Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Movie Reviews, August Movie Preview, and New Releases

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 August 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

August 6 question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

Right now, I would say it was all of the people on X and other social media who follow you, send you what seems to be a friendly message, and after a few exchanges they are pushing you to let them market your book or do other work for you. Anne R. Allen talks about getting a lot of marketing emails, so I guess this is just a new way for them to get to you.

Movie Reviews

The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. It’s a very fun film.
I really dug the 60’s vibe of Earth 828. The retro was stylish and complete but with futuristic elements woven in.
There is great chemistry between the four leads. They come off as real people and a genuine team.
Galactus and the Silver Surfer are great villains, with the later having a full character arc.
Great special effects, good story, and unlike the next film, it all made sense.
Highly recommended!

Superman
I wanted to love it. But sadly, I was disappointed. Watching Superman get his ass kicked for two hours is not my idea of fun.
Lex Luther was way too powerful. He could make his own superhero, pocket dimensions… His whole thing was jealousy and he wanted Superman dead, and yet when he had Superman in his grasp, he did not kill him.
Like most of the movie, it didn’t make sense.
Not all was lost. Mr. Terrific and Krypto were the best parts of the film.
Sorry, can’t recommend it.

New Releases!

If The Quest for Orichalcum was a movie, how would it be compared?
Well, it’s in the scifi realm, but more Star Trek than Star Wars. At this stage of this galaxy, wars are trifling things. And Pete and Lars wouldn’t be anywhere near them, because they meet at college, and are more interested in launching their careers than in fighting for powers they don’t believe in. Their adventures with planet surveys, space walking, girls, and bullies fit well into a Star Trek universe, but Pete has a secret destiny, and there’s a lot of lovely scenery, so maybe I can claim affinity with Lord of the Rings? There’s a touch of Casablanca about it, too, largely because the origin of my series started with a flash fiction mash-up of Casablanca and Star Wars… and all before they hit it rich… mining orichalcum.
- Jemima

Out August 12!
The Quest for Orichalcum by Jemima Pett
The Quest for Orichalcum tells how it all started – the revolution that transformed the galactic economy, let alone space travel.
Find it on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Available now!
Past and Present by Rosemary Johnson
We need to know about the past in order to make sense of the present.
Find it on Amazon

August Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for August. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

1 –

The Naked Gun
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Stars: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser
Only one man has the particular set of skills - to lead Police Squad and save the world.
I wonder if this one also has a nice beaver?

8 –

Weapons
Director: Zach Cregger
Stars: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
The real weapons are the Legos those kids left all over their bedroom floor…

15 –

Red Sonja
Director: MJ Bassett
Stars: Matilda Lutz, Martyn Ford, Rhona Mitra
An adaptation of the comic book, Red Sonja, a vengeful warrior known as a "She-Devil with a sword.”
She-devil with a sword, puppy with nunchucks, dik-dik with brass knuckles…

22 –

Primitive War
Director: Luke Sparke
Star: Tricia Helfer, Ana Thu Nguyen, Jeremy Piven
Vietnam. 1968. A recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.
Predator meets Jurassic Park meets the Vietnam War meets super low budget…you can see where this is headed.

29 –

The Toxic Avenger
Director: Macon Blair
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige
A horrible toxic accident transforms downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze into a new evolution of hero: The Toxic Avenger.
Remake of an awful 1984 cult classic – is this what Dinklage gets for insisting Snow White not use real little people?

What do you think is an unethical practice? Seen either superhero movie? Picking up either book? Seeing any of the movies coming out in August?
I’ll be posting at the IWSG site on August 18. Otherwise, see you September 3 for the next IWSG post!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, July Movie Preview, and Mother of Five Conquers College

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 July 2 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!

July 2 question - Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

I love science fiction and fantasy. While almost everything I have written has been science fiction, I tend to read more fantasy. Would I try writing it? I would like to, but at this point, I am not compelled to write anything. To me, fantasy is even more world-building intense and I don’t think I am up to it.
In the future? Who knows!

Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College

The college dynamic clashed with motherhood. I oversaw the home, five young children, and their education. This was important as my oldest child is learning-disabled.
I hadn’t been in an academic setting in over twenty years. A collegiate classroom was alien to me.
Three courses. Professors thought I had unlimited time to read and complete assignments. I was a concrete thinker, couldn’t figure out theories, had no college preparatory courses, and developed an aversion to the blank page. I pushed myself, recorded my subject notes, and studied constantly, reaching for that degree one college course at a time.

Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College
By Victoria Marie Lees
Universal Buy Link

July Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for July. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

2 –

Jurassic World: Rebirth
Director: Gareth Edwards
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend
Five years post-Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), an expedition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.
The last few have been so subpar – Edwards can only improve it!

11 –

Superman
Director: James Gunn
Stars: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult
Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.
Tenth reboot’s the charm? (No idea how many reboots. A lot. And I am excited for this one.)

18 –

Eddington
Director: Ari Aster
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Deirdre O'Connell, Emma Stone
In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.
From the director of Midsommar and Hereditary – the weirdness factor will be multiplied by a thousand.

25 –

The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.
Director: Matt Shakman
Stars: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn
Third reboot’s a charm! (And it really is three.) 

What genre would you like to try? Gone back to college after having kids? And what movie catches your eye this month?

Happy Fourth of July! Almost two hundred and fifty years. Yes, all of Europe, Africa, and Asia is laughing at that number…

Enjoy your July. I will be a little scarce this month…catch you on August 6 for the next IWSG day!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Father Dragon, Series Updates, and June Movie Preview

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 June 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis!

The June 4 question - What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

I read Sword of Shannara shortly after its release in 1977, and I was swept away in the epic adventure. I’d never read anything like it before. It kindled my love of fantasy and science fiction where anything was possible.

Ironically, it would be movies that influenced what I actually wrote – Star Wars, Battlestar Galatica, etc.

Dragon and Ninja, Together Again

Some of you probably remember Father Dragon Al. One of the best friends a Ninja could ever have and I miss him in the blogging world.

Quite the talented artist, he decided to send me the original artwork of his blogging icon.

Al, this is quite the honor! I shall treasure it always. You are a good friend and an excellent dragon.

Series Updates

I spoke too soon in my last post – The Bondsman with Kevin Bacon has been cancelled! Ended on a huge cliffhanger as well. And it was doing well. Jerks.

The Wheel of Time was also cancelled. Nowhere near finished with the story. Ten million an episode was too much for their budget.

And they wonder why people don’t want to invest themselves in a series?

Thankfully, Resident Alien’s next season starts June 6! It ended on a huge cliffhanger, so small miracle we get to see how it is resolved. One of the funniest series out there today. Alan Tudyk is a comedic genius.

June Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for June. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

6 –

The Ritual
Director: David Midell
Stars: Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene Two priests, one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism.
I’m out of order? The devil’s out of order. This whole freaking exorcism is out of order!

20 –

28 Years Later
Director: Danny Boyle
Stars: Jack O'Connell, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes
A group of survivors of the rage virus lives on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.
One of the best trailers I’ve seen in a long time. Fingers crossed the movie lives up to it.

27 –

F1
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Stars: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon
A Formula One driver comes out of retirement to mentor and team with a younger driver.
Basically, an old Brad Pitt in Days of Thunder: AARP Edition.

M3GAN 2.0
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Stars: Allison Williams, Jemaine Clement, Ivanna Sakhno
Two years after M3GAN's rampage, her creator, Gemma, resorts to resurrecting her infamous creation in order to take down Amelia, the military-grade weapon who was built by a defense contractor who stole M3GAN's underlying tech.
M3GAN 2.0 – Electric Boogaloo!

What books influenced you? Any of your favorite series get cancelled? Remember Father Dragon? And what movies will you be seeing this month?
Ironically, I haven’t seen a film in the theater since last year. Our theater added reserved seating. Couple that with fifteen minutes of commercials before the movie begins (and not on time) and the ever-soaring price of tickets and drinks, and movie theaters are destroying the entire movie-going experience.

