Please help me welcome today’s guest, Lori Matsourani…
A haunted inn, a first crush, and a second chance for love with “help” from the resident ghost…
When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.
Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.
Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?
Excerpt:
As Mrs. Snowden spoke, a tall, dark-haired man entered the foyer. He wore jeans and a soft blue crewneck sweater that accentuated his lanky, yet solid, build. As soon as he saw Bethany, his face lit up.
“Bethany!”
He walked toward her as though they were long-lost friends, and she half expected him to pull her into an embrace. Then she recognized the dark chocolate eyes behind the black-framed glasses and her stomach lurched.
Nick Dorsey. He’s Mrs. Snowden’s nephew?
“Aunt Margaret told me you were checking in today.”
Stunned, Bethany stepped backward, bumping into the edge of the desk as her heart thudded. A white-hot flush scorched every inch of her skin as she stared at Nick. Of all the people she could run into, it had to be the first guy to break her heart? And why did he have to be so handsome, with that bit of hair curling over his forehead and late-day stubble?
She inhaled deeply to rein in her composure, hating her can’t-catch-your-breath reaction to him, then dipped her chin in a neutral acknowledgment.
“Hello, Nick.”
His smile morphed into a full-on, lopsided grin. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Ten years, I bet. Not since the summer Zach and I got our drivers’ licenses.”
Mrs. Snowden laid her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Bethany is staying in the Howard Room. Can you help her with her bag?” Then, turning to Bethany, she said, “Come back down when you’re ready and I’ll give you a tour of the house.”
As Bethany followed Nick to the second floor, the pain, questions, and self-doubts she’d buried years ago reemerged, seeping into her belly like liquid concrete. The last thing she needed was Nick Dorsey invading her healing zone. It had taken her months to get over the summer romance they’d shared—and he’d abruptly ended—when they were teens. And even longer before she could bring herself to date again.
Lori Matsourani is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori, connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she loves the challenge of creating every piece.
My new desk came to me in 483 pieces—slats, panels, and hardware wrapped in plastic bags for “easy delivery and assembly.” My daughter commented that the company might have just sent me a tree and an ice pick for the work it would require.
I sat on the floor surrounded by debris that looked nothing like a desk. I would have curled up on the floor to cry if I had had enough floor space to do so. This was an impossible task.
But I could no more repack that box than I could unring a bell. So, I picked up the forty-eight-page instruction booklet, turned to page one, and put the “twist-lock fasteners into outer ends A and C.”
That first step was the beginning of a three-day process which led to the beautiful desk I now adore. It also taught me a few things about another “impossible” task I would soon face – writing my first novel.
Here’s what I learned.
Lesson One: Just do today’s work.
As I thumbed through the encyclopedic-sized instruction manual, I knew I’d have to narrow my focus. So, I concentrated on step one without mentally moving on to steps two or three. This helped me begin and keep moving.
Likewise, when writing a book, we often work best by tackling one manageable task at a time without mentally wandering into steps two, three, or beyond. Narrowing our focus can move us forward.
Lesson Two: Be confident.
That first day, colleagues dropped by to offer condolences. I assumed they would know more than I and would have secrets to share on furniture assembly. Sadly, none of them did; there were no secrets.
Similarly, when we have a story to tell, we can’t assume someone else will tell it better. They have their own stories to write, their own desks to assemble. My story is my story; your story is yours. Be confident in the telling.
Lesson Three: Use available resources.
When my husband offered our power drill, I declined since the instructions said power tools weren’t necessary. On day two, I grabbed that power drill and didn’t let go. Using the right tool made the task easier.
Likewise, when writing, we can avail ourselves of quality resources. Books, conferences, blogs and podcasts – a lot of information is out there. Find it and use it.
Lesson Four: Let others participate.
Throughout the desk-a-thon, I posted pictures and progress reports on social media. Friends across several states watched with interest and celebrated the finished product.
In the same way, writing is richer when others walk alongside us. Whether they read each draft, encourage our persistence, or subscribe to our newsletter, many will participate if we invite them. Don’t go it alone.
The take-away?
My desk now serves as a daily reminder of what I can accomplish when I focus on today’s work, remain confident, use available resources, and invite others to join me.
I hope these lessons encourage you in your next “impossible” endeavor.
Thank you for joining me, Susan. Great article…I love the analogy of assembling the desk and writing. And I love the helpful reminders. Now, please tell us about your book…
Was it coincidence that brought them together – or a ghost with a purpose?
Excerpt:
Samantha reached out to hold Chess’s shaking hand only to immediately regret it. The stickiness of dried blood would have made her recoil, but she refused to desert Chess, who squeezed her hand like a frightened child. So while Allie returned Chess’s skates and answered the questions of concerned friends, Samantha stayed put. She only hoped the pounding of her own heart would not attract attention and require an explanation.
After Chess’s wound was cleaned and bandaged, Allie stated that she would drive Chess to the ER. “I can’t ride in your new car. My clothes are all -” She grimaced at her blood-stained shirt.
“The blood’s dry. It’ll be fine. Besides, think how fast my car will get us there.” She directed Chess’s attention away from the injury.
