What were your worst movies based off of books?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer:

The Twilight Saga
The Time Traveler's Wife
Cirque due Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Stephen King's The Cell
Heaven & Hell: North and South, Book III (mini-series)

As I'm writing this, it's early in the morning, thought it probably won't be by the time I actually post it. After watching two old romantic comedies (Who Was That Lady? and How To Save a Marriage And Ruin Your Life) back-to-back last night, my mind got to wandering about whether or not I should give online dating a try, again.

Yes, I know I've rambling on for months about free dating websites that I might want to join, but like many things in my life, I've been procrastinating (yet, again). While I do believe I have a talent for writing, when it comes to actually creating a dating profile, my mind always goes blank. I don't have an explanation for it, except for the little fact that I don't like to talk about myself.

I'm keeping any open mind when it comes to online dating. While I have had negative thoughts about starting a long distance relationship (mostly because of a bad past relationship), I've somewhat changed my attitude recently about the idea. Why the sudden change? I don't really know; then again, it might have a little something to do with the fact that all my favorite actress and singers are British. So, I guess I'm open to a long distant relationship if she's from the UK (or somewhere else, as I'm not too picky).

Now, I don't have any current plans on visiting the UK, but it is one of my dream destinations to visit one day. (Fingers Crossed!)

Once in a great while, when I find myself with extra time to waste, I search the internet for the best places to visit in the UK. Below are my three places for dating in Lincolnshire!



It seems like "fish and chips" is a popular meal to eat in the UK, so naturally if I ever visited there and went on a date, I think a great place to go would be Mablethorpe Beach; where we could eat fish & chips from one of the many restaurants.

From what I've read online, seeing the sunset on the beach there is beautiful. Add in the aroma of hot vinegar and salt, it could be a great experience. 

Could you ever pick a favorite book or is it like choosing your favorite child?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer:

I don't have a problem picking out my favorite book - Six-Horse Hitch by Janice Holt Giles.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

11:18 p.m. Subject is checking into the Desert Palms Motel, accompanied by an unknown female.

Snapshot in the parking lot. Man and woman embrace. Betrayal, I see it every day, like my own reflection in the mirror staring back at me. Another case, another bottle of booze, life is no longer a mystery to me …

… Because I’m the private eye, hot on your trail; the top gun for hire. You’ll find me lurking in the shadows, always searching for a clue. I’m the bulletproof detective. I got my eye on you …

What’s a little sin under the covers, what’s a little blood between lovers? What’s a little death to be discovered, cold stiff body under the covers?

I’m digging you a desert grave, underneath the burning sun. You won’t be found by anyone. Vultures circle in the sky, and you, my dear, are the reason why.

… I was always easily influenced.

What group did you hang out with in high school?

The artsy, musicians, drama club, geeks & freaks. Or the real question is, what group hung out with me … 

What are you passionate about these days?

Helping aspiring authors survive the hurdles I had to jump ten years ago and making sure they land safely and successfully without being scammed. I run a Facebook group called Fiction Writing where that is my mission.

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

My first two novels were not originally edited by professional editors. **THE PUBLISHED VERSIONS AVAILABLE NOW HAVE BEEN** (Just want to make that clear before I lose any potential sales.) But when they were first released into the world back in 2007 and 2010 respectively, they were “edited” by friends. What a mistake. Thankfully, I pulled all the copies off the market and when the books were released officially by Scout Media, they were edited by professional editors. I guess it didn’t really make that big of a dent in my career, but I still wish that I could magically replace every self-published copy of those two books that exist on people’s bookshelves with the professionally edited versions.

eBook or print? And why?

For me personally? eBook. I love my Kindle. I can fit a 2 million-page novel in my back pocket. I know the whole “the feel and smell of a book,” but the feel and smell of a book doesn’t help my carry-on luggage, or reading in bed, or reading when I’m shoved into the high school locker. Small, slim. No matter the size of the novel. Compact. Just like me. Now, with my readers? I still, consistently, sell more paperbacks 3-1 over eBooks. So, from a sales perspective, “Let’s print more paperbacks!!!!”

What is your favorite scene in this book?

The epicenter moment when the protagonist and antagonist make eye contact for the first time. It takes only but a moment, but it changes so much for both characters. Actually, it changes pretty much everything for the reader too. Writing a cat-and-mouse detective crime-noir story, you know there is going to be the scene where the detective and the killer come face to face. When it happened while I wrote it, I felt like the moment took on a life of its own, and I became just a backseat observer. It’s like saying your favorite part of a movie is a shot that lasts about seven seconds, but that is how I feel about this interaction.

