Insecure Writer’s Support Group, May Movie Preview, Series Influencer, Star One Answers, 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.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG are Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon!

Big news today! We are welcoming a new IWSG Admin to the team - Sandra Cox!
She will take on the Publications/Conferences page.
Please stop by her site and thank her for donating her time to this awesome group!

May 4 question - It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?

Writer highs include the first draft done, cruising through edits and hearing from readers who enjoyed my books. Lows are when I a out of story ideas or slogging through the first draft.

CassaDark tour continues! Today I am visiting Damyanti Biswas and Christine Rains
On May 11, I’m visiting Shannon Lawrence

A Series Influencer by Sandra Cox

I’ll watch nearly any series, any genre, if the characters pull me in. Three of my favorites that have strong characters are: Black List, Reacher and Longmire. All different but all with protagonists that stick around a long time after the television is flicked off. Since I write Westerns, Longmire particularly stuck with me. The two main characters, Walt Longmire performed by Robert Taylor and ‘Vic’ Moretti performed by Katie Sackhoff, played well off each other. Their amazing chemistry strengthened the acting of the other in this modern-day police thriller set in the wilds of Wyoming.

Those two personas influenced two of my main characters in the Mateo series. One of the primary differences between Mateo and Walt: Mateo is a shifter. Somehow, I don’t see Walt Longmire shifting, do you? 😊

MATEO’S BLOOD BROTHER by Sandra Cox
Behind the amicable façade is a man who’s tough and determined. He’s Mateo’s Blood Brother.
They were friends, close as brothers. Then they weren’t.
Mateo and Jesse are cautiously working their way back to friendship when Jesse discovers the unthinkable. Delilah, the sultry shifter who’d had affairs with both men, is still alive. The tumble she took over a mountain ridge—a fall that nearly killed Mateo—should have finished her.
Now, there’s no choice but for the two men to work together to take down a she-devil straight from hell. As the stakes escalate and the hunt becomes more intense, another wolf appears on the scene. Always where Jesse’s at. Always when he’s in trouble. Jesse is divided between ending Delilah, a new love interest, discovering the identity of a certain brown wolf and staying alive.

Available at Amazon

A funky little giveaway:
Commenters names will go into the proverbial hat and one name will be drawn to win an I Heart Books stretch bracelet.

And happy to say I was the winner on another site and soon my wife will be enjoying the bracelet. Thanks, Sandra!

Ninja News

New release:

Revenge of the Space-Surfing Butt Monkeys (Gale Harbour Book Two) by C.D. Gallant-King
Newfoundland, Canada, 1993.
It's been a year since a handful of kids defeated the Psycho Hose Beast in the sleepy town of Gale Harbour, Newfoundland. Our heroes have entered into the era of rollerblades, Super Nintendo and oversized plaid shirts… unless you’re a goth, then it’s the era of Maybelline eyeliner, boots with too many buckles, and infected safety-pin piercings.
Thirteen-year-old Niall O'Neil is navigating a blossoming relationship with his crush, Harper Jeddore. Unfortunately, the power that allowed them to defeat the monster from the deep is still within them, and they are no closer to understanding or controlling it. When just touching your girlfriend can kill innocent bystanders, it complicates the already precarious practice of teenage dating.
But lurking in the backdrop of teenage romance, a sinister power is growing in Gale Harbour, and dangerous people are turning up in the small town with possibly deadly intentions.
Will the kids defeat this new threat? What did the US Air Force leave in the abandoned Hansen Air Force base? What is a space-surfing butt monkey? And most importantly—will anyone get to touch a boob?
Horror / Science fiction / Comedy
Print ISBN 9798542434674 $13.99 USD
eBook ASIN B09RKG6772 $3.99 USD
Find it on Amazon, Amazon CA, and Amazon UK

C.D. Gallant-King is a comic fantasy and horror writer currently based in Ottawa, Ontario, though he was born and raised in Newfoundland, in a town eerily similar to Gale Harbour. He has self-published four novels, including HELL COMES TO HOGTOWN, which was a semi-finalist in Mark Lawrence’s 2018 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. His short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies by Mystery & Horror LLC and Dancing Lemur Press, as well as in The Weird and Whatnot magazine.
Find CD here - website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Goodreads

Star One Lyric Answers

Knowing no fear, feeling no pain
No grief, no compassion, no guilt and no shame
The Terminator, song title – Fate of Man.

