Television App War, Jessica K. McKendry’s Lies and Truth, Sports Movie Trivia, and Ninja News

Jessica Therrien has a special feature called My Publishing Journey. Today, I am the guest of honor. If you’ve ever wondered how someone with no desire to become an author ended up with four books, numerous anthologies, and audio books, not to mention starting the IWSG, then visit Jessica.

The Television App War – No More Free

There’s no more free television. You’ll need an app for that. As a matter of fact, you’ll need many, many apps…

If you subscribe to cable or satellite, you still have access to most of the channels either online or through the app. With Direct TV, you can still access most of the content your paid package provides. Most. Not all.

CBS now has CBS All Access. If you want to see the new Star Trek series, you’ll have to get the CBS All Access app. By getting, I mean pay for it. Ten bucks a month.

Now, ten bucks a month isn’t bad. NetFlix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are all about that much. Each one has its own original content as well, so it’s worth the price.

But what happens when each station or channel wants a slice of the pie and its own app like CBS All Access? What happens when they start pulling their content from other apps and starting their own – like Disney, who will pull everything including Marvel movies from NetFlix next year?

What happens is a giant mess. And as it fractures more and more, it will cost more. Even if you cut the cord on cable, you’ll still need an app. Or two or three or four…

Anyone else concerned where this is going? And where it might end…?

Jessica K. McKendry and Two Lies and a Truth

Hello lovely people!

The past few days have been incredibly exciting, because first, I turned 21 on Friday! And secondly, my second novel The Inferiors (From the Ashes #2) is being released TODAY! In honor of The Inferiors release, I’m hosting a lil blog hop that you can sign up for on my blog here.

In honor of my book release and my blog hop called LIES, I’m going to give you two lies and one truth about a character in my book. (If you sign up, you can write two lies and one truth about you, about a character you’ve written about, or a character in your favorite story.) So here goes.

CHARACTER: Liam Rodan
AGE: 17

1. I used to be best friends with my worst enemy
2. I’m a player, I live for the game
3. I’m a hopeless romantic

Now you get to guess :)

Add From the Ashes and The Inferiors on Goodreads, and you can buy both on Amazon as a paperback or an eBook! (Direct link - The Inferiors)

Everyone who takes a guess and gets it right will have a chance to win a free copy of your choice of From the Ashes (#1) or The Inferiors (#2).

Have a lovely day everyone!

–Jess

Ninja News

Anne R. Allen had a great article on Sunday - Want to Increase Your Blog Readership? Kill that Popup! If you use popups on your site, or you’re thinking about it, you definitely want to read this.

C. Lee McKenzie’s young adult book, Double Negative, is up for the Readers Choice Awards. Voting is now through December 10. Find Double Negative on page 12/16.

The IWSG is partnered with Reedsy, as site that offers great content and great services. What you might not know is that IWSG members get a discount! To qualify, register with the site HERE and you’ll be eligible to get twenty-five percent off of their services. A great deal!

Don’t forget the deadline for the annual IWSG Anthology Contest is November 1 and the IWSG Show Your Writer Insecurity Contest is October 4!

New Releases!

Long time blogger buddy Helena Soister has two new releases!

Charity MacCay and the Almighty Dollar
Charity MacCay persists, and resists, and she's scheming to pull herself up by her high-heeled bootstraps while helping the people she loves.
Find it on Amazon

Charity MacCay and the Saintly Wives
In this sequel to the Almighty Dollar, Charity MacCay knows how to get into trouble, and how to be trouble for anyone who tries to hurt her or her man.
Find it on Amazon

Sports Movie Trivia

Soon we will hit the great sports overlap – football, hockey, basketball, and baseball all at the same time.

To celebrate, here is some sports movie trivia for you. Some are easy, some you’ll have to think about. But name the movie from the year released, sport, and star of the film:

1 - 2000’s, football, Sandra Bullock
2 - 80’s, baseball, Tom Berenger
3 - 90’s, golf, Kevin Costner
4 - 2000’s, horse racing, Viggo Mortensen
5 - 90’s, hockey, Russell Crowe
6 - 70’s, boxing, Sylvester Stallone
7 - 90’s, football, Sean Astin
8 - 2000’s, football, Mark Wahlberg
9 - 70’s, running, Susan Anton
10 - 80’s, baseball, Kevin Costner
11 - 90’s, bobsledding, John Candy
12 - 2000’s, jousting, Heath Ledger
13 - 80’s, rowing, Nicolas Cage
14 - 2000’s, skating, Will Ferrell

Answers on Monday!

