Third Time’s a Charm, Mini-Alex, Gratitude, Wormfest, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja News

All of the Challenge Co-Hosts are to do an ‘About Me’ post at the A to Z Blog.
I decided to pass the job to Mini-Alex and let him post instead.
I really hope he did a good job.

Mini-Alex wouldn’t turn on me, would he…?

Third Time's A Charm

By the awesome Hart Johnson (aka: Alyse Carlson)

So you know how the first time you are nervous and excited and you worry that you don't know what you're doing, but you're also in a rush and want to just do it already, so you go for it. You fumble a bit because you don't quite have this skill set, but people are helpful if you ask... Though some of THEM don't know what they're doing, either...

And it goes okay, but mostly you are just stunned to have gotten through it. You are a little wiser now, if a little bruised around the ego.

So you get another chance to give it a go and you think... yeah, I've done this before... I can do it again! I know what I'm doing! I've got nimble fingers and moxy... Dare I say it? I'm sexy! And you give it a try... and somehow you realize you have forgotten some things... and there were things you maybe we excused on the first time as a newbie that this time you should have gotten right... and it's just... AWKWARD. In fact you have to give it a couple attempts before everyone is even satisfied, which is not very satisfying...

But see the THIRD TIME... you know how to do it and you even feel the confidence to try a few new things... break a couple rules... get a little kinky!

So I am releasing my third book tomorrow... What? You thought this was TMI Hour? *cough* Seriously, folks... and it was a BLAST to write, because I neither had the 'I don't know what the heck I'm doings' OR the 'Yeah, I got this... wait, WHAT?'s when I was writing it. I knew my characters well and knew my genre well enough to follow all the necessary rules, while adding some twists to shake things up from typical Cozy fare. My two most reliable beta readers BOTH said it is their favorite of the set, so I think it comes across how much fun I was having.

Keeping Mum is the third Cozy Mystery in the Garden Society Mysteries by Alyse Carlson (pen name for Hart Johnson).

Cam and her best friend, Annie, are planning a gala for a local Senate candidate—a murder mystery themed silent auction where the guests bid on who will be the night’s “victim.”
Murder mystery dinner. What could go wrong?

Hart/Alyse writes books from her bathtub and can be found at Confessions of a Watery Tart and multiple places on Facebook (Hart Johnson personal, Hart Johnson Author, Alyse Carlson Author). On rare occasions she Tweets, but she's sort of a Twit about it.

Ninja News

Jeremy Hawkins is back today! He broke his ankle several weeks ago and has not been online, but he rejoins us today.

Jamie Ayers posted about a boy in her class (she’s a teacher) who died last week. She came to know him better because he read and enjoyed her books, and her touching post is about how we as authors can make a difference. God really can use us to change lives!

Tara Watson is hosting the Self-Lovin’ Bloghop. Between March 17-21, writers are to share what they are good at. (I signed up – anyone care to tell me what I’m good at?)

Steven Symes is looking for critique partners!
“…my paranormal writing crosses genre lines many times. It's not really horror, my current book touches on some low fantasy and science fiction as well as thriller, and I have interests in writing for pretty much all age groups as well as fiction and nonfiction. The big common thread is the paranormal slant on my stories.”

Nigel Mitchell posted a list of links to some really good writing articles, especially if you write in our genre, science fiction.

Cover reveal –
Sidelined (Game On Book 3) by Kyra Lennon
Release Date: March 31st 2014
At the age of twenty-one, Bree Collinson has more than she ever dreamed of. A handsome husband, a fancy house, and more shoes than Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos combined. But having everything handed to her isn’t the way Bree wants to live the rest of her life. When an idea to better herself pops into her head, she doesn’t expect her husband to question her, and keep her tied by her apron strings to the kitchen.

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

Movie Trivia Answers

1 – Title character from The Iron Giant, 1999 – Vin Diesel
2 – Z from Antz, 1998 – Woody Allen
3 – Title character from Puss in Boots, 2011 – Antonio Banderas
4 – Moses from Prince of Egypt, 1998 – Val Kilmer
5 – Sulley from Monsters, Inc., 2001 – John Goodman
6 – Rocky from Chicken Run, 2000 – Mel Gibson
7 – Fozzie Bear from Muppets From Space, 1999 – Frank Oz
8 – Emperor Kuzco from The Emperor’s New Groove, 2000 – David Spade

Wormfest Potluck Party!

On Monday March14th, Stephen Tremp will be kicking off his Escalation Blog Tour right here! He thought the best way to launch his tour is have one big party for the inhabitants of Blogdom. And you’re all invited. Just bring a dish cleverly named as a pun. Example. Stephen Tremp is bringing Square pies (pi) and Interstellar Cookies. They’re out of this world.

