Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "into-the-light"

I have lots of news for you, but I'll start with the most exciting! I am so happy to tell you that the BestsellerBound Short Story Anthology, which includes my short story 'Flames', shot to #1 in the Amazon kindle bestseller lists for 'short stories' and 'anthologies' yesterday when Amazon.com decided to make it available free for kindle. As many of you already know, this anthology is already free to download on Smashwords and we wanted to offer it free on Amazon as well, but Amazon has a policy whereby the author must charge at least $0.99 for any kindle book. Yesterday, however, our luck was in and Amazon listed it free for a day. In that short time we had over 5000 downloads and it entered the top 10 in the free kindle downloads chart on Amazon.com!
At BestsellerBound.com, we are very proud of this achievement. Darcia Helle, Stacy Juba, and I, created BestsellerBound.com last year as a way to raise the profile of indie authors, and this Amazon success has really shown us that with a lot of hard work and determined effort it is possible to get some recognition in the publishing world whether you are published by a large publishing company, or whether you publish in your own home using just your computer.
It's all very exciting.
We are intending to publish more volumes of the BestsellerBound Short Story Anthologies as we have attracted so many talented authors at BestsellerBound, we need a way to showcase that talent. If you're an indie/small press author and would like to contribute a story for an upcoming collection, please visit BestsellerBound.com for details on how to submit.



Now to news about my soon to be published novel, 'The Dream'.




Firstly, sorry for the delay in getting the book published, this has been due to a combination of very boring reasons, such as I now finally have a full time day job so less time to spend on editing. I have now reached the final proof stage and believe the book is ready (subject to a final read-over by me).

Some of you may be aware that my good friend and fellow author Darcia Helle has a new novel coming out in July, Into The Light'. We have decided to launch our two books together as they both have a ghostly/paranormal theme. Stay tuned for news about the launch and an exciting contest where you will be able to enter to win a copy of both books!



Finally, I have news of an award "honouring brilliance and 'reach' in the world of book marketing, sales and readership" The 2011 Farthest Reach Award.

This award is the brainchild of author Jason McIntyre (my co-author for Cutting The Fat).

I would encourage you all to vote in the award. Nominations are now open, so if you know of an author, publisher, marketing professional, who has excelled in the field of book promotion, fill in the form on Jason's website and tell the world about them. I like the idea of this award because as authors (especially indie authors) we rely on word of mouth for book sales, and are eternally grateful to people who go out of their way to promote and help with marketing.

My excitement for my book launch today has been doubled because I am launching on the same day as my good friend and fellow author, Darcia Helle.

For those of you who might be new to my blog, I'll explain a bit about how I connected with Darcia.
Last summer I was invited by Darcia to join BestsellerBound.com as a resident author. Up until that time I didn't really know Darcia, except that I was a friend through Goodreads and maybe some other networking sites. I was very impressed by her website and blog so I agreed to join her and Stacy Juba in launching BestsellerBound. That message board is now very popular with independent/small press authors and readers. If you haven't already been there to have a look, please do join us. We love meeting new authors and readers.

A few months ago I found out that Darcia was busy writing her new novel, 'Into The Light'. As I was planning to release my new novel, 'The Dream', it made sense to launch the books together, especially as they are both books that feature ghosts!

More about the books:

The Dream:



Blurb: Lynne cannot shake her feelings of dread; her dreams tell her she is making a terrible mistake, she must not marry Adam. But, how can she believe the dream? Lynne and Adam have shared their lives for three years now. She is certain she loves him. It is not that love, which her dream warns against. It doesn't matter that she loves this man she will soon marry. If she marries him, the voice in her dream says her soul mate will die. Her true love will perish. Soon, Lynne's world is transformed and becomes almost unrecognisable, except for the déjà vu. Time doesn't seem to mean much anymore, and things are not quite as they seem. As her world spins out of control, Lynne must sort out what's real and what isn't to fulfill her destiny.

Link to the book trailer: The Dream - Book Trailer

Where you can read a sample: Goodreads

Where you can buy it! Lulu.com for the paperback version. Save 30%!

