Jen McConnel's Blog, page 54
October 21, 2012
Scottish Sundays: Whisky
Welcome back to another installment of Scottish Sundays. You can’t write about (or talk about, or even think about) Scotland without acknowledging the favorite drink, Whisky. In The Burning of Isobel Key, a creepy old woman describes this sharp liquor as something that can light a fire in the belly.
“Rather than spoil their lunch, however, she pushed her thoughts away and reached for the amber liquid the little woman had placed before them, unordered. Tammy was already sipping at hers happily, smacking her lips like a satisfied cat, and Lou figured she had nothing to lose. Maybe “starting a fire in her belly” would help her to cope with the awful weather outside.” -pg. 31
I have a slightly different assessment of this famous Scottish drink.
The first time I tasted whisky was in a dark pub in Edinburgh. My husband enthusiastically ordered a glass for me, and watched me for my reaction. He loves whisky, and he was sure that I would, too.
This is what popped out of my mouth after that first sip: “It’s like butterscotch with knives!”
While I’ve never developed a taste for whisky, I still love the scent: rich with caramel, thick with peat, smoky with fire: whisky smells divine. I just can’t get past the stabbing taste!
Stay warm and well (with maybe a wee dram to fight off the chill!) Next week, I go in search of the Loch Ness monster.
What do you think of whisky? Are you a connoisseur? What’s your favorite brand?
October 20, 2012
Bewitching Book Tour: THE NECROMANCER by PM Richter
This week, I’m thrilled to bring you a taste of PM Richter’s THE NECROMANCER. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
The Necromancer
P.M. Richter
Genre: Paranormal
ISBN-13: 978-1478349501
ISBN-10: 1478349506
ASIN: B004AYDGVM
Number of pages: 346
Word Count: 121,705
Amazon Kindle Amazon Print Barnes and Noble
Book Description:
She picked the worst guy to have an affair with! - Evil stalks in Hawaii
Michelle was brutally attacked in her locked hotel room in Las Vegas. The police didn’t believe her and thought she must have lured a man up to her hotel room for a little sexual adventure, which went dangerously out of control.
Michelle sustained visible scars from the terrifying and almost lethal attack, but pure fear motivated the move from her home in California to Hawaii. She’s scared her attacker will come back. She’s sure the next time he’ll kill her. Now she has a successful career and she figures abstinence is an acceptable, if lonely, way to live.
Michelle decides that an affair with a wickedly handsome man who moves into her building might cure her of the humiliating, embarrassing, and uncontrollable anxiety attacks which plague her whenever she finds herself alone with a man.
How could she know she made the worst possible choice?
Omar Satinov, the man Michelle has chosen, is a secret, whispered legend across several continents. His lure is a mystical religion based upon Witchcraft; his hook, the addictive herbal products he sells his followers. But does he really have supernatural powers, as many of his disciples believe?
Short Excerpt
It was just past twilight, almost time for the Crystal Prophesies. Omar leaned his elbows on the penthouse balcony, enjoying the moment. This was a magical time of day and he was a magician. He preferred calling himself a Necromancer to the common titles: warlock, conjuror, magus, seer or wizard. There were subtle variations, but he fancied ‘romancer’ in his title. Necromancer. It described him. He romanced his way into hearts and minds. With the help of a little magic.
As he gazed at the panorama spread out below, the Pacific slowly changed from light blue to a misty topaz. Lush clouds floated on the horizon, and stars began to glow. To his left was the tinsel-tourist Waikiki, and to his right the city of Honolulu was lighting up. Below him, in this very building, he could sense the presence of a remarkable woman.
He turned, gazing through plate glass windows into his new penthouse. Ginger and Samson were inside. Ginger noticed his look and, with a flourish, she uncovered an enormous crystal ball from its leather shroud. She winked at him. Ginger was a disciple, a beautiful tall woman, with long curly red hair. She wore a flowing blue gown for the ceremony.
It was a tradition for the three of them to gaze into the crystal ball to divine their future when they expanded to a new location. They had arrived in Oahu a week ago. Tonight was perfect, the time of the full moon.
