Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ExcerpTuesday: Mark Knight

Life as part of a debt-free, middle-class family in the New England suburbs should have been heaven.

But when your father is a Man of God and you’re a vampire, it sure can be hell.

Until the age of seventeen, Daniel Dark had no idea of his true origins. Something was ulcerating deep inside him, striving to claw its way free. Pastor Nathan Dark and his wife, Annie, had adopted him and brought him up as their own. But Daniel always felt that there was a secret they feared tell him…

Everything changes the day a mysterious package arrives at his home. It contains blood – human blood. It is a message from his true father – a vampire named Dominus. Daniel’s vampire half awakens and takes its first step out of the shadows. Vampires, Daniel learns, are not like in the movies. They’re worse, much worse, and cannot be killed by sunlight or stakes.

The once lazy, goalless youth transforms into sharp-sensed killer. Now, there is no turning back. On his trail is Pastor Nathan Dark, obsessed with destroying the boy he’d adopted as his own...

Armed with ever-evolving powers, Daniel sets off to find and free his birth mother, imprisoned by Dominus since the day of his birth.



It is a journey that takes Daniel to Mexico and the mysterious Mayan shaman woman, Xochil, guardian of Vampire secrets. From there the trail leads to misty moors of southern England, where he joins forces with Logan DuPris, a vampire hunter as attractive as she is deadly. Together they piece together the weird clues that lead to...

The Vampire Key
CHAPTER 13

As evening painted the sky a deep purple, Daniel stepped through his front door and looked around. As his life had changed, so too had all that surrounded him. He was sensing something. Daniel had never been one for deep thinking, but now his perceptions stretched themselves out over the landscape, over time, feeling out new possibilities and new horizons. He exhaled a big, purging breath, scratching the back of his head. Was he really going to do it? Leave home?

The ‘incident’ with Daelin had left him confused. Part of him had wanted to take advantage of her in the most gruesome and bloodiest of ways. Part of him wanted to protect her forever. Would it be best for her—and for him—to stay, or to leave? This wasn’t exactly something he could talk over with the town’s youth counselor. For the first time in his life, he had no one to fall back on. Future decisions would be down to him and him alone.

No more of this soul-searching crap. I want my bed.

Entering, he kicked off his sneakers and thudded up the stairs. As he grabbed the door handle to his room he halted. Mom stood there, down the hall, looking…defenseless.

“Daniel…”

“Just a minute, Mom.” He wanted to change his shirt a.s.a.p.—his unbidden hallucination had made him very sweaty, not to mention the sex play with Daelin.

He entered his room.

That was his first mistake.

Dad was waiting for him—he and six other pastors. Not one appeared to be in a forgiving mood.

It was a shock to Daniel—he hadn’t even seen any cars parked out front, not even Dad’s.

He then made his second mistake. He didn’t move quickly enough.

Another pastor, who had been waiting next to the door, kicked it shut. Then, the tallest of the ministers facing him shot him with what looked to be a crossbow. The arrow tore into the boy’s left shoulder, pinning him to his bedroom door. He roared in pain. Before the roar was over, an arrow pierced his other shoulder.

“I know you hate me for this, Daniel,” said Nathan Dark. “But I’m doing this to help you.”

“Help me?” spat Daniel. “You want to kill me!”

Bio

Mark Knight grew up in Massachusetts, USA. Settling in the UK, Mark continued to write novels of differing genres, including horror and television scripts. Mark has worked on scripts for Hollywood’s Little Slices of Death production company and one for Illusion Studios, for which he has recently signed an Option Acquisition Agreement. He also won several short story competitions, and has had his work featured in published anthologies. Mark concentrates now on Young Adult urban fantasy novels.



