Tag: paranormal

In Between: Stories of the Eververse

On By Sherrie CroninIn features and reviews, science fiction5 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Darby Harn and his speculative fiction book  In Between: Stories of the Eververse.

Author’s description

Telepathic wolves. Zombie gangsters. Sentient houses. Just another day for Kit Baldwin.

Fifty years after an alien ship crashed in Break Pointe, the only protection in a strange new world is Great Power, a corporation of superhumans. If you can afford them. Most people can’t.

Enter Kit Baldwin, a young woman who helps people to help people. Except her power is the alien’s power, and she may be more of a danger to her city than she is a help.

This collection of stories and novellas follows Kit’s journey in a series that’s been called ‘the next logical step after Watchmen.’

About Darby Harn

Darby Harn studied at Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Irish Writing Program. He is the author of the sci-fi superhero novel EVER THE HERO. His short fiction appears in Strange Horizons, Interzone, Shimmer, The Coffin Bell and other venues.

Find Darby Harn

Website: darbyharn.com
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/darbyharn
Goodreads: goodreads.com/darby_harn
Twitter: twitter.com/DarbyHarn
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Darby-Harn-255976537767428

Buy the Book

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Country-Eternal-Light-Darby-Harn-ebook/dp/B0921W3QNF

 

A minor character who insisted on playing a larger role

I love asking authors if they had a minor character who insisted on playing a larger role. Read on for Darby Harn’s interesting answer!

In many respects that’s Abi. Abi is the girlfriend of Kit Baldwin, the main character of In Between: Stories of the Eververse. Kit and Abi have a problem. Kit fused with the alien power of The Ever, allowing her to acquire energy – of which people are mostly – on contact. So she and Abi can’t touch at the outset of the book. The distance reflects in a lot of ways the barriers in relationships between autistic people like Kit and neurotypical ones like Abi.

Abi comes out of nowhere in the first book in the series, Ever The Hero. Abi works with Kit, she’s funny, she’s a sidekick. I needed someone to walk through the door in a scene and Abi came through, pretty much fully formed. She became a major part of Kit’s life and of the story in a way I couldn’t have ever imagined, I’m writing book five of the Eververse now and Abi and Kit are fundamentally bound at the heart of the story.

I wrote this book over the last four years and I feel different about some of it now than I did toward the beginning. I discovered I was autistic about five years ago. A lot of my growth and understanding has really only come in the last year. That reflects where Kit’s at in this book. She’s learning a lot about herself. Abi acts as a buffer for Kit. Kit doesn’t function figuratively and now literally in large groups. Really any typical situation most people take for granted. Abi filters all that for her. She fills in all the blanks. I liked playing with the idea of a healthy relationship between two people experiencing the world in different ways. Abi is quick, loose, funny, and sure of what she wants. Kit is none of those things. She’s guarded, quiet, funny but in a different way.

Abi plays a big role in this book. Her relationship with Kit evolves over the course of the stories and novellas and hopefully adds some context to what readers have already read. Abi isn’t all sunshine. She challenges Kit as much as she protects her. She struggles with some of Kit’s behaviors. They both help each other grow and I hope to keep charting their evolution in the series. The more I learn about myself and how I connect with other people, the more I want to embody some of that in the writing. They’re learning together how to be together. They’re learning new ways of being. One of the things I love most about this book is how they discover a romance that is only theirs.

Yes, there is a giveaway

Darby Harn will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter here to win.

This post is part of a tour sponsored by Goddess Fish.

My Favorite Excerpt

Post Credits Scene:

“Bring my girlfriend back to life,” the old man says.

Since I got my powers, I get all kinds of strange requests. A fair number of them are curiously sexual, but mostly people ask me to do some good in the world. Catch asteroids. Cure cancer, end hunger, please and thank you. You know.

Little things.

This one might go up on the fridge. Bring his girlfriend back to life? He could do with some help himself. Seventy, maybe. Liver spots. A rattle in his chest like a bad engine. Still, he got up here on the roof. He knew it was me, warming my feet with the other birds.

Sometimes, I don’t know when I’m me.

Thank you!

Darby Harn — we appreciate your sharing your book In Between: Stories of the Eververse with us! Best of luck with sales, and with all of your future writing.

The Descendants

On By Sherrie CroninIn fantasy, features and reviews3 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Destiny D Hawkins and her dark dystopian fantasy, The Descendants.

Author’s description

Fail the tests and become a slave. Display defectiveness and be put to death.

