktor: Then how did you catch me?
Will Graham: You had disadvantages.
Doctor Hannibal Lecktor: What disadvantages?
Will Graham: You're insane.

Next week’s genre – monster movies!

Bloglovin’

I was waiting until after the Challenge to start using a new reader. Bloglovin’ seems more user friendly than Feedly and will likely be my preferred reader. It doesn’t update quite as fast as Google Reader, but it does update all blogs and not hours later. (Or in poor Robyn’s case, not at all!) Following and unfollowing is easy, as are adjusting the various folders.

I did discover one drawback though. Bloggers who have their comment box on a separate page, such as Jay Noel and Medeia Sharif, I’m unable to comment because Bloglovin’ won’t pull up that second page. It’s just a blank screen. I had to hop over to Google Reader to find them there and leave a comment. Has anyone else noticed this and is there a setting I can adjust?

What did you think of Iron Man III? Any Rush fans out there? Excited about Michael and Talli’s books? Taking the A to Z Road Trip? What’s your favorite psychological thriller quote? And anyone else using Bloglovin’?

Ninja News, Gifts, Animated Movies Trivia, and Three Years Ago Today...

Ninja News

Thanks again to all the participants of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Every month you guys share the most amazing things and work so hard to encourage one another. It’s just amazing. Special thanks to my co-hosts this month, LG Keltner and CM Brown. You did a fantastic job, ladies. I’ll be contacting potential co-hosts for December this weekend.

Karen at A Peek at Karen’s World is hosting her annual blog awards again! Nominate your favorites now.

Michael Offutt’s sequel to Slipstream, released last May, is out now – Oculus! Check his site for ordering options. Congratulations, Michael! You’re a writing machine. You’ll have three books out before I even finish editing my third…





David Powers King won the I’m Thankful for my Readers Blogfest, hosted by Tara and VikLit with his poem, Who Ate My Pie Crust? Well deserved win, because it was hilarious. I was even mentioned:

I asked her - no luck, so I expanded my riot,
by asking Alex Cavanaugh, a starship pilot.
"I hope you catch a red-handed culprit soon,
but I have 100 comments to write before noon!"

(And yes, I did write a hundred comments before noon that day!)

Don’t forget the I Miss You Blogfest is next Friday! Perfect time to show your appreciation for special blogger buddies. 

 

Gifts

I received several cool gifts this week. My publisher said soon I’ll get more mail than they do!

I won a zombie package from Susanne at Putting Words Down on Paper which included these cool items:

And I was completely surprised to receive two bags of Hot Tamales from Angela Brown and Gwen Gardner! Thank you so much, ladies! You are both super special.

I need to ask for Hot Tamales more often!

Three Years Ago Today…

I started this blog.

I’d signed the contract for CassaStar and my publisher told me to get my butt online.

I had no followers. My blog was plain. And my first post was a lame “Hi, I’m Alex…”

And now, three years later… whoa!

Almost 1700 followers, over 500 posts, and my blog definitely isn’t plain anymore. (Can’t confirm the non-lame posts though.)

This journey has been nothing short of incredible. I’ve made so many awesome friends and you’ve been supportive beyond my wildest hopes.

Thank you everyone for your support, your comments, and your friendship. It means the world to me. Today, I am not just a man of few words. There just aren't words to describe my appreciation.

Think we should celebrate with some Hot Tamales, don’t you?

Movie Trivia Time!

Animated films this time!

1 – What film won the first ever Best Animated Film Oscar in 2001?

2– Who voiced Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

3 – What was Disney’s first animated feature movie?

4 – What animated film featured rats and singing slugs?

5 – Who voiced Gru in Despicable Me?

6 – What was Disney’s 50th animated feature movie?

7 – Who voiced the title character in Rango?

Did you enjoy the IWSG posts this week? See some cool new books and news today? Envious of my gifts and the Hot Tamales? (I’ll share!) Know any of the animated film trivia? Going to see Skyfall or Lincoln this weekend? And where were you three years ago today…?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Ninja News, and How to Set up a Blogfest

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.

And this month I have two awesome co-hosts helping - LG Keltner and CM Brown! Be sure to visit them and say thanks for their willingness to help.

