Tag Archives: Witches

August 9, 2017 · 9:16 am

Book Cover Strategy with Sorchia DuBois_

Please help me welcome… (Be sure to check out her adorable author pic!!)

Sorchia DuBois__Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones currently for sale and a preview of upcoming release Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen

Book Cover Strategery

Don’t judge a book by its cover is a great metaphor for life and relationships, but when it comes to literal books we do literally judge them by their literal covers. In a few weeks, I’ll be sending my request for a cover to my publisher. While I don’t have total control over the result, I can make suggestions. Trouble is—I’m never sure what to ask for. So I’m asking for help.

We authors put a lot of time and effort into designing covers people will notice. We try to make the cover an illustrated promise of the content. Two things that have a huge impact on a cover are genre and audience.

Now my book happens to be:

  • A romance.
  • The second in a series of three.
  • About witches. Not green ones, but modern-day, cat-loving, job-having, curly-fry eating, car-driving witches who just happen to have a particular skill set.
  • Set in present day time in locations including Arkansas, New Orleans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan jungle, and Scotland.
  • Infested with voodoo and modern day pirates along with seductive male witches, evil priestesses, Columbian emeralds, betrayal, hurricanes, and true love.
  • About the protagonist’s growth as a woman as much as about romance and mystery and magic.

My audience is primarily women over 21. I don’t think there is an upper limit because I’m mumblety years old myself but I still think of myself as a vibrant and youngish person.  They are a free-thinking, independent group and they have the scars to prove it. They like challenges and mystery, and they like men—or is that redundant? They also like diversity, adventure, and spooky stuff. They want steamy romance as long as it isn’t gratuitous and they dearly love twists and turns. They are intelligent and will not put up with stereotypes. Each and every one of them has a quirky sense of humor. They do not adhere to cultural norms unless said norms make sense to them—they don’t follow the crowd.

So how do I appeal to these gals with a cover that begs them to read the book? What will pique their interest? This is where I need your help because I suspect the preceding paragraph is a description of YOU.

If you want to help, follow this link https://goo.gl/forms/g9tzwNtXosXeHaYi1 to fill out a short survey of your cover preferences. It will take you about a minute and a half to do this and your responses will help me immensely. If you are interested in seeing the results, I’ll post them on my blog at www.sorchiadubois.com on August 25. You can hop over there and follow the blog or you can follow me on Twitter or FB.

As a reward, here’s a tiny preview of Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen, book 2 in my Zoraida Grey series. I hope to release this book Fall 2017.

The wooden screen door, swollen with the summer humidity, rasps as he pushes it open. “I never knew such a place existed where you could go naked and still be too warm.  It is like walking about in a warm bath all day. ”

“So––feel better after your shower? A little less like an asshole, maybe?”

“I said I was sorry.” Shea balances his sandwich, two glasses, and the depleted bottle of Laphroaig in one hand. Even in the near dark, his gaudy Bermuda shorts give off a subtle glow.

“Who picks out your clothes anyway? Or do you find them in dumpsters?”

The whisky he hands me is cold but neat. He sinks into the lawn chair beside me. “I’ll have you know these shorts come highly recommended as standard American togs by no less than Constable MacCaig himself. I have three more just like them.”

Short, round, nearly bald, but with a detective’s discerning gray eyes, the image of Constable MacCaig makes me smile. Nothing in Black Bridge, Scotland, gets past Constable MacCaig––not even the witches in Castle Logan.

“Who knew Constable MacCaig was such a fashionista? At least we won’t have trouble finding you in the snow, come winter.” The faint light of the crescent moon shimmers faintly from indigo tattoos twining up his right arm and down his torso. I give myself another mental shake and concentrate on my whisky. “How did you and Constable MacCaig get so chummy?”

He does not reply immediately, but takes a drink. The muscles in his jaw knot. “We did not start out as chums.”

“And thereby hangs a tale, I guess.”

“Not a pleasant one. He accused me of spiriting his daughter away.”

After he pulled me out of the oubliette, Shea sent me to Constable and Mrs. MacCaig. A nurse, Mrs. MacCaig bandaged my wounds. Since I fled wearing only my underwear and bathrobe, she gave me clothes for the journey back to Arkansas––her daughter’s clothes. The coat, sweater, and jeans are tumbling in my dryer right now.

