Saturday Seven ~ March 30th 2019

Happy Saturday, what have you been up to this week? Here is a rundown of highlights for the week. I hope you find them useful in your life! My goal as a person and a writer are to always Pay-It-Forward so please let me know how I can help you. YES, YOU!
Enjoy your weekend & this post! Amazing things to come!
~Amy

·        What am I Reading? – So very much!

The 13 Most Chilling Horror Books of 2018 – Very interesting, as someone who is releasing a horror novel in the near future I am going to try and read a lot of the books on this list ~ what makes them so chilling?

  

·        What am I Listening to? –  Awesome Podcast called Talking Messy by a friend of mine, absolutely hilarious and just amazing. New episodes every Thursday ~ Definitely check it out.

     

·        What Quote am I pondering? –  Not really a quote. I was working on interview questions for a blog post on a fellow author’s sire – Seelie Kay. The questions were really original. Made me think. One was a choice – choose one Perfect Health, revisit a day in the past or get a glimpse of heaven. I chose visit a day in the past because I realized how much I miss my Dad. He is always in the back of my mind and yet I also know I make a conscious decision to NOT think about him. Hurts to much, I think? Will need to ponder this some more…

·        What am I Researching? – Holy Prom Batman! My daughter’s prom is tomorrow night so this whole week has been about the dress, the shows, the hair, make-up and good lord $$$. It is craziness. I went to three prom’s and all of my dresses were under 50$. That is NOT the case now, holy mother of an industry! Next year we are Prom shopping in January—and by the way who has Prom in freaking March! Oklahoma, apparently.

·        Yummy Meal of the Week –  Eggbert’s Ultimate Chicken Sandwich. Greasy goodness! Fried chicken with Bacon, lettuce and tomato on a bun with mayo. OMG! So good. Takes me back my time in PA, there was a restaurant called Friendly’s and their chicken sandwiches were amazing. This is the closest I have come to finding something as good.

·         What did I Learn? –  BANG! is the new Monster and I love it (energy drink, Google it) & The Feynman Technique: The Best Way to Learn Anything

·         What am I Watching? –  Literally no time to watch anything this week, it has been nutzoid! Lots of shows I need to add to my list. One little thing I did watch that was very entertaining was here – There is no celebrity on earth today who would be able to get away with this in 2019 ~ Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra on the Tonight Show with Joey Bishop.

Have any thoughts on my week’s activity or want to make a recommendation? Drop me a line, or a tweet. One lucky commenter will win a free Romine book of their choice! Never want to miss a blog post or a Saturday Seven? Join my mailing list and I will be happy to send it straight to your inbox!

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Friday Food Love! ~ Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken

I LOVE my slow cooker / crock pot and this is a super-easy dish for a night when you have a little extra time. Chicken is savory and so yummy all by itself as the sauce and delish! Shown in the picture with regular noodles, I prefer egg noodles.

Ingredients

3 lbs chicken pieces
1 (2/3 ounce) package Italian salad dressing mix
4 tablespoons melted butter (divided)
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
8 ounces cream cheese
1⁄2 cup chicken broth

Preparation

Place chicken pieces in crock pot and sprinkle Italian seasoning over chicken. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons melted butter.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and sauté onion and garlic. Add Cream of Chicken Soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth. Stir until smooth.
Add this mixture to crock pot and cook on low for an additional hour.

View on food.com

I served this with some wide egg noodles and broccoli! Yummy!

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Writing Warriors Wednesday! ~ To Blog or Not to Blog

This is a universal question and one we all struggle with when building our

empires. I have struggled with the same thing for years. Tossing and turning in conflict over how to spend my precious time. If I am blogging, I’m not writing, and I should be writing, right?

Yes and no.

This is the chicken and the egg scenario, unfortunately.

Working on your next book is KEY but you need to be able to sell your current book and the next one etc. The only way you are going to do that is to be out there. One venue is not enough! Just posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even just blogging is not enough. You have to link them all together and run at full force to get your name out there.

The other thing you need to remember and a friend of mine recently pointed this out to me, you are selling you. There was a time – before social media—that an author was popular because we LOVED their books. Half the time we didn’t know what they looked like, their hobbies or their political affiliations.  I mean seriously have you seen Stephen King – that mug had to be a huge debate in marketing his books early on.  

This is no longer the case. The internet, Amazon and social media have changed the landscape dramatically and thus was born the word BRAND.  Yes, I used it and I know you all cringed and looked away.

A brand is simply what pops into a person’s head when they see your name. 

Nothing?

Well, that is a problem.

