Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 28
May 16, 2016
The Spooky Tale of Ocracoke Island: Guest Post by Elizabeth Seckman
Today I'm welcoming a good friend to my blog. Elizabeth Seckman is a talented blogger and author...and she has an awesome new book out today called Swept Away. She's sharing an incredibly scary story with us today. After the guest post, scroll down to learn more about it!
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The Spooky Tale of Ocracoke Island
by Elizabeth Seckman
Hi Stephanie! Thanks for having me over. Today is the launch day for my new book, Swept Away. Writing stories that take place on the Outer Banks is not new to me, but this is the first book set on the tiny island of Ocracoke.
Ocracoke is an interesting place with a name as colorful as its history.
Most likely, the name is derived from the Woccon Native American tribe’s name for the island, Wokokon. The island’s thick brogue dialect probably morphed the name from Wokokon to Ockercock to eventually, Ocracoke (which sounds like the veggie paired with a soft drink).
But there’s a much more interesting etymology of the word that is usually told by camp fire light…
In the 1700’s, Ocracoke was a favorite hide-out/party spot of Edward Teach, AKA Blackbeard the Pirate. The government of Virginia was tired of Blackbeard’s shenanigans, so they commissioned Lt. Robert Maynard to hunt him down.
Image source: Wikipedia
They met up one night in the harbor at Silver Lake. They say Blackbeard was a frightful sight with lit cannon fuses burning in his beard, making Maynard’s men wonder…was this a man or was he a demon?
Seconds into the battle, they really started to have their doubts that they were dealing with a mere human.
Shot after shot…slice after slice…until the deck of the ship was slippery with blood, the pirate wouldn’t go down.
Maynard was just as tenacious. He’d sworn to bring down the pirate and if it took sacrificing his own life, he would make good on his word. In a final blow, he severed Blackbeard’s head from his body.
Official reports say that Edward Teach died right then. His body was tossed overboard into the inlet and his head was attached to the bowsprit of Maynard’s ship. After 5 bullet holes, 20 sword slices, and a decapitation, the pirate was dead.
But campfire lore doesn’t agree. According to legends, Blackbeard still didn’t give up. Instead, his body swam the inlet, circling the ship…looking for his head. But it was too dark, so he called, “O’ crow cock”…willing the sun to rise. They say, if you listen, right before dawn, you can still hear the pirate calling, “O’ crow cock” as his spirit wanders the island looking for his head.
And that’s how Ocracoke got its name.
Blurb:
He came looking for a ghost. Instead, he found a girl.
Tucker Boone is a war-hardened Marine on a ghost hunt. Fresh out of the corps, Tucker learns he has a missing half-sister, Maddy. The only clue to her whereabouts is a cryptic note…I’ve gone Mad, Mags. Tucker agrees to search for her and heads to Ocracoke, North Carolina where a ghost named Mad Mags is said to haunt the ancient graveyards dotting the island.
The note doesn’t bring him any closer to finding Maddy, but it does offer him a diversion to the doldrums of civilian life— his new island neighbor, Josie McCoy. Tucker is drawn to her quiet spirit.
There’s something special about Josie…a connection he can’t quite explain.
By summer’s end, he’s mixed up in deception, murder, and the love of a lifetime. Logic tells him to head home and forget the truths he found on the island. But can he walk away? Josie offers him more than love; she offers him hope. When the clues pile up and it looks like she can never be the girl for him, he has to make a choice- play it safe and break her heart, or risk everything for a chance at being swept away.
Bio:
Elizabeth is a multi-published author and family laundry wench. She is the mother of four boys, who are quickly all becoming men! Her life is filled with stinky size-twelve shoes and beard clippings in the sink. Is it any wonder she enjoys days spent writing women's fiction of stories of romance and happily ever after?
Links:
Amazon| Facebook| Blog | Website
Also...I got my first piece on NYPost.com Friday. Check it out!
