Anne Patrick's Blog, page 17
August 18, 2011
Arson by Estevan Vega
Book Details:
Genre: supernatural/YA/coming-of-age
Publisher: StoneGate Ink
Publication Date: May 2011
Synopsis:
Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off.
Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl--who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin--moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.
Excerpt:The lake was quiet.
A lazy fog hovered over the surface of the gray water, whispering in the wake of currents and steady ripples. The world seemed dead to Arson Gable, silent anyway. Like the calm before a storm.
It waited.
Arson stepped off the porch onto the lawn; his mind was swimming. This was where he came most mornings while Grandma slept. He cut his gaze toward the lake, that black womb which rested beyond and beneath the rickety dock. It was as if the lake knew his name and his heartbeats, much like the streets and corners of this town knew his name, cold and faceless as they were. Whether he wanted to admit it, this place was home, and there was no going back.
A bright light burned in the sky, somewhere far enough for him to notice but close enough to nearly blind him. He breathed deeply and blinked, welcoming the dark rush of black behind his eyelids. From where he stood, he could see the towering oaks rooted deep in the ground. Their thick branches stretched upward into the clouds, some parts draping over the shady spots of the worn-out cabin. One final glance and he was reminded that these tortuous, beaten things seemed to swallow the world. Just thinking about them—how he'd watched them ruin—made him seem small, so worthless.
Arson made a fist and felt the heat swell in his grip. He wanted to run into the brush, to get lost deep in the small section of backwoods Grandma had forced him to avoid ever since they'd moved here. But he didn't move.
This town seemed so close-knit and yet so separated. Less than a mile up the road were a country market, restaurants, and a bowling alley. There was even a liquor store, a cheap pharmacy, and some fast-food chains, and a few miles past that, a movie theater and a nightclub. But at the heart of this place was disunity, a fierce and futile fight to be known and accepted. Arson never understood why Grandpa had picked here to have the cabin built, right beside the lake.
As Arson slowly approached the dock, his mind returned to thoughts of Danny, the only childhood friend he'd ever had. Dim mornings somehow made each memory more real, hard to let go and even harder to erase. Was he always here, always watching? Odd how seven years could come and go without warning, as if the world blinked and somehow forgot to open its eyes again.
In all fairness, it had never been his grandparents' intention to stay anywhere for too long, but it seemed East Hampton, Connecticut, had become a part of them now, a part of him. "One day we'll be like the rest of them," he recalled Grandpa saying—a man of ideals, empty dreams, and hopes Arson could never freely call his own.
Eventually, they had grown tired of running. This dull corner of the world seemed ordinary enough for them to believe starting over again as normal folks would be possible. "Forget what happened all those years ago in Cambridge," Grandma said so many times that Arson imagined her screaming it to him while he slept. But it was always there—the memory—a splinter in the back of his mind. No going back. Ever.
Arson staggered across the dock, images of child play and stupid laughter pouring in all at once. Danny's face stuck out the most, and behind that he glimpsed their old home in Cambridge and flashes of his first birthday. His mother wasn't there, though, nor dear old Dad, but that day had been recounted to him only once by his grandfather, and it stuck.
Nevertheless, with every joyous memory, distilled regret was close behind. He sometimes imagined what it might be like to get thrown in jail by some nameless special agent and be forgotten, or to wake up and find strong hands squeezing the life out of him.
Arson was an unusual boy. A freak. He knew it. And he hated it. Whatever lingered inside his bones always left as quickly as it came, breathing out in short moments of fear or rage. Over the years, he'd asked to be examined to locate the source of his imperfection and if possible terminate it. After all, why did he sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a fever? How come his sweat sizzled when it hit the ground? What was he?
Grandma always argued there wasn't much point in talking to no-good doctors or even finding out answers to questions he was better off not asking in the first place. Some people were just born with demons, she'd say.
Arson swallowed hard and threw a stone into the water. The splash shattered his reflection, and ripples spread across the dark surface. He wondered why he was the way he was, wondered why those little girl's parents quit looking all of a sudden, why the investigation against two stupid boys evaporated. Perhaps they didn't care about retribution, or maybe they were just sick of chasing shadows.
I want to be free, Arson thought, nausea creeping up into his gut. While boats raced along the surface of the lake, Arson stared in awe. They vanished so easily, like mist gliding across the water and dissolving into nothingness. What if men could do the same? There was a man once, he'd heard, who walked upon water and didn't sink. Maybe he could too. Maybe one day there would be those who believed in him.
Arson's gaze moved over the lake, across to the other side, where Mandy Kimball lived, and her neighbor, his science teacher from the ninth grade. Then his eyes drew back to the ripples spread out before him, to the dying cabin behind him, as he spit. Beads of sweat streamed down his bony frame, his ash-brown hair trapped inside the gritty creases of his forehead. Arson listened for the lake's soothing melody but couldn't hear it. He focused instead on the sound his feet made atop the splintering dock, kind of like the way swings sounded in cheap horror flicks—empty, rocking back and forth to no melody at all. Closer to the edge he came, lingering.
With shut eyes, he stepped out onto the water and began to sink. Peace soon abandoned him to the lake's shallow world. In a blink, he was looking through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy.
"I don't like fire," he heard the boy say, so frightened, so naïve. "It's dangerous."
"Don't be such a wimp," came his older friend's taunts. "Just light it already."
With each shove and curse, the memory turned alive; it was as if it knew he was watching and didn't like it. The pain still stung, images wilting and dying, only to come alive again and again.
I. Hate. Fire.
Arson could feel the cold, could even remember the way everything sounded or how there was no sound at all. Until the night shattered. The weight of remembering dragged him down while he sucked in a filthy drag of water, his coffined body jerking. The veins on his head began to swell. He was choking.
Time to return to the real world, to release the nightmare once more into the dark of the lake. The struggle eventually pulled him to the surface. Slinging his head back and forth, Arson fought to bring himself out of the bitter current, eventually falling upon dead grass. He tasted the grit of sandy dirt in his teeth. Panting, Arson stood up slowly and staggered toward the cabin, where Grandma Kay's shadow guided him in.
There was something strange that came over Grandma when she exacted punishment, like a part of her enjoyed it too much. She said fixing their leaky roof was a good and righteous way of killing the demons inside him. Nothing like hard work. She said there was no way a lake could cleanse a boy's troubled mind anyway and that he was just plain stupid for thinking it could. To ease his frustration, Arson let himself believe that if he had been caught any other day, her scorn might have resulted in worse than fixing a leaky roof, which Arson would've had to do eventually anyway.
Grandma's reasons for why she did things, why she treated him a certain way, seemed to get worse with time. It was no secret that she loathed the idea of him diving into the lake, especially if fully clothed. She even claimed there were toxins in the water from pollution that had supposedly killed a bunch of fish years back. But maybe it was a fair trade. He'd returned to the lake all the toxins he'd soaked up with every vile thought. When considered, Grandma's logic didn't seem all that twisted. She probably just didn't want him bringing any of that evil back with him, infected or not. She was superstitious, so Arson made a promise he knew he couldn't keep and said it wouldn't happen again.
The muggy June morning caused his palms to sweat. Arson almost lost his grip on the bucket during the climb to the top but regained his balance before losing any supplies. Spiderman would have been proud. Reading comic books all his life came in handy now and then.
Grandpa took care of the cabin to the best of his ability, had even showed Arson how to repair the roof years back. "If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself," he recalled. But in spite of his grandfather's hard work, it was clear that time eventually wore away all things, even hope.
Arson worked for about an hour before carelessness got the best of him. A loose, jagged shingle sliced through the palm of his hand. Blood gushed from the wound and onto his leg. He swore as the sting began to overwhelm him. He chucked the hammer and tried to keep pressure on the cut.
"What happened?" Grandma's voice echoed from below. "I heard you cussin' all the way in the kitchen. You know how I feel about that."
"Sorry, Grandma." Arson was glad she left it at that. Sitting on the roof, he turned slightly toward the sun. It's a gusher, he thought. Then, as he stared in amazement, he watched the wound cauterize itself in seconds. It burned.
"Arson, are you all right up there?"
He looked down at the remaining scar, struggling to make sense of it, neglecting the mess on his clothes. "Just fine, Grandma," he called down.
