RiffTrax Live – Santa and Ice Cream Bunny Nightmare! Plus Caroling Tips from LG Keltner, Ex Machina Review, Question of the Month, and Ninja News

Today L.G. Keltner gives us some snarky caroling tips, but first…

RiffTrax: Live – Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny

If you could project all the random thoughts inside a mental facility onto a screen, you’d come up with Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny.

The story has so little substance that they had to insert a story (told by Santa to the kids) of Jack and the Beanstalk into the middle of the film. It was really bad, but ironically better than the actual movie.

The film was so short, they had to insert THREE shorts to riff before it began. (The third one was hilarious.)

Overall, Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny was the most I’ve laughed at a movie in a very long time. Probably one of RiffTrax’s best! And it just might rival Manos: Hands of Fate for the worst film ever made…

There is an encore showing – go HERE to see if it’s playing in a theater near you.

Some pre-show screenshots:

Caroling Tips from Author L.G. Keltner

Thanks for hosting me, Alex! It’s an honor to be here.

Some people love Christmas caroling. Others not so much. The world should be grateful that I don’t take part in this tradition, because my voice is terrible.

For those of you who are going to be caroling this holiday season, I have a few tips for making the experience an enjoyable one.

Tip #1: If you don’t like to sing, haul a portable sound system with you. Put “Carol of the Bells” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra on repeat. It rocks, and there’s no singing involved.

Tip #2: Bring a kazoo. No one can resist the charm of a plastic kazoo, and they’re fun to play. Plus they come in pretty colors.

Tip #3: Bring a drum and do a freestyle solo during “The Little Drummer Boy.”

Tip #4: Wear an ugly 3D Christmas sweater. Believe me, such things exist, and they’ll grab attention.

Tip #5: Make up funny lyrics in your head. Just don’t sing them aloud unless you like living on the wild side. That might get you into trouble.

Now enjoy an excerpt from Self-Help 101 or: How I Learned to Take Over the World Through Tolerating My Family.
* * *
I finally pulled away, gulping air as I tried to muster a cool response. “I had to shut you up. I couldn’t risk you saying that it was a mistake, because then my whole wanting-my-first-kiss-to-be-something-the-other-person-wanted thing would’ve been ruined . . . then, um, I would have had to push you in a snowdrift.”
“So you kissed me for my own good?” Seth asked breathlessly.
I nodded.
“That was considerate of you.”
* * *

Find Self-Help 101 at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Createspace, and Goodreads
She’s also hosting a giveaway – visit her blog to enter.

Movie Review

Ex Machina
A young programmer is chosen to participate in a test with a female A.I. built by an eccentric millionaire.
It’s not action science fiction – this is a thought-provoking flick. But it’s so fascinating that you won’t be bored. At all.
This film poses the big questions about self-awareness versus clever and manipulative programming. It’s a little unsettling but not enough to make you stop watching.
Everyone is excellent in their role. Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasely in Harry Potter) is the star and Oscar Isaac plays Nathan, the eccentric. Alicia Vikander was scary perfect in the role of Eva, the A.I.
If you’re a patient viewer and can stand a quiet, thought-provoking film, you will find this movie fascinating.
Definitely recommended.

Ninja News

Thanks again to all participants and co-hosts for a successful Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day.

I do my best to get to as many participants as possible, but I know I can’t visit everyone. (One of the reasons I have new co-hosts every month.) I also try to visit my blogger buddies not involved in IWSG. Altogether, I visit about two hundred blogs on IWSG Wednesday. I visit a few more participants on Thursday and Friday, but I’ll be the first to admit, by that point I am beat.
So if you don’t see me for your regular posting those days, please forgive me.

Elizabeth at Liz’s Random Ponderings is hosting a blogfest – the Christmas Joy Blog Hop – on December 14.
Join us!

