Author Archives: Joanne Guidoccio

Movie Review: Captain Marvel

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Oscar winner Brie Larson delivers a stellar performance as Vers aka Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel, expertly balancing the superheroine’s spectacular powers with her humanity. In a recent interview, Larson spoke about the nine months of preparation for the role. In addition to learning judo, boxing, and wrestling, Larson also met with active duty airmen.

Surrounded by male fighters, Vers gives as good as she gets and then some. But more importantly, she demonstrates resilience: repeatedly falling and then rising again. A role model for women of all ages!

When the film opens, we learn that Vers struggles to remember her past. For six years, she has lived on the planet Hala as a Kree warrior, fighting green aliens called Skrulls across the universe. Flashes of memories reveal a young child berated by her father, a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and camaraderie with other women.

One woman dominates many of her nightmares: Supreme Intelligence aka Mar-Vell aka Dr. Wendy Lawson. Annette Bening elevates this supporting role, delighting us with her voice and superb acting skills.

Jude Law delivers an excellent performance as Yon-Rogg, the Kree leader who acts as Vers’ mentor. Concerned about the memory flashes, he belittles their importance and accuses Vers of being too emotional. His advice stings: “Think with your head, not your heart.” “Your feelings will betray you.”

The narrative escalates when Vers crash-lands through the roof of a Blockbuster Video store in Los Angeles and meets with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury and Phil Coulson (Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg). An unlikely friendship develops between Vers and Fury as they attempt to track down remnants of Carol Danvers’ life on Earth.

In the second half of the film, Vers appears less wooden as her sense of humor emerges. When she reconnects with old friend and fellow Air Force pilot Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), she relaxes and reminisces about their shared past.

Akira Akbar delivers an inspiring performance as Monica (Maria’s pre-teen daughter). I also enjoyed the antics of Goose, the scene-stealing cat who pops up in the most unexpected places and displays a unique talent.

A must-see film that will delight both old and new fans of the Marvel series.


Giveaway ~ 8th Anniversary Party

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Today, I’m participating in an Anniversary Party sponsored by The Romance Reviews. Along with INSERT other authors, I’m offering a prize to one lucky winner.

Scroll down here and look for my question:

How many former students agreed to participate in the séance?
(Note: You will get a clue)

Answer correctly and you could win an e-book of A Different Kind of Reunion.

Dealing with the Facts

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

Years ago, I read Marshall Goldsmith’s book, MOJO: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back If You Lose It. At the time, I was dealing with some personal challenges and needed to get myself back on track. Here’s one passage that continues to resonate with me.

Waiting for the facts to change–instead of dealing with the facts as they are–is a common response to a setback. It’s the response of the owner of a dying business who refuses to cut costs or lay off workers during a continued downturn because a turnaround is just around the corner. It’s the response of a shopkeeper in a decaying part of town who gamely sticks to his product line and his way of doing business even as customers disappear, revenue shrinks, and neighboring stores shut down. The area will come back, he thinks; it can’t simply vanish.

When people wait for discomfiting facts to change into something more to their liking, they’re basically engaging in wishful thinking. It’s the opposite of over-committing because it leads to underacting (or under-committing and not acting at all). Instead of doing something, you’re frozen in place while you wait for a more comforting set of facts to appear. In a world that’s constantly rushing forward, this is akin to moving backward. That’s a mojo killer.

When the facts are not to your liking, ask yourself, “What path would I take if I knew that the situation would not get better?” Then get ready to do that. If the world changes in your favor, you haven’t lost anything. If the facts do not change, you are more ready to face the new world.

Source: MOJO: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back If You Lose It by Marshall Goldsmith


An Inspiring #85Event with Lisa LaFlamme and Michelle Shephard

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Friday evening, I drove to the central branch of the Kitchener Public Library to hear two trailblazers—Lisa LaFlamme and Michelle Shephard–speak about their careers and the challenges of women in the media.

As Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV National News since 2011, Lisa LaFlamme is well-known throughout the country. She received a very warm welcome in Kitchener, which happens to be her hometown.

An award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and filmmaker, Michelle Shephard is an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star.

Rosie Del Campo, co-host and producer of CTV Kitchener News at 5, moderated the inspirational and informative conversation that kept all of us well entertained.

L-R: Michelle Shephard, Lisa LaFlamme, Rosie Del Campo

Both women enjoyed writing during their childhood and teen years.

In Grade 9, Lisa made an appointment with her guidance counselor to discuss a possible career in writing. The woman advised her to take physics, a subject she has never had to fall back upon during her 30+ career. She enrolled in the Communications program at the University of Ottawa and obtained a job at CTV Kitchener (then named CKCO). Prior to obtaining the Anchor chair, Lisa spent a decade on the road as National Affairs Correspondent, covering everything from elections to natural disasters to wars.

After Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree, she considered law school, even applying to write LSAT, but ended up in journalism school. Upon graduation, she obtained a position at the Toronto Star. 9/11 was the turning point in her career. The previous day, she had covered a story about a purse snatcher in Scarborough. As soon as she heard the news, she set out for Ground Zero. Covering 9/11 began her career as a national security reporter.

Both women possess that rare combination of curiosity, passion, and fearlessness that has enabled them to survive and thrive in war zones and their workplaces. They believe that gender works to their advantage in other countries, allowing them to access other women and share their stories. Something that male journalists cannot do.

I was shocked by some of the experiences shared. The most memorable: Women in some parts of the world must take their children into their hospital beds or prison cells if they become ill or incarcerated. Childcare is not a husband’s responsibility.

In spite of the many dangers, Lisa describes the war zone as a very simple life. You have to stay alive and tell a story. You don’t have to worry about doing housework, picking up children, running errands, or any of the many daily activities of “normal” life.

Looking back at their professional lives, both women spoke about the many changes, in particular, the increase in full-time female reporters. But men still dominate in the boardroom.

When an audience member asked about sources for news items, Lisa noted that most of the experts are male. She has made concerted efforts to find female doctors, lawyers, and other experts but has encountered resistance. While many women will express their opinions in the print media, they are reluctant to appear on television. Lisa cites concern with their appearance as a factor.

Both women addressed the dark side of social media. After receiving daily threats during the 2015 election, Lisa curtailed her use of Twitter. She uses it primarily as a news feed. Michelle believes that social media is bad for all women but far worse for women of color.

Lisa feels very strongly about the escalating poison of social media. “We need to find ways to corral this poison and shut it down. We are in charge of what we read and watch. We give too much power to social media.”

When asked about their mentors, Lisa named her mother and sisters while Michelle gave the nod to a close friend in the audience. Their workplace mentors have been primarily males. Both women admitted they received a lot of help and support on their respective journeys. And they’re both actively mentoring younger generations of journalists.


Reawaken Your Creativity

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

At this time of year, it can be difficult to motivate ourselves. If you’re experiencing the winter doldrums, try reawakening your creativity with one of these suggestions.



Spotlight on Romancing Rebecca

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome January Bain. Today, January shares her latest release, Romancing Rebecca.

Blurb

Canadian romance writer Rebecca Fairfax thinks a few months living in an English castle will allow her to test out her research theories about the castle and get new material for her writing. Oh, and she’ll be able to carry out her Brass Ring Sorority sisters’ dare to kiss a duke, too. Only, the whole experience ends up changing her life in a way she could never have seen coming…

Ash Piers isn’t interested in peerage and titles. He’s a freewheeling playboy who’s adopted a hedonistic lifestyle after a disastrous love affair. He thinks the upstart Canadian is a gold-digger of the worst kind, kissing his father, the Duke of Piers, on first greeting, then getting engaged to him a moment later! But, damn, he’s attracted to the woman who’s living in his home for the summer. How’s he, a red-blooded Englishman, supposed to keep his hands off her as propriety and family demand?

But with the castle lurching from one crisis to another, Ash and Rebecca have to work together to ensure his family make it through events that threaten to tear everyone apart. And when an ancient and deadly danger looms, both Ash and Rebecca are forced to conquer all fear—physical and emotional…

Part madcap caper, part serious treasure hunting, the Brass Ringers never fail to entertain or get their way!

Excerpt

“That woman stole your Fabergé egg,” the thief accused, pointing a rigid forefinger at her, one she instantly wanted to bite off.

“That’s not what happened, and you darn well know it!” Adrenaline flooded her system. The unmitigated gall. “I was chasing you!”

“She’s lying!” he said.

She took her eyes off the obnoxious pants-on-fire thief for a second, glancing around to see who had finally shown up to help, expecting perhaps the errant tour guide. But it wasn’t him. He hadn’t looked at all like a legendary ruler such as Uther Pendragon or King Arthur in his yellow safety vest. But this man did. Oh boy, does he. As though he had walked straight out of The Mists of Avalon or The Once and Future King, standing there with his arms crossed, glaring at the two of them as if they were in cahoots. From his thick brown hair falling forward onto his forehead to curl just right, to his chiselled facial features that spoke of centuries of good breeding, he would make the perfect lead in any movie that required a hot, over-the-top-sexy hero.

Oh. My.

She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly too parched to be able to speak a word. Xaviera, we’ve got the guy to play your hero in your swan song, that’s for damn sure. He was also the perfect protagonist for the historical literary book she envisioned using this castle location for, now that she was preparing to make the break from writing steamy romances. Finally.

