Interview with writer Bruce Olav Solheim

Writer Bruce Olav Solheim joins me today and we’re chatting about his memoir, Timeless: A Paranormal Personal History.

Bio:

Bruce Olav Solheim was born on September 3, 1958, in Seattle, Washington, to hard-working Norwegian immi­grant parents, Asbjørn and Olaug Solheim. Bruce was the first per­son in his family to go to college. He served for six years in the US Army as a jail guard and later as a hel­icopter pilot. He earned his PhD in history from Bowling Green State University in 1993.

Bruce is currently a distinguished professor of history at Citrus College in Glendora, California. He also served as a Fulbright Professor in 2003 at the University of Tromsø in northern Norway.

Bruce founded the Veterans Program at Citrus College and cofounded, with Manuel Martinez and Ginger De Villa-Rose, the Boots to Books transition course—the first college course in the United States designed specifically for recently returned veterans. He has published eight books and has written ten plays, two of which have been produced.

Bruce is married to Ginger, the girl of his dreams, who is a professional helicopter pilot and certified flight instructor. He has been blessed with four wonderful children: Bjørn, Byron, Caitlin, and Leif. He also has a precious grandson, Liam. Bruce, his brother, and his two nephews still own the family home in Åse, Norway, two hundred miles above the Arctic Circle.​

Please tell us about your current release.

Professional academic people are afraid of destroying their reputations and careers by even considering that there is such a thing as the paranormal or psi, much less writing about the phenomena from a personal perspective. I hold a doctoral degree and have waited until my retirement is imminent to write this book. Timeless: A Paranormal Personal History, documents 34 incidents of paranormal events in my life: telepathy, telekinesis, ghosts, demons, guardian angels, precognition, near-death experiences, and more. Timeless also includes 23 illustrations by comic book artist Gary Dumm of American Splendor fame. As I say in the beginning of the book: “It’s not that I believe in ghosts, it’s that they believe in me, so I’ve no choice.” In one of the many visions I have had, I connected with a primordial mystic who may or may not be of alien origin. The book reveals his important message to me. Timeless offers a message of encouragement for others to share their stories of the paranormal and to be assured that there is a life beyond this one and that we are, indeed, timeless.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have had paranormal experiences since I was four years old. My mother was a psychic of sorts. Now is the time to tell the stories.

Excerpt from Timeless: A Paranormal Personal History:

I’ve thought about this near-death experience over the years and wonder if sometimes different paths in our lives run simultaneously. In other words, maybe there is one version where I died and another version where I lived. Maybe these forks in the road of time happen every once in a while, and therefore we never really die we just continue living on another path ad infinitum. Eventually, after we experience many such forks, we finally reach old age and die, but only temporarily. Maybe we then return anew to start another life—reincarnated. It’s just a theory; I’ve no proof, just a hunch. Perhaps there is no death, and perhaps death is the greatest deception of all.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The sequel to Timeless, Timeless Déjà Vu.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I started writing when I was 7 years old. I put together a book of my stories and drew pictures to go along with it. I am still doing that 52 years later. Words and pictures.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I teach history, but I write every day, a few hours, some days more. Weekends, I write a lot. I think of writing like John Lennon thought of music, it is a life raft.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to capture butterflies as one of my teachers (Jose Cruz Gonzalez) said. I immediately capture an idea in a notebook, scrap of paper, text to myself on my phone, any time, day or night. I have to be ready at all times. I even write texts to myself when I am going to the bathroom.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A baseball player, an astronaut, a bulldozer driver, a writer. Hopefully all of them.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Write what is important to you not what you think is important to others. As a great Zen master once said: “There is no other.”

Links:

Website | Facebook

Thanks for being here today, Bruce.

Interview with co-authors Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross

Today is a special double feature. I’m interviewing co-authors Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross about their novel The Cliffhouse Haunting.

Bios:

Tamara Thorne's first novel was published in 1991, and since then she has written many more, including international bestsellers Haunted, Bad Things, Moonfall, and The Sorority. Her novel, Thunder Road, hit bookstores in September, 2014. Learn more about her here.

