Elizabeth Delisi's Blog, page 7
September 15, 2016
Contest Winner Announced
The contest to choose which book I'll write next is over. The winning book is "KNIT A SPELL."
KNIT A SPELL: Astenia Rand owns and runs a yarn shop called “Knit A Spell.” Most customers think the name invites them to come and visit with knitting in tow. A select few customers know another meaning of the name: Astenia is a witch, and she weaves helpful spells into everything she knits and sells. It’s a good life, except for one thing: Astenia was cursed at birth by a spiteful witch. The curse says any man Astenia falls in love with will die; thus she’s doomed to a life alone. Or is she? What will happen when an immortal man, cursed by the same witch, decides to help her break the spell?
The contest winner, chosen at random from those who voted for KNIT A SPELL, is Robin Leigh Morgan. Congratulations, Robin! You'll receive a free copy of KNIT A SPELL when it comes out, and you'll have a thank-you in the acknowledgments. Awesome!
Thanks to everyone for playing.
Liz
KNIT A SPELL: Astenia Rand owns and runs a yarn shop called “Knit A Spell.” Most customers think the name invites them to come and visit with knitting in tow. A select few customers know another meaning of the name: Astenia is a witch, and she weaves helpful spells into everything she knits and sells. It’s a good life, except for one thing: Astenia was cursed at birth by a spiteful witch. The curse says any man Astenia falls in love with will die; thus she’s doomed to a life alone. Or is she? What will happen when an immortal man, cursed by the same witch, decides to help her break the spell?
The contest winner, chosen at random from those who voted for KNIT A SPELL, is Robin Leigh Morgan. Congratulations, Robin! You'll receive a free copy of KNIT A SPELL when it comes out, and you'll have a thank-you in the acknowledgments. Awesome!
Thanks to everyone for playing.
Liz
September 14, 2016
Last Day to Enter Contest
Today is the last day to enter my "What will I write next?" contest. For details and how to enter, visit my blog entry here: http://elizabethdelisi.blogspot.com/2016/08/next-book-contest.html
Tomorrow I'll announce the winner!
Tomorrow I'll announce the winner!
August 31, 2016
Next Book Contest
Hello everyone!
I’m in the position of deciding what book to work on next. I’m having trouble choosing, so I thought a contest would be a great idea!
Here’s the details. I’m going to give you a small description of three different books I could work on next. You can respond to me at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.comand let me know your choice of which one I should write next.
On September 15, the book with the most votes will be the book I work on next. The names of everyone who voted for the winning book will be put onto a special list from which a winner will be chosen at random.
What will the winner receive? A shout-out in the acknowledgments when the book is published, and a free copy of the book in the winner’s choice of format.
Timing: Wednesday, August 31, through Wednesday, September 14.
Here are the book options:
PERILOUS PREDICTION, sequel to FATAL FORTUNE: Psychic Lottie Baldwin and Deputy Sheriff Harlan Erikson are planning their wedding when Lottie’s ex-boyfriend shows up in town. Shortly after, he’s murdered and suspicion falls on Lottie as the only likely suspect. With an eyewitness fingering her as the woman seen entering the victim’s motel room, it looks like Lottie is in deep trouble that not even her Tarot cards can fix. Can Harlan prove the woman he loves is innocent before the real murderer adds Lottie to the victim list?
MURDER CUM LAUDE, sequel to SINCE ALL IS PASSING: Marie Kenning is having her usual breakfast in the Lakedale Café. Bill, the owner, asks a waitress to move his car before the police ticket it, as they do every morning. She complies, but when she starts the car, it explodes with a blinding flash. The police must dig into Bill's past to see who would want him dead, and why. Does he have a shady past no one knows about? Can Marie and her fiancé Officer Chris Whitley solve the case before Bill becomes the next victim?
KNIT A SPELL: Astenia Rand owns and runs a yarn shop called “Knit A Spell.” Most customers think the name invites them to come and visit with knitting in tow. A select few customers know another meaning of the name: Astenia is a witch, and she weaves helpful spells into everything she knits and sells. It’s a good life, except for one thing: Astenia was cursed at birth by a spiteful witch. The curse says any man Astenia falls in love with will die; thus she’s doomed to a life alone. Or is she? What will happen when an immortal man, cursed by the same witch, decides to help her break the spell?
Send me your choice and I’ll put your name on the contest list!
