This post is part of a Cover Reveal organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly drawn commenter will win a $10 Amazon gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The Script is not Enough takes a unique look at the making of four different independent feature films. The author takes you through every stage in development from writing, to financing, and to distribution and marketing. Find out how you can learn from the hard experiences and challenges that face the filmmaker along the way.
About the Author:
Jamison LoCascio is an award-winning feature film director. In 2012, Jamison LoCascio began to write the screenplay for his first union short, “Midnight Catch,” which garnished much acclaim at the New Jersey International Film Festival and Manhattan Film Festival. LoCascio decided to form his production company, Halcyon Valor Productions Incorporated. Graduated from Montclair State University with honors winning the “Excellence in Filmmaking” award for his numerous successful productions which premiered in film festivals around the world. LoCasio’s short films have since been honored by the Screen Actors Guild and screened at such festivals as the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers New York. LoCascio’s shorts “Track 3,” “A Stranger’s Confession,” and “Powerless” were all official selections of the Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. His films have been anthologized in the prestigious Anthology Film Archives in Manhattan, distributed worldwide on DVD, picked up for online distribution by Film Bay. DIRECTV & AT&T distributed 6 of LoCascio’s short films on their new International short film platform. LoCascio’s first feature film, “The Depths,” starring Michael Rispoli and Patch Darragh won Best Feature Film at the 2017 Manhattan Film Festival and had a strong critical reception. The film also won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Awards and received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard releasing on all major platforms including Amazon, Itunes, DVD and more. LoCascio’s second feature film “Sunset” starring acclaimed actor Austin Pendleton received rave reviews and won multiple awards including Best Dramatic Feature Film at the 2018 Manhattan Film Festival, Best Ensemble at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Leading Actor (David Johnson) International Independent Film Awards. “Sunset” also received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio have recently launched their latest initiative by filmmakers for filmmakers called Film Valor, a youtube channel with over 3,000 worldwide followers and over 250,000 views, a behind the scenes look at their filmmaking process. “Know Fear,” his latest feature film, received critical acclaim and stars Amy Carlson. The film had a limited theatrical release. His next feature film “How Dark They Prey,” a unique horror anthology, has been released on major streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Plex, Udu, Mometu and many more with critics hailing the film as “Horror at its best”. His latest feature film release “7×7” is a collection of many of LoCascio’s award-winning short films brought together for one viewing experience on major platforms including Tubi and Amazon Prime.
Terrors of the Forest: 13 Tales From the Campfire by: Blair Daniels
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
These are tales to keep you out of the woods, away from hikes, suspicious of trailside encounters, avoiding the beauty of nature entirely, and at all costs. My First Search and Rescue had a perfect twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Just the idea of body snatchers or doppelgangers or whatever it was hiding in the woods ready to your identity was creepy enough, but the twist was a lot of fun. I also thought My Girlfriend’s Texts Don’t Sound Like Her had a really cool sort of vibe and a good cliffhanger. Don’t Stop on Route 33 is one of my driving nightmares and freaked me out. Welcome to Green Meadows Camp had a few moments that weirded me out in the best ways. Maybe it’s the constant smiles. This story also had a great twist at the end, and I thought its… purgatory, perhaps, was a clever idea. There was another much different camp-based story, too, Rules of Camp Golden Oak, that perfectly reminds me why I never want to be sequestered in the woods. Who knows what lurks behind the trees in the darkness, ready to strike. The Body in the Woods was a proper supernatural thriller crammed into a few pages. I think it was definitely one of my favorites. Victoria’s Road reminded me of those local legends that all places have– ours was Crawford Road. But what happens when those teenage urban legends turn out to be real? All in all, this was a very solid short story collection that focused on a great theme.
The History of Witchcraft: Traditions, Practices and the Trials of Witches, Wizards and Warlocks. Spells, Rites and Rituals, Sorcery and Magic from Ancient Times to Modern Day Wicca by: Delores E. Wren
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I really liked the academic perspective of this book, and how it approached the history of witchcraft using historical sources. I’ve read a lot of those original writings, the inspirations for the slaughter of millions of women in Europe. Even to the point of breaking down the words we use for witchcraft and wicca. I highly recommend this as a historical source for not just the practice of “witchcraft,” but the myths about it, and the historical response.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the CRESCENTVILLE HAUNTING by MN Bennet Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my
post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Determined to pass junior year, Logan
won’t let Henry distract him—much. Logan’s focusing on all things human, which
means his swoony vampire ex-boyfriend will have to file his own fangs for a
change. When he goes to the school bonfire and runs into Henry, wandering into
the woods seems like a great escape. Until he’s bitten by a wicked Crone with
some twisted magical munchies.