---------------------------------------------------------
The Spooky Tale of Ocracoke Island
by Elizabeth Seckman
Hi Stephanie! Thanks for having me over. Today is the launch day for my new book, Swept Away. Writing stories that take place on the Outer Banks is not new to me, but this is the first book set on the tiny island of Ocracoke.
Ocracoke is an interesting place with a name as colorful as its history.
Most likely, the name is derived from the Woccon Native American tribe’s name for the island, Wokokon. The island’s thick brogue dialect probably morphed the name from Wokokon to Ockercock to eventually, Ocracoke (which sounds like the veggie paired with a soft drink).
But there’s a much more interesting etymology of the word that is usually told by camp fire light…
In the 1700’s, Ocracoke was a favorite hide-out/party spot of Edward Teach, AKA Blackbeard the Pirate. The government of Virginia was tired of Blackbeard’s shenanigans, so they commissioned Lt. Robert Maynard to hunt him down.
Image source: WikipediaThey met up one night in the harbor at Silver Lake. They say Blackbeard was a frightful sight with lit cannon fuses burning in his beard, making Maynard’s men wonder…was this a man or was he a demon?
Seconds into the battle, they really started to have their doubts that they were dealing with a mere human.
Shot after shot…slice after slice…until the deck of the ship was slippery with blood, the pirate wouldn’t go down.
Maynard was just as tenacious. He’d sworn to bring down the pirate and if it took sacrificing his own life, he would make good on his word. In a final blow, he severed Blackbeard’s head from his body.
Official reports say that Edward Teach died right then. His body was tossed overboard into the inlet and his head was attached to the bowsprit of Maynard’s ship. After 5 bullet holes, 20 sword slices, and a decapitation, the pirate was dead.
But campfire lore doesn’t agree. According to legends, Blackbeard still didn’t give up. Instead, his body swam the inlet, circling the ship…looking for his head. But it was too dark, so he called, “O’ crow cock”…willing the sun to rise. They say, if you listen, right before dawn, you can still hear the pirate calling, “O’ crow cock” as his spirit wanders the island looking for his head.
And that’s how Ocracoke got its name.
Blurb:
He came looking for a ghost. Instead, he found a girl.
Tucker Boone is a war-hardened Marine on a ghost hunt. Fresh out of the corps, Tucker learns he has a missing half-sister, Maddy. The only clue to her whereabouts is a cryptic note…I’ve gone Mad, Mags. Tucker agrees to search for her and heads to Ocracoke, North Carolina where a ghost named Mad Mags is said to haunt the ancient graveyards dotting the island.
The note doesn’t bring him any closer to finding Maddy, but it does offer him a diversion to the doldrums of civilian life— his new island neighbor, Josie McCoy. Tucker is drawn to her quiet spirit.
There’s something special about Josie…a connection he can’t quite explain.
By summer’s end, he’s mixed up in deception, murder, and the love of a lifetime. Logic tells him to head home and forget the truths he found on the island. But can he walk away? Josie offers him more than love; she offers him hope. When the clues pile up and it looks like she can never be the girl for him, he has to make a choice- play it safe and break her heart, or risk everything for a chance at being swept away.
Bio:
Elizabeth is a multi-published author and family laundry wench. She is the mother of four boys, who are quickly all becoming men! Her life is filled with stinky size-twelve shoes and beard clippings in the sink. Is it any wonder she enjoys days spent writing women's fiction of stories of romance and happily ever after?Links:
Amazon| Facebook| Blog | Website
Also...I got my first piece on NYPost.com Friday. Check it out!
May 13, 2016
The Kitty Genovese Murder
On March 13, 1964, a Queens, New York woman was stabbed in the street with multiple eye and earwitnesses. After a man above yelled down for the attacker to, "Get off that woman!" the attacker drove off. He came back ten minutes later and attacked her again. Kitty Genovese died on the way to the hospital.
