RiffTrax: Live – Mothra! Plus Animated Firefly Trailer, Writing Inspiration with Mark Noce, and Ninja News

I’m a guest at Parallels site on Wednesday. My topic - At the Heart of What If? (Post is live now!)

RiffTrax Live – Mothra

RiffTrax: Live put on another great show!

Japanese monster movies are just ripe for the picking, so there were lots of great lines.


And of course, the pre-movie show was just as good:

Between Two Fires and Inspiration

Thanks Alex for having me here! My debut novel Between Two Fires comes out tomorrow (August 23rd) with St. Martin’s Press, and I’m super excited to share it with all of you! It’s a medieval Welsh story of a young woman named Branwen who must marry a man she’s never met in order to save her people. I know what you’re thinking. Uh, why Mark are you writing a story about a sixteen-year-old girl set in medieval Wales? Bear with me.

I’ve always been inspired by strong heroines, both in fiction and in my own life. What really drew me to writing this story was also the fun of blending fantasy elements within a historical fiction framework, much like The Mists of Avalon, The Witch’s Daughter, and Wolfskin. I think I hit the mark square on the head with that one, because two of those bestselling authors have given me really positive quotes after reading my book (and well the first one’s no longer with us, so you can’t blame me for not getting her approval). Needless to say, the entire work was definitely a labor of love.

I’ve already got the sequel in the publisher’s hands, and have a book tour I’m kicking off for the next few months where I’ll be signing and talking about my novel in person. Thanks again Alex for having me on your site today, and to all you Ninjas out there keep reading and keep writing!

Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales’ last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King…

Release Date: August 23, 2016
Find Between Two Fires at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Indie Bound, and Thomas Duanne Books
Find Mark at website, blog, Facebook, Goodreads, LinkedIn and Google+

Ninja News

The next post date for the IWSG is September 7. The question of the month - How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

Don’t forget that’s also the day we announce all the details and the judges for this year’s IWSG Anthology Contest!

The Storytime Blog Hop is scheduled for October 27.
See Juneta Key’s site for all the details.

New releases:

Dragons of the Barbary Coast by Roland Yeomans

Find it on Amazon

Wordsplash Hodgepodge by Joanne Faries

Find it on Amazon

Breaking Through (Breaking #3) by Juliana Haygert
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes
Breaking Free (#1) is FREE this week!

Animated Firefly Trailer

My buddy Liz at Laws of Gravity featured this animated Firefly trailer last week, and it’s too cool not to share.

Here’s what Blastr had to say about it:
Artist Stephen Byrne has put together a teaser trailer for a Firefly animated series we really, really wish existed. The art looks great, and he does an awesome job of getting the look of the world and the characters just right. All your favorites are here, and there’s even a heartbreaking little cameo from Wash (R.I.P.). Byrne has been teasing looks at his little art project the past few years, but this is by far the most complete look he’s offered up yet.

Yeah, don’t you wish that was real…?

Have you been to a RiffTrax: Live show? What movie would you like to see them riff? What inspires your stories? Anyone chomping at the bit to know the theme for this year’s IWSG Anthology Contest? And would you watch an animated Firefly show?

Don’t forget to visit the Parallels site!

I will be on vacation Thursday through Sunday, so I’ll be responding to emails and replying to comments only those days.

MI: Rogue Nation Review, Movie News, Battle of the Banned, Question of the Month, New Releases, and Ninja News!

Movie Review

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
I’ve seen three great films this summer – and now I can add this one.
The movie is entertaining from start to finish.
It’s funny with great action sequences and a compelling storyline. I’d say this is my second favorite entry in the series, right behind Ghost Protocol.
There is a great balance of characters. Renner brings swagger to his role, and Pegg brings the humor. (Along with some of the best lines in the film.) Add in Rhames with his old school attitude plus Cruise, and it’s a great combination.
Best way to describe the direction the franchise has taken with the last few films – James Bond meets Fast and Furious, with high tech gadgets and crazy, over the top action sequences.
Highly recommended!

