Monday, November 14, 2016
"The hero is swoon-worthy" #YA #Angels #Paranormal #Romance #Review
Thursday, November 10, 2016
#Author Panel on Cape Cod ~ #CapeCod #amwriting #Barnstable
After a whirlwind of events in October, things have
quieted down…a little. I’m doing
NaNoWriMo, also known as “National Novel Writing Month”, which requires devoting a
lot of time to writing! But I’m excited
to be speaking this Monday, November 14th, as part of an author
panel in Dennis. I’ll be with two
authors who also write for my publisher—Katie O’Sullivan and Kevin
Symmons. The three of us will discuss
our “Writer’s Journey” and answer questions about our road to publication.
 |
| Katie (center), Kevin (right), and I (left) with a few readers at another event we did together. |
If you’re in the Cape Cod area, please join us on
Monday night for this special format of the monthly “A Book in the Hand”, a celebration
of the written word held at Jacob Sears Memorial Library, located at 23 Center St., East Dennis. We’ll all have books to sign, in genres
including paranormal romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and
young adult. I’ll have plenty of copies
of my latest release, a steamy military romance + ghost mystery entitled
HAUNTED SOULS. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Like #Romance? Newsletter Sign-Up + Win a #Giftcard! #giveaway #amreading
 |
| Wine and a good book? Bliss! |
I absolutely love to read—it’s my favorite pastime,
and a proven stress reducer. Who doesn’t
relish getting lost in an amazing story?
And romance always adds an emotional, heart-tugging component…a chance to experience
all those butterflies…the first touches, or the second chances. But there are so many books out there—how do
you find your next read?
A group of authors who write for my publisher—an
award-winning press focusing on all genres of romance—are putting together a
newsletter to offer readers a look at new releases, sales, and highlights from
top picks. As a bonus to signing up for our quarterly newsletter, Wild Roses & Romance, we’re offering several
gift certificate prizes to be raffled off to readers who sign up to receive our
email publication!
To enter the raffle and receive updates on new
releases and specials in all genres of romance, fill out the form below. Happy Reading!
Friday, November 4, 2016
#NaNoWriMo2016 Inspiration ~ #amwriting #Nanowrimo
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones
~ Confucius
Writing a novel is a dream for many, but the entire process can become overwhelming quickly. Even if you KNOW you can finish a novel, because you've proved it before, sometimes the idea of starting over--moving that mountain--can dissuade even the most prolific authors. It's a big job.
After having three books published within three years, I found myself yearning for a break in 2014. I figured it would be a good opportunity to spend more time in the real world, but then a story idea hit me, and the idea for my latest release, Haunted Souls, was born. The initial inspiration came from a ghost tour I went on with my sister in Cape Cod's Barnstable Village, which started and ended at the Old Jail.
I'd never even heard of the Old Jail, and it's truly a historic gem. It's the oldest wooden jail in the country, actually, and is thought to have been built in 1690, on orders from the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony Courts. It's considered actively haunted, and you can read more about it--and the plotline it inspired--in my Old Jail post.
The story grew in my mind, and I managed a few chapters, but I couldn't seem to find much time to dedicate to writing that summer. Plus, my imagination needed recharging, so in the meantime, I researched what I would need to know about Cape Cod history and my military hero's background to get the details right.
Then it was suddenly October, which is always a busy month for me, as I write about hauntings and other paranormal elements. So I told myself I would give NaNoWriMo a try, and on Nov. 1st, I opened up that dusty Word document.
It worked! I don't know if I "won", since I had a few chapters done beforehand, and I didn't finish the manuscript by Nov. 30th, but I did surpass 50,000 words in a month, well on my way to a completed first draft. The finished product, Haunted Souls, released from my publisher this June.
I fit in as much promotion as I could during another busy Cape Cod summer, and then in was Back-to-School obligations and another Halloween season keeping me away from my keyboard. But I promised I'd get going again on Nov. 1, and here I am, back in NaNoWriMo mode. So, fellow NaNoWriMo participants, I'm wishing us all good luck...keep moving that mountain, 1,667 words at a time!
~ Confucius
After having three books published within three years, I found myself yearning for a break in 2014. I figured it would be a good opportunity to spend more time in the real world, but then a story idea hit me, and the idea for my latest release, Haunted Souls, was born. The initial inspiration came from a ghost tour I went on with my sister in Cape Cod's Barnstable Village, which started and ended at the Old Jail.
I'd never even heard of the Old Jail, and it's truly a historic gem. It's the oldest wooden jail in the country, actually, and is thought to have been built in 1690, on orders from the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony Courts. It's considered actively haunted, and you can read more about it--and the plotline it inspired--in my Old Jail post.
