Super Book Blast - Maggie Jaimeson

Welcome to another awesome Book Blast Tour. I love hearing about these great new books, don't you?! Get a gander at Maggie Jaimeson's second book in her Sweetwater Canyon series. Sounds like a great read doesn't it?! And just look at that cover...beautiful...

Maggie is also giving away goodies on this tour. Check it out:

One autographed cover flat will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter at each blog stop. In addition, Maggie will award a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) as a grand prize to one randomly selected commenter on this tour, and a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn host. Good luck!
You must leave an email address to be entered into any of the drawings.

To add to your chances of winning, visit some of the other stops which you will find here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/super-book-blast-healing-notes-by.html

BLURB

Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.  

Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess.  

A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.  

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Claire crawled onto a stool on the other side of the island and smiled.  Neither of them talked for several minutes as they listened to the water in the pot heat.

“When I grow up, I’m going to play with Sweetwater Canyon all the time.”

“Are you sure you want to hang out with all us old folks?”

“You’re not all old. Well maybe a little old. But Kat isn’t old.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s true. She’s only seventeen.” And going on twenty-five it seemed sometimes.

“Oh, seventeen? That is old.” Claire put a finger to her lips and furrowed her brow. “How old do I have to be to play in the band all the time?”

“Probably at least eighteen.”

“But, you just said Kat—”

“Kat is different, because her mother plays in the band and can watch her all the time.”

“Well, you can watch me all the time. You can be my mother.”

Rachel gulped.

“Well, can’t you?”

“Can’t she what?” Noel walked in the room and lifted Claire off the chair in a big hug, swinging her around the room. “Can’t she what? She can do anything she wants.”

“See,” Claire leaned forward and looked at Rachel over Noel’s shoulder. “See, even Daddy thinks you can be my mother.”

“Whoa.” Noel set Claire back on the stool. “I’m not sure what I walked in on here.” He sent an accusing glance to Rachel. “You already have a mother, Claire.”

“I know. Not my real mother. My second mother. You know, like my friend, Megan. Her mommy and daddy got divorced and her daddy married a new mommy. So, Megan has two mommies now.  See?  Rachel can be my second mommy. Okay?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cool signed cover flat ONE lucky commenter from Novel Natterings will win!
GOOD LUCK!

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books.  The final two books will be available in 2013.

Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com

Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820

Twitter: @maggiejaimeson

 

Don't forget to leave a comment for Maggie to be in the draw to win those great prizes!

Hoppy Hallowen

Welcome to my stop on the Howloween Blog Hop AND A Haunted Garden Halloween Hop. Yep – that’s right. TWO stops rolled into one. I’m a true multi-tasker! J Actually, it’s because I’m a terrible multi-tasker and rather forgetful at times that I forgot I’d signed up for two!)

Just let me know when you comment which hop you’re on, along with your contact email – because I’m giving away one prize to a lucky commenter for each stop! (Just quietly, there’s nothing to stop you from writing TWO comments to double your chances)

The prize is a choice between a PDF copy of either Guardian of the Jewel OR Affinity.

 

I thought about regaling you with a story or two of my own scary experiences with the spooky kind in honour of Halloween, but then thought you might think me kookier than ever J So, instead, I decided to send you on a quick ghost tour of my country instead.

I came across this gem of a list written by Kirsty Johnson from the Stuff.co.nz website who has kindly allowed me to reproduce her awesome list. Enjoy – and have a Spooktacular Halloween J

 

HAUNTED NEW ZEALAND

Top 10 Ghostly spots

1. Kingseat psychiatric hospital, Karaka.

Kingseat is a former psychiatric hospital where many patients claim they experienced maltreatment, and a number of patients died during their time there. Its reputation for hauntings spread so far and wide it is now run as a "haunted house" tourist venture by a company named Spookers.

2. Racecourse Hotel, Riccarton.

The ghost of former licensee Donald Fraser is said to walk the corridors of the hotel looking for his killer.

According to The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, in 1933 Fraser was killed in the middle of the night in his bedroom, where his wife was asleep, by two blasts from a double-barrelled shotgun.

