Suvudu Universe

Hercules

A new twist on the legend of Hercules - caught this in 3D last Friday.

This movie is the perfect B-grade film with an A-list of actors on board.

The plot is pedestrian. What elevates it beyond the average story is great acting and exciting action scenes. (The ending is spectacular.) The movie pokes fun at itself – it knows it’s a B-grade film and plays that angle to the max.

The cast did a great job. Rufus Sewell gets to play a good guy (it’s been so long!) and Ian McShane has all the best lines. Johnson turns in a good Hercules, although ultimately it’s the supporting cast who really rock the show.

Overall, it’s just a fun B movie. Leave most of your brain at the door.

Please welcome the awesome author, C Lee McKenzie!

Subbing manuscripts, then waiting to hear back is one of the hardest parts of traditional publishing. And, let’s face it, you know you may never hear back.

“If you haven’t heard from us in X weeks, then consider yourself REJECTED!”

Awk! Is that rude or what? It’s rude, but it’s the reality.

So when I’m hanging out, waiting to hear if they’re accepting my book or not, here’s pretty much what I do when the week of GO or NO GO has arrived.

4AM
Check email. Do not find acceptance letter. Make coffee. Consider giving up writing. Drink coffee. Talk to self about unrealistic expectations.

5AM
Gird loins. Check email. Do not find acceptance letter. Consider writing new book. Talk to self about unrealistic expectations. . .again. Sulk.

5:10AM
Shut off all digital clocks. Turn analog ones to wall. Check email. Do not find acceptance letter. Leave house with backpack and water. Lots of water.

?AM
Sneak past computer. It’s asleep. Wonder what time it is, but choose not to know. Make a list of neglected household chores: cupboards, refrigerator, floors, laundry. Toss list. Check email. Do not find acceptance letter. Talk to self about what to do if I never write another original sentence.

Noonish
Talk to self about life and priorities. Stare at ceiling. Curse agents/editors/publishing in general. Check email. Do not find acceptance letter. Stomp out door and drive to town. Talk to non-writers. Find they are a happy group. Decide to join their ranks.

Sometime after noon
Clean one cupboard. Eat ice cream. Chew last nail. Curse the universe.

Sometime after dark
Go to bed. Pull covers over head and wait for sun.

Sunrise
Climb out of bed. Squint at computer, stand as far away as possible and boot. Check email. Find acceptance letter. Do Happy Dance, then go back to bed and think, “Must be a mistake. They sent that email to the wrong author.” Back to computer. Check address. “No. They meant to send it to me.” Restore clocks. Make coffee. Toast the universe. All is good.

I have a whole other angst routine for when I Indie publish. The hours are about the same, the concerns are a bit different.

Find Lee at her Website or Blog
Buy Double Negative at Evernight Teen

The awesome Lexa Cain is featured today at the A to Z Blog! Lexa’s theme for the Challenge was hauntings and it was really cool.

Timothy Brannan’s blog, The Other Side, is up for an award! His blog was nominated ‘Best Blog’ for the ENnies Awards, the biggest awards in the RPG business. To vote, go HERE

Medeia Sharif, Lexa Cain, and Beth Fred are hosting the International Potluck Blogfest. You can win books and an Amazon gift card – see their sites for details.



Carolina Valdez Miller is offering free editing services.

New Releases!

A Little Skittle Spittle by Pat Hatt

A Test of Loyalty, Book Two by Jack Lewis Baillot
(And Jack will be stopping by here on August 11!

Bella’s Point by Elizabeth Seckman

Challenging Destiny by Cherie Coyler

1 – The four Pevensie children from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy
2 – The four Ghostbusters – Peter Venkman, Pay Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddmore
3 – The five captains from the five Star Trek series – James T. Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko, Kathryn Janeway, and Jonathan Archer
4 – The nine crew members of the Serenity from Firefly – Captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds, Zoe Washburne, Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburn, Lee ‘Kaylee’ Frye, Jayne Cobb, Inara Serra, Shepherd Book, Dr. Simon Tam, and River Tam
5 – The Fellowship of the Nine from LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring – Gandalf, Frodo, Samwise, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for August! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

1 –

Guardians of the Galaxy
In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan.
Director: James Gunn
Stars: Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana
This could be the film of the summer – don’t miss it!



8 –

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Four mutant warriors fight to save their city from an evil kingpin.
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Stars: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Noel Fisher
Bringing back the turtles for a new generation so today’s kids will be able to recite by heart their five favorite turtles – Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, and Megan Fox.

Into the Storm
A group of high school students document the events and aftermath of a devastating tornado.
Director: Steven Quale
Stars: Sarah Wayne Callies, Richard Armitage, Jeremy Sumpter, Nathan Kress
Could be fun, could be the SyFy Craptastic film of the week – Thorin Oakenshield battles the weather.


15 –

Expendables 3
Barney and his team, known as "The Expendables", come into conflict with ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks, the Expendables' co-founder, who is determined to destroy the team.
Director: Patrick Hughes
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas
Five million B-list actors + zero plot + PG13 rating = highly questionable time at the movies.

22 –

When the Games Stands Tall
The journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered all records for any American sport.
Director: Thomas Carter
Stars: Jim Caviezel, Alexander Ludwig, Michael Chiklis, Laura Dern
Always a sucker for a heartwarming sports tale of overcoming.


Whoa! Yes, packed in a lot today. Next week, look for some changes. Maybe even Mini-Alex will make an appearance…

Anyone else see Hercules? Gone through a day like Lee’s? Excited about the new releases? Get any of the trivia right? And what movies spark your interest for August?