Heidi Angell's Blog, page 15

Meet the Author Monday with Michelle Murray

Hello Lovelies,As you know, my son has been thoroughly enjoying The Land of Mystica series, a mid-grade fantasy series by Michelle Murray (See his book reviews ofbook oneandbook twohere.) Michelle is a married working mother of two fine young men who lives in Wisconsin. When not writing she enjoys reading, especially science fiction/fantasy and classics. She also enjoys painting, crafts and spending time with her family. She also enjoys going for walks and swimming. Her favorite authors include: Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Margaret Weiss and Colleen Houck.I just had to reach out to Michelle for an interview! So let's welcome Michelle to An Angell's Life. Good Morning, Michelle. What inspired this book?This book was inspired by dreams and mist. It was also inspired by my sons. They were constantly bringing home books to read that contained violence, bullying, cutting, killing, and I wanted to write a fun family friendly fantasy series like Chronicles of Narnia that I could read to and with my kids without all this graphic material. I am all for choosing books and am against banning books, but I felt there should be an alternative. Something to choose from. Something different.And I'm so glad that you did. I feel the same way, and am constantly telling my kids. "Not until your older." when they pick out books that are not age appropriate. If you could have your book made into a movie who would direct it?I would love to have Steven Spielberg  direct it lol, but I'd be happy with anyone.Spielberg is kind of amazing, right? If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast?I would cast Shailene Woodley as Miranda. She has the right look, and has been in several shows. I would cast Leonardo Dicaprio as one of the wizards. Who doesn't like Leo?I would cast Johnny Depp as one of the wizards. I've always liked him even before pirates.I haven't thought beyond those three lol.Sounds like a pretty awesome cast! What is your next project?4a I have several things In progress, it's just a matter of finishing lol. I am working on the fourth book of the dream walker series, where Miranda must travel to the dream world to fight the darkness. I am working on a prequel for Lightning.  What was he like before being trapped in stone? And finally I'm working on some poetry for a writing competition.Busy, busy! That's awesome! Who is one person from history you would like to meet?I would like to meet Sitting Bull. If you  don't know who he is, I suggest you research him. I would like to hear from him the history, language and beliefs of the Soiux people.Ooh, he would be an awesome person to meet. I've visited his resting place before. He was a very amazing man.Thanks for joining us Michelle, my son can't wait for the next book in the Land of Mystica Series!Want to learn more about Michelle? Visit herWebsite. Until next time,Keep Reading!

