Picard, Freaks, and Color Out of Space Reviews, Plus Ninja News

Show/Movie Reviews

Picard

Seven episodes in (ten total) and I can at last do a proper review of this series.

This series is a love letter to everyone who enjoyed Next Generation. Picard is such a great character and it’s always joyous to see him return to the screen.

Some find the series slow but I think the pacing is perfect. It gives the story and characters time to fully develop.

The characters are great and they are allowing them to grow and be fleshed out over the course of the series. None are perfect—they all come with baggage—but that makes them real. Raffi especially is a damaged person, but she still tries to do her best and the right thing.

Slight spoilers:

Dahj and Soji the daughters of Data? Now that is just awesome.

Seven of Nine is basically a ranger now and needs her own show. (And yes, Jeri Ryan is still hot.)

The interaction between Soji and the Romulan was the weakest part, but now that he’s shown his true colors and she knows who she is, it’s kicked up into a higher gear.

Episode seven featured Picard visiting Will Riker, Deanna Troi, and their daughter. In another series (like Discovery) they would be bitter and hateful and bad things would happen because Picard visited them. But no, true to the pureness of Rodenberry’s vision and spirit, Riker and Deanna were happy and still in love. It was touching to watch.

Unlike Discovery, this is a show I will watch again. Highly recommended! And I can’t wait to see how it ends.

Freaks

Released in 2018, this small film stars Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Lexy Kolker, and Grace Park (Boomer/Athena/Number Eight from Battlestar Galactica.)

Young Chloe is not allowed to leave the house. Her father has barricaded them in, leaving only for food and supplies, telling her the world outside is very dangerous. But there’s something unique about Chloe and you wonder what is real and what’s not. What’s up with the ice cream truck outside? What happened to her mother? What is really going on?

This film is a unique take on the mutant genre. It’s small scale and intimate, and you can tell the creators and crew cared very much and made the most of their tiny budget. (The emphasis is on the characters, but the special effects are still well done.) While not a great film, that caring translates into a really solid film that will keep you guessing for a while.

Color Out of Space

An alien invasion movie based on a Lovecraft story of the same name.

The daughter is a practicing wiccan, the oldest son a stoner, the youngest son has security issues, mom has cancer, and dad (played by Nicolas Cage) is your typical bat-crap crazy Nicolas Cage. Oh, and they live on a remote estate, a hippie also lives on the land (Tommy Chong!), and they raise alpacas.

And things only get weirder when the meteor lands on their property and the alien entity starts to spread…

The movie is very trippy. It has elements of Annihilation and The Thing, and while the original story was set about a hundred years ago, this one is firmly planted in today’s time and modernized.

There’s not a lot I can say about it without giving the story away. That and the weirdness is difficult to describe. You have to see it to believe it!

If you like trippy films or just enjoy watching Nicolas Cage go even more bat-crap crazy, then this is an interesting movie to watch.

Ninja News

It was another great Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day! Thanks to all who participated and commented – and to those who offered to co-host. We are good to go the next two months.
We will also be announcing the genre and judges for the next IWSG Anthology Contest on April 1! You’ll have to wait until May 6 for the theme and the opening of the contest though. But the theme is really cool and we have seven awesome agents/authors/editors lined up as judges.

Write Club starts soon!
DL Hammons is looking for judges – see his site for more information and to contact him.

The A to Z Challenge starts April 1. (Which is also April Fool’s Day and the next IWSG post – it’s going to be busy in the blogging world!)
Visit the site to sign up and get the scoop on upcoming dates.




According to JoBlo, shooting will start soon for the Hawkeye series. Jeremey Renner will reprise his role as Hawkeye. The series is set to appear on Disney+.

Also on JoBlo, there is early praise for A Quiet Place: Part II:
The release of A QUIET PLACE: PART II is mere weeks away and one of the biggest questions leading up to its upcoming release is if it can possibly live up to the nerve-racking inducing horror and tension of the first film? It might be time for some of us to rest easy because the film recently screened for the first round of press and it appears that we're in for a sequel that isn't a shameless cash grab and it more than justifies its existence.

