Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 535
February 6, 2012
Character Interview from Rachel Firasek's Curse of the Phoenix Series and a Giveaway
*We file in to the offices of the Fangtastic Book Blog and take seats on the posh sofas surrounding the interior walls. Ice sits near Turner, holding his hands. Grey tugs Ari onto his lap. Osiris stalks in and takes a chair while Sadie storms to the nearest window. I sit behind Roxanne's desk and pull out a pen and paper.*
I glance around the room and notice Ice watching Osiris who is watching Sadie. "Okay, what's going on?"
Osiris frowns. "Nothing."
I'm not buying it. "You sure?"
Ice slaps her thighs. "Oh, for the gods sake, just tell her."
Sadie straightens from her faux relaxed position. I can feel the heat sizzling from her barely contained fire. "Sadie? Are you okay?"
Grey tugs Ari closer to him and presses her face into his chest. She struggles against him. "Grey, what are you doing?"
"I don't want you getting singed when hothead over there goes ape-shit on his ass."
Things were fine on the ride over here. What did I miss? "Hey, I'm not sure what's going on here. But, can we get down to business? I'm supposed to be interviewing you all."
Turner raises a light brown brow at me. "You all? I thought you were a native Texan."
I roll my eyes at him. "Ya'll. Is that better?"
He snickers and plays with a piece of Ice's hair. She leans back into him. "Be nice to her or she'll kill you. I do believe that was in one of her cuts once. Remember?" She shudders and draws Turner's arms around her. "Okay, listen. If you all aren't going to tell me what's going on, then we need to get this going. I'm going to ask a question and you are going to give me one word answers. We'll go around the room."
Favorite Color:
Osiris: "Red."
Grey: "Amber."
"Is that a color?"
Grey: *shrugs* "It's the color of Ari's eyes."
I shake my head. Boy does he have it bad.
Ari: "Green." She grins at Grey.
Ice: "Green."
Turner: "Blue."
Sadie: *silence*
I clear my throat. "Sadie?"
She flicks her hair over her shoulder. "What?"
"Favorite color?"
"What the hell kind of stupid question is that? I have a question for you. How is it that you could write that drivel?"
I blanch. "I beg your pardon?"
"You know what I mean. Why?"
She's referring to something that is discovered at the end of The Last Rising. She still hasn't come to terms with it. Now I understand the hostility. "Sadie, if you'll just give it some time, I promise things will work out."Osiris scowls and sinks lower in the chair. I've never seen him this insecure. Sadie shifts her gaze from me to him. Her anger softens, but only for a minute. "Fine. I'll wait. But, you're lucky I like you, Rachel."
"I know. Can you sit and answer my questions?"
"I'll stand."
"Fine. What's your favorite color?"
Sadie: "Gold."
Osiris inhales quickly and stands. "I'm sorry, Rachel. I know how much you were looking forward to this, but I just cant." He strides from the office and Sadie wilts.
The mood in the room sags. Great, there went my expose. "Well, does this mean we're done?"
Ice drops her head and clasps Turner's hand before standing. "I need to go check on him. He's been so alone."
Turner stands, but tugs on her arm. "You don't owe him."
"I know that, but I can't let him hurt like that. Not after what he did for us." She places a palm against Turner's face and tugs until he follows. Grey stands and places Ari on her feet. "Sorry to bail on you."
I wave him away and Ari follows. Dang, my interview was supposed to be great. This is not how I saw today ending. Sadie stops and perches her hip on Roxanne's desk. "I didn't mean to jack up your interview."
"I know, Sadie Marie. It's going to work out. I promise."
She drops her chin to her chest and picks at the frays on her jeans. "I don't see how."
"You have to trust me. I created magic for everyone else. Do you honestly think I'd leave you out?"
She raises her gaze. "I think you stole my best friend from me."
"Did I?"
We stare each other down. She grins and shakes her head. "You are a head case, Mrs. Firasek. I'll catch you later." She stops at the door. "Hey, do you think you can turn him into a toad in our book?"
"Only if you think you're going to kiss him back into a prince."
She shudders and storms out the door.
I'm alone again and have totally failed to control my characters…again. Someday I'll get a handle on them, but for now…I'll let them have their way.
*All of the characters have promised to stop back in, so please leave your questions for them. They'll either text, tweet, or email the replies. :-) *
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Rachel Firasek's Curse of the Phoenix Series
The Last Beginning
CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book 3 By Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: February 2012
ISBN: 978-1-937044-56-5
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-beginning/
Sadie's days fighting off greedy claim jumpers ended in 1856 when Osiris snatched her from her filthy room and placed her with a trio of phoenixes. After 150 years living a respectable life saving souls, she's tired of playing by the god's rules. It's time the master of manipulation learned her creed: live hard, play for keeps, and never let the enemy see you suffer.
Osiris never imagined the true queen he's spent two millennia searching for would be a half-pint redhead with a mouth that makes him blush. She needs a gentle hand to breach her defenses, but living with her and keeping his natural arrogance at a simmer proves a challenge worthy of any champion.
While Osiris teaches her the wisdom needed to rule a world with fairness, the irritating god only intensifies Sadie's belief in her creed, reinforcing the walls that keep her from happiness. If Osiris can't win her hardened heart, Sadie's ascension might threaten the world he's struggled to create.
CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book TwoTitle: The Last Awakening
(Curse of the Phoenix, #2)
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-937044-44-1
Book 3 coming January 2012!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-awakening/
Book Description:
For three hundred years, Arabella's life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she'll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.
Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.
When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it's not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.
CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book OneTitle: The Last Rising
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-28-2
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-937044-29-9
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-rising/
Book Description:
After paying two millennia's penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn't how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she'll end up back in his life for her next assignment.
Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she's the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.
About the Author:Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.
Today you'll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80's dance moves.
She's intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachelfirasek.com .
February 5, 2012
Guest Blog and Giveaway with Chris Karlsen
The 'R' Word
As a writer, one of the questions I am most often asked about is: research—the 'R' word. I'm asked how much do I do and how do I go about finding what I need to know.
Love research, hate it, or resigned to it, for many of us, it is necessary. Personally, I enjoy research. In addition to books in my personal library, I keep three-ring binders of research material for all my stories.
I start my research before I start the book. For my first book, "Heroes Live Forever," I began three months ahead and continued to do research throughout the writing of the different drafts. I found as I read, that new information sometimes led to a new scene in the story or new conflict. Part of that story is set in 14th Century England and France. The Battle of Poitiers is the setting for the prologue. Another setting was a Norman-style castle in Norfolk. I needed to know about medieval armor of the period for the battle, weapons, and also tactics. My research continued as some of this same information would be used again in the sequel, "Journey in Time," much of which is also set in 14th Century England.
One source, which I've had modest luck with, is emailing an expert. In "Heroes Live Forever," the issue of armor weight was a factor in one scene. I had the late Ewart Oakeshott's series of books on medieval armor and weaponry. He was considered an expert in this field. As luck would have it, after I wrote my scene, the History Channel ran a program on medieval armor, which stated a completely different weight, substantially different. I wanted clarification. I emailed the curator of the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London. (It was a shot in the dark. I wasn't at all confident the busy curator would respond) I received an email back the next day verifying the weight I used and clarifying why the difference. Another time, I needed to know how to drain a moat using medieval equipment and manpower. Again, it was a shot in the dark, but I emailed the Army Corps of Engineers. Not only did I receive a quick reply with two solutions but the person who responded commented on how excited their group was to solve such an unusual problem. They found it "fun."
If I know I am going to use information again and again, I will purchase books for my library. This can be expensive, I know, but for me it's more practical. I've gone back dozens of times to various books I own. As I read them or consult them, I use color sticky tabs to mark off the different sections for faster referral.
I don't bother buying books for some bit of information but search out archived articles on the topic at magazine sites like: Archaeology Magazine, Smithsonian, National Geographic, American Journal of Archaeology. Those articles I printout and keep in the binders. Since "Journey in Time," is a time-travel I wanted to include a possible theory for the opening of the time portal. For that I sought out articles from Omni, Scientific American and Nova. I also purchased two books: one written by several theoretical physicists and one written by an astrophysicist.
