A to Z Challenge - C

For the A to Z Challenge, I am featuring some awesome bloggers, many of whom are participating in the Challenge. These individuals have offered so much support of my book, CassaStar, and me on my blogger journey. Of course, I’ll be keeping up with the world of movies, music, and pop culture stuff as well! Ninjas are just talented that way...

Coffee Rings Everywhere
Rayna lives in India and posts in 100 word drabbles. The wisdom of this woman amazes me! She’s a mother, a working professional, a marathon runner, and a keen observer of life. Follow her drabbles and you just might learn something about the world.

CineMarvellous!
Nebular runs an awesome movie site. He has great taste in films (my biased but accurate opinion) and his reviews are informative and to the point. His interests go beyond movies though, so a conversation with Nebular might surprise you. For the widest selection of movie reviews, visit his award-winning site!

And for my faithful Ninja Army...

The crappy thing about this Challenge? Yes, there is a downside!

I don't have time to visit all of my regular buddies every day!!

My friends, stick with me. It's like NaNoWriMo. I've had to scale back. As a Challenge host, I'm trying to visit as many participating blogs as possible. Miss you guys - I'll be back full force in May. Besides, I need to gear up for another awesome blogfest in June...

Valentine's Day Special

It’s Valentine’s Day - time for love and lining the pockets of Hallmark stores and chocolate makers around the world.

It’s also a day men demonstrate the power to read between the lines. With a little practice, we’ve learned that “You don’t have to get me anything” really means “If you don’t get me something, you don’t get anything for a week!” See, we’re not so dumb.

Jules at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow created a special button for us to share with one another and I decided to save it for today. You are all awesome people and I appreciate each one of you who visits my site.

I’d like to say a special thanks to Jeffrey Beesler. Last week, after reading a really crappy review of my book, he offered some encouraging words. Thanks Dude, I needed that, and I don’t intend to give up.

The Words Crafter at The Rainy Day Wanderer gave me the Write Hard Award. Thanks, Words Crafter!


I’m passing it on to:
Clarissa Draper at Listen to the Voices
Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere.


And wanted to let you know about another cool blogfest coming up soon! DiscConnected is hosting the Super 8 Debut Albums blogfest:

SUPER 8 DEBUT ALBUMS BLOG HOP

Remember that first helping of Meat Loaf?
How about when you "Got the Knack?"
On February 28, we're listing our all time eight favorite debut albums from artists where they hit paydirt the first time!
Visit his SITE to sign up!

And to all you ladies who said you loved the Resident Evil series - that's just too damn cool!

Now, where were all of you when I was a teenager, and the girls thought that stuff was gross and weird?

NaNo, Surprise Video, Movie Review, and Award

Two days of NaNo and I can already tell my hunt and peck style of typing is going to be a problem. (You think?!)

I hit 3179 words last night and sent out a couple Twitter messages regarding my progress. Each one begins as a Stardate log. Maybe when I’m finished I’ll post a few here. It’ll be like my account of Sharktopus. Maybe more painful…

This was a total shock! I found this through a Google Alert on Monday – Ali Cross did a video review of my book on YouTube! Complete with space battle sound effects. It’s really sweet and inspires me to make the next book even better.



Is she not cute? Go give her a hug for me! Oh wait, read the rest of this post first…

Movie Review - Harry Brown (From Netflix)

You may not be familiar with this small film but it packs a vicious punch.

When a crew of drug-dealing gang members takes the life of his only friend, Leonard (David Bradley), retired Marine and widower Harry Brown (Michael Caine) decides to take the law into his own hands -- but his old-school training might be overmatched. Helmed by first-time feature director Daniel Barber, this gritty vigilante thriller set in England.

Gritty is definitely the word that sums up this little gem. It plays out like the British version of Gran Torino, however Harry takes it to the next level. Slow and methodical but never dull, Harry Brown will stir your inner vigilante who, upon seeing numerous horrors, finally decides he's had enough. I found the film compelling and the work of Michael Caine to be understated and powerful. Check it out if you are comfortable with a film that turns very violent at times.

Colene at The Journey gave me the Irresistible Blog Award! Does this mean I’m charming? Or just my blog? Either way, thanks Colene!

Passing it on to:
Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere
Yvonne at Welcome to my World of Poetry

Because I can’t go a day without visiting these two awesome bloggers!

Okay, back to writing…

Blogging Idiosyncrasies III and Final Awards

Final round with the blogging junk, I promise! Comments from the first two posts spurred new ideas though.