Mark Knight:

I fell in love with books and movies very early on. Roald Dahl, Planet of the Apes, Tolkien, Star Wars...they were all part of my journey. From age sixteen I was compelled to write my own. I have always been fascinated by amazingly 'out there' type stories - be it fantasy, horror, or science fiction - that have an element of reality in them. You know, where you can say 'Oh yeah, I can relate to that' or 'I know someone who has that problem'. To me, the more real your characters, their emotions, problems, etc, then the more thrilling it becomes when the fantastic comes knocking at their door.

For instance, Daniel Dark, the seventeen-year-old protagonist of Blood Family, has family problems that have led him to smoke weed and chug beer with his equally indolent friend. But then he discovers that he is a half-vampire with incredible powers. Finally, his dull going-nowhere life is supercharged.

Fifteen-year-old Solomon, hero of Solomon Grimm and the Well of Souls, comes from a broken home and suffers from hypoglycaemic attacks his diabetes. It screws up his life—until a gypsy curse renders him undead. Diabetes is the least of his problems now.

Dealing with the death of a parent was bad enough for Gunner Robinson. He has a sixth-sense, the ability to know when evil is near. Other powers are manifesting themselves as well, and they are getting him into trouble, at home and at school. Which is why he wound up in therapy. Telling the doc that he is a warrior angel reborn would definitely make things worse...

Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C456EJU
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Family-Quest-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00C456EJU/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364730430&sr=1-11

Monday, April 29, 2013

Jay Speights

EXCERPT 1: BEHOLD ADAM

Once I was calmer, I slowly lifted my head to gather in all of his features. He was not black and also not white, not red, not yellow, not brown. His skin had an unusual hue. It had a color that was unlike any other skin tone I have seen. Looking at his face was like seeing the faces and features of the entire world carefully and masterfully crafted into one neat package. His hair was uniquely blended… from kinky to straight to curly. His eyes were slightly almond shaped. His lips were full. His nose had a European flare. So there sat the daddy of us all. Put all of us together, black-brown-red-white-and yellow, and you get Adam. He was a composite. Yes, the Genesis man looked like all of us… or we all look like him… or something like that.


His clothing was a little strange. He was wearing what might best be described as a combination of a business suit and a heavenly robe. Funny! What great designer from up there helped him with that outfit, I wondered? I thought you could call his style “Urban Cosmos.” Adam cleared his throat again, breaking the silence. Unknowingly, I had just taken another moment, albeit a much deserved one. I had to say something.


BLURB:

7 Days With Adam is a brilliantly crafted work about Adam, the first man, who visits the author and shatters many of his core beliefs about God, creation, the basic nature of humans and this world. He has astonishing revelations about his and Eve's real legacy. After the 7 day visit, he leaves the author enlightened with actual exercises, prayers and meditative techniques that we can all use to access our Divine Inner Power and achieve mastery in our lives. This book is a testament to the value of storytelling in spirituality, and to disciplined spiritual practice, as well as being attuned to the Higher Self and Divine Inner Light that is in all of us.


BIO:

Jay Speights is an award winning author, chaplain, spiritual coach, and Director of The New Seminary, the oldest Interfaith Seminary in the world. His multi-faith approach has lead him to continuously search for common universal truths about God, creation, and existence. Jay believes we must always strive to be attuned to our Higher Self, which is reflected in his discipline of prayer, meditation, daily spiritual practice and writing.

For many years he was a contributor to The Washington Times Online Edition and religionandspirituality.com, where he provided social, spiritual, and political commentary focused on getting people to interact and relate on a higher level. A November 2009 Post from his Washington Times Blog , motivated the City Council of Washington, DC, to pass a resolution declaring March 20, 2010, "Polite Day". The resolution was the result of his post asking the DC Government to appeal to DC residents, political leaders and commuters to be more polite and civil as they move about their neighborhoods and business in the city. In November 2007 he received the Humanitarian Award from The Punjabi Literary Society for Distinguished Commentary at Lincoln Center in New York for his commentary about the how Sikhs are subjected to harsh treatment because of their faith and cultural tradition