Samantha pointed to Allie. “Keep it under the limit, missy.” Samantha disliked conceding the role of caregiver to someone else, but Allie had things under control. Besides, it couldn’t be helped.
Samantha quickly walked toward the women’s restroom, which, thankfully, was empty, went in, and locked the door. With deep, shaky breaths, and no longer fighting the tears, Samantha moved immediately to the sink where she scrubbed her hands vigorously, several times. She reached into her purse for her cell phone, scrolled quickly through her contacts, and tapped her thumb on the one she sought.
She took a deep breath when instructed to leave a message. “Debra, this is Samantha Hayes. Could you give me a call please? I need to talk to you.” She waited a moment, decided she had said all she needed to for now, then added, “Thanks,” before ending the call.
She continued to hold her cell, however, as she paced, all the while trying her best to take even, measured breaths. Think of something else. You’ve washed your hands. You’re safe. You’ll talk to Debra when she calls back. Breathe. She was surprised that her reaction was this intense. The sight of blood had not frightened her this much in a long time.
As she debated whether to stay or go home to await Debra’s call, her cell rang, making her jump. With another shaky breath and a sigh of relief, she answered. “Debra? Thanks for calling… Okay… actually, no I’m not okay. I hate to bother you, but something just happened.”
9) Buy link:
About the Author:
Dr. Susan Harris Howell is a psychology professor who has taught and mentored students for over thirty years. Her novel, The Spirit of Vanderlaan, draws on that career to capture the warmth between a professor and the assortment of personalities which inhabit her office.
Her first book, Buried Talents, focuses on the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering male-dominated occupations.
Susan and her husband have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Dyann Love Barr with her fun, fabulous mystery, Hootiecackle Chaos…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I live in the Ozarks, in Mansfield, Missouri, the last home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, where she wrote the Litte House books. I live with my husband Dennis and our two ginger cats.
Where did you get the idea for Hootiecackle Chaos?
Hootiecackle Chaos came about when I was traveling through Arkansas and saw a road sign that read, Hootiecackle Lane. It was hysterical and a friend and my husband suggested I write a book from the road’s name. I turned it into a small town cozy with romance and a whiff of the paranormal.
Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?
I usually write the first three chapters of a book when I get an idea and after that I file it away until needed. It’s a good way to get the feel of the characters and I also write a detailed outline once I start the book.
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
That’s easy, I have three. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why?
Jane Eyre. What’s your favorite childhood book? Tarzan of the Apes
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Hootiecackle Chaos?
That’s a good question. I think I’d like them to fall in love with quirky characters who are thrown into difficult situations. The wacky mix of genres was a risk but one I’m glad I took.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Henry Cavill as Lachlan and Jessica Chastain as Rory. Kathy Bates for the Callahan Twins.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
A bad review can be a learning experience. I published one book that got a lot of 4.5 and 5 star review and one really bad 1 star. First, I don’t get upset about a bad review. My skin is pretty thick. I’ve been blooded by some really fine critique partners.
What is your favorite quote?
All of my plans for the future involve me waking up tomorrow with a sudden sense of discipline and adherence to routine that I have never displayed even once in my life. John William Waterhouse
What do you want your tombstone to say?
She tried. She died.
If you could be a character in any of your books, who would you be?
The Callahan Twins.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Although most are fictional, I have included family stories in my books. Truth is stranger than fiction. Now it’s up to the reader to figure out which anecdotes are real.
Your favorite…
Movie: The President’s Lady with Charleton Heston and Susan Hayworth
Music: Serenata Immortale by Trailerhead
Place: Liberia: Africa
Place you’d like to visit: Ireland
TV show from childhood: The Man from Uncle (yes I’m that old)
TV show from adulthood: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (K-Drama)
Food: Powdered Sugar Donuts from Parlor Donuts in Springfield, MO.
Sports team: CHIEFS!
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Video games. I love all of the Assassin’s Creed games and God of War. I’m blood thirsty.
Dark secrets conspire to keep lovers apart in the small Ozarks town of Hootiecackle.
Blurb:
Chaos crashes into Hootiecackle when the town’s outrageous twins, Daisy and Maisy, scheme to marry their great-niece, Rory, off to the handsome police officer who moves in next door. Unfortunately, Rory has no plans to marry, and she really doesn’t like or trust cops—no matter how Sergeant Lachlan Donovan sets her heart to pounding.
Recovering from the loss of his wife, Lachlan just wants some peace and quiet. However, life in Hootiecackle has other plans. Rory’s ex-fiancé causes trouble, her devastating secret threatens to tear the town apart, and Lachlan rushes in to save the day. But Rory needs saving like she needs a pair of porcupine panties.
With the aid of a psychic, a beloved bootlegger and a couple of nosy ghosts, they fight against corruption and their own fears of betrayal. Despite their differences, will the lovers survive Hootiecackle chaos?
Excerpt:
Chapter One
“Oh, my.” Maisie McDermott adjusted the binoculars to get a better look. “That man’s backside is sweet enough to make my teeth ache.”
“That’s impossible. You have a full set of dentures.”