Just Released:

Fright Before Christmas: 13 Tales of Holiday Horrors
Featuring stories by Medeia Sharif and Laura Pauling
Find it on Amazon

The Art of Losing: A Thinkerbeat Anthology
Featuring a story by Patsy Collins
Find it on Amazon

Question of the Month

Hosted by Michael at A Life Examined.

Which one social convention would you get rid of? 

I’d like to get rid of the trending political correctness to the extreme and absurd.

At this rate, all jokes will soon be considered taboo. People are way too sensitive. Just stating a difference of opinion is perceived as hateful.

Folks, it’s all right to agree to disagree if at the end of the day, we still respect the other person. We all have different morals, values, standards, and opinions, and that’s all right.

What’s your best caroling tip? Enjoy the IWSG last week? Have you seen Ex Machina? Joining us for the bloghop? What social convention would you get rid of? And did you see Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny last week? And if not, do you want to see RiffTrax take on one of the worst films ever…?

I'll be off the grid from Thursday through the weekend this week. My last post of the year will be next Monday – stop by for some Christmas and geeky fun!

Invasion of the B Movies! Plus Insomnium Album Review and Ninja News

Insomnium – Shadows of the Dying Sun

This Finnish, melodic death metal band just gets better and better. I was a huge fan of their last album, One For Sorrow. This one is definitely a progression of their music, and expertly balanced beautiful and brutal.

I’d list the standout tracks, but there are too many to mention. The music is soaring and epic. The singing wavers between growling, screaming, and singing, but it never overpowers the music.

These guys are HUGE in Finland, and their albums shoot to the top of the charts every time.

If you want more from your metal, check out Insomnium!

Ninja News

The Awesome Challenge Themes feature begins at the A to Z Blog today. Kicking it off is David Powers King, who had an awesome music theme.

The A to Z Road Trip has begun! If you didn’t get time to visit everyone on the list (yeah, did anyone?) then this is your chance to explore at your leisure. Visit the A to Z Blog for details and to sign up.

I found out that the Goodreads Community Space Opera Fans selected CassaFire for their book of the month in May! My thanks to the group and hope you enjoy it.

And Tara Tyler gave me a special award – thanks, Tara!

Out today!

Come Back by Melissa Maygrove
Western Historical Romance

Sometimes a single choice alters the course of a person’s life forever.

Buy it at Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Available now!

Mamas Write: 29 Tales of Truth, Wit, and Grit

Twenty-four moms (and one dad) explore how parenting shapes them as writers, how they make time to write, how they record memorable parenting moments, and more. (Including Claire Hennessy!)

Visit Write On Mamas for more information about the book and the group!

Prom Impossible
By Laura Pauling

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Cover Reveals!

Shadow Warrior
Book II in the steampunk series, The Mechanica Wars
By Jay Noel
Release date – August 4, 2014

The agony of a failed quest haunts Kanze Zenjiro, but the betrayal by those he once trusted has turned his world upside down…

Champion in Flight
By Tyrean Martinson
Release date – June 2, 2014

Induction Day
By PK Hrezo
The Butterman Travel sequel









Invasion of the B Movies!

MsMariah posted a link to this blogfest, and it looked like fun. Hosted by Girl Meets Cinema, we are to choose a super cheesy blockbuster B-rated movie, post why we love it, and include pictures.

My choice – Deep Rising!

What’s not to dig about this over-the-top horror-monster thriller? A group of hijackers have chartered a boat and intend on robbing a stranded cruise ship, but giant, deep-sea creatures have got there first…

There are so many great one-liners and funny dialogue. Treat Williams and Kevin O’Connor are both hysterical.

In a scene where O’Conner and Wes Studi are being chased by the giant creatures:
Studi: The only way to slow ‘em down is to feed ‘em!
O’Conner: FEED ‘EM? The only thing I got is a wet stick of gum and a breath mint!

Famke Janssen is sexy (of course) as Trillion the thief.

The film is also unbelievably gory.



Directed by Stephen Sommers, Deep Rising is a fun, cheesy popcorn flick!