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: Wikipedia
The case has been written and talked about many, many times over the years. Legend has it that 38 people stood by and watched, doing nothing. There are a couple of misconceptions about that.
One...nobody knows where the number "38" came from. Few actually saw the crime and many of the earwitnesses weren't sure what they were hearing. Many thought it was a domestic dispute and back then, people lived by this philosophy:
Today, everyone has an opinion on your life and isn't afraid to tell you how to live it. Back then, a man could be beating his wife in broad daylight and people would walk on by...
Daily Mirror clip (allegedly) from the 50s.Also, if we heard something like that today, what would we do? Dial 911. Guess what? In 1964, there was no 911. You'd call the local police station and get a desk sergeant who might tell you to mind your own business. In fact, the Kitty Genovese murder helped push the system into existence.
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: Joe Corrado
Another reason for the apathy of those who saw and heard the murder was something called The Bystander Effect, also known as Genovese Syndrome. The more people who are present when a person is in peril, the less chance that person has of being helped.
Often the bystanders are vindicated in Kitty Genovese's murder as though they held the knife. History has forgotten the actual murderer, this guy:
Winston Moseley. Photo credit: Wikipedia
There was one other guy--Karl Ross--who has been singled out as a bystander who should have acted. He opened his door and watched the crime, closing it and doing absolutely nothing until it was too late. Could he have saved Kitty, if only he'd acted sooner?
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: NYPost via AP
But one woman is left out of the stories about the crime. Sophie Farrar, a neighbor who was only four feet eleven inches tall, heard that there was a murder in progress and ran straight to it. She reportedly ordered Karl to call the police and stayed with Kitty until help arrived.
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: All Day via CBS NewsWhat would you do if you saw a crime in progress?
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: WikipediaThe case has been written and talked about many, many times over the years. Legend has it that 38 people stood by and watched, doing nothing. There are a couple of misconceptions about that.
One...nobody knows where the number "38" came from. Few actually saw the crime and many of the earwitnesses weren't sure what they were hearing. Many thought it was a domestic dispute and back then, people lived by this philosophy:
Today, everyone has an opinion on your life and isn't afraid to tell you how to live it. Back then, a man could be beating his wife in broad daylight and people would walk on by...
Daily Mirror clip (allegedly) from the 50s.Also, if we heard something like that today, what would we do? Dial 911. Guess what? In 1964, there was no 911. You'd call the local police station and get a desk sergeant who might tell you to mind your own business. In fact, the Kitty Genovese murder helped push the system into existence.
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: Joe CorradoAnother reason for the apathy of those who saw and heard the murder was something called The Bystander Effect, also known as Genovese Syndrome. The more people who are present when a person is in peril, the less chance that person has of being helped.
Often the bystanders are vindicated in Kitty Genovese's murder as though they held the knife. History has forgotten the actual murderer, this guy:
Winston Moseley. Photo credit: WikipediaThere was one other guy--Karl Ross--who has been singled out as a bystander who should have acted. He opened his door and watched the crime, closing it and doing absolutely nothing until it was too late. Could he have saved Kitty, if only he'd acted sooner?
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: NYPost via APBut one woman is left out of the stories about the crime. Sophie Farrar, a neighbor who was only four feet eleven inches tall, heard that there was a murder in progress and ran straight to it. She reportedly ordered Karl to call the police and stayed with Kitty until help arrived.
Kitty Genovese. Image credit: All Day via CBS NewsWhat would you do if you saw a crime in progress?
May 11, 2016
Keep Calm and Chive On
We were driving around town one day when we saw a large redneck-style truck with this sticker on the back window:
An odd thing to see on the back of a big truck. Was the driver just a big fan of loaded baked potatoes?
Or maybe it's some new dance?
So, of course, I used my smartphone to look it up.
And you can imagine my surprise when I learned what it meant.