Have you been watching Picard? Seen either Freaks or Color Out of Space? Excited about the next IWSG Anthology Contest? Participating in either the A to Z Challenge or Write Club?
My next post will be March 23.

Television Rating System is Flawed, Oscar Nods, Seventh Son Review, IWSG Newsletter, A to Z Challenge and Minions, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja News!

What’s Up With the Television Rating System?

Ever since the rating system emerged, shows have really pushed the boundaries. But sometimes, the ratings make no sense.

The Walking Dead has gotten flack over the years due to its brutal and graphic violence – and mere TV14 rating. Numerous groups have lobbied to get it labeled TVMA.

Into the Badlands also has a TV14 rating. However, it is far less violent and graphic than the Walking Dead.

What really puzzles me is the rating for the show Fargo. It’s TVMA – for mature audiences only. What? Yes, there is violence and language, but it’s nowhere near as graphic as the Walking Dead.

Any idea why Fargo is deemed more extreme than the Walking Dead? Think there are flaws in the system?

Oscar Nods

Everyone’s now seen the Oscar nominations for 2016. They are rather spread out with no clear-cut winner.

I’d like to note that Mad Max: Fury Road is nominated for ten awards. Ten! It won’t win Best Picture or Best Director, but with that many nominations, it should go home with several Oscars.

Although wouldn’t that be just batcrap crazy if the batcrap crazy movie won?

Seventh Son Review

Based on a book, The Spook’s Apprentice, it deviates a bit from the young adult story. (In the book, Tom is twelve; in the movie, he’s an adult and played by a thirty year old actor.)
This is your standard medieval sword and sorcery film, nothing terrible, but nothing notable, either.
Jeff Bridges plays the lead spook, and he hams it up and overacts the entire time. However, this isn’t a bad thing as it makes the film entertaining. (Although it was really hard to understand him in the beginning. The film almost needs closed captioning at that point.)
Julianne Moore does a good job playing the witch queen. You’ll recognize Ben Barnes, who plays Tom, as Caspian from the Narnia movies.
The effects are good (there are dragons) and the plot moves at a decent pace. But everything just seems so familiar.
If you’re in the mood for some sword and sorcery, it’s definitely worth a rental.

IWSG Newsletter!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group will be launching a newsletter next month! And we got someone awesome to put it together – please welcome the newest IWSG Admin, Chrys Fey. (And wait until you see how awesome she’s made our newsletter.)

Here’s the official scoop on our monthly newsletter:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group Newsletter will feature articles by industry experts, IWSG members, and administrators. There will also be a dozen links to helpful articles for writers in each edition, as well as a special Member Spotlight. Even if you're not a member of the blogging group, you'll greatly benefit from these FREE monthly newsletters.

First issue goes out on February 24!

Sign up HERE. (If you are a member of the monthly blogging group, you are already signed up. Now you’ll get an awesome newsletter instead of a lame email from me!)

Ninja News

I recently made some changes to the WhatAreTheKargrandes? site. It now runs through all thirteen clues before ending with my book, Dragon of the Stars, and some reviews. If you’ve never seen the site, check it out. (And you can click on the images to make them scroll through faster.)

From Howling Wolf Records and the genius that is Jeremy Hawkins comes Six Strings, a magazine about movie soundtracks, scores, and more. Check out the site and download it for free! And watch for upcoming issues–there just might be an interview with yours truly…



DL Hammons is looking for volunteers to read the entries for this year’s Write Club. See his site for details.

A to Z Challenge Approaches!

The A to Z Challenge list opens in one week on January 25! See the site for details if you don’t know about the Challenge. (Or come back in one week, and I’ll explain it.)

This will be my seventh Challenge (I was one of the original one hundred in 2010) and my sixth as a co-host. Last year, Dragon of the Stars released in the middle of the April Challenge, and my fellow co-hosts were nice enough to relieve me of managing a section of the list. (I still manage the entire list behind the scenes, making adjustments to the Linky List.) But this year, I am back in full swing.

