Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Plus Ayreon Review, Newscaster as Ron Burgundy, 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 CD Coffelt, Tina Downey, Isis Rushdan, and Michelle Wallace! Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

Where am I at right now? Haunted by one question – do I continue writing?

I have a basic outline for another space opera. At this stage, it’s very straightforward and will need a lot of twists and some depth. I’m working on characters, arcs, and a deep, resonating theme.

Will I write it though?

If I do, some things will have to change. My life is already full with work, my band, my home life. There is only one area I could adjust at this point. My time online.

The most amazing part of this journey has been getting to know all of you. That was something I never foresaw when I began. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group website is also very important to me, and all of you who post every month for the group. I have an amazing group of admins helping with the site and the Facebook page. They will help me with its upkeep and growth, as we are still adding links to the site.

It’s the time I spend online that I’d have to scale back. Yes, I’m fortunate to do some of that from work. But what if I was writing instead? Especially in the evening? If I do decide to write another book, I will have to scale back the hours I spend here, and of course I’ll have to scale back my blogging days. (Because I refuse to blog when I can’t visit others.)

How would you guys feel if I was only around one day and the others were hit and miss? I don't want to let anyone down. Should I keep writing?

Visit other participants HERE.

Ninja News

Join the YA Revolution! Liz Fichera is seeking unique YA books – see her site for details.

Nutschell announced the release of the anthology she’s been putting together - Story Sprouts: CBW-LA Writing Day Exercises and Anthology 2013. A fresh take on an old classic, the Anthology uncovers the creative process in its raw form, celebrating the seeds of story generation. Framing the authors’ contributions are the 10 writing exercises that guided them along their journey, as well as tips and techniques shared at the workshop. Congratulations, Nutschell!

MJ and Tina are hosting The Holiday Food Drive Blogfest. This is your chance to give back to your local community. See their sites for details.

Kittie Howard’s Louisiana's A-Z Something Extra: Lagniappe is now available. Congratulations, Kittie!

Lydia Kang is holding a pre-order giveaway for her upcoming release, Control. Some cool swag – see her site for details.

Karen’s Annual Blog Awards are now open for nominations! Favorite blog, favorite new blog.. Visit her site to nominate someone!

And it’s not too late to sign up for the How I Miss You Blogfest this Friday!

Hilarious News Clip

For Halloween, Denver’s Channel 6 sports anchor, Paul Gerke, was Ron Burgundy from The Anchorman. Only he didn’t just dress like him – he stayed in character for the entire newscast! The result is hilarious. It’s over five minutes, but very funny, especially the end where they let him do a little of the weather…

Music Review

Ayreon – The Theory of Everything
Arjen Anthony Lucassen has created another progressive rock masterpiece.
If you like Ayreon’s The Human Equation (not only their best, but the most brilliant concept album ever) then you will dig this disc.
The basic storyline (as if anything about Ayreon was basic): a troubled young man with a brilliant mind locked within his head is the central character. His parents take him to a psychologist who suggests an experimental drug, but the mother says no. However, the father is working on the theory of everything and needs to unlock his son’s brilliance if he is to solve the equation. He starts slipping his son the drug, with consequences…
This is a true progressive rock album, so the music is intricate and not easily accessible. However, with every listen, new elements are revealed and the genius behind the concept and music grows. Plus there are so many great guest musicians!
And the Theory of Everything? There are forty-two songs on the disc – major homage to Douglas Adams.
Highly recommended!

What’s your writing insecurity today? Should I try to write another book? Excited about the new books, blogfests, giveaways, and awards? Did you watch a minute of the video? Anyone else an Ayreon or progressive rock fan? And two more days to Thor: The Dark World!!!

Ninja News, Wednesday Movie Quote, and the A to Z Sign-up List is OPEN!!!

I discussed nosh with two hungry pups at The Life of a Novice Writer yesterday. If you missed it, check it out. Those pups like to talk to any author with nosh!

Ninja News!

Thanks to Stephen, Mark, Elise, and CM for hosting the Re-Introduce Myself Blogfest on Monday. So sorry, I still wasn’t able to get around to all of the participants AND all of my blogger buddies the past two days. Epic Ninja fail…

Jamie at Mithril Wisdom and Allison at Geek Banter are hosting the Level Up! Blogfest. “On February 20th, talk about a game you play or used to play; tell us how it works and share your love of the game with the rest of us. It can be any kind of game you like, from World of Warcraft to Hopscotch, from Monopoly to Blackjack and everything else in between. Tell us what you love about that game.”

