Friday, May 17, 2013

Best & Worst Movie Remakes Blogfest



Oh how I love movie blogfests!!

Thanks to the hosts:

Alex J. Cavanaugh
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
Stephen Tremp
http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com/
Father Dragon Al
http://fatherdragon.blogspot.com/
Livia Peterson
http://leaveittolivia.blogspot.com/

Objective: List the best remake you’ve ever seen and the worst. Added bonus, list the worst and/or best song remake you’ve ever heard.

Worst Remake: This one was a tie.

The Stepford Wives


The original was creepy, chilling and made a sociopolitical statement for the 70’s. I saw it when I was 12 or 13 on VHS. To this day, I vividly remember the horrifying ending.



The remake was a cheesy, hot mess!



Conan the Barbarian


I love the original, despite the fact Arnold Schwarznegger has like 15 lines (maybe that’s a good thing) and flexes throughout the whole film (definitely a good thing).  I was so excited when I heard about a remake. Then I saw it.

The movie was dreadful. Actually, it was horrendous.

The special effects sucked.

The story and acting lacked heart.

They completely butchered Valeria’s kick-ass warrior character.



In the original, she saves Conan more than once and even comes back from the dead to help him because of how much she loves him.

In the remake, the character was a simpering, screaming cliché.






Best remake: This was tough! I almost had a tie.

Runner-up

The Thomas Crown Affair

The original with Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen was edgy and stylish for the time period. Faye Dunaway was gutsy and sexy. Steve McQueen was cool under pressure and the last thing you wanted was for him to get caught, but it lacked the depth of its contemporary counterpart.


The remake was glamorous and sensual and I completely fell in love with Rene Russo and Pierce Bronsnan. I believed their love story. The writer, director, and costume designer did a great job.

Although the ending in the remake was more fulfilling, the original ending was true to the Thomas Crown character and more fitting. If the remake had maintained the original ending, then this would have tied for best remake.

Best: The Great Gatsby






The original movie starred Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. I saw it years ago. It did a satisfactory job of conveying Fitzgerald’s novel, but it was flat and lifeless.









The remake blew me over with all of its glitz, audacious music choices, stellar acting and special effects that actually worked. Never thought this story could be depicted in such a lush manner. DiCaprio was brilliant as Gatsby. Baz Luhrmann pulled off this bold remake successfully, even if it did have a few minor flaws.






I was going to do worst soundtrack remake, but I came across a remake of a song that I loved and wanted to share it.

Jack White’s version of U2’s Love is Blindness is outstanding. Don’t get me wrong, I adore U2, but White’s rendition makes me feel like the title should be changed to Love is Madness. Absolutely stellar.

Have you seen or heard any of my choices? Do you have a favorite?

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Review Copy from Theresa Rizzo

A buddy of mine asked me to help spread the word about her new novel.


Free Review Copy of He Belongs to Me by Theresa Rizzo
 
Hi all,
 
I'm giving away 50 digital review copies of He Belongs to Me, to the first 50 people to request it, in exchange for honest reviews to be posted on Amazon, Goodreads & Barnes & Noble.
 
Catherine Boyd will do anything to regain custody of her young son . . . Even reconcile with the husband accused of killing their son’s twin.
 
 
 
For more information and a chance to review He Belongs to Me, click HERE (http://eepurl.com/ynT3D)
 
Happy Reading,
 
Theresa
 
Hope you guys take advantage and help this lovely author out. Reviews are so important. Thank you.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Sweet Satisfaction


There’s nothing like the sweet satisfaction of meeting a deadline early. Last night, I turned in the sequel to Kindred of the Fallen, now officially titled Protector of the Flame, to my excited editor. I’m thrilled to work with someone who loves my world and characters. I should get notes back from her in about a week.

Also, my release date has been moved up to Oct 22. For a paranormal author to come out just before Halloween is a good thing and makes promotion a tad easier. So this Insecure Writer's Support Group post is one of celebration.

