Heather Kindt's Blog, page 6

The Watcher – Chapter One

In less than two weeks, the Watcher will be released to the world. You’ll get to continue Laney’s journey into the world of the Weavers. My email subscribers have already received the first three chapters. Now, I release them one at a time to you. Enjoy!

One

Cassandra raised her head intending to get up, but a shot of pain ran through her back. She winced and took a slow, deep breath to clear the fog. How long had she been unconscious? She had left the house late in the evening, not wanting to wake Natalie. 

A mother wren ascended to her nest high in the tallest elm, the babies barely audible in her ears. The sun filtered through the thick layers of leaves in the canopy above, its position told her it was about mid-afternoon, but with the impact of the passage, she may as well be measuring her unconscious state in days. She had made it to the Forbidden Woods that now looked slightly less menacing than she envisioned it. 

Something rustled the leaves a few feet away. She bolted upright. Her heart, now in her throat, beat rapidly as she scurried to her feet and glanced around for some type of weapon. The creatures that lurked in these woods were all too familiar to her. She created them. Her eyes were glued in the direction of the noise, where they settled on a pair of deep brown eyes. 

“Hey.” 

The fawn bounded across the meadow followed closely by its mother. Cassandra shook her head and dropped her arms, tossing her weapon to the side. She had to make her way toward Lark, but the village was miles away and darkness would set in long before she reached it.

Using the sun as her guide, she headed north with nothing but the clothes on her back. Her pink hoodie shielded her from the coolness that settled into the heart of the wood. Every noise in the forest made her quicken her pace despite the aches that kept her on the ground minutes before. She glanced at each tree as she hurried past, looking for any signs of the outcasts of Myrth—the worst criminals in the land. To warm her hands, she reached into her front pocket; her cellphone still nestled inside from her run earlier that day. She thumbed through her songs to settle her nerves. 

Why had she come here? How in the world could she do this to her daughter? A forty-year-old woman shouldn’t be chasing after a man in the first place. Erik was the one who’d left. He had made it clear that his responsibilities in this world came before her, or even Natalie. But why did she feel like she couldn’t live without him?

Raising her hood over her hair, she lifted one of the buds to her ear. The sound of hooves echoed through the wood. Cassandra froze. A couple of horses approached rapidly from the darkest part of the forest. She didn’t have time to hide, so she dropped her earbud and picked up a large stick lying on the ground by her feet. Two strangers rode into sight ducking beneath the low-hanging branches.

“Halt!”  The woman on the first horse grabbed her reins. 

A male rider slowed behind her; his eyes on the woman, hand on his hilt. The leader of the two was strikingly beautiful with curly, fire red hair that ran past her shoulders. Her black leather clothing clung to her body and she wore a golden cape down her back. Her violet eyes were wild with electricity that Cassandra wasn’t quite sure she could describe as human. The woman sat perfectly still, taking in Cassandra, gaze stopping for a moment on her earbuds that now dangled down the front of her sweatshirt.

“Cassandra Garcia. We’ve been looking for you.” The woman’s bright pink lips curved into a wicked smile. In one swift movement, she swung her legs to the side and dismounted the horse.

Cassandra backed away. “How do you know my name?” 

The woman walked toward her removing her black riding gloves. Her fingernails shone as bright pink as her lips. “I know a lot about you. I know that you left a daughter behind. I know that you’re in love with Erik, the King of this land. I also know…” She raised her hands and spun around, “that you created everything we see around us.” 

“Who are you?” Cassandra gripped the stick tighter, the bark cutting into her palms. Her legs shook, so she concentrated on rooting her feet into the ground so she wouldn’t fall over.

“Oh, I’ve been called many things, but you may call me the Wanderer.” The woman stepped even closer to Cassandra as the man dismounted his horse. 

He opened one of the side bags and pulled out a large knife. Ice ran through Cassandra’s veins. What would happen to Natalie without a mother or a father?

“What do you want?” Her anger bubbled up inside her with the newfound courage that the thoughts of Natalie gave her.

“To rid the book worlds of filthy Weavers like you.” The woman nodded to the man and turned back to her horse. 

The man broke Cassandra’s stick in half across his knee before he grabbed her hair and pulled her to him. 

“Natalie,” Cassandra spoke her last word as the Wanderer kicked her heels into the side of her horse and rode beneath the canopy, never looking back.

*****

Laney was never one for a sequel.

When she found a book she loved, the author always ruined it by continuing the story. Whatever happened to fairytales and living happily ever after following twenty-three pages of delightful illustrations? And yet, here she was, pen in hand, trying to find a way to begin her second book. She grasped at some floating idea while her father hosed down the sidewalk in front of their two-story home outside her window.

It was more like a home-slash-business, with their small apartment sitting on top of Holden’s Antiques, her parents’ store. Even at eight in the morning, she had the fan running on full blast trying to minimize the beads of sweat that trickled down her cheek. The entire town of Derry had been locked in a humidity spell over the last week, but her parents refused to break down and invest in a window air conditioner. With the economy in a slump, the antique store wasn’t turning out the profits her dad liked to see, and a half dozen more wrinkles graced his face as a result. Starting the sequel to her book, The Soldier, weighed heavily on her, and working full-time in the store this summer added to the tension. 

Twisting the end of her brown ponytail around her finger, she thought about her boyfriend, William. He was the soldier in her book—her soul mate, the man of her dreams, and she had created him… sort of.

