Books I Love that Became Films/TV Shows

Here we go, Books I Love that Became Films or TV Shows #L&SR #Wednesday Blog Challenge 5.22.19

 

Hmmm…Books I Love….this is going back a bit but top of my list HARRY POTTER SERIES. I have every book, hard back edition, and all the movies on Blu-Ray. I’m sure these need no introduction.

Okay, I admit also have Fantastic Beasts (1) and Where to Find Them (2016); and Fantastic Beasts (2) The Crimes of Grindelwald, based on J.K. Rowling’s books.

The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Let’s see. Next is Discovery of Witches. That goes without saying.

 

I enjoyed the Christopher Paolini books Eragon, Eldest, Brisinger, and Inheritance. Only one, Eragon, was made into a movie (thank goodness) They did a terrible job on the movie and no other ones were made. What a shame!

 

 

Last but not least – Ready Player One – From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.

Great movie, but the book was better!

As an avid reader, I could go on and on about Books I Love but as usual, my latest WIP is calling to me and the deadline looms, so tell me what your Favorite Books are that were made into movies in the comments!  Then let’s see what the other authors in this blog challenge claim as their favorite books made into movies: L&SR   Next Week, we’ll talk about the Lessons I learned for a book Character. Interesting concept, don’t you think?

 

Views: 1


Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged , by with 13 comments.

Favorite TV Shows and Why #L&SR #Wednesday Blog Challenge 5.15.19

Here we go Favorite TV Shows and Why!

Hummm… While I don’t watch a lot of TV, my tastes in TV shows are nearly as eclectic as my interests in book genres.  That being said, Let’s start with S.W.AT.  A police drama.  Inspired by the television series and the feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a locally born and raised SWAT sergeant newly tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson has everything it takes to be an excellent leader and bridge the divide between his two worlds. Hondo’s elite unit includes David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced SWAT officer who always puts the team first, despite feeling overlooked for the lead job; Christina “Chris” Alonso, a skilled officer and the team’s canine trainer; Dominique Luca, an expert driver who gets them in and out of high risk situations; Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; and Jim Street, a cocky and promising new team member who is fired when his troubled family life leads him to compromise his role within the unit. Responsible for the management of all Metro Division SWAT units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau. Overseeing Hondo’s team is Hicks’ direct report, Jessica Cortez, the ambitious captain of L.A. Metro whose professional aspirations force her to end an off-the-books relationship with Hondo. Hondo’s team enjoys an intense rivalry with another L.A.-based unit led by Mumford, an aggressive leader who likes to do things his way. With Hondo leading the charge, these dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.

Why I like this show.  Its fast moving, the writing and dialog is down to earth and realistic for the most part. Now that doesn’t mean that I think the scenes are true to life, but… I’ve yet to see a situation so far fetched that I have to turn off the TV. Yes, I’ve done that to numerous shows I started out enjoying and then they crashed and burned.  It’s almost like the station gets a hit show on their hands, then fires all the good writers ( suspect wages are involved) and hire a bunch of numnuts. Know what I mean? The on screne chemistry between the actors is great.

N.C.I.S. is another favorite. Do you see a trend? LOL Yes, another police drama this one with Mark Harmon. N.C.I.S. is an American action police procedural television series, revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Each week is a different case to solve. The actors are a cohesive unit and work well together.

Why I Like This Show: Through it’s cast changes the show maintains good writing and decent plots. I enjoy figuring out who did it and why. While I can usually figure out who before the end of the show, the twists and turns sometimes keep me guessing and I like that!

Discovery of WItches – on AMC –

Diana Bishop is a Yale history of science professor, who is conducting research at the University of Oxford. She is a witch, but has rejected this aspect of her life; she has not learned to practice witchcraft and has minimized her interaction with other witches.

She discovers a lost manuscript at the Bodleian Library which not only causes a magical reaction in herself, but attracts the attention of others who have long been searching for the manuscript. She finds that for her own safety, and for the well-being of magical creatures, she must re-think her avoidance of magic and magical creatures.

This season is about Diana Bishop discovering her peril, qualities of herself that were unknown to her, and discovering romance, friends, and enemies in the magical community. The later volumes develop her actions to protect herself and her friends, and ameliorate a threat to the magical community.

Why I Like This Show: I LOVED the books by Deborah Harkness. As I’ve stated before. She doesn’t dumb down her language and knows how to describe a scene. Anyway, the TV show digressed a bit from the books. Gee now there’s a shock. Not. But they are true enough to the books that I’ve enjoyed the first season and  plan on watching the next one.  The casting is for the most part like imagined with a couple of exceptions. The other reason I love this show,  don’t believe in living in reality if I don’t have too. One reason I am a writer of paranormal romance. Give me a reason to  spend my time writing fantasies and my love of the paranormal it rolls right into my TV viewing.

When calls the Heart – Hallmark – This TV show is a Canadian-American television drama series, inspired by Janette Oke‘s book of the same name from her Canadian West series, and developed by Michael Landon Jr. In the sweeping frontier drama “When Calls the Heart,” the town of Hope Valley adjusts to the changing times– while still maintaining the small-town bonds that connect them. The series follows single mother Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow), Hope Valley’s beloved schoolteacher who navigates life alone when her husband is suddenly killed on duty. Elizabeth’s best friend and mentor is Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin), the town’s mayor .  Yep, this is the show that Lori Lougthlin’s scenes were edited out due to the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal involving Loughlin causing her subsequent removal from all Hallmark properties, I also liked the Garage Sale Mysteries, but that was also Lori’s baby and is no more.

