Interstellar Review, Jousting in the Realms Faire, Mini-Alex, Five Years of Blogging, and Ninja News and Writing Opportunities

I’m a guest at Caffe Maggieato today for the Author Interview Series: Behind the Scenes with Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Interstellar Movie Review

The earth is dying and a group of explorers is sent through a wormhole to find a new home. Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey.

Interstellar is a unique film. It has the feel of 2001: A Space Odyssey and tackles some really big concepts – worm holes, relativity, gravity, and time.

The effects are amazing, especially those of the wormholes. Nolan really shows what it might feel like to travel to another galaxy.

It’s a slower paced film, but it’s incredibly intense with some excellent action scenes. The film is long – 169 minutes – and probably could’ve been trimmed shorter.

Emotionally it packs a punch. This is not a feel-good film, but there is a sense of hope. You will be exhausted when it’s over.

The film isn’t perfect. There are tiny holes and I have no idea how much of the science is accurate.

Considering the scope and time frame of the film though, Interstellar is incredibly ambitious. Not many directors would’ve been capable of pulling off such a massive story. It sticks with you and you’ll find yourself thinking and talking about it for hours.

Recommended.

Realms Faire!

Today kicks off the week-long event of the Realms Faire, hosted by M Pax.

And today the Ninja Knight is jousting! Visit M Pax. and cheer for me today (my cheer - Ninja Army Rocks!) and you will be entered to win a review copy of Dragon of the Stars.

There are tons of games and prizes all week long. You can continue to cheer for me every day and be eligible to win books and gift cards. Plus the knight with the most cheers at the end of the tournament wins!

Please show everyone that the Ninja Army is a force to be reckoned with!

Ninja News

At the A to Z Blog today is Karen Jones Gowen with her theme of life in Guatemala.

Thanks to all who commented on the cover for my next book, Dragon of the Stars. (And you can add it on Goodreads now!) Thanks to those who shared it on their site. It releases April 7, 2015, right in the middle of the A to Z Challenge, and several of you suggested I make it part of my Challenge theme. Thanks, I intend to do that!

Tonja Reynolds is the new fiction editor at Licking River Review, a literary/arts journal published annually at Northern Kentucky University. We are accepting submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, critical essays, and art until January 31. We invite submissions of traditional and experimental styles by both new and veteran writers. Please review the submission guidelines for details.

Samantha Redstreake Geary announced this opportunity: Enter the world Of Mist And Magic, where fairy tales are reimagined under the influence of Epic Music Vn & Really Slow Motion‘s enchanting music! Submit your own twist on a classic fairy tale, inspired by composer, Phill Lober‘s ‘The Eternal Rest of a Ronin‘ (featuring gifted violinist, Kelly Ryu), and YOU could win a spot in the upcoming Of Mist And Magic anthology!

Interested in reviewing books? Sher A Hart has started a Review Queue for kid lit authors – visit her site for details.

PK Hrezo has started a Story Scientist service for writers – see her site for details.
Plus, her book, Induction Day, is now available!

New Releases:

Gears of Brass is a steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills. Within the pages, you’ll come across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings. Eleven authors will guide you through worlds filled with airships, top hats, and corsets – including our very own S.A. Larsen
Find Gears of Brass at Curiosity Quills Press.

Now available – The Attic of Sand and Secrets by Medeia Sharif

Lily, a learning disabled girl, attempts to unravel the mystery of her abducted mother using supernatural clues from an ancient stranger, even when it means posing a danger to herself.

The book takes place in 1976. Every host for this book blast is going to post one fun fact for that year.

My fun sports facts: The Pittsburg Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys in Superbowl X, the Montreal Canadians beat the Philadelphia Flyers for the Stanley Cup, and the Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals.

Christmas novella, Married by Midnight by Talli Roland
Find it at Amazon US and Amazon US

You Cannot Kill a Swan by Carrie-Anne Brownian

Mini-Alex

Just a friendly reminder – forty-four more days until Christmas!

Five Years

And November 9 marked five years since I began blogging. That first post was lame and I had no followers. My heartfelt thanks to those who decided to follow me and continue to visit. You are all awesome friends and I could not have done it without you. Here’s to another five years!

