Masquerade: Oddly Suited Cover, February Movie Preview, IWSG Admins, Game Trivia Answers, and New Releases

There is a Facebook party this Saturday, February 2, for Charity Bradford’s new release, The Hand of Atua. She is giving away copies of her favorite science fiction books, including one of mine!

Be sure to log into her Facebook event page and check it out.


Congratulations, Charity!

IWSG Anthology Cover Reveal!

And now, the cover of our next anthology, Masquerade: Oddly Suited…

Masquerade: Oddly Suited
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Release date – April 30, 2019
Young Adult Fiction: Romance - General/Paranormal/Contemporary
Print ISBN 9781939844644
EBook ISBN 9781939844651

Find love at the ball…

Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual Traveler or a virtual date to the ball?

Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…


Who's ready for a party now?


Sadly, the IWSG is losing two of its admins - Lynda Young, who was second-in-command, and Joy Campbell are both stepping down. They have been with the IWSG Admin Team since the site began and will be missed. Thank you ladies for all of your help getting the IWSG to where it is today!

However, we’re not ending on a sad note - Elizabeth Seckman has joined the IWSG Admin Team! She will be in charge of the Publishers/Agents/Queries page and active on Facebook, as well as contributing to the site, the newsletter, and other areas.
Welcome to the team, Elizabeth!

New Releases

Anything Once by Meka James
Quinn has been happily married for ten years. Her relationship with Ian is built on love, trust, and honesty. At least that's what she thought...until a four-letter word changed everything.
Find it on Amazon

The Winner’s Circle by PJ Colando
FAITH... FAMILY... FRENZY!
Life in rural small town can dull the senses. A trio of gal pals--mired in middle age, Middle America, and other people's problems--long to escape.
Buy it in hardback, paperback, and eBook

Blood of My Sisters by Mel Chesley
Meet Isla Black. A young "Book Witch", one not born to a pure bloodline, but who learns through reading books and practicing spells. When she opens a portal on her own, the Seven Sisters are alerted of her power in the magical arts and whisk her away to the Sacred Heart Academy.
Find it on Amazon

Game Trivia Answers

Here are the answers to the board game trivia questions:

1 – If you don’t win, you’ll be… - Sorry
2 – Specialty dice for this popular game - D&D
3 – You will learn about this as you play - Life
4 – Second game in a series – first one was about islands – Forbidden Desert
5 – A thinking game - Chess
6 – Variation on an old classic – Tri-Ominoes
7 – Another variation – onward and… - Upwords
8 – Where it pays to be a slumlord - Monopoly

February Movie Preview

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

1 –

Artic
A man stranded in the Arctic after an airplane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his makeshift camp or to embark on a deadly trek through the unknown in hopes of making it out alive.
Director: Joe Penna
Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir
Hopefully they aren’t attacked by wolves or a feral Liam Neeson



8 –

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot
A legendary American war veteran is recruited to hunt a mythical creature.
Director: Robert D. Krzykowski
Stars: Sam Elliott, Aidan Turner, Ron Livingston
And the Oscar for strangest movie title ever goes to…




15 –

Alita: Battle Angel
An action-packed story of one young woman's journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world.
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Rosa Salazar, Mahershala Ali, Jennifer Connelly, Eiza González
Saw the first anime and read the manga, loved both – please don’t screw it up, Robert Rodriguez.

22 –

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
When Hiccup discovers Toothless isn't the only Night Fury, he must seek "The Hidden World", a secret Dragon Utopia before a hired tyrant named Grimmel finds it first. Director: Dean DeBlois
Stars: Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Kit Harington
Or as I like to call it, How to Depress Your Children…

Looking forward to Masquerade: Oddly Suited? Picking up some new books? Get the board pieces right? And what movies catch your eye for February?

Don’t forget the Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day is February 6 – see you then!

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!

Geek Television Programs, Favorite Fantasy Romance Movies, What Are the Kargrandes? Small Press Pros and Cons, and Ninja News

What happens when the Ninja is overwhelmed with trying to write guest posts for his tour, prepare A to Z Challenge posts, and juggle several sites at once? He double books himself!

Today I have not one, but two awesome authors here to amuse you!

SAME GEEK TIME, SAME GEEK CHANNEL

by Christine Rains

I could name dozens of television shows that geeks love to watch. Goodness knows I've stared at the screen for hundreds of hours in the past year, I mean, in my life. Yes... What's trickier is picking out great shows starring geeks.

I'm adding a level of difficulty to this quest: I'm going to give you a type of show and the obvious nerd answer. Then I'm going to give you a show that you might not know about.

Documentary:
Obvious answer - Cosmos hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Who doesn't love Neil? He's the laid-back astro-nerd in a ship of the imagination.
Not so obvious answer – Globe Trekker hosted by Ian Wright. There have been other travelers on this show, but Ian is my favorite. Goofy, geeky, and hilarious, he travels to various places in the world where you get a peek at things other shows usually don't show.

