Vanessa A. Ryan's Blog, page 6

The Trail of Terror (Horror at the Lake (A Vampire Tale) (Book 2) is Now Available To Buy!

   From Vanessa A. Ryan 
 Published by Permuted Press In one terrible night, Susan Runcan loses her friends, loved ones, the mansion she inherits and the medallion, with its mysterious powers so coveted by her late grandfather. But she has no time to grieve. Especially when she realizes she's a vampire and shedding tears made of precious blood will weaken her. The new challenges ahead will test her endurance and take all her strength. 

Another vampire is sabotaging her, laying the blame on her for his murders. She has to find a better way to live–one that doesn't include dying alone in a prison cell or murdering the police. She has to reason with this vampire–or kill him before he destroys her. Available Now From
Amazon.comAmazon.co.uk
Barnes and Noble You can also pre-order A Palette For Murder (A Lana Davis Mystery) from Vanessa A. Ryan!  
Published by Cengage Gale
Lana Davis arrives in New Mexico from Los Angeles, with plans for some sightseeing. But this all-expense-paid trip isn't a vacation. She's here to find Antonio Chavez, the missing beneficiary of a large life insurance policy her company issued, and last seen in Santa Fe. A disgruntled heir insists he should receive the proceeds instead. However bogus his claim is, the public relations nightmare he causes for her company is real. If Lana doesn't find Antonio, her job is on the line.
Lana's search for Antonio brings her into the inner circle of a powerful art gallery in Santa Fe. But she soon discovers, when art and greed collide, the result is deadly. And finding herself a target is more than she signed up for. 
Pre-order links: 
Amazon.com 
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble U.S  
Vanessa A. Ryan is the author of:
 Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale mystery trilogy:Book 1, The Legacy Of Fear -- order now Book 2, The Trail Of Terror -- order nowBook 3, The Blood Of Redemption -- coming in April
A Palette For Murder - pre-order now -- coming in April
Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan
  

Do You Dare Visit Highgate Cemetery in London?

In the 1800s Highgate Cemetery near London was constructed, but by the late 1960s, it had fallen into neglect. The decline of the cemetery coincided with stories that started circulating—stories that told of vampires and supernatural occurrences emanating from the graveyard. Soon, newspapers started to pick up the stories, and England’s newest vampire legend was born.
Two young girls were heading home one evening after spending time with friends in Highgate Village. As they passed Highgate Cemetery, they couldn’t believe what they saw. Four bodies seemed to be emerging from their tombs.
A short time later, a couple walking past the cemetery caught sight of something hovering behind the iron railings of the gate that encircled it. As the two stunned bystanders watched, they noticed its contorted face—an image that terrified them for years.
As more and more people started to notice the “being” that lived within the cemetery, stories began to emerge of drained animal carcasses, and newspapers started a national frenzy. In the early ’70s, one young lady claimed that she met face to face with the “vampire” on the path that went alongside of the cemetery. She claimed that as she returned home one morning she was thrown to the ground with force by a “tall figure” with a “deathly white face.” She was lucky that a car stopped to help her and the white faced demon vanished. The young lady was taken to the local police station, shocked to the core. She only suffered abrasions to her arms and legs, and although the police combed the area, they could not find the culprit or any evidence of its existence. It was also noted that where the victim had been attacked, the road was surrounded by 12-ft walls.
The stories did not end there. A visitor to Highgate Village decided to check out the graveyard some time later. As he walked around checking out the gravestones, the sun begin to go down, and he found himself walking around in darkness. He became lost but stayed calm. As he hunted for the gate, he realized that he was being followed. As he decided to confront whatever it was behind him, he turned around swiftly and suddenly became paralyzed with fear. A tall figure stood in front of him. He stood shocked and afraid for several minutes until the “creature” vanished.
Even today, there are stories of activity within the graveyard. The black figure is still reported at the cemetery, and there have been reports of the “black figure” in the lane that runs alongside the cemetery. A lady recently saw a creature with bright eyes disappear through the cemetery wall as she drove past.  However, one of the strangest occurrences happened in the mid-’70s—a dog walker returned to his car to find a freshly dug up body in his car. The car doors were still locked and there were no signs of entry… What is going on in Highgate, England?