He lost his aim, each day the same
He's had enough of this boring game
Groundhog Day, song title – Today is Yesterday.

May Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for May. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

6 –

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Dr. Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse, including alternate versions of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong, and Wanda Maximoff.
Director: Sam Raimi
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Olsen, Michael Stuhlbarg
Multiverse of Madness – sure it’s Dr. Strange and not Dr. Fauci?

13 –

Firestarter
A young girl tries to understand how she mysteriously gained the power to set things on fire with her mind.
Director: Keith Thomas
Stars: Zac Efron, Kurtwood Smith, Gloria Reuben, Ryan Kiera Armstrong
A remake because fire has come such a long way since 1984…

27 –

Top Gun: Maverick
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Stars: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Val Kilmer
Who does Maverick fight this time? His age.

What are your writer highs and lows? Your writing influences? Get the Star One songs right? And what movies interest you this month?
Be sure to visit Damyanti Biswas and Christine Rains!

Legion Series and John Wick 2 Review, IWSG a Top 100 Site, Hank Hogs Number One, New Releases, and Movie Trivia Answers

Legion Series Premier

Based on the Marvel Comics, it follows a troubled young man who may be the most powerful mutant ever. Airs Wednesday nights.
Talk about must-see television! This might be the best series opener I’ve ever seen. This could’ve been a major motion picture with all of the talent and skill they poured into it.
Written and created by Noah Hawley, the genius behind television’s Fargo, Legion delivers on every level. Everything about the show – cast, writing, cinematography, direction – is out of this world.
However, this is an X-Men show for adults only. It’s dark and mature.
Even if you’re not a superhero fan, you’ll be enthralled with this show.
Highly recommended!

Movie Review – John Wick: Chapter 2

John Wick is forced from retirement to repay a marker. A large body count ensues.
This one is for true action fans only. The plot is thread-bare at best. And when the action kicks in, it doesn’t let up. For almost two hours.
High marks for location and style. Reeves and cast do a fine job with what they’re given.
My main complaint is the excessive, non-stop violence. After about fifty people had been shot in the head at point-blank range, I lost track. I think it ended somewhere around two hundred. Maybe more.
If you like your action films brutal and violent, this film is right up your alley.

The IWSG Made a List!

The IWSG was listed under Writing Communities for The Write Life’s 100 Best Websites for Writers for 2017!

Thanks to all of you who are part of that community, either through the weekly posting, following the site, following us on Twitter, receiving the newsletter, or part of the Facebook group.

We have some big things planned this year and we’ll be announcing those plans as they come together.

Special Writer Feature

We have such a great community of bloggers and writers here that I’ve decided to start featuring some cool people you may not have met yet.

Today I’m featuring Hank Kaykuala who blogs at Rainbow.

Hank is a poet who lives in Kuala Lumper in Malaysia. He has two published books - Rainbow - Poetry and Prose and Pearls That Shine, published under pen name Hank P. Luz.

I met Hank a few years ago, and while I don’t always understand poetry, I can certainly recognize his incredible talent at taking a few random words and making something beautiful. He’s also fast on the draw, getting the top comment spot almost every time. (Kind of like a Ninja, he just slips in.) The dude rocks!

Why the passion for the genre you write?
1. It allows one to venture out further into realms of creative writing
2. Poetry allows openness without inhibitions in language usage better than the normal way of expression

What started the quest for the number one spot?
1. Enhancing the competitive spirit
2. Better peer group awareness

What is your favorite movie?
1. Ten Commandments
2. Ben Hur
Both are even and both beat them all

Well said, Hank! And I like your movie choices. Now, will you be number one to comment on your own special feature…?