Anyone else see Interstellar? Participating in the Realms Faire? Interested in those writing opportunities and new books? What do you remember about 1976? And who’s done with his Christmas shopping? And how many years have you been blogging…?

Be sure to cheer for my Ninja Knight at the Realms Faire!
And visit Caffe Maggieato!

Edge of Tomorrow Review, Phoenix Prophetesses and Ninjas, Then and Now Blogfest, and Major Ninja News!

Edge of Tomorrow Review

Fighting an alien invasion, Tom Cruise is caught in a loop – every time he dies, he returns to the same moment in time.

If you’re looking for a good science fiction story, this is it. The film is extremely entertaining. The battle sequences are nothing short of thrilling. Time travel is always interesting and it’s used to great effect here
.
There are a LOT of elements from other movies and stories, but they pull them together into a really solid story that’s tense and exciting. Think Saving Private Ryan, Starship Troopers, Groundhog Day, and a pinch of 50 First Dates.

You might not like Cruise as a person, but he’s really good in this film and a bit of a different character than you’ve seen before. Plus Emily Blunt is great – something about her that’s just HOT!

Highly recommended!

Five Ways Phoenix Prophetesses Are Like Ninjas

1. Although Phoenix Prophetesses can really see the future, Ninjas—with their lightning fast reflexes—appear to be able to see the future.

2. Both Phoenix Prophetesses and Ninjas have perfect accuracy. If they throw something, it will hit their target.

3. A Zen-like state can balance Ninjas and Phoenix Prophetesses alike.

4. They can sneak around and hide in the shadows.

5. Last, but definitely not the least, they both look stunning in black.

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

Available in Ebook and Print! To purchase Reborn: Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Nook, OmniLit, Smashwords, Createspace, and Google Play

"The authors of Untethered Realms and I are giving away over $50 worth of books to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally. Go HERE to enter."

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer and library assistant living in Virginia. Reborn is her debut novel. For more information, please visit her website.

Major Ninja News!

Heroes of PHENOMENA is now available on Amazon, Kobo, and Smashwords!!


Today’s Themes That Rocked feature at the A to Z Blog is Charity Bradford and her Dr. Who theme!


George at Cinemarvellous had one of his quotes included in a DVD trailer!


Jennifer Hillier hit it big time! Jimmy Fallon does a segment every week on The Tonight Show where he picks a hashtag on Tuesdays and invites people to tweet something funny about it. He posts the best ones on the show on Thursdays. Last week it was #WorstSummerJobs – and Jennifer’s was the last one he read!

Talli Roland’s The No Kids Club is out now! You can buy it on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. Amazon US and Amazon UK

Nigel Mitchell just released Quantum Tales - Volumes 1 & 2

Botanist fromViews From the Bald Patch just released a new book - Ghosts of Innocence. Find it on Amazon and Smashwords.

T.B. Markinson’s latest, A Woman Lost, is on sale for 99 cents. Find it at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Maggie at Just Get it Written nominated me for the Lighthouse Award. Check her site for the rules, but I pass this on to Gary at Klahanie.

Eva at My Miracle Life selected me as her Written Acts of Kindness blogger last month. Father Dragon Al has started a special encouragement group, proving he’s one of the most encouraging people I know. (See Eva’s site for rules.)

Then and Now Blogfest

Hosted by The Armchair Squid, Suze, Nicki Elson, and Nancy Mock.

The greatest films stand the test of time, speaking to us in different ways at various life stages. Is there a movie that was a part of your life when you were younger that you see differently now? Like fine wine, has it improved with age or did it die in the bottle? Has maturity brought you new insights you missed in your youth?

I’ve selected two movies:

Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
Fun movie when I was a kid, as I was big into Godzilla.
Saw it again as an adult courtesy of Mystery Science Theater 3000 – and they brought a whole new level to it, poking fun at the cheesiness, bad acting, and rubber suits.
“They’ve run acrab! It’s kaBob and kaSteve.”

Jaws
Saw it in the theater when I was a kid and scared the crap out of me. Didn’t go near a bathtub for months.
Have watched it many times as an adult, and despite all the problems they had with Bruce the Shark, it still holds up to this day. Great acting, scary and tense moments, and some of the greatest lines ever.
“You’re going to need a bigger boat.”

