Insecure Writer’s Support Group, #IWSGPit, Childhood Magic, Dune: Part Two Review, and March 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 March 6 posting of the IWSG are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

March 6 question - Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?

I’ve not had a need to try it. While I can see the advantages and benefits, I can also see AI taking over more. To the point natural creativity will be threatened. And that’s sad.

#IWSGPit!

The next #IWSGPit will be March 27, 2024.

10:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Get all the details here.

And there is a new release from one of our IWSG admins!

In Darkness by L. Diane Wolfe
Romance-Paranormal / Fantasy-Paranormal / Romance-Science Fiction
Print ISBN 9798988625148 $17.95, 342 pages
eBook ISBN 9798988625155 $8.99

Find it on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Gardners, and Goodreads

Childhood Magic by Shannon Lawrence

Mythological creatures have a long history, one that precedes written lore. Looking back at The Odyssey, which many of us read in high school, this was a tale originally told aloud by at least one of a collection of bards who traveled around and shared stories, which were eventually transcribed by others in the name of Homer. The Greek mythological creatures told in stories of the time included Cyclops, the Minotaur, and Sirens. Namely, creatures that served to speak to the perils people faced when they left the safety of their homes.

My favorite mythological creatures tend to live in two basic worlds: endearing childhood creatures and those found in darker stories. I love a cautionary tale, but there’s also the endearing magic inherent in a creature existing for good. Today I want to focus on two mythological creatures from my childhood that represented a beautiful kind of magic.

The Last Unicorn: I have such fond memories of this movie, and I still watch it occasionally to this day. (Okay, probably annually). The Unicorn, who doesn’t have a name until she becomes the Lady Amalthea, is true to herself, loyal, self-sufficient, and brave. But she’s also blunt and intellectual, something I identified with. The voices, the music, the illustrations, I feel hold up today. It’s a gorgeous movie, but as a neurodivergent kid the character truly spoke to me.

The NeverEnding Story: Falcor is a great iteration of the dragon. He has a sense of humor, he’s graceful and lovely in his own way, and he’s powerful, but he also holds the familiarity of a dog in his appearance and, once again, loyalty. Plus, he scares the bullies. What kid wouldn’t want a magical dog-dragon to swoop down and help them exact [an age-appropriate] revenge on their bullies? Even better if you can snuggle up with that furry dog-dragon later and scritch him behind the ear as you continue to be wrapped in safety.

While as a horror and urban fantasy author I most often address the darker creatures of mythology, I do have a nod in the opening of my book to one of the nicer creatures of North American mythology: Sasquatch, another part of my childhood.

Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights by Shannon Lawrence
A late night call from her mentor sends Selina Moonstone on a mission to Canada, determined to track down a Wendigo and exterminate it.

Available in paperback and e-book, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and more. Find the book at your favorite store using the universal link.

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her stories can be found in over fifty anthologies and magazines in addition to her collections. Her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories, is available now and her debut urban fantasy novel is releasing March 2024. You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem. When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. Find her at The Warrior Muse.

Movie Review – Dune: Part Two

After over two years of waiting, the second half of the movie landed last Friday. We even watched the first part the previous weekend to remind ourselves what was happening. Didn’t like the wait, but it was worth it.
This movie is epic. It is grand on every level, from stunning special effects to sprawling, complex story to amazing battle sequences. The film has it all for both fan and novice to the series.
The action sequences are stunning, most notably the worm riding scenes. Not seen as often in the first film, they are in full force here. The attacks on the spice mining rigs are also impressive.
There were some differences from the book, but not enough to spoil it for fans. (I barely remember reading the book anyway!) I was never a big fan of the book, but the movies are spectacular. A must-see on the big screen.
Highly recommended!

March Movie Preview

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

8 –

Kung Fu Panda 4
Directors: Mike Mitchell, Stephanie Stine
Stars: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis
After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.
I wonder if he’ll ever have the noodle dream…

22 –

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Director: Gil Kenan
Stars: Pau Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon
When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.
Maybe letting New York freeze isn’t a bad thing…

29 –

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Director: Adam Wingard
Stars: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Rachel House
Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island's mysteries.
Weirdest buddy-cop movie ever…

Have you played with AI? Have a pitch ready for #IWSGPit? What movies spark childhood magic for you? Have you seen part two of Dune? What movies are you seeing this month?