Because my books are set outside the United States I like to include a fair amount of information regarding the area. In my opinion, there's no point in using a foreign setting if you as a writer are not going to give the reader a real flavor of the place. I've traveled to England and France often so I could write from memory and use personal photo albums when I wrote "Heroes Live Forever" and "Journey in Time." My next book to be released in mid March is set in Turkey. Again, I have traveled there a number of times and could use my experience. What I didn't know very much of personally in spite of my travels, was flora and fauna, or sometimes little details about a region, or the ingredients in a popular dish and how to prepare it. This is especially true when I wrote the Turkish setting.
I go to the official online sites for gardens in the region open to the public as they often list the different seasonal exhibits. The same is true for zoos that feature local wildlife. A commercial guidebook, like Fodor's or Frommer's will mention both popular and not so popular local places to visit. Most libraries have guidebooks available. For cuisine, I find archived articles related to different countries in various food magazines.
Speaking of the History Channel, I found many excellent and informational DVD's from the various specialty channels are sold in their online shops. Foreign newspapers are also a good source for articles and the Op-ed sections offer some revealing insight into how the people of the country feel about local and global issues.
Yes, I am a research geek who's easily amused by a dear writer friend who tears her hair out whenever she's forced to do research.
Follow Chris on Tour
Feb 6 Tour Party GiveawayFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Feb 7 InterviewMeredith Allardwww.meredithallard.com
Feb 7 guest or promoJademystique.blogspot.com
Feb 8 reviewhttp://readingromances.wordpress.com/
Feb 10 InterviewManga Maniac Café
Feb 11 review and promohttp://sexxyladeeblogger.blogspot.com
Feb 12 Promohttp://reading-after-midnight.blogspot.com/
Feb 13 reviewAll the days of (Book Blog)http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/
Feb 15 Guest Blog and reviewLissette E. Manninghttp://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
Feb 16 review and guest blogReviews by Martha's Bookshelf
Feb 20 Guest Blog and reviewhttp://booklovershideaway.blogspot.com
Feb 22 Interviewhttp://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com
Feb 23 InterviewSarah Ballance sarahballance.wordpress.com
February 23 Guest PostLisa's World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
Feb 24 Guest BlogSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
Feb 25 Guest blog (review)Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princesshttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/
Feb 26 Guest BlogRamblings From This Chickhttp://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/
Feb 28 Guest Blog (review later)Read2Review http://read2review.com/
Feb 29 Guest blog and reviewFor The Love of Readinghttp://niinas-reading-and-reviewing.blogspot.com/
March 1 interview and promoJeanzBookReadNReview http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/
March 2 PromoCocktails and Books http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com
March 3 review and interviewCurling Up By The Fire
March 4 Guest BlogReader Girls
March 5 reviewSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
Journey in TimeBY Chris Karlsen
Blurb:
TRAPPED IN TIME
London attorney, Shakira Constantine, finally agrees to spend the day with her handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14th Century, and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron Guy Guiscard...a baron who died in the upcoming battle.
If they can't find a way to return to the 21st Century, Alex will have to sail with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the alien and terrifying medieval world.
Get it for your Kindle
About the Author:
Chris Karlsen is a retired police detective who spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. Her father was a history professor and her mother an avid reader. She grew up with a love of history and books.
She has always loved traveling and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Near East (especially Turkey and the Greek Islands), the Caribbean, and North Africa.
Born and raised in Chicago, Chris has also lived in Paris, Los Angeles, and currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four rescue dogs.
You can contact her via: Books to Go Now, P.O. Box 1283, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsenwriter
Giveaway Time!
Chris is offering 1 set of her books- Journey in Time and Heroes Live Forever to one lucky winner
The winner can choose Kindle editions, Nook editions, pdfs or signed paperbacks.
This contest is open internationally (even for print)
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Investigating the Strange and Paranormal: Guest Blog with Serena Zane
There are things in this world that can't just be explained away, happenings that occur and evil that dwells in the darkest recesses of the Earth. Have you ever wondered what causes a darkness to settle over you, that eerie feeling that something just isn't right? I know I have, and so has Detective Nikki Adams. Nikki is a homicide detective for the Boston Police Department and she quickly discovers that there may be more to the Boston nightlife than good music and the corner bar. I've always admired women who stand up for what they believe in, no matter the circumstances. Nikki is bombarded with vampires, werewolves, and a dark secret her family has kept for generations, but she is still determined to do her job and keep Boston safe from the killer that is wreaking havoc on the city. Snow Beast, the first in my new Dark Warrior series, delves into the world of the paranormal while inter-mingling my love for criminal justice. As a paranormal writer, I get to explore history, crime, and all the fascinating aspects of the unexplained. Setting the Dark Warrior series in Boston allows for a rich setting of history. My fascination with criminal justice is explored through the eyes of Nikki as she solves each case. Just to twist things around, Nikki discovers vampires are real. Detective Stephanie Wills already knows this in The Christmas Present. Her family has been hunting vampires for years. She just doesn't believe they are all bad. Stephanie's life gets turned upside down Christmas Day when she is called in to her job with the Seattle Homicide Division, and there is a body drained of blood hanging suspended from the ceiling at the downtown art gallery. Stephanie has to face her worst fears, and go vampire-hunting with her family before vampires drain the good citizens of Seattle. I live in the Northwest with my husband and son, and the area lends itself to mystery and suspense. With the sky darkened by rain clouds for most of the year, it's easy to imagine the place infested by vampires. The Christmas Present is the first in a series called The Hunter Diaries, I look forward to releasing the next book Bite Me soon. Taking these two brave women on a harrowing journey both dangerous, and full of possibilities, I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing them
Feb 6 Tour Intro Guest BlogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Feb 7 Spotlight/Book FeatureRoxanne's Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
Feb 8 PromoSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
Feb 10 Guest blog (review)http://pickedbypoison.blogspot.com/
Feb 13 Guest blog (reviews)Lissette E. Manning http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
Feb 20 review The Christmas PresentSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
February 20 - guest post –www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com
Feb 19 Promo (review later)The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com/
The Christmas Present
By Serena Zane
When you have dreams to escape your own life, you might wish for anything. It's Christmas Eve, and Detective Stephanie Wills wants nothing more than someone who will love her, in spite of her family.
As she makes her New Year's Resolution list, Stephanie sets out with good intentions that all seem to fall apart Christmas Day when she is called into work. Not wanting to, she must contact her family for help. The Christmas present hanging suspended from a beam at 5th Street Art Gallery was left by a vampire.
Book Trailer : http://youtu.be/puEuX3W8tAo
Books to go Now: http://www.bookstogonow.com/thechristmaspresent.html
Amazon Ebook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ASJQKQ
Amazon UK Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006ASJQKQ
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1036585889?ean=2940013502369
Serenazane.com: http://www.serenazane.com
All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thechristmaspresent-667496-172.html
Sweettale Books: http://sweettalebooks.com/christmasbo...
Moonlight in a Pickup TruckSerena Zane
Genre: Sweet Romance
Short Story
Introductory Price: .99
One more night…is it worth the risk to lose everything for a chance at love? Placing your heart on the line is hard to do, especially when there is doubt that the love is returned in the same way. Her best friend is leaving for the Navy and this is her last opportunity to reveal her true feeling, but will she have the courage?
