Rachael Stapleton's Blog, page 12

The Mysterious Ink Spot: Author Interview with Diane Cox Featuring Her First Paranormal Romance

Diane Cox's novella, Typewriter from Hell, reminds the reader of the old caution - be careful what you wish for. An unemployed librarian turned writer and a jaded literary agent are brought together by their desperate need for money and a mysterious erotic manuscript that emerges from her old Corona. Love threatens to sidetrack their quest to publish but the old Corona and love win out in the end. Reviews on Amazon promise that you'll never guess the ending.
Thank you for joining us, Diane. Can you tell us where you write—office, bed or couch? Any quirky habits like writing naked? I have a guest house in my garden and I write there. Very tranquil. My four pets make me take a break periodically to play ball or feed treats.

I love that your main character is a librarian. We have that in common. What influenced that decision?Actually, a bit of spite. Originally my main character was the male literary agent in the story. I was frustrated because a previous manuscript had been turned down so many times and so I wanted to write a story about agents. As the plot emerged it became obvious that the main characters would share the stage and Ellen's experience as a librarian and her desperation would make it logical that she would try to write a book.

Henry sounds like a handful. What is the biggest lie you've ever told? Do you have anything in common with him? The biggest lie is the one I've been telling myself for a while - that I'm no longer interested in finding love. That just ain't true! I share Henry's determination to get what he wants, but he is pretty despicable so I hope that's all I share.

I love to laugh. What made you decide to write funny or is that your style?I think it's my style. Even the most serious situations have funny overtones if you are tuned into them.

Characters often find themselves in situations they aren't sure they can get themselves out of. When was the last time you found yourself in a situation that was hard to get out of and what did you do? That's a tough question. I'm pretty wily. Problem solving is one of my strengths so I would say that the toughest situations I run into at this stage in my life are plot situations - ones where I have painted my character into a corner and can't figure out how to reconcile the issue. Sometimes all you can do is admit that a situation is out of your control and move on. One of my characters in my first manuscript had to realize she couldn't change a situation about slavery, no matter how wrong she knew it was.

What literary character is most like you? I would say Claire in the OUTLANDER series. She is level headed, loyal and can handle the improbable quite well. She's also sexy.
What secret talents do you have? I have a knack for coming up with possible solutions to other people's problems upon hearing them - quite often very workable ones.

Where did the magical typewriter come from? Ah, that mysterious well of characters known as the imagination.

Do you have anything else new coming out?Yes, my latest manuscript is making the agent rounds. If it doesn't find a home, I will self publish later this year. I love this book! The title is WISH ME ALIVE. It's also a paranormal romance - what's up with that? Don't ask me.

Johnny Crawford, successful but bored with life and women, thinks he has found the girl of his dreams when he reads about a sexy character in a spy novel. Things start to go haywire when the character decides she needs a new author and figures out how to materialize. His perfect world is turned upside down as Johnny tries to put the genie back in the bottle and prevent the character from ruining his new romance.

What’s up next for you on the tour? You are last on my tour, but I look forward to answering more of your intriguing and insightful questions about WISH ME ALIVE when it is available. Thanks so much for a great interview.

Typewriter from HellDiane CoxGenre: paranormal romance, romance suspense Publisher: Opal Creative Enterprises, Inc. Date of Publication: November 2013 ISBN: 978-0-9910982-0-0 ebook, ISBN: 978-0-9910982-1-7 paperbackASIN: B00GCSL6FCNumber of pages: 147Word Count: 20226 Cover Artist: Rebecca PooleDreams2Media
Book Description:
Unemployed librarian Ellen Brinson submits her steamy manuscript to literary agent Henry Morgan. The only thing they have in common is that they are both desperate for money. Henry believes the unfinished piece is his ticket back to the big time. 
His hopes for a winner are thwarted when Ellen falls in love and is offered a cushy job. As her interest in finishing the manuscript wanes, Henry's desire to get it published increases. 
Enter the Typewriter from Hell. Ellen can't stop writing. The old Corona is a magnet and it's wrecking Ellen's new romance. Henry will pull any dirty trick he can think of to win - and he does!
You'll laugh your way through this fast paced suspense story and you'll never guess the ending.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/QFaynWjTZLU
Available at Amazon

Excerpt:Chapter One
Ellen Brinson peered over her half glasses at the messy typewritten page. The ‘e’ on the old Corona was so occluded it looked like a giant dot. She quickly read through the last few paragraphs she’d just pounded out. She had a screaming headache.Where the Hell was this stuff coming from? It was true she’d always wanted to write. Her MLS in library science was all about Ellen’s belief that she couldn’t write, so being around books was the next best thing. But, this, this stuff she was typing -- she’d never done the things, never even known anyone like the people in this story.It didn’t matter. Six more weeks and her unemployment was going to run out. The stress of not having a job for two years, of trying to find something else she could do to earn a living and getting nowhere, the sheer desperation, was about to drive her crazy. This book was the only hope she had right now, and she clung to it.Rubbing her eyes, Ellen stretched and the old afghan that covered her lap slipped to the floor. This damn dump was so drafty; she was always cold. Pushing her chair back, she moved to the other side of the room where a row of cabinets and a miniature stove and fridge masqueraded as a kitchen. She poured a cup of hot water from the kettle warming on the stove and dunked a tea bag in it. Then, she reached under the sink and found a pint of vodka, splashing a liberal shot into the tea mug.The mug cradled in both hands, she plopped down on the rumpled bed that dominated the small room, and leaned back against the wall. Sometimes she felt like she was someone else. Maybe that explained what happened at the typewriter. Or maybe she was just going nuts. That was probably it.Ellen took a big gulp of the spiked tea, her mind running in circles like a hamster on a wheel. She had to do something, even if it was wrong. She got up and crossed to the rickety wooden table that held her typewriter. She grabbed the messy pages of the manuscript that had been pouring out of her for the past three weeks. Automatic writing, wasn’t that what they called it? Ellen read a paragraph at random:Serena slid a glance at the senator next to her. With a twitch of her shoulders, she hit him with a blast of décolletage, and then sent her tongue on an exploratory tour of her mouth. She could feel the man heat up like a kitchen stove.  Another sideways glance confirmed that the front of his pants now looked suspiciously like a tent. Turning her head to look directly at him, she lasered him with the 100 Watt Sex Bomb Smile. Tossing her head back, she trailed her long, red fingernails down her arched, white neck toward her bosom. Then she rose and wiggled her way across the room, giggling to herself.
My God, what crap! Where had it come from? All the same, it was so trashy that maybe it had some potential for being published. It reminded her of the stuff written by Isabel Ritter –no, Isabel Rider. Rider - she got a visual of the author astride a naked man, bucking in unabashed lust. Ellen laughed out loud, then as quickly sobered as the gravity of her situation struck her. She ran her fingers through her curly hair. What could she do with this stuff? She needed to send it out to somebody, but who?And, why would they read it? She was nobody, unpublished. She didn’t even have a friend at a publishing house. She knew a few writers, but they were mostly historians. They would be appalled if she asked them to pass this trash on to their agent. She read through the pages again. What the Hell. It’s worth a try. Taking in a deep breath, Ellen jumped off the sagging bed, pulled her parka on over her sweats, and tugged on some mukluks. Slamming the door to her flat, she descended five floors of walk-up, her mukluks slapping against each step.A late spring snow was lazily drifting down as she pushed through the front door of her building, cursing as a splinter poked her hand. She hated this dump. She was beginning to hate New York. Ellen had come here with such high hopes, sure she would discover the glamor and excitement that beckoned in so many novels. Instead, the reality was that New York was no fun for the poor.In spite of her disappointment, the farmhouse in Iowa where she’d grown up still didn’t look good to her. That was something. Her mother would make her life a living Hell if she had to go back home, broke. Only her father had believed in her dream, and he’d been dead five years now.“Watch where you’re going!” A guy in a plaid wool jacket bumped her as he passed on the busy sidewalk. She turned into the Strand book store, and headed straight for romantic fiction.
Diane Cox lives in Atlanta, Georgia with two dogs and two cats. She loves to garden, snap photos of her flowers, and dine out with friends.  She works hard for her money, so she squeezes in her writing early in the morning.
Some years ago she fell in love with the true story of one of her neighbor's pioneer ancestresses. After seven years of rewrites, she had learned about the craft. Her next tale -"Typewriter from Hell" was a complete departure from the first, incorporating romance, satire and a bit of fantasy. This year she will bring out a third project, and once again writing will be part of the plot.
She has been in love with books and reading all her life and has always wanted to write. Finally it has happened.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/typewriterfromhellTwitter: dianecoxwritesYoutube: http://youtu.be/QFaynWjTZLUGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18746885-typewriter-from-hell Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cox0129/typewriter-from-hell-httpamznto1atfmd4/

