Monthly Archives: June 2018

An Interview with Kathryn Hills, Author of HELLFIRE AND HANDBASKETS

21 Thursday Jun 2018

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I’m thrilled to have my fellow author and dear friend, Kathryn Hills, here with me today. Like me, she loves romance, mystery, and things that go bump in the night! We’re celebrating her recent release of Hellfire and Handbaskets (A Time Traveler’s Journey, Book 2), and I can’t wait to read it!

Welcome, Kathryn. Let’s get this interview started!

 

At what age did you write your first story? I’m a late bloomer when it comes to story-writing. Haunting Highland House – A Time Traveler’s Journey was my first writing endeavor aside from college and career projects. I spent many years in the technology sector, writing much of that time. However, my past life wasn’t nearly as much fun as writing romance.

I read Haunting Highland House and loved it! Which genre was the first to hook you? Definitely romance! I’ve been a fan since my teen years. Expanding, I’ll say I love historicals, especially those with Gothic and/or paranormal/time-travel twists.

So do I! What’s your favorite part of the writing process? I enjoy writing most. Although, as a dedicated history junky, research is a close second. (Outlining? Please…help me!) My books are set in New England, which makes it easy to traipse around historic homes, grand hotels, graveyards, and haunted locations. All in the name of “research,” of course.

To be sure, New England is a treasure trove of such things! Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite? The setting for Haunting Highland House is my favorite because it was inspired by a real place – Highfield Hall in Falmouth, Massachusetts. I share the story on my website.

https://www.kathrynhills.com/single-post/2016/10/09/When-an-Old-House-Becomes-a-Central-Character

The gist? An unexpected visit to a Victorian-era mansion on Cape Cod inspired me to embark on a writing career. My imagination sparked with the history and beauty of the place, creating characters and a love story that spans centuries. And books! Readers return to my favorite haunted house in Book 2.

Have you ever dreamed about a character you created? Not a character as much as an essential element of a story. Rune stones! However, I will say there are odd synchronicities when I write. Fictional places and dates I create, falling perfectly in line with historic locations and events. Spooky. I LOVE it!

Cool! That happens with my writing too, and I love it! If you could travel any time and place, when and where would that be? Great question, and one I enjoy exploring with friends (typically, over wine). Now…if we had a magic rune stone we could go anywhere or when, but if I must choose… Thebes, Egypt, around 1923, when English archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the sealed burial chamber of Tutankhamen.

OMG! I would’ve LOVED to be present at that discovery!  How amazing would it be to actually meet Howard Carter? Sigh…

Okay.  Let’s learn some of your favorite things.

Sound: Ocean surf or crickets

Eye color: In a hero? Gray…like Robert Pennington’s. Or maybe warm whiskey-amber…like Rick Hauser’s. Haha I’m torn.

Song: Too many to choose, yet I’m inspired by music. How about I give you a song that fits this latest book, Hellfire and Handbaskets? “How We Operate” by the British rock band, Gomez. It’s a great representation of how Dr. Rick Hauser—an Army medic veteran—views his relationship with heroine, Amelia Pennington. Here’s a link to the band’s music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SOGwuJARHc

Cuisine: Tex-Mex or BBQ

Cookie: Chocolate Chip

Tea or coffee? Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee. This New England gal runs on Dunkins!

Cake or pie? Either, just make it chocolate.

Halloween or Christmas? Oh, jeez… Both, again. Autumn and Halloween are my jam. I LOVE FALL!! Yet my entire home switches over to twinkling lights and Christmas magic come mid-November.

Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes? Sherlock…with a side of Sam and Dean 😉

Yes, Sam and Dean from Supernatural are awesome! Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters? I’ll say Jane, because of her humor.

A mortal, vampire, ghost, or fae for a lover? Vampire. Is my dark side showing?