Thoughtful Thursday: Why I #LovetoRead

Hello Lovelies,I got a fun email in from Goodreads informing me "World Book Day is a global celebration of reading, authors, and books, recognized in more than 100 countries worldwide. Our colleagues at Amazon have created special landing pages for various countries to highlight World Book Day this week. Check out the ones for the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., or find the one that's local to you.We hope you will join in this celebration by sharing why you #LovetoRead. From April 17 to 23, post about why you #LovetoRead on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same! (This campaign is not related to Amazon or Goodreads)."Image courtesy ofAskideas.comThere are so many supposed Book Days, and some people get a bit tetchy about them (Mainly because "it's not official") but to me, every day should be World Book Day. That's why I post so often celebrating and sharing books! It's basically what my whole online existence is all about. If I were to stop being an author (heaven forbid) I would still post about my passion for books.Why? Well, for one, books were an integral part of my childhood. My mother read to me and fostered a love of reading. We still exchange books, even as adults! I passed that same love and passion on to my children, reading together every night. Even though they are now teens, we will read a book together (as long as they can stand to wait. My boys are the whale readers I was in my youth! They finish whole books in a day. I miss when I could do that!)But reading is about more than just connecting my family. Reading is about connecting worlds. There was an interesting article published that showed that readers are much more open-minded, and more empathetic, than non-readers. Even with Movie goers, and video gamers (who also get immersed in "story") there is not that same development. I have wondered about this. It isn't just the stories of different people being shared, because if that were the case, then we would see similar test results in those who are actively involved in seeing other stories. So what is it about reading specifically?I think that it's because we get to see the internal workings of other minds in a way that movies and games can't really explore. Seeing how other people arrive at their decisions helps us to understand how they can be different, do things we do not agree with, but still be relate-able.Nowhere is this more beautifully portrayed than in Speculative Fiction. Authors of Speculative Fiction have so much freedom to really address societal issues in a safe and nonthreatening double layer of Fiction and Make Believe that Contemporary, Romance, and even Thrillers just can't quite reach.And it is in those worlds where anything can happen, where the readers have complete permission to believe anything, that real hard issues can be explored and picked apart without anyone's world view being threatened. When a reader doesn't feel that their world view is in danger, then they have the freedom to study that abstract world view and become more accepting.It makes me sad to see reports like This one fromPew Researchin 2015, that shows the number of readers dropping. Orthis figurewhich showed that few people read multiple books each year. The fact that most people who don't read are less educated, or make less money, also breaks my heart. Why? Because I grew up poor. We rarely had money for things like going out to eat, going to the movies, going on vacations. But reading was integral to who we were. I learned so much of the world through books. And thanks to libraries, anyone can read. Reading is something that shouldn't be seen as an Elitist activity. It is, in my mind, integral to creating thoughtful, caring human beings.Whether you want to escape, or to educate yourself, need pleasure, or to learn about other worlds, a book can take you there. And there are so many benefits you get along the way.Why do you love to read? Share in the comments below.Until next time,Keep Reading!

Book Review-The Dream Walker Returns: Land of Mystica Series Volume Two By Michelle Murry

Genre:UrbanFantasySynopsis:The Darkness has waited a long time to return to Mystica. Now, with the help of the wizard Shadow it has found a way back into the land. It will stop at nothing and no one to darken all of Mystica. Miranda is called to Mystica to help fight the Darkness. Her friend Brian follows. Does he mean to help or hinder her? Can Miranda stop the Darkness and save Mystica, and if so at what cost?My Take:I loved the book a lot. It had twists and turns that I didn't see coming. There were a few misspellings but it was awesome. You should take a look at the book if you're a fantasy type. I enjoyed it, and I'm not really a fan of fantasy. I bet you will too.I love each and every single one of the characters. I loved the part where Brian tricks his mom into letting him finish his assignments just to turn back on what he was suppose to do. Shadow and his twist I really did not see coming. I honestly feel bad for him even tho he wanted to kill all of Mystica. I think the "Darkness" got what it deservedMiranda on the other hand I think it was a bit unfair to her and what I kinda want to know is what happens next.I was super excited to get all the books in the series for my birthday, and be sure to stay tuned as I will have reviews up for the other books soon!Until next timeKeep Reading

Teaser Tuesday- Book Unboxing for my Boy's Birthday!

Hello Lovelies,This weekend we celebrated my baby boy's 13th birthday party. Man, they grow up so fast! As you may recall, my little Angelic Valdez reviewedDream Walker Land of Mystica Volume1 back in January, after he got it for Christmas. Well, he really enjoyed the books and has been bugging me for months for the next book in the series. Poor kiddo, I can't keep him in books to save my life!He got the greatest gift for his birthday, watch the video to see!I WISH I could share his reaction video, because he was just as excited as I expected. Alas, his two friends are also in the video, so I can only share that to my personal Facebook page. (If we're friends, go check it out. He's too adorable!)Two favors to ask. 1. Anyone know how I can put an edge on my blade so I don't nearly kill myself next time? and 2. Anyone have any recommendations for a 13 year old boy who is verbally an advanced reader, but still enjoys the innocence of being a kid? He's already read two of these books and I need to start collecting for summer!Until next time,Keep Reading!

