Big Bang Theory and Sitcoms, Thy Geekdom Comes, Alex’s you Rock Awards, and Movie News

The Big Bang Theory Ends

The Big Bang Theory aired its final episode last week and it gave the series a great and heartfelt finish. It was consistently funny over twelve seasons and showed us the lives of many engaging and interesting (and geeky!) characters. We were sad the watch the finale and yet thankful it ended on a high note. (Unlike Game of Thrones, these writers liked their fans!)

Sitcoms come and go. It’s a rare one that can touch our hearts, make us laugh, and cause us to root for the characters as if they were real people.

So in honor of The Big Bang Theory, I decided to list some of the greatest sitcoms ever. It would definitely be in the top ten. Two of the entries are by people who did not one but two very successful sitcoms. In no particular order - except for number one:

M*A*S*H (best sitcom ever!)
The Office
The Bob Newhart Show/Newhart
WKRP in Cincinatti
Cheers
Hogan’s Heroes
Gilligan’s Island
The Goldbergs
Home Improvement/Last Man Standing
Happy Days
The Andy Griffith Show

Some noteables are missing just because they never jived with me – Friends, Frasier, etc.

What are some of your most favorite sitcoms?

Movie News

JoBlo posted about Mel Gibson’s Wild Bunch remake:
As this year's Cannes Film Festival continues to set up promising deals for some of Hollywood's most in-demand projects, the word around the circuit is that Mel Gibson is enaged in early talks with Michael Fassbender, Jamie Foxx and Peter Dinklage to star in the BRAVEHEART helmer's remake of THE WILD BUNCH. Billed as a contemporary take on director Sam Peckinpah's 1969 Western classic, the film centers on a group of aging outlaws fixin' to ride into the sunset after one last score.

JoBlo also posted the top ten cancelled television shows. I certainly agree with their listing of Firefly and Agent Carter.

Grumpy Cat passed away last week at the age of seven.

Coming May 31 on #DCUniverse - The Swamp Thing

And it’s not movie news, but maybe it could be one day…
New release - Leaves of Fall by Patricia Lynne
Armory was born into a post-apocalyptic world torn apart by war between man and nature. Trees are the enemy. But when she’s kidnapped by nomads and taken far from her home, a tree nymph is the one who comes to her rescue…
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords

Thy Geekdom Come

Available May 25!

Thy Geekdom Come: 42 Fandom-Inspired Devotionals

Do you dream of dragons, understand Klingon, or consider Pocky your favourite snack? Do you wish there was a book that mashed your faith and fandom together? Delving into the worlds of superheroes, science fiction, anime, fantasy, and video games, Thy Geekdom Come—written by a group of authors and pastors from a variety of Christian backgrounds—relates these tales to an almighty, loving God who is ever present in our beloved franchises. From Doctor Who to The Lord of the Rings, stories impact our lives and can point the way to what is holy if we dare to look.

I had the honor of reading this book before it was published, and it’s perfect for the Christian geek!

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads

Alex’s You Rock Awards

Every year I do this, I think that next year will be easier. I’ve done it for years – surely I’ve given it to the people who matter? Then crap – I have double the number on my list. You guys are all my blogger buddies and deserve high accolades for sticking with me over the years. I hope next year making this decision isn’t as difficult.

First, here are the previous recipients of the award, some of whom no longer blog… Arlee, Yvonne, RaShelle, Hannah, Jeffrey, Gail, Rusty, Chuck, George, Jeremy, Matthew, Old Kitty, Ella, M Pax, Roland, Melissa, Robyn, Lynda, Michael, Heather, Stephen, Father Dragon Al, the late Tina, Damyanti, Edi, Karen, Elizabeth, Suze, Susan, Pat, Jo, Michelle, Brandon and Bryan, Christine, Truedessa, Rachna Chhabria, Fundy Blue, Hank Kaykuala, JH Moncrieff, Nilanjana Bos, Liza, Yolanda Renee, Spacer Guy, Elsie Amata, L. Diane Wolfe, Natalie Aguirre, Sandra Cox, and C. Lee McKenzie

And now, this year’s You Rock award winners are…

Elizabeth Seckman Elizabeth is an author and the mother of four boys. You know she is tough! And yet she’s the easiest person I know to get along with. An Insecure Writer’s Support Group admin and fellow Dragon Fellowship member, I’ve really come to know Elizabeth well during the past few years. We could definitely hang. Elizabeth, you rock!

Magic Love Crow The first thing you notice with this young lady is her strength. And her creativity. She paints and draws and designs, and crows are a big part of it. They are her joy, and thus, our joy. I can always count on her for joyous uplifting. Magic Love Crow, you rock!

