Insecure Writer’s Support Group, MST3K, April 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 Chris D. Votey, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Fundy Blue, and Chrys Fey!

April Question:

Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

My fourth book, Dragon of the Stars, was given a release date of April 7, 2015. Right in the middle of the Challenge. While it was a great opportunity to place the book in front of a lot of people, it was a really crap time for promotions or a blog tour. Everyone was participating in the Challenge (2000+ - the largest year ever.) How was I going to promote it effectively?

I started asking around for blog tour stops, offering to work into the letter of the day for the Challenge. To my surprise, people said yes. I set the whole week of the release with stops and three per week for the rest of the month, followed by every Monday for the two months after that. I also created a scavenger hunt, and on the day of release, twenty-five bloggers posted a picture of Mini-Alex with the book in a new location – commenters had to guess where.

The launch was successful and Dragon climbed the science fiction charts on Amazon. The continued exposure helped the book to continue to sell.

Would it work as effectively today? I’d really rather not find out…

Last month we launched the IWSG Goodreads Book Club and we’ve had a stellar turnout of members. The book for April-May is Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication & Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams. Not too late to join and start reading!

MST3K!

The new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 debuts on NetFlix on April 14!

Set your DVRs.

And turn down the lights. (Where applicable.)

Ninja News

Dan Koboldt, author and founder of #SFFpit, will be visiting the IWSG on Monday. You don’t want to miss it!

CassaDawn, the prequel to my Cassa series, is now free!

You can download this short story at iTunes, Barnes and Nobel, Amazon Kobo, and Amazon UK

SIX STRINGS Season 2 Issue 3 is available now!
This free magazine is put together by Jeremy Hawkins and is packed with top-notch interviews. The site will continue, but the magazine might be ending. Time to get yours while you can and support this awesome venture! Download it for free here.

Available now!
Piper Morgan Makes a Splash by Stephanie Faris
Piper’s mom is helping out at a local pool shop, and the owner wants to shoot a commercial for his store. Piper thinks it’s the PERFECT opportunity to get in front of the camera and experience a little bit of showbiz. But will Piper’s contribution to the TV commercial make a splash—or will it go belly-up?
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indie Bound.

WEP challenge for April! 

See Denise Covey for details.

The challenge is coinciding with the A to Z Challenge letter of the day to make it easy on participants.

Prayers for a Fellow Blogger

Michael sent me an email and posted about a fellow blogger.

Many of you remember Melissa Bradley and her blog, Melissa’s Imaginarium. She has been fighting cancer for the past few years and just recently went into hospice care. You can read the details at Michael’s blog.

Please send prayers for Melissa. Let her know she is loved.

April Movie Preview

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

7 –

Going in Style
Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, three lifelong pals risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.
Director: Zach Braff
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Joey King, Ann-Margret, Michael Caine
George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg…crap, wait! That was the original 1979 film. Never mind.

The Void
Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.
Directors: Jeremy Gillespie | Steven Kostanski
Stars: Ellen Wong, Kathleen Munroe, Kenneth Welsh, Aaron Poole
If you don’t enjoy the movie, a full refund is available. Offer void in Utah.




14 –

The Fate of the Furious
When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.
Director: F. Gary Gray
Stars: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Scott Eastwood, Charlize Theron
I hope by Furious 20 they aren’t driving around in NOS-powered wheelchairs.

Have you used the A to Z Challenge for marketing? Joined the IWSG Book Club? Ready for the new MST3K? Downloaded CassaDawn and Six Strings for free? And what movies catch your attention this month? (I’m guessing not too many…)

Be sure to catch Dan Koboldt at the IWSG on Monday.

I will be offline the week of Good Friday but be back on April 17.