LOL. English gent, Scottish highlander, European count, or all-American guy? Must I choose? That’s the beauty of “book boyfriends,” after all. 😊

Nope. No need to choose. You can have it all! Thanks so much for joining me today, Kathryn. And now, here’s a little more about Hellfire and Handbaskets:

It’s hell in the ER, but Army veteran Dr. Rick Hauser wouldn’t work anywhere else. The hardened combat medic thinks he’s seen it all. Until she storms into his life.

Amelia Pennington is not just a pretty face. She’s a time-traveler. A medical student from 1895, forced to flee a madman. She’s been in trouble before, but this time everything she loves is at risk. Can a reluctant hero be the key she’s searching for?

What’s left of Hauser’s heart is still on the battlefield. Last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a mystery woman. But when he finds Amelia on the streets, he ignores the warning shots firing off in his head and takes her home. In less than twenty-four hours, she’s upended his self-protected world. Even his dog, Rocky, is in love.

Here’s a peek inside the pages:

Hauser looked up from his work station. The blonde from the waiting room was in the ER corridor, looking crazed. Without thinking, he headed straight for her.

She rushed forward when she saw him and threw herself at his feet. “Please, Doctor, help me.”

Rick grabbed her under the arms and hauled her back to standing. She looped around his waist before he could stop her.

“Security,” someone else yelled.

An alarm code sounded.

“I got this,” Rick relayed. He captured her face and made her look at him. Wild blue eyes shot from side to side. “Hey. Eyes on me. Only me. There ya go.” His voice calmed when she complied. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Please,” she begged in a low tone meant only for his ears. “Something dreadful happened in the tunnels.”

He recognized it then, the ghost of real trauma. She’d been through something bad. “All right. You’re safe with me.” He relaxed his hold and felt her tremble in his arms. Her head came to rest against his chest. With a ragged sigh, she nestled into him.

A shudder of unfamiliar emotion shot through him. He hadn’t held a woman in years. Heck, he hadn’t even been this close to another human unless they were injured or dying.

“Tell me your name,” he insisted. Still, he held her.

Bo Peep felt good. Damn good. Slim but strong, all curves and sweet, sexy woman pressed full against him. Rick’s sex-starved body surged to life as if he’d been hit with paddles. Her blonde head rose, and she met his stare. Trust had replaced the fear. When she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, his resolve took a nosedive.

Sweet Jesus, what the hell? Rick cleared his throat and untangled himself from her. “I can’t help unless you work with me. What’s your name? I’m Hauser. I mean…Dr. Rick Hauser.”

She stood straight. “Amelia Pennington, and I need your help, Doctor.” Her voice had turned steady. Steadier than his.

“That’s why I’m here. Tell me what happened.”

“There’s a man,” she began. Her gaze snapped to those entering alongside them.

Rick held up one hand to stay the guards, twitching to haul her away. “What happened with the man?”

She didn’t answer. Her laser focus remained on the others.

“Well then, Amelia Pennington…” He took her hand and drew her back to him. “You sure know how to make an entrance. But security is gonna need to ask you a few questions before I can help.”

“No…” she moaned.

“Yes,” he commanded.

She looked to the other men again, appearing to size them up. With surprising strength, she shoved Rick and darted past the guards. And she fled into the night as if the devil himself chased after her.

A bit more about Kathryn:

The rich history and many mysteries of New England are the perfect backdrop for Kathryn’s books. Winding roads lined by old stone walls, forgotten cemeteries, grand homes with shadowy pasts… All sparks for her imagination. Whether it’s a quaint seaside town or the vibrant city of Boston, it’s easy for this “hauntingly romantic” author to envision the past mingling with the present.

Taking it further—to have her characters experience the past or present, opposite to “when” they belong—is the fun part. No surprise, some of Kathryn’s favorite stories involve time travel. And ghosts! Sprinkle in some magic, and you’re off on a great adventure.

When not writing, she’s exploring history and taking photographs of the beautiful landscape that surrounds her. Kathryn shares her colonial home with those she loves most—her wonderful husband, daughter, and three crazy dogs.

