February Movies, Results, and Challenge News

It’s almost February, so time for next month’s movies. Monday is the BIG announcement for the A to Z Challenge - signups begin! And I have a guest post today at the A to Z Blog about that signup list. So if you have concerns, be sure to read it.

Voting ends Saturday at noon for my CassaFire trailer at You Gotta Read Videos. Last I looked I was trailing in fifth place, which is disappointing as the trailer for CassaStar took second place last year. I think I’ve posted about this everywhere possible, so one last round of groveling. If there’s anything you can do to help, this Ninja would appreciate it…

Great discussion Wednesday regarding authors reading their own reviews. Most of you said yes – as long as the author doesn’t respond or have a meltdown. A couple sharp ladies suggested having a family member screen out the junky ones first – excellent idea! (Because reading “This book sucked!” isn’t good for the ego.).

And for those of you who want to know what happens when one becomes a BLOG OF NOTE - a ton of new followers (over 1200 now - whoa!) and thousands of visits per day! Yeah, it’s been a wild week. Thanks again for all the kind words. I'm still stunned.

And now, on to our show! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

February Movies:

3 –

The Woman in Black
Drama | Horror | Thriller
A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.
Director: James Watkins
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds, Emma Shorey

Previews for this one look promising!

Chronicle
Action | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.
Director: Josh Trank
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Alex Russell, Dane DeHaan

Could go either way. Heard it’s told in reverse like Memento. (Not that it has a chance of living up to that awesome movie.)

10 –

Safe House
Action | Crime | Mystery | Thriller
A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Robert Patrick, Vera Farmiga

Promising cast and Denzel IS the man.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
Sean Anderson partners with his mom's boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island.
Director: Brad Peyton
Stars: Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens
I know it’s geared towards kids, but how on earth did they con Michael Caine into this movie?


17 –

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Action | Fantasy | Thriller
As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.
Directors: Mark Neveldine | Brian Taylor
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ciarán Hinds, Idris Elba, Christopher Lambert

Dumb, over-the-top sequel with violence and special effects. Sure, why not?

Any of those movies strike your fancy? Ready to sign up for the A to Z Challenge on Monday? (Don't forget to visit the A to Z Blog today.) Any other opinions on reviews? Wonder if I ever sleep...?

Honors and Controversy

Today I have the honor of an interview with Charity Bradford. She asked some questions about writing, my books, and a little about me. So, for your amusement, I invite you to visit her SITE.

I had a huge surprise Monday night when Jennifer Hillier notified me via Twitter that my blog was an official BLOG OF NOTE! That really blows me away. I am really humbled.

I was also really honored when this book came in the mail on Tuesday - Yvonne Lewis’s new book, Written From the Heart. It’s finally available for purchase here in the USA and I’d ordered it last week. Yvonne is such a sweet person, a really giving and loving spirit, and I’ve often referred to her as my online Mom. And here’s another reason why I was so stoked to get her book:

Yes, that is my name on the back of her book, like it means something! I was just as excited to see it on her book as I have been on my own. Yvonne, thank you for this gift – you are truly an amazing person.

Before you go, I’d like to toss a couple controversial and hot topics at you. Feel free to chime in with your opinion.

Should an author read reviews of his own book?

Elana Johnson posted about this last week. Her view was that reviews are for readers not authors and we shouldn’t ever read them. (Because at that point, we can’t change the book anyway.)

I think we should read them. Sure, we’ll be bummed by negative reviews, but we can learn from those - they can reveal where we lacked and what we need to work on in the next book. They can also guide us as we write the next book – what do the fans want? And of course, the good ones just plain make us feel good!

If I hadn’t read reviews for CassaStar, I wouldn’t have known I needed more detail, depth, and world-building. I also wouldn’t have known how much fans wanted a female character!

What do you think?

Now for the other tough subject. This one is huge:

Patriots or Giants – who do you have winning the Super Bowl?

I am still groveling for votes for CassaFire’s book trailer at You Gotta Read Videos. (And the groveling isn’t a pretty sight.)

And don’t forget to visit the awesome Charity Bradford.

You are now free to leave your opinion and move about the Internet!

Movie Reviews and Ninja News

Thanks for commenting on my guest post on blogging tips and CassaFire news at Susan Roebuck’s site last Friday, and for making Brinda Berry feel so welcome here.

Some really important announcements today but first the reviews:

Underworld: Evolution

A reviewer on JoBlo’s site said it best – if you’re a fan of the first three, you’ll dig it. (Which means if you hate the series, I doubt this movie will change your mind.) It’s not a great movie, but I was entertained for the duration.

This movie was on a smaller scale and probably with a smaller budget – but you couldn’t tell from the special effects. It also had a storyline that was touching and intricate involving Selene’s daughter. It had kick-butt action, with fights, chase scenes, and explosions (including exploding lycans.) And of course – it had Kate Beckinsale, looking as stunning as ever! My quest this year is to find Selene’s outfit and convince my wife to wear it around the house. (Wish me luck.)