 #DianeCox #Novella #TypewriterfromHell #Funny #books #fiction #paranormalromance

Author Interview with Popular Australian novelist AM Hudson Featuring Her Latest Paranormal

BoundBound Series| Book OneAM HudsonGenre: New Adult/ParanormalPublisher: AM HudsonDate of Publication: April 20th 2015 ASIN: B00U1UCN9UWord Count: 112, 000Cover Artist: AM Hudson
AM Hudson is a popular Australian novelist, who has captivated fans in the US and all over the world since her Dark Secrets series was released in 2011. With almost a million books sold worldwide and a possible movie deal in the pipeline, AM Hudson is becoming a household name.
Thank you for joining us Angie. Can you tell us about your latest novel, Bound?
It’s a dark, often funny series about Elora, a spirit medium with a nasty demon shadow, who stumbles across a vampire in her search for a man that went missing over fifty years ago. When she finds him alive and well, and no older than twenty-five, she also unlocks a vault of secrets that change the course of her entire life.

Now this is the first book in a series. Can you tell us how the series came to be?
Two characters in my previous book had a baby. I just wanted to explore that child’s story. After all, her mother and father are vampires. That makes for a pretty awesome little protagonist.

Below are just sample questions. Please feel free to manipulate or change to fit your novel. I like things that are specific to the topics and themes in your book. Here are a few ideas?

Elora was born of immortal blood, how was her family cursed?
Immortality itself is one of the curses. Well, it is if it sets in too early. Being born of two immortals, her parents had to keep her away from blood in case it triggered her immortality while she was young, leaving her stuck at that age for eternity. Scary stuff. I wouldn’t want to be under 21 forever.

What is so special about her twenty-fifth birthday? That’s when the immortality would kick in by itself--when the human side stops growing.

How does she first meet Ric Mason? What is the link? She meets him when he steps on her toe and ends up breaking it. After he refuses to apologize, and blames her for the whole event, she decides she hates him and is glad she never has to see him again. Until he shows up at the café where she works and announces that he’s the new casual employee.

Little do either of them know, Ric once knew her family … twenty-two years ago—before she was even born. He will be the one to trigger her curse and set something in motion that will see Elora fighting for her life.

Do you have anything else new coming out?
Bound 2 will be out this year, hopefully around August, and after I finish Bound 3, I’ll probably work on my mystery novel.


Book Description: Elora can speak to the dead, but she has an affinity with the undead. Born of immortal blood, her curse not set to trigger until around her twenty-fifth year, she was sent away to remain unaware of and hidden from the world of magic. And from vampires. But after Elora befriends the cocky, self-loving Ric Mason, she discovers secrets about him and his distant link to her family that reshape her entire world.A dark, sexy three-book series that will have you screaming for more...Preorder at Amazon
Excerpt:
In my state of distraction, I hadn’t noticed how far into the prison we’d walked. I passed the other tour group on my way out, trying really hard not to advise a few people to check over their shoulders, and when I reached the yard, I stopped dead. A wide space of black grass, darkened by the absence of the orange lights and by the high cream wall, stared back at me, empty and oddly quiet. Usually, there were other groups lingering after their tours, but tonight … no one. Nothing. Not even flashes of torchlight showing the whereabouts of the rent-a-cops. A cold shiver passed over me, pushing the summer heat away from the thick walls behind me.I put my head down and brought my shoulders up, making myself as small as possible, casting my eyes to the glowing streetlight outside the prison gates. A hundred paces across the yard, that’s all that stood between me and freedom. A hundred paces through almost pitch darkness. A hundred paces past four ghosts that just made themselves visible to me, knowing I could see them. They all looked up as I stepped out onto the grass, their eyes falling on the tight fist of fear in my chest. My heart raced as each step drew me closer, and I tried to remind myself that they had no physical power. They couldn't actually hurt me. I hoped. Tales of horror, of the tortures and other atrocities that led these murderers to prison, filled my head as I walked between them. I could feel the hairs stick up on the back of my neck as another one came up behind me. I wasn’t sure who it was, but his energy felt dark and menacing. Every cell in my body screamed at me to turn around and just take one look. But if I did, or if I ran, they’d know I was afraid and they’d feed on that—they’d follow me, most likely outside the prison walls and to my car. If I let them think they had no power over me, they might let me be once I reached the gates. My breath hitched and my stride shortened as I quickened my pace. I hugged my chest, holding tight to the keys, but as I my heart leaped forward, just six steps away from the gates, my hand went loose for no reason and the keys dropped to the ground. The clunk didn't register until I stepped outside the prison walls and as I spun around to look back at the shiny metal cluster—a few steps away into the pitch blackness I’d just walked through—the spirits closed in, standing shoulder to shoulder. No faces now. No form. Just wavering pulses of light. They hovered there just in front of the keys as if challenging me to cross the threshold back into the prison.
 About the Author:
AM Hudson lives and works in Australia. She has four sons, a husband that plays in a band, and writing is her full-time job. In her spare time she reads books and spends too much time on Facebook.
Some of her works include: The Dark Secrets Series (complete), and Willa Wicked.
http://www.amazon.com/A.M.-Hudson/e/B006GJUIOC
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bound-Series/412991222210462
https://plus.google.com/104754692307144719287
https://twitter.com/AMHudsonAuthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5355122.A_M_Hudson
 

Tales of the Curious Cookbook: Have Your Poor Man's Cake & Eat it too!