"That roof isn't going to fix itself. If I have to spend another night with drops of water hitting my face, I promise you'll regret it."
"All right," Arson said. "I'll get back to work."
By evening, the task was complete. He braced himself and watched the sunset from the rooftop as it melted against a fluorescent sky. Arson listened as Grandma concluded her tea conversation with the man she loved.
Moments later, their time together ended with laughter, and he knew it was safe to come down. Arson caught her while she was clearing away the silverware and china.
"Did you finish the roof, love?" she asked in a pleasant voice.
"Yes, Grandma. It's healed…I mean, fixed."
"Marvelous. Say, whatcha mean healed?"
Arson grabbed the ladder. "I'm really tired. I'm not thinking straight right now. Maybe I just need some rest."
"I think you're right. You're not making any sense at all. Say, do you want a piece of cake before I put it away? Grandpa didn't eat much tonight. He's never been much for carrot cake."
"No thanks. Not hungry," he said.
"Suit yourself. Put your tools away and get on up to bed, then. A growing boy like you needs his rest. I hope you learned your lesson, though. I don't like you spending so much time in that miserable lake. The very idea doesn't sit well with my soul."
Arson nodded with reluctant eyes and put away the ladder and the tools. Then he rushed inside the cabin and up to his room to read a comic book before dozing off. Maybe tonight his dreams would be different.
Author Bio:
Estevan Vega published his first book when he was fifteen, and his second followed shortly after. His fascination for the supernatural ignited a desire to write his third and most praised work to date, Arson. For those just joining, Ashes continues the turbulent story. Vega currently resides in Connecticut, where he is feverishly plotting the next chapter in the series. Get stoked.
Connect With Estevan:
Website
August 14, 2011
Karen Wiesner Returns!
I'm pleased to have Karen back with us! Today she shares why she writes in her chosen genre.
As you can see by my biography, I write in just about every genre. The story dictates the genre in every case, but it's a rare event that one of my stories doesn't contain a romance in there somewhere. In the last year, almost all of my stories have been inspirational romances—whether contemporary or with a mystery/suspense angle. While I'll continue to write in other genres as the individual stories dictate, inspirational romance is becoming my "main" genre. I felt very led by the Lord to go in this direction, and, so far, it's been an amazing blessing.
I guess I can't choose my favorite writing genre because, like in my eclectic reading, I'm enjoying myself so much with each one. Bottom line, there are worlds to discover everywhere. Besides, writing a different genre keeps me refreshed, since I don't think I could stand to write in the same one always. I love that I'm never writing the same thing. If you read my work, you'll always get something new and different. To me, the greatest part of being a writer is going anywhere my imagination takes me. For a breakdown of all my books based on genre, visit http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/genres.html
Karen's recent & upcoming releases include:
Baby, Baby, Book 1 of the Family Heirloom Series reissue (inspirational romance) - Coming April 2011
Shadow Boxing, Book 2 of the Family Heirloom Series reissue (inspirational romance) - Coming May 2011
Souls on (B)Oring Street, Book 3 of the Denim Blues Mysteries Trilogy (inspirational romantic mystery) - Coming June 2011
Foolish Games, Book 3 of the Family Heirloom Series reissue (inspirational romance) - Coming July 2011
Incognito Series Megabook, Volume 4 (romantic suspense) - Coming Summer 2011 in electronic formats
"Wings of Love" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 1} in Christmas Gems, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology (contemporary romance) - Coming September 2011
Shards of Ashley, Book 5 of the Family Heirloom Series (inspirational romance) - Coming September 2011
Wow! You're a busy lady, my friend! I wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors!
As you can see by my biography, I write in just about every genre. The story dictates the genre in every case, but it's a rare event that one of my stories doesn't contain a romance in there somewhere. In the last year, almost all of my stories have been inspirational romances—whether contemporary or with a mystery/suspense angle. While I'll continue to write in other genres as the individual stories dictate, inspirational romance is becoming my "main" genre. I felt very led by the Lord to go in this direction, and, so far, it's been an amazing blessing.
I guess I can't choose my favorite writing genre because, like in my eclectic reading, I'm enjoying myself so much with each one. Bottom line, there are worlds to discover everywhere. Besides, writing a different genre keeps me refreshed, since I don't think I could stand to write in the same one always. I love that I'm never writing the same thing. If you read my work, you'll always get something new and different. To me, the greatest part of being a writer is going anywhere my imagination takes me. For a breakdown of all my books based on genre, visit http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/genres.html
Karen's recent & upcoming releases include:
Baby, Baby, Book 1 of the Family Heirloom Series reissue (inspirational romance) - Coming April 2011
Shadow Boxing, Book 2 of the Family Heirloom Series reissue (inspirational romance) - Coming May 2011
Souls on (B)Oring Street, Book 3 of the Denim Blues Mysteries Trilogy (inspirational romantic mystery) - Coming June 2011
Foolish Games, Book 3 of the Family Heirloom Series reissue (inspirational romance) - Coming July 2011
Incognito Series Megabook, Volume 4 (romantic suspense) - Coming Summer 2011 in electronic formats
"Wings of Love" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 1} in Christmas Gems, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology (contemporary romance) - Coming September 2011
Shards of Ashley, Book 5 of the Family Heirloom Series (inspirational romance) - Coming September 2011
Wow! You're a busy lady, my friend! I wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors!
August 13, 2011
A Familiar Evil wins COTT
The winning excerpt -
"Excuse me. I'm looking for Chief Russell."
Jordan's stomach did a nosedive at the familiar voice of her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
"You found her," Frank answered.
Jordan looked up just as Sam smiled. "Indeed I have." He started toward her desk.
Colleen barged through the opened door. "Chief, there's an Agent Russell here to see…oh, I guess you found her."
"Agent Russell," Frank repeated. He turned back to Jordan, "Isn't Russell your married name?" He then shifted his gaze back to Sam, "That must mean you're her husband."
"Not for much longer." Jordan hurried around her desk and ushered Frank out the door. "You'll be hearing from me." She closed the door and looked at Sam. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here at your request."
"I specifically requested someone from the Charlotte field office." Anyone but him.
He looked at her with the gorgeous smile that used to make her go weak in the knees. "And they forwarded that request to Agent Haines, who assigned me."
"We'll see about that." Jordan marched back to her desk, and was four digits into Haines' cell phone number when Sam pressed his finger down on the button and disconnected the call. Eighteen and a half months of built-up rage boiled to the surface. She doubled her right fist and spun around with lighting fury.
Sam, just as quick, stopped the fist within inches of his jaw. With his free hand, he took the phone from her left hand and placed it back in its cradle. Jordan felt his hot breath on her face as he peered down at her, and was keenly aware of the heat generating from his body through the hand which tightened around her wrist.
"Let me help you, Jordan…please."
She swallowed hard, summoned all her courage, and met his smoldering gaze. "I need a profiler who can tell me exactly what I'm up against here."
"Don't tell me you've lost your touch."
She ignored his smirk. "I need a fresh pair of eyes who can look at this guy objectively."
"Who hasn't allowed themselves to get too personal?"
"I just need someone other than you," she spat.
"Too bad, you're stuck with me. Now, what do you say I release your hand and you don't take my head off? Or we can continue to provide the day's entertainment for your co-workers."
Jordan shifted her gaze to the glass separating her office from the command center. A half dozen familiar faces scattered like rats. She twisted free from his grip, grabbed her cap from her desk and shoved it down over her head. "Fine!" She was already halfway out the door before she realized he wasn't with her. She turned back and found him smiling at her. "Are you coming or not?"
Be sure to visit http://www.clashofthetitles.com/ if you want to read my interview with April. They're a great bunch at COTT. I want to thank all the readers who voted for A Familiar Evil.
In other news - I'm thrilled to announce that I've received my rights back on my first book Every Skull Tells a Story, and after some major revising it will release under the title Trespasses - book #2 in my Wounded Heroes series with Desert Breeze Publishing. I love the story, it's one of my favorites, and I think it will be a wonderful addition to the series. I'm working on the edits of book #1 now, titled Kill Shot. Hope to have it finished this weekend.
During the month of August the ebook formats of Lethal Dreams and Journey to Redemption is 50% through Whimsical Publications. Just click on the title and follow the directions.