Looking at the clock, she shoved the journal back into her desk drawer, slamming it closed. She ran her finger along the dark circles under her eyes as she checked herself out in the mirror. Day after day of unproductive brainstorming was really beginning to wear her down, and with school starting next week, the cycle would get even worse. She pulled a red t-shirt and a pair of jeans out of her dresser and headed for the shower, ready to wash away the sweaty stickiness of the day.

Hours later, the grandfather clock at the back of the store read quarter-past one when the bell above the door rang, alerting Laney to their first customer of the day. Her mother sat at the counter with her curly blonde hair held off her neck by a blue bandana. Fanning herself with the morning newspaper, Shelly punched numbers into a calculator. Laney’s hair was back in its usual ponytail as she dusted the banister, but sweat still covered her neck, making her morning shower a distant memory. She glanced up at the sound of the bell and her stomach clenched into a knot. A woman entered the store. She appeared much older than she had months before.

Shelly walked out from behind the counter. “How are you doing, sweetheart?” She hugged her best friend, held her by the shoulders and gazed into her eyes. The same scene had been replayed over and over the past three months. Her mother’s best friend, Amy Harrison, worked a few doors down at the diner. She stopped into the shop every day during her lunch break. Last year at school, her son committed suicide by drowning himself in a pond. 

“Stop worrying about me.” Amy didn’t smile. “I should really start paying you by the hour. Most counselors wouldn’t hold out this long with a tragic case like me.” She forced a smile. 

“I’m not your counselor. I’m your friend.” Shelly leaned across the counter and took Amy’s hand. “I’ve been through this before. It’s not the same, but I understand.” 

Laney stared at her mother, wondering if the tears that appeared late at night, when she thought no one was looking, would appear now. Shelly and Tim lost Laney’s older brother when he was just an infant from sudden heart failure.

The long banister was the perfect distractor as Laney went back to polishing. A big part of her writer’s block had to do with Amy Harrison. Although the older woman didn’t know it, Laney was the reason for her pain. Suicide wasn’t what killed her son Jason. He was murdered. 

“Hi, Laney.” Amy drew her back from her thoughts. She held a plastic bag between her hands in front of her diner apron. 

The fact that she wanted to talk made Laney nervous. Since Jason’s death, they kept it to casual hellos. 

Amy held out the plastic bag to Laney. “I think Jason would have wanted you to have this.”

“Don’t give me anything.” She kept her hands on her dust rag, refusing to take the bag. She increased her polishing intensity.

“I insist, Laney. I know you and Jason fell out of your friendship, but you used to be inseparable.” She paused. “And he let me know how he felt about you before he died.”

She bit her lip. Did Jason’s mom think the pain of the rejection from her led him to suicide? Not wanting to hurt her further, she reached out and took the bag. The jersey inside was blue, with the number twenty-four—Jason’s lacrosse uniform. She held the shirt in her hands and seeing this woman before her, Laney knew she could never tell her the truth. 

The truth about the sapphire necklace encrusted with the golden spider identifying her as a Weaver. The truth that she had the ability to bring the words she wrote to life. The truth that she had lured Jason’s murderer into this world. The thought of putting any words on paper and possibly creating another monster scared Laney more than anything else.

She opened her mouth to say something profound but could only muster a thank you. 

That night Laney lay in bed trying to think of some way to start her book in light of the guilt she felt over Jason. Her only way to reach out to William was through the story, and she needed to know that he was living and breathing between the pages. She closed her eyes, first bringing in his words…a connection that goes beyond the constrictions of time and space. William and Laney definitely had that going on. Keeping her eyes closed, she focused on him—his green eyes, the strong line of his jaw, his shoulder-length brown hair tucked neatly behind his ears and the smile that reminded her that she had to keep trying on nights like these. The nights when he seemed so far away.

She stumbled over to her desk despite the late hour. Her new notebook lay unopened next to a stack of books. When she finished The Soldier, her dad had a hand-bound journal made for her. He said it was payment for working in the store. Laney ran her finger along the engraving in the leather—a spider weaving a web. Her father said he decided on the design knowing how much she liked the pendant he gave her as a graduation present from high school. Of course, he didn’t know it would keep her from writing every time she opened its pages.

This time, she gathered the courage to face the world she created. She had to write at least a sentence. The only thing she wrote earlier in the summer on the first page was Chapter 1. She opened the notebook, drew in a deep breath, ready to take on the big empty page, but her breath caught in her throat. The contents sent her heart into overdrive. Instead of a vast field of white laid out before her, a thin script filled the page. If she didn’t know better, she would have wondered who wrote in her journal. The journal followed William’s words and actions like it did last spring when he reached out to her through the book.

The modest cottage flashed in and out of view, veiled in a constant downpour just outside of Lexington. The storm positioned directly overhead, was not the only thing keeping the occupants awake that night. A young man, intent on an unknown quest, gathered the items he needed for his journey.

“Sarah, will you please bring me two candles from the cupboard?” William placed an extra shirt in his canvas bag.

The woman brought the candles to her younger brother. Concern filled her eyes. “Jonathan Miller left a month ago to enlist in the army surrounding Boston. Perhaps, they need more men.”

“Perhaps.” William crossed the room to find a flint. He did not care to engage in this conversation. He stuffed the flint into a side pocket.

Sarah’s brother seemed distracted since his injury in the Battle of Lexington and his disinterest in the war made her uneasy. Instead of leaving him to his distractions, she pushed him further. “My good friend Mary fancies you. Maybe if you have her to come home to it will make the battle more tolerable.”

