Sunday, December 29, 2019

Can we take a second to talk about Baby Yoda?

For Christmas I received the best present from my husband. A bootleg t-shirt with baby Yoda swaddled, looking worried. I'm not exactly the squealing type, but I might have squealed on the inside when I unwrapped it.

Disney has my number... again, with this little tyke. I'm not even the baby type. I mean, yes, I have a kid, but I'm not all "goo goo, gaa gaa" over children. In fact, I hated the Ghostbusters when they added Oscar. I'm not impressed with small children. I like the little Yodling because he's relatively quiet, and he pulls the top off of an important looking-flying stick thing and tries to eat it.

Baby Yoda sits in Mando's lap in 'The Mandalorian' while they ride in a spacecraft.
Courtesy of Lucasfilm

 It's like introducing an incredibly cute looking puppy. That's green. With incredibly big eyes.

I'm enjoying The Mandalorian. And I can't wait until fall gets here to see Season 2. At least I don't have to wait more than a year to see the next season. Unlike Doctor Who where it seemed like FOREVER. I appreciate the Mandalorian isn't invincible. He's by no means a schmuck, but he also isn't perfect. He loses weapons during a fight, he bleeds.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this new Star Wars spin-off and look forward to more baby Yodling action!

Write on, everyone and Happy New Year!
Penny




Sunday, September 8, 2019

Signed my first 3-book contract!

I signed a 3-book contract with Seventh Star Press, a speculative fiction publisher and am super excited about this opportunity. I am also very nervous. What if they don't like where my books are going? My series is a cross genre story that involves legends, myths, romance and fantasy. The series is "Wizards of the Vatican." This series allows me to dance with the scary side, and throw in an unprepared woman in the mix, and watch the sparks fly!

I will keep everyone posted as I make my way through the editing process with my new publisher.


Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Kinky Boots!



I had the pleasure of seeing Kinky Boots this weekend. I know, most people will think this doesn't really count as I saw this at a movie theater. BUT I don't live near New York, so seeing a Broadway play in person is something that will probably never happen.

Lola rocks and it was such a grand, extravagant time. The crowd was laughing, cheering, and clapping. The hardship of being different is the point. Life wouldn't be nearly so exciting if we were all the same. Lola might have been born a man, but is a woman at heart and body. She can strut in some kinky boots and look damn good doing it!



Image courtesy of Fathom Events:

The songs were catchy and the emotions were believable. All the lyrics and music were by Cyndi Lauper. It was such a fun time and so glad I was able to experience it!

Thursday, June 13, 2019

The Problem with Godzilla

I love big monster movies! And I'm constantly hoping for a decent Godzilla to grace the big screen. I was hoping the newest installment would meet my expectations. I was wrong. From the beginning I found I didn't care anything about the mother and daughter. The father was somewhat more tolerable.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Photo courtesy of denofgeek.com


As the movie progressed, I became angry at the decisions each made (and the stupid plot lines). I could understand the underlying drive that pushed the mother to do what she did, but really.

The movie didn't set up good fight scenes with all the "Titans" aka Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan,  King Ghirodah, and 13 others. It was overload, and vaguely similar to having sit through some sermon preaching about how bad people are and how huge monsters need to be the ones in control to restore power.

The scenes were blurry, shaky and seemed like a cheap gimmick to cover up the not-so-great fights. I still get a chill when I hear Godzilla roar, and the sound of him"charging" up to fire his nuclear fire was pretty awesome, but overall, I found the movie vastly lacking.

It also left me with a strong urge to watch Pacific Rim again.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

A Girl's Guide to Purgatory is now released!



We did it! My Girl's Guide sequel is now available in ebook and paperback! This is one of my favorite stories. I finished it a few years ago, it got better editing and a new cover design. Originally it was to be traditionally published... but that's a long story and does't end well.
A Girl's Guide to Purgatory by [Pearson, Penny]
But I love this story so much, I didn't want to give up on it. The idea of someone falling in love after they die is so compelling to me. I also wrote it during one of the toughest times of my life. One of my work friends (and someone I called a true friend) passed away while I was writing it. I think creating a character in my friend's memory helped me get through my sadness. I was able to keep her with me a little longer.