And I need help! I need some Ninja Minions. A group of people who will help me check on participants within a section of the list. (Much like co-hosting the IWSG.) Doesn’t matter if you are participating in the Challenge or not. You’ll get a cool Minion badge and special mentions.

So, if you can help me this year, please leave a comment!

Movie Trivia Answers

Fantasy films centered around a forest:
1 – The first in a series that should’ve been seven films, the adventure begins in the snowy winter woods. 2005  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
2 – A trip to this forest turned out to be a game to feed an ancient beast. 2011  Cabin in the Woods
3 – This fable involved a tower and naïve young woman who wants to explore the world. 2010  Tangled
4 – This epic tale has man joining a dozen others to battle a mysterious enemy that descends from a mountain lair. 1999  The 13th Warrior
5 – The first of three films has an unlikely hero setting off with a group of dwarves. 2012  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Do you think the television rating system is screwy? Have an Oscar favorite? Seen Seventh Son? Excited about the IWSG newsletter? Ready for the Challenge? Get any of the trivia right? (Pat Hatt did!) And who wants to be a Ninja Minion…?

And since today (Monday) is a holiday in the US, I might not get to everyone today, but I will return all comments this week. Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

A to Z Challenge – B – Cult Classics Better Off Dead, Boston, Brave New World, and More! Plus Amazing Write Club News.

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – B

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

Movies-

Better Off Dead
A funny take on 80’s teen romances with hundreds of quotable lines – I want my two dollars! This 1985 film became an instant classic on video.

Big Trouble in Little China
Carpenter at his most fun with almost every genre thrown in the blender. This 1986 film was not a hit upon its release, but has since gained ground and earned solid reviews.

Music album –

Boston – Boston
A debut album that still sounds fresh today, it sold twenty-five million copies and gave the world the iconic More Than a Feeling.

Science Fiction Book-

Brave New World – by Aldous Huxley
One of the top novels of the 20th century, Huxley put a dark, dystopian spin on the future. It was also banned many times over the years.

Bloggers –

Bryan and Brandon at A Beer for the Shower
Do you have a tough skin? Not easily offended? Want the truth? Brandon and Bryan will give it to you! They tackle the degenerates we loath while poking fun at everyone. Brimming with snark, Brandon and Bryan are the authors of many books.

Helena at Becoming Layla
Want to journey with an author as she delves deep into a character? Want to become Layla? Helena’s cover many aspects of her adventures. Enjoy the ride!

Beth Ellyn Summer
Want to see the fun side of writing? Want visuals and lists and a positive attitude? Beth’s sweet nature will charm the socks off you!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Balkan –
The Balkan is a small war ship that was popular for years before being discontinued. Aden is placed at the helm of a refitted ship and charged with finding the Dragon. The craft gets its name from the Balkan whip snake.

Dragon of the Stars comes out April 7, 2015
Check out the site What Are the Kargrandes? for clues as to how they tie into the story.

And just a few days left to join the Thunderclap campagin for the book!

To prepare for the launch of Dragon of the Stars next week, my publisher has dropped the price of CassaStorm to .99 cents at Amazon. (If you prefer ePub, it’s also on sale at Dancing Lemur Press.) CassaStorm is my highest rated book, winner of the Pinnacle Achievement Book Award, and was an eFestival of Books 2014 Winner. Sale good until April 4!

If anyone would like to Tweet about the sale, I would appreciate it:
Award-winning & best-selling CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh on sale for .99! http://tinyurl.com/q8dq3se @alexjcavanaugh #99cents #scifi

Ninja News

DL Hammons had a special announcement regarding Write Club:
Now, the WRiTE CLUB Champion will be announced during the DFW Conference, receive a three-chapter critique of their work by several of the judges – and – FREE ADMISSION TO THE DFW CONFERENCE IN DALLAS FOR 2016. That is a $400 value and an experience that cannot be missed! Wait, that’s not all – both finalist will also receive a $75 Amazon gift card! 


