KATHRYN COOPER RELEASES ASPEN EVERLASTING!

Aspen Everlasting by Kathryn Cooper

Water splashed on all sides then took control of the tires. The car swerved right toward the river.
“No. NO. NO!” I turned the wheel toward the road. It didn’t work. Fast running water pulled the car into the flooded river.

Aspen Foster thinks she’s just a normal sixteen-year-old, but when her car’s caught in a flash flood, Aspen and her sister discover the superhuman strength they never knew they had.

Soon Aspen learns she’s not normal at all. She’s an Evermortal fairy, with powers beyond her wildest dreams. But the more Aspen finds out about her family’s past, the more dangerous her future becomes.

This riveting fantasy is full of action, adventure, and romance. Suspenseful and exhilarating!



Praise for the Book

"Aspen Everlasting is a fun paranormal romance. This is the perfect fit for young teens as well as adults who want a clean romance that is entertaining to read." -Jessica from Books A True Story

"Aspen Everlasting is a quick read, and packed full of action and suspense. . . I can't wait to read more from Kathryn!" - Tammy from Bluerose's Heart

"I love this book so much! It was fantastic! It was so imaginative and different. I've never read anything like it before and it drew me in right away!" - author Shannen Crane Camp

Excerpts

"Want me to come with you?"
I looked up at his grin. Of course I did. I'd been crushing on him since we were ten. Six years was a long time to have a crush. But...
"You'd better not. I'm picking up three sophomore cheerleaders. There might be too much girl drama for you to handle."
He threw his head back and laughed, then stepped closer. "I think you're right. I'll see you tomorrow."
Aspen talking with Nate


A large puddle spread out in front of us on the road. It looked like we could make it through, so I pushed harder on the gas pedal. Water splashed on all sides but then took control of the tires. The car swerved right toward the river.

"No. NO. NO!" I turned the wheel toward the road. It didn't work. Fast running water pulled the car into the flooded river. The girls screamed as we rode the car like a water ride at an amusement park. My brain froze. I couldn't think of what to do. The river took control of the car, spinning us around.
Aspen with friends driving in a Texas flash flood

September 1st to 7th

Aspen Everlasting will be reduced to just 99 cents on Amazon!

Author Kathryn Cooper

Kathryn Cooper lives in the heart of Texas with her husband and four young boys. She has read and blogged about other authors' books for years. She is excited to finally have her own book out for readers. Aspen Everlasting is her first novel.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/19/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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WHAT IF YOU COULD SEE EVERYONE ELSE'S DREAMS?

Find out with the Dream Series by J.J. DiBenedetto! Book #9, FEVER DREAM, is out!

What's the story?

Dr. Sara Alderson isn’t used to her patients dying for no reason. When a young boy succumbs to a mysterious illness that defies all her efforts to treat it, she refuses to accept defeat.

After two months of questions, Sara has attracted the attention of powerful people who don’t want their secrets uncovered, and will go to any lengths to make sure they stay hidden.

Now, time is running out for Sara to unravel the mystery before anyone else falls victim to the illness. And before her career, her family and her freedom are taken from her by enemies she doesn’t even know she has.

Where can you buy it?

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble (Nook or Paperback)

Apple iBookstore

Kobo

AllRomanceEboo

Want to know more? Here's an excerpt from FEVER DREAM!

It’s one in the morning, and the last guests have gone. Other than the cleaning crew, Brian and I are the only ones left in the ballroom. I know we need to leave, but I can’t bear the thought of standing up and trying to walk out of the room, down to the garage and then to the car. I think my feet might literally fall off.

“You’re going to have to carry me out of here,” I tell Brian, and he gives me a wicked grin in return.

“I was planning on it,” he says, and he stands, takes a deep breath, and lifts me right out of my seat. I yelp and throw my arms around his neck as he carries me out of the room and over to the elevator, barely showing any strain at all. He has to put me down once we get to the elevator, though. “I need a free hand,” he says, hitting the “up” button. But the garage is – oh. I should have known.

“You booked a room.” He nods. “And you told my parents we wouldn’t be home tonight.” Another nod. It’s all part of the fantasy, I guess. He’s been imagining that he’s James Bond all night, and after a glitzy evening at the casino, James Bond doesn’t hop into the minivan so he can get home, walk the dog and collapse into bed. No way. He takes his conquest for the evening up to the five-star hotel room, where the champagne is already waiting. On ice, no doubt.

The bell dings, he ushers me into the empty elevator, and as the door closes, I feel my fatigue suddenly, instantly, drain away, and I’m all over him. I may not be a fan of those movies, but I know how they go, and it’s not as though I need much of an excuse to throw myself at my husband. By the time the door opens onto the third floor, I’m panting and extricating my hands from his tuxedo jacket. “You woke up in a hurry,” he says, panting himself, pulling his hand off the zipper of my dress, which is already halfway down my back.

“Well, I know what you were thinking, and I also know that no girl can resist James Bond, right?” By way of an answer, he leads me down the hall, opens the door to our room, picks me up again and deposits me on the bed. In seconds, he’s finished the job of zipping me right out of my dress, and his tuxedo is in an undignified mess somewhere on the floor. After that – there’s no more thought, just feeling, just his hands and his lips and his – his everything.

Interested in the books that lead up to this one?

The first five books in the series are collected in one Kindle Box Set.

