Ghost Moon on #NetGalley! #Books #Romance #Mystery #BookReview #paranormal #ghosts #amreading

My latest release is now available to reviewers on NetGalley!  If you're on NetGalley and you enjoy Romantic Suspense, Ghost Mysteries, and Gothic settings, I hope you'll request Ghost Moon!  The blurb is below, along with the link.  And if you're not on NetGalley but you'd like to give it a read, you can find it here on Kindle (free if you're a member of KU!)

When Lark Cavanaugh’s life in New York City falls apart, she’s left reeling from a staggering betrayal. She escapes to Cape Cod, where a distant relative has left her an old house with a tragic past. Rumors of a haunting presence plague the abandoned home, but Lark doesn’t believe in ghosts…until she has no choice.

After completing his military duty, veterinarian Jesse Holt returns to his small hometown to take over his father’s practice. He soon finds himself drawn to the alluring redhead now living next door, but she has made her intentions clear—she’s moving back to the city as soon as possible. When frightening events threaten her safety, though, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Unable to fight their feelings, they give in to desire…but another battle looms. Lark’s arrival has awakened a decades-old mystery, and the truth of what happened at Holloway House will only be revealed when it claims yet another life.

GHOST MOON on NetGalley

"Kept me guessing...the twists and turns, the paranormal happenings, and of course, the romance all kept me turning pages"

~ A Soccer Mom's Book Blog

"WOW...spooky, suspenseful, steamy...a captivating novel...highly recommend"

~ Linda's Book Obsession

Choosing a #Book Title...or 7! #amwriting #writerslife #writingcommunity #amreading #FridayReads

I've been a reader my whole life, and long before I could search GoodReads or other online book recommendation sites for stories I might like (or even before those mail order clubs became a thing--I belonged to one of those for years), I spent tranquil hours walking through the stacks in libraries.  Often I would just start at the beginning--authors with the last name "A"--and go from there, taking time to linger over my favorite writers to see if there were new releases.  And then there were the titles along the spine that grabbed my attention.  Being a fan of all things spooky--especially Gothic romance (see Phyllis A. Whitney) and haunting mysteries--my heart beat a little faster when I caught sight of a book entitled Ghost Moon in the "R" section...a 2001 release by Karen Robards.  The cover was atmospheric, the blurb on the inside flap was intriguing, and the setting was one of my favorites...the bayous of Louisiana.  From what I remember, there really wasn't a ghost, or any other paranormal aspect, but there was romance, an old mystery, danger, and dark secrets...some of my favorite things in fiction.  I know I enjoyed the story, and I also remember clearly thinking that I loved the title, and my dream of someday writing a novel drifted through my mind again.  

A few years later, inspiration struck, and I had an idea!  Another year later, the complete story arc of my own Romantic Suspense/Ghost Mystery constantly played out in my imagination, and when I explained the plot to my husband, he encouraged me to start writing it.  And...I did. 

I had the premise for the novel,
the characters, the story arc, and an image
of the perfect cover...but no title

Oh, how I wanted to call it Ghost Moon.  I pictured a cover in my mind...an expanse of lake with a full moon hanging in the dark sky above.  But being completely new to the business, I thought a book title had to be unique.  I had no idea that different books often share identical titles, and that (most) book titles are not subject to copyright.

So as I was writing this reunion romance, about a group of estranged friends who reunite at a lake house in a last-ditch attempt to solve the mystery of their missing friend's disappearance, I decided on a different title:  The Lake House.  Then a hit movie with the same name came out in 2006.  (For some reason, I was sure this movie was also a Nicholas Sparks book...but in writing this post, I discovered it's not).  Anyway, that title became unavailable in my mind, and I was disappointed.  Back to the drawing board.

But I finally hit on a title I liked when I named the fictional lake where the house that played such a big part in the group's past was located...Silver Lake.  And that became the working title.  At the time, I couldn't find another book with that title on Amazon (that has changed in the 8 years since publication).

I was thrilled when the manuscript was contracted in 2011 by a publisher, and even more excited when my pub decided to kept the original title.  The eventual cover also captured the key elements I was looking for, thanks to my publisher's policy of allowing the author some input when the time for cover art arrives.  Silver Lake will always have a special place in my heart, and I do love the title.

