WIP: The Movie Bloghop

1608680_10202291185553447_2068061134_nIt’s time for the WIP: The Movie Bloghop. I love this bloghop. It satisfies my inner movie mogul persona.

Thanks so much to Kyra Lennon and Rachel Schieffelbein for bringing it back.

My soon to be released debut Novel Another New Life is about a eighteen year old piano prodigy who goes away to school in order to escape the reminders of her tragic childhood, but she soon realizes escaping her inner demons may prove more difficult.

I tried to create a young cast, but one with the talent to pull off the serious subject matter. This is not your typical teen drama.

For the lead character, Miranda Preston.

plh

I figured an Oscar winning actress could pull it off. Jennifer Lawrence is my Miranda.

For the love interest and football star, Troy Anderson.

Chace

 

Chace Crawford as the right attitude and the right hair to play my leading man.

The witty southern belle looking for love and Miranda’s roommate, Darcy Albritton.

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Ashley Benson is so cute, charming and can break hearts all over Austin.

I picked a theme song for my novel during the outlining process and it inspired me and allowed me to create the feel of the story through out the writing process.

Pink featuring Nate Reuss – Just Give me a Reason. Plus, Pink has her real life husband Carey Hart in the video and they are my celebrity couple role models.

Who would you pick as your perfect cast for your WIP? 

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

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This month’s co-hosts are Sheena-kay Graham, Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, and Mike Swift. Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome. 

Let me set the scene. It’s 5:30 pm and I’ve finished my day job. In front of me, I have following task:

  • Quick read through and edit of a couple of chapters to send to my critique partners.
  • Revisions on two chapters to stick to my goal of finishing edits on this WIP by mid-Feb.
  • Write the first paragraph to a new MS for my Creative Workshop.

Which ‘free flowing, creative and something out of nothing’ task filled my heart with bliss.
Which ‘nit picky, mind numbing, never know if I’m doing it right’ task filled my brain with resentment.

Really, why can’t I get paid to create first drafts.

Because that’s ridiculous, but it makes me wonder, does anyone enjoy the editing process? If so, how did you get to that point?

Life, Love and the Movies Blogathon

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Last year, I participated in three of 5 stages in the 5 Obsturction Blogathon created by Nostra of myfilmviews.com. I enjoyed the blogathon because it made me look at movies and movie reviews in a different way.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t finished it because life got in the way, but I promised myself if he hosted another blogathon, I would be all in. MyFilmViews.com along with Karamel Kinema have created the Life, Love and the Movies Blogathon.

The rules are simple, answer the following 16 questions.

Life

1. What was the first movie you saw in the cinema and what do you remember about that visit? The first movie I remember seeing in the movie theater was 1977 Smokey and the Bandit. The movie stared Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason. I remember not really understanding it. I was really young.

2. Are there any movies you have very strong memories of which are not because of the movie (for example something which happened at the time you were watching it)? Smokey and the Bandit holds a strong memory. The story: “The Bandit is hired to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.” That trailer of beer was Coors beer and my father worked for Coors at the time in the marketing department and it was shameless marketing how often they showed that truck full of Coors beer.

3. Which movies had a big impact on you and changed a (small) part of your view on life? 1980 Urban Cowboy because it took place in Houston and that’s were I was living at the time. It was cool to have a movie set in your own city. We got to share it with the word. Although the movie didn’t do much to dispel any of the Texas stereotypes.

4. Do you have any comfort movies which you return to because you are in a specific mood (for example if you are feeling down/nursing a heartbreak)? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is my go to movie to put myself in a good mood. Not only is it southern and sexy it has some amazing dialogue.

5. If a movie would be made about your life, what type of movie would it be and who would you like to portray you? It would be some type of chick lit movie with a lot of humor, but at the center, it would be my journey to find my passion. Thandie Newton could play me. Although we look nothing alike.

6. Which existing movie best represents you?  The Matrix – I spent most of my life doing what was expected of me. I wasn’t unhappy, but I always thought I was supposed to be doing something else. I feel like I had been asleep for a long time, but two years ago, I finally woke up.

7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would be the last movie you would want to see? The Avengers. It is my favorite movie with my favorite movie character (Tony Stark/Ironman) and the dialogue is brilliant.