Whoa! Anyone else see Edge of Tomorrow? Picked up Reborn yet? Catch that spot on the Tonight Show? Excited about the new books? And what movie do you see differently now than you did as a kid?

Online Marketing Symposium! Plus Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Movie Review, TV Trivia Answers, and Ninja News

Movie Review

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Staring Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh, and Keira Knightly
It’s a good start to a reboot of the franchise and takes place in current time. Ryan’s first mission as an operative is to go to Russia to analyze some accounts. He’s an ‘analyst out of water’ as he discovers a terrorist plot to destroy American’s economy and forced to go beyond his job description.
The actors all did a good job and I really like Kevin Costner in the film. Branagh pulls double-duty as both actor and director and does it well.
Not a great film, but a really good action-spy thriller. And certainly one of the best films I have ever seen in January. Shame it didn’t do better at the box office this weekend.(Shame what DID do well this weekend.)
Recommended

Ninja News

Yvonne Lewis has been having issues with commenting on certain blogs and with others finding her blog. So if you’ve missed Yvonne, hop over and follow her new blog.

In celebration of her upcoming release, 18 Truths, Jamie Ayres is hosting a special blogfest this week and it includes prizes:
Players tell two truths and one lie. The object of the game is to hop around the blogs and determine which statement that each blogger posted is the false one.Anyone who posts for the Can You Handle The TRUTH? blogfest between January 22nd-28th can enter to win a number of prizes donated by 18 terrific people.

Donna Weaver had a special release last week – Hope's Watch. This eBook-exclusive short story includes special excerpts from both A Change of Plans and Torn Canvas, coming April 2014.

Talli Roland revealed the print version of The Pollyanna Plan, coming March 11.


For those of you who are members of the IWSG Facebook Group - remember that promotions are to be posted on Saturday News & Promo Day only. (And I understand the group is over five hundred strong now!)

Jessica Therrien announced a great opportunity and giveaway:
To celebrate our new blog, the authors at Darkly Delicious YAalong with Book Nerd Tours are hosting a huge giveaway, and we’re looking for authors of Young Adult and New Adult (provided there are no graphic sex scenes) to submit their books for the giveaway. The grand prize will be a Kindle Fire HD loaded with all our books. Giveaway will start on March 1st and run through March 17th.

TV Trivia Answers

On The X-Files, what's Mulder's nickname? Spooky
What show starred Michael Landon as an angel? Highway to Heaven
On The Simpsons, who shot Mr. Burns? Maggie Simpson
What was the name of the charter boat that shipwrecked in the 1960s show "Gilligan's Island"? S.S. Minnow
What 80s show is Frasier a spinoff of? Cheers

What Works – Online Marketing Symposium

A blogfest with information you can use! Hosted by Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee, Jeremy Hawkins, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

We want you to tell us your stories of success (or not so successful) as we present a blogging event that will help us learn. Tell us about a marketing idea that you've used and what worked or didn't work. Your post could describe a campaign that succeeded in a big or small way or one that failed drastically. Tell us about a business campaign, an organizational event, a fundraiser – anything where a bit of promotion was necessary! The What Works.. Marketing Symposium is not limited to authors but also to anyone in a business that has a promotional aspect – online or otherwise!

I’ve seen a lot of blog tours in over four years of blogging (and conducted three of my own) and I think they are still very effective. Based on my experience and observations, here are my tips on how to get the most out of a blog tour:

One tour stop a day. If a blog was nice enough to host you, return the favor by making that the one and only, front and center stop. (It’s just being courteous.)

All guest posts and interviews should be unique. No duplicates.

Announcements aren’t tour stops.

If bloggers are announcing the release of your book (or whatever) try to send something a little different to each one.

Select high traffic stops with lots of followers. (Those with smaller followings can do an announcement for you.) You want to get in front of a lot of people, plus putting together a guest post takes time and effort – make it count.

Avoid weekend stops unless that is the blog’s prime traffic and post time.

Announce each stop the day it occurs on your blog, Twitter, etc. (And once you have the exact link, go back and edit it into your blog post.)

Keep your interview answers and guest posts short. (Just being real here.)