Meet the Author Monday with A.S. McGowan

Hello Lovelies,Remember how I told you that I met tons of amazing authors at B2B CyCon 2017? Well, here is one of them.  A.S. McGowan is a wife and mother, who lives in a small Southeast Missouri town. She's theauthor of the Centaur Agency series. Currently she's working on book 3 in the series, The Making of a Centaur, which will publish in July 2017. She also has plans for a vampire trilogy that she's working on. She will be publishing the trilogy after she finishes the 4 book Centaur Agency series. From there she also is working on a Werewolf series. So much planned with a little bit for everyone. (And given my own series, you can see why we hit it off!)Aside from her writing, she holds a bachelor degree in criminal justice and an MBA in finance. She is also ABD (all but dissertation) on a DBA in finance. She studies Taekwondo with two of her sons and finds it is a great way to get in shape and get mind body and spirit aligned. She loves sushi, steak and pizza. She could eat all three every day if allowed.Today's interview should be quite fun, am I right? Let's jump in. Welcome, A.S. McGowan, to An Angell's Life. Glad to have you here. Let's start with a tough question: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?That is a hard question because I really love all my characters. Even the characters that I created just to kill off are special to me. Now sometimes Matt’s sexist behavior gets on my nerves and my “unidentified shadowy hitman”, well, he sometimes kills the wrong characters off. When he does that I want to throttle him. However, I still love all my characters. Even minor characters took me time to develop so they became special also.I completely understand that feeling. Sometimes the minor characters have my deepest heart, both as a reader, and as an author. If you could have your book made into a movie, who would you want to direct it?I would love for Donald Paul Bellisario to come out of retirement and direct and produce the movie. His way of doing NCIS and even the 1980s tv series Quantum Leap was doing amazingly well in my opinion. So he would be the one I would dream of having produce and direct it. I do dream of the entire Centaur Agency series being turned into say a 4 night mini series. Well I can dream right?Yes, you can, and Bellisario is a great dream for a detective series! Let's switch gears a bit. What is one place you would like to visit and why?I have dreamed of visiting Scotland. My ancestors are from there and I have always wanted to see where they came from. I also married a man who’s family also immigrated from Scotland to the United States. Tracing his clan is hard as McGowan translates to blacksmith and most clans had a blacksmith. My maiden name is Ferguson so I know where my ancestors came from.Plus one of my favorite bands is from Hawick Scotland. Scocha is amazing and I have wanted for some time to go and see them live. Ian Scott is very sexy in his kilt and maybe one day I can get over there to see them live. Might even get a bit trashy and throw my bra at him.That is awesome! Where do you come up with your stories?The series I am working on right now Centaur Agency series is a four book series and the idea justpopped into my head. I decided to try the Nanowrimo challenge of 50K words in 30 days. I started the book and well it just kept growing and I realized that it was too many points of view for just one book. That is how it ended up broken down into a 4 book series.I also have a vampire trilogy that I am working on. I read a vampire book (can’t remember the name right now) and it was so different than any vampire book I have ever read. It inspired me to do a trilogy of my own using the same premise about vampires as that book did. After all there are so many lores about vampires but I had never heard this one before. So I want to use that premise and make it my own. Oh and my vampire trilogy will also contain ghosts and one very very evil pissed off Warlock.Then there is a werewolf series that has just came up. I don’t want to give too much of it away right now. My husband actually called me last night and pitched this idea at me. I was like oh wow that is different and interesting. I can so do that.I love Nano. I'm supposed to be doing camp nano this month, but life has gotten in the way. Totally need to get caught up. Alright, last question: who is your favorite author?I am a huge Nora Roberts fan. I must admit that I try my best to grab any book she puts out there. I also love her In Death series written under her pen name J.D. Robbs. I have yet to read any of her work that I have not liked. Crime and mystery, sweet romances and even her witches, fairies, demons are all amazing.She's one of my favorite authors too! Well, thanks for entertaining us today!Are you as intrigued with A.S. McGowan's stuff as I am? The follow her onFacebook,Twitter, orInstagramfor more sneak peeks. Want to learn more about her books? Check out herwebsiteorAmazon Author Page. Want to see what books she's recommending, and what events she's participating in? Check out herblog. I am very excited to addFor the Love of a Centaurto my TBR!Until next time,Keep Reading!

