Retro A to Z Challenge: M – Megadeth 1985 (and SyFy's Face Off)

Megadeth – Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! – 1985

This was the first Megadeth album and featured the title song and Rattlehead Rock. The band was founded by Dave Mustaine after he was thrown out of Metallica. While not my favorite, it ushered in a new era in thrash metal. The band continues to produce albums, and Mustaine has since cleaned up his act. (He's a husband, father, and born-again Christian.)

1985 fun facts –
*Cost of new home - $89,330 / UK - $40,169 pounds
*Cost of gas - $1.09
*First class stamp - .22 cents
*The first version of Windows 1.0 was released
*Compact Discs made their first appearance
*The wreck of the Titanic was located

Movies released – 
Fright Night
Young Sherlock Holmes
Day of the Dead
Cocoon
Better Off Dead
Real Genius

Music released –
Dokken – Under Lock and Key
Dio – Sacred Heart
Rush – Power Windows

Game released –
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego

And why is 1985 special?
It’s the year Bish Denham met her husband and they were married that same year in September.

Bish is an author and a storyteller. She grew up in the Virgin Islands and often features moments and images from that time. Bish is also the master of synonyms and overused words. She’s a sweetheart, devoted friend, and doesn’t look old enough to have grandchildren. She also has a great sense of humor! Bish blogs at Random Thoughts.

Ninja News!

Carrie Butler is celebrating her third blog anniversary with a very special blogfest project:
I want to compile a free e-book for writers who are just starting on their road to publication, using advice from the most brilliant, up-and-coming voices in the industry: you guys!
See her site for details.

Available now!
Destruction by Sharon Bayliss
Buy it on Amazon

Face Off

Not your ordinary reality show – Face Off is a special effects make-up artist competition.
It’s fun to watch the contestants design and build their creations using silicone and whatever they find in the studio. Each week they are given a prompt and must design an ‘outfit’ to be worn by a model. The focus is on concept as much as execution. It’s an excellent show for creative types.
Catch it on the SyFy Channel.

Fan of Megadeth? (And can you believe they’ve been around that long?) Following the talented Bish? Can you contribute to Carrie’s book? Have you watched Face Off? And what do you remember about 1985…?

Tyrean Martinson and Champions, Overcoming Adversity with Nick Wilford, Ninja News, Amazon and Authors, and Boomtown Craze

Champions

My dear friend and awesome fellow follower of Christ, author Tyrean Martinson, is here today to talk about true champions.

Before I begin, I have to say that I am beyond honored to be here at the no-hyper-link-needed Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh’s blog. Wow! Thank you, Alex!

My novel, Champion in the Darkness is set in the world of Aramatir. It’s a world in which only one Champion exists at a time. Each Champion upholds the highest values of faith, strength, loyalty, honor, and sacrifice. There are other legendary Sword Masters, Law-Givers, and Shepherds, but Champions have a special status in the world of Aramatir as the best of the best. Clara, my young MC is ready to be a Sword Master, and she’s dreamed of making legendary status, but Champion? She doesn’t know if she’s ready for that huge task.

In our world, each of us can be a Champion. Many of us have personal Champions: parents, grandparents, coaches, teachers, friends, and others who inspire us. Today I would like to honor one Champion I know in the blogworld: Nick Wilford. Nick is a Champion for his stepson, and has put together a number of giving opportunities to help his stepson get to a specialist college, including the Overcoming Adversity Anthology. If you don’t know Nick, go meet him. He’s a Champion that upholds the highest values and puts them into action.

Who, in your life, is your Champion?

Champion in the Darkness is YA Christian Fantasy, and is the first book in the Champion Trilogy.

Tyrean Martinson lives and writes in the Northwest, encouraged by her loving husband and daughters, and reminded to exercise by her dogs and cat. Champion in the Darkness is the first book in the Champion Trilogy, and she has previously published short stories and poetry.

Champion in the Darkness can be found at these links: Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and Goodreads.