Available now thru: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Bookstogonow.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00606B9PI
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/294001323874
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00606B9PI
http://www.bookstogonow.com/moonlightinapickutruck.html
Guest Blog Serena Zane
There are things in this world that can't just be explained away, happenings that occur and evil that dwells in the darkest recesses of the Earth. Have you ever wondered what causes a darkness to settle over you, that eerie feeling that something just isn't right? I know I have, and so has Detective Nikki Adams. Nikki is a homicide detective for the Boston Police Department and she quickly discovers that there may be more to the Boston nightlife than good music and the corner bar. I've always admired women who stand up for what they believe in, no matter the circumstances. Nikki is bombarded with vampires, werewolves, and a dark secret her family has kept for generations, but she is still determined to do her job and keep Boston safe from the killer that is wreaking havoc on the city. Snow Beast, the first in my new Dark Warrior series, delves into the world of the paranormal while inter-mingling my love for criminal justice. As a paranormal writer, I get to explore history, crime, and all the fascinating aspects of the unexplained. Setting the Dark Warrior series in Boston allows for a rich setting of history. My fascination with criminal justice is explored through the eyes of Nikki as she solves each case. Just to twist things around, Nikki discovers vampires are real. Detective Stephanie Wills already knows this in The Christmas Present. Her family has been hunting vampires for years. She just doesn't believe they are all bad. Stephanie's life gets turned upside down Christmas Day when she is called in to her job with the Seattle Homicide Division, and there is a body drained of blood hanging suspended from the ceiling at the downtown art gallery. Stephanie has to face her worst fears, and go vampire-hunting with her family before vampires drain the good citizens of Seattle. I live in the Northwest with my husband and son, and the area lends itself to mystery and suspense. With the sky darkened by rain clouds for most of the year, it's easy to imagine the place infested by vampires. The Christmas Present is the first in a series called The Hunter Diaries, I look forward to releasing the next book Bite Me soon. Taking these two brave women on a harrowing journey both dangerous, and full of possibilities, I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing them
Feb 6 Tour Intro Guest BlogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Feb 7 Spotlight/Book FeatureRoxanne's Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
Feb 8 PromoSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
Feb 10 Guest blog (review)http://pickedbypoison.blogspot.com/
Feb 13 Guest blog (reviews)Lissette E. Manning http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
Feb 20 review The Christmas PresentSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
February 20 - guest post –www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com
Feb 19 Promo (review later)The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com/
The Christmas Present
By Serena Zane
When you have dreams to escape your own life, you might wish for anything. It's Christmas Eve, and Detective Stephanie Wills wants nothing more than someone who will love her, in spite of her family.
As she makes her New Year's Resolution list, Stephanie sets out with good intentions that all seem to fall apart Christmas Day when she is called into work. Not wanting to, she must contact her family for help. The Christmas present hanging suspended from a beam at 5th Street Art Gallery was left by a vampire.
Book Trailer : http://youtu.be/puEuX3W8tAo
Books to go Now: http://www.bookstogonow.com/thechristmaspresent.html
Amazon Ebook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ASJQKQ
Amazon UK Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006ASJQKQ
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1036585889?ean=2940013502369
Serenazane.com: http://www.serenazane.com
All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thechristmaspresent-667496-172.html
Sweettale Books: http://sweettalebooks.com/christmasbo...
Moonlight in a Pickup TruckSerena Zane
Genre: Sweet Romance
Short Story
Introductory Price: .99
One more night…is it worth the risk to lose everything for a chance at love? Placing your heart on the line is hard to do, especially when there is doubt that the love is returned in the same way. Her best friend is leaving for the Navy and this is her last opportunity to reveal her true feeling, but will she have the courage?
Available now thru: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Bookstogonow.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00606B9PI
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/294001323874
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00606B9PI
http://www.bookstogonow.com/moonlightinapickutruck.html
A Stranger's Kiss by Roxy Burroughs Bandit Creek Books
This week's Bandit Creek Spotlight Book is:
A Stranger's Kiss
By Roxy Boroughs
BLURB:
SAM HUTCHINSON was once motivated by power and money. But after his son's murder, he alternates between losing himself in a bottle of scotch and researching James Ryan Morley, the still-at-large killer of the boy Sam never had time for in life. Broken and desperate, Sam traces Morley's roots to Bandit Creek, Montana and an addict who once sheltered him.
There, against a serene mountain backdrop, he finds the woman's resourceful daughter, AMY TESHER, and her eleven-year-old child, Renee. Lies are Amy's camouflage—her age, her name, even the identity of her child's father—all fabricated to escape the secrets of her past.
Unaware of Sam's real mission, she takes him into her boarding house. Just as Morley returns to take possession of Amy...and her daughter.
Chapter OneRenee's new playmate was strange.The first time she saw him, her heart skipped. A kid her age in the neighborhood? She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a friend.She would have preferred a girl. Like, duh. They could've drawn butterflies on their jeans, or messed around with nail polish and painted flowers on their big toes.But a boy was better than nothing. And this one made her laugh.She'd met him in the old gardening shed, which looked like a mini version of the house. In the olden days, before people had cars, it stored a horse and buggy. Renee fancied she could still smell hay. She'd climb on the rusted-out riding lawn mower and imagine it was her carriage, picturing herself in a long dress going for a ride, cracking her whip. She always made sure to lock the door of the shed behind her, so she wouldn't get caught. Because her mother had a thing about the place.But a locked door didn't stop Tommy, and that was weird. One day, while she was feeding her imaginary horse, he just appeared. Told her his name when she asked. It was only later she realized his lips never moved, that she'd somehow heard his thoughts without ever having heard his voice.That was the second strange thing.The third came right after Renee's mother called her in to help with the painting. Tommy pointed at his chest, then in the direction of the house. He smiled, showing off the coolest set of braces, and invited himself to join her. Then he headed to the door. But he didn't bother to unlock it. Just walked right through it.That's when Renee realized her new playmate was a ghost.* * * * *Amy Tesher applied the first brushstroke and shrieked.Yes, she'd purchased cheap paint but hadn't expected it to be quite so ugly — a yellowy-brown that reminded her of splotches left on the bathroom floor after one of her mother's binges.Maybe it would look better when it dried.From the top of her ladder, she scrutinized the large, front room of her late grandmother's bed and breakfast with the eye of a realist. The idea of sprucing it up on a shoestring budget for a quick sale didn't seem as easy as she'd thought five days ago, when she'd inherited the home in Bandit Creek.Nowhere, Montana, as her grandmother used to joke. The closest neighbor was an abandoned trailer.But the natural beauty of the land more than made up for that eyesore. Cradled in the Bitterroot Mountains, Bandit Creek boasted peaks that kissed the sky. And, after a few days of renos, Amy felt as if she carried the weight of those mountains on her back. Her shoulders ached too, and she'd never shied away from hard labor. Still, she loved the place, her childhood sanctuary. Even though it looked neglected and sad. Just as she'd once been.But that was in the past, now. And all because of Renee.She watched her daughter from across the room, heart kicking against her breast, battling for more space. The child, who'd entered the world unwanted, had turned into a savior.The eleven-year-old sat cross-legged on the floor, giggling to herself, while meticulously applying a strip of green painter's tape to the trim. Then she sang along with the music wailing from their portable disc player. Beyoncé telling her man to put a ring on it.Advice like that could have saved Amy years of heartache.She sighed, releasing the bad thoughts as she exhaled, and climbed down from her perch to inspect the paint on the wall. She lowered the volume on the player."What do you think, hon?"Her daughter turned, auburn pigtails doing a half-pirouette around her head, grey eyes huge. Amy had a couple of photos of herself as a girl. If she shuffled them in with the stack of pictures she had of Renee, a trained observer wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Only the dated clothes would give Amy away.Nowadays, there were more clues. Amy was taller, her hair shorter. And, of course, she looked older. Though not by much. When pressed, she credited her youthful appearance to good breeding.One of her many white lies.Renee tapped her pointed