Poetry Corner: Wendy

With delicate love, you raised me,Even when times were hard.Needy and alone, we stuck together.Don't ever doubt the things you've done.You're the greatest.Until next time,Keep Reading!

Thoughtful Thursday- In View of the Dead

Hello Lovelies,Jesse Teller is joining us again, to celebrate the release of Book Title: Mestlven: A Tale from Perilisc. Here is a creepy guest post that gives you a taste of his writing!To say that I loved her would have been warping the word. At the time, it was the only word I knew todescribe the way she made me feel. I was a freshman in high school. I wanted love so badly, wanted to feel important to someone. But more than anything, I wanted to suffer for love.I craved the unhealthy attention of a girl who didn’t give a shit. I wanted a girl who would string me along. I wanted something tragic, and she was perfect. The only reason she wanted anything to do with me was because she was in love with my friend. They had loved each other with purity and innocence, and he had had enough and walked away. In her pain and heartbreak, she came to me. He didn’t care, and she took it out on me.Like a wounded puppy, I followed her around, and out of pity, or in pursuit of a vengeance she was unable to get on my friend, she took me in and called me her boyfriend. Her family then promptly moved away.They went to a cleverly named town in Missouri. The name doesn’t matter. The town doesn’t matter. This was the type of town people get lost in, the kind of town that swallows kids whole and binds them to a small life. Her father had retired from the military, and with his riches, he had bought a Victorian hotel.The structure was old, ancient, and falling apart. He must have gotten it for a steal as it was nearly uninhabitable. The abandoned hotel had four floors with scores of rooms. It looked bitter and angry. It seemed to hold only ill will for the town it haunted, and when she moved there, the building had opened its gaping jaws and devoured my girl.She now lived forty minutes away from me. This was in the time of land lines and long distance, a time when to call your girlfriend to chat would cost way too much for your working class family to afford. I had the girl, and she was well out of my hands. Deep in the summer, I reached out and got ahold of her. She agreed to entertain my friend and I if I could get a ride, and Sam was willing if I gave him gas money. With a fist full of sweaty dollar bills, I climbed into his Ford and off we went.No one had ever been this nervous. No one had ever been this excited. No one had ever been this hopeless.I knew as we were driving to her house that my obsession with her was dead. With no way to call her and the miles between us becoming a reality, I knew this would be the last time I would ever see this girl, the last time she would ever waste with me. I was a part of a life that was dead, a ghost of a life she had once lived, and she would be best to banish me from her mind. I had to figure out a way to do the same.When I got there and looked upon the monster she had moved into, I felt it looking at me. I could hear its stomach churning as it contemplated the meal, and I suddenly didn’t want to be there.She met me outside with a sweating glass of tea that she held to her beautiful face as she smiled. To my teenage mind, body, and soul, nothing had ever looked so good. Her sweat accented her body. Her perfectly tanned skin called for fingers to caress it. Her lips asked for more. She was a goddess of girls, whimsical and light, with a grin that could stop a bullet, and a body to match. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and she was mine, if only for one more day.He arrived almost immediately. He pulled up on his bike, and I almost vomited. He was a god of boys, country and perfect, with a body corded, a tanned and bare chest rippling with power, and a smile that stole hearts and broke them. I hated him intensely. When she walked down the stairs to meet him with a laugh and a smile, I knew he had already won her heart. They were all but together, a vital couple, vivid and real, with no hint of specter and no sign of death.She talked to him for a while, and stared after him when he left. Then she took me by the hand and walked me into her house. I was swallowed up by it, and what I saw there would stain me forever.We talked and laughed, and I enjoyed her while I could. She was a fading dream, and I would not let myself wake up yet. She talked for hours, and I watched her lips, aching for a kiss, a first kiss, one that I had been waiting my entire life for. When night began to play out, she took me on a tour of her family’s monster, and I felt the true overwhelming power of the