What if you could see everyone else’s dreams?

Sara Barnes has just discovered that she can. And this gift – or curse – will lead her on an extraordinary journey.

Follow Sara as her newfound ability leads her into adventures she never imagined. She will hunt down a serial killer, investigate a plot to murder one of her teachers, unravel a conspiracy between a mobster and a corrupt politician and face off against her nemesis: a woman who shares her talent, but uses it to destroy lives rather than save them. And Sara will have to manage all that while finishing college, becoming a doctor and falling in love, too.

Here are the first five books of the Dream Series, along with bonus material created especially for this collection. Included in this set are DREAM STUDENT, DREAM DOCTOR, DREAM CHILD, DREAM FAMILY and WAKING DREAM. In addition, you’ll find the short story BETTY AND HOWARD’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE starring Sara’s parents. But most of all, when you open this box of dreams, you’ll find romance, suspense, humor and plenty of heart…

Where do you buy it?

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes and Noble

Apple iBookstore

Kobo

AllRomanceEbooks.com

Google Play

What about books #6, 7 and 8?





They're all on sale at Amazon!

But I like to listen instead of read! What about audiobooks?

The first five novels and a short story are all available on Audible! And you can hear samples from all of them right here!

So who's the author?

Well, technically, that's a picture of his cat, Danny. Danny is much more photogenic than J.J. is. But J.J. (James, really) is a pretty nice guy. He's a native New Yorker, although he's lived in the Washington, DC area for the last 20 years. He loves the opera, reading, photography, science fiction, fondue, travel and the New York Giants. Oh, and of course Danny, and also of course his lovely and talented wife.

Where can I learn more about him?

At his website, on Facebook, on Twitter and at his Amazon Author Page.

THE DREAMWEAVER'S JOURNEY IS FOR READERS FROM TEN TO ONE HUNDRED

The Realm of Feyron has always been. It is the origin of all things magical, the axis point where all the worlds meet. Once, in days gone by, there were many gateways within the Temple of Pyli connecting the Worlds Beyond seeded with magic to their home. Now many gateways have flickered out, and Feyron weakens as the magic fades and the Guardians are lost.

For the first time in over three hundred years a Dreamweaver has come of age and is tasked with contacting the Guardians. When she awakens in the night after a vision of her best friend lost and alone, injured in the snows at the top of the Crystal Mountains, she seeks out the Sacred Fire in the Temple in an attempt to call forth more information. A voice calls out from the fire, "Dreamweaver, you are summoned." An image appears of an ancient path through the Mist Shrouded Forest leading to a hidden gate into the Crystal Caverns below the mountains. The Guardians have summoned her on a quest that will take her to the four realms of light within Feyron in search of answers and aid.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

The Current Tales: 

The Storyteller begins her tales in the middle of things, so to speak, with the historical period known as the Age of Awakenings. The first book, The Dreamweaver's Journey, follows the first Dreamweaver to come of age in over three hundred years on a quest across the four Realms of Light within Feyron. The second book, The Guardian Child's Return, follows a group of young adventurers beyond the Realms of Light to a place that few knew could even be reached. The third book, Legacy of Mist and Shadow, begins to hint at the past during the Age of Fading and explore the Worlds Beyond that are connected to Feyron. 

Diana L. Wicker, Author

Diana is an indie author living in the balmy climate of the US south with family, two dogs, two cats, and a cantakerous rabbit. She enjoys reading, sewing (clothing, costuming, and experimental toy-making), and RPG games. (She grew up with the old school paper/pencil style of gaming, but has transitioned happily to the highly interactive world of video games.) And, as if she had more time to spare, she has recently invested in her first Asian ball jointed doll.

The idea for Feyron started with a map, a place for her daughter to tell stories and live out storytelling role-playing adventures with her friends. The lore grew around the map, for every world needs lore if you are going to "live" there. The idea for a series, Tales from Feyron, grew out of the lore, for if you're going to invent a world, you may as well play there too. The stories are continuing to grow through the various historical ages of Feyron and have just started to ripple outwards to the Worlds Beyond touched by magic. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!





 

INHUMAN INTEREST @Eric_Turowski #mystery #paranormal

INHUMAN INTEREST

by Eric Turowski

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INHUMAN INTEREST Blurb:

INHUMAN INTEREST

Story By Tess Cooper

Thirteen words in a want-ad turn Tess Cooper’s world upside down after she signs on as a paranormal research assistant to the mysterious Davin Egypt. He reveals a world of grave robbing, clockworks artifacts in blue amber, antique revolvers that fire strange ammo, and powerful forces beyond human comprehension.

As ancient occult energies threaten to destroy her city, Tess must use her journalistic instincts to stay one step ahead of the public works director, Drew Dawson, whose agenda seems bent on destruction rather than maintenance. And possibly murder, but will anyone believe her?

Yeah, right. When garbage trucks fly.

If Tess teams up with the hunky police lieutenant, Kirk Gunther, and the pale, oddball Mr. Egypt, they might be able to save the city in time. That is, if Egypt even wants to. And if Tess overcomes her phobias long enough to do battle in Granddad’s 1983 Subaru Brat.

Things are about to get icky.

INHUMAN INTEREST Excerpt:

Egypt sat behind the desk, leaving me to stand. He switched on the light. “Nearly all of my work is done at night. I trust that won’t be a problem.”