chin with her index finger as she studied the color, looking more like a pixie than a tweenie. "It's different," she announced with a grin.Amy laughed. "Very diplomatic. You'll make a fine politician one day." She checked her watch, clicking her tongue. "If I hurry, I can get to the hardware store before they close. I'll buy a lighter color to mix in with this. A couple of cans of cream or white. If nothing else, it'll stretch the paint we already have. Don't open the–""–door while you're gone," her daughter finished. "I know, I know."Poor kid. Maybe she was overprotective — escorting Renee almost everywhere and schooling her at home — but Amy knew firsthand the dangers that awaited a little girl out in the world.As she opened the front door, a chill wrapped around her, as if a blast of arctic wind had swooped in over the mountains. There, right outside her house, stood a man, arms folded across his chest as he leaned against a parked car.Watching her.Amy took a breath, willing her heart to pound a steady beat. Finding anyone on her doorstep, would have been a shock. She was a stranger here, hadn't been back to the secluded house in years. She had no friends in these parts, and now, no relatives. But this man was as out of place as any could be. Starting with the vehicle on which he was perched.If the car was his, it was much too expensive for the neighborhood, and too posh for a mountain trek. Amy wasn't an expert on makes and models but the jaguar on the hood of the black sedan told her all she needed to know. And the flashy ride didn't match the man's attire. A nice enough charcoal suit, but the rumpled fabric shied away from his gaunt frame, as if he'd slept in a larger man's clothes.A tangle of brown hair shadowed his eyes, dark stubble inked his jaw. He didn't look familiar, but over the years she'd learned to be cautious. Her mother had cultivated dangerous friends.Amy locked the door behind her, keys in her fist, the longest one poking out between her index and middle fingers. Just how her aunt in Detroit had taught her.Ready for anything.She marched down the front walk, her runners chomping at the fallen leaves in her path. As she approached, the man straightened and used his fingers to comb the hair from his eyes."Something I can do for you, sir?"Now that she was closer, Amy took a good look at her visitor, opening the mental filing cabinet of her memories and pouring over the images she kept of her mother's associates.Jag Man was six feet or so, and on the older side of thirty. Other than his cheekbones, made prominent by the thinness of his face, his most noticeable feature was a pair of hazel eyes — more green than brown — and highlighted by a pencil-thin scar that sliced through his right brow. That and the five-o'clock shadow gave him an outdoorsy ruggedness. In spite of the unkempt packaging, he was a good-looking man. One she knew she hadn't met before.But good looks didn't mean a good soul. Amy kept her keys ready in her fist."I need a place to stay." The voice came out in a low baritone — clear, melodic, and with complete confidence. The tone of a man used to getting his way.Amy wondered who'd pointed him in her direction. No one local. Her grandmother had retired from the bed and breakfast business a few years before she died. Amy may not have visited, but she'd exchanged emails almost daily with her Nan to keep up with life at the old house — her grandmother's socializing, gardening, even what she had for lunch. If only Nan had mentioned she was ailing, Amy would have been on the next plane. But her grandmother was feisty and independent to the end. She died obliged to no one, in her own bed, and surrounded by her collection of photographs and antiques, just the way she wanted it."Mrs. Turnbull runs a nice Bed and Breakfast further down the road–""Isn't this a B&B?" Now he was smiling, pouring on the charm like a salesman. Maybe he was one. At a car lot. That would explain the Jag."It used to be." Amy turned to view the wooden sign on the lawn, proclaiming as much, though the lettering had seen better days. Something else to fix. "We're closed for renovations."The man drew a wallet from his back pocket. "I can pay cash," he told her, opening it. "Three hundred a night."Amy shook her head, wondering what her grandmother would say about turning down good money. She knew what Nan had charged for a room, even one with a private bath, and it sure as hell wasn't that much.The man thumbed through the bills. "Four hundred."Did he expect caviar on his morning bagel? Strike the salesman angle. This guy definitely wasn't one. No haggling."Look, I'll give you three grand, up front, for the week. Whether I stay for the duration or not."A giddy squeak welled up in Amy's throat. That was more money than she'd ever seen at one time. Cash like that could really help fix up the old house, pay off some bills she still owed in Detroit, and buy new books and clothes for Renee. Heck, even a few things for herself. With some left over for a rainy day. But she wasn't about to shelter a man she didn't know."Sorry."He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a gold case. "Here's my business card. Call my office. Check me out."She'd already checked him out. Though on the thin side, she sensed a nice build. Maybe he'd been ill. Maybe his tailor had gone on vacation. Maybe she needed to focus on her problems and stop imagining what he looked like without that bulky suit."Go ahead. Take it."Amy snapped back to attention, warmth creeping into her cheeks. The man was still offering his card.She reached for it, her hand so close to his she could feel the heat radiating from him, the pent-up energy.Something wasn't right with this guy. She'd lived by her wits long enough to trust her instincts and they were chattering to her now like a flock of magpies in the presence of a hungry hawk.She took the card, anyway. Not that it meant much. She could print up a bunch of her own, declaring herself to be Michelle Obama, if she chose. And his office? The number could belong to his great aunt Sophie, coached to say whatever he wanted. Still, it was easier to agree. The sooner he was on his way, the sooner she could get back to work. She glanced at her watch. The hardware store, and the call, would have to wait until tomorrow."I'll phone in the morning. Have a good evening." She turned towards the house and made her way up the walk, examining the card.Sam Hutchinson. Barrister.She read the address. So Jag Man was a Calgary lawyer. At least now she knew how he got the car. But what was the guy doing here this time of year? It wasn't exactly the height of tourist season. Many of the family-run businesses were shut down for the winter."Excuse me, Miss."She stopped and looked over her shoulder. "Yes, Mr. Hutchinson?"The man's smile was designed to thaw the coldest jury during a January ice storm. "I didn't get your name."Because she hadn't given it. But what would it hurt? It wasn't her real one."Tesher. Amy Tesher.""Thanks, Ms. Tesher." The car lights flashed as he made his way around to the driver's side. "See you tomorrow."* * * * *Sam knew he'd outstayed his welcome.When the woman turned back to him, she'd stepped forward, looking like she might refuse another visit. So he'd jumped in the car and sped off.No wasn't an option for him.He parked down another dirt road under a dead tree, hoping police didn't patrol the area. His presence would be difficult to explain, impossible to justify.He reached over to the passenger seat, snapped opened the locks on his briefcase, and shuffled through the newspaper clippings.The first dated back fifteen years — articles from the old Cincinnati Post, the Atlanta Constitution, the Toronto Star, and Saskatoon's StarPhoenix.All involved children. All of them dead.Boys, mostly, but a few girls sprinkled in here and there. Fresh faces looking out at him, sadness behind their eyes, as if they'd known their fate before it happened.He came to the most recent clippings last — Calgary newspapers documenting the latest victim.Tommy.Sam caressed the boy's picture, as if he could tousle the brown locks one more time. Of course, the black and white photo didn't show the color of Tommy's hair. It didn't reveal the freckles on his nose, or the multi-colored braces he wore to straighten a crooked incisor.It didn't capture Tommy's screams, either. Or show how he suffered before his death.Sam rested his head against the high seatback and closed his eyes, waiting for the queasiness to pass. He tried to remember the last time he'd eaten. And couldn't. Not that it mattered. He had more important things to do.He pulled the lapels of his suit jacket around his neck and grabbed the scotch he'd purchased that afternoon. He ripped off the cap, keeping the bottle in its brown paper bag. No sense drawing more attention to himself.The heady scent of scotch filled his car, oaky and rich. He took a swig, gritting his teeth as the amber liquid burned its way down his gullet. Sam hated the taste. But after a few more gulps, he wouldn't notice. The scotch would have done its job.He shivered. The nights were getting cooler. At least the alcohol would keep him warm. Until he could convince Amy Tesher to open her house to him.The first step in his plan.
A Stranger's KissBy Roxy Boroughs
BLURB:
SAM HUTCHINSON was once motivated by power and money. But after his son's murder, he alternates between losing himself in a bottle of scotch and researching James Ryan Morley, the still-at-large killer of the boy Sam never had time for in life. Broken and desperate, Sam traces Morley's roots to Bandit Creek, Montana and an addict who once sheltered him.
There, against a serene mountain backdrop, he finds the woman's resourceful daughter, AMY TESHER, and her eleven-year-old child, Renee. Lies are Amy's camouflage—her age, her name, even the identity of her child's father—all fabricated to escape the secrets of her past.
Unaware of Sam's real mission, she takes him into her boarding house. Just as Morley returns to take possession of Amy...and her daughter.