Have you listened to Insomnium? Participating in the A to Z Road Trip? Excited about new books? And what cheesy B film do you really dig…?

I am back to my Monday only (with IWSG Wednesday) schedule now. I will also be taking some time off during the week from blogging while I complete and edit my current manuscript. If I miss anything awesome, please send me an email! And yes, I did enjoy a few days off this past weekend.

And I just found out this morning from Nancy Thompson that CassaStorm was nominated in Science Fiction for the eFestival of Words 2014 Best of the Independent eBook Awards!!!!

Survivor: ParanormYA Island, New Thor: The Dark World Posters, IWSG Site, Ninja News and New Releases

The Storm continues! Today I have an interview with the awesome Belle Wong who runs My Bookish Ways. We cover everything from writing to my books to clones – check it out!

Today I welcome Gwen Gardner and Angela Brown, Partners in ParanormYA!

You are now tuning in to a special edition of Survivor: ParanormYA Island – Battle of the Sexes. The boys from They All Fall Down and A Guilty Ghost Surprised, against the girls…

*cue Survivor theme music*

Badger, Simon and Basil are gathered on the beach. Lips are moving and arms are waving about but nothing much appears to be happening.

On another part of the island, the girls are settling in. Riley has mysteriously located a cool cave to steal away in with a machete (where in the world did she get a huge blade like that?), several coconuts and bedding made of woven palm leaves and stems. Abby is just outside the cave with a warm fire stoked while performing an odd trick of warming a large blob of spinning water with a steady flame of holy fire. Indigo has a load of sticks stacked in her arms.

Franny pops onto the scene, inches from Indigo--.

--Indigo gasps, scattering the sticks in the air in her fright.

--Abby breaks concentration, spilling the water.

--Riley stumbles out of the cave.

Riley: What the – what happened?

Indigo: Franny? Can you please not scare me popping in like that? I think my heart just ran off the island.

Abby: Oh, hi Franny… *glances around* wherever you’re hovering.

Franny: Girls, the boys are getting nowhere.

Indigo: Franny…spying on them isn’t fair. But thanks. Wait, can we go to hell for cheating?

Franny: That’s not why I’m here. I spotted a few unseemly characters.

Simon slows his pace as he approaches: Like who?

Riley tucks her hands on her hips: What are you three doing here?

Badger: Franny told us to come here, er, rather, told Simon. He can’t see her but she scared the bloody dickens out of all of us when he heard her voice and screamed like a girl. Uh, no offense.

Abby: None taken. So can someone clue me in? I could see lost souls in the Withers, not on this earthly plane.

Basil: Same here. What’s going on?

Franny: They’re here, Q and SC.

Simon tosses his hands in the air, flustered: Just brilliant!

Indigo squares her shoulders, sighing: Now I see why Franny brought you guys here. The Devourer and Soul Collector are on the island. The only way we can defeat them is together.

Abby: You mean the way our authors Angela and Gwen are working together to tell the world about their, well, our new releases?

Riley: Good point. Abby, you and Basil have your elemental and shadow powers. Simon is pretty tough with those fists. Badger can scare with his scowl.

Badger scowls with emphasis.

Riley: See? *she turns to Indigo* Indigo, we can use your speed. We’ll try to keep your psychometry out of things this time.

Badger: Thanks.

Indigo gives a scowl of her own.

*cue fade-out music*

Angela and Gwen have all the confidence in the world that their characters can defeat their arch nemeses. Especially since they joined forces through book cross-over and combined some serious kick-arse talents.

But how do they fare in the novels?

Free of their duties as Cleanser and Harvestor, Abby and Basil try to move on with their lives. But some secrets remain. And what is done in the dark won’t be good when it comes to light.

Purchase They All Fall Down at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Indigo Eady and gang are back with a feather and a Chance setting off another twisting-turning investigation to bring a cold case, and loved ones, closure at last.