What’s your thoughts on the app war? Can you guess Jessica’s truth and lies? Checked out Reedsy? And do you know any of the trivia?

Don’t forget to visit Jessica Therrien!

Guardians 2 Review, Snowman Movies, #IWriteBecause, A to Z Challenge Reflections, Dunkirk Trailer, and StoryBundle

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Set to Awesome Mixtape 2, the Guardians are pursued by the Sovereign race and encounter Quill’s father in the process.
While not quite as good as the first, it’s still better than ninety-nine percent of the films out there.
In 3D, the special effects just pop off the screen. It is a colorful spectacle.
The humor is there in droves. Set to ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky, the first scene is priceless. Rocket and Drax have some great lines, although Baby Groot often steals the show.
The acting is great and the characters all share equal film time. Yondu has a major role, as does Gamora’s sister, Nebula. Kurt Russell rocks. (He and Vin Diesel are in two billion dollar grossing movies this spring. Furious 8 is already over a billion and no way this one won’t follow suit.) There’s a promise to come of more Sylvester Stallone, and Mantis now joins the Guardians.
This one goes a little deeper with the emotional heartstrings and surprises you along the way.
There are many teaser endings! Stay until the very, very end.

Highly recommended!

Snowman Movies!

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Yolanda Renée’s The Snowman Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.

Yolanda’s top ten snowman movies:

1. Frosty the Snowman – 1969 animation. Snowman comes to life via a magic hat and goes in search of Santa.
Snowmen with legs, creepy! Not to mention kidnapping.

2. Abominable Snowman – 1957 staring Peter Cushing. An English botanist and an American scientist lead an expedition to the Himalayas in search of the legendary Yeti. They find him but…
There is no yeti! Oh, really????

3. The Falcon and the Snowman – 1985 with Sean Penn – A spy movie involving two friends and secrets fed to Russia.
Treason as a way to solve the problem of crooked politicians? Don’t see it!

4. Jack Frost - 1997 American horror comedy film – Jack Frost is headed for execution but runs into some genetic material that turns him into a Snowman! He goes on a killing spree.
Can you say yuck!!!! OMG, and there’s a sequel!!

5. Jack Frost – 1998 with Michael Keaton. A father dies and comes back as a Snowman.
Does not make up for killing Bambi’s mother. Creep factor – maximum!

6. Snowmen –2011 with Christopher Lloyd – Youngsters fight the bullies and try to make a name for themselves by building the most snowmen in one day.
News flash: snowmen don’t last forever.

7. The Snowman and the Snow Dog – 2012
Mourning the loss of his pet he creates a snowman and a snowdog.
Snowdog = cute. Flying snowmen, why?

8. Deadly Descent: The Abominable Snowman (2013) Skiing for your life to get away from the killer Snowmen!
Okay – how bad can it get? As bad as you imagine. 

 9. Harry & Snowman - 2016 An Amish plow horse is rescued from the glue factory and wins the Triple Crown.
This is a Snowman Story that won my heart! No snark!

10. The Snowman – 2017 Author Jo Nesbo beat me to the punch. His crime drama is now a movie hitting the big screen this October!
Damn!

Thanks, Alex, for allowing me to visit during The Snowman tour.


THE SNOWMAN by Yolanda Renée

It takes a true artist to pursue his victims in the art of seduction, and Stowy Jenkins is no exception, especially with blood as his medium.

There is a tour-wide giveaway HERE.
Find The Snowman at Amazon
Find Yolanda: Blog Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Dunkirk Trailer

The next film from director Christopher Nolan…

“Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.”

Dunkirk is set for release on July 21st 2017 and features a cast that includes Nolan regulars Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy alongside Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, Jack Lowden, James D’Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Tom Glynn-Carney and newcomer Fionn Whitehead.

#IWriteBecause

The IWSG is now partnering with Reedsy on some upcoming events, and today, May 8, is a big one!

Through the #IWriteBecause project, we want to raise awareness about the power of writing. Above all, writing is not just a vocation or a hobby; it’s one of the greatest ways to express our thoughts and get our message out.
At Reedsy, we believe that every child, regardless of geography, gender or economics, should have access to education and the freedom to raise their voice and share their message with the world. That’s why, for every writer who shares their story, Reedsy will donate $10 to Room to Read — a non-profit organization that seeks to provide girls in Africa and Asia with access to education.