Liz
Elizabeth DelisiFiction With Flair!www.elizabethdelisi.com
August 23, 2016
WANDERING SPIRITS, Volume One is available now!
WANDERING SPIRITS, an anthology with paranormal novellas by five different writers--including me--is now available in both e-book and paper versions.
My story in the collection is called "Restless Spirit." Here's the blurb:
Desperate to talk to her young son, who died from a rare, incurable blood disease, Laura St. Clair uses a Ouija board to try to reach him. But when she makes contact with the spirit world and receives a message, whom has she reached? And what does the spirit want in return for helping her?
The other stories in the collection are:
"Haunted Hearts" by Kim Cox
"Valentine's Inn" by Chris Grover
"Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne" by Maureen McMahon
"Fate's Little Trick" by Sheryl Hames Torres
"Meeting Mr. Wright" by Chris Grover
WANDERING SPIRITS is available in multiple formats, as well as paperback, in these spots:
https://smile.amazon.com/Wandering-Spirits-Anthology-Book-ebook/dp/B01JDN2ZZW/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1535495731
https://www.scribd.com/book/319753793/Wandering-Spirits-I-Wandering-Spirits-Anthology-1
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/wandering-spirits-i
http://www.inktera.com/store/title/2856c83c-dbee-4985-bad9-c0f0f09dba9e
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wandering-spirits-i-kim-cox/1124229609?ean=9781535495738
And here's even better news. If you love WANDERING SPIRITS Volume 1, coming out soon is WANDERING SPIRITS Volume 2!
August 8, 2016
Sheri McGathy, Cover Artist and Author
My guest blogger today is Sheri McGathy, author and cover artist. Welcome, Sheri! Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in writing.
Sheri: Hi Elizabeth, thank you for having me as a guest on your blog!
I’ve always been a storyteller. I loved to daydream and pretend when I was a child, loved to believe that there really were elves and magic and faeries. Fantasy is my love. I would sit for hours and tell my dog, Babe, stories. He was a great listener :) I didn't actually try to write a novel until my late twenties or early thirties. Before that, I wrote mainly fantasy poems--very long, story poems. And I am not sure I would have attempted to write a novel if a friend who had read the 48-page poem of Elfen Gold hadn’t encouraged me to turn the poem into a novel. At the time I thought, what the heck, I’ll give it a go. I’ve been givin’ it a go ever since.
As I mentioned, I loved to daydream and pretend when I was a child, and in a way, when I plot a novel now, I still do this. I daydream the scenes, imagine the characters, their personalities, how they interact with the others in the story, and how they will deal with the challenges I give them. By the time I sit down to write the story, I know my characters fairly well.
Tell us about your books.
Sheri:I mainly write fantasy, but I have done a few ghost stories too.
My first novel was Elfen Gold - A Storyteller Tale. This was the novel that was birthed from a poem! And this story gave birth to another favorite of mine, The Storyteller. I use his narrative voice in several stories.
Blurb from Elfen Gold:
“Gather round. Aye, gather near, and I will spin you a tale of magic from a time long since lost to lore. Come and I will tell of elves and the kingdom of Ra-Jee, a kingdom now forgotten in the mists of enchantment.
“This tale is one of sacrifice and sorrow, yet one of hope offered to a future not yet written.” The Storyteller curled his gnarled fingers over the worn top of his cane and smiled. “And it is a tale of a young elfen maiden named Ra-May and the human male, Michall, she is destined to meet.
“Come, join me as I tell of these two very different and unique individuals, brought together by fate, and guided by ancient magic as they venture forward to save Ra-Jee--or die trying.
“And so,” whispered the old Storyteller, “the tale begins...”
Next came Within the Shadow of Stone, a journey through legend and myth to the time of the standing stones. . .
Then a string of short stories and novellas followed:Omnibus With four shorts~ THE BIRTH OF SPRING~~ THIEF OF DREAMS~~THE ANCIENT ONE~~WHERE LIES BEAUTY~
Ghostly Tales(These stories originally appeared in the Anthology Trespassing Time)~The Graveyard Dance~Maxie~What’s a Ghost to Do?~Forgotten, But Not Gone
A duet with fellow author and friend Shannah Biondine:Winds of ForevermoreMy story Summersongis one of my personal favorites, as well as Where Lies Beauty from Omnibus Collection.