Purchase A Guilty Ghost Surprised at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

About Partners in ParanormYA:
Gwen Gardner and Angela Brown - YA paranormal authors embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Share with us as we take the Indie journey to bring our works to the world. Buckle up! There'll be mystery, mayhem, action and emotional roller coasters...oh, and a few things that go bump in the night.
Hauntings are scary but we love interaction:
Angela - Blog Facebook Twitter
Gwen - Blog Facebook Twitter

Available today!

Memories of Murder by Yolanda Renee

Decades ago, the seeds were planted …
Today, dark, fathomless eyes rake the image before him. One final task and the transformation is complete. Steady fingers screw intricately carved horns on each side of a stiff brow, and a gargoyle suitable for Notre Dame scowls from the smokey mirror in satisfaction.
A jagged smile rips through his smooth, hairless face, and inked, reptilian scales caress his naked body.
A laugh of hideous resonance emanates from his gut as the demons of hell welcome Lucifer into their fold.
In a dungeon-like chamber, his Lilith awaits. The kidnapped daughter of a nun, groomed to fit the final piece in the complex puzzle for world domination. Will Lucifer marry his bride, on the summer solstice?
Only two things stand in his way ...
His greed ...
And ...
Detective Steven Quaid.

Find Renee here - Blog Twitter Pinterest

The Vanished Knight by Misha Gericke

The Black Knight, Nordaine’s crown prince, has no legitimate blood heirs, meaning someone must be appointed to succeed him. With two of the candidates’ families willing to kill for the appointment and the third candidate being seen as a threat to all, peace is balanced on a sword’s edge.
But then the Black Knight vanishes.
Darrion and Gawain, two of his possible heirs, set out to find him, but after they rescue an earth-girl from Merithian soldiers, they discover she has possible ties to Nordaine. Not only that, but Callan Blair could be an Elvish princess. And war looms on the horizon…

Ninja News

Jai Joshi’s Day of Youth is now available. Congratulations, Jai!

Laura Pauling’s Vanishing Point, A Circle of Spies novella, is also available. Congratulations, Laura!

Coming November 13 – Moonless, Maiden of Time #1 by Crystal Collier

Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures…

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

What can I say but… wow! Thank you everyone. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group website was overwhelmed with followers and the Facebook Group doubled that following.

A schedule is already in place for the Facebook group – we’ll have Motivational Mondays, Wow! It’s Wednesday, and Fun Fridays.

I appreciate all of the words of thanks, but all I can claim is the idea and the basic site setup – the other admins took the idea and ran with it, filling the database and establishing the Facebook group. Those ladies did amazing things these past few weeks.

There is a lot I’d like to say about the group and what has happened in the past four years that I’ve been blogging. In the interest of time, I will save that for another day. For now, just thank you for the support of this group, and continue to spread the news. We want to build this database up big!

New Thor: The Dark World Posters

From Jo Blo’s site, we get a look at Volstagg and Fandral:

Would you want to be on Survivor: ParanormYA Island? Excited about the awesome new releases? Following the IWSG website and Facebook group? What did you like about the new site? Excited about Thor? And who’s seeing Gravity this weekend…?

Don’t forget to visit Belle at My Bookish Ways!

Murder and Madness but no Flirting! Plus Starship Troopers via Rifftrax, Spaceship Trivia Answers, and Ninja News

Today we have a little Murder, Madness, & Love from Yolanda Renee!

NO FLIRTING ALLOWED!

Thank you, Alex, for allowing me to guest post on your awesome blog. As some of you know my first novel Murder, Madness & Love was self-published in 2008, and this year picked up by Curiosity Quills Press and today is the re-release date, which makes it super exciting to be here on Alex's Blog to celebrate!

What the re-release means, is that I've already held a book launch and have attended a number of books signings. I thought some of you might like to hear a few of my experiences – sort of a do's and don'ts when selling your books, and since Alex likes humorous posts, I hope you see the humor in what happened to me.

