Captain Marvel Review, Dream Theater: Distance Over Time Review, #IWSG Admins Highlight, New Releases, and DIY MFA

Captain Marvel Review

Despite good reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. It’s a really fun film.
The narrative skipped back and forth between present and past, which worked well. Like Carol Danvers, we are trying to piece together who she is.
Brie Larson does a good job as Captain Marvel. She’s strong, subtle, and snarky. What’s really fun is to watch a younger Fury and Coulson. (And how much CGI and makeup was needed to make them look younger?)
There are a lot of things that tie this to other movies in the Marvel universe. Be sure to stay for the double endings. The second one is priceless. (And as I told my wife, I called that one!)
It’s a really solid entry into the Marvel universe. These movies balance humor, action, and suspense so well. Plus this film began with nice tribute to Stan Lee.
Why did I select the poster with Goose the cat? You’ll see!
Highly recommended

Dream Theater: Distance Over Time 

As a long-time fan of this band (I heard “Pull Me Under” from Images and Words in 1992 and was hooked), I await each release with giddy, childlike enthusiasm.
On their fourteenth studio release, Dream Theater continues to impress. This is a classic prog record even though all the songs clock in under ten minutes.
The album kicks off with Untethered Angel and those amazing John Petrucci guitar riffs don’t let up. This is one of their best releases and a must for prog fans.
As a guitar player, I’m always impressed with the musicianship and technical ability that these guys bring to the studio and concerts. Petrucci in particular is an incredible player and his effortless shredding is astonishing.
This is an album of big ideas, great musical chemistry, and catchy choruses and hooks. It gets better with each listen, and that’s what a great prog record should do.

And just to give you a taste, here’s a very catchy video with a science fiction twist: Paralyzed.

IWSG Admins Highlight

Many of you know the IWSG – but do you know the real people behind the group? Besides posting at the site and in the newsletter, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, finding guests, reading anthology entries, monitoring the #IWSGPit feed, and a whole lot more, they each have special duties. And they are each special people.

Michelle Wallace heads up our Facebook group. She schedules the posts and organizes everything. She’s been with the IWSG from the beginning, and I can’t say how much I appreciate her dedication.

L. Diane Wolfe takes care of the Self-Publishing page at the site and puts together all of the IWSG books through Dancing Lemur Press. She’s also been with the group since day one and I am eternally grateful to have such an expert on board.

Heather Gardner manages the Conferences/Workshops/Publications and Marketing pages, adding new material and keeping the links updated. Heather and I worked together on the A to Z Challenge Team and I was blessed to get her to join the IWSG Admins. 

Pat Hatt is in charge of the IWSG Twitter account. He knows how to rock the Twitter and build up an account and has done an outstanding job sending out great Tweets. Pat is reliable and consistent!

Nick Wilford manages the Contests page, keeping it updated as contests are ever-changing. Nick is a full time writer (freelance and his own) and he brings some great experience to the team.

C. Lee McKenzie is our PR person, which is a huge job. She searches for guests, sites for guest articles, places where we can connect, and coordinating partnerships with groups like WEP, Reedsy, Book Angel, and more. Don’t know how she does it, just grateful she does!

Shannon Lawrence puts together the IWSG newsletter, which entails guest articles, news, and many links. Like Lee, she’s also on the hunt for news and experts. Coordinating all of it is a big job, but she makes it look so easy.

Tyrean Martinson runs the IWSG Instagram, with daily posts and monthly challenges. Like Pat, she’s built it up and interacts daily. Tyrean is dedicated and I appreciate her refreshing spirit and positive outlook.

Elizabeth Seckman manages the Publishers/Agents/Queries page, updating and adding new links. She knows how to balance multiple things, and working with the IWSG Admins and the site is a breeze for her. (She raised four boys – I hope we are easier than that!)

So as you can see, we have an awesome team working to bring you the best the IWSG can offer!

