Disaster Series, Best Movies of 2020, Best Albums of 2020, and Love and Monsters Review

Disaster Series with Chrys Fey

Alex Asked: What’s the disaster in A Fighting Chance? TELL US!

Chrys Fey’s Answer: Yup. This is the first book in the Disaster Crimes series that doesn’t reveal the disaster in the title. Or in the blurb. Or the tagline. The tagline even says “a surprise from Mother Nature.” It says that because it is a surprise. The disaster is not the main event in this story as it is with Books 1-5 (Hurricane Crimes, Seismic Crimes, Tsunami Crimes, Flaming Crimes, Frozen Crimes). In those books, the disaster is something that takes place during a large chunk of the story, and we experience the aftermath. This is not the case with A Fighting Chance. The disaster literally is a surprise. It’s not even totally shown on the cover, although you could probably guess what it is.

Okay…so I stalled long enough. I’ll spill.
The disaster is…a tornado. To be specific, a EF3 tornado in Florida.


*A FIGHTING CHANCE is Book 6 in the Disaster Crimes series, but it’s a spin-off featuring a new couple, so it can be read as a standalone.*
Thorn has loved Amanda from afar, giving her whatever she needs as a survivor of abuse—space, protection, and stability. He yearns to give her more, though, to share his feelings, kiss her, love her, but he's worried the truth will frighten her away.v And Amanda is afraid. She’s scared of her attraction for Thorn. Most of all, she’s terrified of her ex-boyfriend, who is lurking nearby where no one can find him. When she grows closer to Thorn, Damon retaliates, jeopardizing their happy ending.
Up against an abusive ex and Mother Nature, do Thorn and Amanda have a fighting chance?

Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes

***FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME***
THE DISASTER CURSE

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes

Author’s Note: I wrote The Disaster Curse to answer a few lingering questions readers may have after reading A Fighting Chance, and to tie the whole series together with a neat, shiny, perfect little bow. Plus, there was one disaster that I hadn’t written about yet. *wink*

The Disaster Crimes Series:

*The Crime Before the Storm (prequel)
Hurricane Crimes (novella, #1)
Seismic Crimes (#2)
Lightning Crimes (free short, #2.5)
Tsunami Crimes (#3)
Flaming Crimes (#4)
Frozen Crimes (#5)
A Fighting Chance (spin-off, #6)
The Disaster Curse (short story, #7)
*Free exclusive story to newsletter subscribers.

***LAUNCHING A WEBSITE***

TheFightingChance.org is a website dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Inspired by the Disaster Crimes series.

***GIVEAWAY***

Prizes: Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes 1) and Seismic Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2) eBooks (mobi or epub), Hurricane Crimes Playing Cards, Girl Boss Sign, and a Volcanic Blast Scented Candle
Enter here

Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur Press.
Author Links: Newsletter, Website, Facebook Group, Blog, BookBub, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon

Movie Review

Love and Monsters
From the IMDB - In a monster-infested world, Joel learns his girlfriend is just 85 miles away. To make the dangerous journey, Joel discovers his inner hero to be with the girl of his dreams.
Staring Dylan O’Brien, Michael Rooker, Jessica Henwick, Dan Ewing, and Ariana Greenblatt
Released in October of last year, we actually caught it this weekend as a rental.
Overall, it was really enjoyable. The lead was a bit of a wuss (although fortunately not a complete idiot) but I really liked the dog, Boy. Michael Rooker was excellent, as always, as the surface wanderer who knows how to survive.
The creature effects are quite good and there is a big variety of critters from small to very, very large.
The pacing is good and there are some great action scenes along with a few very human ones.
This one surprised me and was definitely worth the rental!

Best of 2020

While that might seem an oxymoron, there were some great albums and good movies released last year. We’ll start with the movies. I went with a top five instead of ten since there were so few out in the theaters last year and a lot of dumping in the streaming services.