The paperback version will also soon be available on Amazon and B&N and other such sites. You can also order it from any bookstore or library quoting the ISBN: 978-0-9564101-5-3

Ebook!
Amazon Kindle
Journal-Store
Smashwords.com Where you can download in any format to suit your ereader.

Into The Light:



The blurb:
Max Paddington refuses to go into the light until he finds his killer. This presents a dilemma, since Max is even less competent as a spirit than he was as a live person. No one sees or hears him and he can't manage to get anywhere or do anything on his own.

Joe Cavelli is a private investigator, living an ordinary life. Then one day he walks across a parking lot, gets yelled at by a ghost, and his life only gets stranger from there.

Max and Joe team up to find Max's killer. In the process, they form an unlikely friendship and change each other's lives in ways they never expected.

Link to the book trailer: Into The Light - book Trailer

Where you can read a sample: Darcia's Blog

Where you can buy it! On Darcia's website (print copy pay via paypal): The Book will also soon be available on Amazon and other good book stores. You can order it from any bookstore or library quoting ISBN: 978-1463640200

Ebook version on
Amazon Kindle
Smashwords

Contest!

Darcia Helle is currently hosting a giveaway where you can enter to win a print copy of both our books! It runs until Wednesday 20th July, so be quick, this is a 48hr giveaway! Here's the link to the contest: Giveaway!

Enjoy the books!

I am pleased to welcome back to my blog my good friend and fellow author Darcia Helle.

Earlier this week, Darcia and I launched our new novels, her book, Into The Light, is all about a ghost, Max, who refuses to rest until his killer is brought to justice. I was very lucky to be able to read an advance copy of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Max's adventure. At the moment, Darcia is holding a giveaway here on Goodreads. If you go to the book's page you'll find details as to how you can enter to win a print copy (limited to US and Canada).

She has also very generously offered to give away two ebook copies to readers of my blog. All you have to do to enter is 'like' or comment on this blog post. A winner will be picked at random on 31st July 2011.

The interview:

I think I read on one of your blog posts that when you started writing Into The Light, your intention was to kill of Max, who ended up being the main character, in the first chapter of the book, is that right? Tell us a bit about how you decided to keep him in as the main character.

I always intended for Max to die right away and for his character be a ghost. But Joe Cavelli, the private investigator, was supposed to be the main character. Max was to be a sort of comic sidekick, who interfered as Joe tried to solve his murder.

I don't write outlines first or do any real planning. The idea marinates in my mind for a bit and the characters come to life. Then I start writing. The characters typically have a lot more control of the story than I do. With Max, that control was magnified to the extreme. By the time I finished writing the first chapter, I knew that his character needed to be center stage. He'd have it no other way. He also wasn't leading me down my normal suspense road. At first, I tried steering the story in one direction and he'd immediately dig his heels in the ground and say, "No, this way." Max's story wasn't all about the mystery and suspense. His story was something altogether different and I'm happy that I followed his lead.

Into the Light, in my opinion is a bit like a romantic comedy, but there is also a much deeper side to the tale. I think behind the fun, and the excellent mystery, there is a lot in the book to make the reader think about the way they are living their life, and how it can effect other people's lives and ultimately their own fate. When you set out to write the book did you mean to examine how our behaviour effects others or was that something that developed while you wrote the book?

I'm not completely sure what I meant to write but I know it's not at all what I wound up with. When Max emerged as the main character, I found myself exploring issues outside of the mystery of his murder. In coming to terms with his death, Max had to confront his regrets and admit his own culpability in allowing circumstances to shape his life. Max, like many people, held a lot of resentment about the way his life turned out. Blame is an easy thing to place but, when looked at with honesty, not as easy to maintain.

In the book, I hope I'm not giving too much away by saying that Max meets quite a few people from the past who have touched his life in some way. There was an underlying theme, I feel, revolving around the regrets we can sometimes carry with us. If you could meet someone from your past for a day, who would that be and why?

