Of Demonology by Kirsten Weiss

Do you spend much time thinking about demons? No? Well neither did I, until I tried to write about them in The Alchemical Detective. 

You’d think writing a demonic character would be simple. Demons are bad. End of story. But when I started researching demonology, I ran into some very different ways of looking at demons, and the obvious interpretation grew less and less appealing.

In modern Goetia, a branch of magic that evokes angels and demons, demons are projections of our own dark sides. Demons can be either positive or negative forces, depending on your degree of control, and how you choose to apply it. If you can master your personal demons, then you can make magic happen. Since I wanted to show some psychological growth in my metaphysical detective, Riga Hayworth, this seemed like a neat plot device to me.

But an acquaintance who’s a demon hunter strongly disagrees with this interpretation. In her experience, demons are tangible entities, capable of real violence. She doesn’t think they came from hell any more than from inner worlds – she believes they might originate in another dimension. Does that make these entities demonic, or something else? Writing about this sort of demon would certainly raise the drama (and carnage) in The Alchemical Detective, but it didn’t really fit the Renaissance magic that flows through the Riga Hayworth series.

So in the end, I split the difference. Riga has to master certain inner issues in order to control the demons she encounters, but these demons are of the more violent, tooth and claw variety. I’m not sure if that will please everyone or no one (or if anyone will care), but it combines the psychological aspect of demonology with its creepy factor. And if you’re going to read about demons, you want to be at least a little creeped out? Don’t you?

About the Author:

Kirsten Weiss is the author of two paranormal mysteries available on the Kindle: the urban fantasy, The Metaphysical Detective, and The Alchemical Detective. She is hard at work on the sequel, The Shamanic Detective.

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone. Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.

Read a sample chapter or check out her blog at http://kirstenweiss.com. You can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RigaHayworth, and view her world boards on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kirstenweiss/

Review of Foreshadow by Brea Essex

Foreshadow by Brea Essex

Review by Gabryyl Pierce

4 of 5 stars

What do you when your delicious new boyfriend is out to kill you—and the class pain turns out to literally be your guardian angel?

Following the death of her mother Raena Davenport has gone to live with family friends. New boyfriend, Andrei, is helping her cope — until she finds out he wants to kill her. Andrei is a devil, a fallen angel who wants to use her sacrifice to get back into Heaven. Then there’s Logan, her guardian angel. He’s done nothing but annoy her, but now he’s got to save her.

Foreshadow is the first book in the Shadow Imperium Series by Brea Essex. Overall the story is intriguing, the characters interesting and the plot works fairly well, though the ending feels a bit rushed. Definitely an enjoyable YA read.

About Brea

Brea Essex was born in Gilroy, California, called the "Garlic Capital of the World." She graduated college with a degree in Medical Assisting. She lives near San Jose, California with her husband, their dog, three cats, and enough books to start a library.

Interview with P.M. Terrell, Author of Vicki's Key

1.       Good grief, girl child! You are freaking AMAZING!! Readers, if you have a chance, stop by her site and just putz around. It’s a lot of fun! What was it like growing up with an FBI agent as a father?

Well, it’s just a hoot to be here, Frankie! Growing up in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s (yep, I’m old) and being the daughter of an FBI Agent to boot was quite an amazing experience. He frequently worked all night on rounding up Viet Nam War deserters and working on infiltrating and breaking up the Ku Klux Klan, and I am sure watching these events unfold shaped my interest in history, people and – crime.

2.       *rubs elbows* Now I can honestly say I’ve rubbed elbows with a computer high and mighty! Wow you really caught that wave and just rode it! And you have SO. Much. ENERGY!! LOL! How do  you do it?

You know, I always wanted to be a writer and just fell into computers. I look back now and realize how fortunate I was to be in the right place (Washington, DC) at the right time (when the Apple computer was invented, spawning the personal computer industry). I don’t know if I have any more energy than anyone else. I think it’s entirely a matter of priorities. I gave up a lot along the way (not to mention, A LIFE) to start a couple of computer companies and later, to become an author of suspense.

It doesn’t seem like they would go together, does it? A logical computer programmer and a creative suspense author? But I don’t know if I could have been one without the other. My specialty was computer intelligence and white collar computer crime (working with the good guys, of course) and that led to many of the plots in my books.

3.       Okay, well, we’re to talk about your book, Vicki’s Key. What inspired this story?

They say truth is stranger than fiction so stick with me here! One of the reviewers who consistently reviews my books is Donna Coomer. And she’s always off in a different part of the world when each book comes out. So I asked her why all the travel, and she told me she goes to a website and finds jobs where she gets free room and board in exchange for working. She’s traveled to Europe and all over this country doing jobs that last anywhere from a couple of months to a half a year. I made the comment that I could never do that because it would be just my luck the first job I’d respond to would actually be an axe murderer looking for the next victim.

