Series and Movie Reviews, Movie Trailers and News, and New Books

Series/Movie Reviews and News

Squid Game
From the IMDB: Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes. A survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake.
A South Korean series set in current time, Squid Game tells a very dystopian story.
The first season took many twists and turns I was not expecting, some of them actually pleasant.
It is very dark and extremely violent. Some of the games are tough to watch.
But what makes it engaging are the characters, especially the lead, Lee Jung-jae. They bring humanity to the cold-hearted games.
If you can handle the violence, I highly recommend it.

What We Do in the Shadows
From the IMDB: A look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of three vampires, who've lived together for over 100 years, on Staten Island.
Season three just dropped and it’s just as funny as ever.
Nadja, Laszlo, Nandor, and Colin, along with Guillermo, now promoted from servant to guardian, continue to bungle their way through situations with often hilarious results. Nandor and Nadja are now head of the Vampiric Counsel – of course taking turns and undoing each other’s work.
This might be the dumbest collection of vampires ever to hit the screen. It makes for a very silly and light-hearted show.
This series is based on the original movie and still written by creator Jemaine Clement. (He’s also an actor – look for him in the upcoming Avatar films.)
If you’ve never watched this mockumentary series, it’s a must – highly recommended!

News of the World
From the IMDB: A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.
It’s a very simple and sometimes slow-paced story. The glue is the relationship between Hanks and Zengel. Two lost souls who need each other.
There are some intense action scenes, but it’s the bond between the two that carries the film.
Recommended!

DC Fandome debuted a teaser trailer and a teaser feature of Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson, coming out next year:



And a teaser/trailer of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom:

Denis Villeneuve's Dune comes out in theaters October 22 – but it will release one day earlier on HBO Max!
Like all Warner Bros. releases this year, it will appear in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously. This might hurt its theatrical release even as it pleases those who still don’t want to gather in a crowded theater.
I plan on seeing it in the theater and will probably watch it one or two more times on HBO Max.

New Books!

The Life and Times Of Color by HR Sinclair
This book is for people who love color, history, trivia, and superstitions. I’ve collected bits of information on color ideas around the world, added a color thesaurus, and color descriptors as well as places and things that are predominantly one color that a writer could drop into a scene if they’re looking for a pop of color. But this is not just for writers, it’s for everyone who’s fascinated with color.
Read more about the book here
Universal purchase links here

Write Well, featuring Rosemary Johnson
A handbook for Christian writers from the Association of Christian Writers.
Find it at their site

Long-time blogger friend, Katherine’s Corner, is hosting Autumn on a Tray this November 6. 

Visit her site for details.

Seen either series or the movie? Looking forward to the DC movies next year? Seeing Dune in the theater? Picking up either book?
Don’t forget – October 26 is RiffTrax: Live – Amityville Horror 4, live in theaters!
See you November 3 for the IWSG post.
Almost forgot - Books Forward is featuring the IWSG today and an interview with me about the group!

Live RiffTrax Experience, How I Miss You Blogfest, Writing a Series, Who’s Your Hero, Foodie Blog Hop, and Ninja News

Riff Trax Live!

Worth every penny! (That’s Bill and Kevin in the photo.)

For those who wonder – what is RiffTrax? – here is the skinny:

Twenty-four years ago, Mystery Science Theater 3000 started, and it was a man and two robots making fun of bad movies. (You could see their silhouettes in the bottom corner.) When MST3K ended its very long run, the three guys started RiffTrax. They recorded the same snarky dialogue and jokes for hundreds of movies, good or bad. You download their riff and synch it up to the actual movie – and then sit back and laugh your ass off.

They started doing live performances, and those were broadcast to theaters across the USA. (With humorous slides shown beforehand, like the two here.) It grew to be huge, and they now do multiple shows a year. (Next one is December 4.) This past showing was a big deal because they filmed it LIVE in Durham, NC. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to see Mike, Kevin, and Bill in person, my wife and I hit the road and headed north.