Blog-whoring
Dezz at HOLLYWOOD SPY coined this term. It refers to those who leave quick, short, meaningless comments just to get you to comment on their blog. It also puts me in mind of those who follow you, and you to follow back. but then no matter how many times you comment on that person’s blog, he or she never comments back. I have several of those right now. Now I admit, I’m not overly interesting and not every post appeals to every person, but did you follow just to get me to follow you? Do you have followers like that? Or ones who leave short or odd comments?

Mechanics of comment box
Judging from last week’s comments, this is a sore spot for many. Is the comment box embedded or separate? There appears to be numerous ways to set up one’s comment box – separate small box (like mine), entirely new page, or the main page reloads. Sometimes the latter occurs, only you don’t realize it also has word verification – and when it refreshes the page, it returns to the top of the page. I wonder how many comments never go through because the commenter doesn’t realize he needs to do the word verification? What are your thoughts on the placement of the comment box?

Okay, I’m officially done with that mess!

On to the awards! Of which there are many…

Yvonne at Welcome to my World of Poetry gave me the Creative Writing Award! Yvonne, I am truly honored. I shall pass this on to just one person:

Ted Cross - don’t you dare give up on The Shard, dude!



Powdered Toast Man at Just the Cheese gave me the Super Commenter Award! I pass this on to:

Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere





iZombie gave me the Zombie Rabbit Award! Okay, I have to pass this on to someone who will appreciate it…

Rogue at The Roads of Autumn Dusk

Jules at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow gave me the Circle of Friends Award. Thanks, Jules! And Kate at The Scribbling Sea Serpent gave me the One Lovely Blog Award. Thanks, Kate! I’ve received both of these before, so won’t pass them on again.

More Sightings and Stuff

More sightings! Big thanks to SF Site, The Roads of Autumn Dusk, Booktionary, Coffee Rings Everywhere, and Only The Best SciFi for posting my book trailer! I can’t believe how many people have posted the video – wow! I received The Versatile Blogger Award from Geof at Enter the Man-Cave Thanks Dude! I received a variation of this one previously, but I’ll still hang this one on my wall with pride. And Geof just hit 300 followers! Go tell him congratulations - that is really awesome! I just realized I’ll hit 200 followers soon. Damn, I’ll need to celebrate when that happens. (Hope I notice when it occurs!) Any suggestions? And while Dezz at HOLLYWOOD SPY says he’s decided not to work with kids, he still likes elephants, so keep ‘em coming!

A World of Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the awesome comments on my book trailer last week! I had no idea what to expect and was almost afraid to click on the link when I received the email from my publisher last Wednesday. The video was amazing and I’m glad everyone else enjoyed it as well. Wish CassaStar was a real movie! Someone call Nolan or Cameron for me…

And a special thanks to these blogs - Grasping for the Wind, Hollywood Spy, Mithril Wisdom, Sci-Fi Hub, A No. 2 Pencil Stat, Speculative Book Review, Spunk on a Stick’s Tips, Glynis Smy, Beth: A Work in Progress, Edi’s Book Lighthouse, LaFemme Readers, and Tossing it Out for featuring the trailer! Thank you for your generosity – I am overwhelmed!

Now an award - One Lovely Blog from Cassandra Jade in the Realm Thanks, Cassandra!
Rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share some things about yourself. (Supposed to be 7…)
3. Pass the award along to some bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (Supposed to be 15, but I’ll leave that amount up to the recipient.)
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

Some things that are perhaps not as obvious as I once thought…
1 – My first book will be released in October. I signed the contract last year with Dancing Lemur Press. Yes, I will soon be an official author!
2 – I am married. Sex is legal in our house.
3 – I minored in music in college and currently play the guitar – for fun. Don’t ask for a concert performance, though. I want you to continue to like me!
4 – I’m a total movie geek. Between the theater and NetFlix, I watch close to a dozen per week. Yes, I do have a life outside of films!
5 – Pet peeves include mowing the lawn (paving the entire lawn sounds better every day) and driving (I ask Santa every year for blasters on my car but he never delivers. Fat guy’s off my Christmas card list!)

I’m passing this on to:
Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere
Talli Roland
Rashelle at A No. 2 Pencil Stat!

Creative Liar Award from Lee at Tossing it Out Thanks, Lee! This is the second time, so I will just accept it with grace.

Lee also tagged me to list the contents of my bag, wallet, purse, whatever. Okay, no purse here and the wallet’s kinda boring, so we’ll go with my gym bag:
Empty water bottle
Ipod & earbuds
Small towel
Gym clothes & shoes
And a stray work sock… wonder how long that’s been in there?

I’m tagging I’m tagging Beth: A Work in Progress!!