dead thing I stood within.She showed me rooms, all shattered and ruined. “This will be my room,” she said. “See the window, how it looks out over the back yard and the river that runs through it. At night you can see the stars reflecting off the water. It is serene. It is divine.”We moved on. “This will be grandmother’s room. It is big enough to fit her sewing machine and her great rocker. I was rocked to sleep in that thing, and it is immense and beautiful.”Rooms and rooms passed by us. Every one of them had an obscure purpose coming for it. Every one of them had a guest who would stay in it. Cousins, friends, acquaintances, everyone they knew could have a room of their own. Of course, this was not for me. This was for her new life and the people who would populate it. She took me up and up, showing me room after room. As we ascended through the building, the creature I stood in began to rot. Every step higher, the rooms deteriorated. Every tread on every stair creaked louder until the beast around me groaned and spit, screamed and popped, at my passing.When I reached the final floor, I saw the true state of the hotel. For up here, the outer walls were collapsing. Here, the building was skeletal. The night sky could be seen between rib-like slats. The floor had sagged, and there was no possibility of further travel. Here was the corpse of the hotel. I stared at my surroundings and cold fear rose up within me like the coming strains of some terrible dirge.She turned around.She was close, so close, the heat of her body coming at me in pulses. By the slices of moonlight, I could see her lips as she licked them. She took my hand in hers and pulled me close. This was it, the last moment we would ever have, the last breath of her air I would ever take. She was blessing me with a kiss—my first kiss ever, my last with her. My heart ran like a lunatic in the night. My erection howled like a lonely beast, starving and desperate. I closed my eyes to gather myself.When they opened, I saw that we were not alone.They stood, sat, and lay all around us, faint wisps of rumored shadow, turning to look, pulling close to watch. A glowing specter, laying on a bed that no longer existed, propped himself up on an elbow to stare at me with black eyes. Phantoms stepped closer, watching us.Fear was new to me then. I thought I had known it, thought I understood it as an entity. But this was beyond the understanding of the word. My heart raged to escape. My body trembled and quaked. I wanted to run, wanted to scream, wanted to get out of that building and away from the dead that were, even now, pulling closer. They could sense young, vibrant flesh, could feel passion, hot and yearning, and they wanted closer to it.She closed her eyes, she parted her perfect lips, and she sighed.Never in my life had I ever wanted anything more than that kiss. I had dreamt of it, planned for it, ached for it. My teenage body demanded her mouth. I could not run away. After this moment, I would never see her, touch her, experience her, ever again. This one kiss, and then the car, the ride home, and a heartbreak I could feel swooping down upon me as I stood there. This was the end of it. I was incapable of walking away.I kissed her.It was glorious and messy. I drooled all over her and made a complete idiot of myself. But when our lips touched, I heard the ghosts pulling around us release a sound that still echoes in my mind today. I can hear it now filling my office, a low, mournful cry of such utter sadness and yearning, that to hear it was to never be parted from it. It was a sadness that stains, a sadness that clamps on and will not let go.As she turned around and pulled me down the stairs, I watched them draw ever closer, their faces taut and stretching, their hands grasping and begging for one more moment, one more image of youth and sexuality. I left them all crawling toward me, and I never went back.She is still out there somewhere, my first kiss. She has forgotten my slobbering mouth and my sad desperation. But I will never forget her mouth, and the way the dead moaned when I kissed her.Don't forget to check out Jesse's new release, Mestlven: A Tale from Perilisc.Genre:  Dark FantasyRevenge, Insanity, and the Bloody Diamonds—Meredith Mestlven was abused and betrayed by her nobleman husband. After a desperate fit of retaliation, she fled for her life and lost her sanity. Now nearly 20 years later, she returns to her home at Sorrow Watch to destroy her enemies and reclaim her jewels. How far will she go to satisfy her revenge? Dark, cunning and beautiful, Mestlven will win your heart or devour your mind.Available on:Amazon:Kobo:Barnes & Noble:Or add it to your TBR onGoodreads:Until next time,Keep Reading!

