A review of the 2019 film Little Women directed by Greta Gerwig, the latest adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott novel.
I review the 2019 film Doctor Sleep, starring Ewan McGregor, Kyliegh Curran, and Rebecca Ferguson, an adaptation of the Stephen King book and a follow up to Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film, The Shining.
I review season 2 of the HBO series Big Little Lies with spoilers.
How does the 2019 film "Spider-Man: Far From Home" fit into the larger MCU while maintaining its own distinct story? My review (which contains spoilers) attempts to answer that question.
A "Stranger Things" Season 3 recap (also called "Stranger Things 3") and review of the hits and misses that this season brought with it.
Here are 10 actual U.S. towns that have been featured as the backdrop of mainstream movies.
I name 10 of my favorite small, fictional U.S. towns that have appeared in mainstream movies from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
This is a guide on how to craft a narrator that is appropriate for, supports, and even improves a novel's pacing, tone, and story by playing to a writer's strengths and specifically editing the narration to make it as strong as it can be.
I review the film Avengers: Endgame with spoilers.
I review "Kawaii Origami" by Chrissy Pushkin, which I received as a prize for entering a contest held by Two Classy Chics' blog. After trying a few projects, I've decided that I don't have the skills or the materials needed to complete most of the projects in this book.
I name 12 types of road trip movies that are great to watch in the summer to inspire audiences to plan their own trips across the United States.
I provide facts about The Addams Family franchise including the comic strip, TV show, cartoons, movies, and merchandise labeled from A to Z.
I review Marvel's Captain Marvel, an origin story set in the mid-90's about a hero with superpowers who learns about her forgotten past.
I review Clyde McCulley's middle grade novel, Panther Creek Mountain: The Big Adventure.
I outline 10 aspects of the 90's that are no longer around or have evolved into something else over the past 30 years in a love letter to the decade. I cover: video rentals, MTV, landlines, magazines, sitcoms, technology, celebrities, handwriting, and cartoons.
I describe 10 elements that have helped to make the greatest Academy Awards speeches in history memorable, genuine, and thought-provoking.
I review M. Night Shyamalan's conclusion to his movies "Unbreakable" and "Split," "Glass."
Learn how modern-day apocalyptic movies use gimmicks, human behavior, female heroes, film history, humor, and character studies to individually comment on humanity both on a personal level and as members of society.
I name 10 more great movie performances by child actors, building off of my first list.
Never watched a classic film? Here are 10 movies made between 1930-1970 for those new to the genre.
I explore how horror and comedy work together to create great horror comedy movies.
I interview romance writer Nanette Littlestone as she answers questions about her books, her writing process, and her love of romance stories.
I talk about why movies put Christmas scenes in films that aren't about Christmas and how they help to tell the story and add to the movie's tone and characterization.
Learn how to shop for meaningful holiday gifts and learn what to avoid with these 15 do's and don'ts.
I name 12 of the best fall and Thanksgiving movies that I recommend watching during the month of November.
I review the Queen biopic film, "Bohemian Rhapsody", which was released in theaters on November 2, 2018. It stars Rami Malek and features the rise of one of the most popular rock bands of all time.
I discuss the Green Man ghost story of western Pennsylvania, including the real story of Ray Robinson and how his electrical accident turned him into a local legend.
I review 2018's Halloween set 40 years after the original film featuring the famous slasher killer Michael Myers and final girl Laurie Strode.
I explore the communication challenges that occur when there are language barriers that exist between characters in movies.
I explain how silent characters in movies can still be effective and engaging players in the story they're in.
I review YouTuber Hank Green's debut science fiction novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.
I go over the history of the last name Loomis used in the horror films "Psycho," "Halloween," and "Scream" and how they have evolved and will continue to evolve in the genre.
I describe effective writing techniques that middle grade writers use to draw in their readers.
I explain what artist trading cards are and share my technique for creating them.
I explain how fans of superhero movies can start to learn about, read, and collect comic books based on the movies they love.
Some child performers shine brighter than others. Here are 10 performances given by child actors in films, and why they are great.
I analyze 10 significant moments from "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," and "The Dark Knight Rises" in the order that they occur in the trilogy.
I discuss famous book covers, the history of book cover design, fonts, illustrations, and trends.
I give my review of Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp
I provide 50 fiction writing ideas to help battle writer's block.