Omar went inside and sat down in front of the crystal. The sphere was almost two feet in diameter and sparkled on a base of black onyx. The three were seated in the main living room, beneath a skylight. White rafters crossed the cathedral ceiling. The room was dark except for a cold silvery glow from the candles Ginger had placed around the room.
Omar passed his hands over the crystal ball several times for theatrical effect, principally for Samson, who was watching with curious eyes. Omar’s acolyte, Samson was a gigantic man who would never age mentally. He did remember this ritual. His mouth was open in anticipation.
Omar frowned and leaned closer, gazing into the depths of the crystal. Indeed, the omens were not auspicious. Red forms floated amorphously inside, constantly changing shape. This denoted the substance that controlled all magical rites. Blood was a fluid like the tide; it flowed like the ocean, was coaxed by the moon to move subtly in bodies, causing emotional changes called lunacy. Sometimes it spilled.
The black he observed, swirling around the red forms like a night wind, could be taken as a symbol of his own influence. It was the bright white light clashing there which forced Omar’s dark eyebrows to slide together. White, an opposing force, seemed capable of exerting great influence in these Hawaiian islands. Omar couldn’t tell if it indicated an old curse peculiar to these islands, with their ancient polytheist beliefs, or if it referred to a threatening individual.
The white was glowing, taking over. There was busy movement inside the crystal. It might have been a reflection from the stark white walls, but Omar was not taking chances.
“Who will sacrifice?” he asked, frowning at Ginger and Samson in turn. He took a dagger from the leather sheath that Ginger had placed beside the crystal ball.
The colossal young man cowered away.
Omar shook his head. Samson let out a tiny moan, but Omar swiftly reached across the crystal and pointed the tip of the dagger at Ginger.
“I need heart blood,” Omar said.
Ginger closed her eyes and nodded. He made a small slashing cut above her left breast, above her heart. The cut was superficial, but blood immediately started flowing.
Ginger leaned forward and red dripped on the round crystal ball, and slowly, like wine with good legs, inched down its sides.
Omar recited incantations and waved his long expressive hands. Both Ginger and Samson saw silver sparks extend from his fingertips and enter into the crystal. Ginger thought the effect might have been starlight drifting down from the skylight above. Samson was sure it was magic.
Omar peered into the depths of the crystal and was satisfied. The white light was winking out. The sacrifice had been potent.
His mind again sought the lovely feminine presence he had felt below him in this building. When he found it he smiled. His final aspiration would be fulfilled. The Crystal Prophesy said so.
About the Author
PM Richter is an author living in West Hollywood California. She has a degree in Psychology, from Northridge State University. She has worked as a property manager for Nansay, Corp. a multi-national corporation, been a dance teacher for Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire Dance Studios. She has five novels available on Amazon Kindle.
The Living Image
The Necromancer
Midnight Reflections
Trifecta
Deadly Memories
Website: http://anauthorsplace.weebly.com/index.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pam.richter.391
Twitter: @pmraven
October 19, 2012
Review and Promo: THE DARK LADY by R.J. Hore
I was bewitched by this story from the first page. Princess Nefasti, a young girl of ten, is thrust into a life of intrigue and power when her father is poisoned. Left in the control of her uncles, Nefasti must shake off their greedy, self-serving fingers and become a true queen to her people. She surrounds herself with loyal fighters and servants, and eventually, she is ready to show her uncles and the world that she’s more than a pawn in their games.
The characters are rich, the setting is vibrant, and the story is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing. I was rooting for Nefasti and her motley crew of loyal retainers, and I really enjoyed this story. For those who like historical fiction with a touch of the paranormal, this is an excellent read.
Medieval Fantasy
Title: The Dark Lady
Author: R.J. Hore
Date Published: 2/12 – eBook and 5/12 – Paperback
Publisher: Champagne Books
Synopsis:
A young girl, Nefasti, wakes
to discover her father, the King of the ancient kingdom of Vadio, has been poisone
d and her mother, the Queen, is near death, leaving her the sole heir to the crown. Princess Nefasti has three uncles who feel otherwise. Two uncles believe the solution to controlling the kingdom is to
betroth her to one of their sons, the third thinks that by marrying her himself he will secure the crown. To compound Nefasti’s problems, Vadio is surrounded by three hostile kingdoms, the remnants of the days when Vadio ruled most of the known world. These kingdoms plot to take control, whether through an arranged marriage, or war, or by whatever manner they can.