Alistair Cross grew up on horror novels and scary movies, and by the age of eight, began writing his own stories. In 2012, he was published by Damnation Books under the pseudonym Jared S. Anderson. Find out more about him here.

In collaboration, Thorne and Cross are currently writing The Ghosts of Ravencrest, a sexy serial novel full of dark shadows, ghosts, witches, and mysteries. The Ghosts of Ravencrest: Darker Shadows contains the first three installments. The fourth installment is The Ghosts of Ravencrest: Christmas Spirits and the fifth is Night Moves. The next installment will appear in April. Their first horror novel, The Cliffhouse Haunting will appear in March, and another, Grandma’s Rack, will come later this year, along with Alistair’s debut solo novel.

Welcome, Tamara and Alistair. Please tell us about your current release.

The Cliffhouse Haunting is the story of the little town of Cliffside in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. Built overlooking Blue Lady Lake in 1887, Cliffhouse was built by the Bellamy family and has been newly renovated by owners Teddy and Adam Baxter-Bellamy and their daughter, Sara. In the 1880s, Cliffhouse served as a restaurant, hotel, cathouse, theater and tavern, and during Prohibition became a hangout for rum runners. Later, its hot springs attracted the wealthy; even presidents have stayed there.

Today, the lodge is famous for its luxurious accommodations, spa, fine dining... and its ghosts.

Although the cathouse and rumrunners have been replaced by a miniature golf course and a carousel, Cliffhouse retains its long dark history; darkest during the Roaring Twenties, when a serial killer named the Bodice Ripper terrorized the town and a phantom, the Blue Lady, was said to walk when murder was imminent.

Now, darkness has returned. There's a serial killer on the loose, and the Blue Lady is again walking the shores of the lake below Cliffhouse.

Police Chief Jackson Ballou has bodies piling up that can't even be considered murder victims, yet he knows they are. The Bellamys are losing maids and guests who hear their names whispered in their ears and see wet phantom footprints padding across the rooms, but nothing is as terrifying as the shrieking laughter that echoes through the halls in the dead of night.

The town of Cliffside, and Cliffhouse itself, is dependent on tourism; every weekend there's something going on, be it a Civil War reenactment, a wine tasting, or Oktoberfest. It's a perfect hunting ground for a serial killer... and the Blue Lady.

Between the murders, the ghosts, Blue Lady sightings, a histrionic writer and a town doctor slowly losing his mind, Chief Ballou's hands are so full that he can hardly pursue his romance with diner owner Polly Owen. And Sara Bellamy may lose her love before they even have their first kiss.

What inspired you to write this book?

We both love ghost stories in all their variations and as we were telling each other some of our favorites, a plot began to form, though we weren’t actively working on it at the time beyond taking notes. Not too much later, we met up to spend a few nights in a haunted cabin in California’s gold country. During those nights some unnerving things happened that got us talking about the book again and we quickly became serious about writing it.

Excerpt from The Cliffhouse Haunting:

“He heard the Lady's laughter, delightful and deadly...

"He turned to enter the staff lounge and wake up the napping night clerk when he caught a whiff of something dark and dank, of deep water hiding moldering roots and limbs of pine trees felled a century or more ago. The scent of rotting wood from boats and rafts sunken when Cliffhouse was new. The metallic bite of lost anchors and the dry smell of bones of men long dead. Gooseflesh prickled up his back. How many are lost out there?"

What exciting story are you working on next?

We have several works in progress. Our gothic The Ghosts of Ravencrest is an ongoing serial novel and it’s filled with ghosts and mysteries. It’s available on Amazon. Another collaborative horror novel, Grandma’s Rack, will hit the press later this spring and Alistair’s debut solo novel will be out this summer.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Always. We both began writing as children.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

We write full time. We work together six days a week, eight to ten hours a day unless we’re up against a deadline, then we hit 12-14 hours and work half-days on Sunday, too. We work in our “virtual office” where we talk via Skype while writing in the Cloud. Most often we create together, literally writing in the same file as we brainstorm and figure things out. 