 For A Rainy Afternoon
Tales of the Curious Cookbook Book 1RJ Scott
Genre: MM RomancePublisher: Dreamspinner PressDate of Publication: April 1, 2015Word Count: 23,200Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Robbie MacIntyre runs a small Post Office made from a converted Station House in a village northwest of London. He is stunned when a close friend leaves him the property as an inheritance after her death.
She owned the shop and has left everything to him. Not only that but she has left the place she lived, Apple Tree Cottage, to an American - a stranger who has recently moved to Barton Hartshourn.
The sealed box that they inherit includes several rare first editions and a cookery book. Only when the secrets of the ingredients in a particular recipe are finally revealed does everything begin to make sense... and a love story that began seventy years ago is finally uncovered.



In For A Rainy Afternoon Robbie and Jason fall in love as secrets and lies from the past begin to come to light. I decided to set my story in the UK in a village near where there used to be a US base in WW2. When the descendant of a GI visits the village he brings with him the solution for many  secrets. Each story from the five authors (Amber Kell, Marie Sexton, Mary Calmes, Amy Lane and myself) has a story based on recipe in an old cookbook.


1930's Applesauce Cake (Depression Era Cake) aka Poor Man's Cake. ...Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins, Prep Time: 20 mins, Cook Time: 50 mins
Ingredients:  |    1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine   |     1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup, dark  |     2 cups flour, all purpose  |    1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground  |    1/2 teaspoon clove, ground  |     1 teaspoon baking soda2/3 cup applesauceDirections:1   Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl, stir in corn syrup and set aside; sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.2   Dissolve the soda in applesauce; add flour mixture and applesauce mixture alternately to creamed mixture.3   Pour into greased 13X9-inch pan; bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until cake tests done.
Tales of the Curious Cookbook
It’s called comfort food for a reason.
Not much is known about the cookbook, except that years ago, the mysterious Granny B collected a set of magical recipes and wrote them down. Over the years, each book has been modified, corrected, added to, and passed down through the generations to accumulate its own unique history. The secrets behind these very special recipes are about to find their way into new hands and new lives, just when they’re needed the most.
Food created out of love casts a spell all its own, but Granny B’s recipes add a little something extra. This curious cookbook holds not only delicious food, but also the secrets of love, trust, and healing, and it’s about to work its magic once again.



Each Book in Tales of The Curious Cookbook Can Be Read As a Standalone


RJ Scott has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies. She was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.
As an avid reader herself, she can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, her first real true love will always be the world of romance where she takes cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and writes dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men.
With over sixty titles to her name and counting, she is the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway.  She is also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.
Her goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly a happy ever after.
www.rjscott.co.ukhttps://twitter.com/Rjscott_authorwww.facebook.com/author.rjscottwww.librarything.com/author/scottrj www.tumblr.com/blog/rjscott    www.pinterest.com/rjscottauthor/

Tuesday's Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip: This Weeks Traveller is Marie Lavendar

Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life.

This week's time travelling guest is none other than BEST SELLING AUTHOR Marie Lavendar. Follow along for a glimpse of the fantastical. First stop is Ireland. Ah...a girl after my own Irish heart! Marie Lavendar has published twenty books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, mystery/thriller, literary fiction.

First Stop: The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher can be found in the southwestern Burren region in County Clare of Ireland. Ireland is a country I’ve always been particularly drawn to, and the coast is stunning. I can’t wait to see this site. Despite my mild fear of heights, I still plan to check out this wondrous view here. The Cliffs of Moher rise 390 feet above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head and reach their maximum height of 702 feet to the north of O’Brien’s Tower. These cliffs were featured in the movie, The Princess Bride (1987), and termed as the Cliffs of Insanity. That seems pretty apropos!

2. Chillingham Castle

I can’t make a list of places to visit without mentioning the macabre. Chillingham Castle, in Northumberland, England, is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in Britain. Originally a monastery in the late 12th century, Chillingham became the base camp for the attack on William Wallace by “Hammer of the Scots”, King Edward 1st, in 1298. And in 1344, King Edward III gave permission to add battlements to the castle. Later long galleries, a park and gardens were added to the grounds. It is now open to the public, and has become a popular site for events such as weddings. Paranormal investigators have also been attracted to this castle. Also many movies have been filmed there, including the film Elizabeth. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, even penned a few lines about Chillingham:

"All houses in which men have lived and died
Are haunted houses: Through the open doors
The harmless phantoms on their errands glide,
With feet that make no sounds upon the floors.”

There have been numerous reportings of ghostly activity at Chillingham even to this day, a fact that can both unsettle you and draw you to its brilliant façade. But, where does the truly macabre come in? Ah, the dungeons, of course, and the chilling tales of what was done there. Despite all of this, I know I’ll stop by if I’m ever in the area! I love castles.

3. Narnia

Now for the fantastic, and the whimsical. I love the scenic landscapes in The Chronicles of Narnia. No matter what season, Narnia is so beautiful, capturing your imagination like no other. Full of magic and fantastic creatures, what more can you want? If I could visit Narnia in real life, I would. For now, I will settle for movies and books.









4. Oak Alley Plantation

If I could, I would definitely visit Oak Alley Plantation located near the Mississippi River in Vacherie, Louisiana.






It is full of history, and simply stunning in my opinion. This Greek Revival mansion features 28 columns on all sides, high ceilings and large windows. The estate harbors 25 acres and 28 oak trees in the alley. When I look at the pictures, it’s almost like I can step back in time. After a visit to New Orleans, I would stop here to see this lovely estate.




This plantation home was also partly the inspiration for the Bellamont Plantation in my historical romance series, The Heiresses in Love Series. Book one and two are available for purchase now, and I am polishing the manuscript for the third.

New Zealand

New Zealand was one of the last major landmasses settled by humans. Science determines it was probably settled somewhere between 1250 and 1300.

The country is made up of two main islands, and several small islands. From hopping cities to beautiful coastlines, to lovely hills and forests with cottages that remind you of the Grimm’s fairytales, as well as interesting flora and wildlife, New Zealand is definitely a place full of magic.


