A to Z, Ninja News, Movie Trivia, Clueless Gamer with Conan O’Brien, and Back From the Future Blogfest!

A to Z News and Tips!

Today I am visiting the A to Z Blog, discussing the benefits of using a theme during the Challenge.

The A to Z Challenge is blogging the Alphabet in April, every day except Sundays. This will be its fourth year, and it’s the biggest blogging event of the year with thousands of participants. If you’re looking for a challenge and want to make some new friends, then sign up HERE

Ninja News

Looking for cover art? Nigel Mitchell put together a list of a hundred resources!

Falling for Fiction is hosting the The Matchelor-March 25-29th – check their site for details!

The talented Erin Summerill is holding a contest at her photography site, and the prize is a wedding package!!

And if you want a truly entertaining story, Michael Di Gesu has been debuting cover art in a unique way this week. See what happens when the Ninja Captain entices Cadet Michael onto his spaceship and they blast off on a journey! Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. Where will we go next?
And that would definitely be my "Celebrating the Small Things" for VikLit’s weekly meme. Michael, you rock!

Movie Trivia Answers!

1 – “Certainty of death, small chance of success… What are we waiting for?” LOTR - Return of the King
2 – “You HAVE the right to remain silent. What you lack is the capacity.” Shrek II
3 – “Sir, I’m gonna have to ask you to exit the donut.” Iron Man II
4 – “No, I’m, I’m simply saying that life, uh… finds a way.” Jurassic Park
5 – “That when a willing victim who has committed no treachery, is killed in a traitor’s stead, the stone table will crack, and even death itself would turn backwards.” The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Bonus – “We’ve got movie sign!” – Mystery Science Theater 3000

Conan Reviews Tomb Raider

Conan O'Brien has a series called Clueless Gamer where he reviews video games. He begins with the disclaimer that he doesn’t even play games! If you have a spare minute, the following video is hilarious. (And my disclaimer – Tomb Raider is rated M for Mature. Don’t watch the very end if impalement makes you squeamish.)

Back From the Future Blogfest.

Hosted by a trio of awesome ladies, M Pax, Suze, and Nicki Elson

 

You’re up before dawn on a Saturday when the doorbell rings. You haven’t brewed your coffee so you wonder if you imagined the sound. Plonking the half-filled carafe in the sink, you go to the front door and cautiously swing it open. No one there. As you cast your eyes to the ground, you see a parcel addressed to you … from you.

You scoop it up and haul it inside, sensing something legitimate despite the extreme oddness of the situation. Carefully, you pry it open. Inside is a shoebox — sent from ten years in the future — and it’s filled with items you have sent yourself.

What’s in it?

What’s in my box from the future?

Looks like a thumb drive. I plug it into my computer, check for viruses (because a virus from the future is not cool), and pull up the first file.

It’s the movie, CassaStar. “Box Office Hit.” Now that is very cool! Need to watch that later.

Next file – several eBooks. They all have my name on them. Wait, I end up writing more books? I might need a drink now.

Next is a music file – hey, it’s the latest from Dream Theater. Who are the members now? Wait, I’m a member??? Now that rocks! Wonder if I have groupies…?

Another file – seems to be a digital photo album. “New Zealand – There and Back Again.” Hey, there I am with my wife! Damn, she still looks good.

Last file – it’s a screen shot of my blog. Over ten thousand followers?!?!?!?!

Crap, now I really need a drink!!!

What would be in your box?

Do you have a theme for the Challenge? Need some cover art? Been reading Michael’s series? Get any of the trivia right? What did you think of the video? And what would be in your box from the future?

Don’t forget to visit the A to Z Blog!

Epic Ninja News, Movie Review, and Kela Thinks I’m Famous

Special Feature and Special Request!

Kela is the sweetheart who runs Teardrops on my Books. Tuesday, she honored me by saying I was famous. Thursday, she featured me in her Thursday Tag HERE. For your amusement, I invite you to read my answers. Thanks, Kela – you rock, my friend!

I have a very special request of the Ninja Army. Not for me, for my friend Andrew. I’d previously mentioned the book he did for his students, Charter Shorts, which goes to benefit the school.
Friday is the last day for Briane's Star Wars Trivia Marathon. Andrew is in second place but can still pull out a win with some help. If you go to Briane’s blog and state that you Champion Andrew, he gets an extra 10,000 points. (And it’s been an ongoing thing this week, so if you’ve already commented on an earlier post, you can comment again on the latest one.)
Thanks to all who showed their support for Andrew! Championing is now over.

Epic Ninja News!

