Cool Geek Christmas Gifts, How I Miss You Blogfest, and Ninja News!

Cool Christmas Gifts for the Geeks in Your Life

Christmas is just one month away! Don’t panic – I found some cool, geeky stuff that Santa can bring…

Dancing Groot – only $9.99 from Toys R Us

Star Trek t-shirts – only $28.64 from RedBubble

Captain America Minion iPhone case – only $7.05 from Ali Express
(And they have a lot more Minion super heroes.)

The Ewoking Dead t-shirt – only $15.00 from Gifts.com

Pre-order for 2015
Melting Nazi from Raiders of the Lost Ark candle – only $31.29 from Firebox

And of course, retro t-shirts from Jeremy Hawkins’ Neat-O-Shop, including the Better Off Dead hamburger and the Ninja Army!

Ninja News

At the A to Z Blog today is Joss from Dreaming of Publication, talking about her theme for the Challenge – dogs!

It’s time for the second annual Holiday Food Drive! Started by MJ Joachim and the late Tina Downey, MJ is continuing the tradition with Jeremy Hawkins again providing the graphic. Check out how you can participate HERE and at the Effectively Human Community on Google+.


Are you a self-published indie author? Then you need to check out this giant list of indie book reviewers – over five hundred! Courtesy of laekanzeakemp.

Want to know what it’s like to be a full time writer? Then you need to read this post by Steven Symes.

Thank to everyone who has added Dragon of the Stars to their Goodread lists and voted for it in the Most Anticipated Science Fiction of 2015 list. It’s climbed to number three!

New releases!

Tarsier Man – A War Like None Before
By Pat Hatt

Dead Wrong
By Patricia Stoltey

Beacon
By Angela Brown

How I Miss You Blogfest

Hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish

The bloggers you miss and the ones you would miss.
List one to three bloggers you really miss.
List one to three bloggers you would really miss if they stopped blogging.
And then go let them know!

The three bloggers I miss are…

Mark Means at Left and Write
Mark still posts now and then, but not at the same pace he used to post. The dude is a cool geek and I miss the geeky updates. Plus his A to Z Challenge themes always rock.

Old Kitty at Ten Lives and Second Chances
One of my first blogger buddies was Old Kitty. She’d post photos of her cat Charlie, now joined by Gumtree. It’s been many months since she posted and I really miss her. No one is as upbeat and positive as Old Kitty.

Tina Downey at Life is Good
I couldn’t do this list without mentioning Tina. I think about her often and there is still this void where her snark and humor used to reside. There are people you can’t imagine being gone, can’t imagine dying, and that’s what I always thought about Tina. I know she’s having a grand time in Heaven, running through the sunflowers, but the world is just a little bit dimmer without her light. Love you and miss you, Tina.

People I would miss if they stopped blogging:

This was tough! I’d miss all of you. Rather than play favorites, I thought I’d list three people who might not realize how much I’d miss them…

LG Keltner at Writing Off the Edge
LG, you are a fellow science fiction geek and writer, and you are so faithful to your friends. You always have the best A to Challenge themes and have dedicated yourself to the IWSG. (And you’re one of my best co-hosts.) You would be sorely missed, so don’t ever quit!

Ivy at The Happy Whisk
Ivy, I count on you for my daily laugh and chuckle. We’ve followed each other for years and I enjoy both your posts and our email banter. You paused in your blogging once before, and it really sucked. Don’t do it again. You are indeed Wonder Woman. And you always make me laugh.

Heather Gardner at The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Heather!!!! If I ever posted and there wasn’t an ‘Alex!!!’ in the comments from you, I’d send out a search party. You are one of the funniest, snarkiest, most spirited and strong-willed people I know. You rock the A to Z Team, keeping us in line. You’re such an awesome supporter and someone I can count on a hundred percent. You’re also one of my best friends. You ROCK!

Who do you miss? Who would you miss?



See some geeky gifts you just have to buy? Joining the Holiday Food Drive or picking up some new books? And who do you miss and who would you miss in the blogging world…?

I will be traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday, so I’ll be very sparse here online Wednesday through Saturday. To all my American friends, have an awesome Thanksgiving!

The A to Z Challenge – Blazing Saddles and Big Bad Moon, Plus Ninja News

My theme for the A to Z Challenge is Favorite Movies, Bloggers, and Music! I’ll name a favorite movie that corresponds with the letter, and then select a character from the film. I will then name a favorite blogger who reminds me of that character, and then dedicate a song to him. (Also corresponding with the alphabet.) I’ll wrap it all up with trivia and/or fun facts about the movie, the blogger, or the music!

