Saturday Seven - 11th April, 2020 My Weekly Roundup!

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!



Happy Easter :D


Enjoy your weekend & this post! Amazing things to come!

~Amy

What am I Reading? - Love is Blind by Nick Brady ~ A book published by one of my students and I am loving it! ~ Andrew and Ian are students in the same University. Andrew is sighted and Ian is blind. Andrew is curious about how Ian manages to adapt to a sighted world and an unlikely friendship develops. They have much to learn from each other. What begins as a casual friendship evolves into a lasting relationship as two very different people discovered that they are much more alike than they first thought. They share many trials and adventures and eventually make a life together





What am I Listening to? – Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo and Macmillan Audio ~ This listen has helped me break through the barrier I built when it comes to writing my speech. It is a terrific read if you are thinking about public speaking or even if you enjoy TED Talks.


What Quote am I pondering? – We are all coping with an intense tragic event, be patient with yourself. It is okay to just vegetate and process.

Not sure where I saw this, but it affected me. Nothing like COVID19 has ever happened in modern times. The closest we’ve come here in the US is the Swine flu years ago. I am grateful my family and friends are safe and healthy. I have sympathy for all who are afflicted or touched by this Pandemic. I will be patient with the world, social media, and myself.


What am I Researching? – Virtual and Online Classrooms ~ Everything has shut down so Writing Warriors is going virtual. Honestly, I have been struggling with my perfectionist side and the need to move faster. I found Google Classroom, which funny enough my son’s school is using for their lessons as well. We will see how it goes!

Yummy Meal of the Week – Gyros from Arby’s – I haven’t been Arby’s in forever, but my son and I went for a change of pace and good lord what I have been missing. I am a huge fan of Gyros and did not know they have the traditional lamb as an option! Love it!! Go eat now – ask for extra tzatziki for you Gyro and horsy sauce for your curly fries!



What did I Learn? – The average consumer is using more toilet paper – No seriously. Think about it. While the disappearance of toilet paper from grocery store shelves is a result of panic the fact is – we will be using more toilet paper. Normally people are not home from about 7 AM to 5 PM. Now they are, including kiddos. The need to restock toilet paper, paper towels, and garbage bags is going to be more frequent.



What am I Watching? – Raising Dion on Netflix ~ keep an eye out for a full review but wow, love the show. Here are the details. A widowed single mom discovers that her son has superpowers and tries to figure out how to raise him safely and responsibly.




That is all for this week, my lovelies!
I hope you have an amazing week, and I will talk to you all next Saturday!



*BONUS Content ~


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#Friday Author Spotlight Interview with Roy McDowell

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

New Orleans would be my choice.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

The number of hours I put into writing is roughly the same a regular full-time job

How do you come up with names for your characters?

I use the 60,000 Big Book of Baby Names and look for definitions of what the names mean. Though some do just pop into my head, either partially or fully formed.

Give a shout-out to a fellow author.

Clifford Morris, He has taught my sarcastic and ornery self how to be even more sarcastic and ornery.

What is your favorite word, and why?

It would depend on if the word had to be a real-world word or if it could be a fiction word. My favorite real-world word is ironic. Because it is the opposite of appearance.

The fictional word is Zome, it is the Gaioterran word for love. By adding an O or and A and different accents to the original o or e, it defines the type of love. Be it love of a friend, a sibling, a parent, or grand/great parent as well as a lover or mate.

Describe your writing space.

It is best described as Fur-baby central. I have a smallish corner desk with a small hutch and an bigger man office chair. Typically, I have a cat either helping me type, on my lap or on the back of my chair or any combination (I have 3). Plus, a dog laying on the floor behind my chair.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written almost two dozen books so far, of them eight have been published in one form or another. Death Inc series and especially Mot’s Diner has become my favorite of the newer books. Of the older books it is The Breed.

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?

It shocked me that when I get into the groove of writing I can put down a large amount of words. I am not talking 180,000 over a two year period, but 80,000 in three weeks and I consider my typing speed as slow.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

In the new stories it has to be Roland and Farnsworth Faustian Darkholme. They are both characters who due to how their souls were born, they are forced to be in places that truly don’t belong. Roland as a child of Death is forced to remain in the realm of the dead, even though he has progressed to the point he should be in heaven. Faust is Roland’s 2nd cousin as the grandson of Lucifer but he is good enough that he deserves to be reincarnated.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Oh, plenty of secrets and hidden nods are all over Mot’s Diner, only a few are inside jokes most are pop-culture or historical references, like who Rome and Julie really are. River and Alice as well.

Does one of your main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

In Death Inc series there is Roland and Farnsworth Faustian Darkholme, both of them are forced to be something that they don’t want to be, simply because of their souls birth. Roland is Death 3rd child and Faust is one of Lucifer’s grandsons. Roland belongs in Heaven and Faust should be reincarnated but both a stuck.

If one of your books was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?

Death Inc Series –

Death (Mot) would be Jared Leto (his appearance) with a backup of Adam Lavine (his personality)

Roland would be Daniel Radcliffe (his appearance), with a backup of Dylan O’Brien (his personality).

Lucifer would be Adam Lavine (his look), with a backup of Tom Ellis (his personality and he has already done it).

Farnsworth Faustian Darkholme would be Thomas Brodie-Sangster (his appearance), Dane DaHaan (also for his appearance)

Alice would be Linda Lavine (she already is)

River would be Alex Kingston (she already is).

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

I am working on two projects at present, but they are directly connected. The first is the 2nd book in the Death Inc series, “Return to Mot’s Diner” and the second which I am outlining for the April Camp NaNo is the 3rd book in the series which instead of a diner it is based in a motel.

How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?

I have a folder on OneDrive that is story ideas. I have well over a dozen in the folder.

One that might be interesting is on a nearly similar Earth to our own in which FDR was visited in a hospital years before he began president. His visitors were a group who not only told foretold him about his upcoming political life but warned him about Pearl Harbor. They eventually become a 4th branch of the government, PSION.

What are you reading now?

I am re-reading the Incarnations of Immortality series and Harry Potter series. I also have over 300 books on various subjects which are on my To Be Read list. They are all on my paper white.

What famous author do you wish would be your mentor?

I have three – Steven King, J.K Rowling and Piers Anthony all for different reasons. I have another three that would be backups for my main three.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Read, Harry Potter Fanfiction, regular stories or how-to

What is the best part of your day?

The evening or very early morning after everything else has settled down to sleep.

Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?

Snakes, I am scared of spiders.

What is your favorite word?

That depends, if it must be a real-world word or one that is in a story. Real world word would be irony. Story based word would have to Zome, it is the Breed word for love, simply by changing the accent, the portion that is stressed or adding an A or O changes the type of love. One word that can express love for siblings, parents, grand/great parents, friends and lover/mate.

What is your least favorite word?

Can’t and its variants

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

What if? I know I answered a question with a question, but that is what sparks for me, asking, what if?

What turns you off?

My own stubbornness and that of other people.

What is your favorite curse word?

Damn and all its variants.

What sound or noise do you love?

A babbling brook, well any natural sounding water.

What sound or noise do you hate?

Traffic sounds annoy the crap out of me.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Teacher, Minister and/or Councilor. The thing is I studied and am certified to be one of them. I just got burned by the people.

What profession would you not like to do?

The same answer as the previous question.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Something about being loved, otherwise being reincarnated until I did hear it.

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Awesome Excerpt Thursday ~ Enchanted Traveler ~ Gabriella Bradley & Taryn Jameson

A wish upon a star, conjures up much more than Nailah bargains for…

Nailah Guevera, an enchantress and agent for the Galactic Bureau of Investigation, will do anything to find information about her missing father, including offering herself up as bait on a sting operation to capture the linchpin of a drug and human trafficking ring.

When the mission turns sour, Nailah finds herself captive on a ship bound for Earth, her only backup the one man who sets her heart on fire—her new partner, Agent Aragon Benoit.


Together they must trap the criminals before her undercover status is blown.

Buy Now!

Excerpt ~ 

Lightning slashed through the dark clouds illuminating the lake, causing the water to look like a pool of swirling mercury. Another bolt split the darkness above and struck the surface, then spread into a big, round circle, its edges and center a spiraling mass of violet colors. Through the misty substance, a round metal ring became visible. It had glowing symbols on it. Steps appeared leading down to the beach.

It was as if a door had opened to another world, and the thought of it intrigued her. A form took shape in the center of the ring—a man. Mesmerized, Nailah couldn’t take her eyes off him as he made his way down the steps. Fuck if I didn’t enchant a version of my dream man to materialize. Really? Just because I wished upon a star? How many times throughout my life have I made a wish, and nothing ever happened…

He wore a Galactic Bureau of Investigations uniform, the black and blue bodysuit hugging his body like a second skin, showing off his well-defined abdomen and the bulging muscles of his arms and thighs. He had a handsome face with a strong chin and full lips. Her fingers itched to explore every single inch of that smooth ebony skin. She shook herself out of her stupor when she realized he carried a sword in his left hand. What the hell was a GBI agent doing here of all places? Or was he a criminal impersonating an agent?

 “Odd…my paracorder didn’t pick up any significant life signs. Just the bird.”

Nailah heard his deep voice rumble. Her heart beat a tad faster. She didn’t scare easily, but this was freaky, and she wasn’t armed. Illusion or not, she wasn’t about to let him get the better of her. She stood and braced herself for an attack. “Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you—”

 “You shouldn’t be able to see me.” He gave her a perplexed look.

Nailah brushed the hair out of her eyes. “See you? I’m not blind.”

 “No one should be able to see or hear me. If you can, something is very wrong. My invisibility shield has failed.”

 “Invisibility shield? Why? Who are you? Is that thing a portal?” She gestured to the swirling mass behind him but noticed it was beginning to fade. She lifted her arm and tapped her wrist, ready to call for backup.

The man stepped toward her and pointed his sword at her chest. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

 “And how will you stop me? Kill me?” She cocked her chin and raised a delicate brow.

 “According to my paracorder, you’re not here. I can’t kill someone who doesn’t exist.”

The blade of his sword touched her chest, then tapped her on the shoulder. Her heart thundered in her chest. For an illusion, the weapon felt very real, and she was beginning to kick herself in the ass for leaving her phaser at home. I am such an idiot.

 “Tell me who and what you are,” he ordered, the blade still hovering near her chest.

 “My name is Nailah Guevera, and it is who I am that you should be worried about.”

 “What are you doing here?”

The startled expression on his face at her name hadn’t escaped her. “I answered your question. Now you answer mine. Who are you?”

 “I am Agent Aragon Benoit, space detective. My friends call me Ara.”


This was getting better all the time. Not only was he hotter than hell, but he had just introduced himself as the detective assigned to be her new partner.

~

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