Reviews: The Northman and Doctor Strange, A to Z Challenge Favorites, and New Releases

This Wednesday, I’m visiting Shannon Lawrence!

Movie Reviews

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness

Dr. Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse, including alternate versions of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong, and Wanda Maximoff.
This is how the movie is being billed. This is not the movie at all!
Without giving anything away, it’s another solid if a bit underwhelming entry into the Marvel Universe.
I was a bit disappointed with the main villain. (No spoilers.) And for whatever reason, I just wasn’t as fully invested as I was in other Marvel films.
Sam Raimi directorial style lends itself well to this horror-tinged Marvel entry. He throws in a lot of Evil Dead references.
There are a ton of surprise guests that relate back to the Disney+ television shows. And even more than that. (And one Sam Raimi regular that will make you smile.)
There were not enough multiverses. They flash through dozens on the first venture, but there are only two they dwell in.
Overall I liked it, and everyone did a great job in their roles, but I didn’t love it.
Recommended for fans and for fun.

The Northman

An action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father's murder.
This is the original Hamlet, based on a Norse story. (Shakespeare wrote his Hamlet after reading this story.) Alexander Skarsgård is Hamlet, Nicole Kidman his mother, Claes Bang his murderous uncle, Ethan Hawke his father, and Anya Taylor-Joy is Olga, his love.
If you know the works of director Eggers, you know this is going to be a bit strange. Go into it thinking art house meets action film.
Skarsgård is perfect as Hamlet. A hulking Viking figure. On a noble quest that goes horribly awry.
It really had the feel of an epic Viking tale. From the haunting soundtrack, the strange musical interludes, and the incredible cinematography. And a special mention to some of the camera shots which I have no idea how the director got them.
This is a film for anyone who is in the mood for something different, something other than the standard Hollywood fare.
If the above review hasn’t scared you away, then I highly recommend it.

A to Z Challenge

Those of you who participated in the A to Z Challenge, did you have fun? I participated the first year and for many years afterwards as an admin, but I know it would overwhelm me now. Life changes.

There were some fun themes though. In case you missed them, here are some I enjoyed. (Being the geek that I am.)

Diedre Knight’s posts focused on design, namely unique designs of buildings around the world. Every day was fascinating. Most of the places I’d never heard of but would love to visit someday.

J.S. Pailly did a series on Our Place in Space. In his words - I’ll be taking you on a partly imaginative and highly optimistic tour of humanity’s future in outer space. And it was a fun and educational adventure.

P.T. Dilloway posted his collection of action figures, which is impressive considering he covered every letter! Since I’m a DC guy, some of the Marvel character he posted were new to me.

Carrie-Anne paid homage to famous people from Ukraine, really giving in depth history into their lives. Amazing the talent that came from that area.

And Challenge founder Arlee Bird posted about his remaining vinyl collection. Want a trip back to the 60’s and 70’s? Check it out and thank him for starting the A to Z Challenge.

New Releases and More

Particular Passages 2: East Wing
Featuring The Killing Tree by Shannon Lawrence

15 Stories 15 Authors
Down another forgotten hallway lie more unexplored rooms.
Each room contains another world waiting to be discovered.
Some are wonderful and beautiful, others are dark and terrible.
You won't know which until you step inside.
So take a deep breath, and open the door...

Find it on Amazon

The Omen of Crows Nest by Cathrina Constantine

No blood. No body. No murder.
That's what the police found after Penelope spun her bizarre tale. In a hysterical state, she said her father was butchered and eaten by a mob of birds ~ in her bedroom.
They claim she's crazy.
That she suffers from delusions.
Penelope is dead set on proving them wrong.
After being institutionalized for eight months, Penelope is out and more determined than ever to find answers to her so-called hallucinations. With her father's untimely disappearance, she's convinced her family is hiding something sinister.

Find it on Amazon

And finally, the IWSG was asked to do a podcast and Diane Wolfe represented us. Check it out!
Voice America

Have you seen either movie and what did you think? What were some of your favorite themes during the A to Z Challenge? Picking up new books?

Be sure to visit Shannon Lawrence on Wednesday!

My final tour stop will be Friday, May 27 at Armed With a Book. Outside of that, I’ll see you June 1 for the next IWSG!