Where you can find her and her books:

Website: www.kathrynhills.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKathrynH @AuthorKathrynH

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kathrynhillsaut/boards/

The Wild Rose Press Author Page: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2221_kathryn-hills

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Hills/e/B01LBDCVVU

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15860681.Kathryn_Hills

 

An evening with Lizzie Borden…sort of!

19 Tuesday Jun 2018

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Saturday night, courtesy of Strange Escapes, I and other paranormal buffs investigated the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts with Amy Bruni and Adam Berry (Ghost Hunters and Kindred Spirits) and the husband-and-wife team, Greg and Dana Newkirk, whose Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and the Occult is intriguing, to say the least! Bottom line: it was a great night!

The energy in the house is quite “thick,” particularly in two of the bedrooms, which isn’t surprising considering what occurred there. In one bedroom, someone (I won’t say “something” because ghosts are just people without physical bodies) touched my forehead; it literally felt like a palm lightly pressed against my head. If subsequent communication is to be believed, said hand may have belonged to Lizzie herself…or at least, the part of her that still lingers in the house.

The communication we received was via EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and the Estes Method, which was developed at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado. The method works like this: one person is blindfolded and wears headphones that give him/her constant spirit-box feed (a combo of white noise and multi-frequency “sweeping”). Then that person says aloud any words or phrases he/she hears, while others ask questions that person can’t actually hear. The idea is that the answers are coming directly from the spirits themselves.

Several EVPs were recorded, including one which seemed to address the mystery of whether or not Lizzie committed the murders. A crystal clear female voice said, “I’ll never tell.” But other entities were talking that night, alluding to abuse and the moment when one of the abused finally snapped.

All in all, it was a night I’ll never forget. I’m eager for the next opportunity to investigate the paranormal. When and where that will be, who knows? But I’ll be ready!

If you’re a fellow fan of the paranormal, you might want to check out my books. All of them—whether fiction or nonfiction—include the supernatural. In particular, The Cauldron Stirred (the first in my YA paranormal fantasy series Guardians of Erin) features ghost hunts in Ireland. The protagonist’s father is a paranormal investigator, and his family comes along for the ride.

Here’s the scoop:

Ashling Donoghue never dreamed moving to Ireland would rock her perception of reality and plunge her into a mystery that brings legend to life.

At seventeen, she’s never had a boyfriend, but she feels an immediate connection to Aengus Breasal, the son of the wealthy Irishman who’s invited her family to stay at his Killarney estate. For the first time in her life, a guy she likes seems attracted to her.

But Aengus is secretive, with good reason. He and his family are the Tuatha Dé Danann, ageless, mythical guardians adept at shifting between this reality and the magical dimension known as the Otherworld. Evil forces from that world threaten the Breasals, the Donoghues, and all of Ireland. Ashling must open her heart, face her fears, and embrace a destiny greater than she could ever have imagined.

Buy it on Amazon:  https://amzn.com/B072C1CG5D

An Interview with Donna Simonetta, author of A SWEETER SPOT

06 Wednesday Jun 2018

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I’m excited to have my fellow author and dear friend, Donna Simonetta, here with me today.  Book One of her Rivers Bend Trilogy, A Sweeter Spot, is currently on sale for 99 cents!  And beginning on June 8, the second in the series, Love Is Lovelier, will also be on sale, so snap these up while you can!

Welcome, Donna.  Let’s get this interview started!

At what age did you write your first story?
I don’t actually remember how old I was. I’ve always loved books and stories, and do remember going to the library as a child, and looking in the stacks to see where my books would go. Ironically, I became BOTH a librarian and an author.

I never became a full-fledged librarian, but I worked in a library for a while, too! Which genre was the first to hook you?
Mystery. As a kid, I loved Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Donna Parker…and then grew into Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. As a teen, I began to read romance too. Working in a boys middle school library for 17 years, I developed a love for fantasy fiction as an adult. I really am a genre fiction lover!