5 – Bill and Ted Face the Music
Not as good as the other films but good to see the band together again.

4 – Enola Holmes
Came out of nowhere and I was thoroughly entertained by its humor and charm.

3 – 1917
Tough, gritty, nail-biting film from start to finish. (Almost forgot this one came out January 2020)

2 – Wonder Woman 84
Again, not at good as first but a fun superhero movie.

1 – Tenet
One of the few films I saw in a theater and I’m so glad I did – it blew me away.




Unlike movies, music seemed to boom last year. Here is a top ten of prog rock/metal/hard rock of 2020.

10 – Ayreon – Transitus
As a concept album, it loses points for the confusing narrative, but the music is still amazing.

9 – Kvelertak - Splid
Little concerned as it was a new lead singer, however this is their best since their debut.

8 – Allen/Olzon – Worlds Apart
Russell Allen is the man and pairing him up with former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon makes for a great listen.

7 – Armored Saint – Punching the Sky
These guys have been around since the eighties but the album isn’t retro or old school, it just kicks ass.

6 – Novena – Eleventh Hour
The side project from Haken’s lead singer is a killer prog album and I look forward to more.

5 – John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity
Not only showing that he’s the greatest guitarist in rock or metal but the songs are catchy and captivating.

4 – Katatonia – City Burials
It doesn’t stray from their signature sound and I have no problem with that – this album is amazing.

3 – Haken – Virus
Named before the pandemic hit, Haken continues to put out one prog masterpiece after the next.

2 – Dynazty – The Dark Delight
Totally took me by surprise, this disc is one great song after the next and it’s criminal these guys aren’t more well-known.

1 – Countless Skies – Glow
Take one part Insomnium, one part Devon Townsend, and one part While Heaven Wept, mix it all together and you have a mellow-death-prog-doom masterpiece.

Have you ever experienced a tornado? Seen Love and Monsters? What movies did you enjoy last year? What were some of your favorite albums?
Thanks to everyone who volunteered to co-host the IWSG – we are set until June.
Don’t forget the IWSG Twitter pitch event, #IWSGPit, takes place on January 20.
Next Monday is a holiday here, so I will be offline. I’ll catch all of you on January 25!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Enola Holmes Review, October Movie Preview, 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.


The awesome co-hosts today are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!


Need IWSG co-hosts for November! At least four, five is even better. (We have none at the moment.)
And two more for December and hosts for January. (Which is when we’ll announce the winners of the IWSG Anthology Contest.)
Leave a comment or email me if you can host any of those months.


October 7 question - When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?

Good question! I picture a working writer as someone who makes a good portion of their income from their writing. (It could mean a writer who is still working a job, but that doesn’t sound as fun.) As for me, unless I’m writing after retiring (which isn’t too far away), being an author will remain a side project.

Now, guitarist in a prog band – I can picture that!

Enola Holmes Review

From the IMDB:
When Enola Holmes-Sherlock's teen sister-discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter, and Louis Partridge
Based on a young adult book series.
This debuted on NetFlix last month and certainly rates as one of their best productions. If you enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr., you will enjoy this film. Definitely a lighter version, though – more family friendly. It’s a blend of Young Sherlock Holmes and the Guy Richie films.
It’s quirky, fun, and Enola breaks the fourth barrier several times. Brown is perfect in the role as Enola and very resourceful. Cavil’s reserved Sherlock is more true to the books, so don’t expect Robert Downey Jr. craziness.
The production values are excellent and you really feel like you are in Victorian England. This is top notch cinema from NetFlix.
Highly recommended.

New Releases!

Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space by CD Gallant-King

Gale Harbour hasn’t seen any excitement since the military abandoned the base there thirty years ago, unless you count the Tuesday night 2-for-1 video rentals at Jerry's Video Shack. So when a dead body turns up floating in the town water supply, all evidence seems to point to a boring accident.

