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!

Live RiffTrax Experience, How I Miss You Blogfest, Writing a Series, Who’s Your Hero, Foodie Blog Hop, and Ninja News

Riff Trax Live!

Worth every penny! (That’s Bill and Kevin in the photo.)

For those who wonder – what is RiffTrax? – here is the skinny:

Twenty-four years ago, Mystery Science Theater 3000 started, and it was a man and two robots making fun of bad movies. (You could see their silhouettes in the bottom corner.) When MST3K ended its very long run, the three guys started RiffTrax. They recorded the same snarky dialogue and jokes for hundreds of movies, good or bad. You download their riff and synch it up to the actual movie – and then sit back and laugh your ass off.

They started doing live performances, and those were broadcast to theaters across the USA. (With humorous slides shown beforehand, like the two here.) It grew to be huge, and they now do multiple shows a year. (Next one is December 4.) This past showing was a big deal because they filmed it LIVE in Durham, NC. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to see Mike, Kevin, and Bill in person, my wife and I hit the road and headed north.

It was an incredible experience! Nothing like being in a crowd of ‘your peeps.’ (Many came in costume.) They tackled the movie Anaconda, and it wasn’t difficult to parody. Folks, it was cheesy when it came out, but now it looks AWFUL. There is a scene where the waterfall is flowing UP. And the snake screams. Really! It was bad…

If RiffTrax comes near you, go!!

Five Tips For Writing A Series by Joy Campbell

Alex, many thanks for hosting me on the Island Adventure Romance tour.

I stumbled into writing this series because of a quirky secondary character with an interesting history. The books in the Island Adventure Romance Series are a combination of action, adventure and romance and can be read in any order. I've enjoyed writing these stories that have been described as well-written and compelling, with vibrant characters.

What are some important considerations when writing a series?

1. Compelling Characters - Create unique characters that readers will remember long after they finish reading. This can be done through character traits, interesting quirks or personal habits.

2. Meaningful Journeys - Give your characters goals that make their risk taking worthwhile. Their journey must result in growth at the end of the novel.

3. Unique Challenges - Each main character should be given a set of challenges that make their story distinct.

4. Return Visits - Readers like to catch up with characters from other books, so arrange little drop-ins to keep your fans updated on their favourite individuals.

5. Diminishing returns - Know when you hit the point where it's time to close a series. Don't get caught up in making money and forget good sense. Start a new book or series when there are no stories left to tell in the current one.

You may enter to win a ten dollar ($10.00) Amazon voucher or an e-copy of the entire Island Adventure Romance collection on the Rafflecopter HERE.

J.L. Campbell lives in Jamaica and writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She also writes non-fiction and is a certified editor. Visit her website or her Amazon page. She's enjoys good company, so feel free to follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.

Who’s Your Hero Blogfest

Hosted by Joy Campbell

I have many heroes.
My wife, who continues to prod me when I want to give up. My parents, who set such a great example of a solid marriage. My blogger friends, who’ve accomplished some amazing things. The IWSG Admins and A to Z Challenge Co-Hosts, who tackle their responsibilities with gusto.

And of course my greatest hero, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m grateful to have a relationship with someone who was willing to die for me despite my imperfection. He’s my peace and steadfast rock. I’ll always fall short, but fortunately He always forgives me.

Who is your hero?

Foodie Blog Hop

Hosted by Holly Sinclair

She is celebrating the end of her tour with her cookbooks and wanted us to post about food. I could go on about how much I dig Thai food or post my favorite Chinese recipe, but I thought I’d just let you know what Mini-Alex Likes best:

Ninja News

And the winner of the Trick or Treat Bloghop is… Christine Rains!
Congratulations!

Charity Bradford has started a Kickstarter campaign for her next book.
I've decided to self-publish my latest novel FADE INTO ME. This book really highlights my growth as a writer. It's also the first book where I feel I let myself "out of the box." Before I send this book into the world, I want to make sure it's the best it can be. This means hiring a professional editor and typesetter. I'm not here to ask you to back me, but can you help me spread the word about my Kickstarter project? Finding people interested in this story is what will make the difference.
To donate, go HERE

Out now - What Time Is the Tea Kettle? By Andrew Leon

Just released - Nobody Knows (Razes Hell Book 1) by Kyra Lennon
Find it pn Amazon,Amazon UK, and Goodreads

How I Miss You Blogfest!