Prefer print...you're in luck. This month I'm giving away an autographed copy of Journey to Redemption on my website http://annepatrick.weebly.com/index.html All you have to do is drop me a note via my contact page and tell me you want to enter the drawing.
Happy Reading!
Anne
August 7, 2011
Glass Angels by Karen Wiesner
GLASS ANGELS, Book 4 of the Family Heirloom Series
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Published by Whiskey Creek Press http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Blurb:
Nuggets of faith can be passed down as family heirlooms from parent to child, sibling to sibling, spouse to spouse.
Book Four Family Heirloom: Forgiving
A young Christian woman struggles with seeking pardon from those she's hurt when she can't seem to get past her own inability to forgive those who have wronged her.
Three years ago, Samantha Samuels had suffered under the violent hands of Ryder Feldmann, a juvenile delinquent her pastor father had been counseling. Now she's completed her psychiatry training and plans to help other victims of violent crimes at the rape counseling clinic in her hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing an office building and Sunday services at her new church with the older brother, a divorce counselor, of her attacker...the very man she'd been in love with before her rape.
In the time since Kyle Feldmann's brother was jailed for his crime against Samantha, he's lived with the torment of all he's lost because of his sibling. Before the tragedy that stole Samantha from him and destroyed his dreams, Kyle had begged her to risk her father's disappointment and elope with him. Seeing Samantha again after so many years, being near her, only puts him right back where he was before the rape. Kyle wants to heal Samantha, love her, and fulfill the dreams he grieved the loss of—by marrying her. But how can they be together forever when she's still so broken?
All her life, Samantha had wanted her father's approval, but his selfish part in putting her in a dangerous situation has led her to a painful place of desperately needing to forgive him and her attacker...and being unable to in all the time since the traumatic event that ripped her life in two. As she gives her heart to Kyle once more, her already fractured relationship with the Lord is tested. In the crossfire of faith, she wonders if glass angels shatter beyond recognition when they take a leap of faith, or if they can heal and become stronger than ever before.
Excerpt:
Prologue
"I know you were just glad to see Ryder Feldmann convicted at the trial, sweetie, so you weren't concerned about how long he'd be in the institution."
Samantha Samuels stared at her sister-in-law, a lawyer, who'd insisted she wanted to drive her to the airport today when she left for her two-week vacation. She and Justine were fairly close. Nevertheless, she'd been a little surprised by the offer. Not once had she considered that Justine wanted to drive her so she'd have time to drop this bomb on her.
Stunned, Samantha opened her mouth. Her sister-in-law wasn't wrong—she'd heard nothing at the end of the trial but that—thank the Lord!—her attacker would be locked away. "I assumed he'd be in prison for a long, long time."
Justine nodded, her expression pained. She reached across to the passenger's seat and squeezed her hand. "I know, Sam. You didn't want to hear anything else about it whenever I tried to talk to you about this in the last several years. I can explain everything to you whenever you're ready, but the bottom line is that Ryder's term of confinement is almost up. He'll be released on September 30th, followed by a year of extended supervision..."
* * * *
"Miss Samuels," the clerk called when Samantha entered the hotel with the rest of her tour group. Tired after the long day of exploring Southwest Ireland's treasures, including a museum and a castle—along with fighting off the aggressive advances of a certain member of her tour group—she was eager to go to her room and shower. She'd been wondering if she'd have time to snatch a few hours' sleep before dinner.
She wended her way through the others to get to the front counter.
"You received a phone call while you were out, Miss Samuels." The man handed her a memo.
Samantha looked at the note without surprise to see her sister-in-law's name and phone number written on it. Justine had called the night she arrived in Ireland, but Samantha hadn't been able to get herself to take the phone call then. She hadn't been ready to face the fact that the man who'd raped her would be released from prison after a mere three years paying for his unconscionable crime against her.
"I do hope everything is all right, miss."
Distracted, Samantha glanced at the clerk and nodded. While dodging the crowd, she rushed up to her room as fast as she could. Had Justine called to apologize again for seeing no other choice but to tell her the truth—even if it meant ruining a perfectly lovely trip? Samantha had thought of little else except the single sentence that had deadlocked her in the days since: "He'll be released on September 30th, followed by a year of extended supervision..."
She couldn't fathom that Ryder had served only three years. Three years! In three years, I haven't even begun to heal from what he did to me. And he's done being punished, other than a year of" extended supervision"—whatever that meant.
Samantha took a deep breath to quell the sensation of suffocation rising inside her. The tightness of her chest resembled an evil force growing in proportion to her dread. Now it was gathering all the air in her lungs and transforming it into an ominous, black cloud.
After drawing another breath and letting it out slowly, she murmured to herself, "I'll be home in two days. I can call Justine then and ask her all the details I wish I didn't have to know. Right now I'm four thousand miles away and it must be nine or ten at night in Wisconsin anyway."
Why had Justine called a second time? And why in the world did she feel she had to tell me this before I left for Ireland? As if I had any chance of enjoying the trip anyway. I'm too much of a homebody not to have started wishing my flight would return me to my home the day I arrived. Why, Justine, why? As a lawyer—though only part-time since the birth of her son a few years ago—Justine was too logical to drop a ticking bomb in someone's lap without good reason. She certainly had to realize her announcement would upset Samantha for longer than a few hours.
Shaking slightly, Samantha tossed the messenger bag she'd brought with her for the tour today on her bed and grabbed the phone. Unfortunately, she realized that she didn't have the slightest clue how to make an international call. When she phoned down to the desk to explain her trouble, the clerk calmed her with the words, "Allow me to place the call for you. I'll forward it to your room shortly."
Samantha thanked him, gave him the information, then sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. An odd thought entered her head. What if Justine's phone call had nothing to do with the announcement she'd made in the car? What if someone was ill? Perhaps her son, daughter or husband—Samantha's older brother—Joshua.
Daddy? Samantha's cheeks filled with shame and regret.
Luckily, the phone rang within a few moments, disrupting the usual direction of her thoughts. "Justine?" she said as soon as she picked it up.
"It's me, Sam," Justine answered, her flinty voice filled with reassurance. "Don't panic. This isn't a medical emergency or anything like that. You had to know I couldn't leave things the way we did at the airport. I didn't want that conversation to go like that, sweetie."
"Why did you have to tell me now?"
Justine sighed. "Oh, Sam, I thought long and hard about whether to bother you about this before you left for your vacation. I talked to Joshua, Tamara, Kim and Peter, and they all advised me to tell you right away."
Tamara and Peter, Samantha's oldest siblings, and Peter's wife Kimberly were the three people Samantha trusted most in the world. Even still, she couldn't understand why any of them would encourage Justine to go ahead with this.
"Did I completely wreck your vacation?" Justine asked softly. "We all knew when you got back, you'd be going to work at the clinic, putting in long hours...and you wouldn't want to hear the truth then any more than you did at the trial and the years since. We couldn't see any other way to do this. And you insisted your friend Jordan was picking you up from the airport when you got back from Ireland. You weren't willing to negotiate."
I've been in hiding. I don't know how else to cope. After all this time, I still don't. Samantha shook her head. Eyes closed, she asked in a tone that begged her sister-in-law to enlighten her, "How can they possibly release him, Justine? He raped me. Ruined my life in ways that no can begin to understand..." Samantha inhaled shakily.
Read more:
http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswie...
Purchasing info: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswie...
Visit Karen's website: http://www.karenwiesner.com
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Published by Whiskey Creek Press http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Blurb:
Nuggets of faith can be passed down as family heirlooms from parent to child, sibling to sibling, spouse to spouse.
Book Four Family Heirloom: Forgiving
A young Christian woman struggles with seeking pardon from those she's hurt when she can't seem to get past her own inability to forgive those who have wronged her.
Three years ago, Samantha Samuels had suffered under the violent hands of Ryder Feldmann, a juvenile delinquent her pastor father had been counseling. Now she's completed her psychiatry training and plans to help other victims of violent crimes at the rape counseling clinic in her hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing an office building and Sunday services at her new church with the older brother, a divorce counselor, of her attacker...the very man she'd been in love with before her rape.
