KNOWLEDGEABLE - A to Z Challenge

It’s the third A to Z Challenge! Blog the letters of the alphabet in order every day except Sundays The participation list is HERE – start with the blog after yours and visit at least five blogs a day. Mostly, make new friends and have fun!

My theme – I have selected a word for each day and will present to you blogger buddies who fit that description, along with movies, music, etc. My theme is to give back, highlight some awesome bloggers, and have fun in the process.

KNOWLEDGEABLE

Mooderino at Moody Writing
I read a lot of writing tips online, but no one beats Moody. Her posts are precise and easy to understand. She is a sheer writing genius! If you are a writer, you need to be following the very generous Moody.

Lydia Kang at The World is My Oyster
Lydia is sharp in so many ways. In addition to being a soon-to-be-published author, she is a doctor. Yes, a real MD! Her “Medical Mondays” cover all sorts of topics, giving writers ammunition for killing or harming their characters. Don’t let that scare you though – Lydia is just a sweetheart.

Maurice at The Geek Twins
Maurice (and his brother) run a sharp science fiction site. They are on top of the latest stories, giving readers things they might not find elsewhere. The focus is movies, but you will find all sorts of geeky fun on their site. Maurice recently opened up The Geek Twins to guest posts and I was honored to receive the first invite. Sadly, due to my crazy schedule, that won’t happen until June. Until then, for all your science fiction and geek news and updates, check out The Geek Twins.

Agent Pendergast and Sherlock Holmes
Preston and Child’s beloved character of Agent Pendergast of the FBI is most certainly based on the Arthur Conan Doyle's character, Sherlock Holmes. Both have an amazing wealth of knowledge at their disposal and an eidetic memory. And once the game is afoot, they always solve the case.

NINJA NEWS

Charity Bradford secured a publisher - Sendek: The Magic Wakes will be a book soon. Congratulations, Chairty! And here you were so worried about sending out queries…

Facebook just spent one BILLION dollars to acquire the site Instagram. And no one in the world knows why…

And don’t forget the First Loves Blogfest on May 14 – First loves of movies, music, books, and person.

Following Moody, Lydia, and Maurice? Fan of Preston and Child or Sherlock Holmes? Know why on earth Facebook would spend a billion dollars on a tiny site with a free app that converts nice, clean photos into faded Polaroids? Who would you classify as knowledgeable?

Movie Reviews! Free books! Ninjas on Holiday!

Dogs and cats, living together – mass hysteria!

And this Ninja is going on holiday. (Rusty don’t panic when you don’t see my regular posts.) I won’t post again until after Christmas, although I will be lurking…

My guest post is now up at Daily Write, offering tips for writers who blog. Damyanti must think I know what I’m doing!

Today it’s my turn at the Debutante Ball: Feast of Debut Authors! 

Before I dive into all that, I’ve got a couple movie reviews for you. Yeah, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Like the first film, this movie is a lot of fun and full of great humor. The action set pieces were solid and I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game between Holmes and Morarity. And of course, the interplay between Holmes and Watson is priceless. Another solid entry and I can’t wait for another Sherlock Holmes movie! Between this and Iron Man, Downey is set for life.

Arthur Christmas 
The perfect Christmas movie for the kids, old and young! It was cute and laugh out loud funny. Really sweet spirit and message about dedication to a belief and to family. From the creators of Flushed Away and featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, and Bill Nighy. I actually liked it better than The Muppets. Take the kids and go!

Now the main feature! The Debutante Ball: Feast of Debut Authors is three weeks of giveaways – and today, I’m the highlight.

CassaStar 

To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…
Few options remain for Byron, a talented young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude. Slated to train as a Cosbolt pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life. Much to his chagrin, Bassa, the toughest instructor in the fleet, takes notice of the young pilot. As war brews on the edge of space, Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive. Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

Available in all eBook forms and at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon UK.

If sucked into CassaStar… I’d be Byron. (I mean really, who else who I be?) If made into a movie, Byron would be played by Chris Pine.

The Giveaway- (Because I’m not telling you all of this for nothing!)
Copy of CassaStar 
Review copy of CassaFire, due out February 28, 2011 – see five star reviews on Edi’s Book Lighthouse and Fantasy Nibbles!
Bookmarks, postcards, and stuff, courtesy of my publisher

To enter-
Leave a comment - must be a followers
Tweet this giveaway for a second entry (hashtag #CASSA)
Blog about this giveway for another entry (please let me know if you do!)

Open through December 31, 2011 – Winner announced on January 4, 2012

Even if you have a copy, it would make an awesome gift. (Or doorstop, although it’s not that big.)

Comment and don't forget my Ninja tips at Daily Write!

Everyone have a wonderful, blessed Christmas - however you celebrate the holidays!

Any one else see Sherlock Holmes? Following the Debutante Ball? In need of writer blogging tips? Catch the movie quote at the beginning of this post?

Last Movies of the Year!

Yes, it’s time for December movies. Less than a month to Christmas! Nobody panic.

Before I dive into the movies, a couple quick announcements and reminders:

S.A. Larson’s picture book story is in a publisher’s competition and it would be really cool if you could go vote for her! Visit her SITE for details. Kelly Polark’s piece is also in the competition! Too many awesome writers...

Never thought about posting a link for CassaFire, but for those who’d like to add it to your Goodreads TBR shelf, go HERE.

My blog is a finalist in Karen's Blog Awards! You can vote now at A Peek At Karen’s World I'm under Favorite Writing Blog. (Ironic, huh?)

And the next installment of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is in one week! You guys have amazed me with your posts and the support you’ve shown to one another. Hopefully it keeps growing so that more writers can benefit.

Now for the December movie releases. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

9 - 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 
In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy
Oldman is such a cool actor… 


16 - 

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris
Downey is perfect as Holmes – can’t wait for this one! 


23 - 

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 
The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.
Director: Brad Bird
Stars: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton
It looks cool and I’ve enjoyed all of the M:I movies so far.

The Adventures of Tintin 
Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor. But someone else is in search of the ship.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig
The animation looks stunning! One of two Spielberg movies this December.

(Daniel Craig is also in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - busy man!) 


25 - 

The Darkest Hour 
In Moscow, five young people lead the charge against an alien race who have attacked Earth via our power supply.
Director: Chris Gorak
Stars: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella
This has the quirk factor going for it. 

War Horse 
Follows a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis
Somehow, I have a feeling my wife will drag me to see this one. We saw the last stupid horse movie… 

Which movie catches your eye? Still playing catch-up from November? Or is there a special Christmas movie you plan to watch this month? One can never see A Christmas Story too many times…

Movie Review - Sherlock Holmes

I was eager to catch this flick!

Robert Downey Jr. chews up scenery left and right. Not to be outdone, Jude Law offers numerous funny tidbits as well. It's not an extreme love-hate relationship between Holmes and Watson, but they do know how to banter and poke fun at one another. Neither is perfect - each has hangups. And it's these two characters who make the film memorable.

I won't give away too much, but there's witchcraft going down in London, a criminal back from the dead, and a plot to change the course of history. Sounds like a job for Sherlock Holmes!

Guy Ritchie is an odd director, but his style fits well here. There's something for everyone in this film!

Hmm, do I sense a sequel coming soon??

And as a bonus, the previews were pretty good, too. Clash of the Titans looks amazing!