I generally had no plans at night. But that wasn’t my primary concern. “What exactly is the job?”

His brows squeezed together in mild confusion. “I thought I made that clear. I am an occult researcher, you will be my research assistant.”

“So, what, we look things up in books, cite them for papers?”

Egypt leaned back in his chair. “Hardly. Do you know what the word occult means, Miss Cooper?”

I couldn’t recall actually introducing myself to him. But I must have, right? “It means ‘hidden,’ or ‘covered.’ From the Latin. Same root word as occlude. Synonyms would be, oh, arcane or esoteric.”

“And do you believe we could research the hidden, the arcane, by browsing published media?”

Well, put it that way. “I suppose not.”

“Not, indeed.”

“So, what, you go out hunting for ghosts and that?”

His mouth made a little moue. Not, indeed. “We will seek out events caused by apparently hidden means, examine them, study them, and place them into context with other apparent occult phenomenon.”

I suddenly recalled Lieutenant Gunther’s reaction.

“You’re looking into the grave robberies for the police.” I carefully worded it so it wasn’t a question, the way Egypt did.

The moue spread out into almost a smile. “It seems that even if we are not on the same page, we’re in the same chapter. At midnight, we need to examine the graves at the City Cemetery.”

Frankly, I had developed an aversion to City Cemetery. All I needed was to fall in another loose grave, which seemed far more likely in the dark. “At midnight? Why not right now? It’s forty-six degrees and sunny. We’re supposed to get six inches of snow tonight.”

Egypt leaned forward, clasping his hands on the antique desk. “That forecast is incorrect. And as for midnight, it is a most important hour in occult research, as you will learn.”

Eric Turowski, Author

Newspaper founder, bookstore owner, artist, musician, and man-about-town Eric Turowski writes lots of mixed-genre books when he’s not too busy playing laser tag with Tiger the Cat and his fiancée Mimi deep in the Central Valley of California.

You can learn more about Eric at www.ericturowski.com.

Connect with Eric online

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eric_turowski

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Turowski.Books

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Eric will award one randomly drawn commenter a signed copy of the book, plus a $25 Amazon gift card (US/Canada only) and a second randomly drawn commenter a signed copy of the book (US/Canada only).

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Thank you for stopping by!

STAN SCHATT AND NEW RELEASE, SILENT PARTNER

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stan will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

SILENT PARTNER is a paranormal mystery, a police procedure novel with a female detective that will remind you of Harry Bosch, a ghost story that suggests what lies beyond death, and a comic look at a tabloid where the “truth” is whatever sells.

Enjoy an excerpt of SILENT PARTNER:


“Duh. Of course I am, but I’m also the one who tripped you. Give me some credit for that. I think it’s like a hundred years of bad karma if you let the person you’re protecting get killed.”

“You’re protecting me? How come you didn’t keep me from being shot?”

“Give me a break. I told you that I’m new to this. The bullet only nicked your butt; so don’t make a federal case out of it. If I hadn’t tripped you,
you’d be paralyzed. You should be grateful to me.”

Josh felt a cold shiver run up his spine.

“Then you’re dead?”

“We don’t refer to it that way. We like to say that we’ve moved to another plane.”

“How come I can see you?”

Andy smiled thinly.

“You Harrells have a gift. Everyone has a guardian angel, but only certain people can see us. It’s easier in a way for us if you can’t see us.”

“You’ll keep anything bad from happening to me?”

“There’s such a thing as free will, my dear. I can only help you so much.

If it’s your time, then it’s lights out. Now that you’re thirty, things are going to get a lot harder.”

“What do you mean?”

Josh had a sinking feeling in his stomach, and it wasn’t the alcohol.

“A lot of things are going to change for you now. As I said, you Harrells are gifted, although some of your relatives thought of it as a curse.”

“I don’t believe this. You mean my father really did see someone? He wasn’t crazy?”

“Of course he saw someone. I hope you don’t throw your full glass of whiskey at me the way he threw his at his guardian.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“You’re asking too many questions. Just take my word that everything’s relative, including time.”

“What do you want?”


About the Author:

Stan Schatt grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and now resides in Carlsbad, California. He has written thirty-five books on a wide variety of subjects ranging from fiction to technology. He is co-author of JOURNEY TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION, an Amazon bestseller. He also authored EGYPT RISING, a YA novel focusing on a teen’s experience in Egypt at the time of the Egyptian revolution of 2011. This novel contains paranormal elements including a secret buried under the Sphinx. The paranormal mystery SILENT PARTNER is Schatt’s latest novel.

He has led several careers including futurist and executive for many of the world’s leading technology market research firms, police department administrator, autopsy assistant, software trainer, Telecommunications Department Chairman, and English professor. He taught at Tokyo University as a Fulbright exchange professor. His non-fiction includes books on such diverse topics as strategies for changing careers for a green industry job, studies of Michael Connelly and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., network and data communications technology, telecommunications, computer programming.

http://www.pen-l.com/SilentPartner.html

http://www.stanschatt.com

http://www.twitter.com/stanschatt



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CONTACT BY LAURISA WHITE REYES

CONTACT by Laurisa White Reyes

Mira wants to die. She’s attempted suicide twice already and failed. Every time she comes in contact with another person, skin to skin, that person’s psyche uploads into hers. While her psychologist considers this a gift, for Mira it’s a curse from which she cannot escape.

