Jack Reacher Movie Review

I thought Jack Reacher would be like Broken City, but it wasn't.  This movie was so much better.
It had plot. It had motive. It had plenty of conflict.  It didn't have sex, but it had heat...I loved it.

And even though I'm not a big Tom Cruise fan, he still did an excellent job. Kuddo's to Tom! The man can act...

The movie starts off with a shooting of 5 "random" people (or at least that's what it seems), and the shooter is caught.  The evidence was laid out perfectly for the cops. And when the police start to interogate him, he writes, "Get Jack Reacher."

Well, they have no idea how to find Jack, but it didn't matter, Jack found them. Jack sees the bad guy on the news and knows him.  Knows they have the right guy or do they?

Jack hook's up with the defending attorney (she asks him to investigate for her), even though he just wants to prove that the shooter is guilty, (not what the atty wants) but then he starts piecing the puzzle together and things don't add up.  Now, the real bad guys start after Reacher, but Reacher is a little too smart for those clowns.  They also go after the atty. Reacher is a little sweat on the atty., so of course he helps her out...Reacher is a bad ass, but the kind you have to like...

I don't think I'm giving the movie justice with this review, and I won't spoil it either, so go and see it for yourself.  You'll be happy you did.  I'm giving this a 4 out of 5 Stars.  Oh, and don't forget to look for Lee Child, the author of the Jack Reacher series.  Child's plays the cop who hands Reacher back his belongings after he gets out of jail.

Review by Dawn Chartier  

Broken City - Movie Review

Broken City * Movie Review by Dawn Chartier

I give Broken City 3.5 stars out of 5. This was a crime drama, car crashing, shoot-em up type of movie which stars some really good actors, (Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe) but the plot was a same ole' same ole'. It lacked a better twist and more sub-plots.

Quick Summary: An ex-cop was hired by the Mayor (who is running for Mayor again) to investigate his wife. The ex-cop (who is now a P.I.) believes he is trying to capture pictures of the wife cheating on the Mayor, but it's not what it seems. The Mayor has a bigger agenda.

The Mayor takes the pictures from the P.I. and pays him, then bad things happen to wife's supposed lover who is the Mayor's rival campaign manager. The P.I. realizes the Mayor is up to no good, and then it's too late. The Mayor has proof against the P.I., and he can't get out of it. He has two choices. Do the right or wrong thing. I won't ruin the ending and tell you which one he does.

I like my movies with a little more thought out plot. But this might be just me, so I wouldn't say it was a waste of money, it just wasn't what I'd hoped for. (p.s. I didn't pay for this one, a friend won the tickets, and I enjoyed her company as always.)

Hit as Many Balls as You Can...

I got up this morning dreading my 9am appointment with the nice golf instructor, Brian.  Not because I didn't want to practice my golf swing, but because it was like 50 degrees out there. Brrrrrrr.
I hate the cold. (And yes, that is freezing cold to me.)


This was only my second lesson to date, and I found out that golfing is much like writing. The more you practice the better you will be.  Well, I wasn't much better, but it was still fun learning how to hold the clubs, which clubs to use, where to stand, how to bend my knees, and twist my body just so. Then all I had to do was swing and hit the ball. Let me just tell you, it's not as simple as you think...

I can do each of those steps listed above, but when I put them all together they don't always go in the proper order.  My hips are supposed to led the way, but for some reason, they don't want to. Sounds like writing to me. You have to have characters, setting, dialogue, etc. and you have to figure out how to put all that writing in a certain order so it makes sense... I'm learning how to both though. And it's a lot of fun.

I had some great pictures, but for some reason I can't post them here anymore, not sure what's up there... Grrr...

Looking forward to trying my new skills out on a golf course. :-)

Have a great weekend,
Dawn

Part II - New Year - New me...(Golf anyone?)

So this is what I found out about the new me.  She's as stubborn as the old me, but guess what?
I sent in my first query of the year.  Yep. Sure did.  Am I nervous? Well, of course I am, but I had the urge to get it out and so be it.  No matter what happens - all is good...  I have faith in the story, and faith in my series - one day it will be published...

Tonight I'll finished up plotting another book, and keep on writing...

Anywho, my next New Year adventure is learning how to play golf.  Yep. You heard that right.
My first lesson is tomorrow, but it looks like rain is coming. Cross your fingers for me...

Why golf?  Well, because my hubby plays, and he enjoys when I go with him. (I enjoy it too, but not like him.) I would probably enjoy it a lot more if I knew how to actually hit the ball... I hate swinging at air, and spinning into a complete circle. I know I look like a fool, but hubby never laughs...

Until then...keep on reading or whatever your new adventure is...

Last read book: 'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries - 4.5 Stars - A very touching Christmas romance story...

About to read: (I haven't decided yet.)

Enjoy 2013!
Dawn

New Year...New me?

So it's a new year and I thought a lot about a new years resolution for 2013. Sending several days vacationing in Florida will do that to you...

Then after a friend's comment (Ursula Whistler) on Twitter, I figured out what that resolution would be. (Thanks UW)

And here it is:  "I will not let fear (or anyone) stand in the way of my dreams."

Once upon a time this was how I lived life, but then somehow fear slid its way into my mind and halted me in my tracks.  FEAR whispered in my ear, telling me that I couldn't fulfill my dreams. That I needed to give up.... and when you think you can't do it - guess what?  You can't.

Now that I realize what (who) was standing in my way (me!), I will kick myself in the butt and get back into the "I can do anything I put my mind to, and not worry about fear or rejection" attitude and all will be well again. Maybe December was just a bad month for me, but this is a new year and a new attitude.