Tyrean Martinson can be found at these links: Blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

Overcoming Adversity – A True Champion

Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew edited by Nick Wilford

A collection of seventy moving and uplifting original pieces - real life, flash fiction, and poetry - about battling against the odds and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The contributors include Amazon bestselling authors Alex J. Cavanaugh and Kyra Lennon, and the cream of upcoming talent.

The anthology is part of a fundraising effort to send the editor's stepson, Andrew McNaughton, to a specialist college in England. Andrew has cerebral palsy, and is a remarkable young man with a promising future. However, the free further education options offered in his own country of Scotland will not challenge him and allow him to progress. In order to access the education he deserves, Andrew will have to pay exorbitant fees, thus creating a situation of discrimination.

Help us get Andrew to college by buying a book that runs the full gamut of human emotions, ultimately leaving you inspired and glad to be alive. Whatever struggles you are going through, our sincere hope is that this book will help.

Purchase Links: Amazon UK, Amazon US, Smashwords, and Goodreads.

Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction. When not writing he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also co-running a campaign to get a dedicated specialist college built in Scotland.

Ninja News

Lydia Kang is hosting a huge giveaway for her upcoming release. Swag for Control and many other authors’ books are the prizes. Check it out – the giveaway is huge!

Jess is hosting the From the Ashes blogfest on March 8 in celebration of her first book release!

Sharon Bayliss’ novel, The Charge (which won in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Competition) is available now!

Not only did Still Moments Magazine select one of Gail’s stories for publication, they used her photograph on the cover. Congratulations, Gail – double score!

The Desert Rocks’ story, The Escape was published in Anything Prose…and Poetry, Too! It’s a collection of works written by thirty-two talented authors. Congratulations, Desert!

And special thanks to MJ Joachim for her wonderful words the other day!

Indie Authors, Free Books, and Amazon

I caught a couple interesting articles regarding changes in Amazon’s Affiliation Program and how they will affect authors trying to promote free books. The first was at To Become A Writer - Bad News if You Use Amazon Select. The second one was at Failure Ahoy! Adventures in Digital Publishing - Amazon is About to Throttle Free Books. Since many of you are indie authors, I thought I would pass this along to you.

A Grand New Age of Boom or Dust?

Boomtown Craze, Book 3 in the Backworlds series is here!

In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendants to survive in a harsh universe…

From March 4 to March 22, folks can enter to win the following:
1 set of signed Backworlds paperbacks, including The Backworlds, Stopover at the Backworlds’ Edge, and Boomtown Craze. Will only ship to US residents.

Available in ebook at: Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

M. Pax is a Browncoat and SG fan, she’s also slightly obsessed with Jane Austen. In the summers she docents as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory where the other astronomers now believe she has the most extensive collection of moon photos in existence. No fear, there will be more next summer. She lives in stunning Central Oregon with the Husband Unit and two lovely, spoiled cats.
Find her: Website, Blog, Twitter, and Goodreads.



Picked up Tyrean’s book? Who is your champion in life? Picking up Nick’s book? See any awesome news? Will the changes with Amazon affect you? Part of the Boomtown Craze? Ready for my review of Jack the Giant Slayer on Wednesday – and the IWSG? Ready for the A to Z Challenge so these posts will be shorter?

Epic Ninja News and the YOU ROCK! Award

Did you miss me Wednesday? I'm taking a few days off here and there to work on my next book. (And heads up – I won’t be posting on Monday either.)

Today I have an interview/review over at Michael Pierce Books. Michael is the author of Provex City and I’m honored to have a guest spot at his blog today.

Epic Ninja News!

Ciara Knight is revealing the cover art for her next book today – Weighted! And you can add it to your Goodreads shelf now. Congratulations, Ciara!

Weighted is a young adult post-apocalyptic with paranormal elements. It is a prequel novelette to The Neumarian Chronicles, and will be released August 2012. Book I, Escapement, will be released in 2013.

Blurb: The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.

Michael Malone’s new book, Blood Tears, comes out in paperback on June 6, but it is available as an eBook now. Congratulations, Michael! Visit his site, May Contain Nuts, for the links.

