A to Z Challenge – E – Cult Classics: Eraserhead, Evil Dead II, ELO, Ender’s Game, and More! Plus Furious 7 Review and Last Hint – What Are the Kargrandes?

Today I have the honor of visiting Bob at Beauty in Ruins and taking over for him for E – Exploration!

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – E

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

Movies –

Eraserhead
David Lynch’s first movie is horror at its most surrealistic. Shot in black and white and featuring disturbing, dream-like images, the film became a midnight movie staple. Released in 1977, it’s now preserved in the National Film Registry.

Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn
The first one gained director Sam Raimi attention, but this sequel/remake is over the top gory, funny, and memorable and was nominated for many awards.

Music –

ELO – Out of the Blue
This double album – and its ensuing tour with a spaceship as part of the stage – became their biggest hit ever. Released in 1977, it’s listed as one of the ‘1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.’

Science Fiction Book –

Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
This award-winning novel has become a staple of the generations of X and beyond, winning a Nebula and a Hugo.

Bloggers –

Eva Solar at Lilicasplace
Want to be inspired to overcome your challenges? Want to meet the most genuine and caring soul on the Internet? Someone who is both friend and sister? Eva is your gal!

Elephant’s Child
Want to enter another world? Want a beautiful view of the land down under? Want to meet one of the strongest women on the Internet? Then visit this child today!

Elsie at Mock Turtle Musings
Do you appreciate brutal honesty? Do you need to connect with someone who will inspire you with her conviction and devotion? If you need support, you won’t find anyone more amazing than Elsie.

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Energy –
It’s a hot commodity on Hyrath. Those with the sea kelp plants provide, and control, the energy that fuels the cities and towns. The only thing the plants don’t fuel are the space ships. Especially the Dragon…

Dragon of the Stars comes out April 7, 2015 – tomorrow!!! And there is a cool scavenger hunt planned, so don't miss it.

Check out the site What Are the Kargrandes? for clues as to how they tie into the story. Last clue posted today.

Sample Tweets: 

What are the Kargrandes? Are they sentient? Should the galaxy know the truth? http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes @alexjcavanaugh

What are the Kargrandes? The mystery will be solved April 7 2015! http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes @alexjcavanaugh

And last day to join the Thunderclap campagin for the book!

Ninja News

Out today!
Hope For Us by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
Pick it up on Amazon

Just released!
Biggun by L.X. Cain
Pick it up at Smashwords

Movie Review – Furious 7

The seventh film in the franchise has Jason Statham as the bad guy seeking revenge for what Toretto’s gang did to his brother.
What can I say? It was a lot of fun with lots of laughs. Just leave your brain at the door.
The action and stunts are crazy and over the top. Don’t try jumping through three skyscrapers kids – you won’t live through it. However, it did make for an amazing sequence.
My only complaint is it could have been just a little shorter. (The film clocks in at 2:20.)
The ending was also a beautiful tribute to Paul Walker who died before filming was complete.
If you enjoyed the last two movies, you will enjoy this one. There are no surprises – you’ll get exactly what you expect. Fortunately, it’s awesome. Highly recommended!

Seen either movie? (Maybe at a midnight showing?) Fan of Ender’s Game? Any aother cult classics you can think of? Following those awesome ladies? Did you see Furious 7? And what do you think fuels the Dragon…?

Be sure to visit Bob at Beauty in Ruins!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, March 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 Tina Downey, Elsie, Elizabeth Seckman, and Julie Flanders! Please visit and thank them for helping today.

I also need volunteers to co-host next month! Since it’s April, it would be best if the co-hosts aren’t participating in the A to Z Challenge. (Trust me, the two combined is a scary, scary thing.) Let me know if you can co-host on April 2. Thanks!

I’m between 8,000 and 10,000 words from finishing my current manuscript. Things are moving along great and I still wish I typed faster. But the first draft is almost done.

And then comes something I’ve never had to do. Go back and add new scenes, plot points, twists, and even a subplot.

Now, I’ve always had to go back and add details. That’s just a given, as I am such a barebones writer. (Hacking and slashing to bring down the word count? What on earth is that?) But I’ve never faced the task of adding so many scenes.

Some will be small, some just embellishments on existing scenes, and a couple will be several pages long. I’ve made notes where I need to go back to, so I do have a plan. But it will be a new experience for me.

Anyone else had to add a lot of new scenes?

Be sure to visit others on the IWSG list!

Ninja News

Playing Pretend, a new adult contemporary romance by Juliana Haygert, is out now. Congratulations, Juliana!

Just eight followers away from someone winning the Epic 2000 Follower Giveaway!
Just click the Google Friends Connect if you haven’t already to enter.

March Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for March! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me. (And upon request, I went for full out snark today!)

7 –

300: Rise of an Empire
Greek general Themistokles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy. Director: Noam Murro
Stars: Sullivan Stapleton, Rodrigo Santoro, Eva Green, Lena Headey
More blood, boobs, and carnage than you can shake a Spartan at! (And actually, it’s getting good reviews.)

Mr. Peabody and Sherman
The time-travelling adventures of an advanced canine and his adopted son, as they endeavor to fix a time rift they created.
Director: Rob Minkoff
Stars: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann
Big fan as a kid. (Before blood, boobs, and carnage came along…)

Jodorowsky's Dune
The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.
Director: Frank Pavich
Stars: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Michel Seydoux, H.R. Giger, Chris Foss
Probably better than the real movies...


14 –

Need for Speed
Fresh from prison, a street racer who was framed by a wealthy business associate joins a cross country race with revenge in mind. His ex-partner, learning of the plan, places a massive bounty on his head as the race begins.
Director: Scott Waugh
Stars: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Scott Mescudi, Imogen Poots
They cast Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad so SOMEONE would go see this film. (Alternate title – Need to Cash in on Fast and Furious Franchise.)

Veronica Mars
Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown - just in time for her high school reunion - in order to help her old flame Logan Echolls, who's embroiled in a murder mystery.
Director: Rob Thomas
Stars: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, James Franco
No one’s laughing at Kickstarter now! (However, I’m still not putting money into anything lacking in blood, boobs, and carnage. Except Firefly.)

21 –

Muppets Most Wanted
While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.
Director: James Bobin
Stars: Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tom Hiddleston
Hopefully this really is the most wanted Muppet film.

Divergent
In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.
Director: Neil Burger
Stars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney
Another young adult, futuristic, dystopian, blah, blah, blah, blah… (Maybe there will be blood, boobs, and carnage?)

28 –

Noah
The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson
Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please don’t mess up this Bible story!!

What’s your insecurity today? Can you help co-host in April? And what movies strike your fancy this month…?