“MacCaig wouldn’t accuse you if he didn’t have reason.” My tone is harsher than I intend. I am an expert in the way male Logan witches manipulate, persuade, seduce. “That’s something I would expect from Michael, more than you.”

“Really?” His profile is black against the glow of the streetlights and the sky. “In this case, you would be mostly correct.”

A chill crawls down my back like a spider with eight cold feet. “What happened to her?”

He shakes his head, concentrating on the glass of whisky intently before he drains it. “I’m not certain.”

How deep into Michael’s plans is Shea––how much has he done and how much more does he plan to do to keep Michael’s trust? Whether he intends to prove his loyalty to Michael or to take Michael’s place as laird of the Logan witches, he’ll need help. He’ll need the Stone of Adamantine.

Johnny Lee Hooker slinks along the porch rail. His tail twitches and his ears cup toward the woods as the moon breaks free of the tree branches. A whippoorwill calls from the fringe of woodland, but this bubble of peace extends only so far. Outside, the world is uncertain and scary. On my very own porch, Shea Logan is proof of that.

Pick up the first book in the series, Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones.

Blurb:

Granny’s dying, but Zoraida can save her with a magic crystal of smoky quartz. Too bad the crystal is in Scotland––in a haunted castle––guarded by mind-reading, psychopathic sorcerers.

Getting inside Castle Logan is easy. Getting out––not so much. Before she can snatch the stone, Zoraida stumbles into a family feud, uncovers a wicked ancient curse, and finds herself ensorcelled by not one but two handsome Scottish witches. Up to their necks in family intrigue and smack-dab in the middle of a simmering clan war, Zoraida and her best friend Zhu discover Granny hasn’t told them everything.

Not by a long shot. 

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/ZGandFSBN

Amazon:   http://bit.ly/ZGandtheFS_AMZN 

KOBO: http://bit.ly/ZGandFSKOBO

Wild Rose Press:http://bit.ly/ZGandFSWR

Author Bio:

Sorchia DuBois lives in the wilds of southern Missouri with seven cats, three fish, one dog, and one husband. She enjoys a splash of single malt Scotch from time to time and can often be found at Scottish festivals watching kilted men toss heavy objects.

Her stories blend legends, magic, mystery, romance, and adventure into enchanted Celtic knots. Halloween is her favorite time of year (she starts decorating in August and doesn’t take it down until February) and her characters tend to be mouthy, stubborn, and a bit foolhardy. Nothing makes her happier than long conversations in the evening, trips to interesting places, and writing until the wee hours of the morning. Well, chocolate cake makes her pretty happy, too.

I’m online everywhere.

Blog/Website:

www.SorchiaDubois.com

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SorchiaDubois

Pinterest:

www.pinterest.com/SorchiaDubois/

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/SorchiaD

Amazon author page:

http://www.amazon.com/SorchiaDuBois/e/B00B60NOUQ/

Goodreads  author page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879978.Sorchia_DuBois

Google +:  google.com/+SorchiaDuBois

 

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February 22, 2017 · 10:52 am

A Demon’s Witch by Tena Stetler #TWRP

Fellow AHA Author Tena Stetler is sharing about her Paranormal Romance, A Demon’s Witch

 

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Best selling author, Tena Stetler, uses her over-active imagination to spin tales of paranormal romance/suspense and cozy mysteries. Her spicy romances spin the adventures of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. From demons to faeries and witches to vampires her intriguing characters take roads less traveled to draw you into exciting tales that  engage the imagination and warm the heart.

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Tena’s Inspiration for A Demon’s Witch:

A Demon’s Witch was my debut novel and has remained close to my heart. A Demon’s Witch hit the market and garnered best seller status. It earned The Romantic Reviews Readers Choice 2016 Nominee in the paranormal romance category.   I love talking about this story.

The ideas begin to percolate as I sat in a beauty salon listening to the chatter from other customers. One woman swore she’d been approached by a vampire want-to-be.

This got me to thinking, which is scary in and of itself. What if the hairdresser was an alpha male, Demon Overlord of the Western Hemisphere that owned a multi-species salon in Washington DC? Enter a powerful witch, whose beauty caught the eye of the demon on a rainy day when she rushed into his salon. Now, unbeknownst to him, she is not any ordinary witch, but the little sister of the demon’s enforcer. Now you have a romance with unbelievable complications.