I explore the history of the Wilkins Coffee commercials, which featured early Muppets performed by Jim and Jane Henson.
I explain how to prepare an edited piece of writing for publication.
I discuss the different types of editing that a piece needs to go through before it can be published or submitted for publication.
Questions to ask yourself during the editing process.
Learn how to make a wreath made of Styrofoam and ribbon. It's a quick and easy way to decorate your door or gift idea.
I reflect on the lighting depicted in Edward Hopper's "Gas" painting from 1940.
I provide some tips for crafting realistic, fictional characters for short stories and novels.
I explain the history, fiction, and pseudoscience behind telekinesis/psychokinesis.
I provide some motivation for writer's block or for anyone who feels stuck or unsure of their writing.
I make a case for why good guy superheroes might be more interesting than we give them credit for.
I analyze how a classic story can evolve for its audience as they grow from a teen to an adult, whether it be a novel, comic, movie, or TV show.
I review author Catherine Isaac's first American novel, You Me Everything.
I review "Avengers: Infinity War," which I went to see during the opening weekend of its release.
I discuss the pacing, scene-by-scene, in John Carpenter's original "Halloween."
A review of the fifteen best "Roseanne" episodes, including Roseanne, Dan, and Jackie getting high, Darlene giving birth, the tornado episode, and Dan's death.
I review Marvel's Black Panther movie.
I interview indie author Simon Pearce about his debut novel, "Mo," part of The Spotlight Tales. Read on for a look behind the scenes of this writer's life.
This article goes over the benefits and offers tips on how to use the #MSWL hashtag to find literary agents who may be interested in reading your finished manuscript.
Where is Jack Sparrow's compass pointing to in the 2006 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"? I explain how ambiguous movie endings like this one can create interesting ideas about plot and character development.
Here are 15 movies that I watch to get inspired to write my own stories.
I summarize and analyze seven monologues performed by Tom Hanks throughout the actor's career.
I discuss movie villains who switch sides and do the right thing for various reasons and how we can identify with them in the actions we take in our own lives.
I review Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi film, spoiler-free.
I interviewed author, Shawn St. Jean, about his picture/sketch book, Cranky Bear Wakes Up.
I describe 10 reasons why I love to visit cemeteries and how useful they can be for health, grief, genealogy research, and as a quiet place to visit.
I explore how strong endings are crucial for romantic comedies and can help them transcend the genre.
I review the YA novel, "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green.
I describe 10 strengths of season 2 of the Netflix series Stranger Things. Spoilers ahead.
I demonstrate my attempt at trying the Kracie Popin' Cookin' Doughnuts kit.
I tried my hand at a Popin' Cookin' Japanese gummy-candy-making kit commonly found in ASMR videos.
Here is my "Dunkirk" film review, complete with a summary and breakdown of some of its cinematic elements.
I review the latest Spider-Man movie.
I explain how to prepare, research, submit, and track novel submissions to book publishers.
I offer five solutions for keeping animals from eating the plants in your vegetable garden, including the use of red pepper flakes.
In this article, I share 10 ways that I design, organize, and maintain my bullet journal.
In this article, I describe my first time working with concrete and go through the step-by-step process of pouring a small slab near my garage door.
I describe how I sanded and painted the metal railings and light poles in my yard. I'll explain the tools and techniques that worked and those that didn't.
I review the Marvel film sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.
I review the 2017 DC film, "Wonder Woman." Here, I talk about the effects, the action, and the characters.
In this article, I describe how I purchased, painted, and installed my little free library, which I use to swap books with neighborhood visitors.
I review Hugh Jackman's final performance as Wolverine in the film "Logan."
I will discuss the importance of narration in movies and highlight 10 films that have great narrators.
I highlight five movies that I loved as a kid that are not so beloved by an older generation.
In this article, I recommend 10 great memoirs written by celebrities, mainly comedians, that I have read and enjoyed, plus my favorite parts of each.
I interviewed author Damon L. Wakes about his books and writing before the release of his novel, Ten Little Astronauts.
As a casual fan of the franchise, I review the latest installment in the Star Wars saga, Rogue One.
I interview Harel R. Lawrence, author of three self-published books.
I interview Eva Pascoe, author of two women's fiction books, Underlying Notes and An Enlightening Quiche.
I interviewed Ame Terra, indie author of two adult fiction novels between the release of her first and second novels about Earth No. 105 book series.