Offer a couple giveaways during your tour.

That’s what I’ve seen work best. And I didn’t mention the use of clones, but those also help!

Visit other participants:


Anyone else see Shadow Recruit? Signed up for those blogfests? Part of the IWSG Facebook Group? Get any of the television trivia right? And what online marketing tip would you offer?

Stop by on Wednesday for the announcement of one awesome contest!

Books Galore! Ender’s Game Review, New Releases, Cover Art, and Book Trivia Answers. Plus Battle of the Bands and Ninja News

Today, it’s all about the books…

Cover Reveals

Dragonfly Warrior by Jay Noel
The first book of The Mechanica Wars, a steampunk adventure like no other.
Release date - January 6, 2014

The Mechanica Wars: Savage Machines Are Afoot...
At the age of twenty, Kanze Zenjiro's bloody footprints mark the bodies of those who stood in his way to protect the throne of Nihon. Now, the tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and they send their steam-powered giants and iron spiders against him.
Zen embarks on a quest that takes him on the most dangerous journey of his life. To succeed, Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.

Find Jay at: Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Ribbon of Darkness by Decadent Kane
Release date December 13, 2013

An old family secret draws Ribbon into an Elven world while Draven is forced to find a way to drag her back home to save Christmas magic…

Fun Fact: In Iceland, 80% believe in existence of elves and roads are rerouted and buildings not built anywhere an 'elf home' might have been said to exist.

Find out more about the author, Decadent Kane: Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads
Sign up for the newsletter to be notified of publications: HERE
She is also known as the awesome Summer Ross!

New Releases and Free Books

Time on Her Side by Shelly Arkon

They say God gives second chances.
Forty years have shown Wilhelmina has nothing but a lifetime of four failed marriages, a job she hates, and her most recent affair with a married businessman. Until one day, while sipping coffee her silent prayers are answered--she’s visited by her future self, offering Wilhelmina a chance to re-do her life, giving her a mission to save the future world from the baby she’s unknowingly pregnant with.
Is it the miracle she hoped for, or will this lead into a whole new set of problems?

Shelly Arkon is the author of Secondhand Shoes
Find Time on Her Side on Amazon - free November 1-5.

The Bashan Agenda by Melanie Schulz

Part two of The Newstead Trilogy, The Bashan Agenda picks up right where The Newstead Project left off. Nathan's truck eventually stops in the small town of Wilson, NY, and Rachel's still in it, not that she wants to be. But she figures at least in Wilson she'll be able to have a fresh start. She forgot one thing: they can be anywhere. As Joel trains with his father, doubts begin to rise in his mind. Is he really who he claims to be- and more importantly does he have an agenda all his own? When the maps to Bashan come out, Joel realizes maybe it's not such a good idea to be putting so much trust in one man.

Find The Bashan Agenda: Amazon and Amazon Kindle
Find Melanie on: Blog, Wattpad, and Facebook

Anticipation of the Penitent by Nancy LaRonda Johnson

Trapped by the devil, Alezea bears Satan’s son and knows her life will never be her own...

Find it on Amazon - free November 1!

Masked for Love by Nicole Zoltack

Isabelle is content being a maid, and will do anything for her lady--even accompany her to a masquerade ball…

Find Masked for Love at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Last Christmas by Talli Roland

For Lucy, the best Christmas present is forgetting the past…

Purchase at: Amazon and Amazon UK



Congratulations, everyone!

Ninja News

How I Miss You Blogfest is next Friday, November 8, hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish
The bloggers you miss and the ones you would miss. Sign up HERE


NaNo begins today! Good luck to all participating. I wrote my second book, CassaFire, during Nano 2010, so it can be done.
Today is also the blogfest in honor of the release of The Spirit of Christmas Anthology, featuring JA Bennett, Kelly Lynn, David Powers King, Jessica Salyer, and Cassie Mae. Proceeds all go to NaNo!

And the Insecure Writer’s Support Group posts next Wednesday!
My awesome co-hosts will be CD Coffelt, Tina Downey, Isis Rushdan, and Michelle Wallace!