The saying refers to TheChive.com, some sort of photo site. When I typed in "What does 'Keep Calm and Chive On' mean?" this is what came back:
In case you missed it, that's a worship of:
Bill MurrayPictures of catsSoft pornography
An odd mix of items, no?
So in case you ever see a bumper sticker on the back of a car telling you to "chive on," now you know.
What's the strangest bumper sticker you've ever seen?
An odd thing to see on the back of a big truck. Was the driver just a big fan of loaded baked potatoes?
Or maybe it's some new dance?
So, of course, I used my smartphone to look it up.
And you can imagine my surprise when I learned what it meant.
The saying refers to TheChive.com, some sort of photo site. When I typed in "What does 'Keep Calm and Chive On' mean?" this is what came back:
In case you missed it, that's a worship of:
Bill MurrayPictures of catsSoft pornography
An odd mix of items, no?
So in case you ever see a bumper sticker on the back of a car telling you to "chive on," now you know.
What's the strangest bumper sticker you've ever seen?
May 9, 2016
Introducing the Haunted Stepsister by Medeia Sharif
I grew up in a blended family and I know the complications that can come when you have step-siblings. My friend Medeia Sharif has a new book that takes those complications to the next level. The main character's new stepsister may just be possessed by a demon. The book is out today! Scroll down to read more about it and buy your copy before you leave.
Blurb:
Sixth grade isn’t easy for Jesenya Moradi, especially since her father’s recent remarriage and tension with her new stepsister, Kammy. After an incident at school that nearly destroyed Kammy's life, Jess has been desperate to get on Kammy’s good side. But a fateful trip to an allegedly haunted bathroom changes both girls’ lives forever.
The rumors about the bathroom are true, and now Jess is convinced a demon's possessing Kammy. Eerie things happen whenever she's around – flying objects, flickering lights, not to mention the fact that something, or someone, is making people into its puppets.
Worse, the demon seems fixated on making Jess confess her part in ruining Kammy's reputation. Sticking to her Muslim faith, Jess enlists the help of an imam to exorcise the demon from Kammy. But can they get rid of the demon before it destroys her new family?
Bio:
Madeia Sharif was born in New York City and she presently calls Miami her home.She received my master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, she found her niche writing for young people. Today she’s a MG and YA writer published through various presses. In addition to being a writer, she is a public school teacher. Her memberships include Mensa, ALAN, and SCBWI.
Links:
Blog| Twitter| Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon
Blurb:
Sixth grade isn’t easy for Jesenya Moradi, especially since her father’s recent remarriage and tension with her new stepsister, Kammy. After an incident at school that nearly destroyed Kammy's life, Jess has been desperate to get on Kammy’s good side. But a fateful trip to an allegedly haunted bathroom changes both girls’ lives forever.
The rumors about the bathroom are true, and now Jess is convinced a demon's possessing Kammy. Eerie things happen whenever she's around – flying objects, flickering lights, not to mention the fact that something, or someone, is making people into its puppets.
Worse, the demon seems fixated on making Jess confess her part in ruining Kammy's reputation. Sticking to her Muslim faith, Jess enlists the help of an imam to exorcise the demon from Kammy. But can they get rid of the demon before it destroys her new family?
Bio:
Madeia Sharif was born in New York City and she presently calls Miami her home.She received my master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, she found her niche writing for young people. Today she’s a MG and YA writer published through various presses. In addition to being a writer, she is a public school teacher. Her memberships include Mensa, ALAN, and SCBWI.Links:
Blog| Twitter| Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon
May 6, 2016
Here's to All the Moms
Today is my mom's birthday. This is my mom:
Since Mother's Day is Sunday, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to all of the great moms in the world.
My parents were divorced when I was five. When your mom raises you alone, she's a special kind of superhero. This was my mom, my sister, and me in Germany when I was six:
There's something special about the relationship between a mother and her child. You only appreciate it as you get older. And that support doesn't end. Your mom will always be there for you, as your number one cheerleader.