Find it on Amazon, Amazon CA, and Amazon UK

Frozen Crimes by Chrys Fey

Beth and Donovan are expecting their first child. Life couldn't get any better...until a stalker makes his presence known. This person sends disturbing messages and unsettling items, but it isn't long before his menacing goes too far.

Find it at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Google Play

October Movie Releases

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for October. (And our theaters are open now – I can finally go see a movie again!) As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

9 –

Honest Thief
Wanting to lead an honest life, a notorious bank robber turns himself in, only to be double-crossed by two ruthless FBI agents.
Director: Mark Williams
Stars: Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan
Neeson says ‘Give me back my son!’ while being attacked by wolves on a train…

16 –

Alone
When an outbreak hits, Aidan barricades himself inside his apartment and starts rationing food. His complex is overrun by infected Screamers, and with the world falling apart into chaos, he is left completely alone fighting for his life.
Director: Johnny Martin
Stars: Donald Sutherland, Tyler Posey, Robert Ri'chard, John Posey
Isn’t this plot the year we’ve just lived through?

23 –

Synchronic
Two New Orleans paramedics' lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.
Directors: Justin Benson | Aaron Moorhead
Stars: Jamie Dornan, Anthony Mackie, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides
I like a movie that scoops out my brain with a melon ball and plays with it.

What does a working writer look like to you? Seen Enola Holmes yet? Ready to hit the theater again? And who can co-host in the coming months?
 I’ll be back October 19 with a guest, movie reviews, and a review of Ayeron’s latest double concept album, Transitus. (Hint- it’s awesome!)

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Terminator: Dark Fate Review, November 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 Sadira Stone, Patricia Josephine, Lisa Buie-Collard, Erika Beebe, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Today’s question - What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

Easy! When I was researching my Kagrandes in Dragon of the Stars, I turned to the real life super-tough creature, the Tardigrade. That little sucker can actually live in space with no air or food. It’s the toughest animal on earth. And while my Kargrandes aren’t nearly that tough, it was fascinating to learn about these tiny animals.
And if you would like to fall down that rabbit hole - Wikipedia

Good luck to those participating in NaNo. I'm focusing on finishing my story this month and have been writing 300-1100 words every day.

And we are now good for co-hosts through March! Thanks to all who left a comment or emailed me. 

The Write…Edit…Publish challenge for December:

Here is November’s IWSG Instagram:

Movie Review – Terminator: Dark Fate

Taking place twenty-five-plus years after Terminator 2: Judgement Day (and replacing the last three Terminator movies) this one brings a new target, a new champion, a new breed of Terminator, and two familiar faces to the screen.
This movie does not break new ground. After six movies, they’ve covered most of the angles.
However, I enjoyed the heck out of this one!
With a possible reboot to the series, this movie, sanctioned by James Cameron, delivers all the essentials for a good Terminator movie. (SPOILER – And the fans might finally get the ‘John Connor’ resistance movie they always wanted.)
The action scenes are incredible. Some amazing stunt work.
Special effects – really impressive. Wait until you see the new Terminator. One scary, unstoppable creature.
And then there’s the great cast. Linda Hamilton reprises her role as Sarah Conner and Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as a Terminator, and both add new depth to their roles. Both are damaged people trying to do their best. Newcomers Mackenzie Davis and Natalia Reyes have great chemistry as two young women trying to stay alive and outrun the Terminator.
Some scenes feel a little familiar, but they are executed so well and with such passion that they work. And you’ll enjoy them so much, you won’t care!
You like the original Terminator movies? You’ll enjoy this one!
Highly recommended.

Ninja News

Not Guilty by C. Lee Mckenzie
A blood-smeared knife. One young man’s word against another. A lifetime dream crushed.
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords

Out of Dreams: Nightmares by Charles Gramlich
Find it on Amazon

Chrys Fey is host the Favorite Holiday Memory Blog Hop on November 15.
Sign up at her site.

