Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Alien Romance, and February Movie Preview

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Janet Alcorn, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!

First up – we need co-hosts for March, April, and May! Four to five for March, three to four for April (Natalie, got you down), and four to five for May. If you can co-host, leave a comment or send me an email. If you’ve never co-hosted, it’s fun and easy! Just visit fifteen or so blogs in a range and leave a comment. That way everyone on the list has visitors and feel appreciated.

February 7 question: What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?

I think many will say a constant mention of the author’s books, especially on a blog or Twitter, is a turnoff. It’s like a constant commercial.

But for me, a drone of negativity is even worse. Life is negative enough without adding to it. And it probably wears on the fans, eager to hear what is happening but getting a wave of what’s going wrong, why the writing sucks, etc. instead.

#IWSGPit is back on!

The next #IWSGPit will be March 27, 2024.

10:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Get all the details here.

Alien Romances by L. Diane Wolfe

Alex asked me to list the top movies similar to my latest release, In Darkness: The Alien. It’s a sci-fi, paranormal romance, so I have selected movies that have a romance between a Terran (human) and an alien.

Starman – An alien crashes on earth and takes the form of a woman’s deceased husband, enticing her to help him reach his rendezvous point. The reluctant romance is sweet to watch and the alien so genuine in his innocence.

The Fifth Element – Pure Evil is destroying the universe and only the fifth element can stop it. As the lead discovers, that element is a beautiful woman. This film has some sweet and very funny exchanges and is one of my favorites.

Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars - A series that ran for many years, it ended with a full length movie. Throughout that time, the human lead and alien lead had an on again-off again relationship that did end in love and a baby.

Avatar – A human in an alien avatar on the planet of Pandora falls in love with one of the natives. Since almost everyone has seen it, you know it ends well.

Guardians of the Galaxy – An unlikely team is thrown together and it takes the male human a while to convince the alien woman to accept his advances. A fun series.

John Carter – Transported to Mars, John lands in the middle of a power struggle and war, forming a reluctant alliance with the Martian princess. If you’ve never seen it, this is a fun and exciting sci-fi movie.

Cocoon – Residents of a retirement community discover a revitalizing pool that aliens are using to revive those left behind years before. While it’s a romance that could never be, it’s sweet to see the young man and young alien woman interact.

And there you have it–seven stories involving human-alien romances. Eight if you decide to read In Darkness: The Alien!

In Darkness: The Alien by L. Diane Wolfe
From Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.
Romance-Science Fiction / Science Fiction-Alien Contact / Romance-Paranormal
eBook ISBN 9781939844972 $3.99

Souls shrouded in darkness…
Abducted from her research station, Liz’s life is flung into chaos. Sold into servanthood for her knowledge of planetary mining to a race called the Stren, she discovers her problems go far deeper. She is to marry her alien master, Krist, after enduring a procedure designed to eradicate her emotions.
Desperate, Liz persuades the Stren to grant her the duration of a short voyage to change his perception of emotions. But how can she convince someone lacking feelings of their value? Is there a means of accessing the emotional side of Krist before it's too late?

A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s an editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Find her at website, blog, and the IWSG

Find In Darkness: The Alien at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Everland, Gardners, and Goodreads

February Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for February. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

2 –

Argylle
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella
An introverted spy novelist is drawn into the activities of a sinister underground syndicate.
I know they’re running out of ideas, but socks? Really?

14 –

Madame Web
Director: SJ Clarkson
Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Emma Roberts
Cassandra Webb is a New York City paramedic who starts to show signs of clairvoyance. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she must protect three young women from a mysterious adversary who wants them dead.
Fifty Shades of Spiderman.

16 –

Land of Bad
Director: William Eubank
Stars: Russell Crowe, Milo Ventimiglia Liam Hemsworth
A rookie air force combat controller and a seasoned drone pilot support a Delta Force team as they try to shift a mission gone wrong into a rescue operation.
Maybe the title shouldn’t be so easy for critics to destroy…

What turns you off an author’s site? Can you help co-host? Seen any of the Alien romances or eager to read In Darkness: The Alien? And what movies catch your eye for February?

Top Ten Werewolf Movies and IWSG Day Responses

Today I have a special guest, fellow author and my publisher, L. Diane Wolfe!