Birgit Birgit’s blog is BB Creations and she showcases her amazing handmade cards. Every Thursday, she posts her movie picks as per a set theme, and it’s clear she loves cinema. We met so many years ago, and it’s her enthusiasm that keeps me coming back. Birgit, you rock!

JE Oneil JE is the epitome of snark. From her etymology posts to her ‘from the spam files,’ she shows you humor with an attitude. Let’s not forget her Saturday stick figures! She may seem annoyed with the world, but JE is dedicated to her passions and her friends. JE, you rock!

LG Keltner LG is an author and mother of three. (Well, maybe four by the time this is posted!) She’s been a dedicated IWSG member for years and her stories have been the top winner for two of our four anthology contests. But I just like her genuine nature and willingness to give to others. It’s refreshing. LG, you rock!

Chemist Ken Ken is a Harry Potter fan and long suffering writer. He’s also quite proud of his ranking on the IWSG blog list. Ken’s been a dedicated friend for years and his insights into writing are so valuable. Ken, you rock!

Sherry Ellis Last but not least is author Sherri Ellis. She runs two blogs (the second is Gone Gardening) and she’s also an accomplished musician. But more than that, Sherry has heart and a great sense of humor. We need more people like her in the world! Sherry, you rock!

I had so many more on the list! You are all awesome to me.

Did you watch the final episode of The Big Bang Theory? What do you consider to be the greatest sitcoms ever? Ready for a new The Wild Bunch or The Swamp Thing? Picking up They Geekdom Come? And are you following this year’s Alex’s You Rock award recipients?

Next Monday is a holiday here (Memorial Day) and I will be offline all week. Catch you June fifth for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group!

IWSG Anthology Contest Winners and #IWSGPit! Plus Aquaman and Bumblebee Reviews, January Movie Preview, and Hellboy Trailer

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 today are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!

Today’s question - What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

The #IWSGPit Twitter pitch is once a year now – and the next one is on January 15!.
Hundreds of agents and publishers will be checking the hashtag that day.
For rules and list of genre hashtags, visit the #IWSGPit page.
The IWSG Admins will be monitoring the feed. Get those Twitter pitches ready – you have two weeks!

IWSG Anthology Contest Winners

Here are the stories and authors that have been selected for our fourth anthology:

Oddly Suited by LG Keltner
Sea of Sorrows by AV Brown
Behind the Catcher’s Mask by Jennifer Lane
A Diver’s Ball by Angela Brown
Fearless Heart by Deborah Solice
The Dark Charade by CD Gallant-King
The Cog Prince by Elizabeth Mueller
Flower of Ronda by Myles Christensen
Remedy by Chelsea Ballard
Charleston Masquerade by Carrie-Anne Brownian

The top story has the honors of being included in the title. LG Keltner’s story came out on top! The official title of our next anthology – Masquerade: Oddly Suited. Congratulations, LG. (She was also in the top spot for our first anthology, Parallels: Felix Was Here.)

The IWSG Admins spent many hours reading the entries and fourteen were sent to our special judges. We certainly wish to thank them for taking time away from their own work to read the entries:

Elizabeth S. Craig, author
Kelly Van Sant, agent at Red Sofa Literary Agency
Elana Johnson, author
DL Hammons, Write Club founder
S.A. Larsen,author
Kristin Smith, author
Gwen Gardner, author and previous IWSG anthology winner

Look for Masquerade: Oddly Suited late spring!

Aquaman Review

This is the Aquaman movie the ten-year-old me always wanted to see!
Taking place after Justice League, it serves as an origins story.
The director went for it and the result is an incredibly fun film. It delves further into the mythos than I thought it would. It’s a little corny at times, but not in a bad way. Some of it, especially the dialogue, is intended and it works.
The special effects – again, wow! The creatures, the underwater world – just breathtaking.
Jason Momoa is perfect as Aquaman. He brings swagger, humor, and strength to the role.
All of the characters are played well, with standouts from Nicole Kidman as his mother, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, and Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus. I really liked the relationship between Aquaman and Mera, played by Amber Heard.
It also introduced my favorite Aquaman villain, the Black Manta. He will be back!
Just a fun, incredibly entertaining film and a great direction for the DC universe.
Highly recommended!