You can choose a food inspired by science, sci-fi, a book, movie, or music. But it’s open to any and all food puns. You can leave the food you’re bringing in my comments. Examples of dishes you could bring: Harry Potter jelly beans, Motley Crutons, Souper Salad, You should get married if you cantaloupe, A salt and battery Fish and Chips, Tequila Mockingbird, Locks Stocks and Bagels, Lettuce enjoy this salad, Iggy Popsicles, etc.

Use your imagination or Google food puns, then stop by Stephen’s blog Monday March 10th and leave what you bring in the comments. (This is separate from the actual 2014 Wormfest Bloghop, although both events kick off the same day.)

It’s All About Gratitude Bloghop

Hosted by SA Larsen

There are so many things I am grateful for – my beautiful wife, my church family, my Lord and Savior, my job and home, the talents God has given me… I’m really grateful for this amazing community. You guys have always been there for me.

Gratitude keeps me humble. None of this is a given. I didn’t earn it. It’s a gift from God.

All I can do is to attempt to pass on the blessings.

What has gratitude done for you?

Is the third time a charm? (I know my best writing is in my third book, even if it’s not sold as many as the other two.) Did you read Jamie’s post? Can you critique for Steven? Ready for IWSG day? Get any of the trivia correct? What can you bring to the Wormfest potluck party? And what has gratitude done for you…?

Be sure to visit Mini-Alex at the A to Z Blog!

Interview, 90’s Blogfest, Ninja News, Ninja Organizational Secrets, Movie Review – Argo, and Trivia Answers

I was honored this weekend with an interview by Juliana Haygert. My answers are short and to the point! Like that surprises anyone…

Today is the Nineties Blogfest, sponsored by Dave Wrote This.
“Post a favourite something for each year 1990-1999, and tell us what you love about each of them.”
Here's my movie and music highlights:


1990 – Not a bad year for movies – Ghost, Total Recall, Die Hard:2. My favorite would be The Hunt For Red October. Alec Baldwin was the best Jack Ryan. And Extreme’s Pornograffitti came out – excellent CD!

1991 – I still remember it for the year of Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the T2 made of liquid metal. It’s also the year I discovered MST3K – greatest show ever.

1992 - Reservoir Dogs, Unforgiven, Dracula, and The Last of the Mohicans. In music, Dream Theater’s Images and Words came out.

1993 – Tombstone and Groundhog Day. But the big one was Jurassic Park, which still looks amazing today. In music, we had Rush’s Counterparts.

1994 – Good year for movies – True Lies, Pulp Fiction, and The Crow. And another great Pantera album, Far Beyond Driven. (You’ve probably already detected a pattern in my music and movie tastes.)

1995 - Anthrax (band not disease) released one of their best albums, Stomp 442. For movies, there was Braveheart and the underrated Nobody’s Fool with Paul Newman.

1996 – Year of the big movie budgets – Independence Day, Twister, Mission: Impossible, and Broken Arrow. My favorite – Star Trek: First Contact. I also discovered the awesome In Flames and their album The Jester Race.

1997 – Movies included The Lost World, L.A. Confidential, The Fifth Element, and of course, Titanic. Memorable album would be the Foo Fighters’ The Colour and the Shape.

1998 – This is the year the started the awesome Blade series and gave us the first X-Files movie. (I just pretend the second one never happened.) The talented Jerry Cantrell (from Alice in Chains) released a solo album, Boggy Depot.

1999 – Awesome movies included The Matrix, The Sixth Sense, Sleepy Hallow, and of course, Galaxy Quest! Now hooked on In Flames, I rejoice when their album Colony is released.

This concludes our trip down the 90’s Memory Lane!

Ninja News

Andrew Leon’s Shadow Spinner parts 1-5 are free today on Amazon!

Budd at Scifi Media is hosting the Scare Me Blogfest on October 31, Halloween!

Steven Symes’ children’s book, Gracie the Ghost Eater, is free today through Wednesday on Amazon!

Don’t forget – this Wednesday is the Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest!

Ninja Organizational Secrets Revealed!

Last Friday, Michael asked how I keep up with the news, blogfests, and everything else that happens in the blogging world. Here’s how I do it:

1 – Every time I come upon some news (blogfest, book release, contest, accomplishment, etc.) I copy the web address and paste it in a word document labeled with the next blog post date, along with what is happening, and if applicable, I copy the image. Then when I’m ready to put together the blog post, all of the information is right there. (Because otherwise, no way I’d remember!)

2 – I keep a master calendar in a binder by my desk and note blogfest, guest posts, and major events. That keeps me from over-booking or double booking. Or missing my own blogfest!

3 – I keep a master list of everyone who participates in the IWSG. I try to keep track of who’s posting and whom I haven’t visited in a while.