Ninja News

SyFy’s show Faceoff is back!
This season, it’s the all-star version, with past contestants returning and competing in pairs.
Some great creations so far – don’t miss it!

New Releases

In A Not So Universal World by Pat Hatt
Book eight in the series.
Find it on Amazon

Deep Current (Totem #6) by Christine Rains
Find it on Amazon

Coming February 14 -
Abducted Life by Patricia Josephine
Savannah Janowitz’s perfect life was destroyed the night she and her boyfriend vanished without a trace.
Find it on Amazon

Movie Trivia Answers

1 – Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, John Ratzenberger 2008 – WALL-E
2 – Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko 2013 - Oblivion
3 – Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, Chuck Conners 1973 – Soylent Green
4 – Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs 2002 - Equilibrium
5 – Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Ray Stevenson 2010 – The Book of Eli
6 – Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan 1976 – Logan’s Run
7 – Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis 2014 – Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Anyone else see Legion last week? Go to see John Wick 2? Ready for all the great new things coming for the IWSG? Friend of rocking-cool Hank? Watching Faceoff? Picking up new books? And how many movies did you guess? (I think the most anyone got right was five.)

I’m taking a four day weekend for President’s Day weekend, so I’ll be scarce those days and I’m taking Monday off from posting. Next post - March 1, IWSG post day.

CassaFire in Turkish, Secret Behind Disaster Films, Disaster Movie Trivia, Haken-Affinity Review, and New Releases

CassaFire in Turkey!

Now available – CassaFire in Turkish!


The title translates to Shotgun Fire, which is funny. I guess in the story, Byron isn’t a Cassan, he’s a Shotgonian.


Find it at Gurer Publishing.

The Secret Behind Disaster Films

Please welcome my Dragon Fellowship buddy and author, Carrie Butler!


Do you want to know the secret behind disaster movies? We enjoy them for all the wrong reasons.

Experts believe that the worse things get in “real life,” the more we take comfort in situations bleaker than our own. We flock to theaters to watch entire cities get wiped off the earth, our hearts pounding in time with those of the main characters, and it’s all from the safety of our sticky seats. Talk about a rush!

The thing is, unlike other film genres, we’re not exactly there for the storyline. Without the special effects and resounding booms, most disaster flicks would fold in on themselves. Why? Because there’s no reason to spin an intricate plot when you can just dust off a formula from the 1970’s. Right, Hollywood? Nudge, nudge...

Okay, truth be told, most of us don’t mind the lack of outside draw. In some cases, it’s all part of the cheesy allure. But the one thing that will always baffle me is the industry’s blatant disregard for science. Entertainment requires some liberties to be taken, but how can a studio with money and resources get things so horribly wrong? Case in point, San Andreas (2015). Having spent the better half of the past two years studying earthquakes and tsunamis—I just released an action/adventure centering around a catastrophic seismic event in the Pacific Northwest—I could not hold my tongue during certain scenes.

THE SAN ANDREAS IS NOT A SUBDUCTION ZONE!

Ahem. Needless to say, the next time you catch a disaster movie, I want you enjoy it—just don’t count on it to prepare you for a real life situation. You know, like the next time you have to saw your way out of a shark. ;)

Thanks for having me, Alex!

Carrie Butler is an award-winning author and the owner of Forward Authority full-service studio.

Find As We Know It at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Haken – Affinity

Here’s a band flying under the musical radar that deserves serious attention from prog fans. Simply put, the album is amazing.
In each song, you’ll hear many difference influences from prog rock giants. (Such as Yes and Porcupine Tree.) They all blend together to give Hakan a very distinct voice. The music is complex. The arrangements are tricky. These guys are serious musicians.
It’s prog, so don’t expect instant gratification. However, the patient listener will be rewarded with an album they’ll enjoy for years.