October Movie Preview

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

8 -

Doctor Sleep
Years following the events of "The Shining," a now-adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: Rebecca Ferguson, Ewan McGregor, Carel Struycken, Jacob Tremblay
Here’s Ewan! Yeah, doesn’t have the same ring to it…

15 -

Ford vs. Ferrari 
American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Director: James Mangold
Stars: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal
Obviously, it’s the start of a franchise. Next up – Chevy vs. Bugatti, Kia vs. Lamborghini…

22 –

Frozen II
Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.
Directors: Chris Buck | Jennifer Lee
Stars: Jason Ritter, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Evan Rachel Wood
Frozen 2: Electric Olaf-loo!

29 –

Knives Out
A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.
Director: Rian Johnson
Stars: Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Edi Patterson, Toni Collette, Chris Evans, Christopher Plummer, Don Johnson, Frank Oz
I grew up in the 70’s. I see this many big names in a film, I’m expecting an earthquake or a ship to overturn…

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever researched? Did you catch the new Terminator film? And what movies catch your attention for this month?

Next Monday is a holiday and I'll be visiting family that week, so I will catch you again on November 18.

CassaSeries Tour, Alien/Area 51 Conspiracy Movies, Carnival Row Review, and 100 Years of Time Travel

Robyn at Life by Chocolate and I were asked to step into the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Claus for some kinky counselling at Just the Cheese - check it out! (Beware – a little raunchy.)

CassaSeries Tour

It continues!
Silver Dagger Tours is hosting a month-long tour for me that includes a giveaway for an Amazon gift card and swag. Full list at their site.

Monday – Guest post at The OCD Nerd News and stops at Tara Tyler Talks, Rita's reading room, and Paranormal Palace of Pleasures

Tueday – Guest posts at Always Love Me Some Books Blog, Reviews and Promos by Nyx, and The Magic Of Wor(l)ds, and a stop at Midnight Book Reader

Wednesday – Stops at nanasbookreviews, TrueYABookBlogger, and 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!

Thursday - Book-Lover, A Pinch of Bookdust, Book Corner News and Reviews, and Paranormal Romance Trance

Friday – Guest post at Tyrean's Writing Spot and stops at Bedazzled By Books, Bookriot and Sapphyria's Book Reviews

Interview with Authors from We Know the Truth, Do You?

An Anthology to Celebrate the Raid

QUESTION: What is your number one favorite alien/Area 51 conspiracy movie?

Annie Walls (Author of Lavish Lure) - Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Nothing scarier than a quiet invasion that you can’t do anything about until it’s too late.

Beverly Ovalle (Author of The Road to Eden) - My favorite is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. I love a good comedy and this is funny and the action is great.

Cass Alex (Author of Them Versus Us) - Alien Nation (movie and series). I love the idea of what could happen after possible alien integration on Earth, when separate species try and live together.

Chrys Fey (Author of Detective Heavenborn) - Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been freaked out by alien movies. But I’d say Independence Day because of the Area 51 scenes. Those scenes helped me with my story, Detective Heavenborn.

C.L. Roman (Author of Not Your Father’s Area 51) - My favorite has to be Men In Black. I loved the first one and enjoyed the others mainly because of the acting and the human reactions to advanced alien tech.

Harley Easton (Author of In the Air Tonight) - The World's End - A ton of awesome British actors play high-school friends going on a drinking weekend, but the movie takes the unexpected turn of aliens invading a tiny town.

Jennie L. Morris (Author of Galaxy Genetics Inc.) - My favorite alien conspiracy movie is Signs. I thought it was well written, and having it centered around one family with little information about the world at large, made it suspenseful.

Jennifer Wedmore (Author of What We Became) - The only movie I can think of is Independence Day. I love this movie because of the epic speech to get them pumped about fighting aliens.

Arthur M. Doweyko (Author of P'sall Senji) - Independence Day - Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum save the world. The scene where we enter Area 51 underground hanger and discover we've had a working alien saucer all along is way fun. Add to that that the President didn't even know.