Wacky Wednesday: The Line

Hello Lovelies,I have something a little different, perhaps even a little wacky, for you today. As many of my long-time followers know, I am an art junkie. Music, books, movies, TV, paintings, sculptures, dance, poetry, ... I really dig it all. The art of human expression is a delightful way to explore philosophically.Mostly, I focus this blog on the written art form, but every once in awhile something inspires me greatly, and I have to share. Here is an example. A fellow author friend has taken an amazing leap and written a screen play. Not only that, he has made some good connections in the indie film world and they are ready to seek funding for their project. I found it to be quite the compelling project, so I wanted to share with everyone.On Friday April 7th anIndiegogocampaign to collect production funds for The Line will start it’s six month long drive. The Line is written by Jin Okubo, author of Love, and will be directed by Jimmy Lee, founder of the Unity Film Festival. Production is scheduled to take place this fall at a derelict farm in California. The Line is a psycho thriller about a group of murders that the FBI believes are all related to the same person, an unnamed and unknown serial killer.In a world of remakes, prequels, and sequels, they’re looking to make something new. The goal is to capture again the feeling of meeting the monster in the dark, an unknown killer, without basing it on someone else’s character. The depravities and impulses of the human mind are as unique as the individual. And no one makes a better monster to humans than another human. This is the story they want to tell, want to share with the world, but they need help to make the horror come alive.Remember in Silence of the Lambs, how you felt when Jodie Foster was in that basement. Through the night vision you can see the utter fear and helplessness in her eyes. In a way you could taste that damp air she was breathing. That's what they're going for!  They have a great story, now they need the funds to hire fabulous actors and crew to finish it. Let's show the world that great acting still exists and great stories can still be made.In making, and funding, this short film they strive to show the audience what can lay hidden behind a human face. In order to do that they are encouraging the backers to help, in more ways than just money. There are several interesting perks that will make you a part of the film itself, not just a sponsor or patron. Check out the Indiegogo CampaignThe Line Short Filmto see how you can join! (Seriously, there are some pretty cool features based on the level you commit, like signed copies of the script, getting to be one of the victims of the killer, and NAMING the town. How cool?!)And if you think this is a cool project, please be sure to share. Sharing is caring!Until next time,Keep Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: What I got from B2BCyCon 2017

