My Heart Melted For the Movie Flipped

If it’s a romantic coming-of-age movie you’re looking for then I highly recommend the 2010 movie Flipped. 

The film is an adaptation of the novel Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen and although the author's story is set in current times, director and screenwriter Rob Reiner chose the era of the late 50s and early 60s for the film.

Upon their first meeting in 1957, second-grader Juliana Baker knows its love when she meets fellow classmate Bryce Loski. The problem is, Bryce is clueless to these emotions and tries for the next six years to keep this outspoken, unconventional girl at arm’s length.

The years quickly go by and before you know it, it’s 1963 and the pair is in seventh grade, Juliana (Juli) (Madeleine Carroll) is still determined to have her first kiss from Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) and Bryce is still trying to get a handle on his emotions, believing he has no feelings for his intriguing neighbor.

Bryce messes things up with a few bad choices and loses Juli’s respect; he refuses to admit he misses Juliana’s constant attempts to win his affection.

Despite his determination Bryce’s feelings flip when there’s a basket boy auction at school. Who will bid on his basket and have lunch with him? He dreads the moment uncertain of the outcome.

I would love to tell you more but it would be just wrong to spoil it for you. Instead here’s a trailer to the movie Flipped.

I feel there's a sweet innocence to this movie and director Rob Reiner lets you see it through Juliana and Bryce's point of view.


I find it's not only a romance but a mixing of two families; it's interesting to see how Bryce deals with his dad who is critical towards their neighbor.

Flipped has a great cast of actors, including Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Aidan Quinn, Rebecca De Mornay, John Mahoney and Anthony Edwards among many more.

I hope you enjoy.

Illustration Image by iStockphoto

Inspirational Sites to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

At times a writer just needs to hear or read something to put the passion back into their work. I have to admit I relish those jeweled sites where an author shares their experience. Writing a novel is a long road with plenty of ups and downs in it so it’s always a pleasure to read something positive to put the energy back into your writing. Here are some sites I found of interest.



• Mike Wells; The Green Water Blog and his post on how 3000 copies of his book Wild Child went from the trash bin to selling on Amazon Kindle and earning the number one spot on the bestseller list. It's definitely a Cinderella story for writers!


• Another great inspirational story is self published author John Locke and his climb to the bestseller list on Amazon's Kindle. I believe one of his books Saving Rachel has Hollywood even interested in turning it into a film. It’s truly another writer’s HEA – what could be sweeter?  


As of yet I haven’t read any of these authors books so I have no idea what they’re like. But I have to say I’m definitely intrigued to see what the hype is all about.

As always it’s good to hear the literally world is still thriving. So to those of you who are about to put pen to paper I wish you happy writing and much success!


Image found at Wikimedia

Do Writers Play A Role In Shaping Our Society?

• Novelists


• Screenwriters

• Songwriters




I believe we all contribute to our society. We put an image in our subjects’ heads, a feeling in their hearts.

As writers I feel we share a responsibility to put the right image out there. At times I feel the industry bombards people with the wrong material and morality takes a second seat as we board the next trend that comes along.

What are our children growing up to? What would be restricted years ago seems quite ridiculous in today’s standards.

Parents today have their hands full when it comes to discouraging drug use, promiscuity and crime. It seems songs, movies, TV shows and novels are littered with it, encouraging such behavior without showing the consequences of such actions. I’m not saying songs, movies, TV shows and novels are all bad, there is so much good out there too but there are also a lot of questionable ones as well.

Not to be a hypocrite, I admit I’ve written stories with shady characters… But I always try to make the protagonist see the error of their ways. I believe characters can have deep undertones—it humanizes them but at some point I want them to see the light.

In closing, I have to quote author Edward Bulwer-Lytton when he wrote the now famous cliché; The pen is mightier than the sword.

Sitting here in front of my computer, I have to wonder what the next generation will be like. Will my words inspire them in some way? Fanciful thought I know but I can’t help but hope that I write something… anything that will point someone in the right direction.