Daisy, her twin sister, snorted and reached for the
binoculars. “Here, let me see.”
Maisie shook her head and continued to stare at the object of her fascination. “Doesn’t matter. I’d still like to take a bite out of him. My Alfred always said he didn’t 16 mind if I lost all my teeth—told me that my gums were magic.”
“You are a pervert.” Daisy wrestled the binoculars away from the protesting Maisie. “I take it back. Alfred was the perv in the family.” She aimed the lenses in the direction of Hootiecackle’s newest police officer, Sergeant Lachlan Briccio Donovan. “Oh, my…”
“Stop bein’ such a hateful toad.” Maisie’s bosom heaved with an affronted huff as she slumped into the delicate bistro chair. It groaned in protest. “He’s the one for Rory, isn’t he?
Daisy continued her perusal of Sergeant Donovan’s rear as he bent under the hood of his Ford Escape. “How 29 could it not? Rory will fall head over heels once she gets a gander at him.”
“Maybe we’re pushin’ too fast? She just got out of one disastrous relationship. He’s been here a month and she’s not even curious about him. What if they don’t hit it off?” Maisie’s chair screeched against the tile floor of the breakfast nook as she scooted around to get a better look. “You know how she feels about the Hootiecackle police department. She’d just as soon spit in his eye.” She reached out for the binoculars.
“Trust me.” Daisy slapped her away without ever losing focus on their new neighbor. “I have the brains, you have the charm, and Rory has the looks. The poor man won’t know what hit him.”
“What if Rory finds out?”
“I wouldn’t have sold him my house if I thought we couldn’t pull this off. God as my witness, he’ll marry Rory, even if I have to sew their lips together.” She looked up from the binoculars with a reassuring smile for Maisie. “The man is a perfect fit for our great-niece— 17 tall, dark, handsome, and very Irish. And he can cook.”
Maisie chewed her lower lip. She had doubts about The Plan.
With the maiden name of Love, how could I not write romance? I was a voracious reader in my teens and early twenties thanks to my mother buying load of books at garage sales. The first time I read Tarzan of the Apes I was confused by the flutter in my thirteen-year-old heart. As I got older I understood. It was after I married my greatest supporter and cheerleader that I realized I wanted to write as well. I mean, how hard could it be. Lesson learned on that one.
Now I’ve retired and reside in the Ozarks with my husband and two large marmalade cats–Aka and Jinja. Although there is a bevy of birds and squadrons of squirrels in our yard, I don’t consider them family. Well, maybe a little.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kerrie Faye…
Good morning, Kerrie. So happy to have you as my guest today. Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
Thank you, Alicia, for having me on your blog! I am originally from Western Kentucky. I grew up in the small town of Cunningham where the livestock probably outnumbered the human population back then (maybe still does). After many moves around the country, my family and I now live in Colorado with our sweet Saint Bernard, Maggie, and my son’s newly adopted kitten, Shadow. I like to say that there is far less humidity here living in Colorful Colorado, but not nearly enough barbecue.
Tell us a little about how Dead Girl came about.
Dead Girl, in some ways, is an homage to my hometown in Kentucky. For the setting of the book, I drew heavily from the local high school I attended and my experiences growing up near the Mississippi river bottoms. I took those familiar memories and created an alternate Kentucky where Ember, the teen protagonist, could battle her demons, both literally and figuratively.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?
“Courage Conquers” is a phrase Ember, the main character in Dead Girl, learns from her dad. I hope readers take that with them. Fear can be crippling, causing one to not live and experience this life to its fullest, but a little courage can conquer even the most challenging fear.
What do you want your tombstone to say?
“She took the road less traveled.”
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂
If I could spend the day with anyone from Dead Girl, it would be with Erick. He is based off of someone I knew growing up, who sadly, is no longer with us. While I exaggerated and made up much about the Erick in the book, the essence of the real Eric is there. If we could hangout, I think I would want to just spend the day talking, reminiscing about our days in FBLA and the teachers and classmates we shared. In the end, I would just want to give him a hug and tell him I miss him.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
Does Oprah count? I was in the audience and made an ass of myself. Good times.
How did you come up with the title?
The title hints at a tragic event that the main character experiences. She becomes popular after surviving this horrible prank and is known as the “dead girl.”
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
When I set out writing Dead Girl, I didn’t necessarily have a theme or message in mind. It was only afterwards that I realized that God was using me to share a very important message. My main character is bullied to the point that she doesn’t want to live. But it is through her darkest moment that she finds her purpose. I hope that anyone who is struggling with this life will find hope through Ember’s journey and realize that they are a blessing and that their own life has merit.
How did your interest in writing originate?
I have always been an avid reader, but I never imagined myself as a writer. Then in 2018, God put it on my heart to give writing a try. I joined NANOWRIMO that fall and wrote my first manuscript. After that, I fell completely in love with the craft of writing.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Jay Kristoff is currently my favorite author. He writes adult fantasy. I adore his prose. You are dropped into these unique worlds that he has created, and you are completely immersed. Additionally, he writes with incredible voice.
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Reality TV
Dying has its perks…mostly.
Excerpt:
“Can I kiss you, Ember O’Neill?”
