Saturday Seven - June 8th 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? -  I have read so much in the past few months and are so behind on reviews! The goal is to post all of them this week! Be looking for reviews of The Surge by Donna Elliot, Gavin by Russell and Holly Kothe, Angel Eyes by William Worthy & The Mother of All Things by Gabriel Blake.

What am I Listening to? –  A lot of upbeat music. Black-Eyes Peas, Toby Keith, Fun, Kelly Clarkson, etc. Keeping me motivated!

What Quote am I pondering? –  Not really a quote, just a word. Something I have encountered in several random conversations this week. The word is Honor. It seems the weight of this word has lessened in the past century. Our current generation and our children do not seem to know the true meaning of the word, and this makes me sad. ~ Honour (or Honor) is the idea of a bond between an individual and a society as a quality of a person that is both of social teaching and of personal ethos, that manifests itself as a code of conduct, and has various elements such as valor, chivalry, honesty, and compassion.

What am I Researching? –  Oddly enough writing fight scenes. It is one of the facets of my writing I struggle with. Been interesting. Also been researching Grant money. Applied for an Awesome Grant – that is literally the name of it – to help with the launch of Writing Warriors United. We shall see, fingers crossed!

Yummy Meal of the Week – Butternut Squash Chili – Roasted butternut squash with black beans, corn, and taco seasoning. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Simple, fast, Yum!

What did I Learn? – I learned there is literally a plastic island the size of Texas in the middle of the ocean. So disturbing, right? Makes we think of Wall-E and his little compression boxes. You’d think we could find a use for plastic. Why can’t we build something? Genius brains! Get to work…please?

What am I Watching? –  I watched the Dark Knight with my son. Forgot how awesome this movie is and what a loss of a wonderful actor it marked. Heath Ledger as the Joker is – in my humble opinion—unmatched. The Chris Nolan series of Batman movies are my favorite! Always worth a re-visit when looking for something entertaining.

*BONUS Content ~

The Writing Warriors United blog is up and running. I even taped my first ever YouTube video. The topic is the Kernel Idea! Please take a gander, give me a like and subscribe! (all links listed below)

Have any thoughts on my week’s activity or want to make a recommendation? Drop me a line or a tweet. 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!

Check out a recent Podcast I was interviewed on ~ Write Away Podcast - https://tinyurl.com/y6e7q4d3

Special Treat! ~ If you haven’t seen it yet, please check it out my teaser trailer for Finders is out! https://tinyurl.com/y4zkjugu

Links

Angel’s Eyes by William Worthy – https://tinyurl.com/yyv6ngl7

The Surge by Donna Elliott - https://tinyurl.com/y2lxzqkz

Gavin by Russell and Holly Kothe - https://tinyurl.com/yydtcrtq

The Mother of All Things by Gabriel Blake - https://tinyurl.com/y4hl84jx

Plastic Island - https://is.gd/LC9bNi

Writing Warriors United - https://tinyurl.com/yyhcz9wg

Writing Warriors United on YouTube - https://youtu.be/WgLouBBcves

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Super Hero Sunday ~ We are Strong, Not Indestructible

Whether we like to admit it or not, we’re all human. We do not come from some faraway planet, making our physical makeup stronger than the average human. We have our limits. The trick is knowing where our boundaries lay and how far beyond them, we can stretch without doing any permanent damage.

We have hope for all people, especially when they make a misstep. We send them love and prayers, hoping they will come to their senses and turn away from the shadows they find themselves cloaked in. In truth, it rarely happens to those who bask in the worlds glow. The notoriety and fame become a heavy burden to bear.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” This infamous line from Spiderman works on so many levels and is a saying we should all take to heart. As strong women, we do have a responsibility to ourselves as well as the people in our lives.  It is beautiful to be strong, but strength can also be our biggest weakness. 

When we find ourselves using alternative means to keep up our granite mask, we must, for the sake of our own sanity, step back, and reevaluate our intentions.  In every superhero tale, there is a pivotal moment when the hero can cheat and take the easy way out, to stop the bleeding without repairing the wound. As we all know, stopping the bleeding does not cure the patient, it just extends their lives for a time. As I said, we are strong, not indestructible. We can be wounded and take a lot from time to time. As the people we are, we many times find it necessary to hide our weaknesses. Something inside tells us we cannot have cracks in the armor, or show any kind of weakness once we have established ourselves as a superwoman.

Screw that—to be blunt—there is NOTHING worth your mental or physical health. Taking that path, using the easy way out, is the path to the dark side. It is a one way street to the hall of doom with little means to indeed turn back. You may seem incredible at first, but then that crack you were trying to conceal becomes an ugly scar that grows bigger and bigger, eventually revealing the darkness you have taken into your soul.