In the time since Kyle Feldmann's brother was jailed for his crime against Samantha, he's lived with the torment of all he's lost because of his sibling. Before the tragedy that stole Samantha from him and destroyed his dreams, Kyle had begged her to risk her father's disappointment and elope with him. Seeing Samantha again after so many years, being near her, only puts him right back where he was before the rape. Kyle wants to heal Samantha, love her, and fulfill the dreams he grieved the loss of—by marrying her. But how can they be together forever when she's still so broken?
All her life, Samantha had wanted her father's approval, but his selfish part in putting her in a dangerous situation has led her to a painful place of desperately needing to forgive him and her attacker...and being unable to in all the time since the traumatic event that ripped her life in two. As she gives her heart to Kyle once more, her already fractured relationship with the Lord is tested. In the crossfire of faith, she wonders if glass angels shatter beyond recognition when they take a leap of faith, or if they can heal and become stronger than ever before.
Excerpt:
Prologue
"I know you were just glad to see Ryder Feldmann convicted at the trial, sweetie, so you weren't concerned about how long he'd be in the institution."
Samantha Samuels stared at her sister-in-law, a lawyer, who'd insisted she wanted to drive her to the airport today when she left for her two-week vacation. She and Justine were fairly close. Nevertheless, she'd been a little surprised by the offer. Not once had she considered that Justine wanted to drive her so she'd have time to drop this bomb on her.
Stunned, Samantha opened her mouth. Her sister-in-law wasn't wrong—she'd heard nothing at the end of the trial but that—thank the Lord!—her attacker would be locked away. "I assumed he'd be in prison for a long, long time."
Justine nodded, her expression pained. She reached across to the passenger's seat and squeezed her hand. "I know, Sam. You didn't want to hear anything else about it whenever I tried to talk to you about this in the last several years. I can explain everything to you whenever you're ready, but the bottom line is that Ryder's term of confinement is almost up. He'll be released on September 30th, followed by a year of extended supervision..."
* * * *
"Miss Samuels," the clerk called when Samantha entered the hotel with the rest of her tour group. Tired after the long day of exploring Southwest Ireland's treasures, including a museum and a castle—along with fighting off the aggressive advances of a certain member of her tour group—she was eager to go to her room and shower. She'd been wondering if she'd have time to snatch a few hours' sleep before dinner.
She wended her way through the others to get to the front counter.
"You received a phone call while you were out, Miss Samuels." The man handed her a memo.
Samantha looked at the note without surprise to see her sister-in-law's name and phone number written on it. Justine had called the night she arrived in Ireland, but Samantha hadn't been able to get herself to take the phone call then. She hadn't been ready to face the fact that the man who'd raped her would be released from prison after a mere three years paying for his unconscionable crime against her.
"I do hope everything is all right, miss."
Distracted, Samantha glanced at the clerk and nodded. While dodging the crowd, she rushed up to her room as fast as she could. Had Justine called to apologize again for seeing no other choice but to tell her the truth—even if it meant ruining a perfectly lovely trip? Samantha had thought of little else except the single sentence that had deadlocked her in the days since: "He'll be released on September 30th, followed by a year of extended supervision..."
She couldn't fathom that Ryder had served only three years. Three years! In three years, I haven't even begun to heal from what he did to me. And he's done being punished, other than a year of" extended supervision"—whatever that meant.
Samantha took a deep breath to quell the sensation of suffocation rising inside her. The tightness of her chest resembled an evil force growing in proportion to her dread. Now it was gathering all the air in her lungs and transforming it into an ominous, black cloud.
After drawing another breath and letting it out slowly, she murmured to herself, "I'll be home in two days. I can call Justine then and ask her all the details I wish I didn't have to know. Right now I'm four thousand miles away and it must be nine or ten at night in Wisconsin anyway."
Why had Justine called a second time? And why in the world did she feel she had to tell me this before I left for Ireland? As if I had any chance of enjoying the trip anyway. I'm too much of a homebody not to have started wishing my flight would return me to my home the day I arrived. Why, Justine, why? As a lawyer—though only part-time since the birth of her son a few years ago—Justine was too logical to drop a ticking bomb in someone's lap without good reason. She certainly had to realize her announcement would upset Samantha for longer than a few hours.
Shaking slightly, Samantha tossed the messenger bag she'd brought with her for the tour today on her bed and grabbed the phone. Unfortunately, she realized that she didn't have the slightest clue how to make an international call. When she phoned down to the desk to explain her trouble, the clerk calmed her with the words, "Allow me to place the call for you. I'll forward it to your room shortly."
Samantha thanked him, gave him the information, then sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. An odd thought entered her head. What if Justine's phone call had nothing to do with the announcement she'd made in the car? What if someone was ill? Perhaps her son, daughter or husband—Samantha's older brother—Joshua.
Daddy? Samantha's cheeks filled with shame and regret.
Luckily, the phone rang within a few moments, disrupting the usual direction of her thoughts. "Justine?" she said as soon as she picked it up.
"It's me, Sam," Justine answered, her flinty voice filled with reassurance. "Don't panic. This isn't a medical emergency or anything like that. You had to know I couldn't leave things the way we did at the airport. I didn't want that conversation to go like that, sweetie."
"Why did you have to tell me now?"
Justine sighed. "Oh, Sam, I thought long and hard about whether to bother you about this before you left for your vacation. I talked to Joshua, Tamara, Kim and Peter, and they all advised me to tell you right away."
Tamara and Peter, Samantha's oldest siblings, and Peter's wife Kimberly were the three people Samantha trusted most in the world. Even still, she couldn't understand why any of them would encourage Justine to go ahead with this.
"Did I completely wreck your vacation?" Justine asked softly. "We all knew when you got back, you'd be going to work at the clinic, putting in long hours...and you wouldn't want to hear the truth then any more than you did at the trial and the years since. We couldn't see any other way to do this. And you insisted your friend Jordan was picking you up from the airport when you got back from Ireland. You weren't willing to negotiate."
I've been in hiding. I don't know how else to cope. After all this time, I still don't. Samantha shook her head. Eyes closed, she asked in a tone that begged her sister-in-law to enlighten her, "How can they possibly release him, Justine? He raped me. Ruined my life in ways that no can begin to understand..." Samantha inhaled shakily.
Read more:
http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswie...
Purchasing info: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswie...
Visit Karen's website: http://www.karenwiesner.com
August 4, 2011
Missing in Mexico by Stuart Gustafson
Book Details:Publisher: AITE Publishing
Published: May 2011
Genre: Mystery Tourism
Website:Missing In Mexico
Blurb:
Sarah Johnson is a 19-year college freshman who, along with her roommate Mary, spent an extra week in Los Cabos, Mexico after a family vacation over the Christmas break. Unexpectedly, Sarah's not on the plane back to Seattle, and her parents hire Stan, a seasoned Private Investigator, to locate her. Even with local help and some promising leads in the town of San Jose del Cabo, he's unable to find her, and he returns to Seattle to inform the parents. Months later he receives a mysterious letter from someone who says she can help him locate Sarah, and he jumps on the next plane to Los Cabos. Will this be the lucky break he needs to find her? Or will she remain missing -- Missing in Mexico?
Excerpt:
Chapter One/Uno
Flight # 1476 from Los Cabos to Seattle
Saturday, January 5th
The voice over the intercom system announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we trust you had a good time in Los Cabos, but it's now time for us to take you back to the States. The cabin doors have been closed, and Alaska Airlines flight 1476 with nonstop service to Seattle-Tacoma is ready for departure."
"Hey, wait. Sarah's not here; we can't leave without her," the girl in seat 14A yelled in a frightened voice. Mary reached up and pushed the flight attendant call button even as the flight attendant was already headed toward her seat. "We can't leave yet; Sarah's still down there," Mary continued, now reaching the point of hysteria.
"Please calm down, miss. Everyone's already onboard. You can look for yourself," the flight attendant said in a calm voice as she pointed to the window.
"What do you mean everyone's onboard? Sarah's not here; she should be sitting right here!" Mary pulled her tearing eyes away from the empty seat and looked out and saw that the boarding ramps had been pulled away from the airplane, but what she didn't see scared her. How come Sarah's not out there, running in a panic toward the plane? "Where's Sarah? She was just there with me. Where is she? Don't leave; Sarah's missing!" Mary cried out as tears began flowing down her cheeks.