Since many of you are in the middle of NaNo, thought I’d give you a word of encouragement. Maybe you’re thinking your writing sucks at this point. Maybe you’re terrified to let anyone see the mess you just wrote. If you’re feeling down, I am here to amuse. Actually, I’m not that funny, so I’ll let Rusty Webb and Cassie Mae entertain you. If you’re worried about what others will say about your work, consider this wonderful feedback I received on CassaStorm:

“…we destroyed their main supply forty years ago.” - Oh my gosh. Is this how you spell this??? I’ve been writing my checks wrong for years!

…her hips twisting in an enticing fashion. - Oh the butt wiggle! Works every time

…you’ll be damned grateful we’re here! - I’m still not ready to get into in any detail. At the pace I’m going I’ll get these notes to you about six months after the book is released

“Dreams and more. Their brains processed information and increased in knowledge during the trip to Tgren.” - I wish a computer would make me smarter while I slept.

Because tonight I need you. - Bow chicka bow wow!

If he choked down just one more, he might satisfy his mother enough she would excuse him from the table. - Oh God, I have so many memories just like this. Seriously.

From the olkajhfdjnqlmdfnfqwhjnd;ocnther reports… - Ack! Sorry, baby butt on the computer! And I tried to delete it but he must’ve butt pressed another button that’s doing something funky. So… um, ignore this!

Athee didn’t possess the authority to interfere. - Whatever. That gives her all authority, lol.

Oh, and this is session number two, I think somewhere around comment number 20 I switched over to another day. I know, for you it seems like only seconds, but for me it’s been days. It’s like time travel, except for this is a much lamer version without causality violations.

At least I accomplished something today, he thought. - For someone who doesn’t have children, you sure know how to write heart-wrenching father /mother/ son moments. Now I don’t have an excuse to write something crappy just cuz I don’t know how it is, lol.

Her son needed help, but if Byron had ordered for evacuation preparations… - Dude, they just need to do it! All this crap, a good romp in the sheets will take their minds off it.

She held her breath, resisting the urge to look out the canopy. - Sorry, in all my ranting and complaining I forgot to mention that his is really well written. It’s tense, it’s exciting, and it’s awesome.

I think you guys will be all right!

Be sure to visit others participating in the Insecure Writer’s Support Group!

Ninja News

The fourth book in Michael Abayomi’s fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise, is out now – The Shadow. Congratulations, Michael!

Liz Fichera received her review copies this week and is holding a giveaway for three signed copies! See her site for details.

Talli Roland’s latest book, a Christmas novella aclled Mistletoe in Manhattan, is available now!

Jessica Bell’s next book, Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing, will be out soon! I know I’m buying a copy. (If I don’t, my critique partners will send me one anyway.)

Rachel Morgan just launched The Faerie Guardian, which is the compilation of four of her Creepy Hallow novelettes. Congratulations, Rachel!

Setting up a Blogfest

Since several people have asked me, I decided to give you guys some tips for putting together a blogfest. Hosting blogfests are a great way to get involved in the blogging community and a lot of fun. There’s extra work if you are the host, but there’s also benefits. Here’s a checklist for organizing a great blogfest:

• Select awesome theme
• Select date – Be mindful of other events in the blogging world. Monday-Wednesday-Fridays work best
• Design a cool button
• Write a short and simple description – Trust me on that one!
• Create a Linky Code and require emails – Post it somewhere on your blog so you can enter your name (and co-hosts) and then remove until you’re ready to announce the blogfest
• Announce a month before the date of the blogfest
• Remind people at least once a week and have button in sidebar with link to original announcement
• A few days before the blogfest, send out an email reminder – Be sure to send it to yourself with everyone else as a BBC. Not everyone wants to share their email address with the world
• Compose your post with all the information, your entry, and the link, and schedule it to go live early
• Visit everyone who participates
• Note those who don’t and remove their links the next day. (If you’re really ambitious, add the direct links in the Linky List. Yes, I do this. Call me anal.)
• Thank everyone in your next post.

Any questions? And if you don’t have a Linky Tools subscription, let me know and I’ll create a Linky List for you.

What is your insecurity for the day? Excited about all the new books? Any questions about setting up a blogfest? And did this post make you smile? (I always aim to amuse!)