Butterflies took flight in Ember’s stomach. Slowly, she nodded her head. She had been waiting for this moment. Ever since she let her guard down and began trusting him, she had imagined what it would be like to kiss his perfect lips.
Logan reached up, placing one hand under her hair at the base of her neck. Electricity buzzed throughout her body. With his other hand, he cupped her cheek pulling her closer.
Ember held her breath as his lips parted and pressed against hers with the lightest touch. In an instant, their bodies became one. The world melted away. It was just Ember and Logan on the dance floor.
Too soon, he pulled away. Eyes sparkling in the disco light, his tongue darted across his bottom lip.
The kiss was sweet. Perfect. Ember smiled, remembering to breathe.
“You taste better than I imagined.” Both dimples asserted themselves as his lips shifted into a devilish grin.
Kerrie Faye is a Gen X wife and mom who found her passion to write later in life. A graduate of Murray State University, she has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Raised in Western Kentucky, where her debut novel, DEAD GIRL, takes place, the author currently resides near the Rocky Mountain Flatirons in Colorado where there is far less humidity, but not nearly enough BBQ. Her debut novel, DEAD GIRL, published on February 26, 2024 by The Wild Rose Press.
Good morning, Kimberly. Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
Sometimes I feel like a character in someone else’s novel. So much drama! My husband died unexpectedly when our children were six, eight, and twelve. Over the next decade-plus, I focused on raising the kids and putting myself through college. I didn’t date, because it didn’t seem fair to make the kids share their only parent with someone new. Eventually, the kids grew up, I got that college degree, and I landed a good job as an editor with a federal agency in my Pennsylvania hometown.
Then came the second blow: the agency I was working for shut its doors for good. I was fortunate to find a new job with a federal agency in the Washington, DC, area, but that meant I had to leave the town I’d lived in all my life. Saying goodbye to friends, neighbors, and family members—not to mention my comfortable house and idyllic suburban neighborhood—was one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life.
Nonetheless, I made the transition and settled into my new life. I even met a wonderful man, Clint. Things were good until 2018, when Clint was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease. Only a lung transplant could save him, and the odds were low that a matching pair of lungs would become available in time. Miraculously, Clint got those new lungs. It’s now been four years since the transplant, and he’s doing well. Alas, my three children and two grandchildren live far away (Chicago and Sacramento), but I’m blessed to have Clint nearby. And as of now, the drama seems to have simmered down—for the time being, anyway!
Where did you get the idea for Out of Body? Sometimes I dream that I’m flying, and at one point I wondered, “What if these aren’t dreams? What if my spirit actually leaves my body when I’m sleeping and goes flitting around town?” Thus, the concept for Out of Body was born.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)? Many of my story ideas are rooted in some sort of paranormal or science fiction scenario. For instance, my first novel, The Haunted Purse, is about a girl who buys a vintage purse at a thrift store and learns that it’s inhabited by a ghost. I have a weird imagination, so I just run with whatever it churns out.
What is your favorite quote? “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”(John Milton) This quote reminds me that attitude is everything. You can turn a negative into a positive (or at least mitigate it) by looking for the silver lining or simply choosing to make the best of every situation.
What is your most prized material possession? Why? I have a wall calendar from the year my husband died. His death occurred in April, and there’s a strange anomaly on that calendar page: the whole page is upside down! I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this particular calendar ended up in my hands. The metaphorical message is clear: my family’s world was about to be turned upside down, but we would be okay, since all the subsequent pages are right-side up. I’ve kept the calendar as a reminder that there’s more to existence than the world we see around us.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why? It’s impossible to pick just one, but two young adult series I really enjoyed were Neal Shusterman’s Scythe and Unwind. I’m a sucker for a unique premise and a well-written story, and Shusterman’s two series deliver on both counts. What’s your favorite childhood book? As a child, I would have said all the Nancy Drew books, especially The Secret in the Old Attic. As an adult, I have a different favorite: The Velveteen Rabbit. The ending never fails to choke me up.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Bill Cosby.He was the keynote speaker at my college graduation. I was the last student to walk across the stage, and he grabbed me in a bear hug, lifted me off my feet, and spun me around. I have photos of me in his arms. I gave one to my mom, and after the Cosby scandal hit the fan, she cut out a picture of Mark Harmon (her favorite actor at the time) and glued his face on top of Cosby’s.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be? I’ve learned from watching Survivor that flint, a machete, and a tarp are essential. But I also have a less practical list: a fully loaded Kindle, a solar-powered Kindle charger, and my bed pillow. (Can I bring six items?)
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time? Cooking! I hate doing it and would love to have a personal chef to prepare all my meals and bring them to me at my desk so I could keep working. (Naturally, this person would do the dishes, too.)
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Out of Body? My intent is not just to entertain but also to uplift and inspire. Let’s face it: life can be tough—and my stories reflect that. My characters endure all sorts of hardships, but they prevail in the end. They come through their struggles stronger and wiser. I hope readers are able to draw strength from that message, to internalize it. I want to plant the idea that no matter what life throws at you, you can get through it.