8. If you can spend your life working in the film industry, what would you be and why? (you know, director, producer, actor, cinematographer, costume designer, sound designer etc?) I would like to be a studio executive/executive producer. I would have the opportunity to make decisions on what movies got made and help to raise funding for those movies. If I did have this job, trust me, there would be a new Avenger movie out every six months for the rest of my life.

Love

1. Did you ever have a first kiss with someone while at the cinema and if so which movie was playing? I haven’t, but how cool would that be.

2. What is your favorite movie relationship and why? Anna Scott & William Thacker – not only is it the regular  person with the famous person, but the movie doesn’t just stop when they finally get together, you get to find out what happens after that. That movie had the most satisfying ending.

3. When did your love for movies start and how has it grown? I have loved movies as long as I can remember. A movie a week was normal for my family growing up. Often we had a movie day on Monday holidays, we would spend the whole day at the movies watching one after the other.  We got in four one time. It’s my favorite escape.

4. If you have to choose one film to watch with your loved one, what would it be and why? I have two depending on where we were in our relationship. He’s Just Not that Into You if I needed him to think differently about relationships and Titantic if I wanted him to see what never dying love is all about. (I know, most of them die, but it’s a feeling)

5. If you can choose one character from a movie to be your significant other who would it be and why? Legolas from LOTR and The Hobbit. Not only is he beautiful in the most masculine sort of way for an Elf, but he is loyal, understands tradition, spiritual and he will fight and die for you.

6. What was the first movie that made you fall in in love with film and cinema? I had an early love of movies, but I think The Breakfast Club made me recognize and fall in love with a perfect movie. It was the first moment I realize what an amazing script, amazing cast and an amazing director could create.

7. How did your passion for movies turn you into a movie blogger?  My friends used to play the movie quote game and I would pick the most obscure dialogue or line and stump them every time. On a trip to London when I was 15, I got home sick and the thing that made me feel better was reciting the entire script of The Breakfast Club. My love of quotes is where Sydney Quotes the Movies come from.

8. What is your favorite date from a movie? I don’t know if this actually qualifies as a date, but my favorite couple moment is from Notting Hill when Anna gives William the Chagall painting and says my favorite movie line of all time, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

Where did your love of  movies come from? Join the blogathon and tell us. 

“What Works” Marketing Symposium 2014

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Welcome to the Online Marketing Symposium. Another cool creation for the community from Arlee Bird, and hosted by Yolanda Renee, Jeremy Hawkins, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The rules are to share a marketing campaign that worked or didn’t work. Well, I haven’t published a novel, yet (hopefully I won’t have to stay that after April (nudge nudge wink wink)). There a few places I go as a reader to find books to read and I can only hope that other readers do the same.

If I need to find like minded people eager to help with anything from a blog post to spreading the word about a new release, I think Facebook Groups & Goodreads Books Clubs are great marketing outlets. 

I would love to hear if engaging your audience in these two forums translate into book sales.

Also, as someone who host blog tour stops in the form of book reviews, do they translate into book sales and how can you tell?

Well, as you can see, I’m not much help.

So, when it comes to marketing, “What Works” for you? Write clearly, I’ll be taking notes. 🙂

Quick shout out and Congrats to Peyton Manning and the Denver Bronco’s – Super Bowl Bound. I named my dog after Peyton Manning, so we are quite excited!!!!!

50 States of Pray – Texas

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Our friend from Hawaii, Mark Koopmans created a bloghop that is perfect for this time of year. All that’s required is to take a moment and about 100 words. Share a prayer, a thought, a memory, a hope and even a regret about the past and/or a wish for the future. Click on the badge for more information and to check out some of the other states represented.

I have had an inspiring year since being back in the states. Even though I lived in an challenging, but exciting foreign country for five years, it pales in comparison to all that I have experiences in the last year being back home. I’ve reconnected with my family and friends and made some new one.  I have seen president’s sworn in and legendary leaders put to rest. I watched some of my favorite famous people having the most creative (Beyonce’s unannounced album release), record breaking (Peyton Manning) and genuine and sincere(Jay Z in concert) year of their lives. I’ve discovered the kind of books I want to write and what I hope to accomplish with my writing. I’ve read 50 books (The Great Gatsby was my favorite) and saw 43 movies (I can’t decide between Star Trek Into Darkness or Iron Man 3). Most important, I’ve started to live my life the way I want to live it. In one sentence, “I’m feeling blessed.”  I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me in 2014. 

I’ll be taking the rest of the year off, but wanted to wish everyone a blessed holiday and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!