Chapter OneRenee's new playmate was strange.The first time she saw him, her heart skipped. A kid her age in the neighborhood? She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a friend.She would have preferred a girl. Like, duh. They could've drawn butterflies on their jeans, or messed around with nail polish and painted flowers on their big toes.But a boy was better than nothing. And this one made her laugh.She'd met him in the old gardening shed, which looked like a mini version of the house. In the olden days, before people had cars, it stored a horse and buggy. Renee fancied she could still smell hay. She'd climb on the rusted-out riding lawn mower and imagine it was her carriage, picturing herself in a long dress going for a ride, cracking her whip. She always made sure to lock the door of the shed behind her, so she wouldn't get caught. Because her mother had a thing about the place.But a locked door didn't stop Tommy, and that was weird. One day, while she was feeding her imaginary horse, he just appeared. Told her his name when she asked. It was only later she realized his lips never moved, that she'd somehow heard his thoughts without ever having heard his voice.That was the second strange thing.The third came right after Renee's mother called her in to help with the painting. Tommy pointed at his chest, then in the direction of the house. He smiled, showing off the coolest set of braces, and invited himself to join her. Then he headed to the door. But he didn't bother to unlock it. Just walked right through it.That's when Renee realized her new playmate was a ghost.* * * * *Amy Tesher applied the first brushstroke and shrieked.Yes, she'd purchased cheap paint but hadn't expected it to be quite so ugly — a yellowy-brown that reminded her of splotches left on the bathroom floor after one of her mother's binges.Maybe it would look better when it dried.From the top of her ladder, she scrutinized the large, front room of her late grandmother's bed and breakfast with the eye of a realist. The idea of sprucing it up on a shoestring budget for a quick sale didn't seem as easy as she'd thought five days ago, when she'd inherited the home in Bandit Creek.Nowhere, Montana, as her grandmother used to joke. The closest neighbor was an abandoned trailer.But the natural beauty of the land more than made up for that eyesore. Cradled in the Bitterroot Mountains, Bandit Creek boasted peaks that kissed the sky. And, after a few days of renos, Amy felt as if she carried the weight of those mountains on her back. Her shoulders ached too, and she'd never shied away from hard labor. Still, she loved the place, her childhood sanctuary. Even though it looked neglected and sad. Just as she'd once been.But that was in the past, now. And all because of Renee.She watched her daughter from across the room, heart kicking against her breast, battling for more space. The child, who'd entered the world unwanted, had turned into a savior.The eleven-year-old sat cross-legged on the floor, giggling to herself, while meticulously applying a strip of green painter's tape to the trim. Then she sang along with the music wailing from their portable disc player. Beyoncé telling her man to put a ring on it.Advice like that could have saved Amy years of heartache.She sighed, releasing the bad thoughts as she exhaled, and climbed down from her perch to inspect the paint on the wall. She lowered the volume on the player."What do you think, hon?"Her daughter turned, auburn pigtails doing a half-pirouette around her head, grey eyes huge. Amy had a couple of photos of herself as a girl. If she shuffled them in with the stack of pictures she had of Renee, a trained observer wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Only the dated clothes would give Amy away.Nowadays, there were more clues. Amy was taller, her hair shorter. And, of course, she looked older. Though not by much. When pressed, she credited her youthful appearance to good breeding.One of her many white lies.Renee tapped her pointed chin with her index finger as she studied the color, looking more like a pixie than a tweenie. "It's different," she announced with a grin.Amy laughed. "Very diplomatic. You'll make a fine politician one day." She checked her watch, clicking her tongue. "If I hurry, I can get to the hardware store before they close. I'll buy a lighter color to mix in with this. A couple of cans of cream or white. If nothing else, it'll stretch the paint we already have. Don't open the–""–door while you're gone," her daughter finished. "I know, I know."Poor kid. Maybe she was overprotective — escorting Renee almost everywhere and schooling her at home — but Amy knew firsthand the dangers that awaited a little girl out in the world.As she opened the front door, a chill wrapped around her, as if a blast of arctic wind had swooped in over the mountains. There, right outside her house, stood a man, arms folded across his chest as he leaned against a parked car.Watching her.Amy took a breath, willing her heart to pound a steady beat. Finding anyone on her doorstep, would have been a shock. She was a stranger here, hadn't been back to the secluded house in years. She had no friends in these parts, and now, no relatives. But this man was as out of place as any could be. Starting with the vehicle on which he was perched.If the car was his, it was much too expensive for the neighborhood, and too posh for a mountain trek. Amy wasn't an expert on makes and models but the jaguar on the hood of the black sedan told her all she needed to know. And the flashy ride didn't match the man's attire. A nice enough charcoal suit, but the rumpled fabric shied away from his gaunt frame, as if he'd slept in a larger man's clothes.A tangle of brown hair shadowed his eyes, dark stubble inked his jaw. He didn't look familiar, but over the years she'd learned to be cautious. Her mother had cultivated dangerous friends.Amy locked the door behind her, keys in her fist, the longest one poking out between her index and middle fingers. Just how her aunt in Detroit had taught her.Ready for anything.She marched down the front walk, her runners chomping at the fallen leaves in her path. As she approached, the man straightened and used his fingers to comb the hair from his eyes."Something I can do for you, sir?"Now that she was closer, Amy took a good look at her visitor, opening the mental filing cabinet of her memories and pouring over the images she kept of her mother's associates.Jag Man was six feet or so, and on the older side of thirty. Other than his cheekbones, made prominent by the thinness of his face, his most noticeable feature was a pair of hazel eyes — more green than brown — and highlighted by a pencil-thin scar that sliced through his right brow. That and the five-o'clock shadow gave him an outdoorsy ruggedness. In spite of the unkempt packaging, he was a good-looking man. One she knew she hadn't met before.But good looks didn't mean a good soul. Amy kept her keys ready in her fist."I need a place to stay." The voice came out in a low baritone — clear, melodic, and with complete confidence. The tone of a man used to getting his way.Amy wondered who'd pointed him in her direction. No one local. Her grandmother had retired from the bed and breakfast business a few years before she died. Amy may not have visited, but she'd exchanged emails almost daily with her Nan to keep up with life at the old house — her grandmother's socializing, gardening, even what she had for lunch. If only Nan had mentioned she was ailing, Amy would have been on the next plane. But her grandmother was feisty and independent to the end. She died obliged to no one, in her own bed, and surrounded by her collection of photographs and antiques, just the way she wanted it."Mrs. Turnbull runs a nice Bed and Breakfast further down the road–""Isn't this a B&B?" Now he was smiling, pouring on the charm like a salesman. Maybe he was one. At a car lot. That would explain the Jag."It used to be." Amy turned to view the wooden sign on the lawn, proclaiming as much, though the lettering had seen better days. Something else to fix. "We're closed for renovations."The man drew a wallet from his back pocket. "I can pay cash," he told her, opening it. "Three hundred a night."Amy shook her head, wondering what her grandmother would say about turning down good money. She knew what Nan had charged for a room, even one with a private bath, and it sure as hell wasn't that much.The man thumbed through the bills. "Four hundred."Did he expect caviar on his morning bagel? Strike the salesman angle. This guy definitely wasn't one. No haggling."Look, I'll give you three grand, up front, for the week. Whether I stay for the duration or not."A giddy squeak welled up in Amy's throat. That was more money than she'd ever seen at one time. Cash like that could really help fix up the old house, pay off some bills she still owed in Detroit, and buy new books and clothes for Renee. Heck, even a few things for herself. With some left over for a rainy day. But she wasn't about to shelter a man she didn't know."Sorry."He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a gold case. "Here's my business card. Call my office. Check me out."She'd already checked him out. Though on the thin side, she sensed a nice build. Maybe he'd been ill. Maybe his tailor had gone on vacation. Maybe she needed to focus on her problems and stop imagining what he looked like without that bulky suit."Go ahead. Take it."Amy snapped back to attention, warmth creeping into her cheeks. The man was still offering his card.She reached for it, her hand so close to his she could feel the heat radiating from him, the pent-up energy.Something wasn't right with this guy. She'd lived by her wits long enough to trust her instincts and they were chattering to her now like a flock of magpies in the presence of a hungry hawk.She took the card, anyway. Not that it meant much. She could print up a bunch of her own, declaring herself to be Michelle Obama, if she chose. And his office? The number could belong to his great aunt Sophie, coached to say whatever he wanted. Still, it was easier to agree. The sooner he was on his way, the sooner she could get back to work. She glanced at her watch. The hardware store, and the call, would have to wait until tomorrow."I'll phone in the morning. Have a good evening." She turned towards the house and made her way up the walk, examining the card.Sam Hutchinson. Barrister.She read the address. So Jag Man was a Calgary lawyer. At least now she knew how he got the car. But what was the guy doing here this time of year? It wasn't exactly the height of tourist season. Many of the family-run businesses were shut down for the winter."Excuse me, Miss."She stopped and looked over her shoulder. "Yes, Mr. Hutchinson?"The man's smile was designed to thaw the coldest jury during a January ice storm. "I didn't get your name."Because she hadn't given it. But what would it hurt? It wasn't her real one."Tesher. Amy Tesher.""Thanks, Ms. Tesher." The car lights flashed as he made his way around to the driver's side. "See you tomorrow."