Well, later that day I got sick with the flu and my doctor prescribed cough syrup (you know the kind that has narcotics in it!) And I got a teaspoon mixed up with a tablespoon. (You know where this is going, don’t you?) I laid on the couch for a day and a half, totally zonked out, and dreamed this book from beginning to end. When I came out of my stupor, I knew Vicki’s Key was a book I had to write. Apparently, the whole concept of going to a strange place and working for someone you’d never met, living in their house, got stuck in my psyche.

4.       This book is getting some pretty rave reviews! First, how do you get reviews from some of these sources? (How do you get them to take you seriously?) One of the reviews is Suspense Magazine says p.m.terrell "is getting better with each and every book she writes”! So that means they’re reading several of them!

I have been so fortunate and so blessed that several reviewers—those with Suspense Magazine, Midwest Book Reviews, Bengal Book Reviews, Between the Lines, Fresh Fiction and others—enjoy my work. Early in my career, I advertised in publications like the one Dan Poynter publishes for reviewers of suspense. Now I just build on that list from one book to the next.  I also enjoy networking with other authors and we often swap information on good reviewers and sites.

One way I get reviewers to take me seriously is through my website. You have to have a professional website if you want a professional career. And there’s something to simply hanging in there! I’ve seen a lot of authors come and go, many of them discouraged their first book didn’t catapult them to stardom, and if you’re willing to hang in there and keep writing, you get extra brownie points for that.

5.       What inspired these characters?

I’ll tell you, the book came to life when I introduced an Irish character, Dylan Maguire.  Vicki Boyd takes a job working for an elderly woman over the summer. But when she arrives, she finds Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and her nephew has arrived from Ireland to care for her. It was important to the storyline that Vicki think Dylan is the perfect man, so I did some in-depth research into what women think IS the perfect man. (Which was the most fun researching I’ve ever experienced!) Turns out, women love Scottish accents followed by Irish accents and then Australian accents. They also love five o’clock shadows, a man with muscle but who is oh-so-gentle with a woman… A man with boyish charm but who comes through like a man when he’s needed. Dylan is also just plain funny without intending to be, which is part of his charm.

Vicki is a “good girl” always living her life inside the box so Dylan is completely her opposite.

6.       What was your favorite part of the research to create this book?

I had some amazing experiences. Aunt Laurel’s house is a rambling historic home that lends itself well to ghosts. It was patterned after a real house in Lumberton, North Carolina, where the series is set.  Pictures are on my website at www.pmterrell.com. I took a tour of the house and heard the ghost tales that have been told of this once-abandoned property for decades.

I also toured the Carolina Civic Center’s Historic Theatre, which also has several ghosts. Vicki and Dylan are watching a play at this theatre when she sees a ghost, so being in the balcony and hearing of the ghosts who have actually pushed people down the steps was amazing.

7.       What are you writing now? Is there anything you can tell us without giving away the plot?

The next book in this series will be released in September 2012. It’s called Secrets of a Dangerous Woman. In Vicki’s Key, it’s mentioned that Vicki got separated from her sister after their parents died and they were adopted by different families.  The dangerous woman in the next book is Vicki’s sister, Brenda Carnegie, who first made her appearance in my book, Exit 22. She is everything that Vicki is not: she is a computer hacker, prefers to live on the wrong side of the law, lives outside every box, is a vixen, conniving, fearless…

And in Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, Dylan begins working for the CIA. His first assignment is to interrogate recently captured Brenda Carnegie. And he has definitely met his match. And when he discovers Brenda is actually Vicki’s sister, his first assignment just got very personal.

8.       Where can readers purchase your book? (I may have already done that, but share with the class.)

Well, every book store worth their bookmarks carries it. It’s also available at www.amazon.com and other online book stores. Right now on my website at www.pmterrell.com, we’re offering free shipping.

9.       May we read an excerpt from the book and can you provide it here? 

Here’s an excerpt for the reader who likes things that go bump in the night:
  

Vicki continued into the bathroom and groggily brushed her teeth. Grabbing a washcloth and splashing water over her face, she leaned into the sink to soak up the cool water.

She turned off the tap and tried to fully awaken as the water dripped off her face. Rising, she reached for the hand towel along the wall, catching a glimpse of her profile in the bathroom mirror.

Her eyes caught a shadow rippling in the mirror and she froze, her arm suspended in mid-air as she watched the shadowy figure undulating against the shower curtain just behind her. It was thin—far thinner than a human being; perhaps only four feet tall and just inches wide. Yet, two arms extended past the body, moving jerkily like a creature walking and yet it remained fixed in the center of the tub. The torso parted into two legs that were stick-like and lurching.