Attack the Block

This British alien invasion movie was also done on a small scale with a virtually unknown cast. The movie opens with a teen gang in South London robbing one of their neighbors. (Over the course of the film, they manage to redeem themselves.) The gang kills a strange looking creature and soon find themselves defending their block against vicious aliens.
This movie was a load of fun! It’s a fun monster movie in the same vein as Tremors with even more action and humor. The actors are great – their banter hilarious - and the aliens effective. It’s colorful in language but not excessively gory.
If you’re looking for something fresh and new, rent this movie for action and laughs!

Now on to the news…

Sign ups for the A to Z Challenge open in one week! Don’t forget the video challenge/contest.

Mark at Aloha, and Hi! from Hawaii is co-writing a memoir about a singer who lost and then regained his voice. He is hosting a giveaway for singer Donald Braswell which includes several CDs.

Melissa Sugar is hosting the Get Fired Up Blogfest and encouraging others to mentor and help a struggling blogger. One of the prizes is a Kindle Fire! Read about it HERE and HERE.



If you’re getting ready to set up a book tour, Spunk on a Stick’s Tips has some great tips.

If you’re looking for some awesome writing tips, Mooderino at Moody Writing always posts the best.

Jessica Bell’s book, Twisted Velvet Chains, is now just ninety-nine cents at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Big thanks to Helen Ginger at Straight From Hel for her review of CassaStar this weekend. Another science fiction convert!

Patricia (author pm terrell) gave me the All Around Wonderful Blog Award. Thank you, Patricia!
I am passing it along to:
LisaAnn at Kicked, Cornered, Bitten, and Chased
Patsy Collins
Marta Szemik

And finally, voting opened Saturday evening at You Gotta Read Videos for the best book trailer submitted the month of January. CassaFire is number ten and yes, I will grovel for votes. CassaStar came in second last year, and since prizes this year include free advertising on their websites, I’d really like CassaFire’s trailer to be in the top three. Go vote HERE

And if you haven’t seen the trailer for CassaFire, created by my awesome publisher, Dancing Lemur Press:



Seen either of those movies? Entered any of the blogfests? Planned your A to Z Challenge posts? Vote for my trailer? I will grovel… 

The Allure of Sci-Fi... and other Ninja things

Special treat today! But first…

I have a guest post over at Susan Roebuck’s, with blogging advice for authors and some reveals about CassaFire. Head over when you are finished here. Not now! When you finish...

I was a little absent yesterday due to my job (I guess I really don’t get paid to blog – damn) and working on my next book. Yes, I have a detailed outline and I’m stoked!

Voting for your favorite book trailer starts SATURDAY at You Gotta Read Videos and CassaFire is one of the trailers! Please vote. I’ll even grovel and throw in Hot Tamales…

And here’s the answers to the movie quotes, which many of you got:
“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” The Usual Suspects
“I call it blood, detective. I suppose you’ll write it up as ‘graffiti.’” The Crow
“Anything else that’ll keep this elevator from falling?” “Yeah. The basement.” Speed

Now to our main attraction, the lovely Brinda Berry, author of The Waiting Booth. She’s going to share with you two of my favorite things – movies and science fiction. (Awesome beyond words!) Hit it, Brinda!

While growing up, I read tons of romance books. I started out with the Harlequins and then progressed to the bodice-ripping, historical romances that I had to hide from my parents. The stories were good, but I can't tell you the names of 99% of those types of books I read. Then I began reading some science fiction. Did I read science fiction books first or fall in love with all the science fiction movies during that age? Chicken or the egg. It doesn't matter. All I know is I read my Star Wars paperback several times and dreamed of running away with Han Solo. Here are some great movies that influenced my interest in sci-fi.

1977 - Mark Hamill played Luke Skywalker and was simply scrumptious. My real obsession was with Harrison Ford. Who needs to read a romance when you have all that sexy banter between Han Solo and Princess Leia?

1977 - Steven Spielberg wrote and directed this masterpiece. I can still hear that tune in my head. Da. Da. Da. Da. Daaa. Richard Dreyfuss became a star with his portrayal of a man obsessed with a UFO.

1979 - I cannot believe this movie was so scary and made with the limited technology available in 1979. No CGI needed on this baby. Sigourney Weaver as Ripley made being a tough woman very cool and feminine.

1982 - Back then, I was already in love with Harrison Ford, so I had to see it. Have you seen this movie? Just thinking about it makes me ask myself why I don't own it. It's now on my shopping list. I love the cyberpunk elements in this film. Director Ridley Scott can do no wrong.

1983 - I had no interest in computers in 1983, but this movie may have peaked my curiosity. Matthew Broderick portrayed an intelligent high school student who connects to the NORAD command center. Hey, he was Ferris Bueller, and I wanted in on whatever he was cooking up for the day.



These movies made me want to imagine adventures about traveling in space and getting up close and personal with technology. It's where my sci-fi interest began. What started it for you?

The Waiting Booth
A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal…Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High—find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia’s drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it’s no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia’s secrets, she begins to wonder if there’s more going on than she thought…and if she was wrong to trust him…

Buy The Waiting Booth at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo Books, and at All Romance eBooks.
View The Waiting Booth Book Trailer
And find it on Goodreads.