Vanessa A. Ryan is the author of:
 Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale mystery trilogy:Book 1, The Legacy Of Fear -- order now Book 2, The Trail Of Terror -- order now Book 3, The Blood Of Redemption -- coming in April


A Palette For Murder - pre-order now -- coming in April
Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

Do You Really Know Your Neighbor? 6 Vampires Who Could Have Lived Next Door

James P. Riva
Just 23 years old when he killed his disabled grandmother in Massachusetts in 1980, James P. Riva claimed to be a 700-year-old vampire who killed her just to drink her blood. When questioned, he later changed his story to say that he had killed the old lady in self-defence. 
A native of a town called Marshfield, James P. Riva went from drinking his grandmother’s blood to claiming that she was the vampire and that she used an icepick to drain his blood while he slept at night. It didn’t take long for the jury to decide whether or not he was guilty. In 1981, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for shooting his grandmother four times with bullets made of gold and stabbing her repeatedly through the heart before burning the house down.
Fritz Haarmann
Best known as “The Vampire of Hanover,” Haarmann was one of the first documented serial killers. Between 1918 and 1924, he is known to have killed at least twelve people. Many of those he killed died of wounds to their necks. Haarmann was eventually captured and sentenced to death for his grisly crimes. In 1925, he was beheaded and his brain studied by scientists. His head was preserved in a jar and by all accounts was kept at a medical school deep in the German heartland.
Roderick Ferrell
Roderick Ferrell took role-playing to the next level when he led a group of his followers called “The Vampire Clan” from Kentucky to Eustis, Florida. The clan meant to kill the parents of Ferrell’s girlfriend so she could become part of his coven. Arriving in Florida, Ferrell and a friend beat his girlfriend’s father with a crowbar and took part in a ceremony, which included burning a large “V” into his chest. When arrested, Ferrell told the police that they would never be able to keep him locked up because he was an all-powerful, 500-year-old vampire named Vesago. Ferrell eventually became the youngest American to enter death row in 1998. Recently, his sentence has been commuted to life without parole.
Richard Chase
A fascination with blood led to a month-long horror spree between 1977 and 1978. Richard Chase was dubbed “The Vampire of Sacramento” after he killed, disemboweledand drank the blood of six victims. Chase, by all accounts, attacked randomly and only entered homes where the door was unlocked or wide open. He said that a locked door meant that he wasn’t welcome. Chase was sentenced to the death penalty after being found guilty of first degree murder six times. He eventually took his own life in prison in 1979.
Allan Menzies
Obsessions sometimes lead to more grisly affairs. When Allan Menzies became hooked on the vampire movie “Queen of the Damned,” he started to believe he was the main character from the movie “Akasha.” At his trial, he admitted that he knew he had to kill somebody and had decided on his best friend, who had lent him the film in the first place. When his friend McKendrick insulted the main character of the film, Menzies flipped and stabbed him 42 times. Then he hit him with a hammer and finally consumed part of his brain. Menzies was sentenced to life imprisonment but committed suicide after a year of incarceration.
Josephine Smith
In 2011, a young lady called Josephine Smith attacked a defenceless 69-year-old homeless man as he slept in St. Petersburg, Florida. By all accounts, she told the poor man, “I am a vampire. I am going to eat you.” She then bit off pieces of his arm, lips and face. The homeless victim managed to escape and called the police who eventually found the young vampire covered in blood with no memory of ever having committed her vampirisitic acts.


Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

Pre-Order Your Copy of "Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale, Book 2: The Trail of Terror

Coming March 2015

Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale: The Trail of Terror Permuted PressAbout the Book
In one terrible night, Susan Runcan loses her friends, loved ones, the mansion she inherits and the medallion, with its mysterious powers so coveted by her late grandfather. But she has no time to grieve. Especially when she realizes she's a vampire and shedding tears made of precious blood will weaken her. The new challenges ahead will test her endurance and take all her strength. 

