Tornadoes and Sharks...Just Summertime on Cape Cod #CapeCod #tornadoes

*Free use photo -- not the actual Cape tornado

I've lived on Cape Cod for twenty years now, and the summertime shark influx has been an ongoing annual occurrence since about 2009.  Before that, the Cape didn't have a lot of reports of Great White sharks (despite the fact that the 1975 hit movie Jaws was filmed on Martha's Vineyard...view a few pics of local settings in this post).  The first time I really remember hearing a lot about sharks here was in 2004, when a 15-foot Great White shark became somewhat stuck in a body of water near Wood's Hole.  That shark drew tons of attention, a lot of curious boaters, and became the first Great White tagged with a satellite tracking device in the Atlantic before it was coaxed back out into the open ocean by experts.  Sightings now happen all the time, and sadly, we had a shark attack fatality last year--the first deadly shark attack in MA since one in Buzzards Bay in 1936.

With the Cape being a peninsula surrounded by water, in addition to sharks and other sea life, we do often get wild weather as well: Nor'Easters, hurricanes, blizzards, etc.  A few of them were significant enough for me to write about on my blog, so with this past week's bizarre tornado touch-down, I took a little look back to some of the other crazy weather events I discussed on my blog since I started it in 2012.

Hurricane Sandy devastated a great deal of the East Coast in October of 2012, but the Cape escaped the majority of its wrath (and that was a relief--Sandy was a deadly, destructive hurricane).  While we only got the fringes of Sandy, we were hit with a rough Nor'Easter about two weeks later.  What I remember about that one is that a downed power line started a fire in our tree (Sandy's sister storm) and also how a true friend came through for me at an important time.

In 2014, we had a terrible blizzard that blanketed the Cape the first weekend of school February break...and of course the night before we were due to leave to take our kids to Disney (all park tickets bought in advance cause I'm a planner).  While we made it to Florida, our older son had a terrible injury the day we got back.  (Blizzards, Blackouts, and Broken Legs).

In 2015 there was Juno, or "Snowmageddon 2015".  That led to a post about some of the other blizzards we've experienced here, and also the disastrous blizzard-related skiing trip. (Blizzard of 2015/Snowmageddon)

But tornadoes?  It's just been announced that we actually had THREE tornadoes last week.  Before that, there was one in Wood's Hole (Wood's Hole again?) last October...before that, 1977 and then 1968.  

Thankfully, my understanding thus far is that no injuries occurred...although there was extensive damage, and there is footage of the roof being ripped off a Yarmouth hotel which is mind-boggling.

My family spent a lot of time in our basement Monday night and Tuesday during the day.  While taking cover in the basement with my younger son on Tuesday, we heard water splattering, and I opened the storage room door to find water pouring through the two small windows.  When the tornado warning lifted for our area, we ran outside to find the window wells overflowing with the amount of rain that had slammed down in such a short period of time.  We took buckets and bailed the window wells while getting soaked...every step in our yard had us sinking into swampy puddles of mud and mulch.  We spent the rest of the afternoon learning how to use our wet-vac, and getting our work-out in as we carried tubs of water up the stairs to empty.  Definitely a day I won't forget soon, but the most important thing is that while our house was damp, it was still standing...and more importantly, no injuries reported despite three tornadoes during the busiest season here.

So it literally has been a "Sharknado" summer here on Cape Cod...I do hope things calm down a bit and that everyone who comes here (including our revolving-door house guests coming in August) gets a chance to relax and have a safe and wonderful visit.

Signing #Books in #Harwich! Cape Cod #Author #Romance #Suspense #CapeCod #Barnstable

Edited to add:

Due to the recent tornado--yes, tornado--on the Cape, the Harwich Farmers' Market is cancelled this week.  We're having some crazy weather here this summer!  Hopefully it will be back on next week, in which case I will be there on August 1st.