Movies About Writers, Publication Journey, #IWSGPit, Best Movies and Albums of 2021, and Jeremy Hawkins Tribute

Movies About Writers by Shannon Lawrence

As long as there are movies, there will be movies about writers. After all, who's writing the screenplays? Writers. The crazy thing about it is that movies about writers are rarely realistic, which seems odd, because, as we've already discussed, it's actual writers writing about writers. I suppose if they made them realistic the films would be pretty dull. Who wants to watch a person struggling over a typewriter, notepad, or laptop? There'd be no dialogue except muttered profanity and the same line read repeatedly aloud to figure out if it sounded right. Is this adverb too much? What kind of clause is this? Still, accurate or not there are many superb movies about writers. Here are five of the better ones, in no particular order:

1. The Shining - All work and no play makes writers...well, out of shape. But in The Shining, one of several movies about writers based on Stephen King stories, that plus cabin fever make Jack a rampaging madman. I guess we're lucky this isn't true, as we've all got a little cabin fever after the last couple years.
2. Dead Poets Society - I debated putting this one on the list, but come on, it's such an excellent film. "Oh, Captain, my Captain." If only all readers stood atop their desks out of sheer inspiration.
3. Romancing the Stone - Writers spend a lot of time at their desks instead of living life to its fullest. In this classic, a timid romance author gets the adventure and romance of her fantasies and takes us along for the ride.
4. Capote - With the excellent acting pair of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener, you can't go wrong with this film. Truman Capote gets in over his own egotistical head when researching a true crime with the intention of turning it into a full length novel.

5. Julie and Julia - While the writing in this one has to do with cookbooks and blogs, it only seems right that the blogging community be represented. The least serious of the movies above, this one's sweet, light, and...tasty.

Though short story writers are rarely featured on film, many short stories are made into movies. All the better a reason to get into writing short stories!

Shannon's book, The Business of Short Stories: Writing, Submitting, Publishing, and Marketing, releases February 1 in digital and paperback. Pre-order The Business of Short Stories from Amazon

Shannon Lawrence has made a career of short stories, with over a decade of experience and more than fifty short stories published in magazines and anthologies. In addition, she's released three horror collections with a mix of new and previously published stories. Her true crime podcast Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem is going into its third season.
Find Shannon here - Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, Goodreads, and Amazon

The Journey to Publication

How did I get here —here being published with my first book (KNIGHT RISE) out in the marketplace? To say that I took a long and winding path would be an understatement and probably take more than 300 words to tell, but I’ll do my best. Knight Rise was my first attempt at writing a novel, penned in 2009. In the book a main character is a blogger, so I started a blog as research. That inevitably led me here to Alex’s site. Unfortunately, it didn’t take me long to discover that I’d made all the mistakes an aspiring author could make with KR. I decided to shelve it and move on, which I did, writing five more novels over the course of twelve years. Along the way I was signed by not one, but two different literary agents, had multiple books put on submission with publishers, came REALLY close a couple of times, but could never land the deal that would put a book into a reader’s hands.
In 2021 two things happened, both virtually at the same time. The first was I decided to pull Knight Rise off the shelf. I figured I had developed as a writer to the point where I could repair all the missteps I had made when I first wrote it, and besides, I always loved its story and the characters. Around the same time, I was contacted by a woman who I had become acquainted with at one of the writer’s conferences I attended years prior. She had plans to open her own bookstore (Wild Lark Books) and at the same time offer small press publishing deals – the kicker being the authors would keep all the rights to their material. The best part was she wanted me to be her first published author. The rest, they say, is history.
It’s been quite a ride and I want to thank Alex for all his support over the years, as well as the time here today. It means a lot!
Here’s the pitch. KNIGHT RISE is a fast-paced, intriguing page-turner with a lot of heart. Follow a crew of enjoyable characters through stunning plot twists for a thrilling ride you won’t forget! If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, or you want to find out more about DL or his journey, go HERE. The book can also be found on Amazon.

DL Hammons wrote his first piece of fiction to impress a girl in high school (it was moderately successful) and he’s never looked back. A business graduate from Louisiana State University, DL now lives in Central Arkansas with his best friend (wife of 38 years) enjoying the empty nest his two grown sons and daughter have left him with. He has spent the last dozen years perfecting his writing voice, splitting time between YA and adult Mystery/Suspense. He also hosts an annual contest for other aspiring writers entitled WRiTE CLUB on his popular blog.
DL is represented by Tina P. Schwartz of the Purcell Agency.