“I have no interest in Mary.” William kept his eyes on the map he laid out in front of him. He ran his finger along a road that twisted through neighboring towns.

“William. Anne is not coming back.” Sarah emphasized the importance of each of her words. Her brother built a solitary world for himself since the woman he loved left four months prior.

Laney stopped reading, marking her spot with a finger. William told her that Anne’s character was so intrinsically tied to Laney when she created her, that they were the same person. When she finished her first book, The Soldier, Anne must have disappeared because Laney was no longer present in William’s world. He didn’t know where she was, and he was blocking out his family because they didn’t understand.

“Do not say that.” William brought his fist down on the table. 

Sarah backed away. She picked up the broom to sweep the kitchen.

After giving him time to pour over his map, Sarah dared to speak. “William, I do not want to anger you. I only want to know if you plan to help your brothers in battle, or to search for a love that will never be.”

William gazed at his sister and his eyes held a longing that touched her heart.

Laney read the page over and over, knowing the meaning in his words and actions. He planned to find the Gate Keeper, the only way he knew to come out of the book and back to her—which meant she had no choice. She had to start her sequel to reach him through Anne.

His longing to find her filled her with the courage to touch her pen to the paper:

In the stillness of the moment between William and Sarah, a knock came on the door. 

She waited, her heart pounded, experimenting with their newfound communication device. As she hoped and expected, his actions appeared on the page beneath the words she wrote.

The young man’s gaze turned away from his map. Sarah jumped up, shooting a wary look at her brother. She answered the door.

The young girl stood outside; her brown hair appeared black in its saturated state. Her long dress clung to her body and her arms were crossed trying to control the shiver that she felt deep in her bones. 

“Anne!” Sarah took hold of the younger girl’s arm and brought her in from the rain. “What are you doing? Only a fool is out in these conditions.”

Laney’s hand shook so much she couldn’t keep the pen between her fingers. Following three attempts, she finally scribbled out the words William needed to hear.

 Anne did not answer; her eyes set on the other person in the room. 

William did not move, standing still as a statue, and never taking his eyes away from hers. 

Only Sarah’s words broke the trance. “Let me get you out of those clothes, or you will catch a sickness.” Sarah grabbed Anne’s arm to take her into one of the bedrooms. 

“Wait,” William spoke for the first time, crossing the room. He reached out his hand and touched Anne’s cheek, his eyes never leaving hers.

“William, I am so sorry,” she whispered. She’d caused him pain in her absence. 

Anne followed Sarah into the bedroom and removed her wet garments. She dressed in one of Sarah’s nightgowns and let the older girl brush out her hair.

After Anne was dressed, there was a knock on the door of the bedroom. Sarah opened the door for her brother but blocked his entry with her arm. “It hardly seems appropriate…” She glanced at William’s face—desperate to be with the woman he loved. She moved out into the larger room, closing the door behind her. 

Anne let her long hair fall over her shoulders. She could not find the words to express the love she felt for the man standing before her.

He moved closer as Anne stood up, taking her face into his hands. Before she could take a breath, his lips melded with hers.

When he finally gave her a chance to breathe, he whispered, “Laney.” He moved his fingers along Anne’s cheeks, wishing he were strong enough to pull the woman writing the words into his world.

Tears streamed down Anne’s cheeks. “I’m sorry I left you, William. I am going to find a way to get back to you, but I promise I won’t leave you again.”

William leaned his arm against the wall and stared down at his feet. “I need to leave you in the morning.”

“But why? We are together again.” Anne thought about his motivation. Could her love hold him from his purpose? “Please stay with me. Do not go to battle.”

William grinned. “The only reason I leave is to be with you again. I thought I made that clear to you.” He reached out and grasped her hands.

Laney closed her eyes and imagined that William really held her hands, remembering the first time he touched her by the ocean. 

Her door creaked open an inch. Laney shut her journal and shoved it into the top drawer of her desk, feeling strangely guilty.

“Come in.” She flipped open a book in front of her. Brushing away beads of sweat from her face, she glanced towards the door.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your reading.” Her dad poked his head in the doorway. His receding hairline gleamed in her bedroom lights, showing his age. 

Focusing on him, she neglected to guard her own appearance. 

“Are you all right?” He stepped further into the room.

Flushing even more, Laney grabbed a tissue from her nightstand. “Yeah. I’m at the sad part of the book.” She shifted her gaze back to her dad.

He would buy her story even though his eyes still held on to their concern. “Could you help me with the computer? I’m trying to post a picture of that ring I bought last week, but it keeps screwing up.”

“Sure. I’ll be down in a minute.” 

He hesitated as he closed the door a couple of inches, opening his mouth to say something then shutting it again. Laney took out the journal, flipping to the page where she left off.

“I am coming with you.” Anne had a tight grip on his hands.

William sighed, “The battlefield is no place for a young woman. You cannot come with me.”

“Once again, William Clarke, you forget who writes the words. I think you will find that I can be quite stubborn.” Anne sat up straight, her resolve unmoving.

William laughed, kneeling beside her. He laid his head in her lap. “I think you will find that I am more stubborn than the mule in the backyard when it comes to your safety.”

“We will discuss this in the morning, and I had better find you here,” Anne pouted. The discussion had to be drawn to a close.

The leather notebook was tucked away once again in Laney’s desk drawer with a few pens and her cellphone bill. She trusted William to wait to discuss the matter further before he left. She didn’t want him taking any risks when she could easily find a way to enter his world from her side of the page.

