Thursday, October 6, 2011

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Halloween Bash, Keta. It's always a pleasure to have you as my guest here at Ramsey's Reviews. I have had numerous reviewers talk about how awesome your stories are and I look forward to your new releases. Thank you for taking the time to answer some of our Halloween questions.

Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects you’re working on?
Hi Amy, first I want to thank you for hosting another *Fantastic* Halloween Bash. They’ve been so much fun. And thank you for asking about my current projects (a pile that never shrinks). I have a release coming out October 5th through Books We Love Spice. Land of Falling Stars is a re-release of an erotic romance/historical with a Civil War theme. Watch for the release OCTOBER 5th here: Keta’s Kindle Page: http://amzn.to/qsrw5D

I’m also writing the first novella in the *Lone Star Series*. The title of the first book in the series is Waking the Dead. I have five books planned about the Bannister brothers in, of course, Texas. These are also historical books . . . think HOT, HUNKY COWBOYS! Waking the Dead will be released in November 2011. Readers can also follow my romance blog Keta’s Keep for information about all new releases: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com


And finally, I’m in the process of writing the sequel to Where The Rain Is Made (a paranormal shifter nominated for a Bookie Award by Authors After Dark in 2010). This is the story of Marsh DuVall who, like his sister Cesca, was kidnapped by the Cheyenne dog soldiers in the first book. Readers can also sign up for my newsletter for more information: http://www.ketadiablo.com. I give away three books to readers every time the newsletter is sent out.
When and Why did you begin writing?
I’ve been writing about six years now and have 21 books on the market. Like most authors, I write because my life would seem incomplete if I didn’t. What other occupation allows one to lounge around in their pajamas all day? I love the freedom that comes with writing, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to be disciplined and abide by a schedule. No books equals no income!

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
From several sources. I’m an Internet-surfing junkie. In fact, there are days when I force myself to disconnect from the web to write. Land of Falling Stars was spawned from a true-life story I read on the Internet about cousins who fought on opposite sides during the Civil War. I spun off on that story and asked myself what could possibly happen if two men loved the same woman, yet one fought for the North and one for the South. You can see where this is going, right?

I also have very vivid dreams and keep a notebook on my nightstand. If I wake up in the middle of the night from a dream, I jot down some notes so I don’t forget. And I also love people-watching. One can learn a lot by watching humans interact. Particularly helpful when it comes to writing dialogue is to take note of their expressions, or if I’m lucky enough, listen while they have a conversation. People don’t speak in perfect sentences, but often uses gesture, animated faces and broken words. Watch them sometime and you’ll see what I mean.

What do you think makes a good horror story?
The same things that make all stories good, suspense, thrills, tension, dynamic characters and a plot that moves forward at a face pace. I don’t read much horror, but lately I’m taking a keen interest in the genre. When I select a horror book, I want to be scared, but not necessarily with gore and guts. I’m much more frightened by a story like Silence of the Lambs or Copycat than I am Nightmare on Elm Street.

What is your favorite scary movie or book?
See above. Silence of the Lambs. For years my mom wouldn’t watch it. She was terrified of Anthony Hopkins’ voice. One night she was visiting and my son had the movie on. Before long, Mom was glued to the sofa and watched the entire movie. Then she said, “What’s the name of that film?” Boy was she surprised when she found out it was Silence of the Lambs.

What makes you interested in the genre your write?
I cut my teeth on Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers. I remember reading by flashlight under the covers and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Steve and Ginny next (Sweet Savage Love). And Woodiwiss, well, she really paved the way for romance. Her first books, The Wolf and the Dove and The Flame and Flower reeled me in forever. It seemed natural for me to gravitate toward writing historical romance when I started.

When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?
If I went by my childhood, I’d be writing about angels or spirits. I had several near-misses, as in almost died, in my childhood. The stories are too lengthy to delve into here, but I knew I had an angel watching over me when those tragedies took place. There’s no other way I could have survived without one. I don’t know my angel’s name, but I sure know what *she* looks like. I was raised with all boys and let me tell you, if an only girl can survive that in her childhood, she can survive anything as a grown woman. I have the battle scars to prove it. I still ask my mother, “Where were you??” LOL

Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?
I’m a chicken. I’ve never liked the dark; don’t believe I’ve ever slept without some type of light on in another room. I don’t know what it is about light, but I feel much safer with one on. I don’t watch really scary movies. My dreams are vivid enough, thank you very much.

Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?
I wouldn’t write excessive gore since I don’t read it. Suspense and scary is good, but do we need all that blood and guts to scare us? As for erotic content there are certain words I RARELY use but that’s a personal thing. I don’t care for words that disparage women in any respect. You know the words I’m talking about, right? For some reason men have used certain words with women when they’re angry. Somehow, saying “You’re a dick, you know that?” doesn’t seem as personal and cruel as some of the words they use.

I read all types of erotic romance and occasionally erotica (there is a difference). I don’t draw lines when it comes to other authors and their writing. They have to do what seems best for them.

Could you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?
Again, thanks so much for asking. Here’s the blurb for Land of Falling Stars (mentioned above).
After her parents die in a fire, Sophia Whitfield struggles to save her beloved home, Arbor Rose. The Civil War has devastated the South, and another blue coat has come to steal her meager possessions. Before the hated enemy inflicts his destruction, she shoots him. And soon discovers the soldier is Gavin, the champion of her childhood.
Gavin's dark secret lurks in Sophia’s future. When she discovers the truth, she's torn between a burning hunger for the man she truly loves and loyalty to Jesse, their childhood friend. The despicable acts of war have changed everything Sophia and Gavin once cherished. Yet somewhere deep in their hearts, the mystical Land of Falling Stars still exists.
And here’s the blurb for Where The Rain Is Made (read the reviews here: http://amzn.to/ev0I3Y)
A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother Marsh. Now she spends every waking moment planning an escape. She didn’t count on the powerful draw of desire interfering with her scheme while in the clutches of the brutal Cheyenne Dog Soldiers.
Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum . . . most of the time. When he travels through time to help his beloved People he’s Meko, leader of the most revered and feared tribe of the plains. Their worlds are decades apart and yet Meko can’t resist the dark beauty he kidnapped during a raid. Violent battles loom on the horizon, but there’s only one he must win at all costs – the capture of Cesca’s heart forever.