To me, this would be the perfect setting for a story. I can imagine a fantastic world unfolding here. If I visited, I would certainly find it to be incredibly inspiring because the pictures tell a unique story with enormous potential.










Bestselling author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 19 other books. 2014 BTS Red Carpet Review Nominee. Finalist and Runner-up in the MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 50 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published twenty books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. Lavender just released Second Nature, a paranormal romance/urban fantasy, in December of 2014. She released Magick & Moonlight, a romantic fantasy, back in March of 2014. Upon Your Honor, released last April, is her second historical romance. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series and The Blood at First Sight Series. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return; Magick & Moonlight; Upon Your Honor; Second Nature

Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom; Leather and Lace

Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life

Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things


http://marielavender.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MarieLavender/posts
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos

Marie’s Books and Blurbs:



Upon Your Return – genre: historical romance, Victorian

Release Date: February 13, 2013

Series: Heiresses in Love, Book 1




Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society…

Purchase Links:

http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00I0D9LQ8

https://www.createspace.com/4284739

http://solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/



Book trailer: http://youtu.be/tpwAq8YFdv8

Magick & Moonlight – genre: lighthearted romantic fantasy, contemporary

Release Date: March 2, 2014

Series: Magick Series, Book 1




Messing with free will is always a bad idea…

Ethan Hamilton moves to a lazy little town in Oregon, hoping to escape his demons. But, instead he discovers a woman dancing nude in the moonlight. This woman who claims she is a witch dazzles him with her sensual presence. He thinks she’s crazy, but what if she’s not?

Jessie Anderson has been taught that her kind hides who they really are. And she has a problem on her hands. Someone knows her secret and she has to do all she can to protect herself. What other choice does she have? Jessie casts a love spell on a good man, a man with whom she can’t fight her attraction. The spell doesn’t work quite as planned – she ends up falling for Ethan.

To top it off, Ethan’s treatment of her, his “love”, is so addictive. Deep down, she knows the spell will wear off, and yet his feelings seem genuine. It’s just a spell…right?

Purchase Links:

http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00IRKN5P2

http://solsticepublishing.com/magick-moonlight/

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/G5p9UijAgsQ

Upon Your Honor – genre: historical romance, suspense, Victorian

Release Date: April 20, 2014

Series: Heiresses in Love Series, Book 2




Deception is a dangerous path…

New York City, August, 1891 – Orphaned after the death of her father, Chloe Waverly stows away on La Voyageur to escape the clutches of her cruel fiancé, Lamonte Beckett. Gabriel Hill, a strange and compelling gentleman, comes upon Chloe and promises to protect her without knowing the true circumstances of why she is running away. During their journey, Gabriel doesn’t bargain on being distracted by her fair beauty or succumbing to her many charms. As their attraction to each other grows, so does the danger and Gabriel suspects things are not as they should be.

Both are determined to get to New Orleans, where she can start a new life. But, once they reach their destination, events spin out of their control and Chloe is captured by the fiancé she escaped. Gabriel is left wondering if he can overlook her betrayal. Soon he finds himself in a race against time, to reach her before Beckett can exact revenge.

Purchase Links:

SmartURL (UNIVERSAL): http://smarturl.it/uponyourhonor

Universal Amazon: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00JTKTODG

https://www.createspace.com/4762748

http://solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-honor/

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/dLOteuscV04



Radio interview on Urban Nation Radio with Adra Young: http://youtu.be/dFzeKq1z5Vo



Second Nature – genre: paranormal romance/urban fantasy

Release Date: December 8, 2014

Series: Blood at First Sight Series, Book 1




She never expected it…

Desiree Edwards has a problem. She’s been attacked, kidnapped and forced to get along with a vampire of all things. It’s something right out of the story books she reads, or her worst nightmare. But, sometimes he’s not the monster he appears to be. He seems so humanlike that she can’t help it when her emotions betray her, when her body betrays her. To make matters worse, she finds out more about herself than she ever wanted to know.

She was unlike any other…

Alec has a problem. The animal in him wants Desiree. But, so does the man. The more he learns about her, the harder it is to deny what he wants. But, he’s a freak, and she’s just a human. The two species don’t mix that way. Then an old enemy surfaces and Alec is forced to make a choice. His life or hers.

Can Alec’s soul be saved by this unique human? Or will it be far too late?

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00Q7FWIWA

Publisher: http://solsticepublishing.com/second-nature/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/second-nature-marie-lavender/1120879883

CreateSpace link: https://www.createspace.com/5131233

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/CaD_-pJ0fE8



Reviews for Marie’s Books:

http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender

http://marielavender.com/about/my-books/

http://marielavender.com/about/reviews/


#marielavendar #authorinterview #guestspot #travel #tipsytimeslip #creativeguestblog #funinterview #funplacestovisit

Dream Movie Cast & Contest for Desert Blood. Enter the Rafflecopter to Win

Guest Blog for The Mysterious Ink Spothttp://rachaelstapleton.blogspot.ca/by Anna Lowe, author of Desert Blood, Book 2 in the Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch series.
My dream movie cast for Desert Blood? I have to admit the question had me stumped. It's like finding an actor to play your boyfriend or your sister: who could possibly be close enough to represent them?

