Angel Sefer's Blog, page 26

"Start by doing what's necessary..."

As quoted by Aristotle in his Politics "Well begun is half done". 
So, start doing what's necessary. This will take you to the next step and the next...and before you know it, you're accomplishing amazing things you can be proud of.

Love the Greek islands? How about some heart-pounding action, an intriguing mystery, and hot romance?

Do you love intriguing mysteries blended with spellbinding romances? Sounds good, doesn't it?
And, what if the breathtaking, heart-pounding action takes place on an amazing Greek island? Hmm, that sounds even better.
Well, I've got you covered...Dark Shadows of the Past—the latest release in the popular Greek Isles Series—takes you from Atlanta to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia and the fascinating Greek island of Kefalonia.
A stunning heroine, running for her life while protecting her real identity...a drop dead gorgeous and courageous police detective...a ruthless and vindictive mafia lord...and non-stop action with lush greenery and sparkling sapphire waters for the backdrop of the story.
Read the first chapters of Dark Shadows of the Past here...
The novel is on special sale right now for only:
$0.99 on Amazon

and
£0.99 on Amazon UK

Spotlight on Susanne Leist - Author of the exciting paranormal mystery/thriller The Dead Game

As you all know, I have a special section on my blog where I feature excerpts of fascinating novels of many talented authors. So, I asked Susanne Leist—the talented author of the exciting paranormal mystery/thriller The Dead Game—if she was interested in sending me an excerpt of her popular novel to post on my blog.
I was happy Susanne accepted my invitation and sent me an excerpt and information about her book. Along with that, she also sent me a very touching note about herself.
So, I want you all to meet the real Susanne Leist:

I was asked to contribute an article to a fellow author’s blog. At first I panicked. I didn’t know what to write about. I’m a listener. I listen to other people’s stories. I’m a good listener. I don’t like speaking about myself. Therefore, I don’t like to write about myself. But now that I’m a writer, I have to move into the spotlight.

I’ve done a few interviews on fellow authors’ blogs. Their questions helped to serve as guidelines. Now I have a blank page to deal with. Should I write about why I had decided to become a writer? I don’t think so. It has been done to death by writers. I believe I will write about what had inspired me to pursue my career in Finance. It wasn’t a ‘what’ but a ‘who;’ the person who I had looked up to and then had lost too early in life. This was my brother, Neil Leist.

Neil was the type of person who lit up a room when he entered it. He was 6’2”, but it wasn’t his height that drew others’ eyes. It was his dynamic personality and his intelligence. Those grey eyes mirrored his great intellect and capacity for greatness. He acted as my father when my father wasn’t home but working long days and nights driving a taxi. He took care of my blind mother until I was old enough to help out. He sheltered me as much as he could from life and responsibilities. He shouldered these burdens himself.

He did well in college but he flourished in the business world. He traded on the Commodity Exchange until he had enough money to take over a Fortune 500 company. With a majority share in its stock, he took over American Bakeries. Taystee Bread was never going to be the same. He took me along on his ride to stardom. I worked for him on the Exchange and in his offices on Madison Ave. in Manhattan. I majored in Finance at New York University, preparing to join him. All was going well for once in my life and in my brother’s life. My parents were proud. He helped them out. All was perfect until that awful phone call in the middle of the night.

My lights went out. All the light in the world was gone for me. I was stuck in darkness as dark and deep as the one my mother lived in. My brother had been in a car accident in the Hamptons. His fancy, red Porsche had hydroplaned on the wet roads. Neil was a great driver with quick reflexes. He drove the car off the road and onto the grass. Luck wasn’t with him. A truck was parked in his path and the Porsche crashed beneath it.

Neil was in a coma for two years before he passed away. Meanwhile, his so-called friends at American Bakeries were undermining his position at the company causing the stock price to drastically plummet. We had to sell off his investment in one big chunk at a big loss. Most of his money was tied up with this company. I spent eight years dealing with all the vermin or finance people and lawyers before his estate could be settled.