Silver Lake went on to get acquired by a larger publisher
and became a #1 Amazon Bestseller!

I know this post is getting long--side effect of isolation--but I'll nutshell by saying that although I learned that titles are not copyrighted, I factored in an attempt to find something original in my next few books (along with a two-word theme I've stuck with aside from The Haunting of Hillwood Farm).  But as more and more books hit the market, nearly every title with just a few words gets used more than once.  

My first five books all had two-word titles:
Silver Lake ~ Gull Harbor ~ Divine Fall ~ Haunted Souls
(and Dangerous Currents, which came after this banner)

So, when I was trying to come up with a title for my seventh (!!!!) book, I returned to that love of Ghost Moon.  I checked Amazon, and there are several books now using that title.  Not so many that finding my book would be difficult for anyone looking, but enough (including some very well known authors) that made me decide it was okay for me to use it as well.  Also, it echoes that two-word theme I've had going for most of my books.

As you can see below, I went with my heart's desire.  I'm thrilled I have my own Ghost Moon now, and I wish I could tell my younger self that she'd realize that dream of writing a novel someday....seven times over.  And that eventually, she'd have a book titled Ghost Moon with her name on the cover.

And what a cover!  This might be my favorite one yet!

If you enjoy steamy romance and spooky suspense, I hope you'll give my books a try!  Thanks for coming by, stay safe, and happy reading.

GHOST MOON Release Day! #FridayReads #Romance #Paranormal #Suspense #Mystery #Books #amreading

Happy Book Birthday to my 7th novel, GHOST MOON!  


If you pre-ordered your Kindle copy already, you should have it on your device now...or you can download from Amazon today!  Originally, the release date for this book was 4/15.  But more than ever, we need things we can enjoy from home that will entertain us and provide relaxation.  I love reading--it's my favorite hobby even when the world isn't mostly shut down.  Getting lost in a great book does wonders for my mind and lowers my stress.  Since this manuscript was in the final stages of galley proofing a few weeks ago, I decided to try to move the release date for the e-book forward to make it available sooner.  The title is now live in time for #Fridayreads...a whole 12 days earlier than anticipated!  

I had to move quickly to catch up on my book launch checklist, but the first editorial review is already in from Linda's Book Obsession, and it begins with:  "WOW.  Kathryn Knight has written a spooky, scary, suspenseful, mysterious, steamy, and intense novel." 

"A captivating story with betrayals and danger..."

"I highly recommend this intense and edgy novel."

If you like steamy romance and ghost mysteries, I hope you'll give Ghost Moon a read.  The blurb and buy link are below...more info on print editions in the future.  Happy Reading everyone, and stay safe.

GHOST MOON ON KINDLE

When Lark Cavanaugh’s life in New York City falls apart, she’s left reeling from a staggering betrayal. She escapes to Cape Cod, where a distant relative has left her an old house with a tragic past. Rumors of a haunting presence plague the abandoned home, but Lark doesn’t believe in ghosts…until she has no choice.

After completing his military duty, veterinarian Jesse Holt returns to his small hometown to take over his father’s practice. He soon finds himself drawn to the alluring redhead now living next door, but she has made her intentions clear—she’s moving back to the city as soon as possible. When frightening events threaten her safety, though, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Unable to fight their feelings, they give in to desire…but another battle looms. Lark’s arrival has awakened a decades-old mystery, and the truth of what happened at Holloway House will only be revealed when it claims yet another life.

GHOST MOON Cover Reveal! #CoverReveal #amreading #books #paranormal #romance #ghosts #Gothic

I honestly do love ALL my covers, but this one is giving me all sorts of (good) goosebumps!  Check out the cover of GHOST MOON, my seventh novel, below!  As the title suggests, there is a haunting, and the characters experience quite a few episodes of goosebumps themselves.  But it's also a romance with some steamy scenes to balance out the spooky chills!  

This book is set to release on April 15, and I'm thrilled to announce that Pre-orders for Kindle are already live!  You can order your copy below to have it hit your Kindle on release day...then put your feet up and get ready for a haunting mystery...What happened at Holloway House?