I have a table this Thursday, July 25, at the Harwich Farmers' Market from 3 pm to 6 pm, and I'll be signing books along with fellow Cape Cod author Katie O'Sullivan!  We both write for the same publisher, and many of our books are set on Cape Cod.  Our genres include Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Young Adult Fantasy.  Come check out all the Farmers' Market has to offer ~ fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, artwork, plants, handmade soaps and lotions, and of course, visit our table and grab your next beach read!  Signed books make great souvenirs and gifts.

The Harwich Farmers' Market is at Brooks Academy, 80 Parallel Street in Harwich.

Harwich Farmers' Market Facebook Page can be found here

Titles and book descriptions by Kathryn Knight can be found here

Titles and book descriptions by Katie O'Sullivan can be found here

All our books are available online as e-books as well.  My titles set on Cape Cod include:

Gull Harbor ~ A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await psychic Claire Linden in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor...
A #1 Amazon and B&N Bestseller
Steamy Romance + Ghost Mystery
also an audiobook!

Haunted Souls ~ A damaged solider, a secret baby, and a haunting mystery collide in Haunted Souls...
A Top 3 Books of 2016
Steamy Romance + Ghost Mystery
also an audiobook!

Dangerous Currents ~ One fateful night tore them apart...will they get a second chance before a killer strikes?
A 2019 Summer Read Recommendation in Cape Cod's IN SEASON Magazine
Steamy second-chance romance filled with secrets and suspense


The Haunting of Hillwood Farm ~ A dangerous ghost brings them together...but will they survive long enough to find happiness?
Romantic Suspense/Ghost Mystery
A USA TODAY Bestseller
Best Romantic Suspense of 2018 at Book Heaven Reviews
A Top 40 Paranormal Romance Pick at Reedsy
A RONE Award Finalist at InD'Tale Magazine
also an audiobook!

An #Author Interview at Rad Reader Reviews! #Romance #Suspense and #writingtips #RomanticSuspense

One fateful night tore them apart...
will they get a second chance
before a killer strikes?

A few months ago, Rad Reader Reviews read my Romantic Suspense novel Dangerous Currents and asked to do an author interview, to which I enthusiastically replied I'd be thrilled!  They asked a number of really in-depth questions about the plot, characters, writing in general, and we even both contributed our picks for actors to portray the characters should the story ever hit the screen (a girl can dream, right?) and our thoughts on songs that capture the story!

I'm sharing a link to the interview below, but warning...there are a few plot twist spoilers.  So if you haven't read this steamy second-chance romance filled with secrets and suspense, grab a new beach read and come visit the beaches of Cape Cod to share Malorie and Dean's story.  Then let me know which actors and songs you think fit best!  

Dangerous Currents as a book store-recommended read in
Cape Cod's IN SEASON Magazine!

This title was recently listed in Cape Cod's IN SEASON Magazine as a recommended summer read, which was so exciting!  More on that here.

Links to retailers and the interview are below...thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading!

--->  Author Interview on Rad Reader Reviews

Find DANGEROUS CURRENTS in print and e-book on:

Amazon

B&N

iTunes

The Haunting of Hillwood Farm #Kindle #Free days! #ghosts #paranormal #books #amreading

ETA:  Thank you for visiting!  Kindle free days for this title are over now, but if you're a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can always download this one for free!  To get notice of future free days and sales on my books, as well as other book news, sign up for my newsletter here.  I keep all email addresses 100% private!

My latest release, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, is free on Kindle for a limited time!  You can download your free copy through Friday, July 19th...then enjoy this ghost mystery + romance named Best Romantic Suspense of 2018 out of hundreds of books read over the past year at N.N. Light's Book Heaven Reviews.  This title is also up for the prestigious RONE Awards coming up in October!  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Blurb, link, and a few review quotes below ~  if you give it a read, I hope you enjoy Callie, Luke, and Alice's story.  All my other titles combine romance and suspense as well...some steamier than others, some spookier than others, most with paranormal elements, and I even have one Young Adult novel...but in every book, I aim to pull readers into the story from page one and then keep the pages turning!  What I love most about finding a good book is getting caught up to the point that I can't put it down, so that's always my goal as a writer.

After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted—the ability to communicate with ghosts.  But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm.  She quickly realizes she’s dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she’s ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear—the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner’s handsome grandson, thinks she’s a scam artist.  While she’d prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he’s nearby.