Top 10 Werewolf Movies

In celebration of the release of the third novella in my series, In Darkness: The Werewolf, Alex asked me about the top ten werewolf movies. There are dozens of lists, so I decided to go with MY top ten werewolf movies.

Silver Bullet – 1985
In a small town, brutal killings start to plague the close knit community. Marty Coslaw, a paraplegic boy, is convinced the murders are the doings of a werewolf.
This one will always be my favorite. I loved the story and the scenes with the werewolf scared the crap out of me. (I should mention that most werewolf movies scare me. A giant, vicious, furry creature outside? Probably why I never camped in a tent.) And I do own that German movie poster to the right, too.

Brotherhood of the Wolf – 2001
In 18th-century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his Native American friend Mani are sent to the Gevaudan province at the king's behest to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.
This foreign film is so stylish. There are so many things going on besides the beast killing people and quite a twist near the end.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – 2009
An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.
I could’ve filled up most of this list with the Underworld films since they all have lycans in them. This hits all the notes and is bittersweet.

Ginger Snaps – 2000
Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.
This was a big surprise for such a small film. You really care about the two leads.

The Cabin in the Woods – 2011
Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the cabin in the woods.
The werewolf is only in a little bit of this crazy-ass film, but he looks the part!

An American Werewolf in London – 1981
Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.
This one tops most lists as the transformation by Rick Baker was revolutionary at the time. Another bittersweet tale.

What We Do in The Shadows – 2014
Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are struggling with the mundane aspects of modern life, like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
Just a lot of laughs and the vampires are sworn enemies of the werewolves.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow – 2020
Terror grips a small mountain town as bodies are discovered after each full moon. Losing sleep, raising a teenage daughter, and caring for his ailing father, officer Marshall struggles to remind himself there's no such thing as werewolves.
Not perfect, but another quirky film that was tense and enjoyable.

The Howling – 1981
After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.
Another one that tops a lot of lists, this classic is good but best when the werewolves are not clearly seen.

Wolfen – 1981
A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks.
It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but this was a unique take on the legend and very brooding.

So, there you have it – my favorite werewolf movies!

In Darkness: The Werewolf
By L. Diane Wolfe

Souls shrouded in darkness…
On her own in England, Vicki trains at a prestigious fencing school. Face marred by a birthmark, she’s suspicious of Nicholas’ attention. A dinner date reveals his genuine interest and they begin to connect. Nicholas is attractive and she wonders why he’s so shy and reclusive.
Then one evening she happens upon him changing into a lycan. Every werewolf legend is challenged by the gentle, fearful creature before her. Vickie accepts his secret, but Nicholas knows he’s an unpredictable beast. Can they trust love enough to overcome their physical challenges?

Romance/Paranormal/Shifter, Romance/Paranormal, Fantasy/Paranormal
$3.99 eBook ISBN 9781939844927
Links: Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Scribed, and Goodreads

A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Find her: website, blog, and at the IWSG site.

IWSG Day Responses

To say the last IWSG day was overwhelming is an understatement. You guys are amazing! So many touching responses to the question about what the IWSG means to you. Too many to name for sure!

I never envisioned this group would still be going twelve years later. The blog hop is smaller, but that’s all right. More intimate. (And I managed to visit everyone last time!) We also have other IWSG groups for writers to join – Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram. Pus don’t forget there is our newsletter and the main website.

So, thanks to everyone who is a part of the IWSG in some way. I’m excited it means a safe haven for writers for those who participate, because that’s exactly what I wanted A place for all of us insecure writers to hang out!

What are your favorite werewolf films? What did you think of the IWSG responses this month? You guys rock!

Shark Tales, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Review, and Insomnium/Enslaved Concert Review

Shark Tales by L. Diane Wolfe

Alex asked me about shark movies that were similar to my newest release, In Darkness: The Shark. Unfortunately, there aren’t any! My story is a paranormal romance involving a human (Jewels) and a great white shark (Clarence). (And no, there is no beastiality.)

Several shark movies came to mind: The Meg, The Shallows, Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, 47 Meters Down, Open Water. But I decided to go with something closer to my actual story.