It’s that time of year again! 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!

Join us November 24!



Who wants to go see RiffTrax now? Ready to write a series? Who is your hero? Favorite food? And what bloggers do you miss…?

Don’t forget Wednesday is Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day!

Teleportation! Plus My W4WS Day, How I Miss You Blogfest, Ninja News, and Horror Taglines Trivia Answers

Today I tackle teleportation at Stephen Tremp’s awesome SITE! When did the concept emerge? How has it figured into science fiction? And is it possible…?

Writers4Writers

Hosted by Stephen Tremp, Mary Pax, Christine Rains, and CM Brown.

I have the honor of sharing W4WS today with the awesome Isis Rushdan. That’s right! It’s the Ninja’s turn today. And was it ever difficult coming up with the Tweets and Facebook posts.

Thank you to the hosts and to all the W4WS members – and anyone else who helps – for your efforts today.

For Twitter –

For fans of #StarWars and #Heinlein – CassaStorm by @alexjcavanaugh Amazon Best Selling author http://tinyurl.com/n9hrssx #W4WS #spaceopera

Space opera with heart – the Amazon Best Selling series by @alexjcavanaugh http://tinyurl.com/n5qdaqt #spaceopera #bestseller #W4WS

“CassaStorm pushes the limits…” best-selling #spaceopera by @alexjcavanaugh http://tinyurl.com/n9hrssx #W4WS #scifi

For Facebook-

"CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery." - Edi's Book Lighthouse. From the Amazon Best Selling author Alex J. Cavanaugh http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/ Available in print and eBook at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/n9hrssx, B&N, iTunes, and others. Watch the trailer on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Umm2l0XdHc&feature=youtu.be #W4WS

For fans of Heinlein and Star Wars – space opera with a heart! CassaStorm concludes the Amazon Best Selling series by Alex J. Cavanaugh. http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/ Available in print and eBook at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/n9hrssx, B&N, iTunes, and others. #W4WS

Ninja News

Nicole Zoltack’s Black Hellbore is out today in eBook – print coming in January. Congratulations, Nicole!

Rachel Morgan’s The Faerie War is out today!! Congratulations, Rachel. You have wrapped up your awesome trilogy.

Milo James Fowler had some exciting news this weekend - Captain Bartholomew Quasar and the Space-Time Displacement Conundrum, his first novel, will be published next year! The novel will first be serialized for subscribers, followed by an eBook and print release. Congratulations, Milo!

Cherie Reich’s epic YA short story, Magna’s Plea, is available and free at Amazon. Congratulations, Cherie!

Toinette Thomas is celebrating her birthday today by independently publishing two new works of fiction! Happy birthday, Toinette. I think you mentioned cupcakes…?

Kyra Lennon is hosting the Game On Bloghop October 28-31. To celebrate the second edition release of Game On, Kyra wants to know – who is your sports crush? Get the details at her site.

Remember, every Monday is a new post at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website. We’ve also added a lot of new sites to the databanks, so check often.

Pat at it’s Rhyme Time created this video - Orlin The Rhyming Cat - The Ninja Wannabe. If you’ve visited Pat and read about the Ninja Wannabe, no need to be confused, it’s just me. (A rhyme in your honor, Pat!) As if the lyrics and head-butting from a cat puppet weren’t enough, just wait until you see what Cassie does with me in the end…

Horror Movie Tagline Trivia Answers

1 - Ding dong. You're dead. 1986 House
2 - Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas. 1992 Army of Darkness
3 - Man is the warmest place to hide. 1992 The Thing
4 - The good news is your dates are here. The bad news is…they're dead. 1986 Night of the Creeps
5 - The night HE came home. 1978 Halloween
6 - Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders...and another one in a dish on his desk. 1985 Re-Animator

The Second Annual Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest! 