4 – Clones may or may not be involved in any of the above!

Movie Review

Argo
Based on a true story - during the Iran hostage situation, the CIA comes up with a plan involving a fake movie called “Argo” to free six Americans hiding at the home of a Canadian ambassador.
It was refreshing to see a film geared towards adults and the attention to detail was amazing. This movie is intense and gripping, but offset with humor. Goodman and Arkin play well off each other and Cranston as the CIA Chief is hilarious. Affleck, who also directed, did great in a very understated performance. You know the outcome but it’s still an intense ride.
It’s 94% at Rotten Tomatoes and rumored to be an Oscar contender. Highly recommended!

Movie Directors Trivia Answers

1 – The Frighteners – Peter Jackson
2 – Mimic – Guillermo del Toro
3 – Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Francis Ford Coppola
4 – The Serpent and the Rainbow – Wes Craven
5 – The Keep – Michael Mann

What do you remember from the 90’s? See any exciting news? Ready for the blogfest on Wednesday? Any organization tricks you want to steal or suggest? Did you get any directors correct? And did anyone else see Argo?

Don’t forget to visit Juliana Haygert!

Ninja News, Recaptured Dreams, Touchy Question, Award, Guest Posts, and Music Trivia!

Ninja News!

The next installment of Andrew Leon’s book, Shadowspinner – Part Five: The Police Car, is free today on Amazon!

If you’re looking for an awesome t-shirt, Jeremy at Retro Zombie has a slew of great shirts available at the NeatoShop.

Angela Orlowski Peart’s new book, Forged by Greed, is now available! You can purchase the eBook on Amazon for the special price of $3.50 through Sunday morning and paperbacks will soon follow. Congratulations, Angela!

Steven Symes new children’s book, Gracie the Ghost Eater, is now available! Congratulations, Steven.

Special cover reveal from Atom Book Blog Tours:

Abandon by Elana Johnson

seduced by power,
broken by control,
and consumed by love...

Coming June 2013. Mark it to-read on Goodreads today!

And Mark Koopmans says save the date – November 19, 2012! See his blog for vague details.

Recaptured Dreams!

Now available – Recaptured Dreams by Justine Dell

Her favorite line from the book:
“Xavier had thought he was in paradise before. He’d been wrong. Sophia was more than paradise. She was the very reason he breathed.”

Find Recaptured Dreams on Amazon. Goodreads, and Facebook,

Find Justine on Facebook, her Blog, and Twitter. Contact Justine by email: dell.justine@gmail.com

Watch the book trailer on You Tube

Touchy Question

Word verification. I encounter it most often during blogfests and IWSG posts. Now, a couple of my blogger buddies have used it for years and I’m all right with that. But most blogs with word verification are newer blogs.

My question – since word verification is the default setting and most bloggers probably don’t even know they are using it, would it be wrong to let them know in the comments? Just a “Hey, did you know you have word verification on?” As a co-host, I did that a couple times during the A to Z Challenge, but I’ve been hesitant to do it since.

What do you guys think?

Award!

Livia gave me the Daisy Award – thank you!
I’m to list seven weird things about me:
1 – I don’t own a cell phone
2 – I’ve attended over a hundred rock concerts
3 – I want to replace my lawn with Astro Turf
4 – I can write with music blaring and the TV on
5 – I want rocket launchers mounted on the front of my car
6 – I own a Klingon Bat’leth
7 – I never intended to become an author

I’m passing this on to the delightful and quirky Robyn at Life by Chocolate!

The Reason for Guest Posts and Features

Most of you have read my guest post guidelines and know that they are reserved for my blogger buddies. (Most of whom are listed in my sidebar – I need to update it again soon.)

I do this to give back and show support for those of you who support me. There are millions of blogs online and you chose to come visit me. Thousands of authors and writers and you’ve chosen to feature my books. So many people willing to do guest posts and you invite me. That means a lot to me, which is why my blog is open to you. Anything I can do to give back and support my friends.

I do it because I believe in you. It’s not just your book or achievement –  
I believe in you.

Music Trivia!

Remakes – name the song:

1 – In 1995 Dream Theater remade this song by Elton John

2 – In 1998 Orgy remade this song by New Order

3 – 2002 by Shadows Fall, 2012 by Arjen Lucassen, and 2007 by Queesnryche saw the remake of this Pink Floyd song

4 – In 1999 Coal Chamber remade this song by Peter Gabriel

5 – In 1996 White Zombie remade this song by KC and the Sunshine Band (really!)

So many cool new books! Any going on your list? Would you let someone using word verification know? What’s your reason for letting others provide guest posts? And any idea on the music trivia? Go ahead and make a wild hairy guess – you might be right! And who else is seeing Dredd this weekend?