Finding Nemo – Nemo happens upon three sharks who recite the phrase “Fish are our friends!” They don’t want to hurt fish, anymore than Clarence wants to hurt Jewels.

Jabberjaw – This was actually a 70’s Saturday morning cartoon, and yes, I watched and loved it. Jabberjaw is an amphibious great white shark and the drummer for a rock group consisting of four teenagers. It’s silly, but it showed a shark as friends with humans.

The other three are documentaries.

Playing With Sharks – Photographer Valerie Taylor becomes a trailblazing advocate for the ocean's most maligned and misunderstood creatures. He shows that sharks are not just evil eating machines.

Sharkwater – Arguing that sharks are misunderstood as dangerous creatures, biologist Rob Stewart travels to the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica and other places where the animals can be found. Another one showing they are more than just eating machines.

Sharks –Oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau documents face-to-face encounters with a wide variety of the ocean's ultimate predators, including white, hammerhead and whale sharks. The son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, he also had a passion for sharks.

Ultimately, the one film that is similar to my story was a 70’s Saturday afternoon TV movie about a boy who befriends a baby nurse shark. (There is also an obscure 1962 movie called Ti-Koyo e il suo pescecane about a boy who makes friends with a shark.) So, I would have to say that 70’s movie influenced my story and set me on a path to show a deep friendship between a shark and a human.

Of course, one difference—Clarence the shark can talk!

In Darkness: The Shark by L. Diane Wolfe
Release date - May 9, 2023
Romance/Paranormal - Fantasy/Paranormal - Fantasy/Romance
eBook ISBN 9781939844910 $3.99
Souls shrouded in darkness…
Focused on her studies and duties at the aquarium, Jewels prefers her solitary life. Burned many times and short on trust, she has more in common with her aquatic friends than the people around her. But she never imagined coming face to face with a shark named Clarence…a shark who talks!
As their friendship grows, Jewels must overcome her deep set mistrust. There are dangers, both in the Australian ocean and on dry land. Can Jewels depend on the great white or will his animal nature betray her?

A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Find Diane at her website, blog, and IWSG

Find In Darkness: The Shark at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Scribed, and Goodreads

Reviews

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
Wasn’t sure what to expect after the last few disappointing Marvel films, and it did have a slow start, but then it gained steam and found its footing.
It was enjoyable and presented many funny moments. Nice also to see some older characters return.
It could’ve used some editing though. There are scenes that would’ve benefited from a cut, bringing the movie down from its two hours and thirty minutes run time.
It also tackles a dark subject – Rocket’s origins. If you are an animal lover or animal experiments upset you, be warned. The villain is one twisted maniac.
And as always, two end credit scenes.
Recommended

Citadel
Streaming on Amazon and starring Mason Kane, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Stanley Tucci.
From the Russo brothers (Marvel movies) comes a spy show that reminds me of Agents of Shield meets James Bond. Only the first two episodes are available as of this review, but so far it’s enjoyable, well-produced, and fun. All the standard spy tropes are front and center, but there are enough fresh ideas to keep it interesting.
We’ll see where it goes!

Concert Review - Insomnium/Enslaved!

It’s so great that live music is back. I didn’t realize how much I missed it. As a fan of Scandinavian metal, I’ve been a huge fan of Insomnium for a long time. They are one of the godfathers of melodic death metal.
And they brought the goods. Playing selections from their new album as well as some of the classics, they had the crowd rocking and moshing through the entire set. The standout tracks for me were While We Sleep, Lilian, and Valediction.
It was great to finally get a chance to see them and I hope it’s not the last time.

Enslaved is a band that I wasn’t too familiar with, so I checked out some of their stuff a couple weeks before the show. They started as a Norwegian black metal band (not really my cup of tea) but have morphed over time into a band that is very progressive.
It’s these aspects that I really enjoyed. They also brought the tight musicianship and even a sense of humor.
Overall, a great night of live music and the heaviest music I will subject my wife to. (She was such a trouper!)

What shark movies do you enjoy and would you like a shark romance book? Did you see the new Guardians or watch Citadel? Fan of Scandinavian metal? What’s the heaviest band you’ve ever seen?

Vampire Movies, Reviews (Katatonia and Willy’s Wonderland) and News, and Box Offices Totals

Vampire Movies by L. Diane Wolfe

Alex asked me about vampire movies.