New Releases

Shattered Spirit (Totem #4) by Christine Rains
Find it on Amazon

Teapots and Treachery by Donna K. Weaver
Find it on Amazon

FreeFall, Backworlds Book 7 by M. Pax
Find it on Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble

Movie Trivia

In honor of Carrie’s story, today’s trivia centers around natural disaster movies. Name the movie from the tagline.

1 – Heads up
2 – It’s five miles wide…it’s coming at 30,000 mph…and there’s no place on Earth to hide
3 – We were warned
4 – Where will you be?
5 – The pressure is building. Whatever you do, don’t look back
6 – Oceans rise. Cities fall. Hope survives.
7 – The only way out is in
8 – The coast is toast

Answers on Monday!

Are you a fan of disaster films? Ever heard of Haken? Picking up some new books? Know any of the trivia? And have you ever been through a major natural disaster?

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!

Zootopia Review, Meeting Shannara’s Terry Brooks, MST3K/RiffTrax News, IWSG News, Monday Music Moves Me, New Releases, an Why is Everyone Sick?

Zootopia Movie Review

This animated film was really refreshing!
There was thought behind the plot. It was complex, more like a live action film than an anime. Zootopia focused on plot and character development beyond your average animated film.
Amazing animation as well. The different zones of zootopia were cool and certain scenes almost appeared real. The animals are very expressive and the animators used every aspect of their bodies.
A lot of the humor was aimed at adults, poking fun at pop culture. (Listen for the Breaking Bad reference!) So, between the plot and the humor, there is a lot here for adults as well as kids.
It also had a nice message of equality that was integrated into the storyline and never shoved down our throats.
Really a gem of a film.
Highly recommended!

Question of the Month

Hosted by Michael at A Life Examined

The question is - “Have you ever met an idol/influence/someone you really admire? How did it go?”

Around twenty-five years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Terry Brooks, author of the Shannara series. He was visiting a local bookstore and there were only about a hundred people.

It was a really pleasant experience! Brooks was super nice and sported a big smile. He seemed truly excited to meet his fans. He even asked me what books I’d read and which ones I enjoyed the most.

I still have that book – The Druid of Shannara – and the experience further cemented my admiration for Terry Brooks and love of the series he created.

Yeah, too bad MTV’s Chronicles of Shannara has turned into Fifty Shades of Shannara…

Insecure Writer’s Support Group News

First, my good buddy, Pat Hatt, is over at the IWSG Site today! Want a big following on Twitter? Between Pat and the Cat, they have over 150,000 followers. Visit the site to find out how Pat did it.

Second, we need IWSG Co-Hosts for April and May! Since next month is the A to Z Challenge, we’ll need at least six to seven co-hosts, and at the moment, we only have three. We’ll also need them in May, after everyone’s wiped out from the Challenge. If you can help either month, please leave a comment!

Third, we have a special gift for those who sign up for the IWSG newsletter! We compiled the top five articles from the site into one handy eBook – Fast Five – An IWSG Gift. Those of you already signed up should have received an email last Friday with a link to where you can download either the ePub, Mobi, or pdf. (And if you didn’t get one, check your spam file. If not, you might need to sign up if we have an incorrect email from the IWSG list.)
If you’re not getting the IWSG Newsletter, now is a great time to sign up! Do so HERE.
Thanks to all the admins for making this happen, especially Chrys for the graphic, Diane for formatting, and Lynda for coming up with the cool title.

And finally, please remember that IWSG is the first Wednesday of each month. Please make sure you post that day and that the post is front and center when people land on your page. (Squeaking it in late Tuesday night or sometime Thursday if you forget is acceptable.)

MST3K / RiffTrax News

Remember last December when I reviewed the RiffTrax: Live show of Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny?
If you could project all the random thoughts inside a mental facility onto a screen, you’d come up with Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny.
Well, now you watch it at home! The film that beats Manos: Hands of Fate for worst movie ever made is available at RiffTrax. Don’t miss the fun!