Blurb:
Those weird dreams Abby Kendrick has been having? Turns out they aren’t dreams after all. They’re out-of-body experiences, like the ones her cousin Logan is having. At first Abby has fun with her new ability, using it to spy on her neighborhood crush and spook a mean girl. But when Logan gets in trouble on the astral plane, the game changes, and Abby must bend the rules of out-of-body travel as she journeys to a distant realm. Her mission is a perilous one, and success is not guaranteed. Can she save Logan and find her way home again? Or will the cousins be lost forever on the astral plane?
Excerpt:
The girl slept on, never stirring, breathing deeply. Arms and legs akimbo, hair spread out like disconnected wires, mouth hanging open. Was that how I looked when I was sleeping? It wasn’t pretty.
Something twinkled below me, a translucent silvery cord tethering me to my body. I’d never noticed it in my dreams-that-weren’t-really-dreams, maybe because I hadn’t realized I was out of body. The cord, thick and round as Italian sausage, was weird but reassuring. I assumed it would keep me from getting lost, because no matter where I went, I could simply follow it back to my body.
But how did the cord work? Was it retractable like the cord on our vacuum cleaner? Stretchy like a bungee cord? If so, how far could it stretch? I wanted to test it for myself, but before I could do that, I needed to figure out how to move. For now, I was stuck in place like a stalled weather front.
A few nights ago, I’d traveled all the way to Sorcery Place. I’d gone to Sophia’s house, to Grandma’s. How had I done it?
More important, how could I get back into my body? I gave a psychic grunt, straining toward that sleeping form, but nothing happened. I was anchored to the ceiling as firmly as my physical body was anchored to the bed.
What if I couldn’t get back? What if I was stuck up here forever?
Kimberly Baer is an author and professional editor who was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a town marginally famous for having endured three major floods. She even lived there during one of them. She now resides in northern Virginia, where she enjoys power-walking on days when it’s not too hot, too cold, too rainy, too snowy, or too windy. On indoor days, you’re likely to find her hard at work on her next novel or binge-watching old episodes of Survivor, her favorite guilty pleasure.
Kim has had her nose in a book practically since birth. Her first story, written at age six, was about a baby chick that hatched out of a little girl’s Easter egg after somehow surviving the hard-boiling process. These days she writes in a variety of genres, including adult romantic suspense, young adult, and middle-grade. Her books are published by The Wild Rose Press and have won several awards.
Happy 2023! It’s almost release day for a series of horror short stories revolving around Friday the 13th. I will be sharing each story on my post, one per day. Today, I’m pleased to welcome Connor Treadwaywith their story, Rosemary…
Fun Fact:
Connor Treadway is the pen name for a writing team based in northeastern Florida. When brainstorming ideas for the story, they realized “Old Florida” is the perfect setting for a horror story with Gothic flair.
*** Pre-Order the Friday the 13th stories for only 99 cents!!!
Disturbing dreams that feel all too real…
When Ivy Powers inherits her great-aunt’s gorgeous but neglected Victorian home, it feels like a dream come true. Recently divorced and eager to leave a job she hates, Ivy relocates from New Jersey to Passaway, Florida. The tiny hamlet is the type of place tourists visit for a taste of Old Florida–spanish moss dripping from craggy old oak trees and gators in the swamps.
Ivy’s dream soon turns into a nightmare when she begins renovations on the old house and its overgrown rose gardens. Her sleep is plagued by visions of a shrouded woman, a reflecting ball, and the scent of rosemary, which lingers even after she wakes. The mysterious old man who watches from an attic window next door also spooks her, until he persuades her to join him for tea in the garden, an afternoon custom he shared with his late wife.
Are the dark forces invading Ivy’s dreams a threat…or a warning? Can she find the truth before it’s too late or will the garden claim her and bury her with the rest of its secrets?
A Friday the 13th Short Story: 13 authors ~ 13 suspenseful stories. Murder and mayhem on Friday the 13th… Find each story in the series on Amazon.
Excerpt:
Tonight, the pockets of shadows created by great swags of Spanish moss and dense sprawl of bushes seemed darker and denser. Instead of guarding the garden’s secrets, the inky depths yawned like gaping chasms into some kind of hellish underground. Rosemary hunched in the wheelchair, pulling the blanket higher as if to ward off some vague threat.
“I’m safe here,” she reminded herself in a whisper, slowly scanning the area as if to identify the source of her disquiet.
Everything appeared unchanged—the sprawling canopy of live oak limbs, the looping ropes of kudzu and spiky palmetto fans, the path of cracked stone pavers that zig-zagged off in both directions, the squares of yellow light from nearby houses masked by leafy branches, the gleam of the sun’s final glow flaming ominously in the mirrored gazing ball set atop a pedestal on the other edge of the clearing where Rosemary had set up the bistro table and chairs years ago after she and Jeremiah were first married.
Finally, she realized what was different. It was the silence. No cicadas sang. No whippoorwills called from the woods. Not even a mosquito hummed in the clinging shroud of moisture. Usually, summer nights buzzed with a riot of sound—the deafening roar of cicadas, the hoot of barred owls, the scrabble of lizards in the undergrowth, the muted sounds of domestic activities as neighbors settled in for the night, the musical clatter of windchimes, the huff and puff of wind as if the garden itself was inhaling and exhaling.