New Releases

City of Ghosts by JH Moncrieff
It won the 2018 Kindle Book Review Award for best Horror/Suspense.
Jackson Stone is sick of ghosts. With his love life in shambles, he heads to Romania for a horror writers’ retreat, hoping it will be a break from the supernatural and breathing space from his relationship with medium Kate Carlsson.
But as his fellow writers begin disappearing or losing their minds, he realizes he needs Kate’s help.
When Jackson loses his own memory, Kate’s love is the only thing that can bring him back. But she’s falling for the man responsible for the evil in Romania. A man who claims to be her soul mate. Will this master of wraiths forever break Kate’s bond with Jackson?
To view all purchasing options, go HERE

Don’t Mess with Gracie by Carol Kilgore
In this third book, the mysterious Mr. Ott is trying to intimidate Gracie Hofner into being his internal spy at The Bastion Group. It takes Gracie and her growing support team to unmask him, but it’s what she learns along the way that shows readers the wisdom of the advice Don’t Mess with Gracie.
The third book of The Amazing Gracie Trilogy, it’s 99 cents through March 18.
Find it on Amazon

Being Neighborly by Meka James
Buy Links

DIY MFA

We are partnering with DIY MFA this spring to bring you a great program for writers.

Before we announce details, we’ll be sharing several of their learning videos.

The first one is Episode 234: A Master Class on Character — Interview with David Corbett.

Check it out and be watching next month for details about the program.

Anyone else see Captain Marvel? Picked up the new Dream Theater? Eager to hear more about DIY MFA? And what do you think about what the IWSG do behind the scenes?

Ant-Man and the Wasp Review, Movie and IWSG News, Devil’s Rock Review, and New Releases

Movie Reviews

Ant-Man and the Wasp
Very entertaining!
Two years after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott is finishing up his house arrest when a quest to find Hope’s mother (lost in the beginning of the first film) brings the two of them and Hank together again.
It’s light-hearted, funny, and the perfect popcorn movie. It’s breezy and fun – in line with the first Ant-Man film. You never feel anyone is in mortal danger, but that’s all right. It’s not that kind of a film.
There’s no central villain. It’s more of a caper as everyone is after the research lab. (Which conveniently shrinks to a rolling suitcase.)
Scott, Luis, and friends have also started a security system company, which is ironic since they were all once thieves. Luis also had some of the funniest lines again.
One of the strongest aspects is Scott’s relationship with his daughter. It’s very sweet and natural.
As always, stay through the credits for two bonus scenes. (They tie the film in with Infinity War.) Highly recommended!

The Devil’s Rock
From the IMDB: Set in the Channel Islands on the eve of D Day, two Kiwi commandos, sent to destroy German gun emplacements to distract Hitler's forces away from Normandy, discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash demonic forces to win the war.
This New Zealand film came out in 2011 and we caught it on Amazon Prime.
This is a quiet, atmospheric horror film. The giant bunker is dimly lit and strange sounds and screams carry eerily down the corridors. It’s as unnerving as it is gory. (And when it’s gory – wow!)
Basically there are only four people in the film, but they do a fine job of carrying it. You never know who to trust. Sometimes the accent is heavy, so you have to listen close.
If you can handle the gore, this creepy little film is definitely worth a watch.

New Releases

Landscape Love by River Ford (Charity Bradford)
Nathaniel Pierce ran away from home and the painful memories of his past. He's recreated himself in Eureka Springs. No longer a veterinarian, he's Nate the landscaper. When old Lilly Connor dies, the whole town turns to him to watch out for her granddaughter.
Find it on Amazon

Bluebonnet Ballerina by Carol Kilgore
Gracie Hofner returns, and chaos reigns—including a couple of ghosts trying to save their granddaughter.
Find it on Amazon

Movie News

JoBlo reported on Friday that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom had crossed the billion dollar mark worldwide.

An article on JoBlo states that production on Birds of Prey should begin January 2019. Actress Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn) says this Suicide Squad spin-off featuring an all girl gang should be rated R.


July DVD releases:
July 10 - A Quiet Place
July 17 - Rampage
July 24 - Ready Player One

IWSG News

IWSG Co-Hosts!
We need one more co-host for August 1.
We also need co-hosts for September 5 (the day we announce the genre and guidelines for the next IWSG Anthology Contest), October 3, November 7, and December 5.
If you can help any of those days, leave a comment or shoot me an email.
Thanks!

