I decided that double posting was not a great idea, which led to the decision to repost my rafflecopter entry form today.
Check out the guest post from Terri Bruce. The rafflecopter giveaway is located on that post, but here it is again. Enter and spread the word. It's a pretty awesome book. :D
Happy Thursday, Everyone. :)
(PS-I'll be back to my Thursday TAG! posts next week.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Showing posts with label Free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Ghosts and the Afterlife in Film via Terri Bruce
(My blog hop post is here, if you're looking for that one. But you should read this first, there's a giveaway! :D )
Hey, y'all-it's a blog tour!! This is my first one ever, so I'm excited. And it's even more exciting that it's someone as awesome as, Terri Bruce author of HEREAFTER. Terri's going to tell us her top ten movies containing ghosts and the afterlife.
Terri’s Ten Favorite Depictions of Ghosts & The Afterlife in Film
Spirited Away
I think hands down Spirited Away is my favorite movie about ghosts. I love Miyazaki films anyway, and then when you add in the rich and beautiful spirit world he has created in this movie, this one becomes one of the richest depictions of the spirit world on film. I especially love the idea that the spirits need a bath house—a place where they go to relax and rejuvenate.
Just Like Heaven
Now, (SPOILER!), technically Reese Witherspoon is not a ghost in this movie, but we (and she) don’t know that until the end. Not only is this movie super sweet, but the scenes of the various psychics that Rufolo calls in to rid his apartment of Witherspoon are hysterical! It’s fun to see the “ghost’s” reaction to all of the ghost repellent charms.
Defending Your Life
This may be one of my all time favorite movies and probably my favorite depiction of the afterlife. I love the idea that the entire point of everything is live without fear, though I cringe at the thought of having to re-watch certain parts of my life and then defend my actions or choices. Hopefully, I’ve grown and improved over the years, but that doesn’t make the places I’ve stumbled any easier to relive!
Ghost Town
This movie has a very interesting take on ghosts—I love how, at first, they are just hanging around. No one can see them or hear them, so being a ghost is obviously extremely boring. They have unfinished business and they can’t move on until they complete it. What I find particularly fascinating was how the ghosts seem to have extremely little interest in the world of the living. They’re dead, they know they’re dead, and they all seem perfectly fine with that. They just really want to finish up their business and get going.
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum from Ghost Town—these ghosts DO want to interact with the world of the living; or, more precisely, they want to hang onto their earthly/worldly possessions. There is no “moving on” here; the Maitlands are apparently stuck in their house until the end of time and they have no intention of sharing with the living. What’s also funny is that in this version of the afterlife, the dead are trying to exorcise the living, rather than the traditional other way around.
One Magic Christmas
My husband thinks this is a terrible movie—Mary Steenbergen is lead to believe that her husband dies, that she loses her job, and that her children are kidnapped (and nearly die), just to teach her about the spirit of Christmas—but it’s always been one of my favorites. In this movie, we have the idea that the dead serve as guardian angels, watching over the living. Harry Dean Stanton as the “angel” is a strange and fabulous casting choice—who can resist?
Sixth Sense
Here we have the traditional “unfinished business” view of ghosts with the added twist they can interact with the physical world—they can open and close doors, cabinets, even drawers. We also have the element that some people can naturally see and talk to ghosts (as in Ghost Town—there, the ability to see ghosts is created by the character’s near-death experience. In this case, it appears to be a natural ability), which has been used in other movies, such as Ghost and the Frighteners.
The Innocents
Here’s a movie (based on the James Joyce novel, “The Turn of the Screw”) where the ghosts aren’t the main characters—this is not a story of the living battling the dead or of the dead reconciling themselves to death. Instead, what we have here is a story in which the “ghosts” are symbolic representations of the Victorian fear of death, repressed sexuality, and mental instability. In fact, the ghosts may not even be real. In some ways, that is much scarier than an actual horror movie, where one knows the ghosts are real. It’s hard to fight external forces when you’re not clear if they exist or you’re simply imagining things.
The Ring, Tale of Two Sisters, Re-Cycle
Now I hate to stereotype, but hands down, the South Koreans are the king of horror movies—they make some damn scary stuff! All of these movies scared the beejeebers out of me, particularly The Ring. Here we have some typical “horror” type depictions of ghosts: ghosts are scary, malevolent, and have supernatural powers (super speed, super strength, ability to fly, crawl out of televisions, and hide under kitchen cabinets).