Luke Turner doesn’t believe in spirits.  He’s moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose—he can watch out for his grandmother.  He’s not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her.  His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he’s still determined not to fall for Callie—the past has taught him it’s best to avoid relationships.

As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her.  Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites…even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation.   

"I clung to my tablet and couldn't look away.  The paranormal descriptions were so realistic and lifelike, my significant other had to keep telling me to breathe.  If you're looking for spooky romantic suspense, you'll love The Haunting of Hillwood Farm.  Kathryn Knight has mastered the art of Paranormal Romantic Suspense, and it's a must-read!"

~ N.N. Light's Book Heaven ~ 5*s

"I LOVED THIS BOOK!  Seriously, this was brilliant.  Not a very long story (3 1/2 hours reading time), but just perfect.  A classic paranormal story like we love them."

Full Review at Ateana Reads ~ 5*s

A fast-paced paranormal romance with a strong sense of suspense!  Very well-written...the characters are all well-rounded, and Alice is going to be a readers' favorite.  A thoroughly enjoyable story with suspense, romance, and plenty of paranormal activity." ~ The Romance Reviews

"A fantastic paranormal journey with intense suspense and undeniable romance." ~ Page Princess

"The kind of story that once you start reading it, you will not want to put it down." ~ The Genre Minx

Hurry and grab your copy while it's free - regular price is $3.99 so take advantage of the deal and tell a friend!  Thanks for stopping by & Happy Reading

Link --> THE HAUNTING OF HILLWOOD FARM on Kindle

Bedroom Makeover ~ From 90s Mauve to #Farmhouse! #FixerUpper Cape Cod #Remodel #Design

Jinx likes the new duvet

This blog is usually dedicated to book-related things, as writing and reading are my passions.  But I also post about some of my other hobbies and interests, like exploring new places, fitness, and gardening, and for the past six months, my main focus has been on remodeling our master bedroom, a space that hasn't been updated since the early 1990s when we moved in.  Decorating doesn't come easy to me, but research does...so I've been combing the internet for inspiration and pinning pictures to imitate for what seems like forever.  Like many people, we're big fans of the HGTV show Fixer Upper, and we wanted to shed our stale mauve and floral decor and do a sort of farmhouse/cottage design in its place, complete with a few interior renovations to enlarge the tiny master bathroom and move the closet from beneath a cramped sloped dormer.  

I studied the images I pinned for what it was that appealed to me, and what made certain combinations "work".  Then I tried to come up with variations that would give the design a personal flair, especially since we don't actually live in a farmhouse.  But Cape Cod has a great deal of farming history, due in part to the area being one of the first places settled by the English in the 1600s (and I happened to research a lot about that for my latest book The Haunting of Hillwood Farm!).  This means there are tons of flea market finds from old houses and barns to be found around here!  And with the entire peninsula surrounded by water, a cottage coastal theme fits right in.  So I set about combining the two sources of inspiration, and I'm excited about how it came out.

I spent a lot of time on the sites of talented bloggers who are actually good at this sort of thing, and the links they provided to products really helped me.  So I've linked the sources for some of the items in the pictures.  The majority of decor was found at those local flea markets, or at HomeGoods/Marshalls/T.J. Maxx. 

A few "Before" pics to compare to the new look:

A mauve carpet, faux finish wall paint I did myself, heavy floral drapes,
and a worn comforter from years of washing and 3 pets who love to snuggle.
Although that's just a black cat pillow in this pic--
but one of the real cats made it into the top pic above!

What a change!  The window on the back wall was removed to create a statement
wall of just shiplap, but the window in the old closet was revealed so no loss in
total windows.  Kept the bed and nightstands but got a bed frame and new lamps. 

One of two dormers in the room...the other one was in the very small closet.

This is the dormer that was hidden in the old closet.  Kept
the table but new decor and shades.

For renovations, we moved the closet to reveal a window, lifted the ceiling into the unused attic space, and enlarged the master bathroom (those pics coming soon-still a work in progress!)