Horror Story Trivia Answers

1 – The Exorcist 1971 – William Peter Blatty
2 – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1886 – Robert Lewis Stevenson
3 – The Dark Tower 1938 – CS Lewis
4 – The Anubis Gates 1983 – Tim Powers
5 – At the Mountain of Madness 1931 – HP Lovecraft

Battle of the Bands

I finally get to participate again!

Pink Floyd’s Welcome to the Machine has been remade numerous times. A couple of my favorite bands tackled this classic, resulting in two very different and yet still true to the original versions. Shadows Fall did a more straightforward take while Arjen added his own flair. Both are much heavier than the original – bonus!

Shadows Fall


Arjen Anthony Lucassen

Ender’s Game Book Review

I finally read it this past summer, knowing the movie was coming out and to satisfy my curiosity about comparisons made to my first book. It does pose an interesting question – is it right to destroy someone for the greater good?

It’s also NOT a young adult book – it’s just a science fiction book with kids in it. The theme is dark and the main character kills.

The ending surprised me and yet it didn’t.

Overall, it was good but not great.

And as for comparisons to CassaStar – both feature a main character who’s a loner with great potential, difficult to like, and undergoes military training. (Actually I found most of the characters in Ender's Game difficult to like.) But that is where the similarity ends – they are very different stories.

Hearing that they may have toned down the story and changed the ending for the movie makes me leery. However, I still intend to see it – must support a science fiction film!

Whoa!

See any new books you have to pick up? (With that list, I hope so!) Participating in NaNo? Ready for the Miss You Blogfest and IWSG next week? Get any of the trivia right? (Yes Suze, I will do more book trivia.) Read Ender’s Game? And which version of Welcome to the Machine do you like best…?

Sharknado Play-by-Play! Plus Ninja News and Monster Movie Trivia

Ninja News

Talli Roland signed a two-book deal with Amazon Publishing. They will re-publish The Pollyanna Plan with a new cover and release The No-Kids Club spring of 2014. Congratulations, Talli!

Taking Time and Other Science Fiction Stories by Ellie Garratt

Available now!

Science fiction stories of time and space...

Find the book at Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Goodreads.

Cassa News

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for CassaStorm on Goodreads. Open to the USA, Canada. AND Mexico!

Thanks to those of you who visited Jo Murphy’s feature on me this past Monday. I was stunned to discover she was a fan of my books before we ever met in the blogging world! Thanks again, Jo.

And I forgot to mention this in my review of Pacific Rim on Monday. There is a scene where Raleigh is telling Mako about the mental connection between the pilots and that the worst part is the silence when that person isn’t in your head anymore. Yes, CassaStar definitely entered my mind at that point!

Sharknado Play-by-Play

Yes, it was another SyFy Craptastic epic. We won’t even begin to dissect the implausibility of sharks surviving out of water in a storm and then falling to earth with a desire to eat everyone in sight. Just pretend you have the IQ of a carrot and enjoy.

9:01 Sharknado title appears and blows off screen. I’m guessing this won’t be the only thing that blows.

9:04 There are so many sharks in the water, you could literally walk across the ocean.

9:05 The captain of a shark fishing boat is killed. Lucky bastard doesn’t have to watch any more of Sharknado.

9:08 Ian Ziering, post Beverly Hills 90210, shows up. Don’t judge – dude has to eat.

9:15 Girl hands over sarong for tourniquet on man with deep cuts. Hello? The guy behind you is missing a leg and you still have on your bikini!

9:24 Sunny day – hurricane – sunny day – hurricane. Apparently the continuity guy was eaten by a shark.

9:32 When is Sharktopus going to make a cameo?

9:40 George the lovable drunk is eaten by shark. An hour later, the shark was pulled over and issued a DWI.

9:43 Sharks are popping out of the storm drain like a giant Pez dispenser!

9:51 Somewhere Bruce the shark is watching this and laughing his ass off.

9:53 The house is flooded up to the second floor but the road is clear. (Remember folks, the continuity guy is dead.)

9:54 If you only see one film where sharks attack a Beverly Hills home – don’t see this one.

10:05 Man says he came to LA to be an actor. Maybe one day my friend. Maybe one day…

10:16 Car blows up after shark attack. Shark terrorists?

10:21 Special effects time. It’s a tornado. With sharks. Crap, now they aren’t even trying…

10:30 I need to get ready for bed. I don’t think I’ll miss any critical plot twists though.