You can purchase The Watcher here.

The post The Watcher – Chapter One appeared first on Heather Kindt.

Have You Read The Soldier?

This past summer I wrote the rest of Laney’s short story The Soldier. You can purchase it on Amazon or get it for free right on this website. The book is a historical love story between William Clarke and Anne Lewis. Keep reading to check out an excerpt. You can read either this story or The Weaver first, but it is a perfect companion text. The second book in the Weaver Trilogy, The Watcher will be released on April 21, 2020. Let me know if you’d like to be an ARC reader.

            Susan’s uncle opened up his hay barn
for the harvest dance each year. I arrived early to help her with any last
minute decorations. Nestled in my basket was the cranberry and popcorn garland
Mother and I threaded to adorn the drink table. I wore my blue calico to the
dance, finding a ribbon in Mother’s jewelry box to match.

            “Oh, Anne!” Susan ran out of the
barn with her Shepard puppy close at her heels. “Uncle has really outdone
himself this year. He hired three fiddle players, and you must see the
decorations.” Before I could protest, she grabbed my arm and practically
dragged me into the barn.

            It was magical. As usual, oil lamps
lit up the space, and hay bales surrounded the perimeter for seating, but that
is where the similarities from other years stopped. Three fiddlers tuned their
instruments on a stage at the far end of the barn. The refreshment table was
piled high with cakes, breads, and other delicious goodies. Ropes of garland
sprinkled with dried wildflowers sashayed among the rafters and over the dance
floor giving the space and outdoor feel.

            “It’s perfect.”

            After we hung the homemade garland
from the drink table, people of all ages began to arrive. It was the night that
the school children mingled and admired the couples of the town. Someday, we
would fall in love and attend the dance with our sweethearts. For now, we were
satisfied with gorging ourselves with food and partaking in the occasional
awkward dance.

            “Mary says that William does not
have a date, but Catherine asked him to go as a couple to the dance.” Susan sat
down on a hay bale with a plate piled high with food.

            Sitting next to her, I watched the
couples dance to the fiddle music. They spun around the floor in each other’s
arms like they were drunk on the melody.

            “Why must we talk so much about this
William?” I stuck my fork into a dried plum. Even though he occupied my mind
lately, I did not want Susan to know. “There are other boys at the school.”

            Susan laughed. “Like who? John
Russell? Robert? Jonas is all right, but I think he fancies Elizabeth.”

            “You are right.” I smirked and took
a bite of the plum. Before William arrived, the only boys I was interested in
were the ones in my books.

            As if on cue, John Russell marched
up to us and held his hand out to me. He wore his father’s dress shirt that was
already covered with multiple stains from the food line. “Anne Lewis, I believe
you owe me a dance.”

            “And why is that?” I held my hand
over my heart.

            With his sandy hair and freckled
face, he did not appeal to me. But worse than that was his immature behavior,
even though he was a year my elder. “You are the prettiest girl in school.”

            “Even if that were true, John
Russell, I do not pick my dance partners based on their thoughts on my
appearance.” I kicked some hay at him with my toe. “Now go find another girl to
bother.”

            John Russell turned to Susan. “Have
I ever told you that you are the prettiest girl in school?”

            Susan almost choked on the cookie in
her mouth. “Go away before we ask Ms. Samson to dance with you.”

            His face flushed so red that I could
barely make out his freckles. One of the rumors Mary spread around school was
that John Russell had a secret relationship with our teacher.

            “Do you mind if I sit here?” William
stood behind us with a plate of food in his hand. How long had he been standing
there?

            Susan scooted over to provide a spot
between us. “No, not at all.”

            I watched him eat and talk to Susan
about the different types of dances.

            “Did you know the Virginia reel has
its roots in Scotland?” William looked between Susan and I. “I thought it was
something invented in my colony because of the name.”

            “I did not know that.” Susan hung on
his every word, apparently mesmerized by his eyes. “Being from Virginia, I
assume you are an expert—at the dance, that is.”

            “I have danced a reel or two in my
life.” He set his plate down and offered his hand to her. “Would you care to
dance?”

            She giggled and followed him to the
dance floor. I picked at my food as I watched them move among the other
dancers. Susan laughed at everything he said while he guided her like an expert
dancer through the reel. John Russell managed to get one of the newer girls to
dance with him, but I could tell she was not enjoying herself.

            Minutes later, William and Susan
returned, out of breath and flush-faced.

            Susan picked up her glass from the
hay bale. “I am going to get some more of the punch. I will be back.” She
winked at William, enraptured by his charm.

            The music changed from the
fast-paced reel to a waltz. Elegant women held out their dresses as their
husbands and suitors led them through the timeless steps.

            “Is there any chance that you would
dance with me?” William’s eyes were on the dancers, as if he might fear my
response.

            “I am not very good,” I stammered.
The barn suddenly felt as warm as an August night, so I fanned my face with my
hand.

            “Let me be the judge of that.” He
offered his own hand to me.

            We found our own space to dance on
one of the corners of the floor. William wrapped his left arm around my waist
and held up my hand with his right. The rhythm of the music guided our steps as
we twirled past Elizabeth, Mary and Susan. I kept my face down because I did
not want to see the looks of jealousy.

            “Why did you not accept Catherine’s
invitation to the dance?” The question had to be asked. Every boy wanted to
come with her. Every girl wanted to be her.