Sandra Ulbrich Almazan also has a Thunderclap for her upcoming book, Scattered Seasons.

Fan of either movie? Read Brave New World? Following those awesome bloggers? Figured out the Kargrandes yet? Excited for Write Club? And what would be your pick for Cult Classic B…?

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal, Weird and Future News, What Are the Kargrandes, Battle of the Bands Results, and Ninja News

Double A to Z Challenge shot today!

I’m a guest at Curiosity Quills Press, explaining why the Challenge is a great opportunity for writers and authors. (It's live now!)

I’m also at the A to Z Blog with tips on how to make friends.

Interesting Weird and Future Stuff

Caught these first two items at Edi’s Book Lighthouse:

From Web Urbanist - The Capital: Egypt Plans Largest From-Scratch City in History.
Slated to be constructed in just 7 years and cost $300 billion (more than the GDP of Egypt), this ambitious design for a brand new capital city of 5 million people is unprecedented – if completed, it will be a record-setting endeavor. And it is not just a conceptual vision, or at least not entirely- the site has been selected and a 100-square-kilometer test section has already been approved by the Egyptian government.

Edi also posted this from Dark Roasted Blend - Futuristic Concept Cars of the 1970-80s. Check it out – not as far-fetched as you might think.


And in a similar vein, Dark Roasted Blend had an article about Videophones from Future Past. Some of these really are far-fetched!

What Are the Kargrandes?

New clue today at What Are the Kargrandes? This is clue number eleven. (Why eleven? Because it’s higher than ten!) New clues every Monday until the release of Dragon of the Stars on April 7.

Sample Tweets for this week:

What are the Kargrandes? Can you guess? What are their powers? http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes @alexjcavanaugh

What are the Kargrandes? Solve the mystery by April 7! http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ #whatarethekargrandes @alexjcavanaugh

The Thunderclap campaign is a go! Thanks to all who signed up. If you are on either Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr and want to help me spread the word on April 7, click HERE.

I also have an awesome (and easy) Scavenger Hunt planned for that day that involves Mini-Alex. Many thanks to the bloggers who have volunteered to participate. (I’m sure the promise of an exclusive Mini-Alex photo was the deciding factor!)

Ninja News

DL Hammons is looking for volunteers to read through the entries of the upcoming round of Write Club. See his site for details.

Mark Koopmans signed a book deal!
REVIVAL: The Donald Braswell Story will be published Nov. 3, 2015 by Pen-L Publishing. Way to go, Mark!

The giveaway for The Great Time Lock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie is coming to an end soon. Register to win at Goodreads.

New Releases –

Double book release!
There’s a Goat in my Boat by Pat Hatt



AND…

Vault of the Gods by Pat Hatt

Seducing Fortune by Brinda Berry
Book 3 of the Serendipity novels

Battle of the Bands Results

I pitted Dream Theater against Redemption with Elton John’s Love Lies Bleeding. Ironically, several voted for Elton John. For those who voted for the two featured songs, this is how it all came down:

Redemption - 5

Dream Theater - 21

And, no surprise, my vote went to Dream Theater. Both are good, but Dream Theater took it to a much higher level.

Challenge Theme Reveal

And now, the day we’ve all been waiting for–the Great Challenge Theme Reveal!

My theme–Cult Classics!

Cult classic movie.
Cult classic album.
Cult classic science fiction book. (Boy, that was tough!)
And of course, a featured blogger buddy. (Or two or three.)
Plus, a term from Dragon of the Stars.

All alphabetically!

In choosing blogger buddies, I tried to select those who hadn’t been featured in the past two years. I hated that I couldn’t feature everyone, but my goal was to keep this year’s Challenge posts short. Some will go by name, some by blog, and some by a crazy Ninja equation. So you’ll have to check every day to see who I’ve featured!

And I know a lot of you have your posts scheduled and ready to go for April. I have mine in Word, html formatted and ready, and all of the images sized properly – but I won’t schedule each post until the night before. (Everyone do a collective gasp.) I still intend to run the Ninja News, announcing any new books, movies, news, whatever. I’ll probably throw in a movie review now and then. Or a cult classic image. So I can only plan ahead so far. But I’ll manage.