#IWSGPit happens Thursday, July 19!

You don’t want to miss this event.

Visit the IWSG site for the rules, time, and hashtags. The IWSG Admins will be monitoring the feed and encouraging participants.

Good luck to everyone pitching!


Today at the IWSG site we have a special guest - Mary Kole, founder of the award-winning Kid Lit site. She’s discussing editing and more, so check it out.

The next WEP – (Write...Edit...Publish) challenge in August has been announced – Change of Heart.
Sign-ups begin August 1.
How does this tie in with the IWSG? You’ll soon find out…




I will be gone for a few days next week, so I’ve made the decision to take the rest of July off. I’ll pop in now and then, and be active on Twitter, but it’s a chance for me to catch up on some IWSG stuff and work on my story.

Catch the new Ant-Man movie? Ever see The Devil’s Rock? Participating in #IWSGPit? Picking up some DVDs or books? And who can co-host the IWSG?

Have a great July!

RiffTrax: Live – Space Mutiny, Fallen Kingdom Review, Murder at the Marina, The Disaster Artist Review, and News

RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny

I didn’t get the photos organized in time for my post last week, but I wanted to give you guys a taste of the experience.

This probably wasn’t the best RiffTrax show, although it had some incredibly funny moments.

MST3K (Mike, Bill, and Kevin) did this movie, and I’ve seen that version at least a dozen times. So while I admire their determination to bring new jokes to the film, repeating very few from the MST3K version, it just didn’t hit all the notes. Because of course, the best jokes were taken. (The moment you see the Valerian women, you think Stevie Nicks, but since MST3K used that, the guys came up with another singer. And yet your mind still screamed Stevie Nicks.)

That said, it’s still the perfect film to riff. Most of the budget was spent acquiring old Battlestar Galactica footage, which they somehow manage to make worse. The vehicles driven on the space ship look like a cross between a bumper car, a golf cart, and a waxing machine. Many sets are reused (and it’s obvious) and some scenes are reused. There is even a scene after a character is murdered where she still appears in place on the bridge. (‘I loved your funeral.’) It embraces all that was cheesy and bad about the 80’s, including early special effects and video games, all while coming out in 1988. Yeah, really.

And of course, I have some pre-show screen shots to show you:

And just so you can see it really was Battlestar Galactica footage...

Next RiffTrax: Live is August 25 - KRULL!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Review

Beginning a few years after the previous film, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) go back to the island to save the dinosaurs before the volcano destroys everything. But all is not as it seems… Dino chaos ensues.
The last film disappointed me. The characters weren’t very likeable and the script had a ton of plot holes and stupid mistakes.
This one was definitely a step up. Even though the basic plotline is similar to The Lost World – (slight spoiler) – a group is gathering the dinosaurs with a nefarious agenda.
The effects and sets are spectacular. Ironically, I recently re-watched Jurassic Park and those dinosaur special effects are on par with today’s work.
The story goes in a really unique direction, especially the ending, and I will give them that. It takes the dinos in a new direction, but also people. (See the film and then really think about the implications.)
The characters are bit more likeable this time around. Big plus there.
If you liked the last one, you’ll like this one. If the last one didn’t quite do it for you, this one is better. It’s a little rehash mixed with some fresh material.
Recommended

Murder at the Marina by Ellen Jacobson

In 2013 I told my mother that my husband and I had decided to move aboard a sailboat full-time in New Zealand and head off cruising in search of adventure. Like any good mother would, she worried about our safety, but she was supportive of our crazy plan.

Then two movies came out that same year which alarmed her—“All is Lost” and “Captain Phillips.”

“All is Lost” (starring Robert Redford) is about a man sailing solo in the Indian Ocean when his boat starts taking on water, eventually forcing him to abandon ship. Although it was critically acclaimed, many in the sailing community panned the movie for being unrealistic in terms of the lack of critical safety equipment on board and the decisions he made. I tried to explain to my mother that the probability of our boat sinking was quite small, but I don't think she believed me.

“Captain Phillips” (starring Tom Hanks) was inspired by a true story of a freighter being hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Once she realized that these weren't Johnny Depp kind of pirates, we were forbidden from sailing in that area.

