A to Z Challenge – W – Cult Classics: Wizards, War of the Worlds, and More! Plus May Movie Release – Avengers: Age of Ultron

Today I am visiting amazing steampunk author, Jay Noel. His Challenge theme is World Mythology and I got to talk about a myth in my book.

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – W

Movies-Music-Sci-fi Book-Bloggers-Dragon Term

Movie –

Wizards
This 1977 post-apocalyptic science fantasy film was written, produced, and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The film is a mix of war, magic, Nazi propaganda, and adult content.

Music –

Whitesnake – Whitesnake
The seventh studio album from the band produced numerous hits and sold over eight million copies. It won the Brit Award for Best British Group in 1988.

Science Fiction Book –

The War of the Worlds – H. G. Wells
Published in 1897, this was one of the first books to depict a conflict between earth and aliens. The book has never gone out of print and has spawned movies, radio dramas, comics, video games, television series, and more.

Bloggers –

Brian Miller at Waystation One
Do you want to follow a poet who is a master with words? One who can weave a story that will make you think, all the while bringing it down to where you live? Then you must plug into Brian’s world!

L. G. Keltner at Writing off the Edge
Do you enjoy flash fiction? Enjoy the geekier stuff in life? Then you couldn’t ask for a better friend who is a lot of fun than LG!

Chrys Fey at Write with Fey
Want some of the best writing tips on the Internet? Learn about the author journey and other fascinating things along the way. Then you need to visit the knowledgeable Chrys Fey!

Donna McDine at Write What Inspires You
Do you enjoy children’s books? Want to know about some great author events and festivals? Then stop by and see Donna today!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Weapons officer
Every ship has a weapons officer and often several. His primary duty is to control the ship’s primary weapons and direct exterior guns. One or two officers man the main station on the bridge, with junior officers manning the exterior guns from remote locations. The weapons officer needs to be precise and able to multi-task at a high efficiency level.

Dragon of the Stars is out now!
Check out the site What Are the Kargrandes? for clues as to how they tie into the story.

Ninja News

I’m glad my tips for generating names were so helpful! If you missed it, check out Saturday’s V post.

Available today!
Zadekiel, book 2 in the Path of Angels by Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine
Find it on Amazon and Goodreads

Have you signed up for the Blood, Boobs, and Carnage Blogfest yet? Movie-show-book that exemplifies the theme. (Or part of theme.)
Hosted by me and Heather Gardner.
Sign up – you know you want to!!

May Movie Preview

Here is an upcoming theatrical release for May. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

May 1 –

Avengers: Age of Ultron
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.
Director: Joss Whedon
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth
The sequel to one of my most favorite movies ever – time for total fanboy geek out!

Seen Wizards? Fan of Whitesnake? What’s your favorite version of War of the Worlds? Following those awesome bloggers? Signed up for Blood, Boobs, and Carnage? And who is going all fanboy this Friday?

Don’t forget to visit Jay Noel!

Retro A to Z Challenge: W – Whitesnake 1984 (plus R.I.P.D. Movie Review and Ninja News)

Whitesnake – Slide It In 1984

Greatest Whitesnake album ever! People tend to gravitate toward the over-commercialized album that followed, but the infectious groove of this bluesy rock album is superior. And yes, every song title is a dirty double entendre.

1984 fun facts –
*Cost of a new home - $86,730.
*Average income - $21,600.
*Cost of a movie ticket - $2.50
*Cost of a new Corvette - $23,392.
*The first commercial CD players became available
*The MTV Music Awards debuted
*Dan Marino passed for 5,084 yards, a record that would stand until Drew Brees broke it in 2011 with 5,476 yards. (Which was topped in 2013 by Payton Manning with 5,477 yards.)

Movies released –
The Terminator
Ghostbusters
Gremlins
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
This is Spinal Tap
Beverly Hills Cop
Nightmare on Elm Street
Sixteen Candles
Starman

Music released –
Rush – Grace Under Pressure
Y & T – In Rock We Trust
Iron Maiden – Powerslave
Ratt – Out of the Cellar

Games released –
Pitfall II
Paperboy
Duck Hunter

And why is 1984 special?
It was the year Hart Johnson started college and she loved it!

Hart is the author of numerous mystery novels and serials. She hails from Ann Arbor, MI, and is the mother of two. Hart writes in her bathtub and is aiming for naked world domination. One of my first blogger buddies, Hart is a true friend and the master of snark. She blogs at Confessions of a Watery Tart.

Ninja News!

Tara Watson’s Hands-On Therapy is free April 26 - today! Download it at Amazon.

Thanks to everyone who visited me at Ellie Garratt’s site on Friday for her new Where I Write feature! I know everyone is busy with the Challenge, so I appreciate you adding one more stop.

Don’t forget - the final installment of Lord of the Clones, a video masterpiece courtesy of Father Dragon Al, is going down next Tuesday. And you will be asked to vote for your favorite! The awesome Ninja Cloner (me!) or Lord Baldernot (Mark Koopmans.)

Our fate will be in your hands…

Movie Review – R.I.P.D.

Finally caught this on NetFlix. This time, it’s the opposite of The Lone Ranger – it wasn’t as horrible as the critics claimed.

Now, it was completely derivative of movies such as Ghostbusters and Men in Black. And it was completely forgettable.
However – it was very entertaining!
Reynolds and Bridges worked well together. They had some funny lines.
It’s the proto-typical leave-your-brain-at-the-door popcorn film. And sometimes that’s all right.
Good for a rental from NetFlix.

Fan of Whitesnake? Following naked-advocate, Hart Johnson? Going to vote for me next Tuesday? Have you seen R.I.P.D.? (Think I watch too many movies?) And what do you remember about 1984…?

Three more days to go!!