The quiet swelled into a pulsing presence that filled the garden, throbbing against Rosemary’s eardrums, immobilizing her body, blurring her vision. She wondered if she was having a heart attack, but the sharp snap of fingers inches from her nose pulled her from the invisible mire.
“Goddamn, woman. It’s too early to fall asleep.” Jeremiah’s tone was harsh, impatient, angry. Blinking to clear her sight, Rosemary cringed away from her husband’s scowl which suddenly transformed into a benevolent grin that was somehow even more frightening. “Don’t want you to miss our evening tradition, my dear. Time for me and you. Together. Just us. All alone in your beautiful garden.”
Bio:
Connor Treadway is a pen name for the writing team behind Gothic thrillers and mysteries. The duo is based in northeastern Florida.
Happy 2023! It’s almost release day for a series of horror short stories revolving around Friday the 13th. I will be sharing each story on my post, one per day. Today, I’m pleased to welcome Mark Edward Jones with his story, Hell is Empty…
Fun Fact:
Three characters in Hell is Empty later play roles in the Detective Henry Ike Pierce series.
*** Pre-Order the Friday the 13th stories for only 99 cents!!!
The worse monsters are human.
A man’s wife dies unexpectedly in Brno, Czechoslovakia, and his teenage foster daughter, Miomir, comes under suspicion after four of the girl’s classmates die by poisoning. Professor Filíp Nekola must protect his younger wards, siblings brought to him six years earlier when a government assassin, Karanosz Tasev, killed the children’s parents. A detective appears, offering information that Tasev seeks Miomir.
Nekola is detained by the Czech government’s secret police, the StB, and the children are left alone with Miomir and her friends. They witness the teenagers performing a dark ritual to destroy Miomir’s enemies. Filíp Nekola must escape the secret police, rescue the children, and stop the assassin Tasev before he steals another life. The worst monsters are human.
A Friday the 13th Short Story: 13 authors ~ 13 suspenseful stories. Murder and mayhem on Friday the 13th… Find each story in the series on Amazon.
Excerpt:
Pipe smoke blanketed Stepan Hrubý’s face. The boy flapped his hands and made a show of waving away the pungent haze.
Filíp Nekola clenched the pipe’s bit with his teeth, pulled off his right glove, and yanked his handkerchief from a pocket. He wiped his eyes, then glanced down at his companion. A smile broke across his face as he stroked the boy’s dark hair. “Three months today, young man. She grew so fond of you and Eliska.” Filíp shook his head and sighed. “My dear Berta.”
Stepan rubbed his hand along the top of the marker’s rough granite stone. “Sorry, Papa Filíp. Remember, though, the best day of the year is coming in twelve days.”
Filíp nodded. “Yes, Christmas is coming, and it will be my first without her.” He wiped a cheek. “But we will try to make it merry.”
The boy pulled his winter cap tighter around his ears. “Yes, sir. It is Lisky’s and my favorite holiday. Why do some people not celebrate?”
“You are speaking of Miomir?”
Stepan frowned, thinking of the older girl the Nekolas had fostered. “She is one, but many stores have nothing in their windows. Lisky says—”
“Never mind. So … where is your sister?”
Stepan shrugged. “She likes to look at the gravestones.”
Eliska emerged through leafless bushes near a marble bench. “I am here.” Stepan’s sister kneeled next to him and examined the dates, touching them as she read. “April 3, 1927, and September 13, 1974. Are those correct?”
“Yes. The stone carver did well.”
“Barunka is a funny name,” Stepan said, then covered his mouth. “Sorry.”
Filíp nodded. “Yes, she did not like it—a family name, I believe, and it is why I called her Berta.”
“I like the black stone,” Eliska said.
“I do, too.” He smiled. “Thank you both for coming with me.”
Stepan smirked. “We wanted to come with you instead of staying with the witch.”
Eliska giggled.
Filíp put a finger to his lips and scowled, determined to act as if he did not feel the same. “No, no. We should not talk about Miomir in such a manner. She is sixteen, and teenagers are rebellious, among other things. I am sure she grieves in her own way.” He took each child’s hand. “My feet are freezing, and I do not doubt yours are, too. Come along. The taxi is waiting.”
Bio:
Mark retired from higher education finance in 2017 and started writing as a new career. The first of the Detective Henry Ike Pierce series, Peculiar Activities, was published in October 2021. The second in the series, Shadowed Souls, released on Halloween 2022. A Gentleman from the Darkness was his first short story, and his first in a Friday the 13th series.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, C.B. Oresky…
Hello C.B., please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I grew up in suburban New Jersey. Over the years, I have collected a wheelbarrow full of degrees. I have a passion for plants and can grow just about anything. I currently live in a small town in Connecticut that most people have never heard of called Gales Ferry. I have a body-builder husband, a naughty Scottie dog and cat, ten chickens, and a magnificent perennial garden.
Where did you get the idea for The Warlock’s Curse?