Then the shadow stopped and turned toward her, as though just realizing she was watching. The head emerged from the body like a person jutting his neck forward, growing as it neared the shower curtain. It swelled in a black intensity while two pits where eyes should have been grew more prominent.

She whipped around to face the shower curtain, her heart pounding, and her breath shallow.

There was nothing there.

She swung back toward the mirror. Her own face stared back at her, her eyes wide and chest heaving. The curtain hung behind her, motionless.

10.   Where can your readers connect with you on the web?

I love to hear from readers! My website is www.pmterrell.com . I am on Twitter @pmterrell and on Facebook under Patricia M. Terrell, Author. I also have an historical site, www.maryneely.com, for my true books about my ancestor Mary Neely who was captured by Shawnee warriors. Please drop by and chat with me!

Thank you so much, Frankie, for allowing me to chat with your followers about my books!

   About P.M. Terrell

P.M.Terrell is the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than 13 books. Her newest series, Black Swamp Mysteries, involves a CIA psychic spy (based on the real project) and includes Exit 22 and Vicki's Key. Prior to becoming a full-time writer in 2000, she founded and operated two computer companies in the Washington, DC area. Her clients included the CIA, Secret Service and Department of Defense as well as local law enforcement agencies. She now lives in North Carolina with her family and plenty of ghosts. For more information about her, visit www.pmterrell.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @pmterrell and Facebook under Patricia M. Terrell, Author.

Review of Devon Ruthin: A Vampire in Love by Tessa Stokes

Devon Ruthin: A Vampire in Love by Tessa Stokes

Reviewed by C. Whetzel

2 out of 5 stars

Bliss, a young and restless teacher, decides to spend her holiday driving through the country to visit castles, abbeys and ruins. She has been lured in by the romance of a fiction book she couldn’t put down. Upon arriving in a charming town, she meets a stranger that takes her breath away. Devon is a centuries old vampire, or at least he used to be. He has aligned himself with a community of ancient beings who have created an antidote for his vampirism, as long as he continues his treatments. Having never been in love, Devon is thrown for a loop when he spots Bliss. It’s love at first sight, for him. He lets the moment slip by, and is desperate to find her again. He follows her trail, and brings her back to a perfect life.

Meanwhile, Drew, Devon’s twin brother and also a vampire, is bent on revenge towards his brother. By some twist of fate, Bliss meets Drew before Devon is able to find her again. Once Drew recognizes the connection his brother has with Bliss, he sets his sights on tracking her down. As Drew is on the verge of kidnapping Bliss, he is thrown off by an old flame that he will stop at nothing to reclaim. The plot weaves in and around Drew’s desire for Elise, one of the ancient beings, and his desire to take her as his own. We are left with Devon and the ancient community believing that Drew is dead. However, Drew was saved at the last moment by one of his followers. He has no memory of who he is. This is the first in a trilogy.

What I liked about this book: Ms. Stokes creates an interesting world, where the possibility exists to be “cured” from vampirism. I found it easy to recognize some of the fictional longing regarding a romantic life that plagues Bliss.

My constructive critque: Though the world Ms. Stokes creates has a lot of potential, I felt very turned off by the writing style. It’s not the fact that it is written in 3^rd person omniscient, it’s the fact there is a lot of ‘heading hopping’ with no distinguished point of view changes.

I’m just about to get into the scene with Bliss and Devon, and SMACK, I’m thrown into a scene with Drew and Elise. This gave me a whiplash effect. I encourage the author to hire an editor to fix the grammatical errors and find a writing group or beta readers to help with her writing style. Some examples are rehashing previous conversations, consistency, and showing vs telling.

It took me three tries to get through this book. I honestly didn’t think I’d make it. I don’t want to end on such a sour note. I appreciated the story line and enjoyed the characters. Like I said, this story has a lot of potential; it just needs to be tightened up a bit. With a thorough edit and writing style change, this would be an enjoyable read.

Author's Note: Please be aware that the book, set in England, uses many English spellings and does use the punctuation outside of speech marks method.

About Tessa Stokes

I write urban fantasy romance/ paranormal romance because I like to blend real life and the fantastic in my stories. Presently I live in the United Kingdom but I have lived in many places in the world including the Australian outback and North Africa. I do love  the English countryside and the availability of historical and ancient places to visit and this is where I sometimes get my inspiration for stories.
 

 

Review of Clockwork Genie by Kevin P.S. Broden

CLOCKWORK GENIE 

Reviewed by Gabryyl Pierce

2.5 out of 5 stars

 

Clockwork Genie is the first published novel by Kevin P.S. Broden.