* * * * *Sam knew he'd outstayed his welcome.When the woman turned back to him, she'd stepped forward, looking like she might refuse another visit. So he'd jumped in the car and sped off.No wasn't an option for him.He parked down another dirt road under a dead tree, hoping police didn't patrol the area. His presence would be difficult to explain, impossible to justify.He reached over to the passenger seat, snapped opened the locks on his briefcase, and shuffled through the newspaper clippings.The first dated back fifteen years — articles from the old Cincinnati Post, the Atlanta Constitution, the Toronto Star, and Saskatoon's StarPhoenix.All involved children. All of them dead.Boys, mostly, but a few girls sprinkled in here and there. Fresh faces looking out at him, sadness behind their eyes, as if they'd known their fate before it happened.He came to the most recent clippings last — Calgary newspapers documenting the latest victim.Tommy.Sam caressed the boy's picture, as if he could tousle the brown locks one more time. Of course, the black and white photo didn't show the color of Tommy's hair. It didn't reveal the freckles on his nose, or the multi-colored braces he wore to straighten a crooked incisor.It didn't capture Tommy's screams, either. Or show how he suffered before his death.Sam rested his head against the high seatback and closed his eyes, waiting for the queasiness to pass. He tried to remember the last time he'd eaten. And couldn't. Not that it mattered. He had more important things to do.He pulled the lapels of his suit jacket around his neck and grabbed the scotch he'd purchased that afternoon. He ripped off the cap, keeping the bottle in its brown paper bag. No sense drawing more attention to himself.The heady scent of scotch filled his car, oaky and rich. He took a swig, gritting his teeth as the amber liquid burned its way down his gullet. Sam hated the taste. But after a few more gulps, he wouldn't notice. The scotch would have done its job.He shivered. The nights were getting cooler. At least the alcohol would keep him warm. Until he could convince Amy Tesher to open her house to him.The first step in his plan.
February 4, 2012
Interview with Mark Rinker Author of Evil Ambulance
Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I was born in California, but have lived in eastern Pennsylvania most of my life. I've had some short stories published in the past, and this is my first novel. Horror and the supernatural have always held a lot of interest for me. As far back as I can remember, I've been intrigued by movies and books about monsters and serial killers.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular possession, that fascinates you so much?
The thought of being controlled by someone, or something else, is pretty terrifying. We know it as a normal, real-life occurrence; when people get older, they lose control of their bodies, everyone is aware of that unfortunate reality. The fictional, horror story parallel of that is the possession tale, in which one suddenly loses complete control over their bodies, their actions.
What inspired you to write this book?
I suppose it was an interest in possessed vehicles, a subject that doesn't get a lot of print or screen time. Stephen King nailed it with Christine, but there could certainly stand be more stories out there from this sub-sub-genre.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Evil Ambulance is about an eighteen-year-old kid named Eric who moves to a small town in Pennsylvania, to live with his uncle, Dan, while his parents finalize their divorce. Dan has recently purchased an old house which sits atop a three-mile hill overlooking the town of Riverwood; a house which is host to the decades-old presence of Victor Devlin, a homicidal ambulance driver responsible for a series of brutal murders years before. Eric soon finds himself alone, as the spirit of the ambulance driver begins to inhabit his uncle's body, and each night Devlin's ambulance appears in the driveway, eerily glowing, calling to Eric.
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
I don't have any kind of unique method, I just use names that I like. I have a harder time coming up with last names than firsts. As a little kid, all my stories had a protagonist named Jack, because I thought Jack was the most bad-ass name there was. I got one character name in Evil Ambulance—Dodger, Eric's girlfriend—from Lindy Booth's character in the movie Cry Wolf. I didn't particularly like that movie, but that name stuck out to me, and I wanted to use it for a story.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Victor Devlin, the evil ambulance driver. Some of his stuff got cut from the book, because, as usual with supernatural villains in horror stories, often the less you see of them, the more mysterious and spooky they become. But it's always fun to write about the bad guys.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I typically come up with the main character and basic story first, and the secondary characters and story outline come later. In the case of Evil Ambulance, the idea hit me unexpectedly while driving on the highway one night. In that case, the ambulance itself came first, and then my main character, and from there, the full story.
Do you write in different genres?
The majority of the short stories and novels I've started or completed are in the horror genre. I have a big interest in the supernatural, and like writing about it, but the main reason for that is just that I feel I'm better at this genre than others. Maybe that's because I haven't tried them enough, I don't know. Right now I'm working on a book that I started while between drafts of Evil Ambulance, that's, at least for the moment, called The King of Wolves. I've got about ninety percent of the first draft completed, and am looking forward to revising that one. It's a story about a guy who lost his wife and is losing his religious faith meeting a mentally disturbed young man, who takes up a friendship with him, much (he later finds) to the damage of his own mental health and well-being. It's not a horror novel, but it is dark and a little violent.
What was the last amazing book you read?
The Given Day, by Dennis Lehane. His writing is phenomenal. I never read much in the crime or detective genres until I was turned onto his books. Everything he's written so far is fantastic, with wonderful dialogue and sudden, brutal scenes of violence, I can never set the books down. The Given Day may be his best yet.
Where can readers find you on the web?
Markrrinker.blogspot.com, facebook.com/markrrinkerpa, nobleyoungadult.com, twitter @MarkRRinker
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Sure, here's a bit from the end of Chapter One: When he touched the pool, the light pulsed, and it sent a shock into his fingertip and down his hand, and he jumped back—but even as he did so, moving away from it, sure now that he'd stumbled across something bad, something he didn't want to be near, the feeling overtook him, and he enjoyed it. He reached toward it again with his index finger shaking; the green mass jumped at him and wrapped around his fingertip. Far from scared now, Dan wanted it to affect him more strongly and as it did, wanted it even more. Before he knew it, the mass had taken over his entire body, enveloping him feet to head. He wanted to scream in pain and cry out in pleasure at the same time, but no sound came from his mouth. Instead, when his jaws opened, the green, glowing liquid receded from every other part of his body and gathered together at his neck, sliding up into his mouth and down his throat.Dan Lowery lost consciousness, and when he awoke hours later, on the basement floor, he had no idea of how or why he was lying there.
Visit the other stops along Mark's tour
Jan 30 Guest BlogMama Knows Books http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com
Feb 1 review and interviewPicked by Poison http://pickedbypoison.blogspot.com
Feb 3 Interview and reviewhttp://bookbagsandcatnaps.com/
Feb 3 Guest blogMad Moose Mamahttp://www.madmoosemama.blogspot.com
Feb 4 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Feb 4 Reviewhttp://zombiegirlreveiw.blogspot.com/
Feb 5 Guest bloghttp://jademystique.blogspot.com
Evil AmbulanceBy Mark Rinker
Genre: Paranormal YA
Blurb
Eighteen-year-old Eric Donnelly moved to a small town in Pennsylvania, to live with his uncle, Dan, while his parents finalize their divorce.