I lost my taste for high Finance. I did get an M.B.A. in Finance but it soon lost its appeal to me. I wasn’t cutthroat. I wasn’t a back stabber. I wanted an interesting job that was challenging. I did enjoy working at The Office of Management and Budget at City Hall. I wasn’t able to work the overtime hours on Saturdays because of my Sabbath, so I left.

I worked at different companies, such as: E.F. Hutton & Co., McCall Pattern Company, and at local brokerage firms on Long Island where I now live. None of these jobs appealed to me. I was married with two beautiful daughters. I devoted myself to them. I took on part-time jobs, but I was always available if they needed me.

The big 50 was approaching and I was beginning to feel that I had lost out on life. My brother and then both my parents had passed away. My daughters were beginning their own lives. I needed a focus, a reason for my life. I was helping my daughter write an essay for college. I read it over and was surprised that I had written it. It related to my mother being blind with dementia in a nursing home. I began to think about writing.

My mid-life crisis book, The Dead Game, took me ten years to write. I hadn’t realized that writing was so hard. Characters have to move around and speak at the same time. They can’t sound the same. Through all the rewrites, the plot and story remained the same. Only the dialogue and grammar changed. I believe I could edit for the rest of my life and still not be satisfied.
I found a self-publisher, who offered to print and edit the book for a set price. Anything else costs extra. If I made any changes to the book after it was published, it would cost hundreds of dollars for them to take care of it. They even charged to send the changes to Amazon and Nook, even though these companies don’t charge for this.

One day, the publisher informed me that my book was published. I thought that this meant it was printed. Not only was it printed, it was sitting on Amazon and Nook without a description or bio. It looked sad. I panicked. I had to learn how to use Google so I could ask it how to describe a book. I learned about the log line and synopsis. I bought books on grammar and editing. I opened blogs. I found Facebook and Twitter. Luckily, I found some nice authors who helped me with my countless questions.

My book looked nice on the sites, but it didn’t have reviews. I soon learned that without reviews there are no sales. I joined Goodreads.com to find reviewers. I was placed in review groups, where the members randomly reviewed other members’ books but not each other’s books. Some authors gave nice reviews with constructive criticism. Others took apart my book, piece by piece, and in detail described what was wrong with it. They even used excerpts. These hurt, but I used the reviews to fix any weak spots in my book. After a year of this, I put out a new edition of my book. I tried to address everyone’s concerns. But you just can’t please everyone.

My book is now sitting comfortably in its sections: Vampire Suspense on Amazon and Paranormal Suspense on Nook. I will continue to promote it online while I begin to work on book 2 of The Dead Game series.

My life has taken many unexpected twists and turns. I wonder what the young me would have thought if she had heard that she was going to write vampire stories in the future. Would she have laughed? Would she have been surprised? Knowing me so well, I wouldn’t have laughed or wouldn’t have been surprised. And I might have even been happy. I don’t believe I was so happy with Finance, even in the beginning. I did it as more of a challenge. I wanted to do well in a male-dominated field—just to prove that I could do it. And now I have a new mission. I want to prove to myself that I could be a good author. And I believe I’m well on my way.

Thank you for listening,

Susanne Leist


Excerpt from the exciting paranormal mystery/thriller The Dead Game by Susanne Leist

Read the popular mystery thriller romance Dark Shadows of the Past for free

Click here to read or download Dark Shadows of the Past Chapters One - Three
I'm so excited and honored by your overwhelming response to mystery/thriller romance Dark Shadows of the Past—my fourth novel in The Greek Isles Series.
I'm happy that so many of you have downloaded and enjoyed the first three chapters. So, I've decided to continue posting some chapters of the novel on my blog for free.
Come back every Friday for a new excerpt.

