An Eye on Art: Creativity as Emotional Release or Expression
Posted: August 24, 2026 Filed under: Art | Tags: An Eye On Art, Edvard Munch, Expressionism, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writing to be Read 8 CommentsWe’ve all done it. As creatives, we allow our emotions to flow into our work, and perhaps, we even have a need to do so. Authors take real life experiences and write them into their stories, perhaps rewriting, so the endings that are preferred to real ones, because in stories, anything can happen. Songwriters pour their emotions into their music, and artists spill their emotions across the canvas for all to see. Creativity is the way we express ourselves and often, the way we interpret the reality around us.
The Expressionism of Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch was a noted Norwegian Painter and Printmaker who lived from 1863-1944. Plagued by a troubled childhood and difficulty in his adult relationships, the mental and social disruptions of a tormented mind are evident in his artworks, particularly in those done in his expressionistic style, which created the most controversy and made him famous. At an early age, he lost both his mother and his older sister, Johanne Sophie3, to tuberculosis, and later in life, another sister, Laura Katherine, developed a schizophrenic illness and was confined to a mental asylum. His romantic relationships were filled with turmoil and eventually he became rather reclusive, withdrawing more and more from human society.2

The expressionistic work of Edvard Munch employs distortion and vibrant colors to draw viewers’ focus; demanding patrons attention. The work titled, Vampire (1892), was so controversial in its time, that it closed down the Verein Berliner Kunstler exhibition of 1892; an event that catapulted Munch’s career into celebrity. In this work, the vibrant colors that are so typical of Munch are not seen. It is a dark scene with the orange-red of the female’s hair being the only color that really draws the eye, as she embraces the male laying across her lap. With this painting, Munch set out to make us see the fine line between love and pain with this painting, hence the original title, Love and Pain. It was mistakenly interpreted as having a vampiric theme, and the painting’s subjects do appear more as predator and prey than as lovers in consoling embrace, especially if one takes notice of the bluish hue of the male’s facial skin.1

The models for his works may have been real women in his life and are portrayed in Munch’s work either as life devouring vampires, sultry seductresses, or frail and naked, reflective of his own personal relationships. It is believed that Love and Pain depicts his at one time lover Tulla Larsen, a rich winemaker’s daughter, who he had a turbulent relationship with. Whereas Madonna (1894-95) depicts another ex-lover, Dagny Juel, reflecting her liberated sexuality in contrast in contrast the traditional idea of a chaste Madonna. It features a nude woman contorted, perhaps in the throes of passion, with a red, rather than white or golden halo.1 Ashes (1894-95) is thought to depict clandestine, but destined to end in despair, meetings in the forest with his cousin’s wife, Millie Thaulow.3

On the other hand, in The Weeping Nude (1913), the focus figure is much less distorted. Attention is focused on the nude, through his use of vibrant colors that contrast with her flesh colors, drawing the eye to the central figure. Sadness and depression are the dominant emotions that radiate from this work, and the emotion rises from the pose, and the concealment of the figure’s identity.

The haunting image of The Scream (1893) reflects feelings that all viewers easily relate to. At some point in life, we all have felt like screaming at the world, and so to, have felt as no one would hear or care. By far his most famous painting, the violent forms and savage colors are representative of contemporary sentiments. In truth, this image may not be a screaming figure, as most believe, but rather, it is his attempt to block out “nature screaming during a blood-red sunset”, (perhaps during a panic attack), according to Munch himself. This sky and setting appear in at least two more of Munch’s works done around the same time: Despair (1893-94) and Anxiety (1894). It is believed by some that the location was one in Oslo, near a slaughterhouse and the asylum where his younger sister, Laura Katherine, was housed, where he may have visited often, and which would have had a cacophony of screams between the dying animals and the mental patients’ cries.1