Promises and The Gift
I also was a contributor in The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels: Volume 1
Why did you decide to start a cover art business, and when did you start it?
Sheri:I won’t lie, I needed a second source of income since I hadn’t really written much for some time. As to why cover art? Well, aside from the fact I enjoy creating them, I wanted, or needed, to be creative, I wanted to tell a story with the art, and I wanted to create affordable covers that wouldn’t break the bank. As to when did I start doing cover art? It’s been a few years now, I am horrible about time, but I started probably in 2011.
Do you have a special technique for coming up with cover art? Do you work with authors?
Sheri:I work with authors the best I can. There’s lots of ways I work. Sometimes the author supplies all the art, and I ask them questions about the book, what they think they might want. If they don’t supply the art, I ask even more questions. I want to get a feel for the story before I go hunting for stock art. That’s the writer in me searching for the story with the art, what art can I use to help convey the story, etc. And most importantly, what art can I actually work with. Sometimes I love the art but it just doesn’t fit with everything else. Sometimes I can hit it on the first attempt if I get a really good feel from the author about the story; sometimes it takes me a while :)
How many covers have you done for specific books, and how many have you done as examples?
Sheri:Truth? I have no idea! I create a lot of pre-mades, I love crafting those. But I have done a fair share of custom covers. While not all the customs are up on my site, you can see some by going here:http://coverdesign.sherimcgathy.com/category/portfolio/
Just click on the text below each album cover to see all the covers posted for each author.
Pre-made linkhttp://coverdesign.sherimcgathy.com/category/premade/
Do you feel that as a writer you have an advantage in creating cover art authors will love?Sheri:Maybe or not. I don’t know. I just know that once I get started, sometimes, just like my characters, the cover design speaks to me.
What’s your favorite cover of all you’ve created?
Sheri:They are all my favorite. :-) For various reasons.
Where can people see your covers?
Sheri:
This is the home page of my personal cover design website:http://coverdesign.sherimcgathy.com/
There is an email subscription signup that will email the subscribers any time I post a new pre-made.
And this is my Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/coverartbysheri/
Sheri, thanks so much for posting today.
Thanks so much for inviting me to be your guest!
Check out Sheri McGathy's books and cover art. You'll love them!
July 19, 2016
LADY OF THE TWO LANDS is a winner!
Great news: LADY OF THE TWO LANDS has won first place in its category in the Affaire de Coeur cover art contest!
Here's the cover:
Isn't it gorgeous, and absolutely deserving of the award?
And here's the ribbon attesting to it!
The cover art is by talented artist Cora of Cora Graphics Book Cover Designs.
Check out the book here: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth/lady-of-the-two-lands.htm
Absolutely made my day!
Here's the cover:
Isn't it gorgeous, and absolutely deserving of the award?
And here's the ribbon attesting to it!
The cover art is by talented artist Cora of Cora Graphics Book Cover Designs.
Check out the book here: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth/lady-of-the-two-lands.htm
Absolutely made my day!
July 12, 2016
Carmen Stefanescu's #RomanticIdeas
Carmen Stefanescu is my guest today in the summer blog exchange, sharing romantic ideas. First, here is info about Carmen's latest release.
[image error]
Till Life Do Us Part
Publisher: Solstice Publishing Genre: Paranormal Romance Mystery, Suspense, Reincarnation.Release date: 9th June 2016
BlurbBarbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.
Amazon: : https://goo.gl/H0dqkb
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/till-life-do-us-part-carmen-stefanescu/1123896837?ean=9781625263858
[image error]
Author BioCarmen Stefanescuresides in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of communist oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. Her first novel, Shadows of the Past , was released in 2012 by Wild Child Publishing, USA. Carmen joined the volunteer staff at Marketing For Romance Writers Author blog, and is the coordinator of #Thursday13 posts.