Monroe Academy was built to separate the weak from the strong. Pass the biyearly leveling and be released into society upon graduation. Fail to be promoted and be stripped of rank and forced into servitude. That was a rule that applied to all but Rayah Bardeau. A student of Monroe Academy, branded as a Null because of her absence of Lighter energy.

With her mother standing as a slave in her place, Rayah was given until the age of twenty to make level six, but at nineteen-years-old and with only eight months until her twentieth birthday, she was only a mere level one. The same level she’s been since she was ten. With the stress of her upcoming test, the loss of a friend, and the constant wrongdoings towards her, Rayah could only dream of escaping from Lytonia, and escape she did. Only, when she awakened in her dorm, she couldn’t distinguish if she had only dreamt of meeting Soren, a wild and adventurous defect in the Wild Lands, or if she had somehow used her Lighter Form to get there.

But only the elite ― the most powerful of Lighters ― could tap into their Lighter Forms. Right? And what was the dark energy she used when she and Soren were attacked by Depleters? Was Rayah really as powerless as she thought? Was she a defect? And if she used dark energy, could she call herself a Lighter at all?

Bestselling author Destiny Hawkins brings you the first installment of a gripping dark fantasy where a powerless girl must survive in a society that doesn’t accept the weak…or the defective.

About the Author

Destiny Hawkins is a multi-genre author with a dark imagination and a love for magic.

She enjoys working on her graphic designing business : Vibrant Designs LLC, writing, listening to music, reading, and of course watching some anime! Her favorite genres to read and work in are Fantasy, LGBT, Paranormal, Romance, Dystopian, Sci-fi, and young adult.

Destiny loves creating stories and building worlds that both teach and entertain! When writing she sticks to her slogan: Where beauty can be found in darkness.

Get ready for The Unbroken, Book Three of The Descendants Series!

Find the Author

JOIN FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lytonians
INSTAGRAM: thehealthy_artist or https://www.instagram.com/thehealthy_artist/
WEBSITE: https://www.authordhawkins.com/

Find the Book

BOOK DOWNLOAD LINK
YOUTUBE TRAILER LINK
Goodreads
BLOGGER BOOK REVIEW LINK
Amazon

Yes, there is a giveaway

The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter here to win.

This post is part of a tour sponsored by Goddess Fish. Check out all the other tour stops. If you drop by each of these and comment, you will greatly increase your chances of winning.

My Favorite Excerpt

I let my hand drop to my side and began walking but didn’t even make it a few feet before hearing twigs and leaves crunching on my left. When I turned my head to see who or what it was, I froze, and my lips parted to inhale.

Oh, no.

Psycho had also stopped walking when he spotted me, looking almost as shocked as I was. If he were any regular guy that I’d spotted in the forest, I would have blushed at his handsomeness. I couldn’t see him as well the first night that we met, but now that I was looking at him in the brightness of the day, I couldn’t stop staring. The sun rays shining down on him only made it harder for me to turn away, but when my eyes landed on the Life Stones dangling from around his neck, I frowned.

A slow and devious grin crept up Psycho’s lips. “Found you.”

Right as I started to run, white lighting blasted from Psycho’s fingertips. He didn’t expect me to slide under it, roll to my feet, and continue running. I was experienced in having others try and use their powers to keep me from escaping, so I naturally knew how to get around some things.

I heard crackles of lightning slicing through the air behind me, barely missing me by a hair each time. Splinters of wood exploded from the trees, warning me not to slow down. Psycho was probably more experienced in chasing his victims than I was in running from my attackers, so I had to consider that he was leading me in the direction that I was going.

I wanted to stop and turn but changing direction would be dangerous. I could turn right, making myself an easier target, I could go in the opposite direction, giving him a few seconds time to zap me, or I could just charge at him and catch him by surprise. He was just an elem. It was the brights that I had a hard time fighting against, since they were so fast and strong, but Psycho－

Fire roared past my face, causing me to slide to a stop. I wasn’t paying attention and had almost been burned. The heat of the flame kept me from running through it, making me think back to Artemis and his hot iron rods. I couldn’t believe that my thoughts of being burned again had hindered me from escaping. I had run through fire plenty of times before, patting off the fire patches as I got away, but this time I couldn’t move. Artemis had done something to my mind, causing me freeze in fear.

Thank you!

Destiny D Hawkins — we appreciate your sharing your book The Descendants with us! Best of luck with sales, and with all of your future writing.