Am I melodramatic? Probably. All I know is I never ever want anyone to feel pity for me, I never want to be known as the fallen hero. I do not want my obituary to be, “Sad, but not unexpected.” We all make mistakes. We all stumble. It is a part of life people, it’s unavoidable, even for superheroes.  It is what makes us the people we are. It is part of the profile. We take our hits and battle on. We overcome the obstacles in our lives with time, grace, and honor. We must first and foremost be heroes to ourselves before we can be a hero to anyone else. We must be able to look in the mirror and be proud of what we see. If you take a misstep, you can recover. You can rebuild the trust you have broken. It is an ambiguous stance to take. It is a hard life to lead, but it is the price we pay for being our own heroes, and we are the ones who ultimately benefit in the end.

It takes more strength to ask for help than it does to stand alone….

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Welcome to the Blog Tour of A Darker Shade of Evil Anthology #ShadeOfEvil

A Darker Shade of Evil - Demon and Devil Anthology

Welcome to the Blog Tour of A Darker Shade of Evil

A Darker Shade of Evil  by the following brilliant USA Today and Bestselling Authors!
Khardine Gray, - USA Today Bestselling Author– Alone In The Dark
Dariel Raye, – USA Today Bestselling Author – The Devil Upstairs
Lori Titus, - USA Today Bestselling Author - Talons
Muffy Wilson, – USA Today Bestselling Author – Succubus Unleashed
Keta Diablo, – Bestselling Author – I Spy A Demon
Marilyn Harlow, – Bestselling Author – Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend Gracen Miller, – Bestselling Author - Hex
Michelle Scott, – Bestselling Author – The Demon’s Prisoner
Katherine Smit, – Bestselling Author – Siren Descending

  * * * Cover Reveal A Darker Shade of Evil Anthology Cover Reveal[/caption]

About A Darker Shade of Evil

Deadly demons, diabolical devils and other creatures of the night will hold you spellbound in this one-of-a-kind anthology. In a world of dark delights, they trifle in forbidden passion, suspense, and kick-ass battles. It’s all right here for you in this captivating urban fantasy and paranormal romance anthology! Brought to you by USA Today and International Bestselling Authors, these stories of sexy alpha heroes and heroines will keep you turning the pages. Devils, demons and their lethal hunters will draw you into their conquests, twisted deceptions, scorching heat, and yes, even love.

  Don’t miss A Darker Shade of Evil! 
One-click now will claim your copy!

PRE-ORDER LINKS:  books2read.com/u/m2PAn1

  * Heat Rating: Spicy to Erotic Romance
  * No Cliffhangers
  * Happily-Ever-After or Happy-For-Now

FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR FOR EXCERPTS

June 1	http://quirkypengirl.blogspot.com
June 1	http://thenerdyprincessbookreviews.blogspot.ca/
June 2	https://mythyetpragmatic.wordpress.com/
June 3	https://eclecticreview.com/
June 4	https://www.instagram.com/bessiethegoth/
June 5	https://breakevenbooks.wordpress.com
June 6	https://bookdragongirl.com
June 7	https://babsbookbistro.net
June 8	https://vithyasblogg.wordpress.com
June 9	bookreviewsbyshalini.com
June 10	https://stephsceliacdisease.blogspot.com
June 11	http://www.readingapageturner.com
June 12	http://www.afortressofbooks.com
June 13	https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com
June 14	https://bookscharming.blogspot.com/

PRE-ORDER LINKS:  books2read.com/u/m2PAn1

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Awesome Excerpt Thursday ~ Shield of the Caulbearer by M.R. Kelly

Excerpt from Shield of the Caulbearer by M.R. Kelly 

Danni stood motionless in the middle of the room. She wondered if others in the room saw her as a spoiled foreigner who had no consideration for what they had just gone through and lost. She knew and ached for each of them. Because it was her fault. If she had not run away from the protection of the Teach, the men would have been safe at home with their families instead of tracking her.

Moisture welled in Danni's eyes, as she hurried up the stairs. She could not bear to see the malicious looks of those still waiting below to carry out Aodhán’s orders. So she did not see their looks of compassion for the woman who had been inadvertently caught up in their world. Danni threw her backpack on the bed and changed into jeans and a pale mauve sweater. If there were consequences to her actions, she was adult enough to face them. With her head held high, she walked back down the stairs and waited as Déclán placed the orange glowing bands around her wrists. Her chest warmed over the area where the Bloodstone was embedded under the skin and concentrated on not panicking which would make the stone strike at her guard. As she passed by the door of the sitting room, she caught a glimpse of Aodhán, his lips against Branwein’s cheeks, and realized—he had made his choice. There was no room in his life for Danni. Do you have anything to say for yourself, Cauldbearer?

"No!" Danni snapped, and squirmed against the glowing bands surrounding her wrists.