The annoyed passengers felt a jolt as the plane was being pushed back. They were ready for their flight home from Los Cabos. But Sarah wasn't on board; she's missing – Missing in Mexico.
familia (fă•mĭl'•ē•ă) – family. Hay cuatro personas en mi familia. There are four persons in my family.
Author Info:
Stuart Gustafson began writing in earnest after taking early retirement from the corporate world in 2007. His professional life involved travel and so it was natural for him to want to continue traveling once he didn't have to travel as a job. Now when he travels, it's for fun; it's for pleasure; it's to see new places in the world. The way he has chosen to combine his love of travel and writing is to write mystery novels set in exciting locations around the world where he likes to go.
His debut mystery novel Missing in Mexico is set in San Jose del Cabo at the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, a charming location where he has spent 2-6 weeks each year for the past eight years. This is how Stuart researches his books, by immersing himself into the culture of the area, and getting to know the people and their charm. The best compliment Stuart has received was at a local event in San Jose del Cabo and some of the residents told him that Missing in Mexico was indeed about their town and would he please consider writing another book about San Jose or at least about Cabo.
His second mystery novel, set in Sydney, NSW, Australia, is already underway, and Stuart took five trips to Sydney in 2010 to conduct research of the area to once again ensure that the book, even though it's a fictional mystery novel, would still contain authentic details. Publication date for that book is set for early 2012.
Stuart has been married for thirty-seven years to Darlene and they have one daughter and one son. Stuart and Darlene live in Boise, Idaho.
Connect With Stuart:
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: Twitter
July 31, 2011
Author Karen Wiesner
Joining me this month is the wonderful Karen Wiesner. Karen is an accomplished author with 82 books published in the past 13 years, which have been nominated for and/or won 111 awards, and 15 more titles under contract. Karen's books cover such genres as women's fiction, romance, mystery/police procedural/cozy, suspense, paranormal, futuristic, gothic, inspirational, thriller, horror, chick-lit, and action/adventure. She also writes children's books, poetry, and writing reference titles such as her bestsellers, First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft to Finished Novel {A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building}, available from Writer's Digest Books. Her previous writing reference titles focused on non-subsidy, royalty-paying electronic publishing, author promotion, and setting up a promotional group like her own, the award-winning Jewels of the Quill, which she founded in 2003. Jewels of the Quill produced two award-winning group anthologies per year published by Whiskey Creek Press from 2005-2011. All were edited by Karen and others. Along with her writing, Karen enjoys designing Web sites, graphics, and cover art.
Be sure to comment throughout the month for a chance to win one of Karen's books!
[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.
[Karen] How to Care for Your Monster by Normal Bridwell (of Clifford fame). I'd never known anyone else to have read it until I met my husband.
[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?
[Karen] Yes—for every genre. Some of my favorites are J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Agatha Christie, Angela Hunt, Terry Brooks, Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (pre-Detective Aloysius Pendergast series).
[Anne] Out of all the books you've read, which one comes immediately to your mind?
[Karen] The Lord of the Rings (a brilliant concept so beautiful executed in Peter Jackson's films).
[Anne] If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.
[Karen] The scene where Eowyn realizes she's fallen in love with Faramir. Men tend not to be great at romance scenes, but this one was so poignant, it stands out in my mind.
[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?
[Karen] I'm a homebody to the extreme. Agoraphobia is common in my family. Leaving home for longer than a few hours is painful for me.
[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?
[Karen] Kitchen, definitely. I'm as far from a fashion-ista as they come. Besides, I don't have enough clothes to need a custom closet.
[Anne] It's Saturday afternoon and you're home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.
[Karen] Yes, I must have clothes on. I love pajamas and I'd wear them at all times if it was socially acceptable.
[Anne] What's your favorite dish?
[Karen] I haven't progressed out of my teenage years—pizza. The more cheese, the better.
[Anne] Hey, we never grow out of pizza:) Okay, other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?
[Karen] Designing cover art and graphics for websites. See my designs here:
http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswie...
[Anne] You've just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you've collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?
[Karen] None of the above. I'd just like a basic, new car—a Saturn SUV of some kind would suit me perfectly. Ms. Practicality, that's me.
[Anne] What's your favorite television show? Movie?
[Karen] I watch almost no television. I do catch American Idol as often as I can when it's running, occasionally watch House when it comes on, but mostly I watch cooking shows when I do sit down in front of the television. My favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings.
[Anne] You've won a talent show! What act did you perform?
[Karen] I love to sing. Very cool if I could win a talent show for my singing.
[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?
[Karen] For an introvert, the easy answer for me is to be invisible. You can't imagine how often I just want to be invisible wherever I go, whatever I do.
[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?
[Karen] That I could make the rules…write my own ticket. I never expected that and it's difficult to give up that perk now to work with a publisher who wants to control every single aspect of the work. I love a publisher who trusts me and can see my vision instead of the other way around.
[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?
[Karen] In the process of outlining the final book in my Family Heirlooms Series, Worlds Collide, I had to do a ton of research about Japan along multiple angles—marriage, family living, childrearing, housing, traveling, etc. What a culture shock. It's absolutely nothing like the United States over there. Writing a book where a main character is Japanese was beyond difficult and so I felt the only way to make it truly believable was to make her have grown up in the United States—this helped to create a character who's at home in both worlds.
[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?
[Karen] Almost exclusively to my office. But I admit I do love to take a bunch of music CDs and go for a long drive in which I brainstorm like mad on a book.
[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?
[Karen] Maybe it's a quirk that I don't believe there are absolutes in writing. There are so many writing trends, and I admit I find most of them silly. If anyone tells me when writing Never do this or Always do this, I immediately take a step backward. There's only one rule in writing: If it works for the story, go with it. The only rules are the ones you enforce yourself in your writing. Don't let anyone else tell you differently.
[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?
[Karen] Great characters. Without them, no story could be good enough to engage a reader.
[Anne] What are you working on now?
[Karen] I'm researching and outlining Clumsy Girl's Guide to Falling in Love, the first book in the spin-off to my Family Heirlooms Series. I'm also revising and polishing two novellas: "Beauty is the Beast", the final story in the miniseries I'm doing within my Woodcutter's Grim Series, and "For Always", the third in my Cowboy Fever Series.
[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?
[Karen] Interesting might be stretching this, but I often have people send me their books—usually out of nowhere—and ask me to read them. As if I have the time or inclination do to anything of the kind. Don't get me wrong: I believe in giving back and helping new writers as much as possible, but there is a point where one has to draw the line. One time when I was having this happen to me practically once a week and was getting fed up with it, I had someone beg me to read his work. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He even offered to pay me. Maybe it was wrong to accept it, but I figured it was no different than charge for a critique at a writing conference. In any case, I think we offered each other a valuable service, but honestly I'd probably never do it again. I put a disclaimer on my website now that says don't send it; I'll delete it without looking at it. So far, it's worked pretty well.
[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....
[Karen] I was wishing I'd never left home to begin with. (Hey, pre-agoraphobic talking here.)
For more information about Karen and her work, visit her Web sites at http://www.karenwiesner.com, http://www.firstdraftin30days.com, http://www.falconsbend.com and http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com. If you would like to receive Karen's free e-mail newsletter, Karen's Quill, and become eligible to win her monthly book giveaways, send a blank e-mail to
KarensQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Be sure to comment throughout the month for a chance to win one of Karen's books!
[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.
[Karen] How to Care for Your Monster by Normal Bridwell (of Clifford fame). I'd never known anyone else to have read it until I met my husband.
[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?
[Karen] Yes—for every genre. Some of my favorites are J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Agatha Christie, Angela Hunt, Terry Brooks, Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (pre-Detective Aloysius Pendergast series).
[Anne] Out of all the books you've read, which one comes immediately to your mind?
[Karen] The Lord of the Rings (a brilliant concept so beautiful executed in Peter Jackson's films).
[Anne] If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.
[Karen] The scene where Eowyn realizes she's fallen in love with Faramir. Men tend not to be great at romance scenes, but this one was so poignant, it stands out in my mind.
[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?
[Karen] I'm a homebody to the extreme. Agoraphobia is common in my family. Leaving home for longer than a few hours is painful for me.