Movie Review-Life, CassaDawn, Time & Circumstance, #atozchallenge, and a Magic Love Crow

Movie Review – Life

Astronauts on the space station discover life in a dirt sample from Mars. Deep space scares ensue.
Hailed as an Alien rip off, this was a serviceable science fiction flick. (And I’ve seen some bad Alien rip off movies.) It’s rated R, but mostly for some language – it’s not very bloody or graphic.
The lifeform was cool and far more slippery than any Alien. It’s also insanely too smart for its own good. Plus it withstands extremes of heat and loss of oxygen – and yet it died out on its own planet.
The actors do very well in their roles. While better than some, none of the characters really become fully fleshed. And let’s just say one of the stars of the film isn’t in it as long as expected…or billed!
What seems smart and slick soon spiral into…plot holes. Not drive a bus through it plot holes, just a lot of small, gaping plot holes. By the end of the film, my eyes hurt from rolling.
Great special effects and good acting can’t save the plot holes. But in a long line of Alien rip offs, this is one of the better ones. If you like that sort of thing, it’s worth a rental.

Theresa Milstein Movie Review and Feature

Besides writing poetry, I also write for children and young adults, so I figured I should review a YA movie.

I read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver shortly after it was published in 2010. I’ll confess, when I started the book, the main character, Samantha Kingston, was so unlikable, I didn’t think I’d be able to complete it. But as Samantha continued reliving the same day, she grew on me, and I raced through hundreds of pages; eager to know how the literary Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day would end. It’s still one of my favorite novels.

This month, Before I Fall the movie was released, and I wondered if it would hold up on the big screen. Samantha and clique of mean girls have a typical Friday, being sexy and narcissistic, bullying Juliet in the cafeteria and at a party, until a car crash kills Samantha. Until she wakes up the next day on the exact same Friday.

While there is some decent acting, I have a few issues with how some of characters were portrayed. The biggest problem is that Samantha in the book was more flawed and interesting to start, and so she had more room to grow as a character. In the movie version, Samantha is a follower. She’s too nice for the five stages of grief to end with a satisfying redemption. For a clever, well-done character arc, I’d suggest you read the book.

As a writer, it made me realize how important it to be true to your character. Create your character with all of his/her flaws, so they aren’t a Hollywood version of a real person.

Thank you for hosting me, Alex!

Time & Circumstance by Theresa Milstein
Published by Vine Leaves Press
Find it at Amazon US, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Chapters Indigo, Amazon UK, and Book Depository

CassaDawn Reviews Needed

My publisher is reducing the price of CassaDawn - to free.

In order for them to promote it, the review count needs to be higher on Amazon. So I am asking for your help.

You can download it for free from iTunes, Barnes and Nobel, Amazon and other retailers. Or I can send you a Mobi or ePub copy – just let me know in the comments.

Thanks – you guys rock!

Special Blogger Feature

This blogging community is full of some amazingly creative people. Today I am featuring Stacy who blogs at MagicLoveCrow. Hailing from Canada, she is a bundle of joy and energy – and a great attitude to boot. She’s also an artist with a thing for crows and incredibly talented. She answered a few questions for me…

What spurs your passion and creativity when it comes to painting crows?

"Crows" have always been with me, since a very young age. I guess you could say they are my spirit animal. I have always had a connection to them. In 2007, I almost passed away and when I came out of it, I said to my mom, "I'm going to paint my crows". Her exact words were, you don't know how to paint. I said, I am suppose to. So, I went and bought some paint and brushes and started to create. I can truly say, when I create, my paintings come from my soul. If I'm happy/sad/mad, looking at the moon, dancing, watching the squirrels play, something I dreamt, this all stirs something inside of me. Most of the times, I do not sketch anything before, I just put the paint on the canvas and let it flow. I hate rushing or forcing anything. That does not work for me!

Can we buy any of them?

All of my paintings are sold on Etsy.
Saying that, I have had many people e-mail me and I have sold my art off of Etsy too, because not everyone is on Etsy. I also love doing special orders. Knowing my art is being cherished, gives me such a warm feeling inside. I am so grateful!!

If you were a Ninja, what would be your special skill?

My special skill would be the technique of "silent moving". Breaking and entering, gaining access, while walking or running over floors, silently. "Staying in the shadows, while moving."

What is your favorite movie?

Ever After: A Cinderella Story
I really loved all the characters in this story and the setting and costumes. Drew Barrymore played a wonderful Cinderella (Danielle). She had a strong/helping soul. She was a believer and dreamer. She taught the Prince to look at life in a different way. I love this conversation between Danielle and Leonardo DaVinci.
Danielle- Signore, my name is Danielle de Barbarac, and I am but a servant.
Leonardo DaVinci- Yes, and I'm the bastard son of a peasant. What does that have to do with anything?
Exactly!!! It's how you love yourself."Don't" put a label on yourself! You can do anything!
As you can see Alex, I am very passionate about this movie! LOL!
There is so much in this film!! I can't even tell you how many times I have watched it!! I can go on and on about it!