Pixies in the Mist

On By Sherrie CroninIn fantasy, features and reviews1 Comment

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Rasta Musick and his fantasy novel, Pixies in the Mist.

Author’s description

Jake had drifted to Japan without any serious intent, and it was going… okay. He had made friends in the local Salsa community, his Japanese was improving, but for Jake the familiar feeling that had dogged him most of his life—that something special should be happening—had struck again.

 

Kenneth had been assigned to Japan by the pixie queen years ago, which is just enough time for a pixie to get bored and complacent while keeping tabs on the local talent. Most humans had no magic, and most magical humans didn’t know it was their power that made their food taste better, their paintings more vibrant, or people like them more.

 

When the two met, the spark in Jake gave Kenneth’s role a new urgency. Jake didn’t just have magic, he had a wild and unpredictable kind seen only once in a generation. How could Kenneth keep Jake’s magic from falling into enemy hands? Kill him? Recruit him? Somehow keep him ignorant?

 

Jake’s magic had quietly led him to Japan, subtly influencing every choice in his life. That something special Jake had been waiting for was about to happen, ensuring his and Kenneth’s lives would never be boring again.

About the Author

Rasta Musick spent the first 12 years of his life in California before moving to Japan with his family. After graduating from college with a Bachelor’s in economics at the age of 16, he spent the years after learning Japanese and working. Having spent more than half his life in Japan, he’s confident that it’s his home.

With many different hobbies, chief of them being Latin dance, he keeps himself physically active as well as mentally active as much as he can. The Latin dance community in Japan is alive and, surprisingly, quite large.

Rasta has lupus and hereditary coproporphyria. Given their complicated nature, he’s had to learn a lot to adapt and manage them. The process also taught him a lot about managing other aspects of his life, and all of this influences his writing.

Find the Author

Author page: https://cinnabarmoth.com/rasta-musick/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RastaMusick

Buy the Book

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pixies-Mist-Rasta-Musick/dp/1953971180
BN:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pixies-in-the-mist-rasta-musick/1139878846
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1095165

Yes, there is a giveaway

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter here to win.

This post is part of a tour sponsored by Goddess Fish. Check out all the other tour stops. If you drop by each of these and comment, you will greatly increase your chances of winning.

My Favorite Excerpt

Kenneth smoothed out the short, red spikes of his hair with one hand as he stood in front of the train’s mirror. He could feel the glances of the other passengers, though he pretended not to notice. He finally had a night to himself. While it had only been three months, it felt like a century had passed. He would know, having lived long enough. The constant grind of finding magical humans, or marks, and handling them rarely left him with any opportunities to enjoy himself. He tried to loosen the stiffness in his shoulders as he thought back over his responsibilities. Over the next few days, he would have to work to increase trust with two marks. And he would need to squeeze in time to reach out to his connections to several others that he had already gotten processed. The life of a pixie was never dull.

For the evening, he had the opportunity to put those concerns to the side. He resisted the urge to smile as he thought about it. A night of dancing was exactly what he needed to feel relaxed and settled. Despite the years of experience, adopting different personas to deal with people still took its toll. A single night of free expression was the perfect fix.

Thank you!

Rasta Musick  — we appreciate your sharing your book Pixies in the Mist  with us! Best of luck with sales, and with all of your future writing.

A Link Between Two Worlds

On By Sherrie CroninIn fantasy, features and reviews3 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Gabriella Kikwaki and her bilingual middle grade fantasy series,  A Link Between Two Worlds.

Author’s description

A three book bilingual series

Book 1:
Two worlds, one goal. The story will all be revealed. Hey, my name’s Alaura. In this story, I found out that there’s a parallel universe to Earth’s called Aliese. I also have a long-lost relative, my sister Alia. But not everything is as great as it seems; there’re evil forces called the Gaulris out to destroy the worlds with their leader, Lord Zefron. My friends, my sister, and I must find a way to stop this force before they reunite the two parallel universes, which will be total destruction.

Deux mondes, un objectif, l’histoire va être révélée. Bonjour, mon nom c’est Alaura. Dans cette histoire, je découvre qu’il y a un univers parallèle à la planète Terre qui s’appelle Aliese. J’apprends aussi que j’ai une soeur, nommée Alia, perdue depuis longtemps. Mais tout n’est pas aussi beau qu’il n’y paraît, il y a également les forces du mal : les Gaulris et leur roi Zefron. C’est pourquoi mes amis, ma soeur et moi devons arrêter le roi Zefron avant qu’il ne réunisse les deux univers parallèles, ce qui serait une destruction totale.