Sherry Rentschler (Author of Mermurings) - My first conspiracy series/movie seduction happened during the mid-1960's Outer Limits TV series. I always got the shivers when the TV went to the little white dot and we heard the voice say, "Do not attempt to adjust your set..."

Valerie Puri (Author of Burner Phone) - My favorite alien conspiracy movie would have to be Independence Day. It has suspense, action, and a fantastic cast to bring to life a plausible first contact scenario, albeit one that doesn't have a great outlook for the human race.

Don't bother with the raid. Stay home and learn all about it in the comfort of your own home.

What’s in Area 51? Is the government hiding aliens? Elvis? Maybe the set of the Apollo moon landing? Do you know?
We do.
Join this multi-genre group as they explore the hidden recesses of Area 51, which up until now have only been whispered conspiracies. Don’t bother with the raid. Stay home, read these awesome stories and learn all you need to know.
The truth is just a page-flip away.

*All proceeds will go to US Veterans.

Visit their website and purchase the book at Universal Book Links.

Review – Carnival Row

From the IMDB:
A human detective and a fairy rekindle a dangerous affair in a Victorian fantasy world, where the city's uneasy peace collapses when a string of murders reveals an unimaginable monster.
Orlando Bloom stars as the main character, and he’s someone you can root for – he’s a good person. Cara Delevingne is also intriguing as the fairy.
The setting is great. Something about a Victorian setting that just exudes magic.
I like that it’s a detective story with supernatural twists.
The production values are great. The makeup and special effects are first class. What I don’t like – zero humor. (You see that in a lot of shows now.) It just makes the show joyless. I can’t recall one smile or laugh in the five episodes I’ve watched. It’s difficult to go back for more when each episode is more depressing than the last. (There are eight total.)
If dark, deadly, and joyless is your thing, you’ll enjoy it. On Amazon.

100 Years of Time Travel

Courtesy of Enlightened Digital!

Have you been following the CassaSeries tour? What is your favorite alien/Area 51 conspiracy movie? (I'd have to go with a television show - The X-Files.) Have you seen Carnival Row? What do you think about time travel?

Don’t forget to visit Just the Cheese and the CassaSeries tour hosts today!

#IWSGPit and The Write Life! Flaming Crimes Story, Tick Tock Cover, Movie Controversy, Threshold Review, and Ninja News

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group made The Write Life’s 100 Best Websites for Writers again this year!
Thanks to all of you for supporting and participating. We wouldn’t exist without you.

The IWSG Twitter Pitch Party is this Thursday!
We have hundreds of agents and publishers invited.
The first event last summer comprised of about 2300 Tweets and was a Trending Topic that day.
Check out the site for genres and hashtags.
Then send out your Twitter book pitch with the hashtag #IWSGPit this Thursday.
See you then!

Flaming Crimes Story

AUTHOR NOTE: Many scenes in Flaming Crimes (Disaster Crimes #4) came from real life. For this short blog tour, I am sharing my memories as a ten-part continuous story, so hop along for the entire experience.

BUY LINKS: Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and The Wild Rose Press

FLAMING GUEST POST PART SIX:
My parents and my best friend’s parents decided it was best that the two of us were taken away from there. So, my best friend’s dad drove us to their house. We had one of our other cats who had just had kittens. They were tiny little things. In my best friend’s room, my cat nursed her babies as if nothing was amiss.
When my best friend’s dad returned, he reported what was happening—a firefighter had been burned in my backyard, a brush truck had gotten stuck in the woods behind my house, and my friend’s uncle was going crazy, running through the flames, laughing, and apparently having fun.
Except, for my friend’s uncle, I brought those two scenes to life in my story.