10:50 A shark just gave birth to Ian Ziering in what can only be described as the worst Discovery Channel special ever.

10:55 They blow up the final Sharknado with explosives. Shame someone didn’t do that to film itself.

While watching this movie, I started thinking of other films they could do. (Obviously I wasn’t the only one, as a few of these have appeared online during the past week.) See if you can guess the disaster – and feel free to add your own:

Sharkpocalypse
Sharkquake
Sharkano
TSharknami
Sharphoon
Sharktastrophe
Sharkzard

Monster Movie Trivia!

How well do you know your monster movies?

1 – What was the monster in Brotherhood of the Wolf?

2 – How many times have Godzilla and Gamera fought?

3 – DeForest Kelley fought giant rabbits in what film?

4 – Which X-Men cast member starred in Deep Rising?

5 – What year was the original King Kong released?

6 – What was the giant creature in Lake Placid?

7 – In Godzilla vs. the Thing, what was the Thing?

Answers on Monday!

And I have to end with this from Jo Blo because it’s awesome!!!!Can't wait for the movie next year.

Have you picked up Ellie’s book? Did anyone else suffer through Sharknado? Know the other shark disasters or have one of your own? Seeing a movie this weekend? Ready for Godzilla next year? And know any trivia answers?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group and CassaStorm Book Trailer!!!! Plus Ninja News, Wednesday Movie Quote, and Special Announcement.

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 Thompson, Mark Koopmans, and Heather Gardner! Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

This month I am finishing final edits on CassaStorm. I’ve already seen a few of the reviews for my third book. (He shoots – he scores!) My tour is set and my publisher notified me of some major promotions they will be doing for its release.

My insecurity right now has to do with how well this last book will do and where the other two are right now. Sales have slowed this year for CassaStar and CassaFire. Which I can’t complain about, because when they were at the top of the charts, they were moving big time. But I’m concerned that slower sales now for the first two will hurt CassaStorm.

Like most writers, I think I improved, and the third one is the best of the trilogy. I think with a younger character like Byron’s son it will have an even wider appeal. But will enough people find it? It could be my last book – I’d really like to send it out with a bang.

Anyone else looking at the final book in their series the same way?

Visit others on the IWSG LIST!

Ninja News

Julie Flanders signed a publishing contract for her second novel, The Ghosts of Aquinnah. Congratulations, Julie!

LG at Bards and Prophets posted about the Content Idea Generator. So if you need a cool idea for a blog post, check it out!

Talli Roland has a short story in the anthology Sunlounger, organized by Belinda Jones. Congratulations, Talli!

Lynn Rush revealed her secret identity – she’s Reese Monroe! And her agent, Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency, helped her acquire a three book deal! She signed a deal with Entangled Publishing for her Bound by Hades trilogy. Congratulations, Lynn!

Looking for MG/YA.NA reviewers? S.A. Larsen compiled a huge list, and if you know of more, please let her know and she’ll add them.

Jessica Bell has a music video!!! We finally get to see her sing and jam one of her songs from String Bridge.

Lisa Regan’s book, Finding Claire Fletcher, is a Finalist in the 2013 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards in TWO categories - Best Novel and Best Heroine! She needs votes to win though – see her site for details. Very awesome, Lisa!

Sarah’s Book Reviews is giving away copies of all of C. Lee McKenkie’s books! Go HERE, HERE, and HERE for your chance to win.

Wednesday Movie Quote

Name your favorite. Today’s genre – water movies!

I have to go with The Abyss:

“So, raise your hand if you thought that was a Russian water tentacle.”

Next week – Free-For-All! Come at me with your most favorite movie quote ever.

CassaStorm News and Trailer!

First the news – my publisher is doing another giveaway on Goodreads. Open to the USA, Canada. AND Mexico!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

CassaStorm

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Giveaway ends July 22, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

And now, the trailer! (Like you didn’t scroll down to see it first anyway, right?)



Short and to the point – I like it! I knew they weren’t doing a long, involved trailer this time. But this one is really cool and a great way to finish the series. (If you can’t see it here, watch it on You Tube.)