He was featured as the male figure in many of his works, including perhaps Ashes and Love and Pain, above, to further attest to the expression of emotions from his own life, revealing his inner soul. While not happy images, they are captivating, and they draw out our darker sides.
As authors, our stories should reveal so much. If you could look into the minds of horror authors such as Steven King, Peter Straub, Dean Koontz, and so many more, perhaps you would find similar histories, filled with pain and despair, to fuel their creative story telling. Or perhaps some are just meant to allow their darker sides to dominate and be expressed through their creative works.
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1 “7 Must See Paintings by Edvard Munch”. The Collector. June 11, 2025. Anastasiia Kirpolov, MA: 7 Must-See Paintings by Edvard Munch | The Collector
2 “Beyond the Scream: How Edvard Munch Channeled a Timeless Sense of Dread”. Art in America. March 17, 2021. Tessa Solomon: What Are Edvard Munch’s Most Famous Paintings?
3 “16 of Edvard Munch’s Paintings”. Artistic Junkie: Art for All.: 16 of Edvard Munch’s Paintings | ArtisticJunkie.com
About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This postis sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares: Coming in October, 2026
Welcome to Day 1 of the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 17, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Mythology and Legend, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 2 CommentsIt’s day 1 of the WordCrafter Legends Book Blog tour and we’re over at Poetry by Mich, and Hotel by Masticadores, and Masticadores Phillipines. Meet contributing author Chris Barili and hear an excerpt reading from his story, “The Legend of Trooper 666”.
We’ve got two great giveaways. Help us put together the Legends puzzle by collecting two puzzle pieces at each stop. And this stop has the way to find out about the one offered by Chris Barili. You’ve only got a week to gather your photos and get your entries in, so join us today.
Audio Book Review: “My Queendom for a Horse” & “The Recipient”
Posted: August 14, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Review, romance, Speculative Fiction, Thriller | Tags: Audio Book Review, Audrey J. Cole, Bridget E. Baker, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Kaye Lynne Booth, My Queendom for a Horse, mystery, Shifter Romance, Speculative Fiction, The Recipient, Thriller, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout My Queendom for a Horse
Kristiana Liepa was supposed to use the money to save her family farm. She was not supposed to spend it all to save a massive, black stallion.
But when she saw how he was being treated, what’s a vet to do?
She had no idea that gorgeous beast was really a powerful (and morally gray) magician who had been cursed by a witch, or that she was the only one who could reverse the curse.
And she couldn’t possibly have known how that one rash decision would irrevocably change her life…and his.
Need a little more information to make up your mind? Read a longer description below:
Kristiana’s father has a gambling problem. After a particularly bad hand of cards puts their family’s land in jeopardy, her dad’s solution is to call her billionaire ex, but Kris can’t bring herself to beg him for money. At least, not her first time seeing him in 10 years. Instead, she withdraws her life savings and bets on herself.

Thankfully, it pays off! She and her most promising horse win big at the Down Royal steeplechase in Ireland, but only because the best horse on the track wasn’t ridden properly. Luckily, it’s just enough to grant a stay of execution with the bank.
It would have been, but when Kris realizes her nemesis is abusing the gorgeous black stallion who should have won, she can’t help herself. She spends her winnings buying the horse she fell for the moment she saw him. It may not be the smartest move in the short run, but Obsidian Devil’s her best hope of finally digging out from under the massive debt hanging over them. She’ll have to ask her ex to help with the next payment, but seeing him again won’t be sobad.
What Kris doesn’t know is that her new purchase is actually a powerful magician stuck in horse form by a witch’s curse. She also has no idea that she’ll be the only person who can help him lift the curse. And worst of all, that helping him may mean losing the family farm for good.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Queendom-Horse-Russian-Witchs/dp/B0BV7Z3BM8
Chirp: My Queendom for a Horse by Bridget E. Baker – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of My Queendom for a Horse
I purchased My Queendom for a Horse, by Bridget E. Baker and narrated by Cindy Gunderson from a Chirp Freebie Friday deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I chose this book because of the fantastic cover with shades of blues and purples. Although the tiny sparkles indicated a magical theme, the image of a horse made me think of the story of Black Beauty, a story I loved as a child. Soon after beginning to listen, I was surprised to learn that what I had was a shape shifter romance.
Setting out to save her family farm from her father’s gambling debts, Kristiana has a plan to ride the winning horse and take the purse and a bet on her own horse. And it would have worked if she hadn’t impulsively purchased a stallion which was being abused by one of her competitors, forcing her to take a loan from the man who dumped her years ago. You can imagine her surprise when she finds her newest purchase is not a horse , but a shape shifting Russian prince who had been cursed hundreds of years ago, and somehow, Kris has the key to his powers. The whole scenario leads to some humorous scenes, as the headstrong prince rears his jealous head, while Kris tries to sort out her feelings for her ex, and raise the money to save the farm.
The author has crafted a truly enjoyable story that makes you laugh in all the right places. And Ms. Gunderson does an excellent job of narrating. I give My Queendom for a Horse five quills.
About The Recipient