I've must have been hiding under a rock lately, as I wasn't aware about the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision that could force small business and bloggers out of business. The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating the South Dakota v. Wayfair case, which could allow tax agencies to tax businesses without a physical presences (a.k.a. - an online business). A few online businesses are taking a stand against this, including eBay, who have recently started a digitally petition for sellers to sign; telling the Supreme Court how the outcome of this case can negatively effect us.

Whatever your online business is, I know that this news must be nerve-wracking for many people. While most bloggers and small business owners probably consider their online work as a "side-job," they probably rely on that income (small or large) to help pay a few bills. It doesn't help anyone when the prices of day to day things (foods, clothes, cleaning supplies) is still on the rise. Yes, new jobs have increased in the United States in the last few years, but for anyone living in a small town, finding a better job can still be difficult.

The country is in a nationwide debt for reasons that I won't list here, and so are individuals, who are stacked with credit card debts and medical bills (thanks to a fallen healthcare system). If you're up to your head in bills, there are other options. And, no, I'm not talking about bankruptcy!

There are Nationwide Debt Reduction Services that can assist you with your monthly bills. Lets be honest, debit reduction can be a big stress remover in your life. In many cases, the services can resolve your credit card debit. Nationwide Debit Reduction Services already has good relationships with most creditors, so they can help you get debt free as soon as possible. I believe there are no settlement fees until the creditors make an acceptable settlement offer.

Charles Dampor was supposed to be a blessing, but instead turned out to be a curse. A family torn by deception and greed now saw Emily for what she was, and a co-worker with a vicious past of his own now has his own personal vendetta against her. If Emily doesn't open her eyes and see the doors she's unlocked, she'll find herself at the bottom of Lake Bermin...with Charles's ex-wife.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was 20, my late and great friend Greg put the idea into my head. The idea was alcohol-induced, as we decided that our lives were so entertaining that we’d be doing the world a disservice if they didn’t get to read a story of our lives. And from that day forward, putting words to paper became my passion.

What was your first book/story published?

It was a short story, titled Danboro—a story about a reporter who chased a story about a haunted house and the one man who managed to escape it. And when he tracks down the man, he unknowingly brings the bad spirit with him.

The story was a finalist in a short story competition and was published in an anthology with the other top stories.

What inspired you to write Out of Hiding?

The story actually came by simply starting with some characters and branching out. I was having some serious writer’s block and I asked my wife to give me some ideas of characters. She gave me some, and then I created a story around them, but I never felt like the story was ready until I added Herb into the picture.

What is your favorite part in Out of Hiding?

The beginning, for sure. I’m an avid reader and I fall head over heels for a book that captures my attention right away. So I try to write the same way, and I’m happy with how this beginning turned out.

What was the hardest part to write?

The beginning and end of every chapter. This goes along with the favorite chapter for me—I love a book where the chapter ends and I just cannot shut the book. So, once again, I try to mimic my writing style to match my reader expectations.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn’t be an author?

I’m a typical guy—sports, sports, sports. Growing up, all I ever wanted to be was a professional ice hockey player. I’m getting a little older now, and my body aches at random points of the day for no apparent reason, so just thinking about playing sports sounds painful. That being said, I still have this dream that one day my writing will make me so famous that the Philadelphia Flyers let me take some sort of a “celebrity shift” on the ice during a preseason game. That’s the little boy in me—still chasing my childhood dream.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

TV-Y7; 13 hours 37 minutes; Buy Link

When many of us think of Saturday Morning Cartoons, we remember The Real Ghostbusters, Garfield & Friends, Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which are more or less aimed towards boys. Believe it or not, there were several cartoons for girls in the 1980s, such as My Little Pony, Maxie's World, Beverly Hills Teens, Rainbow Bright, She-Ra, and The Care Bears.

Recently, Mill Creek Entertainment re-released Horseland: The Complete Series to DVD with a brand-new cover art. As an added bonus, the set comes with a digital code that can be redeemed at www.millcreekent.com/redeem.

While some of you have probably heard of the series, I wasn't aware of it until I received a review copy. For some reason, I thought the series was from the 1990s, but after a quick internet search, I learned I was completely wrong. The series actually aired from 2006 to 2008 as part of the KOL Secret Slumber Party on CBS.  It lasted for three seasons with 39 total episodes. As you probably guess, the cartoon was made for girls who love horses and ponies.