The IWSG asks members to Tweet and re-Tweet #IWriteBecause Monday, May 8!

Story Bundle Deal

What is StoryBundle?

StoryBundle is a way for people who love to read to discover quality indie books written by indie authors. We take a handful of books—anywhere from six to nine—and group them together to offer as a bundle. Then you, the reader, can take a look at the titles we've chosen and decide how much you'd like to pay.
This month’s bundle includes books from Milo James Fowler and Catherine Stine. Visit StoryBundle to see all the books.

A to Z Challenge Reflections

The A to Z Challenge is now over and today is for posting reflections on last month’s event.

I participated in the first seven Challenges. But not number eight. I was on board as a consultant although no longer managing the Linky List, as there wasn’t one.

From comments on the main blog, it looks like around 500 blogs participated this year.
Last year, there were 1300.
The year before that, there were 2000.

With the changes in blogging, the participation has slowly declined. There was more emphasis on posting links on Facebook and Twitter this year, but it is still a blogging event.

The A to Z Challenge helped me grow my blog in the beginning and I will forever be grateful. Growth is hard to gauge now with GFC slowly dying and Google+ being a mixed bag. I can’t even follow blogs using GFC anymore – I get an error message. (So to those who have followed me in the past year, sorry I can’t reciprocate – I do try to add you to my Feedly reader or follow on Google+.)

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is now my focus and growing fast – our second anthology release, Hero Lost, Facebook group, Twitter, newsletter, Goodreads, #IWSGPit, and more. That is where I need to focus my attention.

Anyone else see Guardians 2? Think Snowman movies are creepy? (I do!) What do you think of Dunkirk? Can you Tweet #IWriteBecause? And what were your thoughts about this past Challenge?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Hero Lost Release, May Movie Preview, 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 Nancy Gideon, Tamara Narayan, Liesbet @ Roaming About, Michelle Wallace, and Feather Stone!

May question - What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research for your story?

I kept hearing how important research was. So, for my fourth book, I decided to do some intensive research before I began to write. Sea kelp plays an integral role in Dragon of the Stars. It’s an energy source, a food, and a drug.

I did extensive research online, gathering pages upon pages of information.

And while it helped to shape the story, almost none of what I learned made it to the page.

If anyone wants to know more about sea kelp, please let me know.  I can hook you up...

The IWSG anthology is out now!

Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Print ISBN 9781939844361
eBook ISBN 9781939844378

Can a lost hero find redemption?
What if Death himself wanted to die? Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever the caretaker of a house of mystery?
Delving into the depths of the tortured hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay, Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and Sarah Foster.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero’s redemption!

Find on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, and Goodreads

And visit Michelle Wallace today for a special feature with the authors of Hero Lost!

Ninja News

Special shout-out to Laura Brambrey! She featured CassaStar in a segment regarding non-romantic love stories. (If you’ve not read CassaStar, it follows two ‘brothers’ in a war.)
Laura says: The one that instantly springs to mind actually comes from a genre that sits outside of my usual comfort zone. Cassa Star by Alex J. Cavanaugh is pure sci-fi, but it’s a book that I have now re-read over half a dozen times for the central relationship - the friendship of the young pilot, Byron, and the older, more experienced navigator, Bassa. Cavanaugh crafts their story in such a way that, although they may be training and fighting in the far reaches of the galaxy, their friendship develops like a classic romance. And every single time I’ve read it, it has reduced me to an emotional, sobbing wreck.
I still feel bad I make her cry though.
Thanks, Laura!

Reedsy just posted a great article - Dynamic Character: How to write a compelling protagonist.
They have a lot of great articles and resources. If you’re not following the site or subscribed to their newsletter, then you need to check it out.

New release:

Where Words Fail, Music Speaks
A collection of short stories and poetry by writers from all walks of life.
Featuring stories from Annalisa Crawford, Clare Dugmore, Kyra Lennon, and more.

Ultimate Principle: A DCI Lane Rivers Novel by NJ Burggraf
The job is brutal. It sucks every ounce of life out of you.
Find on Amazon

May Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for May! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

5 –

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.
Director: James Gunn
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Now, repeat after me. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot!
Oh yeah – this is going to rock!



12 –

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Robbed of his birthright, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy - whether he likes it or not.
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Annabelle Wallis, Hermione Corfield
Sherlock Holmes meets Excalibur. With Guy Ritchie, you know it will be quirky.