To make matters worse, Mira’s father is being investigated for the deaths of several volunteer test subjects of the miracle drug Gaudium. Shortly after Mira’s mother starts asking questions, she ends up in a coma. Although her father claims it was an accident, thanks to her “condition” Mira knows the truth, but proving it just might get her killed.

Amazon

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

"CONTACT is a page turner that will keep you guessing right along with Mira, right up until the last revelation. And it will make you reconsider the next time you wish you knew someone else’s secrets!" - Margaret Petereson Haddix, author of the Missing and The Shadow Children series

AUTHOR LAURISA WHITE REYES:

Laurisa White Reyes is the Editor-in-chief of Middle Shelf Magazine and the author of two middle grade fantasy novels: THE ROCK OF IVANHOE and THE LAST ENCHANTER. She is also the mother of five kids, a graduate student, a fan of Broadway musicals, and a lover of all things chocolate.

Website * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest

Blast Giveaway


$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash


Ends 7/20/14


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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PROMOTE YOUR BOOK/PROMOTE MINE BLOG HOP

The purpose of this blog hop is to promote Charlene Raddon’s latest release, THE SCENT OF ROSES, as well as the work of each of the participating bloggers. Be sure to read to the end of this page so you don’t miss out on the grand prize. Also be certain you visit each blog and comment to qualify for the individual giveaways, and the big prize.

And if you go to Charlene's blog at http://www.charleneraddon.blogspot.com each day of the blog hop, you will learn about the book and giveaways of the other authors involved.

Charlene Raddon has been writing historical romance novels for over thirty years. Her work has won several awards and much well-deserved praise.

Charlene Raddon, Author

Here is what Charlene has to say about her newest release.

Any day when a new book is released is exciting for the author. I’m thrilled to announce that my eBook, THE SCENT OF ROSES, is now available.

THE SCENT OF ROSES is a sequel to my last eBook, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, but stands alone and does not need to be read in order to be enjoyed. Whip Kincaid, from The Scent of Roses, is the half-brother of Buck Maddux from To Have and To Hold. Whip also has a twin, Cale, who readers met in Buck’s story, which gives me an excuse to write a third book for this series.

The added touch of paranormal elements made THE SCENT OF ROSES a fun story to write. Who doesn’t enjoy haunted houses with hidden passageways? When I first moved to Utah, I lived in this house. No, there weren’t any secret passageways, but in every other way, my description of the old house is accurate. The third element new in this book is the subject of polygamy.

Rosalyn Delaney came to Whisky Ridge, Arizona expecting to receive aid from her estranged husband, Josiah Bullock, in escaping the crazed leader of a polygamist cult determined to have her. She’s broke and has nowhere else to go. But Josiah is dead, murdered the very evening of her arrival. The town is in uproar, searching for the suspected killer, Josiah’s business partner, Whip Kincaid. Rosalyn also learns that Josiah has taken a second wife.

Whip is innocent but to prove that, he needs to stay out of jail. He hides in secret passageways in the old house he and Josiah shared. Smythely, the elderly butler who came with the house, is the only other person aware of the passageways. Lurking between spiderwebbed walls and using the abundance of peepholes provided allows Whip to keep up with what’s going on. Sneaking out at night allows him to investigate. He’s particularly interested in Rosalyn Delaney, and for more than one reason. Besides being attracted to her, he’s sure she knows something about the murder.

 But does she? Is she safe at Rose House? Will she be safe from Whip Kincade?

I hope you enjoyed this peek into THE SCENT OF ROSES. Find it here, at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Scent-of-Roses-ebook/dp/B00D3770I2/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370196831&sr=1-5&keywords=Charlene+Raddon

To be eligible for my contribution to Charlene's Blog Hop Giveaway, please comment on this post with your email. BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT WITH CONTACT INFORMATION. AT THE END OF THE HOP, A NAME WILL BE DRAWN FROM THOSE WHO VISITED AND COMMENTED AT EVERY BLOG. PRIZE IS A $45 GIFT CARD FOR AMAZON OR B&N, WINNER’S CHOICE. Other bloggers are also offering giveaways so make sure you hit them all.

One lucky reader will win a copy of my new Stone Mountain series novella, TABITHA'S JOURNEY!

LIST OF PARTICIPATING BLOGS

May 31,  http://www.heartoffiction.blogspot.com/  giveaway

May 31  http://www.hurricanereads.blogspot.com 

June 1  http://www.charleneraddon.blogspot.com - Official blog tour for Kat Flannery (not part of PUB/PM blog hop)

June 2, http://authortammieclarkegibbs.blogspot.com/   giveaway

June 3  http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/     giveaway  

June 4  http://writingdreams.net/          giveaway

June 5  http://ciaragold.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 7, http://peggylhenderson.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 8, http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com /    giveaway

June 9, http://www.pamelaforeman.com/  giveaway

June 10 http://annettedrake.com/annettes-blog/

June 11, http://elizabethdelisi.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 12, http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com/ giveaway

June 14 http://www.wittyonlineeditor.com  giveaway

June 15  http://blog.cathymansell.com/   giveaway

June 16, www.katerobbinsauthor.com/  giveaway

June 17 http://tinafosterspageturner.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 18  http://ccrawley210.wordpress.com/    giveaway

June 19, http://lynhorner.blogspot.com/   giveaway

June 21  http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 22, http://www.raintrueax.blogspot.com   giveaway

June 23, http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com  giveaway

WELCOME SUZANNE LILLY

Today, Suzanne Lilly, author of SHADES OF THE FUTURE, is my guest. Suzanne is on a blog tour to celebrate the release of her book, and will be giving away a pair of designer sunglasses to someone who comments on her tour.