Logan is certain his ex-free human future is done when he’s dragged off to a
scientific institution for study. There, he’s presented with an opportunity to
keep his life, family, and future. All he has to do is stick to human ideology,
since all things paranormal are illegal. But complications arise when the Crone
begins to haunt him and Logan realizes that if he wants to get his life back,
he has to navigate his lingering feelings for Henry.
With the Crone set on devouring him and the institution ready to obliterate him
for any missteps, Logan must decide between pursuing the human future his family
wants—one that he thought he wanted too—or the chance to embrace Henry, even if
the world isn’t ready.
About MN Bennet:
M.N. Bennet is a high school teacher, writer, and reader. He
lives in the Midwest, still adjusting to the cold after being born and raised
in the South.
He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge
worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter),
and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some
emotional turmoil).
When he’s
not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge watching
anime or replaying Dragon Age II for the millionth time.
It’s a world that mirrors our own but with some key differences. Mainly the presence of supernatural beings such as vampires, ghosts, witches, and other creatures, not many of whom are widely accepted. But there are beings even worse than your standard supernatural creature, the Sins, which Logan, a normal high school human, has an unfortunate run-in with. All Logan wants to do is graduate on time, and now he is forced into the middle of a supernatural conflict that puts him in peril from both the supernatural and human worlds. There’s a lot of dense world-building here that gave the book a unique flair, which is hard to do in a world where vampire and other creature tales have over-saturated the paranormal market. The world is built organically through scene development, so it’s a gradual unfolding of universe and lore rather than lengthy explanations. And poor Logan is so very relatable and sweet, and you spend the whole time just rooting for the young man to get what he wants. And also hook back up with the insanely charming Henry, the sort of boy we all knew a little bit in school, which both annoyed and fascinated us. The center of attention, the class clown with so much charisma it oozes from his very pores. He was also quite fun and sweet, unlike the usual bad-boy vampire boyfriends who are more obnoxious than charming. I had a lot of fun with this unique paranormal take, and it seems like a good fit for both young adult and adult readers who want a little drama, some romance, some laughs, all set in a very unique world.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the END AFTER END Vol. 1: At the Moment of Your Death by David “DB” Andry,
Tim Daniel, Sunando C Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: END AFTER END Vol. 1: At the Moment of
Your Death
WILLOW meets SAVING PRIVATE RYAN Weaving fantasy, horror,
and action adventure, END AFTER END: At the Moment of Your Death tells
the genre-blending, soul-bending story about how one man’s life – and death –
impacts all of existence, time after time … without end.
IT NEVER ENDS
Life is nothing if not a series of endings. School. Jobs. Friendships. Love.
Walter Willem’s death was fast and unexpected. His was an unremarkable life.
So, how is it that his story continues as cannon fodder in an endless war waged
against an insatiable darkness hellbent on consuming all of existence?
Walt Willem is dead. When he awakens in the End After End he must survive being
dropped face-first into the midst of an endless war. Unsatisfied by the
artistic pursuits of his former life, Walt believes he’s been summoned to the
End After End to collect a set of ancient relics and reignite the power of a
long dormant warrior who will vanquish the all-consuming Ulc.
At last Walt believes, he will finally be fulfilled. Walt is going to learn to
redefine what it is to be a hero. Being a hero doesn’t mean saving the world
all at once. A hero can be forged in small steps, taking the tiniest measures –
the smallest acts resonate throughout the universe, changing the course of
lives. Over, and over, and over again…
Volume 1 collects issues #1-5
From acclaimed writers David DB Andry (Resonant) and Tim Daniel (The
Plot, Fissure, Walking Dead: The Survivor’s Guide) and in-demand artist
Sunando C comes the story of one seemingly unremarkable man – whose afterlife
explodes with the impact it sets in motion.
For fans and readers of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Wayland
Drew’s Willow: A Novel (and the movie of the same name), Matt
Haig’s The Midnight Library, Philip K. Dick’s Ubik,
Richard Matheson’s What Dreams May Come, Dante’s The
Inferno, Brandon Sanderson’ Dark One, Kieron Gillen &
Stephanie Han’s DIE, Kieron Gillen & Dan Mora’s Once
and Future, and fans of the films The Dark Crystal, Saving
Private Ryan,1917, and Edge of Tomorrow.