Cecilia Orchard, broke and always on the verge of being fired by a nasty boss, has just been informed she's the prime suspect in the murder of a grandfather she never knew existed. Now she's heir to a vast fortune, prime murder suspect and new owner of a golden pocket watch that houses a powerful genie. The entire world can be hers with a wish, including the hunky cop investigating her for murder, but what does Cecilia really want?

Broden has created a story that combines Contemporary Fantasy/Murder Mystery/Paranormal Romance. Overall, Clockwork Genie is a quick read which unfortunately falls a bit short in the execution. The premise is interesting, but was overshadowed by a few flaws that pulled me out of the story, including choppy transitions, flat characters, and too much information in several scenes that wasn't necessary to the momentum of the plot.  

Review of Dragon's Fire: New Breed by Danielle Kazemi

Dragon's Fire: New Breed by Danielle Kazemi

Review by Gabryyl Pierce

3 1/2 of 5 stars

Waitress Annabel Wells is having a bad day: she hates her job and her boyfriend just dumped her -- over the phone. Things couldn't get worse. Which, of course, means they will.

Annabel is attacked by one of the Unseen - a creature made of pure darkness that kills mortals with a touch. When a mysterious hero saves her, she uncovers a world of myth: Dragons living among us, disguised as humans, hunting the Unseen. 

Now, with the aide of her sexy new hero, Crispin, and his dragon den of fellow hunters, Annabel has to protect herself from another attack. The only problem: how to hide from a creature that can go anywhere unseen?

Dragon's Fire: New Breed is the first novella in the Dragon's Fire Series by Danielle Kazemi. Overall the story is intriguing, the characters interesting and the plot works fairly well. The biggest issue was with a lack of contractions in some of the dialogue. It was a bit distracting, but not enough to make me stop reading. I was disappointed when I reached the end as I hadn't checked the title page and didn't realize it wasn't a full-length novel -- I was dying to know what happened next. But that's the best type of disappointment for a reader -- wanting more. 

 

 

About Danielle 

Danielle Kazemi is a native of Louisiana where she grew up writing. She enjoys writing in a simplistic style so that the reader does not have to trudge through miles of description just to know that the characters are walking down the road. Her first publishing credit was through Chicken Soup, which convinced her she could actually do it. Now she spends her time writing various books while chasing after her own kids who believe that they are the superheroes she is writing about.

Join her on Twitter or Facebook - she loves hearing from readers.

Interview with Crystal Ward, Author of the Supernova saga

Please welcome Crystal Ward, author of Supernova! She'll also be on our Blog Talk Radio show on Wednesday, April 18th at 3:30PM Pacific Time, so be sure to listen in.

There is so much information about you and your book on your site! Wow! That’s amazing! Song lists and character descriptions and a FAQ on the book. Can you tell us something about you that isn’t on your site, fellow lover of orange? LOL!

Well thank you! :- ) And orange is probably the coolest color around. ;- ) Anyway, ummm I’m so
completely boring. LOL I have a huge bucket list I take very seriously. Right now I’m working on the “Visit all 50 States” part. I’m up to 26. I’m crossing off 3 more next month. :- ) Oh, and I consider myself the worst author ever. I’m not a very good “reader”. I mean, I can read, I just prefer movies over books . . . Don’t throw stones. LOL I’m getting better though! I’ve read a few different series now besides the Twilight books. Don’t hate me . . . LOL

I know this book was inspired by the view out your sister’s kitchen window, but where did your mind go? How did you come up with a plot based off a beautiful day?

Well, I was going through a Twilight/I-really-need-an-Edward-Cullen-in-my-life phase at the time. LOL So as I stared out the window, I started thinking about how wonderful it’d be if there was a vampire or a paranormal hottie, period, out there just for ME. LOL The actual plot wasn’t really born that day. I can’t really explain it, but it was just this overwhelming feeling of all kinds of emotions mixed in one.

After reading the Twilight books, I wanted to write again. I had been an avid writer before, but I went through a slump. And that day triggered something in my brain and I knew I had something brewing, I just couldn’t put the jumbled mess in my head together yet. The plot worked itself out over a few weeks or months. I can’t really remember how long, but I know I’d come home from work all the time with my purse stuffed with napkins, pieces of cardboard, paper, etc. with ideas, themes, plot points, names, quotes, all sorts of different things that started stringing the story together. Eventually, I researched the place and character names I wanted and began writing the first chapter. Maybe I should change my website to say the actual plot wasn’t really born by looking out my sister’s window, it was the feeling of the story that was born. LOL

Is there a reason you choose addition as a theme?

Addition? Unless there’s a mathematical theme I don’t know about I’m going to assume you meant
addiction. LOL ;- )

LOL! I did! Dang you, auto-correct! *raises fist* LMAO! So what made you choose addiction as a theme?