Suzanne Lilly is a writer at night and a teacher by day, which is why she’s known online as the TeacherWriter. Her articles and stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print. She writes light romance, young adult, and middle grade novels. When not busy with words, she enjoys swimming, hiking, reading, fine arts, and cooking. She lives in California with her family and furry friends and has yet to feel an earthquake.


Caroline: I lived in California as a child and have experienced mild earthquakes. Tell us about growing up and give us a peek into your private life.

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
from Stock Exchange

Suzanne: I am the youngest of five children. My dad was in the Air Force, so we moved around, but when I was young, he got out of the service and we settled in Arizona. It was so hot in the summer even the locusts would stop their chirruping. To stay cool, I would sit under a tree or go to the library and read. The library in Maryvale was my favorite place to be. Today I’m married to a wonderful man and we just celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Rome. Molto bene! We have three children, one granddaughter, and a granddog.

Caroline: Congratulations on your anniversary and lovely trip! Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

Suzanne: I read anyone who can spin a story with enough tension to keep me awake at night. Currently I’m reading Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. They make a fabulous team. Jenny has tremendous wit and humor, and Bob used to be a Green Beret. The two of them writing together brings such a contrast in the characters that I’m spellbound. I also like to read Susan Elizabeth Phillips, John LesCroart, and Harlan Coben. I like suspense with a happy ending, something all of these authors have mastered. I’m always looking for new authors, so if anyone has recommendations, please share!

Caroline: I also like suspense with a happy ending. What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

Suzanne: I love to read, swim, and cook, not necessarily in that order. We are lucky enough to have a pool and warm weather for several months of the year. I need to swim to combat the evidence from my love of food and cooking!

Caroline: Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?

Suzanne: “This too shall pass.” A coworker of mine used to say that on an almost daily basis, and I adopted it as a way of looking to the future. Whether what we’re experiencing now is over the top fabulous or deep in the valley horrible, life changes and new things come along. I’m always looking forward to the next thing.

Caroline: How long have you been writing?

Suzanne: Forever. At least since I learned to write. I’ve always made up stories and always wanted to see my stories in print. I finally became serious about getting published five years ago and started submitting my work.

Caroline: Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

Suzanne: I have a quiet room of my own where I write, but I often bring my laptop out to the kitchen or living room. During the school year I get up ridiculously early to have time alone to write while the house is silent except for the soft snoring of my dog. Actually, she snores like a chain saw. That’s the music to my ears while I’m writing.

Caroline: Our dog does, too, and “talks” in his sleep. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Suzanne: Many people sit down and just start writing, and that’s how they get the creative inspiration for their story lines. Not me. I plot meticulously. First I pick a topic. Then I ask some “what if?” questions. Then I draw out a story arc and a three act structure. I let that rest, and work on other projects, short stories and things, while I mull over the personalities of my characters. Then I set up the turning points, black moment, and subplots, based on how the characters will interact with one another. I write this down on colored index cards, with a different color for each POV and subplot. I know this can be done on the computer, but I paste it all on a big board that I keep in front of me. That way I don’t have to keep flipping between windows on my computer as I’m writing. All of this plotting is part of my creativity. While things are on cards, I can put events in, take events out, move things around, whatever I want, without killing off any characters. Unless that’s part of my plan. Muahaha! Once the plotting is done, the story just falls into place, like a jigsaw puzzle going together.

Caroline: Ah, we write by the same method. Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?

Suzanne: I certainly look to real events for inspiration, and I notice interesting things about people that I incorporate into characters. But no, you won’t have to worry about me writing a story about your most embarrassing moment, or look for yourself in one of my characters. It’s all a mashup when I get done with it.

Caroline: Mashup is a good word for it. Do you set daily writing goals? Word count? Number of chapters? Do you get a chance to write every day?

Suzanne: I make it a point to write every day. I used to set word goals, but that seemed too arbitrary. I could write a bunch of drivel, or write off topic and still meet a word goal. So now I try to write one scene a day. I only have about an hour a day to write, if I’m lucky, so one scene is all I can do. It’s the same when I’m editing. I try to edit one or two scenes a day.

Caroline: But you have a plan, a discipline, and that’s good. What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Suzanne: I want my writing to bring people a sense of hope for the future. I want them to feel empowered to bring good things into their lives. So although my stories have suspense, and bad things may happen, they all have happy endings.

Caroline: What long-term plans do you have for your career?

Suzanne: To be a New York Times bestseller, of course! My plans are to write at least one novel a year, interspersed with short stories. By building up a backlist, I hope in a few years I’ll be able to be a full time writer. That would be bliss.

Caroline: Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Suzanne: I prefer to keep my works in progress under wraps. However, I can tell you about UNTELLABLE, my next book which will be available in February 2013. Here’s a short blurb:

Aspen Marie Dwyer has a secret to keep and she picks Honey Creek, Ohio as the perfect place to hide. Arriving on a Greyhound bus with nothing but a duffel bag containing her clothes and personal belongings, she walks to the Honey Creek Lake Lodge, to begin her summer job as a lifeguard. Four years earlier, Aspen witnessed her father murder her mother, and her testimony locked him away in prison. Before being taken out of the courtroom in shackles, he swore someday he would find her and kill her, too.