Even though the Challenge opens on Wednesday, April 1 is still Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day. Plan accordingly and prepare for a wild ride that day.

Plus, my next book releases on April 7, right in the middle of the Challenge. There will be a Scavenger Hunt Blitz that day, with lots of Mini-Alex photos and a chance to win an autographed copy of Dragon of the Stars, bookmarks and swag, and $20.00 in iTunes gift cards. There’s also an extensive blog tour (which begins next Monday at Stephanie Faris’ site) and other cool stuff to win.

I’m also posting at the A to Z Blog and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group next month.

Yeah, it's a lot! I’ll survive. At least that’s the plan…

If you’re participating in the Challenge, what’s your theme?

Visit the A to Z Blog for the full list of theme reveal participants!

What do you think of Egypt building a new capital? Get a kick out of the concept cars and phones? Figured out the Kargrandes yet? Battle of the Bands’ result surprise you? Does my Challenge theme sound interesting? What’s yours…?

Be sure to visit Curiosity Quills Press and the A to Z Challenge Blog!

Godzilla Movie Review, How I Found the Write Path, IWSG Milestone, and Ninja News!

Godzilla Movie Review

Caught one of the first 3D showings on Friday, which was great as I was surrounded with die-hard Godzilla geeks.

Did they get Godzilla right? Yes! This is the Godzilla of old, complete with his signature roar and atomic breath. He’s bigger and heavier, but that means he just packs a more powerful punch.

The movie is not perfect. It doesn’t click on all cylinders. I think the main reason is the writers and director weren’t on the same page. The writers went for story and spectacle and the director tried to bring out the human element. He’s a new director, so Edwards probably didn’t have much sway, and the pacing is sometimes a little uneven. (The first big monster fight we don’t really see, as they cut away to the main character’s family.)

The tone of the film Edwards nailed though. This isn’t your campy Godzilla – this goes back to the original movie. It’s serious and scary. Humans are really helpless against these beasts.

The special effects are incredible, from Godzilla swimming in the ocean to the monsters fighting in the city. The dark, gritty feel adds to the realism. And when that atomic breath fires up, be prepared!

The actors do a fine job in their roles. Cranston is probably the best, while Taylor-Johnson holds his own as the young hero.

And ultimately, the big battles at the end will leave you cheering.

Recommended!

Ninja News

Big thanks for Blog Blitz last week! I certainly didn’t expect it. Yes, it did wipe out my previous comment record by about forty comments - there were over three hundred and less than twenty were mine. Big thanks to DL Hammons for starting the Blitz Team.

And don’t forget Write Club is open for submissions until the end of the month! Visit the Write Club page at DL’s site for details.


Sarah Ahiers signed a book deal for All That Remains!

Birgit is a talented card maker and she made one just for me!!

Cherie Reich’s Reborn is now available!

The ABC’s of Sandwiches by Holly Sinclair is available now!
52 sandwich recipes following ABC order. Included are classics (like French Dips), favorites (like Beer-battered Fish Sandwiches), and my own creations (like Veggie Supreme Sandwiches).

Lynn Rush’s Absolute Zero comes out this week and she’s holding a party! Check her site for details.

Jeff Chapman’s Last Request: A Victorian Gothic is out now – buy it at Amazon.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group Milestone!

The IWSG Facebook hit a milestone last week – one thousand members!! Big thanks to the IWSG admins who run the Facebook group – you ladies rock. (I’m not on Facebook. Probably why it’s growing so fast!)

Just a reminder about the IWSG Facebook Guidelines:

1. Since the focus of IWSG is support, the Facebook page should reflect this ideal.

2. You are encouraged to support your fellow IWSG'ers who share their writerly-related experiences, which include accomplishments/disappointments/challenges, with the rest of the group. Keep in mind that writers are at different points of their respective writerly journeys. Some lurk for a long time, before finding the courage to share with the rest of the group. Since the IWSG is all about community, a word of encouragement or advice may be just what somebody needs. Or even just a smiley face/thumbs up...