“…a really original, unique take on the afterlife.” – The Beat
“{End After End] serves delicious Labyrinth-for-adults
vibes, w/ a touch of The Talisman to boot” – Sina
Grace (writer and artist – Superman: The Harvests of Youth; writer
– Batman: Detective Comics; Sensational Wonder Woman; Wonder Woman
Black & Gold; Green Lantern 80th Anniversary (DC Comics); writer
– Iceman (Marvel Comics))
“An unexpected adventure within the afterlife gives this story a fresh take on
fantasy and action.” – Lotusland Comics
“End After End … drops you right in the middle of the action so you
can figure everything out as you go along. 10/10” – Graphic Policy
“Quickly paced with immersive world-building, ‘End After End’ is
a delightful ride worth taking.” – Lotusland Comics
“’End after End ‘ … is a barebones fantasy survival story that
thrusts its protagonist into a terrifying situation with little pretense and
even less preparation, and does a great job of making the reader feel just as
confused and as stressed as its protagonist.” – Multiversity Comics
About David “DB” Andry:
David “DB” Andry is a physical therapist and
comic book writer from Sacramento, CA. His works include RESONANT and END AFTER
END from Vault Comics and the self-published graphic novel, THE WILD UNCERTAIN.
Follow him on Twitter @dbandry for updates and excessive amount of chicken
pictures.
Creator, writer, and
designer, Tim Daniel got his start in comics writing The
Walking Dead: Survivor’s Guide for Robert Kirkman’s
Skybound Entertainment. (He later became a zombie himself in the show’s pilot
episode). In 2012, Tim’s first original comic, Enormous, was
published by Image Comics. Enormous later returned to print in
2014 as an ongoing series from 215Ink. Since then, Tim has written and co-created Burning
Fields and Curse (both with BOOM!), as well as Skinned (Monkeybrain), The
Plot (co-written with Michael Moreci for Vault Comics), Fissure (Vault
Comics), End After End (Vault Comics), Denizen for Nightfall:
Double Feature (with David Andry) (Vault Comics), and is an
acclaimed designer in publishing and pop culture.
SUNANDO C is a comic artist and
illustrator based in Bangalore, India where he lives with his four cats and two
dogs. His first professional comics work in the US was published in 2019, and
he has since worked on short projects for Vault Comics, Image Comics, Dark
Horse, Comixology and Black Mask Studios.He can be found on Twitter and
Instagram @sunandoisms
Poor Walt. After living a relatively disappointing life as an unfulfilled artist, he unexpectedly dies and finds himself in the in-between, locked in a battle against evil until his final death. Along the way are pieces of relics that must be reconstructed, which promises power and victory. But Walt doesn’t want to fight, and he is tired of lessons. Can’t blame a guy for wanting to escape and live a quiet life. Yet, these things are not to be. These volumes take us between past and present, giving us glimpses into Walt’s life before it ended. And we find a protective man who is also overall a bit… sad. Because man is life a big let down when we don’t ever get to live our dreams and potentials. The last thing Walt wants is to fight huge spiders, evil creatures, and giant bugs in a land he knows nothing about. But destiny has something planned for Walt that I am sure further volumes explore. The mystical world he finds himself in sure is depressing– it’s just death and war without end. I do hope that there is a happy end for Walt, and I look forward to reading more about the lore of the place as there is little revealed about the relic, the creatures, and the ultimate nature/goal of the war. I loved the art. It was gritty and magical.
BLURB: You never see the claws until you feel them…
5 spine chilling stories where revenge is the only choice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: The book is on sale for $0.99.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
From the moment the cellar door slammed shut, Tiffany knew that she was in trouble. The petite vamp was known as a sensual goddess in some circles with her long, brown curls and beguiling brown eyes but two seconds alone with Chase, her much older maker, had her feeling like a guilty adolescent.
“This cannot continue,” Chase snapped at her, grabbing both arms and giving her a firm shake. “Do you understand the concept of being home, safely in your casket, by sunrise? I don’t think so.”
Chase was a tall, solidly built vamp with short blond hair and piercing green eyes. He was over two hundred years old but appeared to be in his late thirties. He didn’t know if this whole maker thing was going to work out in the end. Tiffany was his first child, and nothing in his whole existence as a supernatural creature had ever prepared him for the responsibility of caring for her. Everything she did was a challenge. He swore under his breath, and his fangs ran out. Here came the tears.