It was an incredible experience! Nothing like being in a crowd of ‘your peeps.’ (Many came in costume.) They tackled the movie Anaconda, and it wasn’t difficult to parody. Folks, it was cheesy when it came out, but now it looks AWFUL. There is a scene where the waterfall is flowing UP. And the snake screams. Really! It was bad…

If RiffTrax comes near you, go!!

Five Tips For Writing A Series by Joy Campbell

Alex, many thanks for hosting me on the Island Adventure Romance tour.

I stumbled into writing this series because of a quirky secondary character with an interesting history. The books in the Island Adventure Romance Series are a combination of action, adventure and romance and can be read in any order. I've enjoyed writing these stories that have been described as well-written and compelling, with vibrant characters.

What are some important considerations when writing a series?

1. Compelling Characters - Create unique characters that readers will remember long after they finish reading. This can be done through character traits, interesting quirks or personal habits.

2. Meaningful Journeys - Give your characters goals that make their risk taking worthwhile. Their journey must result in growth at the end of the novel.

3. Unique Challenges - Each main character should be given a set of challenges that make their story distinct.

4. Return Visits - Readers like to catch up with characters from other books, so arrange little drop-ins to keep your fans updated on their favourite individuals.

5. Diminishing returns - Know when you hit the point where it's time to close a series. Don't get caught up in making money and forget good sense. Start a new book or series when there are no stories left to tell in the current one.

You may enter to win a ten dollar ($10.00) Amazon voucher or an e-copy of the entire Island Adventure Romance collection on the Rafflecopter HERE.

J.L. Campbell lives in Jamaica and writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She also writes non-fiction and is a certified editor. Visit her website or her Amazon page. She's enjoys good company, so feel free to follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.

Who’s Your Hero Blogfest

Hosted by Joy Campbell

I have many heroes.
My wife, who continues to prod me when I want to give up. My parents, who set such a great example of a solid marriage. My blogger friends, who’ve accomplished some amazing things. The IWSG Admins and A to Z Challenge Co-Hosts, who tackle their responsibilities with gusto.

And of course my greatest hero, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m grateful to have a relationship with someone who was willing to die for me despite my imperfection. He’s my peace and steadfast rock. I’ll always fall short, but fortunately He always forgives me.

Who is your hero?

Foodie Blog Hop

Hosted by Holly Sinclair

She is celebrating the end of her tour with her cookbooks and wanted us to post about food. I could go on about how much I dig Thai food or post my favorite Chinese recipe, but I thought I’d just let you know what Mini-Alex Likes best:

Ninja News

And the winner of the Trick or Treat Bloghop is… Christine Rains!
Congratulations!

Charity Bradford has started a Kickstarter campaign for her next book.
I've decided to self-publish my latest novel FADE INTO ME. This book really highlights my growth as a writer. It's also the first book where I feel I let myself "out of the box." Before I send this book into the world, I want to make sure it's the best it can be. This means hiring a professional editor and typesetter. I'm not here to ask you to back me, but can you help me spread the word about my Kickstarter project? Finding people interested in this story is what will make the difference.
To donate, go HERE

Out now - What Time Is the Tea Kettle? By Andrew Leon

Just released - Nobody Knows (Razes Hell Book 1) by Kyra Lennon
Find it pn Amazon,Amazon UK, and Goodreads

How I Miss You Blogfest!

It’s that time of year again! Hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish
The bloggers you miss and the ones you would miss.
List one to three bloggers you really miss.
List one to three bloggers you would really miss if they stopped blogging.
And then go let them know!

Join us November 24!



Who wants to go see RiffTrax now? Ready to write a series? Who is your hero? Favorite food? And what bloggers do you miss…?

Don’t forget Wednesday is Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day!

A to Z Survival Tips, Ninja News, Mini-Alex and CassaStorm, and Revealing my Challenge Theme!