Reality Show:
Obvious answer - King of the Nerds hosted by Lewis and Booger from Revenge of the Nerds. It's like Survivor for geeks, but with more video games and cosplay.
Not so obvious answer – Face Off. Artistic geeks creating awesome makeup for monsters, aliens, or whatever might be that week's theme. These are super talented nerds in their element.

Sitcom:
Obvious answer – The Big Bang Theory. This is probably where everyone's mind went when I mentioned TV and nerds. No explanation necessary.
Not so obvious answer – Community. It's by far geekier than the obvious answer. Oh yes! Watch it and compare. And it stars Joel McHale, a geek whom I loved since he hosted The Soup.

What are your favorite shows starring geeks?

About the author: Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. (South Central Indiana Fiction Interface). She has several short stories and novellas published. The Dice & Debauchery series is her first contemporary erotic romance.
Please visit her Website and Blog
You can also find Christine onTwitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads
Purchase Loose Corset here: Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, Kobo, and Ellora’s Cave

Ten Movies Similar to Fade Into Me by Charity Bradford

Alex, thanks so much for having me today! My newest story is a tiny bit scifi, a lot fantasy and definitely a romance. So today I want to share some fantasy romance movies for you to fill February with. I mean, Valentines is coming up pretty quick. If nothing else, pick one to share with someone special this Saturday. Here are 10 movies that have something in common with Fade Into Me

1. Princess Bride—when it’s true love there can be no other
2. Stardust—thinking you want one thing, but what you need is right in front of you
3. The Lake House—modern world, soul mates lost in time
4. Penelope—the true love that saves her is when she learns to love herself
5. Splash—they are from two different worlds
6. Somewhere in Time—he’s willing to do anything to be with his love
7. Simply Irresistible—love and magic, and food!
8. Brigadoon—there’s a vacation in Scotland
9. Practical Magic—using magic to find love
10. Timer—can you fall in love if you don’t find your soul mate?

What are your favorite science fiction or fantasy romantic movies?

Find Charity at her: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, YouTube Trailer, and read the First Two Chapters

What Are the Kargrandes?

New clue today at What Are the Kargrandes? This is the fifth one, and there are new clues every Monday until the release of Dragon of the Stars on April 7.

Sample Tweets for this week:

What are the Kargrandes? Fifth clue up this week- http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes #scifi @alexjcavanaugh

Solve the mystery before April 7–what are the Kargrandes? http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes #scifi @alexjcavanaugh

And there have been some great reviews so far, but this one really touched me. Posted by Charity Bradford on Goodreads, it’s a really detailed and thoughtful review, and I’ll share just a snippet with you:
I love that Alex writes complex stories that don't feel complex until you take a step back and really look at it.
That's talent! I mean, there is amazing technology laced throughout this book, but you never feel bogged down by it. Alex also presents these great science fiction themes in a way that feels fresh and new.
I write complex stories – that just blows me away. Thanks, Charity!

Ninja News

I am posting at the IWSG site today on The Pros and Cons of Small Publishers. I asked several authors with small presses to contribute and together we came up with a great list. Check it out!

At the A to Z Blog today is Tracey Lynn Tobin from No Page Left Blank. She chose a really fun theme for the Challenge!

Ian S. Bott has a website that features his artwork. If you’re looking for some awesome science fiction images, check it out HERE



Ava Quinn signed with Patricia Nelson of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Congratulations, Ava!

New Releases -

Don’t Forget to Breathe by Cathrina Constantine
Find it at Amazon

Polar Day by Julie Flanders
Find it on Amazon

A Season of Change by Donna K. Weaver
Pick it up here for only .99 cents: Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Available February 11 –
A Jumble of 500+ Writing Prompts by Tyrean Martinson
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Goodreads





Whoa! Still trying to figure out the Kargrandes? See some cool new books you want? What are some of your favorite fantasy romance movies? And what geek shows do you enjoy? (Face Off is one of my favorite!)

Don’t forget to visit the IWSG site for pros and cons on small presses.

I’ll be back Wednesday with some movie reviews, trivia, and a special guest. Plus – the IWSG site will be hosting our first literary agent that day!

2015 A to Z Challenge List Open, What Are the Kargrandes, Share Your Thoughts Bloghop, and Ninja News

If you are a self-published author, you need to check out a new site called Reedsy. They connect authors with professional editors, illustrators, etc. They also have a blog packed with tips and information, and today I am visiting that site as a guest of Ricardo Fayet, co-founder of Reedsy. Please drop by!

Special thanks to those of you who took the time to listen to my guitar piece last week. You are greatly appreciated! If you missed it, I posted a snippet of me playing Marillion’s Easter.