My debut novel all began as a dream… I sailed a white ship on a pristine sea of whispering turquoise waves. The inhabitants of this alien watery world, mystical whales, surrounded my vessel, their eerie voices lifted in song. I made a story out of this…and other magical dreams.
What is your favorite scene in The Warlock’s Curse
There are many wonderful scenes in The Warlock’s Curse, but my favorite occurs when Captain Claudius Grace brings his twin granddaughters on an oceanic journey to encounter magical whales. He hopes the massive leviathans will open the portal to their birthplace: the realm of Oceana where the wise Master lives. Far beneath the rolling waves, The King and Queen of the Whales sing a haunting song. A massive ethereal whale appears swimming right before Claudius’s approaching schooner. The phantasm of a whale opens its yawning maw. Claudius’s schooner hangs momentarily on the edge of the watery precipice of light, then slips straight down the monster’s wide-open chasm.
How did you come up with the book’s title?
I kept the title to my book short as suggested by my diligent, hawk-eyed editor. Of course, the title also had to do something with the story. My original title for my novel was The Master, The Captain, The Warlock, and The Warrior, however this was longer than a flight to the moon. I therefore shortened the title to The Warlock’s Curse, as the story is about twin sisters going on a perilous journey to remove an ancient curse.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
The theme in my life is software developer by day, writer by night. I do like writing code…it’s like composing a symphony. However, if I could, I’d prefer to write full time.
What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
It may sound weird, but I dislike shopping… I’m not into running after a bunch of stuff that just doesn’t make me happy.
What’s your favorite childhood book?
I love C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series, especially The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. This quick-moving adventure is full of amazing imagery and sensory delights. In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, I feel the soft fur coats as the children jostle through the wardrobe. I hear the snow crunch under their feet and shiver in the bitter cold as they traipse through the forever frozen land the White Witch has enchanted. Finally, I love the deep magic found in Narnia: the mystical, speaking animals that are so believable…the written wonders that whisk me off to a place so real—I never want to leave.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
A monkey, two Siamese cats, dancing whales… Wait! This actually is a really good question. I’ve always thought that if my book were made into a movie, I’d like it to be cast by unknown actors with loads of talent. It gets tiring to see the same people over-and-over again in films. I believe in giving someone new a chance.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, where Strider, secretly Aragorn the true king of Gondor, appears to be a mere Ranger.
“All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
This quote is for all those that run against the wind and holds a message about ceasing judgement on outer looks alone. From the moment one is born, the busy bees of society are whispering in your ear…how to act, how to be. Many are followers, attracted to the flash…a rolex or bmw gives one a certain status. But what about someone with purpose and inner goodness…all that is beautiful and true, existing without glitter. Someone who wanders their own path, following their own internal calling, may be seen as a fool, but may truly be a queen or king. To be true to one’s own calling involves strength and perseverance in the face of darkness and strife.
Your most prized material possession? Why?
My Scottie dog, of course. Scottie dogs are so adorable, loving, and intelligent…they keep me on my toes for sure.
What do you want your tombstone to say?
So long and thanks for the food…
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂
I would spend time with Phileus, The Bliss, a joyous, magical creature who transmits healing light, loves nature, and only takes what little he needs. I would explore his enchanting underground home full of plants, gardens, flowers, and relaxing pools of hot water. On this adventure I would certainly enjoy listening to his words of wisdom about cherishing the natural world.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There are a few important messages in my novel… The importance of caring for our good Earth. Also, no matter how bad life gets, there is always someone out there who will lend a helping hand. Finally, Magic exists and is everywhere.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I idolize J.R.R. Tolkien, the father of fantasy. I love how Tolkien’s artistry with words, masterfully paints scene after scene about a magical world where creatures talk and everything from the trees to the mountains seem alive. The Oxford English scholar could do it all when it came to world building: he created his own languages, geography, unique races, and relatable characters who fought for justice and those they love. I find myself easily swept away into his ingenious books and totally connected to the characters.
Twin sisters on a perilous journey to remove an ancient curse…
Clara and Angelica Grace have never met ghosts. They’ve never sailed on a tall ship, ridden wild unicorns, or fought with magical weapons. Instead, the teenage twins have a wretched existence, ignored by their troubled parents in a rundown home and tormented by the town’s snobs.
Everything turns topsy-turvy all of a sudden when discovery of an ancestor’s hidden journal with an odd key to an unknown door leads them into an entirely different realm.
The girls go on a thrilling oceanic voyage to search for mysterious whales, train with a seasoned warrior, and are befriended by a wise Master. But all is not a bouquet of lovely lilies…they are hunted by a cunning warlock and must rid themselves of The Warlock’s Curse.
Winner of The Literary Titan Gold Award
Excerpt:
“Help! Please help!” Angelica cried, turning toward the direction the voice had come from.
Veils of darkness greeted her eyes.
Suddenly, a strange sight seized both girls’ attention. The oddest-looking creature the girls had ever seen emerged from the gloom, waddling along a curved path near the pool’s edge. Its shape gradually came into view.