Since I turned in book two, I actually have extra time to visit some of my fellow writers on the IWSG list that might need some support today.
Thanks to Alex for IWSG.
 
What are you celebrating today, writing related or not? Any issues bugging you? We could all use support during the highs and lows, so don’t be afraid to share.


 

Friday, April 26, 2013

Quickie: Hot, Hot Summer



May is just around the corner, right along with the release of some of the biggest summer movies. A ton of good flicks are scheduled to come out, too many to name.

Here’s my list of what I’m anticipating the most.

May
 

Iron Man 3: Who doesn’t love RDJ as Tony Stark?

The Great Gatsby: So psyched about this one. Leo looks like the perfect obsessed Gatsby in the trailer. New one below.
 




Star Trek Into Darkness: The villain in this trailer reminds me of a young Alan Rickman.


 

June


Man of Steel: Time for a good remake. Hope this is it.
 

World War Z: Zombies and Brad Pitt. I’m sold.

 

July

The Wolverine : Am I the only one who has been waiting for a Wolverine storyline set in Japan?


 

August

300 Rise ofan Empire: Have no idea if it’ll be as good as the first, but my fingers are crossed.

 



Elysium: If you’re into Sci-Fi, check it out. Looks promising.
 














Any summer flicks you're looking forward to? Which ones can't you wait to see? If you could only pick one, which would it be?

 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

New Title, Release Date & Giveaway Winner

 

Back in January, I sent out a call for help with the title of the sequel to Kindred of the Fallen. I received quite a few comments and even a new title.

 

Stacy McKitrick suggested Protecting the Flame. A few comments later Miki recommended Protector of the Flame.

 
With the blessing of my editor, the new title for Kindred 2 is officially
 
Protector of the Flame

A big thank you to everyone who helped me, most especially Stacy and Miki!! I will be mentioning both of you on FB and Twitter this week J. Both of you will also be in the dedication of the book. Yes, I keep my promises or at least I try.

 

The release date for Protector of the Flame is November 5th. Squee!

 

Okay, on to a winner for Carol Kilgore’s book, Solomon’s Compass.
 
 

The lucky number generated: 11

Commenter #11 was Willa Blair.

I’ve already sent Willa an email. Congratulations!
 

Have you ever asked for help from the writing community and been shocked by the support you received? Have you ever given help just to be kind? Have you ever regretted it?

Friday, April 12, 2013

Guest Post: Carol Kilgore


 
 One of the first individuals to host me on their blog was the lovely Carol Kilgore. She is a fellow GIAMer and one of the sweetest ladies I know. I'm so excited to have her here today. Also, I'm giving away an e-copy of her book, Solomon's Compass, to one lucky commenter.
 
  
 
A few days ago I sat down to write my guest blog for Isis. Just as I moved my hands to the keyboard, the doorbell rang. My neighbor needed my help for a few minutes.

 

When I got back to my computer, what you’re going to read was on my screen.

 

This was left for me by the two lead characters in Solomon’s Compass – no-nonsense Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell and sexy former SEAL Jake Solomon.

 

Hi Carol … This is Taylor.

 

And Jake.

 

We’re going to write the post for you. While you were writing our story, you asked us each a question we wouldn’t answer. We decided now was a good time.

 

You kept asking me what was the craziest thing I ever did when I was a kid. And all I’d ever admit was visiting Uncle Randy and being my mother’s live-in laborer.

 

So here’s your answer. In second grade, I crushed on Tommy Ludlow big time. One day at school, I told him I wanted to show him something behind the cafeteria.

 

You lured him!

 

Did not. He thought I’d found a frog or something. As soon as we rounded the corner, I kissed him.

 

Did you give him tongue?

 

Jake! He ran away crying. And no. I didn’t even know what that kind of tongue meant. Jake’s laughing. But it was traumatic for my seven year old self. I was afraid to kiss anybody for years!