Be sure to check out their main page for all the latest releases, including a new MYST3K release very Monday. They also have the complete Film Crew season, and collections such as Oscar Winners, National Geographic, Twilight, Transformers, and Star Trek. (Because the ONLY way to watch the Star Wars Holiday Special is with the help of RiffTrax.)

Monday Music Moves Me

Hosted by Xmas Dolly.

It’s a freebie this week, so I went to the vault and found this treasure by Marillion – Easter. It’s not an actual video, so just let it play and enjoy this beautiful song.
And next week the theme is my choice – and I went with guitar solo!

New Releases

The Not-So-Innocents Abroad by Roland Yeomans
I’d hosted Roland last week for his Don’t You Hate Book Tours tour, and now the book is available!
Pick it up on Amazon

Big Yearnings by Christine Rains
The first book in the Sasquatch Susies series.
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Ellora’s Cave

One Final Question

It seems everyone has the flu right now. They’re sick, the kids are sick, they’ve been sick all winter…

Why is that? My wife and I get either a cold or the flu about once every four years. Maybe every five years. Why is everyone else sick all the time? Is it because we don’t have kids? Is it because we eat healthy, exercise, and take vitamins? Is it because we’ve told God we just don’t have time to be sick? I’d really like to know the secret so we can bottle it and make a fortune!

Did you see Zootopia? Ever met someone you admired? (Ever met Terry Brooks?) Can you help co-host the IWSG? Did you get your Fast Five gift? Ready to try RiffTrax’s Santa and the Ice Cram Bunny? Ready to rock the guitar solo next Monday? And why does everyone else get sick but we don’t?

I have work meetings the latter half of this week, so you might not see me around as much. Please think about me as I sit in yet another meeting, bored out of my mind…

Deadpool Review, Geekdom House, Six Strings, Ninja News, and the Great A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

I am visiting Christine Rains today and discussing newsletters.
Don’t forget the first issue of the Insecure Writer's Support Group Newsletter goes out on February 24! Sign up HERE.

Movie Review

Deadpool
I can understand why some might not like this movie.
It’s irreverent. It gleefully crosses the boundary of good taste, much like the show Family Guy does. It’s gory and quite dirty at times.
Having said all that, I thought it was a hoot!
The story itself is a fairly pedestrian origins story but told in a way you’ve never seen before. The film is self-aware that it’s just a movie, even to the point that Deadpool makes snarky comments about actor Ryan Reynolds and the other X-Men films. It completely breaks the fourth wall, resulting in some of the funniest lines. (Example – Deadpool tells two X-Men ‘This giant house and there’s only two of you? It’s like the studio couldn’t afford any more X-Men.’)
Bottom line, if you found something appealing in the trailer, you’ll dig this film.
Rated R for a reason, this movie is for the grown up twelve-year-old in all of us.
Highly recommended!

While I Was Away…

Yes, my wife and I had a great time! Everyone should take a first class vacation at least once a year. Maybe more.

And of course, at my wife’s insistence, Mini-Alex tagged along.

I submitted an article to Geekdom House and it appeared on their site last Monday. Read Finding Child-Like Wonder and why Star Wars: The Force Awakens had it and Jurassic World didn’t.

The latest Six Strings magazine is out and it features an interview with yours truly. You can download it for free on the site or at Amazon.

Ninja News

The authors in the IWSG anthology, Parallels: Felix Was Here, have set up a website - Parallels Anthology. Articles, news, and meet the authors.

Plus, you can pre-order the eBook of Parallels: Felix Was Here at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes

Many of you know that Sia McKye is undergoing treatment for cancer. A lot of that is coming out of her pocket, so a good friend of her set up a Go Fund Me account for her to help offset the cost. Any amount will help!

Loni Townsend discovered a cool site - Inkarnate. You can make your own maps!

