A to Z Challenge – L – Cult Classics: Legend, Living Color, Logan’s Run, and More! Plus Birdman Review and New Releases

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – L

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

Movie –

Legend
Directed by Ridley Scott, this surreal fantasy harkens back to darker fairy tales. There is a director’s cut and the original USA theatrical release which features haunting music by Tangerine Dream.

Music –

Living Color – Vivid
This album debuted in 1988 and went Double Platinum, with the song Cult of Personality winning a Grammy.

Science Fiction Book –

Logan’s Run - William F. Nolan and George Clayton
Written by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, this dystopian story spawned two more books, a movie, a television series, a comic book series, and more.

Bloggers –

LD Masterson
Like a dose of humor every Wednesday with jokes and funny photos? Enjoy connecting with someone with a pure heart? Then LD is your lady!

Liza at Middle Passages
Want to witness the journey of writer through various stages of life? Enjoy beautiful photos from the seaside of Maine? Then you need to connect with this wonderful poet and special lady.

Liesel K. Hill at Musings on Fantasia
Enjoy thrillers, historicals, and science fiction from a multi-genre author? Enjoy Top Ten Tuesday, Feature & Follow, and the Walking Dead? Then you need to connect with the awesome Liesel!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Lieutenant
Every ship in the Hyrathian fleet has one or more lieutenants on board. On the smaller ships, the lieutenant is second in command to the captain. On the larger battleships, a Lt. commander is second in command. That is Aden Pendar’s rank when the story opens.

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!

Entwined by Cherie Colyer
Book 3 of the Embrace series

Only a few months after embracing her magical powers, defeating a dark witch at her high school, and banishing a faerie prince back to his realm, sixteen-year-old Madison Riley is back in book three of the Embrace series—and doing the bidding of a demon.

Find Entwined here - Amazon, Amazon UK, and Goodreads

Beware the Little White Rabbit anthology
Includes a short story by Medeia Sharif - Mustang Alice
And a short story by C Lee McKenzie

Movie Review

Birdman

From the IMDB: A washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of his Broadway play.

This Oscar Best Picture winner was very unique. The long stretches of single shots are spectacular to watch. There are very few cuts, so the actors had to get multiple scenes right the first try. That’s impressive.

It does have some really funny lines, including the worst way to describe a relationship ever. (Said by a woman, which made it all the funnier.)

This film will make you feel better about yourself as almost all of the characters are complete train wrecks. Or one hot mess. Either way, you’ll be grateful you’re in a much better place and not so screwed up.

I admired this film, but can’t say I loved it. Like a train wreck, it was fascinating to watch. And once was enough.

Recommended if you enjoy thinking ‘What the heck did I just watch?’

Have you seen Legend and which version, USA or European? Fan of Living Color or Logan’s Run? Following those awesome bloggers? Picking up Cherie’s latest? And have you seen Birdman and what did you think…?

If you missed it yesterday, I visited Literary Rambles!

Ubuntu Bloghop and Humanity, Mini-Alex and Snow, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja News

Today I am visiting the lovely Julie Musil talking about the small publisher debate. Please join us and weigh in your thoughts.

Cherie Colyer has a Features and Spotlights she does every Friday, and this week it is on my series! Thanks, Cherie!

I finally let Mini-Alex out for a snow day and the scarf was very much needed!

Special thanks again to Elise for the creation of Mini-Alex and to Deniz for making his scarf!

Ninja News

The IWSG Website has a great guest today – the amazing Anne R. Allen!

Our good friend Roland Yeomans is undergoing surgery today for cancer. Please keep him in your prayers this week. Since Roland is also struggling with the funds for this surgery, Sean McLachlan suggested a Buy-A-Thon for his books. I’ve read several of Roland’s books and highly recommend following the adventures of one Victor Standish. Visit Roland’s author page on Amazon to see a complete listing of his eBooks and audio books. If you’ve never read any of Roland’s work, now is a great time to do so!

Did you catch Father Dragon Al’s Lord of the Clones Challenge Part 2? 



Sir Baldernot at his finest!




Patricia Stoltey signed a contract with Five Star/Cengage for her first standalone suspense novel, Dead Wrong. The book is scheduled for a November 2014 release.

Terri Rochenski announced that Roane Publishing offered her a contract for Love's Sorrow, the first book in my Means of Mercy series.

Cindy at Dreamer’s Perch has a poll going on - if you had to choose, what is your favorite kind of science fiction? Visit her site to vote for the poll in her sidebar.

In a brand new series, Donna Hosie revisits Logres with THE CHILDREN OF CAMELOT.

Two worlds, one thousand years apart. And those worlds are about to collide.

THE RING OF MORGANA will be released in ebook and paperback on the 15th June 2014.

The Ubuntu Bloghop

Michelle Wallace at Writer-in-Transit is celebrating her third blog anniversary with a bloghop!

What is ubuntu? "In Africa, there is a concept known as UBUNTU – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others." – Nelson Mandela.

When I signed up, I had no idea what I was going to post for this bloghop. I knew poetry was out of the question. (You should all be grateful for that.) I thought about posting a video or a Bible passage.

But the best example of humanity towards others came on Monday when so many rallied around Jeremy Hawkins and left comments of encouragement at his special tribute at the A to Z Blog. Over 160 people showed their support through the efforts of the A to Z Co-Hosts and DL Hammons’ Blog Blitz Team. You guys were awesome and really cheered up Jeremy!