3. News & Promotional Saturday is your opportunity to add a link. The IWSG administrators reserve the right to remove promotional links, especially if they are posted haphazardly.

How I Found the Write Path

Carrie Butler is putting together a free eBook for writers. To contribute, we were asked to write a letter to our younger selves. Here is my letter, short and simple:

Prepare For Changes!

Right now, you’re writing. It’s comfortable and fun. But once you’re on the path to publication, prepare for everything to change! This journey is going to rock your world.

You are going to meet so many amazing people along the way. Writers, readers and bloggers. Learn from them. Become a sponge and soak it up. You don’t want to go into this blind – learn from their mistakes and their successes.

Be a giver. That’s probably the most important thing. You may not think you have anything to give as a new author, as a social media newbie. But you do. You can support. You can uplift others. You can take what you’ve learned and the blog you established and let it be a blessing to others.

Don’t underestimate the support you’ll receive, either. The writing community is the most generous on earth. They want to celebrate with you. Your success isn’t a threat – it’s a beacon of hope. Let others help you with promotions, as their reach is far greater and packs a bigger punch.

Understand the reach of your work. Don’t narrow its appeal. Think bigger. Think beyond those people you believed you were writing for. What you wrote will have a far greater impact than you can imagine.

Last piece of advice – don’t stop writing. There’s more than one book in you. Your readers will demand more! And with each one, you’ll get better. It won’t be easier, but each time you’ll dig deeper and try harder.

Prepare for these changes and enjoy the ride!

Anyone else see Godzilla this weekend? Excited about the new releases? Participating in Write Club? Part of the Facebook IWSG? And what you tell your younger self if you could write a letter?

Come back next Monday for my X-Men review and the annual You Rock Awards!

Ready to Rumble with WRiTE CLUB? Plus Movie Trivia and Ninja News

What is WRiTE CLUB? Are we allowed to talk about it? The awesome DL Hammons is here to explain!

When Alex approached me about doing a segment for his uber-popular blog I knew right away I wanted to talk about WRiTE CLUB, but wasn’t sure how to go about it in a fresh way. I thought about it for a good long while, and then finally decided to ask for help. What I did was ask our 2011 WRiTE CLUB Champion -- Tiana Smith, and the 2012 Champion – Mark Hough, to interview me so I made sure to cover the things that really stood out in their minds. Here is the result.

Tiana - I know things have changed a lot since I won the first WRiTE CLUB competition. Could you explain a few of the changes and how you think they'll make it a better experience for everyone all around?

DL - Well, I’m completely bald now and the acid my stomach produces could probably qualify as industrial strength. Oh, you mean changes in the actual contest. WRiTE CLUB was a hit right out of the gate, but last year the interest was so great that I had to put measures in place this year to keep things manageable but fair. The preliminary rounds will last just 8 weeks (shorter than last year) with two bouts per week (three last year), but the biggest change is that this year the submissions will be pre-screened by a panel of ten judges so that the best 32 make it to the ring. Another change is that every vote cast will have the voters name thrown into a hat for the chance at a $75 Amazon Gift card or a ten page critique by each of the submission judges.

Mark - I'm sure you've received a ton of emails or comments about the WRiTE CLUB competition, and it's easy to see how it's surged in popularity since it began. What do you think makes WRiTE CLUB so different from other writing competitions?

DL - One thing is that you can participate at whatever level makes you feel the most comfortable. You can simply vote for your favorite submission...or you can vote and leave a brief critique...or you can go whole hog and send in an anonymous writing sample to compete. Everything is done in a very low-key fashion, which makes the whole contest a lot of fun whichever way you choose to participate.
The second thing is the anonymity. We have had participants who are published authors pitted against aspiring wannabe's, and the wannabe's have won. Persona's have no place in WRiTE CLUB, and people love that!

Tiana - I'm incredibly excited to help judge the final round! Who are some of the other industry professionals you have lined up for judging the final showdown?