The story became a series, but the other planned books in the series took a strange turn when the majority of readers and reviewers clamored for the enforcer, Tristian’s story to be next in line. I’d never considered writing a book on the witch’s brother, the demon’s enforcer. But after mulling it over for several months and publishing three unrelated books,

I am excited to announce A Warlock’s Secrets (Tristian’s story) is awaiting cover art and will be published spring 2017. So please watch for it!

Tena’s contact links:

Website: http://www.tenastetler.com

Blog: http://www.tenastetler.com/my-blog

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author

Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/TenaStetler

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler

The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/1264_tena-stetler

Amazon:  www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler

Newsletter: Sign up on web page www.tenastetler.com

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler

 

For a chance to win an amazon $5.00 GC or a e-book of A Witch’s Journey please sign up for my newsletter at  http://www.tenastetler.com and Like my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author.

 

I hope you enjoy my blurb and peek into A Demon’s Witch:

Keeping a lid on all the paranormal beings inhabiting Washington D.C., is a daunting job. Bruce, a six hundred year old demon and the Territory Overlord of the Western Hemisphere, keeps his finger on the pulse of DC’s power players through the activities at his highly successful Wycked Hair Salon. His movie star good looks and body builder physique keeps his dance card full and the rumor mills running.  Within these walls, his anonymity is safe, mostly.

Bruce’s world spins out of control when Angelique, a pint size, gorgeous witch, with an attitude breezes through the doors of his salon. She is the younger sister of Tristian, Bruce’s long time trusted enforcer, whose professional skills are second to none. Tristian is furious at the relationship between Bruce and Angelique, a dangerous situation, but something darker threatens them all. Will undeniable attraction between demon and witch tear their worlds apart?

Excerpt:

At two in the morning he awoke feeling her restlessness, listening he heard her soft sobs. He pulled on his black silk lounge pants and grabbed the robe from the foot of his bed. Padding silently in his bare feet down the hall, he paused at her bedroom door just as her anguished scream filled the room. He was at the side of her bed a second later. Gathering her onto his lap, he held her unyielding body to his until her flailing limbs quieted and her troubled violet eyes opened. Cognizant of where she was now and with whom, she flung her arms around his neck and clung tight as shivers racked her slight frame.

Megan came running from the other wing of the house where the staff lived during the week. “Is everything all right?” She peeked inside Angie’s bedroom door.

“Just a nightmare, nothing to worry about. She’s awake now.

“Oh no my Lord,” Megan said in a low frantic whisper.

“Don’t call me that,” he growled, his amber eyes tinged with orange glowed in the dark room.

“Sorry. There’s something dark and dangerous chasing that one.” She nodded in Angie’s direction. “It’s not of this world.”

He lowered his voice and spoke kindly. “Go back to bed, I’ve got this handled.” He paused for a beat exhaling slowly. “For now.”

 

Buy Link: AMAZON  http://amzn.com/1509203087

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October 5, 2015 · 10:01 am

10 Moments that Changed Maureen Bonatch’s Life – And her new release, Grandma Must Die

I love the title and premise of this story. Can’t wait to read it. I also love the answers to Maureen’s ’10 Moments that Changed My Life.’ Check it out… (and isn’t it an adorable cover?) 

Grandma Must Die

A Touch of Magic Series Volume 1

Maureen L. Bonatch

gma

She’s a witch hunting a spell. He’s hunting witches and falling for her.

Blurb:

Carman has worn out more towns and last names than impractical shoes protecting the secret of her magic blood. But when a friend goes missing, and another is infected with a deadly spell, Carman must choose. Expose her magic blood by curing the spell—or stop the infection from spreading by killing the source…the grandmother.

Magic bounty hunter Dylan has scoured libraries of banned magic paraphernalia seeking a method to distinguish genuine witches from impersonators. He suspects unorthodox librarian Carman might hold this information tighter than the hair he’s dying to unleash from her bun. With a past as hidden as his sleeve of tattoos, Dylan discovers he’s been used to gain Carman’s trust and their passion risks more than mixing mortals and magic.