            William chuckled. “Have you had a
conversation with Catherine?” He raised his voice an octave. “Should I wear the
yellow or mauve dress to the dance? I cannot walk through the woods. I might
get my dress dirty.” He lowered his voice. “No, thank you.”

            I bit my lip, trying to suppress a
smile. Looking at Catherine’s beauty, I had never considered what she was like
on the inside. Robert followed her around like a puppy salivating over a juicy
bone.

            When the music came to an end,
William bowed and then lifted my gloved hand to his lips. “Thank you, Anne.”

            My head spun in the fantasy of what
just happened. I placed my hand against the wall as he walked away to steady
myself.

            Susan came bounding across the room
and latched onto my arm. “He asked you on the last dance of the night.”

            “And what is that supposed to mean?”
Maybe he had already depleted his dance card, and he ran out of girls to ask.

            “That he wanted to end the night
with you on his mind.” She rolled her head back. “Argh … I am so green with
envy.”

            “Nothing will come of it.” I brushed
my hair from my shoulder, keeping my eyes off my friend. “He’s two years my
elder.”

            “We shall see.” Susan took my hand
and led me down the path to town.

The post Have You Read The Soldier? appeared first on Heather Kindt.

Interview with D.L. Finn

I recently read D.L. Finn’s novel, This Second Chance and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a story of forgiveness, redemption and a little bit of the supernatural. She’s a member of the RRBC book club and a proud fellow RWISA member.

What inspired you to write your latest work? What is special about it?

Not to give away too much, but I was ready to see our world get a better deal. I also had the image of a cabin my husband and I used to rent on vacation years ago. Those two things blended into my idea for “This Last Chance.”

Which character in your books are you most like?

I would say there is a tiny piece of me in each of my main female characters.

How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Since a teen. I always loved the written word and doing written projects in school. I branched out in a creative writing class and just kept writing after that.

Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to a published piece?

A lot of times, I will wake up with an idea. I will write it down and usually have the first paragraph. Then I keep adding to it until it feels right. It’s a long process that changes as ideas come. Then I edit until I can’t look at it anymore. From there, it goes to beta readers, an editor, and formatter, while I work on some of those little details.

It’s always great when the ideas come to you like that. Do you plot out your entire story, or have the characters drive it?

I have tried to do that, but the characters always take over and go in a different direction. So now I let them.

What helps you most when it comes to writing? 

I need quiet to write novels, short stories, or nonfiction, including blogs. No distractions. Poetry I can write around distractions if they aren’t directed at me.

I have a hard time writing when my family is home. Somedays I take a day off to limit the distractions. Where do you write?

I have a small office that I hardly ever use for writing. I end up lying on my bed with my laptop or on the couch. Sometimes I will work on my main computer, but sitting a long time disagrees with me. I’m more creative in my writing places with poetry, which I will try to write anywhere, including on the back of a Harley.

Wow! A Harley! Which books have had the most impact on you? Why?

That would have to be a “Wrinkle in Time” or “The Hobbit.” Each one left a lasting impression on me as a child and brought me into wondrous worlds. Where saving a loved one or a quest to save the world showed me that anything is possible.

What’s the best piece of writing advice that someone has given you? 

To read much as you can and never stop trying to improve.

Stephen King said in the book On Writing that “if you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” Learning what others are doing with story, structure and craft is so important. Do you have a favorite review of your books?

I don’t think I have a favorite review of a book unless it was the very first one I received. Each review gives me new insight into how readers interpret my words, so I appreciate each one good or bad.

What are you working on now?

“This Last Chance” is a book I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve struggled to finish this one more than past books. It’s with beta readers now, and I hope to get it released this late spring. It’s the final book of the angel/evildwel series, or that’s my plan right now. I also have a short story collection I’m working on with a paranormal twist, a new poetry book, and a kid’s short story collection with a tree fairy theme.

What else do you like to do besides writing?

I love to be in nature, whether it is hiking or riding on the back of a Harley. The rest of the time, I enjoy spending with my family and taking lots of photographs.

Thanks for spending time with us today! We’re looking forward to reading This Last Chance.

Connect with D.L. Finn:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog

Purchase Links:

Amazon                                     

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Bio: D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, a unique autobiography, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

The post Interview with D.L. Finn appeared first on Heather Kindt.

Interview with Parliament House Author, D.M. Siciliano

D.M. Siciliano’s new book Inside, is a “gripping, page-turning novel” according to one reviewer. This ghost suspense thriller is set in a historical Massachusetts’ house which had my attention right away. It also takes place in the eighties…yes, please. On top of all that, the cover gives me nightmares.

What inspired you to write your latest work? What’s special about it?

I just finished writing and editing my latest manuscript and I’m so excited. I actually started it before I even had the idea for Inside, my debut horror novel.

It’s called Under Another Sun, and it’s an apocalyptic horror novel. I think it’s sort of special because it was my first complete idea for a manuscript. The inspiration came from a few different places. There was a TV show called The Leftovers, a movie called Take Shelter, and a book called The Age of Miracles that definitely all played some part in inspiring me. It’s funny how the brain soaks things up like a sponge then twists ideas around until they form a story.

Which character in your books are you most like? Unlike?

I’d say, and people who know me would agree, that the character so far that I’ve written who is the most like me would be Heather from Inside. Total tom-boy at twelve, a bit of a wise-ass, and never let a boy think he’s better just because he’s a boy.