Wow, this is a question that I could ponder for weeks! I've tried to come up with a lighthearted answer but I'm striving for honesty here. I would go back to meet the eye doctor my mother took me to when I was about eight years old. An odd choice, right? I'll briefly explain. I had begun having vision problems - letters moved around the page, words were slightly out of focus. And I was getting intense headaches. Making the obvious assumption that this was a vision issue, my mother took me to an eye doctor. He examined me and declared my vision perfect. Then, in front of me, he told my mother that he believed I was manifesting the symptoms. He suggested that I had a friend who wore glasses and maybe I wanted to be like her. Or, perhaps, I was looking for attention.
I was an extremely quiet, impressionable child. This man, with his few callous words, had left me feeling responsible for creating symptoms that supposedly didn't exist. He'd made me question myself in ways that no child should ever have to do. And that continued on for many years.

Naturally, my mother believed this doctor. This was 40 years ago, after all. No one questioned doctors back then. And what reason would my mother have to disbelieve him? I stopped talking about my symptoms, even as they got worse. I learned to chase the words around the page. I still do. Many years later, too late to change the course of the illness, I found out that the headaches and vision issues were early signs of Lyme disease. Now it's late-stage and chronic.
I don't blame that one doctor. There were many after him, well into my adult years, who made similarly callous remarks. But I would like that first doctor to know that his offhand comment, about a young girl he didn't know anything about, altered my life in profound ways.

Max is a ghost. You and I have discussed our own ghostly experiences in the past. Indeed, we're putting together a group here soon on Goodreads 'Supernatural Book Talk'. Max has a very interesting journey after he dies, did you do any research into theories about death and ghosts before you wrote the book, and if so how did you go about that?

I didn't do research specifically for this book. This is a topic that has long intrigued me and I've read countless related nonfiction and fiction books. I also think growing up in a haunted house has given me a slightly different perspective than the average person has! Part of Max's journey is a mixture of various things I've read and experienced. But most of it is the result of my imagination and Max's character merging into what I hope is a perfect fit.

Are you a reader of ghost stories? If so, do you have a favourite?

I do love ghost stories! I'm not so much into the 'horror' genre, where ghosts are all evil poltergeists or out to possess living people. I like the human factor, when you're able to picture that ghost as a person, understand what his/her life had been like and why he/she is lingering in the world. I also like love stories related to various psychic abilities. One of my favorite ghost stories will always be Caraliza by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick. Awesome book! I'm a big fan of Kay Hooper, who writes a series based on a special F.B.I. unit of psychics. Another of my favorites is While the Savage Sleeps by Andrew Kaufmann, which is a fast-paced suspense but also deals with a bit of psychic abilities.

Since our last interview on my blog, a lot has happened. You've been busy collecting stories for the BestsellerBound Short Story Anthologies. Tell us a bit more about what gave you the idea to publish these volumes and what are your plans for the collections?

We have some of the most amazing authors as part of our BestsellerBound group. The amount of talent in these relatively unknown authors is astounding. I wanted to give readers a sample of our talented group and hopefully introduce us all to a wider readership.

These authors are not only talented, they are truly nice people. We're all happily compiling our stories and giving them away free for readers to enjoy. Writing the words means nothing if we have no one to share them with.

Volume Two is in the works. Each volume will have ten stories. I'm awaiting the final story for the second volume. Jaleta Clegg has already designed the cover for us. I hope to have it formatted and sent out to the world by mid August. And we've started collecting stories for volume three!






As well as having many novels to your name, you have now published a few of short stories. We discussed The First Kill in your last interview. I was definitely drawn in by your latest short story, 'You can call me Ari', which appears in the BestsellerBound Anthology - Volume 1. It's an engaging read. Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind writing that fabulously imaginative but very scary story...

I have voices in my head that I can take no credit for. If I didn't write, I'd be heavily medicated in a padded cell. :)

The idea for this story came to me while I was lying on my chiropractor's table. If you've read the story, you'll know that I did not want to be having those particular thoughts at that particular time! I kept trying to brush it aside but the idea would not leave me alone. The chiropractor's table is truly a great setting for torture! By the time my adjustment was over, the idea was formed and the characters were speaking to me. I got home and immediately had to sit down and write the story.