Excerpt

…once she’d started Carman couldn’t stop,

the book beckoned. Pressing its spine against her palm, begging her to search within the pages to find the answers she’d unconsciously sought her entire life. As she lifted the book, her scalp tingled and her hair elevated like a halo.

“Whoa.” Dylan shielded himself with his hands. “Put it back, slowly, because this is reminding me too much of the incident with the chest. Having my apartment blown up from magic isn’t covered in my rent.”

The plastic evaporated in a puff of smoke in Carman’s hands and the book unsealed with a sigh. She smiled, the welcoming warmth emanating from within its pages against her palms. Why had Mother kept her from this? This is what she’d been waiting for.

As curiosity overtook his common sense, she detected Dylan’s cautious approach. He stood close enough to peer over her shoulder into her book, but far enough away to avoid touching her.

After the shockwave the last time their skin met, he probably worried he’d ruin another pair of pants. Carman closed her eyes, absorbing the power from the book. The delicious feeling evoked a sensation like melting chocolate, sweet and satisfying.

“I remember hearing about her, Esmeralda Wrath. I wonder if this was her book?” Dylan’s warm breath caressed her shoulder.

Carman opened her eyes and examined the page. To stare right at a photo of the most powerful witch of all time…her grandmother.

Ten Moments that Changed My Life

This was a challenging task. I could easily rattle off events occurring in my lifetime that rocked the world. I could dissect the many moments in my writing career that devastated or inspired me. Instead I chose to reflect upon little things that changed me and/or my outlook on the world.

  1. The first time I wore my contacts in junior high. Until then I’d assumed everyone saw the world the way I did. I had no idea how much I’d been missing. I discovered many things I’d assumed looked one way, actually looked very different. I walked around, mouth agape; staring at the world I’d only seen in a blur since I’d refused to wear the thick, black-framed dorky glasses.
  2. When I submitted my first essay in junior high. I was certain the teacher would love it and encourage me to devote my life to writing. She didn’t, and she wasn’t good at providing the encouragement I needed at that age.
  3. Using my first word processor. If anyone else remembers correction tape and a manual typewriter then you can certainly understand my glee.
  4. The introduction of mixed CD’s and ITunes: I love music and my IPod is set to shuffle all the time. To have the ability to choose songs without buying the whole CD or holding a tape player to the speaker (which the DJ always interrupted the song!) was exhilarating.
  5. The day I got married. A few weeks after it set in that I wasn’t playing house. This was now my home, and along with all the fun, came the responsibilities.
  6. Receiving my Masters degree. I hadn’t planned on college. I took business courses in high school. Earning a postgraduate degree made me realize I could achieve most anything I set my mind to.
  7. My first back injury. Made me realize I am not invincible and that health isn’t something to be taken for granted. Nor is the ability to roll over on your own. 😉
  8. The sonogram for my twins. Five months into the pregnancy of what we’d thought was a single child we discovered I was carrying twins. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
  9. 9/11. Not only because of the changes and fear it brought to the world, but also because my twins weren’t quite 2 weeks old. I feared what kind of world I’d brought them into. Also, it is my birthday and until this happened, no one apologized for my being born that day before.
  10. Being a parent. My life changed from the day I became pregnant and continues to change in a million different ways each year. The joys and frustrations make me question my competency for this role some days and reveal in the unexpected rewards on others.

So tell me, what little thing changed your life in a big way?

Prize: One free ecopy of Grandma Must Die from a random comment drawn by Alicia Dean on October 7, 2015 (release day)

gma2

Bio:

Penning stories boasting laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Maureen-L.-Bonatch/e/B00KHY1KK8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbonatch

Blog: http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/

Website: http://www.maureenbonatch.com

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/1AV4L

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/maureenbonatch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureenlbonatch

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3103486.Maureen_L_Bonatch

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September 7, 2015 · 12:16 pm

New Wild Rose Press Release – Bone of my Bones by Debra Doggett

Please welcome today’s guest…

Debra Doggett with her new Wild Rose Press release…

BoneofMyBonescover

Blurb:

Rose DeSalvo has had better days. Not many but a few. Especially since she left her cheating husband Eddie behind. But Eddie has turned up again to wreck havoc in her life. This time, though, he’s buried among her prize roses. Rose knows she’s got to find out who killed Eddie and get him back to the scene of the crime before she can be accused of his murder. That’s the reason she suddenly finds herself with a dangerously hot necromancer, a zombie ex-husband and a wild assortment of people who seem to know far more about her than she does about them. If she could only get them to tell her what she needs to know before she runs out of time, she just might uncover not only Eddie’s murderer but her own destiny.

