A to Z Challenge – R – Cult Classics: Rush, Reservoir Dogs, Ringworld, and More! Plus New Jurassic World Trailer and New Releases

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – R

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

Movies –

Re-Animator
Loosely based on an H.P. Lovecraft story, this film is one of Entertainment Weekly’s top cult films and launched actor Jeffrey Combs’ career.

Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino’s debut film features an all-star cast and extreme violence. A favorite at its Sundance Film Festival debut, it’s heralded by Empire magazine as the greatest independent film ever made.

Music –

Rush – Hemispheres
The band’s sixth studio album was a landmark of complex progressive rock music and featured their first instrumental, an overly-ambitious piece called La Villa Strangiato.

Science Fiction Book –

Ringworld – Larry Niven
This 1970 novel spawned three sequels, four prequels, and ties in with other books set in Known Space. It won the Nebula, Hugo, and Locus awards.

Bloggers –

Rebecca Bradley
Do you enjoy crime fiction with a British flair? Want to know more about first drafts? Want to follow an author who fights through incredible physical challenges? Then visit Rebecca today!

Rhonda Albom at Albom Adventures
Do you enjoy traveling? Sailing? Amazing photos? Want to know how to travel around the world on a shoestring budget? Then you need to meet writer and photographer Rhonda from New Zealand!

Robyn Campbell
Want to meet a friendly and supportive writer? One who also faces challenges but with grace and strong moral values? Then you need to get to know this amazing woman!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Ryzell
The Ryzell is a Hyrathian battleship. When the story begins, Aden Pendar is the Lt. Commander, second in command to Captain Jaxon Fyall. Her crew includes Lt. Shadvey, the squadron leader; Lt. Asher, senior weapons officer, and Ensign Pavott, junior weapons officer. The Ryzell is one of the first ships to see action in war.

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.

New Releases!

Last fall, I had the honor of being a judge in a high school anthology contest. And now the book is out!
Bold New Worlds edited by Charity Bradford
12 Students – 12 Stories
Find it on Amazon

Vibrizzio by Nicki Elson

Lyssa Bates doesn't need a man. Not when the world is fully stocked with double A batteries and a wide array of options in Amazon's health and sexual wellness category.

Nicki asked me this: Because you're a guy, I'd love to also get your one sentence (or less) honest reaction to that blurb.

My honest reaction – Oh, my!

Pick it up on Amazon

On the Altar by Jeff Chapman

Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich
A legend awakens…
Now available in print and ebook formats on Amazon.
The eBook is on sale for $0.99 until April 30th.

Blood, Boobs, and Carnage Blogfest!

Hosted by me and Heather Gardner.

Visit yesterday’s post for details and to sign up!

Jurassic World Movie Trailer

Courtesy of JoBlo, here is the second trailer for the movie – and it looks awesome!!

Seen either movie? Fan of Rush? (If not, don’t say it!) If you’re a dude, what is your reaction to Nicki’s book? Ready for Blood, Boobs, and Carnage? And who’s stoked for Jurassic World…?

If you missed it, my stop yesterday was with the awesome Hart Johnson - and I revealed a lot about Dragon of the Stars.

The Best of 2013, New Books, Ninja News, and What Was Your Best Year?

The Best and Personal Favorites of 2013

It was another awesome year for movies, music, and everything in between. Here were some of the highlights for me, in no particular order.

Favorite Movies

Star Trek Into Darkness – non-stop and just a very good and solid movie
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – another great entry and roller coaster of a ride
Pacific Rim – giant robots versus giant monsters – need I say more?
Gravity – very intense and Oscar-worthy
Thor: The Dark World – even better than the first one
Man of Steel – liked it even more the second time

Favorite Music

Rush – Clockwork Angels Tour DVD/CD – great live show and the orchestra puts it over the top
Dream Theater CD – their best album since Awake
Ayreon – The Theory of Everything CD – another amazing concept album from Arjen

Favorite New Television Shows

The Blacklist – Spader makes it
Almost Human – great interaction between the leads
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – fun and expands the Marvel universe
Defiance – support your local good science fiction show!
House of Cards – you’ll need a shower afterwards but it’s fun

Favorite Game 

Rocksmith 2014 – a lot of fun and better designed



What were some of your favorites?

New Books!

Lydia Kang’s Control is now out – her first book!

Roland Yeomans’ Death in the House of Life is now available!


Another masterpiece from Roland...

EJ Wesley’s Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs Book 5 was unleashed.

Watcher of Worlds by Brinda Berry
Whispering Woods Book 3
ISBN: 978-1-941133-00-2

Senior year should bring fun, friends and happiness. Not portals, treachery, and murder.

Find it on Amazon

Anne R Allen’s The Lady of Lakewood Diner in now out!

Emilyann Girdner’s The Labyrinth Wall was released!

Kimberly Afe’s The Headhunter’s Race came out last week!

Ciara Knight’s Pendulum is out!





Congratulations to all!

Ninja News

Today at the A to Z Blog is an interview with the awesome Michael Di Gesu! He turned his theme into a lucrative endeavor – check it out.