First, the do's – talk to the people, even those that don't walk directly over to your table. Make eye contact, and smile. Many readers are shy, just as shy if not more so than the writer is, so catch their eye and start a conversation. It helps if you have a flyer to hand out, if you have something to greet them with, something to get their attention. Many of them will take it and walk away, but if it peaks their interest, they will come back – and if there is ordering information – you may hear from them later!

Many of my sales happened at flea markets and craft fairs and always with another author. Together we brought the folks to the table and 8 times out of 10, both of us sold a book. We always had a decorative table, giveaways, and free candy—free candy always helps!

The don'ts – Don't express political opinions. I made the mistake of agreeing with one customer's expressed opinion on a candidate and another customer walked away, but not before letting me know my opinion was vastly different from hers. So be careful, and be neutral – you never want to lose a customer because of politics.

But watch the flirting – I had a man stop by and yes, he flirted, and I was amused. My partner (the other author) had stepped away from the table and this guy sat down in the chair beside me to look at my book. During the conversation, it was clear he was more interested in me, than the book, despite the fact that he talked about buying it for his wife. However, he was all talk and didn't buy the book. His wife soon found him, and she was not happy. She did a cursory flip of the pages, gave me the evil eye, and quickly walked away with him in tow. I lost another customer.

My partner got a real kick out of it, which isn't fair because he flirted constantly, and never lost a sale. He was amazing.

Never, ever, just sit behind a table and ignore the folks around you – they want to know that you want to talk to them, so have fun, just remember no politics and no flirting, well, unless it really works for you!

So writers what do you think – is flirting fair? Or is it all fair when it comes to selling books?

After a gritty detective becomes involved with a beautiful widow suspected of murder, rumor and obsession obstruct his quest for justice.

Visite Yolanda Renée at her BLOG and find her book at Curiosity Quills Press.

Ninja News

Michelle Wallace just experienced her first e-Zine publication! Her flash fiction piece, Blast From The Past, is in Pure Slush. Read it HERE.
Congratulations, Michelle! You are the flash fiction master.

Summer Ross signed a contract with Breathless Press for her series The Trouble with Elves, Book 1, Ribbon of Darkness. Because it’s erotica, she’s chosen to go with a pen name, and you can find her on Facebook under Decadent Kane. Congratulaions, Summer!

Donna Weaver and her publisher are offering a chance to win A Change of Plans in audiobook. See her site for details.

Cheers to the ladies with new book releases:

Laura Pauling’s latest is now available – Heist!

Cate Masters’ latest was just released, a historical romance novella from Decadent Publishing – Betting it All!

Juliana Haygert’s new NA contemporary romance was released last week – Breaking the Reins!



For laughs:

John Wiswell posted 7 Ways Writing a Book is Not Like Raising a Child.

Fran at The Angry Lurker posted another classic – If Facebook Existed During the American Revoluion.

And my POST last week that kicked off with the Star Trek movies made top story over at Suvudu!

Spaceship Trivia Answers!

Several of you named the movie, but what we were after was the spaceship – here are the answers:
Movies:
1 - Alex Durant, Harry Booth, V.I.N.C.E.N.T. - Palomino
2 - Captain Dallas, Warrant Officer Ripley, Science Officer Ash - Nostromo
3 - Pres. Skroob, Dark Helmet, Col. Sandurz - Spaceball One
Television:
4 - Fry, Bender, Leela, Amy - Planet Express Ship
5 - Mal Reynolds, Zoe Washburne, Simon Tam - Serenity
6 - Don West, John Robinson, Dr. Zachary Smith - Jupiter 2
Literature:
7 - Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox - Heart of Gold
8 - Charlie Bucket, Grandma Josephine, Willy Wonka - Great Glass Elevator
Real:
9 - Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Jack Swigert - Apollo 13

Riffed Movie Review

Any of you familiar with Mystery Science Theater 3000 know that not long after the show was cancelled (damn you SyFy!) Mike, Kevin, and Bill formed Rifftrax. You can purchase and download a riff track for just about any movie. And on occasion, they do a live riff track in front of a movie theater audience and it’s broadcast across the nation to other theaters. Thus last week, I got to enjoy a Rifftrax screening of Starship Troopers.