Ooh…Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie. Love them! What was your first published book?
Angels Fly, from the Wild Rose Press. It was not the first book I wrote, but it IS the first I had published. Combining contemporary romance with fantasy elements, I have a major soft spot for it!

What’s your favorite part of the writing process? Brainstorming? Research? Outlining? Writing? Editing?
The actual writing. When it’s flowing…there is nothing like it! Although, the librarian in me does enjoy the research too.

What are you working on now?
I’m in the editing stage of Book 3 of the Rivers Bend Trilogy, Jason and Lily’s story of opposites attracting. I need to polish it up, and then submit it to my publisher. Fingers crossed! And I just finished reviewing the audiobook of Angels Fly…my first book going to audio! It sounds great, and I’m so excited to share it with all of you!

Wonderful! Congratulations! Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite? Why?
Angels Fly is set in San Diego, and a self-avowed winter hater, (Sorry, Judy! I know this is an area upon which we disagree! Teehee!) I love the Forever Summer climate there.

I know you love the heat! Growing up in Florida, I had my “Forever Summer”; now I relish four seasons. Speaking of “forever,” if you could have a conversation with anyone—dead or alive—who would it be?
Hmm…this is an interesting questions. Personally, I would love the chance to talk to my late father one more time. He passed away too soon, and never saw my happy marriage, or me become a published author. I would also love to ask Agatha Christie where she was when she disappeared for that short time in her youth. I do love a mystery!

Yes, I’d love to learn where she was during that period, too! If you could step inside any book or series and live there for a week, which would you choose? I’m torn between Nancy Drew or the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters. I would love the chance to solve a mystery with Nancy, Bess, and George! But, the setting of an archeological expedition in Egypt during the height of all those exciting discoveries, makes me want to spend a week on a dig with Amelia and Emerson.

I love your choices!  They would be mine as well, and you’re right:  it’s hard to choose between Nancy and her friends and Peabody and Emerson! If a fairy godmother appeared and offered you one thing—anything at all—what would you request? A home on the beach, where Leo and I could live, and I could write.

Sounds perfect for the two of you! Now, it’s time to learn some of your favorites!

Sound: Beach sounds. Waves gently rolling in to shore.

Eye color: Brown, like my Leo.

Song: I like lots of different music. Don’t really have one favorite song. Maybe Joni Mitchell’s Carey. I really enjoy belting out that one in the car when I listen to it.

Book: Hmm…I don’t think I can choose just one!

Movie: Bringing Up Baby. An oldie, but a goodie.

TV show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Cuisine: Italian

Cookie: Chocolate chip

US location: The Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach, FL. A big, pink Moorish palace on a white sand Gulf beach. Just lovely! My happy place.

Foreign location: My best friend lives in Ireland, and I love the chance to get to spend time with her and her family, so I’d have to say West Cork, for personal reasons! But, for geography, probably a beach in the Caribbean somewhere…like Antigua, where Leo & I spent our honeymoon.

And finally, list your preference from the following choices:

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Cake or pie? Cake

Halloween or Christmas? Christmas

Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes? Nancy Drew (although I love both!)

Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters? Jane Austen

A mortal, vampire, ghost, or fae for a lover? Mortal—the others have too much baggage.

English gent, Scottish highlander, European count, or all-American guy? All-American guy

Thanks so much for joining me today, Donna.  Now, here’s a little about A Sweeter Spot:

Magda knows a 28-year-old shouldn’t run away from home, but Rivers Bend is the ideal escape. Helping out her best friend will get her away from her uber-wealthy, controlling grandmother and duplicitous ex. She doesn’t expect the quirky little town to feel so much like home. Add in hotter-than-the-sun Jeff and his daughter, and leaving seems as unthinkable as it is inevitable.