I try three short-term diet plans and report on my results.
I interview author R.M. Gauthier about her books and writing.
I interview author Jennifer McKeithen about her historical fantasy series.
I interview Deborah Baldwin for Indie Author Day.
I interview Jan Notzon for Indie Author Day.
I interview Sarah Bates about her writing career as an indie author.
I interview author Alex Dunn about her three YA novels.
I interview author Tasha Dunagan about her writing career and her book, Copy Mocker’s Song, for Indie Author Day.
I interview Dawn Menge about her writing career for Indie Author Day.
I interview RV Reyes about her book, Jeweler's Mark.
I interview author T.L. Clark for Indie Author Day.
I interview author Lizabeth Scott about her career as a self-published romance novelist.
I interview indie author P.D. Workman
I interview indie author James Young about his books and his writing process.
I interview Lynn Sanders about her book, Dancing with Tex.
I interview writing duo H.L. Carpenter about their collection of middle grade and YA books.
I interview author Laurel Heidtman about her mystery, thriller, and romance books.
I interview Angela D'Onofrio about her books, From the Desk of Buster Heywood and In the Cards.
I interview WordyNerdBird (Joanne Van Leerdam) about her writing career and her poetry book, Leaf.
I interview Cindy Lynch about her two self-published books.
I interview inde author, Susan Girard, author of the first of a series of fantasy novels titled Moon Sage Theosophies.
I interview indie author, Mary Ellen Quire, author of five books.
Here I share my tips on tracing your family history through both free and paid sources, including Ancestry.com and how to organize the information that you find.
I interview Gail Nyoka, author of a children's book and a YA book, Star's Reflection.
I discuss seven types of jump scares that have been used in horror and suspense movies throughout history.
Here I share my opinions on 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse movie.
This review looks at Marvel's 2016 film "Captain America: Civil War," starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and more!
Here I provide 10 tips for writers about how to find inspiration and give examples about how they helped me with my writing.
I interview Kristi Gillespie, author of the fantasy novel, Gultar the Gentle Giant.
I explain what it's like wearing braces, exploring my own personal history and offering tips on how to take care of your teeth and manage the discomfort that can come with it.
I interview Gavin L. Hill, author of eight children's books, including a fantasy novel series.
I review the latest in Segilola Salami's children's book series, Yetunde: An Ode To My Mother.
I interview Shannon Reber, author of a five-book, YA fantasy series, The Uniters Code.
I review the children's book, The Missing Laddoos, by self-published author, Jassie S.
I interview Segilola Salami, author of three children's books.
I interview AnnaMarie Squailia, author of two children's books.
I interview self-published author, Beax Rivers about two of her novels, Silver—Currents of Change and Gold—The Heat of Refinement.
I interview Maureen Baggett, author of five children's books.
I interview indie author Lindsay Marie Miller about her books, Emerald Green, Me and Mr. Jones, and Jungle Eyes.
I interview indie writer Peggy Purser Freeman, author of four children's books.
I interview Angela Shori, indie author of A Boo-Tiful Halloween and The Cabin.
I interview children's and YA author, Sherrie Bain about her first novel, Midnight At Herlong Manor.
I interview indie fantasy writer, Ian Copsey about his book, The Game Master.
I interview YA author, Herbel Santiago about her book, Amihan and the Quest for the Golden Tree.
I interview Denae Christine, author of the fantasy novel series, Royal Deception.
I interview inde author, Jens Lyon, author of a new children's book, Time Trip: A Dinosaur Musical.
I interview children's and YA author, Suzi MacDonald.
I interview author P.D. Workman about her YA novels.
Illustrator Chihiro Tani answers 10 questions about her book illustrations.
I inerview indie author, Tyler Woods, about writing for an all-ages group and his successes as a self-published author.
I interview indie author Ash Night about her books and writing process.
Self-published author, Bruce Deitrick Price answers my 10 questions about his writing and offers experienced perspectives about writing and publishing to up-and-coming writers.
My interview with self-published author, P. Wish, about her book, My Life in 3 Colours.
I interview YA author, Heather Couch, about her book, Reciprocal, part of The Infinity Series.
I interview author, Diamante Lavender, indie author of two self-published books available on Amazon.
Below is an interview with Johanna Craven, author of the YA novel, Music From Standing Waves.