Princess Nefasti has two main goals, to survive, and to discover who is responsible for the death of her parents. Surrounded on all sides by plots, in order to save her life, is she destined to the side of darkness, or is she simply a misunderstood child? She must find allies and use her wits while trying to hold on to the throne. If I had to look at what prompted the idea for this novel, it was first wondering how certain individuals in fiction or history obtain their reputation, and second, looking at the life of Queen Elizabeth the First as a young girl in a precarious position surrounded by scheming nobles.
Contact Information
Website
Purchase Links
www.champagnebooks.com
www.burstbooks.ca
EXCERPT:
They say she is the Devil’s spawn, born in a cloud of brimstone and sulphur on a night when the peaks echoed with thunder and the castle walls trembled. I know that it is not true, and I should know. I was the midwife; although there was a storm, worse than I’d seen in many a year. She did scream like the Devil when she popped, but it was the cries of her mother, the queen, who drowned her out. Lady Gratia never had been strong, and losing two still-born sons had taken any remaining strength for birthing out of her. The ignorant outlanders whisper drunkenly in the inns that she is evil and cursed; that to gaze upon her face is death. This is a lie! Some careless folk say, when they think no one is listening, she walks across the lake to drink the blood of babes and drain the life force from careless husbands. I know this is also a lie; I have never seen her walk on water.
~ * ~
Nefasti knew something was wrong when her old nursemaid Vita peered through the half-open portal, whispered, “Stay here! Do not leave your room,” and quickly closed the door.
She heard the tortured grinding of the heavy iron key turning the lock and waited a moment, then slipped from her bed, trotted barefoot across the cold stones and pressed her ear against a crack in the worn wood. Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall to stop just on the other side.
R.J. Hore
A reader of genre fiction since a very early age, got down to serious attempts at writing over thirty years ago, although employment kept getting in the way.
I did write a considerable amount of non-fiction during my business career, enough to be listed as a professional writer by the Canadian Authors Association.
Hobbies include trying to keep on the good side of my wife, keeping track of my children and grandchildren, and wrestling the blasted cat off of the keyboard. In my diminishing spare time I sail on Lake Winnipeg and try not to get lost.
My writing history includes:
Winning first prize in a National Canadian Authors short story contest (a romantic ghost story) and having that published in an anthology, and having a modern vampire tale published in an anthology that seems to be doing quite well.
A current member of three writing organizations, for several years I was in charge of the judging for a national Canadian history book contest, and chaired a writer’s workshop in Winnipeg that self-published an anthology, including three of my pieces: a sci fi piece, an attempt at an epic poem, and a true tale of how I almost drowned my brother and his wife in a storm the first year I owned a sailboat.
I currently review science fiction and fantasy genre novels and anthologies for an on-line magazine aimed primarily at school libraries. I’m losing track, but I have done somewhere over 60 reviews so far.
In 20I0 co-authored a non fiction history: “The Rotary Club of Winnipeg-100 Years of Service”.
Through BURST Books, writing as R.J.Hore, I have a medieval fantasy tale of murder and intrigue entitled “The Dark Lady” that came out in February 2012 and a fantasy detective story scheduled for December 2012 called “Housetrap”. Housetrap is designed as the first in a series of novellas; I have three others in the set already completed, but not scheduled, as of this date: “Dial M for Mudder,” “The House on Hollow Hill,” and “Hounds of Basalt Ville.” Already scheduled for publication, I have a novella “Knight’s Bridge” another medieval tale arriving in March 2013, and a full length novel, again a medieval fantasy, working title “Pawn, Queen, Checkmate,” coming out in April 2013.
And of course, I also have a large stack of completed manuscripts in various stages ranging from a “What If” — the North Americans discovered Europe first, set in 1215AD – to a contemporary bickering married couple swept away to an alterative universe, or a futuristic tale of a lady archeologist set in outer space.
Check out the other tour stops!