Trails of blood leaked down Tiffany’s cheeks at his sharp tone, and her fangs appeared. She quickly dashed the tears away with the back side of her hand. “I’m sorry, Chase. I just lose track of time. It gets so boring here, and I need to be out and about having fun. I’ll try to be home on time in the future.”
Chase tried to control his anger, retracting his fangs. “You won’t have a future if you keep defying me. I’m trying to keep us safe.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tamela Miles is a school psychologist with Ed.S and PPS credentials and a graduate of California State University San Bernardino and California State University Dominguez Hills. She is also a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California, in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She’s a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.
She introduced herself to readers in 2015 with her debut bestseller horror/paranormal romance anthology, “Rock Paper Scissors”.
She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at tamelamiles@yahoo.com or on her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys feedback from people who love to read as much as she does.
Kiss Me Deadly is a short story collection of five stories told from a uniquely feminine perspective that explores the overarching theme of revenge. There are spirits made vengeful by racial violence, vampires, assault, betrayal, friendship, demons, and so much more. The stories are short but packed with emotion and great characterization. I read this in one sitting because I kept telling myself, “one more story,” until I realized I was done, and it was well past my bedtime. But I couldn’t put it down. I would have to say that the first story, The Swinging Tree, was my favorite and an excellent story to put in the front of the anthology to draw interest. In it, the very pregnant Audriana and her husband take a little vacation together, but the husband, Matt, is drawn to the trees… and the spirit of the beautiful Jewel. It takes us back to a time of horrific racial violence and prejudice, which I loved because I adore historical context. Man, did I want more of this story! I want a sequel. Within a few pages of the short story, we were given an entire novel, and I was into it wholeheartedly. Hands Clean was another story that I wish would have gone on more. The cliffhanger, the open end to Lili’s story, was both wonderful and agonizing. Witch Bitch was a story of the perfect revenge. Don’t mess with the witchy women who have powers beyond your realm. I cheered. Paper Dolls was just a mind trip a la Natural Born Killers. The perfect little vignette of violence and psychopathy. It was unapologetic and pure horror. I definitely want more Tamela Miles. This was top-quality feminine horror.
A Brief History On The Black Death – The Black Plague Unveiled: A Compelling Collection of Facts & Trivia From History’s Darkest Pandemic By Scott Matthews
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Black Death is one of the most famous events in Western history, though the Black Death certainly affected more than the West. But it’s a pinnacle moment in history, sandwiched between the dire Middle Ages and the glorious Renaissance. Aside from the devastation in the sheer amount of deaths, historians know that the Black Death reshaped society, the economy, and religion. A Brief History of the Black Death is indeed a very brief history, a telling and analysis that is succinct and hits all of the most critical details from the origin (we are still trying to figure out where the disease started, but it’s pretty widely accepted that it was Central Asia), spread (thanks Silk Road), the versions (there were three diseases under the moniker of The Black Death) to the final outcome that saw the end of feudalism. The seemingly straightforward disease is actually really complex when you consider how the virus moved, the regulations that were or were not in place, and the very backward medical practices at the time. One thing I liked about this history is that it looked outside of just the Christian mindset of Western Europe and also discussed the responses of the affected Jewish and Muslim communities. All in all, I would say that this is a great book to give a great overview without going too in-depth about science and timeline, which you can find elsewhere. I do wish that there were some citations included or a bibliography where research was found.
Maggie and Wren move to the Briarwood Estate to escape the drama in their lives. Maggie is a survivor, something true crime enthusiasts and the media will not let her forget. Even years later and married to Wren, Maggie cannot escape the spotlight that shines on her due to her assault and its subsequent dramatic outcome. Almost immediately, strange things begin happening at Briarwood. Maggie sees the ghost of a former tenant– Laura– who was murdered and whose murderer was allowed to go free. Maggie is devoted to helping Laura get justice and putting away the man who killed her, even if it puts her own life and the life of her wife in peril. There’s no mystery of who murdered Laura as it is obvious early in the haunting who was at fault, so it’s not a mystery that needs to be solved. This is a ghost thriller and thriller centered on getting justice while fighting to stay alive. I don’t know what I expected from this book, but I enjoyed the read because it is balanced between spooky ghost encounters and real-life drama as Maggie finds her sanity and marriage falling apart. There are even some ghost possession moments, which were chilling and fun to read. The climax at the end comes and ends fast, but there is resolution, so there is satisfaction in how everything wraps up.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the CHUPACARTER AND THE HAUNTED PIÑATA by George Lopez & Ryan Calejo Blog
Tour hosted by Rockstar
Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About the Book:
Title: CHUPACARTER AND THE HAUNTED PIÑATA
Author: George Lopez, Ryan Calejo, & Santy Gutiérrez (Illustrations)
In this hilarious follow-up to ChupaCarter,
world-famous entertainer George Lopez delivers a spooky tale of mystery,
revenge, and friendship starring 12-year-old Jorge and Carter, the fearsome but
friendly Chupacabra!