When I write a book, it always starts with a character that crops up in my mind, and it doesn't take me long to give him or her a look, a voice, a profession (always a profession: my heroines are all working women with passion for what they do, whether that's teaching, negotiating land rights, or consulting for a renewable energy firm). So I find it difficult to match them with a movie star or existing face.
Cody, the hero of Desert Blood, is the oft-overlooked second son to his wolfpack's ruling alpha. He's created a role for himself: the carefree, easy-going playboy type. Inside, though, he's yearning to break free and become the leader he was meant to be. Here's the first time Heather meets him up close...
            “Everything okay?” A voice came from the doorway, completely unperturbed. It was soothing, like the sound of waves over a smooth, sandy shore. The voice warmed her from the inside even before she spun and spotted the newcomer.            “Cody! Cody!” the children cried.            Heather's stomach did a flip. It was him. The one she’d noticed around the ranch. The one she couldn’t not notice.            The ranch seemed to be a breeding ground for gorgeous men, but this one was in a class of his own. Lean, blond, relaxed. Most of the others came in the strong-but-silent, earthy category, but this one should be bobbing on a surfboard, wiping salt water out of his eyes. He seemed in no hurry whatsoever, as if today was just another great day of many.
Who has that look, that voice? I can't name an actor, because no one is exactly Cody. No one looks like him, sounds like him, tastes like him (and yes, Heather gets a good taste on their first kiss, and their second, and their third. And then comes the night he turns up at her doorstep with a Huck Finn grin and basket of strawberries in his hand... Well, you get the picture!)
            Now he was inches away. Big, broad—but not too much of either. Just right. The nick in one ear was the only part of him that wasn’t perfect. She caught his scent, and it was an ocean breeze gone walkabout in the desert.            She gave herself an inner slap. No, no, no! Men were not to be trusted. Not ever again.            Not even this one? a small voice in her cried.            Especially not this one! came the slamming reply.
Whoever would have to play Cody in the movie version of Desert Blood, he'd have his work cut out for him, that's for sure!
And then there's Heather. She has no idea that the ranch folk are all shifters, while Cody knows all too well she's a human and forbidden to him. He tries to deny the attraction at first. But destiny is at work, and destiny won't be denied. Here he's walking away from their first real interaction together...
            A hummingbird whizzed past, and Cody followed its cue, hurrying to catch up to his brother while trying not to let the visions dancing in his head trickle out. If Ty caught him thinking those thoughts…            But the visions persisted. Visions of a willowy woman with champagne-colored hair swirled in a bun. He dreamed of undoing that bun, finding out just how long and silky her hair was. Her eyes were as green as an Appalachian forest and just as haunted. She was tall, too. One little dip of his chin and they’d be kissing. He and the woman who stood up to his brother like an Amazon defending her turf. She only wavered when some memory jumped out and got the better of her. Cody wondered what it was, and what force had steered this human to his part of the continent.            Destiny, came a faint murmur, a whisper on the wind. Faint as it was, the sound still managed to hammer Cody’s soul. His heart was pounding like he’d just run the length of the desert, searching for his mate.
Photo Credit: Comic Vine Photo Credit: Mail OnlineAnd as he continues to walk along...
            She was like no schoolteacher he’d ever met. Her legs belonged on a fashion runway—no, he decided, sportier than that. More like on a volleyball court. Her eyes were a green he’d never seen in the desert. And the toned arms stretching out from that sleeveless sundress, well, those belonged around him. He sniffed long and hard, savoring her scent like the last bloom of the century plant. Except this one came with a hint of strawberry. He did it again now: sniffed.            Mine! his wolf growled.
I'm not sure I can name any starlet who could hit Heather's mix of grace, class, and haunting fears just right. So if I had the chance to pick the cast for a movie version, I think the best solution to my dilemma would be to name a cast of unknowns – faces no one yet associated with a dozen other roles (or a dozen real-life scandals).
Rae's Opinion: I don't know about the rest of you but I'm picturing Gabrielle Reese or maybe Blake Lively.

How about you? What actor and actress would you pick? Drop your suggestions below.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Desert BloodThe Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch Book 2Anna Lowe
Genre: PNR
Publisher: Twin Moon PressDate of Publication: April 2, 2015
ASIN: B00TIUEVL2
Number of pages: 117Word Count: approx 31,000
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde
Book Description:
Heather Luth knows nothing about the paranormal world until one awful night changes everything. Now she’s on the run―straight into the arms of forbidden love. Her mind knows better than to fall for Cody Hawthorne’s sunny smile and mesmerizing voice, but her heart―and destiny―have other ideas.
On the surface, Cody is warm, witty, and fun, but beneath his carefree facade, Heather sees a real man struggling to break free. Day by day, Heather and Cody grow closer and closer, unable to resist their simmering passion―while day by day, a serial murderer closes in on his prey. Duty fights desire; fear wrestles trust as the human world clashes with the paranormal in a tale of forbidden love.
There’s more than meets the eye on Twin Moon Ranch, home to a pack of shapeshifting wolves willing to battle for life and love.
Available at Amazon
About the Author:
Anna Lowe loves putting the "hero" back into heroine and letting location ignite a passionate romance. She likes a heroine who is independent, intelligent, and imperfect — a woman who's doing just fine on her own. But give the heroine a good man (not to mention a chance to overcome her own inhibitions) and she'll never turn down the chance for adventure, nor shy away from danger.
Anna is a middle school teacher who divides her time between coastal Maine and a village in view of the Austrian Alps. She loves dogs, sports, and travel — and letting those inspire her fiction.
Once upon a time, she was a long-distance triathlete and soccer player. Nowadays, she finds her balance with yoga, writing, and family time with her husband and young children. On any given weekend, you might find her hiking in the mountains or hunched over her laptop, working on her latest story. Either way, the day will end with a chunk of dark chocolate and a good read.
http://www.annalowebooks.com/author/anna-lowe
http://www.annalowebooks.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-Lowe-Books/677291092359521
#Dreammoviecast #authorinterview #guestblog #releasedayblitz #newrelease #amazon #annalowe  #Desert Blood #TheWolvesofTwinMoonRanch #bewitchingbooktours #roxannerhoads

Tuesday's Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip: This Weeks Traveller is Susan Mathews

Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life. Throw on your favourite plaid jacket and join this  weeks's time travelling guest Susan Matthews as we  take a virtual voyage into the wilds of Canada, Alaska, England & even LasVegas, possibly the wildest place of all:) 
Susanne Matthews is an avid reader with a penchant for happily ever after. In her imagination, she has travelled to foreign lands, past and present, and soared into the future. Now we're thrilled she's going to take us with her. Buckle up!


Stop #1 The Lake of The Mountain in Prince Edward Country, Ontario. 

Susan:Only two and a half hours west of where I live. This mysterious and sacred place according to Mohawk legend was where I set my book, Echoes of the Past. The Lake of the Mountain is an anomaly. To make it easier to understand what drew me to the lake and what will take me there again, http://prince-edward-county.com/lake-on-the-mountain-provincial-park/Take a few minutes to read about the mysterious lake and see if you don’t feel the pull to visit there.

Rae comments: I have to agree with Susan...Prince Edward County is gorgeous. My hubby and I celebrated our anniversary at the Merril Inn a couple of years ago as part of a wine tour. It's located in the heart of Picton, within walking distance of specialty and antique shops, restaurants, the historic Regent Theatre and picturesque Picton harbour. We had a fabulous time and I highly recommend it. 

 
Hop in the Time Machine for Stop #2 Quebec City

Let's travel backward and eventually cross the ocean, making a quick stop in Quebec City, the first French city in North American in what was then New France.  I’ve visited Quebec City many times both in the summer and in the winter. I’ve walked the Plains of Abraham where the British led by General Wolfe defeated the French under Montcalm in 1759 and laid claim to my native land. My ancestors were among the early French soldiers sent to defend the colony in 1660, almost a hundred years earlier. A fictional account of his struggle can be found in my novel, The Price of Honor .  Someday, I hope to visit France and Caen and its surroundings.