November 8, 2013 - hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish

The bloggers we really miss…and the ones we would really miss!

Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished? Now is your chance to show your appreciation and spotlight them!

On November 8, list one to three bloggers you really miss and one to three bloggers you would miss if they stopped blogging. Then go leave a comment on those blogs.

Our blogger friends are special – time to let them know!

Sign up below!



Thanks to all who send out the W4WS messages! Picking up some new books? Enjoy the video – even at my expense? Get any of the trivia correct? And can you think of some bloggers you miss…?

Don’t forget to visit Stephen Tremp!

Ninja News, Writers4Writers, and the I Miss You Blogfest!

It’s Time for the I Miss You Blogfest!

But first…

Ninja News

Cassie Mae and Tara Tyler hit 500 followers and are holding a giveaway! Tara is creating a blog banner for one lucky winner, and I’m sure you’ve seen her awesome banners all over the blogging world. Cassie is giving away a manuscript critique since she’s now in demand. (I’m sure I had nothing to do with that…)

Denise at L’Aussie Writer is hosting a Holiday Spirit Blogfest that runs December 12 – 21. For this Holiday Spirit blogfest (open to the whole blogosphere), RFW is looking for excerpts of up to 800 words of fiction or non-fiction stories of family tradition, favorite/unique recipes, inspirational articles, etc.; that involve the essence of the holiday spirit.

And on Monday, November 19, the details of this blog event, hosted by Mark “The Madman” Koopman, ”Marvelous” Morgan Shamy, Stephen “Breakthrough” Tremp, and David “Kingpin” Powers King, will be revealed. You’ll be surprised. You’ll be mystified. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kiss three bucks goodbye… (Wait, that’s the tagline for the spoof Hardware Wars!) Safe to say, you will not be expecting it. Like the Spanish Inquisition. No one expects the Spanish Inquisition… (Wait, that’s a Monty Python skit!) Just forget all you know, or think you know… (Crap, that’s the tagline from Willow!) Just tune in Monday!

Writers4Writers (W4WS)

Mission:
· Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people
· Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, whatever)
· Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over
· Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following
· Create verbal and viral buss.

In A Nut Shell: the spotlighted author (December will be Nancy Thompson and her book The Mistaken) will choose a social media avenue such as Twitter or Facebook (or both). Then, the good people of Blogdom will promote the author’s book to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends, that is, incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own.

Hosted by Stephen Tremp, Mary Pax, Christine Rains, and CM Brown. You can also visit the W4WS Facebook page HERE.

Kickoff is December 6!

I Miss You Blogfest

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

The bloggers we really miss…
and the ones we would really miss!

Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished? Now is your chance to show your appreciation and spotlight them!
List one to three bloggers you really miss and one to three bloggers you would miss if they stopped blogging. Then go leave a comment on those blogs.
Our blogger friends are special – time to let them know!

The bloggers I miss

Clarissa Draper After her book release, Clarissa posted just a little bit less, and then she went on vacation for a month. I’ve known her for two and a half years and really miss Clarissa’s words of wisdom. (Fortunately, she is now back from vacation! So maybe I won’t have to miss her anymore.)

Jeffrey Beesler Met Jeffrey the summer of 2010 and he became a good friend and critique partner. His books and real life events have kept him busy though. He used to post daily, featuring theme weeks, and I could always count on seeing his comments. I really miss seeing Jeffrey around the blogging world.

Baygirl After over two years of her wit, I really came to appreciate Baygirl’s fun posts, which often included pictures. She posts much less now and there’s a definite void without her voice online.

The bloggers I would miss if they quit:

All of you! Really, how can I select just three people? Everyone who visits is important to me. I notice when any of you are gone for a few days. I could do a really long post and say something wonderful about all of you. But since I’m restricted to just three…

Jeremy at Retro-Zombie If I’m ever backed into a corner, I want Jeremy at my side. Only once before have I met someone so willing to do anything to help another. He’d give you the shirt off his back. He has a graphics business, and yet he’s so willing to do them for free for his friends. I can always count on Jeremy. If you’ve ever visited his site and thought ‘odd,’ then you just don’t understand the heart of the man behind that blog. Jeremy rocks, and hopefully he never leaves us.

