Friday, March 4, 2016

Celebrating an author event, Instagram, and The Dark Tower


It's Friday and time to Celebrate the Small Things. This fun weekly hop is hosted by my buddy Lexa Cain and co-hosted by L.G Keltner at Writing Off the Edge, Tonja Drecker at Kidbits, and Katie at The Cyborg Mom. Visit Lexa's blog here to find out how join in the hop yourself and to see the list of participants.


First up, the author event and my attempt to make lemonade out of the lemons that got tossed at me this week. I received an invitation to an event honoring local authors and I was absolutely THRILLED when I got the invite. For one thing, the event is held downtown and has the potential for media coverage, so that alone could be a great opportunity. Plus, this is the first time I've ever been invited to something that I didn't have to apply for first. All great, right? As it turned out, no, because the event is being held on the same weekend I am going to be out of state for a family wedding! I couldn't believe the luck, or lack thereof. It killed me to have to decline. But I decided to still celebrate this because it was an honor to be invited and I'm happy that I was, so there's my lemonade. I'm trying to focus on that and not go into a corner and sob because I can't go.


Last week I mentioned that I was celebrating the new love of my life - my iPhone. As a direct result, I'm now also celebrating Instagram. I've been trying to expand my social media presence a bit but it's not something that comes naturally to me at all since at heart I am still an introvert to the core. I signed up for Instagram a while ago but never used it because I just didn't feel comfortable with it. But now I decided to give it a try and it's been a pleasant surprise because I really like it! I've only posted a few times but I can understand the appeal and I'm getting a kick out of it. I have tried following all my blogger pals but if you are on there and I'm not following you please connect with me there! https://www.instagram.com/julesflanders/


Finally, I'm squealing like a silly teenager and celebrating the casting for the upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Even though the books have been out for years I'd never read them until the end of last year. I started the first one around Christmas and I haven't been able to stop reading them since. I LOVE the series. I'm on the last one now and can't wait to see how it all ends. I have been reading about the on-again, off-again movie plans, and this week when it was made official that Idris Elba is going to be the Gunslinger and Matthew McConnaughey the Man in Black I nearly did a little happy dance. I've been a huge fan of Elba's since he played Stringer Bell on The Wire, one of my all-time favorite shows. I wasn't a fan of McConnaughey until True Detective but he sure won me over with that and I think he'll be perfect as The Man in Black. Stephen King, Elba, and McConnaughey? That's a dream team as far as I'm concerned. I can't wait for the movie.

I hope you all had lots to celebrate this week. Happy Weekend and Happy March!

31 comments:

  1. I'm celebrating the Dark Tower news, too. That it's official, that it's finally happening, and that they have two really quality actors to play those characters. Yay!

    Congrats on having been invited to attend the event. That's amazing!!

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  2. That's a great cast for the movie.
    Sorry you couldn't go to the book event. Maybe next year!

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  3. Too bad about the book event! But you're right, it really is exciting to be invited - congratulations! :)

    I like your pics on the Instagram link, especially the photo of the little one reading. :)

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  4. I did a happy dance when I heard about the Dark Tower too! Congratulations on getting the invite even though you couldn't go. Have a terrific weekend!

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  5. Did you suggest they move the wedding date? j/k Bummer, but what a huge honor. Congrats on that!

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  6. Yay on the invite, yay you're going to a wedding, booooo that they both happen on the same day. I hate when stuff like that happens. And one more yay - The Dark Tower movie!!!!

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  7. Those lemons probably really left a sour taste in your mouth. That must have been disheartening. But as you said, at least you were invited, so this will just be the first of many such invitations. Happy weekend.

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  8. @MJ, double yay on everything you said! And thanks for the congrats.

    @Alex, I hope so!

    @Madeline, thank you! And thanks too about the pics. :D

    @Christine, I'm glad I'm not the only one who did a little dance LOL.

    @HR, LOL, I considered it. :D

    @Em, I know, I still can't believe it. Especially since almost any other Sunday this spring would have been fine. Oh well. Thanks!

    @Ken, yeah, I admit the taste is still sour LOL. But I hope I will get invited again, fingers crossed.

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  9. Well, lady, it sounds to me as though you are now officially a Somebody... a Writer with a capital W... whether you want to be or not. Congrats on getting an unsolicited invitation to the book event! I hope they extend the invitation to you next year, too, so you can wow everybody. (You WILL still remember all of us "little people," won't you...?)