Most unlike? That’s harder. I’d say either Reid from Inside for overcoming such a hard childhood and being extremely misunderstood, or Matt from Under Another Sun for similar reasons.

How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing most of my life, on and off, but never really got invested in that part of my art until I quit singing for a living. I realized I couldn’t quit art altogether, so I started writing again.

Two creative careers. That’s fantastic! Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to a published piece?

Complete madness. Ha! Usually, an idea is born with a pretty solid beginning and ending then I just have to fill in the middle. That’s when the real work starts. When I piece everything together and make a coherent, flowing story that will keep readers interested through the whole book.

Then, of course, there’s the self-edits, edits from my editors, more self-edits, etc. I don’t think the average person has any idea how much writing and rewriting and puzzle-piecing it takes to write a novel. Blood, sweat, and tears, as they say.

I totally understand that. My editor told me he wants me to know the ending before I begin the book. It comes to me as I’m writing. Do you plot out every story or let your characters drive it?

I’m definitely not a plotter. I like to let the characters develop and for things to come about organically. I think some great character surprises come from that. But I know people who plot out every move. Whatever works for you is the exact best way to write.

What helps you most when it comes to writing?

Being in a quiet, calm space. I know a lot of writers love to write in cafes, but I can’t focus unless I am alone and quiet. Occasionally I’ll play music, but for the most part, I don’t want any distractions.

I‘m with you on that! We’re similar in age and I’m not sure if it’s a personality thing or an age thing. Who or what inspired you to be a writer?

As
I mentioned earlier, I used to sing for a living. That’s just another form of
storytelling. Music was always in me, always a part of my life, thanks to my
father, who had the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard. Think Dean Martin and
Frank Sinatra blended together.

After
I stopped singing, I started reading again much more frequently. Stephen King
and Graham Joyce are easily my two favorite writers, with the relatively newer
Paul Tremblay bringing up the inspiration level quite a bit, as well.

In general, though, I have a very busy, overactive imagination, so it only makes sense to create and put it to good use.

The house from Inside?

Which book that you have read has had the most impact on you? Why?

Recently,
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. From the opening
paragraphs, it pulled me in and charmed me from the first character but
terrified me as the story moved along at a brisk pace up until its climatic,
satisfying end.

The
Silent Land by Graham Joyce and 11/22/63 by Stephen King. They both have
horror/fantasy elements, but underneath they are both gorgeous love stories.

Where do you write?

Depends on the time of year and the weather. If it’s sunny and pleasant outside, I do most of my writing on my patio. Sometimes I go to the beach and get inspired as well to change up the scenery. When I’m inside I write in my bed or any of my seats/couches in the living room. I’m not a fan of desks.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve? What does success look like for you?

Interesting questions. My big writing goal would be able to be a prolific writer, creating stories for the rest of my life. Success is relative. I’m not going to lie to you and say I don’t dream of hitting it big time and crushing New York Times bestseller status, but I’ve already been successful in my writing career. First, in finishing a complete manuscript. Second, in getting it published. Third, having so many people love my story and genuinely look forward to the next.

It’s amazing when you can find your super fans. What the best piece of writing advice that someone has given you?

When writing the first draft, turn off your inner editor. Just get it down on paper and don’t edit yourself before you can even create it. That’s how you kill creativity.

Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you liked it?

There
are a few, but one I’ll share was from another female horror author who has
since become a great mentor. April A Taylor, an award author reviewed my book
just days after another reviewer compared our work and writing styles. It was a
huge compliment, twice over.

She also really understood the deep psychological terror of Inside, and how many levels of horror were truly going on in my story.

What are you working on now?

I’m
very excited to be working on my Napa Valley horror novel. Just before
Christmas, the drive that I take every day to work finally inspired me. The way
the fog rolls in over the mountains in the winter is so hauntingly gorgeous.
For weeks I kept thinking, there’s a story there!

So I thought, what if, one morning, a woman steps into the fog and gets lost? When she finally comes out, for her it’s only been 5 minutes, but for her surprised wife, it’s been 10 years. Not only is she back, but she is un-aged. And there are some other strange things about her that make her wife question who exactly returned.

How often do you write? Do you have another job besides writing?

I write every day, even if it’s just a few notes or a little bit of editing. My other job is being a bartender, which balances out my antisocial stay-at-home writing.

Napa Valley… a job related to wine. How did I know that? What else do you like to do besides writing?

I still sing for the pure joy of it. I love to cook, and actually singing while cooking is absolute bliss. I also really enjoy being outside in the California sun. We have such great weather here all year long (as opposed to growing up in Massachusetts) that I love to go for walks or hikes or sometimes just soak up the rays.

Where can fans connect with you?

The
best place is to follow me on Instagram @Dmsicliano

I’m
also on Facebook with my author page at D.M. Siciliano

I’m
still trying to figure out the Twitterverse @darlenam8

And of course, fans can see what’s happening, get sneak peeks, and other cool content on my website at www.dmsiciliano.com

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Interview with Author, Jan Sikes

My interview today is with RWISA (Rave Writers International Society of Authors) author, Jan Sikes. I first met Jan through the Rave Reviews Book Club. I recently read Jan’s book Flowers and Stone. I really enjoyed it. When I found out it was based on a true story, it made me appreciated the book even more.

Thanks for being with us today, Jan. What inspired you to write your latest work?