Another vampire is sabotaging her, laying the blame on her for his murders. She has to find a better way to live–one that doesn't include dying alone in a prison cell or murdering the police. She has to reason with this vampire–or kill him before he destroys her. Pre-order your copy today: Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble  About the Author 
Vanessa A. Ryan is an actress in Southern California. She was born in California and graduated from UCLA. When not writing or acting, she enjoys painting and nature walks. Her paintings and sculptures are collected worldwide. At one point, she performed stand-up comedy, so her writing often reflects her love of humor, even for serious subjects. She lives with her cat Dezi, and among feral cats she has rescued.


She is the author of A BLUE MOON, an urban fantasy, HORROR AT THE LAKE, a vampire trilogy and A PALETTE FOR MURDER, a traditional cozy mystery. Follow Vanessa A. Ryan at https://www.facebook.com andhttps://twitter.com.



Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

The Latest Interview with Vanessa A. Ryan!

Vanessa A. Ryan is an actress in Southern California. She was born in California and graduated from UCLA. When not writing or acting, she enjoys painting and nature walks. Her paintings and sculptures are collected worldwide. At one point, she performed stand-up comedy, so her writing often reflects her love of humor, even for serious subjects. She lives with her cat Dezi, and among feral cats she has rescued. She is the author of A BLUE MOON, an urban fantasy, HORROR AT THE LAKE, a vampire trilogy and A PALETTE FOR MURDER, a traditional cozy mystery.

How do you come up with the titles of your books?

Sometimes the title just comes to me. Other times, I ask my family, friends, the publisher, or even strangers I meet see on the street to help me choose the best wording of a preliminary title. They’ll all have different opinions, and then the hard part is making the final decision.

What is your writing schedule?

My writing schedule is to write at least a thousand words a day, seven days a week, for the first draft. Most of that happens late at night, when the phone is least likely to ring. I may stay up until two in the morning to get in those thousand words, especially when I’ve had a busy day doing something else. I know if I don’t persevere, I won’t get that first draft written. As for revisions and rewrites, I like those the best. The hard work is already done. Cutting, revising and adding is the fun part.

Do you jump out of bed with coffee in hand or are you an afternoon writer?

I never jump out of bed for anything, unless the house is on fire––which has happened to me. I like coffee and breakfast in the morning, and reading the Los Angeles Times. Three days a week I read it online, and four days a week I get it delivered. It’s an important part of my daily routine. I never turn on the TV or radio for the news in the morning. I’m the type who wakes up slowly. I like to know what’s going on in the world, but without someone barking at me. If I can, I will write in the afternoon for a while. I might finish what I started writing in the afternoon later that night, if I didn’t get enough done.

What conditions do you like to write under?

I like overcast days. In fact, I love overcast weather. I feel more creative when the sky is gray and the atmosphere is a little foggy. Sunny days are just for enjoying the warmth of the sun, smiling a lot and not thinking much.

What do you have to avoid when writing a book?

I have to avoid too many other activities, or cut the time I devote to them. And since I’ve always got ideas in my head for new stories, I have to stop thinking of them so I can write the book I’ve already started.

Do you ever get burned out?

Sure. Writing is work. It’s putting in the time. Since December, I have been taking a break. But the holidays are over, and tomorrow, I will begin looking at the edits of the last book in my trilogy, Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale. However, even when I’m not writing, I’m thinking of my next book or series of books.

How do you start to write a book? What is the first step?

The first step is to decide which book floating around in my head I am going to commit to writing down. I usually know who the main character is and whether I’m going to write in the first person or in the third, but I will have to rough out the secondary characters. The next most important thing is to figure out the ending. The challenge, then, is how to get from the beginning to the end. Sometimes I write plot points on three by five cards, and sometimes I just wing it and start writing. I try to write chapters that are about ten pages long, and I read over what I wrote yesterday before I begin writing again.

Which books have most influenced your life most?