Local volunteer firefighter Colton Moraine is always up for a challenge, and Aspen is just what he needs to liven up his small town summer. Through driving lessons, picnics, and romantic kisses under the fireworks, the two fall in love. Aspen fatalistically knows their summer romance will end if Colton finds out her history. But not telling him tortures her, making her feel like a fraud.

When her father is granted parole, she can no longer keep her dark secret. She has to make a life changing decision. Will she continue to run and hide, or fight for the love she’s discovered with Colton in Honey Creek?

Caroline: Your story sounds intriguing. What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

Suzanne: Honor your writing time, and don’t let other tasks or people or diversions take you away from it. When it’s your writing time, write. Keep writing. Write and write and write some more.

Caroline: More easily said than done, right? A fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you.

Peanut Butter Love
from Stock Exchange

Suzanne: I am in love with peanut butter. Literally. My husband knows to clear the way when I’m heading for the peanut butter jar.

Caroline: I love it, too. Something about you that would surprise or shock readers.

Suzanne: When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had food cravings, as many women do. I craved peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Just writing about it makes me want to urp, but at the time it hit the spot!

Caroline: That’s funny. Is your book a series? If so, how long? Family saga, other?

Shades of the Future is part of the Honey Creek Books line from Turquoise Morning Press. All of the books in this line take place in the fictional town of Honey Creek in beautiful, bountiful Ohio. Being a small, rural community means that everything anyone says or does becomes public knowledge in a matter of seconds. There are no secrets in small towns.

Caroline: I love small town settings, though. Can you give readers a blurb about your book?

Suzanne:
What would you give to see the future? Would you make your dreams come true? Would you change the things you didn’t like?

Mariah Davis loves animals, running, and her hunk of a boyfriend, Kevin Creamer. Everything looks bright for her until the day she finds a pair of sunglasses that allow her to see the future.

When she glimpses a disaster looming, she tries to avoid it but fails. She has a car accident that lands her in a wheelchair, smashing her hopes for a running scholarship to the veterinary program at Ohio State University. She pushes Kevin away, thinking he’ll want to end their relationship now that she can’t walk.

Will she ever learn to trust and love again? She could search for an answer in the sunglasses. But she’s afraid what they reveal might destroy her.

Caroline: How about an excerpt:?

Suzanne:
Mariah scooted closer to the inside of the booth to read the digital display. As she slid across the red vinyl seat, something poked into her thigh.

“Hey, somebody left a pair sunglasses here.” She picked them up, rubbing her leg where the frame had made a dent in her skin.

“Those are nice,” Hayley commented between fries.

“These aren’t random sunglasses. These are Dita Aviators.” Mariah turned them over, checking the thin metal frame to make sure she hadn’t bent it. She held them up to the overhead light. The lenses were clean and unscratched. “Plus, they’re like brand new.”

“Let me see them.” Hayley took the glasses out of her friend’s hands and started to put them on.

“Give them back,” Mariah told her. “Your hands are all greasy and cheesy. Not to mention saliva-y.”

Hayley laughed and handed the aviators back across the table to Mariah. “When I have clean hands, I’ll try them on. They’ll look good on me.”

“You think? How do they look on me?” She put them on and a warm tingle washed through her veins.

Caroline: You’ve hooked me. Where can readers find your books?

Suzanne: Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Future-Honey-Creek-ebook/dp/B008L1PQ0Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342622859&sr=8-2&keywords=shades+of+the+future

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shades-of-the-future-suzanne-lilly/1112092900?ean=2940014608800

Turquoise Morning Press http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/shades-of-the-future

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=shades+of+the+future

Caroline: How can readers learn more about you?

Suzanne: I love chatting with readers! Here are my hangouts:
 Suzanne Lilly Website: http://www.suzannelilly.com
 TeacherWriter Blog : http://www.teacherwriter.net
 Suzanne Lilly Author Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneLillyAuthor
 Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5258804.Suzanne_Lilly
 Twitter: @suzannelilly http://twitter.com/suzannelilly
 Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Lilly/e/B006HY79IY
 Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/115758832631616324955/posts

Caroline: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about you?

Suzanne: Yes! I’m giving away a pair of designer sunglasses from Shoebuy.com to a person who comments on this blog tour. So follow the tour, and the more blog posts you comment on, the more chances you have to win. Plus, as I said earlier, I love chatting with readers!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today. This interview was great fun.

Caroline: Thanks for coming, Suzanne, and best wishes for your series.

Thanks for stopping by!

WELCOME REGAN BLACK

Regan Black, Author

Before I turn the blog over to Regan Black, please let me congratulate B.J., whose comment receives a copy of HOME, SWEET TEXAS HOME. I'll be emailing BJ with her download later today. Now, to Regan Black:

Thanks so much for having me here today, Caroline!

THE MATCHMAKER’S MARK came about for a couple of reasons. First, I needed a break from the darker Shadows of Justice novels. I love my 2096 Chicago and the characters in that series are like family, but it can get a little tiring saving the world from evil plots day in and day out. So I gave both that cast and myself a little breather. And secondly, my pals at the local retired greyhound group were encouraging me to get a greyhound into one of my novels. That happened a bit differently than I expected, but it was tons of fun.