Ella at Ella’s Edge I met Ella during the first A to Z Challenge. She is without a doubt the most creative person I have ever met. She sees the beauty in the simplest things, and her words flow like a gentle stream. Even her artwork, crafts, and photos are poetic. She has a peace about her that speaks volumes of love. I would miss her spirit and the safe haven that is her blog if she ever left us.

Chuck at Apocalypse Now No other way to say it – Chuck is THE MAN. It didn’t take me long after finding his blog two and a half years ago to realize that Chuck and I have a lot in common. He’s someone I could hang with and shoot the breeze over a couple drinks. Chuck is one of the most supportive people I know – I think he’s talked more people into buying my books than I have! He’s dedicated and possesses a great sense of humor. Hopefully when the Mayan calendar runs out next month and his countdown to the Apocalypse ends, Chuck doesn’t vanish on us.

Your turn – who do you miss and who would you miss?

List of participants below. Feel free to join us!



Signing up for Cassie and Tara’s giveaway? Joining the Holiday Spirit Blogfest? Signed up for Writers4Writers? Who do you miss or would miss in the blogging world? And don’t forget to come back Monday…

Metal & Science Fiction, Ninja News, Wish The Awakening, Movie Review, and the Next Great Blogfest!

Today I am visiting Jamie at Mithril Wisdom! Jamie has been a special blogger buddy since the first A to Z Challenge. His theme for this past Challenge was fantasy metal. Well, my guest post today is about science fiction metal! If you like science fiction or rock music, visit Mithril Wisdom for the best of both worlds. There may be movie-music trivia involved...

Ninja News

Thanks for all the kind words you guys left on Friday’s POST! Nancy was very happy to see so much support for her new book, The Mistaken, and I was grateful for the comments regarding the two-year anniversary of CassaStar’s release. You guys rock!

Tara Tyler just signed a book deal with Curiosity Quills – congratulations, Tara!

Wish, The Awakening

The ever-awesome Laura Eno has a new book!

Wish, The Awakening – by Laura Eno
YA dark fantasy

Most residents of Pine Hill shy away from seventeen-year-old Lelah without knowing why. It's the Djinn magic surging through her blood. She lives in a world where wishes are really curses, dark power meant to twist and deceive in unimaginable ways. When a fit of temper exposes Lelah for what she really is, she must flee to a sanctuary only whispered about, before her family is exposed and enslaved by their ancient enemy. What she discovers is a treacherous path filled with power, lies, and betrayal – a path that's destined to ensnare her and destroy a civilization.

Purchase it in print at Amazon and as an eBook at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

About the Author:
Laura Eno lives in Florida with a very tolerant husband, three skulking cats and two absurdly happy dogs. After spending years immersed in college but never figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up, she now writes novels late at night with the help of muses from the underworld. And, no, she still hasn't grown up but that's okay.

Laura, we hope you don’t ever grow up!

Movie Review

The Hunger Games
Finally watched this one on NetFlix. The storyline borrows from Battle Royale (sans extreme violence and action) and The Running Man (sans extreme violence and action and the cheesy fun factor.) I’ve not read the books, but I can understand the appeal of a strong female heroine. Don’t hate me, but sorry, I was a little bored watching this film. Maybe I missed something…

The Next Great Blogfest – Are You Ready?

I Miss You Blogfest
November 16 2012
Hosted by Andrew Leon, Matthew MacNish, and Alex J. Cavanaugh

The bloggers we really miss…
and the ones we would really miss!

Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished? Now is your chance to show your appreciation and spotlight them!

On November 16, list one to three bloggers you really miss and one to three bloggers you would miss if they stopped blogging. Then go leave a comment on those blogs.

Our blogger friends are special – time to let them know!

Sign up below:



Did you pick up Nancy’s book? Excited for Tara? Picking up Laura’s book? And are you ready for a blogfest where we can show our blogging buddies how much we appreciate them?

Don’t forget to visit Mithril Wisdom!
 
And I may not be posting Wednesday... Just so you know.