Name one thing you like more about short stories as compared to novels.

In reading them, I like that short stories require a shorter commitment. If I've just read an in-depth novel or a detailed nonfiction book, I sometimes like to break away and read something that asks less of me as a reader. I also like the fact that short stories often leave more to the reader's imagination. In a way, they are only a glimpse into someone's window. You don't get to see what happens when the blinds are closed.

In writing them, again, I like that they require less commitment. Novels take months, if not years, to produce. I can write a short story in one afternoon. I'm a fan of instant gratification. :)

Now, name one thing that you like more about writing novels as compared to short stories.

With reading and with writing, I will always lean more heavily toward novels for the same reason: Better character development. For me, characters drive the story. I want to know what drives this person. Why did he make one choice rather than another? Character depth is difficult to achieve in a short story.

Having read a few of your books now, I have to say that I love your style. I would not usually choose crime fiction to read mainly because I have found that much of it includes gratuitous violence. You seem to have found the perfect balance between writing very violent scenes but in a way that is not likely to put off a discerning reader. Is that just an inherent skill you have or do you purposefully try to construct the violent scenes in a more digestible fashion?

I think that comes from my own reading preference. I am drawn to mystery and suspense but not for the blood and gore. As I've mentioned before, human nature fascinates me. I love placing (fictional) people in challenging situations, then stepping aside to see how they respond. Twisted minds are, for me, more intriguing than the happily married P.T.A. mom who bakes cookies every Wednesday. (Not that P.T.A. moms who bake are a bad thing!)

When I read, I don't want to be shocked by what the killer is doing with his knife. I want to be shocked by what he's thinking while he does it and what he feels afterward. I want to be even more shocked because I understand his motive. I also want to be in that moment with the victim. I don't necessarily want to read about the pain the knife inflicts. I want to experience the remorse of knowing she will never see be able to apologize to her husband or the guilt because he's done horrible things to others and now knows how his own victims felt. When I write, those are the goals I'm reaching for.

Now that you have ventured into the paranormal with 'Into The Light' do you have plans to write more supernatural stories?

I would love to, if my muse cooperates! I had a lot of fun writing Max's story. I've considered using Joe Cavelli, the private investigator in Into The Light, as an ongoing character and writing a type of series about a P.I. who hears ghosts and solves their cases. But the different ghosts would be the main characters in each book and Joe Cavelli would remain the minor character. For now, that's just a thought and might or might not ever play out.

What are you working on at the moment?

I'm currently working on digging myself out from under the pile of assorted projects and tasks I've let build up! I want to get volume two of the BestsellerBound Short Story Anthology completed. I've got some work to do on my website and assorted mundane tasks to catch up on. Once I get regrouped and clear the debris that is covering my desk, I plan to work on the third book in my Michael Sykora series.

Thank you, Darcia, as always for being a wonderful guest.

Remember, if you'd like to win an ebook version of 'Into The Light', leave a comment below, or simply click the button to 'like' the blog post!



P.S. It's a great cover, isn't it? It was designed by the multi-talented Jason McIntyre, author of Road Markers and Thalo Blue (and a whole lot more) I'd also recommend you try his books.

I have a lot of fun making trailers for my books. I've posted mine here on Goodreads, so you can have a look if you like :)
When I first heard about people making trailers for books, I thought it would never catch on, after all a book is not a movie, a book trailer can never really give you a glimpse of what is inside the book, or can it??
I have found that recently some authors have been very inventive with their book trailers, so I thought I would point out a few that have caught my eye over the past year or so.
I really do believe now that book trailers can help with promoting books. They can entertain and inform about the book content.

I haven't read all of the books that the below trailers are advertising but those that I haven't read are on my to-read list!

(I haven't figured out a way to embed the videos into my blog, so I've just added links to the YouTube pages here. Click on the titles to watch the trailer.)