When Lark Cavanaugh’s life in New York City falls apart, she’s left reeling from a staggering betrayal. She escapes to Cape Cod, where a distant relative has left her an old house with a tragic past. Rumors of a haunting presence plague the abandoned home, but Lark doesn’t believe in ghosts…until she has no choice.

After completing his military duty, veterinarian Jesse Holt returns to his small hometown to take over his father’s practice. He soon finds himself drawn to the alluring redhead now living next door, but she has made her intentions clear—she’s moving back to the city as soon as possible. When frightening events threaten her safety, though, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Unable to fight their feelings, they give in to desire…but another battle looms. Lark’s arrival has awakened a decades-old mystery, and the truth of what happened at Holloway House will only be revealed when it claims yet another life.

---> GHOST MOON on Amazon!

Love #Gothic reads? Visit La Belle Gothique #Book Fair! #amreading #paranormal #romance #horror #suspense

You know the aesthetic: a cold wind, a moonless night, crumbling ruins, a house with secrets...maybe even a ghost.  There's beauty in the dark and frightening, passion and mystery in the romance.  A multi-genre book fair--suspense, horror, romance, and paranormal--features 24 titles with Gothic elements...including two of my ghost mystery + romantic suspense novels, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm and Gull Harbor.

Fill up your e-reader with Dark and Lovely Reads for the Twilight of the Year...

La Belle Gothique Book Fair

on sale for 99c for a few more days!  Hurry!

A Stranger in Alcott Manor ~ #Gothic #Romance #Ghosts #Books

I have another chance to feature one of my author friends today on my blog, and I'm very excited to showcase Alyssa Richard's third book in The Haunting of Alcott Manor series.  Ghost mysteries, Gothic settings, and romance are a few of my favorite things--most of my own books combine those elements--so this is a great trilogy to highlight here!  Please check out the blurb for A Stranger in Alcott Manor below:

From USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ALYSSA RICHARDS, an addictive, Gothic romance filled with mysteries, ghosts and passion…

She thought she had escaped her past. But her haunted homecoming could resurrect an old flame and buried secrets…

Peyton Alcott thought she put the past behind her. Years after being stood up on her wedding day, she’s finally found a dependable new love and a sense of purpose with her high-powered big city lifestyle. So when she returns to help her family open the newly renovated Alcott Manor, she never expected to awaken old feelings she thought were long dead…

When Peyton discovers a tintype photo of her ancestor’s 19th century wedding, she thinks she’s found the perfect decoration for the gothic estate. Until, hidden among the guests, she recognizes the all-too-familiar face of her missing ex-fiance… Determined to solve the mystery, she’s drawn into a hidden dimension where time and truth are twisted. Confronted by secrets that threaten to unravel her bright future, she’s forced to choose between old feelings and new possibilities.

Torn between an old flame and a new beginning, can Peyton navigate a realm of dark forces without losing her way?

A Stranger in Alcott Manor is the third and final standalone book in a riveting paranormal romance trilogy. If you like contemporary gothic settings, romantic ghostly tales, and simmering chemistry, then you’ll love Alyssa Richards’ otherworldly conclusion.

Buy A Stranger in Alcott Manor to uncover secrets of the past today!

Intrigued?  Fresh Fiction Reviews calls it "a stellar bit of storytelling" and "a cauldron of secrets, death, and strong emotions".  Recommended for readers who enjoy "ghostly romances, suspense, and complex mysteries" (*raises hand and adds to TBR list*).  The full review is here.

This novel is a standalone, but if you'd like to check out the entire series, please find below links to Books 1 and 2 on Amazon.  Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

The Haunting of Alcott Manor

A Murder at Alcott Manor

P.S. If you'd like to get semi-monthly updates on my book news and more features on other authors as well, sign up for my newsletter!  I have two big events coming this month...An offer for 22 free Romantic Suspense novels and exclusive excerpts (including a free copy of my Steamy Romantic Suspense Dangerous Currents) *and* a fun FaceBook Scavenger Hunt with tons of giveaways and a huge grand prize.  Sign up here!

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