Kargrandes Update!

New clue today at What Are the Kargrandes? Every Monday is a new piece of information about the Kargrandes from my upcoming book, Dragon of the Stars. Any ideas yet? Know how they are connected to the Dragon?

Sample Tweets for this week:

What are the Kargrandes? Third clue up this week- http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes @alexjcavanaugh

Can you solve the mystery – what are the Kargrandes? http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes #scifi @alexjcavanaugh

And in other book news, I’d like to thank Lily Eva Blake for her wonderful review of CassaFire!

Ninja News – New Releases

This Wednesday at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group site is none other than author Medeia Sharif! Want to know how she went from parting from her agent to four books in one year? Check it out Wednesday and find out.


Ashes Burn Season 1: Ashes Away by Tyrean Martinson
Comes out January 28 and you can pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Fade Into Me by Charity Bradford
Charity will be a guest here on February 9.

Woven by David Powers King and Michael Jenson
Comes out January 27!
David will be a guest here on February 11.

The Seventh Man by Lisa-Buie Collard
And you can enter to win a free book!

Evening of the Dragonfly by Mary Montagues Sikes

Twice in a Blue Moon by Cate Masters

Share Your Thoughts Bloghop

Hosted by Jamie Ayres to celebrate the release of 18 Thoughts, the third installment in the My So-Called Afterlife trilogy.

Each person participating will post a thought (belief) that has defined their life, their way of thinking. Post up to 18 if you’re feeling adventurous and post any time between Jan. 21 and Jan. 28. I’ll pick 2-3 winners each day.

I’m going to give you the one belief I live my life by:

I believe God rules and God reigns, His son Jesus Christ died for my sins, and I live under the tenets of grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

(And on a lighter note, I also believe speed limit signs are merely suggestions!)

The 2015 A to Z Challenge List is Open!

Please read and follow the sign-up instructions outlined below so you sign onto the list correctly!

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, the A to Z Challenge is posting every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet. On April 1, blog about something that begins with the letter “A.” April 2 is “B,” April 3 is “C,” and so on. You can use a theme for the month or go random – just as long as it matches the letter of the alphabet for the day.

The A to Z Challenge is a great way to get into the blogging habit and make new friends. For more details and its history, go HERE

We recommend short posts, turn off Word Verification, and visit five blogs (or more) a day beginning with the one after yours on the list.

Blogs must be on an open platform – no Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. – and comments enabled.

To streamline legitimate blogs from advertisement blogs, the Co-Hosts will be visiting each blog on this list throughout the Challenge. Blogs on the list showing no activity once the Challenge starts or miss five days in a row will be removed.

Please note your blog name and number in all correspondences. Remember that as blogs are removed, your number will change.

There are categories for those looking for like-minded blogs. Select ONE category code and enter it after your blog’s title/name. The code applies to your blog, not your theme for the Challenge and is purely optional. See the first few blogs on the list for examples. However, if your blog has adult content, you MUST mark it (AC) or it will be removed from the list. Codes are as follows:

ANIMALS: (AN)
ART: (AR)
BOOKS/REVIEWS: (BO)
CRAFTS: (CR)
CULINARY: (CU)
EDUCATION: (ED)
FASHION: (FA)
FILM/MOVIES: (FM)
GAMING: (GA)
GARDENING: (GR)
HISTORY: (HI)
HUMOR: (HU)
LIFESTYLE: (LI )
MEMOIR: (ME)
MUSIC: (MU)
MYTHOLOGY: (MY)
PERSONAL: (PR)
PHOTOGRAPHY: (PH)
POLITICS: (PO)
SCIENCE: (SC)
SOCIAL MEDIA: (SO)
SPORTS: (SP)
TRAVEL: (TR)
WRITING/STORYTELLING: (WR)
ADULT CONTENT: (AC)

Be sure to grab the badge and display it in your sidebar so we know you are participating and link to the A to Z Challenge Blog.

For more information we recommend you follow the A to Z Challenge Blog and the hosts:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy @ Hollywood Nuts
Nicole Ayers @ The Madlab Post
Author Stephen Tremp
Heather M. Gardner
AJ @ Naturally Sweet
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian
Matthew MacNish @ The QQQE
Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary
S. L. Hennessy @ Pensuasion
C. Lee McKenzie @ The Write Game
Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot
Susan Gourley @ Susan Says
John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing
Lisa Buie-Collard, Author

We also have a Facebook Page
Email address is contactatozteam@gmail.com
Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge and Twitter id is @AprilA2Z

Sign up at the A to Z Challenge Blog and join us for a month of alphabet fun!


Know What Are the Kargrandes? See some new books you want? What thought or believe do you live by? And are you joining us for the A to Z Challenge, the most awesome blogging event of the year? (Please do – it’s a lot of fun!)