DL - I’m really pumped about this year’s stable of judges, and it really demonstrates how popular WRiTE CLUB has become. Besides you and Mark, there’ s Kendare Blake, the author of the highly acclaimed Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares teen horror series. Then there’s Katie Grimm, agent for Don Congdon Associates since 2007, where in addition to maintaining her own client list she also acts as business manager. Next is Alice Speilburg -- founder of the Speilburg Literary Agency. And finally there’s this certain science fiction writer on a journey of discovery...who’s a blogger extraordinaire! Online he is known as Captain Ninja Alex – our own Alex J. Cavanaugh! Oh yeah, I’ll be announcing more celebrity judges as the contest goes on.

Mark - Obviously my win last year was a huge confidence boost to my writing, but I found that the best thing about WRiTE CLUB for me was the practice of regularly critiquing other writers' entries. As the moderator, have you noticed any certain aspects of WRiTE CLUB which help you most as a writer?

DL - Absolutely! Working with 500 word submissions forces you to realize the value of every single word and helped me learn about word economy. It's also a lesson that needs to be continually reinforced, and critiquing is an ideal way to accomplish that.

Tiana - Since the first WRiTE CLUB competition, things have grown a lot. How big has this thing become? How much participation (views/comments/etc.) do you anticipate for this year?

DL – To give you a sense of scale, last year the first couple of bouts drew over 2,100 site hits and garnered almost 100 votes apiece. Over the course of the entire contest my blog received 30,000 hits. I’d be satisfied if we were able to maintain that level of participation again this year. It’s really gratifying to see our submissions receiving that much attention and feedback.

Mark - Since I only hopped aboard the bandwagon last year, I'm curious: how did you come up with the idea for WRiTE CLUB?

DL - First and foremost I wanted to come up with something that would shine the spotlight on other writers and provide them a way to get their work in front of a lot of people in a non-threatening way. That's actually the reason for the small i in WRiTE CLUB, because it wasn't about me (or I). So I thought, some sort of contest would do the trick. As coincidence would have it, while I was trying to come up with the rules for this yet to be named contest a TV commercial for FIGHT CLUB hit the screen...and the rest (as they say) is history!

Tiana - I know when I participated, I was a little scared to submit my writing sample, but the fact that I'd be using a pen name gave me confidence to put myself out there. Was that what made you decide to keep things anonymous?

DL – Believe it or not, there are other versions of WRiTE CLUB out there and while I was researching them I discovered that all of the others involved regular LIVE readings in gathering spots like bars or coffee shops. I knew that there was no way I could get up in front of a group of relative strangers and read my work, and a lot of people felt the same way, so why not do an internet version where submissions accepted anonymously? All of our submissions go to my wife first; she logs them in and removes the real names, so she’s the only person who knows the real names. I don’t even know them. The anonymity of it all is what makes our contest so special. All of the concentration is on the writing alone!

I want to thank Mark and Tiana for helping me out today. Hopefully the three of us tweaked the interest of some of you, and if that's so, HERE is where you should go to find out more.

On July 8th..."Let's Get Ready To RUMMMMBBBBLLLEEE!!"

Ninja News

Crystal Collier is featuring book releases/cover reveals for YA fatansy-esk genres every Wednesday on her blog and is looking for people to fill the calendar. Get details HERE.

Patsy Collins’ latest book is available, Up the Garden Path. Congratulations, Patsy! You can purchase it at Amazon. And if you want to check out the funny trailer for it, go to You Tube. Patsy really can run!

Cover reveal –

Heist by Laura Pauling
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller

Can one decision change the past?

Coming later this year – find it now on Goodreads.
Find Laura here: Blog, Goodreads, Goodreads, and Twitter

And this is really cool! One of my most awesome blogging buddies, Chuck at Apocalypse Now, surprised his wife with something really unique. He’d met Mary Montagues Sikes (whom I featured earlier this month at the A to Z Blog) and was impressed with her daily paintings for the Challenge. He sent a photo his wife had taken of a sea turtle and Mary created the amazing painting you see here. Now, is that not just awesome?

