GHOSTLY TALES FOR A GOOD CAUSE

by Juli D. Revezzo

Cancer. The big C. Chances are, you’ve known someone in your circle that has had it or you know someone who knows someone who does. It’s something no one wants to think about. There are several strains of it researchers know quite a bit about—breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer—and many more that they don’t. Fibrolomellar type Hepatocellular carcinoma it’s called. Ever heard of it? No? 

I’m not surprised. It’s a rather rare form of liver cancer and only seems to affect young people and has a very high death rate. One in particular, my little brother, dealt with it for many years. He went through every damned form of chemotherapy the doctors had for him, and quite a few experimental ones. A few years ago, the cancer killed him. Yet before that day came he enjoyed all the usual pursuits for a young man. He was incredibly in love with the Lord of the Rings and roller coasters. Tried, for many years—unsuccessfully—to get me on one. One of his biggest loves was horror movies and the holidays—particularly Halloween. For a few years he even worked at a professional haunted attraction in our hometown. He loved the Ghost Hunters and shows of its ilk and wanted to go on some paranormal hunting gigs, but never got around to it.

The one thing I regret (other than the roller coaster thing. ;)) is that he never got to read my Antique Magic series. I think he would’ve loved (my heroine) Caitlin and her ghosts. Hence why I dedicate them to him. 

This year, I wanted to do something a little different than just toast his birthday, though. The Fibrolomellar Cancer Foundation is always in need of donations for funding research and so forth so with the release of the next book in the series—DRAWING DOWN THE SHADES— for the next few days, I’d like to donate my Amazon royalties from the sale of the series, to the group. So if you’ve been thinking about the stories, eyeing them, wondering whether or not to give them a try, why not? The proceeds will go to the FCF and hopefully, do some good. While you, my friends, you will get some great stories to pass a winter’s night.

The series comprises three stories so far, with a fourth coming next summer, if all goes well. Wanna peek?

THE ARTIST'S INHERITANCE (Antique Magic, book 1)

The balance between good and evil can be an art... or a curse.

Trevor and Caitlin were once happy newlyweds, profiting from Trevor's art. Until Trevor inherits his brother's house, and with it, his part of a family curse. Now, Caitlin will stop at nothing to save her beloved husband from insanity and suicide, even if it means she must embrace her destiny and become a witch.

CAITLIN'S BOOK OF SHADOWS (Antique Magic, book 1.5)

Though their fame became legend, a rumor cropped up about the Fulmer family: Something terrifying stalked Caitlin and her beloved Trevor. Something the bits and pieces she left claimed she had to make sense of. When the curator of their collection finds Caitlin’s long forgotten diary, she wonders will it tell the whole tale? Will it tell why Caitlin seemed so determined to tell the difference between reality and nightmare? Why she thought her world twisted? If she really became a witch?
Perhaps the answer lies between the lines of her story, one of lessons, struggles, and hopes for each new year.
What truths will her Book of Shadows reveal?

DRAWING DOWN THE SHADES (Antique Magic, book 2)

Life is good at Starfort Collectibles until the owners, Caitlin and Trevor Fulmer, acquire a beautiful statuette with a murky past. Shortly thereafter, mysterious hauntings wreak havoc on the couple when a ghost in the attic threatens retribution. Caitlin presses her coven for help before the ghost succeeds in meting out deadly punishment—on Trevor.

The three books are available online at the following:

THE ARTIST'S INHERITANCE:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Inheritance-Antique-Magic-Book-ebook/dp/B008XL82IU/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-artists-inheritance-juli-d-revezzo/1113215283

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/220457

and for the paperback: Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/3976218

CAITLIN'S BOOK OF SHADOWS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Caitlins-Book-Shadows-Antique-Magic-ebook/dp/B00AUIS7FC

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caitlins-book-of-shadows-juli-d-revezzo/1114084278?ean=2940016064321

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/320047

DRAWING DOWN THE SHADES:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Down-Shades-Antique-Magic-ebook/dp/B00HMVF2GW

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drawing-down-the-shades-juli-d-revezzo/1117927155?ean=2940148896753

And Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/394274

I hope you enjoy them.