Of course, being me, there had to be a paranormal element too, but it has a fun feel in this series. Here's the quick overview: When you're 'more' than human, finding your soulmate isn't as easy as answering a few questions online. It's best to track down Campbell Consulting, a.k.a. the Matchmaker.

In Charleston, South Carolina half-elf Lily has a birthmark her elders vow is a mystical promise of true love. So far she's yet to encounter Mr. Right in either the elf or human realms.

Dare, a wood elf, has led the Matchmaker's security team for years. In town on a simple errand, when the Matchmaker disappears his future is turned inside out.

And Amy Campbell is a completely human English professor about to discover the true magic of the family business...

My marketing team and I joked that I should use the name Regan Gray on these books, because they were so much different than the other series.

Unitarian Church Yard
Charleston, S.C.

Charleston is a beautiful city with such a diverse and wonderful history, it seemed like a natural setting for a more lighthearted and romantic story. I've been on several tours since we moved to the area and studying the past just seems to set my imagination on fire, even when I'm working on a contemporary storyline like THE MATCHMAKER'S MARK. Planting Lily's fictional flower shop on King Street worked well because that meant they were close to one of my favorite restaurants on the same street. It absolutely thrills me when someone who lives here, or who's been to Charleston, recognizes that restaurant. In real life it's Juanita Greenberg's, so if you get to the area and are in the mood for amazing Mexican food - be sure to stop in.

Plus, Charleston has its share of ghosts and legends. In THE MATCHMAKER'S MARK, Amy - in one of her first acts as the Matchmaker - converses with the Lady who haunts the Unitarian Churchyard. That ghost is considered the most frequently sighted in the city and I guarantee you, whether you see her or not, the Unitarian Churchyard is spooky with a capital "spook" at night. Especially with an excellent guide telling you tales...

In the following excerpt from THE MATCHMAKER’S MARK, Amy, her greyhound, and Dare, the bodyguard for the former Matchmaker, are taking a rest in the Unitarian Churchyard:

"Hold Guinness' leash, please."


She pushed it into his hand and he opened his eyes to a scene straight from one of Camille's stories.


His years in her service meant many of the nights they only had each other for conversation and they'd swapped tales of family and legends. Dare had never seen spirit magic first hand, but he recognized it now. Amy had moved from his side and stood surrounded by pale figures, translucent and lit from within.


Ghosts.


As he watched, her lips and hands moved as if she was conversing with old friends, but no sound reached his ears.


His breath backed up in his chest as the air snapped cold and brittle around him. The tree, with its sturdy, reassuring presence, the relaxed dog at his side, and his dedication to Camille kept him from melting into the bark. Escape wasn't appropriate, but neither was defense. Amy didn't seem to be in any trouble, but he wasn't sure he'd know if she were.


He shifted, became the target of a particularly intimidating ghostly gaze and decided to stay put while his mind puzzled out how to get her out of here.


Amy listened with her heart more than her ears, and ignored the cold air turning her every exhalation into a small cloud. She accepted she was talking with the dead, though this sort of communication wasn't precisely verbal.


But they were communicating.


She couldn't label the act, couldn't point to the time when she'd learned how to do whatever it was she was doing. At the moment she just listened, which seemed to be the primary concern of the ghosts surrounding her.


They knew they were dead, a fact which busted a great many myths Hollywood purported. Three out of the four ghosts didn't even mind the current suspended existence. The last one to join the conversation was most irritable with his family for ignoring his demise.


She wasn't sure what she could possibly do to help him, so she let him rant for a bit before another member of the group cut him off.


"That is enough. I must speak!" The female ghost was elegantly attired and her eyes were direct and a bit disapproving. Her statement earned her no respect.


"It's always about you," the others grumbled unanimously as they drifted their separate ways.


But in Amy's heart, the source of her connection to them, she felt such sudden, deep longing she clutched her chest. She saw it all, the woman alive and so in love, then crushed and devastated when her husband was lost to her.


"He should be here," the woman said. "He should be here with me."


The woman's loneliness was a tangible force winding through the air, raising goose bumps on Amy's skin. Instinctively, she reached out, but something bumped her legs – Guinness – and Dare hooked her with an around her waist.


"No!" Amy struggled, but couldn't twist free. She knew what the ghost needed. She could help if Dare would just let her do it.


With a look of utter contempt, the ghost moved away, skirts swirling behind her as she moved through headstones, iron, and air with equal ease.


Amy slumped, lurching free when Dare's arm went slack.


"Here!" It took her longer as she was flesh and blood, but she navigated the obstacles in the dark, stopping near the obelisk where the elegant ghost had disappeared. She extended her hand once more. "I can show you where he waits."


She heard Dare's footsteps on the path and willed the ghost to act quickly.


Her ears buzzed as ghostly fingertips brushed her own in an ethereal touch totally absent of heat. In that odd connection, she spoke with images more than words, so the two could be united at last. An immense love buoyed her heart as the tiniest bit of relief rippled out of her like a pebble dropped in a pond.


"Godspeed," she whispered into the peaceful stillness in the air.

Dare felt something too. Something closer to rage than peace, but he couldn't put it into words. The warmth and comfort he'd enjoyed in this churchyard had turned to cold ash. She'd endangered herself, endangered an entire balancing force of the non-human realms. For what? A ghost?