Dan has recently purchased an old house which sits atop a three-mile hill overlooking the town of Riverwood; a house which is host to the decades-old presence of Victor Devlin, a homicidal ambulance driver responsible for a series of brutal murders years before.
Eric soon finds himself alone, as the spirit of the ambulance driver begins to inhabit his uncle's body, and each night Devlin's ambulance appears in the driveway, eerily glowing, calling to Eric.
Author Bio
Mark R. Rinker was born in California, but has spent most of his life in eastern Pennsylvania. His short story, "Dog Mask" was published earlier this year by Dark Gothic Resurrected magazine, and Evil Ambulance is his first novel.
Sites
http://www.markrrinker.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/markrrinkerpa
twitter @markrrinker
February 3, 2012
Guest Blog with Carrie Salo Author of The Sounding
Paranormal characters – and how they help us re-imagine the world
Guest blog by Carrie Salo
Have you ever wished that you never had to be afraid again? Have you wondered what it would be like to feel like you are always in control? Have you ever wanted to make someone regret a harsh word or nasty conduct?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then you are going to love Elise.
Elise is the main character in my recently released supernatural thriller, The Sounding. She is a highly paranormal character, and to date, my favorite character to write for.
As a writer, paranormal characters really open the world in which I'm writing. Because of their powers (and supernatural weaknesses), they can completely re-imagine normal situations and relationships. Love, for example. Life or death. So many things that in today's world have very prescriptive, normal storylines and reactions can be turned upside down and newly experienced because of paranormal characters.
While The Sounding is grounded in true history and real, millennia-old religious prophecy, it focuses on how events in our world today might bring about the early end of the world. In the middle of underground catacombs, modern omens and an assassin's mission that spans the continents, fear would be a common emotion for a character to face. But not Elise. She re-writes each situation and puts the story in an entirely different light because she has no fear. She is always aware (even if only in the background) that she will never need anyone, that there is almost nothing she physically cannot do. She can always win, or she can always escape, and therefore, she is never confined, even by the plot.
Elise can steal energy. From anyone. She simply needs to touch them – anywhere their skin is exposed – and then it begins. She calls it turning-up because the feeling reminds her of turning-up the volume on a stereo. She concentrates to make her consciousness "louder." It's as simple as focusing her thoughts, truly noticing the blood in her fingers; the way another's skin is warm against her own, and then ¬– feeling for something more. Feeling for the life just on the other side of the skin. The burning begins, the tingling, the heat. And in a few seconds (or a few minutes if you're unlucky) she can take as much of you as she wants – your strength, your feelings, even your thoughts. The energy is then hers to use. She can heal herself of even a fatal wound. She can make herself incredibly strong – running faster, jumping further, lifting more. She can use the energy to give herself telekinetic powers, moving and manipulating objects with her mind. At the beginning of the novel, she's attacked while walking home very late. But, as you've probably guessed, it's the attackers who are most surprised that night.
To be unafraid of pain or physical danger – I found Elise in the bravest and darkest parts of my imagination. I hope you'll give her the chance…to touch you.
Jan 30 Guest Blog and reviewSalacious Readswww.salaciousreads.blogspot.com
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The Sounding
By Carrie Salo
Book Description:
In the Book of Revelation, a man named John has a prophetic dream. He dreams of the final prophecies that will come to pass – and the seven archangels that guard them. Each angel waits to sound their trumpet at God's appointed time, preparing humanity to fight and win the final battle.
2,000 years later, Father Chris Mognahan is a member of the Hetairia Melchizedek, a secret society within the Catholic Church that studies Biblical omens. The society asks Chris to investigate an unusually grotesque crime – a murder on a college campus where the killer's hand literally burned off the victim's face.
While the killing seems isolated at first, the society ties the murder to the final Biblical prophecy and a terrifying omen that the order of the prophecies is about to be disrupted. The final battle is coming too soon – long before humanity is prepared to win it.
Suddenly, Chris finds himself fighting against time and hell to keep the prophecies in order and stop an early Armageddon. He is joined by a band of unlikely allies, and together they find themselves in Rome above the Vatican Necropolis – the city of the dead – where the future is revealed to them in ancient texts.
They are not alone, however; an evil as old as time itself hunts them. As they travel across continents on their mission, the demonic force follows relentlessly, waiting in every shadowed corner, and every dark place.
As Armageddon descends, Father Chris finds that his only hope lies in a young woman within the group who has a secret gift – and their belief that God Himself may have sent her to keep the final angelic trumpet from sounding out the early end of the Earth.
Available at Amazon print, Kindle and Barnes and Noble
View the book trailer: http://youtu.be/K4Pp8F3A298
Author Bio:Carrie Salo is a dark storyteller and emerging author of supernatural thrillers. Classically trained at an Ivy League university, she studied the works of master storytellers seven stories underground in the muffled heart of one of the world's largest libraries. Carrie looks to wield unrelenting suspense in her own exploration of all things (especially true things) that keep us awake at night. Her extensive travels have led her to many haunted places, including the private, underground catacombs of the Vatican. The Sounding is her debut novel.
Visit her at: www.carriesalo.com
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarrieSalo
Interview with Lisa Mondello Author of The Knight and Maggie's Baby
Please tell us about your latest release.
Well, by the time you all read this The Knight and Maggie's Baby may not be my latest release. I am releasing my Texas Hearts series, beginning with Her Heart for the Asking, the last week or January 2012. The rest of the series will follow in February 2012. As for The Knight and Maggie's Baby…
Jonah Wallace knows what it's like to grow up without love. Despite having more money than the Queen of England, his childhood was cold and stale as he grew up in boarding schools. He's dedicated his life to helping homeless and displaced children find the love and support they need by creating the Haven House Foundation, work that resulted in him being Knighted by the Queen.
Now that he's living in America, his work is going along just fine…until his grandfather gives fate a little nudge by insisting he take a wife before he can inherit.
Coffee shop owner, Maggie Bonelli, is pregnant and the baby's dad has gone AWOL. She knows too well the pain of growing up without a daddy. So when Jonah Wallace comes into her shop proposing marriage for a year, she takes him up on his offer, even if it's only for a year. Live in a mansion and give her baby a name and a daddy to call his/her own. But can they keep their perfect arraignment strictly business…or will fate's helping hand bring them love at last?
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
Character names can be difficult. To me, the name has to fit the character. Sometimes the name just pops into my head. But other times I go out looking. I use baby name books. I actually got a name off the back of a box once because I really thought it fit a character. For my book, The More I See, an "ugly duckling" story that will be released in February 2012, the heroine was quite Plain Jane and lacked confidence in herself as a woman. The very sexy and handsome cowboy hero is blind. So that created a wonderful dynamic. I made sure I gave the heroine a name that was the total opposite of how she sees herself, Alyssandra Orchid McElhannon. I've changed character names mid-way through a book before when it just didn't fit . Maggie and Jonah were always the names I was going to use for The Knight and Maggie's Baby. They just seemed to fit those characters.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Jonah Wallace is a modern British Knight. So getting British speak down was difficult. Maggie is Italian, like me so it was easy to write her. And since I wrote about an area of Boston that I once lived, it was easy to incorporate everything into the story and just work on making sure I got Jonah's character nailed.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I have to admit I fall in love with my heroes. I know that sounds odd since they don't really exist except in my mind. But I figure if I don't love them, how can the reader? One of my favorite heroes was Tom (Tag) Garrison since there were many things about him that reminded me of my husband, another Tom. Some of what Tom Garrison does in my book Fresh-Start Family is what I picture my husband would do. And I used some of my husband's Marine stories to help color his character a bit. So that was fun.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
To me a story is all about characters. I can put my characters into a tried and true plot but what makes the story unique is how the characters reveal themselves. I don't use character charts. I sometimes have a few scenes that pop into my head and I write them down. Once I have a (very) rough sketch of the story, I do character letters. I write a letter in the characters point of view and let them reveal themselves to me. The beginning few pages are all that dry stuff. You know, I grew up in Boston. I went to blah, blah, blah high school and I have 5 sisters and brothers, etc. But usually after 2 pages of writing the good stuff comes out. I learn about past loves and crushes, tragic things that happened to them in their childhood, turning points in their life that shaped them into who they are now. It helps to build conflict and gives me some great stuff to include in the story.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
One of my favorite scenes from The Knight and Maggie's Baby is when Jonah is away in England to see his grandfather, the man who forced him to marry, and Maggie is home in a big Cambridge mansion missing him. She's nearly full term in her pregnancy and can't find anything to wear that fits her so she rummages through his closet and finds one of his shirts. I just love the scene the follows. It's sweet and it still makes me laugh.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
I love researching books, but it's a dangerous thing. You can get really caught up in research. In The More I See I had to learn about cutting horses, because the hero is a cutting horse trainer. And I also had to learn all about service dogs because Alyssandra is a guide dog trainer. So that was really cool research and I was able to get help from some professionals that were great about sharing information.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as standalones?