Excerpt:

             There was something about the etched design in the faded cowhide, sort of a scripted “E” all fancied up, that looked all too familiar.

            “Hey, those are Eddie’s boots. Whoa!” With the aid of the side of the house, Leon got to his feet and peered at me with bloodshot eyes.

            “What?” I kicked at the dirt with my slipper, trying to push enough of it aside to get a better view. 

            “You bumped him off.”

            “What are you babbling about?” I shined the light around the edge of the hole Leon had dug. They really did look like Eddie’s boots. Please, please, please, don’t let the rest of him be in them.

            “You bumped Eddie off, didn’t you?”

            Leon staggered against me, giving me a good whiff  of his breath. I wondered if you could get drunk from secondhand alcohol. Right now I could really use a stiff  drink. I gripped his arm to keep him still. His wavering combined with his breath nauseated me. He peered into my eyes then looked back down at the ground.

            “I mean, you always said you wanted to but I never really thought you would.” His voice held the kind of  awe he usually reserved for major sports events and winners of monster truck rallies. It was the most respect he’d ever given my work.

            I shook my head and hissed at him. “I did not bump Eddie off. You don’t know this is Eddie. It could be a total stranger.”

            “You bumped off a total stranger?” The awe factor faltered a bit, replaced by a note of fear.

Find the book here…

http://www.amazon.com/Bone-My-Bones-Debra-Doggett-ebook/dp/B011IR789Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439221982&sr=8-1&keywords=debra+doggett

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6343

And now, let’s get to know a little about Debra:

Are there any tricks or habits you use when creating a story?

I start with scenes that come to me. As they come I collect them and when I feel I have enough to do a rough outline I will make one. Then I work on creating more scenes. It’s the scenes that let me know the characters and how they behave.

What book have you read that you wish you would have written?

It’s called Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and it’s by Jenny Lawson. It’s sort of a memoir and it’s hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s not so much that I wish I had written that particular book as I would love to reach the point where I can be that honest in my writing.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and how do you like it?

I teach pre-school and most days it’s a lot of fun. Some days I’m crying with the kids, lol.

What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?

The Wizard of Oz. I bet I’ve watched that movie fifty times because my mom loved it. I can’t stand it to this day.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

The need for another job to pay the bills. I would love to simply wander and write all day.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

Straight historical fiction. I’d love to have the time to research a story like that and write it.

What is your favorite…

Movie: any with Russell Crowe in it

Music: Celtic music

Place you’ve visited: Avsbury, England

Place you’d like to visit: China

TV show from childhood: Gilligan’s Island

TV show from adulthood: Outlander

Food: omelets

Sports team: I wouldn’t even know any to pick

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television?: board games

Thank you for joining me today, Debra! Gilligan’s Island was one of my favorite childhood shows too. 🙂

And now, Deb would like to ask readers a question…

What is it that makes a story stay in your head (and your heart)?

Debra Doggett bio

DebraDoggett

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.  Being a writer is more than something I do.  It is the way I see the world, the way I process it.  I believe in the power of stories.  They make us smile, make us think and give us untold moments of enjoyment. My stories come from the landscape around me and the worlds I build in my head.  I am proud to be a storyteller, and I hope my work leaves you both satisfied and entertained.

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August 1, 2014 · 7:57 am

Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part 6 – A Mention or Two in My Books

As I’ve stated previously, nearly each of my published work contains a mention of Elvis, even if only briefly. Below are a few samples from a handful of books…

 

THICKERTHANWATER

Available now, but will be released on August 14th as part of a boxed set with other Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll Stories by other authors

Thicker Than Water – Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll

Jake fell silent and flipped on the radio. “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis was playing. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Did he remember how much she liked Elvis? How he’d teased her unmercifully about it? Nothing showed on his face, but he must remember. Or had he shoved every memory of their time together out of his mind?