I think the books of Carlos Castaneda, Curt Vonnegut, Jerzy Kosinsky, and the mystery writers of the twentieth century, such as Agatha Christie and Ross MacDonald. Also the noir writers, such as Cornell Woolrich, Charles Willeford and Dorothy B. Hughes. But one of the most important influences in my life was meeting Ray Bradbury after a lecture he gave. I had read Death Is A Lonely Business, and although not one of his most famous books, it is set in Venice, CA, where I once lived. It inspired me to write my paranormal novel A Blue Moon, which also takes place in Venice, CA. It was thrilling to meet the writer who inspired me to write the book.

Do you see writing as a career?

I do see writing as a career. Of course, every writer hopes to have a best seller, but regardless, I will keep at it as long as I have stories I feel impelled to write.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No. I’ll just write another book.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started writing in the third grade. My teacher allotted a portion of her lessons to creative writing every week. In the sixth grade, we put on a school play, and I wrote the script.

What is your overall opinion of the publishing industry?
It’s like the film industry, though maybe without so much nepotism. While it’s easy to self-publish, it’s still tough to get into the mainstream market.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I am currently working on another traditional mystery, the second in the Lana Davis series, titled A Date For Murder. The first, A Palette For Murder, will be released this May by Five Star Publishing.

Do you ever get tired of looking at words?

I don’t know that I get tired of looking at words, but I do need to take time off. I love walking in a park near my house, watching my favorite TV shows, traveling and socializing with friends.

Who designed the covers?

The publishers of my books have designers and they create covers from settings in the books that I describe to them.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

That first draft is always the hardest part.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I have learned to be more forgiving. All my characters have flaws, some worse than others, but they have some redeeming or humanizing characteristics as well.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Talk less and listen more. I get many of my ideas for stories from what people say.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I hope you enjoy my books and the journeys they take you on.

The Legacy of Fear (Horror at the Lake (A Vampire Tale) Book 1) Now Available
Susan Runcan is on a quest to clear the name of her grandfather Lindon Runcan, the famous archeologist whose career ended under a cloud of suspicion. Although Lindon claimed thieves stole precious artifacts from his last expedition in Egypt, depriving the Egyptian government and his backers of the spoils, Lindon stole them himself. After the death of her uncle, Susan is the last of the Runcans and inherits the artifacts, along with her grandfather’s stately home in Lake Masley. Susan comes to the lake hoping to discover the reason her grandfather risked his career for these artifacts. What she finds is a town filled with rumors and fear. And what she discovers will change her life forever.


Available Now  

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The Legacy Of Fear, Book 1 of Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale Cover Reveal The High Life of the Modern Vampire

Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan
 

The Vampires That Terrified Ireland

It was common belief by the lower classes of Christian Europe that one of the easiest ways to become a vampire was by committing suicide. This is most apparent in the legend of Dearg-Due who is one of the great villains of Irish folklore.
Dearg-Due can be traced back to Waterford, Ireland and was the devastatingly beautiful daughter of the local tribal chief. She fell in love with a man who was far below her own station, and when the tribal chief, her father, found out about the relationship, he made her marry a much older and abusive man leaving her devastated and suffering from a broken heart.After marrying her father’s chosen husband, the young woman killed herself to escape her miserable position. Her husband discovered her body and had her buried underneath a tree in Waterford called “Strongbow’s tree.”
Years after the burial, the girl left her grave and returned to the land of the living. She then swore to get revenge on those who had ruined her life. Now taking on the appearance of a Dearg-Due, commonly known as a red blood sucker, she attacked her father and her abusive husband and drained them of their blood. With revenge taken, she found peace.
However, the Dearg-Due isn’t the only vampire-esque monster haunting Ireland. The legend of Abhartach is still very powerful and continues to strike fear into the heart of many a believer. Abhartach was a tyrant who took great joy in terrorizing his subjects. When he finally died, he became a Neamh-Mairbh, commonly known as one of the undead, and continued his reign of terror. 
Now he no longer had just the power to kill, he could drain his victims of their blood and strike terror into their very hearts.
Although they were terrified, the people he ruled worked against him and fashioned a sword. The sword was made of Yew wood and, as the tale tells, it was driven through his heart which, by all accounts, was black. Then to make sure he stayed dead, his once loyal followers buried him upside down, and he was never heard of again.