Well, I didn’t want the main character to have a picture perfect life. I wanted a LOT to be wrong with her. Taking away her parents was one thing, but I wanted her to have something so bad in her life in the beginning of the book that when it ends, she’s almost unrecognizable. To me, the main theme of Supernova is Evania’s self-growth. And her overcoming a drug addiction, to me, builds her character so much. P.S. No, I didn’t add an addiction because I had or have one. LOL ;- ) My own mother started reading it and as soon as she got to that part she said, “Crystal, is there something you want to tell me?” LOL

What inspired these characters?

No one and nothing, honestly. LOL I’m probably the worst interviewee you ever had. LOL I don’t
know, I mean, I knew how I wanted them to be. I wanted Evania to be strong deep down, but still be
tremendously flawed. Desmond, I tried to make MY kind of perfect. ;- )

What was your favorite part of the research to create this book?

Definitely the location. I knew I wanted it to take place in one of the New England states. I had never been to any at the time I started writing it, but from pictures, movies, etc. they always looked beautiful. So I got on Wikipedia and started with small towns in Maine. When I got to Vermont and found Jamaica, I fell hard for it, BUT I kept looking. I only got to New Hampshire when I stopped and decided Jamaica, Vermont was the place for Supernova.

The town is small, less than 1,000 people, but so full of life. I found out everything I could about the place. I frequented their website, http://jamaicavt.com/ waaaaay too many times. LOL I loved Jamaica before, but when I actually visited, I fell IN love. The people are the kindest, warmest, sweetest people you’ll ever meet. The town is surrounded by beautiful scenery. It even smelled amazing! LOL I could go on forever about Jamaica. I’ve been there four times now and am planning on going back in September.

I’m actually friends with a few people on Facebook from Jamaica, and their local coffee shop will be selling a few copies of Supernova. AND their library is now carrying a copy as well. :- ) The last time I was there, they were still recovering from the floods brought on by Hurricane Irene. In Jamaica alone, homes, a small bridge, an entire road, and their main bridge was washed away. Instead of waiting for assistance, the citizens of Jamaica got to work the next day, rebuilding the small bridge to the park and road. The camaraderie was and still is amazing. See, I told you I could go on forever about Jamaica. ;- )

I see you mentioned a sequel. Is there anything you can tell us without giving away the plot?

Absolutely! Evania is no longer in “Guardian training”. We follow her through her first, real battle with Adversaries and countless others along the way. BUT I wanted chaos to ensue in this book, so I had to add some trouble for the relationship between Evania and Desmond. Also, I touched on this slightly in Supernova, but in the second book, Evania’s Equal comes out of the woodwork and this girl is a real piece of work. PLUS, there’s a traitor among them…. Cue the creepy music. LOL

P.S. It’s called Tsunami and it’s due to come out May 23rd, 2012.

Where can readers purchase your book? (I may have already done that, but share with the class.)

On my website, www.thesupernovasaga.com, under the purchase page I have links for how to buy it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and a few Amazon sites abroad. :- )

May we read an excerpt from the book and can you provide it here? 

And just like that, the deal was done. Guy removed his arm and walked faster ahead of me. I slowed my pace, searching for any onlookers. With no eyes around, I did a one-eighty. My feet weren’t getting me back fast enough so I picked up speed. I didn’t realize how far Guy and I had walked. As I passed the café, I peered around the street. No one was even outside. My car was still too far away, and I needed one.

Pulling out the sandwich bag, I pinched it between my fingers. I didn’t notice I did this as I walked by the creepy alley.

“What’d ya got there?” an eerie voice asked from the shadow of the alley.

I jumped, dropping the pill. Peering into the darkness, I saw nothing. I was closer to the shadows than I thought.

“Whoops. Didn’t mean to scare ya,” the voice said, followed by a sinister cackle.

I knew I needed to move, but I’d forgotten how to walk. A pill was needed in my system to think straight, but I couldn’t pull the bag out again. Out of the darkness came a black boot, old and torn.

“You’ll share, won’t you, girlie?”

I swallowed hard. No one was around to help. Guy had to be blocks away.

“N-no. No I won’t.”

“Wrong answer.”

Another boot came forward, landing the shadowy man in front of me. I forgot how to breathe. His hair was a mix of gray and black, thin and matted, down to his shoulders. His skin was hidden by dirt and grime in every crevice. Tattered clothes covered his bony body. He didn’t smile, but I saw his teeth, or lack thereof, from his snarls. His eyes were the most frightening feature about him, wide and dark. I couldn’t make out a specific color. Terror engulfed every part of me.

“Come here!”

His scarred hand came down hard on my shoulder as he yanked me into the obscurity of the alley. The man pulled me all the way to the center of the alley. I tried releasing his grip, but he held tight.