Ghostbusters
Here ghosts are depicted as simply annoyances to be removed, akin to roaches or mice. We see a variety of spirits—some that are clearly dead humans and some that don’t appear to have ever been human—but the movie remains extremely tight-lipped on the existence of an afterlife and what happens to us once we die (does everyone hang around as a ghost or just some people? If just some people, why do those people end up here, rather than moving on?).
Terri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember and won her first writing award when she was twelve. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats.
Contact Details
Email: tbruce[at]terribruce[dot]net
Website/Blog: www.terribruce.net
Goodreads: Terri Bruce
Facebook: Terri Bruce Fan Page
Twitter: @_TerriBruce
Hey, y'all-it's a blog tour!! This is my first one ever, so I'm excited. And it's even more exciting that it's someone as awesome as, Terri Bruce author of HEREAFTER. Terri's going to tell us her top ten movies containing ghosts and the afterlife.
Terri’s Ten Favorite Depictions of Ghosts & The Afterlife in Film
Spirited Away
I think hands down Spirited Away is my favorite movie about ghosts. I love Miyazaki films anyway, and then when you add in the rich and beautiful spirit world he has created in this movie, this one becomes one of the richest depictions of the spirit world on film. I especially love the idea that the spirits need a bath house—a place where they go to relax and rejuvenate.
Just Like Heaven
Now, (SPOILER!), technically Reese Witherspoon is not a ghost in this movie, but we (and she) don’t know that until the end. Not only is this movie super sweet, but the scenes of the various psychics that Rufolo calls in to rid his apartment of Witherspoon are hysterical! It’s fun to see the “ghost’s” reaction to all of the ghost repellent charms.
Defending Your Life
This may be one of my all time favorite movies and probably my favorite depiction of the afterlife. I love the idea that the entire point of everything is live without fear, though I cringe at the thought of having to re-watch certain parts of my life and then defend my actions or choices. Hopefully, I’ve grown and improved over the years, but that doesn’t make the places I’ve stumbled any easier to relive!
Ghost Town
This movie has a very interesting take on ghosts—I love how, at first, they are just hanging around. No one can see them or hear them, so being a ghost is obviously extremely boring. They have unfinished business and they can’t move on until they complete it. What I find particularly fascinating was how the ghosts seem to have extremely little interest in the world of the living. They’re dead, they know they’re dead, and they all seem perfectly fine with that. They just really want to finish up their business and get going.
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum from Ghost Town—these ghosts DO want to interact with the world of the living; or, more precisely, they want to hang onto their earthly/worldly possessions. There is no “moving on” here; the Maitlands are apparently stuck in their house until the end of time and they have no intention of sharing with the living. What’s also funny is that in this version of the afterlife, the dead are trying to exorcise the living, rather than the traditional other way around.
One Magic Christmas
My husband thinks this is a terrible movie—Mary Steenbergen is lead to believe that her husband dies, that she loses her job, and that her children are kidnapped (and nearly die), just to teach her about the spirit of Christmas—but it’s always been one of my favorites. In this movie, we have the idea that the dead serve as guardian angels, watching over the living. Harry Dean Stanton as the “angel” is a strange and fabulous casting choice—who can resist?
Sixth Sense
Here we have the traditional “unfinished business” view of ghosts with the added twist they can interact with the physical world—they can open and close doors, cabinets, even drawers. We also have the element that some people can naturally see and talk to ghosts (as in Ghost Town—there, the ability to see ghosts is created by the character’s near-death experience. In this case, it appears to be a natural ability), which has been used in other movies, such as Ghost and the Frighteners.
The Innocents
Here’s a movie (based on the James Joyce novel, “The Turn of the Screw”) where the ghosts aren’t the main characters—this is not a story of the living battling the dead or of the dead reconciling themselves to death. Instead, what we have here is a story in which the “ghosts” are symbolic representations of the Victorian fear of death, repressed sexuality, and mental instability. In fact, the ghosts may not even be real. In some ways, that is much scarier than an actual horror movie, where one knows the ghosts are real. It’s hard to fight external forces when you’re not clear if they exist or you’re simply imagining things.
The Ring, Tale of Two Sisters, Re-Cycle
Now I hate to stereotype, but hands down, the South Koreans are the king of horror movies—they make some damn scary stuff! All of these movies scared the beejeebers out of me, particularly The Ring. Here we have some typical “horror” type depictions of ghosts: ghosts are scary, malevolent, and have supernatural powers (super speed, super strength, ability to fly, crawl out of televisions, and hide under kitchen cabinets).
Ghostbusters
Here ghosts are depicted as simply annoyances to be removed, akin to roaches or mice. We see a variety of spirits—some that are clearly dead humans and some that don’t appear to have ever been human—but the movie remains extremely tight-lipped on the existence of an afterlife and what happens to us once we die (does everyone hang around as a ghost or just some people? If just some people, why do those people end up here, rather than moving on?).