Sergeant Wade McKinnon knows who killed Samantha the moment he arrives at her crime scene. Problem is, he watched her killer die a year ago.
A year after serial killer Michael Rhodes is executed and allowed to donate part of his brain as an organ transplant, Wade gets called to a murder scene that shares uncanny similarities to those of the late Michael Rhodes. Other similar killings happen around Seattle, and Wade seems to be the only person still alive who knows enough about Michael Rhodes’s murders to be able to replicate them. When evidence found at one of the crime scenes points to Wade as the killer, he races to find the real culprit before it’s too late to clear his own name.
Elle is overjoyed when her husband, Brian, receives a partial brain transplant and gets a second chance at life. Until she learns that his brain cells came from a serial killer….
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/The-Recipient-Audrey-J-Cole-audiobook/dp/B07QYK6WBZ
Chirp: The Recipient by Audrey J. Cole – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of The Recipient
I purchased The Recipient, by Audrey J. Cole and read by Marcio Catalano and Veronica Pace, from a Chirp Freebie Friday deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
This story uses dual male and female narrators, which I’ve found works well in romances, but I was unsure how that would work for a thriller. In hindsight, although each of them missed inflections a few times, they really did a premium job. Catalano and Pace did a smash-up job, instead of just alternating chapters, they dubbed the female voice of Pace into the male POV chapters, and the male voice of Catalano into the female POV chapters, which is how the dual narrating should be done. I can see why this book was nominated for the Voice Arts Awards, as advertised on the cover.
As far as story goes, the title gives it all away, but it is also a little misleading. Early on I figured out who the killer was and although the author was skilled in laying it all out, I still felt the story to be predictable as events unfolded. Overall, though, it was a decent thriller with tension building in all the right places and well-developed characters.
I give The Recipient four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author Jan Sikes and a review
Posted: August 12, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Book Review, Interview, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 95 CommentsI’m delighted to welcome author and poet, Jan Sikes, as this month’s Treasuring Poetry guest. Jan is the author of a significant number of novels, novellas and short stories and she has recently published a collection of short stories and poems including contributions from her late husband, Rick Sikes, and her granddaughter, Sydney.
Welcome Jan
What is your favourite style of poetry?
My favorite style of poetry is free-form, but I do like rhyming and while I don’t know the exact terminology for this type of poetry, it follows a lyrical rhyming pattern of 1,3,5,7 etc. In other words, the first and third lines will rhyme, alternating that way throughout the poem. That’s the easiest for me to write as well. Another way I love to write is alternate rhyming 1&2, then 3&4 like we see in the Frost poem below.
What is your favourite poem?
My favorite poem is from Robert Frost – Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
What inspired you to publish Fringes, heartstrings and lyrics?
The inspiration started with looking at all the short stories I’d published in obscure anthologies throughout the years. I wanted to bring them all together in one book. I also wanted to include some of my late husband’s earliest poems from the 1960s and then as the project came together, my granddaughter shared some of her poetry with me and I was gobsmacked! In the process of gathering material, I found some my own poems that had never been shared anywhere, so I included them as well.
What is the meaning behind fringes in the title?
Since some of the short stories were dystopian or ‘dark’ the Fringes in the title is meant to depict that section. Sometimes what happens on the fringes is powerful and moving. That was the intent for using that word in the title.
What is your favourite poem in this collection?
I have several favorites, but if I had to choose only one, I’d choose “Society” written by my granddaughter. It is very deep for a fourteen-year-old girl. It is truth!
Welcome to society
We hope you enjoy your stay
You can do anything you want
As long as you do it our way
You can like any guy
As long as he’s 6 foot 2
He must have ocean blue eyes
And a six-figure business too
Here in society, people are the same
‘Cause if you’re different you’re weird
You’ll sit at a table all alone
Kids will laugh and point and sneer
Our government sucks but you can’t revolt
There’s this cage we call a jail
You just have to sit and suffer
So try not to slip up and fail
And please feel free to be yourself
As long as it’s in the right way
Because in society, things work differently
Every single day
Welcome to society
We’ve got one last trick up our sleeve
The last important rule here
Is that you can never leave
My review of Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes

