Retro Summer - Time to Scare Everyone!

Today is Ramblings of Amy’s Retro Summer Blogfest! Here’s the scoop:
Find an old mixed audio you haven’t listened to in a while and post the following:
- Write down all the tracks: Artists and song title.
- Write what they mean to you and why you like it.

Now, here comes the amusing part I promised on Monday. As I tried to explain to my wife, guys don’t normally like songs because they ‘mean’ something – we just think they’re cool. Now, my version of cool might send you running. So, to the best of my ability, I described why I think the songs are cool.

“Massive Metal Mix” (I know some of you are running right now!)
1 – Static X – Wisconsin Death Trip – Brutal & aggressive, great groove, and Wayne Static’s quirky voice. Yeah, don’t you wish your last name was Static?
2 – Pantera – Where You Come From – Ultimate in heavy. Any excuse to listen to Dimebag Daryl shred!
3 – Def Tones – My Own Summer (Shove It) - Maybe the coolest opening riff ever. I want this song to play when I enter rooms.
4 – Jimmie’s Chicken Shack – High – Cool riffs. (However, I do not condone drug use in any shape, form, or fashion, wicked cool song or not.)
5 – Chevelle – Mia – My first introduction to this band. I found it by accident, proving accidents can be good!
6 – Powerman 5000 – When Worlds Collide – Ultimate science fiction geek metal! Got to dig a lead singer named Spider. (He’s also Rob Zombie’s brother.)
7 – Soundgarden – Room a Thousand Years Wide – All right, THIS should be the song that plays when I enter a room, just to make people nervous…
8 – Rob Zombie – Dragula – Hey, Spider’s brother! Now we have horror geek metal covered.
9 – Anthrax – Harm’s Way – How can you not dig a song that starts “Here comes the biggest a__h___ the whole world has ever seen?”
10 – Helmet – It’s Easy to Get Bored – I once got my car up to a hundred mph while listening to this song!

Now, for those of you brave enough to reach this point, does anyone even know who those bands are????

Aleta at Fleur de Aleta hosts the ABC of Your State weekly blogfest. Today is “C.” So, out of everything in the Carolinas, I offer you – Charleston, SC! This historical Colonial city boasts a cool downtown with market, Patriot’s Point Navel & Maritime Museum, Fort Sumter, plantations & tours, ghost tours, SC Aquarium, and more! For those of you who write period pieces or horror stories, if you’re not inspired by Charleston… Well, I don’t know what to do with you then!

Been to Charleston? Is there a cool place near your home? Still wondering who the hell are those bands?

Potter Review and Upcoming Blogfests

Now that I’ve seen the entire film, I can finally review it!

Before we get to the review though… (Hey, you waited this long for the final movie, didn’t you?)

Amy at Ramblings of Amy is hosting the Retro Summer Blogfest this Wednesday, July 20. We’re to select an old mix tape or CD and talk about the songs. I intend to amuse you on Wednesday!

Aleta at Fleur de Aleta started the ABC of Your State weekly blogfest. Every Wednesday, post something special about your state that coincides with that week’s letter. This Wednesday it’s “C.” I won’t get to participate every week, but I will have something this Wednesday. Really!

And while remakes annoy me, I am excited about the remake of Godzilla. The screenwriter is David Goyer (Nolan’s Dark Knight movies) and the director is Gareth Edwards, creator/director/editor/special effects guy of Monsters. Do it right guys, and the film will rock!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I caught Part II last Friday and can safely say - it’s the best of the series. The pacing is good and at times the film is thrilling. This one is full of action! The storyline is easy to follow, even for those of us who haven’t read the books. It wraps up the franchise in good form, tying up the loose ends and finally putting an end to Voldemort. Harry finally gets to grow up and show he can kick some butt. (I still don’t buy the relationship between Harry and Ginny, though - zero chemistry between the characters.) Overall, an excellent film and one of the best of the summer.

And I waited to share my thoughts on Part I until after seeing Part II. They are night and day. Part I was slow, plodding, and very frustrating. The storyline was unclear and our great wizard hero spends the whole time running. And hiding in the woods. And talking. More running. More talking in the woods… I’m afraid I found it rather boring. Longer than Part II, the first one would’ve benefited from the shaving of at least thirty to forty-five minutes from the film.

At some point, I do plan to watch the two as a whole. Of course, I’ve been planning an extended edition Lord of the Rings marathon for years, so not sure when that may happen!

All right, Potter fanatics – your turn! What did you think of the movie?

News, Pirates, and FFW - The Query

First, I’ve got some awesome news from around the blogging world!

Okay, this just went live at Dafeenah - questions about writing, getting published, and the next novel. Thanks, Dafeenah - you rock!

Ann Carbine Best’s book, “In The Mirror,” was released this past Tuesday. It’s a powerful memoir and I admire the strength required to tell this story. Go check it out and give Ann a hug!

Wendy Tyler Ryan also had a book release this week – “Fire’s Daughter” Go admire the fireworks at her blog and tell her congratulations!

I’ve been grateful for all the awesome reviews of CassaStar, but this one really surprised me. I’ve followed Aleta’s BLOG for a while now and I had no idea she was reading my book until Monday night when it appeared at the top of my Google Reader. I was stunned! And if you’ve never visited Aleta’s blog, you need to pay her a visit. The only way I can describe it is ‘love.’

Now, I invite your to check out my Fantastic Friday Writers partners, as we have some new members - Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J. D. Brown, Deirdra Eden Coppel, M. Pax at Wistful Nebulae, Jeffrey Beesler at World of the Scribe, Charlene A. Wilson, and Andrew Cooper. I’m sure their take on this subject is better than mine!

Query Letters – Tips and Advice

That topic made me chuckle. Advice? From me? I think the only thing I did right on my query letter was make it short. My synopsis was a whole six lines. Pretty sure I spelled every word correctly as well. Yeah, I can tell I’m really rocking your world with those tips!

However, I can tell you where to go for great feedback! Matthew at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment posts and critiques query letters every week. He provides a full analysis and others add their two cents worth in the comments. Matthew is a sharp dude and his suggestions are awesome. So, if you want some REAL advice, visit his site!

And I’m seeing Pirates of the Caribbean this weekend. Anyone care to come along and keep me amused in case it sucks? I’ll splurge for the Hot Tamales…