It was over a month since she had been taken from her realm to that of the Sidhé, and two weeks since her imprisonment. Each day she had sat in her cell, remembering the last she saw Aodhán. It had been of him bending over Branwein, placing his lips against her cheek, and Branwein…the look of triumph on her face as Danni passed them. Now, with every beat of her heart she was reminded of Aodhán's betrayal. She didn't know why she should be surprised, he was just another male who had been a disappointment in her life. She had been abandoned by her father after her mother's death and her birth. Danni had been raised by her grandparents in the small town of Natchez, Mississippi. There, along with her childhood friends, they had sought the paranormal and it had struck back, which led to the mess she was in at this moment.

It had been a month since she and Aodhán were running for their lives from the Dalais. A month since she had witnessed Aodhán kissing Branwein, his fiancé after making love to her all night. A month and he had not visited, instead had sent one of his men, Déclán, to check on her. Now, Danni refused to answer the Elder's questions, the same questions that each had asked over and over. The one standing before her with his arms folded over his chest was kinder, but nothing changed the fact that they all thought of her as a threat.

Danni settled back on the bench and inserted the phones earbuds into one of her ears. Since her imprisonment, the only belongings she was allowed was her journal, her music pod, and a light jacket. It was colder in this realm.

"If you don't eat, then we will be compelled to restrain and forcefully feed you."

"You can try," Danni huffed, "The last person who tried to touch me without my permission left here almost fried to a crisp. But please, don't let me stop you."

Author bio:

M.R. Kelly or Mel to her friends and family. She is a freelance writer who relishes the challenges of creating innovative worlds with finesse and attention to detail. The paranormal has been a way of life for her from early childhood and delves into her past experiences living in a haunted house in Mississippi. Subsequent research has expanded her knowledge of ancient rituals and folklore.

She is an eclectic reader of the paranormal with an emphasis on Southern and Celtic lore. She takes pride in her ability to read a book a day. Professionally, she is an educator with a Masters in Nursing and a Ph.D. in Health Science. She maintains a Facebook and Twitter page to network with her friends, followers and other avid readers.

I want to welcome my readers to a world of Sidhé, Demons, Space Pirates, and Adventurers from between worlds and throughout the Universe. I hope you fall in love with the women and men of my novellas. Please follow me at my website: http://melliar7.wix.com/mrkelly-1 to check out my other works and sign up for a free copy of my newest novella, Demonbruen: Dark Warrior.

Thanks for taking the time to read my book! Please leave a review on Amazon and stay tuned for the second book in the series,

Novellas:

-- Spanish Guitar

-- Storm's Caress

Horror:  House of Oak  

Melissa’s Christmas Wish  

Series:

-- Demonbruen

-- Demon Lust  

Coming Soon:

   Demonbruen: Dark Warrior

   Caulbearer's Stone: Shield of the Caulbearer

   Teachers Obsession

   Valerians (Valerian 1)

Please feel free to visit me on :

melliar7.wixsite.com/mrkelly-1/copy-of-new-page

https://twitter.com/Melliar or Melinda Kelly (@Melliar)

https://www.facebook.com/melinda.rashidkellyr Art

If you liked my novellas, please come and join my mailing list at http://eepurl.com/cevqcT

Buy my books at

Amazon/ https://www.amazon.com/M.R.-Kelly

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

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Whatcha Watchin' Wednesday! ~ Awesome A's (Television A- Z)

So this is my version of the A to Z Challenge, television style! I am listing the shows having the biggest impact on me, not necessarily the best shows in each category. I thought they were the best when I was watching them. 

Alias (2001-2006)

Sydney Bristow is a young, athletic, college graduate who was recruited her freshman year as a secret agent for SD-6, a top-secret branch of the CIA. After a few years -- after Sydney confides her lifestyle to her boyfriend, the evil head of SD-6 -- Arvin Sloan, has him killed. Sydney learns that SD-6 is part of a rogue international agency called the Alliance of 12, out to rule the world. She becomes a double agent, working with the real CIA to bring down SD-6 with the assistance of her handler, Michael Vaughn, and her estranged father Jack Bristow -- also a double agent. Along the way, Sydney fights various rival agents, rival terrorist groups, and traitors all the while keeping her cloak-and-dagger lifestyle a secret from her friends. (Season 1) Written by Matt Patay

Not only was this just an AMAZING show, full of everything – intrigue, romance, double-crossing, puzzles, and spies! It also put so many amazing and talented people on the map!

Jennifer Garner,  JJ Abrahams, Bradley Cooper, Michael Vartan, Ron Rifkin, Kevin Weisman, Greg Grunberg, Victor Garber & Merrin Dungey.

Sydney Bristow was one of only a few female television characters that kicked-ass all by herself. I still want to be Sydney Bristow and I usually (about once a year) binge watch all of the episodes again. She is intelligent, sexy, fit and just amazing. 

