A to Z Challenge - F

For the A to Z Challenge, I am featuring some awesome bloggers, many of whom are participating in the Challenge. These individuals have offered so much support of my book, CassaStar, and me on my blogger journey. Of course, I’ll be keeping up with the world of movies, music, and pop culture stuff as well! Ninjas are just talented that way...

Familiar Spirits
Gail posts daily photos of her critters on the farm with a cute caption. I usually counter with a funny comment, but don’t worry - she often zings me back! Gail’s a faithful commenter and a great encourager, and you’d do well to go visit the spirits on her farm…

Falen Formulates Fiction
Sarah always opens her ponders with "In Which I..." - and you never know what's coming! Except on Friday. Yvie takes over the post then. Sarah is a trip - a fantasy writer with a wicked sense of humor. Go say hello. And don't forget Yvie!

And I know my regular followers are sick of this, but my book trailer is in another contest! You Gotta Read Videos posts a trailer a day for each month and voting runs the 21-26. Today the trailer for CassaStar is featured! If you have time to watch it now, it's only a minute long - GO HERE I'll let everyone know when voting opens on the 21. Thanks guys!

Unique Christmas Gifts and Blogfests!

Still searching for that perfect Christmas gift? Look no further!

Cthulhu Plushie
Let your kids snuggle with a Lovecraft demi-god!
$19.74

AK Bullet Ice Cube Tray
For that killer drink...
$15.95

Samsung 65" Class 8000 Series 3D 1080p LED HDTV
Because you know you really want one!
$6,000.00

Alien Queen Lifesize Prop Replica Statue
Besides, how on earth would you take care of a real alien queen?
$24,999.95

Bugatti Veyron
Second fastest car in the world and my choice when playing Need For Speed. Enough said!
$1.5 million

Blogfests!!

January 1, 2011 – Eye Candy Blogfest
Post a favorite picture, any picture you want (ummm...PG-13 please) as long as it's something that makes you smile or say 'ahhhh' every time you see it.
Hosted by Vicki at Rambles and Randomness
And I've a great picture for this one! (No, it's not Kate!)

January 3, 2011 – Show me Yours Blogfest.
The point of this blogfest is to share an excerpt of your NaNoWriMo novel. It can be any scene but try to keep it at 500 words so we can all get around to as many blogs as possible.
Hosted by Falen Formulates Fiction, Musings of a Palindrome, and And This Time, Concentrate

So, who’s buying me the Bugatti this year? Anyone?

In Alex's World...

It’s 90 degrees outside and 60 degrees in my office. I love working in a refrigerator! Other than freezing my ass off, good things are happening this week. And not just in my world, either! Talli just hit 400 followers! That is awesome – she’s a great blogger and beautiful gal. Would love to hear an audio of her voice, as I bet she has a sexy accent, too. (Wait, did I say that out loud?) She’s holding a giveaway, so check out Talli’s BLOG for details. Fallen just hit 200 followers and is also holding a contest! So, stop by Falen Formulates Fiction and say hi to Yvie for me as well. Cassandra Jade kicked off her virtual tour on Wednesday with a unique twist – during her visits, the host blogger visits HER site as well. It’s like a two-for-one deal. I’m looking forward to hosting Cassandra on the 13th. Elana Johnson contacted Jennifer Daiker at Unedited and yours truly to do a triple-post series next week on blogging. Elana wanted three viewpoints on blogging from experts. No, that is not a typo. No, I don’t believe it either. Jen has close to 700 followers and Elana has… well, at least a million. (Reminds me of the child’s game “Which one of these items doesn’t belong?”) The series kicks off on Monday and Elana will have details up at her website very soon. So, be sure to visit THOSE two awesome ladies for some great info. Then you can come by and humor me with a nice, short, irrelevant comment… And despite the fact I’m working on guest posts for my virtual tour next month (Dear Lord, that’s next month!!!) a couple new ideas struck me for the sequel to CassaStar. So, I’ve been writing, turning Byron’s world upside down again. Actually, I stuck him in a barrel and sent him over Niagara Falls… Thanks to everyone who’s visited over the past couple weeks. The Blogging Idiosyncrasies posts were a big hit. If you missed them – and judging from the amount of comments, you didn’t – Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. Wait, did I mention another blogfest in the spirit of The Movie Dirty Dozen? No? I’ll get back to you on that one…

A Little Humor and Stuff

Since humor is what makes the world go ‘round, thought I’d point out some funny blogs. Some are intentionally funny – some are just snarky. (I like the snark.)

Cheeseboy at The Blog ‘O Cheese
“If I get 300 followers, I will do a video post from the inside of a McDonald's Playland tube.”
At 200 followers, his video post was from inside a dumpster – so come on! We want to see him in the tubes, sticky and covered in french fry scat from a thousand unwashed hands.

Men are Dumb, and I should know
His weekly comparisons of men and women are priceless.

Mr. Stupid at Stupidation
Have YOU been following “Harry Potato and the Worthless Stone?” Why not?

He’s in the middle of revamping his blog, but the Old Silly posts some funny stuff, too. The Old Silly’s Free Spirit Blog

Falen posts some great humor, especially on Fridays Falen Formulates Fiction
Be sure to say hello to Yvie!

Hart at Confessions of a Watery Tart likes to zing her readers, so keep an eye on her.

Apocalypse Now
Sure signs our world is ending – soon!

And this whole business of blogs of humor was inspired by this post from CC Chronicles, who gives us a glimpse at headlines of the future.


Elsewhere…

Yes, I did finish the new Preston & Child book. Awesome as expected. Review soon.

The new Rush DVD “Beyond the Lighted Stage” came out on Tuesday. Get it! Incredible, unseen footage, photos, interviews – and funny as hell!

If you’ve not checked out Prinkipria, the new issue of this online magazine comes out around the first of each month. And remember my interview with David J. Williams? It should be in the July issue!

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty comes out on July 27. I am counting the days. It better rock! It’s only taken Blizzard twelve years to make the sequel…

And, I received the Your Blog Rocks Award from Yvonne at Welcome to my World of Poetry

Thanks, Yvonne! I like to think I rock. (At least on my guitar.)

I’m passing this along to-
Talli Rolland
Christine Danek
Simon C Larter (Don't read anything into the flowers, Dude.)

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!