While none really mirror the setting of my story, I picked a couple fun vampire stories.

Fright Night
The original with Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall is so much fun. “You’re so cool, Brewster!” I fell in love with this film when I saw it in the theater in 1985 and it’s still a fun film.

Hotel Transylvania
There are now four movies and they are so much fun. Sadly, we watched the first one when our cat Spunky had just gone through his cancer surgery. It was snowy that day and with poor Spunky on my husband’s lap, we watched the first movie. It’s not the greatest in the world, but I just love it.

Let the Right One In
The foreign version of this is SO much better than the American version. It hit the right notes and was creepy, moving, and sad.

Dracula (1979)
I’d seen other Dracula films, but this one with Frank Langella really stuck with me. It’s scary and sexy and so atmospheric. It’s a slow and steady pace but such a great film.

The Lost Boys
Cheesy, commercial, and yet it works. The soundtrack is super. I might even enjoy it more than the movie. Some great stars: Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz, Dianne Wiest, Alex Winter, and Jamison Newlander.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Gary Oldman really took on the role. He was sexy and the story was so consuming. I remember a woman coming into the place I worked and seeing my Dracula t-shirt – she said it was so disturbing. I told her that it was a beautiful love story.

Shadow of the Vampire
This is a fictionalized account of what happened during the filming of Nosferatu. Willem Dafoe is Nosferatu and he is spot on! It’s just an odd, quirky film but so fascinating.

Nosferatu
The first and unauthorized version of Dracula and the vampire legend. The vampire is renamed Count Orlok and he is incredibly creepy. This is a must-see for every vampire fan.

Again, none resemble my story at all. Think more of a medieval fantasy quest that just happens to feature vampires. And a bit of a love story!

A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
Find Diane at website, blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads

In Darkness: The Vampire
By L. Diane Wolfe
Romance/Paranormal/Vampires - Fantasy/Paranormal - Fantasy/Romance
eBook ISBN 9781939844903 $3.99

Souls shrouded in darkness…
Stuck working as a barmaid for her demanding father, Anna dreams of adventure. When mysterious strangers enter the bar, she overhears they seek Zancrela, an ancient fortress filled with treasure and a magical library. Taking her chance, she offers to guide them. The conditions: deliver Zancrela or die.
As they journey through the wilderness, she discovers their secret: they are vampires. And most view her as food. One takes interest in her and her heart dares to hope, but it might not be enough to change her fate. Will Anna find Zancrela or become a vampire morsel?

Links: Amazon / iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Scribed / Goodreads

News and Reviews

Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars

Katatonia is one of those rare bands that have endured, and they are celebrating thirty-plus years of awesomeness with what is (for me) their best album. Their roots may be doom/gothic metal, but this album is progressive and full of energy. Every song is on point with great hooks, catchy choruses, and intense grooves. It clocks in at 51 minutes and it’s all meat, no filler. There are eleven tracks and if you ask me to list some favorites, I would say song one through eleven. They’re all great! It’s February and I already have a contender for album of the year. If you like your Scandinavian metal with clean vocals and a singularly unique sound, you must check out this album.
Highly recommended!

Willy’s Wonderland
From the IMDB: A quiet drifter is tricked into a janitorial job at the now condemned Willy's Wonderland. The mundane tasks suddenly become an all-out fight for survival against wave after wave of demonic animatronics.
Yes, you read that right – the animatronics come alive and kill!
This is another case of Cage playing a bat-crap crazy person. (He doesn’t say one word during the entire film.) It’s watchable though and funny in some places.
You’ll think twice about going into a Showbiz Pizza or Chuck E. Cheese’s after this film!
If you are looking for something really unique, give it a try.

Available February 14:
Balance of Love: A Sweet Fantasy Romance (Influenced Book 2) by Patricia Josephine Lynne
Enemies to lovers sweet romance fantasy
Order from all retailers HERE

Box Office

It’s been a while since I did a recap of the current worldwide box office.