My latest published work is three short stories that were a result of the 2019 RRBC 90-Day Alpha/Omega Beginning To End Short Story challenge. One of these stories, “Jewel,” won the grand prize! Another, “A Soldier’s Children,” won second place. Needless to say, I was blown away, thrilled and honored because I know the competition is stiff! 

Wow! That’s amazing. Congratulations on your awards. What is special about Jewel?

Jewel is special because it is inspired by a song that I first heard back in the early eighties. I listen to a lot of music and very often, a story song will strike a chord in me and I have the desire to expand on it and tell more of the story (my version), and that was the case with Jewel. 

Which character from your books are you most like?

In my four books, “Flowers and Stone,” “The Convict and the Rose,” “Home At Last,” and “Til Death Do Us Part,” I am the character Darlina Flowers. It doesn’t get more real than that. 

My First Comic Con!

Have you really experienced life if you’ve never been to a comic con? Fellow author Allison Maruska and I went to find out in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The city’s convention center hosts thousands of comic book, pop culture and cosplay fans for three days of meeting icons, mingling and listening to panels. Although I was a vendor at the event, I was able to sneak out to hear Ralph Macchio and C. Thomas Howell talk about making the movie The Outsiders. More on that later.

The first night was fairly unimpressive with the sale of one book between the two of us. We drove for six hours, unpacked, and set up in the Artist Alley. By eight o’clock we were exhausted. For day two, we were ready to go by ten in the morning. This is when the fun began. I learned the term “nice cosplay” and watched as celebrities paraded past us followed by people with huge microphones. Vloggers brought around their own crews and provided audiences with up close and personal experiences at the convention.

One thing I learned is that you have to actually pay for autographs and selfies with the celebrities. I thought that would be included with the price of admission. Who knew? Besides the two mentioned above, I saw Mark Shepperd (Supernatural), Lou Ferrigno (the original Hulk), some people from Game of Thrones (sorry, I don’t watch the show), Power Rangers, and Iron Man’s daughter (she was at a table right by us and it was fun to watch a seven-yere-old get bored).

Even Allison and I got into the dress-up, although my Weaver outfit is pretty lame.

I enjoyed the contacts we made, making new fans and getting out of town. My favorite experience was going to a panel on The Outsiders and going up front to ask the two actors a question. It was interesting getting up close and personal. The big buzz word of the convention was “Baby Yoda” and you could get pictures, crocheted dolls, stickers and even keychains of the all-to-cute Jedi. My daughter even snuck one home in her backpack.

Allison and I will be in Denver for Pop Culture Con July 3-5 and we’re super excited. Have you ever been to a comic con? Tell us about your experiences.

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Snag a 99 Cent Book Today!

I love helping out fellow authors. Parliament House Press has a deal on Summoned by Mckayla Eaton and I want to pass the savings on to you. So, click on the link and get your copy of Summoned.

Blurb:

On an empty baseball diamond in a quiet Toronto suburb, a demon has been summoned. 

Seventeen-year-old Alton is miles away, just wishing he had a tutor he didn’t outsmart or outmatch. His prayers are answered when Professor Victor Orvius makes an unexpected visit, offering to teach Alton magic without the restrictions. The only condition is that he follow Orvius’ rules and not ask too many questions. 
Alton soon discovers he’s not Orvius’ only student. Reagan is a competitive young witch with a bad attitude and talent for sarcasm. Their personalities clash, causing trouble for both on more than one occasion, until they realize a greater threat than being one-upped. 

The demon threatens not only their chances at passing their magic finals—it threatens their lives. If Alton and Reagan can’t learn to get along, they could be facing their deaths…or an eternity together, trapped in another realm.

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Interview with Danielle K. Roux

Danielle K. Roux is the author of This Will Kill That a YA dystopian novel published through the Parliament House Press and has another amazing cover! In my interview with her today, she talks about her latest project, her writing process and what’s in the works.

District City is full of monsters. Not the kind that appear particularly vile from the outside. The kind who murder innocent people for no apparent reason. Abandoned houses are haunted by wayward spirits. Leaders of rival Colors clash over the secrets of a brutal past.

After the Plague thinned out the population, Rin Morana figured people would have stopped killing each other. No such luck. Her parents disappeared, and now she is set to take over as the new Lady Morana, head of the Green faction. To be a leader, Rin must contend with her relationship to her rival, Lady Amaya, as well as her own history of violence.

A series of riddles take Amaya Verity out of her isolated room in the Blue compound and into the hidden spaces of the City. Running away from captivity, Amaya takes shelter with Rin at the old Sydis house. There she meets two young men with demons of their own to contend with and abilities to match. Alan who is hiding out from his abusive ex, and Kazuki who might be the only person in the City that remembers the events of the Plague.

As they dig deeper, Amaya and Rin must decide whether to fight monsters or become them.

What inspired you to write This Will Kill That?

I was interested in writing a film noir story about a dystopian city where there was a stabby girl being awesome. Then my wife had this elaborate dream about this city where aura colors were visible and people were divided by color, but had no idea what the colors meant, or why they were important. I incorporated that and created some characters to navigate this strange and treacherous space. 

It’s great when you get ideas from other people. It makes them feel like they were part of the process. Which characters in your book are you most like? Unlike?

I’m the most like Rin. I have her impulsivity and drive to try and help others, but also her lack of confidence and the way she’s prone to just blow things up when things go sour. I don’t literally blow things up, though. The character I’m the least like is Raith, he’s a bit of a lawful evil character. He believes in rules and principles, doesn’t question the system, because the system benefits him. He’s also physically larger and stronger than many of the other characters and he feels he needs to “protect” them, sometimes by doing things that actually hurt them in the end.