Oblivious by Neil Schiller

I like this trailer because it is a bit different to the usual trailers out there. It doesn't have background music, and includes a few quotes from a few short stories in the collection.


Caraliza by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

This video really caught my eye and makes me want to read the book. It's very creepy and I love the sound effects and the way the author has set the scene for the story with the trailer.


Into The Light by Darcia Helle

I like this trailer because it's fun and reflects the humour in the book, while also giving the reader an idea as to the story line.


Musical Chairs by Jen Knox

This was one of the first book trailers I saw and I like this one because the author is actually reading the start of the book, and as it is a memoir it's nice that she appears in the trailer. This really made me want to read the book.

33 Days by Bill See

The author Bill See gives a tour of the LA music scene. The book 33 Days is a memoir about a touring band in the '80s and this video really does a great job in introducing the book to potential readers.

Breathing Into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

I like this trailer as it is original and really reminded me of the book.




I hope you'll enjoy looking at the trailers that I've picked out.

I'd be interested to hear from authors and readers about your thoughts on book trailers in general.

Do they make you want to read a book? Do you have any favourite book trailers?

As regular followers of my blog will know, I am running a series this year where each month I will recommend one of my all time favourite indie books (self-published or small press). These are books that I think are amazing and deserve to be bestsellers.

Here's the list of my picks so far:

January: The Day the Flowers Died

February: Caviar Dreams

March: Horse Latitudes





This month, I would like to recommend Into The Light by Darcia Helle






To be honest, I could have chosen any one of Darcia Helle's books as my favourite. I've read, Hit List, The Cutting Edge, Quiet Fury: An Anthology of Suspense, The First Kill and Enemies and Playmates. I thoroughly enjoyed all of those books. She is a very talented author with a talent for suspenseful writing. She also has a fabulous sense of humour that comes across in her writing.

Here's my review of 'Into The Light':

This is a wonderful story on so many levels. It contains humour, romance, and an element of mystery. It's a supernatural tale about a ghost, Max, who refuses to go `into the light' until his killer can be brought to justice.
Max, in life, was a very ordinary man, in fact he died feeling like a failure and as if his life had been in vain.
What Helle's book teaches us is that there are many things we do on a daily basis that have an effect on other people's lives, for good or bad. Max is forced to confront issues from his past when he dies, and this multi-layered story perfectly highlights the fact that we are often unaware of other people's thoughts and feelings and that makes all the difference when looking at the effects of things we do. Many readers will be able to relate to Max, and also the private investigator, Joe, who is roped in to help Max find his killer. Their relationship is an odd one, but they each learn something from the other as they both try to come to terms with their problems.
The book deals with the subjects of divorce, regret, relationships, insecurity, and miscommunication, among other things. It's a fun and often comical read, but also contains very deep thinking on human behaviour and relationships.
The underlying message appears to be that when we die we leave behind an imprint based on everything we have done, thought, and said... it's definitely food for thought.

Look out for my next selection in May!

This month a few BestsellerBound members have got together to offer some free signed print copies of their books.

Up for grabs is a copy of my novel, Second Chances, along with 7 other books:








There are 2 packages of 4 books to be won! For your chance to win one of the prize packages, follow this link: http://quietfurybooks.com/contests.html

Good luck!

It's nearly Halloween.



I've always loved a good ghost story. It might have something to do with the fact that I grew up in a haunted house. Many of my novels and stories have some elements of paranormal in them, probably for the same reason.

Open Culture posted a blog today about horror author H.P. Lovecraft's books. You can get his complete works free, either as an e-book or audiobook. Follow the link to find our more: http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/h-...

Reading that blog got me thinking about what books I could recommend as Halloween reads.

Here are a few suggestions:

Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger.



From the bestselling author of The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved absolutely everything about this book. It's definitely spooky, and there are ghosts in it. I'd say this is a more or less perfect Halloween read. It's great for those who don't really like gory books. It's also quite light-hearted in parts even though the theme is dark and disturbing.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Her-Fearful-Sym...

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Fearful-S...

Legend of the Pumpkin King by J. Michael Radcliffe.