This is a varied and interesting collection of short stories and poems by Jan Sikes with poetry contributions by her late husband, Rick Sikes, and her Granddaughter, Sidney. The stories transition from darker tales to lighter ones with the first grouping being mainly bleak dystopian outlooks where love and kindness are the only remaining hope.
Each of the three poets contributes thought provoking and beautiful poems about life, love, and human perspective. I enjoyed each and every poem.
An overview of three of my favourite stories follows:
The Forgotten – This is an imaginative and unique story about a race of people, the Egluna, on a planet that has not seen the the sun for many moons. The people have become as wasted and colourless as their planet and have lost hope. New hope returns in the form of two vibrant and colourful creatures, one male and the other female, called ‘Fresh Ones’. The pair have powers and are able to reinvigorate the dying plant life on the planet. Will the couple be able to rejuvenate hope in the future for the Egluna too. I enjoyed this interesting take on climate change and its potential consequences.
A Promise Broken – A Promise Kept – While this story stands alone, it is also the backstory for a character who reappears in one of the author’s novels. I have read the relevant novel and was delighted to come across this character in her younger years and learn about her past and how it shaped her present in that novel. Charlotte’s story is one of strength, resilience and maturity.
When Love isn’t Enough – This is another story about difficult decisions arising from rebellion due to an overbearing and inflexible father. Riley is fortunate as she has a friend she can confide in and get good advice from but ultimately she has to make the right decision herself. This story has an interesting and unexpected ending.
The poem that resonated with me the most is called Too Dark and is by Sydney. This poem tells of the reaction of the poet’s mother and family to a dark poem that she is proud of. Her family are shocked at the poems darkness. I related to this because my son writes poetry and it is also very dark. I am always a bit shocked by the darkness of his views and thoughts on life and society. I think all the negative social media and press is having a negative impact on youngsters and making them feel hopeless. It is something the older generations needs to be aware of. We need to avoid complaining about what a bad state we think the world is in as it has a bad effect on our children and grandchildren.
An interesting collection that is well worth the time investment.
Purchase Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Fringes-Heartstrings-Lyrics-Jan-Sikes-ebook/dp/B0GRWQC3SH/
Find all of Jan Sike’s books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jan-Sikes/author/B00CS9K8DK
About Jan Sikes