Recommended Articles

The Legacy Of Fear, Book 1 of Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale Cover Reveal The High Life of the Modern Vampire

Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

An American Indian Vampire Story

An ancient Native American vampire legend has been passed down from generation to generation—the tale of a medicine man and his wife, Laughing Sky.
A very powerful medicine man ruled his tribe wisely and with kindness. The medicine man married his beloved Laughing Sky, and the two of them were happy until they learned that she could never have a son. In desperation, the medicine man prayed to the Great Spirit, but those prayers were never answered. Laughing Sky was starting to get beyond child bearing age and becoming more and more desperate. The medicine man screamed out that unless the Great Spirit bore him a son, he would no longer obey and serve the Great Spirit. Time kept passing by, and Laughing Sky still could not get pregnant.
With time running out, the medicine man turned to dark magic for help. He opened a portal and released a powerful spirit from the realm of the shadows. The spirit was named Jumlin, and in return for the help of the medicine man, he promised him sons and daughters. However, the evil spirit lied and took over the heart and mind of the misguided medicine man.
Jumlin was a cruel and evil spirit that fed on the blood of all living things. He first fed on the blood of the Indian braves, and when they were gone, he started to feed on the women and children of the tribe. The tribe started to live in fear of the leader they once loved and sent the strongest of the remaining members of the tribe to other tribes to learn of the spirit and how to destroy it. Since Jumlin was so powerful, though, none of their attempts worked.
Laughing Sky became very sick as she neared giving birth to Jumlin’s creation. After her son was born, Jumlin turned on Laughing Sky and drained her blood. He then escaped with his offspring called “Laughing Bear” along with some of the tribe’s women and escaped.
Laughing Bear grew up to be as evil as Jumlin and just as strong. One day, hunters caught up with him and Jumlin. The medicine man and the spirit inside him were destroyed, but the offspring Laughing Bear escaped, and according to American Indian legend, he still stalks the earth sucking blood and spreading his evil.

Recommended Articles

The Legacy Of Fear, Book 1 of Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale Cover Reveal The High Life of the Modern Vampire

Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

The Vampire Lives...

A Grisly Discovery
Archaeologists in Italy recently told of a vampire sighting of their own when they discovered the remains of what was believed to have been a female vampire. They uncovered the body and found it with a brick forced into its jaw. Forensic archaeologists told worldwide news outlets that the discovery took place while researchers were investigating a 1576 mass grave said to contain the bodies of plague victims.
It was common during the Middle Ages for victims of the plague to be buried and then unburied as more bodies were added to these mass graves. It was reported that some of the unburied bodies would have a dark, blood-like substance under their noses and mouths. The workers believed this was a sign that these dead bodies were the bodies of vampires and that they were part of the cause of the plague. To prevent these “undead” creatures from continuing to spread the plague, the gravediggers would put bricks or rocks into the mouth of the corpse in hope of preventing the plague from spreading further. The body discovered by the archaeologists is proof of that practice taking place.
The Curious Case of Anastasie Dieudonne
The St. Petersburg Times reported the story of Anastasie Dieudonne in 1927. The young woman, who originated from Haiti, had confessed to drugging her niece and draining her blood by making a small incision between her toes. The paper reported that Anastasie was driven to act by an uncontrollable urge and that she was mentally ill. Many social historians have claimed that the story of Anastasie Dieudonne was driven more by a disorder than by her adoption of vampirism, but the act of drinking blood from another living human being qualifies Anastasie as a vampire.
Arnold Paole: The Soldier Who Returned
A Serbian soldier returned home from war to settle down in 1727. His name was Arnold Paole, and it didn’t take long for those around him to remark that he had changed considerably since going to war. Arnold finally admitted that he had been attacked by a vampire while serving in the army. He then claimed that he tracked and killed the creature of the night. However, he still feared that he would become a vampire.
After Arnold Paole died a short time later, a lot of people claimed to have seen him. His body was exhumed, and it seemed that new skin was growing beneath the dead skin on top. His body was staked and, from reports of the time, it was said that he groaned in pain. Locals removed his head and burned his body.