Why I Like This Show:  Again it as to do with suspending reality. As we all are aware life is not simple, sweet and everything the Hallmark Channel is.  But… sometimes that is exactly what you need, especially after watching the evening news.  Maybe it renews your faith in mankind, just a little.  As an aside, the editing out of Lori’s scenes did nothing to spoil the show for me.

Well there you have it. My Favorite TV shows and Why. Now this isn’t to say these are the only ones. But, I need to get back to my WIP, so let’s see what the other authors in this blog challenge claim as their favorite TV shows and why: L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

 See you next week when you learn what Books I love that Became Films or TV Shows. See you then!

Views: 1


Posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , by with 15 comments.

It’s Here!!! Mystic Maples Release is May 13, 2019

Good Morning All!!! Today it’s my turn to share. Squeal!  I’m so excited I just can’t wait.  Monday, May 13, 2019 MYSTIC MAPLES releases! This book is my contribution to The Deerbourne Inn Series.  It’s a multi-author series from The Wild Rose Press. Set in the fictional town of Willow Springs, Vermont. If you haven’t read any of the series, I highly recommend them. Each story is written by a different author and share scenes in the little town of Willow Springs where anything can happen and does at The Deerbourne Inn with its cast of quirky characters.  Pick up your copy of Mystic Maples today! Pssst….Hey don’t forget the blog tour stops listed below for a chance to win a $15.00 Amazon Gift card! 

Click on the cover to read more or purchase!

A little about Mystic Maples:

Earth/Fire witch Mercy Rose’s insatiable curiosity always gets her in trouble. After a break-in at her Colorado flower shop, and a court battle that comes to a screeching halt in her favor, she arrives at Deerbourne Inn for a much-needed getaway. Looking for peace and quiet, she finds just the opposite in a startling handsome but mysterious man and his dog.

Silvanus Forrest’s gypsy/fae heritage is a double-edged sword. The land he inherited from his parents is rumored to be enchanted. But when Mercy discovers the truth, his well-ordered life unravels, and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong. Along the way their lives intertwine, and they discover the true meaning of family and love. Will they change the past in time to save their future?

A sneak peek between the pages of Mystic Maples

It was a beautiful summer evening lit by a full moon. What harm could come from simply popping over to Mystic Maples, digging my toes into the earth and see if there is any truth to the rumors? She shrugged. Sis wouldn’t have told me about it, if she hadn’t thought it worth investigating. Right?

She toed off her shoes, pulled off her socks and straightened. With a snap of her fingers she left the room without a sound and landed smack dab at the edge of the maple trees. Glancing around, she could see the house in the distance and the outline of the sign. “Good, I’m in the right place.”  She wandered farther in among the trees, the dirt beneath her feet was cool. Wiggling her toes deeper into the earth, she felt the warmth of the day and something else—a connection.

Several trees had a slight glow to them, then it was gone. Am I imagining…She raised her arms out from her sides and turned her face to the starlit sky letting the magic surge through her.  It had been almost a year since magic of any kind called to her. It felt so good, she was lost in the moment.

Suddenly a male voice broke through her revelry. “What are you doing here?”

Her heart thundered in her chest. She hadn’t heard a sound. Yet, there he was standing not three feet from her, hands on hips, and glaring at her.

You can find Mystic Maples at the retailers below:

Amazon, AmazonUK, AmazonAU, AmazonCA  Barnes&Nobel and itunes

I’m offering a chance for a  $15.00 Amazon Gift card for commenting on blog tour for Mystic Maples! Check the tour stops here! Enter to win at each stop AND learn a bit more about Mystic Maples and the maple syrup process! Fun!

May 13: Romance Novel Giveaways

May 14: Viviana MacKade

May 14: Notes From a Romantic’s Heart

May 15: Christine Young

May 15: BooksChatter

May 16: Angel’s Guilty Pleasures

May 16: Long and Short Reviews

May 17: Fabulous and Brunette

About the author:

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance novels. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends.

With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and strong mystical males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Colorado is her home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-seven year old box turtle.

I hope you enjoy reading Mystic Maples as much as I did writing it! 

Views: 0


Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged , , , , , , by with comments disabled.

Books I Discovered on Social Media #L&SR #Wednesday Blog Challenge 4.24.19

Here we go Books I discovered on Social Media!

What a fun and interesting topic, since I spend quite a bit of time on social media, not necessarily looking for books. But once in a while one will catch my eye and I’ll follow the link to find out more.

Such was the case with Troublemaker by Linda Howard. A friend told me about her, but as I was on deadline, I didn’t pay much attention until I saw a blurb about the book and the dog that stole the story. I’m a sucker for companion animals, so off I went to check it out despite my time constraints.  Linda Howard as several series, but I enjoy the go teams series the most.

Another author that caught my eye was Molly Harper and her werewolf series. The book cover and title had me clicking on How to Flirt with A Naked Werewolf.  Have you ever wanted to get in touch with your inner animal?I wasn’t sure, but was totally entered by Molly Harper’s wit and snark throughout the book and subsequent books. Since that time, one-click  pre-order  her new releases is a no brainer.

Well there you have it. Books I Discovered on Social Media. Now this isn’t to say these are the only ones. Everyday I see interesting titles, blurbs and covers from authors new to me and author friends. I could spend the next several hours listing them, but that wouldn’t get my WIP polished and submitted to my editor.  Not a good thing. LOL  Let’s see what the other authors in this blog challenge have discovered: L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

 See you next week when you learn what Things I wish More Books Talked about. See you then!

Views: 5


Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged , by with 10 comments.
Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On Instagram