Some good movies up there, thanks Terri. :)
Now, here's a little something about Terri and her book:
Now, here's a little something about Terri and her book:
HEREAFTER
By
Terri Bruce
Why let a little thing like dying get in the way of a good time?
Thirty-six-year-old Irene Dunphy didn't plan on dying any time soon, but that’s exactly what happens when she makes the mistake of getting behind the wheel after a night bar-hopping with friends. She finds herself stranded on earth as a ghost, where the food has no taste, the alcohol doesn’t get you drunk, and the sex...well, let’s just say “don’t bother.” To make matters worse, the only person who can see her—courtesy of a book he found in his school library—is a fourteen-year-old boy genius obsessed with the afterlife.
This sounds suspiciously like hell to Irene, so she prepares to strike out for the Great Beyond. The only problem is that, while this side has exorcism, ghost repellents, and soul devouring demons, the other side has three-headed hell hounds, final judgment, and eternal torment. If only there was a third option…
About the Author
Terri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember and won her first writing award when she was twelve. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats.Contact Details
Email: tbruce[at]terribruce[dot]net
Website/Blog: www.terribruce.net
Goodreads: Terri Bruce
Facebook: Terri Bruce Fan Page
Twitter: @_TerriBruce
(I also did a Thursday TAG! with Terri in May, check it out here.)
Wait, there's more. :D
I'm hosting a giveaway!!!!! YAY! Y'all know how I love my giveaways. :P
Using the Rafflecopter form below, enter for a chance to win one of two eBook copies of HEREAFTER up for grabs, or one of two swag packs. (Swag packs contain: 2 postcards, 2 bookmarks, & a set of two afterlife-related, blank note cards with matching envelopes - various designs. Click here for pictures of swag)
That's it...What're you waiting for? Enter the giveaway and spread the word!! :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wait, there's more. :D
I'm hosting a giveaway!!!!! YAY! Y'all know how I love my giveaways. :P
Using the Rafflecopter form below, enter for a chance to win one of two eBook copies of HEREAFTER up for grabs, or one of two swag packs. (Swag packs contain: 2 postcards, 2 bookmarks, & a set of two afterlife-related, blank note cards with matching envelopes - various designs. Click here for pictures of swag)
That's it...What're you waiting for? Enter the giveaway and spread the word!! :D
(Giveaway ends at 11:59PM Sept. 10, 2012)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
And The Moment...
...we've all been waiting for...because my followers are AWESOME!!!
I bring you the first ever....GIVEAWAY!
Okay, so maybe I'm the one who is EXTRA excited, but hey-oh well. It is exciting. :D
Yesterday's TAG! featured the super nice, super awesome, Karen Amanda Hooper. Along with being an awesome person, she's an awesome author.
EDIT: The awesome publisher of TANGLED TIDES (Rhemalda Publishing), has just put this book on Amazon for FREE! So, go to THIS LINK to download your FREE copy.
SO, now what can you win?
The amazingly awesome Karen Hooper is offering her newest book (out on May 25, 2012) in place of Tangled Tides.
An ebook of GRASPING AT ETERNITY by Karen Amanda Hooper!!!
So, remember, go to the link I provided above and download Tangled Tides for FREE and when you enter the Rafflecopter, the first prize is Grasping At Eternity instead of Tangled Tides.
And of course, there's still more...
and five people will win a query critique or story critique (up to 20K words). I felt like only awarding one follower wasn't good enough. Those are some pretty awesome prizes too. Well, Zombie Whisperer is awesome, I'm not going to say how awesome my critiques are :p but I can say I know they're beneficial. :)
All you have to do is use the Rafflecopter entry form at the end of this post. This giveaway is open beginning now, Friday, May 11, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time and it will end Saturday, May 19, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time. There are several ways to earn entries, so have at it.
(Small sidenote because I want to make sure there's full disclosure....If you win Grasping At Eternity, your copy will not be sent until after it's published (May 25, 2012) since it isn't available yet. The winner will have to wait a very small amount of time, but they're getting first dibs on it and for free, so YAY ;) )
I apologize for the last minute change and thanks again to all of my followers and anyone else stopping by :)
Happy Entering :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I bring you the first ever....GIVEAWAY!
Okay, so maybe I'm the one who is EXTRA excited, but hey-oh well. It is exciting. :D
Yesterday's TAG! featured the super nice, super awesome, Karen Amanda Hooper. Along with being an awesome person, she's an awesome author.