“Lady Gwen” Gardner tipped me off about this opportunity - Sharon Bayliss just signed a publishing contract with Curiosity Quills Press, and she’s having an Editor-Judged query contest (May 25-28) with a chance at a publishing contract for the winner. Go visit her site HERE to sign up. Thanks, Gwen!

Alex’s YOU ROCK! Award

Every year, I give out the YOU ROCK! Award to up to five blogger buddies. These are people who have become very special to me and been supportive friends beyond the call of duty. Past recipients include: Jeffrey Beesler at World of the Scribe, Gail at Familiar Spirits, Rusty Webb at The Blutonian Death Egg, Chuck at Apocalypse Now, George at CineMarvellous, Lee at Tossing it Out, Yvonne Lewis at Welcome to my World of Poetry, RaShelle Workman at A No. 2 Pencil Stat, and Hannah (who sadly no longer blogs) at Musings of a Palindrome.

I know SO many awesome people online that it was nearly impossible to narrow it down to five. I could give this to a hundred bloggers. So I cheated and picked seven! This year’s YOU ROCK! recipients are:

Matthew at The QQQE
I met Matthew around two years ago and at once identified with his attitude and demeanor. Can’t think of many others who are as supportive, honest, and genuine as Matthew. You think I am a commenting and networking Ninja, but my inspiration came from this man. And after working with him on a couple blogfests and the Challenge, I know he is for real. Maybe one day we’ll meet. Until then – thanks, Matthew. You the man! And you rock!

Old Kitty at Ten Lives and Second Chances
They say there are no guarantees in life, but that’s only because they haven’t met Kitty! She is one of the most consistent, stable, and faithful bloggers I know. And her comments are guaranteed to make me laugh every time! After two years of her positive, spirited presence, I don’t know what I would do without her. And Charlie. Kitty, you are a total doll and the brightest spot in the blogging world. You rock!

Ella at Ella’s Edge 
I met Ella during the first Challenge and she is the most thoughtful person I know. Her creativity knows no bounds and I watch it unfold on her blog with awe. Ella’s words flow like a peaceful stream and helped me develop an appreciation for poetry. Even more, she is a devoted friend who exchanges meaningful comments and observations. (Meaningful on her part – I probably just sound lame.) Despite the vast differences in our blogs, there is much about Ella to which I can relate. Ella, you rock on every level!

M. Pax at Wistful Nebulae
Mary is one of those people who flies just under the radar sometimes. But she is always THERE. In fact, I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t there! Mary has so many unique interests and she’s involved on every level, which I really admire. We share a lot of science fiction and geek interests, so I know hanging out with her in person would be a damn good time. She’s a gifted writer, excellent photographer, and special friend. Mary, you rock!

Roland Yeomans at Writing in the Crosshairs
I’ve followed Roland’s blog for a long time although at first I felt too inadequate to leave an intelligent comment. (Still feel like that but I comment anyway. I’m sure I amuse him.) Roland has a deeper understanding of the world than most and an appreciation for the human spirit in all its complexities. He truly paints with words. I am honored to have a friendship with this wise and devoted person. Roland, you rock!

Melissa Bradley at Melissa’s Imaginarium
I’ve come to know Melissa through a mutual admiration of all things geek. (And just where were all you cool geek girls when I was in school?) She’s a talented author, movie expert, and strong woman who knows where she’s going in life. Her friendship is unwavering and she goes to great lengths to support those dear to her heart. It’s easy to think of her as just one of the guys, but Melissa is a true lady. My dear, you rock!

Jeremy Hawkins at Retro Zombie
Last but not least, we have Jeremy. This guy is uber-cool on so many levels. Visiting his site, you might think he’s quirky, but Jeremy is the sanity in the midst of insanity. He is the voice of reason, colored by that awesome wit of his. A talented author and artist, Jeremy is beyond generous and willing to do anything to help another person. I appreciate his sincerity, his honesty, and his always positive attitude. Jeremy, you rock!

Whoa! Excited about Ciara’s next book? Plan to pick up Michael’s book or enter the query contest? Following those seven bloggers who ROCK? Seeing Men in Black III this weekend? Any other Memorial Day Weekend plans? Don’t forget to visit Michael Pierce Books. And have an awesome weekend!