More of the new look: 

Almost all of this came from flea markets except the table

The wall color is Sherwin-Williams Silver Strand

I had a line from our wedding song made into wall art via
Etsy...it's the Romance Author in me!  Tying those curtain
tabs was a little challenging, but I found a YouTube video.

Mirror and table from flea market, chair, pillow, and vase
from Marshalls and HomeGoods.

A few specific links from things I bought online if anyone likes something in the pics (I'm not an affiliate, I don't receive anything for clicks or purchases, I just know it helped me to be able to quickly find something I liked while trying to design the room!)  I'm always happy to answer questions in comments or via email too if there's something I'm forgetting!

Also, aside from Amazon which usually tries to price match all the time, most of these sites will have sale codes on a regular basis.  If there's not one advertised, I check places like RetailMeNot to find the current codes.

wreath above the bed

table lamps  (note - I don't love the shades, they look a bit yellow to me, especially up close.  But the sale price on these was great and I can replace the shades eventually)

bed frame

bed skirt

duvet cover (light gray, button style)

rug (this site had a price $100 less than others with same rug)

ceiling fan (wait for sale offers!)

console table (I got it on a half price sale!)

long white curtains  (note--these are sold per panel, not in a set.  I purchased one and then realized I had just one curtain lol)

white Roman shades

More products I looked at and the pics I used for inspiration on my Pinterest Board - Bedroom, and check back soon for the bathroom reveal!  It should be finished by this Friday, officially ending a project that took 6 months overall.  Hopefully now I can get back to writing!  Thanks for stopping by :)

Visiting #Montreal + Taking Our Own Ghost Tour! #Canada #travel #paranormal #vacation

According to the friendly bartender, most ghost sightings
occur in the upstairs bar, which was closed that night.  But
I snapped pictures to see if anything showed up!

I love seeing new places, and as an author of ghost mysteries--and a life-long fan of all things paranormal--I often try to visit some local haunted sites.  Sometimes inspiration for a new book strikes, like when I visited the Old Jailhouse in Barnstable Village here on Cape Cod and came up with the plot for Haunted Souls.  A few weekends ago, my husband and I traveled to Montreal, Canada, for a wedding.  I'd never been, and it's a beautiful city!  Friday and Saturday were primarily taken up with wedding activities, but we made sure we had an entire free day on Sunday to explore.  I tried to sign us up for one of the evening Ghost Tours, but they were all booked...apparently there are a lot of people who share my interests!  I was disappointed, but I wrote down some of the sites the different tours visited, along with the history of the haunting, and we built some stops into our day's exploration.  It was considerably less spooky seeing these places in the bright sunshine, but at the end of the day, after 24,000 steps and 42 flights of stairs climbed, I was glad we had no more walking in store for the evening.  Instead, we had a wonderful dinner and a few pints at Hurley's Pub, a reputedly haunted pub pictured above.

First stop was Dorchester Park.  Beneath the beautiful expanse of grass lies the Sainte-Antoine Cholera Cemetery, containing over 70,000 skeletons, many in mass graves.  Apparently during the 1832 epidemic, some victims were likely buried alive by accident due to heavy morphine administration.  

We walked through the Quartier des Spectacles, which sits on the Old Red Light District, an area with quite a bit of haunting history.  As Prohibition laws took effect in the US and Canada beginning in 1919, Quebec quickly abandoned the laws banning alcohol, and Montreal's Red Light District drew crowds of visitors seeking rowdy fun, legal liquor, and the entertainment that goes along with that.  Murder, crime, and exploitation led to many stories of hauntings that still persist today.

One of the beautiful trails through Mount Royal

We climbed Mount Royal to enjoy the view of the city, and learned that this "City of the Dead overlooking the City of the Living" (source: Montreal.org) is considered one of the most haunted places in the city.  Mount Royal is a breath-taking mountain park that is also the location of the largest intact burial ground in North America if you combine the four cemeteries.  The people of the First Nations also buried their dead on the mountain, so it's a very old burial site.