Book 2:
The future is never a straight path.

Hey, my name is Alia. In this story my friends, my sister and I find out that we cannot destroy Lord Zefron because of his mechanism. We also find out the exact date that the parallel universe will merge. We later make it to Bartha’s place. She has a solution to how we can stop the universes from reuniting. But with every good thing comes a price to pay. We collect a load of items to prepare ourselves for this mission. So, we need once again to find a way to save the galaxy before the total destruction caused by the parallel universes.

Le future n’est jamais un chemin droit.

Hey mon nom est Alia. Dans cette histoire mes amies, ma soeur et moi ont découvert que nous ne pouvons pas détruire Le roi Zefron à cause de son mécanisme.

On a aussi découvert la date exacte à laquelle les deux univers parallèles vont se réunir. Quand nous sommes arrivés au château de Bartha, Bartha avait une solution comment empêcher les deux univers parallèles de se réunir. Mais pour toute bonne chose il ya un prix à payer. Nous avons donc collectionné beaucoup d’objects pour préparer à cette mission. Une fois de plus mes amies, ma soeur et moi doivent trouver un moyen de sauver la galaxie avant que les univers parallèles causent une destruction totale.

Book 3:
A light in the darkness . . .

Hey, my name is Lily and in this volume the nightmare truly begins. So, I, Alia Reven, and the rest of the group finally prepare a plan to stop the two worlds from merging. We had everything planned out, or so we thought . . . When The Telepathies sisters did the spell of Senyria, they awakened a hidden dark force that is out to destroy the world, which goes by the name of the black mist, or Devoile. Friends get possessed, new worlds are unlocked, hidden mysteries are discovered, and, worst of all, our friends, the world and realms are all in danger, ’cause in this volume the nightmare begins!

Une lumière dans le noire . . .
Bonjour mon c’est Lily et dans cette tome le cauchemar a commencé. Alors moi, Alia, Reven et tout le rest du groupe ont finalement trouvé un plan pour arrêter les deux mondes de se reunir. Nous avons prevu chaque etape ou on pensait avoir . . . Quand les soeurs Telepathie ont fait le sortilège de Senyria, elles ont révélé une nouvelle force du mal qui s’appelle la brume noir ou Devoile. Nos amis deviennent possedés, deux nouveaux mondes se montrent, des secrets inconnu sont révélé mais la plus mauvaise. Nos amis, l’univers et tout le monde sont en danger car dans cette tome le cauchemar a . . . vraiment commencer!

Guest Post

When I asked author Gabriella Kikwaki to tell us how much vocabulary she had created for her fantasy world, and what she used to guide the creation of her words, I didn’t know she was a middle grade student writing for other middle graders. Given how new she is to the field of writing, her answer is particularly impressive. And I think she does a great job of describing how we all create words.

The followings are most of the magical words I created:

  1. Syneria or Senyria: an ancient spell that can break the fabric of space but the price to pay would be to lose your life (from volume 3 and 4 of the ‘’A link between two worlds / Un lien entre deux mondes’’ bilingual series )
  2. The amulet of Elesca : an amulet that wields the power of time (from volume 4 of the ‘’A link between two worlds / Un lien entre deux mondes’’ bilingual series)
  3. The amulet of truth: an amulet with the power to deflect what has already happened (from the upcoming book ‘’A twisted destiny’’ go to my author website to find out more about this book)
  4. The forest of Everbloom: an enchanted forest on the planet Aliese, where many exotic and mystical plants bloom (from volume 1&2 of the bilingual book series ‘’A link between two worlds / Un lien entre deux mondes’’ )
  5. Devoile : a character made of black mist or rather is the black mist, with a dreaded evil that spreads within. (from volume of the ‘’A link between two worlds / Un lien entre deux mondes’’ bilingual series.)
  6. The kingdom of Aliese : a mystical planet that somehow seems caught in between the 21st century and medieval times. It is also a planet where many magical creatures live. Finally, it is one of the parallel universes of the story ‘’A link between two worlds / Un lien entre deux mondes ’’.
  7. The planet Moria: the magical planet that was divided into two worlds, has existed for millions upon, billions of years. This planet appears to never lose energy as if it was made to last forever. Finally, this planet was home to the strongest of magical species in the worlds (From the ‘’A link between two worlds / Un lien entre deux mondes’’ bilingual series).