Excerpt 2Patrick poured the bubbly liquid into the glasses. He offered one to Barbara and raised his.“To the undercover, paranormal investigator, Barbara.” He smiled and touched his glass to hers, looking straight into her eyes.“To you, too, Patrick, Detective Fischer. If it hadn’t been for your determination to find out the truth, many families wouldn’t have had the small consolation to see their relatives’ murderers behind bars.” She took a sip of the champagne.“There’s something else I’d like to tell you, Patrick said. He cleared his throat and took one of her hands in his. “It’s something that I wanted to tell you... to ask you for a while, but it never seemed the right moment.”She heard the tremor in his voice and was sure what was to come. Yet, she didn’t want to make it easier for him. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the touch of his hands. He was in love with her as she was with him.“So, as I was saying... I want to ask you if—”The telephone rang again, cutting like a steel blade through the thick emotional atmosphere surrounding them.“Oh, not again.” Barbara rolled her eyes upward and headed to the bloody thing. She picked up the receiver and said in a voice that sounded a bit irritated, “Yes. What? Who? Yes, one moment, please.” She turned to Patrick, “It’s for you. An emergency, it seems.”Patrick grabbed the phone, “Yes, Fisher here. What? When? I’m on my way,” he said and put down the receiver.“I’m sorry, Barbara. There’s an emergency, indeed. Bruce has been injured. He’s in the hospital right now.”“Oh, goodness. Is it bad?”“I’ve no idea. They didn’t say. I’m going there. Sorry I spoiled the evening.”“No need for apology, Patrick,” Barbara replied hiding her disappointment. “Duty comes first in your job, I know.”“I’ll call you. Soon. There was something important I wanted to tell... to ask you. Goodnight, Barbara,” he said and kissed her hand affectionately. He hurried outside.Barbara stood in the middle of the room. It looked empty and cold without him. She took the bottle of champagne, pushed the cork back into it, then went to the kitchen and put it in the fridge.Moments later, she returned to the living room. With a reflexive gesture she picked up the packet of cigarettes Patrick had forgotten on the table. She weighed them in her hand for a moment and smiling, opened a drawer of the bookshelf and placed the cigarettes inside. She took her book from the bookshelf and sat on the couch, enveloped by the faint smell of aftershave left behind by Patrick. Jack stretched, then came to Barbara and curled up in her lap.“Yes, Jack. It is like that. It’s always been like that. Just you and me.” She sighed and opened the book. She failed to notice a faint light hovering outside the window.
You can stalk the author here:http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/https://twitter.com/Carmen_Bookshttp://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescuhttps://plus.google.com/117216040843648957646/posts
Trailer for Till Life Do Us Part: https://youtube/UbuntlWISc0
And here are Carmen's romantic ideas. Awesome!
Here are some #romantic ideas to rekindle the spark : Learn a romantic foreign language.Take an intro-class together for a language that neither of you speak - French, Italian, Spanish or Romanian simply sound romantic - and practice whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears, in that new language! Cuddle up together in a horse-drawn carriage ride.You’ll probably feel like you are in a romantic comedy, and that’s a good thing. Read each other’s Tarot Cards.Take turns reading each other’s fortunes using Tarot Cards. Even if you don’t believe in divination, it will make for one fun evening spent together. Go on a ghost tour together. Find the nearest ghost tour in your city and head out on the adventure together. At least you’ll have someone’s hand to hold onto should things start to get a little spooky. Feed each other fondue at home.It really doesn’t get sexier than feeding each other chocolate dipped strawberries.
[image error]
Till Life Do Us Part
Publisher: Solstice Publishing Genre: Paranormal Romance Mystery, Suspense, Reincarnation.Release date: 9th June 2016
BlurbBarbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.
Amazon: : https://goo.gl/H0dqkb
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/till-life-do-us-part-carmen-stefanescu/1123896837?ean=9781625263858
[image error]
Author BioCarmen Stefanescuresides in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of communist oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. Her first novel, Shadows of the Past , was released in 2012 by Wild Child Publishing, USA. Carmen joined the volunteer staff at Marketing For Romance Writers Author blog, and is the coordinator of #Thursday13 posts.