That is where social media and blogging come into play. More specifically this is where content comes into play. Blogging does not have to be a full-time job. Most of us have full-time jobs already that are not writing. Two blog posts a week works. Easy-Peasy. 

Okay, Amy, I get it – but I still have no clue what to blog about?

Keep it simple. What are your passions? What are you working on? What do you do outside of writing? For example. I love television so I started a blog series of favorite television shows A to Z. This gave me a sustainable topic to blog about every week and is also something I really enjoy talking about.  The blog will attract other people who also enjoy television and will then see all of my books on the blog (you get the idea). So now when that person sees my name they will think – oh yeah, Amy Romine is a huge fan of the Dukes of Hazard. I’d completely forgotten that show until I read her blog!

There are a TON of things to blog about, you can literally Google it and get thousands of topics.

The other challenge I have heard about blogging is the length. Guess what? Length, or lack thereof, is not a problem. The entire world has ADD now so the shorter the better, right? 500 – 750 words works great. (I just hit 500 words int his post BTW)

Do you read? Write book reviews! – This is a GREAT way to give back and support your fellow authors.

Saturday Seven – This is a weekly rundown of what you did the previous week. I pick seven topics (Reading, Researching, Listening To, Yummy Food, Learned, Quote I am pondering and Watching) and I write a little one or two sentence line about each. I link to recipes, books, music, articles etc.

Crafts / Hobbies – If you are into crafts and or some kind of hobby other than writing talk about it. Give tips, how to’s, what it is about the activity that brings you joy!

Writing – Excerpts, inspiration – I am writing a romantic suspense horror novel and I post what’s called a Finder’s Bucket List (Finders is the name of the Ghost Hunting Team in my book). I blog about locations that are on their list of want to do – I give a brief overview and then link to the website of the location. These are short and sweet blog posts but will attract anyone interested in ghost hunting.

Character Blogging – This is a fun one and I have used it a few times. Blog as your character! What are their likes, obsessions, hobbies, etc. It is an interesting way to give your blog reader an alternate look at a character you are working on or have already created.  (750 words)

So, dear teammates that is my take on blogging. Obviously, I am of the opinion that for brand marketing it is a must-do. On top of that though, it is writing! 

Like it or not it counts toward your 10,000 hours to become a writing expert!

Any kind of writing is a good thing for all of us writers. Flexing muscles you do not normally use gets the blood flowing and the creative juices moving in new directions.

Don’t over complicate it or overwhelm yourself. Ask for help, set a schedule and just do it.  Using programs like Triberr will extend your blog’s reach and push your posts into the social media mix.  Lots of little things like blogging add up to more exposure, more sales and that makes us all happy writers!

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Teaser Tuesday ~ Little Angels

What if saving little angels meant becoming the monster?

When Special Agent Nick McFarlane receives news his partner of eight years is in trouble he doesn’t hesitate. Throwing himself into a deep cover operation to expose and shut down The Micahs, a child trafficking ring, Nick enters unprepared for the reality that awaits. 

Special Agent Meredith Richards took the assignment fully aware of the consequences. Leaving her life behind, she wouldn’t be able to get out with her life until she shut the Micahs down for good.

When Meredith’s informant is murdered and her contact inside the organization starts to lose control, Meredith is forced to make choices she can’t take back. On the edge of sacrificing herself, her principles, and her life, she begins to wonder if she will survive the case or if she even wants too.  

Excerpt

The road was rough, and Nick hung onto the dash for fear of falling out of the jeep. After dispatching the entire force, five teams on the ground and two in the air, they'd lost the signal over half an hour earlier. Being in the middle of the dense jungle made the search almost impossible, but they were closer than they’d been just hours ago.

Nick felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he lifted it to look, not recognizing the number. 

"McFarlane," he said into the phone and there was silence. "Hello?"

He could barely make out a voice and he looked to Jacobs to stop the car.

"Hello?"

Jacobs stopped the jeep and Nick waited.

"Meredith?" Nick said.

"Hello?" He heard a small voice say back at him.

"Hi, this is Nick, who is this?"

"Lily," she replied, her voice shaking. "Meredith..."

"Are you with Meredith, sweetheart?"

"She won't...she won't wake up..." she said, and Nick's heart stopped.

"Lily, do you know where you are?" Nick asked, looking to Jacobs, who dialed his own phone. 

"In the jungle," she replied between little sobs. "I'm scared...she's bleeding and I can't..."

"Lily, is there anything around? Do you see anything?"

"There is a jeep. I think it’s how the bad man got here," she said into the phone. Jacobs nodded and he started the jeep again. 