Here are the top movies from 2022:

Avatar: The Way of Water - $2,213,093,090
Top Gun: Maverick - $1,488,732,821
Jurassic World: Dominion - $1,001,978,080
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness - $955,775,804
Minions: The Rise of Gru - $939,628,210
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - $842,121,221
The Batman - $770,945,583
Thor: Love and Thunder - $760,928,081

And here are the top grossing films of all time:

1 Avatar - $2,923,706,026,  2009
2 Avengers: Endgame - $2,799,439,100,  2019
3 Titanic - $2,216,990,964,  1997
4 Avatar: The Way of Water - $2,213,093,090,  2022
5 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - $2,071,310,218,  2015

There are now fifty-one movies that have made over a billion dollars! The oldest one in the bunch is Jurassic Park, 1993. Next oldest is Titanic, 1997. Both of their totals are impressive.

Three of the top five are from James Cameron for a take of over seven billion dollars. He’s not hurting!

What vampire films do you like? Picking up Diane’s book? Heard Katatonia or seen Willy’s Wonderland? Seen all of the big box office winners last year or all time?
Enjoy your February and I’ll see you March 1 for the next Insecure Writer’s Support Group post.

Escalation and National Wormhole Week! Plus 300: Rise of an Empire Review, Wormfest, and Ninja News

I am triple posting today! (Not to be confused with triple dipping.) At the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, I posted Where to Advertise Your E-Books – Discounted, Free, and Otherwise and at the A to Z Challenge Blog, I posted A to Z Tips – Making Friends and Building Relationships.

Escalation!

Today is the day! Stephen Tremp is kicking off his Escalation Blog Tour right here. And we’re celebrating with a potluck for the entire population of Blogdom.

Bring a dish cleverly named as a pun. Example. Stephen Tremp is binging Square pies (pi) and Interstellar Cookies. They’re out of this world. You can choose a food inspired by science, sci-fi, a book, movie, or music. But it’s open to any and all food puns. You can leave the food you’re bringing in my comments.

Example: Stephen’s bringing Square Pies (Pi) and Interstellar Cookies. They’re out of this world.

Other examples could be:
Harry Potter jelly beans
Motley Crutons
Souper Salad
You should get married if you cantaloupe
A salt and battery Fish and Chips
Tequila Mockingbird
Locks Stocks and Bagels
Lettuce enjoy this salad
Iggy Popsicles

Use your imagination or Google food puns, then stop by my blog Monday March 10th and leave what you bring in the comments.

Stephen Tremp is the author of the Breakthrough series. Together, Breakthrough, Opening, and Escalation follow the lives of the unlikely participants from innocence to a coming of age through sacrifice, betrayal, passion, lust, unconditional love, and hope. Escalation will appeal to fans of modern-day science fiction, action, horror, and even romance.

Stop by Stephen’s Blog for more information on the Breakthrough series.

To download Escalation: The Adventures of Chase Manhattan CLICK HERE.

Movie Review

300: Rise of an Empire
Blood, boobs, and carnage! And all in the first minute of the movie.
This film overlaps the first one, following Themistokles as he defends Greece against the Persian navy, led by Artemisia.
The first battle, which sets the stage for the Persian invasion later, is very cool. Visually it’s stunning (and best viewed in 3D) but we’ve seen it before. The characters aren’t as compelling, and while there is nothing wrong with the film, it won’t leave much of an impact. (It does feature the angriest sex scene you’ll ever witness.) It will appeal to young men looking for some bloody carnage. (And boobs – don’t forget those.)
Recommended as a rental, although you’ll miss the 3D.

Ninja News

Last week my March preview movie theme was blood, boobs, and carnage. I like to say a special thank you to Heather Gardner for making that the title of her IWSG post! Thank you for the laugh, Heather.

Thanks to everyone who offered to co-host the IWSG in April! I was overwhelmed with offers, so many of them I will save for future months. You guys are so supportive and awesome.

Worlds on Edge, Backworlds 5 by M. Pax is now available! Pick it up here - Amazon US Amazon UK Smashwords


Are you a slow writer? That’s actually a good thing according to Anne R. Allen. (She also had me explain why I’m a slow writer. She says I have a real life!) EJ Wesley quoted her and went over some other good points. Check out their informative posts!

Confessions of a Sex Fiend: Retreat Bound by Rayven Godchild is now available. (a.k.a. Angela Brown )

Epic 2000 Followers Giveaway!