Jay is a graduate of Howard University, where he earned a BA in Political Science and MA in Public Affairs. In 2005, he graduated from The New Seminary For Interfaith Studies in New York, was ordained by The Interfaith Temple also in New York, and is enrolled at Wesley Theological Seminary for postgraduate work in Ecumenism. He has two grown daughters and lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife Damaris, two dogs and bird

ONLINE LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaySpeights Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayspeights Website: http://jayspeights.com/
BUY NOW LINK:
• Amazon http://www.amazon.com/7-Days-With-Adam-ebook/dp/B00C3H9RAC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365281698&sr=8-1 • Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/7-days-with-adam-jay-speights/1114970819?ean=2940044404793

Friday, April 26, 2013

Cover Reveal: Which Exit Angel

Which Exit Angel is my next book out. A novella really set on the Jersey Shore.

This novella will be out in May. Stay tuned for more details. cmr

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Authorsday: Andrew Clawson

1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I can actually pinpoint the exact day and time when it happened (I can’t remember the specific date, but still…), because I’d just finished another great book (don’t remember the title, but I’m sure it was awesome). I stood up from the couch, and it hit me. I’ve been reading books for years. Why can’t I do this? I figured a lifetime of reading was some of the best preparation one could have to write, so that very night I started jotting down ideas for a story. What a fool I was. I had no idea what I was getting into.

2. How long have you been writing?

That A-HA! moment happened in 2005, so it’s been around 8 years now. Though my novels have only been available for sale since last June. That should tell you how well those first 7 years went.



3. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?

One hundred percent a plotter. Before I ever start writing, I have the entire story outlined by chapters. Now, I’ll revise and edit the different chapter headings as the characters talk to me, as they dictate which direction to take. But for the most part, everything that is going to happen has already been laid out. I’ve found that setting a general path, complete with major turning points in the story, allows me to worry less about what’s coming down the road and just write. As any author will tell you, the hardest part of being an author is the writing.

4. What drew you to the subject of The Crowns Vengeance?

The global financial meltdown of 2008 is known to everyone, and I would have to thank the Wall Street geniuses who gambled with our money for this inspiration. I have a few close friends who are in the financial sector, and my father was a banker for several decades. With such wonderful resources close at hand, it wasn’t that hard for me to craft a (hopefully) convincing story set amidst a potential global disaster. Wall Street gave me the idea, my team of advisors gave me the knowledge, and I just ran with it.

5. Did you encounter any obstacles in researching it?

I had no idea how intricate the financial world is, and how difficult it can be for the uninitiated to navigate. Sure, I’d heard of speculation and could guess at the meaning, but to actually use it in a convincing and logical manner to craft a novel? Wow. So much harder than I realized. The amount of research I conducted into this book was on par with my first novel, A Patriot’s Betrayal, but it wasn’t like researching American history. This stuff was way more intense. Kind of like swimming through water vs. syrup. If you’re into that kind of thing.

6. What was the name of the first novel you wrote? Did you try to publish it?

My first effort was the aforementioned A Patriot’s Betrayal. I tried the traditional publishing route (write book, query agents, cry self to sleep), but gave myself a time limit. I decided that once I’d garnered 50 rejection letters, I was going the self-pub route. Why sit around waiting for a call that may never come when I could get my work out there and let the market decide if I was worthy? Anyway, you’d be surprised how quickly 50 people can say no. Once that final email arrived, I dove into the self-pub world and never looked back.

7. What do you know now that you are published that you didn’t know pre-published that you wish you knew?

That just getting the darn words onto paper is the hardest part. Unless you are able to sit in front of a computer for 12 hours a day (and if you are, be thankful), it’s hard to find time to write. I’ve got a full-time day job, and sometimes the last thing I want to do when I get home is write for a few hours. I’ve learned that you need to set a schedule and STICK TO IT if you’re ever going to finish a novel.

8. What was the best writing advice someone gave you?

Write every damn day. I forget where I first saw it, but hands down that’s the best.