Inspired by his own childhood and packed with clever illustrations, George
Lopez’s sequel to ChupaCarter sees Jorge finally feeling at
home in his new town, thanks to his awesome friends Liza and Ernie—and
especially Carter, the chupacabra.
New kid Jorge is shocked to learn
that his beastly friend Carter isn’t the only legendary creature in Boca falls.
Every few years, the town is terrorized by a haunted . . . piñata?
Rumor has it that the petrifying party decoration floats around setting eerie
fires to avenge a long-ago betrayal. Jorge can’t help but laugh, until a rash
of green fires forces the townspeople to consider moving away, including the
parents of his pals Ernie and Liza!
With Carter at their side, the three
friends are in a race against time to catch the real culprit before they’re
separated forever . . . or the whole town is set aflame. Which will come first?
George Lopez is a New York Times bestselling
author, stand-up comedian, actor, and talk show host. He made waves as the
star of the most successful English-language prime-time television series about
Latin Americans in recent history. His successful stand-up comedy showcases his
idiosyncratic point of view and impeccable comedic timing. He lives in Los
Angeles.
Ryan Calejo is an award-winning
author born and raised in sunny south Florida. His critically acclaimed Charlie
Hernández series has been featured in half a dozen state reading lists and has
earned starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus,
was a Texas Bluebonnet Master List Selection, and won an International
Latino Book Award, a Sunshine State Young Readers Award, and a Florida Book
Award (Gold Medal). He lives in Miami.
These books will be on my shelves until my daughter is old enough to read them because I thought they were great. You’ve got a bit of humorous light horror that is very kid-friendly, with enough adventure to give the story life. Definitely the sort of book I can imagine making my daughter yell and giggle over. There is also some great cultural insight, and great messages about friendship and acceptance. Not to mention, I loved the inclusion of the illustrations, which were cutely rendered.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tim Burris will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
It’s time to get serious and start preparing to take your football talents to the next level. But understanding the multiple recruiting pathways and signing to a postsecondary football program can be challenging. Don’t worry, though . . . Coach Burris of IRONWILL Football will help guide you through the recruiting process.
Signed is a guide for Canadian football players in Grades 9 to 12 who aspire to play post-secondary football. Coach Burris gives you the football recruiting blueprint so you can make informed recruiting decisions for your future.
With a dedicated chapter for parents, Signed breaks down everything you need to begin your journey toward the U Sports, NCAA, Junior football, CEGEP, and Junior college.
Read an Excerpt
How to start
A successful transition plan starts with deciding and committing to football at the post-secondary level and then developing a plan around where you want to play. Take this seriously. You need a plan to have a smooth transition to the post-secondary level. Believe me when I say this: You need to be honest with yourself and determine which pathway best suits you.
In Canada, there is one high school route and three post-secondary pathways a student athlete can take:
1. University football (U Sports), or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
2. Junior football
3. CEGEP football
4. High school prep school Alternatively, student athletes can participate in a combination of junior or CEGEP football, then move on to the university level.
If you have the desire to play in the NCAA in the States, make sure to read the Canadian high school prep school section on page 11 and the chapter on NCAA football page 24. These will help you get started with the process.
When I say to be honest with yourself, I mean you need to ask some key questions. This also means knowing yourself and understanding your personal weaknesses, strengths, and skill sets. When you honestly answer the questions below, you will figure out which direction you should head after high school.
Knowing yourself is the most important part of your journey. When you really take the time examine your motivation, the direction you need to follow will be clear.
About the Author:
Coach Tim Burris is a former U Sports student athlete and is a Vanier Cup Champion. He has coached at the U Sports level and has over a decade of coaching experience ranging from bantam level to the university level. Coach Tim Burris has worked with more than a thousand players across Canada. He also had the honor of coaching on the Alberta U18 Team for three years, in addition to running his football performance camps and defensive line academy program. Website Facebook Instagram
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