Thanks, Stacy! Now, flock on over and check out her crows.

A to Z Challenge

The Challenge kicks off this Saturday, April 1.

This year’s change includes the lack of a formal list. Participants are to leave a comment at the A to Z Blog with a link to their post for that day. They can also leave one on Facebook or Tweet using #atozchallenge.

Maintaining the list was always a big time suck. Co-hosts and their Minions had to comb sections of the list and report changes and blogs to remove. I was the one who would spend an hour or more each day adjusting the list. Last year, I removed seven hundred non-participants and adjusted hundreds of links and listings. Draining, to say the least.

Last year I made a difficult decision – I would not participate this year. I owe a lot to the Challenge, having participated every year since the very first one. But there were numerous reasons why it just wasn’t feasible any more. The main one is the IWSG. It’s grown in so many directions and I owe its members my full attention.

Thanks to Lee for starting the Challenge and allowing me to be a co-host all these years.

So, I’m going to do something I’ve never done – I’m taking some time off during April! I’ll post on April 5 for the IWSG and again on April 17. But the second and fourth full weeks, I am taking time away from the Internet.

Good luck to everyone who is participating in the Challenge this year!



I also won a ACEO of the character of my choosing from Heather R. Holden.

I selected Spencer the vampire.

Who looks none too thrilled with Mini-Alex’s guitar playing…

Thanks, Heather!

Anyone else see Life? Have you watched or read Before I Fall? Participating in the A to Z Challenge this year? Following Magic Love Crow? And can you help with a review of CassaDawn on Amazon? Let me know if you need a copy.

Don't forget - IWSG is April 5!

And if you want to know a little behind the story stuff of CassaDawn, visit Juneta at Writer’s Gambit!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group. CassaDawn Release, Guardians Vol. 2 Trailer, Dragon on Audio, December Movies, New Releases, and Ninja News!

Plot twist! Since Lynda interviewed me her, I turned around and interviewed Lynda at her SITE! Please take time to visit her.

Visit the IWSG site for a chance to win a book on audio book production!

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 Jennifer Hawes, Jen Chandler, Nick Wilford, Juneta Key, JH Moncrieff, Diane Burton, and MJ Fifield!
 
December Question: In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what’s your plan to get there?
Seeing as I didn’t really plan the first five years… I’m just aiming for shorter stories to maintain and continued growth for the IWSG.

And today I can announce the release of one of those short stories!

CassaDawn by Alex J. Cavanaugh
Science Fiction-Space Opera/Adventure/Military
eBook ISBN 9781939844354

The prequel to the Amazon best-selling Cassa series!

A pilot in training...
Fighting the odds, Byron is determined to complete Cosbolt training. Poised at the top of his class, only one situation holds him back–his inability to work with anyone in the cockpit. Byron’s excellent piloting skills won’t be enough without a good navigator…

Find it at: iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Amazon UK, and Goodreads

Dragon on Audio

Plus I have another release!

Dragon of the Stars
By Alex J. Cavanaugh
Science Fiction – Space Opera/Adventure/Military

The ship of legends…

Find it on iTunes, Audible, and Amazon

And you can win a copy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My short story, Dragon’s Destiny, is available for free to anyone who has read Dragon of the Stars! Just send me an email, tell me what happens to Aden at the end of Dragon of the Stars, and tell me if you want ePub or Mobi.

And Truedessa wrote the most amazing poem/story about Aden and Tamsin! You have to read it.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Movie Trailer

Just in case you missed it!

Ninja News

T.S. Hendrik from The Non Review has started an online business with his mother and brother selling greeting cards. There are some really cool looking cards on the site, so check out Under a Tree Prints.

Patricia Lynne is doing a New Year New Reads special. For details or to join the fun, see her site.

New Releases

A Thousand Miles by Pat Hatt
Find it on Amazon

Fifth Season by Sandra Ulbrich Almazan
Find your retailer here.

