Friday Feature Tracey Clark Shocking Finds
Talks with
Tracey Clark
Author of
Shocking Finds
Today Tracey shares with us about her life, her love of words, and Kentucky. A random commenter will be picked to win an E-book copy of Shocking Finds. So let’s find out about Tracey and her book. Take it away Tracey:
I love words, and always enjoyed word-of-the-day as a child. But the idea to take my love of words and create worlds and characters didn’t hit me until after I was diagnosed with MS. I mean, I loved words but I also loved numbers, and what type of writer would I be when I had a slight case of dyslexia. Hmm. According to Momma Rae, I could and should do anything I wanted. Okay… I can and will win the lottery (probably not what she meant) but first I decided to take all my ideas and turn my words into a story. Now my first novel, Shocking Finds: A Finder’s Keepers Novel, is out and ready for readers to enjoy. Truly, I have been spontaneously squealing for the last month or two.
Words have become a ‘life tool’ for me. MS can take a lot from you, but it left me my ability to dream. When I could nothing else, I was still able to dream of worlds and people, of stories… In a way, MS forced me to switch tracks, to create Shocking Finds… and Shocking Finds saved my sanity when bed rest was the height of my entertainment. Words gave my life meaning.
Writing Shocking Finds came with ease, but editing … not so much. At first I hated even the mention of more edits, but then I got into it. I found a book called ‘The Emotion Thesaurus’ and that helped to make my edits fun. This book, and others by the same person, helped me to show my characters actions and feelings, instead of just telling the reader what was going on. To help with edits that had to do with the surrounding area, I looked for antique-for-sale sights. The guy that my MC, Marin, works for loves old and expensive décor. And wow, I am good with hand me down couches, the prices were so high.
I also learned that Kentucky has the largest number of cave systems in the United States. Growing up in a family of campers, I went to Carter Caves and explored around Grayson Lake as a child, so I knew there were a lot of caves to find. Apparently, the limestone rocks make this area ideal for cave systems. I didn’t have room for a cave scene in this novel but I now have a few scenes for bad guy hide outs in future novels. Anyone that has been caving knows that it can be a different world down there, and that is what I am building with my words. A different world for others to enjoy.
I think Marin, my female MC, enjoy living in Ky as much as I do. Though she has a coffee addiction, were I can’t stand the stuff. Writers always talk about needing more coffee, but the closest I come is a French Vanilla Coffee from the gas station, sugar-free of course. And that tastes like dessert to me, with little to no bitterness. Marin, on the other hand, would be happy with a coffee IV to supplement the time she needed to sleep, and couldn’t suck down her favorite fix. If I have anything that could compare, it would be Diet Coke out of the fountain at the gas station. I even refer to the guy that works there as my Coke Dealer. Something that at first embarrassed him (okay that was my goal. I had turned to a costumer he was chatting with, and informed him “This is my Coke Dealer, always keeps me supplied.”) Now everyone working there comments on my addictions.
But it is a much needed addiction. One that helped me to continue writing when I lacked energy. Okay, enough about me. Here is some more about Shocking Finds:
Blurb
An act of rebellion, Marin doesn’t think that running into the new store in town will hurt anything. Her aunt will never know… right? One car wreck later, her aunt is hospitalized, Marin is forced to spend her twenty-first birthday fighting for her life, and magic – the very thing her aunt has always sworn to be for fools – is real. And so is the irresistible Fae dedicated to Marin’s protection.
Kyland has searched Earth-side and all the other realms, looking for a missing Fae child. A child his Queen prophesied would be able to one day save the Fae people from the Danshue, as the evil Fae threat tries to overwhelm the entire Supernatural Community. A child that would know nothing of her blocked gifts, or her Fae heritage waiting to be claimed. A child that has grown into a curvy, delicious morsel he would love to taste
Together Marin and Kyland will fight Fae assassins, overcome betrayals, and if they’re lucky … they will find the Danshue responsible for their plight. That’s if Marin doesn’t shock him to death with her erratic new gift, and her out of control emotions.
Excerpt
Lindal jabbed her dainty finger at Marin, her words hissed with the pressure of contained rage. “Do you want to die like your mother? Do you enjoy making me worry and endangering your life like this?”
Marin lowered her head and whispered, “If magic isn’t real, then I should be safe enough. This is the only unscheduled stop I made.”
“Don’t back talk me, girl. Magic is for fools. And places like this are for those too weak to hold on to their money, those willing to purchase lies because they are unhappy with the imperfections they were born with. If your mother had stayed home, she would be alive. Instead, she was mugged in some back alley and left to bleed out with the trash.”
Marin flinched, yet yearned to hear more. It was the most Lindal had ever said about her mother, or the events that had led to her death. Taking a chance that her aunt would continue sharing, Marin asked, “Is there any way to be safe?” She wanted to ask more about her mother, but feared that Lindal would clam up if she pushed too directly.
“Listen and listen good. People, those freaks with meddling gifts, can see how weak you are. They are abominations, just like you, but they can and will plant thoughts inside your mind, and lead you into danger. Everyone has enhanced senses these days, but you are an oddity. Abnormal, just begging for some fool to believe he can steal your curse, and use it for his own plans, by taking your life. The crap sold in places like this will not give you a shield from the evil in this world.” Lindal had explained many times over the years that Marin had been born without the natural shield that protected a person’s mind.
“But if there are people that can play tricks, put thoughts in your mind, then maybe there could be some small magic that’s real.”
Placing the bag with her new crystal protectively behind her back, Marin fought not to back away from her aunt. The look in Lindal’s eyes told her plainly that she had pushed too far. Any sign of weakness would light a match to these attacks. “Tricks. Nothing but tricks. Your mind is just too weak to figure them out.”
Tracey is giving away a free e-book copy of Shocking Finds to one lucky commenter. Leave a comment for your entry.
Bio
With the middle name Loquacious (okay, it’s really Lee) I will do my best to keep this bio short. My name is Tracey L Clark, and I write paranormal romance. I am surrounded by all things Kentucky: a love of horses and caves, a few dogs for best friends, and a taste for bourbon. Mostly, I love soaking up the changing colors to be found in a Kentucky fall season.
I started writing to keep my mind busy when I was hit with MS (multiple sclerosis), and now I have my first novel out for others to enjoy. My Mother is my strength, and my number one fan. The best part about Kentucky are the mommas, like mine, that are willing to bend over backwards to see their babies happy.
I grew up by people of Irish and Cherokee backgrounds, but mostly I grew up surrounded by those that loved to create. Even my mother (who will tell you she has no talent) designed our deck, and it was magnificent. Cooking grandmothers (seven of them), a poetry loving grandfather and one that built so many houses that the street bares our last name, and a grandmother that could draw or paint anything. My love of art definitely came from my family, but I believe that I am the first to take on a 100,000 word novel. And I loved every minute. (okay, maybe I didn’t love the edits, but that was because there are so many)
Buy Links
If you want the paperback, you can get a discounted price if you get it from me: http://traceylclark.com/2015/10/14/buy-now/#!/c/0/offset=0&sort=normal
All other buy links (Amazon, Barns&Noble, ect) can be found here: http://finderskeepersseries.com/buy-link/
Author Links:
Author Blog: https://traceylclark.com/
Book Webpage: http://finderskeepersseries.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traceyclark.finderskeepers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/traceylclark11
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/traceclar/
LinkedIn.com: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceyclarkauthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/traceylclark
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/traceylclark
Don’t forget that Tracey is giving away a free e-book copy of Shocking Finds to one lucky commenter.
Leave a comment for your entry.
Comments must be left before 10 AM EST Monday.