October 9 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
October 10 – My Cozie Corner – Review/Giveaway
October 13 – Rowan’s Mom – Review/Giveaway
October 14 – BookanAppointment with Wisdom Books – Review/Giveaway/Excerpt October 15 – Books For Me – Review/
October 16 – The Cosy Dragon – Review/Giveaway
October 17 – My Reading Addiction – Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
October 18 – Words I Write Crazy – Review/Giveaway
October 19 – Jen McConnel – Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
October 21 – Shakira’s Book Blog – Review/Giveaway/Interview/Excerpt
October 18, 2012
Call for Submissions: A Mantle of Stars
Pst. I’ve got big news. I’ll be editing a devotional anthology in honor of the Queen of Heaven. Want to know more? Check out my post!
Trick or Tweet Giveaway!
It’s time to Trick-or-Tweet! Enter to win one of 40 prizes donated by ten awesome authors! Trick-or-Tweet your way to a signed print book or e-book! Some mail-out prizes even include candy and swag! Winners are chosen on Halloween with the announcement made at noon on Kayla Curry’s blog Paranormal Lounge. E-mails will be sent to the winners and prizes will be given on a first come-first-serve basis. Remember to tweet every day to up your chances of winning! In the meantime, go door-to-door and ring the bells on these blogs to read fun Halloween posts. I’ll be posting my tale on October 25th: stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out these other spooky (and sometimes sweet) tales.
S. M. Boyce
Wynne Channing
Kayla Curry
Riley J. Ford
Rebecca Hamilton
Nikki Jefford
Rachel McClellan
Jen McConnel
Christie Rich
A. D. Trosper
Thomas Winship
Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of 40 amazing prizes!
October 17, 2012
Writers on Wednesday: R.P. Kraul, author of MIRRORS OF ANGUISH
1. When did you start writing?
I was a really creative kid, so I think the storytelling aspects were always in place. I’ve been interested in art, music, but writing is what I’ve stuck with. When did I really start writing, which is to say when I started working on my first novel, Mirrors of Anguish? That happened back in the late seventies. I’m influenced by film more than most other writers, I think, and Mirrors was kind of on-the-job training, and I would integrate into the story aspects from the latest horror films I’d seen. I also had a long hiatus from writing–about twelve years–and it wasn’t until about five years ago that I finally finished Mirrors.
2. Are you a pantser or a planner?
I’m an almost pure pantser. I’ve tried every planning method under the sun because, frankly, there’s just something alluring about planning a thing like you draw the blueprint for a house. When it comes time to actually writing after making the plan, however, I just can’t function. I’ve found that I need to discover the story the same way a reader does, which is to say there’s a lot of curveballs and unexpected turns along the way. I have absolutely no idea where I’m going when I start a project. The only thing I really need to know is the characters–who are they, and what they want. The story itself, it really springs from the decisions that the characters make.
I see advantages and disadvantages to both methods. For instance, pantsing seems to result in more organic stories at the cost of the editing mess you’re left with in the end. Planning gives you that firmer framework, but it’s often a struggle, at least for me, to maintain that natural, organic feel. The stories tend to have a more mechanical feel.
3. Can you give us an idea of your writing process?
When I was younger, I got into the habit of writing at night. The house was quiet and dark. It was my own creative kingdom. Being older and having a family, I now do my writing in the mornings before I leave for work. Music has to be playing as loud as my family will allow
Silence–I don’t know; it’s very distracting. I use an Apple Macintosh and an array of different software, and when things are going well, I can usually knock out 2-3k in an hour.I also try to stop in mid-scene because that’s the best place to start for my next writing session. If I finish a scene, I always try to start a new one, even if it’s only a few sentences.
4. Which authors have influenced your work?
Definitely Lovecraft and Poe. Those are required for any horror author. Also Fredric Brown, Stephen King, Peter Straub, Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, and a bunch of others. I’ve also enjoy literary stuff. I love Hemingway. About ten years ago, a friend introduced me to the work of Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut is probably my all-time favorite writer. I should also mention Joseph Heller, if only for Catch-22. It has to be the funniest novel I’ve ever read, and it showcases his ear for dialogue.