Sometimes we work on separate scenes and sometimes on separate projects, but we’re still in our “office” where we can run things by each other, edit for each other, and take breaks for a few minutes of laughter now and then. It’s more fun and efficient together, plus it keeps us focused.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Every day, at least twice, we turn on our Skype cameras so our cats can see each other. They love it and have become good friends. They’re hoping to accompany us on our next get together.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Both of us wanted to be writers, though as kids, we flirted with various occupations; fireman, musician, oceanographer, astronomer, and spy.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

We like pie.

Social Media

ALISTAIR CROSS

Website | Twitter | Blog | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Pinterest 

TAMARA THORNE

Website | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page 

Thorne & Cross Mutual Accounts

Blog | Thorne and Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! 

Thank you both for being here today! Happy co-writing! 

Interview with paranormal romance author Loni Lynne

Loni Lynne is here today to share a bit about her paranormal ghost romance novel, Wanted: One Ghost and her writing life.

Loni will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment below, and to increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too.

Bio:

Loni Lynne is a stay-at-home mom, domestic goddess, U.S. Navy Veteran, and lover of all things vintage/shabby-chic/Victorian and antique. From china cups and tea sets to lace doilies crocheted by hand (her grandmother made the best) she believes a touch of femininity never goes out of style.

Growing up all over the country she's been blessed with experiencing a good deal of culture and lifestyles. Much like her personality, she has eclectic tastes in what she likes to read and write. There is no 'one' genre in which she settles for.

God and fate have been big influences in her life. Both have taken her to places she never thought she'd be, both in the physical sense and in the spiritual. She wrote brief stories and snippets of life as it happened to her in her youth, and encouraged by her teachers, continued to write. Blessed with a loving supportive family growing up, she was able to explore her options which at times have been put into use in her stories. The Navy--and fate, afforded her the opportunity to meet her Army, "Annapolis-native" husband and team up with him to parent two beautiful daughters.

Years later, her husband gave her the best birthday present ever--a laptop, a membership to Romance Writers of America and a goal to complete a manuscript for submission by her next birthday. She did it. A few years later, she was blessed with one of those novels, Wanted: One Ghost, as her debut novel.

Believe in Fate!

Welcome, Loni. Please tell us about your current release.

Wanted: One Ghost is based on believing in fate. When the 238-year-old ghost of Kings Mill, Maryland’s founding father, James Addison meets historian, April Branford who is blessed with a unique psychometric gift, she does more than touch history—she accidentally brings him to life. On a time schedule to locate the historical deed to James’ mill site for the man who hired her, April must rely on the help from her family and spirits from James’ past to help him solve the mystery behind his death so he can move on. But after their time together, neither one wants to leave. Only Fate knows where their true destiny lies.

What inspired you to write this book?

I love ghost tours. Having been on a few I began to wonder what the ‘ghosts’ would think of the stories being told about them. I envisioned one standing by and scoffing at the possibility that what was being told had been exaggerated. It gave me the idea for James—a brooding ghost who’s been trapped in his realm in which no one can see or hear him, until April comes along with her gifts.

Excerpt:

April’s digital camera came to life and she switched the setting to playback, scrolling through the photos. She’d taken a bevy of pictures, ones of the hanging tree, the colonial storefronts and historical houses, the front and back of the courthouse. She came across the last picture, the one she’d taken right outside, and then it went back to her older photos. Everything was there but the picture of her guide. She gasped and thumbed frantically through the pictures again.

“What’s wrong, April dear?” Her aunt got up from the chair and came over to her, bringing her cup of tea with her.

“It was here…I mean, the picture is here but he isn’t.” The photo showed part of the lamp post she’d had her guide stand in front of. There was a bright, fuzzy ball of light obscuring part of the gaslight. Could it be a possible reflection off the light and her flash? She’d captured him in the frame, she was positive!