Kimberly at Art of Infiltration shared twenty-two books she enjoyed reading last year (or wanted to read this year) with her seventh grade class. She said the kids were excited about three books – Possession by Elana Johnson, 18 Things by Jamie Ayers, and CassaStar. Whoa!!! Kimberly, that made my week.

With all of the books being published, I wanted to highlight another published artist. Ella at Ella’s Edge is a poet, photographer, and master craftswoman. If she can envision it, she can make it. Ella has had many of her beautiful pieces featured in magazines, and this past December she had several in Somerset Studio Gallery and Somerset Life. Ella, you are talented beyond words!

Liz Fichera’s latest book, Hooked, is available today. Congratulations, Liz!

Wednesday Movie Quote

Today’s favorite movie quote theme is “Light Fantasy.”

My favorite: (Double today!)

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya, You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

“Have fun storming the castle!”

Both from The Princess Bride.

What is yours?

A to Z Challenge Sign-ups Open!!

Sign-ups open today – but read first before entering your name!!

The A to Z Challenge is posting every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet. On April 1, blog about something that begins with the letter “A.” April 2 is “B,” April 3 is “C,” and so on. You can use a theme for the month or go random – just as long as it matches the letter of the alphabet for the day. We recommend short posts, turn off Word Verification, and visit five blogs (or more) a day beginning with the one after yours on the list.

This year there are categories for those looking for like-minded blogs. Select ONE category code and enter it after your blog’s title/name. The code applies to your blog, not your theme for the Challenge and is purely optional. However, if your blog has adult content, you MUST mark it (AC) or it will be removed from the list. Codes are as follows:

1. WRITING : (WR)
2. BOOKS: (BO)
3. FILM : (FM)
4. PHOTOGRAPHY: (PH)
5. GARDENING: (GR)
6. CRAFT: (CR)
7. ART: (AR)
8. MUSIC: (MU)
9. CULINARY: (CU)
10. LIFESTYLE: (LI )
11. FASHION: (FA)
12. PERSONAL: (PR)
13. SOCIAL MEDIA: (SO)
14. GAMING: (GA)
15. EDUCATION : (ED)
16. POLITICS: (PO)
17. HISTORY: (HI)
18. SCIENCE: (SC)
19. HUMOR: (HU)
20. TRAVEL: (TR)
21. MISCELLANEOUS: (MI)
22. ADULT CONTENT: (AC)

Be sure to grab the badge and display it in your sidebar so we know you are participating and link to the A to Z Blog.

You’re A to Z Hosts are founder Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out, Damyanti Biswas at Amlokiblogs, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Tina Downey at Life is Good, DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude 2.0, Jeremy Hawkins at Retro-Zombie, Shannon Lawrence at The Warrior Muse, Matthew MacNish at The QQQE, Konstanz Silverbow at No Thought 2 Small, Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs, Livia Peterson at Leave it to Livia, L. Diane Wolfe at Spunk on a Stick, and Nicole at The Madlab Post.

This is the fourth Challenge. The very first one changed my blog forever! Are you ready to join us in the greatest blogging event ever?


Enjoy Monday’s blogfest? Joining the game blogfest? Follow the talented Ella? What is your favorite light fantasy movie quote? Joining us this April for the A to Z Challenge? If you have ANY question, please ask. I am a co-host and here to help. And do you have a theme…?

Don’t forget to visit The Life of a Novice Writer!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Ninja News, and How to Set up a Blogfest

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.

And this month I have two awesome co-hosts helping - LG Keltner and CM Brown! Be sure to visit them and say thanks for their willingness to help.

Since many of you are in the middle of NaNo, thought I’d give you a word of encouragement. Maybe you’re thinking your writing sucks at this point. Maybe you’re terrified to let anyone see the mess you just wrote. If you’re feeling down, I am here to amuse. Actually, I’m not that funny, so I’ll let Rusty Webb and Cassie Mae entertain you. If you’re worried about what others will say about your work, consider this wonderful feedback I received on CassaStorm:

“…we destroyed their main supply forty years ago.” - Oh my gosh. Is this how you spell this??? I’ve been writing my checks wrong for years!