The Ninja Returns, Ninja News, Book Release & Giveaway from CM Brown, Cover Reveal of The Magic Wakes, Movie Review, and From Where Do You Hail?

Back from vacation – did you miss me? Think I’ve taken more vacation in the past three months than in the last two years. It’s use it or lose it though – and right now, I could take off for two months straight. (Which would really freak out my boss!)

Ninja News Overload!

Thanks to everyone who visited Lee for my Sharktopus: A Love Story. Hope it gave you a chuckle.

Don’t forget this Wednesday is the monthly posting for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group!

Brinda Berry posted the cover art for The Wild at Heart Anthologies, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. This project which will benefit the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) in Arkansas. Go check out the covers, both of which feature tigers, at Brinda’s site. And tell her congratulations, as she has a story in Volume 2!

Sean McLachlan’s next book from Osprey Publishing, The Last Ride of the James-Younger Gang: Jesse James and the Northfield Raid 1876, comes out October 23. Illustrated with period photos and color artwork, it is available for preorder now. Congratulations, Sean!

The third book in Michael Abayomi’s fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise, came out last week – The Gathering. Congratulations, Michael!

Roland Yeomans is hosting a Trick or Treat Ghost of a Chance contest! Stop by his site for details. Major points if you can score him a date with Olivia Wilde.

Anne R. Allen’s blog (with posts from Ruth Harris as well) was named one of the Top 50 Blogs for Writers by Tribal Messenger Daily. Posting every Sunday, Anne and Ruth offer awesome tips and advice for authors and writers. Congratulations, ladies!

The hosts of the A to Z Blog are looking for guest posts! Visit our blog for details. I’m still doing Special Challenge Participant Features every other Wednesday, so let me know if you’re interested in an interview as well.

New Book Release and Giveaway!

He Came For Mine, Book 2 In The Protector Series by C.M. Brown
Young Adult/Paranormal

“Desperate to save the life of a child he never knew he had, Sebastian returns to Earth to find Jazz in the arms of another man…”

For the next two weeks Carolyn is holding a Rafflecopter Draw on her Blog, to celebrate the release of Book Two in the Protector Series, He Came For Mine, and one full year of Blogging!
Prizes will include:
One $20 AUD (Australian Dollars) Amazon Gift Card
One free eBook of Book Two in The Protector Series, He Came For Mine!
One free book cover illustration by Rebekah Romani

Also, during the two week launch, Book One, in The Protector Series, He Came For Me, will be free as an eBook on Smashwords. Just use the code RF83E.

Congratulations, Carolyn!

Special Cover Reveal!

Coming Feb 19th, 2013 from WiDo Publishing:

The Magic Wakes by Charity Bradford

“Talia has a secret, one that will save her world and yet rip it apart. Only she can decide if the price is worth it…”

Find Charity and her upcoming book at: Blog, Website, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Congratulations, Charity!

Movie Review

Looper review will be up Wednesday. In the meantime, I finally caught this one on NetFlix:

The Raid Redemption
From Indonesia, this film has the same concept as Dredd – cops trapped in high-rise apartment building by drug lord. The similarities end there, though. The difference is in style, plot, and execution. Set in modern-day Jakarta, this one focuses on stick and knife fighting, with more twists and surprises. Its relentless action will leave you breathless. I enjoyed Dredd, but overall, this is a better film.

From Where Do You Hail?

I know there is a large concentration of writers and authors who hail from Utah. While it might appear to be the writing mecca of the world, I know there are writers and authors from all over the world. (I can think of at least a dozen I could get to in six-seven hours, including Matthew, Elizabeth, Diane, Ella, Sheila, and Rusty.) So, sound off! Name your state if in the USA or country.

Did I miss anything else while on vacation? Ready for the IWSG on Wednesday? Excited about the new releases and contests? Seen The Raid Redemption? And from where do you hail?

Oh, and can anyone help me score a date with Olivia Wilde? (For Roland, of course!)

DEEP - A to Z Challenge

It’s the Insecure Writer’s Support Group posting day. And Laura Bambrey at The Daily Dodo has a new book on Amazon - 100 Blog Prompts that mentions the IWSG! (Under Insecurities – thanks, Laura!) It’s also 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.

