Secrets of Honor, The Making of the IWSG Anthology, IWSG Videos, Ninja News, and Destination Star Trek 3

We're starting with a bang today and an awesome author, Carol Kilgore!

Hi! My name is Carol Kilgore, and I write Crime Fiction with a Kiss. Thank you, Alex, for hosting me today.

Once upon a time, there was a jewel thief . . .

So begins the tale of Kat Marengo and Dave Krizak. The story could go all kinds of ways. The jewel thief could be
• an especially mischievous fairy who delights in swapping one jewel for another.
• a zombie who believes emeralds are brains.
• an octopus-like creature from Neptune who adorns his tentacles with NASA probes.
• a mermaid who uses sunken treasure to purchase aquarium space for herself at SeaWorld.

But in my new novel, SECRETS OF HONOR, my jewel thief is a government agent doing her job.

SECRETS OF HONOR
By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple. They have 24 hours to locate a kidnapped girl, or they will have to fight for the life of the first lady.

You may connect with me at any or all of these sites: Blog - Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads - Amazon

So in lieu of telling you more about myself, I invite you to visit my website HERE. Each month I hold a new contest giving away free books and swag by the Author of the Month. This month, the author is Susan Swiderski. Susan is giving away a signed copy of HOT FLASHES AND COLD LEMONADE and a copy of OLD BROADS WAXING POETIC, an anthology benefitting CARE International.

Ninja News

Industry expert and author, Anne R. Allen, will be our guest at the IWSG Site on Wednesday.


Jessica McKendry’s From the Ashes is on sale for 99 cents. Buy it at Amazon.

The sequel to Julie Flanders’ Polar Nights, is now available for 99 cents. You can find The Turnagain Arm at Amazon.

New release - The Odyssey of a Monk by Dean K. Miller
It will also be free on Amazon October 10-12.

Girl of Great Price by Milo James Fowler was just released.
Find it on Amazon.

Out now - Scarlet Magi by Nicole Zoltack
Plus Black Hellborn is on sale for 99 cents and her next book, Starry Love, is available for preorder.






And Destination Star Trek 3 took place this past weekend. @StarTrek sent out a lot of images from the convention, including this one of Next Generation wrapping up the second day:

You can see images from the first day at their website HERE

IWSG Anthology!

HUGE thanks to everyone who posted or sent their submission for the anthology, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Guide to Publishing and Beyond. We had over a hundred submissions and they were amazing. Quite a few were emailed to us, so there will be a lot of fresh, new content in the book.

One thing I learned was never say no to an anthology. I turned down submitting a piece to The Tree of Life because I was busy at the time. (Yeah – stupid!) Fortunately, Samantha asked me to contribute to Heroes of Phenomena, and I didn’t say no a second time.

I never realized how much effort was involved in an anthology until now. Let me give you a backstage view of what the IWSG Admins have been doing:

Me – Gathering all email submissions and all IWSG posts (which meant reading every single one.) Gathering and requesting bios, permission, and websites, then logging all entries on a spreadsheet and sending out to be proofed. (By Friday my brain was mush - my apologies to all the bloggers I didn't visit toward the end of last week.)

Joylene, Susan, Michelle, and Joy – Human Spell Check machines and proofers. (Wow, did they read a lot of words! And poor Michelle had the flu last week.)

Lynda – Final proofing and organizing submissions for the book, noting issues and quotes and other stuff. (She did a LOT of reading!)

Diane – Format the entire mess into a book. (Good luck!)

So, as you can see, a lot of work went into this book. But we couldn’t have done it without all of you!

And I want to point out one very special submission. It was on making book trailers, and unfortunately the videos won’t make it into the book. But you have to see what HJ Blenkinsop created for us! This is just one of three:


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group #3


Think Carol’s story is better without the octopus creature from Neptune? Picking up some new books? Follow along with Destination Star Trek 3’s events? Enjoy this past week’s IWSG or contribute to the anthology? Wonder what a Ninja’s brain looks like when it turns to mush…?