19 –

Alien: Covenant
The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, James Franco, Noomi Rapace
Hopefully the covenant is Thou Shall Not Suck as Bad as Prometheus…


26 -

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the trident of Poseidon.
Directors: Joachim Rønning | Espen Sandberg
Stars: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Orlando Bloom
One day, dead series will tell no more movies…

Baywatch
Devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchanan butts heads with a brash new recruit. Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.
Director: Seth Gordon
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon Larracuente
Why do they keep turning all of our 80’s dramas into slapstick comedies?

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever researched? Picking up Hero Lost? What book made you cry? What movies are you looking forward to this month?

And we need IWSG co-hosts for June, July, and August! Let me know if you can co-host.

Fantastic Beasts and Hacksaw Ridge Movie Reviews! Plus When Animals Attack, New Releases, and Ninja News

Hey guys! Hope your Thanksgiving was great. I certainly enjoyed my week with family. I’m happy to be back, though.

And today, I am appearing at Lidy Wilks’ site, Paving My Author’s Road, discussing what to do when a publishing deal goes south. (No one knows what that’s like, right?)

Movie Reviews

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Set in 1926 America, the film is both familiar and fresh. We have the wizard world backdrop with all new characters and a new location. (And some new terms – in America, Muggles are called No-Maj.)
The creatures themselves are indeed fantastic; some even a little bit mischievous. But Newt (Eddie Redmayne) is determined to keep them safe during his final stop in New York. One gets out, sending Newt on a path of not only catching the escaped beasts, but unravelling the mystery of the force attacking the city.
The actors do a fine job. Dan Fogler has some of the best moments in the film.
Rowling played it safe with the screenplay. Some elements are overplayed (the old briefcases-get-switched trick) and a LOT of time is spent setting up and establishing Newt’s character before the real story gets underway. The film could’ve been trimmed by about fifteen minutes and the story a bit more focused.
Overall, it was enjoyable and Harry Potter fans will eat it up.
Somewhat recommended.

Hacksaw Ridge
The true story of a WWII Army Medic who becomes the first man to win the Medal of Honor without carrying or firing a weapon.
This is a very moving human story. It’s about one man’s convictions, not just as a conscientious objector, but to do what he was called to do. Private Doss followed God despite the circumstances.
Director Gibson knows how to involve you in the characters and the story. Once the action begins, it’s all encompassing. It’s powerful and intense – the war scenes are brutally honest. Despite the violence, it’s a beautiful film.
Andrew Garfield fit well as Doss – genuine, a little naïve, and convicted. Weaving and Vaughn turn in great performances and it’s probably Worthington’s best performance since Avatar.
A powerful, moving film and a possible Oscar contender. (And at the end, you get to see some of the real men involved, including Doss.) Highly recommended.

Hell or High Water
Two brothers rob various branches of the bank threatening to foreclose on their family’s land with a retiring Texas Ranger in pursuit.
This is a small film with the same vibe as No Country for Old Men but more laid-back. It shows how people can do the wrong thing for the right reason – do the ends justify the means?
Chris Pine and Ben Foster turn in excellent performances as the wayward brothers. In the role of an aging Texas Ranger, Jeff Bridges is ornery, funny, and wildly racist (at the expense of his half-Comanche partner.) The West Texas setting is a character as well, one reeking of crushed dreams.
This film surprised me. Probably another Oscar contender. Highly recommended.

When Animals Attack

When Animals Attack, edited by Vanessa Morgan, is now available for pre-order – and I am one of the contributing authors!

The definitive horror movie guide for fans of killer animals and “nature strikes back” movies.

When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals provides a fascinating and entertaining insight into the cinematographic world of animals on the rampage. From well-known predators such as sharks and lions to unusual killing machines like turkeys, elephants, frogs, cats, and rabbits, there is no shortage of the species on display in this book.

Leading horror writers and filmmakers present their favorite “animals attack” films through in-depth essays. Some of the films are touching, some are repulsive, and some are just plain silly. Not all of these horror movies line up with the critical consensus, yet they have one thing in common: they have made the heart of the writer beat faster with excitement.

Find it on Amazon, Amazon UK, and Goodreads

Ninja News

If you’re looking for new blogs, Site Hound Sniffs has a great listing, broken down into categories. Site owner Jerry has put a lot of effort into building it up, so check it out – and definitely email him about including your blog.

Random shot –

Mini-Alex hanging out with a Heptapod from Arrival.




