Iron Man 3 and Mortal Instruments

Friday night rocked! I took the kids to see Iron Man 3 and it didn't disappoint. Robert Downy Jr. rocks as Tony Stark and his smart mouthed replies were spot on. I must say, there are some things I wasn't too keen on, but overall the movie rocked. It was probably the best of the 3. Gwyneth Paltrow finally got some awesome action scenes and did them justice.
Have I said the movie rocked?
The kids of course loved it (which I knew they would).


For any Urban Fantasy fans out there I also wanted to share the trailer for the first movie in the Mortal Instruments series City of Bones. I can't wait for this one! The series is written by the wonderful Cassandra Clare and is one of my favorites and I'm counting the days until summer :) Enjoy!



What did you do over the weekend? Have you read City of Bones?

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Failure

Since the A-Z Challenge has just ended I think many people may be taking a break from blogging. This month I will be going back to the regular Monday scheduled postings (unless it's the first Wednesday of the month of course) and will try to get back to a normal blogging routine :) Having said that, I'm away from the internet until this evening (Ahhh!) so I won't be able to visit the IWSG group until then.

Today is the first Wednesday of the month and so it's time for another IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group) post. Every month writers post their doubts, concerns and insecurities without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Others offer assistance and guidance in the comments. Thank you to our host Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh.

For a full list of participants click here and hop on over to offer your own words of encouragement and/or assistance.



I've just finished a new project. It will go out to my editor this Friday which means I can come back to this pen name and finally complete my post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy (which I'm very excited about).

As I wait for the other book to be edited, thoughts of failure begin to lurk in my mind. I know the story is good and solid. When I read it over and over again I get excited, it never bores me and it has the same effect on me as if I read it for the first time. Yet, there's a question in the back of my mind: "Will it fail?"

No matter how much I prepare with any novel, including a launch, there's no certainty if the readers will like the book and whether it will be successful (to my own definition of success). I guess I need to do the best job I can and let the dice roll...

 How do you deal with failure? What are your insecurities this month?

Writers for Writers: #W4WS

  Today is a Writer's for Writer's Monday (also known as W4WS, created by Stephen Tremp) whereby authors support each other by spreading the word about their colleagues work!

You can find W4WS on Facebook and Twitter under #W4WS.

Today, we’re bombarding the internet with the brilliance of EJ Wesley and M. Pepper Langlinais. Visit their blogs to get the blurbs on what to post to Facebook and Twitter, or stop by the Writers4Writers FB page and simply share. Search for the #W4WS hashtag on Twitter to share without breaking a sweat.

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group

It's the BIG month of April and everyone is blogging A-Z. I didn't join the challenge this year (for quite a few reasons) and I do miss it, but it was the right decision.

Today is the first Wednesday of the month and so it's time for another IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group) post. Every month writers post their doubts, concerns and insecurities without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Others offer assistance and guidance in the comments. Thank you to our host Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh.

For a full list of participants click here and hop on over to offer your own words of encouragement and/or assistance.



My concern this month:

I finished writing another novel yesterday. It's sitting on my desktop, nicely tucked away, waiting there for me to get some distance before I go and re-read it and re-work it.

For the next two weeks I feel like I'm stuck in an oblivion. I have another novel to do edits on, and another one 3/4 done. Yet, that one that I'm waiting to read through is calling out and testing my patience. Perhaps it's because deep inside I know it needs work. I know it's not the best work I've done and there's so much to improve on. How do I let it wait and concentrate on my other work? It's only two weeks (and I really need to be away from it).

A piece of encouragement/inspiration for others:

 We often feel like there's not enough time to do everything we want. I'd like you to meet Michelle at That Girl With Her Nose in A Book. If you have a moment, please stop by to say hello to this young blogger.

I met Michelle when she was about 4 years old, so it's been a while. If you read through her blog you'll immediately be drawn to this passionate YA reader and reviewer. She lives and breathes books and I'm so proud to know her. Over the past few days I've seen her work on her blog like I haven't seen anyone else.

This past Saturday when our family gathered for Easter I mentioned the A-Z Challenge - and what did Michelle do? She signed up!

Still in grade school, I'm pretty sure she's one of the youngest participants in the A-Z Challenge. I'm amazed at the number of books she devours, her passion and dedication to reading. Michelle, you truly are an inspiration and please know I will always support your love for reading.

Do you find yourself torn between projects? What are your insecurities this month? Do you feel inspired by Michelle?

Happy Easter

Wishing Everyone a Happy Easter, filled with Love, Laughter and Joy. May You and Those You love find the meaning of sacrifice, hope and forgiveness.

Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest

I've been fighting a flu for the past week and a half so I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to participate in this exciting blogfest hosted by none other than Alex J. Cavanugh. Thank you Alex!

I'm feeling a bit better, but still with a fever. Hopefully some sun will warm up my bones and make me all healthy:) To top it off, I ventured out skiing this past Saturday with the family to finish off the skiing season.
That's right, me, with a fever, skiing (a bit drugged on all the advil) with the family. Hey, I couldn't miss the end of the season, could I. When I get a chance I'll post some cool pictures and maybe a video:)

Now, here are my top ten favorite movies: ) These are in no particular order, as that would be way too hard!!! They all touched my heart and have been part of my life in different ways.

Back to the Future: Only because I watched it over one hundred times as a kid, but it's a close call with number two.

 (source)

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: I don't think I have to explain this one

(source)

Twilight: Yes, please feel free to squirm, but I wouldn't be a writer if it weren't for this movie, so it really means a lot to me.

(source)

Titanic: I went to a midnight screening with my hubby and left pretty early in the morning. It's one of those movies a box of tissues is necessary.

(source)

Aliens: My fave when I was in school. I still love Aliens and can watch it over and over again. 

(source)

 

Dirty Dancing: makes me feel very warm and fuzzy inside.

(source)

The Never Ending Story:I think this is one of the first fantasy movies I've watched.

(source)

Star Wars: What George Lucas did for the movie industry and effects will go down in history. I adore Star Wars!

(source)

 Labyrinth: I bought this one just last year for my kids and they loved it as much as I did when I was young. And David Bowie never looked hotter (even in tights)

(source)

Ever After: I don't know what it is about this movie, but yes, I own this one too, and can watch it over and over again.

(source)

Stigmata:  I know, quite different than the other ones, but I really love this movie. It sends chills down my spine every time I watch it.

(source)

Too bad we can only pick ten. There are tons more I love. I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone else picked! 

Are any of these your faves?

This is a blog hop. Feel free to click below to follow the other participants.

Social Media - IWSG

Today is the first Wednesday of the month and so comes time for our monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group.

Thank you to our host Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh Every month writers post their doubts, concerns and insecurities without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Others offer assistance and guidance in the comments.

For a full list of participants click here and hop on over to offer your own words of encouragement and/or assistance.






Over the past 6-8 months I've pulled back from a lot of my social media. At the time, I didn't realize I was doing it, but time only allowed me to write, not "socialize" too much. I've been writing quite a bit, trying to concentrate on that part of my career, but I do want to get back to blogging more regularly, my Facebook, twitter etc... I miss connecting with people out there the way I used to.


But (of course there is a but) I'm so afraid it will cut into my writing again. I've tried allotting time for social media, but that does not work for me. What it boils down to is how much of social media is enough so that it does not jeopardize my writing time. I don't want tto use FB or Twitter because I have to - I want to do it because I want to.


How do you balance the writing and socializing on the net? What are your insecurities this month?