Juli D. Revezzo

You can find out more about me at my homepage: http://julidrevezzo.com/

Blog: http://julidrevezzo.com/blog

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julidrevezzo

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On Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo

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On twitter: @julidrevezzo

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

By Guest Author Juli D. Revezzo

I have a question for the readers, and for the writers to ponder as well: What draws you to a book?

The typical answer, at least in the romance community, is a “satisfying ending” but what does that phrase really mean? We all know the basic plot of a romance novel goes like this:

Boy meets girl, girl and boy clash; boy has some sort of break down where he talks about his “feelings” and explains why he’s such a putz. Girl feels sorry for him, they kiss (and more); pledge their love. Story ends. It’s the typical Jane Austen tale, rewritten over and over throughout time with different clothing.

Let me ask you this, though. What happened between the beginning of that story where the two head butt to end up falling into bed? Do you see anything that draws you to the story besides that droll tale? When you pick up a book, do you really think about what’s drawing you into that story besides that scaffolding piece at The End?  I’ve been a reader for a long time—but I confess I didn’t think about these ideas until I started seeing the “rules” of how a romance should go. Me, I come from a classical literature background and there’s one thing that sets classical literature apart from so much commercial fiction: the readers realize the themes they’re getting at.

Note I didn’t say just the authors know these themes: the readers do. Happy ever after/happy for now, isn’t a theme—hell it isn’t even a story. Neither is the boy hates girl, boy and girl come to an understanding, boy and girl get married. That’s just scaffolding, structure that could change on a dime. (What if boy and girl get married, then a crazed idiot comes in and shoots boy? *cue the Wedding List*)

No, theme is what underlies the story. What’s going on around the boy and girl and can be broken down into three sets:

Man against man. (Boy and girl want the same job (Laws of Attraction), hate each other then decide they love each other)

Man against nature. (The sea’s about to swallow us, but boy and girl love each other despite that (Titanic).)

Man against the universe (The gods are against us, but boy and girl love each other (Helen of Troy—and don’t we just know how that one ends?!?)

There are more but these are the major ones. Here’s the kicker: These themes cover all literature. That being the case, I find it funny when someone says “I only read mysteries or romance or fill-in-your chosen genre here”. Really? Dig a little deeper and ask yourself that. Go to your bookstore (or Amazon), find another story in another genre that you think might appeal to you, and see what happens. Why close yourself off just because Jane Austen wouldn’t approve? For writers, and readers, knowing that happy ever whatever isn’t the thing that’s really drawing you to a story, give me an answer of substance: Tell me: what’s your story? J I can tell you how my stories ends but for my themes, well, I hope you’ll discover that for yourself. Would you like a taste? Okay:

THE ARTIST'S INHERITANCE

The balance between good and evil can be an art... or a curse.

Trevor and Caitlin were once happy newlyweds, profiting from Trevor's art. Until Trevor inherits his brother's house, and with it, his part of a family curse. Now, Caitlin will stop at nothing to save her beloved husband from insanity and suicide, even if it means she must embrace her destiny and become a witch.

Available  in paperback and ebook at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Inheritance-Antique-Volume/dp/1479188972/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1378870020&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=juli+d+revezzo

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-artists-inheritance-juli-d-revezzo/1113215283?ean=2940015593648

Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/220457

Createspace:

https://www.createspace.com/3976218

My newest novel, a paranormal romance published by The Wild Rose Press if you’d like to see if you can spot the theme there, is:

PASSION'S SACRED DANCE

Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise--but can she trust him?

Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.

If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.

Available from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Passions-Sacred-Dance-Harshad-ebook/dp/B00E4WOBWI/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378869820&sr=1-3&keywords=juli+d+revezzo

Passion’s Sacred Dance can also be purchased (or borrowed) for Kindle from Amazon and coming soon to other venues. I hope you’ll check it out and enjoy the story I had to tell!

ABOUT JULI D. REVEZZO:

Juli D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century. Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two out there. But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of Independent Authors Network and Magic Appreciation Tour. Passion’s Sacred Dance is her first romance novel.

You can find out more about her at her homepage: http://julidrevezzo.com/

Blog: http://julidrevezzo.com/blog

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Revezzo/233193150037011

Follow her on Author’s Den http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=167318

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111476709039805267272/posts

On Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002694572/Juli-D-Revezzo/

On Twitter: @julidrevezzo

*This article was inspired by an article I read a while back I think in the Romance Writers Report.

Thanks for stopping by!