Thor: The Dark World Review, Sad News, Sci-Fi Books Trivia Answers, Ninja News, and Some Deep Questions to Ponder…

Movie Review

Thor: The Dark World
An ancient evil race threatens all the nine realms and Thor must find a way to stop the darkness and save Jane.
It was exactly what I expected – a lot of fun! Still not Avengers level, but a worthy sequel. Some twists and turns and an ending that not only sets up the next Thor movie, but it really sets up a big question. (No spoilers, so I can’t reveal it!)
The exchanges between Thor and Loki are hilarious. So are any scenes with Jane’s friend, Darcy.
Saw it in 3D and the special effects were quite impressive.
Little extras: There is an Avengers member cameo and after credit bonuses. Not just one, but two! Stay until the end of the first credits and then stay to the VERY end of all the credits.
If you liked the first Thor, you will enjoy this one. Highly recommended.
Now, someone get me Chris Helmsworth’s personal trainer…

Sad News

We received word this weekend that Nick Wilford’s son Andrew passed away. Nick had put together the anthology, Overcoming Adversity, to benefit Andrew and send him to a college that could meet his need.

IWSG members and writers have pulled together for donation for Nick and his family. Please contact Kyra Lennon for how you can give.

Nick, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Ninja News

Thanks to everyone who participated in the How I Miss You Blogfest. Special thanks to all of those who mentioned me, either here or in your post. Don’t worry, the Ninja isn’t going anywhere! Just cutting back a bit. I would like to note that the person mentioned most often that would be missed is Father Dragon Al. That’s a hint, Al!

Julie Flanders and Lexa Cain are hosting the Dream Destination blogfest. “If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Beaches of Hawaii? Slopes of Vail? Cancun, Paris, or Rome? On Dec 5 or 6, post about your Dream Destination.” There are some amazing prizes, including critiques from an agent!! You don't want to miss this one.

The Realms Faire begins today! Books, ebooks, jewelry, cds, giftcards, and a Kindle. Enter to win by playing games. Visit M. Pax for all the details and fun.

Sorry I will miss this one. I was asked to joust, but had to decline. 


Heather Gardner sent me a link to these cookie cutters available at Target:

Science Fiction Books Trivia Answers

1 – The Martian Chronicles 1950 – Ray Bradbury
2 – Dragonflight 1968 – Anne McCaffrey
3 – Rendezvous with Rama 1972 – Arthur C. Clarke
4 – Out of the Silent Planet 1943 – C.S. Lewis
5 – The Puppet Masters 1951 – Robert A Heinlein

Questions to Ponder

This week I am on vacation and will be hit or miss on the comments. (I will visit everyone who comments here though!) After a huge launch for CassaStorm, and many hours spent doing promotions, my wife deserves my undivided attention for a while.

However, I’d like to toss some questions at you and provide food for thought while I am gone…

Do you think there are too many Memes? Do they start to blur together?

Do ‘buy my book’ tweets really work?

Why do some bloggers never return comments?

Can they crank out a decent Star Wars movie in just two years?

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Did anyone else see Thor this weekend? Excited about the Realms Faire this week? Get the trivia right? And what are your answers to those questions…?

Be back Monday with a HUGE announcement! Off to work on my tan. No, not really…

Latest X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Hobbit Trailers! Plus November Movie Preview, Horror Story Trivia, and the Ninja News

Latest Movie Trailers

Just released - X-Men: Days of Future Past trailer - and it is really awesome!



Coming May 23, 2014. And just look at the cast: Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Halle Berry, Omar Sy, and Lucas Till.

And in case you missed this one a couple weeks ago – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug



Coming December 13!

November Movies

Here are the upcoming movies for November! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

1 –

Ender’s Game
The International Military seek out a leader who can save the human race from an alien attack. Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young mind, is recruited and trained to lead his fellow soldiers into a battle that will determine the future of Earth.
Director: Gavin Hood
Stars: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin
I’ve read the book – curious to see how much they changed the ending…


8 –

Thor: The Dark World
Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Director: Alan Taylor
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård
THE movie to see in November!! Looks awesome. And already scoring great reviews at Rotten Tomatoes.

15 –

The Wolf of Wall Street
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, P.J. Byrne, Jon Favreau, Spike Jonze
Not the type of movie I see in theaters, but it does look quirky.