We also walked through Old Port and along St. Catherine Street, and our final stop was Hurley's Irish Pub.  The pub is situated in a former tenement building in what was once the slums, which dates back to 1865.  Dangerous conditions and crowding were problems, and over the years, many fires broke out and trapped tenants inside.  Many sightings of "The Burning Lady" have been reported, but all we encountered was very cool old architecture, great food, and a fun atmosphere.  A wonderful way to cap off a long day!

Tired and sweaty!

More photos I took as I snuck around the quiet parts of Hurley's!

For more posts on haunted places I've visited, check out:

Historic Mt. Washington Hotel, NH

The Old Jail in Barnstable Village, MA

Historic Buildings of Barnstable Village, MA

The Dakota Building in NYC, NY

The Catacombs beneath Paris, France

The Abandoned Glendale TB Hospital, MD


And if you enjoy spooky ghost mysteries, try one of my books!  My latest is The Haunting of Hillwood Farm...and most reviewers advise reading it during the daylight hours!

We earned out poutine and beers!

Romance + Ghosts Beach Read + a #4thofJuly #Recipe! #1 Bestseller Cape Cod #amreading #Books #FourthofJuly #RomanticSuspense

A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await psychic Claire Linden
in Cape Cod's GULL HARBOR...#1 Kindle + Nook Bestseller

Who's ready for the Fourth of July celebrations?  Here on Cape Cod, the summer season officially kicks off this weekend, and things get a bit hectic!  As usual, we have a house full of guests, and plans for the beach, cookouts, and fireworks.  And while on the beach, I'll be doing my favorite thing - reading!  If you need a great page-turning beach read for the holiday, try GULL HARBOR - a spooky ghost mystery mixed with steamy second-chance romance, set here on Cape Cod's National Seashore.  A #1 Amazon and B&N Bestseller with plenty of heat-filled scenes to balance out the ones that will send a chill up your spine!


To get into the "spirit" of the weekend (haha, see what I did there?), I'm posting both one of my favorite recipes for contributions to cook-outs, and a short excerpt from Gull Harbor - part of a scene where Max and Claire stop fighting their attraction and enjoy a picnic on the beach. Max still can't share his reasons for abandoning her so long ago, but psychic medium Claire is dealing with a very disturbing haunting, and she finds herself leaning on her former boyfriend for support.  And Max still feels the need to take care of her, even after all these years - so he's brought lunch for her from the local tavern he owns.  This scene sets up their date for the 4th of July - and there are plenty of fireworks on that night - overhead and between the two former lovers!  

           “A picnic on the beach is perfect.  It’s better than dinner and a movie.”

            He held out his glass, touching it to hers.  “To our first date.”  His eyebrows pulled together behind his sunglasses.  “That sounds strange, given our history.”

            She smiled as she sipped.  “We were never what you’d call traditional, anyway.”

            “How’s this for traditional—let me take you to see the fireworks on Wednesday night.  I know you’ll be at Dan’s cook-out for dinner, but I think I’ll be okay to leave the tavern by 7:30 or so.  Can I come and steal you away?”  He leaned back on one elbow and flashed her a lazy grin.  “There’s a great spot to watch them from over by the lake.  It’s very secluded; none of the tourists even know how to find the trail to get there.”

            A flood of heat that had little to do with the warm July sun surged through her.  How was it that this man aroused her so?  She could feel the sexual tension between them, thick and heady.  “I’d love that,” she said softly, dipping her head down to hide her flushed cheeks.  

A little teaser from later that night...

Want to keep reading?  Or, you can listen now as well--Gull Harbor is an audio book too!  Links below:
Amazon -- Kindle, Print, Audible

iTunes -- e-book

iTunes -- audiobook
B&N -- Nook

And, as promised:

Recipe ~ Linguine with Tomatoes and Basil

1 lb Brie cheese, rind removed, torn into small pieces
4 vine-ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 cup fresh basil, torn into strips
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ pounds linguine
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine cheese, tomatoes, basil, EVOO, and garlic in a large bowl.  Cook pasta according to directions, drain and immediately add to bowl, tossing to allow cheese to begin melting.  Add salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Happy Reading and Happy 4th!