Below I interview inde author Angela J. Ford, author of seven self-published books.
I interview Kylen Gartland about her book, The Messenger.
I interview self-published author Elizabeth S. Tyree, author of 10 self-published children's books.
I interview indie author Wendi L. Wilson about her book, Shadowed Strength.
Here I conduct my first illustration-based interview with author and illustrator, Patti Brassard Jefferson.
I interview author Shannon Peel about her middle grade novel, Thirteen.
I interview Bryan Pentelow, author of the Sprocket Saga series.
I interview author Iffix Santaph, writer of the Forgotten Princess series.
I interview Robert Arrington, author of the fantasy novel, The Wonderland Effect.
This week I interview author, Marti Dumas, writer of two children's books.
I interview self-published author, Robert Krenzel, about his book, This Glorious Cause.
I interview indie author Steve King about his book, The Shrinking Sea.
I interview author Paige Lavoie, author of Confidence: The Diary of an Invisible Girl.
I interview Amanda Clay, author of the novel, Rebel Song.
Below I discuss what I love about baseball and why it means so much to its fans and to our culture in general.
Below is a description of eight major book awards and past winners.
Below I talk about the history and culture of tea.
In this article, I talk about my experience having my wisdom teeth removed and offer personal tips and facts from sources regarding the preparation, surgery and recovery. Learn what to expect if you are having or expect to have this procedure done in the future.
Below I discuss 10 great heroic scenes in superhero movies in no particular order.
Below I name 10 of my favorite rescue and chase scenes in the superhero movie genre.
Below I Name 10 of my favorite superhero movie fight scenes.
Below I discuss my writing process, habits, and rituals along with how famous authors have constructed their books, illustrating how no two writers are the same.
Below I describe the story, characters, appeal, and many incarnations of 'The Baby-Sitter's Club' series.
Below I discuss five motivations that writers should avoid while trying to make it in the industry.
Below are 15 of my favorite episodes from "Batman: The Animated Series."
This is an easy recipe for hello dollies, a rich and chocolaty dessert.
"Batman: The Animated Series" ran in the '90s, and it became one of the most beloved versions of the show. Here are eight reasons why.
Below, I discuss the charms and attractions of Idlewild Park and Soak Zone located in Ligonier, PA.
This is a scavenger list of sights, sounds, and other sensory experiences at Pittsburgh's Kennywood Park.
I reflect on the year-long project of cross-stitching a butterfly lap quilt that I bought from Walmart.
Below I share stories about my experiences caring for the Betta fish that I have owned over the years.
Below are my 12 favorite movie commentaries that can be found on the special features of their DVD releases.
Below are 26 A-to-Z facts about the members of The Muppets, including their history, songs, merchandise, and more.
Explore the history and impact of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" books.
I list nine elements that make up a great ASMR channel on YouTube.
I list five ways to break into writing and work towards developing pieces that can one day be published.
I list seven life skills that I wish were taught in elementary through high school to help students prepare for the real world.
I offer tips on preparing your poetry for submissions to literary journals and name some journals that are accepting submissions.
I name 10 of my favorite comedies and explain why they make the list.
I explain the benefits of being a good listener.
I share my diet history and tips for losing weight.
I name 10 of my favorite TV sitcom Halloween episodes of the past.
This article chronicles my first year growing vegetables in my yard in 2014, highlighting my successes and failures.
I choose 10 of my favorite Stephen King novels and explain why they make the list.
A list of 5 movies to only watch once. These films disturbed me to the point where I vowed never to watch them again.
Below I discuss some popular movie endings which left audiences on a cliffhanger or failed to provide answers to the questions it proposed.
Below I share my limited paranormal experiences while embarking on ghost tours and ghost hunts and what they have come to mean to me.
This article is about the various family friendly places to visit while on vacation at Virginia Beach.
Below I describe my successful tea party and offer tips and recipes for planning your own tea party.
Here I discuss relationships between male and female characters in movies which are strictly platonic.
Below are 14 movies that contain specific ASMR triggers.
Below are 10 memoirs that I recommend to anyone who likes true stories about both famous and regular people.
I review the book and movie versions of "The Fault in Our Stars."
Below I discuss the history of the drive-in movie and offer insight and tips into this increasingly rare but fun summer activity.
I describe what it's like to visit Andy Warhol's grave and the gifts that people bring in appreciation of his art.