“Hel-” He threw me against the side of the dumpster, cutting my plea short. Maybe he wasn’t as bony as I thought.

The impact knocked the wind out of me, taking me off my feet. When I peeked up, he was standing over me with a small shape coming out of his hand. The light color glistened in what little moonlight there was shining into the torturous alley. A small whimper fell from my lips as I realized what the object was, a silver blade.

I was going to be murdered in an alley for buying drugs. Of all the ways I thought I’d meet my doom, the horrible scenario never crossed my mind. What a sick and twisted way to get what I wanted.

“Give it to me,” he demanded.

The situation aside, withdrawal was still wreaking havoc in my body. My hands quivered, and I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t know which was worse, contemplating giving him the drugs or asking him if I could keep just one.

His knife rose with me as I stood, the blade inches away from my heart. That’s when I felt it, salvation. My heart felt lighter as the love from one of my parents took hold of the fear. One of them was with me, closer than usual. I felt the presence right behind me. I’d even felt breathing on the back of my neck. A tiny bit of fear fled my body.

Then, I felt something different. As I gaped into his black eyes, the rest of my fear vanished. If I let
myself look away, I’m sure I could’ve seen the terror I had floating away like vapor from my body. I
didn’t feel nothing. It was definitely something, something I’d never felt before.

Freedom. . . Unbound and unrestrained. The monster had come out. It’s what I’d felt clawing beneath my skin. Drugs weren’t holding it back anymore. It was alive; it was here, and it had been provoked.

My hands formed into fists, and my loose legs tightened into a combat stance. I felt my eyes widen and my lip curl. Adrenaline flowed through my veins and boiled in my mouth. My body felt as if it was about to explode. Tension streamed through my muscles, as my head lowered slightly, but my eyes never left his. It wasn’t the reaction he expected. It wasn’t the reaction I expected.

“What’s this? You’re going to fight me?” A loud and boisterous laugh spilled from his disgusting
mouth. “Bring it on, baby.”

He rearranged his legs into his own messy stance. I’d raised my fists in front of me and took a step
forward. The knife had to go, but I didn’t know how to fight or what I was doing. Pure instinct I didn’t know I had surged through me. I’d taken a few karate lessons when I was a kid and learned to throw a nice punch and spin kick. The kick was my favorite. Putting all my weight on my left foot, I spun through the air. My foot landed against his hand, knocking the blade to the ground. Perfect!

He was too stunned to react, so I took the advantage. I flew forward, kicking the knife under the
dumpster. I pushed him hard into the brick wall. A right hook powered its way from my brain, down my arm, and through my fist, landing on his face. It didn’t knock him to the ground, only toppled him to the side. Using my left elbow, I struck the side of his head.

His arms went over his head while his knees curled into a fetal position. “All right! All right! Keep your damn pills!”

I backed up two steps, getting a good look at the quivering mess. A smile escaped my lips. I jogged out of the alley, happy there wasn’t a single soul on the street. No one would’ve seen the incident go down.

Starting the engine, I headed toward Jamaica. My hands wobbled, and my heart felt on fire, but it didn’t seem like the withdrawal. Adrenaline still flowed through me in high gear. It was after I passed the Brattleboro limit I started thinking about what happened.

There was something inside me, and it’s been waiting to be released. It was a relief to know I knew
myself better than I thought, but where did it come from? Before my parents died, I never felt that way.

There wasn’t a bottled up creature inside me. Was it born the day they died? Growing and feeding on my grief, like a small baby who needed nurturing? Had to be it.

I beamed and realized I felt amazing. I still missed my parents, but it didn’t consume my heart like usual. I felt like a real person again, one who could experience life and live without the solitude. For the first time in close to four years, I felt hope.

It wasn’t until I was almost home, that I realized I hadn’t taken a pill.

Where can your readers connect with you on the web?

My main webpage - www.thesupernovasaga.com

Facebook fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Supernova-Saga/180936018622508

Facebook author page - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crystal-Ward/137343939695785

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/crystaldward

Book Review: Ghost of a Threat by Beth Dolgner

Ghost of a Threat 

Reviewed by Amanda James

5 out of 5 stars

This is the first book in a series about a paranormal investigator. Betty Boorman or 'Betty Boo' has been investigating paranormal cases in Savannah Georgia for three years when she comes across a case like she has never seen before. This forces her to partner with her nemesis, Carter Lansford, who runs a much-publicized paranormal investigation company. Carter thrives by promoting his self-proclaimed expertise in the supernatural.

When Betty is faced with a violent presence, neither she nor Carter know quite where to go next. Help arrives in the form of a GQ model. But looks can be deceiving; the handsome stranger named Maxwell turns out to be a demon. Maxwell involves himself in the investigation, and everything comes with a price. 