BIO: Brinda lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.

Find Brinda at her Website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

What movies inspired you, science fiction or otherwise? Which ones have stayed with you over the years? Any scare the crap out of you?I know I won't be scared this weekend watching Underworld: Awakening!!!!

Still wondering about progressive rock or how I’m able to remember movie lines?
Then stay tuned…

Don't forget to visit Susan Roebuck’s, site!

Contests, ORIGINS, Pop Culture Answers - and More!

Over at the A to Z Challenge blog is a big announcement regarding our video challenge/contest! See the site for rules and guidelines.

David Powers King just hit five hundred followers, and to celebrate he’s hosting a giveaway!

Only two more days to enter the Goodreads Giveaway for CassaFire and don’t forget to sign up for the Catch Fire! Blog Party for more chances to win.

I’m happy to announce the ORIGINS blogfest!

The brain child of DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude, I’m proud to be a co-sponsor along with Katie Mills aka Creepy Query Girl and Matthew MacNish at The QQQE.

On Monday, February 13th, post your own origin story. Tell us all where your writing dreams began. It could be anything from how you started making up stories as a child, or writing for the school newspaper, or even what prompted you to start a blog. How about stories about the first time somebody took an interest in your writing, or maybe the singular moment when you first started calling yourself a writer. It all started somewhere and we want you to tell us your own unique beginnings.

Sign up below!

And now, the answers to the Pop Culture Trivia, with a couple new ones for you…

Movies:
Quote – name the movie: “Three weeks, twenty papers, that’s two dollars.” Better Off Dead
What now famous actor was killed in his bed in A Nightmare on Elm Street? (1984) Johnny Depp
What actress appeared in Less Than Zero, Twister, and The Lost Boys? Jami Gertz
In True Romance, who plays Christian Slater’s vision of Elvis? Val Kilmer
Quote – name the movie: “You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?” Pulp Fiction

Music:
What famous guitarist for Ozzy was killed March 1982? Randy Rhodes
Where did the band White Zombie get its name? From a 1932 movie called White Zombie
Milton Berle was in two of Ratt’s music videos – what was the connection? The band’s manager was Berle’s Nephew
What album spent a record-setting 778 weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart? Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Who was the hot blonde in the video for the Grammy winning song, Rosanna, by Toto? Cynthia Rhodes

TV:
Before it was a hit series, The Simpsons debuted as a short skit on what FOX show? The Tracy Ulman Show
Which actress replaced Shelly Long when she left Cheers? Kirstie Alley
What award-winning two hour show parodied other movies from 1988 to 1999? Mystery Science Theater 3000
Director Michael Mann produced what TV series, later directing the film version? Miami Vice
What actor was on Saturday Night Live, hosted two TV shows, Monday Night Football, and even hosted a game show? Dennis Miller

Bonus Game question:
What is the best-selling game console ever? Playstation 2

How’d you do? Want a couple more? Guess these movie quotes:

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

“I call it blood, detective. I suppose you’ll write it up as ‘graffiti.’”

“Anything else that’ll keep this elevator from falling?” “Yeah. The basement.” 

Know any of those answers? Signing up for the blogfest? Know any other events around the blogging world? Still waiting for me to explain ‘progressive rock?’

Pop Culture Gone Wild!

Thought we’d do something to kick-start those brain cells.

It’s time for some pop culture trivia!

Come on – it will be fun. Bet you know at least one answer. Everything focuses on the 80’s and 90’s.

Speaking of 80’s, Nicki Elson is hosting a blogfest on February 10 – I’ll Tumble 4 Ya – name your 80’s crush. (And I’ll tell you right now, it was NOT the Culture Club!!!!)

And we are looking for guest posts from past and coming participants over at the A to Z Challenge blog. Contact Lee or any of the co-hosts if you are interested.

Now, on to the trivia!

Movies

Quote – name the movie: “Three weeks, twenty papers, that’s two dollars.”

What now famous actor was killed in his bed in A Nightmare on Elm Street? (1984)

What actress appeared in Less Than Zero, Twister, and The Lost Boys?

In True Romance, who plays Christian Slater’s vision of Elvis?

Quote – name the movie: “You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?”

Music

What famous guitarist for Ozzy was killed March 1982?

Where did the band White Zombie get its name?

Milton Berle was in two of Ratt’s music videos – what was the connection?

What album spent a record-setting 778 weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart?

Who was the hot blonde in the video for the Grammy winning song, Rosanna, by Toto?

TV

Before it was a hit series, The Simpsons debuted as a short skit on what FOX show?

Which actress replaced Shelly Long when she left Cheers?

What award-winning two hour show parodied other movies from 1988 to 1999?

Director Michael Mann produced what TV series? (He later directed the film version.)

What actor was on Saturday Night Live, hosted two TV shows, did Monday Night Football, and even hosted a game show?

Bonus Game question!

What is the best-selling game console ever?

Give me your best answers! Winner gets the right to strut his or her pop culture geekness for a week. Runner up gets… a warm, fuzzy feeling.