"What was that?" he demanded, his brutal voice shattering the quiet around her.


"Helping." Amy sighed and turned, snapping her fingers for the greyhound's attention. Her expression: part satisfaction, part serenity, and all wistful, took the leading edge off his anger.


"You can't help all of them. It's best to stick with the ones still living. She had a place here."


"The wrong place. She and her love, her husband were an odd, but perfect match. She came South with him, to a life as foreign to her as another country. He left, had to leave her for some business.


"They died on the same day. The same day, Dare! I'm not sure how I know, but they were so close, so perfect together. They were two halves of one whole that neither could live – literally – without the other. Here, alone, she was heartbroken. I could fix it."


"They had their chance in life."


"So they don't deserve a blissful eternity in death?" She tsked at him. "His body has never been returned here to the family plot. I know that much from the tour guides. But as the 'Matchmaker'," she used air quotes, "I felt how he pines for her too.”


"I could fix it, Dare," she repeated, winding down. "They were the perfect love match. Isn't that what the Matchmaker's all about?"


Not even close.

You can pick up THE MATCHMAKER'S MARK at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite ebook retailer. I'm thrilled to say THE MATCHMAKER'S CURSE, book two in the series, is due out at the end of April. In the meantime, you can read more about this series and my other books at www.ReganBlack.com. We have an active community there through my monthly newsletter and on my Facebook fan page. I hope you'll join the fun.

Regan Black is dedicated to guiding paranormal romance readers through action packed stories to the best happily ever after endings so you can savor a fantastic escape from the daily grind. "My mission is to deliver stories from the heart, full of unforgettable, passionate characters who know what they want and are willing to risk it all to reach the goal." A recipient of a 2011 Reviewer's Choice award from the Paranormal Romance Guild, she is also the author of the Shadows of Justice series (JUSTICE INCARNATE, INVASIONS OF JUSTICE, VEIL OF JUSTICE, TRACKING SHADOWS, SHADOWS TO LIGHT) as well as the non-fiction ADOPT A GREYHOUND GUIDE, GOAL SETTING FOR WRITERS, and several short stories. She lives in South Carolina with her family and their domestic petting 'zoo' starring three retired greyhounds, two manipulative cats, and three quirky finches.



Regan, thanks for sharing THE MATCHMAKER'S MARK with us. I've added it to my Kindle and look forward to next month's release of THE MATCHMAKER'S CURSE.

Readers, thanks for stopping by!

EVER HAD YOUR FORTUNE TOLD?

A premise I’m developing for a Victorian novel involves a woman posing as a fortuneteller. Is she real? No. Do I believe it’s possible to predict the future? Yes! Just as I believe there are many people with psychic abilities who can see into our lives, I also believe that there are even more fake psychics preying on the public’s need to learn the unknown.



Fortune Teller

  A man in my hometown of Lubbock, Texas never made a business decision without contacting a particular medium, Madame Della Fox. There were rumors about her uncanny ability, and many others in our town relied on her for important decisions. These were successful people, so perhaps she was genuine.There were stories when I was a teen of her success. I do believe there are those gifted with the ability to foretell the future, who are psychic, and who can contact the dead. Since there are currently at least two television series along this theme, others must believe with me. After all, the series “Ghost Whisperer” is based on the life of a real woman, Mary Ann Winkowski.

Palm reading

My grandmother, who herself had a bit of “the gift” (she called it a curse) to foretell events, had her fortune told by a traveling gypsy when my mom was very young. The gypsy’s predictions came true. One of my BFF’s recently had her fortune told and the fortuneteller knew things she couldn’t have known unless she was truly psychic.


Victorians embraced the occult, both for entertainment and for answers. Change came quickly during the Industrial Revolution. Individuals were caught between eras. No wonder they grasped at the occult for answers. Fascination in mesmerism had begun a century earlier. During the Regency period, it was not uncommon to have a fortuneteller entertain guests at a house party. By the Victorian period, many sought help from fortunetellers—palm readers, tarot, seances, and other attempts to contact the dead or foresee the future. Others enjoyed the pretense. Although having fortunetellers appear at a party may not still be in vogue, most of us are no less fascinated by the occult.

Alice Duncan has a terrific SPIRIT mystery series in which the heroine, Daisy Gumm Majesty, is a fake psychic in 1920’s Pasadena, California. No, Daisy’s not a charlatan, just a woman down on her luck with an uncanny ability to analyze human nature and solve murders. She never claimed otherwise, but was drawn in to being a “psychic” by her aunt’s wealthy employer. I love this series, and it’s available right now on Kindle for 99 cents each. I’d read all but the latest, but I snapped up the entire series at this bargain. They include STRONG SPIRITS, HIGH SPIRITS, FINE SPIRITS, and HUNGRY SPIRITS. (I picked up some of Alice's other titles too.) Daisy has to earn a living for herself and help her family. Her husband, Billy Majesty, was permanently disabled in WWI from mustard gas, but Daisy plunges ahead with her business, keeping a smile for Billy regardless of her own emotions.

Her latest

If you love romantic suspense involving paranormal events and gifted people, you have probably already read Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick. I especially love the quirky, intelligent heroines writen as Amada Quick. I never miss one of her books. Perhaps I am too fascinated by people with extraordinary powers.
 Now, where did I put those Tarot cards . . .