The squat creature stood about two feet tall, an amethyst stud adorning its short nose, its long face crowned by a single lock of fair curly hair. In place of normal clothing, a grasshopper-green mossy material covered its small hands and feet, while an amber mesh filament, appearing like thinly braided laces, swathed its arms and back. It eagerly flew toward the girls, appearing like a goldfinch, its smooth, translucent body quivering like firm jelly and glowing as the shimmering sun. The creature’s unforgettably deep eyes were grave and dark and splashed with touches of ocher, like glossy black beetles.
Clara trembled in her well-worn boots, imagining the approaching creature as a monster in some horror movie. She wrapped her wool cape more tightly about her, wishing it might somehow guard her from harm.
Angelica also eyed the peculiar-looking being fearfully and staggered back a step.
The golden creature stopped just short of them.
“It smells good…like meadow grass and flowers,” Clara whispered.
“Hummmmmm, Hummmmm,” its melodious voice buzzed, like bees flitting over flowers. The odd creature licked its rubbery lips.
Fascinated by the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, award winning author, C.B. Oresky, began writing her own fantasy novel, The Warlock’s Curse, after dreaming of being whisked off to an alien realm. Besides her debut novel, she has seen four of her short stories published in a small, national literary press: Conceit Magazine. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through the woods, dancing flamenco, or planting flowers in her garden. She currently lives in a small town in Connecticut with her bodybuilder husband, their exceptionally naughty Scottish terrier and Siamese cat, ten chickens, and a yard filled with majestic flowers.
It’s that time of year….Halloween month! I’m pleased to share an interesting article from Randy Overbeck…
Halloween or All Hallowed Eve
Halloween, the great America tradition, when everyone, young and old, enjoys getting at least a little scared and revels in a little mystery. The night when beggars prowl the streets seeking candy and perhaps a little fright. It’s the only time of year when teens and adults will pay good money to have their pants scared off them at a thousand haunted houses around the country.
An argument can be made that the greatest scares on this night arise from chainsaw killers and raving monsters, blood sucking vampires and howling werewolves or even terrifying aliens. While I admit each and every one of these can set the blood curdling, I’d submit that’s not what Halloween is about, not really.
What we celebrate as Halloween was originally know as All Hallowed Eve. (Well, okay, it actually dates back to an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain and a Roman holiday, Feralia, both of which were incorporated over the centuries into the Christian All Hallowed Eve.) All Hallowed Eve, later Halloween, was the day Christians honored those who have passed and, on this day, they acknowledged sometimes the dead are still with us. While the traditions of these celebrations differed from culture to culture—for example, the Romans brought offerings to graves and the Celts were required to sacrifice some of their children (yikes!)—the one thread that runs through all three celebrations is the steadfast belief in ghosts. The Celts, the Romans and the early Christians understood there is but a thin veil that separates this world from the next. This autumnal feast, halfway between the end of harvest and the winter solstice, was the day spirits from the other side chose to cross this veil and visit the living.
According to legends, some of these ghosts were friendly, if sometimes michievious, while others were angry, malevolent and even violent. But those humans celebrating Samhain or Feralia or All Hallowed Eve/Halloween knew that they ignored these visiting spirits at their peril and knew they needed to honor the ghosts.
So while Dracula or Freddie or Ironman might make better costumes for this year’s Halloween celebration—I mean, how do you dress like a ghost anyway—you would do well not to ignore the spirits roaming among us. They require us to honor them and the dead who have gone, because all too soon we will join them.
Oh, by the way, I thought I saw something shimmering behind you. Don’t look.
Happy Halloween! You might want to celebrate the holiday by learning about ghosts reading my Haunted Shores Mysteries, #1 BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE (which is also a #1 Amazon Best Seller) #2 CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY and #3 SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER.
Blurb
All Darrell Henshaw wanted was to enjoy his honeymoon with his beautiful wife, Erin, in the charming town of Crystal River on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. Only a pair of ghosts decide to intrude on their celebration. And not just any ghosts, the spirits of two young Latino children. Unwilling at first to derail the honeymoon for yet another ghost hunt, Darrell finally concedes when a painting of the kids comes alive, weeping and pleading for his help.
When he and Erin track down the artist, they discover the children’s family were migrant workers the next county over. But when they travel there, their questions about the kids gets their car shot up and Erin hospitalized. Torn between fear and rage, Darrell must decide how far he will go to get justice for two young children he never even knew.
Review Blurbs
“Scarlet at Crystal River is an eerie paranormal mystery I couldn’t stop reading. Randy Overbeck is a masterful writer of the paranormal, drawing the reader in before instilling shivers down the spine. 5+ stars.” –N. N. Light’s Book Heaven
“A rollercoaster of a mystery, hurtling up and down hills and sharp corners until the very end, when the reader is left slightly breathless, waiting for their hearts to beat back to a normal rhythm. ★★★★★—ReadersView
“Scarlet at Crystal River is a suspenseful paranormal novel with compelling characters and an enigmatic mystery that drives the story to a riveting conclusion. Overbeck is a master at building tension–-this is easily a one-sitting read.” ★★★★★—Literary Titan
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for four decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, Blood on the Chesapeake,Crimson at Cape May and Scarlet at Crystal River have earned five star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year–ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.
Author Alicia Dean 