The story grew in my mind, and I managed a few chapters, but I couldn't seem to find much time to dedicate to writing that summer. Plus, my imagination needed recharging, so in the meantime, I researched what I would need to know about Cape Cod history and my military hero's background to get the details right.
Then it was suddenly October, which is always a busy month for me, as I write about hauntings and other paranormal elements. So I told myself I would give NaNoWriMo a try, and on Nov. 1st, I opened up that dusty Word document.
It worked! I don't know if I "won", since I had a few chapters done beforehand, and I didn't finish the manuscript by Nov. 30th, but I did surpass 50,000 words in a month, well on my way to a completed first draft. The finished product, Haunted Souls, released from my publisher this June.
I fit in as much promotion as I could during another busy Cape Cod summer, and then in was Back-to-School obligations and another Halloween season keeping me away from my keyboard. But I promised I'd get going again on Nov. 1, and here I am, back in NaNoWriMo mode. So, fellow NaNoWriMo participants, I'm wishing us all good luck...keep moving that mountain, 1,667 words at a time!
Sunday, October 30, 2016
The Origin of #Halloween ~ #Paranormal Postings #Halloween2016
 |
Originally known as All Hallows’ Eve, Halloween
is linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain. This last day of autumn
was considered the time of year when the barrier between the paranormal and
physical worlds grew thin.
The Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day (All
Hallows) also influenced Halloween. It was said that the souls
awaiting release on November 1st had one last night to extract
revenge on their enemies before leaving the earth. Cautious
Christians would disguise themselves with masks to avoid recognition.
The
custom of carving pumpkins originated from a Samhain practice of remembering
souls with turnip lanterns. Trick-or-treating can be traced back to
“souling”, a medieval practice which involved the poor and hungry travelling
door-to-door and offering to pray for the dead in return for food.
My favorite Halloween tradition is visiting
haunted houses. In the town next to ours, a large farm designs an
incredibly creepy haunted house each year. It’s out in the woods,
almost pitch black inside, and people are hiding in corners to jump out at
you. There’s no guide, so sometimes a group takes a wrong turn, only
to discover a ghoul standing behind them. I scream the entire time,
but it’s fun, because in the back of my head I know it’s not real.
The medium in GULL HARBOR, however, spends her summer in a truly haunted house. Claire Linden arrives in Gull Harbor ready to take on an aggressive ghost—now that she’s embraced her psychic gift, she’s confident she’ll be able to rid her temporary home of the restless spirit that drove the owners to hire her. However, she doesn’t expect to encounter Max Baron, the man who promised to love her forever, then abandoned her without an explanation five years ago. As Claire unravels the truth behind the haunting, Max must share his secret in order to stay close enough to help protect the woman he still loves from a danger that extends beyond the paranormal…
If
you like that story, try SILVER LAKE as well...another
suspenseful ghost story/mystery with plenty of romance. Will Rain and
Jason get another chance at first love before a desperate spirit tears them
apart again...forever?
My latest ghost mystery came out this year, with plenty of steamy romance to counteract any chilling scenes. HAUNTED SOULS was inspired by a trip to the Old Jail, a historic building on Cape Cod which is considered actively haunted. And the title has a double meaning, as Brett and Emily each have their own torturous choices and memories to overcome if they have a chance for a future together.
 |
| A picture I took of the Old Jail...seriously, what's up in the top right window? And in this pic, there's a red flash in the lower window that isn't in any of my other shots. |
Happy Halloween and Happy Haunted Reading!
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Cape Cod's #Haunted Jail ~ #Halloween Bloghop
I’d never even heard of the Old Jail, and it’s truly a historic gem. It’s the oldest wooden jail house in the entire country, actually, and is thought to have been built in 1690, on orders from the Plymouth and MA Bay Colony Courts. It was in use until the 1800s, and was moved around a bit, eventually attached to a barn. It was rediscovered in 1968, detached from the barn, and moved next to the Coast Guard museum on 6A.
The structure itself is quite small, containing three cells which held large numbers of people sometimes. According to our guide, conditions were rough and people had to take turns lying down to sleep when cells were crowded. As you can imagine, many people died, and the site is considered actively haunted.
|
| The Old Jail in the evening...seriously, what's in the top right window? And a red flash in bottom left. |
Goody Hallett, the lover of the infamous pirate Samuel Bellamy, was imprisoned there in 1716, and is said to be one of the ghosts in residence. If you’re so inclined, you can even pay to spend the night at the Jail. On our tour, we were shown photographs with shadowy figures taken by volunteers who work in the jail house. A few of the volunteers shared their stories as well, and one claimed that a ghost had followed them home and engaged in some poltergeist-like activities. Well, that got my attention right way, and my imagination started churning. My sister had her little daughter with her, and I started to wonder what would happen if a young child with sensitive abilities took pity on a lost soul, and actually invited a ghost to come home with them. The initial idea for my fourth novel was born.