Excerpt 2Patrick poured the bubbly liquid into the glasses. He offered one to Barbara and raised his.“To the undercover, paranormal investigator, Barbara.” He smiled and touched his glass to hers, looking straight into her eyes.“To you, too, Patrick, Detective Fischer. If it hadn’t been for your determination to find out the truth, many families wouldn’t have had the small consolation to see their relatives’ murderers behind bars.” She took a sip of the champagne.“There’s something else I’d like to tell you, Patrick said. He cleared his throat and took one of her hands in his. “It’s something that I wanted to tell you... to ask you for a while, but it never seemed the right moment.”She heard the tremor in his voice and was sure what was to come. Yet, she didn’t want to make it easier for him. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the touch of his hands. He was in love with her as she was with him.“So, as I was saying... I want to ask you if—”The telephone rang again, cutting like a steel blade through the thick emotional atmosphere surrounding them.“Oh, not again.” Barbara rolled her eyes upward and headed to the bloody thing. She picked up the receiver and said in a voice that sounded a bit irritated, “Yes. What? Who? Yes, one moment, please.” She turned to Patrick, “It’s for you. An emergency, it seems.”Patrick grabbed the phone, “Yes, Fisher here. What? When? I’m on my way,” he said and put down the receiver.“I’m sorry, Barbara. There’s an emergency, indeed. Bruce has been injured. He’s in the hospital right now.”“Oh, goodness. Is it bad?”“I’ve no idea. They didn’t say. I’m going there. Sorry I spoiled the evening.”“No need for apology, Patrick,” Barbara replied hiding her disappointment. “Duty comes first in your job, I know.”“I’ll call you. Soon. There was something important I wanted to tell... to ask you. Goodnight, Barbara,” he said and kissed her hand affectionately. He hurried outside.Barbara stood in the middle of the room. It looked empty and cold without him. She took the bottle of champagne, pushed the cork back into it, then went to the kitchen and put it in the fridge.Moments later, she returned to the living room. With a reflexive gesture she picked up the packet of cigarettes Patrick had forgotten on the table. She weighed them in her hand for a moment and smiling, opened a drawer of the bookshelf and placed the cigarettes inside. She took her book from the bookshelf and sat on the couch, enveloped by the faint smell of aftershave left behind by Patrick. Jack stretched, then came to Barbara and curled up in her lap.“Yes, Jack. It is like that. It’s always been like that. Just you and me.” She sighed and opened the book. She failed to notice a faint light hovering outside the window.
You can stalk the author here:http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/https://twitter.com/Carmen_Bookshttp://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescuhttps://plus.google.com/117216040843648957646/posts
Trailer for Till Life Do Us Part: https://youtube/UbuntlWISc0
And here are Carmen's romantic ideas. Awesome!
Here are some #romantic ideas to rekindle the spark : Learn a romantic foreign language.Take an intro-class together for a language that neither of you speak - French, Italian, Spanish or Romanian simply sound romantic - and practice whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears, in that new language! Cuddle up together in a horse-drawn carriage ride.You’ll probably feel like you are in a romantic comedy, and that’s a good thing. Read each other’s Tarot Cards.Take turns reading each other’s fortunes using Tarot Cards. Even if you don’t believe in divination, it will make for one fun evening spent together. Go on a ghost tour together. Find the nearest ghost tour in your city and head out on the adventure together. At least you’ll have someone’s hand to hold onto should things start to get a little spooky. Feed each other fondue at home.It really doesn’t get sexier than feeding each other chocolate dipped strawberries.
July 11, 2016
Carmen Stefanescu
Carmen Stefanescu is my guest today in the summer blog exchange, sharing romantic ideas. First, here is info about Carmen's latest release.
[image error]
Till Life Do Us Part
Publisher: Solstice Publishing Genre: Paranormal Romance Mystery, Suspense, Reincarnation.Release date: 9th June 2016
BlurbBarbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.
[image error]
Author BioCarmen Stefanescuresides in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of communist oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. Her first novel, Shadows of the Past , was released in 2012 by Wild Child Publishing, USA. Carmen joined the volunteer staff at Marketing For Romance Writers Author blog, and is the coordinator of #Thursday13 posts.