Author  Beth Dolgner pulls you in from the start with twists and turns that continue throughout the book. She combines the world of the paranormal with intriguing descriptions of historic Savannah. She paints a picture that will stick in your mind.

Interview with Eisley Jacobs, Author of Runaway Choices

Hi Everyone. Today we are chatting with Eisley Jacobs, author of Runaway Choices, a Christian Speculative Fiction/Fantasy novel. Eisley will be joining us for a live interview on Blog Talk Radio, Wednesday, March 14th, at 3:30pm Pacific Time. We hope you'll stop by and listen in.

Be sure to leave a comment at the end of this interview for your chance to win a copy of Runaway Choices. Don't forget to leave your email address in the following format: parayournormalteam(at)gmail(dot)com. Now...for the interview:

Eisley! *wild grin* I’m so glad you finally get to join us here on PYN. Please tell our readers a bit about yourself.

Thanks! I'm happy to be here and even happier to be outside the four walls of my insanity (brain), which as luck would have it, is giving me a run for my money. So right, I'm Eisley, Mom to three children whom I homeschool. I'm active in our homeschooling group, church, life, and I still find time to write down the bossy characters that stroll through my brain. Some people wonder who is bossier, my characters or my kids... Really, it depends on the day.

You write in complete chaos! LOL! How do you do that on a regular basis?

Yes, it has been called chaos, but it's an organized chaos. Since we homeschool, I have to keep a pretty tight schedule on our time and efforts (which my characters don't always understand). We have school in the mornings and then after any activities we might need to attend, I dive into my writing. I try to write at least 3-5 hours a day. But since my kids are 12, 11, and 9 the “chaos” really does swirl around me all day.

Also, headphones. Really good headphones. But on top of that, when you have a really good story that needs to get out, you just ignore deal with the chaos. Sometimes I write one sentence and the 9yo needs something. I have to stop take care of issue, then I get back and write one more sentence before 11yo needs something. And so the process continues until sentence by sentence the chapter is written. It can be frustrating, but I know that this time with my kids is short and my characters can wait a little longer because my little people need me.

You just recently launched Runaway Choices. I’ve also had the chance to read it and it’s *singing* AMAZING! I felt wonderful after reading it. Please tell us a bit about it.

Runaway Choices is a story of twenty-three year old Beck and how she finds her way again. The story is one of growth and accepting things we cannot change. It’s about accepting our flaws and still knowing we’re loved and can love despite our short comings.

It’s labeled Christian Fiction, but I barely noticed it. As a pagan, I was drawn by the strong paranormal aspects and the history of the places your characters went to. Can you tell us what inspired this book?

Beck's character was inspired by my own growing up years. I was a bitter young adult and I lashed out at everything and everyone because I was hurt so deeply by circumstances life had afforded me. Choices people had made around me directly affected my life and my relationships and I choose to allow them to rule me. Instead of physically running away from life, like Beck had, I'd run emotionally from the world and accepted anger in place of anything anyone could offer. Choices are a huge part of Christianity and played a huge role in the way this book came together. As a Christian, I weigh my choices heavily, but sometimes choices runaway with us before we realize it, and this aspect of life ultimately inspired the rest of the book.

Tell us something about your characters that we wouldn’t be able to figure out by reading the book.

When I began this journey (RUNAWAY CHOICES) I had no idea Beck would be a fictional portrayal of the young me. No, I'd never conned my way onto a plane, but I was a good liar and could get almost anything I desired. When I realized this was somewhat allegorical, I wasn't sure what to do with it. To think someone might find out that I was once so bitter I couldn't see straight and to maybe realize I still struggle with some of these aspects was difficult to come to grips with. So after I wrote the novel, I tucked it away and told myself it was just another shelf novel. God had other plans.

You have a couple of other books. Can you tell us briefly about those as well?

I started my publishing journey with a lower middle grade series DRAGONS FOREVER. Book One - BORN TO BE A DRAGON came out in July 2011 and was met with immense enthusiasm from kids and schools. I did a mini book tour (mostly speaking at schools) around the western United States in September - October and then wrote Book Two - BLINK OF A DRAGN and released it in January 2012. Again, the feedback has been overwhelming! Kids love these books and parents are enjoying them as well. While they aren’t Christian novels, they do hold fast to the morals and convictions I try to impart in my children. Friendship, believing in yourself, adventure, love, forgiveness… you name it, we will explore it in my children’s books. Also in each book, the child learns something about an obscure area of the world that unless they leave close, they won’t necessarily learn the things I put into the book. The first book tells us a lot about the Cook Island Atolls. The second about Mount Rushmore and the Caverns nearby (as well as the Phoenix Islands in the South Pacific). The third book will be no different, but this time we are heading over to Scotland for part of our adventure. It will be amazing!