Of course, my stories also have a romantic element, and this one has been dubbed my steamiest yet (from a recent review at Romance 4 the Beach: “Hot damn these two are smokin' hot!”) So there are plenty of steamy scenes to counter the paranormal chills-up-your-spine ghost mystery. A perfect read for the Halloween season!
Two of my other novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, are also ghost stories mixed with romance, so as an additional giveaway, one commenter on my blog today will win a signed copy of the paperback of their choice ~ Silver Lake or Gull Harbor! To enter to win, comment below and be sure to leave an email address or twitter handle so I can contact you if you win, and don’t forget to enter the grand prize Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of several gift cards! Thanks for visiting my stop on the Snarkology Halloween Hop and happy haunted reading! Don't forget to follow the hop here for more posts: Hop Landing Page
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, October 24, 2016
The #Haunted Jail ~ #Haunting #Halloween Blog Hop #Rafflecopter #giveaways
Happy Halloween! This is one of my favorite seasons—crisp air, crimson and gold leaves, hayrides and corn mazes, crackling fires, and a celebration of all things spooky. Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, links back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time when the barrier between the paranormal and physical worlds grows thin. As a writer of ghost stories, it’s the perfect time for me to find new inspiration. My latest release, HAUNTED SOULS, was inspired by a ghost tour I went on with my sister in Cape Cod’s Barnstable Village. This “Haunted Tour” offered a guided walk to haunted places and historical sites, and it started and ended at the Old Jail.
I’d never even heard of the Old Jail, and it’s truly a historic gem. It’s the oldest wooden jail house in the entire country, actually, and is thought to have been built in 1690, on orders from the Plymouth and MA Bay Colony Courts. It was in use until the 1800s, and was moved around a bit, eventually attached to a barn. It was rediscovered in 1968, detached from the barn, and moved next to the Coast Guard museum on 6A.
The structure itself is quite small, containing three cells which held large numbers of people sometimes. According to our guide, conditions were rough and people had to take turns lying down to sleep when cells were crowded. As you can imagine, many people died, and the site is considered actively haunted.
Goody Hallett, the lover of the infamous pirate Samuel Bellamy, was imprisoned there in 1716, and is said to be one of the ghosts in residence. If you’re so inclined, you can even pay to spend the night at the Jail. On our tour, we were shown photographs with shadowy figures taken by volunteers who work in the jail house. A few of the volunteers shared their stories as well, and one claimed that a ghost had followed them home and engaged in some poltergeist-like activities. Well, that got my attention right way, and my imagination started churning. My sister had her little daughter with her, and I started to wonder what would happen if a young child with sensitive abilities took pity on a lost soul, and actually invited a ghost to come home with them. The initial idea for my fourth novel was born.
|
| I took this one evening as I was passing by. Seriously, what's in the top right window? Also, there's a red flash in the middle of the bottom left window. There are no lights or electricity in there. |
Goody Hallett, the lover of the infamous pirate Samuel Bellamy, was imprisoned there in 1716, and is said to be one of the ghosts in residence. If you’re so inclined, you can even pay to spend the night at the Jail. On our tour, we were shown photographs with shadowy figures taken by volunteers who work in the jail house. A few of the volunteers shared their stories as well, and one claimed that a ghost had followed them home and engaged in some poltergeist-like activities. Well, that got my attention right way, and my imagination started churning. My sister had her little daughter with her, and I started to wonder what would happen if a young child with sensitive abilities took pity on a lost soul, and actually invited a ghost to come home with them. The initial idea for my fourth novel was born.
Of course, my stories also have a romantic element, and this one has been dubbed my steamiest yet (from a recent review at Romance 4 the Beach: “Hot damn these two are smokin' hot!”) So there are plenty of steamy scenes to counter the paranormal chills-up-your-spine ghost mystery. A perfect read for the Halloween season!
Two of my other novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, are also ghost stories mixed with romance, so as an additional giveaway, one commenter on my blog today will win a signed copy of the paperback of their choice ~ Silver Lake or Gull Harbor! To enter to win, comment below and be sure to leave an email address or twitter handle so I can contact you if you win, and don’t forget to enter the grand prize rafflecopter below for a chance to win the Grand Prize giftcard. Thanks for visiting my stop on the Haunting Halloween tour and happy haunted reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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