Movie review: A Wonderful Life.

Writer/director Jeff London returns with a friends-to-lovers story involving two middle-aged men. Written with James Handshoe, A Wonderful Life is a holiday movie that spans Halloween through Christmas.

Bailey (David E. McMahon) spends much of his time caring for his mother (Elaine Ballace), who suffers from chronic pain. Losses and changes disrupt Bailey’s life, but a reunion with boyhood friend Greyson (Ben Stobber) complicates that life for the better. Greyson and Bailey share a love for old movies, especially old horror movies, but they obviously have much more in common. Their love story emerges among a great deal of tragedy, but A Wonderful Life avoids a dismal tone by also focusing on humor and supportive friends or family members.

I’ve been enjoying Jeff London’s movies for years. They all focus on gay characters in small-town settings. To mention two of my past favorites, And Then Came to Summer explores the damage caused by conversion therapy, while Regarding Billy celebrates the joy and challenges of having a family member with special needs. Like those films, this one deals with serious topics but maintains an optimistic tone. A Wonderful Life is an emotional addition to Jeff London’s catalog of low-budget, feel-good films.

Find more pictures and details at RadioactiveCactus.Com.

Calling for a Blanket Dance Book Review

Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author Oscar Hokeah weaves together cultures and narratives to form a rich, life-affirming story that celebrates tradition while acknowledging past and present struggles. The distinct voices might initially distance some readers but soon make the reading experience even more immersive and memorable.

View all my reviews

Fanbase Weekly: Looking Back at The Return of the King

J. R. R. Tolkien fans can now listen to the Fanbase Weekly Feature 20th anniversary look at Peter Jackson’s film version of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Cast members: Jay Sherer (writer – Death of a Bounty Hunter, Timeslingers, co-host of The Story Geeks podcast), Erik Amaya (Editor-in-Chief of Comicon.com, co-host of the Tread Perilously podcast), Paul Pakler (co-host – Paul and Corey Cross the Streams, Quality Time with Family Ties), and Bryant Dillon (Fanbase Press President, The Fanbase Weekly co-host, writer – Something Animal, Identity Thief).

Son of Taldra: A Science Adventure is the November sponsor for the Fanbase Weekly podcast. Sons of Taldra involves a struggle between an alternate Earth and alien shapeshifters.

Featured Website: Author Stuart Miller

Visit Stuart Miller’s Website to read about how experiences of rejection, bullying, education, friendship, and more lead to the book Stopping a Dangerous Revolution: Providing insight into some of the biggest cultural and social challenges with solutions.

Stuart recently added a page of “Recognizing Author Supporters,” to bring more attention to other indie writers. I’m grateful for the inclusion there and that so many indie creatives amplify each other’s voices.

Please follow Stuart at YouTube and Twitter/X.

“There are most definitely flavours of Star Trek: Discovery....”

Tik Tok SciFi Booktok.

“The site is on fire!” His voice cut out. “… swarms of them, dipping in and out of the atmosphere and killing us with some kind of ray.”

From Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure

Duane Simolke

“There are most definitely flavours of Star Trek: Discovery, which is particularly interesting as the book was published in 2016 - a full year before the first series of the aforementioned show. Just like Discovery, there is a broad spectrum of diverse characters - each with purpose and prominence, and despite being a short read, everyone fits in perfectly without any overcrowding.” –Doctor Who Online

The Picky Bookworm: Sons of Talda

Read about Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure at the bookblog The Picky Bookworm.

From the bookblogger: "Hello, new friend! Welcome to The Picky Bookworm! I am so glad you’re here! If you’ve been looking for a place to hang out, be encouraged, and find support for your writing journey, you are in the right place! My name is Pamela, and I am a huge supporter of indie and self-published books and authors. One of my favorite things about the book community is how supportive we all are of each other. When I found this community, I knew I’d found my place."

"Here on The Picky Bookworm you’ll find tons of tips, prompts and discussions to help you find your place. I also love posting book reviews, so you’ll find a ton of those to help you find your next favorite read."

TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES 20th Anniversary Panel Discussion

Listen for a new Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure spot during the Fanbase Feature TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES 20th Anniversary Panel Discussion.

According to Fanbase, “In this Fanbase Feature, The Fanbase Weekly co-host Bryant Dillon and special guests Corinna Bechko (writer – Green Lantern: Earth One, Avatar: Adapt or Die), Livio Ramondelli (artist – IDW’s Transformer comics, creator of IDW’s The Kill Lock), and Phillip Kelly (Fanbase Press Contributor, The POPSKL Podcast Group) participate in a thorough discussion regarding Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) in light of the film’s 20th anniversary, with topics including how well the T-X works as the film’s villain, the film’s surprisingly bleak twist ending, what the film has to say about destiny/fate, and more. (Beware: SPOILERS for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines abound in this panel discussion!)”

The @FanbaseWeekly #Podcast: A #FanbaseFeature Retrospective on the 20th Anniv. of #Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines w/ @CorinnaBechko @LivioRamondelli & @PhillipCreates | Available on @ApplePodcasts & @Fanbase_Press | Sponsor: @GeekFilmFests https://t.co/JWLCbej3Os pic.twitter.com/2udpiCEYww

— Fanbase Press (@Fanbase_Press) July 14, 2023

Not The Future Funny Star Wars Video

For #StarWars newbies who need the clarification: "Extended version of the song featured in the Empire Strikes Back Bad Lip Reading." It's funny, the music is good, and the nostalgia makes it even better. @BadLipReading #scifi Not The Future.

I also love their Star Wars video Seagulls (Stop It Now!).

Pride 2023

#HappyPride! At Smashwords, find my eBooks free or half-off for the rest of #PrideMonth2023 (June 2023).

If you like them, please post reviews and/or mention them in social media. Thanks for reading. #QueerBooks #QueerSciFi

An unlikely blend of #ClassicRock, #QueerMusic, #NoveltySongs, and more

This #MusicPlaylist on YouTube features an unlikely blend of #ClassicRock, #QueerMusic, #NoveltySongs, and more. Kick back for the unexpected, skip ahead as needed, and enjoy.

30