Hello Lovelies,I rested most of the day Monday, ruminating on the mad dash that was B2B CyCon 2017 and let me tell you, my e-reader is overflowing from the awesome books I found, and my heart is overflowing from the amazing authors I met!I wanted to do a top ten, but we all know how much I struggle with that, right?!So instead, I am just going to mention some of my favorite things from Cycon. (I can't list all of my favorite things, because I would be here all week!) So much bookish goodness smashed into one amazing weekend!I have to say, Joe Live (or Joe's Bar) was amazing! Seeing all the authors, gettting to listen to them just geek out about so much fun stuff, was really awesome. If I was awake, I had this running on a tab while I perused all the other events and fun stuff at CyCon.My next favorite was probably the awesome scavenger hunts put on by the different genres. The Horror Genre did theirs as part of their blog hop,Walk Amongst the Monsters, and searching the author's websites for clues was so fun! A.F Stewart did a thrilling job! Science Fiction's started in theirFacebook event, and Kylie Jude came up with a clever Alien Chase which was super fun! And the FantasyAwaken the Dragon Scavenger huntwas epic! (BTW, this is still open through the end of the week, so go try it! Tons of fun!)There were amazing author interviews onBack Porch Writer, and I will probably be listening to these for the next couple of weeks! Kori does such fun interviews, where you really get to know the authors!Each genre had some really amazing panels and I have enjoyed listening to them, and even sitting in on a few! You should check them out. There arepanels for every genre.Story timewas awesome, as always, with Karina Kantas and Angela B. Chrysler providing sample readings from authors at the convention.And the bulk of my weekend was spent wandering theauthor booths, or showcases, over on goodreads. Getting a sense of not only their book offerings, but also their personalities, their unique flare. It was a ton of fun! Between that and the Book Expo itself, I have so many amazing new books added to my TBR! I expect I'll spend the next couple of weeks enjoying all of the amazing stuff from CyCon 2017, and that is probably my favorite part. Yeah, the weekend dash, meeting all the authors, and getting to know everyone was awesome, but unlike real conventions, the adventures don't end now that the weekend is over. I don't have to feel like I missed out on the thousands of amazing things I haven't seen yet, because I will get to spend as much time as I want perusing at my own pace. I LOVE it!You can do the same, by visiting theCyCon website. And they've already committed to next year, which makes me so happy! If you want to get a reminder before the event next year, so you can join this incredible bookish weekend, then go ahead andsign up today.Until next time,Keep Reading!