I’ve been an avid reader all my life. There’s nothing I love more than losing myself in a story.
Oddly enough, I had no ambition to be a writer. But I wound up in mid-life with a story that begged to be told. Not just any story, but a true story that rivaled any fiction creation. Through fictitious characters, the tale came to life in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books. Not satisfied to stop with the books, I released music CDs of original music matching the time period of each story segment. In conclusion, to bring the story full circle, I published a book of poetry and art. I was done.
Wrong!
The story ideas keep coming, and I don’t intend to turn off the creative fountain. I have now written numerous short stories, a series of paranormal romances and a series of historical fiction.
I love all things metaphysical and often include those aspects in my stories.
I am an dedicated fan of Texas music and grandmother of five beautiful souls. I reside in North Texas.
About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.
Get Your Copy Today!
Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures
Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships
Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR
Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures
Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons: https://books2read.com/PT6Seasons
Everyone is a Critic: My All-Time Favorites – Action Movies
Posted: August 10, 2026 Filed under: Action/Adventure, Everyone is a Critic, Movie Review, Movies, Review | Tags: Action Movies, Everyone is a Critic, Movie Review, Movies, Writing to be Read 4 CommentsThere are some movies that I can watch over and over and never get tired of them because they are so fun to watch. I’m sure certain movies are the same for everyone, in this respect. For “Everyone is a Critic” in 2026, I’d like to talk about my all-time favorites, because if you haven’t seen them, they are worth watching, and if you have, maybe this will remind you how fun they are, and you’ll give one or two another go. I’ve categorized them by the values I find in them, or the reason that I watch them. Many of them, I have watched so many times, I can quote them word for word through many parts. (And, yes, I am old, but they really don’t make them like they used to.)
Now, here, I will share them with you in the hopes that you will get the same enjoyment I have from watching them. For those who have seen the movie, the quotes will bring certain scenes alive in their minds. And if you haven’t seen the movie and you watch it, when you see the scene, you’ll understand why I chose the quotes that I did.
Action Movies – Keep me on the edge of my seat
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), with Harrison Ford
Both of these movies are so much fun to watch. While the next in series is also good, these first two are my favorites. I haven’t watched the third movie nearly as much.
Harrison Ford will always be Indiana Jones.
I have both of these in my personal collection.

Favorite Scene (The Lost Ark): Marion’s seductive escape attempt
Favorite Quotes (The Lost Ark): “Snakes! Why’d it have to be snakes?” – Indiana Jones (Ford)
Favorite Scenes (Temple of Doom): Rafting out of an airplane & Diamond in the ice
Favorite Quotes (Temple of Doom): “Fortune and glory, kid.” – Indiana Jones (Ford)
“You call him Doctor Jones, Lady” – Short Round (Ke Huy Quan)
“Hold on to your potatoes.” – Short Round (Ke Huy Quan)
Face Off (1997), with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage
A unique and clever story line where hero and villain switch places, each assuming the identity of the other. The premise is intriguing. Cage and Travolta play the roles of one another so well, it is uncanny. This movie has some unexpected twists which make it quite unpredictable and unique.
I have this movie in my personal collection.

Favorite Quotes: “I can eat a peach for hours.” – Castor Troy (Cage)
“I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave.” – Castor Troy as Sean Archer (Travolta)
“I want to take his face… off.” – Sean Archer as Castor Troy (Cage)
“If you dress like Halloween, ghouls will try to get in your pants.” Castor Troy as Sean Archer (Travolta)
“You’re Still not having any fun.” – Castor Troy as Sean Archer (Travolta)
Favorite Scenes: “No more drugs for that man.” – the drug scene & “Plan B: Why don’t we just kill each other?” – the double-sided mirror scene
Broken Arrow (1996), with John Travolta and Christian Slater
Vic Deakins (John Travolta) and Riley Hale (Christian Slater) are military pilots, partners on a mission to test a top-secret jet fighter, armed with nuclear missiles, until Deakins ejects the missiles in a dastardly plot to steal them, and crashes the plane, leaving Hale for dead. But Hale survives and sets out on his own to stop Deakins, enlisting the help of an unsuspecting park ranger, Terry Carmichal (Samantha Mathis)
Travolta makes a truly insane villain, and Slater makes a formidable adversary. This action movie is almost nonstop adventure with several twists and turns that keep you guessing. But it is just as fun to watch, even when you know what is coming.
I had this one in my personal movie collection, but I lent it to a ‘friend’ and never got it back. 😦