Her aunt looked over her arm at the frame revealing the street along with the courthouse. April didn’t like the knowing smile and twinkle to her aunt’s eye. “Oh, he’s there,” she said, peering up from over her tea cup.

“What do you mean?” She was almost afraid to ask.

“You’ve managed to capture what we call residual paranormal energy. See the spot of fuzzy light in the middle of the picture? You’ve captured an image of a paranormal orb. Welcome to the family, April. You’ve seen your first ghost.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am actually working on the sequel to Wanted: One Ghost with one of the minor characters, Distilled Spirits. She’s actually a ghost who’s trapped in time in the local historical tavern. Millie Taylor is a fun character to work with.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think I was about thirteen and there was a Halloween story contest sponsored by the Jaycees. The prize was a $50 Savings Bond, two tickets to their haunted house, and your story in the newspaper.  I entered it and won first prize. It was a very macabre story for someone of my age at the time—almost bizarre, but my teacher loved it and there were others who thought it was good, too.  From that moment I felt like I had found my niche.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I like to call myself a domestic goddess—I tend to household/family and anything that comes up. I’ve been blessed to be able to have stayed home to raise my two daughters, but now that they are grown (still living at home while going to college locally though), I hope to have more time to focus on my writing.

A typical day for me lately is getting chores done after everyone’s off to work/college and trying to sit down to write for a couple of hours before lunch. After lunch I get back into the swing of it by writing until the hubby comes home from work.  By five o’clock I try to put things in perspective and have dinner/family time.  I’m trying to treat my writing as my career—dress for success, sit in my office, etc.  It’s the only way I can.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I post pictures of my inspiration for my characters up on my bulletin board. They could be actors, clippings of a model from an advertisement that hits me as an interesting character description. I’m one of those people who try to figure out what the model or image is trying to convey. In high school I used to write those captions under the photos in the yearbook.  My husband has gotten used to seeing Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr., Channing Tatum, and various models on my bulletin board. Now he sometimes matches actors/actresses up for possible characters for my books. I would still love to write a character for Sam Elliott.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Most of my teenage life I wanted to be a writer or screenwriter. I wanted to work with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg on writing for Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’m an eclectic writer as well as an eclectic reader. When a story strikes my fancy, it has to be read or told. I love paranormal/fantasy romance but I read and write to suit my feelings at the time. Like listening to music or always eating the same thing—I like a change of pace.

Thank you for having me on your site today. I look forward to hearing from everyone!  Remember, ‘Believe in Fate’!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Amazon Author Page

https://www.waterworldmermaids.com

Thank you, Loni! Readers, remember to leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win the gift certificate.

Interview with paranormal novelist Jennifer Rainey

Today's guest has a unique bio to get us started. Jennifer Rainey is currently touring her paranormal novel The Beldam’s Eye.

In addition to the fun interview there are a lot of giveaways! Jennifer is going to give away two $20 Amazon GCs and five copies of Thoroughly Modern Monsters, her short story collection to randomly drawn commenters during the tour. The grand prize to one randomly drawn commenter will be a $25 Amazon Gift card, a copy of These Hellish Happenings (her first novel) and a copy of Thoroughly Modern Monsters.

If you'd like a chance to win any of the giveaways, leave an e-mail address with a comment below, or to increase your chances, leave a comment at any of her other tour stops, too.

Bio:

Jennifer Rainey was raised by wolves who later sold her to gypsies. She then joined the circus at the age of ten. There, she was the flower girl in the famed Bearded Bride of Beverly Hills show until the act was discontinued (it was discovered that the bearded lady was actually a man). From there, she wandered around the country selling novelty trucker hats with vaguely amusing sayings printed on front. Somehow, she made enough money to go to The Ohio State University for a major in English.

Welcome, Jennifer. Please tell us about your current release.