"Lily, listen to me, I need you to stay on the phone with me. I'm coming to get you," Nick said. 

"Please hurry...it's dark, and Meredith..."

"It's okay, Lily, we're coming," Nick replied, listening to the girl panic on the phone.

"She dying," Lily said, beginning to cry again. "Please, I don't want her to die..."

"Lily, it's going to be okay," Nick tried to reassure her—he also tried to reassure himself.

The car wasn't moving fast enough, and he felt like he was going to jump out of his skin. He was telling Lily to be brave, and he was terrified himself.

They had time. They had to have time. This wasn't the end. 

He could still get to her. 

He could still save her.

"I see lights, is that you?" Lily said to him on the phone and without thinking, he leapt from the car and ran forward, the lights of the car illuminating the path. After a moment, he saw the child seated on the ground, Meredith lying just behind her. Nick reached them in seconds and the child dove into his arms. Hugging her tightly against him, he looked to Meredith, his heart bursting.

"Please help her," she said, sobbing into his shirt.

"It's going to be okay," he said. Jacobs came and took the child from his arms.

Nick moved to Meredith, taking in her injuries. He touched her shoulder to look at her better, and felt the warm stickiness on his hand. Looking at it against the light, it was covered in blood.

"She's been shot," Nick said. He scooped her in his arms, moving back to the jeep as he saw more lights approaching. "You got this?"

"Yeah, go," Jacobs said. "I'll call Henry and have him pick you up. Keep your phone on!"

Nick put her in the passenger's seat, and tore off through the jungle. Every few seconds, he looked over to her pale face. "Come on, Henry," Nick pleaded aloud. His phone buzzed, and he picked up, talking to Henry, one of the helicopter pilots. Henry led him through the jungle to a clearing where he would be able to pick them up. Nick reached the clearing and jumped out of the car, walking around to the passenger's seat. Nick protected her from the slicing wind, hearing the helicopter's approach. He felt Meredith move beneath him.

"Nick," she said weakly, but her eyes were still heavy and they began to close again.

"Meredith...stay with me, Mere," he said taking her face in his hands. "Stay with me, we're getting you out of here."

She nodded and fell against him. Nick lifted her from the jeep. Her arm wrapped around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. He carried her on board, taking a seat with her in his lap. The door closed, muffling the noise.

She opened her eyes, looking up at him.

"Hey, beautiful," he said.

“I bet you say that to all the girls," she replied with a tired smile that lifted him.

"Not all of them, just the ones I can't live without," he replied, hugging her a little closer.

"I wish that were true," she said, and her eyes closed.

He checked her pulse and found it weak and thready. 

"Hurry!" He yelled to the pilot, and saw the man nod in return.

***

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Could There Be Demonic Activity Within My House?

Listed below are SOME signs that MAY lead you to believe Demonic Activity is infesting your home.  You may only have one or many depending on the stage the demonic activity resides. With any demon, there is only one purpose possession of your immortal soul. Sounds pretty hardcore, because it is. There are several stages of demonic growth within a dwelling or home -Infestation, Oppression & Possession.

The below are symptoms of the top two stages, Infestation and Oppression. 

Unexplainable foul odors like rancid meat, rotten eggs, or sulfur, that appear from nowhere, from an unknown source.

Knocking or banging on the walls and the source cannot be found - bangs will often come in 3's - as a mocking of the Trinity. The banging also starts after midnight and usually ceases promptly at dawn. 

How are your Animals Acting? -  Remember in both The Conjuring and The Amityville Horror, the dogs refused to come inside the house, and both eventually ended up dead? Hollywood did its research, pay very close to how animals in the home react - are they frightened and alarmed to something that you cannot see but hear? When animals are in the presence of a true demonic entity, they are fully aware of its presence.  Depending on the breed of the dog, there is a “flight or fight” instinct that will occur.  For example, a German Shepherd will begin to become quite aggressive, and the instincts of the animal will be to immediately go into the “fight” mode to protect the family.  Snarling, snapping, and excessive salivating could occur during the fight mode.  Even though the family may see nothing, the animal is clearly displaying an aggressive response at an entity that poses a direct threat to the animal or family.

A noted increase in shadow activity, making the witnessing more frequent and intense for someone spending a lot of time in the dwelling.

Clearly heard growling noises with an unverified source.

The feeling of heaviness, sadness, an unspecified weight when entering the house. People feeling sick to their stomach, headaches, migraines, aches, stabbing pains, general discomfort that cannot be alleviated.  