9. If you could ask your readers one question, what would it be?

What didn’t you like about the book? I’ve found that criticism is far more useful for advancing my craft than praise. Though a few kind words now and again do wonders for motivation.

10. Describe your book.

The Crowns Vengeance is an action adventure novel in the vein of a Steve Berry tale. I love history, and believe that I’ve been able to weave a tale in which the reader cannot tell where the truth stops and the fiction starts. This book will keep your pulse racing while educating you at the same time. The tale is rooted in history, and if the right people decided to do the wrong things, could be in tomorrow’s headlines.



Author Bio

Andrew Clawson is the author of two books, A Patriot's Betrayal and The Crowns Vengeance. He lives in Pennsylvania, where he enjoys reading works of fiction and writing as much as possible. You can learn more about Andrew and his upcoming novels at his website, andrewclawson.com.

Book Blurb

For 300 years, America has been under assault, the enemy silent, unseen. In the august halls of the Ivy League, a scholar uncovers shocking evidence of an unimaginable betrayal.

Professor Erika Carr uncovers a Revolutionary era espionage report, lost for centuries in a cache of Alexander Hamilton's private documents. Dr. Carr is stunned when she discovers the intelligence reports were authored by Paul Revere. A clue hidden within the message suggests a second missive exists, waiting to be found.

Parker Chase joins her on a journey that leads to astonishing revelations about a centuries old conspiracy to destroy American independence. On Revere's trail, they are attacked by a murderous syndicate of international powerbrokers intent on silencing them forever.

Running for their lives, Parker and Erika must outwit an invisible enemy while unraveling a conspiracy that stretches from the morally bankrupt halls of Wall Street to oil-soaked sands in the Middle East. Locked in a struggle for their lives, they fight to reveal an unthinkable secret, the fate of a nation hanging in the balance.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

ExcerpTuedsay: Natalie Gayle

BLURB:

Finding Trust – Book 1 Centre Games Series Brayden and Rihanna He’s hot, sexy, and leads a double life. Sometimes in the limelight, mostly in the shadows. Brayden James holds fast to a secret that’s more than his to share. She’s a singularly focused veterinarian out for a rare night of fun with friends, at a New Year’s Eve rock concert. Going home with the lead guitarist was furthest thing from Rihanna Mason’s mind when the night began. When Rihanna inadvertently becomes the target of a deadly terrorist plot using the Hendra virus as a biological weapon, Brayden is forced to reveal his other life. His job is to keep her safe and together they must stop the terrorists before it’s too late. But what happens when she becomes more to him than just the assignment? Will the secret he cannot disclose ultimately prove too much for Rihanna’s fragile trust in relationships? Or will he finally break through the double brick walls around her heart, where every other man has failed?



EXCERPT

He continued on, changing the subject before she had too long to linger in her thoughts about the attack. “Also, I have to admit that I noticed you out there, thought you were hot, and that I would like to know you better.” Well, that was the truth. He’d just omitted a key part. He couldn’t help the fact that she was his latest assignment.

The thick dark lashes blinked slowly as she looked up at him. “You think I’m hot?”

It was a question. She knew she was okay to look at. People didn’t run screaming from her approach but “hot” just wasn’t in her vocabulary. She was a practical person and didn’t dwell on looks or too much primping. She understood the need to be properly presented but she was not obsessed about how she looked.

“Honey, any guy with a pulse would think you’re hot.”

He added a big open smile that just about had her heart jumping out of her chest. Wow! This guy was more potent than global warming!

“Want to get out of here?”

“What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously.

“What I mean is you and I get up, walk out of here, and head somewhere else. The option of that somewhere else is up to you. We can either head home to your place or we can head back to mine.”

At the suggestion, Rihanna’s heart began to race again. Her thoughts turned to hot steamy bedroom scenes at his open suggestion of heading out.

God, she was sooo tempted.