Chapter Four
Part One
Hiding in the dark, seeing the lights all around her and hearing the barking of the dogs, Christina’s whole life flashed before her eyes. She was scared to death, waiting for the inevitable. Wild thoughts whirled around in her mind, having flashbacks on how hard she’d tried to stay away from all this. And now, here she was, at the mercy of those people again. Oh! Johnny! What did you get me into?Before she knew it, they had found her. Her eyes fluttered shut as her lips murmured a prayer. The dogs were over her head, sniffing her. She was immobilized, too scared to open her eyes.“Are you all right?” someone asked.Her eyes flew open. A policeman was leaning over her. Surprised, she glanced around and realized policemen were all over the place, and the dogs were search dogs.“Thank God!” she whispered and passed out, exhausted.
***
Unwilling to wait in Atlanta, Dan drove down to Savannah. The information Collins had given the police proved to be very helpful. The bust on the country road close to Savannah took a large shipment of drugs off the streets and into the police warehouses.The police found out that the drugs had been moved to Georgia from Charleston, South Carolina, where they’d been brought on board a ship named Madison. Dan had talked on the phone with Detective Jefferson of the Savannah Police Department and had been informed that several arrests had been made. Jefferson also reassured Dan that Miss Connors was escorted to the hospital, and her condition had been pronounced satisfactory by the doctors.Dan arrived in Savannah early that morning. He always loved this town with its beautifully restored old mansions. Only now, he had no time to enjoy the drive. He headed directly to the police station and asked to speak to Detective Jefferson. The heavy-built policeman met Dan with some reservation, but after a few minutes, he realized that Dan was genuinely interested in the case and wasn’t just trying to take credit for things.They compared notes, and Jefferson took Dan to see Adriano Reynolds, who was believed to be the head of the gang. They entered a small room separated from the interrogation room by a large window. Dan stepped closer to the one-way glass and peered at the tall man with the dark brown hair and the cold gray eyes. Two detectives were still questioning him, but Jefferson informed Dan he had told them nothing so far.Reynolds and the other four men who had been arrested were facing trial for murder, abduction, and smuggling drugs. Hopefully, Dan thought, Collins will remain alive long enough to testify. Then again, even if he didn’t, they had enough evidence to convict them.
***
A couple hours later, Jefferson took Dan to the Memorial Hospital to visit Christina. They asked to see the physician who’d treated her, and he reassured them that besides two broken ribs and some scrapes and bruises, she was okay. Of course, it would take some time to recover from the shock, but they couldn’t keep her in thehospital for that. So Dan arranged with the physician to pick her up that same afternoon.Walking inside Christina’s room, Dan’s heart sank as his eyes rested on the pale face, and the golden-brown curls spread over the pillow. He felt sympathy for this girl who seemed so helpless and fragile, lying there. He could imagine what she must have been through.Christina turned and laid her big, emerald eyes on Dan. “Detective…” she whispered.“How are you, Miss Connors?” Dan asked, trying to use his professional tone. Something about this girl made him want to take her in his arms and protect her from the world. Maybe it was those big, innocent eyes staring at him full of trust.She had trusted him before, though, and he had betrayed that trust. He let them take her out of his hands, just like that. He wasn’t about to make that same mistake again, he promised himself. He wasn’t fooling himself that her troubles were over. He knew there must be some members of the mob who had escaped the bust. And even if there weren’t, an organization like that had people everywhere.He was determined not to let Christina out of his sight until this whole mess was over. He wasn’t sure what her connection with all this was, but he could sense she was in grave danger, and his instinct had never fooled him before.“I’m okay,” she whispered, and he heard a tone of doubt in her voice.“Detective Mallory will escort you back to Atlanta,” Jefferson said. “You’re going to be under police custody until the trial.”“Am I still in danger?” Christina asked in a shivering voice, looking at Dan straight in the eyes.“We just want to take every precaution,” Dan reassured her. He didn’t want to upset her anymore.
***

I hope you enjoyed this new excerpt of Dark Shadows of the Past. The novel was released by Booktrope on June 21st, 2015, and is available at:
Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble

Visit Angel Sefer on Amazon

"The most important thing is..."