People who spend extended amounts of time in the house may also show signs of irritability, irrational anger, mood swings, helplessness, and depression. A person may get an overwhelming sense of dread and doom.

Large or heavy objects will move by themselves, they will be thrown, tossed or directed at people or animals in an attempt to cause fear and or harm.
Religious articles that reside within the house or brought into the home go missing, destroyed, or completely disappear without a trace.

Prayer in the home ‘stirs things up.' It may calm things, but then, in most cases, the activity will return with increased strength. This activity is directed at the person or group with the most faith. 

In my upcoming book, Finders, the team of ghost hunters are always on the lookout for demonic activity. The presences of a demon put their team, and the residents of the house, in immediate danger. If the Finders Team see signs of demonic activity, they call in a demonologist like Luke Melloy to investigate and assist in expelling the demon.
As a former priest and marine Luke Melloy is well equipped to fight and defend against the forces of evil.   
Be sure to check out Finders coming  Fall 2019!

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Saturday Seven ~ March 23rd 2019

Happy Saturday, what have you been up to this week? Here is a rundown of highlights for the week. I hope you find them useful in your life! My goal as a person and a writer are to always Pay-It-Forward so please let me know how I can help you. YES, YOU!
Enjoy your weekend & this post! Amazing things to come!
~Amy

·        What am I Reading? –  How To Get Rid Of The Thoughts That Are Clogging Your Brain - “I never thought about that.” So let me get this straight. You’re thinking all the time, and yet, you never think about how much time you spend thinking.

     

      Angel Eyes by William Brian Worthy - A pre-requisite to reading this book should be to first read “The Naked Society” by Vance Packard, which was published in 1964. The state of our society was in fact much worse than Vance Packard portrayed, and in every way, should be more appropriately described as “The Torn Society.” Even five years before the publication of Vance Packard’s book, a turn in the way that people in our society were treated deviated from a normal respect of human rights into the proliferation of a philosophy to make humans available for the exploitation of other humans, namely the so called “upper crust” of society. The tools for achieving this would be modern technology. Our society cannot have peace because it is in conflict with itself, torn by tyranny from within. It is our society, The American Society, The Torn Society. To come to grips with this, the people and leaders of this society need to see what they have become. Fortunately, the angels in heaven saw that the demise of the human race would transpire if The Torn Society would be allowed to run its course. So they sent something to correct that course – their eyes.

This Book is not for the faint-hearted. This book deals with several mature and serious issues. Will the "Torn Society" make the appropriate changes to become a better society? These are some of the many questions this book seeks to answer.

·        What am I Listening to? –  Totally Awesome 80’s! ~ is a local radio station you can also catch it on ALEXA and I LOVE it. They are having an 80’s Prom on April 27^th I am totally excited about going. If you are in the Tulsa Area you should totally check it out. If you are not in the Tulsa area but love the 80’s you should also definitely check it out as well for crimped hair, jelly bracelets and Aqua-Net galore!

     

·        What Quote am I pondering? –  Lady I love and admire ~ “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

·        What am I Researching? –  Believe it or not, Juicing! Yeah, like Jack LaLanne juicing. A friend of mine started juicing about a year ago and it has helped with his anxiety and depression. I am looking into it. Planning on picking up all of the ingredients and he is going to make me a jug of juice to try! I will keep you posted on how it turns out. Highly recommend the documentary ~ Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

·        Yummy Meal of the week –  Mexican Lasagna ~ A friend of mine made this for me for dinner and it was soooo yummy! Here is the recipe.

·         What did I Learn? –   Funny enough I have learned that watching Marvel movies out of order is VERY confusing. With the new movie coming out (see the trailer here) we have decided to watch the Marvel movies from the beginning – in order – so we will be ready for Avengers – End Game!

·         What am I Watching? –  This week was a throwback for me, and a discovery for my new beau. I introduced him to Sherlock. I have personally watched the entire series probably four times so far, and I love it every time I watch it.

Have any thoughts on my week’s activity or want to make a recommendation? Drop me a line, or a tweet. One lucky commenter will win a free Romine book of their choice! Never want to miss a blog post or a Saturday Seven? Join my mailing list and I will be happy to send it straight to your inbox!

P.S. ~ I am on tour promoting my series Trust Me, (Serenity Lost, Veiled Deception and Jaded Promises)all month so make sure you stop by and say hello. Not only because you are AWESOME but because you could win a $50 Amazon. Check out my Twitter or Facebook for locations.

See the full schedule of tour locations.

** Added bonus, all of the Trust Me Series Books are on sale at the Extasy site for $1.99!!

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