EDIT: The awesome publisher of TANGLED TIDES (Rhemalda Publishing), has just put this book on Amazon for FREE! So, go to THIS LINK to download your FREE copy.
SO, now what can you win?
The amazingly awesome Karen Hooper is offering her newest book (out on May 25, 2012) in place of Tangled Tides.
An ebook of GRASPING AT ETERNITY by Karen Amanda Hooper!!!
(Here's a description from Karen's website)
Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she’s supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.
X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen’s latest young adult release.
So, remember, go to the link I provided above and download Tangled Tides for FREE and when you enter the Rafflecopter, the first prize is Grasping At Eternity instead of Tangled Tides.
And of course, there's still more...
BONUS:
I'm also giving away an ebook of Zombie Whisperer by Caterina Torres
and five people will win a query critique or story critique (up to 20K words). I felt like only awarding one follower wasn't good enough. Those are some pretty awesome prizes too. Well, Zombie Whisperer is awesome, I'm not going to say how awesome my critiques are :p but I can say I know they're beneficial. :)
All you have to do is use the Rafflecopter entry form at the end of this post. This giveaway is open beginning now, Friday, May 11, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time and it will end Saturday, May 19, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time. There are several ways to earn entries, so have at it.
(Small sidenote because I want to make sure there's full disclosure....If you win Grasping At Eternity, your copy will not be sent until after it's published (May 25, 2012) since it isn't available yet. The winner will have to wait a very small amount of time, but they're getting first dibs on it and for free, so YAY ;) )
I apologize for the last minute change and thanks again to all of my followers and anyone else stopping by :)
Happy Entering :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
In His Eyes (Indelibles Valentine’s Anthology)
Looking for a good book? Check out:
Just
in time for Valentines Day, The
Indelibles
bring
you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Sixteen original short
stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters -
some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up
especially for this anthology.
Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes.
The contributors to In His Eyes include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors.
Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes.
The contributors to In His Eyes include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors.
In
His Eyes
is FREE
at Smashwords,
and $0.99 at Amazon and Barnes&Noble - hopefully to go free there
as well by our release
date on February 14th for Valentines Day.
Or you can add In
His Eyes to
your TBR
list on Goodreads.
For
more information about The Indelibles, check out our(their) blog,
facebook
page,
or follow us on Twitter.
Stories
included in the Anthology:
Surprise,
Surprise by
Stacey Wallace Benefiel, author of Glimpse:
Half the women in Melody's family can see the future, which makes it
nearly impossible for Raleigh to surprise her. What's a guy to do for
Valentine's Day when his girlfriend is always one step ahead of
him?
First Kiss or First Kill? by C.K. Bryant, author of Bound: Love isn't always rainbows and kittens, sometimes it can be downright deadly. (A deleted chapter from Bound.)
Shattered by Ali Cross, author of Become: James and Desi use each other in an effort to cling to the darkness in each of them, but in the end they discover that love changes you. (A chapter of Become from James’ POV.)
Before by Jessie Harrell, author of Destined: When a younger Eros is exiled to a land that doesn't believe in the Greek gods, he finds the first love of his immortal life. Read Eros' first person account of his romance, and heartbreak, in the time before he met Psyche.
The Qualm Before the Storm by Karen Amanda Hooper, author of Tangled Tides. Yara Jones doesn’t want to be a mermaid. Treygan doesn’t want to be the monster who turns her. You can’t always get what you want. (A short prequel to Tangled Tides.)
Unspeakable by S.R. Johannes, author of Untraceable: When Mo sees a strange girl in the woods, he follows her. He soon realizes they are both in a dangerous position and might not get out alive.
In the Beginning by Katie Klein, author of Cross My Heart: Seth is falling hard for Genesis Green, but the guardian angel is determined not to interfere, until an accident changes the course of their lives forever. (A short prequel to The Guardian.)
A Chance Encounter by Cheri Lasota, author of Artemis Rising: Finnian's eyes hide a terrible secret. But a girl on the train home, the girl in tears with a secret of her own...She sees right through him. A scene from the upcoming novel, Echoes in the Glass.
Family Bonds by Heather McCorkle, author of The Secret of Spruce Knoll: A Halloween party filled with teens who can channel energy and use it to kill, what could go wrong? For Spruce Knoll fans who are dying to read more about Fane.
Getting Closer by Lisa Nowak, author of Running Wide Open: Megan is smart, hot, and an upperclassman—in other words, way out of Cody’s league. So why did she choose him? (An excerpt of Getting Sideways.)