If you like fantasy tales, J. Michael Radcliffe is a master of the genre; this is a nice little story. It's part fantasy and part horror. It will definitely get you in the mood for Halloween.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Pumpkin-...

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Pumpki...


Dying Embers, by M.R. Cosby.



This is a book of dark and strange tales with ghosts that turn up often as memories from the past. It's an ideal read to put you in the frame of mind for the spooky goings-on at Halloween. The characters will lead you down very dark and ghostly paths.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Embers-M-...

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Embers-...


The Other Room and
Falling Over by James Everington.



I couldn't decide between James Everington's two brilliant collections. These contain horror, paranormal, and all things twisted. He has some other books that are also dark and highly recommended. These stories definitely challenge our perception of reality and are just right for this spine-chilling season.

The Other Room:
Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Other-Room-Jame...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Room-Ja...

Falling Over:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Over-Ja...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Over-...

While we're on the subject of horror, you could try 13, by Julie Elizabeth Powell, if you want to be shocked and scared. This is a perfectly crafted horror story that will send shivers down your spine.





Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/13-Julie-Elizab...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Julie-Eliz...

If you want ghosts in your Halloween read, but would prefer a book that will also make you laugh, you should check out Into The Light, by Darcia Helle and Horse Latitudes, by Quentin R. Bufogle.





Into The Light is the story of a ghost who is trying to help to solve his own murder. It will definitely add an element of fun to your Halloween.

Horse Latitudes features a ghost who helps the main character make an important decision. It's a book that will definitely make you laugh out loud.

--------------------------

I've seen lots authors promoting special Halloween stories or posting on Twitter about their books that would make great Halloween reads, so below is a list I have compiled from those promotions. I haven't read any of the books listed below, but they all sound great and will be added to my never-ending TBR list!

Shadow the Ghost Dog by J T Therrien



(Children' fiction)

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Ghost-Do...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Ghost-...

Sad I Am, by Regina Puckett



Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N99F1K8/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N99F1K8/

Dark Before Dawn, by Stacy Juba



Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Before-Daw...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Before-D...

-----------------------

Talented author, Justin Bog has been posting chapters from his current work in progress since May this year, on his blog. It's a horror story called The Play (The Queen’s Idle Fancy). Having read both of Justin's published works I know this must be good. I haven't found time to read any of it yet! Seems like the ideal time of year to start. The first part is here: http://justinbog.com/new-horror-ficti... and you can follow the story on his blog.



-------------------------------

As I mentioned at the start of this post, some of my novels and stories have elements of paranormal in them. The Dream and Haunted both feature ghosts. There are also ghost stories included in my short story collections Fusion and 3.

The new novel I'm working on also features a ghost, but probably won't be released until Halloween next year!





Haunted:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Maria-S...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-Maria...

"3":
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/3-Maria-Savva-e...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-Maria-Savva...

The Dream:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Maria-Sav...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Maria-S...

Fusion:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-Maria-Sa...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fusion-Maria-...
-----------------------------------



I hope you find something from the above suggestions to help make your Halloween more spooky! Whatever you're planning, have fun and stay safe!



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I know it's only November, but it's the time of year when we think about buying gifts for friends and family.

I thought it would be nice to make a list of some books I recommend. Hopefully it'll help and save you hours of browsing and getting a headache because there are so many choices out there!!

I've read and enjoyed all the books in this list. They're my favourites.

Books make wonderful gifts. They entertain and last a lifetime.



Julie Elizabeth Powell, has written lots of books and they're all excellent, in my opinion. If you know someone who likes fantasy books, you could buy any one of Julie's books for them. Take a look at her author page on Amazon. She has written something for all tastes. http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Elizabeth...

Her books range from Children's books to Horror. Julie is one of the most imaginative writers I know. I'd recommend any one of her books as a great gift, but I've chosen Gone because it's the first one of her books I read and was one of the books that made me start reading fantasy again.