From the windswept plains of Colorado and the harsh life of a Dog Soldier to the placid life of a curator, their love was fueled by passion and kindled by destiny.

Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?
Keta Diablo lives in the Midwest part of the country on six acres of woodland. When she isn’t writing or gardening she loves to commune with nature. Keta is a multi-published author in both erotic romance and gay fiction. Her latest paranormal novel, Where The Rain Is Made, has been nominated for a Bookie Award by Authors After Dark in the Best e-novel category. In addition, Keta’s books have received numerous Top Pick, Book of the Month, and Recommended Reads awards from the top professional review sites. 

You can find her on the Net at the following places:

Keta’s Amazon page: http://amzn.to/or7XUP
Keta’s Keep Romance Blog: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
Keta’s Author Home: http://www.ketadiablo.com
Keta’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author


Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?
From my heart: Dear Readers, thanks so much for supporting me and my books. I know without you, success can not be achieved. Professional reviews are nice, don’t get me wrong, but what really makes my day and keeps me pushing to get that next book out, are the wonderful e-mails I receive from readers. Our world is not in a good place right now. If I can bring a small measure of pleasure or escape to your world, I’ll consider my goal accomplished.

Here’s hoping all your reads in the future take you on endless journeys of enjoyment and magic.



I am pleased to have the author of The Darker Path and the Haven's Realm series, Tamara Monteau, here with us for the next couple of days. Tamara, thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your books. I am looking forward to reading The Darker Path when it's released. Readers, Tamara will be sticking around during her interview to answer your questions, so please feel free to post. Every post you make will gain you extra entries into the October 1st Halloween Contest for a chance to win a Halloween-themed e-book. So let's start posting those questions and HAVE SOME HALLOWEEN FUN!!!!
Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working on? 
The Darker Path is in editing. My third book, Dragon Lord, and the fourth, Haven’s King, are scheduled for release by the end of the year. I have already begun work on my fifth novel, which will be book five in the Haven’s Realm series. It doesn’t have a title yet, but for those who are familiar with my work, it will be the story of Vincent, and will have a few side-trips. It should be a fun read.
When and Why did you begin writing?
I have always been interested in creative writing, even as a child. I have an overactive imagination, so the transition to writing my fantasies was inevitable. It took Dan Curtis’ revival of the Dark Shadows saga in 1992 to spur me into writing for real. I felt sorry for Barnabus Collins, and began creating my own characters. Before long, I had developed my culture.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Out of my head. Or, perhaps to be more precise, out of the heads of my characters, who seem to take on a life of their own not long after I start a project. When my “friends” are less than forthcoming, I research their finer points on the web. Wikipedia is only one of the sites I frequent, but I find it has the bulk of the information I need to fill in the blanks.
What do you think makes a good horror story?
Suspense, a following plot, and believable events. I like a story that keeps me on the edge without sending me over into disgust. Mindless slaughter does not a good story make.
What is your favorite scary movie or book?
The Haunting. Both versions.
What makes you interested in the genre your write?
I don’t really know. I guess it has something to do with the forbidden desire aspect. I’ve always loved vampire stories. There’s just something about an all-powerful lover, and the power of submission, that appeals to me.
When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?
Outer Limits could always get my heart racing. When I was five, a bad storm hit in the middle of a suspenseful part and the power went out. I remember looking out the front window and seeing Mom and Dad wrestling with a large metallic monster (an aerial antenna). I joined my sister under the bed. No, this did not influence my writing. It was just the most scared moment I can recall.
Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?
I have had many occasions while writing where events unfold in drastically different ways than I had foreseen. When I come up for air and read what my fingers just laid out, I find myself astounded. Sometimes I firmly believe my imaginary friends are more real to me than I want them to be. That’s the part that scares me.
Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?
Crass, vulgar language. I have gotten gory on occasion. (The worst was a scene at the end of Dragon Lord where a man’s head explodes.) I’ve been known to throw in a cuss word or two. I don’t like the “F” bomb. It’s not necessary. And there are ways of making love without obvious and graphic language. Innuendo allows the reader to fill in the details for themselves. I prefer reading stories that sketch the scene and allow my own imagination to pick it up from there.
Could you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?
The only one I can share is from my first novel, Twilight Destiny, Haven’s Realm 1. When The Darker Path, Haven’s Realm 2, is approved, I can give you that as well. A full excerpt is on my website, http://www.havens-realm.com, but here’s a taste:
It’s after two in the morning. What are you doing out here alone?”
I was thinking about us,” she told him shyly.
Oh?” He gently lifted her face and studied her. He saw the longing in her eyes, the
uncertainty. She nodded again and reached up to smooth a strand of hair from his eyes. When her
fingers brushed his ear, he caught her hand and pressed her knuckles to his lips. He pulled her
into his arms and held her tightly against him while his own feelings waged a war within him.
When she raised her face to his, his lips found hers of their own accord. He couldn’t give her the
tender kisses he’d held himself to. Instead, all the feelings he’d held tightly at bay broke free of
their bonds. She returned his kisses hungrily and clung to him as if she were drowning.

He wanted her. God help him, he did. He sensed her passion rising, and when he realized
she intended to let him take her as far as he would go, his tenuous control nearly snapped. She
touched her tongue to his lips in a tentative gesture, igniting his passion into a raging storm that
demanded answer. He took possession of her mouth, drank in her sweet, warm depths until her
knees weakened. In another moment, he’d have her on the ground, exploring every inch of her,
making her his own. It was only with the greatest difficulty that he managed to stop before he did
just that. He pulled her tightly against him and held her while he did his best to bring his
mutinous body back in line. “Oh, Catherine,” he said at last, his voice strained.

She trembled with frustration and need. “Joshua…” Her voice sounded like a sob. She tried
to push away, but he held her more firmly. “Joshua, I…”

He pressed his fingers against her lips so suddenly it took her by surprise. “No, love. Be
still.” When her sobs started bubbling their way to the surface, he stroked her hair and tried hard
to soothe her. “I know how you feel,” he said softly. “I know what you want. We mustn’t. Not
yet.”

She pushed against him until he reluctantly allowed her to leave his arms. The look on her
face spoke to him of the pain and frustration in her heart. “I’m in love with you.” Her statement
sounded like a desperate challenge.

He felt a lump growing in his throat. “Aye.”

You…you love me too.”

More than I can tell you.”