Wraith of Talera and Gods of Talera by Charles Gramlich
Find Wraith of Talera at Amazon
Find Gods of Talera at Amazon

December Movie Preview

Since I’m late with the upcoming releases for December, I’m just listing the ones that interest me. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

16 -

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.
Director: Gareth Edwards
Stars: Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Ben Mendelsohn
It’s going to make a billion dollars. Haters, just shut up and go see it!




23 –

Sing
A koala named Buster Moon has one final chance to restore his theater to its former glory by producing the world's greatest singing competition.
Directors: Garth Jennings | Christophe Lourdelet
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson
The only thing more annoying than watching animated animals sing songs I dislike is watching the actual artists sing them. Actually, it looks fun.

Assassin’s Creed
When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a Master Assassin, he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society.
Director: Justin Kurzel
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson
Hopefully their creed is thou shall not suck. If not for the cast, I’d write this off as another video game dumpster fire.

Do you have a five year plan? Picking up CassaDawn? Want to win a copy of Dragon on audio? Joining the New Year New Reads? And what movies do you want to see this month?

Be sure to visit Lynda Young and the IWSG site!

Fantastic Beasts and Hacksaw Ridge Movie Reviews! Plus When Animals Attack, New Releases, and Ninja News

Hey guys! Hope your Thanksgiving was great. I certainly enjoyed my week with family. I’m happy to be back, though.

And today, I am appearing at Lidy Wilks’ site, Paving My Author’s Road, discussing what to do when a publishing deal goes south. (No one knows what that’s like, right?)

Movie Reviews

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Set in 1926 America, the film is both familiar and fresh. We have the wizard world backdrop with all new characters and a new location. (And some new terms – in America, Muggles are called No-Maj.)
The creatures themselves are indeed fantastic; some even a little bit mischievous. But Newt (Eddie Redmayne) is determined to keep them safe during his final stop in New York. One gets out, sending Newt on a path of not only catching the escaped beasts, but unravelling the mystery of the force attacking the city.
The actors do a fine job. Dan Fogler has some of the best moments in the film.
Rowling played it safe with the screenplay. Some elements are overplayed (the old briefcases-get-switched trick) and a LOT of time is spent setting up and establishing Newt’s character before the real story gets underway. The film could’ve been trimmed by about fifteen minutes and the story a bit more focused.
Overall, it was enjoyable and Harry Potter fans will eat it up.
Somewhat recommended.

Hacksaw Ridge
The true story of a WWII Army Medic who becomes the first man to win the Medal of Honor without carrying or firing a weapon.
This is a very moving human story. It’s about one man’s convictions, not just as a conscientious objector, but to do what he was called to do. Private Doss followed God despite the circumstances.
Director Gibson knows how to involve you in the characters and the story. Once the action begins, it’s all encompassing. It’s powerful and intense – the war scenes are brutally honest. Despite the violence, it’s a beautiful film.
Andrew Garfield fit well as Doss – genuine, a little naïve, and convicted. Weaving and Vaughn turn in great performances and it’s probably Worthington’s best performance since Avatar.
A powerful, moving film and a possible Oscar contender. (And at the end, you get to see some of the real men involved, including Doss.) Highly recommended.

Hell or High Water
Two brothers rob various branches of the bank threatening to foreclose on their family’s land with a retiring Texas Ranger in pursuit.
This is a small film with the same vibe as No Country for Old Men but more laid-back. It shows how people can do the wrong thing for the right reason – do the ends justify the means?
Chris Pine and Ben Foster turn in excellent performances as the wayward brothers. In the role of an aging Texas Ranger, Jeff Bridges is ornery, funny, and wildly racist (at the expense of his half-Comanche partner.) The West Texas setting is a character as well, one reeking of crushed dreams.
This film surprised me. Probably another Oscar contender. Highly recommended.

When Animals Attack

When Animals Attack, edited by Vanessa Morgan, is now available for pre-order – and I am one of the contributing authors!

The definitive horror movie guide for fans of killer animals and “nature strikes back” movies.

When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals provides a fascinating and entertaining insight into the cinematographic world of animals on the rampage. From well-known predators such as sharks and lions to unusual killing machines like turkeys, elephants, frogs, cats, and rabbits, there is no shortage of the species on display in this book.