Rae chimes in: Once again, nice pick Susan. I love all of Quebec. It's a little piece of the old world. I spent a girls weekend here in Tremblant a couple of years ago celebrating my mother's birthday Beautiful in every season! I also based the skiing scene from my novel, Curse of the Purple Delhi Sapphire here.

Las Vegas Grand Canyon


Photo Credit
American Travel Center



Stop #4 Step Aboard this Alaskan Cruise For Stop # 3, we’re off to sin city, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, not to mention all those neat little Nevada desert towns famous back in the day for silver mines and more recently for UFOs. This image shows the different colors of rock I describe in my novel, Just For The Weekend . Seeing Vegas and the canyon with my own eyes is an item on my bucket list, one I hope to make a reality within the next two or three years.



That brings us to Stop # 4 Alaska. Come mid-June, one of the top three items on my bucket list will be filled. My husband and I will be taking the Alaskan Cruise aboard the Celebrity Millennium. During our vacation, we’ll go on a catamaran ride, walk on the glaciers, and take a train ride into the Alaskan wilderness. Some people think we should be going south, especially after the cold winter we’ve had, but I want to see the land of the midnight sun for myself. Plus, since I’ve decided to base  The White Iris , the last book in my Harvester Series there, I want to see this rugged land first hand.

Rae:Like Susanne, I am Canadian and I love wilderness. Alaska feels like a place I could fit in. Of course it is an extreme place. In the winter, darkness reigns but in the summer the days get long and from what I've read the sun barely sets at all, just dips low in the sky and comes right back up again.


The Famous Standing Stones - Stonehenge

Last stop on my fantasy vacation: Stop # 5, Stonehenge. The very first book I ever wrote sits in my computer awaiting editing—and man does it need it. The head hopping would amaze you, but that book was written long ago as part of a creative writing course, and the strange thing is, head hopping was never even mentioned. Makes you wonder about the qualifications of college professors since I got an A+ in the course. Someday, I’ll open the file and rework Time and Again , a fantasy aimed at the YA market and allow the mystery of druids, crop circles, earthbound angels and other magical creatures trapped within its pages to escape. 

Rae: This prehistoric monument is located in England and is the famous time slip location of one of my favourite novels, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

Rachael's Reviews: A World Apart by L.J.K Oliva

Author L.J.K. Olivia had me at Black Magic Lounge
"Inside, the lounge was nearly empty. Violet cushioned banquets lined the walls opposite a long, dark wood bar. Behind it, shelves of exotic looking bottles extended to the ceiling. Vivid blue backlights turned them various shades of purple." 
This book was well-plotted and well-written and I was particularly impressed with the author’s rich and stellar description which enabled me to "see" Lena’s paranormal world. 
Being a writer, I know the challenge of putting words together—the right words in the right way—so a story can come alive in the readers’ imagination and it is a lot harder than most people think. 
The story opens in a small concrete chamber in the mind of a sadistic monster reminiscing the smells of liquid garbage, roasted meat and the screams of his victims. A picture so vivid, the author might have painted it onto my eyelids. From there we meet Private investigator Jesper MacMillian and Lena Alan and we enter a world where monsters aren’t just real, they’re hiding in plain sight. Suddenly, everything Jesper knows is suspect, starting with his current case. For Lena, a medium since childhood, it’s just another day at the office.

A World Apart is a solid paranormal detective mystery and a nicely creepy ghost story with moments I found somehow reminiscent of the old 1940’s detective stories. Enhancing that plot is the author’s ability to take popular tropes like hoodoo, necromancy and gypsy legend and lore and twist them just enough to make them seem new and more intriguing. I highly recommend this book!

A World Apart Shades BelowBook OneL.J.K Oliva
Genre: Urban fantasy
 Book Description:
"There are things that go bump in the night, Mr. MacMillian.  It's my job to bump back."
Private investigator Jesper MacMillian was sure he'd seen it all.  After all, in a city like San Francisco, strange is what's for breakfast.  Following a long  recovery after a horrific accident, his life is finally the way he wants it- or at least, close enough.  The only monsters on his radar are the ones that keep him awake at night.All that changes the day he meets Lena Alan.