Movie Trivia Answers

1 - Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Al Pacino – 1995 – Heat
2 - Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Karl Urban – 2010 – Red
3 - Joe Pantoloano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Guy Pearce – 2000 - Memento
4 - Bonnie Bedelia, William Sadler, Bruce Willis = 1990 – Die Hard II
5 - James McAvoy, Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton – 2005 – Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Have you read one of Roland’s books yet? Excited about the new book deals? How would you define Ubuntu? Get any of the trivia right? And who wants to play in the snow with Mini-Alex?

Don’t forget to visit Julie Musil today and Cherie Colyer on Friday!

Cloaked in Fur and Anthropies, CassaStorm Updates, and Ninja News

Some awesome Cassan news and updates today!



But first, I have an awesome guest - TF Walsh.

Alex, thanks for having me on your blog today.

Therianthropy is the ability, or curse, that allows humans to transform into animals. There are many examples of it throughout mythology and folklore and it has become the basis of more and more popular culture. Lycanthropy relates specifically to werewolves and is the most common example, particularly in European cultures, which is why I chose to write about it. But if people were given the choice of an animal they could transform into, would wolves be the most common response. Of the myriad of animals, birds, fish and other beasts inhabiting the planet, it would seem that wolves might not be the most popular, if given a choice that is, considering there was such a choice.

If I had to choose, it would be difficult decision. A swan maiden is another mythological form of Therianthropy and would give me a chance to fly. Selkies are seal-type creatures when in water and human when on land, so I could swim effortlessly through the ocean. But if I had to be honest I think I would chose Ailuranthropy, the ability to turn into a cat. And not one of the great cats, but a simple house cat. Especially when I see how many people love their cats, and how well cats are treated. I would love nothing more than sleeping all day in a warm sunshine. Snuggling up to someone when it gets colder and leaping around the house as if I own it. And not to mention being able to understand just what my cat thinks of me.

Which animal would you choose to shift into if you had the ability?

As a moonwulf, Daciana never expected to fall in love with a human. Hell, she never imagined that she’d abandon her pack, endanger everyone around her, and break the worst rule possible. But she did.

Buy Cloaked in Fur Here: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, iBookstore, and Crimson Romance.

T.F. Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she's always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.
Find her - Website-Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Ninja News

Brandon Ax is hosting a giveaway in celebration of his latest book, Ashes.

Cherie Colyer’s latest is out – Hold Tight. You can find it anywhere online and add it to Goodreads The first book in the series, Embrace, is now ninety-nine cents for a limited time. Congratulations, Cherie!

Pat Hatt’s latest book is out, Catality - Saving Your Reality.
This is book number eighteen – congratulations, Pat.
To you and your rhyming cat!

Hart Johnson is celebrating the release of the first installment of A Shot in the Light by hosting a blogfest. On September 5, post about her book and your answer to The World Ends HOW!? See her site for details.

Melissa Maygrove is hosting a blogfest September 23-27. Follow Fest is about writers making connections with other writers on other social platforms besides blogging. See her site for details.

Summer Ross is hosting the In Your Pants Blogfest on September 2. Yes, you read that correctly! Visit her site for details.

CassaStorm Updates and News

First, I am happy to say the CassaStorm tour is full – and then some! I have a great mix of guest posts, articles, giveaways, and reviews set, and the lineup of hosts is awesome, including a couple big sites I never thought would host me. (And I’m quite honored to be appearing there!)


September
9 - The Non-Review
11 - The Unicorn Bell
15 - Anne R Allen’s Blog
16 – Literary Rambles
17 – Edi’s Book Lighthouse
18 - Mithril Wisdom
19 - Lynda Young
20 - Tossing It Out
23 - Under the Tiki Hut
27 – Cruising Altitude 2.0
30 - Write Now

October
4 - MsBookish
9 - The Writing Nut
11 - My First Book
14 - Untethered Realms
18 - Sia McKye Over Cofffe
21 - Stephen Tremp
28 - Sandra Ulbrich Almazan

November
4 - Donna Weaver
25 - Leave it to Livia

In addition, I am teaming up with author Lynn Rush for my first ever Twitter party on September 17 from 8-9:00 EST. Hashtag is #RUSHED and there will be chances to win prizes from both of us.

The week of my release, there will be an awesome prize package offered here for anyone who comments. And anyone who signs up to announce my book release that week (Taking the World by Storm) is eligible for this cool prize package: Cassa mug, Cassa mousepad, $25.00 iTunes gift card, and swag. You can sign up HERE. You have the option of just signing up or asking a unique question to go with your announcement post. (In addition to the questions, the information I send for the announcements will be different.)

Special thanks to my publisher who is doing a large campaign through trade magazines, libraries and bookstores, and science fiction cons.

And a big thanks to all of you for helping me launch one final book into the world!

Just to give you an idea how awesome this journey has been, I want to highlight Ellie Garratt’s winning entry into the Cheers Blogfest last December, because it covers some of the cool things that have happened these past few years:



Now, I need to make a video for you guys!! Mini-Alex can host…

Have you picked up Cloaked in Fur? What animal would you become? Picked up the other awesome books? Can you help Take the World by Storm? Can you believe it’s less than four weeks until my last book comes out?!

Dear Lord, help me survive this next month…