Leading horror writers and filmmakers present their favorite “animals attack” films through in-depth essays. Some of the films are touching, some are repulsive, and some are just plain silly. Not all of these horror movies line up with the critical consensus, yet they have one thing in common: they have made the heart of the writer beat faster with excitement.

Find it on Amazon, Amazon UK, and Goodreads

Ninja News

If you’re looking for new blogs, Site Hound Sniffs has a great listing, broken down into categories. Site owner Jerry has put a lot of effort into building it up, so check it out – and definitely email him about including your blog.

Random shot –

Mini-Alex hanging out with a Heptapod from Arrival.




Reedsy posted a great article - Writing in Third Person Omniscient vs Third Person Limited – that you need to check out.

CassaDawn comes out on Tuesday, December 6!

You can pre-order it now.

New Releases

Catalyst by Kristin Smith
(The Deception Game, #1)
Too pretty.
Too smart.
Too perfect.
In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in.
Find it here: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo
Find Kristin here: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Blog

From Story Idea to Reader by Patsy Collins and Rosemary J. Kind
Available November 30
From Story Idea to Reader is an easily accessible guide to writing fiction. Whether you are brushing up on your writing skills or starting out, this book will take you through the whole process from inspiration to conclusion. No matter if you are looking to submit your work for publication, enter a competition, or want to self-publish, this practical guide will help you every step of the way.
Find it on Amazon

100 Haiku for the 80s Generation by Dean K. Miller and Kerrie Flanagan
Find at Hot Chocolate Press and Amazon

Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose
Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
Available at Amazon

Anyone else see Fantastic Beasts or Hacksaw Ridge? Have you see Hell or High Water? Eager to see what movies When Animals Attack covers? (And which movie I wrote about?) Picking up some new books? And how was your Thanksgiving holiday?

I’ll be back next Wednesday for Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day.

Don’t forget to visit Paving My Author’s Road!

Cling to Faith, RiffTrax: Live, Guardians II Trailer, Movie Trivia, and Ninja News

Unique twist today - Lynda R. Young, author and IWSG Admin, is celebrating the release of her book, Cling to God. Only instead of interviewing her, she is interviewing me…

When and how did you first become a Christian?
I didn’t become a Christian until I was an adult. I always knew something was missing from my life. Then a friend invited me to church and not long after, my life changed forever.

You write awesome scifi. How has being a Christian shaped your stories?

There are things I could never write about. I couldn’t write anything that really ran counter to my faith, whether faith is ever addressed in the story or not.

How has your Christianity changed the way you promote your books and present yourself on social media?

Believe it or not, I was not a people person before I became a Christian. But I quickly realized that to love God was to love His people. So I try to put others first in everything I do. I try to be the giver. (And yes, sometimes I fail.) But I always keep in mind that I am representing God in all I do and say.

Cling to God: A Daily Devotional by Lynda R. Young
Released October 18th, 2016
Published by Freedom Fox Press

Cling to God in the chaos of life…
Cling to God is a book of devotionals for every day of the year. The aim is to encourage Christians in their faith, to help them think about their beliefs and learn more about God. The devotions are short and inspirational so that people with busy lifestyles will still be able to spend time with the Lord each day. It will appeal to a wide Christian audience, to those new in their faith as well as those matured beyond milk and honey.

Lynda R Young writes devotionals, articles, and speculative short stories. In her spare time she is also an editor, game developer, artist, and dabbles in photography and all things creative. She lives in Australia with her sweetheart of a husband. You can find her here: blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads

Find Cling to God at Kindle, Amazon, Nook, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and Goodreads

Thanks for the interview and the strength to proclaim your faith, Lynda - you rock!

RiffTrax – Carnival of Souls

The next RiffTrax: Live treat coming our way – Carnival of Souls!

Catch it Thursday, October 27 in theaters nationwide. (Performed live in Nashville, TN.) Or see it Halloween night, October 31, during the encore broadcast.

Prepare for my review and a slew of pre-show images next week!

Guardians of the Galaxy II Trailer

Just in case you missed it last week…

Ninja News

CassaDawn is now on Goodreads if you'd like to add it to your shelves!