Recommended Articles

The Legacy Of Fear, Book 1 of Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale Cover Reveal The High Life of the Modern Vampire

Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

The Two Vampires of Russia

Russia is one of the most folklore heavy countries in the world. It has folklore, history and myths about almost every aspect of their culture, and those myths certainly include Vampires. The Russian vampire shares a lot of the same traits as other European vampires, especially those from Eastern Bloc countries.
Eretica: The Eretica was often associated with the idea that those who believed certain things, like heretics, would become undead vampires. An Eretica, most famously, was a young, beautiful woman who sold her soul to the devil while still alive, and over the course of one day became an elderly woman who wore rags. Once the sun set, she and the other Ererticas would meet up in a hiding place—normally a ravine for a nightly sabbat.
The Eretica was, by all accounts, only active during the spring and fall. It slept in the coffins of those who had been evil during life, and if one fell into the grave of an Eretica they became an instant victim—doomed to slowly waste away.
Upyr: The Upyr is the main vampire spoken of in Russian myths and lore, but due to the size of Russia, the legend changes from region to region. The bloodthirsty Upyr would, at first, drink the blood of the children of a family and move on to the parents afterwards.
One of the most interesting traits of this vampire is that it has teeth or fangs made of iron and can chew through almost any obstacle. Like many vampires in lore around the world—the Upyr doesn’t sleep during the day. It just wanders around waiting for its next victim.
If you want to track down and kill this vampire, you will need to hook a line of thread to one of its buttons and follow it back to its lair. Once you have gained access to its lair, you must sprinkle holy water across its abode and then stake this beast through its heart. This must, however, be done with care because while one strike through its heart will kill it, two strikes will bring it back to life. 

Recommended Articles

The Legacy Of Fear, Book 1 of Horror At The Lake, A Vampire Tale Cover Reveal The High Life of the Modern Vampire

Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan

The Legacy of Fear (Horror at the Lake (A Vampire Tale) (Book 1) is Now Available To Buy!

From Vanessa A. Ryan 
 Published by Permuted Press Susan Runcan is on a quest to clear the name of her grandfather Lindon Runcan, the famous archeologist whose career ended under a cloud of suspicion. Although Lindon claimed thieves stole precious artifacts from his last expedition in Egypt, depriving the Egyptian government and his backers of the spoils, Lindon stole them himself. 
After the death of her uncle, Susan is the last of the Runcans and inherits the artifacts, along with her grandfather's stately home in Lake Masley. Susan comes to the lake hoping to discover the reason her grandfather risked his career for these artifacts. What she finds is a town filled with rumors and fear. And what she discovers will change her life forever.

 Available Now From
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes and Noble
You can also pre-order A Palette For Murder (A Lana Davis Mystery) from Vanessa A. Ryan!

 
Published by Cengage Gale
Lana Davis arrives in New Mexico from Los Angeles, with plans for some sightseeing. But this all-expense-paid trip isn't a vacation. She's here to find Antonio Chavez, the missing beneficiary of a large life insurance policy her company issued, and last seen in Santa Fe. A disgruntled heir insists he should receive the proceeds instead. However bogus his claim is, the public relations nightmare he causes for her company is real. If Lana doesn't find Antonio, her job is on the line.
Lana's search for Antonio brings her into the inner circle of a powerful art gallery in Santa Fe. But she soon discovers, when art and greed collide, the result is deadly. And finding herself a target is more than she signed up for. 

Pre-order links: 
Amazon.com 
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble U.S 

  Vanessa A. Ryan  is a writer/actor in Southern California

Follow  Vanessa A. Ryan  at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRyan33
http://www.amazon.com/author/vryan