Crossed 2000 GFC followers this weekend! Thanks to everyone who spread the word. This week I will compile all the entries and announce the winners on March 17.

Wormfest!

Today is the Wormfest blogfest, hosted by Stephen Tremp, L. Diane Wolfe, and Alex J. Cavanaugh. (Yes Mark, I just hyperlinked myself.)

The rules:
Name one thing where science advances mankind, and one where technology with unforeseen consequences will go too far and set mankind back. (And they can be the same thing.) Example: De-Extinction, or bringing back extinction species through back breeding, genetic engineering, and cloning. With all the breakthrough discoveries mankind is on the cusp of, are we playing God?

My choice – the cell phone. In particular, the smart phone.

Yes, smart phones are a huge advancement. We can do so much on them – play games, watch movies, listen to music, take photos, and even talk to people. (Yeah, imagine that?) We are always connected and much safer.

However, it sets us back because we are losing the ability to communicate with others. Everyone is too busy looking at their phones to talk to the real people around them. (Adults as well as kids.) And no one needs a brain anymore – the answer is just a Google away on the cell phone.

Am I right or what?

Visit others participating in Wormfest!



What dish are you bringing today? Picking up Escalation? Did you see 300? Are you a slow writer? And what would you say advances and/or sets back mankind?

Be sure to visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and the A to Z Challenge Blog!

Pat and the Cat - Festivals for All! Plus Trivia, Ninja News, and National Wormhole Week - Wormfest!

Today I have for you a special treat
A funky rhyme that can’t be beat.
Because today Pat and his cat
Are here to amuse at my mat!

Please welcome Pat Hatt of It’s Rhyme Time, who will show you a proper rhyme.

Festival Time In Rhyme!

So since the cat is all done the A to Z he figured he'd fill some time with a guest post for the ninja wannabe. But what could he do? Why give festivals to visit for all of you.

Frozen Dead Guy Days.
Catch some sunny rays,
In dead guy land.
Wouldn't that be grand?

Tomato Fight Festival should be on your list.
Then just make sure you are good and pissed.
Take a tomato and whack one in the head.
They could join the above if they turn out good and dead.

Monkey Buffet Festival sounds yummy.
Don't you want monkeys in your tummy?
Could get a neat disease,
Or maybe just fleas.

This one I'd avoid,
Of them the cat is paranoid.
Although Crying Baby Festival may be for you,
Especially if you have one or two.

And if that isn't your cup of tea,
You can grab your baby and flee.
Going to the Baby Jumping Festival around the corner.
Just don't step on little Jack Horner.

I bet some could pass this test.
They have such zest.
They would prove they are the best,
By winning the National Hollerin Contest.

Don't come near my OCD, bud.
I do not want any mud.
But Boryeong Mud Festival could be fun,
If you like that type of thing under your sun.

This one will be all the craze.
You will get there and gaze,
Maybe even graze.
Soaking up Mike The Headless Chicken Days.

I'll skip the Festival of Near Death Experiences this year.
Although I have been there I fear,
The dress code is rather strict.
Bring your own coffin the rules depict.

Ewww ewww ewww.
But that is all the more for you, 
As you go to the Testicle Festival event,
Joining 10,000 people eating 4,000 pounds of bull testicles under a tent.

See, there are lots of other fun things to do, and surprisingly, none of these were made up at my zoo. So if you ever need a good festival at your sea, you can now find one thanks to me. On most though I would pass, especially the last one, as it scares my little rhyming ass.

Enjoy your winter, smash a printer.

Pat is the author of over twenty books and his latest is Fight for the Light, available on Amazon.

He also had a little fun with his IWSG post last week!

(Sorry, it’s not real!)

Trivia Time!

And in honor of Pat and his cat, today’s trivia is all about cats.

1 – How fast can a housecat run?

2 – True or false – cats can drink seawater.

3 – What’s the technical term for a hairball?

4 – How many different sounds do cats make?

5 – Which pet is more popular in North America – the dog or the cat?

Answers on Wednesday!

Ninja News

Thanks everyone for another amazing Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day. I wish I could visit every person on the list, but I do give it my best effort to reach as many as possible.