We have a special guest at the IWSG site today - hybrid author Catherine Ryan Howard!

New Release!

Dark Dawning by Christine Rains
It’s a dark day when someone murders one of their own.
Christine says - I'm so excited to share with everyone the world of Totem! This has been my biggest project ever. Nine books. At around 25k words per book, that's almost 200k!
Find it at Amazon and Goodreads

Movie Trivia Answers

1 – Leon and Mathilda, 1994 – The Professional
2 – Ed and Anton, 2007 – No Country for Old Men
3 – Vincent, Jules, and Butch, 1994 – Pulp Fiction
4 – Ah Jong, Jennie, and Yi Ying, 1989 – The Killer
5 – Arthur, Steve, and Big Harry, 1972 – The Mechanic

New Movie Trivia

In honor of Lynda’s release, today’s trivia is all about mainstream movies featuring Christianity and the Bible. Guess the movie from the hints.

1 – Jim Caviezel, crucifixion, 2004
2 – Cecil B. DeMille, Jesus, 1927
3 – Books, Tilda Swinton, 2005
4 – Moses, Yul Brynner, 1956
5 – Ralph Fiennes, plagues, 1998
6 – Animated, whale, 2002
7 – Keisha Castle-Hughes, Joseph, 2006

Does your faith affect your writing? Ready for RiffTrax: Live? Excited about the next Guardians film? Get any trivia answers right? Know any of the movies this week?

Don’t forget the IWSG Anthology Contest is open until November 1. Plus even if you aren’t a member, you can still sign up for our awesome IWSG newsletter for writers.

Have a great Halloween and I’ll see you on IWSG Post day!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, CassaDawn, The Dungeon at Annaberg, Luke Cage Review, Question of the Month, and Ninja News – Opportunities and Releases

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 Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley! Don’t forget the IWSG Anthology Contest is open – fantasy/hero lost is the genre/theme. We have changed the word count! It’s now 3000-6000 words. See the site for full details.

Today's question - When do you know your story is ready? My answer - when I start reverting back to what I originally wrote I know I've gone too far and I'm done.

Writing has ground to a halt. Too many plot holes in the outline I was working on, so I’ve chucked it. Which is weird for me, as it’s only the second time I’ve tossed an idea completely. (I wrote the ending for CassaStorm before I’d finalized the outline, and I eventually tossed it as it didn’t fit the story.) Not sure what I’ll try next, if anything.

However, I do have some cool book news!

First, the winners of CassaStorm on audio are… Sheena-kay and Crystal Collier Congratulations!
You’ll enjoy it, if only because the narrator put so much effort into the sound effects and voices. And although CassaStorm is the third book, you don’t need to read the other two to follow the story. Nor do you need to be a fan of science fiction! (And if you like middle grade, one of the main characters is Byron’s ten-year-old son.)
Find it on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible


Next, my publisher just reduced the price of Dragon of the Stars to $2.99 for the eBook!
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ITunes, and Kobo

Finally, a story I wrote last year for an anthology that was delayed many times before the publisher scrapped it will be available soon!

CassaDawn

A pilot in training...
Fighting the odds, Byron is determined to complete Cosbolt training. Poised at the top of his class, only one situation holds him back–his inability to work with anyone in the cockpit. Byron’s excellent piloting skills won’t be enough without a good navigator…

The Dungeon at Annaberg by Bish Denham

Thank you Alex for letting me usurp your blog!

The dungeon at Annaberg, a sugar plantation on St. John in the U. S. Virgin Islands, plays a small but important role in my story, The Bowl and the Stone. A little history might be interesting.

The factory building where sugarcane juice was boiled down. Imagine the hillside behind the building completely cleared, terraced, and planted with sugarcane.

Earliest records show the land was already under cultivation in 1723. By 1733 it was one of 109 plantations.

Annaberg soon became the largest sugar producer, adding to the 1.1 million pounds per year the island produced between 1820 and 1826.

Tucked away, out of sight, is a small room, no more than six-by-twelve feet. At one time heavy, wooden doors locked people in. High in one wall a small window with bars lets in the only light and air.