DEEP

First, my contribution to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

As I’ve posted before, my writing is not deep. It doesn’t contain a multitude of layers riddled with many meanings. There is no hidden message wrapped in eloquent prose and stylish words. You won’t find the answer to life’s mysteries or the meaning of life. (It’s 42 anyway – in case you didn’t know.)

There is a theme though – friendship.

And despite the simplicity of what I write, I will stand by that theme to the very end.

Do you feel equally convicted when it comes to the theme of your work?

Roland Yeomans at Writing in the Crosshairs

No other blogger is as in tune with writing and the world as Roland. He knows so many writing secrets and is willing to share them with those who will listen. Whether channeling Twain or Hemingway, Roland reaches those depths we all want to achieve and yet so often fall short. It spurs this simple writer to do better. Maybe one day I will be on par with this amazing author, but I doubt it. For wisdom beyond the ages, Roland is your guy!

Inception
Put this in your brain and chew on it for a while. An idea thief is charged with planting an idea in a victims mind. The idea must be buried deep enough that the victim truly believes that it is their idea. Mind officially blown.

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
Next to Rush’s “Hemispheres” this is my favorite concept piece. This album had a quiet debut but has, over the years, become a game changing moment in progressive rock. A timeless concept album!

Ninja News!

Stephanie at Scribbler to Scribe had a story chosen for the Crimson Pact Volume 3 anthology – congratulations, Stephanie!!

Donna at Weaving a Tale or Two reviewed CassaFire yesterday. She reads it to her husband so they can both enjoy. Thanks, Donna!

CM Brown selected CassaStar for her teaser yesterday. (And chose I scene I really like!)

And thank you Laura Eno for mentioning CassaFire yesterday!

Any insecurities today? Think my theme is all right? What's your theme? Following Roland? Seen Inception? Queensryche fan? Inquiring Ninjas want to know…

Ninja News and One Downside to the A to Z Challenge

Thanks to everyone who said my guest post policy was fair. My Ninja Army always comes first.

Ninja News to the extreme – are you ready?

We’ve been doing “Getting to Know Your Hosts” over at the A to Z Challenge Blog and today it is my turn! Do you know your Ninja Captain…?

Patsy Collins is currently on a blog tour for her upcoming book, Escape to the Country. Follow along HERE. Congratulations, Pasty!!



Prayers for Charles Gramlich and Lana as they face a tough challenge.

Diane at Spunk on a Stick’s Tips is hosting a Sad Songs Blogfest on March 31.


Congratulations to Theresa Milstein, Justine Dell, Jocelyn Rush, Roland Yeomans, and Hart Johnson for making the second ABNA cut. You guys rock!

Don’t forget the next posting for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is April 4. That’s the letter D for those doing the A to Z Challenge, so be sure to work it into your post. (Hopefully everyone doesn’t pick ‘Despair’ as their word!)

Big thanks to Rick and White Cat Publications for the awesome review of CassaFire this week.

And special thanks to CM Brown for her review of CassaStar!

One downside to the A to Z Challenge

You’ve all heard me talk about how the first Challenge changed my blog forever and that this year’s Challenge will be equally awesome. So what on earth could be the downside?

Not participating in the A to Z Challenge.

Last year as I visited blogger buddies who weren’t participating, I noticed something. With everyone focused on the Challenge, those blogs not involved seemed to get less comments than normal. So if you don’t participate, there is definitely a downside, which is why I encourage everyone to get involved.

However, those of us doing the Challenge need to be sure we don’t forget blogger buddies who aren’t participating. Ignoring those who aren’t involved for the whole month isn’t in the spirit of the Challenge, which is to make friends. And hopefully those not participating will continue to visit us as well. (I do know of one blogger who is unfollowing anyone doing the Challenge, which is really sad.)

So remember to maintain those friendships while you’re out making new friends!

Now, for a little insight into my world, visit the A to Z Challenge Blog.

Did I miss any news? Did I miss anyone who made the second ABNA cut? Are you ready for the Challenge? Starts Sunday April 1! And is anyone seeing a little movie called The Hunger Games this weekend…?