The A to Z Challenge starts Monday! Most of you have received a reminder email with suggestions and guidelines, but here’s a few more survival tips.

We recommend short posts. How short? Under five hundred at least, but two – four hundred is even better. Participants will be expecting shorter posts.

Make sure word verification is off. You as the blog owner can’t see it, so go into your settings and make sure it’s not on. For Blogger, it’s the default setting, so it may be on without your knowledge.

Don’t burn out the first week! Pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

If you miss a day, don’t panic. Start back up the next day with the corresponding letter.

We have thirteen hosts, each with minions, who will be patrolling the list and removing ad sites, non-participants, and bad links. We will do the best we can to keep the list clean. (And special thanks again to my Ninja Minions, Al Diaz at Father Dragon Writes, Baygirl at That Girl Around the Bay, Ciara Knight, Elise Fallson, Heather Gardner at The Waiting is the Hardest Part, JL Campbell at The Character Depot, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Michelle at Writer-In-Transit.)

We will be doing a reflections post again this year, where you get to share your thoughts about the Challenge. The Linky List for that will open May 3 and run for a week.

Make new friends and have fun!

Ninja News

DL Hammons is giving away a $75 Amazon gift card during the Challenge! See his site for details.

Juliana Haygert’s book, Destiny Gift, is available Monday!!

Holly is looking for critique partners. If you write urban fantasy and can help, please visit her site.

She hasn’t blogged in a while, but those of you who remember the wonderful Laila Knight, she could really use your prayer. She just went through major surgery.

And special prayers for my good friend Gail - her husband went to the hospital Thursday and they are talking heart transplant.

Don’t forget the Insecure Writer’s Support Group will be posting next Wednesday, April 3, as scheduled.

Mini-Alex and CassaStorm Part Two

His scarf arrived!

And in addition to the scarf, Deniz sent one of her husband’s band’s CDs. Thank you, Deniz!!! That was so thoughtful. I really appreciate both gifts.

I also meant to take a picture of the back of the CassaStorm review copy, because I thought it was really cool. It’s a ground view of the launch pads on the front cover.

My A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

For the past two years, my theme has been to feature my blogger buddies. I wanted to do something a little different this year, and came up with a fun idea. And then another. And then another. (Needless to say, I’m still working on my posts! But they are mostly done.) But I hope it’s something all of you can enjoy.

So, taking a deep breath and praying I can pull this off:

My theme for the A to Z Challenge is Favorite Movies, Bloggers, and Music! I’ll name a favorite movie that corresponds with the letter, and then select a character from the film. I will then name a favorite blogger who reminds me of that character, and then dedicate a song to him. (Also corresponding with the alphabet.) I’ll wrap it all up with trivia and/or fun facts about the movie, the blogger, or the music!

Whew! Yes, I got a little over-ambitious with this year’s theme. But it’s been fun selecting all of those items, and I tried to select bloggers I haven’t featured in the past two Challenges. Some of the selections will be funny and some serious, but every person was chosen with care. The only bummer is that I had about seventy on the list and there are just twenty-six letters. I wish I could’ve named all of you, so if I don’t mention you next month, please don’t be offended.

Who did I choose? Some of you will be really surprised! You’ll have to check every day next month to find out who’s been featured.

But wait, there’s more!!

My publisher has agreed to give out two copies of CassaStorm to two lucky commenters next month. US and Canada will receive print books and overseas will receive eBooks. One comment per day. Each comment is one entry except – the first and one hundredth comments on each day will receive ten entries!

So there you go – movies, bloggers, music, trivia, and a giveaway! My blog just might explode…

Ready for the Challenge? Eager to win either at DL’s or here? Need an urban fantasy critique partner? Think Mini-Alex is a bigger celebrity than me? And do you think I’m going to pull off my over-ambitious Challenge theme…?
Have a blessed Easter and see you Monday!!