We ended up having such a great time cruising in New Zealand (and didn't sink our boat or get hijacked by pirates), that we ended up buying another sailboat back in the States. Our adventures and misadventures buying a boat and living aboard full-time inspired my light-hearted, humorous cozy mystery, “Murder at the Marina.” Of course, now my mom is going to worry that we might discover a dead body aboard our boat, like my main character, Mollie McGhie, did.

“Murder at the Marina” available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and iTunes. Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com and follow along on Twitter @Ellen__Jacobson and Facebook @EllenJacobsonAuthor.

The Disaster Artist Review

This is the true story of Tommy Wiseau and how he came to make the horrible film The Room. (Which was riffed brilliantly by RiffTrax: Live.)
From IMDB: When Greg Sestero, an aspiring film actor, meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams come true.
James Franco directs and stars in this film, which also features his brother Dave as Greg. While I admire Franco’s passion for the subject matter – how did this horrible director/actor/writer create a film so bad it would develop a cult following – the one thing it fails to do is give us any more than we already know about Tommy Wiseau. (Other than to confirm he was crazy and a bit of a jerk.)
Both brothers are great in their roles. James nails Tommy and it’s almost eerie.
Some scenes are hard to watch. Could someone really be that delusional?
Where did Tommy get the six million to fund this film? Where is he from? How old is he? No one knows, and this film provides no answers.
Interesting to watch just because I’ve seen RiffTrax rip The Room. But it didn’t do a lot for me. Your experience may vary.

Ninja News

The Contemplative Cat had a really fascinating post:
Lustron Corporation, a division of Chicago Vitreous Enamel Corporation, was founded in 1947 and began to construct 15,000 homes in that year and then 30,000 (according to this info above) in 1948. The houses cost between $8,500 and $9,500.
These houses were unique, to say the least: all steel.
The houses are made of steel, top to bottom. Cabinets, closets, kitchens, doors, walls, door jams, support beams---everything is steel. (Notice the built-ins throughout the house in the YouTube video below.) Houses were pre-fabricated and assembled on site, in two weeks. Steel slates are on the roof. Enameled steel square panels cover the exterior. No repainting, roof repair, termite damage are in these houses.
Check out her post for images and more details.

Latest release!
Old Mam by Pat Hatt
Find it on Amazon




From JoBlo:
Multiple Star Wars films still in the works!
A few days ago a report came out that Lucasfilm was freezing several upcoming STAR WARS standalone/spinoff movies in carbonite, and that they would be focusing only on the current trilogy, Rian Johnson’s new trilogy and movies from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Turns out that may not be entirely correct, as Lucasfilm sources told ABC News they still have “multiple” new STAR WARS movies still in the works.
The news outlet reports the Lucasfilm sources are calling the original report “inaccurate,” and that they indeed have movies outside of the Johnson trilogy and Benioff/Weiss series that are in the works and moving forward. No specific projects are named, but in the past, we have heard about a Boba Fett movie from James Mangold and an Obi-Wan movie by Stephen Daldry.

Also from JoBlo:
SyFy is developing a Nightbreed series.
Almost thirty years ago, Clive Barker wrote and directed NIGHTBREED, a dark fantasy horror film based upon his 1988 novella "Cabal." Unfortunately, Barker had to deal with studio-mandated cuts and misleading marketing and the film would go on to become a commercial and critical failure, but over the years, NIGHTBREED has become a cult hit and Scream Factory even released a director's cut of the film in 2014. Last year, Morgan Creek Entertainment announced that they were looking to exploit a number of films in their catalogue, including NIGHTBREED, and it seems that our next trip to Midian will take place on television as Syfy is developing a series based upon Clive Barker's creation.
I really dug the movie so I’m curious where they will go with the series.

The Kindle edition of Carol Kilgore’s Bluebonnet Ballerina is now available for the pre-order price of 99 cents at Amazon.
This price will be good through the release date – July 9, 2018.
Bluebonnet Ballerina follows Jalapeno Cupcake Wench and is the second book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy.

And finally, there is a movement to remake The Last Jedi. No, really. Yes, go ahead and laugh. No script and no rights from Disney – sure you’re going to remake it! Get the details at Slate.