Although The Knight and Maggie's Baby is part of the Fate with a Helping Hand series, which readers can now order as a BOX SET, it is a standalone book. The series is connecting by someone in the story pushing fate along to help the hero and heroine get together. And all 3 books are set in Massachusetts. I plan on doing more books like this in the future.
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?
Sometimes. It's usually because I'm moving in a direction I know I shouldn't go or I should cut something I've already written and I'm resisting. I usually get up from the computer and go clean the house. Doing no-mind work, like folding laundry, frees up the creative side of the brain. I usually get inspired half way through doing housework and get back to the computer. Unfortunately the housework never gets done.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
Aside from being a compulsive coffee drinker, no. I listen to music while I write, sometimes so loud it rattles the windows. (I used to manage a Boston rock band so I'm used to loud music!) I make soundtracks for my stories most of the time. They help get me into the story.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes. I write short contemporary romance, romantic suspense, inspirational romance, romantic comedy, young adult, fantasy. You name it. I don't limit myself. It makes writing fun for me.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
No. I don't like to be bored. I like writing novels and screenplays and having stories that even fit outside of the romance genre. But I would say 95% of what I do is romance of some kind.
What can readers expect next from you?
Right now I'm releasing my Texas Hearts Romance ebook series, originally published in hardback by Avalon Books. The series includes Her Heart for the Asking, His Heart for the Trusting and The More I See.
Where can readers find you on the web?
My blog is http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com, Twitter @LisaMondello and email me at LisaMondello@aol.com
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
The Knight and Maggie's Baby Excerpt:"Don't you think you're rushing things just a tad?" She lifted her hand and pinched her index finger and thumb together for emphasis.
"I'll admit my proposal is a bit abrupt," he stammered.
"A bit?"
"We've only known each other--"
"Forty-five minutes tops," she blurted out. "Are you out of your mind?"
Her tone was incredulous. And he really didn't blame Maggie if she thought he was nuts. He felt nuts. Desperate, too. But he found himself defending his proposal.
"Quite possibly. But you see, that's exactly my point. I have a bit of a time-crunch here, and it seems as though--"
Maggie folded her arms across her chest. "How silly of me. Here I thought you were sweeping me off my feet."
He shook his head with a chuckle. "I do sound mad, don't I?"
"Recognition is the first step toward recovery."
Something rumbled up from deep inside him. Jonah laughed at himself, this disastrous day, and the absurd situation he'd been forced into by his grandfather. It felt good to laugh. That in itself was incredibly surprising, considering he hadn't managed to do much laughing at all since he'd learned of the impending plans for Wiltshire.
He peered at Maggie through moisture filled eyes. She wasn't laughing. But she was incredibly beautiful. Her sapphire eyes sparkled when she teased him. There were small freckles sprinkled across her nose that looked adorable with the sun shining on her creamy skin.
When she looked at him the way she was right now, it didn't seem like such a crazy idea to marry her. At least not for the reasons he was proposing. He hadn't given it a second thought. And yet, now he realized just how ridiculous he looked from her eyes.
"I'm not making a pass at you. Truly, I'm not."
"You just asked me to marry you."
"I'm asking for your help."
"Again?"
His lips tilted up to one side. "Again."
Maggie took two steps down the stairs until they were both standing at eye level. "Forget the phone call, the nice air conditioned ride in the limo, the coffee, the pie—"
"Which by the way was truly inspiring," he interjected. "If I didn't already tell you that."
"You did. You don't even know me. You're asking a total stranger to marry you."
He shrugged. "I know that. But I know you make me laugh."
"So that's all it takes for a happy marriage? Bet we could make a killing with that book."
"I sound delusional," he said. "Even to my own ears, which is pretty scary."
He was delusional. He'd just asked a woman he didn't even know to marry him! And the fact that he was truly considering it was entirely grandfather's doing.
Jan 30 Tour IntroRoxanne's Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
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The Knight and Maggie's Baby
By Lisa Mondello
BLURB:
Sometimes fate needs a little help…
Jonah Wallace knows what it's like to grow up without love. Despite having more money than the Queen of England, his childhood was cold and stale as he grew up in boarding schools. He's dedicated his life to helping homeless and displaced children find the love and support they need by creating the Haven House Foundation, work that resulted in him being Knighted by the Queen.
Now that he's living in America, his work is going along just fine…until his grandfather gives fate a little nudge by insisting he take a wife before he can inherit.
Coffee shop owner, Maggie Bonelli, is pregnant and the baby's dad has gone AWOL. She knows too well the pain of growing up without a daddy. So when Jonah Wallace comes into her shop proposing marriage for a year, she takes him up on his offer, even if it's only for a year. Live in a mansion and give her baby a name and a daddy to call his/her own. But can they keep their perfect arraignment strictly business…or will fate's helping hand bring them love at last?
Amazon http://amzn.com/B005K0ECFY
BN http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-knight-and-maggies-baby-lisa-mondello/1105172661?ean=2940013088238&itm=2&usri=lisa+mondello
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88367
iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-knight-and-maggies-baby/id467570984?mt=11
BIO:Lisa Mondello is the best selling author of 13 published books. Her first published book, the award winning ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, was recently reissued as an ebook and has had over 226,000 downloads worldwide. In addition to publishing her Fate with a Helping Hand series, which includes THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT and THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY, she is releasing her popular Texas Hearts Romance series as ebooks in early 2012. She currently writes for Harlequin Love Inspired Romance and is collaborating with a film producer/screenwriter on a screenplay.
She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at LisaMondello@aol.com, find her on her blog talking about writing, movies and music at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com or chat on Twitter at @LisaMondello
February 1, 2012
Giveaway Into the Darkness by V.C. Andrews
Into the Darkness by V.C. AndrewsBestselling author V.C. Andrews portrays her most romantic couple since Troy and Heaven in the Casteel series…in this twisting tale of desire and obsession, reality and dreams.
As lovely as one of the precious gems at her parents' jewelry store, Amber Taylor is shy and introspective—qualities misread by others as being stuck-up and superior. Facing a long, lonely summer working at the family shop, Amber's world lights up when the Matthews family suddenly moves into the house next door, a property that has stood neglected for the longest time. And when she meets Brayden Matthews, an only child just like her, Amber soon becomes infatuated with this handsome, quirky young man who seems to know her innermost feelings almost before she does, who takes her places she never knew existed in her small town. Their connection is electrifying, unlike anything Amber's felt before. But as quickly as he appears, Brayden vanishes into the darkness. And finding out the truth about him will push Amber Taylor to the edge of madness….
An atmospheric journey of passion and suspense that builds to a jolting, unforgettable finale, Into the Darkness showcases V.C. Andrews at her best.
Become a Fan http://www.facebook.com/OfficialVCAndrews
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