    Hmmm, I may need to blow the dust off my old copies of King's "Tower" books, and give them another read-through. It's been a while; now, all I can remember is that I liked them.

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  10. So sorry you'll miss the event, but I'm glad you're celebrating being invited. It's still a big honor. And the wedding will be fun. So exciting to have a good book to read!

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  11. So much to celebrate, and congrats on the invite... how awesome. I love my iPhone and am am addicted to instagram:)

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  12. How great it was to get invited to the book event even if you can't go. I'd pin that honor up and treasure it. Have fun with instagram!

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  13. I'm so sorry you won't be able to attend the author event. But I can say with some degree of certainty that you'll get more opportunities in the future! When a door closes, another opens. Yay for Instagram and the fun you're having with it, and yay for anticipation of Stephen King's series being made into a movie! Have a good weekend! :)

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  14. Wow! So many celebrations! Congratulations.

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  15. That's great you were invited. That means people are keeping you in mind. :) I love Instagram.

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  16. Yay for the Dark Tower series! I may come into this decade next month and get a smart phone. Then I'll join you on instagram.

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  17. I had to decline a local event because of a family event too. It did stink, but I've found I never regret time with family.

    I never tried instagram. I'm so overwhelmed with twitter and facebook, I was afraid to add more. Maybe I should check it out.

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  18. Aw, that's a shame how you can't make it to the author event, but I agree, what an honor it is to be invited at all!

    As for Instagram, I think I'm the only person who hasn't succumbed to that social media platform yet. (I'm already juggling too many others. LOL.) Glad you've been enjoying it! :)

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  19. Bad timing on the event/wedding, but well done for being noticed and invited :-)

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  20. You have no idea how much you just made my day. No my week. No. My month. Hang on. I'll be right back, I have to go text my son. We are HUGE fans of The Dark Tower. I read it when it first came out....like 100 years ago when he was getting death threats because he wasn't finishing it...I'm that kind of fan, and somehow, I missed that the movie finally came to fruition. I'd heard the rumors for the last couple of years that it would be on HBO, then the theatre then back to a series, etc. so it's good to know it's finally concrete. I'm off to research and finally end this long run on comment. Thank you!!!!!

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  21. Bad timing happens. But happy dances for you.

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  22. Sorry to hear you couldn't make your writing event, that's so cool that you got the invite though! I'm on instagram too, getting used to it bit by bit.

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  23. I still have to read The Dark Tower series.

    Also, I now have a phone I can use to instagram, but I'm struggling to find time to keep up with the social networks I have right now. :-D

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  24. yay for your iphone and instagram! i hardly use it, but we can follow each other =)

    and dark tower on the big screen? how cool is that! thanks for the news - i was totally in the... dark, yep i said it!

    have a great week!

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  25. I hate to be double-booked and have to make a choice between events. Now's when cloning comes in handy.

    While you're enjoying the new relationship with your iPhone, I'm lamenting the loss of mine. It's here in my house, but darned if I can find it!

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  26. That sounds like a cool cast list for Dark Tower!
    And double huzzah for the invite and the family wedding - even if it means you couldn't go to the event, family weddings are fun!

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  27. Hi Julie - oh yes ... those double dates happen for singles! I get asked to something (not a book signing event though!) and then something else interesting hits the horizon ... why can't they schedule things .. so I can do both ... like you!

    Great you're enjoying your iphone and Instagram .. one day I'll surprise everyone and get myself into gear re social media.

    Good news about Dark Tower ... Idris Elba is excellent, and Matthew McConaughey I don't know .. but he's got credentials .. enjoy the anticipation .. cheers Hilary

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  28. I've never read the Dark Tower either. I've been a little shy to read his work since Cujo and Pet Sematary.

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  29. How frustrating for both events to be happening at the same time. Congrats on being invited, though. That's a great positive way of looking at it.
    I haven't read The Dark Tower. I've always thought of him as a horror writer, though I know his books contain other elements like dark fantasy. I'll have to check it out.
    Have a great week!

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  30. I really enjoy your instagram photos, Julie! That sucks about the invite, but yay for the Dark Tower series. I have the first book of that. I think I'll put it on my read list next.

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  31. Thanks a ton for your services. I need a good event planner for my party. Would like him to organize my bachelorette party as shortlisted couple of good event venues. Looking for discounted NYC venues as well as a great planner.

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