Ready for RiffTrax to tackle Krull? Who else saw Fallen Kingdom? Picking up Murder at the Marina? Surprised by those steel homes? Thinks some fans take Star Wars way too serious…?

Remember, Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day is July 3, a Tuesday next week! See you then.

Fun RiffTrax Halloween Movies, Stranger Things and X-Files Trailers, Completing a Book Series, Monday's Music, New Releases, and Movie Trivia Answers

I need a IWSG co-host for November 1! If you can help, please leave a comment.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan is also here to talk about finishing a series, but first...

Fun Halloween Movies from RiffTrax!

The next RiffTrax: Live is Wednesday, October 25 - Night of the Living Dead!

We recently watched this one and the movie has not aged well. I don’t remember it being that bad. But that makes it ripe for RiffTrax fodder.

If you’ve not seen them live, you’re missing a great time! Check showtimes at RiffTrax for a theater near you.

If you’re in the mood for some scary movies, we recently watched a few from RiffTrax. Sadly, they will only scare you in how bad they are. Fortunately, Mike, Bill, and Kevin are there to bring intended humor to the films.

Arachnia
A cast of stereotypical misfits trapped in a house and surrounded by giant spiders.
Ray Harryhausen’s stop motion special effects will look high-tech compared to the effects here.
Yes, it’s a SyFy movie. Yes, it’s horrible. And yes, apparently they hate us.

The Bermuda Triangle
A cast of stereotypical misfits on a boat looking for…well, they don’t know what they’re looking for and neither do we.
Add creepy evil doll for creepy evil looking little girl. And John Huston. Someone must’ve had pictures of him with a donkey or something.

When a Stranger Calls Back
A cast of stereotypical misfits…just kidding! Just Charles Durning and Carol Kane, in it for the money.
Oddly enough, the stranger never calls. He just sneaks in and moves a few things around. Too bad he doesn’t clean while he’s at it.

Creepy Fun Trailers!

Season two of Stranger Things – October 27!

Season eleven of The X-Files – January 2018!

Thoughts on Finishing a Series

I came up with the core idea of the fantasy Season Avatars series—a quartet of women who have to work together to save their country from magical storms that mix up the seasons—about twenty-one years ago. I was single, between jobs, and living in another state. Since then, I’ve moved several times, worked four different jobs at two companies, got married, and had a son. The publishing world has also changed. Self-publishing wasn’t easy and was heavily stigmatized in the 90’s, but now it’s allowing me to fulfill a life goal: completing a series.

Finishing a series carries a lot of mixed feelings with it. There’s relief that the story will be complete before you die and that readers won’t be left hanging for a resolution. There’s definitely a feeling of accomplishment, even elation. If writing one book is a marathon, writing and rewriting five of them is an Ironman and a half. Plotting across a series requires even more forethought than plotting (or pantsing) a single book.

Certainly I’ll miss my heroines, but as I plan to write a spin-off series, they’re not gone completely. They’re adult children now, stopping back occasionally to visit and bringing new characters from their world with them. Writing “The End” is never truly the end, but another beginning.

Summon the Seasons

Kay might be the youngest, smallest, and least confident Season Avatar, but her weather magic makes her the most powerful of her group. Now that she also can contact the souls of dead Avatars, her quartet has a chance to end Chaos Season permanently. All Kay and her sister Avatars need are three more bones.
To obtain them, Kay’s quartet must travel across Challen, evading the King’s Watch and Selathens who want to protect their demigoddess, Salth, creator of Chaos Season.
Kay’s deepest beliefs about her God and her longtime rival, Dorian, will be challenged during the trip. If she loses her faith and newfound courage, she will fail, and the rest of the Season Avatars with her.

Pick up Summon the Seasons HERE

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan is the author of the SF Catalyst Chronicles and the fantasy Season Avatars series. She’s also a QA Representative, a wife, a mother, a Beatles fan, and a member of the 501st Legion, but mostly she’s very tired.
Sandra can be found online at the following links: website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Hosted by Marie at Xmas Dolly.

This one is from Voyager, a pop-prog band from Australia. They are so underrated! These guys should be huge.