The Ten Greatest, Terrible, Beautiful, Ugly Movies

Hello Lovelies,For anyone who's missed it, Jesse has been a guest a few times now, with hisauthor interview, and a guest postBook of the BrokenLet's welcome Jesse Teller to the blog again today, sharing his top 10 horror movies!Let’s talk about horror movies.Let’s talk about the terrible horror movies. There is no place in this conversation for classics like The Exorcist. We are not interested in The Shining or anything Freddy, Jason, or Michael. I’m not ready to talk about any of them because those are good movies. Today, we are looking at the terrible movies that some of us love, some of us abhor, and others, like myself, can’t get enough of. Let’s talk about the ten greatest B (or C, D and F) horror movies ever made.I have a crew made up of four guys and myself. We call ourselves Bad Movie Inc. We have everything a club should have: a President, Chris; a Vice President, Matt; a Secretary, a different Matt; a Treasurer, Joe; and me, the Sergeant-at-Arms. We get together and watch the worst movies we can find because no one else will watch them with us, (except my wife, she is cool) and because we can see the value in things like these.I love these kinds of movies because these people didn’t let anyone tell them that they couldn’t do it. I am an indie writer. I published my book myself. These moviemakers knew no one was going to make their movies, and they did it themselves. A few of these movies were made by big houses that will throw out whatever. A lot of these movies were made with big budgets with poor planning and bad writing. But most of these movies were home projects put together by groups who wanted to get their work out, no matter what that meant. That, I can respect.You can’t judge a piece of art by other pieces. You have to judge a piece by what it is meant to be. Photo realistic painting is amazing, but you can’t call Picasso crap because his work is not as realistic as Zhi Lin’s Five Capital Punishments of China. Taylor Swift is not trying to be Mozart. She is trying to make pop music. And as pop music goes, she is nailing it. That is what makes her work good music. She is shooting for a result, and she is hitting it. These movies are not trying to be Citizen Kane. These filmmakers are trying to make bad horror movies. And if they are trying to achieve that goal, they have reached it. In that way, these movies are fine art.I will share with you now the ten greatest, terrible, beautiful, ugly movies I have ever seen—special movies I think everyone who writes or does any creative work should watch.10.Re-Animator:Ok, the thing is this. Don’t ask any questions—that will get you in trouble. The minute you start asking questions, everything falls apart. Don’t ask how the severed head keeps blood flowing through itself. Don’t ask any of the thousands of questions about possibility or reason that this movie begs. Just lay back and let go, like slipping into a warm bath. That’s what you should do. Like a warm bath. Actually, just take a bath and skip the movie.9.Zombeavers:This is a wonderful movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The subject matter is plain by the title. A group of college students out in a cabin in the woods are attacked by Zombie Beavers. It has a pretty big budget, I think. And it is blessed with the greatest ending to any movie I have ever seen. Wait until you get there. It’s worth watching the movie to get to the ending. It’s genius.8.I Am Omega:Let me read you the description on the back of this movie. Yes, I own it. “The LoneSurvivor of a deadly plague is doomed to an eternal battle with mutant creatures that control the earth.” Flesh-eating mutants? Sign me up. This movie is so bad that it made me wish I didn’t have eyes. But then, I would have heard it, which I’m not sure is any better. A great bad movie should make you think about stepping in front of a bus. This one is that movie. Good luck.7.Decadent Evil:Don’t need to say much about this one. Again, I will read you the description. This description is why the eight pack was bought for me, I think. This is amazing. “A vampire named Morella feasts upon her strip club clientele while housing her ex-lover Marvin part human/part reptile in a bird cage.” Run out and get it. It is so much worse than it sounds.6.Children of the Corn III Urban Harvest: This franchise will not die. After this movie, it maybe should have. The secretary of Bad Movie Inc. has the job of researching every movie we watch. He said that in 2017, they are coming out with Children of the Corn IX. Can’t wait to have them all.5.Sorrow Creek:Not really sure what happens in this movie. Cursed town kills a bunch of college students. Lots of really bad acting. Lots of really great fun. If you are seeking an action-packed movie, just don’t. The bulk of the movie takes place in a house, and the murders take place outside. There is a really cool thing that happens to the car, though. That part is kind of creepy. Check it out. It’s terrible.4.The Dead Sleep:Maybe you shouldn’t watch this one. I don't know. I bought it this summer. It’s October and I have already watched it five times. Each time, I think, “This is the time I’m going to rip my eyes out.” But I never do. The daughter is not a bad actor. Thirty-six of the fifty lines that the wife is given are just saying the husband’s name over and over. It is so worth the watch. Settle in for a great movie. Bring a book.3.Troll II:This is actually a cult classic. If you are talking about bad movies, you have to say this name. It is about goblins. There is not a troll in the entire movie. Look for the character Creedence. She is marvelous. This movie is not for vegetarians. Chris, the President of Bad Movie Inc., is a vegetarian. Evidently, they are monsters. And by the way, coffee is the devil’s drink, stick to milk.2.Meridian:This movie is so bad that I am pretty sure Secretary Matt stole it so he would never have to watch it again. It is right now under his mattress, or buried in his yard. He may have melted it down into a smaller chunk so he could flush it. When I said we were going to get it and watch it a second time, he yelled “No!” This is the guy who brought Troll 2 to the group. Muscle through it and get to the end. It will have you scratching your head, and wishing cameras hadn’t been invented.1.Redneck Carnage:Without a doubt, the best movie on the list. I have seen this movie ten times. It was filmed by Count Zee. I went to high school with this guy. He wrote, directed, produced, edited, and did the catering for this film, I think. He is a genius. When he made this movie, he was trying to make a cheesy horror movie. He knew what he had, and he knew what he was making.Good luck with this list. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did, and maybe you can find a group of people like Bad Movie Inc. to enjoy them with.Jesse Teller fell in love with fantasy when he was five years old and played his first game of Dungeons & Dragons. The game gave him the ability to create stories and characters from a young age. He started consuming fantasy in every form and, by nine, was obsessed with the genre. As a young adult, he knew he wanted to make his life about fantasy. From exploring the relationship between man and woman, to studying the qualities of a leader or a tyrant, Jesse Teller uses his stories and settings to study real-world themes and issues.Want to learn more about Jesse? Check out his website, follow him on facebook, twitter and Goodreads. Want to keep up with what books he is releasing, follow his Amazon author page.You can purchase Chaste from Amazon, Kobo, or Barnes & Noble.