Bish Denham released her first book last week, Anansi and Company. Congratulations, Bish!!

Cate Masters’ latest is out now, A Wedding at the Blue Moon Café. Congratulations, Cate!

Angela Orlowski-Peart revealed the cover for her next book, Almost Broken Up. Looks great, Angela!

Chasing Anya by JL Campbell

Available today!

Been there. Done that.

Feisty and independent, Anya Davies lives by her own rules. The one thing she’s hell-bent on avoiding is a conventional relationship.

Enter Christophe Mondesir…

J.L. Campbell is a proud Jamaican, who is always on the hunt for story-making material. Find her: Website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Amazon.

Michael di Gesu is hosting the Coffee Hop this Friday!

Visit him for details and your chance to win Columbian coffee.

Wormfest! 

That’s right, it’s back – National Wormhole Week, March 10-16!

Hosted by Stephen Tremp, L. Diane Wolfe, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Kicking off Wormfest week will be the release of Stephen’s third book in the Chase Manhattan trilogy, Escalation.

2014 National Wormhole Week: Name one thing where science advances mankind, and one where technology will go too far and set us back. They can be the same thing or different.

Example:
De-extinction or bringing back extinction species through backbreeding, genetic engineering, and cloning.
With all the breakthrough discoveries mankind is on the cusp of, are we playing God?

Where do you see science moving us forward and where do you see it moving us back? Feel free to quote a movie. (Jurassic Park is a great example.)

Join us below for Wormfest!



Follower of Pat and his rhyming cat? Know any of the cat trivia? Excited about the new releases? And who’s up for Wormfest?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Ninja News, Wednesday Movie Quote, and Get Healthy Bloghop!

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 Lynda Young, Mark Koopmans, and Rachna Chhabria! Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

With my third book coming out in September, I am still debating whether I will continue writing or not. I never planned beyond that first book, and three total is nothing short of a miracle. I’ve enjoyed focusing on my guitar playing and band. (Although this past month, I’ve spent a lot of time keeping up with the Challenge.)

I do have an idea for another book. At the moment, it’s a fairly straightforward space opera with one big twist.

But I know that if I am to grow as a writer, it needs to be a lot more than what I’ve done in the past. It needs to be really different. I’d need to apply a lot of ‘what ifs?’ to the story. Can I make it really unique and pull it off?

I envy those of you who want writing to be a career and are full of ideas. Some of you are so good at twisting stories and writing poetic prose. I’m just not sure that’s my path.

Maybe once summer is here and the blogging world has settled some, I’ll figure it out.

Be sure to visit other participants on the LIST!

Ninja News

Z’s trivia answer – The four main characters in Zombieland were named Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock.

The Linky List for the A to Z Challenge Reflections post will open early Friday morning. Be sure you enter the link to your post after it is up!

Available today!

The Newstead Project
By Melanie Schulz

The Recruiter from Newstead watched the game anxiously…

Paperback and eBook available at Amazon

Wednesday Movie Quote

Post your favorite here or play along on your own blog.

Today’s genre is Action-adventure.

My selection is from Raiders of the Lost Ark:

“You want to talk to God? Let’s go see him together. I’ve got nothing better to do.”

“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?”

Next week – psychological thriller.

The Get Healthy Blog Hop May 29th, 2013!

Stephen Tremp, L. Diane Wolfe, Michael Di Gesu, and myself have teamed up for a Blog Hop that focuses on health. This is an issue with many bloggers who have expressed gaining weight over the holidays and other negative health issues that they are dealing with. Here is a Blog Hop that can help us make 2013 a year that we can help turn the tides!

The Objective: Share with everyone something you have done that affected your health in a positive way. You can share an awesome low cal low fat tasty recipe. Post simple tips to lose weight. Or a testimony on what has helped like joining Weight Watchers. Recommend a routine like P90X or Insanity. Or stretches one can do while sitting in their office chair working or writing. We’re sure people have countless great tips and ideas they would love to share.

Sign up here:


What’s your insecurity today? Ready to compose your Challenge Reflections post? What’s your favorite Action-adventure movie quote? And what healthy tip can you offer to others?

NOW you are free to take a break! I imagine it will be a ghost town here on Thursday…