Whoa – post overload!!!!
What’s your insecurity today? Ready to play with the Idea Generator? Know some good reviewers for the list? Entering any of the contests? And what did you think of the trailer?

Have a great Fourth of July my American friends! I’ll be enjoying a BBQ and Despicable Me 2…

Iron Man III Review, Rush Clockwork Angels Concert, Ninja News, Wednesday Movie Quote, and Bloglovin’ Question

Iron Man III Review

Another great entry in the series.
It’s less of an Iron Man movie and more of a Tony Stark film. Downey reprises his role with ease, firing off witty and hilarious comments left and right.
The special effects are great. What really shines are the action sequences, especially the ending. (The director wrote the Lethal Weapon series, so he knows his action.) We get multiple Iron Man suits this time as well. (Although the constant breaking down of the prototype began to grow old.)
Die hard fans of the Marvel comics will be disappointed with the villain, The Mandarin. I’m a DC guy so I had no history with the character.
It doesn’t pack the same emotional punch as the first two, but as a superhero action film, it delivers. Highly recommended.

Rush Concert Review

Last Friday night – and well worth missing Iron Man’s opening!
Rush is probably the oldest band that is still relevant, producing albums, and touring. They have twenty-four gold and fourteen platinum albums, for an estimated forty million albums sold worldwide. And they still put on an amazing show.
This was the second leg of their Clockwork Angels tour. For those of you who are steampunk fans, you’d dig the album – and you’d really like the stage setup and animation. They performed nine songs from the album, complete with a small accompanying orchestra. They also played a unique set of old favorites.
What continues to amaze me about this band is quality of both the music and the performance. Geddy, Alex, and Neil are three of the best musicians in the world and are truly a sight to behold in concert.
And I won’t even scare you with how many times I have seen this band in concert….

Mini-Alex didn’t get to go, but he did get a cool t-shirt!

Ninja News

First, I have to say thanks to you guys! Author CM Brown featured a poll during the A-Z Challenge, asking people to vote to Appreciate a Fellow Blogger – and I won! Thanks, everyone. That really means a lot, because I’m sure during the month there were many bloggers nominated.

Michael Pierce’s next book is now available – Susy Asylum.

In SUSY Asylum, there is no release. There is no escape. No hope…

This is the sequel to Provex City, which is receiving a new cover – second edition should be available soon.

Congratulations, Michael!

The Post A to Z Road Trip kicks off today, hosted by Tina Downey, Shannon Lawrence, and Nicole. If you’d like to join them as they continue visiting those on the Challenge list, sign up at the A to Z Blog.

Talli Roland has a new book coming out November 2013 – The No-Kids Club.

Almost-forty Clare Donahue is living child-free and loving it – except for her shrinking social circle…

Congratulations, Tallie! And funny, since you no longer belong to that club.

And Katherine at Katherine’s Corner had her photo selected for the cover of Ruby For Women Magazine.

Congratulations, Katherine!

Wednesday Movie Quote

Post your favorite here or play along on your own blog.

Today’s genre is psychological thriller.

My choice is from Manhunter:

Will Graham: I know that I'm not smarter than you.
Doctor Hannibal Lecktor: Then how did you catch me?
Will Graham: You had disadvantages.
Doctor Hannibal Lecktor: What disadvantages?
Will Graham: You're insane.

Next week’s genre – monster movies!

Bloglovin’

I was waiting until after the Challenge to start using a new reader. Bloglovin’ seems more user friendly than Feedly and will likely be my preferred reader. It doesn’t update quite as fast as Google Reader, but it does update all blogs and not hours later. (Or in poor Robyn’s case, not at all!) Following and unfollowing is easy, as are adjusting the various folders.

I did discover one drawback though. Bloggers who have their comment box on a separate page, such as Jay Noel and Medeia Sharif, I’m unable to comment because Bloglovin’ won’t pull up that second page. It’s just a blank screen. I had to hop over to Google Reader to find them there and leave a comment. Has anyone else noticed this and is there a setting I can adjust?

What did you think of Iron Man III? Any Rush fans out there? Excited about Michael and Talli’s books? Taking the A to Z Road Trip? What’s your favorite psychological thriller quote? And anyone else using Bloglovin’?