Movie Review: X-Men First Class

Around the House
Working on editing and reviewing submissions for the fall Anthology, so I am busier than I expected to be this summer.  Things are taking me way longer than I planned for and my editor has been on my butt about it.   I am very excited to see that Gilbert Press has their website up and running.  I really hope that authors are submitting great works so that my editor has something else to worry about.  Make sure you check out my page on there as well as the links posted.  Also, I am starting a new job in July which has me very excited.  I can't wait.  Otherwise, I am trying to get out to enjoy the weather some, though the rain in Chicago has made that a bit hard.

My Thoughts
Growing up as a die hard X-Men fan, I was very worried about this movie.  The trailers made it seem like they were going to be making a real mess of this movie.  I should have known better.  Marvel did an awesome job on it.  The back story was fleshed out in a way that allowed anyone watching the movie fall right in for the first time while keeping those who have enjoyed the rest of the stories enthralled.  I am wondering how they are going to handle the Havok item though.  Since having him a teen and Jean Grey a youth when Xavier is older makes me wonder how old they plan on portraying Scott.  Is he now going to be a younger brother?  Or is Xavier just going to age extremely quickly after his accident.  I am very curious to see how it all comes together.  I did especially enjoy the tie in to the first X-Men movie with the expanded story of Magneto.  It makes you wonder when and if they are going to have his kids popping up in the franchise, especially with the kick off of the Avengers movie.  I am rather excited to see.  The Internet is also spawning rumors of X4 and 5 along with turning the first class into a trilogy.  If they keep the stories going, I am down for the ride.  Also, I hear talks of New Mutants.  BRING IT ON!

Rating: 8 out of 10

I love Youtube!

Around the House
I was checking my email today and a friend of mine sent me a link to this woman, Alina.  I think I am in love.  She is completely insane, so I had to share it with you all.  I spent the last two hours watching all of her posts.  Let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w56CH9uK0Tw

My Thoughts
This woman is fantastic.  She has reality show potential written all over her.  I could completely see her on Bravo or E! following her life and what he husband is doing now.  I do worry that she is setting herself up for a very messy divorce.  I have to wonder if the cousin is trying to set her up for a quick deportation after the divorce.  Since court rooms are now using social media in cases, I know if the mother gets her way all of these posts will be all over the court room.  I want a front row seat for this proceeding.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Gilbert Press

Around the House
I have been busy interviewing for a new job.  They have given me an unofficial offer, so I am very happy.  That right now is taking a lot of my time, so I haven't had enough time to finish my edits.  I do have a do date coming up for my next book with my publisher, Gilbert Press, so I need to get a move on putting together the final draft on Cursed which is supposed to hit shelves at the end of the summer.  I don't know how I am going to get everything done.  Especially, since the weather in Chicago is so nice now I don't want to be locked in front of my computer.

My Thoughts
I got a sneak preview yesterday of the new website for Gilbert Press.  It is really nice, so I am excited to see it go out.  They are currently looking for new authors to add to their list, so as soon as I have a link for you I will toss it up on for you all to check out.  I am glad a publisher is working to change the way the publishing industry is working.  They are really looking to hit the digital market hard and make a name for themselves by helping first time authors get noticed in the world.  I was also talking to my editor and he told me that they are looking for investors to speed the process along.  They are really looking to do an aggressive expansion.  With my book currently on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, I think they really have the skills to make it all happen.    I wish them tons of luck.  Oh, and for those of you who don't know, I did sign a 7 book deal with them to continue my series.  I am really excited about it.  Wish me luck!  Here is a link to their facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilbert-Press/184562114922637

Movie Review: Thor

Around the House
Wow, I can't believe how long editing this book is taking.  It is one of the slowest edits I have ever done.  I am excited to announce that Gilbert Press will have a new website coming soon, and they will be starting major acquisitions.  It is nice to see my publisher getting ready to make itself a presence in the market.  Otherwise, I am here dealing with finding a job since I didn't the one I wanted, and working to restore my social life.  All things are really starting to look up in my world and that makes me very happy.