New Release:
To Get A Guy To Kiss You! by Jessica McKendry
Find it on Amazon

The Great A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

Sign-ups for the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge are already under way. If you have done it before, you know how much fun it is (good for you!) and if you have not, this is your chance to give it a try. You can sign up to participate HERE.

One of the most burning questions participants ask themselves every year is: "Should I have a theme?" Themes are not mandatory, but definitely fun. They let your visitors know what to expect, and help you create posts that line neatly up from A to Z. They also have an added bonus – they let you participate in a whole separate blogfest!

Three years ago, A to Z participant Mina Lobo started the Theme Reveal, and we thought it was such a great idea that we made it tradition.

Here is how the Theme Reveal Blogfest works:

Sign up on the Linky List below. On Monday, March 21, reveal your theme on your blog and give us a hint of what to expect from it. Then, once your post is up, use the Linky List to visit all the other blogs announcing their themes.

This is a great opportunity for all of you to get a jump start on your A to Z experience. You can link up with fellow bloggers, scout out and bookmark themes that you look forward to, and lure in wandering participants with your awesome theme. This way, by the time the frenzied posting begins on April 1, you will already have an audience eagerly awaiting your posts.

Sign up below, ready your theme, and put March 21 on your calendar!

Miss me? Anyone else see Deadpool? Excited about the IWSG anthology? Can you help Sia? Ready to make a map? And are you signing up for the Great A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal?

Don’t forget to visit Christine Rains.

And if you have time, read my article at Geekdom House and my interview in Six Strings!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Plus RiffTrax Live, December Movie Preview, Secret Files of Fairday Morrow, MST3K Movie Trivia Answers, and New 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 Sandra Hoover, Mark Koopmans, Doreen McGettigan, Megan Morgan, and Melodie Campbell!
 

First, I have to announce - CassaStar on sale! The first book in my Cassa Amazon best-selling trilogy is only .99 this week at Amazon. If you can help spread the word, that would be awesome.
Tweet:
Amazon Best-Seller CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh on sale for .99 cents http://www.amazon.com/CassaStar-Alex-J-Cavanaugh-ebook/dp/B0045Y261I/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= #99cents #scifi

I’ve been tossing around my next story idea. I’d like to take on a couple more short stories, starting with one set in either universe I’ve created. I could continue with stories about the Dragon or follow one of the many secondary characters in the Cassa universe. (Any requests?)

After that, I just might try a little fantasy…

Be sure to visit other IWSG members and be watching January 6 when we announce the winners of the IWSG Anthology Contest!

The Wizard of Oz: Book vs. Movie

Hello all! We’re the DMS¬ Fairday Morrow, Lizzy Mackerville, and Marcus “aka Brocket the Rocket” from the new middle grade book THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW, and we’re here to talk about The Wizard of Oz, the movie vs. the book. There are a lot of differences between them. The slippers are the most obvious. Everyone thinks of them as ruby slippers, because that’s how they’re portrayed in the movie, but in the book, they’re silver. Isn’t that crazy! All this time you thought of them as red. ;)
FAIRDAY: I have my grandma’s copy of The Wizard of Oz, which is very special to me. I remember her reading me the story when I was little, and how she did the characters voices perfectly. I will always cherish the book, BUT I also really like the movie. I mean, it’s just so fun! Plus, my little sister, Margo, belts out the lyrics to the movie soundtrack when it’s playing in the Morrow family cruiser.
LIZZY: I like the movie more than the book. The power of the ruby slippers being divided between each shoe in the book was cool, but I loved the Emerald City in the movie. I thought that part was awesome when they first walk in and the horses change colors and everything is sparkly green.

MARCUS: I haven’t read the book, so I can only talk about the movie, and it’s the best! The flying monkeys are AWESOME, and so is the part when Dorothy throws the water on the wicked witch and she melts. You have to wonder what the witch was made of to fall to pieces just by getting wet.