…her hips twisting in an enticing fashion. - Oh the butt wiggle! Works every time

…you’ll be damned grateful we’re here! - I’m still not ready to get into in any detail. At the pace I’m going I’ll get these notes to you about six months after the book is released

“Dreams and more. Their brains processed information and increased in knowledge during the trip to Tgren.” - I wish a computer would make me smarter while I slept.

Because tonight I need you. - Bow chicka bow wow!

If he choked down just one more, he might satisfy his mother enough she would excuse him from the table. - Oh God, I have so many memories just like this. Seriously.

From the olkajhfdjnqlmdfnfqwhjnd;ocnther reports… - Ack! Sorry, baby butt on the computer! And I tried to delete it but he must’ve butt pressed another button that’s doing something funky. So… um, ignore this!

Athee didn’t possess the authority to interfere. - Whatever. That gives her all authority, lol.

Oh, and this is session number two, I think somewhere around comment number 20 I switched over to another day. I know, for you it seems like only seconds, but for me it’s been days. It’s like time travel, except for this is a much lamer version without causality violations.

At least I accomplished something today, he thought. - For someone who doesn’t have children, you sure know how to write heart-wrenching father /mother/ son moments. Now I don’t have an excuse to write something crappy just cuz I don’t know how it is, lol.

Her son needed help, but if Byron had ordered for evacuation preparations… - Dude, they just need to do it! All this crap, a good romp in the sheets will take their minds off it.

She held her breath, resisting the urge to look out the canopy. - Sorry, in all my ranting and complaining I forgot to mention that his is really well written. It’s tense, it’s exciting, and it’s awesome.

I think you guys will be all right!

Be sure to visit others participating in the Insecure Writer’s Support Group!

Ninja News

The fourth book in Michael Abayomi’s fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise, is out now – The Shadow. Congratulations, Michael!

Liz Fichera received her review copies this week and is holding a giveaway for three signed copies! See her site for details.

Talli Roland’s latest book, a Christmas novella aclled Mistletoe in Manhattan, is available now!

Jessica Bell’s next book, Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing, will be out soon! I know I’m buying a copy. (If I don’t, my critique partners will send me one anyway.)

Rachel Morgan just launched The Faerie Guardian, which is the compilation of four of her Creepy Hallow novelettes. Congratulations, Rachel!

Setting up a Blogfest

Since several people have asked me, I decided to give you guys some tips for putting together a blogfest. Hosting blogfests are a great way to get involved in the blogging community and a lot of fun. There’s extra work if you are the host, but there’s also benefits. Here’s a checklist for organizing a great blogfest:

• Select awesome theme
• Select date – Be mindful of other events in the blogging world. Monday-Wednesday-Fridays work best
• Design a cool button
• Write a short and simple description – Trust me on that one!
• Create a Linky Code and require emails – Post it somewhere on your blog so you can enter your name (and co-hosts) and then remove until you’re ready to announce the blogfest
• Announce a month before the date of the blogfest
• Remind people at least once a week and have button in sidebar with link to original announcement
• A few days before the blogfest, send out an email reminder – Be sure to send it to yourself with everyone else as a BBC. Not everyone wants to share their email address with the world
• Compose your post with all the information, your entry, and the link, and schedule it to go live early
• Visit everyone who participates
• Note those who don’t and remove their links the next day. (If you’re really ambitious, add the direct links in the Linky List. Yes, I do this. Call me anal.)
• Thank everyone in your next post.

Any questions? And if you don’t have a Linky Tools subscription, let me know and I’ll create a Linky List for you.

What is your insecurity for the day? Excited about all the new books? Any questions about setting up a blogfest? And did this post make you smile? (I always aim to amuse!)

Halloween Edition, Ninja News, Scare Me Blogfest, and the BIG Announcement!

Since it’s Halloween, thought I’d get you in the mood with some jamming tunes – Rob Zombie’s Dragula! You don’t have to watch the video, but feel free to let it play in the background as you read this post.

Ninja News

Today’s Special Challenge Participant Feature at the A to Z Blog is Mary Aalgaard from Play off the Page! She had a very unique theme for the Challenge, so be sure to stop by and say hey.

H. R. Sinclair has a new book out that is perfect for the holidays – The Cookie Tray. Congratulations, Holly!

The Best of Friday Flash 2 was released this week, featuring a story from Cathy Olliffe-Webster. She’s written many articles before, but this is her first published work of fiction. Congratulations, Cathy!

Pre-order Hooked by Liz Fichera and enter to win music, books, and more! Visit her site for details.