My Thoughts
As a fan of Marvel Comics especially the X-Men, I have been very happy with the way they are handling the realism of their live action movies.  They have been able to take their franchises and cross them over without making them feel cartoony.  I was extremely worried about Thor though.  How where they going to handle the whole god element in a way that made sense with the other movies, not take away from the realism they are using, and holds true to the story of Thor.  I was extremely surprised that they not only pulled it off, but did an amazing job.  I am now even more excited to see how they bring us to the Avengers.  Marvel has done such an amazing job that I hope the new X-Men and Spiderman movies hold up to the Avengers franchise.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Book Review: Red Glove

Around the House
The job hunt continues as does the writing.  Yes I am not just talking about my edits I am actually doing them for a change.  I am excited for a date tonight.  I hope it goes well, but if it doesn't their is always more fish in the sea right?  At least this will give me something to do.  I was actually worried that I was going to get blown off.  Well surprised never cease to amaze.  So after this review I am going to curl up in a hot shower and get ready to put the show on the road.  I don't know if I will get through another chapter of edits tonight, but I am going to try.  This round is just making small revisions and handling notes before my next read through to rework the wording and bring my engaging voice back to this almost over worked piece.

My Thoughts
The dark twisting turns of Holly Black's latest installment of the Curse Workers: Red Glove surprised even this most jaded of reader.  Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next she shoved another piece of information at me that threw me for a loop.  Reading the Curse Workers is like reading someones private journal full of dark and sweet candy coated gossip.  This amazing book will keep you riveted until the end.  Expect a sleepless night or two as you plow through the world of Cassel Sharpe in the Curse Workers.

The Red Glove is the follow up to White Cat, where we are rethrusted back into the twisted life of Cassel Sharpe.  Loving a girl that cannot love him back, a family damaged by the power of the curse, and secrets and lies makes this world of fantasy better than anything on T.V. tonight.  Cassel is the most superbly written Anti-hero of not only the year but of the decade.  As a reader, you will want everything to turn out okay for him, but you will wonder how it can when he has to make choices that can ruin his life, his family, and his friends just to keep himself going.  Holly Black is amazing at translating the outsider feel of the teenager into a fantasy character where he is trying to be what he will never be - like everyone else - but could really succeed in living the con of his life if he could only let go of Lila.  She makes every writer jealous of her talents.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Book Review: The Last Apprentice Rage of the Fallen

Around the House
Still playing catch up with my book reviews.  This is the last one that I haven't gotten too.  Also, I am itching to get my hands on the new Sookie Stackhouse book that just came out.  I preordered it, so I am waiting for it along with the next Charliane Harris Anthology.  Till then I will continue to edit and work my way through the books I am dying to read.  I am still job hunting since I am not happy at work.  I have decided to really open myself up to new paths.  You never know where the world will take you.  I am also very excited by the CDs I forgot I owned.  I am looking forward to filling my nook with my favorite songs for car rides and trips to the gym.  Yea it is time to start working out and getting all hot for the summer.  I have really let myself go a bit.

My Thoughts
Joseph Delaney had done it again with the latest installment of the Last Apprentice Series: Rage of the Fallen.  He has managed to add another depth to his world of magic and mystery by graying up the edges the Spooks have held for generations.  It is especially nice to see this graying since Tom is as gray a character as you can get.  You can't help love the young apprentice Tom Ward as he makes his run to fight evil.  Joseph Delaney does a great job of finally closing up some plot holes while leaving more unanswered questions for the readers.  I wonder how far he will take Tom and if he will really live up to the Prophecy made by his mother.  I only hope that in the end Alice does not follow her mother in the dark.

Rating 7 out of 10

Book Review: The Lost Gate

Forgot to post this last month sorry!

Around the House
I need a few drinks.  This last couple weeks have been really rough.  I haven't been sleeping anywhere near enough, but I have been reading a lot as a method of distracting myself.  So I will keep job hunting and ignoring my writing because I am not in the mental space to look at my works.  Hopefully next month.

My Thoughts
I recieved this book as a free copy, and I was very apprenesive to read it.  I wasn't sure the Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card was the type of fantasy story I was looking for.  I was afraid I was going to be sucked into a world of traditional fantasy with elves, dwarfs, and other mythical characters.  I was completely wrong.  The story was an amazing peice of fantasy work that would be a prefect compliment to anyone that is in love with the current works of Rick Riordan.

The Lost Gate is the first of a series of books that looks at mythology in a new and fun way.  Instead of symply placing the old gods into modern society he has explained there exsistance in a fun and exciting way.  The Mithermages is a great tie in to the upcoming Thor movie as well because it primarily focuses on the Old Norse Gods.  It is a great look at how people with magical abilities are currently living in society while struggling to regain their status as gods.  That the names of the gods we know from Mythology are just names given to individuals with a particular aptitude to a certain set of powers.  While the break down of the individual powers can be confusing at first following Danny on his adventure to find himself with the forbidden powers he possesses is a fun and fast paced tale that makes the reader crave more.  I recommend everyone run out and enjoy this book today.

Rating 9 out of 10