BIO:

I recently discovered those school vocational assessments are really interesting and probably correct! Who would have thought, hey? You see, I clearly remember taking one of those in Year 11 (for my US friends, I think that equates to junior year in high school). Anyway, semantics. Well, the results came back indicating that I should pursue a career in writing and something else. What that something else was I can’t remember but the writing thing stuck in my mind. Sure, I’d always liked English and had already developed a ravenous appetite for romance novels by the age of sixteen—but who becomes a writer straight out of school? So to cut a long story short, I went to Uni and studied Business and ended up managing large-scale IT projects shortly after. I can’t complain: it’s been a great career. I’ve done some awesome projects and met some incredible people and I won’t be giving it up anytime soon. Anyway, I’ve messed around with a couple of “secret” novels over the years and I finally decided to get serious and finish one. Hence “Finding Trust” came about. And about twenty years later, I’ve finally proved a vocational assessment correct, because I love writing! As to some other stuff about me: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. I love spending time with my family and friends. When I’m not sitting behind a screen playing with IT or writing, you might find me down the beach playing in the waves on a Jet Ski or a bogey board (both are uber cool). When the weather turns a bit cooler (doesn’t really happen on the Gold Coast), we like to head for the snow. I’ve discovered I have two kids who are kamikaze skiers—they must take after their father. He’s always at me to “release the handbrake.” Apparently I’d ski so much better. I call it a healthy understanding of self-preservation and gravity! I like to think I can fit in a few workouts and martial arts classes each week. This tends to be a figment of my imagination more than reality, unfortunately. I am trying to remedy this, but those damn characters just keep demanding to have their stories told and, well, there’s always another good book to read! I hope you enjoy mine. Please drop me a line. I’m active on Facebook, Twitter, and via email Natalie@nataliegayle.com.au. I’d love to know what you think of my books and well, let’s be truthful—I love talking about books, whether they’re mine or someone else’s. Fiction is just so much more fun than reality!!! Happy Reading Natalie Gayle


BUY NOW LINK:
• Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Trust-Centre-Games-1/dp/0987514202/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362505219&sr=1-1&keywords=Finding+trust

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A Witch Without Magic

A Witch Without Magic


by Larisa Walk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:

When her neighbors accuse Belladonna of Satanism and making them age years to days, she must find who is behind it or face a modern day witch hunt. Her mysterious enemy knows where to strike to cause the most damage: Belladonna's only friend is losing his life-force; the garden that feeds her is dying; and her house ghost goes poltergeist. To save her neighbors and friends and prove her innocence, she must travel to the Otherworld where butterflies have razor wings and where her worst fears will come to life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


EXCERPT

The mob on the other side of the wrought iron fence wore no tri-cornered hats or starched bonnets. They didn’t brandish pitchforks or flaming torches. Hell, they didn’t even bring a preacher to drive the Devil out. Still, they had come to flush out a witch and the witch was me.

They were thirty all together, gathered outside my gate under the two California live oaks that shade the sidewalk in midday. I had to squint into the still hot mid-October sun to study their unfamiliar faces. The mob included several dwarves. The youngest dwarf must have been in her forties, a tiny woman that for some reason wore a yellow, red and blue Snow White dress with an appliquéd picture of Snow White on the chest. She didn’t look like a typical dwarf: no classically high forehead and her arms and legs were proportionate. She was holding a fluffy purple teddy bear by a front paw and sucking her thumb.

In the sun my forehead sweated under the straw hat. A mocking bird’s harsh chirrup burst from the oak on the right, piercing as a car horn. I flinched.