How are you celebrating this Mother's Day?
Since Mother's Day is Sunday, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to all of the great moms in the world.
My parents were divorced when I was five. When your mom raises you alone, she's a special kind of superhero. This was my mom, my sister, and me in Germany when I was six:
There's something special about the relationship between a mother and her child. You only appreciate it as you get older. And that support doesn't end. Your mom will always be there for you, as your number one cheerleader.
How are you celebrating this Mother's Day?
May 4, 2016
IWSG: The Only Way to Fail...
It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means hundreds of us will be posting about our insecurities. This month I'm a co-host, which means I get to help Ninja Warrior Alex out! It also means a lot of new people will be stopping by (*waves*).
Many of us are still recovering from the whirlwind that was this:
The goal of A to Z is to make new friends and have fun. Oh, and to challenge ourselves to blog every day.
As usual, not everyone made it to the end of the challenge. Some stopped at A. Some never made it past D. Many others dropped out along the way. That's okay...
People feel that they've "failed" if they don't make it all the way to Z. I feel they succeeded the day they published their "A" posts.
The same thing goes for National Novel Writing Month in November. Thousands of people sign up to try to write an entire novel in a month. Some people never sign up at all. Why?
Some make it to day 5 or day 10 or even day 20 and stop for whatever reason. They see themselves as failures. Failures. Despite the fact that by mere virtue of trying, they now have thousands--maybe even tens of thousands--of words they wouldn't have had otherwise. They can then keep writing in December, January, and beyond and have a full manuscript much more quickly than they would have.
Don't be afraid to set lofty goals. Then reach for those goals with all you have. Do your best...you can't fail as long as you try.
Many of us are still recovering from the whirlwind that was this:
The goal of A to Z is to make new friends and have fun. Oh, and to challenge ourselves to blog every day.
As usual, not everyone made it to the end of the challenge. Some stopped at A. Some never made it past D. Many others dropped out along the way. That's okay...
People feel that they've "failed" if they don't make it all the way to Z. I feel they succeeded the day they published their "A" posts.
The same thing goes for National Novel Writing Month in November. Thousands of people sign up to try to write an entire novel in a month. Some people never sign up at all. Why?
Some make it to day 5 or day 10 or even day 20 and stop for whatever reason. They see themselves as failures. Failures. Despite the fact that by mere virtue of trying, they now have thousands--maybe even tens of thousands--of words they wouldn't have had otherwise. They can then keep writing in December, January, and beyond and have a full manuscript much more quickly than they would have.
Don't be afraid to set lofty goals. Then reach for those goals with all you have. Do your best...you can't fail as long as you try.
May 2, 2016
Best Books of April
I'm a little late because of the A to Z Challenge, but it's once again time to tell you about the best books I read this month. Here are the month's best!
There's something exciting about seeing an author's first book come out. The BFF Bucket List is the first book from the uber-talented Dee Romito and it hits shelves tomorrow. YAY! We'll be seeing lots more of her work in the future.
One of the most tragic things that can happen in middle school is the loss of a friendship. Yet that age seems to come with so much growth, it's easy for best friends to drift apart. In The BFF Bucket List, ultra-organized Ella desperately tries to save her friendship with her outgoing best friend Skyler. Skyler is making new friends, though, and the more Ella tries to get her to stick to this "bucket list," the stickier things seem to get. The story is heartbreaking in parts as the girls try to hold onto what they once had, but it also has a positive outcome.
You all know how much I love mysteries...and what can be more fun than a mystery that pairs a tween with adorable elderly ladies? Alison Cherry is a talented young adult and middle grade author and when I saw this cover, I couldn't resist:
In The Classy Crooks Club, a 12-year-old girl named AJ has to spend the summer living with her super-uptight grandmother, who is desperate to turn her into a well-mannered young lady. Soon into her stay, she starts to notice something is up with her grandmother's so-called "bridge club." They're actually a team of crooks, planning heists to liberate birds and other species from captivity. I have to say there's something adorable about a bunch of criminal grannies, dressed in black, trying to sneak into houses. In the end, AJ is the one who is the adult of the group. This book has humor, adventure, and a great message...you won't be able to put it down!