And even though it was bittersweet to write THE END, I have a feeling Kathy would be proud. I am not religious, but she was. And even though we have our differences in beliefs, she still welcomed me in her world. We were friends, and that is not something I grant very often. I'm a solitary soul. I love the people closest to me, but rarely invite anyone else in.

So with thoughts of Kathy, I'm re-releasing A Girl's Guide to Purgatory. This book has action, danger, love, and everything in between. I took the strange and unusual and tried to blend it in to an environment that I thought would be familiar, yet different.

If you feel like reading a fast-paced book with super neat characters, take a try at Purgatory!

https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Guide-Purgatory-Penny-Pearson-ebook/dp/B07S6QMH8S/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=a+girl%27s+guide+to+purgatory&qid=1559184130&s=gateway&sr=8-2


Friday, May 17, 2019

Big festival tomorrow!

I'm headed to Louisville, KY tomorrow for SpringFest Old Louisville. It's a local festival and I've never been there before. My booth is set up right behind the Kid Zone area (great for my coloring and children's books). I'm slightly worried about my "Man," aka Greek demigod with the most amazing smoldering look and washboard abs. He's a show stopper.

I'm hoping all the stressed out moms will see him and want to read all about his adventures. I will be bringing 14 different books - the biggest selection. Hopefully I'll have 2 more to add on to my June event (Time Travel sequel, A Girl's Guide to Purgatory and a new kids book called My Mom is Sick and It's Okay). 

I'll follow-up with a show recap. This will be the biggest event for me so far, even though it's only 1 day from 10am - 7pm. The reports were that in the past almost 10,000 people came through. They will have bourbon slushees to combat the extreme heat.

Write on!
Penny


A Girl's Guide sequel releasing soon!

A Girl's Guide to Purgatory, the sequel to my Girl's Guide series is complete! My proof will be here this weekend. I found a great cover that conveyed what I was going for and look forward to the feedback on it. This book is about a girl that dies and falls in love with the manager of purgatory.

Stay tuned and I'll report how it goes!
Write on!
Penny

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Scammed again, darn it! Sometimes the writers' world makes me want to scream.

So, it's official. I have been scammed out of money. Again. It's a part of being a writer. You not only have to be creative. You also have to watch for warning signs of potential scammers. But what happens if none are given? I've worked with someone in the past and I've loved their feedback with editing and cover design. When they ventured out on their own, I was quick to follow them. I wanted my second story in the series I was working on to be edited by her.

When we talked, she said she would work on my cover design, as well. When she texted me, telling me she usually takes payment at a certain point, I eagerly paid. Sigh. Many months later, this person has dropped off the radar. The money wasn't the big thing. It was the idea of this great partnership going down the drain.

Where does that leave me? Trying to pick up the pieces and edit again. This wasn't the first time I've been taken in by a writing scam. It probably won't be the last. I have found the perfect cover design that, if I don't say so myself, works better than the cover she found for me.

That is one thing I've found in the twenty-plus years in writing: perseverance.

If something gets you down, take it in stride and take notes. It's the only way. If you let it get you down every time something does something says something bad about your, or takes your money by subterfuge, you'll never get anywhere. So, just remember, keep your head about you, and tell yourself if it sounds too good to be true, it might well be.

Stay weird!
Penny


Sunday, April 7, 2019

Howl's Moving Castle 15th Anniversary



Fathom Events brought Howl's Moving Castle to theaters this afternoon, so I took myself to the movies. I've never seen this anime, but the premise intrigued me greatly. Wizard, lonely girl, witches...what's not to like, right?

I checked Rotten Tomatoes and the audience gave it a 92% - so another good thing going for it. I had my small bucket of popcorn, a medium Coke, reclining seat, and NO neighbors! Excellent.


And I fell asleep. For shame, I know! But honestly. I was expecting a little more wizarding...
The beginning started out well, the movie progressed. I loved all the side characters: jumping scarecrow, strange little dog with red feet that didn't exactly bark. Okay, Howl can turn into a bird. In the very beginning when he rescued Sophie from some soldiers he used magic to move them along. But no other magic was busted out really. Now, it was possible all the cool magic happened when I was sleeping. But I must say, the only other movie I fell asleep in was Groundhog Day and I've seen A LOT of movies.