Those vocabularies are products of my imagination. They may or may not already exist. The inspiration I got to come up with these words, are the most random things you could ever do……I just started saying mystical names I’ve never heard of before, for example:

  1. Zadrome
  2. Erius
  3. Destir
  4. The planet of Dynamuness

I just created those four words (that don’t exist as far as I know). As you can see, I just randomly think about it and then write it. In conclusion, my inspiration comes from my own mind.

The Author’s Story

I am an eleven-year-old girl from Ontario, Canada. I speak both French and English. At the age of 11 I wrote my first book in a series called A Link Between Two Worlds. I like gymnastics, dancing, singing, swimming and drawing characters. I also love writing fantasy stories. One day I decided to write a story about a magic galaxy, friendship, hope, courage and fantasy.

Je suis une fille de 11 ans. Je viens de l’Ontario, Canada. Je parle le français et l’anglais. À l’âge de 11 ans, j’ai écrit le premier tome de la série Un lien entre deux mondes. J’adore chanter, nager et faire de la gymnastique. J’aime aussi dessiner des personnages et raconter des histoires originales et amusantes. Un jour, j’ai décidé d’écrire une histoire sur une galaxie où se mêlent magie, amitié, courage et de la fantaisie.

Find the Author

WEBSITE: https://authorgabriellakikwaki.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/alinkbetweentwoworlds
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabriellakikwaki/

Buy the Books

Book 1: A Link Between Two Worlds / Un Lien Entre Deux Mondes : Volume 1 & 2
AMAZON.COM
https://amazon.com/dp/0228845793
KINDLE https://amazon.com/dp/B08VFFH61P
BOOKSHOP https://bookshop.org/books/a-link-between-two-worlds-un-lien-entre-deux-mondes-volume-1-2-9780228847410/9780228845799
INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-link-between-two-worlds/9780228845805-item.html
BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-link-between-two-worlds-un-lien-entre-deux-mondes-gabriella-kikwaki/1138748934
BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Link-Between-Two-Worlds–Un-Lien-Entre-Deux-Mondes-Gabriella-Kikwaki/9780228845799
SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1066776
APPLE BOOKS https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-link-between-two-worlds-un-lien-entre-deux-mondes-volume-1-2/id1551859521

Book 2: A Link Between Two Worlds / Un Lien Entre Deux Mondes : Together Forever / Ensemble Pour Toujours – Volume 3
AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228849241
KINDLE https://amazon.com/dp/B091JGLY7H
INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-link-between-two-worlds/9780228849254-item.html
BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-link-between-two-worlds-un-lien-entre-deux-mondes-gabriella-kikwaki/1139273729
BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Link-Between-Two-Worlds–Un-Lien-Entre-Deux-Mondes-Gabriella-Kikwaki/9780228849247
RAKUTEN KOBO  https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/a-link-between-two-worlds-un-lien-entre-deux-mondes-1
SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1077525
APPLE BOOKS https://books.apple.com/us/book/link-between-two-worlds-lien-entre-deux-mondes-together/id1561858856

Book 3: Releasing soon – A Link Between Two Worlds / Un Lien Entre Deux Mondes : The Nightmare Begins/ Le Cauchemar Commence

Yes, there is a giveaway

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter here to win.

This post is part of a tour sponsored by Goddess Fish. Check out all the other tour stops. If you drop by each of these and comment, you will greatly increase your chances of winning.

My Favorite Excerpt

The story of how it all began

Alaura — Wow, where is this place?

Elesore: this is the kingdom of Aliese. Welcome.

Alaura and Reven: Wooooooooooooooooooow! Reven — This is like a dream but real, and wait, how are we still alive? We’re in space with no air! We could die any second.

Elesore — Aliese has its own air source, but only those who receive its magical essence can stay alive.

Alaura — Wait, so we have magical essences?

Elesore: Yes, Alaura. The princess has been waiting and searching for you ever since.

Alaura — What do you mean? I don’t even know her.

Elesore — Are you sure about that?

Reven (whispers) — Hey, Alaura, this is a really big change. An hour ago we were regular high school students, and now we have, umm, made-up magical powers or something.

Thank you!

Gabriella Kikwaki — we appreciate your sharing your series A Link Between Two Worlds with us! Best of luck with sales, and with all of your future writing.

Facets of the Past: No Dark Deed Goes Unpunished

On By Sherrie CroninIn fantasy, features and reviews, history3 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Monique Gliozzi and her supernatural thriller novel, Facets of the Past: No Dark Deed Goes Unpunished.