J. Michael Radcliffe, like Julie Elizabeth Powell, is also one of my favourite authors and I've read all his books and would recommend them all as great gifts. He writes fantasy, too, but the difference is that his books usually contain dragons! I love his Beyond the Veil series. You can buy it as an omnibus edition, which I think is nice as a gift, or you can buy each book in the series individually. http://www.amazon.com/J.-Michael-Radc...



Darcia Helle is a very talented author, another one of my favourites, and I have read most of her books. Every one of them is fabulous, so it's hard to choose only one as a recommendation. I'm highlighting her Michael Sykora series because it comes in a box set, which is perfect for a Christmas gift, but I could have recommended many others, especially, Into The Light and The Cutting Edge
http://www.amazon.com/Darcia-Helle/e/...



Helle Gade is a talented poet and photographer, and her books combine the two with stunning photo art and passionate poems. I must admit that before reading Helle's poems I never liked reading poetry. Helle Gade has changed the way I view poetry. Her verse expresses feelings in a way that really touches the heart. All her books are excellent. With Northern Whispers she has collected together all three of her poetry/art books. It would make a lovely Christmas gift.

http://www.amazon.com/Helle-Gade/e/B0...

I'm going to recommend a book series that I have contributed stories to, as well. I think The Mind's Eye Series is a wonderful project, and because it contains photography and stories/poems would make a great Christmas gift. It's also available in paperback and the paperbacks look great. I love them. There are two books available at the moment, which contain stories by Darcia Helle. J. Michael Radcliffe, Jason McIntyre, and myself. Book 2 also contains poetry from Helle Gade and Ben Ditmars. The photography for the series is by Martin David Porter and Helle Gade.

Perspectives: http://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Mi...

Reflections: http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Min...









Geoffrey David West's Jack Lockwood Mystery series is compulsive reading. I've read the first two books, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide and Doppelganger - I'd recommend them both. I'm currently reading and enjoying the third book in the series, Sheer Fear. An excellent choice for a Christmas gift for the Crime Fiction fan in your life.

http://www.amazon.com/Geoffrey-West/e...



Mark Rice's Metallic Dreams is the perfect present for the rock/metal fan in your life. It contains humour, fantasy, and romance. I think it's fantastic. (over 18s only).

http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Rice/e/B00...



Quentin R. Bufogle is a talented writer and this is a laugh out loud book that also has a deeper story that many will relate to. It would make be perfect gift for those who appreciate comedy and great fiction.

http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Latitudes...



Terry Tyler is a prolific writer of contemporary fiction. I've read You Wish, Round and Round, and The Other Side, as well as her collection of short stories, Nine Lives, and they're all brilliant. They are the kind of books that contain realistic characters and true-to-life situations. You Wish stands out as my favourite of hers so far; I love the humour. She has a list of books that the fiction fan in your life will love. Check out her Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Terry-Tyler/e/B...



Lisette Brodey produces great books consistently. I have read all of her books and love them all for different reasons. I'm highlighting Crooked Moon as it's my favourite, but any one of her books would make a lovely gift for someone who likes fiction with depth and meaning. Her books are also very entertaining and well written.

http://www.amazon.com/Lisette-Brodey/...

I'm going to stop there, even though there are probably loads more books I could recommend!

I hope I've given you a few ideas for Christmas gifts :)

It's nearly Halloween, so maybe you're looking for some creepy fiction to read...

Here are some suggestions. All of them have some kind of paranormal/supernatural elements to the story, and all are very entertaining.

13, by Julie Elizabeth Powell



About the book:

What is found within the depths of the human soul? Does wickedness linger, as if the Devil’s thumb is ready to pluck the strings of certain choices? And with the strumming, just how far will Evil spread?

13 is the story of random souls pitted against the tragedy of the modern world. What is their connection, if any? Nameless; are these mere humans whose weaknesses force them to commit heinous crimes, or demons under the skin, aware of their sins yet indifferent to the outcome?

Will they decipher the unknown and make it out alive?


Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/13-Julie-Eliza...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Julie-Eli...

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Signal Failure, by David Wailing




About the book:

It’s four in the morning and Emily is heading home on a London Underground train. But the Night Tube is running slow tonight – delays caused by a signal failure, as usual.