Funded by a Kickstarter project and with the blessings of the cast, it was one of the first times they’d riffed a recent R rated film. Starship Troopers is cheesy, dated, and poorly acted, so it was an easy target. (Denise Richards in particular.) Yes, 80% of the film was epic ship scenes, mass bug shootings, and the word ‘Move!’ (In its defense, the bug effects hold up well. Everything else – not so much.) All in all, it was hilarious.

Before the film begins, they warm up the audience with a humorous slide show. I thought I’d share some my wife caught on her cell phone:

Is flirting fair when selling books? (Do you remember how to flirt? Because it’s been so long, I don’t!) See some new books you want? Find something amusing? Get any of the spaceships right? And has anyone else ever downloaded Rifftraxs or gone to a live event?

My next post will be on Thursday instead of Wednesday, and I’ll have another awesome guest, plus some cool CassaStorm news.

Ready to Rumble with WRiTE CLUB? Plus Movie Trivia and Ninja News

What is WRiTE CLUB? Are we allowed to talk about it? The awesome DL Hammons is here to explain!

When Alex approached me about doing a segment for his uber-popular blog I knew right away I wanted to talk about WRiTE CLUB, but wasn’t sure how to go about it in a fresh way. I thought about it for a good long while, and then finally decided to ask for help. What I did was ask our 2011 WRiTE CLUB Champion -- Tiana Smith, and the 2012 Champion – Mark Hough, to interview me so I made sure to cover the things that really stood out in their minds. Here is the result.

Tiana - I know things have changed a lot since I won the first WRiTE CLUB competition. Could you explain a few of the changes and how you think they'll make it a better experience for everyone all around?

DL - Well, I’m completely bald now and the acid my stomach produces could probably qualify as industrial strength. Oh, you mean changes in the actual contest. WRiTE CLUB was a hit right out of the gate, but last year the interest was so great that I had to put measures in place this year to keep things manageable but fair. The preliminary rounds will last just 8 weeks (shorter than last year) with two bouts per week (three last year), but the biggest change is that this year the submissions will be pre-screened by a panel of ten judges so that the best 32 make it to the ring. Another change is that every vote cast will have the voters name thrown into a hat for the chance at a $75 Amazon Gift card or a ten page critique by each of the submission judges.

Mark - I'm sure you've received a ton of emails or comments about the WRiTE CLUB competition, and it's easy to see how it's surged in popularity since it began. What do you think makes WRiTE CLUB so different from other writing competitions?

DL - One thing is that you can participate at whatever level makes you feel the most comfortable. You can simply vote for your favorite submission...or you can vote and leave a brief critique...or you can go whole hog and send in an anonymous writing sample to compete. Everything is done in a very low-key fashion, which makes the whole contest a lot of fun whichever way you choose to participate.
The second thing is the anonymity. We have had participants who are published authors pitted against aspiring wannabe's, and the wannabe's have won. Persona's have no place in WRiTE CLUB, and people love that!

Tiana - I'm incredibly excited to help judge the final round! Who are some of the other industry professionals you have lined up for judging the final showdown?

DL - I’m really pumped about this year’s stable of judges, and it really demonstrates how popular WRiTE CLUB has become. Besides you and Mark, there’ s Kendare Blake, the author of the highly acclaimed Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares teen horror series. Then there’s Katie Grimm, agent for Don Congdon Associates since 2007, where in addition to maintaining her own client list she also acts as business manager. Next is Alice Speilburg -- founder of the Speilburg Literary Agency. And finally there’s this certain science fiction writer on a journey of discovery...who’s a blogger extraordinaire! Online he is known as Captain Ninja Alex – our own Alex J. Cavanaugh! Oh yeah, I’ll be announcing more celebrity judges as the contest goes on.

