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.
The awesome co-hosts for the April 5 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Nancy Gideon, and Natalie Aguirre!
And before we begin, we need co-hosts for May 3, June 7, and July 5! We only have one scheduled for July (Natalie) so we really need some volunteers.
April 5 question - Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you're at the start of the journey, what are your goals?
I wrote my first book when I was thirteen. It was awful and I stuffed it in a drawer. Wrote some other things but nothing caught fire like that first story. I pulled it out of the drawer about thirty years later. Promising storyline, great characters, just needed a total rewrite. I wrote a new story and it became my first published book.
I never planned on an author career. I just fell into it. I kept writing and fans kept wanting more. Five novels, a short story, many anthologies and articles later and it’s far and above what I ever envisioned. Add the success of the IWSG and it just blows my mind.
As an author, I have no more goals. I think CassaDark summed up the ending well. Maybe continue more stories for Dragon of the Stars? I know Trudessa would love that!
Over at the IWSG site, Pat Hatt posted about a scammer alert from Tonja Drecker – writers, you need to be aware! Check it out.
IWSG Goodreads Book Club:
For the month of April, we will continue to read the two selections from the previous month and will host the discussions on 4/27/23. The challenge theme, for anyone interested, will be Libraries. The general "What are you reading" discussion is going really well.
IWSG Member Book: Spiral of Hooves
Craft Book: Fight Like A Girl
WEP!
To enter the April Challenge, go here.
Life is Beautiful Post April 19 to 21at 2023.
A new release from IWSG member Patricia Josephine Lynn–
Revelation of Love : A Sweet Fantasy Romance (Influenced Book 3)
Universal buy links here.
Many of you remember author M. Pax. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer. See how you can help her on her website: Books for a Cause: Purchase My Work and Help me Battle Cancer!
And I helped kick off the A to Z Challenge at the Operation Awesome site! Check it out.
Movie Reviews
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Did you like the first one? Then you will love the second one.
Sadly trailing at the box office, this second instalment is just as good as the first film – great action, great humor, and great characters.
This one focuses more on Shazam than Billy, although the rest of the kids are featured more as themselves than their superhero alter egos.
There are some really funny moments, like the scene with the unicorn. (Not going to spoil it for you!)
Shazam has the hots for Wonder Woman, dreaming about her…and yes, Gal Gadot is in the film!
And Helen Mirren – why didn’t she start doing these actions flicks years ago?
Highly recommended!
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
So much fun!
If you know nothing about D&D, you will thoroughly enjoy this funny fantasy-adventure.
If you are familiar with D&D, you will enjoy this film even more and on a whole other level!
The leads are perfectly cast and fit their characters so well. (And play their characters well.)
There are so many Easter eggs and nods to traditional D&D. (Remember the D&D cartoon? You will be pleased!) Plus there are so many jokes. I need to go see it again to catch all those items.
The writers are definitely fans. This is a love letter to D&D fans. The writers and director did the story full justice.
Very highly recommended! And my favorite film of the year so far.
April Movie Preview
Here are the theatrical releases for April. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
7 –
Paint
In PAINT, Owen Wilson portrays Carl Nargle, Vermont's #1 public television painter who is convinced he has it all: a signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke... until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves.
Director: Brit McAdams
Stars: Owen Wilson, Ciara Renée, Stephen Root
I guess the happy little trees turned on him…
The Pope’s Exorcist
Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, The Pope's Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy's terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
Director - Julius Avery
Stars - Russell Crowe, Franco Nero, Ralph Ineson
We all want to know – will split pea soup be involved?
14 –
Renfield Dracula's henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum.
Director: Chris McKay
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Ben Schwartz
Finally, a role that requires Cage to suck!
28 –
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World
The life and boxing career of George Foreman.
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Stars: Forest Whitaker, Sonja Sohn, Matthew Glave
I know how it ends – he invents his grill.
What were your thoughts on your author career path? Reading the IWSG book selections? Did you see Shazam? (If not, go give the movie some money!) Any of those April movies interest you?
Big question – who can help co-host the IWSG the next three months?
Now, go read the scammer alert at the IWSG site and my piece at Operation Awesome!
Big question – who can help co-host the IWSG the next three months?
Now, go read the scammer alert at the IWSG site and my piece at Operation Awesome!