Bumblebee Review

The past few Transformers movies have been awful, but a new director and a ninety-three percent on Rotten Tomatoes compelled me to go see it. And I’m glad I did!
Directed by Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings), it’s heartfelt and very character driven. It’s a great movie that just happens to have some Transformers in it.
It takes place in the 80’s and is loaded with 80’s songs, but it also feels like it was made in the 80’s. The family elements have a very Steven Spielberg feel. Less is definitely more in this movie and the focus is on the wonder and the mayhem.
If you’ve been burned by the Michael Bay movies, rest assured – this one is nothing like any of those films. It has heart, characters with depth, and a compelling and moving story.
Highly recommended.

January Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for January! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

11 -

Replicas
A scientist becomes obsessed with bringing back his family members who died in a traffic accident.
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Alice Eve, Thomas Middleditch, Emily Alyn Lind
Reminds me of a hundred other science fiction films I’ve already seen…

18 -

Glass
Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Stars: Bruce Willis, Luke Kirby, Anya Taylor-Joy, James McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson
Still not sure of Shyamalan is back although I’m not hoping he will fail…again.

And since there are so few releases in January, let me end with the trailer for the Hellboy reboot:

Are you ready for #IWSGPit? What genre should we tackle next for the IWSG Anthology Contest? (We’ve had science fiction, fantasy, mystery/crime/thriller, and young adult.) Excited about Masquerade: Oddly Suited? Did you catch Aquaman or Bumblebee? What’s the next film on your radar?

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and you're ready for 2019!

RiffTrax: Live Summer Shorts Beach Party! IWSG Best Writer Site! Plus New Releases and Ninja News

RiffTrax Summer Shorts Beach Party

Another fun show!

Mike, Kevin, and Bill kicked off the party with a short involving street safety with a raccoon that everyone kept calling a bear. This short was actually funded by the Department of Transportation. Scary!

Bridget and Mary Jo tackled one about a griper while Trace and Frank got one about office etiquette.

Special guest Paul F. Tompkins joined the guys for one about magic. No wait, it was about 1961 cars. No, it was about futuristic appliances. I still have no idea what it was about.

The street safety raccoon was outdone by a short on rhythmic ball skills featuring a group of kids. Drop-catch. Drop-catch. Drop-catch. Those poor kids were craving a history test after that ordeal.

The grand finale was with everyone and possibly the oddest short/story/thing they’ve ever done. It was about bags. A guy steals two burlap bags and throws them in his pickup only to have them come to life and run off. Or rather hop. Picture a bag race with the person completely inside the bag. He chases them all over town. Really! You’ll have to catch the hilarity when it’s available for purchase.

Not the funniest one I’ve seen, and Paul seemed a bit out of his element, but still a thousand times better than suffering through a Transformers movie.

Now for some pre-show screen shots: 

Don't miss RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors on August 17!

IWSG Best Website for Writers!

The big news today – the Insecure Writers Support Group site made the Writer’s Digest 19th Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers!


This is huge – and it’s been my goal with the site ever since we launched it almost four years ago.


Big thanks to all of you who have supported the group and its site over the years. We couldn’t have done it without you!

New Book Releases

Purr Empire by Pat Hatt
Cassie, Orlin and their crazy human Pat are once again up to their eyeballs in scat. In the fifth go around, walking, talking animals are found. Duke Drazin does not think much of any of it. He's also back to throw a fit. Who's fault is it this time? Why are humans no longer in their prime? All that and answers you never want to know surely will show.
Find it at Amazon

A Glowworm by Tonja Drecker
This is a UBook. It plays out, sentence by sentence, on a video, while music, which has been composed specifically for the book, plays in the background to help create the right atmosphere.
Pick it up at Black and White Publishing Company.

Forbidden by Feather Stone
Suspense/thriller, mystery, terrorism
Gunfire echoes within the walls of a Middle East police compound...
Find it on Amazon

Ninja News

Brandon and Bryan, those guys from A Beer for the Shower, have their own comic channel. Each week, something new to make you laugh.
Check it out on Tapas.

The latest issue of Six Strings is out.
Featuring interviews with composer Paul E. Francis, actress Dawn Cody, Actress Biana Allaine, director Amarish Olson, and much, much more.
Download your free copy here.

Stephen Tremp is putting together a special project that will launch very soon.
It’s a three eight-lesson courses to help writers and entrepreneurs to launch or relaunch their product service or cause.
Find out more at The Launching Pad

LG Keltner is part of an upcoming anthology.
The 2018 Young Explorer's Adventure Guide is composed of 24 stories written for middle grade readers.
The publisher, Dreaming Robot Press, just launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with publication costs. One thing they aim to do is donate copies of the book to libraries, and the Kickstarter helps make that possible.
Learn more about the Kickstarter here.