This is so true.
Thinking about the past or worrying about the future doesn't allow us time to enjoy today.
We have to live life to the fullest.

Visit the magnificent Santorini!

A magnificent jewel in the Aegean Sea that takes the visitor's breath away.

I have the most precious memories from Santorini, and it was there that I was inspired to write my mystery romance novel The Heiress of Santorini.

Watch the video and enjoy!

"We do not remember..."

 
This is so true.Every moment in our life—good or bad—counts. So, why not try to make the best we can do under all circumstances. After all, it's our life, and it's precious.

Best Greek Islands | Top 10 Greek Islands

Such an amazing video of the best Greek islands . . . Watch and enjoy!

Excerpt from the exciting paranormal mystery/thriller The Dead Game by Susanne Leist

Excerpt:
     Linda was passing the empty tables by the tall windows when she felt her arm being tugged—very hard. Before she could react, she found herself being forcibly dragged through the open patio doors and onto the isolated garden path. She came face to face with the mighty Wolf and his trusted companion, Hayden. The grounds were deserted. Everyone had left the gardens and she was all alone with the two wicked vampires.     Wolf glared at Hayden. “Please let go of her arm; we are not animals. We never force ourselves on women.”     “Chivalry among demons—I’m very impressed. Too bad your table manners and choice of dishes leave a lot to be desired,” Linda said. Her hatred of Wolf had just caused her to forget her low position in the food chain; she closed her mouth to stop herself from talking. In the future, she must remember that he was a vampire—the strongest one in the world—and that he could easily destroy her at any time.    Wolf didn’t seem the least bit focused on her. “I didn’t come here to play parlor games with you. I need you to convince Todd to join with us. He can never be human or will ever be accepted by them. He belongs with us. He must stick with his own kind.”    “He’s not like you in any way at all: he cares too deeply for people and is loyal to his friends. On the other hand, you and your kind enjoy killing too much and have no feelings whatsoever.”    “Todd will never be accepted by humans or by his own kind. He will be an outcast with nowhere to go. He must join with us.”    “Todd is human and will always be accepted by humans.”    “Let’s kill her now, boss. She’s going to be trouble. I could take her away and no one will ever see her again,” Hayden said, grabbing hold of her arm again.    Oops, she did it again. Her big mouth had now sealed her fate. She had to learn how to be more assertive without getting herself into trouble.    Wolf strolled over to her with a wicked gleam surfacing in his eyes.    “I have a much better use for her in the future. When she finally comes to her senses, she’ll realize that she will be better off with a real vampire with limitless powers than with a pathetic human. She’ll learn about intoxicating love and passion—not the games that humans play that pale in comparison.     Here comes the human. Let her go for now.”     Linda was horrified to find herself wrapped in Wolf’s strong, muscular arms. She became hypnotized by his black eyes and tempted by his deep voice. He seemed perfect in every way. She only wanted to be with him.     “I’ll be back for you.” Wolf held her tight against his body and whispered in her ear. “I love the way you stand up to me with your flashing blue eyes. Soon you’ll be mine, my beautiful ice queen.”     Linda couldn’t move her body. She was stuck in some kind of trance…she couldn’t leave; didn’t want to leave if given the choice. His voice soothed her and made her think of love, passion, and great need: a need that could be satisfied only by him with his expert hands and mouth. She knew that one day she was going to be with him, to be joined with him.     He lowered his mouth onto hers and drew her into a swirling haze of unexpected feelings and desires. His mouth fully covering hers introduced her to a new realm of pure pleasure. His powerful form enveloped her, making her feel feelings that were foreign and untried for her. She couldn’t get enough of him. She tentatively began touching his face and then his body with an eager and unrelenting hunger. She didn’t know what she needed, but she knew that she wanted and desired this beautiful man standing right before her. Her past life was washed out of her mind, never to be considered again. She begged him to take her with him tonight. In response, Wolf lifted her in his arms, as if she weighed nothing, and turned to leave the party. His beautiful face looked victorious and happy. His black eyes filled with passion. She hoped that it was because of her. He looked down into her small face and gave a hearty roar.     While Wolf carried her in his powerful arms, a dark shadow swooped out of the house and flew directly at them. Linda was knocked out of his arms, and Wolf was thrown across the patio.     She looked up to see who had attacked them. It was Todd, his eyes a deadly shade of green, standing there panting.     Linda backed away in horror. Todd’s eyes cleared and returned to their original dark color. Then he looked at her. “Don’t ever be afraid of me. I’m here to protect you.”     Then he was struck down by Wolf.     They began circling each other like two wild animals. Todd thrust his body at Wolf, causing Wolf to lose his balance, and they crashed together to the ground. Wolf pushed Todd aside and stood back up. He lunged at Todd, who sidestepped his maneuver. Todd retaliated by lifting him high up in the air and flinging him through one of the glass doors to the house. Wolf rose up and dusted glass off his clothing.     He said to Todd, who stood before him, “We are not anywhere near finished, my dear friend. The next battle between us will be more private—without so many witnesses. If I were you, I would watch your back…and your pretty little girlfriend.” Wolf stalked away with Hayden following close behind. Todd quickly followed.     Linda was left standing alone outside. She felt bereft without the touch of Wolf’s lips on hers and the solid strength of his arms holding her. She had felt the unmistakable pull by him on all her senses. In his arms, she’d felt weak and needy—as if she needed him to live. Todd and Wolf were extremely powerful and both had taken hold of her senses.