I’m also a nonfiction hound. I love all the work of William F. Buckley, Jr. A writer can learn a lot from a language pedant like Buckley. He was brilliant and one of the funniest writers who ever raised a pen. To write those long, eloquent sentences and have them lucid in meaning–he was a true craftsman of the English language.
I’ve also been influenced by a lot of brilliant screenwriters. Woody Allen, David Mamet–these are two of my favorites. Dialogue is awfully important in fiction, and screenwriters are the real experts on the subject.
5. What are you plans/future projects/new releases that we should be aware of?
In late October, Immortal Ink Publishing will release my second novel, Demon of the Fall. It’s a vintage horror story with some crime elements. It’s a throwback to the horror comics of the mid-twentieth century.
Early in 2013, Immortal Ink Publishing will release Gates of Perdition, which is a prequel to Mirrors of Anguish. When I finally got an initial grasp on Mirrors (you know, when I wasn’t just emulating horror films), I tried to include a lot of previous history. The book became unruly. I decided it had to be another book entirely, and Gates was born. It’s a more literary book than Mirrors, and yet, the horror is even more extreme.
6. Any tips for new writers?
No matter which genre you write in, you ought to be familiar with the roots of your genre. I meet an alarming number of young writers who (apparently) haven’t read any books older than themselves. A great benefit of reading older books is simply to collect ideas and to analyze different styles. What do those writers do well that you don’t do well (or that contemporary writers don’t do well)? In the case of someone like Lovecraft, he did atmosphere really well. He created entire ruined, decayed worlds, and atmosphere in horror is really important.
Study the language. Our language is a toolbox, and each writer should know his or her tools.
7. Any tips for old writers?
The advantage of today’s technological society is that you can easily interact with a lot of people. The disadvantage of today’s technological society is that the constant interactivity can be a time waster–and so many voices can get into your head that you will have to struggle to maintain your own identity, your own vision. Writing, to some degree, needs to be a solitary activity. If you listen to too many people, you’re writing a collective story, not your own.
More importantly, don’t become complacent. Realize that, as a writer, you need to keep improving and evolving. You haven’t written that perfect book, and you never will. No one has ever written a perfect book. But the notion of perfection–it’s that idealistic pinnacle we should all strive for.
Also realize that writing is an abstract art, and as such, it’s highly subjective. One reader’s gold is another reader’s rubbish. Do the best you can and forget about these subjective opinions, good or bad.
You can find info on the first book here: http://rpkraul.com/mirrors.php
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and here: http://www.immortalinkpublishing.com/books.php?id=4
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The Amazon Listing is here: http://www.amazon.com/Mirrors-Anguish-Belcorte-Murders-ebook/dp/B008VF4ZE8/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1346521202&sr=1-1
October 16, 2012
Trick or Tweet Giveaway!
It’s time to Trick-or-Tweet! Enter to win one of 40 prizes donated by ten awesome authors! Trick-or-Tweet your way to a signed print book or e-book! Some mail-out prizes even include candy and swag! Winners are chosen on Halloween with the announcement made at noon on Kayla Curry’s blog Paranormal Lounge. E-mails will be sent to the winners and prizes will be given on a first come-first-serve basis. Remember to tweet every day to up your chances of winning! In the meantime, go door-to-door and ring the bells on these blogs to read fun Halloween posts. I’ll be posting my tale on October 25th: stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out these other spooky (and sometimes sweet) tales.
S. M. Boyce
Wynne Channing
Kayla Curry
Riley J. Ford
Rebecca Hamilton
Nikki Jefford
Rachel McClellan
Jen McConnel
Christie Rich
A. D. Trosper
Thomas Winship
Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of 40 amazing prizes!
October 15, 2012
Bewitching Book Tour: BELL, BOOK, AND SANDALS by Melissa L. Webb
REVIEW:
I am so excited about this book. BELL, BOOK, AND SANDALS is one of the most delightful novels I’ve read lately. It’s true to both the paranormal and the chick lit genre, and readers who are looking for the next weekend read will love this.
When Maxie Duncan’s fiance dumps her, she decides it’s time for a drastic change. She moves from Maine to Hollywood, determined to live off her good looks instead of her parents’ overflowing bank accounts. But at the first audition she attempts, she gets her dreams crushed. Luckily, not everyone in Hollywood is out to get her: she stumbles into a quirky but loveable set of friends, and Maxie finds herself living on her own and loving it.