New Releases

Marked Beauty by SA Larsen - available October 17
Uncovering hidden secrets can sometimes kill you . . . or worse, steal your soul.
Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Find Sheri at her Website or Blog

City of Ghosts by JH Moncrieff
On the day the villagers were forced to flee Hensu, not everyone got out alive.
Find it on Amazon Barnes and Noble, and iTunes

Jalapeno Cupcake Wench by Carol Kilgore
A Hot and Spicy Taste of Murder – and Beyond
Jalapeno Cupcake Wench is the first book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy, a story so big, it takes three books to tell it. 
Find it on Amazon

Swing Vote by Donna K. Weaver
An IED blew up more than Marc North's career as a Cobra pilot—it shattered his plans for marriage.
Find it on Amazon and Goodreads

Movie Trivia Answers

1 – Christian Bale, Taye Diggs 2002 - Equilibrium
2 – Michael York, Jenny Agutter 1976 - Logan’s Run
3 – Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich 1997 – The Fifth Element
4 – Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman 2014 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
5 – Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman 2013 - Oblivion
6 – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone 1990 – Total Recall
7 – Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux 1960 – The Time Machine
8 – Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence 1981- The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2)
9 – Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer 1997 – Starship Troopers
10 – Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman 2010 – The Book of Eli

Ready for some scary RiffTrax movies? Stoked about the next seasons of Stranger Things and X-Files? Have you wrapped up a series? Picking up some new books? Get the trivia right? And have you entered the IWSG Anthology Contest yet? You have until November 1. And let me know if you can co-host next month.

I’ll be offline this weekend but back on Monday with another guest and a slew of scary movie fun.

A to Z Challenge – U – Cult Classics: U2, Uglies, and More! Plus Civil War and Daredevil News, New Releases, and the Utothiaz

Today I am visiting Susan Gourley and helping her with the letter U – Utothiaz. Who are the Utothiaz? (Not to be confused with What Are the Kargrandes?) Hop on over to find out!

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – U

Movies-Music-Sci-fi Book-Bloggers-Dragon Term

Movie –

Universal Soldier
This 1992 film spawned three film sequels and two made-for-television sequels. Directed by Roland Emmerich, it was one of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s most notable roles.

Music –

U2 – Achtung Baby
This 1991 album debuted at number one and went on to sell eighteen million copies. It re-launched U2’s career, spawned many singles, and won a Grammy.

Science Fiction Book –

Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
The first book was released in 2005 and followed by three sequels. While the series has received mixed reviews, it has a huge following and is in development for film.

Blogger –

Carol Kilgore at Under the Tiki Hut 
Do you like crime fiction with a kiss? Want to learn more about the author journey and about Texas? Do you like the beach? Then hang out with the awesome Carol under the Tiki Hut!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Utothiaz
One of the eight races, they are aggressive and stealthy… To learn more, visit Susan Gourley today!

Dragon of the Stars is out now!
Check out the site What Are the Kargrandes? for clues as to how they tie into the story.

New Releases!

Pat Hatt has been a busy man! He has three new Tarsier Man releases this month:

Foes in Rows
Amazon




Food with Attitude
Amazon




Pick of the Sidekick
Amazon

Ghost of Death by Chrys Fey

Amazon, Amazon UK, and Nook

Movie News

Daredevil season two is coming! Actor Charlie Cox, who plays the lead, talks about the Defenders and what to expect at JoBlo

The lineup for Captain America: Civil War continues to grow. Scarlet Witch will also be joining the film alongside the Captain, Iron Man, Black Widow, Falcon, Hawkeye, and Black Panther. Read more at Blastr

Production begins on Ash vs. Evil Dead! Read more about it at JoBlo

And how much money has Furious 7 made now worldwide? 1.1584 billion dollars! It’s now the seventh highest grossing film ever, and with the pace it’s setting, will likely be number four when it’s over. (Behind Avatar, Titanic, and The Avengers.)

Seen Universal Soldier? Fan of U2? Have you visited the Tiki Hut? Confused by Kargrandes and Utothiaz and Dragons? Picking up some new books? And what movie news excites you…?

Don’t forget to visit Susan Gourley!