I hope you enjoyed this exciting excerpt. Here is the blurb:

Book 1 in Series

Can you feel your heart beating? Is it beating too fast? Do you feel trapped? This is because you are. You're standing in a pool of water, in the basement of End House, wearing your party clothes. But there is no party, no host and no guests. The door behind you locks shut. The only way is forward, through the falling cages with their sharp edges, ready to ensnare their next victim. Circular saws begin to descend, looking for heads to slice off.
Meanwhile, Linda is upstairs with the rest of her friends being pursued by creatures through revolving rooms. Or are they illusions? What should she do?
Run!
The owner of End House takes no prisoners.
The Dead Game has begun.

Sounds enticing. Doesn't it?Check it out here:
Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads



Note from the Author: I've been reading murder mysteries and thrillers since I was a teenager. I've read all types of mysteries, from Agatha Christie to Sherlock Holmes. In recent years, I've begun to read paranormal mysteries. These books bring fantasy and the surreal to the simple murder mystery. It's hard to find books in this genre. That is why I decided to write a paranormal, murder mystery of my own. It is the type of book that I search for and love to read. My book, The Dead Game, has dead bodies and suspects like a traditional murder mystery. However, it also has humans, vampires, and vampire derivatives. And don't forget the haunted house—we must have one of these.


Contact Susanne Leist here:

Amazon Author's Page
Website

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Review on the fascinating and unique, paranormal mystery The Last Vestal Virgin by Lorraine Carey

 A fascinating and unique, paranormal mystery, September 16, 2015By AngelVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: The Last Vestal Virgin (Kindle Edition)The Last Vestal Virgin is a fascinating, adventurous, and unique paranormal mystery where modern reality mingles with ancient Roman history. Full of mystery, suspense, fantasy, and magic, the book is the story of Christina Ciccone—a beautiful and bright young girl with a supernatural secret. Christina is born and raised in the USA, in a strict Italian-American family. She is fascinated by ancient Roman history, and upon graduating from high school, she visits Rome with her history class. Visiting the Eternal City, however, turns out to be more than just an educational trip… In Rome, Christina ends up meeting her destiny.
Amazon / Amazon UK / Goodreads / Barnes & Noble