Top Movies and Albums of 2021

Movies were still a bit limited this year but albums certainly weren’t—near the end of 2021, I was downloading a new album every week. The following is my list of the best of the best. Understand that I lean toward science fiction, fantasy, and superheroes when it comes to movies and my musical genre of choice is progressive rock.

Top 2021 movies:
6 – Godzilla vs. Kong
5 – Dune
4 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
3 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2 – The Suicide Squad
1 – Zach Snyder’s Justice League

Top 2021 Albums
9 – Mastodon – Hushed and Grim
8 – Silver Lake – Silver Lake
7 – Jerry Cantrell – Brighten
6 – Insomnium – Argent Moon
5 – Katetonia – Mnemosynean
4 – Omnium Gatherum – Origin
3 – Gojira – Fortitude
2 – Chevelle – NIRATIAS
1 – Dream Theater – View From the Top of the World

Jeremy Hawkins Tribute

On January 3, we lost an amazing guy – Jeremy Hawkins.
On February 2, we are going to pay tribute and give back to one who was so giving and involved in our community.
To honor his life and support the family he leaves behind, on that day:
• Post a story or memory about Jeremy.
• Post photos of Jeremy.
• Share some of the graphics he made for you.
• Post a photo of you wearing one of the t-shirts he designed.
• And to support his family, between now and then, purchase one of his t-shirt designs, one of his books, or one of his prints. (He also created the IWSG t-shirt.)
Spread the word and let’s pay tribute to one of the most supportive and loyal guys ever to cross our paths, Jeremy Hawkins.

#IWSGPit is this Wednesday!

If you’ve never participated in a Twitter pitch party, this is your chance.
Dozens have signed book contracts as a result – you could be next.
Visit the #IWSGPit page for the rules and hashtags.
And then join us on January 26!

What movies about writers do you enjoy? Would you stick with it as long as DL did? What were some of your favorite movies and albums of 2021? Helping us celebrate Jeremy’s life next week? And who’s up for #IWSGPit this Wednesday?
See you February 2 for IWSG day!

Science Fiction Tropes, Movie Inspirations, Top Christmas Horror Films, and Armored Saint: Punching the Sky Review

SciFi Trope: Space Travel is Easy

Sci-fi tropes can help us get to the heart of the story by sweeping issues like the difficulties of space travel under the rug. Unless a core element of a science fiction story is about space travel, it makes the most sense to deal in one of the trope methods.

Einstein-Rosen Bridges aka Wormholes aka Gates: According to various articles, this may be the most scientifically plausible scifi form of travel. Seen in: Stargate, The Expanse, Thor, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Galaxy Quest, and Interstellar.

Closed Time/Space Bubble: Within a space bubble, the traveler can go anywhere on his or her own timeline. Most notably seen in Doctor Who with the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space). This is close to the wormhole idea.

Warp Technology/Bending Space: By contracting space in front of the ship and expanding it behind, the ship rides a wave forward. Seen primarily in: Star Trek. This idea of bending space also shows up in Dune.

Hypderdrive/hyperspace/lightspeed/traveling through sub-space: While not considered plausible, this space travel trope shows up in Star Wars, Valerian, and Halo. The Starbursts in Farscape could fit here, too.

Jumpdrives/Teleportation: This takes out the “travel” factor by teleporting space ships or people from one location to another. Seen notably in: Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek (Beam me up, Scotty!) and The Cassa Series by Alex J. Cavanaugh. (Thanks, Tyrean!)

What would be your space travel method of choice?

Liftoff: The Rayatana Series, Book 1
A spaceship in disguise,
An Earth girl searching for a sense of home,
And a Thousand Years’ War between alien races,
All collide on a summer afternoon.
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9889933-8-9
Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9889933-9-6
Publisher: Wings of Light Publishing, Gig Harbor, WA, USA
LINKS: Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads

About the Author: Tyrean Martinson is an author and teacher from Washington State. As a former fencer and kickboxer, she enjoys writing fight scenes in fast-paced novels and novellas. As a teacher and writing tutor, she loves to get students writing and reading comfortably by any means: talk-to-text, short writing assignments, short stories, novellas, and adventures. She wrote her latest novella, Liftoff, for herself during COVID, but realized it also fits a dream she’s had for a while: to create a short, fast-paced read for teen/YA readers who love popcorn movies, adventure, and sweet romance.
Author Links: Blog, Newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

Elle Cardy’s Movie Inspirations

With the release of Well of Ash, a YA fantasy novella, Alex invited me to share my inspiration for the story in movies.