I know you want me as much as I want you.”

So much so it’s killing me,” he confirmed, his voice growing thick with anguish.

Then, why…?”

He turned from her, unable to face the strength of her pain for another moment. “There are
things you need to know first. Things I haven’t been ready to tell you. Things that…” he paused
to swallow the lump in his throat, “things that may frighten you.”
Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?
Haven’s Realm. http://www.havens-realm.com  
Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?
Not really. All my information is on the site. I’m looking forward to answering questions.


Welcome, Cynthia Vespia, to Ramsey's Reviews 2nd Annual Halloween Bash. I am looking forward to reading more about Cynthia and her books. Come on in and sit for a spell and enjoy reading about her latest releases. Thank you, Cynthia for taking the time to be with us today and tomorrow. 
Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working on?
There have been some exciting changes. The Original Cyn, that's me, will be debuting a plethora of new and newly revised projects. Favorites like The Crescent will be getting a facelift and coming over to Kindle, etc. while new projects will be released within the next few months. Stay tuned to www.cynthiavespia.com and www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia for all the details.

When and Why did you begin writing?
I started writing around age 8. I used to read a lot and I was fascinated with the worlds that authors created. It was a bit of an escape for me. I got serious about writing in high school when I read Dean Koontz. He quickly became my favorite author and I knew I wanted to have a writing career from that point forward.

You have great taste, I too began reading Dean Koontz at a very young age. Right then I knew I liked thrillers and the paranormal. I guess he is the reason I later took an interest in horror as well, even though Stephen King helped some too. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
The ideas for my novels come at random. I may be watching TV or reading something and it just pops into my head. I have gotten ideas in yoga class; on a trip to the mountains; and even in the shower. I try to always have a pen and paper nearby.


 What do you think makes a good horror story?
Malicious intent. Seriously, the more cold-hearted the killer is the higher the stakes. But I also believe in the psychological aspect of any type of horror. If they are just slasher stories for no apparent reason that isn't really going to fly. You have to have great pacing too. Hitchcock was a master at the craft. The psychological tales are a lot scarier to me than blood and guts.

 
What is your favorite scary movie or book?
My first instinct is to say Misery...for both. Again, it is psychological. And as an author it is a scary, scary thought to wind up in that predicament. I'm sure that is why Stephen King wrote it.

What makes you interested in the genre your write?
I write fantasy and contemporary thrillers. It is what I like to read. Fantasy has always fascinated me because it is complete fabrication but at the same time tried-and-true characters and mythological creatures that are well known. Elves, orcs, centaurs, etc. And when an author can come up with their own classification, or language like Tolkien did, that is just brilliance at work. Then on the flip side you have the thrillers which when I write them they are everyday people who wind up in extraordinary circumstances. I refer to them as real life situations you could find yourself in but hope to God you never do. But in writing it is always fun to ask "what if."

When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?
I've never liked ghosts. Sometimes strange things occurred in my home and they were really unexplainable. Now here I am with my thriller Life, Death, and Back that touches on that very subject so I guess, yes it fascinates and alternatively scares me at the same time to think there are spirits still lurking around.

Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came  from?
Yes! I'll go back and reread some early stuff I did and think "who wrote that?!" Some of it is very dark and twisted.

Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?
It has to fit the story. I never just throw in sex or violence just to sell books. If a novel doesn't call for a particular scene to be overly descriptive then I leave it at that and the reader can fill in the blanks. Sometimes less is more.

Could you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?
Certainly. Here now is an excerpt from Life, Death, and Back:
CHAPTER I
The first sojourn from life to death was very much the epitome of birth. Brilliant flashes of light were aglow all around bathing snapshots of memory, minute but hardly trivial.
When the ride stopped and the suspension of disbelief released him, Bryan was curious to find his own corpse stretched out at his feet. It lay on the grassy lawn in front of his office building, twenty feet from where he had initially been walking.
The corpse, his corpse, stared up at him through one wide eye. Sightless now it still echoed the feeling of shock that he had felt the very moment the vehicle had struck him.
Though he wanted to look away from the tragic scene utter terror and confusion gripped him still. Pedestrians and motorists surrounded the accident and sirens wailed in the distance.  He was oblivious to it all.
All Bryan wanted to do was crawl back inside his body, stand up and say, "Hey, look at me, I'm fine. Not a scratch." Then there were strong impulses pulling him into the belief that this was just a nightmare. At any moment he was going to respond with a shudder and a cold sweat but he would wake, frantic at first, until he found himself in bed next to his lovely wife, Holly.
He hadn't bothered to wake her that morning. She was radiantly aglow in her pregnancy as she slept. It was their very first child and they were overjoyed to be experiencing this miracle after only one year of marriage.
Bryan had kissed her on the cheek and gone on his way to the law firm. His place of business was another joyful experience to be able to share with Holly. Bryan was the youngest of his class to seek and sustain a substantial position within a reputable law firm. Of course it helped that his father had owned and maintained the firm since Bryan had been a boy. But now it was his own, inheriting it when his father had passed away just two years after Bryan had graduated from law school.
It was an unusually cloudy day in Stanford, but nevertheless Bryan was in an upbeat mood. Whistling as he crossed the street to his offices he had never even seen the drunk driver's vehicle coming. Perhaps he had not wanted to. As the saying goes he had been looking upon the world with rose-colored glasses up to that point. No harm could befall him, he was indestructible. Throughout life Bryan had truly felt blessed, now it was all gone. In an instant his entire life had been snuffed out. His promising future was no more. All that was left was another casualty in the war of drinking and driving. He was no longer Bryan Adam Caleb outstanding lawyer, loving husband, expectant father, and genuine nice guy. Now he was just another statistic.
But Bryan didn't understand what was happening. If he was dead, why was he still on this Earth? What happened to the other side? So many unanswered questions tore through his mind.
He refused to believe it.
As paramedics encompassed the accident scene Bryan turned and ran. His mind was in frenzy and he just needed to get away, get some space to determine what in the world was going on. 
His pace quickened to the point where he felt as though he had wings and could lift off.  Finally he came to a stop at the end of the block and to his surprise he was not at all fatigued.  His leg muscles did not ache and he was not breathing heavy. In fact, he was not breathing at all.
Still in disbelief he went to check his pulse for some sign that he was still alive. His fingers passed straight through his arm. There was no solidity to his wrist at all. He tried two more times with nothing but the same result.
Bryan looked around frantically for help. With his head on a swivel, something above him caught his eye. Lights gleamed up in the sky like as though a great crystal was wedged between two clouds precariously placed for the sun to shine off it.
He stood awed looking at the magnificent colors waning in every direction. It brought him a smile and a sense of peace. After a moment he even thought he glimpsed his loving father's face high above beckoning him to come forward and join him. 
Bryan began to imagine just how nice it would be to be at his father's side again and to see his mother again in perfect and simple bliss.
The lights shone brighter and began to descend down towards him. Bryan stood stock still as they came closer and closer. The bright glare was such that he had to close his eyes but the pleasant images still remained. He felt his feet lift off the ground and he began to rise up with the jubilation.
Many wondrous memories were encompassing him now. Simple joys he new as a boy, more substantial and rich emotions of love and faith and virtue that he'd experienced as a man.  Those worlds of days long since past were uniting on a grand scale and lifting Bryan up higher and higher into ecstasy the likes of which he had never known before. But with this cataclysm of extraordinary peace came relevance and a fear.
This illuminated structure of memories was a portal allowing him access to the other side.  It was the ever after, bounty and life everlasting would be soon to come. Bryan's time here on Earth had been full but was now over. But he wasn't ready to leave yet.
"No," he stated. His voice was low at first as he still clung to the tranquility of the descending portal and the majesty of what it was. 
He tried hard to shake it off, feeling indifference of a strong nature. Something was wrong. He did not belong here, not now. There was too much left for him to do. He did not want to leave his unborn child fatherless. The Caleb Family Law Practice was on a steady rise; Bryan needed to leave his legacy before he left this Earth.
As his will to stay grew stronger and stronger he shouted "No!" more defiantly than before and this time it broke him away from the suction of the light.  
To find out what happens, order your copy of  Life, Death, and Back right now.


Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?
I'm online at www.cynthiavespia.com or www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
 
Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?
I love hearing reader feedback. That's why I write. Some people are only in it for the money. I write for the reader so thank you.

Contest: 
Post your comments and you will automatically be entered into the October 1st Halloween surprise drawing.

Readers and fans, please welcome Susan Blexrud to Ramsey's Reviews 2nd Annual Halloween Bash event. Susan is chatting about things that go bump in the night and go unexplained. Pull up a chair and sit for a while. This is an author you don't want to miss and a story your gonna want to read.
 "Alpha males should have a sense of humor, whether they're vampires, Mayan warriors, or the boy next door."

Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects you’re working on?
I’m working on a Civil War story entitled The Gettysburg Vampire. Here’s the blurb.
Students at Gettysburg College know the legend of the Stonewall Jackson, a Civil War ghost train. For this year’s winter holiday play, Theater Professor Abby Potter has dramatized the popular tale using a little artistic license. She’s added a vampire. But she has one big problem—finding a decent thespian for the leading role. She bristles at the suggestion that Malcolm McClellan, a history professor at the college and a renowned Civil War re-enactor, would be ideal for the part. She’s avoided the brooding, mysterious man for years. But it may be perfect casting.

When and why did you begin writing?
I can’t NOT write (please forgive the double negative). I’ve been writing since elementary school, majored in journalism in college, and spent 30 years writing feature articles before trying my hand at fiction, which I ADORE!

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
My ideas are usually a result of something I’ve seen in the news or elements of history that attract me. For Black Fang, the genesis of the story was a very real disease in bats called white-nose syndrome, and for The Gettysburg Vampire, the idea came after vacationing in Gettysburg. I was mesmerized by the battlefields and the eerie sense of carnage that permeates the town.

What do you think makes a good horror story?
In a word—the UNEXPECTED. Horror is that element lurking around the corner that springs out at the hero or heroine when you least expect it.

I couldn't say it better myself, Susan. =) What is your favorite scary movie or book?
Anything by Stephen King can get my adrenaline pumping. I don’t really have a favorite, but Carrie and Pet Cemetery come to mind.

What makes you interested in the genre your write?
Life is tough, and a little escape, I believe, provides a welcome respite from the realities of our failing economy, children who are still struggling to find their way, poor health, etc. Escaping through the supernatural introduces new worlds and new possibilities, and I like the idea that there is more in this vast universe than the eye can see.

When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?
I was frightened of something under my bed, though I didn’t know what it could be. I suppose that fear of the unexpected has helped me write stories about danger that lies just below the surface.

Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?
I’ve had some dreams that scared me, but I could always connect them to something I’d seen or heard, so no, no real surprises.

Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?
I’m more into communicating love and longing than raw sex, and I’m not crazy about gore. It’s one of the reasons I greatly prefer Charlaine Harris’s books to the True Blood HBO series. Her books focus on her characters’ emotions, while the TV series seems more dedicated to shock and awe.

Could you share some of your blurbs or excerpts with us?
Here’s the blurb and an excerpt from the fifth story in my fang series, Black Fang.

BLURB:
Someone is deliberately infecting bats with a deadly fungus. The flying mammals are dying by the thousands, and along with them, a significant number of vampires in bat form have also succumbed.
Enter John and Lauren Wright. The vampire couple has conquered evil enemies in the past, but the perpetrator behind the bat deaths is more cunning than any they’ve encountered. Though John initially suspects that werewolves are the culprits, he discovers he is up against a colony of Unseelie faeries. The intoxicating scent of the faeries has been known to deceive vampires, pitting friend against friend—and wife against husband.