The next book is one that will jump out at every tween who sees it on the shelves. Hillary Homzie has captured the social media-obsessed tween audience with Queen of Likes.
Karma has a problem that will sound all too familiar to many readers. She spends far too much time on her phone. Her happiness is dictated by how many likes her social media photos get. When her parents take her phone away as punishment, she has to find new ways to validate herself. I loved this book. It has an important message disguised in an entertaining story, which is the best thing a middle grade book can do!
I read Kristin Rae's first book, Wish You Were Italian, and had so much fun going on an Italian adventure with her character. When I saw she had a new book, What You Always Wanted, I couldn't wait to read it.
My knowledge of Gene Kelly is mostly limited to his appearance alongside Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu. But the main character in What You Always Wanted knows all of his movies by heart. In her world, no guy can live up to her perception of Gene Kelly. Then she meets Jesse, a hunky baseball player who has hidden talents. Kristin nails the sexual tension between Maddie and Jesse and creates two characters you can't help but fall in love with.
My final read of the month is this steamy romance from Christine Rains.
In Big Yearning, a couple finds romance while on a team searching for Big Foot. When they become trapped in a cave, they find themselves in a race to get out before it's too late. This sexy, quick read will have you riveted from start to finish.
What are you reading?
There's something exciting about seeing an author's first book come out. The BFF Bucket List is the first book from the uber-talented Dee Romito and it hits shelves tomorrow. YAY! We'll be seeing lots more of her work in the future.
One of the most tragic things that can happen in middle school is the loss of a friendship. Yet that age seems to come with so much growth, it's easy for best friends to drift apart. In The BFF Bucket List, ultra-organized Ella desperately tries to save her friendship with her outgoing best friend Skyler. Skyler is making new friends, though, and the more Ella tries to get her to stick to this "bucket list," the stickier things seem to get. The story is heartbreaking in parts as the girls try to hold onto what they once had, but it also has a positive outcome.
You all know how much I love mysteries...and what can be more fun than a mystery that pairs a tween with adorable elderly ladies? Alison Cherry is a talented young adult and middle grade author and when I saw this cover, I couldn't resist:
In The Classy Crooks Club, a 12-year-old girl named AJ has to spend the summer living with her super-uptight grandmother, who is desperate to turn her into a well-mannered young lady. Soon into her stay, she starts to notice something is up with her grandmother's so-called "bridge club." They're actually a team of crooks, planning heists to liberate birds and other species from captivity. I have to say there's something adorable about a bunch of criminal grannies, dressed in black, trying to sneak into houses. In the end, AJ is the one who is the adult of the group. This book has humor, adventure, and a great message...you won't be able to put it down!
The next book is one that will jump out at every tween who sees it on the shelves. Hillary Homzie has captured the social media-obsessed tween audience with Queen of Likes.
Karma has a problem that will sound all too familiar to many readers. She spends far too much time on her phone. Her happiness is dictated by how many likes her social media photos get. When her parents take her phone away as punishment, she has to find new ways to validate herself. I loved this book. It has an important message disguised in an entertaining story, which is the best thing a middle grade book can do!
I read Kristin Rae's first book, Wish You Were Italian, and had so much fun going on an Italian adventure with her character. When I saw she had a new book, What You Always Wanted, I couldn't wait to read it.
My knowledge of Gene Kelly is mostly limited to his appearance alongside Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu. But the main character in What You Always Wanted knows all of his movies by heart. In her world, no guy can live up to her perception of Gene Kelly. Then she meets Jesse, a hunky baseball player who has hidden talents. Kristin nails the sexual tension between Maddie and Jesse and creates two characters you can't help but fall in love with.