The Princess Bride: My favorite film of all time. It’s full of adventure, excitement, and bravery. And it still has time for a little romance.

The Dark Crystal: Another favorite. A dark power across the land, brave souls overcoming difficult odds, a gorgeous setting. A mystery to unfold, and plenty of adventure.

The NeverEnding Story: A happy, helpful dragon.

The Game of Thrones: Magnificent dragons as companions to a powerful woman. I like the concept.

Well of Ash: No one knows who built the Great Wells across the world or why. To linger near makes the skin crawl and the mind drift in nightmares. Yet this one calls to Ash in whispers that pull her closer. Soon she’s caught in a mystery that can kill. She must find the answers before she loses her sanity, or worse, her life.

If you like dragons, magic, and a fierce heroine with a mystery to unfold, then you’ll love Well of Ash, a YA Fantasy novella by Elle Cardy. Available now as an eBook and paperback on Amazon. OR, for a limited time, pick up a free copy when you join Elle’s VIP newsletter club.

Elle Cardy’s hang-outs: website, Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads

Top Ten Christmas Horror Movies

The holidays and horror aren’t as far apart as you might think. And some of the best horror films have been Christmas-related. These often play on underlying family issues and stresses, with the jovial feel of the season counterbalancing the horrors on the screen.

10. Jack Frost (1996): Just saw this one for the first time last year, and it’s one psychotic ride. Unexpected and cheesy. While there’s humor in it, I wouldn’t put this in the same category as other horror-comedies mentioned.
9. A Christmas Horror Story (2015): Unlike the other films on this list, this one’s an anthology of shorter horror stories wrapped into an overarching story line. The Santa in this one is a bit different than the norm. Each of the stories is a slow burn, so sit back and enjoy.
8. Better Watch Out (2017): A terrifying home invasion turns out to be something completely different. While babysitting a young boy, the babysitter has to deal with a crush she doesn’t reciprocate while arguing with her boyfriend via text. Strange things start to happen, including noises upstairs in the house. It’s not Santa up there. Soon, a twist reveals itself.
7. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984): An orphan who saw his parents murdered by a man dressed as Santa is required to play Santa at the toy store where he works, bringing back bad memories and trauma that spur him into a murderous spree. A classic that you should watch at least once, it has its cheesy moments, but all horror should have a little cheese.
6. Anna and the Apocalypse (2018): It’s a Christmas Zombie Musical, you guys. Funny, sometimes gory, with real heart behind it all, it’s a fun watch for the holidays.

5. Rare Exports (2010): This Finnish film involves a boy finding Santa’s tomb, only Santa isn’t the man you think he is. With bits of humor and plenty of horror, this one is all about finding the children going missing.
4. Scrooged (1988): Though not strictly horror, this is certainly a dark comedy. Bill Murray is the Scrooge in this situation, a television producer (I believe), who has a blackened heart of coal. The ghosts, including a hysterically psychotic Carol Kane, visit him and show him what will happen if he continues on in this way. Set against the backdrop of a ridiculous Christmas special with scantily clad dancers, an employee who’s been fired and loses it, and a lost love.
3. Gremlins (1984): Who doesn’t love Gremlins? A small town is beset by gremlins, who get into everything, wreaking havoc and mayhem. Phoebe Cates’ character delivering a dramatic monologue about her chimney is a top moment, but the pure ridiculousness of these creatures who kill with glee and sense of humor is not to be missed.
2. Krampus (2015): I saw this one in theaters, which was perfect. The film itself is tongue-in-cheek, while dealing out some real frights. A young boy struggling with his parents’ rocky marriage and the invasion of nasty relatives tears up his letter to Santa and makes a wish that comes true in the worst ways possible. The opening montage of a mall leading up to Christmas is crazy and sets the mood for the rest of the film.