Secrets of Honor, The Making of the IWSG Anthology, IWSG Videos, Ninja News, and Destination Star Trek 3

We're starting with a bang today and an awesome author, Carol Kilgore!

Hi! My name is Carol Kilgore, and I write Crime Fiction with a Kiss. Thank you, Alex, for hosting me today.

Once upon a time, there was a jewel thief . . .

So begins the tale of Kat Marengo and Dave Krizak. The story could go all kinds of ways. The jewel thief could be
• an especially mischievous fairy who delights in swapping one jewel for another.
• a zombie who believes emeralds are brains.
• an octopus-like creature from Neptune who adorns his tentacles with NASA probes.
• a mermaid who uses sunken treasure to purchase aquarium space for herself at SeaWorld.

But in my new novel, SECRETS OF HONOR, my jewel thief is a government agent doing her job.

SECRETS OF HONOR
By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple. They have 24 hours to locate a kidnapped girl, or they will have to fight for the life of the first lady.

You may connect with me at any or all of these sites: Blog - Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads - Amazon

So in lieu of telling you more about myself, I invite you to visit my website HERE. Each month I hold a new contest giving away free books and swag by the Author of the Month. This month, the author is Susan Swiderski. Susan is giving away a signed copy of HOT FLASHES AND COLD LEMONADE and a copy of OLD BROADS WAXING POETIC, an anthology benefitting CARE International.

Ninja News

Industry expert and author, Anne R. Allen, will be our guest at the IWSG Site on Wednesday.


Jessica McKendry’s From the Ashes is on sale for 99 cents. Buy it at Amazon.

The sequel to Julie Flanders’ Polar Nights, is now available for 99 cents. You can find The Turnagain Arm at Amazon.

New release - The Odyssey of a Monk by Dean K. Miller
It will also be free on Amazon October 10-12.

Girl of Great Price by Milo James Fowler was just released.
Find it on Amazon.

Out now - Scarlet Magi by Nicole Zoltack
Plus Black Hellborn is on sale for 99 cents and her next book, Starry Love, is available for preorder.






And Destination Star Trek 3 took place this past weekend. @StarTrek sent out a lot of images from the convention, including this one of Next Generation wrapping up the second day:

You can see images from the first day at their website HERE

IWSG Anthology!

HUGE thanks to everyone who posted or sent their submission for the anthology, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Guide to Publishing and Beyond. We had over a hundred submissions and they were amazing. Quite a few were emailed to us, so there will be a lot of fresh, new content in the book.

One thing I learned was never say no to an anthology. I turned down submitting a piece to The Tree of Life because I was busy at the time. (Yeah – stupid!) Fortunately, Samantha asked me to contribute to Heroes of Phenomena, and I didn’t say no a second time.

I never realized how much effort was involved in an anthology until now. Let me give you a backstage view of what the IWSG Admins have been doing:

Me – Gathering all email submissions and all IWSG posts (which meant reading every single one.) Gathering and requesting bios, permission, and websites, then logging all entries on a spreadsheet and sending out to be proofed. (By Friday my brain was mush - my apologies to all the bloggers I didn't visit toward the end of last week.)

Joylene, Susan, Michelle, and Joy – Human Spell Check machines and proofers. (Wow, did they read a lot of words! And poor Michelle had the flu last week.)

Lynda – Final proofing and organizing submissions for the book, noting issues and quotes and other stuff. (She did a LOT of reading!)

Diane – Format the entire mess into a book. (Good luck!)

So, as you can see, a lot of work went into this book. But we couldn’t have done it without all of you!

And I want to point out one very special submission. It was on making book trailers, and unfortunately the videos won’t make it into the book. But you have to see what HJ Blenkinsop created for us! This is just one of three:


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group #3


Think Carol’s story is better without the octopus creature from Neptune? Picking up some new books? Follow along with Destination Star Trek 3’s events? Enjoy this past week’s IWSG or contribute to the anthology? Wonder what a Ninja’s brain looks like when it turns to mush…?

Wednesday will be some light fun, trivia, and maybe even a bit about the Ninja…
 
And if you can co-host the IWSG in November or December, please leave a comment!