Author’s description

When Hank Gild is given the opportunity to take up his dream job, he accepts the offer with excitement. As a tour guide at the historical imperial castle on Lake Starnberg, Hank delights his guests with stories of the late Bavarian emperor-his antics, his precious artifacts and the mystery shrouding his death in 1886. But it seems that not all the castle’s visitors are of pure heart. Before long, Hank is forced down a path of greed, deception and danger with no way out. A once happy and simple life unexpectedly becomes a treacherous nightmare. Who can he trust? Can Hank save himself before learning the ultimate lesson?

You be the Judge

In my books I’ve always have one minor character who insists on playing a larger role in the story. So when authors visit this blog,  I love to ask them if there was such a character in their novel.

Monique Gliozzi gave it some thought and decided she had one but the reader needs to decide how big a role her intruder got. It’s an intriguing response and one I’ve never gotten before. Read on to see what I mean.

Historically in my previous novellas, I’ve always had a main protagonist and created the plot around them, weaving different characters into the story line. Facets of the Past is no different. The main players are Hank, our hero, Karl and his niece, the evil villains and masterminds behind the treacherous deed that Hank finds himself embroiled in. Early in the piece we meet Helena, an official of the museum (imperial palace) who helps Hank become accustomed to his responsibilities as a tour guide. Initially, I thought of leaving it at that, but something told me to create a little more of a role for her, which would bring more depth to Hank’s character. So after some soul searching, her persona became more involved with the plot while still remaining in the wings of the story’s suspense. You might be asking yourself, is there a little romance between the two? Well I will let you decide and be the judge of the path I chose for them.

The Author’s Story

Born in Dublin, Dr Monique Gliozzi, a graduate from the University of Western Australia medical school, has a keen interest in forensic sciences and psychiatry. She works as a psychiatrist in Perth, with ties to the UWA School of Psychiatry, where she has had a role as a senior clinical lecturer. Her love for teaching granted her a nomination for an Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016.

Monique also holds an interest in aviation. She trained at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia, where she obtained a commercial pilot license. Following this, Monique completed her instructor rating and is now working on a casual basis as a senior flight instructor.

Monique rekindled her passion for writing starting with the fictional thriller Foresight, followed by Hunted and ghostly encounters in Vestige. Her latest book, Diversity, is a compilation of entertaining short stories of different genres.

Find the Author

WEBSITE  — https://moniquegliozzi.com/
BLOG — https://paranormalpsychiatrist.com/
FACEBOOK — https://www.facebook.com/moniquegliozziauthor
INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/monique.gliozzi/?hl=en
TWITTER — https://twitter.com/GliozziMonique

Buy the Book

AMAZON.COM — https://amazon.com/dp/0228848903
INDIGO CHAPTERS — https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/facets-of-the-past-no/9780228848929-item.html
BARNES & NOBLE — https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/facets-of-the-past-monique-gliozzi/1139129049
RAKUTEN KOBO — https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/facets-of-the-past
SMASHWORDS — https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1076824
APPLE BOOKS — https://books.apple.com/us/book/facets-of-the-past-no-dark-deed-goes-unpunished/id1561052315

Yes, there is a giveaway

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter here to win.

This post is part of a tour sponsored by Goddess Fish. Check out all the other tour stops. If you drop by each of these and comment, you will greatly increase your chances of winning.

My Favorite Excerpt

Sliding behind the tapestry immortalizing the king’s coronation, then positioning my flashlight to take full advantage of its beam, I went to work. The old lock cracked within seconds. The click echoing around the room appeared loud to my already adrenaline-laden senses. With a heart pounding like a jackhammer, I reached for the handle, savoring the feeling of cold brass against my clammy palm. The little secret door was finally ajar.

Anyone familiar with old doors would know that they never open quietly, their hinges invariably will creak. This one was no different. A rush of cold musty air rushed past me. Shining the torch, I could see that behind this partition was a short narrow corridor leading to a set of steps. Glancing at my watch, I noted there was still time before a second security sweep would be needed.

Tentatively, I walked into the unknown, first tackling the corridor and steep set of winding stairs to another locked door. As I prepared to pick its lock, images of an archaeological expedition crossed my mind – Tutankhamen. The oppressive musty air, steep dark tunnels and unlawful intrusion were some similarities taunting with my moral compass. I hoped that there were no microorganisms in this space causing a mysterious and deadly affliction or, worse, a curse.

Sweat built on my brow, the tools slipped from between my moist fingers, but eventually I opened the second door, revealing yet another very long tunnel. The ceiling was arched and low, suitable for anyone of shorter stature than my six-foot frame. As I walked bent over like the hunchback of Notre Dame, I calculated the approximate length of this tunnel to be eight hundred yards. Finally, reaching its end, another door beckoned to be unlocked. Putting my skill to good use, within seconds I found myself in a small underground room.

Shining the beam around the space, a sense of uncanny familiarity befell me. Then, at the far end of the antique wine cellar, I recognized a set of wooden steps. I was in the cellar of my cottage! Relieved at having completed this little adventure unscathed, I decided to retrace my steps back to the castle.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Hank!”

Startled, I spun around, my flashlight catching a dark hooded shape emerging from the shadows.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” The harshness of my tone barely disguised my fear. The figure slowly stepped toward the middle of the room, his head bowed and face still concealed by the hood of what appeared to be a monk’s habit. He stood in silence.

“Who are you?” I demanded. Then, slowly lifting his head toward the light, revealing a sunken midface, sharply jutting jaw, a long beaked nose, and black penetrating eyes, the stranger answered, sending a chill down my spine.

“Call me the Handyman.”

Thank you!

Monique Gliozzi  — we appreciate your sharing your book Facets of the Past: No Dark Deed Goes Unpunished with us! Best of luck with sales, and with all of your future writing.

Unbound (The Witches of Doyle Book 10)

On By Sherrie CroninIn fantasy, features and reviews2 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Kirsten Weiss and her paranormal mystery novel, Unbound (The Witches of Doyle Book 10)

Author’s description

Three Witches and a Metaphysical Detective…

 

Riga just wants to mentor three young witches and go home. Doyle witch Jayce wouldn’t take help if it landed on her. But when a man is murdered in front of their eyes, these two must learn to work together. Because a dead man is the least of their worries… Jayce Bonheim loves magic and Doyle, California. But she and her small town have been paying a deadly price for the fairy gate she and her sisters can’t close. Now, a society of dark magicians has returned to town, a deadly winged monster has come through the gate, and an old friend has been murdered. And the new mentor who’s supposed to help Jayce and her sisters seems to have an agenda of her own…

 

It was supposed to be a simple training gig for Riga Hayworth, not a murder investigation. Still reeling from a tragic mistake in her past, she’s determined to stay retired. But the murder and the town’s magic seem tied together. Can Riga resist the lure of an investigation?

 

A thrilling and funny paranormal mystery, packed with magic, mystery, and murder. Perfect for fans of Mercy Thompson, Supernatural, and Charlaine Harris. Buy Unbound and start reading this page-turning witch mystery.

About the Author

Kirsten Weiss has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer re-runs and drinking red wine. The latter gives her heartburn, but she drinks it anyway.

Now based in Colorado Springs, CO, she writes genre-blending cozy mystery, supernatural and steampunk suspense, mixing her experiences and imagination to create vivid worlds of fun and enchantment.

If you like funny cozy mysteries, check out her Pie Town – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/pie-town-mysteries, Tea and Tarot -https://www.kirstenweiss.com/tea-and-tarot-mysteries, Paranormal Museum-  http://www.kirstenweiss.com/the-perfectly-proper-paranormal-mus-1 and Wits’ End –  http://www.kirstenweiss.com/doyle-cozy-mystery-series books.

If you’re looking for some magic with your mystery, give the Witches of Doyle – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/doyle-witch-cozy-mysteries, Riga Hayworth –  http://www.kirstenweiss.com/riga-hayworth-paranormal-mysteries and Rocky Bridges – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/rocky-bridges-mysteries books a try.

And if you like steampunk, the Sensibility Grey – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/sensibility-grey-steampunk-suspense series might be for you.

Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com

Feel free to follow her on Pinterest at KirstenWeiss – https://www.pinterest.com/kirstenweiss/ or on Bookbub – http://www.bookbub.com/authors/kirsten-weiss, get in touch on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/kirsten.weiss/, post a picture of this book to Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kirstenweissauthor/
and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email.
She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

Find the Author

Email: kweiss2001@kirstenweiss.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kirsten.weiss/
Instagram: @KirstenWeissAuthor
Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/kirsten-weiss

Book Series:
Sensibility Grey Steampunk Suspense – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/sensibility-grey-steampunk-suspense,
Tea and Tarot cozy mysteries – https://www.kirstenweiss.com/tea-and-tarot-mysteries,
The Pie Town cozy mysteries – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/pie-town-mysteries,
The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum cozy mysteries – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/the-perfectly-proper-paranormal-mus-1,
The Doyle Witch – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/doyle-witch-cozy-mysteries
Doyle Cozy – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/doyle-cozy-mystery-series mystery novels,
The Riga Hayworth – http://www.kirstenweiss.com/riga-hayworth-paranormal-mysteries  paranormal mysteries.