Interesting fact about Sydney Bristow and Alias - the show was such a success and showed the CIA as such a positive force within the US that in 2004 Jennifer Garner was asked to star in a CIA recruitment video to be shown at colleges and similar venues. "Garner was not paid for her time but apparently appeared in the recruitment ad voluntarily, out of a sense of patriotism.  Indeed, the casting of an actress known for playing a CIA agent in a CIA recruitment ad did both parties a lot of favors, as it became a story in itself, propelling both Garner and the heartily pro-CIA message onto Good Morning America and elsewhere".

You can see the internal communication here.
Kinda cool, right?   

If you have not watched Alias from start to finish (yes, all 5 Seasons!) you are missing out on some major milestones and woman power! Catch it on Netflix and Amazon!

The A-Team (1983-1987)

At the end of their stint in Viet Nam, Col. John "Hannibal" Smith and his team were framed for robbing the Bank of Hanoi (which they had done, but under orders), and sent to a US military prison. They escaped and went on the run, pursued first by Col. Lynch and later by Col. Decker. While on the lam, they became heroes for hire, working as good-guy vigilantes around the US or the world. Hannibal was their leader and an expert at disguises. Face was the team's con artist and ladies man. BA (officially "Bad Attitude") was their mechanic, but also took care of mayhem and intimidation. The final member of the Team, "Howling Mad" Murdock, was an expert pilot, and a certified lunatic--they broke him out of a mental hospital whenever they needed him for a mission. Written by Marg Baskin marg@asd.raytheon.ca

The opening dialog is EPIC - “In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire: THE A-TEAM.”

Starring : George Peppard, Mr. T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict & Melinda Culea

One of my many favorite shows growing up I had a thing for all of the characters and their unique attributes. Although, if I am being truthful the character of Amy Allen was the one who got me interested. 

Looking back it was remarkable and an example of the highly debated and loathed Vietnam War slowly becoming accepted and assimilated into American culture. Written by Stephen J Cannell and marked for TV Appropriate Violence - if you look close usually there is only a single inciting death at the beginning of each episode. Despite conservative critisizm for violence and sexism, the A-Team was a fan favorite for 5 years. Pretty interesting considering the body count, and lavish sex on Prime Time these days… just saying… The movie version 20 odd years later is just as fun and captured the spirit of the show.

You can find the A-Team on Amazon! 

See the whole list of A's Here!

 

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Teaser Tuesday ~ Cyber Solace

* Author Amy Romine writing as Rebecca Gailen from Serenity Lost

So I need 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 overly dramatic? Definitely! 

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

The truth is...I have 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. His embrace is warm and encompassing. Then...there he was.  

I couldn't believe it. The experience of seeing Eric again 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, if you MUST know, someone has taken an interest in me. Don't panic! I have spoken to the police. 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, whichever 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 

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?

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Movie Monday ~ Don’t Let the Love of Classic B&W Films Die! – Part One

In 2019 we are looking to the future, and the horizon is bright! One of the wonders of our world is the ability to enjoy the old with the new and share it with future generations. 

This holiday break I was able to share several B&W films with my 25 year old son. This is a yearly tradition in our household.  Not just B&W films, but the classics. I have four children, their ages are spread out (14 to 25) so I only subject them to a few at a time so it isn’t torturous. Surprisingly, while they object at first, they usually get into the movie after the first 30 minutes or so. Some of you may have noticed from my tweets (@AmyJRomine), this year I shared Abbott and Costello with the two younger kids and the Thin Man series with the eldest. 

Liking the idea of revisiting the classics? Here are the first five in a list of 10 B&W films I highly suggest for 2019. Most can be found on Amazon or TCM (Turner Classic Movies). These are in no particular order as I love them all. 

The Philadelphia Story (1940) – (Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.  One of the first dramedys out there this light-hearted romantic film is witty and full of spunk!

The Thin Man Series – (William Powell and Myrna Loy) - Former detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. This is the first of six films (Thin Man, After the Thin Man, Another Thin Man, Shadow of the Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home, and Song of the Thin Man), centering around Nick and Nora Charles. Snappy, fun and intelligent they were blockbusters back in the day and still hold up! 

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein  – (Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and Glenn Strange) - Two hapless freight handlers find themselves encountering Dracula, the Frankenstein Monster and the Wolf Man. Just one of the many Abbott and Costello movies this is a family favorite. Having the original ‘monster’ actors interacting with the comedians was considered a huge risk at the time by Universal Studios, but ended up being such a hot they followed up with other mash-ups like Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – (Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur and Claude Rains) - A naive man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down. A look at the inner working of politics from an optimistic point of view. I love how the arguments and dialog still ring true in today’s world.

These are the first five, and part one of my classic movie series. Almost can be found on Amazon and shown regularly on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Also IMDB (the links are used in this blog) usually has a list of places you can purchase and or rent movies. I would love to hear your feedback, suggestions you have for the list!

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