Wednesday will be some light fun, trivia, and maybe even a bit about the Ninja…
 
And if you can co-host the IWSG in November or December, please leave a comment!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day and Anthology! Plus Books, Writing Contests, Bloghops, and a Solid Gold Godzilla

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 Kristin Smith, Elsie, Suzanne Furness, and Fundy Blue!

Today marks the one year anniversary since the IWSG site and Facebook group opened. We invite all IWSG members, Facebook members, and followers to contribute to The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond, whether you are a writer on the journey or a published author. Post your contribution today or email your submission to the IWSG or me. Full details posted today at the IWSG site.
 
If you are posting for the anthology today be sure to include: title, topic (writing, publishing, or marketing), a one line bio (with your name, book(s), and blog), and state that you give us permission to use it. After you have posted, please add your link HERE.

As I mentioned earlier this week, I completed revisions on my latest manuscript and sent it to my publisher last Friday. Yeah, baby – done!

While there are things I can’t share yet about the story (at least until I hear back from my publisher) I can give you a few hints.

It’s a stand-alone space opera story. Set in a world different than the Cassa series.

The story was inspired by a song – the lyrics tell one story, and I just rearranged them to tell another story. (So every line of the song is in the story, just not in the same order. Don’t worry, that will confuse you even further when I post the song.)

It’s third person point of view, but told from the viewpoint of just one character. (Sorry, I don’t do first person. I didn’t want to be in this guy’s head any more than I was in Byron’s.)

I discovered that writing an entire story based on an ending inspired by a song was a little more difficult than I imagined…

There’s more than one woman in this book!

There is also a bit of a fantasy element in the story. Blame the song. It started it…

I aimed for grittier. I missed. You would think since I’ve been reading Joe Abercrombie lately some of that would’ve rubbed off.

This story has been with me for ten years, ever since I first heard the song that inspired it.

And if I have my way, it’s the last one I intend to write…

Ninja News

Don’t forget October 20 is the Survive and Thrive Bloghop. It’s all about prevention and staying healthy, so please join us.

Available today -

Hope for Her by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
Buy it on Kobo Amazon Barnes and Noble
There's also a great giveaway - visit Sydney's site for details.

White Lady by Jessica Bell 
Jessica will be visiting the Ninja Army on October 13!


Now open for submissions - Bold New Worlds
A National Speculative Fiction Short Story Contest for High School Students
Organized by Charity Bradford
Spread the news! If you have a high school student, encourage them to enter.
(I’m also one of the judges, which is really exciting!)

Hosted by Patricia Lynne - the Trick-Or-Treat Book Blog Hop
Authors sign up for a blog hop, write a post about the books they are handing out and post it on Halloween, people visit their blogs and comment trick-or-treat and the author gives them an ebook. EBOOKS ARE THE CANDY!

And from Blastr - if you happen to have a spare 1.5 million dollars lying around, you can be the proud owner of a 24-karat solid gold Godzilla based on the original 1954 look:

Picking up a solid gold Godzilla? Know a high school student who’d like to enter the writing contest? Anyone else base a story off of a song? What are your writer insecurities today? And are you contributing to the IWSG book…?

October Movie Preview, Survive and Thrive Bloghop, Movie Trivia Answers, Ninja News, and Writing Update

October Movie Preview!

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for October! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

10 –

Dracula Untold
Facing threats to his kingdom and his family, Vlad Tepes looks to make a deal with dangerous supernatural forces - without succumbing to the darkness himself.
Director: Gary Shore
Stars: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Art Parkinson
A sympathetic Dracula? As long as he doesn’t sparkle, I guess that’s all right.


17 –

Fury
April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.
Director: David Ayer
Stars: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña
Apparently there are still untold stories about WWII as well…

The Book of Life
Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
Director: Jorge R. Gutierrez
Stars: Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate
It looks unique, and with Del Toro’s name attached, there’s a good chance it will also be odd.


24 –

John Wick
When Russian mobsters kill his beloved dog, retired hit man John Wick returns to the game he played best - and brings bloody vengeance with him.
Director: Chad Stahelski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Bridget Moynahan, Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane
Yes, it’s Keanu Reeves, but don’t run! The film is actually getting a great buzz. 