This is what happens when I skip posting just one day…

Candilynn Fite has started a monthly contest, Follow My Lead – and the prizes include a fellow author’s books. This month, it’s Roland Yeoman’s End of Days. Awesome idea, Candy!

Here’s the basics:

Entries must be original work of the writer.

Only one entry per contestant.

300 words or less.

The piece must follow the prompt provided, but may sway in any direction.

The contest piece should be written about the image, in some form or fashion.

The prompt should be used in the story and included in word count.

Ends June 30, 2012

Jamie at Mithril Wisdom has more fun at work than I do – they created a zombie game app that works with Google Maps. Visit his site so you too can send zombies to attack your friends where they live!

The awesome Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out is looking for people to hijack his blog! If you are interested in doing a guest post, contact Lee.

Author Bryan Thomas Schmidt lists Five Great New Epic Series for Your Summer Reads. And hey – my Cassa books are listed! Thanks, Bryan.

Michael Abayomi had some great news about his 6-part epic fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise: “The first two chapters are now on display at The Lost Paradise as part of my about-to-be-launched Indiegogo campaign to raise enough money to produce all 6 books in the series.” Good luck, Michael!

The ladies at Falling for Fiction (Cassie, Jade, Hope, Kelley, and Jenny) are hosting the Hookers & Hangers Blogfest on July 16 and 18. Go HERE to sign up!

Rick at The Writer and the White Cat announced that starting the first of July, White Cat Publications, LLC. will begin accepting submissions for their new magazine of urban poetry titled Nain Rouge a Journal of Urban Poetry, Prose and Art.

Lydia Kang is hosting an amazing giveaway – critiques, books, and Amazon gift card!

JA Bennett is hosting a two hundred followers giveaway – Amazon gift card and a critique!

Heads up! Since the next posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group falls on the USA’s Fourth of July holiday, we will be posting BOTH Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.

Movie Review

Immortals
Finally saw this on NetFlix. Glad I waited.
This movie misses the mark on every level. It’s poorly edited and constructed. Everything about it feels odd. Even the special effects. The worst part is the goofy costuming. My wife commented that in one scene, the Oracles looked like matching salt and pepper shakers. Part of the problem is this movie takes itself way too seriously. Directed by Tarsem Singh who directed The Cell and… not much else. The best thing I took away from the film was that actor Henry Cavill will make a good Superman in the remake.

Don’t forget to visit Kela You guys are awesome!

Whoa! Participating in Candy’s monthly contest? Ready to unleash some zombies? Reading for some summer reading? Feeling lucky with a contest or two? Did you lose part of your life watching Immortals? Both Brave and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter come out this weekend – seeing either of them?

News, Reviews, Blogfests, Books, and the Kitchen Sink!

NEWS FIRST!

For those who missed it earlier this week, Cassie put together the most incredible special feature for me at Falling For Fiction. Morgan, Mark, David, and Leigh all contributed and I felt like a celebrity. Thank you all – this Ninja was very honored by your words!

I also had a special interview/feature with Callie Leuck this week, and she was so creative the way she put it together. Thanks, Callie!

Don’t forget the First Loves Blogfest is Monday, May 14! For details and to sign up, go HERE.

The A to Z Challenge Reflections List will be open through Saturday if you’ve not added a link to your post yet. Lee will be compiling participant's thoughts, ideas, and concerns at the main A to Z Blog in the coming weeks.

I’ve been trying to update both my blogroll and the Awesome Authors page. If you are a blogger buddy (regular commenter) and you do not see your blog or current book listed, please let me know!

REVIEWS

The Avengers
One word – awesome! Joss Whedon masterfully worked together storyline, action scenes, and character development to bring us the perfect super hero ensemble movie. For me, the Hulk stole the show. “Puny God!” I rarely see films twice in the theater, but this will be an exception. 3D BluRay DVD purchase for sure! (And currently it is $702+ million world wide – almost $100 million ahead of The Hunger Games.)

Handling Negative Reviews
I learned a new trick for handling negative book reviews this week and thought I’d share it with you guys.
Another blogger/soon-to-be author posted a one star rating of CassaStar on Goodreads this past weekend. At first it bothered me, and then I remembered the movie Good Will Hunting. There’s a scene where Matt Damon’s character says something awful about Robin Williams’ deceased wife, and the next time they meet, Williams tells him that at first it bothered him – and then he though, “He’s just a stupid kid.” And that’s how you should view reviews like that, because one star with no explanation is meaningless. Maybe that person didn’t like your book. Or maybe he just doesn’t like you or anyone else. Or maybe he gives out one star reviews to almost everyone. Regardless, it’s not worth stressing over.
Maybe I’ve just coined a new term for meaningless, crappy ratings – “He’s just a stupid kid!”