I don’t much like or trust people in large groups - doing time in Greenville State Prison for Women had taught me that. In prison the exercise yard is the most dangerous place to be: too many inmates in one area, too many chances to be stabbed with a shiv made from a sharpened toothbrush handle or from melted and hardened Styrofoam cups.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Larisa Walk, a native Russian, lives in California with her husband and two formerly homeless cats. She writes paranormal fiction that is more often than not populated by characters from the Russian fairy world. Her short fiction appeared in several anthologies and magazines. She has published a historic fantasy novel, A Handful of Earth, and a modern paranormal novel, A Witch Without Magic. See her quirky blog posts here: http://www.larisawalk.com


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Witch-Without-Magic-ebook/dp/B009JGYOQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363219858&sr=8-1&keywords=a+witch+without+magic+larisa+walk

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Blood, Ash, and Bone

Blood, Ash & Bone


by Tina Whittle
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0093-9
A 2013 HC release from Poisoned
Pen Press. 285 pages

Tai Randolph is an unusual character. She’s a southern gun-shop owner with her own set of tattoos and a questionable background. She also sports intimate contacts in her past with some seriously evil people, people like KKK members, like gun and booze runners. She’s also one of the go-to merchandisers of authentic costuming and equipment for Civil War re-enactors. This novel is Randolph’s third adventure.

There are big re-enactment doings coming up and Randolph has to pack up merchandise to set up at the Southeast Civil War Expo in Savannah. The first problem is her history. Savannah is her home town, seat of her family and scene of some of Tai’s most notorious escapades.

Complications arise almost immediately when her ex-lover a scallywag biker-cum-independent entrepreneur enlists her aid in retrieving a long-sought Bible, once thought to have been in the possession of both President Lincoln and General Sherman. Is it real or just a Maguffin? If it’s real, it’s worth a ton of money. According to John, Tai’s ex-boyfriend, the bible has been purloined by Tai’s ex-roommate, Hope. Hope and John were a heavy item some time ago but that relationship seems to have cooled.

Enter Tai’s current main squeeze, a seriously hot but damaged ex-cop, now a security expert for an upscale security firm in Atlanta. He obviously is highly suspicious of anything Tai’s ex boyfriend touches, especially Tai. Now add some layers of interesting active honest and criminally inclined citizens, some with too much money at hand and you have as rich a gumbo as any reader could ask for.

The story is fast-paced, clean and highly evocative of the place. Whether you’ve been to Savannah or not readers will revel in the city scenes and waterfront activity. Whittle knows her characters, her setting and how to tell a fine story. This one is an excellent novel.

A copy of the novel was supplied free of charge by the publisher.

-- Carl Brookins
www.carlbrookins.com http://agora2.blogspot.com,
Case of the Great Train Robbery, Reunion, Red Sky

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Authorsday: Chynna Laird

1. How did you pick the genre you write in?

I’ve written a few nonfiction books, but children/young adult is my favorite genre both to read as well as to write. I am a kid at heart, and I write from that place. It just seemed natural to me. The greatest compliment I’ve ever gotten was from a younger reader who told me she liked that I write as a young person would think and behave, and not as an adult remembering being a younger person. It was at that point I realized this was the genre I was supposed to work from.

2. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I definitely write by the seat of my pants. I’m one of those writers who doesn’t write every day (GASP!). I get an idea for a story, I actually see it from beginning to end in my head and then obsessively write until it’s finished. I do write out character’s names, research locations, etc. but for the most part I just write.

3. What drew you to the subject of DARK WATER?

In almost all of my stories, I include three things: an issue that may not be out there or understood as much as it should be, a musical element and grandparents somewhere in the storyline. As a mom of children with special needs, and a daughter of a mother who struggled with mental illness, I feel it’s very important to raise awareness for certain issues. In DARK WATER, for example, I touched on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the military as well as putting the spotlight on the Native culture. As a writer, I can bring light to these subjects in a non-threatening, entertaining way. And hopefully I achieved that.

4. What do you know now that you are published that you didn’t know pre-published that you wish you knew?

How very important self-promotion is. Many authors mistakenly believe that once their book is out there, their job is done. Nothing is further from the truth. It isn’t the publisher’s job to promote. They have other authors they are working with and other books to get out there. The author must take on a lot of that responsibility themselves. It’s hard, it’s a lot of work and can be time consuming but it’s worth it when you see sales taking off.