The Book Thief
While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refuge is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
Director: Brian Percival
Stars: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer
Based on the book. Before it was stolen…


22 –

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
Director: Francis Lawrence
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman
I don’t believe the box office will suffer if I just skip this one…


29 –

Frozen 
Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
Directors: Chris Buck | Jennifer Lee
Stars: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel, Alan Tudyk
So epic, I’d never heard of it until now… But what else are you going to take the kids to see after Thanksgiving?

Ninja News

Madeline Mora-Summonte just released a book - The People We Used To Be. The stories in this flash fiction collection are like day trips - brief, illuminating journeys - across the landscape of the human condition. Congratulations, Madeline!

L.G. Keltner carved one wicked dragon pumkin!!

Horror Story Trivia

Name the author…

1 – The Exorcist 1971

2 – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1886

3 – The Dark Tower 1938

4 – The Anubis Gates 1983

5 – At the Mountain of Madness 1931

Excited about the next X-Men and Hobbit movies? Any movies you plan to see in November? Think LG’s pumpkin is cool? And can you name any of the authors…?

And now scroll all the way to the bottom - my name in lights, courtesy of the awesome Jeremy Hawkins!

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror News! Plus Horror Movie Trivia, Ninja News, and Wednesday’s Response

Today I am visiting the lovely Sia McKye! She had some really great questions about CassaStorm, my music, and everything in between. Let me tell you, when Sia emailed me her private thoughts on CassaStorm, it was probably the most awesome thing anyone has ever said about my writing. So be sure to visit Sia!

Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror News!

From JoBlo - another clip from Thor: The Dark World as Jane and Thor meet again. (And she smacks the crap out of him!)

White Fire by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, an Agent Pendergast story, comes out November 12!


From Blastr - Guillermo del Toro wants to make a new film adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel The Witches. Right now the fate of the project rests in Warner Bros. hands.


Wired featured some of the most amazing Lego creations ever built, including this old haunted house:

Looking for the best haunted house for your Halloween scares? Visit Haunt World for the one nearest you. They also list trails and hayrides.

Ninja News

Sean MacLachlan at Civil War Horror is looking for blogging advice as he contemplates the new direction in his writing career and the future of his two blogs.

Candilynn Fite had this bit of news - SCBWI announced the SPARK award for non-traditionally published children's books. You can read the rules HERE.

Thanks to everyone who has purchased and reviewed CassaStorm! I’ll take reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble – I’m not picky!

CassaStorm is now on Goodreads’ Best Space Opera list! (CassaStar and CassaFire are #3 and 4.) If you enjoyed it and have time to vote for CassaStorm, I would appreciate it!

Wednesday’s Response

There were some great comments on Wednesday’s post regarding blog content and pageviews. Overall, most of you thought blogging was about community and comments more important than pageviews.

A couple comments that stood out:

From Brandon and Bryan at A Beer for the Shower:
… we had our Amanda Bynes post reach 180,000+ views. Did it increase our regular readers, or increase our book sales, etc? Not in the slightest. It was just a bunch of people who got a quick laugh and left. We don't really care about that, so going viral only counts if those people stick around. If they don't, then it's just empty calories that really aren't even worth bragging about.

From Holly at I Am HR Sinclair:
Blog views are interesting as well as searches, but comments are the only way to really know if what you said of value to anyone. And I think we all want to know we have some to say that someone else liked.

From Keith at Musings of an Unapologetic Dreamer:
Blogging really is about community and friends. It's a family-type relationship in many ways isn't it?

From Julie Dao at Silver Linings:
The best blogs, for me, are the ones with humor and honesty. And those are usually the ones with the highest number of followers and comments!

Horror Movie Taglines Trivia

Guess the movies from these poster taglines:

1 - Ding dong. You're dead. 1986

2 - Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas. 1992

3 - Man is the warmest place to hide. 1992

4 - The good news is your dates are here. The bad news is…they're dead. 1986

5 - The night HE came home. 1978

6 - Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders...and another one in a dish on his desk. 1985

Are you excited about Thor? Amazed by what people can do with Legos? Little help for CassaStorm? (It would make Mini-Alex happy! He might even make an appearance next week.) Any other thoughts on blogging? Know any of the movies? And who is ready for a hayride…?

Don’t forget to visit Sia McKye!