The train stops again, stuck in a tunnel between Tube stations. And then the lights go off. The motors cut out. Silence from the driver.

All the doors slide open at the same time, exposing the passengers to the tunnel.

To let them out?

Or to let something in?

Signal Failure is a 12,000-word short story set in the London Underground. It is a standalone story and also a prelude to the forthcoming novel "Under".

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Signal-Failure...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Signal-Failu...

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Just Plain Weird, by Tom Upton



About the book:

Travis MacDuff has always led an uneventful life. His greatest concern was making the high school football, until an odd girl moves in next store, a girl whose secrets threaten not only his existence but the existence of everyone on the planet.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Plain-Wei...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Plain-W...

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Into The Light, by Darcia Helle



About the book:

Max Paddington refuses to go into the light until he finds his killer. This presents a dilemma, since Max is even less competent as a spirit than he was as a live person. No one sees or hears him and he can't manage to get anywhere or do anything on his own.

Joe Cavelli is a private investigator, living an ordinary life. Then one day he walks across a parking lot, gets yelled at by a ghost, and his life only gets stranger from there.

Max and Joe team up to find Max's killer. In the process, they form an unlikely friendship and change each other's lives in ways they never expected.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Into-The-Light...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Into-The-Lig...

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Lost And Found - A Short Story From Odin's Eye, by Maria Haskins



Somewhere in the vast depths of space, a mission has gone horribly wrong. Now a woman is trapped all alone on an alien planet with nothing but her pain and her harrowing memories. At least, she thought she was alone... Lost And Found is a chilling and evocative science fiction short story from Maria Haskins' book Odin's Eye

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Sho...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Found-S...

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The Hyde Hotel, by various authors



About the book:

The Hyde Hotel Welcomes You...
The Hyde Hotel looks almost exactly as you'd expect it to: a faceless, budget hotel in a grey city you are just passing through. A hotel aimed at people travelling alone, a hotel where you know so little about your fellow guests that they could be anyone... and where, perhaps, so could you. But sometimes things are hiding in plain sight, and not everyone who stays at The Hyde gets a good night's sleep... Featuring stories about the guests and staff of The Hyde Hotel from James Everington, Simon Bestwick, Ray Cluley, Alex Davis, Cate Gardner, V H Leslie, Alison Littlewood, Amelia Mangan, S P Miskowski, Iain Rowan, Mark West and the editors.
Enjoy your stay.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Hyde-Hotel-Jam...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyde-Hotel-J...

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Mystical High, by Lisette Brodey



About the book:

In Mystekal, a small, dying town in the Southern California desert, only 75 students attend the old, sometimes creepy high school dubbed “Mystical High,” where strange things have been known to happen. Jessie Dalworth and Jinxsy Patterson are juniors and lifelong best friends. At home, Jessie deals with the pain of an absentee mother who has abandoned the family for the lure of Hollywood; Jinxsy contends with a 17th “birthday present” she never wanted or expected.

Meanwhile, at school, the unexplained activity begins to escalate when Jinxsy keeps seeing a long-haired guy in the hallway checking her out. Jessie can’t see him, but her younger brother, River, can.

Then, in English class, a stapler mysteriously flies off teacher Eve Carrow’s desk, hitting a student in the face who has just mouthed off to her. The beloved teacher is in the unenviable position of having her brute of a father as principal, so she hates sending any student to his office. As Principal Ernest Carrow begins to terrorize Eve and others more openly, something or someone unseen decides that it’s payback time.

School is getting stranger, and Jinxsy and Jessie are faced with mind-boggling changes in their home lives that complicate everything. When a string of shocking events expose explosive secrets, decades-long mysteries are finally revealed.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/MYSTICAL-HIGH-...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MYSTICAL-HIG...

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I'll finish off by mentioning a couple of my own novels that have a paranormal theme:

The Spider and Haunted






You can find more details about those and my other books/stories on my website: http://www.mariasavva.com

Enjoy Halloween!