[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?
[Karen] Kitchen, definitely. I'm as far from a fashion-ista as they come. Besides, I don't have enough clothes to need a custom closet.
[Anne] It's Saturday afternoon and you're home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.
[Karen] Yes, I must have clothes on. I love pajamas and I'd wear them at all times if it was socially acceptable.
[Anne] What's your favorite dish?
[Karen] I haven't progressed out of my teenage years—pizza. The more cheese, the better.
[Anne] Hey, we never grow out of pizza:) Okay, other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?
[Karen] Designing cover art and graphics for websites. See my designs here:
http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswie...
[Anne] You've just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you've collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?
[Karen] None of the above. I'd just like a basic, new car—a Saturn SUV of some kind would suit me perfectly. Ms. Practicality, that's me.
[Anne] What's your favorite television show? Movie?
[Karen] I watch almost no television. I do catch American Idol as often as I can when it's running, occasionally watch House when it comes on, but mostly I watch cooking shows when I do sit down in front of the television. My favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings.
[Anne] You've won a talent show! What act did you perform?
[Karen] I love to sing. Very cool if I could win a talent show for my singing.
[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?
[Karen] For an introvert, the easy answer for me is to be invisible. You can't imagine how often I just want to be invisible wherever I go, whatever I do.
[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?
[Karen] That I could make the rules…write my own ticket. I never expected that and it's difficult to give up that perk now to work with a publisher who wants to control every single aspect of the work. I love a publisher who trusts me and can see my vision instead of the other way around.
[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?
[Karen] In the process of outlining the final book in my Family Heirlooms Series, Worlds Collide, I had to do a ton of research about Japan along multiple angles—marriage, family living, childrearing, housing, traveling, etc. What a culture shock. It's absolutely nothing like the United States over there. Writing a book where a main character is Japanese was beyond difficult and so I felt the only way to make it truly believable was to make her have grown up in the United States—this helped to create a character who's at home in both worlds.
[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?
[Karen] Almost exclusively to my office. But I admit I do love to take a bunch of music CDs and go for a long drive in which I brainstorm like mad on a book.
[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?
[Karen] Maybe it's a quirk that I don't believe there are absolutes in writing. There are so many writing trends, and I admit I find most of them silly. If anyone tells me when writing Never do this or Always do this, I immediately take a step backward. There's only one rule in writing: If it works for the story, go with it. The only rules are the ones you enforce yourself in your writing. Don't let anyone else tell you differently.
[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?
[Karen] Great characters. Without them, no story could be good enough to engage a reader.
[Anne] What are you working on now?
[Karen] I'm researching and outlining Clumsy Girl's Guide to Falling in Love, the first book in the spin-off to my Family Heirlooms Series. I'm also revising and polishing two novellas: "Beauty is the Beast", the final story in the miniseries I'm doing within my Woodcutter's Grim Series, and "For Always", the third in my Cowboy Fever Series.
[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?
[Karen] Interesting might be stretching this, but I often have people send me their books—usually out of nowhere—and ask me to read them. As if I have the time or inclination do to anything of the kind. Don't get me wrong: I believe in giving back and helping new writers as much as possible, but there is a point where one has to draw the line. One time when I was having this happen to me practically once a week and was getting fed up with it, I had someone beg me to read his work. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He even offered to pay me. Maybe it was wrong to accept it, but I figured it was no different than charge for a critique at a writing conference. In any case, I think we offered each other a valuable service, but honestly I'd probably never do it again. I put a disclaimer on my website now that says don't send it; I'll delete it without looking at it. So far, it's worked pretty well.
[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....
[Karen] I was wishing I'd never left home to begin with. (Hey, pre-agoraphobic talking here.)
For more information about Karen and her work, visit her Web sites at http://www.karenwiesner.com, http://www.firstdraftin30days.com, http://www.falconsbend.com and http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com. If you would like to receive Karen's free e-mail newsletter, Karen's Quill, and become eligible to win her monthly book giveaways, send a blank e-mail to
KarensQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
July 30, 2011
Sweet Saturday Sample
Journey to Redemption - Inspirational Romantic Suspense - Rated PG - Releases August 1st!
Detective Morgan Reynolds thought her nightmare was over when serial killer Gerald 'The Slasher' Tate was sent to prison for her husband's murder. But she was wrong. The Slasher has escaped and he's making it even more personal this time. Tate has kidnapped her son and is giving her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or Jared dies.
Excerpt
Please, God…please let him be at one of his friends'. Please let him be safe!
Morgan fought off the threatening tears as she searched her bedroom, the guest bedroom, and the bathrooms before heading back downstairs.
"Afternoon, Sergeant." Morgan froze at the familiar voice coming from her answering machine. She stepped into the living room and stared at the black box next to the phone. "Not to worry, you're little boy is safe and sound. He'll stay that way as long as you don't contact your buddies down at the police station. I'll be in touch soon." She looked at Chase.
"Sorry. I thought maybe he'd left you a message," he said.
"Oh no." Her worst fear confirmed, Morgan sank onto the couch and wrapped her arms around her midsection. She struggled to fight off the nausea that threatened to consume her.
"Get me the captain."
Morgan looked up and saw Chase on the phone. She rushed to his side, grabbed the receiver from his hand, and slammed it down on its cradle then glared at him. "What are you doing?"
"Following procedure. The faster we act, the better the chances…"
"You heard what he said, no cops."
"Come on, Morgan, be realistic. We have to follow protocol."
"Forget protocol. We're talking about my son here. I'm not going to do anything that will endanger his life."
"I know he's your son, and I know what's at stake. You're a cop, Morgan. You know the first twelve hours are the most crucial. We have to call the captain and get the FBI in here."
She shook her head. "No. No cops, and no FBI." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I've already lost my husband. I can't lose Jared too. Please, Chase…please just trust me on this."
I'll have a drawing for a PDF copy of Journey to Redemption Sunday evening so be sure to leave your contact info if you'd like to be entered.
Journey to Redemption will be available for purchase Monday, August 1st, in ebook and print from Whimsical Publications, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other online bookstores.
Detective Morgan Reynolds thought her nightmare was over when serial killer Gerald 'The Slasher' Tate was sent to prison for her husband's murder. But she was wrong. The Slasher has escaped and he's making it even more personal this time. Tate has kidnapped her son and is giving her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or Jared dies. Excerpt
Please, God…please let him be at one of his friends'. Please let him be safe!
Morgan fought off the threatening tears as she searched her bedroom, the guest bedroom, and the bathrooms before heading back downstairs.
"Afternoon, Sergeant." Morgan froze at the familiar voice coming from her answering machine. She stepped into the living room and stared at the black box next to the phone. "Not to worry, you're little boy is safe and sound. He'll stay that way as long as you don't contact your buddies down at the police station. I'll be in touch soon." She looked at Chase.
"Sorry. I thought maybe he'd left you a message," he said.
"Oh no." Her worst fear confirmed, Morgan sank onto the couch and wrapped her arms around her midsection. She struggled to fight off the nausea that threatened to consume her.
"Get me the captain."
Morgan looked up and saw Chase on the phone. She rushed to his side, grabbed the receiver from his hand, and slammed it down on its cradle then glared at him. "What are you doing?"
"Following procedure. The faster we act, the better the chances…"
"You heard what he said, no cops."
"Come on, Morgan, be realistic. We have to follow protocol."
"Forget protocol. We're talking about my son here. I'm not going to do anything that will endanger his life."
"I know he's your son, and I know what's at stake. You're a cop, Morgan. You know the first twelve hours are the most crucial. We have to call the captain and get the FBI in here."
She shook her head. "No. No cops, and no FBI." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I've already lost my husband. I can't lose Jared too. Please, Chase…please just trust me on this."
I'll have a drawing for a PDF copy of Journey to Redemption Sunday evening so be sure to leave your contact info if you'd like to be entered.
Journey to Redemption will be available for purchase Monday, August 1st, in ebook and print from Whimsical Publications, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other online bookstores.
July 25, 2011
And the Winner Is..... & other news!
Janis Lane! Congratulations, Janis. Nancy will be contacting you shortly with your book. I'm sure you will enjoy it. It sounds awesome and is on my TBR list.
