Followers Answers and Movie Reviews

I’d asked about followers without profiles and here are the best answers:
Some people don’t have blogs, so all you can do is friend them.
Sometimes Blogger flakes and doesn’t include a link or profile.
Often a person with a Google account hasn’t gone back and claimed their blog, so it doesn’t show up.

Jeremy at iZombie Lover came up with a button to encourage those who follow to comment so we can find their blog, if they have one:

A big congratulation to M. Pax - she sold her first story this week!

And some brief movie reviews for you…

The Mechanic

Not an original story but well executed. It’ll hold your interest and there are some cool assassin tricks. Jason Statham is, well, Jason Statham, and Ben Foster turns in a decent performance. (He makes a good scummy character!) It’s hard to root for the killers though, despite their penchant for taking out bad guys. Not a memorable film, but if you dig Statham flicks, you’ll enjoy it.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

The fourth movie in this series, based on the popular game. As long as they keep making money and Milla Jovovich remains hot and athletic, Resident Evil movies will continue. This one was better than the third and there’s some amazing special effects. Would’ve been cool in 3D, but I saw it at home. A lot of things happen that aren’t explained (what was the giant creature with the axe?) and it contains numerous plot holes. But hey, depth and plot isn’t why you watch these movies, is it?

Thanks again to Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs for allowing me to visit yesterday. Hopefully I’ve encouraged more of you to sign up for the A to Z Challenge!

Hogging the Blogosphere and Beginnings

I’ve the honor of visiting Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs today, discussing why challenges and blogfests rock!

Yesterday Lynda Young at W.I.P. It claimed she loved and inhaled my book! I don’t believe literal snorting was involved though… Thanks, Lynda!

Yes, I know – I’m hogging the blogosphere. I’ll stop…

Today is another edition of Fantastic Friday Writers! I invite your to check out my Fantastic Friday Writers partners - Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J. D. Brown, and Deirdra Eden Coppel - for their take on this subject. I’m sure it’s better than mine!

Once again, I’m sure my take on this topic will be way out in left field compared to my fellow FFW. Rather than post the beginning of my first chapter (because dear Lord, you’re not reading all that!) I’m going to do something different.

When writing, where do I begin? The first chapter. Yes, I create my characters and an outline, but when it comes to actual writing, I start at the beginning. I admire those who start at different points or write scenes and move them around. My brain just doesn’t work that way, though. I start with the first scene and don’t stop until I’ve reached the end!

Do you start at the beginning?

Villains and Fantastic Friday Writers

Double shot today! In addition to the Fantastic Friday Writers post, I have a guest post at Breakthrough Blogs. Stephen’s been doing a series on villains and let’s just say I took an opposing view. (Captain Ninja Alex’s prerogative.)

Today is another edition of Fantastic Friday Writers! I invite your to check out my Fantastic Friday Writers partners - Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J. D. Brown, and Deirdra Eden Coppel - for their take on this subject.

What goes into your character Bible?

I don’t have a character Bible so much as character Cliff Notes. This is the information I gather in my folder:

Detailed background – family, what happened before the story begins, etc.
Strengths and weaknesses
General appearance – and no, I don’t use photos
“Why?” – why the character does what he does
“Don’t” - I got this from another writer. Make a list of don’ts from your character’s perspective. “Don’t… get close to me.” “Don’t… underestimate my abilities.” Stuff like that.
I also keep detailed notes on the world I am creating, which helps me create the characters

And that’s it! Short and simple.

What’s in your character Bible? (Or Cliff Notes?)

(And thanks again to everyone who voted for me in The Movie 411 Awards!)

Next Stop, Monsters, Awards, and CassaStar Made a Best List!

Today’s stop is at Stephen’s awesome site, Breakthrough Blogs. He interviews Byron and Bassa!

And thanks to those who visited Spunk on a Stick’s Tips yesterday as I shared about my character's telepathic abilities.

This came through my Google Alerts – wow! Top 5 List of Best Debut Sci-fi Books by New Writers CassaStar is on the list!!!

And a fan review from Randall at Not the Baseball Pitcher! Thanks, Randall - glad you enjoyed the book.

I caught Monsters last night on HDNet -

Six years after Earth has suffered an alien invasion a cynical journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through an infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

A haunting movie, with an equally haunting score, Monsters is slow-paced. It's more of a character study than anything else - and surprise, it's also a romance.
The scenery is incredible, both the natural landscape and the devastation. The monsters are amazing - what the crew achieved with next to no budget will astound you. The characters are quite real and I appreciated the lack of stereotypes.
An original work of science fiction, drama, and romance, Monsters is quite an achievement, and I highly recommend it.

I’ve also been hoarding awards!!

First came from Lydia at The World is My Oyster – the A is for Awesome Award. Is that not cool? Awesome Alex thanks you, Lydia!