Terri Rochenski announced an opportunity with her publisher, Roane Publishing. They have an open sub call for an upcoming fantasy anthology titled Portals. See her site for details.

Special thanks to Robyn Campbell and Edi’s Book LIghthouse who both placed CassaStorm at the top of their favorite books of 2013. You both rock!!

For those of you who write poetry, Bossy Betty had a really creative idea!

Pat Hatt created a special video for Christmas, and I’m proud to say I defeat Evil Santa with my guitar playing! (And not because I was playing badly either.)



The 2014 A to Z Challenge Team is coming together! We’ll announce them and open up the sign-up list on January 27. We’ll also be looking for Minions again. Any volunteers…?

2013 and Our Best Year

2013 was another good year for me, although 2012 seemed better. However, I did launch CassaStorm, the final book in my series. I made huge improvements in my guitar playing. And of course, the launch of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website was a major highlight.

We remember years that boast major accomplishments and happy occasions. I can remember living in England, marrying my wife, accepting Jesus, and the launch of my very first book. Those were all good years.

So I ask you – what was your best year and why?

See you Wednesday for Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day!

What were your favorite movies, shows, books, etc. in 2013? Picked up any of the new releases? Ready for the A to Z Challenge? (Want to be a Minion?) And what year shines in your memory – and why?

Star Trek Movies Ranked, Nolan’s Interstellar, Fuller’s High Moon, Spaceship Trivia, and Ninja News!

Science Fiction News

Caught this on Blastr. Fans at Creation Entertainment's Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas ranked Trek movie from best to worst. Below are the results, from best to worst:

As a die-hard Trek fan, that really surprised me. I would flip the first two around (First Contact will always be my favorite) but I’d rank Into Darkness much higher. I’ll have to see it again, but I’d probably place it third. I won’t even protest the inclusion of Galaxy Quest, because that film just rocked. What do you guys think of the ranking?

Principal photography began on Christopher Nolan’s next film, Interstellar. According to JoBlo, “The new script chronicles the adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.”
The film will star Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, John Lithgow, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Irwin. It’s set for release November 7, 2014.Yes, I'm excited!

Bryan Fuller’s new science fiction series, High Moon, announced the leads - Chris Diamantopoulos and Jake Sandvig. According to Blastr, it picks up “in a future where many countries have occupied the moon to mine its resources, things somehow go haywire when a new form of life is discovered. The series is loosely based on John Christopher's novel The Lotus Caves. The two will star as a federal investigator and a convict working out hard time, respectively.”
SyFy usually produces good series. Now, if only they could spare more than a hundred bucks for their original movies…

Ninja News

The CK Reader Giveaway continues until Saturday! It’s featured on both CK Readers Giveaway on Facebook and on Ciara Knight’s blog. It’s a mixture of my journey with the series and quotes from the books. And there are prizes!

Robyn Campbell recently switched to Disqus comments and then tried to switch back and is having problems. If anyone here can help her restore her Blogger comment box, please visit her!

Brandon Ax’s latest book is available now – Ashes!
He’s also running a contest with some cool prizes – that starts August 20. See his site for details.
Congratulations, Brandon!



Last week I noticed there were a lot of IWSG posts from people who weren’t on the list. My apologies that I can’t contact every individual personally, but here’s a partial list: TF Walsh, Scribbles from Jenn, Charmaine Clancy, Karen – Coming Down the Mountain, Doralynn – My Publishing Diary, Morgan Shamy, Sher A Hart, Tina @ Life is Good, Julia – Writing Jewels, Hope Roberson, and Rusty Webb.
Perhaps you never signed up or didn’t post a couple months in a row and were removed, but I invite all of you to sign up HERE. That way other members can find you. And I don’t want you to be missed!

Mina Lobo revealed the cover to her upcoming book, That Fatal Kiss, set for release September 24. Looks awesome, Mina!



Finally, thanks to everyone who participated in the Anti-Blogfest Gary Fest. I think we rocked Gary’s anti-blogfest world. All links go directly to the post so you can go back if you missed anyone.
And if you think my Urinal Cake Flavors Blogfest sounded disgusting, you should’ve seen the images that came up in a Google search. Why anyone would bake a tiny cake and set it in a urinal is beyond me…

Spaceship Trivia!

Something new! From the crew members listed, name the SPACESHIP (not the movie):

Movies:

1 - Alex Durant, Harry Booth, V.I.N.C.E.N.T.
2 - Captain Dallas, Warrant Officer Ripley, Science Officer Ash
3 - Pres. Skroob, Dark Helmet, Col. Sandurz

Television:

4 - Fry, Bender, Leela, Amy 
5 - Mal Reynolds, Zoe Washburne, Simon Tam
6 - Don West, John Robinson, Dr. Zachary Smith

Literature:

7 - Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox
8 - Charlie Bucket, Grandma Josephine, Willy Wonka

Real:

9 - Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Jack Swigert

Answers Monday!

Eager for Interstellar or High Moon? Enter the giveaway? Can you help Robyn? Are you on the IWSG list? Did you enjoy the Anti-Blogfest? Do you know any of the trivia? And how would you rank those Star Trek films…?