My Intellectual Crush

If you Google Intellectual Crush Definition, a whole bunch of stuff comes up. The only actual definition I found is in the Urban Dictionary:

A crush on someone that developed because of admiration for the person's skill/talent/intellectual abilities etc... Often used to clarify that crushes of the same gender are more or less platonic and not sexual in nature.

I have a few of these crushes, and I have mentioned them in previous blogs. 

These people inspire me, and make me sigh with the brilliance of their minds!

JJ Abrahms

Seth McFarlane

Joss Wheadon

George Clooney (although this one could go either way)

I am adding someone to the list. This is not done without serious consideration as it is very few who reach this status in my world but Oh Nelly I am in love…

His name is Bob Mayer, and if you have an eye on my activities you know I have been gobbling up his media like Christmas candy! Those who do not know who Bob Mayer is, let me introduce you. His bio on Goodreads: A West Point graduate, former Green Beret and NY Times best-selling author and motivational speaker/consultant. He is the Co-Creator of Who Dares Wins Publishing. He has written over 45 titles under his name and his several pen names, including Robert Doherty He has co-authored several books with Jennifer Crusie.

He is also the owner of a wonderful blog titled after a remarkable novel, Write it Forward, Who Dares Wins!

So what is the attraction? He is a teacher, and a real author. Not one of those people who says they are an author and puts out a bunch of books to help other authors just to make money. 

His books, his theory, his thought process makes sense to me. It isn’t bunch of hooey to fill pages, it is black and white.  I have been meaning to read several of his books for almost a year now. I recently discovered the text to speech feature on my Kindle and holy hell I am an idiot! I am kicking myself for waiting as long as I have to read the man’s books! I could go into a long explanation as to what his books say and suggest but honestly, just go read them. I am being sincere about this, if you hate them I will refund your money!! LOL!

I am going to branch off for a second to try and explain why this is such an impactful moment for me. I was published in 2010 and since then I have released eleven novels.  I have learned so much about myself, the business, the web and the world. I have been gathering all of this information (and there is a lot to process) to try and plan for the future, what it is I want, what I need, and what is possible. 

I discovered I am a writer (go figure) and I want to be the BEST writer I can be. I want to learn, expand, grow, hone, define, and perfect my abilities.  Knowing this and doing something about it are two different things. I am 42, not a spring chicken, but I have the hunger of a 23 year old eyeing the world to conquer.

Mr. Mayer has written 45 novels (more now I think), he has been writing for 20 years, he has been on the best seller list, and he literally (not exaggeration here) sells about 1500 books a day.  So now my interest is peaked, right? Wow, who doesn’t want to be like him? Thus the reasons I initially bought his books. Let me make a clarification, I bought his non-fiction books – 102 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes, and the Novel Writer’s Toolkit—both looked promising. 

I just finished them and I went a step further and put Mr. Mayer to the ultimate test. I bought and read one of his fiction books, ‘Don’t Look Down’ co-authored by Jennifer Cruise. 

Hell he may look good on paper but can he deliver the pros?

Uh, yeah, he can.

Seriously, he can. 

Wow, so not only does the man speak my language, as in he was able to penetrate my concrete noggin to enable me to ‘get it’ as far as my writing, he is also really good at the craft. This sounds like an oxymoron, but it is all too often people who write how to books cannot actually write fiction to save their lives.

So now I have joined the cult, I am an avid reader, follower, and supporter of Bob Mayer and all he does. The man is a freakin’ genius, and I can only hope to be half the writer and or business person he is. 

If you are a writer, READ his books, if you are a READER, read his books, I love romantic suspense and I started with ‘Don’t Look Down’ and I loved it. As a writer I started with 102 Solutions. I have posted reviews on all, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to learn and grow in their craft.

So THAT my friends is an intellectual crush!

Ba-Zinga!! --Oh did I tell you Sheldon Cooper is on the list as well—hahaha!

Live, Love, Learn--Everyday

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It's Not Personal - Just Business?

This phrase is written on a sticky note and taped to an area of my desk where it is always visible. I had a hard time getting used to this idea. I am so passionate about my work it is difficult to not make it personal. As a corporate sales analyst my job is to ensure operations run smoothly. When this doesn’t happen I am responsible no matter what, so I get it done right the first time. This is my standard, first to satisfy the customer and second because I have a good reputation to uphold. 

Recently, my company has gone through some transformations and this has created chaos within the ranks. Promises and reassurances I could make in the past are no longer there as I have little control of what happens. Thus I am unwilling to commit to anything. This situation has made client relations very strained, as we are missing previously standard deliverables. When deliverables are not met, the account need a head to knock, and that is me. I may have had nothing to with the passage of events, but it is still my head hitting the back wall with a thud.