Excerpt 2Patrick poured the bubbly liquid into the glasses. He offered one to Barbara and raised his.“To the undercover, paranormal investigator, Barbara.” He smiled and touched his glass to hers, looking straight into her eyes.“To you, too, Patrick, Detective Fischer. If it hadn’t been for your determination to find out the truth, many families wouldn’t have had the small consolation to see their relatives’ murderers behind bars.” She took a sip of the champagne.“There’s something else I’d like to tell you, Patrick said. He cleared his throat and took one of her hands in his. “It’s something that I wanted to tell you... to ask you for a while, but it never seemed the right moment.”She heard the tremor in his voice and was sure what was to come. Yet, she didn’t want to make it easier for him. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the touch of his hands. He was in love with her as she was with him.“So, as I was saying... I want to ask you if—”The telephone rang again, cutting like a steel blade through the thick emotional atmosphere surrounding them.“Oh, not again.” Barbara rolled her eyes upward and headed to the bloody thing. She picked up the receiver and said in a voice that sounded a bit irritated, “Yes. What? Who? Yes, one moment, please.” She turned to Patrick, “It’s for you. An emergency, it seems.”Patrick grabbed the phone, “Yes, Fisher here. What? When? I’m on my way,” he said and put down the receiver.“I’m sorry, Barbara. There’s an emergency, indeed. Bruce has been injured. He’s in the hospital right now.”“Oh, goodness. Is it bad?”“I’ve no idea. They didn’t say. I’m going there. Sorry I spoiled the evening.”“No need for apology, Patrick,” Barbara replied hiding her disappointment. “Duty comes first in your job, I know.”“I’ll call you. Soon. There was something important I wanted to tell... to ask you. Goodnight, Barbara,” he said and kissed her hand affectionately. He hurried outside.Barbara stood in the middle of the room. It looked empty and cold without him. She took the bottle of champagne, pushed the cork back into it, then went to the kitchen and put it in the fridge.Moments later, she returned to the living room. With a reflexive gesture she picked up the packet of cigarettes Patrick had forgotten on the table. She weighed them in her hand for a moment and smiling, opened a drawer of the bookshelf and placed the cigarettes inside. She took her book from the bookshelf and sat on the couch, enveloped by the faint smell of aftershave left behind by Patrick. Jack stretched, then came to Barbara and curled up in her lap.“Yes, Jack. It is like that. It’s always been like that. Just you and me.” She sighed and opened the book. She failed to notice a faint light hovering outside the window.
You can stalk the author here:http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/https://twitter.com/Carmen_Bookshttp://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescuhttps://plus.google.com/117216040843648957646/posts
Trailer for Till Life Do Us Part: https://youtube/UbuntlWISc0
And here are Carmen's romantic ideas. Awesome!
Here are some #romantic ideas to rekindle the spark : Learn a romantic foreign language.Take an intro-class together for a language that neither of you speak - French, Italian, Spanish or Romanian simply sound romantic - and practice whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears, in that new language! Cuddle up together in a horse-drawn carriage ride.You’ll probably feel like you are in a romantic comedy, and that’s a good thing. Read each other’s Tarot Cards.Take turns reading each other’s fortunes using Tarot Cards. Even if you don’t believe in divination, it will make for one fun evening spent together. Go on a ghost tour together. Find the nearest ghost tour in your city and head out on the adventure together. At least you’ll have someone’s hand to hold onto should things start to get a little spooky. Feed each other fondue at home.It really doesn’t get sexier than feeding each other chocolate dipped strawberries.
[image error]
Till Life Do Us Part
Publisher: Solstice Publishing Genre: Paranormal Romance Mystery, Suspense, Reincarnation.Release date: 9th June 2016
BlurbBarbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.
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Author BioCarmen Stefanescuresides in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of communist oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. Her first novel, Shadows of the Past , was released in 2012 by Wild Child Publishing, USA. Carmen joined the volunteer staff at Marketing For Romance Writers Author blog, and is the coordinator of #Thursday13 posts.
