Ninja News, iPad 4, Guest Post Controversy, and Movie Trivia

Ninja News

Thanks to everyone who signed up for the I Miss You Blogfest on November 16!

Ciara Knight’s final book in the Battle for Souls series is now out - Ascension of Evil. Congratulations, Ciara!

Next Monday is Tim Brannan’s Monstrous Monday Blogfest

Siv Maria’s short story was accepted for the anthology, OPEN DOORS-Fractured Fairy Tales and she revealed the cover this week!

White Cat Magazine is introducing a mystery magazine soon! Plus they have science fiction and fantasy magazines in the works. Good stuff, Rick!

Next Wednesday is Budd’s Scare Me Blogfest – just in time for Halloween!

Rachel Morgan has just released An A to Z of Creepy Hollow Fae. Those of you who’ve enjoyed her series will want to pick this one up!

And for those of you who read my guest post earlier this week, Jamie posted the answers to my music-movie questions at Mithril Wisdom.

The iPad 4

Yes, the next generation of iPad will be available soon! It’s twice as fast as the iPad 3, with improvements to camera, Wi-Fi, and LTE. While games and graphics won’t be noticeably faster, if you live in a city with LTE access, the Internet will be much faster. This is the tablet Apple wanted to release last spring but it wasn’t ready. It also brings the iPad up to speed with the latest iPhone.

Will I get one? I’ll probably skip this upgrade and just wait for the iPad 5. Yes, my goal is an iPad in every room of the house, but I have my eye on a new guitar right now and that purchase comes first. (Soon I’ll have a guitar in every room in the house, which is just as cool!) And who knows? There’s always Christmas…

Guest Post Controversy and Update

Two reasons for this topic!

First, I adjusted my guidelines one more time. A request a couple weeks ago clued me in to the fact it still wasn’t clear enough:

Due to the high volume of requests I receive, guest posts are reserved for my regular blogger buddies ONLY. (Most of whom are listed in my sidebar.) Other followers I will mention in a Ninja News update.

The controversy? I’m really sorry if that offends anyone! But my blogger buddies are the ones who visit and support me (and I them) on a regular basis, and since I only post eleven to thirteen times a month, they deserve first consideration. I am more than happy to do a shout-out in the Ninja News for anyone else.

Second reason – my calendar is full through February right now. (I still have one opening in January.) So, if any of my blogger buddies have a book coming out next spring or want to do a guest post at that time, please contact me soon!

Any questions? Am I being unfair? Do you need to contact me really soon?!

Movie Trivia

With Halloween right around the corner, these questions all have a horror slant:

1 – Which actress is known as “The Scream Queen?”

2 – The category of Best Makeup began in 1981 and was won by this film.

3 – Who did the music for Dario Argento’s Suspiria?

4 – What actor has been in almost every single Sam Raimi film?

5 – What horror/thriller won five of the biggest Oscars in 1991?

Are you ready for the upcoming blogfests? Excited about the new releases? Getting an iPad 4? Are my guest post guidelines clear and fair? Care to share your guidelines? And do you know any of today’s trivia?

Angela and Gwen – Partners in ParanormYA, Major Ninja News, and Movie Trivia Answers

Launch Day for the Partners in ParanormYA!

Thanks, Alex, for hosting Partners in ParanormYA for today’s all-important launch. Here at mission control, we’ve completed the basic go-no go checklist with authors Angela Brown and Gwen Gardner.

First, second, third and fourth rounds of drafting, rewriting, and revising completed.

Book covers revealed.

Manuscripts had to be pried from their OCD-edit hands – both Angela and Gwen – but that section completed. Plans are in place to make sure Angela hasn’t nervously chewed her fingernails down to the nubs.

Formatting and uploaded done.

The authors are now settled in the shuttle, nose to the sky, powered by rocket fuel made of perseverance, determination and a combined word count way over 100k. Ready to blast--

*giggly voice cuts in*: I can’t believe it Gwen. Launch day is here!

Gwen *sighing*: You know, it’s good to finally leave the streets of Daydreamer and round the corner to Dream Realized.