Submissions are open for The IWSG Guide to Writing for Profit. What are we looking for? Anything writing related – books, journalism, articles, whatever. What have you tried that was successful? What have you tried that didn’t result in sales or making money? We need to know what doesn’t work as well! Submissions are open to all IWSG members – monthly blog post members, Facebook, and Goodreads. Details here.

Finally, CassaStorm will be my publisher’s free audio giveaway book on Twitter from June 29 through July 5. Visit their Twitter and click the pinned Tweet to enter.

Anyone catch the RiffTrax shorts special? Do riffing Doctor Who sound more enticing? Picking up some new books? Following Brandon and Bryan on Tapas? Pick up Six Strings – it’s free. And are you working on your submission for the IWSG free guide? Do it!

See you next Wednesday, July 5, for IWSG post day!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group and IWSG Twitter Pitch! Plus March Movie Preview, New IWSG Swag, New Releases, and Ninja News

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 Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!


March Question - Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?

That one’s easy – yes! I wrote a story as a young teen and it sat in a drawer for thirty years. When I found it again, I decided the characters and concept had merit so I completely rewrote it.
Did it work out? That story became my first published novel, CassaStar, and went on to become an Amazon best seller in science fiction, selling tens of thousands of copies.
So yeah, it worked out! Which is why I tell everyone not to give up on those old manuscripts.

Now for a couple big announcements:

The IWSG is proud to present the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Twitter Pitch Party!

Hashtag #IWSGPit

July 27, 2017, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time

All writers and authors are invited to participate in our very first Twitter Pitch. Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On July 27, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query. Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.

We invite all of you to join us that day! Authors with a publisher or agent, please ask if they would like to participate or pass along their contact information to the IWSG. We intend for this to be a twice yearly event, July and January, giving our members a great opportunity for publication. Help us spread the word!

New Swag!

Check out the IWSG Swag page for some cool new stuff, including mugs and erasers.

The tiny profit we make from sales of IWSG swag goes to fund opportunities to make the IWSG better for everyone and extend our reach. We recently created our own business cards and have another amazing option that will provide benefits to our members as well.


Last but not least, we need co-hosts for April, May, and June. Co-hosting means a lot more visitors to your site that day and is even more fun that just posting. Please leave a comment if you can help.

Ninja News

Please support the next IWSG anthology, Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life, by signing up for the Thunderclap campaign.
The anthology authors are working hard to market the book. They’ve also set up a Hero Lost website, covering everything from the theme and genre to the stories and authors.

LX Cain is giving away two audio books of her novel, Bloodwalker.
See her site for details.

New Releases:

Galactic Outlaws III: The Outlaw's Savior by Susan Kelley/Gourley
Find it at New Concepts Publishing

Monsters in Our Wake by JH Moncrieff
Find it on Amazon

White Witch Magic by Megan Morgan
Kentucky Haints #2
Find it at Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble

Adam's Apple and the Infinite Regress by LG Keltner
Read it for free at Smashwords and Wattpad

Dazzle Me by Juliana Haygert
Find it on Amazon

March Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for March! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

3 –

Logan
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
Director: James Mangold
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook
Jackman’s last chance to be in a Wolverine film that doesn’t suck…

The Shack
A grieving man receives a mysterious, personal invitation to meet with God at a place called "The Shack."
Director: Stuart Hazeldine
Stars: Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Tim McGraw, Radha Mitchell
A man goes to meet God at The Shack only to discover it’s Shaquille O'Neal.





10 –

Kong: Skull Island
A team of explorers and soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, including the mythic Kong.
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Stars: Brie Larson, Tian Jing, Tom Hiddleston, Corey Hawkins
No snark, just excitement. Giant, furry ape excitement!





17 –

Beauty and the Beast
An adaptation of the Disney fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman who fall in love.
Director: Bill Condon
Stars: Dan Stevens, Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Ewan McGregor
The touching true story of Donald and Melania Trump.
(Got to throw Trump haters a bone now and then!)



24 –

Life 
An international space crew discovers life on Mars.
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Rebecca Ferguson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada
Looks like a great science fiction film with a solid cast. I guess you could say I am pro-Life.




31 –

Ghost in the Shell
A cyborg policewoman attempts to bring down a nefarious computer hacker.
Director: Rupert Sanders
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Michael Pitt, Michael Wincott, Pilou Asbæk
Two hours of Johansson running around in skin tight outfit? Plot optional!

What are your insecurities today? Have you ever reworked an old manuscript? Joining us for our first Twitter pitch? Picking up some new swag? Picking up some new books? And what movies catch your attention this month?

Next Monday – MST3K returns!!