1. Black Christmas (1974): This film features Margot Kidder and Olivia Hussey as students in a sorority. Kidder’s role was a lot of fun, with her being on the naughty list, while Hussey’s character is decidedly at the top of the nice list. A caller keeps calling to harass them, with the girls being picked off one-by-one. The caller’s voice and the things he says are maniacal and raised goosebumps the first time I saw it.

I hope you enjoy at least one Christmas horror film this year. While you’re at it, check out my holiday horror collection of short stories! Releasing November 20, it will be widely available online. You can pre-order the Kindle version now!

Find Happy Ghoulidays: A Collection of Holiday Horror Short Stories on Amazon
Find Shannon at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon author page

Armored Saint – Punching the Sky Review

Armored Saint is one of those blue-collar bands that earned a rep for no nonsense straight up hard rock. They are a criminally underrated band that has been making music since 1982 (minus a six or so year split while lead singer John Bush joined Anthrax).
I became a fan in 1991 when they released ‘Symbol of Salvation” which earns a place in my catalog because it’s a beast. So many catchy tracks! I lost track of them for a time after they reformed in 1999, but I’m so glad I rediscovered them. These guys know how to write a great song. So, thirty-eight years since they formed (let that sink in for a moment) they have just released their eighth studio album and it does not disappoint.
This is not an old band just phoning it in, this feels fresh and crackles with great musical energy. “End of the Attention Span”, “Bubble”, “Do Wrong to None”, “Fly in the Ointment” and “Never You Fret” are killer tracks. Hats off to the band for their commitment to creating quality tunes that stick in your brain. These guys are passionate about their craft with great musicianship and quality production. Here’s to thirty-eight more years of rock from Armored Saint.

What’s your favorite way to travel through space? What movies have inspired you? Favorite Christmas horror films? Fan of Armored Saint?
To my American friends, have an awesome Thanksgiving. I will see you again on December 2 for the next Insecure Writer’s Support Group posting – last of 2020! (Feels good to say that, doesn’t it?)

Ayreon Universe, Judas Priest Firepower, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Animated Movie Trivia, New Releases, and More!

Some music, movies, and books news and reviews for you today - plus a little movie trivia! And today I'm at the IWSG site with an article on lessons I learned from really bad movies.

Music

Ayreon - Universe

Ayreon Universe is Ayreon live in concert for the first time ever, organized and arranged by Arjen A. Lucassen and Joost van den Broek. The Ayreon Universe set list features selected songs from all Ayreon albums plus a selection of Star One songs.

Vocalists include Floor Jansen – Nightwish, Damian Wilson – Threshold, Hansi Kürsch - Blind Guardian, Tommy Karevik – Kamelot, Anneke van Giersbergen - The Gentle Storm, Marco Hietala – Nightwish, Jonas Renkse – Katatonia, Mike Mills – Toehider, Marcela Bovio - Stream of Passion, Robert Soeterboek - Star One, John Jaycee Cuijpers - Praying Mantis, Edward Reekers – Kayak, Maggy Luyten – Nightmare, Lisette van den Berg - Scarlet Stories, and Jay van Feggelen and Irene Jansen - Ayreon

This concert is available in many different boxed sets (audio, video, t-shirts, signed, etc.) and comes out on March 30. I will definitely be picking up the pack with all of the CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays!

And just to whet your appetite:

Judas Priest – Firepower review

The metal gods are back with their umpteenth latest album!
First of all, it’s so refreshing to see people rocking out who are much older than me.
Secondly, don’t think these are a bunch of has-beens churning out crap for a quick buck. One thing I’ve always admired about this band is that they put their heart into doing the best they can. They are absolutely a fan-centered band.
I’m pleased to report this is an excellent album. It’s probably their best since Painkiller. While there isn’t a signature track, every song is solid without a dud in the bunch.
If you’re a fan of the band or old-school metal, you won’t be disappointed. Halford’s vocals sound amazing and relatively young Richie Faulkner tears it up on the guitar.
Highly recommended!

Movies

Some news from JoBlo:

Aerial footage of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park.

The latest addition to the Disney theme park arena is the upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction, which will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of Star Wars. The park is still under construction and won’t be open until 2019, but you can take a look at the foundations and sheer scope of the park in this new video released by Disney. Here, there is some aerial drone footage of the park, showing off the massive soon-to-be-completed structures.

Watch Tommy Wiseau (from The Room) get inserted into a bunch of disaster movies.