FLAMING CRIMES EXCERPT:
The paramedics appeared out of the smoky cloud carrying the backboard with the assistance of two firefighters. Beth stopped breathing. If Donovan was strapped to the backboard, she would spring into the ambulance after him. She loved their home, but she loved Donovan more. She wouldn’t let him get taken to the hospital alone. Even if he was unconscious, she would want to be with him, to hold his hand, to kiss him, and to pray. When she saw a firefighter on that backboard, she felt a mixture of relief and horror. The fire was winning.

The story will continue on these blogs:
1/8 Circle of Friends Books - Part 1
1/9 Sandra Cox – Part 2
1/10 Elements of Emaginette – Part 3
1/11 Julie Flanders – Part 4
1/12 I Think; Therefore, I Yam – Part 5
1/15 Alex J. Cavanaugh – Part 6
1/16 Just Jemi – Part 7
1/17 Sandra Dailey – Part 8
1/18 Fundinmental – Part 9
1/19 Elizabeth Seckman – Part 10

Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.
Author Links: Website, Blog, Goodreads, Facebook Twitter and Amazon

Album Review – Threshold: Legends of the Shires

When this was released last year, I discovered that Damian Wilson was no longer the lead singer. He was an amazing singer and I decided I wouldn’t listen to or support the new album. .
Then the album started turning up on progressive rock top ten lists. So I finally caved and downloaded it. And I’m so glad I did!
This is an amazing disc from start to finish. Every song is catchy while still maintaining that prog rock sensibility.
It’s also one of the best mixed albums I’ve ever heard. Every instrument, voice, and element is perfectly balanced. Nothing is muddled or in the background.
It’s definitely the best prog album of 2017. If you’re a prog fan, this is a no-brainer – buy it now. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s very accessible and catchy.

Very highly recommended!

Ninja News

On a sad note, Edi’s Book Lighthouse is closing down. Edi said his farewells on Saturday, stating that the advances in technology at his job have only made him ten times busier, and he is unable to continue reading and reviewing.
Edi, you will be missed! Thanks for the years of support and friendship. You rock.

New Releases!

A Body in the Trunk byElizabeth S. Craig
Myrtle Clover book 12
Sometimes taking a spin makes you crash and burn…
Find it on Amazon

The Case of the Purloined Pyramid by Sean McLachlan
From Kindle Press
An ancient mystery. A modern murder.
Find it on Amazon

Movie Controversy

Last week, Michael posted about the controversy of The Last Jedi. It’s divided the fans and received a lot of flack despite the great critical reviews.

That got me thinking about movies in general and why some are so panned by one side or the other and why some divide fans. I think it comes down to two things – a person’s investment in the original source and their critical level when it comes to movies in general.

As far as The Last Jedi, the backlash is mind-boggling. If you go to the IMDB, the first hundred or so user reviews are all one star. (And yet the overall rating is 7.5 stars – guess enough people gave it ten to balance out all those ones.) It wasn’t exactly the movie the die-hards who’d read all the books, played all the games, and followed every post-Return of the Jedi myth out there wanted. So they absolutely hated it. Which was unfair to a movie that the general population enjoyed and critics loved.

I think in general, people just get too hung up on details and perfection. They hold standards and requirements so high that few films will reach – which means they won’t enjoy very many of them. Now, everyone is guilty of this to some degree. (Read my review of Threshold above and you’ll see I was guilty of that with music.) But the key to enjoying movies is just to relax and remember – it’s just a movie.

I re-watched an older episode of Big Bang Theory the other day where the guys are so stoked and worried as they sit waiting to watch The Force Awakens and Wil Wheaton turns to them and says, ‘Guys, it’s just a movie. No matter if it’s good or bad, it’s not going to change your life.’ And you know what – he’s right.

When I was a teen, pretty much anything would entertain me. Then somewhere around college, I became picky. And critical. I could tear apart a film with the best of them. A single plot hole would ruin a movie for me. But somewhere along in my thirties, I began to relax. I realized that perfection was impossible. And most movies weren’t aiming to be big critical successes and win Oscars – they just wanted to entertain. I finally accepted that and began to enjoy films again.