Reviews – Wild Robot, Black Bag, and The Bondsman; Fanfiction; plus New Releases

Surprise! I’m posting on a non-IWSG day. That’s because I had more reviews and new release announcements than room that day.

And, most importantly, I wanted to highlight something very special.

People write fanfiction all the time for Star Wars and Star Trek. They are huge franchises. But last week, someone wrote fanfiction for me! Truedessa posted part of a story that happens after the end of Dragon of the Stars.

So, please check it out. Truedessa, thank you. I feel like I’ve arrived as an author!

The Wild Robot

An AI service robot is stranded on an island and finds herself raising a baby goose with the help of a fox.
A bit of a clumsy beginning (literally, as Roz is the clumsiest robot ever) but once the orphaned goose and fox enter the picture, the movie shines. It’s about finding one’s place in the world, working together, and the meaning of love and family.
The animation is beautiful and the setting adds to the lushness. (Wild guess is the island is near/actually is Vancouver Island.)
There are some funny moments – when you have voice talents such as Bill Nighy, Ving Rhames, and Mark Hamill, no surprise there!
Recommended

Black Bag

An intelligence agent is giving a list of people and told to find the spy among them. The twist – his wife, also an intelligence agent, is on the list.
This is MI6 – a mix of Mission Impossible meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, it will keep you guessing. The dialogue is fun and the characters quirky.
And at ninety-three minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome!
Recommended

The Bondsman

Series streaming on Amazon. A bounty hunter is resurrected and told his new bounty targets are demons.
Stars Kevin Bacon and Beth Grant (who plays his mom) are the reason to watch this show. They are both excellent and funny, with Grant stealing nearly every scene she’s in.
The show is quirky and irreverent, but it also has a heart. It also takes dark subjects and makes them light and sometimes funny.
It is a twisted premise though so the show might not be for everyone.
Love the thirty-minute format though. Again, doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Season ends on a cliffhanger so there better be another one.
Recommended

New Releases

Dirtbag Satan Worshippers From Down by the Bay (Gale Harbour Book 3) by CD-Gallant-King

Niall O’Neil is wallowing in teenage angst, still getting over Harper Jeddore, his childhood crush who helped him save the sleepy town of Gale Harbour from otherworldly monsters. Twice. When he meets a new, less-complicated girl named Stacey, it seems his life might be turning a corner. But Niall is pulled back into his old world when people start disappearing around town again, seemingly abducted by Satan-worshipping rednecks.
Torn between his new existence of simple happiness and his messy feelings for his old flame, Niall must make a decision: Enjoy dating girls, experimenting with drinking and making new friends, or risk his life to save the town one more time?
The fate of the entire world may depend on the choices of a hormonal fourteen-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.
Join Niall, Harper, Pius, Keith and Skidmark as they band together for one last adventure…

Find it on Amazon

A Murder Down Memory Lane by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Reunions can be murder, especially when the past refuses to stay buried.
Myrtle is less than thrilled to receive an invitation to her high school reunion. Fond memories of her teenage years? Not quite. Besides, who throws a 67th reunion, anyway? But curiosity gets the better of her when she learns that several classmates are making the trek from far-flung places.
The reunion turns out to be a haphazard affair, with a sparse turnout. Things take a turn for the mysterious as the event unfolds. Who organized this affair? Who sent out the invitations? And what’s the real reason behind the oddly-timed gathering?
When a body is discovered, the reunion goes from awkward to alarming. It’s up to Myrtle and her trusty sidekick Miles to unravel the mystery before anyone else takes a fatal trip down memory lane.

Find it on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Badlands (Book 2 of Savage Land trilogy) by Jacqui Murray

In Badlands, Book Two of the trilogy, the tribes split up, each pursuing dangerous but necessary goals, all at the mercy of the Nature. How they collaborate despite their inborn distrust could end this journey before it starts or forge new relationships that will serve both groups well in the future.

Find it on Amazon Amazon

Have you seen either movie or the show? Which new release strikes your fancy?
Thanks for all the IWSG co-host offers! We are set through September. And the responses to this month’s question were touching.
Enjoy your May and see you next month!