The video posted by Screen Junkies arrives just a few days before THE DISASTER ARTIST, a film based on Wiseau's unique experiences while making "the Citizen Kane of bad movies," THE ROOM, makes its Blu-Ray and DVD debut. When making the parody video, Screen Junkies invited Wiseau to stand in front of a green screen while reacting to each of the films selected. Once Tommy was done being Tommy, the outlet cut it all together to hilarious effect.

Denis Villeneuve plans to remake Dune.

Over the years, Frank Herbert's "Dune" has proven to be a notoriously difficult project to adapt. As the novel is quite dense, it's been almost impossible to whittle down the story in order to get it to fit into a single film, but it seems that Denis Villeneuve may have found a way around that. The BLADE RUNNER 2049 director will be the next to tackle DUNE, and he offered a quick update (via The Playlist) while speaking to a packed house in Montreal’s Place des Arts’ Théâtre Maisonneuve for the Rendez-Vous du Cinema Quebecois this week.
Dune will probably take two years to make. The goal is to make two films, maybe more.

Books

Available March 15 –

Blue Sludge Blues by Shannon Lawrence
A collection of frights, from the psychological to the monstrous. These tales are a reminder of how much we have to fear…
Find it at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Last Call by Tara Watson
Newly-single attorney Gwen Cooper’s list of things that make her happy is pretty simple:
1. her teenage sons
2. her stilettos
3. finally taking control of her own life
Find it on Amazon




Available March 16 –

The Thick of Things by J.L. Campbell
When love takes you by storm, hang on for the ride of your life.
Find it on Amazon

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/2021/07/how-it-started-how-its-going.html

Computer Animated Movie Trivia

Since Coco just came out on DVD, let’s do a little movie trivia on computer animated films. Name the movie from the actors and year.

1 – Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, 2002
2 – Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, 2012
3 - Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, 2001
4 - Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, 2011
5 - Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Sylvester Stallone, 1998
6 - Patton Oswalt, Brad Garrett, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, 2007
7 - Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, 2016
8 – Bruce Willis, Gary Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner, 2006

Answers on March 26!

Impressed by the Ayeron concert footage? Fan of Judas Priest? Ready to explore the new area of Star Wars at Disney World? Think Dune needs another remake? Picking up any new books this week? And can you guess the trivia?

I will be visiting family the third full week of March and won’t be online. However, I will have a really unique post March 19 at the IWSG site on lessons learned from really bad movies.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Plus the August Movie Preview, Movie News, 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, Bob R Milne, Doreen McGettigan, Chrys Fey, Bish Denham, and Pat Garcia!

My Fellowship of the Dragon group knows I’ve been working on this, but I don’t think I’ve talked much about it here. I’m working on a short story that takes place after Dragon of the Stars.

It’s already been through a critique partner (Heather, you rock!) and I’m working on polishing it to perfection.

I hope to have it done by the end of next week and I have someone who will format it for me. Then it will be free to anyone who has read Dragon of the Stars and wants to know what happens next. (And those who want a little happier ending.)

When it’s available, I’ll let you know! First, I have to come up with a name for it. I guess that's my insecurity right now, as I have no idea what to call it...

Don’t forget that the Insecure Writer’s Support Group has its own t-shirt! Designed by the very talented Jeremy Hawkins, it’s available at the NeatOShop.

We also have a IWSG group on Facebook, so check it out and join today.

Ninja News!

Just Released:

Love, Lattes, and Danger by Sandra Cox 

Find it at EKensington, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Nilanjana Bose has a story, At the End of the Parade, in the anthology 10 Love Stories.
This is the result of the Get Published contest by Indiblogger and Harper Collins India.
Find it at Amazon. Flipcart, Sapna, and Indiblogger

Shannon Lawrence has a short story coming out in Issue 35 of Sanitarium Magazine.

Dean Miller is working with Tulip Tree Publishing on an anthology. Proceeds from the sales of The Water Holds No Scars will be donated to Platte Rivers Project Healing Waters chapter, located in Southern WY and Northern CO. Go to Tulip Tree Publishing for the submission guidelines.

Movie News

Toys R Us is hosting a midnight event on September 4 to launch the new Star Wars toys. (Sound like a nightmare, doesn’t it?) Read about it at JoBlo.



Warner Bros. is developing a Dungeons and Dragons movie. (Because the last one was so epic – NOT!) Read more at Blastr.