Don’t forget to visit Reedsy’s blog.

Live RiffTrax Experience, How I Miss You Blogfest, Writing a Series, Who’s Your Hero, Foodie Blog Hop, and Ninja News

Riff Trax Live!

Worth every penny! (That’s Bill and Kevin in the photo.)

For those who wonder – what is RiffTrax? – here is the skinny:

Twenty-four years ago, Mystery Science Theater 3000 started, and it was a man and two robots making fun of bad movies. (You could see their silhouettes in the bottom corner.) When MST3K ended its very long run, the three guys started RiffTrax. They recorded the same snarky dialogue and jokes for hundreds of movies, good or bad. You download their riff and synch it up to the actual movie – and then sit back and laugh your ass off.

They started doing live performances, and those were broadcast to theaters across the USA. (With humorous slides shown beforehand, like the two here.) It grew to be huge, and they now do multiple shows a year. (Next one is December 4.) This past showing was a big deal because they filmed it LIVE in Durham, NC. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to see Mike, Kevin, and Bill in person, my wife and I hit the road and headed north.

It was an incredible experience! Nothing like being in a crowd of ‘your peeps.’ (Many came in costume.) They tackled the movie Anaconda, and it wasn’t difficult to parody. Folks, it was cheesy when it came out, but now it looks AWFUL. There is a scene where the waterfall is flowing UP. And the snake screams. Really! It was bad…

If RiffTrax comes near you, go!!

Five Tips For Writing A Series by Joy Campbell

Alex, many thanks for hosting me on the Island Adventure Romance tour.

I stumbled into writing this series because of a quirky secondary character with an interesting history. The books in the Island Adventure Romance Series are a combination of action, adventure and romance and can be read in any order. I've enjoyed writing these stories that have been described as well-written and compelling, with vibrant characters.

What are some important considerations when writing a series?

1. Compelling Characters - Create unique characters that readers will remember long after they finish reading. This can be done through character traits, interesting quirks or personal habits.

2. Meaningful Journeys - Give your characters goals that make their risk taking worthwhile. Their journey must result in growth at the end of the novel.

3. Unique Challenges - Each main character should be given a set of challenges that make their story distinct.

4. Return Visits - Readers like to catch up with characters from other books, so arrange little drop-ins to keep your fans updated on their favourite individuals.

5. Diminishing returns - Know when you hit the point where it's time to close a series. Don't get caught up in making money and forget good sense. Start a new book or series when there are no stories left to tell in the current one.

You may enter to win a ten dollar ($10.00) Amazon voucher or an e-copy of the entire Island Adventure Romance collection on the Rafflecopter HERE.

J.L. Campbell lives in Jamaica and writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She also writes non-fiction and is a certified editor. Visit her website or her Amazon page. She's enjoys good company, so feel free to follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.

Who’s Your Hero Blogfest

Hosted by Joy Campbell

I have many heroes.
My wife, who continues to prod me when I want to give up. My parents, who set such a great example of a solid marriage. My blogger friends, who’ve accomplished some amazing things. The IWSG Admins and A to Z Challenge Co-Hosts, who tackle their responsibilities with gusto.

And of course my greatest hero, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m grateful to have a relationship with someone who was willing to die for me despite my imperfection. He’s my peace and steadfast rock. I’ll always fall short, but fortunately He always forgives me.

Who is your hero?

Foodie Blog Hop

Hosted by Holly Sinclair

She is celebrating the end of her tour with her cookbooks and wanted us to post about food. I could go on about how much I dig Thai food or post my favorite Chinese recipe, but I thought I’d just let you know what Mini-Alex Likes best:

Ninja News

And the winner of the Trick or Treat Bloghop is… Christine Rains!
Congratulations!

Charity Bradford has started a Kickstarter campaign for her next book.
I've decided to self-publish my latest novel FADE INTO ME. This book really highlights my growth as a writer. It's also the first book where I feel I let myself "out of the box." Before I send this book into the world, I want to make sure it's the best it can be. This means hiring a professional editor and typesetter. I'm not here to ask you to back me, but can you help me spread the word about my Kickstarter project? Finding people interested in this story is what will make the difference.
To donate, go HERE

Out now - What Time Is the Tea Kettle? By Andrew Leon

Just released - Nobody Knows (Razes Hell Book 1) by Kyra Lennon
Find it pn Amazon,Amazon UK, and Goodreads

How I Miss You Blogfest!

It’s that time of year again! Hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish
The bloggers you miss and the ones you would miss.
List one to three bloggers you really miss.
List one to three bloggers you would really miss if they stopped blogging.
And then go let them know!

Join us November 24!



Who wants to go see RiffTrax now? Ready to write a series? Who is your hero? Favorite food? And what bloggers do you miss…?

Don’t forget Wednesday is Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day!