If you are looking for writing competitions with no entry fees, check out WritersViews.

Movie Trivia!

Name the director:

1 – The Untouchables 1987

2 – Groundhog Day 1993

3 – The Usual Suspects 1995

4 – Hugo 2011

5 – The 13th Warrior 1999

6 – Rango 2011

Answers on Monday!

Are you ready for WRiTE CLUB? Participating this year with an entry? Ready for some new books? Want Mary to paint a picture for you? Know the directors? And who else is seeing World War Z this weekend?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Heroes and Villains Blogfest, Ninja News, Wednesday Movie Quote, and World Trivia Answers

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 Sheena-kay Graham, Suzanne Furness, and Laura Eno. Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

A couple recent posts prompted me to provide a little hope today by debunking some myths.

Got a first manuscript hiding in a drawer that you loved but everyone says those first novels are practice only?

Take it out, dust it off, and go back to the original idea. Maybe in its current form it’s no good, but with a rewrite and a polish, it just might shine. And become something worth publishing.

I know – the original version of CassaStar sat in such a drawer, but with a complete rewrite, it became my first published book.

Think that the mess you produced during NaNo will never see the light of day?

Even if it is a mess, you can restructure. Find the plot holes, get help from critique partners, and edit it up to standards. A publisher might want it.

I know – my second book, CassaFire, was written during NaNo 2010, and my upcoming novel, CassaStorm, was written during June’s BuNo 2012.

Ready to believe in those NaNo and first manuscripts again?

Visit others on the LIST and be encouraged!

Ninja News

Mel at Writings, Musings, and Other Such Nonsense is hosting the Followers Blog Hop. If you are looking for more blog followers, check it out.

Write Club Submissions are open!
Visit DL at Cruising Altitude 2.0 for details on how to enter. He has a panel of great judges lined up for the third Write Club. Oh yeah, and me. (I look so out of place on the list!)

Cover reveal-

Red Threads by Stacey J. Mitchell

Twenty-six-year-old Lily Robinson has her dream job in a museum, a great boyfriend, and is happy with her life – until the day she starts seeing red threads growing out of the chests of those around her…

The release date is June 12, 2013.

Dafeenah at Indie Designz posted a list of Ten Great Blogs for Self-Published Authors.

Diane at Spunk on a Stick’s Tips posted a list of reviewers who review self-published books.

Heroes and Villains Blogfest

Posting a day early, this blogfest is hosted by Jackie at Bouquet of Books and Dani at Entertaining Interests.

Favorite Hero – Colonel Jack O’Neill from Stargate SG1

What’s not to admire? He leads SG1, the first Stargate team. He’s a tough soldier. He’s full of snark. And he always gets his team out of trouble. Jack may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I’d want him guarding my back when I stepped through the Stargate.

Favorite Villain – Top Dollar from The Crow

Top Dollar has power and money. His presence is commanding and full of charisma. He’s snarky, owns a heavy metal club, and would be really interesting to hang out with if not for the fact he’s a homicidal maniac.

Wednesday Movie Quote

This week – dragon movies!

My quote comes from Reign of Fire:

Denton Van Zan – There’s nothing magical about it. They’re made of flesh and blood. You take out their heart you bring down the beast.

In TWO weeks (as I’m not posting next Wednesday) – animal movies.

World Trivia Answers

1 – What drink did the Incas invent? Cocoa
2 – Name either of the countries that are home to the Mayan Pyramids. Mexico and Guatemala
3 – What large tree grows in Yosemite National Park? Giant Sequoias
4 – What body of water is the saltiest in the world? The Dead Sea
5 – Who is buried under Paris’ Arc de Triomphe? The Unknown Soldier 

What’s your writer insecurity today? Ready for Write Club? Find some good links for Indie authors? Who is your favorite hero or villain? Favorite dragon movie quote? And how many trivia answers did you get right?

And the story behind my Cassa series is up today at MJ Joachim’s blog!