Michael Fassbender and James AcAvoy have signed on for more X-Men movies. Read about it at JoBlo.

August Movie Preview

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

7 –

Fantastic Four
Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
Director: Josh Trank
Stars: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell
Let’s hope it’s better than the last two versions, The Marginally Acceptable Four and its sequel, I’ve Seen Better.

Shaun the Sheep Movie
When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
Directors: Mark Burton | Richard Starzak
Stars: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, Richard Webber
I’m a sucker for the brilliance that is Aardman Animation. Now, can I tolerate a theater of screaming children?


14 –

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant, Alicia Vikander
Superman and the Lone Ranger in a British spy caper – I’m all there!





21 –

Hitman: Agent 47
An assassin teams up with a woman to help her find her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry.
Director: Aleksander Bach
Stars: Zachary Quinto, Rupert Friend, Ciarán Hinds, Hannah Ware
Normally, movies based on video games suck and this may be no exception. However, the trailer rocks!

What are your writer insecurities today? Excited about the new releases and anthologies? Going to Toys R Us at midnight? And what movies do you want to see in August…?

A to Z Challenge – G – Cult Classics: Galaxy Quest, Ginger Snaps, Guns N Roses, and More! Plus the Scavenger Hunt is On…

Today my tour stop is with author David Powers King as I help him out with one of the characters from his book, Woven!

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – G

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

Movies –

Ginger Snaps
A small, low budget film with a unique twist on the werewolf theme. This 2000 film won several awards and spawned two sequels.

Galaxy Quest
The perfect parody of Star Trek and its fans, done with love and humor. This 1999 film starred Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver and won both Hugo and Nebula awards.

Music –

Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
This album put them on the map and almost a year after its release. Topping the charts in 1988, this album went eighteen-times Platinum and was ranked as one of the best albums ever by many.

Science Fiction Book –

Gateway by Frederik Pohl
Serialized in Galaxy before being published as a book in 1977. It won the Hugo, Locus, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Memorial Award.

Bloggers –

GB Miller at Father Nature’s Corner
You want an author with snark and attitude? One with a twisted sense of humor and not afraid to tell it like it is? Then GB is your guy.

Deniz Bevan at Girdle of Melian
Want to know what it’s like to live in Switzerland? Want to follow an author’s account of life abroad, writing, blogging, and everything in between? Then Deniz is that author! (She also made Mini-Alex's awesome scarf!)

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Graham –
The father of Aden, Graham Pendar is a Duke and the owner of numerous processing plants that turn sea kelp into food, energy, and Ceteroll. He has hopes his son will one day follow in his footsteps in business and perhaps become a member of the Council.

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.

And there is a Scavenger Hunt! An autographed copy of the book, bookmarks and swag, and $20.00 iTunes gift cards to the winner. Just visit the sites below and leave a comment – where do you think Mini-Alex is in the photo? Open until midnight April 11 – winner announced here April 13. 

Now go!

Melissa Maygrove * Eva Solar * Father Dragon Al * Suzanne Furness * Karen Walker * Dianne Salerni * Christine Rains * Nick Wilford * EE Giorgi * Murees Dupe * L Diane Wolfe * Helena * Tyrean Martinson * Robin * Heather Gardner * Jo * Lynda Young * SL Hennessy * Toi Thomas * Lori MacLaughlin * Jess at Author Tracker, * Truedessa, * Annalisa Crawford, * Patricia Lynne, * Lisa at Flash Fiction, * Julie Flanders, * Julie Kemp Pick, * Nicki Elson, * Mark Koopmans, * Sydney Aaliyah!

Ninja News

Truedessa, who is participating in the Scavenger Hunt, posted the most amazing science fiction poem for Dragon of the Stars. She’s an awesome person, so please check it out. Thanks, Truedessa – that rocked my world.

Released last week:
A Body at Bunco, Myrtle Clover #8
By Elizabeth Spann Craig

Shannon Lawrence’s short story, Know Thy Neighbor, was just published in Under the Bed Magazine, Volume 3, Number 7






Fan of either movie? (We have to get out of here before those creatures kill Guy!) Like old school Guns ‘n’ Roses? Following those awesome bloggers? Did you read Truedessa’s poem? And have you found all of the Mini-Alexes yet?

Don’t forget to visit David Powers King!