Personal Update

Last Thursday, I finally finished all of my edits on my next manuscript! I’d been polishing and adding small scenes for weeks and almost to the point that I didn’t want to look at the story anymore. But I completed my task and sent it to my publisher Friday morning. Will talk more about it on Wednesday for my IWSG post.

I celebrated Friday night with pizza, beer, and Godzilla in 3D. (And the film was even better the second time. So was the 3D.)

Ninja News

Tree of Life now available!
All proceeds of the TREE OF LIFE ebook will benefit the Downey Education Fund set up for Tina’s children.
Buy it on Amazon

A Whisper of Rue by Decadent Kane

Death Knocks by Jay Noel and Miranda Hardy

Nicki Elson posted her Shelfie and look what book was just over her right shoulder. Thanks, Nicki!

Don’t forget this Wednesday is IWSG post day! If you are contributing to the anthology, IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond, be sure to either submit your work or post on October 1. (We’ve received a lot of writing pieces already and need more on publishing and marketing.)

Movie Trivia Answers

1 - Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer - Heat
2 - Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn – Reservoir Dogs
3 - Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci - Goodfellas
4 - Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin – The Usual Suspects
5 - John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis – Pulp Fiction
6 - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton – The Godfather
7 - Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro – The Untouchables

Survive and Thrive Bloghop

Monday, October 20, 2014

Stephen Tremp, Michael Di Gesu, Diane Wolfe, and myself. 

(Yes, Mark, I did just hyperlink myself…)

The blogfest is meant to bring awareness of disease prevention and early detection regarding medical conditions that may be averted or treated if caught in the early stages. Our desire is to motivate people to go in for early screening, and if a condition is caught early and treated, then our world just became a little better place to live.

The topics are wide open. You can post about a particular cause you support. Or you can share a personal or family experience that is near to your heart. What’s great about this Blogfest is you can inspire people to take care of themselves and their loved ones early enough to make a difference in their lives.

Sign up below and join us on October 20 –



Picking up some new books? Get the trivia right? Ready for IWSG post day? Joining us in the bloghop? And what movies catch your attention in October…?

Movie Posters from Interstellar, Night at the Museum III, and The Hobbit! Plus Mob Movie Trivia, Follow Fest, and Ninja News

Cool Movie Posters

Awesome posters for upcoming movies -

And thought I’d throw in this Guardians image from HitFix:

Ninja News

At the IWSG Site today is the awesome Jennifer Hillier!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Underrated Treasures Blogfest! All links go directly to the posts, so keep looking for more unknown treasures.




New Books -

Second Death by Gwen Gardner
Book I - The Afterlife Novella Series

A Pirate a Blockade Runner and a Cat by Beverly Stowe McClure

The Inner Sibling by GB Miller

Sherry Ellis is hosting the Bucket List Blog Hop on October 20 – see her site for details.

Follow Fest

This is my entry for Melissa Maygrove's Follow Fest:

Name: Alex J. Cavanaugh

Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction

What genres do you write? Science fiction – space opera

Are you published? Yes, three books:
CassaStar – Amazon Best Seller
CassaFire – Pinnacle Book Award Winner, Amazon Best Seller
CassaStorm – eFestival of Books Award Winner, Pinnacle Book Award Winner, Amazon Best Seller
And putting final touches on my next manuscript before sending to my publisher.

Do you do anything in addition to writing? I’m the founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, and a A to Z Challenge co-host.

Tell us a little about yourself. I’m married, a Christian, a guitar player, movie lover, Ninja Captain, and all around geek.

What are you reading right now? Joe Abercrombie’s Before They Are Hanged

Which authors influenced you the most? Terry Brooks, Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Heinlein, Preston and Child, Timothy Zahn

Where can people connect with you? Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Twitter, Goodreads, and Google+

Movie Trivia

Mobster movies! Name the film from the actors listed.

1 - Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer

2 - Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn

3 - Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci

4 - Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin

5 - John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis

6 - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton

7 - Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro

Answers on Monday!

Excited about the movies featured in the posters? Discover some cool new things during the Underrated Treasures Blogfest? Participating in Follow Fest? And do you know any of the trivia…?