5. How many rejections have you received?

Oh good grief…more than I can count. Well, actually, I probably could because I’ve kept most of them. I know that sounds weird but one of my writing mentors once told me that writers should wear those rejections like badges of honor. It shows that we won’t give up, that we believe in ourselves and our work and we’ll keep trying.

6. Why did you pick the publisher that ultimately published your book?

I picked Imajin Books for two reasons. The first is because they are Canadian. All of my other books are represented by American publishers, which is great, but I really wanted DARK WATER to have a Canadian home. The other reason is because I wanted to work with Cheryl Tardif. Not only is she a best-selling author, she is a marketing genius. I felt both me and my book were in very capable hands.

7. Tell me one thing about yourself that very few people know?

I swear like a truck driver. I try not to reveal that in front of too many people since, as a writer, I know there are nicer words to use. I’m working on it. LOL!

8. Describe your book.

DARK WATER revolves around a sixteen-year old girl named Freesia Worth. Her mother disappeared and after a year, the search team has still found nothing but frustrating dead ends. Detective Cuaco, the head of the team searching for Freesia’s mother, has given the case until the end of the summer. After that, he would be forced to stamp the case as ‘cold’ and hand it over to the Feds.

Freesia refuses to allow that to happen. So, with the help of her crush Rick and a mysterious Goth girl named Mizu, they take on some of the investigation themselves. The deeper they dig, the more twists and turns they seem to reveal.

Above them all is The Watcher of the Lake, who not only helps lost souls find their way back home but also ensures that those in the living world are guided to the path they need to be on.

It’s a story with a bit of mystery, a sprinkle of young romance, a dash of suspense and a ghosty twist.

9. What would you like to learn to do that you haven’t? The one thing that I really need to learn is how to drive. I have a crushing fear of driving and I am determined to overcome it in the next year.

10. Where do you write?

My writing space is set up smack dab in the middle of my living room. That way I can still be with my kids and get work done too. I just make sure I get the stuff done that requires a lot of concentration before they come home from school (eg: writing intense scenes or doing editing), as four loud, crazy (sometimes fighting) kids tend to be very distracting.

Author Bio:

Chynna Laird is a freelance writer and award-winning author. Her passion is helping children and families living with Sensory Processing Disorder and other special needs. She’s authored a children’s book, two memoirs, a Young Adult novella, a YA paranormal/suspense novel and an adult Suspense/Thriller.

Website: www.chynna-laird-author.com
Main blog: www.the-gift-blog.com
Special needs blog: www.seethewhiteelephants.com

Book Blurb:

Some answers are found far beneath the surface…

Sixteen-year-old Freesia Worth has a mystery to solve—the disappearance of her mother at their family lake house. Her traumatized sister Sage hasn't said a word ever since that day.

After almost a year, Detective Barry Cuaco has found nothing but frustrating dead ends. Soon he'll have to let the case go. But Freesia isn’t making it easy for him. She needs answers. Now.

With the help of her secret crush, Rick, and a mysterious Goth girl named Mizu, Freesia learns about an ancient Native legend and a man known as the Watcher of the Lake.

Will Freesia finally uncover the truth? Or will the lake keep its secrets far beneath the dark water?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

ExcerpTuesday: Eliza Daley

Identity Crisis


by Eliza Daly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:

When Olivia Doyle’s father dies under suspicious circumstances, rather than inheriting a family fortune, she inherits a new identity. She learns they were placed in the Federal Witness Protection Program when she was five years old. Her father was involved in an art forgery ring and testified against the mob. Brought up not to trust anyone, Olivia has a difficult time relying on U.S. Marshal Ethan Ryder to protect her, and to keep her secret. She fears her father may have continued his life of crime through her art gallery. She has little choice but to depend on Ethan when she realizes someone is now after her. Olivia’s search for the truth leads her and Ethan across country to a family and past she doesn’t remember.