Plus, you'd think after TOR and Penguin requested to read my MS that I'd get over the fear, but no....I think it made the fear grow a little more.  But that's over with now.  I got past the "Oh shit!" moment, and will finish up the edits for Mixed Magic and finish up revising Buried Magic and send those submissions out asap. Fear will let go of my hands and allow me to grow once again...

So time to kick that fear bitch to the side, and allow the positive vibes to flow through out my body, mind and soul....and I hope the positive vibes flow through you as well.

Happy New Year All!  And Happy 2013 Reading and/or Writing!

Hugs,
Dawn

The post office delivered WHAT?

Last week I was expecting two boxes of books from a friend, Barbara Vey. Well, one of the boxes came in and all was well.  Yay! A few days later I get another box. The box was still sitting on my front porch, and I wondered why the hubby hadn't brought it in. He proceeds to tell me he wasn't bringing that mess inside. Hmm. I had no idea what he meant be that.

So I go outside to bring the box inside, and found a very odd surprise. The box had multiple holes in it, and it had oily stains all over it.

I figured this box was accidentally delivered to me, so I proceeded to read the label and it matched the first box of books, but I could barely see where it had come from, but sure enough it was from the same address as before. 

I opened the box and found an engine. Wha???? Needless to say I was very puzzled.

My daughter suggested that Barbara was shipping the engine to a mechanic, and accidentally sent me the engine and sent the mechanic the books. Well, wouldn't he get a surprise if that were true... :-)

So I called Barbara and her voice mail picks up. I leave her a message that went something like this.
"Hi Barb - It's Dawn. Um. Did you send me an engine? Call me."

Anyway I left the engine on my porch because the stupid thing was leaking oil through the box, plus it must have weighed 40 pounds, which got me thinking, how could some one ship an engine for $10.95?  That's what the label read.  Man she got a deal. lol

Later I left for the mall with the kiddo to shop for her home-coming dress and shoes, and while she was trying on dresses, Barbara called me back.

"Hi Dawn.  I don't think I heard you right. Did you say, and she proceeds to spell it. "E.N.G.I.N.E."

I busted out laughing in the dressing room, and I'm sure people thought I was insane.  "Yep. That's what I said. The box was from you, but didn't have books inside. It had an greesy engine."

We laughed and she suggested I contact the post office.  So I called them and told them and the lady thought it was funny.  She told me the supervisor would call, but I haven't heard a word. The motor is still sitting on my porch, and it might still be there for Thanksgiving when all the family comes over. Wouldn't that make a great conversational piece. :-) "Er, Dawn. Why do you have an engine on your porch?"  

Were you ever surprised by a package before? 

Dawn Chartier
Diamonds, Amazon, Nook, Siren-Bookstrand
Not An Angel, Amazon
www.dawnchartier.com

On My Mind by, Sara Megibow (Agent) ~ from Newsletter Article

(This is an article from Nelson Agency - Permission was granted to me to repost by Sara Megibow)

 

On My Mind by Sara Megibow

My son is seven years old, and he’s short. I’m short, my husband is short. No big surprise there, right? Last month the kid and I were in line for ski passes. For those of you who don’t ski, please know that ski passes are not cheap. They range from $80 to $150 per day per skier. But we like to ski, so we budget for it. At the cash register, the total was much lower than I expected so I said, “That’s two regular-priced tickets, please, not one.” Cashier said, “Oh, I thought your son was five. He would have been free at five.” The woman in line behind me said (loudly), “Why on earth did you say anything? You should have taken the free ticket.” And all I could think to say was, “Because I don’t want to teach my son that honesty is only for rich people.” So, I paid full price, and my son was there to learn the lesson.Honesty.

When an author has a book for sale, one of our goals is to sell that book for money. Most authors will make a little money, some will make more money, and a verrrrrry few will make a lot of money. Regardless, in publishing, one goal is to bring in money. (Another goal is high artistic integrity, but more on that in another post.)

When readers pirate books for free, they are not paying the authors for those works. Those authors earn nothing for all their hard work. Now, I get that it's tempting to get a free book. And I also know that an author is popular if he/she is being regularly pirated. Pirated books can and probably do spread the word to legitimate book buyers. But that should not be the rationale.

Don’t take music files without paying for them. Don’t post pictures on your website that you don’t own. Don’t sneak into a movie without paying for it. Don’t lie to get cheaper ski passes. Be honest.

Sincerely,

Sara

What's Hot by Sara Megibow

I spent a week in NYC this month. Mostly I was enjoying New York ComicCon and geeking out with 119,000 other comic-book fans. But I did manage to do some work between getting autographs and being a fan girl. What’s hot in the world of adult science fiction and fantasy right now?

Based on meetings I had at ComicCon:

• The mash-up! Science fiction with steampunk, fantasy set in an historical time period with vampires, space opera with magic wands and prophecies. This is one reason Michael Martinez is getting such amazing advance publicity for THE DAEDALUS INCIDENT, his debut science fiction mash-up scheduled for early 2013.

• Commercial, fun, high-action science fiction. Think spaceships, aliens, battles, cool gadgets--the works.

• Epic fantasy with a unique story. A story bigger than “adventurers on an epic journey to find the magic object that will save the world.” Betsy Dornbusch has an epic fantasy called EXILE (Feb 2013) set in a totally unique world. This is what’s hot.

Visit Sara Megibow at: www.nelsonagency.com  (I was given permission to repost from Sara.)

Happy Submitting,
Dawn Chartier
www.dawnchartier.com