Excerpt 2Patrick poured the bubbly liquid into the glasses. He offered one to Barbara and raised his.“To the undercover, paranormal investigator, Barbara.” He smiled and touched his glass to hers, looking straight into her eyes.“To you, too, Patrick, Detective Fischer. If it hadn’t been for your determination to find out the truth, many families wouldn’t have had the small consolation to see their relatives’ murderers behind bars.” She took a sip of the champagne.“There’s something else I’d like to tell you, Patrick said. He cleared his throat and took one of her hands in his. “It’s something that I wanted to tell you... to ask you for a while, but it never seemed the right moment.”She heard the tremor in his voice and was sure what was to come. Yet, she didn’t want to make it easier for him. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the touch of his hands. He was in love with her as she was with him.“So, as I was saying... I want to ask you if—”The telephone rang again, cutting like a steel blade through the thick emotional atmosphere surrounding them.“Oh, not again.” Barbara rolled her eyes upward and headed to the bloody thing. She picked up the receiver and said in a voice that sounded a bit irritated, “Yes. What? Who? Yes, one moment, please.” She turned to Patrick, “It’s for you. An emergency, it seems.”Patrick grabbed the phone, “Yes, Fisher here. What? When? I’m on my way,” he said and put down the receiver.“I’m sorry, Barbara. There’s an emergency, indeed. Bruce has been injured. He’s in the hospital right now.”“Oh, goodness. Is it bad?”“I’ve no idea. They didn’t say. I’m going there. Sorry I spoiled the evening.”“No need for apology, Patrick,” Barbara replied hiding her disappointment. “Duty comes first in your job, I know.”“I’ll call you. Soon. There was something important I wanted to tell... to ask you. Goodnight, Barbara,” he said and kissed her hand affectionately. He hurried outside.Barbara stood in the middle of the room. It looked empty and cold without him. She took the bottle of champagne, pushed the cork back into it, then went to the kitchen and put it in the fridge.Moments later, she returned to the living room. With a reflexive gesture she picked up the packet of cigarettes Patrick had forgotten on the table. She weighed them in her hand for a moment and smiling, opened a drawer of the bookshelf and placed the cigarettes inside. She took her book from the bookshelf and sat on the couch, enveloped by the faint smell of aftershave left behind by Patrick. Jack stretched, then came to Barbara and curled up in her lap.“Yes, Jack. It is like that. It’s always been like that. Just you and me.” She sighed and opened the book. She failed to notice a faint light hovering outside the window.
You can stalk the author here:http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/https://twitter.com/Carmen_Bookshttp://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescuhttps://plus.google.com/117216040843648957646/posts
Trailer for Till Life Do Us Part: https://youtube/UbuntlWISc0
And here are Carmen's romantic ideas. Awesome!
Here are some #romantic ideas to rekindle the spark : Learn a romantic foreign language.Take an intro-class together for a language that neither of you speak - French, Italian, Spanish or Romanian simply sound romantic - and practice whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears, in that new language! Cuddle up together in a horse-drawn carriage ride.You’ll probably feel like you are in a romantic comedy, and that’s a good thing. Read each other’s Tarot Cards.Take turns reading each other’s fortunes using Tarot Cards. Even if you don’t believe in divination, it will make for one fun evening spent together. Go on a ghost tour together. Find the nearest ghost tour in your city and head out on the adventure together. At least you’ll have someone’s hand to hold onto should things start to get a little spooky. Feed each other fondue at home.It really doesn’t get sexier than feeding each other chocolate dipped strawberries.
July 1, 2016
LADY OF THE TWO LANDS is a finalist
Just got the word that my time travel romance set in ancient Egypt, LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, is a finalist in the Affaire de Coeur Cover Art Contest.
I’m not surprised as the cover is *fabulous,* but I’m certainly excited.
For any of you who would feel comfortable doing so, I would sure appreciate your vote:
http://affairedecoeur.com/UniquelyYours2016.html
This is absolutely my favorite cover art and I hope you'll like it, too!
June 29, 2016
Kathleen Rowland Shares Her #RomanticIdea
DEADLY ALLIANCEby Kathleen Rowland
Kathleen Rowland is participating in the Romantic Idea blog trade this summer. Welcome, Kathleen! Here is her romantic idea, and a little info about her latest book, DEADLY ALLIANCE.
Here is Kathleen Rowland’s summertime #RomanticIdea to win any guy over: Choose an activity that gets you into his element. How about sailing or kayaking? Let him show you how it’s done! Beach the craft and pull him in close. The experience of being out and about in public makes it hard for him to wait for the trip home… to have you.
Blurb for Deadly Alliance, romantic suspense
Finbar Donahue, former Army Ranger, walked on the wild side in Iraq, but now he lives in the shadows. After his evasive partner, Les, was shot in a random drive-by, Finn discovers cash is siphoned monthly. He fights to keep his investment company afloat. When the late partner’s girlfriend, Amy Kintyre, applies for his bookkeeping job, Finn suspects she knows about his company drain and hires her.
Amy needs a nine-to-five with free evenings and weekends to get her fashion design business back on track. She unearths Les’ s secret bank account and alerts Finn. Freezing of the money laundering account sets off havoc within an Irish gang. Amy witnesses a gang fight between a brutal ISIS fundraising organization and the Irish. Desperate to escape a stalker’s crosshairs, she seeks refuge with Finn. As danger heats up, sparks fly hotter.
Interview—Finn and Amy
Let’s interview the hero of Deadly Alliance, Finbar Donahue.