EXCERPT:
John and Teensy landed in the palace’s kitchen, where the cook promptly began beating John on the head with a wooden spoon.
“Stop!” He rubbed his cranium. “We’re here to see the king. He’s expecting us.”
“Well, you have a strange way to make an entrance.” The cook, wide as she was tall, gave John the stink eye.
“My fault,” said Teensy, dusting off her hot pink sweatpants. “I must have used one spider leg too many in the potion. I was aiming for the banquet hall.”
“You’re right under it,” the cook said as she nodded to a vaulted doorway. “Take those steps. I’m sure you’ll be a big hit.” She swatted John on the butt with her spoon as they passed her. “Or at least the gorgeous guy will.”
They hurried up the steps with Teensy chattering instructions along the way. “Stay close to me when we get in the hall. I may need to whisper, and I’ll be able to feel if you’re inching to the dark side.”
“I won’t let them get to me.”
“Right.” Teensy tugged on John’s sleeve. “Don’t get cocky.”
They burst into the banquet hall. John counted eight guards stationed at the doorways and then focused on the dais. The king was seated at his throne with a lovely, and very naked, faery maid sprawled face down/butt up across his lap. He was spanking her vigorously with his bare hand while two other faeries bounced around them, obviously enjoying the show. Lauren was standing next to the seated king, a smile as big as the Florida sun on her face.
“Lauren!” John called as he walked toward her, his hand held out. “Come to me, my love.”
She looked at him and clapped her hands. “Wow, you’re cute!”
Teensy, who was attached to John like a pilot fish on a shark, said, “Egad, it’s worse than I thought. She has no idea who you are.”
John stopped at the bottom step that led up to the throne. He sensed the guards circling him and getting closer as he approached the king. Again, he said, “Lauren, come to me, my love.” His heart pounded in his ears. She looked so beautiful…so vulnerable…and so clueless.
“My, my, you got here quickly, and uninvited, at that.” The king pushed the faery off his lap, rose from the throne, and put his arm around Lauren’s shoulder. John stiffened as she leaned into the king.
“This ain’t gonna be easy,” Teensy whispered.
John waited until Lauren’s eyes met his. “Avery misses you.”
Lauren cocked her head, and Teensy took advantage of the brief spark of recognition in Lauren’s eyes to throw a handful of sparkly dust in Lauren’s direction. She sneezed.
“Seize them,” the king shouted to his guards.

Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?
Here’s where you can find me, and I love to hear from readers!

Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?
What really juices me is communicating with readers. There are so many interesting people who read paranormal fiction, and I love to hear from them.

Susan, thank you for taking the time to tell us about your book releases and let the readers learn a little bit more about the author behind the books. It is an honor to have you here with us and is a privilege to have you as my guest.
Please welcome Lynn Lorenz to Ramsey's Reviews Halloween Bash!! Thank you Lynn for taking the time to answer some of our questions. It's great to hear you have so many releases coming out. Congrats! Readers, stick around after the interview to post your comments. All comments that are posted on Jane Toombs' interview session and Lynn Lorenz interview session will be entered into a Halloween e-book surprize drawing on October 1st.

Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working on?
I’ve got a new book in the Rougaroux Social Club series coming out Oct. 4th from Loose Id - it’s a gay romance set in the Louisiana bayou country. I also have a traditional romance, A Death in Katy coming out Nov. 5th from Etopia Press.
I’m currently working on several projects – a novella about Bad Boys for Amber Quill Press, a self-pub effort vampire story, and the next Rougaroux book.
When and Why did you begin writing?
I’ve been writing since junior high but it never went anywhere. Life happened and then in 2006 I started writing again. I wrote about 5-8 books before I sold my first book The Mercenary’s Tale, a gay medieval romance, to Loose Id. And it’s been non-stop ever since. I love telling stories, I love creating characters that just tug at your heart, and then do evil and cruel things to them as they fight for their HEA.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Real life. Nothing is as weird as real life.

What do you think makes a good horror story?
I used to read Stephen King, but also Lovecraft, Shirley Jackson, and a lot of gothic authors. I want to feel on edge, scared, but I don’t want to be grossed out. I hate slasher stuff. I want more of the old campfire ghost story type. That’s what I was going for when I wrote Cemeteries, for Amber Quill Press. The kind of story that drags you in, then Bam! You’re hit with the ending and your heart is racing and pulse is pounding. But for this book, it had to be a romance – with a HEA. That was tough, but I think it worked.
What is your favorite scary movie or book?
I think some of the scariest stuff was written by Shirley Jackson. We Have Always Lived in the Castle just creeped the hell out of me.

What makes you interested in the genre your write?
I love to write the story in my head at any time, and it can be contemporary, paranormal, historical are sci-fi. It’s the characters who drive the story and the plot and the genre. I just listen to them, and they’re usually right.

When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?
Goodness. I grew up in New Orleans, we’re et up with haunted houses and stories of ghosts – urban legends – zombies and vampires. I remember seeing Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte as a kid, and being terrified. My friends and I had a clubhouse and we’d sit in it and tell stories about the cemetery on the corner and about the ghost of Mona Lisa in City Park, and about the slaves that were tortured and killed in the French Quarter.
All that story-telling paid off, I suppose. When I wrote Cemeteries, I was inspired by all the tales I’d heard as a kid, about the most famous cemeteries in the world – the Cities of the Dead - that New Orleans is famous for.

Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?
Not really. Some times, my villains are so twisted, I wonder where that came from, but there’s a lifetime of scary movies, books and experiences I can draw on.
I do believe in spirits – I’ve been in haunted houses, stayed in a haunted plantation, and even had a few other-worldly moments myself.

Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?
I can’t stand violence against children. I hate gory stuff – people die – but no blood spewing, guts flowing kind of thing. I like more of a mind-scare – where you’re creeped and scared, but not grossed out.
Could you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?
This is from Cemeteries, a ghost story, set in New Orleans, from Amber Quill Press, Amber Allure. Mike and Jacob meet on a bus that takes them to the Cemeteries, a cross road in New Orleans with a cemetery on every corner. Mike falls hard for Jacob, but Jacob is mysterious and secretive. When Mike discovers Jacob’s secret, will it be the end or just the beginning?
Excerpt --
Every night for the rest of the week, Mike rode the bus, and Jacob waited for him. And every night, during that ride, they shared a special moment in time, as if they were the only two on the bus...no driver, just them and what was between them.
But always, when the bus coasted to a stop at the crossroads where four cemeteries met, the doors hissed open, and Mike said goodbye to Jacob with a kiss, Mike knew he wanted more.
The need, the hunger for Jacob built in Mike, like molten lava builds up pressure under the earth, until fissures crack and the burning heat shoots out to dazzle the night sky. And even though he told himself it was too soon, that he didn't really know Jacob, Mike knew he'd fallen in love with the man on the bus.
Mike climbed on the bus, heart hammering, and nodded to Mr. Roberts.
Jacob waited for him.
Mike sat in the seat next to his lover and took his hand. "I've got the next two days off."
"Oh?" Jacob frowned.
"Yeah. I won't be on the bus."
"Oh!" Realization struck in Jacob's blue eyes. He nodded. "I understand."
"Will you be here?"
"Yes, I'm always here." Jacob shrugged. "Will you be back after that?"
"Yeah, I'll be back at work, so I'll be here. I just wanted to let you know. You know"--Mike cleared his throat--"in case you missed me." He dared a shy look into Jacob's blue eyes, longing to tell him how he felt.
"Two nights. I'm going to miss you." Jacob took Mike's hand. "I can't tell you how much it means to me, spending time with you."
"Me, too. Don't you want more? Don't you want to have dinner? Or breakfast? Watch the sun rise? Come to my house and sleep with me in my bed?" Mike leaned close and kissed Jacob's ear.
Jacob shuddered and closed his eyes as he bared his throat to Mike's questing mouth, but he didn't answer.
"Don't you?" A wave of uncertainty passed over Mike. Maybe this didn't mean as much to Jacob as it did to him. Maybe Jacob didn't understand Mike had fallen in love with him?
Maybe he had to just tell him and make him understand.
"Mike, I want those things. All of them. It's just impossible. Right now." He gazed out the window. "Maybe never."
"What? Look, man, let's just get off the bus and go to my house. Or yours, I don't care which."
"No," Jacob shouted. "I can't." His eyes filled with tears. "I can't go with you, Mike. Can't we just stay like this?"
"Riding the bus?" Mike wiped a fallen tear from Jacob's cheek.
"Yes. Just riding the bus."
Mike leaned back and exhaled. Either Jacob didn't want anything more or couldn't give him any more, and Mike got that. He didn't like it, but he got it. Now he had to decide what he could live with, and he didn't know the answer.
"But why? If you just explained it to me, I could understand."
Jacob shook his head. "I can't tell you. It doesn't work like that."
"What doesn't work like that?"
"Damn me."
Jacob's soft curse surprised Mike. And as Jacob straightened in his seat and turned to face him, Mike knew the blade of rejection was about to cut his heart out of his chest.
"I don't want more, Mike."
Jacob reached out to take Mike's hand, but Mike jerked away from him.
"You were just using me?" he asked, not really wanting to know the truth.
"No. What we have is so special. I never thought I'd have this much, but I can't have more, Mike. I can't. It's not allowed." Jacob's tears tracked down his face, and Mike reached up to brush them away.
"Sure we can. If we lo--"
"Stop it!" Jacob shouted and jumped up. "Don't say it. Don't ever say it."
Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?
To my website http://www.lynnlorenz.com
You can find a list of all my books, with links to buy to the publishers.






For the next two days, author Jane Toombs will be here as our guest. Please welcome her to Ramsey's Reviews. Thank you Jane for being able to take the time to answer some Halloween questions for us. Congrats on your releases, too.

Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working on?
I have the first two books of Dangerous Darkness out from Red Rose Publishing and am working on the third, Terror From Before. When I have that finished , I'm taking a long out-of-print historical saga and dividing it up into either four or five novellas for Books We Love Publishing Partners to put on Kindle for me. They do the covers, but I have to format them and make sure there are no typos. They had been professionally edited once long ago. I have no desire to involve myself with trying to put them on Kindle myself as I am about as far from being a techie as can be imagined and am happy to pay BWLPP the small royalty fee they take. At the same time I'm doing this, I will be starting the third book for my Underworld Series, Uncanny, for Eternal Press. My most recent release from Devine Destines is The Turquoise Dragon, my first attempt at a YA and is paranormal suspense romance (on Kindle).

When and Why did you begin writing?
I began writing when I was either six or seven, because I wanted to learn to use my father's big old L.C. typewriter. He'd told me he'd teach me when I could read and write well, but when he did, I'd have to write him a story on the typewriter. So I wrote a one-page story (elite type) about how he found and brought home to me my first kitten. He read my effort and told me it was good, letting me bask in that praise for a bit before he pointed out several ways I could improve my story. I rewrote it with the changes and even at that age I could see it was better, And so he became my first critiquer, never failing to say something positive before suggesting ways to make it better.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I'm sort of like a major airport with ideas circling like planes, waiting for me to let them land and turn into a story. I don't ever remember not having a new idea for a story, even if I didn't use it.

What do you think makes a good horror story?
I've actually only written one true horror story, Hugger Doll, from Double Dragon Publishing (on Kindle now). But some of my other books contain horror elements. One of my two stories in Whiskey Shots Vol. 9 from Whiskey Creek Press is "Blood Calls to Blood," which is a true horror story. (Also on Kindle.) And BWLPP put together a number of my dark short stories and poems in Ten Past Midnight, (Kindle) so I guess I do like to write dark. Except the green ghoul story in that book actually ends happily.
For me, a good horror story is one that really scares me but doesn't disgust me or overwhelm me with gore. By their nature, good pure horror stories never really end happily.


What is your favorite scary movie or book?
For me, nothing ever beat the first Frankenstein movie with Boris Karloff or the first Dracula movie with Bela Lugosi, perhaps because I was young at the time. Dracula as a book holds up, but for  me, Frankenstein didn't. Much of Edgar Allen Poe's poetry is wonderfully scary and I also read that early. Both H.P. Lovecraft and Abraham Merritt were masters of horror and I devoured everything they every wrote, liking some better than other. Much of Merritt's was also paranormal fantasy, as well and he did tend to have more happy endings.

What makes you interested in the genre you write?
Since I'm writing mostly paranormal suspense romance these days you can tell that my love of paranormal and my liking for happy endings plays a part here.

When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?
I really wasn't afraid of any real animal, even though I lived in a village surrounded by woods. Yes , there were bears in those woods, but I never carried any food with me, which is generally what attracts bears. No other animal was likely to do me harm as log as I avoided porcupines and skunks. Wolves didn't come back into Michigan until long after I left town and coyotes stayed out west at that time. We had no poisonous snakes. Still don't in the Upper Peninsula. So any scary creature I feared was in a book and was imaginary. But, yes, H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu scared me, perhaps because he is a highly intelligent monster.  Which is maybe why most of my scary creatures are paranormal.

Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?
I've come up with some wild things, and, yes, some were scary, but no creature I ever conjured up truly scared me. I read scary books as a child  because my parents allowed me to read anything I wanted to, and got scared reading them, but not afterward. I haven’t a clue where my monsters come from.  

Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?
I can't write erotica. Whether it's because I'm a nurse and can't bring myself to use slang terms for body parts or because it's not my favorite thing to read, I don't know. I can write sensual scenes with no trouble, so sensual sometimes that occasionally one of my books will be labeled erotica. But I generally read and write only m/f. As for gory, nurses see a lot of blood, so that's not a problem. but I generally don't go into great detail on horrific scenes.

Could you share some of your blurbs or excerpts with us?
Dangerous Darkness Series
Book I Shadow On The Floor

Blurb:
As a former secret op turned lawyer, Dev is suspicious of the reason Natalie has fro coming to work for his elderly uncle as a companion. Is she hiding from something or someone? And why can she see the shadow on the floor in his uncle's den and avoid stepping on it when no one but family has ever noticed it?

Excerpt:
Natalie made a polite acknowledgement of the introduction, gazing at the tall auburn-haired late thirties or so man standing by the windows.  His jeans and sweatshirt showed an athlete’s body, but seemed surprisingly casual for a lawyer type. Maybe he didn’t work on Wednesdays. Since he wasn’t seated, she remained standing. Always better to face the opposition eye to eye.

Dev assessed her.  At least thirty, brown hair and eyes, slim, her loose shirt and baggy pants hiding any curves she might have.  Pale lipstick, no other makeup, hair pulled back in a ponytail. Even then attractive, though it seemed obvious she’d done all she could to play it down.  Why? One to keep an eye on.
He walked over to her, avoiding the shadow by long habit, and held out his hand. When she responded he clasped hers firmly and got the shock of his life.  She broke the contact so fast he knew she’d felt the same jolt of—what was it?  Some kind of recognition? Yet he knew he’d never seen Natalie West before.
“Please sit down,” he managed to say. When she did, he took a chair himself. Forget what just happened. Stick to business.
“I understand my uncle has hired you as what he calls his house assistant.”
“Yes. I told Charles I could do no personal care, since I had no nursing experience. I will cook and take care of the house, as well as helping him in other than personal areas.”
“Are you from around here?”
 “Not until lately.”  
 “Stop being suspicious, Dev. In case you didn’t notice, she didn’t step on the shadow.”
Dev glanced at his uncle, then at the body-shaped shadow on the floor that had been there ever since he could remember, even though there was nothing in the room to cast a shadow like that.  He’d never stepped on it either. Nor did Charles. Most others never seemed to even notice it.  But then, no one, not even his uncle, had ever detected the faint tinge of evil the old place exuded, only Dev. He’d never found anything to account for it.
“So you can see she’s the right person for this house,” his uncle insisted.    
“You’re not bothered by living in this creaky old place?” Dev asked her.
“Not at all.”
Natalie might or might not work out, but he could tell his uncle was set on her, and she wasn’t nervous about the house. It’d taken him months to get the old man to agree to hire anyone, and she was the first of the few applicants they’d had that Uncle Charles approved of.  Hiding her looks was no crime, and he couldn’t see anything else to object to. Amazingly, she’d seen the shadow and walked around it. As for the evil, his uncle had never been harmed by whatever it might be, so she was probably safe enough.
“I’m pleased my uncle’s found a house assistant,” he told her. “I hope this works out for both of you.”
His agency training had taught him to identify reactions. Though her facial expression didn’t change, he caught her slight relaxation. For some reason she badly needed this job. In an area she wasn’t from, in an isolated house. Gotcha!  She’s hiding out. No telling what from, but he’d damn well do his best to find out.  And he sure as hell didn’t mean to act on whatever had connected them for that electric moment.
Book II Watcher At The Door Blurb: Sarah came home to take care of her young brother after their home was destroyed in an arsonist's fire that killed their parents. They’re temporarily living in a summer cabin in the woods. The last person she expects to see is Mal, her once lover. Worse, she has the feeling she and her brother are being secretly watched. But is the watcher human or an animal?