I always took this very personally, as I had failed the account. This had never happened to me before. I had never had a client unhappy with my performance—wait right there—this is not my performance. This is the company’s performance. This is not a criticism of my work or efforts. It is a calling for support from the vendor (us) for additional assistance. This where I would always start to panic about how good or lousy a job I am doing and start taking it personally, get emotionally upset etc. This is not what is supposed to happen. The people who are concerned and or demanding are not disgruntled with me personally they are fighting for their needs. Sometime the customer needs to scream to have anyone listen.

As a writer, I have become a business woman and this same adage is true even more so with my own business. Have you ever watched the show “Shark Tank”? If you are unfamiliar, it is a reality show with five very successful entrepreneurs who are looking for the next big thing to invest in. People with newly invented products come in to the shark tank and ask for money and or support for their individual venture. 

It is the most accurate portrayal of big business I’ve ever seen. The five business leaders are polite, well groomed, and sarcastic. The contestants come and go one by one. The moment something or someone gets these five business experts attentions it gets really interesting. Pleasantries are put aside, the teeth come out, eyes are black and their only goal is to control that product for as little money as possible. The attack begins and the numbers start rolling. Just to describe how intense it gets, here is a quote “I swear to God if you screw this up for me, I will club you like a baby seal!” 

None of us wants to be the shark, but that is the way you need to be when selling your product, your book. You need to take all of the emotion out of it and tap into your inner shark. It is business. You are not personally attacking anyone. You are simply obtaining the best opportunities for growth. This is the only way you are going to sell and sell big. It doesn’t matter if you know Steve Martin or Simon & Schuster if you are not selling your product with the conviction that it is the best you are not going to get anyone’s attention.

This does not mean you need to become a heartless, horrible, non-feeling person. What it does mean is that you need to learn to put your personal feelings aside and make your business decisions based on facts not emotion. Sharks look at the facts, cold and hard, leaving any sentiment at the door. Will it sell or won’t it?

Again, this does not mean you lose your love affair with words, it can all fit together, you just need some practice. Search for your inner shark and then keep him hidden away until you need him.

“Sharks have been swimming the oceans unchallenged for thousands of years; chances are, the species that roams corporate waters will prove just as hardy.”

 ~Eric Gelman

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Serenity Lost Character Blog - Cyber Solace

* Author Amy Romine writing as Rebecca Gailen from Trust Me Book 1 - Serenity Lost

So I am needing an outlet, and you are it oh vast cyberspace. Why, do I need such an outlet? Well let's just say I find myself in a hell of a mess and those people I usually talk to. I can't. I have a secret. Something only one other person knows, and that is because he was there. 

I would assume you are now shaking your head wondering "what the hell am I reading?" Well I can tell you if you have come to witness a horror story in the making you have come to the right place!

Am I being overly dramatic? Definitely! 

Do I care? Not really. Well, yes and no.  

The truth is...I've silently begged the heavens to grant me this one little wish. I just wanted to see him again. I wanted to know for sure that it wasn't a beautiful dream. That his eyes are a deep blue and his embrace is warm and encompassing. Then...there he was.  

I couldn't believe it and it couldn't have been more awful. I was exhausted and reeling from a horrid day filled with decomposing teddy bears and drowned rats (don't ask). 

Okay fine, i you MUST know, someone has taken an interest in me. Don't panic! I have spoken to the police and they, specifically Detective Lugow (if you saw him, you would know his name describes his looks perfectly!)stated he is all over it. I didn't want to go see him at all but Charlie insisted, and I did promise him I would talk to the police if things got 'weird'. I will admit we have reached that point.

I finished with Detective Lugow, and I just wanted to go home and sleep. I had to review and sign my statement. Once that was done, I grabbed my jacket and headed out to the waiting area. I took a few steps, and saw him. He looked as shocked as I felt, and I wanted to crumble. It took everything in me to not just completely let go...

I think my brain froze. I could not move from the place I had stopped. My feet were glued to the floor. Just as I am about to lose it, Charlie walks up beside me and says...this is my brother, Eric.

His brother, Eric.

Charlie's brother.

Eric.

I still can't say it aloud, it is too much to comprehend. How could this have happened? Oh my God this man...the image that has gotten me through the past few awful weeks... he is Charlie's brother...and I don't know what to do!

Neither of us has spoken a word of it to anyone. I am trying to forget. To push it out of my mind. It was one night. It shouldn't mean anything. The problem is, it does, and I don't know how to undo that...

So Mr. or Mrs. Cyberspace, which ever you are, you are my new best friend. As long and this secret remains a secret, you are the only one I can talk to. If you have any pull with the powers that be, tell them to cut me a break, okay? A girl can only take so much.

Until next time,   

Beccs 

 ~

Serenity Lost Blurb:  Their brief heated meeting one fateful night had singed itself into their minds. Not knowing of the other's identity, but unable to forget, had sealed their fate. The fire smoldered quietly in each of them as they tried to move on with their lives.
Eric Stiles was in the middle of chaos, searching for a killer.
Hunted by an obsessed psychopath, Rebecca Gailen was trying to be strong.
The world stopped for a moment as they looked up and saw the other standing just feet away.
His heart lurched, her armor shattered and the world started again as Eric's brother, Charlie, appeared to take her hand.
Family loyalty isn't a choice. When Rebecca's stalker rages out of control, Eric's decision haunts him and he struggles to stay away. Can he remain loyal to his brother, even if it means abandoning Rebecca when she may need him the most?

Get Serenity Lost Now!

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Romantic Suspense Excerpt - Shockwave by Amy Romine (Dead Air Book 1)

Special Agent Kate Weiss is hiding from a kidnapping she doesn't remember.
Jack Tuckers life as a morning radio host is uncomplicated, attachment free and without regret.

Brought together by a mutual friend the pair are at odds from the moment they meet. She finds his confidence swagger arrogant and beyond reproach. While he in turn sees her as a self righteous controlling dictator.

As Kate struggles with her confidence, Jack begins to realize his life without strings is missing something, or someone. Adversity quickly becomes attraction. Jack and Kate find themselves flirting with the flames of unexpected desire. As emotions rise, scars are revealed and secrets are uncovered. Will the reality of their very different worlds bring them together or rip them apart?

Excerpt

The Lakers won 121 to 94. Jack proceeded to sulk and Kate broke down the equipment.  An hour later, Jack grabbed the last of the gear walking it out the back doors to the van. He pushed through the door and saw her loading the equipment into the back.  Abruptly she cursed in pain. He saw her step away from the van gripping her hand in agony.

“What? Did you break a nail?”

“Screw you Tucker.”

“Them be fightin’ words, little lady.”

“Fuck!” She cursed again moving to the side of the van out of his view.

“Oh please, milking it a little aren’t you, Weiss?”

“You’re such an asshole.” She grabbed the two bags he’d carried out and threw them into the back.

“It was a joke,” She slammed the door of the van. “Kate It was a--”

“Do you think I am some kind of idiot?” She spun, facing him. “I realize this has been an adjustment to your perfect little world but what the hell did I do?”

“It was a--”

“I did something, right? Because you can’t just hate someone for no reason at all, right?”

“I--”

“No. It doesn’t matter because you know what, Jack? Like it or not, I'm not going anywhere for a while. So whatever it is, get over it and grow the fuck up because I refuse to work with a spoiled child!”

She turned away, opened the door, and climbed into the van before he had time to object.  The door slammed, and she pulled away.  Jack fumed.

This is not over.

He made a beeline to his truck. She would need to return the equipment to the station and drop off the van. He wasn’t the one being unreasonable and childish here. She was the one who came in throwing judgments around, not him. This was his home turf. She was the visitor here and it’s about time she started acting like it instead of queen bee. 

He pulled into the station parking lot and saw the van parked out back.  He pulled up along side and headed to the door. He was half way there when it opened and she stepped out.

“Jesus Christ, can’t you just leave it alone?”

“The pot calling the kettle black don’t you think?”

“Excuse me?”

“Ever since you got here you’ve been riding my ass! Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Oh I’m sorry did I knock your ego around a little more than you are used to, Jack?”

“That’s rich coming from the ice queen. What the hell are you doing here anyway? It’s obvious Mike is doing you a favor but what the fuck? Do you not have a life? Or is that what you're hiding from?”

“I’m not hiding from anything.”

“Hit a nerve, Kate?”

“Screw you!”

“So what then? We both know you can’t be screwing him. Or are you one of those women who fall in love with men they can never have?”

“Is that what this is, Jack? Is that what you’re blustering about?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re pissed because I'm not falling at your feet like the rest of the female population around here? God, the arrogance!”

“Well I gotta be honest Kate, I never expected you to fall at my feet. You are after all the furthest thing from what one would call feminine. You see to be considered female there has to be some sliver of softness, warmth.”

“At least I am not so wrapped in my own ego I can’t see beyond the end of my own nose!”

“My life is something to be proud of. What do you have Kate? All I see is a know-it-all bitch who feels the need to criticize others because she can’t look herself in the mirror.” She turned away. “Hard to admit it when you are the antithesis of failure isn’t it Kate?”

Jack watched her disappear into the building and decided he was finished. He walked to his truck, his mind still a pulsating in frustration. In the truck, he took a breath, rolling down the window. He sat back in the seat, his mind starting to settle within it self.

A scream pierced the silence of the truck. His eyes raised in confusion thinking his mind was playing tricks on him. He heard it again and jumped out of the truck immediately recognizing the voice.

Kate

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Or the entire Dead Air Series on paperback!