Before MacMillian has a chance to brace for impact, Lena drags him into a world where monsters aren't just real, they're hiding in plain sight.  Suddenly, everything he knows is suspect, starting with his current case.  For Lena, a medium since childhood, it's just another day at the office. 
For MacMillian, it's the beginning of the end of everything he thinks he knows.  Excerpt 1
"I should hex the IRS."Lena set down the receipt she was scrutinizing, and stared at the woman across the table from her.  "You're not serious."The woman blew a wisp of dark brown hair out of her face, tugged off her plastic-frame reading glasses, and stretched.  The movement made her deep violet lowlights shimmer.  "Why not?  It might distract them for a while, and we could take a break from sifting through all this bullshit."Lena snorted.  "Hey, I said you didn't have to help me.  My business, my-""Responsibility.  Whatever." The woman rolled her eyes.  "We both know you're shit with numbers.  Hand me that calculator."Lena bit back a grin, and obediently passed it over.  "Have I ever told you you're like some kind of occult superhero?  Georgia Clare: bookkeeper by day, badass biker witch by night.  Seriously, you should put that on your business cards."Georgia scowled, but her sharp green eyes twinkled.  "Well, as your bookkeeper, I'm hereby suggesting you set up a network for this place.  Are you kidding me with all this paper?  If I didn't know your family, I'd swear you were Amish."Lena shrugged.  "I'll get to it."The bell above the door jingled, and a small posse of women trekked inside.  Lena flashed them a smile.  "Welcome! Take a seat anywhere.  I'll have someone right with you."  She set down the receipt she was holding and stood.  "I need to go find Connie.  Thanks again, Georgia."Georgia was already tapping away at the calculator.  She waved without looking up.Lena left their table in the corner, wove around the other tables and scooted behind the counter.  The women were ogling the scones and tiny cakes in the pastry case.  Lena nodded to them, pride warm in her chest.  She pushed open the swinging doors and stuck her head into the kitchen.  "Hey, Tiburcio!  You seen Connie back here?"Her head chef popped up from behind one of the stainless steel counters.  "No, señora, not yet.  Do you know when Jimmy is coming in?  He was supposed to take a look at the stand mixer."Lena's good mood immediately deflated.  "I'm afraid we won't be seeing Jimmy around anymore."Tiburcio's eyebrows went up, and she prayed he wouldn't press her for answers.  Mercifully, he merely gave a single, short nod.  "Qué pena.  Nice guy."She swallowed hard.  "Yeah.  Yeah, he was."With Connie nowhere in sight, Lena backed out of the kitchen again, and turned to the group at the counter.  This time, her smile felt tight.  "Sorry about the wait, guys.  Just pastries today?"She forced herself through the motions, and heaved a sigh of relief when they finally headed out the door, already picking bits of scone from their crisp white paper bags.  Lena allowed her gaze to wander to the park across the street.  Maybe she'd head over there for lunch.  For some reason, the shop felt smaller than usual.  Some fresh air would be nice.Maybe it would help dislodge the painful knot from her throat.She was still staring into the park when a dark green, classic-looking car rolled up to the curb.  The throaty engine rattled the shop's windows, then shut off.  A tall, dark-haired man climbed out.  He paused, turned, and looked directly at her.  The bottom plummeted out of her stomach.  Lena shook herself.  Of course he wasn't looking at her.He was looking at the shop.Sure enough, he squinted at the sign, slammed the car door and started across the street.  He walked with a barely noticeable swagger, his well-built body encased in a dark gray suit.  She looked closer.  No, not quite a suit: instead of a blazer, he wore some sort of belted military jacket.She braced herself.  The bell above the door chafed her already strained nerves.  The man filled the narrow doorway.  Lena swallowed hard.She knew a wolf when she saw one, and this man was definitely a wolf.  He stayed in the doorway for a moment, then started towards the counter.  His gait swayed, and she realized what she'd thought was a swagger was actually an injury.  An old injury, judging by the practiced grace with which he wielded his curved black cane.Lena relaxed slightly.  A wolf was bad news, but a wounded wolf?  That, maybe, she could deal with.He reached the counter, and leaned against the glass.  Lena frowned.  "Can I help you?"His eyes took a quick tour of her body, then he straightened.  "Maybe.  I'm looking for the owner of this place.""You found her.  I'm Powonia Alan." Lena crossed her arms.  "If you're looking for a job, I'm afraid we're not hiring at the moment."The man blinked.  "I'm not here for a job.  I'm looking for a friend of mine.  His parents told me he'd been working here."Something started to ache in the pit of her stomach.  "Is that so?"The man arched an eyebrow.  "Jimmy Vaspurkan.  You know him?"She didn't know what made her open her mouth.  Maybe it was the man's eyes, too heavy on her face.  Maybe it was the way his voice reached deep into her gut and made her insides quake.  Maybe she just needed to talk to someone.Whatever the reason, she was answering before she could stop herself.  "You're a little late.  He's dead."
Excerpt 2
The elevator came to a stop.  The doors started to open.  MacMillian backed away and shook his head.  "Do me a favor.  Leave now.  Don't come here again."He stepped into the hallway, then froze.  Clustered outside the door to the office was a horde of people, the widest slice of humanity he'd ever seen crammed into one place.  There were cowboys, businessmen, soldiers.  Native Americans, what looked to be early Chinese, and more than a few women resembling the one from the side street.The woman stepped out of the elevator behind him.  She hissed.  "Jesus.  Is it always like this here?"MacMillian stared down at her.  "What are you- you can see them?"She rolled her eyes.  "Well, obviously.  I'm a medium, remember?" She started down the hallway, paused, and glanced over her shoulder.  "Are you coming?"MacMillian hung back.  She shrugged.  "Suit yourself."She walked up to the edge of the crowd and cleared her throat.  "Okay, someone want to tell me what you're all doing here?"Multiple heads swung towards her.  An elderly man in a suit that would have been the height of fashion in the late eighteen-hundreds stepped forward.  MacMillian strained his ears, but he couldn't hear what the man said.  The woman listened closely, made a curious sound in the back of her throat and turned back to him.  "He says there's a medium here.  Are you sure you're not sensitive?"He was feeling rather sensitive, but he shook his head.  "I don't even know what that means."The woman humphed.  "That's what I thought."  She turned back to the man.  "So you're all here to be moved on?"The man nodded.Her shoulders relaxed.  She reached out and took the man's hand in hers.  His eyes widened, then a peaceful look came over his face.  His lips turned up.  White light appeared in the center of his chest, expanded outward until his entire body glowed.  With what looked like a sigh of relief, he evaporated.MacMillian's jaw dropped.The woman moved slowly through the crowd.  Hand after hand reached out for her.  She took each one, held on until its owner flashed white and disappeared.  By the time she reached the office door, the hallway was empty.  She leaned back hard against the wall and closed her eyes.MacMillian didn't remember moving, but somehow he was standing in front of her.  He closed his free hand around her arm and towed her inside, not stopping until they reached his office.He slammed the door.  "What the... what was..." He dragged a sleeve across his brow.  It was drenched in sweat, but his skin felt freezing.The woman watched him, her eyes sympathetic.  "Rough day, Magnum?"He glared.She sighed and rubbed her forehead.  "That, my dear detective, was the other San Francisco.  You've probably seen it before, just out of the corner of your eye.  You've probably dismissed it all your life.  Maybe you always told yourself you'd just had too much to drink."  She paused, her gaze heavy on his face.  MacMillian squirmed.  "But I'm guessing you always knew better."His head was throbbing.  He shook it once, twice, but it didn't clear.  "I don't get it, Miss...""Alan," she supplied.He nodded.  "Ms. Alan.  Why are you here?"Her eyes darkened.  "Because there are things that go bump in the night, Mr. MacMillian.  It's my job to bump back."

About the Author:
L.J.K Oliva is the devil-may-care alter-ego of noir romance novelist Laura Oliva.  She likes her whiskey strong, her chocolate dark, and her steak bloody.  L.J.K. likes monsters... and knows the darkest ones don't live in closets.

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Rachael Reviews: Heuer Lost And Found by A.B. Funkhauser

Ms. A.B Funkhauser is a brilliant and wacky writer incapable of dumbing things down and amen for that. Her distinctive voice tells an intriguing story that mixes moral conflicts with dark humor, not too mention booze and cigarettes.

The book’s title refers to the lead character, a lawyer who dies in his home. As the body decomposes, the man’s spirit experiences euphoria, rage, disappointment and eventually hope.  One of my favourite characters Enid, an employee of the Weibigand Brothers Funeral Home where Heuer now resides just happens to be Heuer the dead lawyer’s former girlfriend and as we re-live the flawed recollections of their murky past—it really poses the question. How do we deal with death?​
#bookreview #authorbookreview #darkhumour #funeralparlour #womensfiction #ghosts#ABFunkhauser #death #funny #Heur #LostandFound #canadianauthor #goodbook #B7 #writersgroup

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tuesday's Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip: This Weeks Traveller is A.B Funkhauser

Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life!

A.B wanted me to clarify that the
ciggy is a prop. Perhaps in honor of her father
to whom she pays tribute to below.Throw on your pj's and ​climb in the casket with ​this week's guest, funeral director and fiction writer A.B Funkhauser as she takes us on virtual voyage through her memories and dreams relaying the places and times that inspired her.