How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was nine or ten. I’ve always written but only recently thought that I wanted to be a writer, I think I never had the confidence in myself to put my work out there. I’d always heard such scary stories of bad reviews and rejections… but it’s really not all bad, there’s a lot of amazing people out there cheering you on, and so many writers who support each other through the tough stuff that it’s really a much better career than I thought it would be!

I see the support from other writers and fans of my work. It does make you want to keep going and to create other worlds for them to enjoy. Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to a published piece?

I usually think on an idea for a while… I daydream in scenes, play things out and map out a few things before I start drafting. Then I just start drafting and let the journey unfold… I often reread and revise as I draft. I also bounce ideas off people, to see if they would work. After that, it’s beta readers and content edits, line edits, galley edits. All the edits until I’ve got something more cohesive and polished to publish. 

Where do you do most of your writing?

Mostly on my sofa or in bed. I plan to set up a desk space in my new apartment, but I think it’s going to be more for the business of writing and less for the actual writing. I like to be comfy when I’m creating worlds.

I love the couch and my bed, too, although I do have an office with a standing desk. Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve? What does success look like for you?

My short term goal would be to finish my current projects and take on more! I think as far as fame and fortune go, being a New York Times Bestseller and getting that Netflix series would be the pinnacle of success… but also, just having people read my books and feel a connection with my work.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on more of the This Will Kill That series, a Rosemary’s Baby inspired comedy duology, and an Elizabethan space fantasy with gay space pirates, dragons, and floating castles.

Wow! Your projects sound really ambitious. A lot more for readers to look forward to. Thank you for stopping by today. Where can your fans connect with you, Danielle?

I have a website, dkroux.com, but I am most often active on Instagram @daniellekroux where I post pretty things and Twitter @dkroux where I am sometimes funny.

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The Watcher Cover Reveal

Today’s the day! As part of Parliament House Press’s Thankful for Our Readers week of cover releases, I present book two of The Weaver Trilogy. The Watcher will be released on April 21st, 2020.

Blurb:

Most protagonists are heroes confined to the pages of a book . . . most heroes are not Watchers.

When Laney sends William home to be healed by his father, she thinks she will never see him again. After all, his home is in colonial Massachusetts in the story she wrote last year. But when William’s words and actions mysteriously begin to appear on her page, she wonders if she’s lost all control over her characters and their stories.

William will fight through the war around him, again and again, to reach the woman he loves, going against her desire to keep him safe. With the Gate Keeper on William’s side of the page working for The Wanderer, a woman determined to eradicate the Weavers, he must find a way to keep head-strong Laney out of the book, even if it means working with his archenemy, Jonas Webb.

Add The Watcher to your Goodreads TBR today!

Have you read the book that started it all? Get the Weaver on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo today.

“When a book feels so real it makes you question reality, you know it’s a well crafted book.” Goodreads

“This was a real pageturner for me I read the book in one sitting. I absolutely adored the idea of a book character coming to life and how this was blended into a new adult college romance.” Goodreads

Blurb:

Most writers choose the endings to their stories . . . most writers are not Weavers.
Laney Holden is a freshman at Madison College whose life goes from normal to paranormal in a matter of seconds. When the antagonist in the book she’s writing shoves her down the stairs at the subway station, she learns she is a Weaver. Weavers bridge the narrow gap between fantasy and reality, bringing their words to life.

Laney soon meets William whom she also suspects is a character from her book—one she’s had a mad crush on since her pen hit the paper. But he’s in danger as her antagonist reveals a whole different ending planned for Laney’s book that involves killing William. Laney must use her writing to save the people closest to her by weaving the most difficult words she will ever write.

THE WEAVER is the first installment of The Weaver trilogy. It is an NA paranormal romance set in a small town on the north shore of Boston. It will leave you wanting more.

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The Crystal War Cover Reveal

This past August I attended the Decatur Book Festival outside of Atlanta to sell books with fellow Parliament House Press authors. My roommate for the festival was Tracy Auerbach, author of The Sin Soldiers (Fragments #1) and The Crystal War (Fragments #2). If you enjoy YA sci-fi and fantasy, you’ll enjoy The Sin Soldiers and its interesting characters–Kai, Finn, Charlie, Tessa, and Dex. Today is the cover reveal for the second book in the series, The Crystal War. The book releases on April 14th, 2020.

Blurb:

The line between human and monster is not as clear cut as they once thought.

In the weeks since her escape from the hell of the Eastern Fortress, things have grown more complicated for Kai. She cast her lot with her brother’s self-absorbed boyfriend, who controls the Western Army, but she’s been separated from Finn, the soldier who found a place in her heart.

Finn has defaulted to his signature move: he’s run away; afraid of himself, his new feelings for Kai, and all the terrible truths he’s learned.

Tessa is free in the world for the first time, a force to be reckoned with. She’s gone to the far west and the Dome of Artifacts to seek revenge on the system that ruined her life.

The type ‘A’ soldier who was once a friendly boy named Charlie has been restored to factory settings, a weapon for Aric to use.

The Science Council has unleashed new crystal compounds, more toxic and destructive than anything the world has seen. As Kai and her friends struggle with everything that’s been done to them, they will have to find a way to unite and prepare for the fight of their lives.

The Crystal War sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read the second book in Auerbach’s Fragments series.

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