Reedsy posted a great article - Writing in Third Person Omniscient vs Third Person Limited – that you need to check out.

CassaDawn comes out on Tuesday, December 6!

You can pre-order it now.

New Releases

Catalyst by Kristin Smith
(The Deception Game, #1)
Too pretty.
Too smart.
Too perfect.
In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in.
Find it here: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo
Find Kristin here: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Blog

From Story Idea to Reader by Patsy Collins and Rosemary J. Kind
Available November 30
From Story Idea to Reader is an easily accessible guide to writing fiction. Whether you are brushing up on your writing skills or starting out, this book will take you through the whole process from inspiration to conclusion. No matter if you are looking to submit your work for publication, enter a competition, or want to self-publish, this practical guide will help you every step of the way.
Find it on Amazon

100 Haiku for the 80s Generation by Dean K. Miller and Kerrie Flanagan
Find at Hot Chocolate Press and Amazon

Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose
Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
Available at Amazon

Anyone else see Fantastic Beasts or Hacksaw Ridge? Have you see Hell or High Water? Eager to see what movies When Animals Attack covers? (And which movie I wrote about?) Picking up some new books? And how was your Thanksgiving holiday?

I’ll be back next Wednesday for Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day.

Don’t forget to visit Paving My Author’s Road!

A to Z Challenge – Z – Cult Classics: Rob Zombie, Zap Gun, and More! Plus may Preview – San Andreas, Challenge Reflection Post, IWSG, and Ninja News

Last day of the Challenge – we did it!

A to Z Challenge– Cult Classics –Z

Movies-Music-Sci-fi Book-Bloggers-Dragon Term

Movie –

Zardoz
This bizarre post-apocalyptic film was written, produced, and directed by John Boorman in 1974. It features star Sean Connery in the worst outfit ever.

Music –

Rob Zombie – Hellbilly Deluxe
His best-selling album to date, Rob’s first solo album away from White Zombie went Triple Platinum. Giving homage to horror films, the album featured such hits as Dragula and Living Dead Girl.

Science Fiction Book –

The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick
This 1967 novel was originally published as a serial and was one of his earliest works.

Blogger –

PK Hrezo
Want to follow someone who is multi-talented in writing and in art? Follow someone with a genuine heart, compassion, and passion for what is right? Then you need to be following author PK!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Zeal
Defined at ‘great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.’ While Aden’s pursuit of a command and the queen’s daughter is more dogged and methodical, Ensign Pavott’s pursuits are more heartfelt and passionate.

Dragon of the Stars is out now!
Check out the site What Are the Kargrandes? for clues as to how they tie into the story.

Ninja News

Next week will be the A to Z Challenge Reflections posts. Post your thoughts on this year’s Challenge anytime Monday-Friday and then add your direct link over at the A to Z Blog.

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


Reedsy is a great site for authors with tips and more, connecting writers with other industry professionals. They just started a new feature for authors to create a profile and integrate their social media, goodreads, amazon and blogging platform in one place. Get the details HERE.

Available today!
The Dragon Chronicles
Featuring a short story by Ted Cross - Dragon Play.


Cindy Borgne, who blogs at Dreamer’s Perch, has another blog called Good Book Alert. They are looking for indie authors to guest post, plus reviewers. If interested, see the site for details.

The Blood, Boobs, and Carnage Blogfest is May18 - movie/show/book that exemplifies the theme. (Or part of theme.) Hosted by me and Heather Gardner.

May Movie Preview

Here is the final upcoming theatrical release for May. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

May 29 -

San Andreas
In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter.
Director: Brad Peyton
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario, Carla Gugino, Colton Haynes
Fissures will open, buildings will crumble, and pecs will jiggle.

Have you suffered through Zardoz? Fan of Rob Zombie? Ready for the IWSG next week? Signed up for the blogfest? Going to see San Andreas? And how do you feel about the end of the Challenge…?

(I am BEAT! I’ll be taking Friday OFF and enjoying Avengers: Age of Ultron and some time with my wife. Catch up with comments on Saturday.)

And if you missed it, yesterday I visited Janice Hardy’s Fiction University and discussed the pros and cons of small presses.

2015 A to Z Challenge List Open, What Are the Kargrandes, Share Your Thoughts Bloghop, and Ninja News

If you are a self-published author, you need to check out a new site called Reedsy. They connect authors with professional editors, illustrators, etc. They also have a blog packed with tips and information, and today I am visiting that site as a guest of Ricardo Fayet, co-founder of Reedsy. Please drop by!