The Almost Assassin by Laura Pauling, author of A Spy Like Me, releasing Spring 2012: Malcolm tries his hand at the family business but his conscience and a beautiful "spy" may be his downfall.
Mind Games by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds: Raf wants to take Kira—the only girl in school who doesn’t read minds—to the mindware Games, but his friends have other plans. (A short prequel to Open Minds.)
By The Firelight by Elle Strauss, author of Clockwise: When Nate McKenzie asks an unpopular girl to dance on a dare, he's in for the time of his life.
A Very Alien Valentine’s Day by Magan Vernon, author of How To Date An Alien: After surviving confinement and an intergalactic war for his human half, Alex, now he has to live through the biggest challenge of them all: Valentine's Day.
Aligned by RaShelle Workman, author of Exiled: A half-Eternal boy and an Eternal girl must free millions of tortured souls from a creature whose been feasting on their pain and suffering.
First Kiss or First Kill? by C.K. Bryant, author of Bound: Love isn't always rainbows and kittens, sometimes it can be downright deadly. (A deleted chapter from Bound.)
Shattered by Ali Cross, author of Become: James and Desi use each other in an effort to cling to the darkness in each of them, but in the end they discover that love changes you. (A chapter of Become from James’ POV.)
Before by Jessie Harrell, author of Destined: When a younger Eros is exiled to a land that doesn't believe in the Greek gods, he finds the first love of his immortal life. Read Eros' first person account of his romance, and heartbreak, in the time before he met Psyche.
The Qualm Before the Storm by Karen Amanda Hooper, author of Tangled Tides. Yara Jones doesn’t want to be a mermaid. Treygan doesn’t want to be the monster who turns her. You can’t always get what you want. (A short prequel to Tangled Tides.)
Unspeakable by S.R. Johannes, author of Untraceable: When Mo sees a strange girl in the woods, he follows her. He soon realizes they are both in a dangerous position and might not get out alive.
In the Beginning by Katie Klein, author of Cross My Heart: Seth is falling hard for Genesis Green, but the guardian angel is determined not to interfere, until an accident changes the course of their lives forever. (A short prequel to The Guardian.)
A Chance Encounter by Cheri Lasota, author of Artemis Rising: Finnian's eyes hide a terrible secret. But a girl on the train home, the girl in tears with a secret of her own...She sees right through him. A scene from the upcoming novel, Echoes in the Glass.
Family Bonds by Heather McCorkle, author of The Secret of Spruce Knoll: A Halloween party filled with teens who can channel energy and use it to kill, what could go wrong? For Spruce Knoll fans who are dying to read more about Fane.
Getting Closer by Lisa Nowak, author of Running Wide Open: Megan is smart, hot, and an upperclassman—in other words, way out of Cody’s league. So why did she choose him? (An excerpt of Getting Sideways.)
The Almost Assassin by Laura Pauling, author of A Spy Like Me, releasing Spring 2012: Malcolm tries his hand at the family business but his conscience and a beautiful "spy" may be his downfall.
Mind Games by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds: Raf wants to take Kira—the only girl in school who doesn’t read minds—to the mindware Games, but his friends have other plans. (A short prequel to Open Minds.)
By The Firelight by Elle Strauss, author of Clockwise: When Nate McKenzie asks an unpopular girl to dance on a dare, he's in for the time of his life.
A Very Alien Valentine’s Day by Magan Vernon, author of How To Date An Alien: After surviving confinement and an intergalactic war for his human half, Alex, now he has to live through the biggest challenge of them all: Valentine's Day.
Aligned by RaShelle Workman, author of Exiled: A half-Eternal boy and an Eternal girl must free millions of tortured souls from a creature whose been feasting on their pain and suffering.
Now, go check it out.
My review for this will be up soon :)
(I am not an Indelible, I am just a messenger telling you that you should check out this Anthology and all the other wonderful books by the amazing authors who are members of the Indelibles. )
(I am not an Indelible, I am just a messenger telling you that you should check out this Anthology and all the other wonderful books by the amazing authors who are members of the Indelibles. )
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Set Me Free
Set Me Free
Come rescue me
From this web I'm in
Come help me
Fly away from here
I need to get out
I'm dying
Come save me
From this surrounding
I'm going crazy
I need to fly
Why won't you save me
Do you enjoy seeing me cry
Come rescue me
Help me get released
Come to my aid
Set me free
Come rescue me
From this web I'm in
Come help me
Fly away from here
I need to get out
I'm dying
Come save me
From this surrounding
I'm going crazy
I need to fly
Why won't you save me
Do you enjoy seeing me cry
Come rescue me
Help me get released
Come to my aid
Set me free
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