I want to thank Nancy for joining me this month. It's been great getting to know more about her and her wonderful new series.
In other news -
Coming up next month is fellow Jewel of the Quill Karen Weisner! Karen is truly an amazing author. She makes my head spin with all the books she has out and all the things she does on the side, plus she's a wife and mother.
Have you seen my beautiful cover for Journey to Redemption (look in the side bar)? Traci Markou at Whimsical Publications did an awesome job! I just love it. It really captures the mood and setting of the book. It releases one week from today.
If you haven't read Out of the Darkness or A Familiar Evil yet. Now is a great time to pick up your copies. They're both on sale!
Out of the Darkness
FBI profiler Alex Michaels' life was shattered when a sadistic serial killer murdered her twin sister and left Alex with a career ending injury. Hoping to put the past behind her, she sets off across country with a truck driver she barely knows.
Royce McIntire knows Alex is on the run from something or someone, but he doesn't care. He's fallen in love with her and is finally getting his life back on track.
The killer is hot on Alex's trail though, determined to find the one victim who got away. As more bodies turn up dead Alex has no choice but to tell Royce who she really is. Will the love that has blossomed between them be strong enough to sustain them, or will the killer get to Alex before they even have a chance to find out?
EXCERPT
The knife came out of nowhere.
A sharp pain, followed by a burning sensation, seared up her right forearm. Her fingers went numb and the gun clattered to the floor. She jabbed with her left arm, her clenched fist coming in contact with the jaw hidden behind a black ski mask.
The intruder retaliated with a punch to her right cheek that slammed her body back against the door. The room swirled, her knees grew weak. She struggled to stand on solid ground. With a fistful of hair, her head was jerked back as the attacker's knee rammed her rib cage, forcing a gush of air from her lungs.
She cried out as her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor. Another blow to her rib cage knocked her back onto the floor. Her left arm pinned beneath her, she raised a bloody right arm toward the intruder and stared in horror at her hand dangling lifelessly.
With the full weight of his body pinning her, she writhed beneath him trying to free her left arm.
Fight me, Alex. Show me you're not as weak as the rest."
"I swear I'm going to kill you." Using her feet as leverage, she rolled against him but she was no match for his strength.
He laughed. "Come on, Alex. Your sister put up a better fight than this."
A sob escaped her lips. She could still hear Cassie's cries for help and her bloodcurdling screams of terror.
"Sorry you didn't make it in time to say goodbye. But you'll be with her soon enough."
Out of the Darkness is 50% off until July 31--use coupon code xmasEjuly at checkout to get your discount. http://champagnebooks.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=76
A Familiar Evil
"You're out there watching me. I can feel you. What do you want? Why did you come back here?"
Jordan Russell had the perfect life until the brutal monster from her childhood resurfaced, opening up scars she thought were healed. With the hope of finally finding closure Jordan leaves her cheating husband, and her career in the FBI, and returns to where her nightmare began. But what awaits her in Thorny Creek will push her to the very edge of sanity and bring her face to face with her abductor.
EXCERPT
"Excuse me. I'm looking for Chief Russell."
Jordan's stomach did a nosedive at the familiar voice of her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
"You found her," Frank answered.
Jordan looked up just as Sam smiled. "Indeed I have." He started toward her desk.
Colleen barged through the opened door. "Chief, there's an Agent Russell here to see…oh, I guess you found her."
"Agent Russell," Frank repeated. He turned back to Jordan, "Isn't Russell your married name?" He then shifted his gaze back to Sam, "That must mean you're her husband."
"Not for much longer." Jordan hurried around her desk and ushered Frank out the door. "You'll be hearing from me." She closed the door and looked at Sam. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here at your request."
"I specifically requested someone from the Charlotte field office." Anyone but him.
He looked at her with the gorgeous smile that used to make her go weak in the knees. "And they forwarded that request to Agent Haines, who assigned me."
"We'll see about that." Jordan marched back to her desk, and was four digits into Haines' cell phone number when Sam pressed his finger down on the button and disconnected the call. Eighteen and a half months of built-up rage boiled to the surface. She doubled her right fist and spun around with lighting fury.
Sam, just as quick, stopped the fist within inches of his jaw. With his free hand, he took the phone from her left hand and placed it back in its cradle. Jordan felt his hot breath on her face as he peered down at her, and was keenly aware of the heat generating from his body through the hand which tightened around her wrist.
"Let me help you, Jordan…please."
She swallowed hard, summoned all her courage, and met his smoldering gaze. "I need a profiler who can tell me exactly what I'm up against here."
"Don't tell me you've lost your touch."
She ignored his smirk. "I need a fresh pair of eyes who can look at this guy objectively."
"Who hasn't allowed themselves to get too personal?"
"I just need someone other than you," she spat.
"Too bad, you're stuck with me. Now, what do you say I release your hand and you don't take my head off? Or we can continue to provide the day's entertainment for your co-workers."
Jordan shifted her gaze to the glass separating her office from the command center. A half dozen familiar faces scattered like rats. She twisted free from his grip, grabbed her cap from her desk and shoved it down over her head. "Fine!" She was already halfway out the door before she realized he wasn't with her. She turned back and found him smiling at her. "Are you coming or not?"
Ebook only $2.99 at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Print also available.
I want to thank Nancy for joining me this month. It's been great getting to know more about her and her wonderful new series.
In other news -
Coming up next month is fellow Jewel of the Quill Karen Weisner! Karen is truly an amazing author. She makes my head spin with all the books she has out and all the things she does on the side, plus she's a wife and mother.
Have you seen my beautiful cover for Journey to Redemption (look in the side bar)? Traci Markou at Whimsical Publications did an awesome job! I just love it. It really captures the mood and setting of the book. It releases one week from today.
If you haven't read Out of the Darkness or A Familiar Evil yet. Now is a great time to pick up your copies. They're both on sale!
Out of the Darkness
FBI profiler Alex Michaels' life was shattered when a sadistic serial killer murdered her twin sister and left Alex with a career ending injury. Hoping to put the past behind her, she sets off across country with a truck driver she barely knows.
Royce McIntire knows Alex is on the run from something or someone, but he doesn't care. He's fallen in love with her and is finally getting his life back on track.
The killer is hot on Alex's trail though, determined to find the one victim who got away. As more bodies turn up dead Alex has no choice but to tell Royce who she really is. Will the love that has blossomed between them be strong enough to sustain them, or will the killer get to Alex before they even have a chance to find out?
EXCERPT
The knife came out of nowhere.
A sharp pain, followed by a burning sensation, seared up her right forearm. Her fingers went numb and the gun clattered to the floor. She jabbed with her left arm, her clenched fist coming in contact with the jaw hidden behind a black ski mask.
The intruder retaliated with a punch to her right cheek that slammed her body back against the door. The room swirled, her knees grew weak. She struggled to stand on solid ground. With a fistful of hair, her head was jerked back as the attacker's knee rammed her rib cage, forcing a gush of air from her lungs.
She cried out as her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor. Another blow to her rib cage knocked her back onto the floor. Her left arm pinned beneath her, she raised a bloody right arm toward the intruder and stared in horror at her hand dangling lifelessly.
With the full weight of his body pinning her, she writhed beneath him trying to free her left arm.
Fight me, Alex. Show me you're not as weak as the rest."
"I swear I'm going to kill you." Using her feet as leverage, she rolled against him but she was no match for his strength.
He laughed. "Come on, Alex. Your sister put up a better fight than this."
A sob escaped her lips. She could still hear Cassie's cries for help and her bloodcurdling screams of terror.
"Sorry you didn't make it in time to say goodbye. But you'll be with her soon enough."
Out of the Darkness is 50% off until July 31--use coupon code xmasEjuly at checkout to get your discount. http://champagnebooks.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=76
A Familiar Evil
"You're out there watching me. I can feel you. What do you want? Why did you come back here?"
Jordan Russell had the perfect life until the brutal monster from her childhood resurfaced, opening up scars she thought were healed. With the hope of finally finding closure Jordan leaves her cheating husband, and her career in the FBI, and returns to where her nightmare began. But what awaits her in Thorny Creek will push her to the very edge of sanity and bring her face to face with her abductor.
EXCERPT
"Excuse me. I'm looking for Chief Russell."