The Beldam’s Eye is a story that’s been following me around for almost five years now; trust me, it’s so nice to finally have it down on paper! It follows a duo of paranormal investigators as they take a case that’s a little more intense than they’re used to. I wanted this book to be just as much about the human element as the paranormal element. The people involved are flawed and (relatively) normal people who have been sucked into something very paranormal. It’s got a great mix of horror and humor, too. I never wanted to take it too seriously.

What inspired you to write this book?

I do some paranormal investigating myself, and I love watching all those TV shows about it. Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Haunted History… those are my favorites! I’ve always loved a good ghost story, too, so it was only a matter of time before I wrote one myself.

Excerpt:

Ras could hear shuffling in the kitchen. He ruffled his hands through his wet hair and walked into the living room.

A ghost covered in soot rummaged through his kitchen cabinets, humming lowly to himself, and he smiled when he found a mug that looked like a purple cat. Its tail curled into the handle, and this amused him. The occasional spark of fire flew from his dark fingers.

Ras opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by, “Well, you gonna stand there, or you gonna get me something to drink?” The ghost burst into laughter too quickly and turned to face him. His glowing orange eyes seemed somehow mirthful, but he didn’t let his guard down. Ghosts were known for their mood swings. Being reduced to nothing but a mass of paranormal energy complete with its own electromagnetic field will do that to a person. “I’m jokin’, I’m jokin’! I couldn’t drink anything anyway.”

Ras smiled. “I wonder why you’re looking through my cabinets, then.”

“Oh, just pokin’ around,” the ghost answered in a creaky voice. “Gettin’ to know ya. I’m gonna have to if we’re gonna work together, right?”

Ras laughed. “Really? What can you tell by looking at my coffee cups?”

“Well… you like cats? Purple ones, I reckon. You got a purple cat around here somewhere?”

Ras knew in situations like this, the worst thing one could do was antagonize the ghost. Sometimes a ghost was a little addled by the dying process. It was better to try to out-crazy a spirit, make them think you were the one with a screw loose.

“Not a purple one, I’m afraid,” Ras answered, “but I did have a blue one once. I’ve always been fond of blue cats!”

“Ah, you see! Close enough, right? And I could tell that just by pokin’ through your coffee cups. I’m a regular Sherlock Holmes.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have SO many stories I’m working on right now! I have two projects that I’m getting ready to edit, but the next book I’m planning to write will be this year’s NaNo project. In my last book, Thoroughly Modern Monsters, I had a short story about a siren who worked for a carnival; my next book will be a sequel to that story. It follows the story of what happens to said siren (named Quinnish Stern) after he leaves the carnival.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was 18, I won a state-wide writing competition and got this big ol’ trophy for it and everything. That was the turning point for me. That was the first time I wrote something and thought, y’know, I don’t think I just want to do this as a hobby; I want to put serious time and effort into it.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I’m, unfortunately, not a full time writer, and when I’m not writing, I work at a well-known department store that I’m sure most of you in America have shopped at before, haha! My schedule is a little strange and irregular there, so I do my best to work around it and get writing in whenever I have free time.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I’ll write whole scenes in dialogue before I add any narration whatsoever! Also, I must have tea while I write.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A librarian! The funny thing is that throughout my later childhood and my teenage years, I wanted to be a thousand other things (an actress, a teacher, a vet) and next year I’m going for my Master’s in library science. Haha! So, I obviously should’ve just listened to my inner child in the first place.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Just that I hope you enjoy the book if you decide to pick it up! I’ve had more fun writing The Beldam’s Eye than I’ve ever had writing anything else!

Various ways to connect with me include:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Thanks, Jennifer. 

Readers, remember Jennifer is going to give away two $20 Amazon GCs and five copies of Thoroughly Modern Monsters, her short story collection to randomly drawn commenters during the tour. The grand prize to one randomly drawn commenter will be a $25 Amazon Gift card, a copy of These Hellish Happenings (her first novel) and a copy of Thoroughly Modern Monsters.

If you'd like a chance to win any of the giveaways, leave an e-mail address with a comment below, or to increase your chances, leave a comment at any of her other tour stops, too.