Favorite Scene: Setting off the nuclear bomb in the mine shaft
Favorite Quotes: “How many times do I have to say it? Please don’t shoot the nuclear WEAPONS!” – Vic Deakins (Travolta)
“I don’t know what’s scarier, losing nuclear weapons, or that it happens so often there’s actually a term for it.” – Giles Printice (Frank Whaley)
“You know, these exercises are fantastic. When the day comes that we have to go to war against Utah, we’re really gonna kick ass, y’know?” – Riley Hale (Slater)
“There’s no difference between you and a guy who shoots up a schoolyard. You’ve both got a-a head full of bad wiring.” Riley Hale (Slater)
“Attitude! Now where’s my little buddy Hale? He left you alone, didn’t he? Well that’s his speed, 100% PUSSY.” Vic Deakins (Travolta)
“Oh, this is a bad idea.” – Terry Carmichael (Mathis)
The Mummy (1999) & The Mummy Returns: Rise of the Scorpion King (2001), with Brandon Frasier and Rachel Weisz
Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) is a librarian on a treasure hunt after her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah), comes upon a mysterious puzzle box. To follow the puzzle box to the source, she springs a conman and thief, Rick O’Connell (Brandon Fraiser), from prison, saving him from hanging in return for his promise to lead them to the legendary city of Hamunoptra to find the treasure. But there is someone else who has been to Hamunoptra leading a group of Americans there, and the race is on. When their search for treasure awakens the mummy of Imotep (Arnold Vosloo), and stirs up an ancient Egyptian curse, they must stop him from releasing the forces of evil upon the earth.
In The Mummy Returns, Evelyn and Rick, and their eight-year-old son Alex, dig up the bracelet of Anubis, which controls the army of the Scorpion King, and evil forces bring back Imotep to beat the Scorpion King (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and control his army, throwing Rick and Evelyn right into the middle of it all, as Evelyn discovers an incarnate Egyptian life as the Kings daughter and must face Anck Su Namun to stop them.
Great special effects in both of these movies, which I watch on Pluto T.V. for free.

Favorite Scenes (First): The scene by the fire, The smelly little man and the scarabs & The cat and the mummy
Favorite Quotes (First): “Ah. I know. You’re wondering… what is a place like me doing in a girl like this?” – Evelyn Carnahan (Weisz)
“I may not be an explorer, or an adventurer, or a treasure seeker, or a gun fighter. But I am proud of what I am. I… am a librarian!” – Evelyn Carnahan (Weisz)
“They take a sharp, red-hot poker, stick it up your nose, scramble things about a bit, and then rip it all out through your nostrils.” – Evelyn Carnahan (Weisz)
“I only gamble with my life, never my money.” – Rick O’Connell (Frasier)
” I was about to be hanged. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” – Rick O’Connell (Frasier)
“Hey, Beni! Looks like you’re on the wrong side of the river!” – Rick O’Connell (Frasier)
“Well, everybody else we’ve bumped into has died. Why not you?” – Jonathan Carnahan (Hannah)
Favorite Scenes (Second): The double-decker bus scene
Favorite Quotes (Second): “Honey, whatcha doing? These guys don’t use doors.” – Rick O’Connell (Frasier)
“You know, a couple of years ago, this would have seemed really strange to me.” – Rick O’Connell (Frasier)
“Oh, you know, the usual. Mummies, pygmies, big bugs.” – Rick O’Connell (Frasier)
Point Break (1991) with Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey and Kenu Reeves
Johnny Utah (Kenu Reeves) is a rookie FBI agent assigned to work undercover with Angelo Pappas (Gary Busey) to discover who is behind a series of bank robberies, a group of men known only as the ex-presidents, Pappas believes are surfers. Following on that theory, Utah infiltrates the surfer scene, uncovering the identity of the bank robbers, (the leader being Bodhi (Patrick Swayze)), who aren’t just surfers, but adrenalin junkies, and puts him at their mercy.
I don’t own this one and haven’t watched it for a while. I did a review comparison of this movie with the remake from 2015, which I was not impressed with. You can see that post here.

Favorite Quotes: “Sorry, Johnny. Guess you don’t get to be president.” – Bohdi (Swayze)
Favorite Scenes: The skydiving scene where Bohdi and Utah fight for the gun and the sky-star scene is pretty good, too.
About Author Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.
Get Your Copy Now.
Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird
Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle
Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

















