Take my review last week for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. No, it wasn’t perfect. Parts of it were a bit of a mess and it was quirky. But was I entertained? Absolutely! I enjoyed it and appreciated what the director was trying to do. And I’d watch it again.

Take Justice League. Now, the big difference between DC and Marvel films is their aim – Marvel films are big-budget spectacles aimed at the general public. They are light, humorous, and designed to appeal to all movie-goers, not just Marvel comic fans. DC movies are more aimed at the comic fans and are darker in tone. And they’ve stumbled a bit – with the exception of the Batman films and Wonder Woman, critics have hated them and many movie-goers have been disappointed by their un-Marvel qualities. (And of course, there is a lot of hate for director Zach Snyder.)

But here is where a relaxed attitude pays off. I am a big Justice League fan. It was the first comic book I ever purchased. So I did have expectations, but after the past few movies, I tempered them. The result – I completely enjoyed the film! It did have issues. You could see the difference in the two directors. (Since Joss Whedon stepped in to finish when Snyder took leave after a family suicide.) But it nailed two things – the characters, who were spot on perfect, and the comic book feel, which is what I wanted. I was entertained and this fan satisfied with the result.

So again, I think people just need to relax. I feel sorry for those who think movies are a one or a ten and there’s no in between. You’re missing out on some fun flicks that way. Many of you are authors – are your books perfect tens? No. But they are still enjoyable.

And that’s all we are after in life – a little joy and happiness.

So in the words of MST3K – Just repeat to yourself ‘It’s just a show, I really should relax!’ 



Cover Reveal - Tick Tock: A Stich in Crime

Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The clock is ticking...
Can a dead child’s cross-stitch pendant find a missing nun? Is revenge possible in just 48 minutes? Can a killer be stopped before the rescuers are engulfed by a city ablaze? Who killed what the tide brought in? Can a soliloquizing gumshoe stay out of jail?
Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of Gwen Gardner, Rebecca M. Douglass, Tara Tyler, S. R. Betler, C.D. Gallant-King, Jemi Fraser, J. R. Ferguson, Yolanda Renée, C. Lee McKenzie, Christine Clemetson, and Mary Aalgaard.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these eleven tales will take you on a thrilling ride into jeopardy and secrecy. Trail along, find the clues, and stay out of danger. Time is wasting...

Release date - May 1, 2018
Mystery & Detective (FIC022000) / Crime (FIC050000) / Thrillers (FIC031000)
Print ISBN 9781939844545 eBook ISBN 9781939844552

Do you have fire memory? Fan of Threshold? Do you think people are just too critical when it comes to movies? Doesn't the Tick Tock cover rock? And are you participating in #IWSGPit on Thursday?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group and Anthology Contest Winners! Plus Best Movies of 2017, Flaming Crimes Blogfest, and Mummy Movie Review

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.

Today’s optional question - What steps have you taken or plan to take to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?

My awesome co-hosts today are Tyrean Martinson, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Megan Morgan, Jennifer Lane, and Rachna Chhabria!

Today we announce the winners of the third annual IWSG Anthology Contest!

Our third anthology will come out late spring featuring eleven great stories. The title – Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime.

Top honors go to Gwen Gardner for her story, A Stitch in Crime.

The other winning stories:

Three O’Clock Execution - S. R. Betler

Until Release - Jemi Fraiser

Cypress, Like the Tree - Yolanda Renée

Gussy Saint and the Case of the Missing Coed - C.D. Gallant-King

Reset – Tara Tyler

Center Lane - Christine Clemetson

One More Minute – Mary Aalgaard

The Little Girl in the Bayou - J. R. Ferguson

The Tide Waits – Rebecca M. Douglass

Special Mention: Heartless – C. Lee McKenzie

Lee is a new IWSG admin, but she was absent for most of the fall and did not participate in the judging. When her entry arrived first, we decided to let it ride. When it was in the judge’s top ten, we decided not to deny her the opportunity – or deny the next author in line. Thus, we are including her story as a special mention along with the ten winners.