Mark - Obviously my win last year was a huge confidence boost to my writing, but I found that the best thing about WRiTE CLUB for me was the practice of regularly critiquing other writers' entries. As the moderator, have you noticed any certain aspects of WRiTE CLUB which help you most as a writer?

DL - Absolutely! Working with 500 word submissions forces you to realize the value of every single word and helped me learn about word economy. It's also a lesson that needs to be continually reinforced, and critiquing is an ideal way to accomplish that.

Tiana - Since the first WRiTE CLUB competition, things have grown a lot. How big has this thing become? How much participation (views/comments/etc.) do you anticipate for this year?

DL – To give you a sense of scale, last year the first couple of bouts drew over 2,100 site hits and garnered almost 100 votes apiece. Over the course of the entire contest my blog received 30,000 hits. I’d be satisfied if we were able to maintain that level of participation again this year. It’s really gratifying to see our submissions receiving that much attention and feedback.

Mark - Since I only hopped aboard the bandwagon last year, I'm curious: how did you come up with the idea for WRiTE CLUB?

DL - First and foremost I wanted to come up with something that would shine the spotlight on other writers and provide them a way to get their work in front of a lot of people in a non-threatening way. That's actually the reason for the small i in WRiTE CLUB, because it wasn't about me (or I). So I thought, some sort of contest would do the trick. As coincidence would have it, while I was trying to come up with the rules for this yet to be named contest a TV commercial for FIGHT CLUB hit the screen...and the rest (as they say) is history!

Tiana - I know when I participated, I was a little scared to submit my writing sample, but the fact that I'd be using a pen name gave me confidence to put myself out there. Was that what made you decide to keep things anonymous?

DL – Believe it or not, there are other versions of WRiTE CLUB out there and while I was researching them I discovered that all of the others involved regular LIVE readings in gathering spots like bars or coffee shops. I knew that there was no way I could get up in front of a group of relative strangers and read my work, and a lot of people felt the same way, so why not do an internet version where submissions accepted anonymously? All of our submissions go to my wife first; she logs them in and removes the real names, so she’s the only person who knows the real names. I don’t even know them. The anonymity of it all is what makes our contest so special. All of the concentration is on the writing alone!

I want to thank Mark and Tiana for helping me out today. Hopefully the three of us tweaked the interest of some of you, and if that's so, HERE is where you should go to find out more.

On July 8th..."Let's Get Ready To RUMMMMBBBBLLLEEE!!"

Ninja News

Crystal Collier is featuring book releases/cover reveals for YA fatansy-esk genres every Wednesday on her blog and is looking for people to fill the calendar. Get details HERE.

Patsy Collins’ latest book is available, Up the Garden Path. Congratulations, Patsy! You can purchase it at Amazon. And if you want to check out the funny trailer for it, go to You Tube. Patsy really can run!

Cover reveal –

Heist by Laura Pauling
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller

Can one decision change the past?

Coming later this year – find it now on Goodreads.
Find Laura here: Blog, Goodreads, Goodreads, and Twitter

And this is really cool! One of my most awesome blogging buddies, Chuck at Apocalypse Now, surprised his wife with something really unique. He’d met Mary Montagues Sikes (whom I featured earlier this month at the A to Z Blog) and was impressed with her daily paintings for the Challenge. He sent a photo his wife had taken of a sea turtle and Mary created the amazing painting you see here. Now, is that not just awesome?

If you are looking for writing competitions with no entry fees, check out WritersViews.

Movie Trivia!

Name the director:

1 – The Untouchables 1987

2 – Groundhog Day 1993

3 – The Usual Suspects 1995

4 – Hugo 2011

5 – The 13th Warrior 1999

6 – Rango 2011

Answers on Monday!

Are you ready for WRiTE CLUB? Participating this year with an entry? Ready for some new books? Want Mary to paint a picture for you? Know the directors? And who else is seeing World War Z this weekend?