My final read of the month is this steamy romance from Christine Rains.
In Big Yearning, a couple finds romance while on a team searching for Big Foot. When they become trapped in a cave, they find themselves in a race to get out before it's too late. This sexy, quick read will have you riveted from start to finish.
What are you reading?
May 1, 2016
Cover Reveal: A Love That Disturbs by Medeia Sharif
A to Z is officially over and I can now go back to regular blogging. I'm kicking off May with a little support to one of my favorite bloggers, who also happens to be a kick-butt author, Medeia Sharif.
Today we're revealing Medeia's new, steamy cover. The book, A Love That Disturbs, comes out June 17th, but you can add it to your Goodreads to-read list now. Here's the hot cover. Scroll down to learn more about it.
Blurb:
Maysa Mazari is alarmed by her mother’s talk about arranged marriage. Meanwhile, as a hijab-wearing Pakistani-American, she wants to find love on her own. Her judgmental Muslim clique has protected her from racist taunts, although the leader, Aamal, is turning on her as Maysa strays from the group because of her attraction to Haydee.
Haydee Gomez is a former gang member and juvenile detention student. Now living with a clean-cut aunt, she wants to turn her life around, even though one person will never let her forget her roots—Rafe, her abusive pimp. Haydee attempts to pull away from a life of prostitution when she develops feelings for Maysa, although Rafe isn’t willing to give her up too easily.
Finding themselves in danger from Maysa’s friends and Haydee’s pimp, it’s apparent their love disturbs everyone around them as they fight to stay together.
Bio:
I was born in New York City and I presently call Miami my home. I received my master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, I found my niche writing for young people. Today I'm a MG and YA writer published through various presses. In addition to being a writer, I'm a public school teacher. My memberships include Mensa, ALAN, and SCBWI.
Links:
Blog| Twitter| Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon
Today we're revealing Medeia's new, steamy cover. The book, A Love That Disturbs, comes out June 17th, but you can add it to your Goodreads to-read list now. Here's the hot cover. Scroll down to learn more about it.
Blurb:
Maysa Mazari is alarmed by her mother’s talk about arranged marriage. Meanwhile, as a hijab-wearing Pakistani-American, she wants to find love on her own. Her judgmental Muslim clique has protected her from racist taunts, although the leader, Aamal, is turning on her as Maysa strays from the group because of her attraction to Haydee.
Haydee Gomez is a former gang member and juvenile detention student. Now living with a clean-cut aunt, she wants to turn her life around, even though one person will never let her forget her roots—Rafe, her abusive pimp. Haydee attempts to pull away from a life of prostitution when she develops feelings for Maysa, although Rafe isn’t willing to give her up too easily.
Finding themselves in danger from Maysa’s friends and Haydee’s pimp, it’s apparent their love disturbs everyone around them as they fight to stay together.
Bio:
I was born in New York City and I presently call Miami my home. I received my master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, I found my niche writing for young people. Today I'm a MG and YA writer published through various presses. In addition to being a writer, I'm a public school teacher. My memberships include Mensa, ALAN, and SCBWI.Links:
Blog| Twitter| Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon
April 30, 2016
Z Is for the Zodiac Killer
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is Unsolved Mysteries. Today's letter is:
It began on December 20, 1968, when teenagers David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen were shot to death in Benicia, California.
There were three more incidents that same year, all in California. Each time, couples were targeted and all died but two survivors. Here is the full list of the deaths he was confirmed to have caused.
Unlike many serial killers, the Zodiac Killer liked to draw attention to himself. He repeatedly sent letters to area newspapers taking credit for the killings. Each letter contained part of a 408-symbol cryptogram, along with a demand that the paper print the symbol on its front page to avoid another person being killed.
In 1970, a reporter linked the killer to another murder three years earlier. Cheri Jo Bates was a student at Riverside City College in Riverside, California.