Angela *still giggling*: Oh my God, oh my God, oh my G- uh oh…

Gwen: What’s wrong?

Angela: I got so nervous, happy and excited that my stomach just did a loopty-loo. Do space suits hold in silent-but-deadlies? *giggles nervously*

Gwen *joins the giggles*: OMG, Angela! There’s no farting at launch time!

Angela: We probably should have done a go-no go for extra underwear. I may need them.

Gwen and Angela burst into laughter.

This is PIP mission control. Your mics are hot, ladies. I say again, your mics are hot.

Silence…then roaring laughter.

PIP Mission Control: Back to you Alex for the final countdown as it appears the ladies are a bit excited right now. If you wouldn’t mind doing the honors?

Alex: Launch commencing in three, two, one…

PIP Mission Control: Engines fired and they’re off. I repeat, Angela Brown and Gwen Gardner have now thrust Neverlove and Givin’ Up The Ghost into publishing space. All of you are invited to use live links to purchase your copy today to make this launch a success. You can also enter to win in the Partners in ParanormYA weekly giveaway along with the main swag giveaway located at the PIP headquarters.

Mission control out.

Purchase Angela Brown’s Neverlove at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Amazon FR, and Amazon DE.
Purchase Gwen Gardner’s Givin’ Up The Ghost at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

And there are two giveaways! Visit Partners in ParanormYA for the Big Swag Giveaway and for the Week One Giveaway!

Angela and Gwen – you ladies rock! (And giggle a lot...)

Major Ninja News!

A big thanks to everyone who offered to help co-host the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. My plan is to make this a rotating position, so watch for new co-hosts every month.

The latest issue of White Cat Magazine is out! And Rick at The Writer and the White Cat was awesome enough to include a BIG ad for both CassaStar and CassaFire as a thank you for what I do in the blogging world. Thank YOU Rick – you rock!

Retro-Zombie Jeremy interviewed the composer of the movie Looper at Howling Wolf Records. Really interesting how he put it together! Jeremy is also hosting a five hundred follower contest at his blog, Retro-Zombie, and he’s THIS close to hitting five hundred!!!

Jamie at Mithril Wisdom is celebrating his birthday in Hobbit style – he’s giving away presents! Check out his site for the giveaway and the birthday dragon. Happy birthday, Jamie!

Authors Nancy S. Thompson and Jennifer Hillier sent me this picture from BoucherCon! Is that not awesome? I just adore both of those ladies.

Sheena-kay Graham is hosting a Blogoversary: Sacrifice Book 4 Bloghop on October 25. Visit her site for details and to sign up. Congratulations on one year of blogging, Sheena-kay!

Kyra Lennon’s new book, If I Let You Go, is available on Amazon now! Congratulations, Kyra.

Milo James Fowler at In Medias Res is celebrating this month with Creepy Freebies! Visit his site for this week’s free book. And congratulate him on the placement of two more of his short stories.

Miss Jack Lewis Baillot’s new book, Lisbeth’s Choice, is available now. Congratulations, Miss Jack!

And don’t forget the Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest is October 17!

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

For the first time ever, they are allowing fans to vote – and RUSH is on the ballot! For those who don’t know, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is privately owned by a man who hates the band Rush and claimes he will never allow them to enter. Well, now we can change that! So go HERE to cast your vote for this highly influential progressive rock band.

Horror Movie Trivia Answers

1 – Be afraid. Be very afraid. The Fly
2 – I will not be threatened by a walking meatloaf! An American Werewolf in London
3 – I met this 6-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and the blackest eyes… the devil’s eyes. Halloween
4 – Listen to them, the children of the night. What sweet music they make. Dracula
5 – Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep. Nightmare on Elm Street

Picking up Angela and Gwen’s books? (Don’t forget the giveaways.) Don’t forget all the new books, magazines, and contests this month. Get the trivia correct? (Second one was tough, wasn’t it?) And did you see any good movies this weekend? I finally watched my 3D Bluray of The Avengers – what an awesome film!

And I may not post again until Friday, when a modest Internet star will grace this blog with his presence. But I will be lurking and reading. (And reading on my iPad – so many good books!)