And I won zombie swag from Susanne Drazic at Putting Words on Paper! Thanks, Suzanne!

Scare Me Blogfest

Hosted by my blogger buddy, Budd at SciFi Media - scary book, movie, story, or ghost you have encountered!

I’m going to give you both a scary movie and story!

I was in college when I went to see the original Nightmare on Elm Street with a friend. We went to a theater downtown and the area was packed, but fortunately the theater was not.

At the time, Nightmare on Elm Street was a fresh idea and very effective. The idea that Freddy could kill you in your dreams was a scary concept and the film very creepy.

The scariest part was when we walked out of the theater. The streets were deserted and there was a layer of mist covering the ground. Let’s just say my friend and I walked very quickly back to campus!

Visit SciFi Media for a list of other participants or to join in the scary fun!

The Big Announcement!

Many of you have already seen this. It involves Mark “The Madman” Koopmans, ”Marvelous” Morgan Shamy, Stephen “Breakthrough” Tremp, and David “Kingpin” Powers King. The big announcement…

A blogfest unlike ANYTHING you've seen before - it's more like an event! Full details November 19...

And how does the Ninja know? Ninjas have a way of finding out secrets. And with my army of clones, no one online is safe…

Enjoy the Rob Zombie song? Excited about the news? Ready for Halloween? (Can I have your Hot Tamales?) What’s the scariest movie/book/story in your life? And any idea what this blogfest is all about?

Don’t forget to visit Mary at the A to Z Blog!

Ninja on the Prowl, Giveaways, Ninja News, Problem Solved, CassaStorm, Movie Trivia, and Video Feature

Ninja on the Loose!

Today I have a guest post at Rachna’s Scriptorium. She wanted something writing related. (Yes, I am a plethora of writing tips – not!) So you’ll have to stop by and see what I came up with.

Monday it was the reviews of CassaStar and Cassafire, Wednesday was the interview, and today is the giveaway of my books at The Writing Nut! Visit Nutschell’s site for a chance to win a copy of CassaStar and CassaFire.

Ninja News!

Liz Fichera’s cover for Hooked was revealed yesterday on Harlequin Teen’s Facebook page and today she has big news!

Michael Abayomi has a new book out – Neuro: A Science Fiction Collection. Congratulations, Michael! See his site for details.

Rick Daley is celebrating Christmas in July by offering his book, The Man in the Cinder Clouds, for on 99 cents.

Laura B. Diamond just signed a contract with Etopia Press for her book, Shifting Pride. Congratulations, Laura!

Unfollowing Problem Solved

Wednesday, I’d asked how to permanently remove blogs from Google Reader when unsubscribing doesn’t work and the blog has removed the GFC widget.
Thanks to Laura and several others, we have an answer!
Go to your Dashboard and look to the far right. Hold cursor over symbol and it will say Manage Reading List. Click that! It will pull up all the blogs you follow and you can adjust the settings from there. (And if you follow a lot of blogs, it will take a moment – trust me.)
Thanks, guys!

CassaStorm Progress

Entering the final few chapters of the manuscript. (No idea where, as dividing the book into chapters is the last thing I do.) Once I go back and add a few scenes and flesh out a few more this one will clock in at… about the same length as the others. No one can accuse me of being wordy! Or over descriptive or too high tech. As Nutschell said so well – “… a character-driven Sci-Fi story that isn’t weighed down by scientific jargon or technological lingo.”

Movie Trivia Answers!

What is the highest grossing animated film of all time? Toy Story 3
Next highest are The Lion King, Ice Age III, and Shrek II
Inflation adjusted highest would be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Three films are tied for most Academy Awards at eleven Oscars each.

Ben-Hur, Titanic, and LOTR: Return of the King

What song has unofficially been used in the most movies?

Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves

Several people suggested Happy Birthday, Bad to the Bone, and All Star, all likely candidates!

Video Feature

There are so many really cool book trailers on the Web. I’d like to start a Friday feature of awesome trailers. If you have a trailer for your book, leave a comment and let me know where to find it. To kick off the feature and get them out of the way, here are the trailers my publisher made for my books:






Ready to win or buy some books? Does the unfollowing solution help? Get the trivia questions right? Do you have a book trailer I can feature? Feeling lucky this Friday the Thirteenth? And who else will be forced to see the stupid Scrat movie tonight? (Ice Age IV)


Don’t forget to visit Rachna’s Scriptorium. and The Writing Nut!