In addition, two lucky commenters this month will receive a review copy of CassaStorm! One comment per day and each is worth one entry except – the first and one hundredth comments on each day will receive ten entries!

Blazing Saddles

Bottom line – it’s hilarious! It skewered racism and homophobia back when such a thing was frowned upon. It was really bold for its time. The cast is outstanding and it makes me laugh every single time I watch it.

Bart is the sheriff, and he’s walked into a potentially explosive situation. Regardless, he still has a great attitude and a sense of humor. He’s slick and surrounds himself with good people.

Who is Bart?

Mark Means at Left and Write!

Mark has swagger and he’s quick on the draw. (You think I’m fast to comment?) He’s a solid individual with an awesome attitude. Mark understands what this community is all about and he’s sworn to protect it.

Mark is a writer with a bit of a geek edge.

To you I dedicate Big Bad Moon, by Joe Satriani, because you are just as bad ass!

“Big bad moon’s looking down on me tonight.”

Facts and Trivia –

Satriani was recruited to play lead guitar on the solo tour of the lead singer for one of the biggest bands ever – name the band.

A’s trivia answer – Joe Johnston directed the Rocketeer in 1991.

Ninja News!

Special thanks to Medeia Sharif - I and my book were her post for A yesterday! That was an awesome surprise. Thanks, Medeia!

Win a Twenty dollar Amazon gift card by nominating/voting for an A to Z blogger you appreciate! See CM Brown’s SITE to vote.

Carol Kilgore’s latest, Solomon’s Compass, releases today!

The lure of buried treasure. A sexy former SEAL. Could USCG CDR Taylor Campbell want more? Don't ask. A story of love, loyalty, and the value of keeping a promise,

Coming May 30 from Rachel Morgan - The Faerie Prince! 

Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life…

Coming this June from Hart Johnson, a.k.a. Alyse Carlson, at Confessions of a Watery Tart - The Begonia Bribe: 2nd in the Garden Society Cozy Mystery series!

Roanoke, Virginia, is home to some of the country’s most exquisite gardens, and it’s Camellia Harris’s job to promote them. But when a pint-sized beauty contest comes to town, someone decides to deliver a final judgment …

Challenge Opens With A Bang!

Didn’t yesterday just rock? So many participants (over 1900) and so many comments. (Crap, I had over two hundred and fifty comments – even I can’t keep up with that!!) Thanks to everyone for your efforts, including my Ninja Minions, because I saw your comments everywhere.

And I would like to apologize in advance, but I will not be able to visit as many as I did on Monday every single day. Between blogger buddies, commenters, and my section of the Challenge list, I’m just not going to be able to visit everyone every single day. So if I skip a post, please don’t be offended. I just need to maintain my sanity this month without burning out either myself or my clones. (Or Al’s dwarves! He will want them back intact.)

Fan of Blazing Saddles? Fan of Mark? Know the rock band? Excited about the upcoming releases? Forgive me if I can’t get to everyone? I’ll still give it my best effort!

Don’t forget – the Insecure Writer’s Support Group posts tomorrow! And come back to see who I feature next...

Big Thanks, Ninja News, Jewel of Shaylor Cover Reveal, and a Neumarian Uprising!

A huge thanks to everyone who helped with my cover reveal of CassaStorm last Friday – and those who are posting it this week! I was truly overwhelmed. I’d hoped that maybe twenty or thirty people might help, but over a hundred posted for me. Thank you! Yes, I am very excited about the cover – best one yet. Special thanks to Carrie Butler who made the awesome graphic of all three of my books!

Ninja News

Misha Gericke announced the nominations for the Paying it Forward Awards – thanks to whoever nominated me for two categories! Voting is open until February 28. Good to luck to everyone.

Livia gave me the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Thank you Livia! I’m supposed to tell you seven things, but since that would be boring, I’ll just tell you one – I hate Brussels Sprouts.

Passing it on to three bloggers who inspire me:
Robin at Your Daily Dose
ML Swift
Mark at Left and Write

Laura Bambrey’s new book, Yes No Maybe, is available now! Congratulations, Laura.

Hildie McQueen’s Street Team, McQueen’s Moonlighters, is up and running! What is a Street Team? “A street team are a group of people that enjoy a specific author’s books and assists in promoting the author by giving out book cover cards, pens, buttons and other promotional items for the author.” Check out her site for details.