Raising Sam alone, Jeff knew he wanted her to grow up in his supportive hometown. The arrival of a feisty new tenant sends Jeff’s world spinning. Magda fills a void in his life that he’d like to make permanent.

Will love triumph over the most powerful woman in the country, and can they figure out how to make this happy-for-now in Rivers Bend into their happy-ever-after?

And here’s a peek inside the pages:

“Being cheated on is no fun. It happened to me once. Up here,” he tapped his forehead. “You know it’s not your fault. But here,” he tapped his chest over his heart. “You feel like it has to be your fault – like you could’ve done something to prevent it. But you couldn’t have. It’s all on him, Maggie. Not you.”

She picked a dandelion, whose flower had turned into a puffball, and blew on it, scattering the fluff to the wind. “Maybe. Maybe not. But thanks for the support.”

She pushed to her feet and took a couple of steps toward the river. Jeff rose and followed.

How could he be so angry at a man he didn’t even know? How could this Pierce jerk have slept around on a woman like Maggie? And the prick had even made her doubt herself in the process. It was written all over her anguished face.

He stood behind her and gently kneaded her shoulders. He turned her to face him and cupped her face in his big hands.

“This Pierce guy is the biggest fool on earth to go to someone else when he had you at home, Maggie.”

She blinked away tears, and he felt his heart constrict. Before he could think it through and decide it was a really bad idea, Jeff dipped his head and captured Magda’s lips in a gentle kiss.

Buy links:

Amazon:
https://www.amzn.com/dp/B01N1S1K06/

TWRP:
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4862-a-sweeter-spot.html

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sweeter-spot-donna-simonetta/1125338511?ean=2940157374921

A bit more about Donna, in her own words:

My career has been a winding road. I worked in the business world for years, got my MLS and worked in a school library, and am now living my dream as an author. I love to read and write contemporary and fantasy romance. I live in Maryland, with my husband, who is my real-life romance hero. We both enjoy traveling to visit our far-flung family and friends, and spending time on the beach with an umbrella drink and a good book.

Where to find her:

https://www.facebook.com/donnasimonettaauthor

https://twitter.com/donna_simonettahttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15422407.Donna_Simonetta

https://www.amazon.com/Donna-Simonetta/e/B06X415TWW/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-simonetta

Medieval Romance ~ an excerpt from FLIGHT OF THE RAVEN

04 Monday Jun 2018

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For those of you missing Medieval Monday, here’s another excerpt from the first of The Novels of Ravenwood.  Enjoy!

William stood before the cold hearth with his back to the door. His commanding presence diminished the sweeping arch of the vacant fireplace.

“Leave us,” he ordered without turning. “Shut the door behind you.”

The heavy, oak door slammed shut. The stone walls reverberated from the force of it.

Emma studied the sheen of his straight, black hair, the proud set of his shoulders, and the wide, leather belt which cinched his ebony tunic at the waist. An eternity might’ve passed while she waited for him to acknowledge her presence. When at last he turned, his dark eyes blazed.

Her stomach lurched. “Y-you wished to see me?”

He glowered at her in silence. A chill of foreboding ran through her, but she stood her ground.

A full minute later, he still hadn’t spoken. Her patience waned. If he expected her to read his mind, he could think again.

She cleared her throat. “You obviously need time to collect your thoughts, so I’ll leave you to them.”

“You will stay right here,” he ruled in slow, measured words. His scorching gaze belied his smooth tone of voice. “I sent for you to discuss your betrayal.”

She swore under her breath. Someone must’ve divulged her plan to stay celibate. If only she’d told him sooner.

“I can explain,” she said.

“Save your breath. There’s only one explanation.”

“You said ‘discuss.’ A discussion requires two opinions.”

“An opinion laced with lies doesn’t count.”

“But if you—”

“Silence!”

His shout echoed off the prison walls. Her stomach churned, but she clamped her lips shut.