Where can readers purchase your book? (Please provide links)

Runaway Choices - http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Choices-Christian-Speculative-ebook/dp/B007BYWVEG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331576736&sr=8-2

Born to be a Dragon – http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Forever-Born-be-Dragon/dp/1456360965/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331576736&sr=8-5

Blink of a Dragon - http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Forever-Dragon-Eisley-Jacobs/dp/146791911X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331576736&sr=8-3

May we read an excerpt from the book? (Please paste here)

Chapter 1 excerpt:

Sleeping had been a useless endeavor. My pillow had been my ineffective attempt at a buffer, and I’d debated, more than once, on using it as a deadly weapon.

“Ma’am?” I heard from the aisle.

The mouthy flight attendant, whom I’d encountered during a bathroom break two hours into the flight from O’Hare, stood awkwardly at the end of my row.

“Can you return your seatback to the upright position?” Her tone was less than friendly.

A wide, cynical smile crept across my lips. Tilting my head, I raised my eyebrows in the most sarcastic pose I could muster.

“Please?” came her snarky inclusion.

My row buddy turned, and I transformed my face, offering the biggest puppy dog eyes I could muster. The seatback clicked into place.

The flight attendant glared.

“Does she have a problem with you?” the concerned man said in his thick British accent.

“I… She…” I started, maintaining my confused expression as I poured on the dramatic improvisation, complete with quivering lip.

The flight attendant’s glare turned into outrage and she hurried down the aisle.

I wiggled my fingers in a little sarcastic wave outside the man’s view.

My neighbor twisted toward me, and I contorted my face into bewilderment.

Shrugging my shoulders, I leaned my head against the cabin wall again, invisibly rejoicing at my small triumph. That would teach her to mess with a girl who needed a cola outside of “serving hours,” as she had put it. Who cares what time it had been? I’d needed the cola. I would have gladly paid the last five dollars in my pocket for it.

“Give me the freaking can,” I’d demanded, raising a huge scene at the back of the Boeing 747.

“Keep it down,” she’d begged.

Ouch. The wrong thing to say to a woman suffering a caffeine addiction headache the size of a watermelon.

I’d kept it down all right. Only the back ten rows had heard me over the dull roar of the engines. Three-fourths of the plane hadn’t seen the display.

Tragic, really.

It had been my best performance to date. I may not have a lot going for me, but I do have a few talents tucked up my sleeve. After all, I was on my way to London by sheer talent alone.

Where can your readers connect with you on the web?  (please provide links)

My Website – http://EisleyJacobs.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/EisleyJacobs/

Facebook – http://facebook.com/EisleyJacobs/

PYN Guest Review of Beg for Mercy by Shannon Dermott

Beg for Mercy

Guest Review by Charlotte Abel

It’s not often I find a paranormal romance with a twist I haven’t seen before. Not only was “Beg for Mercy” original and entertaining, it captured my imagination as well as my heart. 

The main character, Mercy Moore, knows she’s different. She wants a normal life, a normal relationship with her boyfriend -- which includes the ability to kiss him without killing him. 

Her mother could teach Mercy how to control the beast inside that craves human life as much as intimacy, but she refuses. Mom tells Mercy she’s not ready for this knowledge and responsibility and to just be patient. (Yeah, right) 

Mercy suspects Mom is just trying to keep her budding sexuality from going into full bloom. But there's much more than just Mercy's purity at risk.

The hottest guy at school, bad boy and heart-breaker Flynn McCallister, claims he has the ability to teach Mercy everything she needs to know. The only problem with that solution is he insists it requires hands-on lessons. Mercy is attracted to Flynn (who isn’t?) but she’s dating his best friend, Luke -- another hottie but with the patience of a saint.

If you think this sounds like just another love triangle, think again! Mercy’s best friend, Paul, knows her secret and in spite of the fact that she nearly killed him, loves her anyway. But instead of sitting around pining for her, he dates a cheerleader. (Go, Paul!)  

The mysterious, somewhat dangerous and exotic Sebastian appears later in the story and I can only hope we’ll see more of him in the sequel.

With all these hot guys vying for her affection, you’d expect Mercy would be a bit vain. She isn’t. We get to see her mature from a slightly depressed -- and who wouldn’t be if you couldn’t kiss a guy without killing him -- introvert into a kick-ass heroine willing to sacrifice her own life to save those she loves.

***WARNING*** There are a few realistic scenes with teenage drinking and sexuality, but nothing graphic. I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a good paranormal thriller age 14 and up. 

I can’t wait for the sequel!

~ * ~

This guest review is provided by Charlotte Abel. For more information about this reviewer, please visit:

http://thechannieseries.blogspot.com/p/about.html

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