Special thanks to those of you who took the time to listen to my guitar piece last week. You are greatly appreciated! If you missed it, I posted a snippet of me playing Marillion’s Easter.

Kargrandes Update!

New clue today at What Are the Kargrandes? Every Monday is a new piece of information about the Kargrandes from my upcoming book, Dragon of the Stars. Any ideas yet? Know how they are connected to the Dragon?

Sample Tweets for this week:

What are the Kargrandes? Third clue up this week- http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes @alexjcavanaugh

Can you solve the mystery – what are the Kargrandes? http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes #scifi @alexjcavanaugh

And in other book news, I’d like to thank Lily Eva Blake for her wonderful review of CassaFire!

Ninja News – New Releases

This Wednesday at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group site is none other than author Medeia Sharif! Want to know how she went from parting from her agent to four books in one year? Check it out Wednesday and find out.


Ashes Burn Season 1: Ashes Away by Tyrean Martinson
Comes out January 28 and you can pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Fade Into Me by Charity Bradford
Charity will be a guest here on February 9.

Woven by David Powers King and Michael Jenson
Comes out January 27!
David will be a guest here on February 11.

The Seventh Man by Lisa-Buie Collard
And you can enter to win a free book!

Evening of the Dragonfly by Mary Montagues Sikes

Twice in a Blue Moon by Cate Masters

Share Your Thoughts Bloghop

Hosted by Jamie Ayres to celebrate the release of 18 Thoughts, the third installment in the My So-Called Afterlife trilogy.

Each person participating will post a thought (belief) that has defined their life, their way of thinking. Post up to 18 if you’re feeling adventurous and post any time between Jan. 21 and Jan. 28. I’ll pick 2-3 winners each day.

I’m going to give you the one belief I live my life by:

I believe God rules and God reigns, His son Jesus Christ died for my sins, and I live under the tenets of grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

(And on a lighter note, I also believe speed limit signs are merely suggestions!)

The 2015 A to Z Challenge List is Open!

Please read and follow the sign-up instructions outlined below so you sign onto the list correctly!

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, 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.

The A to Z Challenge is a great way to get into the blogging habit and make new friends. For more details and its history, go HERE

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.

Blogs must be on an open platform – no Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. – and comments enabled.

To streamline legitimate blogs from advertisement blogs, the Co-Hosts will be visiting each blog on this list throughout the Challenge. Blogs on the list showing no activity once the Challenge starts or miss five days in a row will be removed.

Please note your blog name and number in all correspondences. Remember that as blogs are removed, your number will change.

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. See the first few blogs on the list for examples. However, if your blog has adult content, you MUST mark it (AC) or it will be removed from the list. Codes are as follows:

ANIMALS: (AN)
ART: (AR)
BOOKS/REVIEWS: (BO)
CRAFTS: (CR)
CULINARY: (CU)
EDUCATION: (ED)
FASHION: (FA)
FILM/MOVIES: (FM)
GAMING: (GA)
GARDENING: (GR)
HISTORY: (HI)
HUMOR: (HU)
LIFESTYLE: (LI )
MEMOIR: (ME)
MUSIC: (MU)
MYTHOLOGY: (MY)
PERSONAL: (PR)
PHOTOGRAPHY: (PH)
POLITICS: (PO)
SCIENCE: (SC)
SOCIAL MEDIA: (SO)
SPORTS: (SP)
TRAVEL: (TR)
WRITING/STORYTELLING: (WR)
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 Challenge Blog.

For more information we recommend you follow the A to Z Challenge Blog and the hosts:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy @ Hollywood Nuts
Nicole Ayers @ The Madlab Post
Author Stephen Tremp
Heather M. Gardner
AJ @ Naturally Sweet
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian
Matthew MacNish @ The QQQE
Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary
S. L. Hennessy @ Pensuasion
C. Lee McKenzie @ The Write Game
Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot
Susan Gourley @ Susan Says
John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing
Lisa Buie-Collard, Author

We also have a Facebook Page
Email address is contactatozteam@gmail.com
Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge and Twitter id is @AprilA2Z

Sign up at the A to Z Challenge Blog and join us for a month of alphabet fun!


Know What Are the Kargrandes? See some new books you want? What thought or believe do you live by? And are you joining us for the A to Z Challenge, the most awesome blogging event of the year? (Please do – it’s a lot of fun!)

Don’t forget to visit Reedsy’s blog.