Movie News

According to JoBlo, Games of Thrones will last for at least eight seasons.

Also on JoBlo – coming soon, a Nosferatu remake:
Director Robert Eggers, who won the directing prize at Sundance for THE WITCH, is tackling a remake of F.W. Murnau's silent classic, NOSFERATU, for Studio 8. The production company is best known for the indies BEGINNERS and AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS. There is no word on how direct of a remake this version of the story will be but the untitled film is described as a visceral adaptation.
NOSFERATU has been remade previously by Werner Herzog with Klaus Kinski in the lead as well as a "true story" version titled SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE with Willem Dafoe as NOSFERATU actor Max Shrek and John Malkovich as Murnau. The striking make-up design of Shrek's Count Orlof has inspired numerous vampire characters, especially Stephen King's creature in SALEM'S LOT.

And last week, SyFy’s makeup competition show, Face Off, started a new season!

Ninja News

The Geek Twins shared some great news - About.com has asked me to head up their brand new Superman site. It's going to be your one stop shop for the biggest superman news and information. Way to go, guys!

Madilyn Quinn at Novel Brews posted a large list of Flash Fiction and Drabble challenges and weekly contests – check it out!

Melissa Maygrove posted an excellent to do list for self-publishers – check it out HERE

Roland Yeomans posted about Lester Dent’s Secret to Master Plots. (He wrote over a hundred and fifty Doc Savage novels.)

Samantha Redstreake Geary announced this epic project:
Join us on a journey through Uncharted, a visionary reimagining of Greek mythology and ancient history, where the mystery behind the world’s most extraordinary discovery comes to life through the collaborative efforts of graphic designer, Koke Núñez Gómez, recording artist, Aeralie Brighton, and author Samantha Redstreake Geary, under the influence of Immediate Music & Imperativa Records‘ This Is Epic Music Vol. 1.
Fans will have the opportunity to WIN signed copies of This Is Epic Music Vol. 1! Be the first to answer our contest questions correctly and we’ll send you a signed album via co-founder & president of Immediate Music, award-winning composer, Yoav Goren.
3 Chapters + 3 Contest Questions = 3 chances to WIN signed albums

New Releases

Athletic Antics by Joanne Faries

She stood, frozen, at the edge of the diving board. At an early age, Joanne Faries demonstrated absolutely no athletic ability. In Athletic Antics, her latest humorous memoir, the author describes riding her bicycle into the back of a car; climbing trees and sliding (not on purpose) down them scraping every inch of her body; plus surviving the duress of junior high field hockey, lacrosse, and volleyball.

Find Athletic Antics on Amazon

Veritas, Shadow of the Rose: Book Two by M.L. Chesley

Cosmic Seasoning by L.G. Keltner

Free on Smashwords

Battle of the Banned

I am participating in Shady Del Knight’s Battle of the Banned. (Yes, Banned, not Band.) It takes place the first Monday of every month.

The Sweet’s songs have been covered multiple times, probably more than just about any other band. I decided to select 1973’s Ballroom Blitz and see what I could find. I knew Krokus had recorded it, and I found two other bands I liked. So today, you get three versions! You know the drill – pick your favorite.

Krokus from The Blitz:


The Offspring from their demo tape:


Nuclear Assault from Out of Order:

Question of the Month

Hosted by Michael at A Life Examined.

“If your parent or child committed a major crime, would you turn them in?”

It would depend on the crime. I wouldn’t turn my father in for jaywalking. Or speeding.

But if that person killed someone, yes, I’d be morally obligated to turn them in.

Did you catch Mission Impossible this weekend? Think we need another Nosferatu movie? Watching Face Off? Any news or new releases that catch your attention? Which version of Ballroom Blitz is your favorite? And what would you do if someone you loved committed a major crime…?

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