The series centers on a group of kids (Sarah, Zoey, Chloe, Alma, Molly, Bailey, and Will) and their horses (Scarlet, Pepper, Chili, Button, Calypso, Aztec, and Jimber) at an incredible place called Horseland. The kids come to the ranch to practice their horse riding skills, compete with others, and learn from each other. Each episode finds the kids and their horses going on adventures or getting into some sort of trouble that requires them to use teamwork to get through it.

Do you ever feel like you have emerged better for reading a book?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer:

Yes. I had a high school teacher tell me that I would learn more from reading on my own than I would every learn from just sitting in a classroom.

Not Rated; 184 minutes; Buy Link

I'm back!!!!!

Well, I actually didn't go anywhere at all! I've just been procrastinating once again, which explains why my review for the Hammer Films Double Feature: Maniac & Die! Die! My Darling! is so late. Originally, I meant to have it written and posted around the same time I had reviewed the Hammer Films Double Feature: Never Take Candy From a Stranger and Scream of Fear! (Read my review here!).

While Hammer Film Production has been around since 1938, the film company didn't become famous until it started releasing horror flicks. The birth of "Hammer Horror" began with the first film in The Quatermass Experiment trilogy in 1955. The horror genre was very successful for Hammer until the 1970s, when their Gothic-style stories started to fade with moviegoers. Their last horror film was To the Devil... a Daughter, which was released in 1976. The production company seemed to dead until it was revamped in 2007. Since then, the company has returned to their horror roots with several feature films, including The Woman in Black and its sequel The Woman in Black: Angel of Death.

For the last few years, Mill Creek Entertainment has been releasing several of the Hammer horror films to DVD and Blu-ray. Most recently, they released Hammer Films Double Feature: Maniac & Die! Die! My Darling! to Blu-ray.

Directed by Michael Carreras, Maniac is a 1963 British-French psychological-thriller that centers on Jeff Farrell (played by Kerwin Mathews), an American artist who finds himself alone in France after breaking up with his girlfriend. With nowhere to go, he ends up renting a room above a bar owned by Eve Beynat (played by Nadia Gray) and her stepdaughter, Annette (played by Liliane Brousse). Despite an age difference, Jeff falls for Eve, who convinces him to help her husband escape an asylum. Unfortunately, Jeff finds out that things aren't always as they seem to be.


Directed by Silvio Narizzano, Die! Die! My Darling! (also known as Frantic) is a 1965 British horror-thriller that centers on Patricia Carrol (played by Stefanie Powers), an American woman who is planning on marrying her boyfriend Alan (played by Maurice Kaufmann) in London. However, before she can get married, she needs to make a visit to her deceased fiancé Stephen's mother in Mrs. Trefoile (played by Tallulah Bankhead), who lives in a secluded house near a small English village. Upon arriving, Patricia quickly learns that Mrs. Trefoile is extremely religious and doesn't allow any modern technology in her home. Plus, the woman blames Patricia for her son's death. With the help of her servants, the old woman holds Patricia hostage in the attempt to cleanse her soul!

One of my most guiltiest pleasures of lately is chocolate! And if I'm correct, I do believe many other people have the same love for chocolates as I do.

I haven't always been in "love" with chocolates. I wasn't that big on candy until I recently found my sweet tooth, which isn't exactly a great thing to find when you're trying to lose weight. Nevertheless, I still let myself devour in chocolate candies, cookies, and ice cream. Even my favorite coffee flavor is "mocha," which of course has chocolate in it!

Recently, I read about the new "Craft Chocolate" crave, which has been extremely popular in UK for the past decade.

What is Craft Chocolate?

Well, it's similar to the Craft Beer and Craft Coffee fads. Smaller startup business are opening up "Craft Chocolate" stores, where they the sell chocolates that have been made from the best and finest ingredients. Basically, it turns the processing of creating chocolate into an art form. The Chocolatiers (a.k.a - the people who make the chocolate) make sure they utilize the natural flavor of the cocoa beans, which will give the best chocolatey taste. A few of the biggest Chocolatiers in the Craft Chocolate UK are: Pump St Chocolate, Duffy’s, Solkiki, Land, and the Seaforth Chocolate Co..

If you don't live in the UK (like me), you don't have to worry, as you there are many places online where you can buy craft chocolate bars.

Yes, my love for chocolate is why I can't lose weight, but chocolate is great to snack on when I'm working on writing projects in the early morning hours or late at night. I can't explain it, but chocolate has a way of lifting the fog from my mind and giving the me ability to concentrate on whatever I'm currently working on.

One of my many talents (if you can call them that) is baking! Yes, I'm a guy who knows how go bake cookies, brownies, cakes, and pies.

Guess what are my favorite ingredient to use!