Then, as if things weren’t already good enough, she gets a chance to go on a date with the hottest leading man in Hollywood. But when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Maxie’s life is about to take a turn for the weird.
Fans of Shopaholic will love Maxie’s innocent, sassy demeanor, and readers who enjoy a magical twist will love the strange world that Maxie tumbles into. Get ready for a delightful read: I can’t wait for more of Maxie’s adventures!
Bell, Book, and Sandals
Maxie Duncan series, Book 1
Melissa L. Webb
Genre: Paranormal Chick Lit
ISBN: 1478216522
ASIN: B008QNS1KY
Number of pages: 189
Word Count: About 60,000
Amazon Kindle Amazon Paperback
Book Description:
Sometimes life can be a real witch.
Meet Maxie Duncan. Your average 23-year-old blonde. If you can call being wealthy, gorgeous, and knowing what the future holds at times, average.
After her fiancé blindsides her with a breakup at their favorite restaurant, she leaves Maine for a shot at being Hollywood’s new ‘it girl.’ There’s only one problem. She’s never acted a day in her life.
When a big Hollywood director sends her packing, she realizes if she wants to stay in L.A., she may have to become a normal girl after all. But normal has never been in the cards for her. Strange things keep happening wherever she goes, a red-eyed shadow no one else sees is stalking her, and to top it off, she may be falling in love again, with either the bookish guy next door, or Hollywood’s hottest leading man.
But everything isn’t what it seems. Someone’s keeping secrets from her. Is it her new friends at the apartment building she moved into? Or is it Ryan Everheart, the actor who wants to sweep her off her feet? And why are her feet suddenly floating off the ground?
It’s enough to drive a girl insane. All Maxie wants to do is ride off into the sunset with her one true love and find a killer pair of Manolo Blahniks on the way. But how’s a girl supposed to focus on a love life and shopping when everywhere she turns someone or something is trying to kill her?
About the Author : 
Melissa L. Webb is a writer, dreamer, thinker, and a seeker. She is an avid fan of anything paranormal. She loves to read and won’t be caught dead without some kind of book in her purse. She is also a big fan of horror. She has yet to find any movie or book that will scare her, however, she remains hopeful that one does exists out there.
When she isn’t tutoring students, you’ll find her weaving words in a magical place, between the ocean and the redwoods, called Northern California, and spending time being bossed around by her dog, Buffy.
Website: www.melissalwebb.com
Blog: www.melissalwebb.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/melissalwebb
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-L-Webb/193813600663672
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/melissalwebb/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4548469.Melissa_L_Webb
Bewitching Book Tours: Hidden Salem by Kiki Howell
I’m delighted to have Kiki Howell here today, talking about her new novel Hidden Salem. There’s also a giveaway at the end of the post: enjoy!
One of the first places I visited in Salem, MA was the the Charter street burial ground, historically known as the Old Burying Point. I read that it is the second oldest *recorded* burial ground in the United States. Buried there are such notable figures as Samual McIntire, Giles Cory’s second wife, Lt. Col. John Hathorn (better known as “the hanging judge” – the one judge who never repented for his actions during the hysteria), and a passenger on the Mayflower.
I can’t really explain what it was like to walk through the place, just the city, let alone one of its cemeteries. Even the first trip in, in the daylight, being a bit sensitive to energy *winks* I didn’t expect to turn around to the second row of graves and get the feeling that three of them, now unmarked by weathering, were once my neighbors. Names came to me, a flash of an old street… I don’t know, who can explain such things, right? I always just try to go with it, not dwell on things too much. I think some of this type of attitude comes out in my main character in the novel I wrote inspired by this trip.
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For the rest of that first walk around the cemetery, I had tears burning the back of my eyes from time to time. A young man who was just sitting among the graves even asked
me if I was okay at one point. Truthfully he seemed to appear and disappear out of nowhere, so much so, that I had to ask those I was with if they’d seen him too.
