Posted by Happy three days til Halloween!
We are officially in the fall season, but where I live, it’s pushing about 77 degrees. Not exactly great for the end of October. Still, we will likely hand out snackies to everyone who comes to the door on Saturday night. 🙂
I’ve begun Draft #3 of my sixth novel. Nope, I have no idea what the title is – that will come much later. For now, I’m referring to it as Novel #6. And, like the others, it will fit snugly in the thriller/suspense genre and come in at around 50,000 words. My hope is for it to be out sometime in 2027.
I’ve done a few events during the past couple months, but according to my schedule, I have only three left in 2026. The Peoria Book Fest (in Peoria, Illinois) will be on Saturday, November 14th from 10am to 4pm. Following that, I’ll be at the Normal West High School Craft Fair on Saturday, November 21st from 9am to 2pm. And, wrapping up the year, I’ll be in Lemont, Illinois for the Lemont High School Craft Show on December 5 and December 6.
I tried to attend some different fairs/shows this year and overall, there were some good choices. Sometimes, an event or show that’s been going on for years suddenly changes or doesn’t happen (for a variety of reasons). It’s good to have alternatives and not just stick with the exact same routine, if possible. A vendor has to be ready to pivot! 🙂
Another ‘new’ thing that you might have noticed is the disclaimer I am asking Meet & Greet authors to post IF they utilize AI. (not for spelling and punctuation, but for covers and generative content). I think it’s crucial to keep readers informed about what they are choosing to read. I simply want to make everything as transparent as possible.
Now, what the heck have we been watching?
The Invitation (2003) – A wealthy author named Roland Levy invites six friends to a dinner party at his private island home, only to reveal he has poisoned their food. (Google) The concept is a familiar one, but it’s still a wild and questionable ride as Lance Henriksen drives this oddly vengeful story forward. The overall tale – once it’s told and you’re on the other side – can really be divisive. I found it to be a solid movie but found the ‘protagonist’ problematic on a number of levels (which I won’t spoil). I offered up a 7.3 and Charlie came in at a 7.0. Decent recommend, but keep your eyes and mind open.
Talk to Me (2022) – The story follows a group of teenagers who discover an embalmed severed hand that allows them to contact and become possessed by spirits as a high-stakes party game. (Google) I’ll be honest. Within the first 10 to 15 minutes, I was all but ready to give this a pass. Sorry, but it CAN be a slog to watch teens be SO angsty and needy in movies. However, once we get past those initial scenes, the story starts ramping up and places the focus on the main content. Now, we’re talking (pun!) Very clever ways of joining spooky with realism and loss/grief – and that is saying something. I gave it an 8 and Charlie came in with an 8.9. High recommend.
Top of the World (1997) – A recently paroled, disgraced ex-cop named Ray Mercer (Peter Weller) and his estranged wife Rebecca (Tia Carrere) travel to Las Vegas to secure a quick divorce. (Google) Um, not even Dennis Hopper could save this one. Lordy, the acting was bad. (lol) If there was a redeeming quality to this hour and forty-one minute cesspool, I couldn’t find it. Rotten Tomatoes even gave it a rousing 14%. I’ll let that speak for me and mine. I gave it a 1.2 and Charlie gave it a 2.1. (he was being kind).
Another Kind (2013) – Four friends and acquaintances (Jamie, Nate, Laura, and Patrick) take a 27-mile winter snowshoeing and camping trip in the Catskill Mountains to prepare for a future trek. (Google) Blair Witch was first (and better), BUT, this was a decent ‘lost in the woods with weird things going on’ movie. They pulled a LOT of tropes from similar films, but generally speaking, this kept our interest in the best ways. I gave it a solid 7.0 and Charlie thought it a bit better at 7.3. Solid recommend.
The Isolate Thief (2026) – During a brutal winter in the Civil War, Ada (Mackenzie Foy) finds a stash of buried gold left by a desperate thief named Perry (Joe Pantoliano). A gang of men led by the menacing Colonel John Good (Sean Bean) arrives at the remote outpost looking for the exact same treasure. As the outlaws turn her home into a tense battleground, Ada has to use her wits to outsmart them and protect the gold. (Google) Western – check. Woman left alone to defend herself – check. Bad guys come – check. Fighting ensues – double check. There aren’t many surprises here, but if you enjoy a fairly rote western story with decent acting and a desolate setting, you’re in business with this one. I gave it a 5.4, but Charlie digs westerns more and gave it a 7.9.
Okay, that’s more than enough! Have a great Halloween. Read and watch spooky things. Eat candy. Pet kitties. Leave reviews for indie authors.
Sue 🙂