Nigel Mitchell just announced that TOONS is now live. He’s released Part 1 (Bad Toon Rising) and Part 2 (Get Lucky) of the series. Congratulations, Nigel!

Roland Yeomans is the talented author behind almost two dozen books – and this month, the proceeds from sales of his books go to the Salvation Army. If you’ve never purchased one of Roland’s books and experienced his rich writing, February is the month to do so!

Cover Reveal!

Jewel of Shaylar by Laura Eno

Archaeologist David Alexander investigates the cave where his father disappeared and hurtles into another world, one filled with magic and bizarre creatures. The mad ravings in his father's journals of icemen and dragons may not be fantasies after all.
Convinced his father may still be alive, David begins a treacherous journey to find him and discover a way home. Along the way, he encounters a few unlikely friends. A Dreean warrior, a beautiful thief and a satyr join him as he searches.
David's arrival into this new world sets off an explosive chain reaction of events. Faced with powerful adversaries and few clues, he may not get the chance to rescue his father before disaster strikes, condemning both of them to death. Or worse.

Find Laura: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Neumarian Uprising!

We need your help! Thanks to our spy, Ciara Knight, we are able to communicate with you today via blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media.

The Neumarian uprising has begun. We are fighting for freedom and equality for all, but we need your help. Ciara informed us that you might want to know more about the uprising and why we ask you to risk your lives for our cause. To answer these questions I’ve agreed to let Ciara tell my sister’s, Raeth’s, story about her captivity. It will be free for you on a site called Amazon until March 1, 2013.

Our spies have told us this will help spread the word and find more recruits for our rebellion against the tyrannical queen. You can help by simply downloading a free copy of Weighted, a prequel to the Neumarian Chronicles. If you are intrigued and wish to follow our uprising, Escapement, book I of The Neumarian Chronicles, will be available for only $2.99 until March 1, 2013.

Escapement, is told by Princess Semara. Don’t hold the fact Semara is a princess against her like I did, there is more to her than you can possibly imagine.

Here is a brief explanation of her telling of our uprising:
Ten years after the great war of 2185 the queen’s reign is threatened by uprisings and fear. In celebration of my sixteenth birthday it is my duty as princess to sacrifice a slave to be initiated into the ruling council, solidifying my mother’s empire. When my own erratic powers surface I’m captured and tried for treason. Slaves hate me, my mother wants me executed, and my only chance of survival rests in the hands of a young man, Ryder Arteres, whose sister I sentenced to death.

What people are saying about Escapement:

“A heady mix of action adventure and steampunk -- leavened with a dash of romance -- ESCAPEMENT offers up its fair share of thrills, horrors and heart-pounding moments. A strong start to a captivating new series.” - Jana Oliver, author of The Demon Trapper's Daughter

“A riveting tale of justice, mercy, honor and love. Take a deep breath and hold on, because you'll be turning the pages of Escapement quickly. Three unlikely comrades, Princess Semara, Ryder, and his sister Raeth, embark on a journey that will alter their lives forever. The beautiful love story nestled into these action-packed scenes will make you sigh and remember why you love to love. After reading the prequel Weighted, I knew this story would be amazing, and it was. Ciara Knight truly has a gift for creating awesome worlds and characters you won't forget.” -Lindi Peterson--Award winning author of Summer's Song.

“Betrayal, secrets, and a rebellion send readers on a grand adventure, caught in the plight to discover Semara’s gifts and purpose.” -Alex J Cavanaugh, author of Amazon best sellers CassaStar and CassaFire

“The most unmissable series ever! I couldn't stop reading, the action and romance too breathtaking to break the spell!” -ARC review by Sudah on Goodreads

"A courageous heart-stopping journey by young people to save their kind." -Hildie McQueen, bestselling author of Where the Four Winds Collide

If you’d like to see a peak into our world, please view this short clip on YouTube.

If you are now ready to join our fight, please add Escapement to your TBR shelf on Goodreads. Shout out on all your social media sites, and tell everyone you know to stand up and fight.
Be Bold.
Be Brave.
Be Free.
In the name of the rebellion,
Ryder Arteres

Visit Ciara Knight to enter the giveaway.

Thanks again and hope everyone liked the cover for CassaStorm. Picking up some new books? Voting for Paying it Forward or joining the Street Team? Ready for Laura Eno’s new book? And are you part of the Neumarian uprising?