A.B. Funkhauser is the author of a Dark Humor series and Weibigand Brothers Funeral Home is the setting of her new release, HEUER LOST AND FOUND. Coming this April. 23rd 2015. A visceral journey of two people: one living, one dead.


THE SHADOW RADIO SHOW

“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Only The Shadow knows...Bwahahahahaha.”

For many my age and younger, knowing the origin of the above might be a bit of a stretch: yet I do. Corny? Yes. Hilarious? Absolutely! The quote, or more correctly, the radio program to which this voice over belongs comes from none other than The Shadow, which got its start in pulp fiction and later ran an incredible seventeen years on American radio from 1937 to 1954. 

Featuring lurid tales narrated by a supernatural all-seeing being that always knew better than the affected hapless humans it oversaw, The Shadow spoke to me in reruns throughout the Seventies.What got me was the voice. What hooked me was the medium. Radio, you see, forced me to conjure up images of just where the plays took place. As a ten year old, it was no mean feat, seeing that my world barely extended past the hydro field in summer and the school yard in winter.“What evil lurks?” I wondered. And was it always in sinister places?The answer, I found, lived in dreams, and it was to some of these that I return over and over again years after they first played out. That I have recurring dreams—usually in Technicolor—I think speaks to the impact of radio: if given a choice, I would color my dreams no matter how frightening. Somehow, in color, the sinister seems palatable. Even inviting.
PLANET OF THE BATHROOM STALLS
 I remember finishing a harrowing week of Grade 12 second term exams. Exhausted, relieved and flat out broke, I had no choice but to celebrate my accomplishment with a long sleep. Waking in dreams, I was confronted by a highly stylized ape man in an orange jump suit. He wasn’t Roddy McDowall from Planet of the Apes, but a curious hybrid that co-opted equine features in a high cheek-boned, narrow face that embraced intelligence and a promise. The ape did not speak as he took my hand, ushering me over verdant hills backed by brilliant vistas I instantly recognized from the beats out of Sgt. Pepper’s. We were barely out of the Seventies at this point, so strawberry fields made perfect sense, even if my companion—a behemoth of eight feet or more—could have easily made Poe’s House of Usher his home. I asked him where he was taking me, but the ape said nothing, pulling me along with kind, if not gentle urgency, until, at last, we arrived at our destination: a row of bathroom stalls as orange and shiny as his coveralls. He wanted me to step inside the first one, yet I could not. It was a pay toilet, and I didn’t have a dime.
THE LAKE AND THE DRAGON



It will be eighteen years this May since my amazing German daddy passed away while on vacation in sunny Florida. His death, completely unexpected, knocked all of us near to him on our collective rear ends. Yet his passing was perfect—at least for him. My dad came from another age, an age currently celebrated on AMC’s Mad Men. Cool, collected and always on top of his game, my pa drank scotch and smoked cigarettes to his end of days: his pockets, when turned out, contained an empty pack of Chesterfields. He smoked his last one. Good on you pa. I missed him in those early days—I still do—yet in the afterburn of the funeral, seeing him again was paramount. It was not long before he visited me in dreams, this time in a lake setting muted with sepia tones save for a cobalt sky and bone bleached trees denuded of their summer leaves. My dad, you see, was renowned for saving the day. And so it came as no surprise when I tipped my fishing boat and fell into the dark water, that he would rescue me from an odd looking creature that reminded me of TV’s H.R. Pufnstuf.

Confronted by the large yellow beast with his oversized spots and tousled felt-twist mane, my first impulse was to shoo him away. “Be gone absurd beast with your goggly doll eyes!” Before I could reach him, strong arms overtook me, drawing my close. It was dad in his favorite black and rust hunting jacket, impossibly dry despite the cold water we found ourselves floating in. Pufnstuf, the dragon, opened his soft felt mouth at the sight of dad, as if to frighten him, but my father just laughed, reaching out with one of his short fingers (the rest of it claimed by a band saw in the Fifties) to poke the silly bugger in the eye. Puf retreated beneath the waves. I haven’t been back to the lake lately, nor have I been visited by the large, yellow, felt-mouthed beastie, but I wish it so most terribly. My dad is there, and I’d love to see him again.
THE HOUSE OF USHER AS HOME maxresdefault.jpgEdgar Allen Poe’s Fall of the House Usher stayed with me if only for the author’s assertion that the cursed family tree ran vertically and without branch. “How strange,” I thought at the time. Yet, when I woke for the first time in an amazing home—high ceilinged and trimed with thick mahogany baseboards and crown molds—I knew where I was. Imagine a long hall, the plaster walls stained cerulean blue to compliment large crystal chandeliers to mark a white ceiling honeycombed with bowed crossbeams of black and tar. The hall, never ending, opens every thirty feet or so into rooms beautifully decorated from the Age of Empire; each a different color, each recognizable every time I visit because I’ve had this dream before. And never, ever, is there an intersection along the way. It is Usher’s family tree, but I do not fear it. This is not a family tree cursed, but a home filled with history, its rooms lovingly curated by something I have yet to see.
MISTRESS BISCUIT AND HER SHORTBREADS
www.travelmob.comIn a similar vein, I have visited the home of Mistress Biscuit many, many times. Each time, it is the same. I wouldn’t have it any other way. The front door opens into a spectacular foyer, shitake monochrome walls accented with glass and chrome backed by sky high windows capped by a vaulting ceiling twenty feet above our heads. I say “our” because the guests are there, wrapped in looks reminiscent of the disco era, but tasteful to one who was there. “Mistress is busy,” the tall, slightly balding fellow in livery informs me. “Would madam care for a swim before chicken?” Don’t mind if I do. Pocketing a couple of sweeties fetched off a silver tray of shortbreads and arugula, I head to the indoor pool where a friend awaits. He is young, wearing a white terry cloth robe. I have no idea who he is.
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Get Featured on the Treasured & Tipsy Timeslip: Coming Soon to a Tuesday Near You

​Travel and make-believe go hand in hand. Whether we're in the present or the past, in a haunted castle, an enchanted forest or a broken down building, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and traveling the world can bring the imagination to life! So throw on a corset, ​warm up the​ time machine or climb in a casket and take a virtual voyage with ​us​.

I'm lining up spots on my blog. If you want to be featured beginning next Tuesday. Comment, Email or Message me. You will need to name 3-5 of the most whimsical fantastical places you would travel to if you could. It can be in a different era, it can be spooky and/or whimsical. Whatever you want just as long as you name the places and why. Please provide pictures. It's a great opportunity to talk about the setting of your book(s) if you're looking to promote. If you're interested email me raquelle.jackson@gmail.com with your 3-5 places, include what's magical, creepy, intriguing, romantic about it. include stories or history and a picture of each place. Please also include your media kit. Thanks! Rae

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