After the possible connection made news, the killer disappeared. Police were eventually able to crack the cryptogram, finding it read that the killer was collecting slaves for the afterlife. Giving his identity away would stop his progress on that, he said.
A number of suspects have been named over the years, including this man:
But to this day, it remains a mystery. Perhaps one of the most puzzling unsolved serial murder cases of all time.
Thank you so much for sticking with me through my last A to Z Challenge. It's been a blast the past few years. The fun won't end here. I'll still be sprinkling some unsolved mysteries into my blog posts, including some that I couldn't get to this month.
⬅️ Y Is for Ylenia Carrisi
It began on December 20, 1968, when teenagers David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen were shot to death in Benicia, California.
There were three more incidents that same year, all in California. Each time, couples were targeted and all died but two survivors. Here is the full list of the deaths he was confirmed to have caused.
Unlike many serial killers, the Zodiac Killer liked to draw attention to himself. He repeatedly sent letters to area newspapers taking credit for the killings. Each letter contained part of a 408-symbol cryptogram, along with a demand that the paper print the symbol on its front page to avoid another person being killed.
In 1970, a reporter linked the killer to another murder three years earlier. Cheri Jo Bates was a student at Riverside City College in Riverside, California.
After the possible connection made news, the killer disappeared. Police were eventually able to crack the cryptogram, finding it read that the killer was collecting slaves for the afterlife. Giving his identity away would stop his progress on that, he said.
A number of suspects have been named over the years, including this man:
But to this day, it remains a mystery. Perhaps one of the most puzzling unsolved serial murder cases of all time.
Thank you so much for sticking with me through my last A to Z Challenge. It's been a blast the past few years. The fun won't end here. I'll still be sprinkling some unsolved mysteries into my blog posts, including some that I couldn't get to this month.
⬅️ Y Is for Ylenia Carrisi
April 29, 2016
Y Is for Ylenia Carrisi
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is Unsolved Mysteries. Today's letter is:
Ylenia Carrisi was the daughter of two Italian singers and actors. When she was 13, she appeared in this movie with her parents:
As she reached adulthood, she starred as the letter turner on the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune.
However, her real dream was to be a novelist. She attended King's College London, where she studied literature. While studying, she decided she wanted to travel the world.
Ylenia sold everything she had and traveled to South America. On the day after Christmas, 1993, she left for New Orleans.
A week later, Ylenia disappeared, leaving behind her passport and some luggage. She was last seen in the French Quarter early in January. She was staying at this hotel with a street musician who was 20 years older than her.
On January 6th at 11 p.m., a woman jumped into the river near the Aquarium of the Americas. A man said she looked at him, said, "I belong in the water," and jumped. She swam for about 100 yards but a barge came by, making waves. She screamed and disappeared.
Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans
The drowned woman's body was never found.
Do you believe Ylenia Carrisi drowned? Or is there another explanation for her disappearance?
⬅️ X Is for X Marks the Spot
Ylenia Carrisi was the daughter of two Italian singers and actors. When she was 13, she appeared in this movie with her parents:
As she reached adulthood, she starred as the letter turner on the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune.
However, her real dream was to be a novelist. She attended King's College London, where she studied literature. While studying, she decided she wanted to travel the world.
Ylenia sold everything she had and traveled to South America. On the day after Christmas, 1993, she left for New Orleans.
A week later, Ylenia disappeared, leaving behind her passport and some luggage. She was last seen in the French Quarter early in January. She was staying at this hotel with a street musician who was 20 years older than her.
On January 6th at 11 p.m., a woman jumped into the river near the Aquarium of the Americas. A man said she looked at him, said, "I belong in the water," and jumped. She swam for about 100 yards but a barge came by, making waves. She screamed and disappeared.
Aquarium of the Americas, New OrleansThe drowned woman's body was never found.
Do you believe Ylenia Carrisi drowned? Or is there another explanation for her disappearance?
⬅️ X Is for X Marks the Spot