 

I’ll go find this Ludlow guy and make him come apologize.

 

That’s not necessary, but thank you.

 

I’m glad you were over your kiss phobia by the time we met.

 

Me, too.

 

My turn. Slide the keyboard this way.

 

I’m going to read over your shoulder.

 

Okay, Carol. You kept asking why I walked into Lulu’s when I did. Man, did you pitch a fit! You kept yelling at me to leave, that I couldn’t be there yet. As I recall, I didn’t even turn around and look at you. I just sat there and ordered a beer when Lulu came around.

 

That’s rude, Jake. You’re the one who needs to apologize.

 

I had that hat on, and I even let you think I was my dad. But you kept saying I showed up too early, and I’d ruin everything. That I was supposed to come in later and leave right away.

 

But I wasn’t budging. I thought for sure you’d figure out why, but you never did. Even after you decided to see things my way. You see, if I hadn’t come along when I did, Taylor would have ended up with that other guy … you know the one.

 

No way!

 

So I stayed because I knew Taylor was here. And she’s the one I came for.

 

We’re signing off now. See you in Solomon’s Compass!

 

And that’s how the note ended. They didn’t even say goodbye, and I have a feeling they had other, more urgent things on their minds. And you know what? I’ll bet Jake didn’t run away crying when Taylor kissed him.

 

What do you think?





From chilling prologue to final paragraph, Carol Kilgore's SOLOMON'S COMPASS is an edge-of-your-seat mystery offering a pitch-perfect blend of suspense and romance, with enough twists to keep readers compulsively turning the page. Compelling characters, a vivid Texas Gulf Coast landscape, and a town full of intriguing suspects make this novel a standout.

   --VR Barkowski, Al Blanchard Award Winner

 

 Blurb:

A missing belt—her uncle’s prized possession. The lure of buried treasure. And a sexy former SEAL who makes U.S. Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell crazy. What more could any woman want. Right?

 

Taylor is in Rock Harbor, Texas, on a quest to unearth her uncle’s treasure—a journey far outside the realm of her real life. There’s one glitch. Taylor's certain the buried treasure was all in Uncle Randy's dementia-riddled mind. Now he’s dead.

 

Former SEAL Jake Solomon is in Rock Harbor under false pretenses to protect Taylor from the fate that befell her uncle and the other members of a tight circle of Coast Guardsmen called the Compass Points who served together on Point boats in Vietnam.

 

Jake is definitely not supposed to become involved with Taylor. That was his first mistake. Taylor is attracted to Jake as well, but she refuses to wait for him to locate the killer when she knows her plan will force her uncle’s murderer into action.

 

But the killer's actions are just what Jake is afraid of.

 

 

Bio

 
Carol Kilgore has always had stories and characters in her head. She wrote short fiction for a few years and enjoyed a small success as a freelancer before giving it all up for her true love – novels.

 
As a Coast Guard wife, Carol has lived in locations across the U.S. She and her husband now live in a San Antonio suburb and share their home and patio with two active herding dogs whose mission is to keep them free from danger, real or imagined.

 

You can find Carol and her books here:

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Strive to be Better


Every day I strive to be better, a better mother, wife, sister, writer, friend.

Every day I also fail, or at least feel like I fail, in one of my designated areas of improvement.

But I don't let it stop me from trying. If I did, that would be the real failure.

Staying motivated, driven to change is not easy. I constantly look for sources of inspiration no matter how trivial or odd.

For this month's IWSG post, I wanted to share my latest source of inspiration. It's a commercial. Immediately after I saw it, I wanted to be healthier. The next morning I did something about it. Just thirty minutes on the elliptical and a little yoga.

Then I returned my mother's phone call, which was overdue by two days. I also edited two chapters.

I'm not saying to expect a miracle from watching this. We all have different motivational triggers. This one happened to work for me.

Whether it pushes your button or not, never stop striving to be better at something.



Thank you Alex for IWSG.