As I child I saw manacles still hanging from another wall. A prisoner would have had his or her hands shackled above the head.

The aura of lives spent time in the small space is still strong, for etched into the plaster are pictures. Look closely. A slave, perhaps with a rock, scratched out what Annaberg looked like at the time of his or her imprisonment. The wooden second stories are long gone.

And this one is even harder to see, but it's a ship, flying a flag. Perhaps it’s like a ship the slave endured during the Middle Passage, or a trading ship that plied the waters of the Caribbean. In my story The Bowl and the Stone, Sam and her best friend Nick, discover an etching they've never seen before.

It’s mysterious because it looks new; the scratches in the wall aren't dark with age, but white. Stick figures of bodies lying on the ground look like they’re being tended by someone carrying a bowl. Sam knows cholera, yellow fever, and small pox ravaged the islands. Could this be a scene from one of those epidemics? Who put it there and why? When the etching disappears, Sam and Nick know the ghost that's haunting them must be involved.

The Bowl and the Stone
Pirates. Explorers. And spooky ghost hunters.
Available at Amazon and Smashwords
Visit Bish at Blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

Luke Cage Review

This NetFlix series has a solid cast and the story seems to be meshing together well. I’ve never seen the lead in any other roles, but he’s been acting a long time – and he’s perfect as Luke Cage.
The music ties in well with show, which is very cool. In tone, it’s similar to Daredevil and lighter than Jessica Jones. And while the latter’s pace feels slow, Luke Cage’s story is developed faster.
Marvel has fully embraced its adult fare – this one is not for the kids.
I’ve only watched a couple episodes, but overall it’s a great start.

Question of the Month

Hosted by Michael at A Life Examined

“What’s a decision you’ve made in the past that you know, logically, was the right decision to make, but which you still feel guilty or regretful about?”

I really can’t think of anything. If I regretted it, that’s because it wasn’t the logical decision. And if it was, then I didn’t regret it. Sorry, just too narrow a focus for me to come up with an answer this month.

Ninja News

Take this survey to see what species of BEAST you are from BROKEN BRANCH FALLS by Tara Tyler.
I was Steve the Vampire. Which fits, as I’m pale and I like Batman.

New Releases:

I’m excited to announce this release from my publisher –

Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain

Lightning flashes. Another child disappears…
When Zorka Circus performs, its big top roars with laughter and cheers, but when it moves on, there are fewer children in the European towns it leaves behind.

Find Bloodwalker at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, BAM, and Dancing Lemur Press
L.X. Cain was born in the U.S. but now lives on the Red Sea and busily taps away at a laptop, coming up with stories to thrill and entertain readers. Contact L.X. Cain at: Blog, Facebook, and Twitter

Circuits and Slippers – an anthology
Featuring stories from LG Keltner and Leandra Wallace
Find it on Amazon

Opportunities:

The WEP Challenge this month:
You can respond to the CONSTELLATIONS challenge, or
you can respond to the HALLOWEEN challenge, or
you can be very clever and combine the two
We accept flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photographs/photo essays, artwork. Written work needs to be 1,000 words or under to help with reading time.
The list is now open. Visit Write…Edit…Publish to sign up or get more information.

Tell-Tale Publishing announced their annual Scariest Story Starter Contest. Prizes include Amazon gift cards and an opportunity to be published by Tell-Tale Publishing.
Last year, I had the opportunity to be a judge in contest. (I had to decline this year due to the timing.) The stories were great and it’s awesome to see the winners released in this year’s horror anthology, The Keeper’s Secret and Other Stories. (Available October 15.)

Jessica Therrien’s publishing company, Acorn Publishing, is now accepting submissions for the 2016 Author’s Circle Awards. There is a fee to enter but it is open to any author with a book release this year. (Or last year depending on the category.)

MJ Freiheit announced that The Great Flash Fiction War is now open! It offers cash awards to the top stories, including publication.
For more information, visit their site, sign up for the newsletter for a discount code, and follow on Twitter.

Yes, I had a good time catching up with family this past week – glad to be back though.

What’s your writing insecurity this month? Want to visit the Dungeon at Annaberg? Catch any Luke Cage episodes? Taking advantage of any of those opportunities? Think I could cram more into this post…?