At the age of ten, Ethan witnessed a brutal murder. He vowed when he grew up, he’d protect people in danger. Protecting Olivia is difficult when she won’t trust him. He soon realizes his desire to protect her goes beyond doing his job, but if his judgment becomes clouded by emotions, her safety could be jeopardized.

Can Ethan and Olivia learn to trust each other when they uncover secrets that will change their lives forever?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Excerpt:

The footsteps drew closer. Her breathing quickened. The intruder paused outside the door and she held her breath, a death grip on the pepper spray. The barrel of a gun appeared through the doorway, followed by a man. In that split second, she blasted him with a steady stream.

“Shit!” he yelled, snapping his head away from the line of fire.

Unsure if she’d made a direct hit, she flew past him, still spraying the air behind her. Although it wasn’t a blanket mist, she couldn’t help but inhale some of the toxic vapors in the air. Her eyes burned slightly and she coughed, racing down the hallway and across the open foyer. She was almost to the door when the guy yelled out in a raspy voice, “Touch that door handle and I’ll shoot it off.”

She came to a screeching halt, unsure if he planned on aiming for the handle or her hand. The blood pulsating in her ears muffled the roar of the lawn mower as it passed by near a window. Nobody would hear her scream. She eyed the security alarm keypad on the wall by the door. Two quick steps and she could hit the panic button. Two quick steps and she might get shot. She slowly turned around, her gaze locking on the gun pointed at her from the opposite side of the foyer. Sheer panic pressed against her chest, and she sucked in a deep breath.

The guy cleared his throat. “I’m not gonna hurt you.” He cautiously lowered the gun, but didn’t holster it. “Unless you spray that crap again.” He blinked rapidly and ran a hand up over the top of his head, sweeping back a clump of wet hair. Her aim had obviously been off. It was impossible to spray straight when her body was shaking uncontrollably.

The guy’s dark hair was just shy of touching his shoulders and he had a five o’clock shadow. A black T-shirt covered his broad chest and faded, relaxed fitting jeans contradicted his rigid stance. A scar across his cheekbone, and a thin one slashing his eyebrow, added to his don’t mess with me look.

“I’m Ethan Ryder with the U.S. Marshals.” The man flashed a badge, then slipped it back in his pants’ pocket.

If the mob had hunted down her dad, who was to say it hadn’t been through a U.S. Marshal snitch? He’d trusted Roy Howard, not Ethan Ryder. Maybe he wasn’t even with the U.S. Marshals. Rather coincidental that he showed up right after a robbery.

“I assume you’re Olivia Doyle?”

At the back of her mind she heard her dad’s voice. Don’t trust him, Livvy. Be leery of people you know and certainly don’t trust someone you don’t know.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Eliza Daly’s first attempt at creative writing was in fourth grade. She and her friends were huge Charlie’s Angels fans and she would sit in her bedroom at night writing scripts for them to act out at recess the following day. She was Kelly Garrett. Fast forward to the present, she’s still writing stories about beautiful women who always get their men. The journey from fourth grade script writer to published author wasn’t an easy one, but it was always an adventure and the final destination was well worth it.


When Eliza isn’t traveling for her job as an event planner, or tracing her ancestry roots through Ireland, she’s at home in Milwaukee working on her next novel, bouncing ideas off her husband Mark, and her cats Quigley, Frankie, and Sammy.

You can find Eliza on the web at:
Website: http://www.elizadaly.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizaDalyAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ElizaDalyAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/elizadaly
Identity Crisis is available at Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00BFCUT44
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/identity-crisis-eliza-daly/1114782008?ean=9781440557361

Eliza will be awarding a one $20 Amazon or B & N Gift Certificates to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon or B & N Gift Certificate, winner's choice, to four (4) randomly drawn commenters during the tour. A $10 Amazon or B & N Gift Certificate, winner's choice, will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.