“Now,” he said, lower in pitch, “listen and learn. A traitor can challenge the king’s reach, but only a fool underestimates mine. My men know this. Legions of Saracens—alive and dead—know it. Wulfstan will know it too.”

“What has Wulfstan to do with this?”

William grunted. “You play innocence well.”

“Truly, I know not whereof you speak!”

“I speak of your escape…tonight…with Wulfstan.”

“What?”

“My squire was in the mews while you were plotting your little scheme.”

“Holy Mother!” Frantically, her mind snatched up the pieces of what was said and where. “’Twas Gertrude’s idea.”

“A welcome one, reportedly.”

“I considered it, but—”

“So you confess.”

“No! Your spy heard but part of the conversation. In the end, I chose you.”

He snorted. “Right. And I sell genuine relics of the saints.”

She glared at him. With quick, deliberate steps, she closed the space between them.

“Then I’ll fetch my purse, for I speak the truth.”

“I am no fool.”

No, she thought, but you’re a veritable god of arrogance.

A lord of intimidation, too. Why else would he summon her to the prison tower? With dispatch, her desire to explain the curse, and its implications to their wedding night, died.

For an instant so brief she might’ve imagined it, his expression changed. He looked almost…wounded.

“Does the thought of marrying me so disgust you?” he asked.

His dark, infinite eyes became her world. “Not at all.”

Large, warm hands clasped her upper arms. “Is Wulfstan your lover?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“Tyrant.”

His mouth claimed hers. She wrenched her head to the side, tried to break away. His grip tightened. His lips demanded more.

Emma thought fast. She couldn’t match his physical strength. But maybe, if she didn’t resist, didn’t react in any way, he’d release her.

She willed herself to relax. Almost at once, his lips slackened. They became softer, gentler. Intrigued, she relaxed further.

His lips brushed hers and left a tingling warmth in their wake. She liked the sensation, but the longer he fed it, the more she wanted the full pressure of his mouth. A low sound of protest vibrated deep in her throat.

William moaned, and his hot tongue nudged her closed lips. A curious action. Not unpleasant, though, so she opened her mouth. His tongue slipped inside and began a slow, thorough exploration. In response, she flicked her tongue against his.

He groaned. The sound was raw, exciting. His hands burned a path from her arms down to her hips. His tongue darted deeper, faster. Her mouth tingled. Heat tantalized her belly. Never had she felt so alive.

Hope you enjoyed the excerpt! Here’s a little more about the book:

How eager would the bridegroom be if he knew he could never bed the bride?

Lady Emma of Ravenwood Keep is prepared to give Sir William l’Orage land, wealth, and her hand in marriage. But her virginity? Not unless he loves her. The curse that claimed her mother is clear: unless a Ravenwood heir is conceived in love, the mother will die in childbirth. Emma is determined to dodge the curse. Then William arrives, brandishing raw sensuality which dares her to explore her own.

William the Storm isn’t a man to be gainsaid. He’ll give her protection, loyalty, and as much tenderness as he can muster. But malignant memories quell the mere thought of love. To him, the curse is codswallop. He plans a seduction to breach Emma’s fears and raze her objections. What follows is a test of wills and an affirmation of the power of love.

If you feel the urge to buy, here are the links:

Amazon http://buff.ly/2eRAwRW

Barnes and Noble http://buff.ly/2eWWIx3

The Wild Rose Press http://buff.ly/2eRuYXX

Happy Monday, everyone!

N. N. Light’s Beach Blanket Book Giveaway

01 Friday Jun 2018

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Summertime is just around the corner! Before you head out to the pool or beach to catch some sunshine, check out this amazing giveaway hosted by N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. Win bestselling and award-winning books, not to mention a tote bag filled with goodies, perfect for heading to the beach. My third medieval romance, Shadow of the Swan, is part of the giveaway.

Enter to win below.  Good luck, everyone!

Beach Blanket Book Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775014/?

Literary Giveaway Portal: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal