Insecure Writer’s Support Group, New Releases, and October Movie Preview

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 for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Liza at Middle Passages, JH Moncrieff, and Jemima Pett!

October 7 question - Many people are calling for writers who use AI to disclose it. Most who employ ghostwriters do not admit it - do you think authors who use ghostwriters should have to disclose that, too? (Thanks Melissa Maygrove for the question!)

If you have to say you didn’t write it, AI did, then by that logic, if a ghostwriter wrote it not you, that should be disclosed.

What do you think?

New Releases!

Bad Apps: Short Stories by Steven Arellano Rose Jr.
Bad Apps is a collection of techno-horror short stories that encounter mobile device apps that are strange, sinister, and deadly. Many of these stories deal with the weirdly scientific, while others go right to the brink of the supernatural. Some blur the lines between reality and virtual reality, others feature handheld devices that connect to parallel universes and alternate timelines.
Find it on Amazon

The Type-A Guide to Holiday Home Tours (A Sunset Ridge Mystery Book 5) By Elizabeth Spann Craig
Murder wasn’t on the checklist.
Preorder on Amazon now.

Honeymoon in Egypt: An Art Crimes Mystery by Beth Camp
This unforgettable romantic mystery takes the reader right to the bustling markets of Cairo, the towering ancient pyramids, exotic museums – and unexpected twists.
Find it on Amazon

October Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for October. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

9 –

The Social Reckoning
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Stars: Betty Gilpin, Jeremy Allen White, Mikey Madison
Follows Frances Haugen, a young Facebook engineer, who enlisted the help of Jeff Horwitz, a Wall Street Journal reporter, to blow the whistle on the social network's most guarded secrets.
Maybe it’s a guy doomscrolling for hours…

Angel and the Badman
Director: Julio Quintana
Stars: Zachary Levi, Neal McDonough, Tommy Lee Jones
A wounded outlaw finds unexpected mercy in the care of a rancher's daughter. The hope of love pulls him toward a different life until the law, and his violent past, close in on his new home. Now he must choose the kind of man he'll become.  

Angel and the Shazam!


16 –

Street Fighter
Director: Kitao Sakurai
Stars: Jason Momoa, David Dastmalchian, Noah Centineo
Street Fighters Ryu and Ken reunite when Chun-Li recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament. As they face a hidden conspiracy, they must confront each other and their past-or face destruction.
Remember when these things cost a quarter?


23 –

Wildwood
Director: Travis Knight
Stars: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan
The adventures of Prue McKeel as she sets off to the forests outside Portland to find her kidnapped brother.
Art comes to life – Claymation has come a long way…

Clayface
Director: James Watkins
Stars: Ruby Sear, Eddie Marsan, Max Minghella, Tom Rhys Harries
Rising Hollywood star Matt Hagen descends into a horrifying revenge-filled monster when scientific ambition strips him of his identity and humanity.
I might catch this one but I am skipping Clayface II: The Musical.


30-

The Mongoose
Director: Mark Vanselow
Stars: Liam Neeson, Marisa Tomei, Stella Stocker, Michael Chiklis, Ving Rhames
A highly decorated combat vet, Ryan ''Fang'' Flanagan, is fleeing a murder scene at 130 miles an hour in a Mustang Shelby Super Snake GT350.
So am I to understand Neeson has yet another very particular set of skills?

What do you think about disclosing the use of a ghostwriter? Picking up some new books? What movies are you seeing this month?

October Movie Preview, Survive and Thrive Bloghop, Movie Trivia Answers, Ninja News, and Writing Update

October Movie Preview!

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for October! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

10 –

Dracula Untold
Facing threats to his kingdom and his family, Vlad Tepes looks to make a deal with dangerous supernatural forces - without succumbing to the darkness himself.
Director: Gary Shore
Stars: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Art Parkinson
A sympathetic Dracula? As long as he doesn’t sparkle, I guess that’s all right.


17 –

Fury
April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.
Director: David Ayer
Stars: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña
Apparently there are still untold stories about WWII as well…

The Book of Life
Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
Director: Jorge R. Gutierrez
Stars: Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate
It looks unique, and with Del Toro’s name attached, there’s a good chance it will also be odd.


24 –

John Wick
When Russian mobsters kill his beloved dog, retired hit man John Wick returns to the game he played best - and brings bloody vengeance with him.
Director: Chad Stahelski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Bridget Moynahan, Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane
Yes, it’s Keanu Reeves, but don’t run! The film is actually getting a great buzz. 

Personal Update

Last Thursday, I finally finished all of my edits on my next manuscript! I’d been polishing and adding small scenes for weeks and almost to the point that I didn’t want to look at the story anymore. But I completed my task and sent it to my publisher Friday morning. Will talk more about it on Wednesday for my IWSG post.

I celebrated Friday night with pizza, beer, and Godzilla in 3D. (And the film was even better the second time. So was the 3D.)

Ninja News

Tree of Life now available!
All proceeds of the TREE OF LIFE ebook will benefit the Downey Education Fund set up for Tina’s children.
Buy it on Amazon

A Whisper of Rue by Decadent Kane

Death Knocks by Jay Noel and Miranda Hardy

Nicki Elson posted her Shelfie and look what book was just over her right shoulder. Thanks, Nicki!

Don’t forget this Wednesday is IWSG post day! If you are contributing to the anthology, IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond, be sure to either submit your work or post on October 1. (We’ve received a lot of writing pieces already and need more on publishing and marketing.)

Movie Trivia Answers

1 - Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer - Heat
2 - Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn – Reservoir Dogs
3 - Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci - Goodfellas
4 - Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin – The Usual Suspects
5 - John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis – Pulp Fiction
6 - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton – The Godfather
7 - Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro – The Untouchables

Survive and Thrive Bloghop

Monday, October 20, 2014

Stephen Tremp, Michael Di Gesu, Diane Wolfe, and myself. 

(Yes, Mark, I did just hyperlink myself…)

The blogfest is meant to bring awareness of disease prevention and early detection regarding medical conditions that may be averted or treated if caught in the early stages. Our desire is to motivate people to go in for early screening, and if a condition is caught early and treated, then our world just became a little better place to live.

The topics are wide open. You can post about a particular cause you support. Or you can share a personal or family experience that is near to your heart. What’s great about this Blogfest is you can inspire people to take care of themselves and their loved ones early enough to make a difference in their lives.

Sign up below and join us on October 20 –



Picking up some new books? Get the trivia right? Ready for IWSG post day? Joining us in the bloghop? And what movies catch your attention in October…?