BOOKS!

I’m not through reading it yet, so I can’t offer a review, but hopefully everyone has picked up M. Pax’s new book, The Backworlds!
Here’s the synopsis:

After the war with Earth, bioengineered humans scatter across the Backworlds. Competition is fierce and pickings are scant. Scant enough that Craze’s father decides to hoard his fortune by destroying his son. Cut off from family and friends, with little money, and even less knowledge of the worlds beyond his own, Craze heads into an uncertain future. Boarding the transport to Elstwhere, he vows to make his father regret this day.

Available from: Amazon Smashwords and Feedbooks

Lynn Rush’s new book, Awaited, is now available. Congratulations, Lynn!

And Laura Pauling is currently on tour for her new book, A Spy Like Me. Congratulations, Laura!

Wow! See what happens when I take a day off? Ready for Monday’s First Loves Blogfest? Have you seen The Avengers – again? Seeing Dark Shadows? Prepared now for the “just a stupid kid” reviews? Reading M. Pax’s book? Is there anything I missed????

A to Z Reflections and Ninja News!

Today is the A to Z Challenge Reflections Post! We invite everyone who took part in the Challenge to share your thoughts and concerns. Once your post is live, add the direct link to the list below. DO NOT ADD YOUR BLOG'S GENERAL ADDRESS - ONLY THE LINK TO YOUR ACTUAL POST.

NINJA NEWS!

But first, I have a special feature at Falling For Fiction. I hope it’s special, because I’m not sure what Cassie has in store for me. I think it involves what others say about me, and that could be scary!

On Tuesday, May 8, I also have a feature/interview with Callie Leuck. And it's up NOW! Yes, a guest post Monday AND Tuesday this week!

A couple sites were hit with malware this weekend, and blogs such as mine, Sia's, and Tracy's had warnings because we were linked to these sites. We have removed the links. We are not the ones infected with malware!

My good blogger buddy M. Pax’s new book, Backworlds, comes out today! I’ve enjoyed everything she’s written so far and looking forward to this book. Full information HERE and later this week I’ll give you more details. (Too much for one Monday!)

Glynis Smy’s new book, Ripper, My Love, comes out today – congratulations, Glynis!

And - The Avengers rocked! Saw the first showing Friday at lunch and can't wait to go see it again. AWESOME!

MY CHALLENGE THOUGHTS

This was my third Challenge and my second time as a co-host. I am still a big believer in the Challenge, as it stretches you and connects you to other bloggers. There were only a hundred of us for that first Challenge, but it made a huge impact on me.

I wish I’d had more time to visit new blogs. Many of my blogger buddies also signed up for the Challenge, and I soon discovered that a hundred and fifty blogs a day was the most I could visit on a regular basis. So I have a lot of new followers I need to visit!

Only Stephen Tremp and I were returning co-hosts, and several of the new co-hosts really jumped in with some good ideas. I feel we were much more organized this year with the blog, Twitter hashtag and newsletter, Facebook page, and Triberr.

The suggestion to break up the list into several smaller lists has come up, but I hope it never comes to that. My followers, and those I follow, are an eclectic bunch, reflecting many interests, and I like that. I’ve enjoyed finding bloggers who are neither authors nor writers.

Several people commented that they followed a lot of new blogs but the follow wasn’t returned. Some of the blogs I followed that didn’t return the follow were newer bloggers, so I wonder if they didn’t understand the concept. Of course, I know some were just following to build their own followers without ever commenting or interacting, and that wasn’t in the spirit of the Challenge either. Just one of those things no one can control. (Except go back and do some unfollowing.)

Finally, I was pleased with the response to my theme for this year, which was a variation on last year’s theme. I’m happy it gave me a chance to give back to the community and that you guys enjoyed it. And the amount of comments rocked! I usually post every other day and average 140+ comments, but even with daily posting I was still getting 110+ comments per post. Wow!

Lee, thanks again for creating this Challenge. It continues to be the most awesome thing in the blogging world, beyond any campaign or blogfest, and I was honored to be a part of it for the third straight year. Count me in as a co-host for next year!

What did YOU think about the Challenge? (Whether you participated or not.) What can we do better next year? What can I do better next year? Ready to visit Cassie on Monday and Callie on Tuesday? I aim to amuse…

Remember, enter the LINK to your Reflections post once it is live: