I am happy to host author Brenda Whiteside today so she can tell you about her new book, which is part of a four-book series. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my TBR list. I love this cover!
Thank you, Jan, for inviting me to share my new book with your followers. I am deeply grateful.
TURNING BITS OF MY LIFE INTO FICTION
Wild Horse Peaks is a four-book romantic suspense series set in Arizona, my home state, with the sequel set in Austria, a country I loved visiting. The characters in each book are either related or friends. The stories follow twisty paths of danger and suspense: a search to learn about birth parents who died…or were murdered, a mystery writer stalked by someone acting out her murder scenes, a politically driven madman chasing the last member of a family, her rockstar boyfriend, and a good old western land grab turned nasty. The sequel is an Austrian fairytale turned nightmare. And in the midst of all the mayhem—love
Each book holds a piece of my life. I think authors often weave in facets of themselves into their stories. The Art of Love and Murder has a Native American thread (I’m proud of my Indian blood) and a tie to the art community (my first idea for a career and why I went to college). In the second book, Southwest of Love and Murder, the heroine is a lusty, free-spirited author (my alter-ego). The hero in The Power of Love and Murder is a rocker and just might resemble my son years back, while one of the hero’s exploits is taken from the pages of my brother’s life. In the fourth book of the series, The Deep Well of Love and Murder, the only tie to the real me is the dog, Perro. He looks like my beloved Rusty, who died a few years ago.
Although the books are all connected, you can read them as standalones.
The Art of Love and Murder, Wild Horse Peaks book 1
Forty-three years after the airplane crash she survived killed her parents, Lacy Dahl is looking for answers. When her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew and disputes the identity of her father, someone is willing to murder to keep her discoveries hidden.
Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the death of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy, he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts make that impossible. Saving Lacy may be his only redemption.
Just as she begins to believe the present is more important than her past, Chance’s connection and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. When the truth is revealed, will the revelations free Lacy and Chance…or destroy them?
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
I’ve had another entertaining month of reading a wide variety of books from indie to mainstream authors. I only share reviews that garnered 4 stars and up.
This book contains two separate short stories, both in the horror genre. The first portrays two friends caught in a perilous situation. Not only are Billy and Frasier hopelessly stranded in the harsh Alaskan Wilderness, but Billy is convinced he is a vampire and must have human blood. The shocking events that take place in the story had me gasping. While parts of it are gruesome, it is a compelling story that drew me in. I had to see what happened, and the resolution, again, left me gasping!
The second story is set in the old west with dark magic, a mysterious train, evil revenge, and heart-stopping raging fires. Henderson has been labeled a coward by his peers but is the one chosen to broker a deal with the wealthy Widow Vandermeer when a wildfire threatens to destroy their small town. They need her train. What happens after that is chilling, even in the midst of an inferno. The author did a great job of writing both of these stories. She has a unique talent for telling a good horror story and sucking the reader right in. I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end of them both. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adrenaline rush.
This book is such a profound journey based on the life of a Native American known only as Grandfather. His teachings are basic, simple, and powerful. I loved all of the stories and how Grandfather approached teaching, always waiting for the student to be ready to receive. I also love how nature is also such an integral part of the teachings. Grandfather was undoubtedly a shaman of the highest order. The last section of the book is a hands-on teaching tool in which anyone can incorporate the practice of entering the Sacred Silence and beyond. But the success stories that follow the instruction phase of the book brought goosebumps to my arms. Just amazing! I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to deepen their spiritual journey with an open mind and heart. I will be forever changed because of what I learned between the pages of this book.
Jade Parsons is one of those lucky few who has a dream job she loves and a boss who is like a father to her. But now her boss has suffered a heart attack, and the boss’s estranged son, Eric, is at the helm running the company.
They clash right away. Jade knows how to run the modeling agency. Eric doesn’t. Yet, he is constantly demeaning her. Why? She’s good at what she does, and Eric’s father trusts her implicitly. As the story unfolds one delicious layer at a time, the reasons behind Eric’s behavior come to light. And to throw another layer of conflict and tension into the story, Jade’s gambling-addicted brother shows up desperately needing money and bringing danger to her door. She can’t turn her back on her family.
But when she is kidnapped, the stakes are raised. And what a shock that it is Eric who comes to her rescue. There are lots of family dynamics in this story, but the aspect I loved the most is the mortar and pestle that has been passed down to Jade from her grandmother, who is a shaman and healer. There is a scene in which Jade is smudging herself and Eric when she drops the mortar and pestle breaking it into four pieces. It’s exciting when the vessel heals itself. It’s magically restored back to pristine condition. This is a romance, but the plot and storyline outweigh the romance part and I love that. The romance is an added bonus. If you love a good story with mystical magic, you will love this book! It is a quick and easy read, and I highly recommend it.
This story is written in a unique way that I’ve never seen before, and before I start my review of the book, I’d like to commend the author for her creativity in telling this story. It is comprised of twelve vignettes – a story for each month of the year.
Laci and Del had been an item, and a year has passed since their breakup when they reconnect at a New Year’s Eve party. The same attraction and spark are there, but there is no trust. After all, their previous relationship ended suddenly with no explanation, no note, and not even a forwarding address. And now, here they are at the same party and alone outside on the balcony. What starts out as an awkward conversation quickly progresses to soft kisses and the desire to try again.
They move back into the comfortable relationship they remember, but both are carrying secrets and the misunderstandings between them loom large. I found myself rooting for them and, at the same time wanting to give them a swift kick in the pants and make them sit down and be honest about what happened. Then when it almost happens again, there doesn’t seem to be any redemption for this couple. They move through tumultuous times, happy times, laughter, tears, and everything in between as the next year of their lives unfolds. If you love a good romance with characters that will linger with you after you reach the end of the book, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a fast read, perfectly paced, and well-written.
It is no secret that I am a died-in-the-wool fan of Colleen Hoover’s writing. She knows how to bring the reader into the story and be a participant.
With over 200,000 reviews, Verity is one of those books that I will remember years from now. There were so many things I loved about it. First of all, Lowen is an author I could relate to. She’s written a few books and makes a little money, but she’s an introvert and shies away from any public interaction with her readers. Things take a huge turn when her agent calls her about a meeting he insists she attends. And what are the odds that a man would step out in the path of a vehicle and die right in front of her on the way to the meeting? Not only die but splatter blood all over her blouse. She is beyond traumatized when a stranger steers her into a nearby restroom and gives her the shirt off his back so she can still attend her meeting. But then imagine Lowen’s surprise when the stranger is in the same meeting. The stranger’s wife is Verity Crawford, a world-renowned author who is now incapacitated due to a car wreck. They need someone to finish the series Verity was working on before the accident. Jeremy Crawford chose Lowen and insists she is the right one to finish his wife’s work. They make Lowen an offer she can’t refuse. Step in and finish the series and, in return, receive a million dollars.
While everything inside her screams, “No,” she can’t refuse an offer like that. And there is something about Jeremy she can’t say no to. What Lowen finds in Verity’s office is horrifying. Then when she begins to suspect the woman is faking her injuries, the tension mounts. And it doesn’t help that Lowen has now fallen in love with Jeremy. I wish I could express this multi-dimensional story layout in a way you could visualize. Between character interactions and Lowen reading Verity’s autobiography, it’s a gripping tale I could not put down. I couldn’t read it fast enough. The climactic ending left me stunned. I will not leave any spoilers. I’ll just say that if you love a suspense-filled story with strong sexual undertones, you will devour this book as I did!
This story opens with a prologue that portrays a disturbing scene where a four-year-old boy thinks he has witnessed the murder of his mother. Only no one believes him. From there, the story jumps to the present day.
I love the setting of this story. Who wouldn’t love living in a mock old western town? Add in daily entertainment for the tourists, and you have a fabulous place.
But things take a turn for the town’s manager, Cassidy, when she hires West, a mysterious stranger, to be the fix-it man for the town. She is attracted to the soft-spoken man with a chiseled body. He has a dark past, only she doesn’t know what it is, and he isn’t willing to share. But the doctor who gives West his work physical sees the scars the man carries. They tell the tale of the abuse West has suffered.
When dead bodies start to turn up in the town, emotions slip into high gear. This is a family-friendly amusement destination and shouldn’t be a murder scene, but it is. Everyone is a suspect. As Cass and West grow closer, and he shares his story, she falls in love with this man who has suffered a lifetime of unimaginable abuse at the hand of his influential father.
The entire story unfolds with a few complicated plot twists that keep the reader guessing. My only critique of the story is the head-hopping between characters. But this is the author’s debut novel and my guess is that she will hone her writing skills with more practice. Her background as a registered nurse helped tremendously in making certain events in this story realistic for the reader. If you like a good mystery in a fabulous setting with a sprinkling of romance, you will enjoy this story. I’d like to see a sequel.
That’s it for this month. I hope you found something you’d like to check out! Thank you for visiting!
Hello, fellow readers! I’m thrilled to tell you about a new book just released from Lisa Harris. I enjoyed reading it.
SURVIVAL
Fallout Series, Book 1
by
Lisa Harris
Dystopian / Science Fiction / Mystery / Christian
Publisher: Adrenaline-Fueled Fiction
Pages: 236 pages
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!
In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.
When one of the men in charge of storing food for the town of Shadow Ridge is found murdered execution style, it’s up to Jace McQuaid to find the killer. What he discovers is a group of organized raiders who are stealing supplies and selling them on the black market—and the survival of the town depends on stopping them.
Morgan Addison’s estranged brother, Ricky, shows up at her house demanding weapons and confirming her fears that he’s a part of the outlaws. Tensions are raised further when Ricky kidnaps her son to ensure his safe passage out of town. Jace must find a way to save Noah and ensure the survival of Shadow Ridge.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
“An adrenaline rush of a read! Summed up in one word: Unputdownable!” ~Kav, Amazon reviewer
“Once again Lisa Harris has created a creative world full of intrigue, suspense, and action! This book is irresistible! I can’t wait to finish with the rest of the series!” ~Dawn, Amazon reviewer
“Excellent. Lisa Harris at her best.” ~Chipchucker, Amazon reviewer
“The book starts with a bang and does not slow down.” ~Grandaddy A, Amazon reviewer
“This is an absolute must read!!” ~Carlien, Amazon reviewer
LISA HARRIS is a USA Today bestselling author, a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom, Vendetta, and Port of Origin, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has fifty plus novels and novellas in print. She and her husband currently live in Texas.
What would you miss most if the grid went down? While not as essential as toilet paper or air-conditioning during a Texas summer, I think the McQuaid heroines from this series would love a bit of self-care—and so would I. – Author Lisa Harris
It gives me great pleasure to host my friend and Story Empire colleague, Joan Hall, today! She has a brand-new collection of mystery, suspense, and contemporary short stories. But I’ll let her tell you about it.
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Jan, and for sharing your space to talk about my latest release, Menagerie. It’s a mixed-genre compilation of thirteen short stories. Each tour stop features a different story where I tell what inspired me to write it.
Like me, you’re a music lover. Summerwood is a contemporary fiction story where the male lead is a guitarist in a popular rock band.
Most of the time, I don’t have a title for a book or story until I’ve completed it. This wasn’t the case for Summerwood. I had a title before I knew the first line. It came about because of the name a housing development I passed while driving to work. One morning, I knew I had to write a story with that title.
The only thing I could envision was a young woman browsing a local farmer’s market. Character names, scenes, and the genre came later. The idea of the young woman shopping in an outdoor farmer’s market was inspired by an Al Stewart song from the 1970s, “Year of the Cat.” That’s all I had.
Summerwood is one of two stories inspired by a photo prompt. Many of your readers knew the late Suzanne Burke, and some participated in her weekly flash fiction prompt. One week, she had a picture of a young man on stage. I wrote a short piece about a rock star who’d grown weary of life on the road. After a lengthy tour, he planned to go home where he could unwind.
I wanted to expand the story, and it dawned on me Summerwood was the perfect place. I made a few changes—the lead character, Dylan, became a lead guitarist instead of the lead singer. That seemed to fit better for what I had in mind.
In the story, Dylan collapses on stage and has to drop out of a lengthy tour. He goes home to the town of Summerwood, where he rekindles a relationship with his good friend, Lydia. Dylan comes to the realization that life on the road isn’t what he thought it would be, so he ponders his future.
For the answer, I turned to a real person. The late John Defoore was a music instructor who taught guitar to many popular singers, including Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Michelle Shocked. In the late 1990s, he bought an old hotel in the nearby town of Mineola, Texas, with the idea of hosting a music-performing venue. He ran the Piney Woods Woods Pickin’ Parlor for seventeen years.
Story ideas often come in the most unlikely places and times. I never thought I would blend the name of a housing development, a flash fiction prompt, inspiration from a song, and a real music venue into a short story, but I’m pleased with the way Summerwood came together.
Excerpt:
After Bodie’s announcement about extending the tour the prior evening, Dylan couldn’t even say his usual mantra. The additional weeks were more than he wanted to think about. All he could do was take one day at a time.
Tonight. If I can just get through tonight.
He was in the middle of a guitar solo when everything began spinning. The bright lights dimmed, and the music was barely audible. Even his instrument seemed foreign. Something wasn’t right. The last thing he remembered was Sid rushing to his side.
Blurb:
King’s. The Tower of London. Glass. What do these have in common?
Each is a famous menagerie.
While this Menagerie doesn’t focus on exotic animals, it does contain a collection of stories that explore various trials people face and how their reactions shape their worlds.
Survivors of a haunted bridge. Women who wait while their husbands fight a war. Former partners reuniting to solve a cold-case murder.
These are just three of the thirteen stories in this compendium, encompassing past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality. The genres and timelines are varied, but there’s a little something for everyone who enjoys reading about simpler times and small-town life.
I am thrilled to host my friend and colleague from Story Empire today, Mr. John W. Howell! He has a new book to share. I’m going to give him the floor. Take it away, John!
I am so pleased to be with you today, Jan I want to thank you for helping spread the word about The Last Drive. Golly Jan, you have had a heck of a year in 2022. Your successful launch of two books was an amazing accomplishment. I am launching this book after about a two-year period since the last. I have revised my writing goals so that it takes me a little longer to finish a manuscript. I had not expected to do a sequel to Eternal Road, but one day there I was, faced with that blank screen. It felt natural to start on a book that would, in some ways, put the finishing touches on the story that was already published. So here we are.
Here is the blurb, and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.
The Blurb
In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.
The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey takes the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.
This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.
An Excerpt.
Sam frowns. “The last time they got in touch, they were playing in a football game.”
“A football game? Which one?”
“The AFL and NFL championship match-up that became known later as Super Bowl One.”
“No. That was the last time they were on the radar, so to speak.”
“You-know-who could have done something with them.”
“You can say Lucifer.”
James glances around. “The last time I had anything to do with that creep, he told me to mention his name, and he would be right there.”
Sam puts her hand on James’s arm. “I know, but you’re in your Eternal Home. He can’t touch you here.”
“So, you think Lucifer is behind this so-called-missing scenario?”
Sam nods. “I sure do, but the only way to check it out is to go to that game and figure out what happened.”
“Super Bowl One. Holy cow. I read about that game. I never thought I would see it, though.”
“From what I know, Ryan Sanders was playing quarterback, and Eddie was the center.”
“Which team?”
Book Trailer
Buy Links
The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.
John is an award-winning author who, after an extensive business career, began writing full-time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
John lives in Lakeway, Texas, with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.
Genre: Romantic Mystery Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing Date of Publication: March 20, 2018, Revised 2022
Number of Pages: 284
Scroll down for the giveaway!
PEOPLE DIE, BUT LEGENDS LIVE ON.
Manhattan antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury dreams of a quiet life on the family farm among the sheep she loves, when her best friend is murdered. The police assume robbery is the motive because her friend’s expensive bracelet is missing. But the 500-year-old artifact is rumored to carry an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family—and Annalisse believes her friend is the latest victim.
Weeks later, Annalisse sees a necklace matching the stolen bracelet at a gallery opening. Convinced the necklace is part of the deadly collection, Annalisse begs the gallery’s owner to destroy the piece, but her pleas are ignored— despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act.
Desperate to keep the gallery owner safe, Annalisse reluctantly enlists the owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.
Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped. As time lapses, the killer switches mode and closes in on the man who’s meant for Annalisse with the lifestyle she wants most.
But when it’s her turn as the hunted, will she choose to save Alec and his mother, or sacrifice everything to save herself?
Hold on for a heart-thumping adventure through exotic lands in this fast moving, romantic suspense mystery by Marlene M Bell.
Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep in beautiful East Texas with her husband, Gregg, three cats and a flock of horned Dorset sheep.
The Annalisse series — mysteries with a touch of romance — has received numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity) and FAPA (Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award) for two other installments, Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy. She also penned the first of her children’s picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.
It’s always a GREAT pleasure to host fellow local authors. Rox Burkey and Charles Breakfield live near me, and are a talented, dynamic duo writing team. I’m thrilled to tell you about their latest!
THE FLOWER ENIGMA Magnolia Bluff Crime
Chronicles, Book 5
by CHARLES BREAKFIELD
& ROX BURKEY
Small Town Mystery / Suspense / Amateur Sleuths
Publisher: ICABOD Press
Pages: 198 pages
Publication Date: August 20, 2022
Scroll down for giveaway!
Imagine a romantic getaway in the Texas Hill Country
JJ, a cyber guru, whisks his girlfriend, Jo, away for a vacation. No paparazzi. Magnolia Bluff is the perfect destination. Flower B&B is prettier than the pictures on the website.
The evangelizing podcast creators are demanding answers about the town’s newest resident, Mateo Hernandez. The enormous wall he erected has convinced the ladies he’s hiding nefarious activities behind a dubious attorney. Local authorities don’t believe laws are broken and discount the women as meddling gossips.
When the couple checks into Flower, the podcast show-in-progress is interrupted by a cyberattack. JJ, the techno-geek, can’t resist helping. At each subsequent event in the series, he uncovers more serious issues than cyberwarfare.
JJ and Jo can’t avoid this roving series maelstrom. It gets personal when they’re attacked and warned to leave town. No one can conceive the depth of the crimes behind Mateo’s walls.
Breakfield is a technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. Charles is a fan of wine tastings, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.
Burkey is a technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments. She works with customers all over the world, focusing on optimized customer experiences. Rox writes white papers and documentation but found she has a marked preference for writing fiction.
Together these Texas authors create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, as well as young and experienced adults. They bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today in exciting stories. Visit their website for more information and free stuff.
Riveting from start to finish! That’s the only way I know to describe Taylor Moore’s second book in the Garrett Kohl series. The story opens in the midst of a gripping confrontation with a deadly cartel boss in which bullets are flying, and bodies are falling. Folks, that’s just the first chapter, and it only escalates from there.
From the drug lord takedown in the first chapter to Russian espionage in the final chapters, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Talon, a large international energy consortium, has moved into the Texas panhandle, where Garrett Kohl owns a ranch, and they possess the mineral rights to his land. That’s where the trouble starts. This book is filled with pedal-to-the-metal, heart-stopping danger and action involving the CIA, DEA, and high-level governments across the globe.
There are a good many characters and different points of view in this story, but each was necessary and vital to keep it moving. Knowing what each character was thinking and feeling added depth to the story without turning into head-hopping.
I love how Moore interjects such strong Texas sayings and influences. For example, “Among the many things to be learned since his arrival in Texas was the cowboy code. The rules weren’t written or spoken but rather lived out during everyday life.” And this: “Whether it was the rusted pumpjacks to the south or the windswept ranches and farmland to the north, it was a place with a deep soul and tough-as-leather exterior.”
Moore’s knowledge of and love for this rugged land shines through in his writing. Family loyalty, respect for and love for the godforsaken plains of Northwest Texas, and realistic, unforgettable characters are what place this pulse-pounding tale a head and shoulders above the rest.
The author put in just enough backstory that any reader won’t be lost by starting the series with this book. However, I do highly recommend reading “Down Range” first, simply because you don’t want to miss out on any part of this series!
If you are a fan of edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this series is for you!
Want to keep up with what this ambitious author is doing? Psssst…rumor has it that Down Range is being made into a movie. Congrats to Taylor!
Everyone knew that Roanne never got angry—until the night she killed her ex-husband and herself.
Roanne, a nice, suburban lady in her sixties who works at a Hallmark shop and volunteers at the Food Bank in Round Rock, Texas, calls her lifelong friend, Connie, confesses to murder, then puts the gun to her own head. Connie, spurred by Roanne’s last words about a lifetime of unspoken rage, sets aside her work as a cozy mystery writer and cupcake shop owner to confront the men who have stolen her dignity while she remained silent, including a bully brother, a rapist, and an ex-spouse.
On a journey to reclaim her inner power and to make peace with the loss of her treasured friend, Connie’s mission is to avoid the same tragic path as Roanne, but she takes along a gun, just in case.
With pathos and humor, Paper Targets, by Patricia Watts, calls us to speak our own narratives, even when it is uncomfortable or risky, and shows us the magnificence of a friendship that transcends time.
Patricia Watts worked as a journalist for more than 20 years for newspapers in Texas, Hawaii, and Alaska. Following her news career, she tried her skill as a paralegal and then spent ten years investigating discrimination cases for the Alaska Human Rights Commission. Her novels include: Ghost Light and The Big Empty, crime mysteries co-written with Alaska author Stan Jones; The Frayer, suspense noir; and Watchdogs, a steamy thriller. Her home base is San Diego. She earned her B.A. in journalism at Humboldt State in California. She is the mother of a son and daughter and has eight grandchildren.
I am super happy to bring you a brand new book release from my longtime friend and fellow Story Empire contributor, D.L. Finn! Not only is she a poet extraordinaire, but a fabulous children’s story and novel author.
I will be sharing my review of this wonderful story a little later this month. But for now, I’ll turn it over to D.L. and let her tell you about her newest book release.
Thank you, Jan, for having me on your beautiful blog to celebrate the release of A Voice in the Silence.
Do you believe in ghosts? The possibility that there are some souls who just haven’t moved on because they have some unfinished business, or perhaps they just want to hang around and make sure everyone is okay?
Unfortunately, most of us can’t sit down and talk with these lingering spirits, but they do have ways to let us know they are here with us. They might move stuff around, a song that had meaning to you comes on, or you feel the spirit there next to you. There is that unmistakable cold spot they bring with them, and visitations in dreams. The most important message that often comes through is they want you to know they are there with you and they love you.
Then there are those who are gifted, like mediums. They can pass a vague message along to you from the other side. But what if you could directly communicate with your loved one? Would it be a normal conversation like you used to have with them, or would it be something different since they have changed? This communication ends up much like traveling to a different country where they speak a language you are unfamiliar with. The other side seems to have a language of its own.
So getting a message from the spiritual realm might take a bit of translating. Or at least that’s what Drea is about to learn from some very unlikely translators in A Voice in the Silence.
Fun Finn Facts
After sitting at the desk writing, I need to exercise by walking in the forest or doing my stretches.
Our dog Sara, and either my kitties Rupert or Zuzu, are my computer companions.
Drea Burr has experienced more than her share of loss when a stray dog, cat, and rat enter her life. Although the animals start to mend her broken heart, there is something very unusual about them. During a snowstorm, Drea discovers a chilling set of footprints leading to her front window. Both the police and a ghostly messenger warn her about a killer stalking widows. Help comes from her late husband’s best friend, Adam Hale. As the two try to discover answers, more questions arise— about a killer, ghosts, and animals experimented on in a lab.
Can Drea and Adam survive the threats coming from so many directions and save themselves and the animals they’ve grown to love? Or will more tragedy destroy her second chance at happiness? Find out in this thrilling, cozy paranormal adventure.
Excerpt
The fading day’s dull orange glow filled the void in Drea’s attention usually occupied by the TV and computer. The landscape held no movement, not even the expected high winds that had caused her power to be shut off to prevent forest fires. A surge shot through her body in the same uncomfortable fashion that the flu had done last week. But it wasn’t a virus relapse—it was a warning that someone, or something, was watching her.
Perhaps it was a wild animal. A deer, or even . . . “Rob, is that you?” She held her breath, waiting for a sign. Finally, she blew out the empty hope when she couldn’t keep it in anymore. Two years of this had worn her down.
The cold gun on her lap offered no protection against the dark thoughts that took her to a place that was getting harder to climb out of. She pulled her sweater tightly around her and scrutinized the tree-lined driveway that led to the curvy country road. She shifted her weight in the yellow-and-white lounge chair and studied the weapon in her hand.
“You understand, don’t you?”
The .45 pistol her husband had bought her for protection ten years ago had become her confidant when she tired of talking to ghosts. Today, though, it carried the heavy weight of her existence.
“It’s too much. Just too much loss. I’m so alone, and to top it off, Robbie’s so far away.” Her throat tightened. She sipped some water and took a deep breath. “I must disappoint you, even thinking about using this gun on myself, Rob. It would devastate Robbie if I—”
Drea’s shoulders slumped, and her head followed when her glance caught a prominent headline in the morning paper she had retrieved from the end of the driveway. An unidentified woman’s body had been found, and a killer was on the loose. She used the gun to cover the fearful headline, even though her chances of being murdered by a serial killer were slim to none.
She shook her head. What she needed to focus on was her relationship with her son. They used to be so close, before he met that woman. Now he barely called his mother to check on her after his father died or when her beloved pets passed. This morning had brought an unwelcome text from him.
Tammy isn’t feeling well. It wouldn’t be a good time to visit right now. Sorry, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.
“I hope he wakes up someday, Rob. That woman is toxic. Of course, you saw through her the first time you met her. I should have listened to you. Do you hear that, Rob? It’s me admitting I’m wrong, which we both know hardly ever happens.”
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include adult fiction, poetry, a unique autobiography, and children’s books. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
Writing and Music 
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