Buy the Book

Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YMYK6QW

Yes, there is a giveaway

The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter here to win.

This post is part of a tour sponsored by Goddess Fish. Check out all the other tour stops. If you drop by each of these and comment, you will greatly increase your chances of winning.

My Favorite Excerpt

“A black lodge in Doyle? Don’t you think you could have led with that?” I had mad respect for Mrs. Steinberg, but honestly. She’d dropped that intel for maximum dramatic effect.

The old lady set down her e-cigarette. “Not a black lodge. The Black Lodge. The one from San Francisco that’s been causing us so much trouble.”

“How do you know?” Riga asked quietly.

The old lady reached into her black handbag on the table and pulled out another square business card. She flung it onto the stained tablecloth. “Because the cheeky devils introduced themselves.”

My sisters and I shared a look.

“I know,” Mrs. Steinberg said. “They walked up to me, bold as brass, and they… and they…”

“They what?” I prompted and glanced at Riga. Why had Mrs. Steinberg hired her? Riga didn’t look that tough. She couldn’t be more than five-six in her low-heeled boots. Her eyes were odd—a sort of browny-purply. What sort of magic did she have?

“They brought flowers.” Mrs. Steinberg bristled. “Irises. My favorite.”

I rolled my eyes. “That does sound intimidating.” Looking at the tablecloth, I grounded myself and extended my senses toward Riga. I felt power, cold and empty. And yes, I know empty doesn’t exactly sound powerful. But hers was the empty of space, vast and deadly and terrifying.

I looked up. Riga was watching me.

Thank you!

Kirsten Weiss  — we appreciate your sharing your book Unbound (The Witches of Doyle Book 10) with us! Best of luck with sales, and with all of your future writing.

Paranormal Author Releases A New Story That’s Out Of This World

On By Sherrie CroninIn writing
c3 is now out in paperback and I have a press release about it!
c3, a new metaphysical fantasy about out-of-body experiences,will be available in paperback starting June 10, 2014. This is Sherrie Cronin’s fourth novel and copies are available for purchase at Amazon. See the authors website at 46ascending.org for more information.
Sherrie Cronin is the author of 46 Ascending, a collection of loosely interrelated novels about five very different family members who each discover that they can do the extraordinary when circumstances require it. These books are designed to be read as stand alone stories or in any order. Each book explores a facet of magical realism, as its down-to-earth hero comes to understand the powers that he or she holds within.
c3 is a book about an important topic aimed at fantasy lovers of all ages. It describes a typical sixteen year old American girl who is confronted by the sale of girls and women when she studies abroad for a semester in India. To all appearances Teddie is helpless to aid her friends,but she slowly discovers that even the most vulnerable can be courageous and hold the power to cause great change.
The author says “I had three unusual challenges in writing this book. The first was the difficult subject matter. I didn’t want to gloss over it, and yet I wanted this book to be appropriate for those as young as sixteen and not so distressing that those of any age would not want to keep reading. The second challenge was to treat the people and cultures of Southern Asia with respect,fairness and accuracy. To this end I relied on many beta readers, several from the areas I wrote about. Their feedback was invaluable. Because I write in a sub-genre called magical realism, in which I hope to convince my readers that amazing occurrences are possible in our everyday world, my final challenge with c3 was to describe the metaphysical phenomenon of out of body experiences in a believable way.”

Free on Kindle

On By Sherrie CroninIn writing1 Comment

c3 will be available for FREE download on Saturday Feb 15 and Sunday Feb 16 here.

Enjoy this tale of a young woman learning to trust and use the strange powers with which she was born.Kanchenjunga You’ll get to climb one of the world’s most dangerous peaks, take on a crime lord with no scruples and hide from his all-seeing super hacker. Marvel at sunrises in the Himalayas and beaches in Thailand as you flee those who would harm you with no second thought. Revel in developing the ability to outwit people who give you no respect, and learn to be stronger each day as you take them on.

Enter the world of c3, and enjoy the victory.