“You can both come with me. I’ll need to get to the bottom of things.” His fine British accent tugged at something deep inside her.

“You don’t believe this lying sack of sh—this idiot,” she said, clearing her throat, self-correcting at the last second, with how cultured the man sounded and not her wanting to make a poor impression. He offered her his hand and she took it. Whoa. Nice strong hands, too. He helped her to her feet, blessing her with a stern look. Fine, play it that way. Anger rose at the unfairness of his accusations. At least it ratcheted down her libido.

“I just got here. How am I supposed to know who’s lying and who’s not? Are you okay?”

buynow

Author Bio and Links

January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination and heart as much as they do hers.

If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with two furry babies trying to prove who does a better job of guarding the doorway. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man!

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook, her second home. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Email

Giveaway

January Bain will be awarding a Paypal $25.00 cash payout to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow January on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.


Inspired by Rebecca Traister

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Friday evening, I attended “Good and Mad with Rebecca Traister” at the central branch of the Kitchener Public Library.

This Premiere 85 Queen Event was well-attended by fans (predominantly women) of the award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Big Girls Don’t Cry, All the Single Ladies, and Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger.

After a brief introduction, an animated armchair conversation with Associate Professor Aimée Morrison followed.

Aimée began with the question: “Why are women afraid to get angry?”

Without missing a beat, Rebecca answered, “We fear the expression of anger.” She then went on to explain that feeling anger is a response to all sorts of unfairness—from the familial to the political—and is entirely rational.

This runs contrary to what many women have experienced throughout their lives. The message—If you are nice and polite, things will change—is reinforced while female expressions of anger are labeled emotional and hysterical. Women often put their relationships, careers, and lives at risk when showing anger.

On the other hand, powerful white men are granted rationality. Their anger is considered legitimate.

Later, this prompted the following question from an audience member: “How can we express anger in a world that wasn’t built to accept it?”

Rebecca admitted that we can’t change the world, but we can connect with others who are angry. Major social movements have occurred because people came together and organized.

Building community was the advice repeated throughout the evening. At no point did Rebecca suggest individual women let the anger loose. She did, however, allude to her own unique situation, joking that she lives in a biodome. She is literally being paid and rewarded professionally to be angry.

Rebecca is also reaping the health benefits of expressing that anger. During the four months she wrote Good and Mad, she experienced one of the physically healthiest periods of her adult life. She ate and slept well, exercised more than usual, and had great sex.

Quotable quotes from Rebecca Traister…

I’m deeply suspicious of all calls for civility.

If you keep your anger inside, you are isolated.

When you voice your anger, you become audible and visible. Others listen and join in the conversation.


On Becoming a Warrior

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

When Lynda Carter assumed the role of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in the 1970s television series, I made a point of watching each program. Eyes glued to the screen, I waited with anticipation for the inevitable displays of Amazonian power. I especially liked watching Diana fling the magic lasso and use her golden belt and bracelets to deflect bullets.

She was the ultimate warrior, one that I hoped someday to emulate.

Alas, I was the ultimate non-athlete who shied away from athletic challenges and activities. In my workplace and interpersonal relationships, I preferred to adopt a non-confrontational stance that served me well (or appeared to serve me well) for almost five decades.

Continue reading on Brenda Whiteside’s blog.


Buy the Artichoke

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

While reading Chellie Campbell’s book, The Wealthy Spirit, I came across this entertaining and inspiring story about risk-taking.

Amy Frelinger, one of my class participants, came in one afternoon exasperated about an experience she had at the grocery store. She had seen an older woman in the produce section looking over the artichokes. The woman picked up one, then another, of the vegetables, turning them around and around in her hands, frowning. Noticing Amy watching her, she smiled and said, “I don’t know how to cook these, do you?” Amy said that she did, and gave her some simple directions on how to steam the artichoke and then eat it with melted butter.

Another woman overheard the conversation and chimed in with the suggestion that she dip it in herb salad dressing. Soon there were several people making suggestions on different ways to cook artichokes, encouraging the older woman to try it. The woman listened and seemed to enjoy the conversation, but eventually she put the artichoke back, saying, “I’m just not sure about this.”

Amy was aghast. She was incredulous that the woman couldn’t take the risk to cook an artichoke. “It only cost $1.49!” she exclaimed. “How big a risk could it be?”

Step outside your comfort zone today. Take a risk. You don’t have to quit your job, get divorced, or move to another country yet. Practice with little risks. Shop at a different grocery store. Drive a different route to work. Try out a new restaurant. Watch a foreign film with subtitles. Cut your hair. Go to a concert. Sleep on the other side of the bed.

Cook an artichoke.