Excerpt: Sarah Volek stopped on the deer trail feeling watched. Her twelve-year-old brother, Ivor, had complained of the same thing a couple of days ago.   She glanced around. The pines were tall to the right, their shade discouraging undergrowth. To the left, grew young maples mixed with birch and ash, plus lots of bushes, all with new green leaves of mid-June. Which hid human or animal from view. She shrugged and hiked on toward the cabin she shared with Ivor. Probably what she felt watching was a deer or other wild animal wary of humans.
     She’d always loved the woods. Under any other circumstances, she’d be happy to be back home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness. Three weeks ago, the house in town where she’d grown up had burned to ground, killing both her parents. If Ivor hadn’t been away at a Boy Scout overnight camp-out, he’d have died as well. A lump rose in her throat as she remembered his tearstained face and the lost look in his eyes when she’d arrived from downstate and picked him up from his friend’s house. Worst of all, the sheriff suspected arson.
     Just as she reached the cabin door, she heard Ivor call her name. He burst into view, waving papers. “I got the go-ahead for my project on fishers. And guess who’ll be helping me?”
     “I can’t imagine,” she said as she let herself in, Ivor at her heels.. “I can’t imagine. One of your teachers, I suppose.”
     “Nah. Come on, guess. You know him.” Ivor stopped beside her, showing her the okay from the school superintendent.
     “Hey, guy, you forget I haven’t lived in Ojibway for going on eight years now. Tell me who.”
     “The DNR district officer, Mr. Martin. He said he knew you in college.”
     “Mal Martin?” Good grief, she’d figured if she never saw him again it’d be too soon. “He’s the Department of Natural Resources officer here?”
     “Yeah. Lucky for me.”
     Not so lucky for her. If Mal was going to help Ivor with his project, though, she’d have to be polite.
     “Mr. Martin thinks it’s a great project and says his department will be interested in looking at it when I finish.” Ivor grinned. “That oughta impress my teacher when she grades me on it.”
     “Sounds like it.”
     “So it’s okay with you if Mr. Martin comes by the cabin sometimes?”
     There was no way she could refuse. “Of course.” After all, they were no longer college kids. No big deal. The past was just that. She’d moved on and he certainly must have as well. After all, it’d been a long time ago--going on ten years.
     He hadn’t been the best looking guy she’d ever seen, but he’d sure been the hottest. She’d never forgotten the night they’d… No! she wasn’t going there. Over was over.
     “What’s for supper?” Ivor asked as they entered the cabin.
     “Macaroni and cheese. Brownies for dessert.”
     “All right! Mr. Martin said he might drop by after he got off work, So maybe you could ask him to eat with us if he’s early. If he isn’t, he still can have some brownies.”
     Great. Ivor was working up to an acute case of hero worship, and she didn’t dare do a damn thing about it. Sarah knew she could never fill Mom’s shoes, but Ivor did have her to look after him. As she recalled Mal, he was about as far from the ideal father figure as she could imagine. But he was a man, and Ivor needed one around right now.
     But she didn’t. She glanced down at her grungy jeans and faded sweatshirt. No, she was not going to change on the chance Mal might drop in. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and needed washing. She wore no makeup. So what?
     As she fixed the meal, Ivor hung out in the cabin’s tiny kitchen area. “You know what he said about fishers?”
     Meaning Mal, of course. “What?”
     “Take a weasel, cross him with a wolverine, that’s a fisher.”
     “Sounds like a pretty mean animal.”
     Ivor grinned. “Yeah.”
     In college Mal had been mean and lean himself, showing off on his hog, usually with some gal hanging onto him. Even Sarah Volek. Scared the hell out of her, but exciting, too. Like he’d been.
     Ivor had just finished setting the table for them when someone knocked at the door.
     “It’s him!” Ivor dashed to open it.
     Sarah didn’t look up as she set the salad on the table, already annoyed at herself because she’d weakened and put on lip gloss. But when Ivor brought Mal over to her, she had to face him.
     “Sarah. Been a long time.” His voice was the same, deep and sexy. He held out a hand. Good manners made her respond, but she broke the contact as quickly as possible. “Yes, hasn’t it?” she said, noting the tartness in her voice. Damn. She’d tried for neutral.
     He looked surprisingly neat in his DNR uniform. Not like a different man exactly, but it took away from the bad boy image of him in her mind. His brown hair was still curly, but tamed and short. Eyes the same startling blue, though the devil-may-care glint was missing. Conscious she’d stared at him far too long, she looked back at the stove.
     “Sarah says you can stay for supper,” Ivor said. “It’s macaroni and cheese. With brownies for dessert.”
     “Sounds good to me. Thanks for inviting me, Sarah.”
     She hadn’t, Ivor had.
     To her relief, her brother took charge of the conversation at the table, firing questions at Mal that kept the topic fixed on fishers. They were finishing dessert when the phone rang. Ivor jumped up to answer, muttering into the phone as he carried it off to his bedroom.
     She rose to carry the dirty dishes to the sink. Before she could reach for Mal’s plate, he was on his feet, plate and utensils in hand. He set them on the counter by the sink. “You wash, I’ll wipe,” he said.
     “Wiping is Ivor’s job.”
     “It’ll be my thanks for a great supper.“
     No way to refuse without being ungracious. But the kitchen was so small, the enforced intimacy unsettled her. No way did she want him to touch her.
     Sarah groped for something to say. “I felt like I was being watched when I walked in the woods today,” was all she came up with. “Ivor’s mentioned the same thing. But I figure it’s maybe a deer or other animal. “
     “Likely to be. We did have a rogue bear in the area, but I haven’t spotted him anywhere close lately. Not that he’s dangerous to humans who aren’t carrying food. But awhile back he killed a calf at a farm a mile up the road from here. I’ll keep an eye out.”
     Great. Now she’d given him a reason to hang around the cabin.
     “Sorry about your parents,” he said.
     She nodded, not wanting to get into what happened.
     “Sorry about us, too. More sorry than you’ll ever believe.”
     “You got that right.” The moment the words were out she regretted them.
     “You’re not into bygones?”
     Saying no meant the past meant more to her than it really had. “You’re welcome in the cabin any time to help Ivor. I do appreciate you helping him. But I’m off limits.”
     He grinned at her, that same old rakish grin that used to make her heart pound. And still could. Ignoring her speeded pulse, she frowned.
     He dried the last pan and slid it into the lower cupboard she indicated.        “Thanks again for a real home cooked meal.” Ivor reappeared and he turned toward him. “You about ready, partner?”
      Sarah retreated to the bedroom while the two of them co-opted the table to lay out papers. So she was a coward. Safer to be. Despite turning on her CD player to listen to her current favorite, The Ghoul Dogs, she was all too conscious of the man on the other side of that closed door. Neither could she get involved in any of the books stacked on her dresser.
     Instead, she stood, hugging herself, looking out the window into the dusk. Dad had kept the trees cleared around the cabin, but the woods pretty much surrounded the cabin, except for the front, which faced onto a dirt road. The place was fine for the summer and even into the fall, but there was no way she and Ivor could winter here.
     Sarah well knew she should be making plans for their future. Instead her mind persisted in wandering back to those college days. Mal had been three years ahead of her at Michigan State. Thank heaven she’d never had another episode as violent as the one at the party celebrating his graduation. They’d all had a bit too much to drink, but, damn it, even if the guys were cheering him on, he shouldn’t’ve made such an effort to seek out every girl in his class and kiss her, some far too passionately.
     She never was at her best during her time of the month, but the vodka had taken care of her jitters. Unfortunately, it also quashed all her inhibitions. She shuddered to think of the exhibition she’d made of herself. Not that she remembered it clearly, but her so-called friends made sure to dump every detail on her the next day.
     “You went weird crazy, showing your teeth and snarling, “Mine! Mine!”
     “You landed on the poor guy’s back like a cat with all its claws out.”
     Worst of all, she remembered Mal’s comment as he hauled her out of the place. “You’re acting like some wild animal. What the devil got into you?”
She snapped that she never wanted to see him again. He’d left the next day without saying goodbye to her.
     The back of her neck suddenly began to prickle, jerking her back to here and now. Nothing moved outside her window, no animal or person was visible in the gathering darkness, yet she knew absolutely that something out there watched her.
Something dangerous.


Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?
My web site at www.JaneToombs.com  Or www.JewelsoftheQuill.com , click on authors, then my name and my pages will pop up. JOTQ is a closed group of twelve authors who promote each other. Also we do a lot of giveaways, so check us out.

Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?
I do like to hear from readers.  If you care to email me it’s jtoombs( at) jamadots (dot) com and I‘ll certainly answer, Furthermore, If you don’t mind sharing your snailmail address with me I’ll be happy to send you a read-only CD with excerpts from all my recent books and their cover on it.
Jane 






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