The movements and circumstances of everyone in the house at the time, and of guests at a party held in the hotel earlier in the evening, were checked and rechecked but no one was ever found guilty of the murder.

3. Larnach Castle, Dunedin.

New Zealand's only castle is reportedly haunted by several spirits including the William Larnach himself and one of his vengeful wives.

Larnach shot himself in the head in 1898 after learning of an affair between his young third wife and one of his sons from his first marriage.

Both the first and second Mrs Larnach’s, who were half-sisters, died in the castle at age 38.

Larnach's daughter Katie is said to haunt the ballroom, built to celebrate her 21st birthday in 1886. She died just a few years later from typhoid.

 

4. Waitomo Caves Hotel, King Country.

This is New Zealand's most haunted hotel.

Bathtubs reportedly drip blood, orbs bounce around the driveway and a Maori princess is reputed to stalk the corridors, according to Theshadowlands.net.

The website says some people have experienced the dining room going cold, laughter, the feeling of 'something' walking through them and even the noise of a maid's trolley going along the long stretch of hall in the lower part of the hotel.

5. The Vulcan Hotel, St Bathans.

The Vulcan is haunted by the ghost of a murdered prostitute named 'The Rose'.

A review of the hotel from Suite 101 says the tale begins when, one evening in the early 1880s, The Rose invited the wrong customer back to her room.

Her body was found the next morning on the bed where she made her living. Her killer was never caught. She now haunts the room where she was killed, targeting male guests with her nasty nocturnal visits.

6. The Abel Tasman coast.

This legend dates back to the late 1820s when Maori chief Te Rauparaha and his allies sacked the Waimea pa in Appleby, and found the hiding place of the magnificent waka Te Awatea.

A Nelson Evening Mail article says a phantom Maori canoe, with a warrior crew chanting, can be seen in the area on still nights.

Sightings of the canoe are often accompanied by the sound of wailing women, representing the laments of the Ngati Apa people as their beloved waka was paddled away.

 

7. Waimate Hospital, Waimate.

Waimate Hospital is closed, but a tortured spirit dwells within.

It is the Grey Lady, and she is restless. The Christchurch Press wrote about the haunted hospital in 1996, saying locked doors were found open, the sound of breaking glass was reported but nothing found, and ambulance officers had told of disturbing encounters with a spirit.

Former nurses believe the Grey Lady is the spirit of a former woman patient, who died at the hospital, seeking company in an afterlife.

8. St. James Theatre, Wellington.

There are numerous ghosts reported to haunt this theatre.

According to Moonslipper.com, one of the more regular sightings is the ghost of Yuri, a Russian performer who supposedly fell to his death from above the stage.

Yuri has been encountered playing with the lights, in particular switching them all back on again once the theatre has been locked up for the night.

There is also the 'Wailing Woman', a frequent apparition who is said to wail and moan about, and a boy's choir who is said to haunt the theatre.

9. The Masonic Hotel, Napier.

The Masonic was built in the 1860s, and then rebuilt after a fire in the 1890s and again after the 1931 earthquake.

In the hotel rooms there have been several natural deaths as well as suicides - and a chef once died in the hotel's bath. Witnesses report music that comes on by itself, lights that turn on without being touched, and apparitions that appear in the night.

 

10. Spirits Bay, Far North.

Perhaps New Zealand's most famous spot for supernatural beings, Spirits Bay is believed to be a jump-off point for spirits leaving this world.

According to Maori legend, during the night hours, groups of spirits and individuals can be seen moving down the beach to a certain point and then disappearing. These spirits are very focused on reaching a particular part of the beach and will not be distracted from their goal.

 

 

Thanks so much for coming by this stop in the blog hop. I hope you had fun! Don't forget to comment for your chance to win an e-book - and make sure you stop by these blogs for another chance to win some more great prizes:

 

http://www.cheriedesues2.com

http://www.behindthegardengate.blogspot.com/

http://www.victoria-noxon.blogspot.com/

http://blog.heatherhiestand.com

http://rebeccajclark.blogspot.com

 

Nelson Romance Writers Competition - RESULTS

RESULTS OF THE NELSON SPRING ROMANCE SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2012.

 

Lynne M Kokshoorn in Greymouth for her story Come back to me.

Judge Sue MacKay’s comment: I loved this story – all that emotion – you really touched me. I kept wondering will Remi come home? Won’t he? That’s awesome writing.

 

Donna Capil in Stoke (Nelson) for her story Molly’s Crush.

Judge Sue MacKay’s comment: I loved this story. It is so real, so emotive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Elson in Wellington for her story The Way Home.

Judge Sue MacKay’s comment: I enjoyed this story. It depicts well the quandaries of people, whose families have left home, and are now left facing their own time to do something for themselves.

 

 

 

The prize-winning entries are available here to read under the Tab: Competition Winning Stories. Check them out!

Also in the Top 10 that was sent to the final judging by Sue MacKay were (in alphabetical order):

Andrew M. Underwood’s Flap Jack

Andrew M. Underwood’s Aquarius

Andrew M. Underwood’s At A Dentist’s Waiting Room

Emily Fredrickson’s New Beginnings

Jo McNabb’s Roses

Jon Harrey’s A Southern Harvest

Virginia Suckling’s The Rendezvous

Well done everyone and heartfelt congratulations to you all!

Also a warm thank you to our judge Sue Mackay for a great job!

 

Lynne and her awesome basket of goodies!

The 1^st prize basket included:

A full year’s membership in Romance Writers New Zealand (RWNZ), donated by the RWNZ Nelson Chapter

Three hardback Mills & Boon Medical Romance novels, written and kindly donated by Sue MacKay

A bottle of red wine, kindly donated by Te Mania Wines, Richmond

A box of natural skin care products, kindly donated by Carol Priest

Some chocolate skin care products, kindly donated by The Body Shop, Nelson

Some Avon skin care products, kindly donated by Nelson Romance Writer Karen Mead

A heart shaped pendant, kindly donated by Nelson Romance Writer Annika Ohlson-Smith

A bag printed with the cover of the Romance novel Affinity, written and kindly donated by

Nelson Romance Writer LaVerne Clark

Heart shaped ginger cookies, baked and kindly donated by The Swedish Bakery, Nelson

A sprinkle of Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses, donated by the RWNZ Nelson Chapter

 

Donna and her goodies!

The 2^nd prize basket included:

A bottle of white wine, kindly donated by Te Mania Wines, Richmond

A bag of natural skin care products, kindly donated by Carol Priest

Some chocolate skin care products, kindly donated by The Body Shop, Nelson

Some Avon skin care products, kindly donated by Nelson Romance Writer Karen Mead

A Thriller novel and a Romance novel, kindly donated by Nelson Romance Writer Judy Tregurtha

Heart shaped ginger cookies, baked and kindly donated by The Swedish Bakery, Nelson

A sprinkle of Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses, donated by the RWNZ Nelson Chapter



Liz and her goodies!

The 3^rd prize basket included:

A bag of natural skin care products, kindly donated by Carol Priest

Some chocolate skin care products, kindly donated by The Body Shop, Nelson

Some Avon skin care products, kindly donated by Nelson Romance Writer Karen Mead

A Romance novel, kindly donated by Nelson Romance Writer Judy Tregurtha

Heart shaped ginger cookies, baked and kindly donated by The Swedish Bakery, Nelson

A sprinkle of Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses, donated by the RWNZ Nelson Chapter

 

All three baskets were kindly wrapped and beautifully decorated by Creative Occasions/The Party Shop, Nelson.

 

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS IN NELSON!

Also a big thank you to the papers and other media all over the country for advertising our competition.
 

A Real-life Heroine

Today, I'm honoured to have sister rose, Mackenzie Crowne, visiting us at Novel Natterings. Not only is Mac an extremely talented author (not that we expect anything less from a Wild Rose Press Author) :) but she is also a funny, intelligent and inspiring lady who has battled that awful disease, cancer, come out the other side victorious AND kept her sense of humour intact...and then some! But I don't need to be telling you this. I'll let you learn more about her through her own words. Enjoy...

Welcome Mac. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hmm, let's see. I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother. My husband and I were blessed with two rambunctious boys who we managed to raise into wonderful men without any disfiguring mishaps. Dirt bikes and ESPN are the order around our house, and life at the ‘Testosterone Ranch’ more closely resembles one of today’s wacky reality shows, than yesterday’s Leave It To Beaver. I’m one of eight kids, raised just north of Boston. My childhood was a free-for-all, surrounded by hordes of family and friends and I’m happy to report, that continues to be true today. I moved to Phoenix as an adult because living in the southwest feeds my soul.

My love of books, specifically the romance genre, has been a lifelong affair, both as a reader and a writer. A bout with breast cancer sharpened my resolve to see my stories shared with others. As of today, I am a five-year survivor, living my dream.

What inspired you to write this book and how did you find the strength to write it?

That's a complicated question as I found my inspiration evolving, depending where I was in my battle. And strength? LOL Actually, it was more like desperation. Much of the book comes directly from the journal I kept as I was going through treatments. As you can imagine, I was completely freaked out at the beginning. My dad had passed away several years earlier and I needed his voice of reason and love so desperately, I sat down and wrote a letter to him while waiting to hear my diagnosis. The format was so calming and enlightening, I continued the exercise from that point on. To tell the truth, I never intended to publish my writings, but when all was said and done, Dad and I had produced a road map to emotional survival. How could I not share that with others who are just beginning their frightening battle? 

Ahh...that is a beautiful image. How wonderful to have had such a man in your life to influence you like that. What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Since I never intended anyone to see it, the writing itself wasn't a challenge. I was free to pour out my fears and weaknesses along with all the goofy stuff I experienced. What proved difficult was seeing those weaknesses in black and white. I'll tell you, I didn't like a lot of what I read in my journal, like my complete absorption with "my cancer". The woman I'd become in those early days was a dark and depressing stranger, one I would avoid if I wasn't currently living in her skin. Disgusted, I made a conscious effort to find me again, and it wasn't long before I'd left that dark Mac behind.

 

The cover art for Where Would You Like Your Nipple is incredible. Who is the artist and how did you come across their work?

Isn't the cover gorgeous? It screams of hope in the midst of despair, exactly the sentiment I was going for in "Nipple". The image is called Open Heart by Lisa Scholder and the model for the piece is an eleven year survivor whom I had the honor to meet just last week. I met Lisa through one of my sisters, an art consultant in the Tampa area. Working with Faces of Courage, a non-profit providing camp trips for cancer survivors and their families, Lisa helps survivors realize the true beauty of their altered bodies through her body paintings. I can't tell you how humbled I am to be associated with Lisa and the folks at Faces of Courage. You can find out more about these incredible woman at their websites.

http://www.lisascholder.com/

http://facesofcourage.wordpress.com/

Thank you for those links Mac. I'll definitely be going to check them out!

A friend of mine mentioned what a wonderful gift your book would make for someone suffering from, or having loved ones suffering from breast cancer. Are you looking at having WWYLYN available in print in the future?

I've heard the same comment from several people and couldn't agree more. As of last week, Nipple is availble in both e-format and print. Here are the links.

Digital  http://www.amazon.com/Where-Would-Like-Nipple-ebook/dp/B009AEU4WG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347587066&sr=1-3 

Print  https://www.createspace.com/4004016

How was the foray into self-publishing? Was it a smooth ride?

I actually found the process easier than expected. The choices in self-publishing are numerous these days and surprisingly user friendly, even for a first timer. My biggest concern was producing a quality project. With the glut of self-pubbed books out there, quality is too often an issue. But, with the help of my wonderful beta readers and my talented editor, Calisa Rhose, I believe I've achieved my goal. 

I can attest to the fact that you absolutely have! I loved everything about this book. What is the main message you’d like your readers to take out of WWYLYN?

Hang in there and have faith. I know from first hand experience how frightening this battle can be and it's easy to lose yourself in the day-to-day trials involved in beating breast cancer. But everything they throw at you is doable with the right attitude, and you might just be surprised at the new, stronger woman who emerges on the other side of the abyss.

What else do you write and what are you working on right now?

I'm a romance novelist at heart. My joy is cataloging the antics and romantic adventures of the voices in my head. I've published several stories. Gift of the Realm (The Wild Rose Press) is a modern fantasy romance set in Ireland and That Dating Thing (Still Moments Publishing) is a lighthearted contemporary in the midst of Wall Street Greed. The Billionaire's Con, another contemporary, is due out late this fall from Still Moments. I'm currently working on a forth, with a football theme, and the fifth, a follow up to That Dating Thing.

Phew! You've been busy and you've certainly kept to your word. Take THAT cancer! ;)

Where can we find you and your books?

You can find all of my books at my website www.mackenziecrowne.com. The links to both the publishers and Amazon are there. And while you're there, be sure to leave me a comment. I love making new friends.

http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/macs-bookshelf/

Anything else you’d like to add?

Where Would You Like Your Nipple? was ultimately a labor of love, but much of what I went through could have been avoided by early detection. Please don't make the mistake I did. Do those self exams! You'll be glad you did.

Thank you so much for visiting us and sharing such a personal part of your life with us all, Mac. Its been such a pleasure to have you here. Anybody have any questions for Mac before she pops off to her next adventure?

Book Blast Tour - Across the Winds of Time

Please help me welcome Bess McBride to Novel Natterings. Bess is doing a Book Blast Tour and has kindly offered a $25 Amazon gift card to one random commenter during the tour - the more you comment and visit other stops - the more chances you have to win. Great timing with Christmas around the corner! The rest of the tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-blast-across-winds-of-time-by-bess.html

 
Oooo!! Just reading the blurb of this book gives me chills! What do you think?

While on a genealogical research journey through the Midwest, Molly Hamilton impulsively buys a 100-year-old Victorian house in the middle of a cornfield, and falls in love with the house’s owner...the original owner, that is. Can he be a ghost? The handsome, intriguing attorney certainly feels solid—and somehow her soul knows she has always loved him.

Darius Ferguson has no idea how he has come to present-day Iowa. The last thing he knew, the year was 1880, and he had just buried his fiancée, who happens to look exactly like Molly. He cannot separate the two women in his heart—to him, they are one.

In spite of being drawn to him, Molly thinks Darius is unhinged. Darius wonders if he has joined his fiancée in purgatory. If time travel is possible, will love be enough to build a future together? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT 

“How did you get in here?” I choked out.  “Who are you?”

Darius stole a sideways glance over his shoulder to meet my eyes—or to see that indeed I did not have a gun aimed at him—before turning his face away. 

“It is I, Molly.  The same man you met two weeks ago.  The same man you loved over a hundred years ago.

“You’re nuts!” I spit out.  “You’re not here.  I’m just imagining things.”  My knees were aching, and I shifted awkwardly in the tub to dive under the water again, keeping my neck twisted to watch him.  I couldn’t stay in the bathtub all night.  I felt so vulnerable—even if this was a hallucination...or a fantasy.

“So, since you’re not really here, you wouldn’t mind keeping your face turned away, so I can get out of the tub, would you?”  My heart pounded, the rhythm matching the pounding in my head from smacking it on the edge of the tub.  “Please?”  I couldn’t keep the quiver from my voice.         

“Certainly.  It is not proper for me to be standing here at any rate.  I simply came upstairs to see if you were here, and there you were—in my tub—a vision of bubbles and curly brown ringlets.”

I pressed a hand to my damp ponytail.  A sudden warmth in the pit of my stomach contradicted the cold grip in my chest. 

“Go away,” I pleaded.  “I may want to daydream about you, but I don’t know that I want to actually see you.”

“As you wish, Molly.”  He threw another quick glance over his shoulder, and his mouth curved into an embarrassed smile before he moved away.

I watched him disappear and panicked. 

“Wait,” I shrieked.  “Wait!”

“Yes, dear?”  He backed up to the edge of the door again, still keeping his face averted. 

“Wait for me downstairs.  Don’t go yet.  I’ll be right there.”

Darius inclined his head slightly to the side where I saw his profile, and I could have sighed when a single golden-brown curl fell forward in his face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bess McBride made her first serious writing attempt when she was 14. She shut herself up in her bedroom one summer while obsessively working on a time travel/pirate novel set in the beloved Caribbean of her youth, but she wasn't able to hammer it out on a manual typewriter (oh yeah, she's that old) before it was time to go back to school. The draft of that novel has long since disappeared, but the story is still simmering within, and she will finish the adventure one day soon.

Bess was born in Aruba to American parents and lived in Venezuela until her family returned to the United States when she was 12. She couldn't fight the global travel bug within and joined the U.S. Air Force at 18 to "see the world." After 21 wonderful and fulfilling years traveling the world and gaining one beautiful daughter, she pursued her dream of finally getting a college education. With a license in mental health therapy, she worked with veterans and continues to work on behalf of veterans. She writes romantic suspense, contemporary, light paranormal/fantasy and time travel romances and currently has eight novels published. She can be contacted through her web site at:

www.bessmcbride.com

http://willtravelforromance.blogspot.com/

Book Tour Stop - Whisper of a Witch

Please help me welcome Suza Kates to her first visit to Novel Natterings. Its a pleasure to have you stop by on your busy tour - I hope you find New Zealand to your liking :)

Suza will award signed cover flats and pens to a commenter at every stop, a total of five $15 Amazon/BN GCs to randomly drawn commenters during this tour and her Name Before the Masses tour, and gift basket to one commentator from both this tour and her Name Before the Masses tour, as well as a randomly drawn host prize TBA. Who wouldn't want that?! The more you comment, the better your chances are, so bring them on!

The tour dates can be found here: http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-book-blast-whisper-of-witch-by.

 

Without further ado, lets here about Suza's latest release!

 

 

Biologist Shauni Miller, a beautiful as she is compassionate, harbors a secret that could alter her life forever. If she chooses to share it. Dr. Michael Black helps Shauni in her time of need, but sees more in the raven-haired temptress than she ever meant to reveal. He knows she’s hiding something, but then, so is he. Both Shauni and Michael have a role to play and decisions to make as a centuries-old prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Only the fates know if they are meant to be together. Or if one of them has to die.

 

 

EXCERPT

“Oh, no you don’t,” she said with a shake of her finger. “I’m not being derailed again.”

“What?” His gaze lingered on her shoulders and the curve of her neck. He wasn’t halfway finished with her, yet. “Yeah. You were going to tell me something.”

“Now you’re catching on. And you were going to tell me how you found me out in those woods.” She looked at the large, golden lump of dog snoring in the foyer. “And don’t tell me it was all him.” 

Michael felt his previous mellow aura zipping up tight. She’d relaxed him to the point of pre-catatonia then after one look at her, he’d been aroused again and gunning for round two.

Now he felt neither level of satisfaction. He was back to agonizing over how she would react to his dirty little secret. Hell, she might consider it a breach of privacy, the way he perceived what people were feeling, especially his ability to tune in to her so well. It was like he had a direct line to channel Shauni. All day. All night.

So he did what any fearless man would do. “You go first.”

 

Woot!! I want more! Good luck everyone :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUZA'S BIO AND LINKS

Suza Kates can’t remember a time when she didn’t love books, but two particular memories stay with her. “As a young girl I picked up Little Women, read it straight through, and promptly turned to page one to start all over again. The next book I did that with was Mind Hunter by John Douglas, tales about profiling serial killers.”

Thus a twisted romantic was born.  

Throughout her teenage and young adult years, she read everything from horror to historical romance yet never imagined writing anything of her own.

It was during a long, cold winter in a tiny apartment in Germany that Suza picked up a pen and notebook to entertain herself. “The apartment was so tiny, my bed also served as my living room couch. Plus, I shared it with three cats.”

Missing the warmth, the hospitality, and the food of the South, she wrote about those things with a huge dose of family thrown in. She says she still has a sweet spot in her heart for her first book, Southern Moon, but to date, she hasn’t revisited it for submission to her publisher.  

Suza followed her heart to Savannah, Georgia, and it was the gorgeous city with its moss-covered oaks and secrets of history that inspired her to consider paranormal romance. “I had an idea about sisters and magic, so I went to work on the first book of The Savannah Coven Series, Whisper of a Witch. The series is still going strong, and I am grateful every day that I took a chance on paranormal romance, a genre I wasn’t very familiar with and had never actually read before writing it.”

Suza has since joined RWA and can’t say enough about this organization. “The education and support are unparalleled. I am so grateful to all of my fellow writers who have offered advice.”

Suza still resides in Savannah and is currently working on her next book. She considers it a perfect day when she can sit at the keyboard with coffee in her cup and one of her cats purring in her lap. 

www.suzakates.com

http://www.facebook.com/authorsuzakates

Silver Lake and Giveaway!

Hi Everyone! I feel very privileged to be hosting exciting debut author, Kathryn Knight. Kathryn has kindly offered an e-copy of Silver Lake to one lucky commenter. Don't forget to leave your email address so you're easy to find if you're the lucky one!

 

Hi Kathryn. Thanks for visiting! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure, but first off, I’d like to say thank you for having me today!  I’m the mom of two boys, and my wonderful husband has been my biggest supporter throughout this journey into writing.  My educational background is actually in business, and I went as far as earning an MBA in an attempt to steer myself into a “practical” career!  Most mornings I teach fitness classes, which is a great part time job that I enjoy immensely.

What a great job that would be – and it would fit so well into a writing schedule too! When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It took me 2 ½ years to write Silver Lake, but I honestly didn’t consider myself a writer until I got that publishing contract on a Friday morning in December.  Having a publisher willing to back my work made it real for me.

Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

I had developed almost the entire plot for Silver Lake years before I even typed one word.  My husband is the one who convinced me to write the story down.  I think the original idea came from my genuine love for ghost stories mixed with romance.  For me, a mysterious and spooky paranormal element combined with a tension-filled romantic relationship is the perfect recipe for an exciting read. 

 

It sounds like this book was ‘the book of your heart’. I can’t wait to read it! I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

On a chilly morning in December 2011, I opened my emails to see one waiting for me from the editor I’d submitted to at my publisher.  The subject line was only the title of my book, so I wasn’t sure what would be waiting inside.  When I opened it, heart pounding, I saw the line, “Attached please find your author contract.”  I ran around the kitchen, jumping up and down, and my youngest son, who had not yet left for school, was hugging me and jumping around with me.

 

That is such a gorgeous picture! How great to have such a special person to share your moment with! What drew you to write your chosen genre?

When I was in second grade, my father brought home the usual weekly stack of chapter books the local librarian had recommended for me.  Generally, the books revolved around horses, my main interest as an 8-year-old girl.  But sometimes other subject matter found its way into the pile, and this time, there was a book entitled Jane-Emily, by Patricia Clapp.  The tag line read “A ghost story…and a love story”.  My first paranormal romance—I was hooked.  I read that book over and over again throughout my childhood.  I’ve read it to my children.  When I see a looking glass ball in someone’s yard, the young ghost of the fictional Emily is still the first thing that jumps into my thoughts.

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

I’m a perfectionist, so that’s a big challenge.  It becomes painful when it’s time for the final proof read of the Galley copy, when I know it’s my last chance to make a change or fix an error.  I drive myself crazy!

Oh, yes *nodding vigorously in agreement* That final check before hitting ‘send’ can be terrifying! Has anything coincidental happened in the real world while writing one of your books in terms of the characters, scenes or world you’ve created?

One thing I did not have figured out when I began writing Silver Lake was the location. I knew I needed certain requirements for the story to work, and after researching options, I chose the wealthy area of Fairfield County, Connecticut, and the nearby vacation area surrounding Candlewood Lake. Once I had made the decision, I knew I had to plan a visit—but since it was at least a 4-hour drive, I couldn’t do it in a day trip. In the next few days, we received a notification from my son’s AAA baseball team that we would need to make plans to travel to a tournament—which turned out to be right where I set my novel!

How cool is that?! It just goes to show this book was meant to be written J What are you working on right now?

I have a third novel on the backburner while I focus on edits for my second novel.

Latest news?

Last month, I received a contract for my second paranormal romance, Gull Harbor. We just finished perfecting the blurb and I hope to get a spring release date. 

Congratulations Kathryn! Now, who wants to learn more about Kathryn's book? I do too! Here is the blurb and a short excerpt. Don't forget to make a comment and leave your email address in case you're the lucky winner of the Silver Lake giveaway!

 

BLURB:

Rain Anderson can't decide which is more unsettling—encountering the ghost of her missing friend, or reuniting with the man whose love she foolishly rejected. But one thing is certain: the past has come back to haunt her, quite literally.

Five years ago, Rain's tight-knit group of high school friends unraveled when one vanished during their senior year. Now, a parent's deathbed request has reunited the friends at Silver Lake, including Jason Lansing, the man Rain discarded. Rain and Jason discover the powerful attraction between them has survived, but though Jason is willing to forgive, he can't let himself forget. The possibility of falling for Rain again is too risky.

Slamming doors, crashing objects, flaring fires—clearly the ghost has a message to share. As Rain and Jason struggle to unravel the truth, they must face a desperate spirit in need of help…and a burning passion that refuses to die.

 

EXCERPT:

 

“I saw...a figure. A figure with dark hair, and I think it was Brandy.” She shuddered and put her forehead back on his chest.

Reluctantly, he moved their bodies apart a bit and scanned her face. He held on to her shoulders and asked calmly, “You saw Brandy? Brandy is here?”

She shook her head. “No, I saw… like… an image of Brandy. I woke up, because it was cold, and I saw something moving. It was Brandy, I’m sure of it, although I didn’t see her face clearly. And then she, um, disappeared.”

“An image of Brandy? Are you saying you saw a ghost, Rain?” He was pretty sure she’d had another nightmare, but the way she had flown out of her room gave him the impression it had been an extremely vivid one.

“I know, it sounds ridiculous. But that’s what I saw. And she sort of, well, went through the wall. I’m sure you don’t believe me,” she added miserably, lifting her stormy eyes to his.

He pulled her back into a hug before he could stop himself. “I absolutely believe you. Whether you were awake or asleep, you saw Brandy and that’s scary. I don’t think we can deny that weird things are happening here.”

Jason smoothed her hair and waited patiently for her trembling to subside. If a ghost really was lurking in her bedroom, there wasn’t a whole heck of a lot he could do about that. A rare sense of powerlessness caused his jaw to clench in frustration.

He stopped watching the door and instead focused on the gorgeous woman in his arms. She clung to him, and his body responded to hers with a familiar ache. He knew he was losing the battle to keep his feelings platonic.

 

Author Bio:

As a child, Kathryn Knight kept her parents on a constant quest to find enough reading material to last her through each week. An early fondness for books about horses later gave way to a lasting preference for both love stories and ghost stories; as a writer, the paranormal romance genre is a perfect fit. Silver Lake is Kathryn's first novel; her second novel, Gull Harbor, has also received a contract from The Wild Rose Press and will be released in 2013. She lives in New England with her husband, her sons, and a number of rescued animals. Please visit her at www.kathrynknightbooks.com or on Facebook at Kathryn Knight books.

 

TWRP Buy Link http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_139&products_id=4973

 Amazon Buy Link http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lake-Kathryn-Knight/dp/1612173853/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345749376&sr=1-1&keywords=Silver+Lake+Kathryn+Knight

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