I really liked Sophie's character. She was spunky. But Howl, um, he certainly wouldn't be my idea of a leading man. I wanted mysterious. Instead, I got whiner who complained about beauty.

I don't doubt this was a great movie in a lot of eyes and I was really disappointed that I didn't like it as much as everyone else. It's possible the Ghibli Studio just isn't right for me. I wasn't crazy about Spirited Away.


So stay tuned for next time, hopefully it'll be better (Dumbo or Shazaam!) and I'll let you know!
Stay paranormally weird!
Penny

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Brought down by my annual case of the flu!

So for the 2nd year in a row (flu shots both seasons), I can claim to officially have the flu. Boo. Not exactly the record I was striving for.
Image result for public domain pictures of sneezing
Photo courtesy of clker

I'd like to think that is the reason I've pushed my bigger novels to the back burner. I've been really concentrating on a children's book line (Angie McPherson) and haven't devoted much time to getting my girl going in an alternate universe.

I've been running story ideas past my husband and there are some really exciting things that are getting imagined. Now I just need to open my file on the story and start typing. I'm trying not to get discouraged by the fact that my editor for the 2nd story in my Girl's Guide series has disappeared from the face of the earth. That's part of the business.

Pick up and move on. So, after my fever settles down, I will be starting on the Bermuda project. It's going to be fun, I just need to believe it.

Stay paranormally weird!
Penny

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Stuck in a portal

 I started on my newest novel immediately after finishing my last one. Year after year, I finish one and start another. I had some downtime this Christmas, but was busy designing coloring books and getting my first children's book published (visit AngieMcP blog - if interested). But now that things have slowed down, I don't want to work on it. People are waiting for it and it's kind of needed to make my series better. Three books are better than two, and all that.

I have an outline (sort of) and I kind of know where it's going, but I still don't want to work on it. So for now, I'm hedging around it. I think once I get back into it, everything will fall into place. I hope so. I think it's because it takes an entire year to complete. That's so much time. I'm not saying it's not worth it, but I have been testing new writing styles. Some can be completed in a month (or even less).

I will continue to write full-length novels, also look to the future for different audiences.

Stay tuned and stay paranormally weird!
Penny

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Why does KDP hate me and my ability to design book covers?

Oh, CreateSpace, how I wish you would come back!!! I miss you Cover Creator.  I cannot make a cover that doesn't get kicked out of KDP repeatedly to save my life. I download templates, re-download templates, pray to the gods... nothing seems to matter. My cover gets past the initial proof stage. It looks great. then I get the dreaded email from KDP stating my cover doesn't fit how it's supposed to.

Image result for public domain crying

I am ready to pull my hair out and not sure how to fix it going forward. Now I know why I'm happy to have some traditionally published work. Someone else can deal with this headache.

So here's to hoping for some good luck!
Stay paranormally weird!
Penny

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

My Fair Lady!

I went to see the Fathom Events My Fair Lady this weekend. I thought for sure I had seen the movie. I mean, who hasn't, right? Yeah. Apparently, I've never seen the movie. I knew some scenes and songs, but the movie was new to me. Crazy, I know! In the beginning, they related facts pertaining to the movie. I didn't know that Audrey Hepburn didn't sing the songs, and I didn't know that Julie Andrews was the lead in the Broadway play.  Andrews wasn't cast as the lead in the movie because she hadn't done any movies.

Which luckily that happened or we might not have gotten our beloved Mary Poppins! I did enjoy My Fair Lady and so glad I got to finally see it!

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Ready for spring and ready for a sequel!

My sequel to A Girl's Guide to Time Travel will be out in the next few months. This story doesn't involve any characters previously met before. I realize people want sequels and publishers know this, but I wanted to create a series where the situations might be similar but each story contains completely different people. The pitch I could use would be: My main character finds themselves in strange situations.

Pretty simple, huh? Well, why did I pick something that requires so much research? I'm a glutton for punishment. The second story, A Girl's Guide to Purgatory, still needed research, but not as much. For purgatory, I could use my imagination and didn't have to rely on so much book work. And now that I'm working on the third installment, I'm back up to my neck in research.

I don't hate research, but it's hard for me to keep it all organized. Sometimes I find myself spending hours on background info, but in the end it will make the story more well-rounded.

Stay tuned for more Purgatory info!
Stay paranormally weird!
Penny