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The whole experience left me a little raw, on edge. But, I knew I’d gone to Salem for a story, didn’t know where the inspiration would come from, and I trudged on through. In the back of the cemetery was a tree, one that seemed like it had a protective branch over the graves beneath it. Something about the image stuck with me for a long time, and it even became the backdrop for one of the last scenes in my novel, Hidden Salem.
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Of course, the trip we took there at night on the Haunted Footsteps tour, well there were orbs and all involved. Stick with me on the tour to read about that part of the trip.
Hidden Salem
Kiki Howell
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Mitchell Morris Publishing Inc
ISBN: 9781937629281
Number of pages: 332
Cover Artist: Tara at http://fantasiafrogdesigns.wordpress.com/
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/lgy8wgA3bDI
Book Description:
Intuition alone brought Makayla to Salem, Ma in search of a story, but her research has her confronting more than she bargained for. With her empathic gifts stronger in Witch City, she physically suffers, landing her literally unconscious in the arms of both Noah Ayers, local cop and Dylan Baines, local history teacher. Yet, it is Lauri, a witch who owns a local shop, who teaches Makayla about who she is and what she can do.
Unfortunately for all of them, Makayla also stumbles upon a coven in the woods practicing a dark magic ritual. Now they are after her, threatening her life and the lives of those she has quickly come to care about. Immersed in things she never expected, like an old legend and necromancy due to residual hauntings, the race is on to stay safe from the coven and protect her heart from a certain sexy cop.
But, is Lauri correct in thinking Makayla might just have encountered the only real witch in Salem in 1692? And, do they share the same bloodline?
Reviews:
“Richly vivid and captivatingly engrossing, Hidden Salem is a mesmerizing tale that blends an eerie historical past with a rather terrifying present. Kiki Howell brings the fascination of the witches of Salem – both past and present – to a brilliant level, adding liberal doses of sensuous love, suspense and murder to provide a hard-to-put-down, provocative and memorable story that you don’t want to miss.” ~ April Pohren, Cafe of Dreams Book Reviews
“Kiki Howell spins a tale that will bewitch your heart and leave you wanting more.” ~ Misty Rayburn – Top Shelf Book Reviews
” I really enjoyed reading Hidden Salem. You see a lot of books about the Salem Witch Hunt. This one is really different and I just really loved the characters and how they interact with each other. I enjoyed this paranormal. Had the right amount of suspense and love interest. “ ~Crystal, Romancing the Book
About the Author:
Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.
She has now had over thirty stories published between eleven different publishers. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder.
http://www.facebook.com/kikihowell
http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com
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PROMO: Lisa Schoonover – THE INDIGO BUTTERFLY
This week, I am thrilled to bring you a sneak peek of an entrancing travel memoir, THE INDIGO BUTTERFLY. Enjoy!
Travel Narrative
Title: The Indigo Butterfly
Author: Lisa L. Schoonover
Synopsis:
The Indigo Butterfly is the true and inspiring story of a young writer’s journey of self-discovery and a yearning for her place in the world. On the eve of college graduation the author has a revealing dream that leads to an epiphany. At the same time, Desert Storm is causing a recession throughout the country, leaving few opportunities for a new writer.
Forced to make some difficult decisions, the young woman rejects conventionality in order to follow her dream of becoming a writer. But she soon discovers that the outer voyage is interwoven with her inner journey to understand herself. While she is on the road, the writer encounters fellow travelers, teachers, mystics, artists, and unique individuals who welcome her into their communities.
The Indigo Butterfly chronicles the author’s fifteen-year odyssey across North America as retold through vignettes culled from her journals during that time. From Seattle’s lush rainforest to the mysterious islands of South Carolina, no region of the country goes unexplored in the determined writer’s quest.
THE DREAM…
A young girl with hair the color of the sun wanders through a grassy meadow bursting with colorful wildflowers. Her eyes are drawn to the cragged branches of a gnarled elderberry tree. Hovering high above her is a spectacular indigo butterfly. Sunlight dances on its iridescent wings.
The butterfly flutters towards the clearing’s edge before disappearing into the canopy overhead. The girl searches anxiously for the path, unable to fi nd her way in the darkness. Every shadow becomes a possible threat.