DMS top 10 favorite things about The Wizard of Oz/ the movie
1. Ruby Slippers
2. Flying Monkeys
3. Awesome music
4. Munchkin Land
5. Toto
6. Flying over a rainbow in general
7. Hot air balloons and wizards
8. The Emerald City
9. The wicked witch¬ needs a shout out.
10.Traveling in a bubble like Glinda.

- Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson

Find The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow at Penguin Random House
Find Jessica and Stephanie: website, blog, and on Twitter - @DMSfiles and @mrsrobinson229

Ninja News

Don’t forget RiffTrax Live is December 3 with an encore on December 15!
Santa and The Ice Cream Bunny is one of the most bizarre and popular RiffTrax titles of all time and a cheesy holiday classic. This rare version of the film includes a never before seen Jack and the Beanstalk story as told by Santa for an as yet unknown reason. Join Mike, Kevin, and Bill as they present it live on the big screen for the very first time!

New Releases:

Lovelorn Spirits by Christine Rains
Find it on Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, and Goodreads

She also has a short story in the just released 9 Tales Told in the Dark. #7

The Reader, Rifters Book 3 by M. Pax
With the rift closed for the season and no more monsters to fight, Daelin Long gets bored as librarian in the podunk town of Settler, Oregon.
Find it on Amazon, iBook, Barnes and Noble, and more!

Guardians of Telesma by River Fairchild
Find it on Amazon

Aced (Blocked #2) by Jennifer Lane
Find it on Amazon

A Clueless Woman by T.B. Markinson 
Find it on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, and Goodreads

The Water Holds No Scars: Fly Fishing Stories of Rivers & Rejuvenation
Edited by Dean K. Miller
Find it at Tulip Tree Publishing

Beverly Stowe McClure’s story, A Tiger-Sized Heart, will appear in an upcoming anthology.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Cat will be published February 9, 2016.

Movie Trivia Answers

All have been riffed by MST3K:
1 – 1975, eight legged creatures, Alan Hale Jr. in the cast – The Giant Spider Invasion
2 – 1955, sequel to fish man hit, Clint Eastwood’s first role – Revenge of the Creature
3 – 1959, starring James Best of Dukes of Hazzard fame, featuring giant rodents that were actually just dogs with carpets draped over their backs – The Killer Shrews
4 – 1957, directed by Bert I. Gordon, and featuring a really big bald guy – The Amazing Colossal Man
5 – 1965, first in a series of many, this Japanese monster gave Godzilla a run for his money - Gamera
6 – 1957, another Bert I. Gordon classic, starred Peter Graves, featured really large insects – The Beginning of the End

December Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for December! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

11 -

The Big Short
Four outsiders in the world of high-finance who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s decide to take on the big banks for their lack of foresight and greed.
Director: Adam McKay
Stars: Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Finn Wittrock, Karen Gillan
If you’re not already disgusted by our lending institutions, then just watch this film.

In the Heart of the Sea
Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Ben Whishaw
Man versus Dick – the Real Story.




18 –

Star Wars: The Force Awakens
A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas and set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).
Director: J.J. Abrams
Stars: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver
Wait, there’s a new Star Wars film? Why haven’t I seen any advertising for it?




25 –

The Revenant
In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Stars: Tom Hardy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter
The director of Birdman is at it again to bring you a fascinating yet most likely bizarre film spectacle.

The Hateful Eight
In post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard but get involved in a plot of betrayal and deception. Will they survive?
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Channing Tatum, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Tarantino on Christmas Day! Give the gift of gallons of bloodshed.

Concussion
In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.
Director: Peter Landesman
Stars: Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Stephen Moyer
I bumped my head on a cabinet and I honestly can’t remember what this movie’s about…

Whoa! So, what should I write next? Grateful for any help I can get promoting CassaStar’s sale. Which do you prefer - Wizard of Oz book or movie? Seeing RiffTrax: Live? Picking up some awesome new books? How’d you do on the trivia? And what movies perk your interest this month?