Thanks again to our official judges - Elizabeth S. Craig, Anne Hawkins, Candace Havens, Ion Newcombe, Patricia (Pat) Stoltey, and Mason Canyon.

Thanks also to the other IWSG admins who read each and every story – Lynda Young, L. Diane Wolfe, Michelle Wallace, Joy Campbell, Heather Gardner, Nick Wilford, Pat Hatt and Christine Rains. (C. Lee McKenzie was absent during that time, Tyrean Martinson didn’t come on board until afterwards, and I was the one receiving the entries through the IWSG email, so we weren’t involved.)

And big congratulations to our eleven winning authors!

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the next IWSG Twitter Pitch Party – Thursday, January 18!

With hundreds of agents and publishers, this one will be ten times bigger than our first event.

Are you following the IWSG Instagram? This is the prompt for January: 

Flaming Crimes Blogfest

Hosted by Chrys Fey in celebration of her latest release, Flaming Crimes.

Prompt: What is something ridiculous you would save if there was a fire?

My collection of concert t-shirts.
I mean, come on! I’ve been seeing concerts for almost forty years. I have some classic old Rush and Yes t-shirts that I’d have to save. They are worth at least the ten bucks I paid for them...

Flaming Crimes
Series: Disaster Crimes #4
Digital Price: 4.99/Print Price: 16.99
Beth and Donovan are now happily married, and what Beth wants more than anything is a baby. Her dream of starting a family is put on hold as fires burn dangerously close and Donovan becomes a victim of sabotage.
Their lives may just go up in flames…
Buy it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and The Wild Rose Press

Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press. Find her at website, blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon

Movie Review – The Mummy (2017)

Rented it through NetFlix – and it wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone said.
One complaint was that Cruise’s character was unlikeable, but that was the point. The mummy chose him as a vessel because he was that type of person.
Its biggest problem was it lacked cohesion. It fell into the same trap as League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – an idea massaged in a different way would’ve made a more compelling film.
It certainly wasn’t the train wreck I expected though. It even had a few impressive set pieces.
But overall, it had a been there-done that vibe. Watchable but kind of blah.
Worth a rental.

Top Movies of 2017

I usually post the upcoming movie releases for each month on IWSG post day, but since there really isn’t anything of note coming out until Black Panther in February, I decided to cover the best films of 2017.

Now, these include my favorite films of the year, but I ranked them in order of best films. So a couple personal favorites (like Justice League) fell a little lower on the scale.

10 – Fate of the Furious – These films continue to be a heck of a lot of fun.
9 – Spiderman Homecoming – Some really awesome lines and moments.
8 – It – The big surprise – an excellent film.
7 – Justice League – Perfectly captured the feel of the comics.
6 – Thor: Ragnarok – Awesome sets and so damn funny!
5 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II – Fell just short of the first but still a lot of fun.
4 – Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Amazing, funny, and jammed-pack full of fun.
3 – Dunkirk – A truly original war film and simply brilliant with stunning imagery.
2 – Blade Runner 2049 – So rich with imagery, characters, story – just incredible.

1 – Wonder Woman – A perfect origins superhero film – they captured a young Diana perfectly. And the scene in No Man’s Land – wow!

Special mentions -
Coco – Best animated film of the year – so stunning and moving.
War for the Planet of the Apes and Logan – Both just amazing films and likely Oscar contenders. But considering the subject matter and how dark and depressing each film is, I will probably never watch either one again. That doesn’t take away from their brilliance though.

What are your writing and publishing plans this year? Excited about Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime? Ready for #IWSGPit? What weird thing would you save in a fire? Seen The Mummy? And what movies do you thing are the best of 2017?

Hope everyone had an awesome New Year’s and Christmas!