She searches for the path by the light of the moon, yearning for a sign that will lead her out of the darkness. On the verge of collapse, the girl falls to the ground. A dark shadow approaches. The girl struggles to pull herself up from the place where she has fallen.
A voice softly whispers, “Hello.” Resting on a rock is the indigo butterfly.
“I am lost!” the girl cries out in fear. She covers her face with trembling hands.
“Dear child, you are never lost.” The butterfly leads the young girl to the clearing.
The butterfly effortlessly transforms into a beautiful maiden. Her shimmering indigo gown gleams in the moonlight, and her flowing hair smells like jasmine. Clouds of tiny lavender butterflies swirl around her. With a sweep of her hand, she gestures to the surrounding woods.
“All writers begin their lives in the darkness, cloaked where the alchemy of transformation resides. One must allow for this precious unfolding before emerging into the light. Without it, the journey is meaningless. Soon, you will be called. Do not be afraid. When you are ready they will be waiting for you. Remember all that I have told you.”
The maiden places an enormous book with a frayed red velvet cover into the girl’s hands. A golden tassel hangs from the spine of the book. The script has been recorded in rich, dark hues matching the maiden’s gown.
The edge of each page has been gilded from gold, and though it appears to be extremely heavy, the book is entirely weightless. Within a moment, the book fades from her hands. The maiden raises her cloak and disappears into the fading night. The girl is alone again in the woods, but this time she can see the clearing. As she departs the forest, the wind stirs gently for a moment. On the winds of the night, the maiden’s voice calls once again:
“Go forth with the soul of an artist with the wings of a butterfly…”
”Readers Are Saying:
“The Indigo Butterfly is exquisite! I’m recommending it to everyone I know.”
–S. Eaton, Managing Editor
“I couldn’t put it down. This book is a testament to the human spirit. Lovely.”
–Konda R., Publicist
“Well done… this book has it all. This story will captivate you until the last word.”
–Robert, Publisher
Author Bio
Lisa L. Schoonover is an experienced writer, aquisitions editor, curriculum developer, and independent travel contributor. With twenty years of combined teaching and educational publishing experience, she has worked as a senior editor and project manager for Houghton Mifflin, Pearson Education, McGraw-Hill, Riverside Publishing, as well as several other development houses and publishers across the country. Her work appears in texts, ancillary materials, testing materials, and educational curriculum.
Lisa is also active in the literary community as an advocate and writing facilitator. Her work with Headstart and Homeschooling was one of the early after-school literacy programs in the country. She has worked as an ELL instructor, ELA TA, Laubach Literacy instructor, and has taught in both private and public schools throughout the country. Lisa is the former editor of Schoolwisepress in San Francisco, and has worked for CK-12 in Silicon Valley. She has been a contributing writer to many literary journals, anthologies, and publications. Lisa is currently involved with literacy projects of merit.
As an independent travel writer, Lisa is provided with the opportunity to experience other cultures in a more personally engaging way than with pleasure travel. Lisa has written for Conde Nast Traveller, Transitions Abroad, Budget Travel, Boots ‘N All, as well as other independent and mainstream publications. Her travelogue for children, entitled A Day in Florence, will soon be re-released in e-book form. Her travel articles have also been published in periodicals and magazines across the country. Lisa was also a stringer for the MV Times, Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, and BermudaMagazine.
She has written for neighborhood publications, non-profits, and start-ups. Her curriculum development experience assisted in the transition to technical writing. Lisa has provided educational services for Adobe, Cisco, Upside Magazine, NFA, and The IrishIndependent when Lisa lived abroad in Ireland. She has been a freelance reporter and contributor to a number of political, business, and trade organizations. Lisa’s writing skills were honed at the Iowa Writers Workshop and her short stories have appeared in anthologies nationwide. She is currently promoting her new release The Indigo Butterfly.
CONTACT
www.writerlisaschoonover.org
Twitter @lisa_schoonover
Virtual Travelogue
Promo E-mail: http://www.theindigobutterfly@yahoo.com
Twitter@lisa_schoonover
Book Ordering Information:
http://www.balboapress.com
1 (877) 407-4847
ISBN: 978-1-4525-5325-2 (sc)