Jordan's stomach did a nosedive at the familiar voice of her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
"You found her," Frank answered.
Jordan looked up just as Sam smiled. "Indeed I have." He started toward her desk.
Colleen barged through the opened door. "Chief, there's an Agent Russell here to see…oh, I guess you found her."
"Agent Russell," Frank repeated. He turned back to Jordan, "Isn't Russell your married name?" He then shifted his gaze back to Sam, "That must mean you're her husband."
"Not for much longer." Jordan hurried around her desk and ushered Frank out the door. "You'll be hearing from me." She closed the door and looked at Sam. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here at your request."
"I specifically requested someone from the Charlotte field office." Anyone but him.
He looked at her with the gorgeous smile that used to make her go weak in the knees. "And they forwarded that request to Agent Haines, who assigned me."
"We'll see about that." Jordan marched back to her desk, and was four digits into Haines' cell phone number when Sam pressed his finger down on the button and disconnected the call. Eighteen and a half months of built-up rage boiled to the surface. She doubled her right fist and spun around with lighting fury.
Sam, just as quick, stopped the fist within inches of his jaw. With his free hand, he took the phone from her left hand and placed it back in its cradle. Jordan felt his hot breath on her face as he peered down at her, and was keenly aware of the heat generating from his body through the hand which tightened around her wrist.
"Let me help you, Jordan…please."
She swallowed hard, summoned all her courage, and met his smoldering gaze. "I need a profiler who can tell me exactly what I'm up against here."
"Don't tell me you've lost your touch."
She ignored his smirk. "I need a fresh pair of eyes who can look at this guy objectively."
"Who hasn't allowed themselves to get too personal?"
"I just need someone other than you," she spat.
"Too bad, you're stuck with me. Now, what do you say I release your hand and you don't take my head off? Or we can continue to provide the day's entertainment for your co-workers."
Jordan shifted her gaze to the glass separating her office from the command center. A half dozen familiar faces scattered like rats. She twisted free from his grip, grabbed her cap from her desk and shoved it down over her head. "Fine!" She was already halfway out the door before she realized he wasn't with her. She turned back and found him smiling at her. "Are you coming or not?"
Ebook only $2.99 at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Print also available.
July 21, 2011
Coming Attraction in Deadly Triad by Nancy Kay
Book two in my Deadly Triad is entitled Deadly Revenge. Introduced in Deadly Reflection, this story spotlights a strong sometimes feisty woman named Ada Blaine whose life has been a series of ups and downs since the devastating loss of her beloved husband. Facing life virtually alone shaped Ada into a strong, independent, successful woman. She found solace in tending her bountiful herb gardens and, using the skills and a love of gardening passed on by her beloved grandmother, created a thriving business.
Relatively happy and content living in the close knit community of Pine Bluffs, Pennsylvania, Ada opens her arms, and her heart, when the niece of her long deceased sister pops into her life. Her niece, Cassi, awakens long dormant feelings within Ada as she witnesses the young woman falling in love with handsome Nick McGraw and senses a void in her own life.
Rich McConnell, the handsome owner of the town's hardware store, has a checkered past. Like Ada, he's settled for a successful business and a few close friends. Then Ada shows up at a mutual friend's Christmas Eve bash looking nothing like the friendly, down to earth gardener who occasionally visits Rich's store for supplies. To his amazement, and delight, Ada evolved from somewhat attractive, into drop-dead gorgeous
But within months, as they began to explore their newfound mutual attraction, a rifle shot and a near miss set in motion a series of threats that Rich suspects are tied to his past. Ada is hurt, and angry, to think he's backing away from her due to some misplaced guilt.
Sweet, touching passion and determination come together, creating a story of late in life love found amidst spine tingling danger for Rich and Ada.
Relatively happy and content living in the close knit community of Pine Bluffs, Pennsylvania, Ada opens her arms, and her heart, when the niece of her long deceased sister pops into her life. Her niece, Cassi, awakens long dormant feelings within Ada as she witnesses the young woman falling in love with handsome Nick McGraw and senses a void in her own life.
Rich McConnell, the handsome owner of the town's hardware store, has a checkered past. Like Ada, he's settled for a successful business and a few close friends. Then Ada shows up at a mutual friend's Christmas Eve bash looking nothing like the friendly, down to earth gardener who occasionally visits Rich's store for supplies. To his amazement, and delight, Ada evolved from somewhat attractive, into drop-dead gorgeous
But within months, as they began to explore their newfound mutual attraction, a rifle shot and a near miss set in motion a series of threats that Rich suspects are tied to his past. Ada is hurt, and angry, to think he's backing away from her due to some misplaced guilt.
Sweet, touching passion and determination come together, creating a story of late in life love found amidst spine tingling danger for Rich and Ada.
July 14, 2011
Nancy Kay's Deadly Reflection
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When Philly Detective Nick McGraw meets upscale health club owner Cassi Burke, his much needed vacation come to a halt. Instincts tell the seasoned homicide detective Cassi didn't kill the dead man at her feet. But Nick's duty bound to deliver her to local police, never suspecting Cassi's moment of fame makes her the target of a psychotic stalker. Though attracted to Cassi, Nick's not looking for forever, and he senses Cassi is a forever kind of girl. Attraction escalates, putting their feelings for one another, the silent threat to Cassi's life, and Nick's involvement in the unsolved murder case on a collision course.
Excerpt from Deadly Reflection
"Police! Hold it right there. Drop the knife and don't move."
Cassi whipped around. Looming several feet away, cloaked in shadows, stood a man. Her eyes went from him to the mutilated body, then back. She ignored his harsh command and scrambled to her feet.
He strode closer, forcing her gaze up a tower of muscle. Dark stubble roughened his jaw line and, glinting in the dim forest, his hard, angry eyes locked with hers.
This was a policeman?
What kind of cop slunk around a swamp, hovering near dead bodies? The shoe did not fit.
"I said, put down the knife. Now!" The man wiped sweat from his brow, moved closer, and reached for her.
Cassi raised her hand, forgetting she still clutched the knife. He froze, muscles bunched like a jungle cat ready to pounce. Going light headed, she gulped in air and cast a furtive glimpse around. Except for the droning insects, hushed silence surrounded them.
She was alone, and at his mercy.
Almost.
Rufus pressed against her legs, emitting sounds somewhere between whines and growls.
Cassi dropped the knife.
"Get 'em!" she shouted, giving Rufus a hefty shove. Resisting, the stumbling dog crashed into the man.
"Damn it!" he yelled, as Rufus' big puppy feet tangled with his long legs. He skidded, arms windmilling, and landed flat on his ass.
"Son of a bitch."
Rufus took off running.
Cassi seized the moment and followed. If this was a cop, she'd face the consequences later. Right now, she just wanted to escape and get out this swamp.
Excerpt from Deadly Reflection
"Police! Hold it right there. Drop the knife and don't move."
Cassi whipped around. Looming several feet away, cloaked in shadows, stood a man. Her eyes went from him to the mutilated body, then back. She ignored his harsh command and scrambled to her feet.
He strode closer, forcing her gaze up a tower of muscle. Dark stubble roughened his jaw line and, glinting in the dim forest, his hard, angry eyes locked with hers.
This was a policeman?
What kind of cop slunk around a swamp, hovering near dead bodies? The shoe did not fit.
"I said, put down the knife. Now!" The man wiped sweat from his brow, moved closer, and reached for her.
Cassi raised her hand, forgetting she still clutched the knife. He froze, muscles bunched like a jungle cat ready to pounce. Going light headed, she gulped in air and cast a furtive glimpse around. Except for the droning insects, hushed silence surrounded them.
She was alone, and at his mercy.
Almost.
Rufus pressed against her legs, emitting sounds somewhere between whines and growls.
Cassi dropped the knife.
"Get 'em!" she shouted, giving Rufus a hefty shove. Resisting, the stumbling dog crashed into the man.
"Damn it!" he yelled, as Rufus' big puppy feet tangled with his long legs. He skidded, arms windmilling, and landed flat on his ass.
"Son of a bitch."
Rufus took off running.
Cassi seized the moment and followed. If this was a cop, she'd face the consequences later. Right now, she just wanted to escape and get out this swamp.
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