 

2. Heart of the Witch 12.1.09

Available at Amazon

Heart of the Witch:

Ravyn crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, purposely keeping her gaze above chest level so she wouldn’t see the way the tool belt slanted across his lean hips. “What do you want to know about me? I make candles and jewelry. I have one sister and a mother. I live alone. No pets. I like long walks in the rain and old music . . . you know, Otis Redding, The Platters, Elvis Presley. Anything else?”

He gave a satisfied smile. “See? Was that so hard? My turn. I work construction, and I have two sisters and two parents. One dog, a golden retriever named Dog. I don’t like long walks anywhere, and I’m not crazy about oldies. Not crazy about Elvis’s music, although the later stuff was pretty good. I like his movies, though.”

 

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Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost (Coming this Fall)

“But one of my foster moms, Della, was different. She was good to me. She loved me. Really loved me. She was an excellent cook, and my favorite thing she made was peach pancakes. We’d sit together in the kitchen in the early morning hours before anyone else was awake, and we’d talk about…everything. She was the first person in my life who made me feel important. Who really seemed to care about me.” She paused. Bittersweet memories assailed her. Della’s comforting hugs. Her special smile. Listening to Elvis Presley music with her and watching her sweet face as she seemed transported to another time. Then, the night her husband came home from the hospital, looking ten years older…

 

Death Notice Cover

 Available at Amazon

Death Notice – Northland Crime Chronicles Book 1

“Suspicious Minds” by Elvis came on the radio and I turned it up, feeling my spirits lift. I had inadvertently become an Elvis fan in college while doing a paper on the impact of celebrities on society. Whether or not one appreciated Elvis’ talent, there was no denying he was a phenomenon, the likes of which had never been seen before and would probably never be seen again. Not only did I find I loved his music, I’d discovered why he had the impact he had. He had this boyish, southern charm, but at the same time, a deeply embedded raw sexuality that was powerful and intoxicating. It was fortunate that he only used that power for entertainment. If he’d been a terrorist or a cult leader, he could have easily taken over the world. I was only six when he died, a few years younger than his daughter. Had I been ten years older, I was certain I’d have been a part of the frenzied, screaming masses, fainting and tossing my panties up on stage.

 

LibertyAwakened

Available at Amazon

Liberty Awakened – Isle of Fangs Book 1

Though the music coming from the party was muted, she recognized an Elvis Presley song, “One Night.” She grinned at Eli. “You like Elvis Presley? Isn’t he a little before your time?”

His lips twitched with amusement and he shrugged. “You might say I’m an old soul.”

 

9. SOUL SEDUCER 6.4.12

Available at Amazon

Soul Seducer (The hero is a Grim Reaper)

He hesitated, clearing his throat before speaking. “I’ve observed a lot of people over the centuries.” He stared past her shoulder. “I remember one time you came out here, your Walkman hanging from your ear. You stood right over there. All by yourself. Dancing.”

A heated flush rose to her face. “You saw that?” She laughed to cover her embarrassment. “I was listening to Elvis Presley music. It made me feel better somehow. I guess that makes me a dork.”

He shook his head. “No. Your goofy dance made you a dork.”

“Hey!” she said with mock indignation. Then she shrugged. “It was kind of goofy.”

“Elvis, though. Not a bad choice. He was a talented guy. Nice guy.”

“You knew him?” A horrifying thought struck her. “Did you…”

“No. No, I didn’t take him. I took someone at one of his concerts. Afterward, I was curious. I followed Elvis around for a few days. I was awed by the effect he had on people. They were so drawn to him.”

“I can see why.” She cocked her head. “I bet you’ve met a lot of famous people. I never really thought about that. You can go anywhere, can’t you?”

 

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

 End of Lonely Street (Coming January 7, 2015)

Mapleton, Tennessee, November, 1957

Toby Lawson closed her eyes and shut out all sounds of the diner, except for Elvis Presley’s voice. He was crooning about how she was the only one for him…no matter where he went or what he did… he’d spend his whole life loving her…

Rough hands landed on her waist and shattered the fantasy. She caught a whiff of hair tonic and too much cologne, and she snapped her eyes open. Wes Markham’s hateful face replaced the image of Elvis’ beautiful, crooked smile and smoldering blue eyes.

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