I’m passing it on to Cruella at The Giraffability of Digressions

Next, Clarissa at Listen to the Voices gave me the Cherry on Top Award – thanks Clarissa!

I’m passing it on to Laura at A Shift in Dimensions

Krista Lynne Jensen gave me the I’m a Literary Builder Award – thanks, Krista!

My five favorite words:
Anathema
Counterintuitive
Acrostic (not that I’m good at it)
Really? (must be said in loud exasperation as someone does something stupid)
Sex (hey, just being honest!)

I’m passing it on to Colene at The Journey

Finally, Charity at My Writing Journey gave me the Sunshine Award! Since I’ve received it before, I’ll just thank Charity for her kindness!

Friday wraps up my tour – whew!

Party Time!

Parties around the web and in real life. Some all in my mind…

Horror at Hannah’s! Musings of a Palindrome is hosting a cool writing contest for the month of October.

Brad Jaeger’s “The First Novel that Moved Me” blogfest is Monday, October 11th. Sign up HERE (I’m participating.)

Cerebral Lunch Box is featuring the Small Packages Blogfest for those with 150 followers or less

Stephen Tremp is looking for young adult authors for a special project – see Breakthrough Blogs for details.

Tuesday I kick off the virtual tour for CassaStar, which is available October 19. Yes, I’m getting nervous!

In addition to doing NaNoWriMo, I’ve been participating in NaBloWriMo. (Whew! Too many acronyms!) A post every day. Then it’s much writing every day. Yes, I am crazy. Work with me!

My mom’s birthday is next week, so I recorded an audio track of me playing an Elvis song for her. Took several tries, but I think I got it. No, not ready for a world tour just yet!

Those who’ve been with me a while should remember my high praise for “How to Train Your Dragon.” Well, it comes out on DVD next Friday, October 15. If you haven’t seen it, just go buy it. Trust me!

And to round out this party post, I intend to post a movie review this weekend. Not sure which movie yet. I’ll let you know when I know!

Not one but TWO flying cars!

Rogue Evolent featured this craft on Wednesday and it blew me away! (He posted a full description and the video, so visit Roads of Autumn Dusk for the low down and skinny on this flying car.) This is the Transition Roadable Aircraft by Terrafugia.  It received certification as a Light Sport Aircraft and will begin production soon. The plane will cost almost $200,000 and requires 20 hours of flight certification. Its function is a plane, but once on the ground, the wings fold up and it can be driven like a car. So basically, after you land, you just fold up and drive home! I want one. Think it comes with photon torpedoes? Then on the heels of this news came something from Sci-Fi Wire - “Looks like Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov's next project could be to out-Bay Michael Bay, because he's in talks with Universal to create an English-language blockbuster based on his Russian-language hit Black Lightning. Bekmambetov has described his original film as a "Slavic Transformers meets Batman," and based on the action-packed trailer below, we can see what he means. The Russian-language original was a hit, taking in nearly $10 million during its first weekend.” I’d like to see the Russian version!! And finally… No flying cars, but something really cool – the Fantasy & Sci-Fi Blogger award from Ted Cross Thanks Dude – this is awesome!! I’m passing it on to four bloggers – Jamie at Mithril Wisdom Bryan at SF Daddy Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs Hannah at Musings of a Palindrome

Two Awards and Books to Come

Tuesday is usually my book day, but I'm moving that to Thursday when I discuss influences on my writing. So join me then when I talk about sci-fi author, Timothy Zahn.

Today, I gotta take care of two blog awards. Two in one day! Yeah, I can't believe it either.

Over the Top Award

This is a cool award. The rules are that I must mention Cassandra’s name and blog - Cassandra Jade in the Realm. Also I must answer a string of questions with one-word only answers and pass the award to five other bloggers.

Your Cell Phone? iPhone
Your Favorite Food? Thai
Your Hobby? Guitar
Your TV? Big
What Are You Wearing? Sweats
Your Life? Cool
Your Music? Loud
Where Did You Grow Up? Everywhere
Your Car? Sporty

Short list - it's harder than it sound!

I pass this one on to:
Hannah at Musings of a Palindrome
Sarah at Falen Formulates Fiction
Galen at Imagineering Fiction




Creative Writer Award

This was from Helen at Straight From Hel

The rules are fairly simple. Recipients must -
1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you.
4. Tell us up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth. (I'll do two lies and one truth.)
5. Allow your readers to guess which one or more are true.
6. Nominate seven "Creative Writers" who might have fun coming up with outrageous lies.
7. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate. (Gonna do three.)
8. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them. (Okay if I forget this, sorry!)

1. I burned down a shed in our back yard when I was ten.

2. I drank three day old Oriental hot sauce when I was three.

3. I played hockey in college.

Passing this on to:
Michele at Southern City Mysteries
Marvin at The Old Silly
Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs

Thanks guys!