A to Z Challenge - L - and I won!

For the A to Z Challenge, I am featuring some awesome bloggers. These individuals have offered so much support of my book, CassaStar, and me on my blogger journey. Of course, I’ll be keeping up with the world of movies, music, and pop culture stuff as well! Ninjas are just talented that way...


Life by Chocolate
Robyn has a twisted sense of humor! Her posts on celibacy and life in Paradise will have you in stitches. But beneath that tough, wry appearance is a wonderful woman full of compassion. Robyn highlights the absurd aspects of life. Give her visit. Oh, and bring chocolate!

L’Aussie Writing
Denise is just a wonderful person. She defines the word ‘involved.’ She’s supportive of her writer and author friends and passionate about helping those in need. One could not ask for a better cheerleader.

Lynda at W.I.P. It had a 500 Followers Giveaway Contest – and I won a $20 Amazon gift card! Or rather, gift email. Lynda, thanks and congratulations on the milestone!

Based on a review of Save the Cat Strikes Back at Helen Ginger’s site, I selected that book. The first one had some great tips in it, so I’m looking forward to reading the new one.

Now, if I can just apply those tips to my current manuscript…

Revisions and Number Four

I’ve been working on revisions for the sequel to CassaStar, but it’s slow going. There are only so many hours in the day! I’m afraid I will have to cut back a bit on blogging if I hope to finish. So, if I’m not commenting as much, you’ll know why!

Since I’ve a big announcement planned for Friday, I wanted to post this today. Many of you had asked what was the deal with the author and the book, I Am Number Four, when I commented that I refuse to see this film.

The real author’s name is Jobie Hughes, and he was paid a whole $500 for his book. It was published by a book-packaging company called Full Fathom Five, created by James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces. (Remember him? The dude that lied to Oprah?)

Helen Ginger posted about the situation last November. For the full story, visit Straight From Hel.

So, I won’t be seeing I Am Number Four. Fortunately, Unknown comes out this Friday, and unless the critics bash it, I’ll go see that film instead.

See you all Friday!

No Dull Sword in my Army!

Thanks to all the awesome people who visited me in Hel yesterday! (At Straight From Hel, that is.) Sorry, work overwhelmed me yesterday, so I didn’t get to comment on as many of your posts. Will try to catch up today.

Today’s stop in my virtual tour is Sharp Pen Dull Sword. Now, several of you have already commented, because it went up yesterday by accident! Lola felt really bad, but it was just a technical blogging snafu. So, those of you who didn’t see it yesterday can visit today. It’s a really unique interview. I even brag on my wife!

Hart commented that I don’t talk much about myself here. I’m really not that exciting, though. I wouldn’t know what to tell you! Maybe I need to have a day where you guys ask me what you really want to know.

Of course, I reserve the right to say “no comment.”

Why? Because it’s my Army! Says so in the side bar.

Today’s Stop - HEL

Not THAT hell - Helen Ginger’s site, Straight From Hel! My guest post is about not underestimating your audience, something I learned from my blogging friends.

And big thanks to my hosts yesterday at Mystery Writing is Murder and The Non-Review

Here’s something else I learned this week. (Yeah, I’m still really new at this promotion stuff.) There are ways to help an author besides buying the book.

Ask your local library to stock it. I guess all it takes is one - three requests. Cool, huh? Then you get to read it for FREE! (And if anyone requests my book, be sure to mention the awesome review in last month’s Library Journal.)

You can post a review on Amazon or another site. (Guess you have to buy it then. Or, get it from the library! Back to free again.) Of course, if you didn’t like the book, a bad review doesn’t really help the author… (Now, that’s a scary thought!)

Any other ways to help an author?

Besides awesome blog posts?

Thanks again - you guys rock!!!

iPhones, iPads, and eBooks

Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that the new iPhone comes out on June 25th. The iPhone 4 runs $199-299, is thinner, and boasts a camera, plus it features the iOS 4 operating system which adds multitasking.

Apple is also releasing new apps that will enable those with iPhones and iTouches to download books from the iBookstore. Apple's eBook store will also feature books in pdf format. Helen Ginger had a great article about this yesterday, so visit her site for more details.

The iPad has had an impact on the eBook market, too. Apple's devices now rank third, just behind the Kindle and computers, as the eReader of choice. Online reading of newspapers and magazines has increased as well. And a third of all eReader owners purchased their device within the last six months.

And to give you an idea how many iPads are out there - two million have been sold worldwide since its debut on April 3, barely two months ago. One market research company says it will hit sixteen million units sold in the first year. And it's taken a bite out of the computer notebook industry, which has dropped 45% this year.

So what does everyone else think about all of this? Do you plan to purchase the new iPhone or the iPad?

Movies, Tech, and Stuff

The Apple iPad is available for pre-order this Monday.

Now, the more I hear about it, the more tempting it becomes. However, there's still that pesky Flash issue. I've got to wait until they fix that!

My friend John wrote a song about this issue - about the 'blue Lego.' It's hilarious - go check out the lyrics at Sci-Fi Songs

Sony announced the Move, a motion-sensitive controller designed to compete with the Wii's controller. Available this fall for $100, it will work with games that involve guns, swords, bows and arrows, and more. It's supposed to work with current games as well as new releases designed specifically to use the device. We shall see...

The new poster for Tron: Legacy is out, courtesy of Slashfilm:
Hoping the movie is as cool as the posters and trailers!

Also saw that Charles B. Pierce died this past weekend at the age of 71. He did The Legend of Boggy Creek and The Town That Dreaded Sundown.

Still bummed about the Oscars. However, as you can see from the running total in my sidebar, James Cameron is laughing all the way to the bank...

And two people passed along awards to me this week.

Michele at Southern City Mysteries gave me the Writers Know Award for my completed manuscript.


Yay! Thanks a bunch, Michele!


And Helen at Straight From Hel thinks I am a Sugar Doll.

Don't think she knows me very well...

Thanks, Helen!

Odds & Ends & an Award

I already had yesterday's post ready, so some of this is a day late!

First, I'm looking forward to a great Super Bowl between the Saints and the Colts. So I won't be online the evening of the Super Bowl, but I will be at a party somewhere!

Just wrapped up final edits requested by my publisher. Now to see what the editor thinks of my efforts!

And Helen Ginger at Straight From Hel was nice enough to give me my first ever blog award.
Ironically, all those I thought of passing it along to had already received it. Guess that's what I get for coming in late.
So I'll just select one person and pass it on to my buddy John Anealio.
I want to do a plug for his blog Sci Fi Songs as he's been posting segments of a video commentary about his song, “Cylon #6” It's interesting how it all came about - catchy tune, too. Maybe John will post a video of him performing it for us.
Thanks again, Helen!