1. Nickname: Finn. My full name is Finbar Michael Donahue.
2. Job: I own my own investment company, but who’s the chickenshit stealing money from me? My goal is to find the thief.
3. Level of schooling: B.A. in finance, former Army Ranger. That was when I targeted a known enemy. Believe me, it’s harder now.
I’ve got a few questions for the heroine, Amy Kintyre. 1. What’s your dream job? I want to get my sportswear design business back on track. A few days ago a buyer phoned me and gave me an opportunity to present my line. I need a nine-to-five with evenings and weekends off to sew mockups. 2. Is that why you applied for Finbar Donahue’s bookkeeping job? Yes, but I have a huge problem. Last night I found a sketchy bank account belonging to my late boyfriend, Les. He and Finn were partners.3. Would you enjoy working for Finn? No, but there aren’t many job openings in Lake Arrowhead.
Short excerpt-- Amy’s first day working for FinnHours later, Finn straightened his spine as he listened to his new bookkeeper order Rosenberg around with the authority of an Army lieutenant. She spoke with confidence from her chair and waited for answers with intensity. Somehow she came across larger than her delicate self.“Brad,” his pretty war buddy said, “I’ll need your password to access activity-to-date.” Her attitude wasn’t for show. Her curiosity propelled her to the depths of the drain. Heaven help those who lurked there.“Sure thing.” Brad blew out a breath and scribbled his password on a sticky note. Handing it to her, he bent to her level.She said, “I apologize for causing chaos.”“No apology necessary.” Brad asked, “What are you working on?”Jumping in, Finn said, “Comparisons, Rosenberg, that’s what she’s working on.” Unholy as she’d undoubtedly turn out to be, at the moment they were forged in combat. “Give her your full support.”“Absolutely. Consider me your scaffold,” Rosenberg said, accepting his fate. “Excuse me, won’t you? I’m running payroll.”Finn liked his head accountant. He was solid. Dependable. Not creative, but his easy-going manner was soothing. “Payroll. You’re a masochist.”Amy smiled, and her crystal-green gaze sought his. She found his comment amusing. Her professional attire included a gray satin blouse tucked into a herringbone skirt. When she moved, her layered, dark-blonde hair settled into a sleek flip over her shoulders. Amy’s bending and reaching, as she took control of her four-by-four cubicle, was damn compelling. She found a rhythm with a handy notepad beside her computer. Using Brad’s password, she turned sideways to open files. Attractive summed up her symmetrical profile and creamy complexion.For a long while, getting hot and heavy had not been on his mind. Her envelope gave him concrete evidence to bring to the sheriff and eased his tension. As she brushed tresses off her face, he wanted to nibble on her ear.Amy packed her lithe frame with succulent curves. He enjoyed observing her ample bust which required high-performance support. He’d like to see those globes running free. He’d never considered her as dating material. Timing was off. When she started dating Les, he was hooking up with Miss California. Now it was too late. She worked for him. Hands off. Finn liked women—lots of women, all women, in all shapes and sizes and ethnicities as long as they met the enthusiasm requirement. He hadn’t tested this, but she was off-limits for another reason. He didn’t intend to put her through another relationship leading to nowhere.Finn kept things loose. A woman in his bed but not in his life was what he often said. There hadn’t been that either. Why was she looking at him like that?
Purchase links for Deadly Alliance:
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Alliance-Kathleen-Rowland-ebook/dp/B019EE5OP8/ Nook:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadl...
Amazon US
http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Alliance...
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Bio and author links:
Bio and Links—Kathleen Rowland
Book Buyers Best finalist Kathleen Rowland is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes suspense with a sizzling love story sure to melt their hearts. Kathleen used to write computer programs but now writes novels. She grew up in Iowa where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and raced her sailboat on Lake Okoboji. Now she wears flip-flops and sails with her husband, Gerry, on Newport Harbor but wishes there were lightning bugs in California.Kathleen exists happily with her witty CPA husband, Gerry, in their 70’s poolside retreat in Southern California where she adores time spent with visiting grandchildren, dogs, one bunny, and noisy neighbors. While proud of their five children who’ve flown the coop, she appreciates the luxury of time to write while listening to demanding character voices in her head.
http://www.kathleenrowland.com/https://twitter.com/rowlandkathleenhttps://kathleenrowland.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.rowland.50http://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-Rowlan...
