Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Riff Trax Live, December Movie Preview, and Ninja News

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 Heather Gardner, T. Drecker from Kidbits, Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins!

First, thanks again to everyone who contributed to and downloaded The Insecure Writer’s Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond.
You can download it for free (almost) everywhere - Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Kobo, and Smashwords

Between preparing for the IWSG’s book release and my own book, Dragon of the Stars, I’ve been securing a lot of guest spots and setting up promotional stuff. I was grateful for a few days off around Thanksgiving last week. I needed that break!

I have seven dates set already for blog stops next April and need a few more. There are a couple big science fiction sites I’d like to secure, but getting the attention of those sites is sometimes difficult. I’m not a big name author with an agent, so despite the success of my previous books, I get overlooked. I’m sure some of you know what it feels like to be mid-list or lower author and struggle the same way. (At least I hope it’s not just me.

I’m also trying to come up with other marketing ideas. I have an idea for the A to Z Challenge that will include information about my book. There’s a possible campaign that will involve Twitter and maybe a website in the works. Plus my publisher wants to do an ad campaign for CassaStorm next March. (I think I just need two more reviews on Amazon to make it happen.)

Yeah, it’s a bit overwhelming! You guys feel that way when it comes to marketing?

Be sure to visit others on the IWSG list!

Riff Trax Live!

Thursday, December 4, at a theater near you – Riff Trax Live: Santa Claus!

Broadcast live from Nashville, TN and playing in hundreds of theaters across the nation. If you loved Mystery Science Theater 3000 (or if you just want to know what it’s all about) go HERE for details.

I saw them in person last month and it was amazing. (If you live in Nashville, see if tickets are still available.) I’m seeing the live broadcast this time and will give a full report next Monday. How could I miss Santa and the devil, together again? Yes, such a classic children’s tale… NOT!

Ninja News

Hart Johnson has a cool idea that involves bloggers, authors, and reviews – and a mutual benefit to all. Check out her site for details.

Available now –
The Trouble With Faking
By Rachel Morgan

December Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for December! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

12 –

Exodus: Gods and Kings
The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley, Sigourney Weaver
Why the hell can’t someone do a Bible story that’s true to the source material? This film starts with Moses having delusions and God played by a creepy child. That’s offensive and wrong on so many levels. Not a chance I will give money to this film…


19 –

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Bilbo and Company are forced to be engaged in a war against an array of combatants and keeping the terrifying Smaug from acquiring a kingdom of treasure and obliterating all of Middle-Earth.
Director: Peter Jackson
Stars: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett
The end of the trilogy promises to be epic! Jackson has pulled so much together for this final installment and created a much bigger story.

Night at the Museum: The Secret of the Tomb
Larry spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Robin Williams, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens, Ben Stiller
The first two were surprisingly good. Plus it has Williams in his final role.





26 –

The Interview
Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapoport run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show "Skylark Tonight." When they discover that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists. As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the two least-qualified men imaginable, to assassinate Kim Jong-un.
Directors: Evan Goldberg | Seth Rogen
Stars: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Park, Lizzy Caplan
So sue me – I think it looks funny! And I’m not even a fan of Rogan’s films…

What are your writer insecurities today? Did you download the IWSG book? Seeing Riff Trax Live? And what movies strike your fancy this month…?

The Best of the Best and the Rest

We’ll start with the rest!

Thanks to everyone who visited my two guest posts this week. Sorry if I shocked anyone with my blogging hours. That’s what it takes to keep up with my blogger buddies. You guys are awesome – how could I not keep up?

I’ll be co-hosting another blogfest – details next week. And yes, I will host one of my own soon! It’s been ages since the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest and I have something really cool planned for later this spring.

The trailer for CassaFire went live at You Gotta Read Videos on Tuesday – voting opens later this month. I’ll keep you posted.

Special thanks to Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out for his review of CassaFire on Monday. I’ll take the 4.99999 out of 5.0, Lee – thanks!

And we have a special video announcement at the A to Z Challenge blog today.

Now on to the best!

Instead of just a “Best of 2011” list, which everyone else has already put together, thought I’d do my favorites, some honorable mentions, and a look ahead to this year.

Favorite movies – where else did you think I’d begin?

Super 8

Fast Five

Captain America (I know you love that, Melissa!)

Thor

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II

Source Code

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Rango

Honorable mention goes to Drive and Hanna – not favorites, but two excellent films.

Favorite albums – all rock/progressive rock, which should come as no surprise!

In Flames – Sounds of a Playground Fading

Dream Theater – Dramatic Turn of Events

Mastodon – The Hunter

3 – The Ghost You Gave to Me

Serenity – Death and Legacy

Favorite Games – because I am a computer game junkie.

Skyrim

Orcs Must Die

(I lead a double life – Orcs during the day on my laptop, Skyrim at night on my Xbox!)

Favorite books – and I so dig reading books on my iPad!

Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman

Honorable mentions – Karen Walker’s Following the Whispers (never read a memoir before and hers was just amazing) and Rusty Webb’s unpublished novel (don’t stop until you find a publisher, dude!)

And since this post is growing long, I’ll just give you the movies I most want to see this year –

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Peter Jackson can do no wrong! Yes, I will totally geek out at the end of the year for this one.)
Dark Knight Rises (Christopher Nolan can do no wrong either.)
The Avengers (This will be just EPIC!)
The Cabin in the Woods (Joss Whedon rocks.)
Prometheus (High hopes for another Aliens ride.)
Underworld: Awakening (Favorite vampire/werewolf series. And of course, KATE!)
John Carter (Please don’t screw this up, Disney.)

Now, you tell me – what was your favorite movie/album/game/book in 2011? What movie do you most want to see this year? Curious about the upcoming blogfests? Still trying to figure out what ‘progressive rock’ means?